Railroad strike averted, but travel plans derailed for many passengers

Photo by Ali Meizels ’23.
Amtrak trains travel to and from Union Station – pictured above – in Springfield, Massachusetts.

By Gillian Petrarca ’23

Staff Writer

The possibility of a railroad strike last weekend affected many students’ travel. Railroad workers from 12 labor unions across the country, such as the National Carriers’ Conference Committee and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, reached a stalemate in the bargaining of a new contract and were set to strike on Friday Sept. 16. 

The main grievance for union members was paid sick leave. The workers were bargaining for 15 days of paid sick leave to be granted on a points-system policy. Management was hesitant to bargain on these issues, according to National Public Radio. 

“We’re in a time when a lot of people have moved to remote work — so paid sick leave and job flexibility [are] becoming important,” Professor and Chair of Economics and labor economist Michael Robinson said. 

In preparation for the strike, many Amtrak locations canceled trips. Arianna Ortiz Tencio ’23 was set to take a trip to Boston for the weekend when her train was canceled. “It was so frustrating, and the craziest part is that I never got an email about it. Only [my friend] did,” Tenicio said. Tenicio filed for a refund and was issued a refund fairly quickly, “But … they weren’t automatically issued, you had to go into the website and fill out your information. … I feel bad that the railroad workers have to go on strike in general,” Tenicio said. 

The strike was averted by President Biden’s intervention when he helped negotiate a deal which would give railroad workers “some number of unpaid sick days,” as well as the uncontested ability to attend medical appointments, according to LaborNotes. The union vote on this contract is set for November.

New Zowie Banteah Cultural Center opens in new space

Photos by Gillian Petrarca ’23.
Left: Zowie Banteah ’96 and family traveled to the opening of the new Zowie Banteah Cultural Center. Right: Latrina Denson delivers opening remarks and background on the Zowie Banteah Cultural Center.

By Gillian Petrarca ’23

Staff Writer 

Content warning: This article mentions anti-Indigenous violence and addiction.

After months of preparation, the Zowie Banteah Cultural Center officially opened in its new space between Ham and MacGregor Halls on Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. The event was attended by the center’s namesake — Zowie Banteah ’96 — and her family, as well as students, staff and faculty. 

Before entering the new space, attendees gathered outside of Ham Hall by Upper Lake to perform a blessing. Guests gathered around in a circle and were handed tobacco leaves to hold in their left hand, which were smudged with smoke. Larry Spotted Crow Mann of the Nipmuc Tribe performed the blessing. 

Before giving the blessing, Spotted Crow Mann shared that he began his storytelling and educational work after battling alcoholism. Spotted Crow Mann attributed the start of his recovery to watching a documentary about how Christopher Columbus brought alcohol and drugs to the Indigenous people. “Every generation suffered surfing our land and the deeds, and on and on it goes. All the health experiences that we suffer today [are] from that poison,” Spotted Crow Mann said. “I spent my entire life … [sharing with] young native people that [they] don’t have to drink or take drugs to have a good life. … I spread that message to all people to see the rapidness that it caused in our communities.” 

Spotted Crow Mann said that he takes a holistic approach to dealing with the trauma that Indigenous people may face. “I am so excited about what the youth are doing, what the elders are sharing and how we have access like never before,” Spotted Crow Mann said. “[My tribe] has more land now than we [have] had the last 300 years. When my great grandfather had his land, they took his land. … I am grateful to be here on this land of my people, to touch it and talk to all of you in a place that they weren’t even allowed to come on …” 

Spotted Crow Mann then gave a prayer in the Nipmuc language to bless the space. 

“I ask that we all celebrate by doing the work that needs to happen in these spaces that are Indigenous. It takes Indigenous people to show you. … I say that because we have the knowledge of this land. … We’re here to guide those allies and accomplish them and help them. So with that, I pray for this space to be a place of learning, sharing, teaching and coming together [for] social justice and collaboration. ,” Spotted Crow Mann prayed. 

Spotted Crow Mann thanked Zowie Banteah and her family personally. Banteah then led everyone into the space for the first time. 

After being led into the Center, Associate Dean of Students for Community and Belonging Latrina Denson gave opening remarks. Denson remarked that the opening was a moment the community had anticipated and worked toward. Denson acknowledged the ceremony as an opportunity to honor Banteah, faculty, staff, students and members of the community of Native and Indigenous origin. Denson then invited attendees to sign a green book to be placed in the College archives to remember the attendees of the opening. 

Denson specially thanked Juliette Gagnon Strong Heart ’24 for her work in helping create the new cultural center, commending Strong Heart for making strides in cultivating an open campus culture and inviting students to express themselves freely.

Denson went on to give a background of the Zowie Banteah space, which was opened in 1995 under its original name, Native Spirit. The Center was renamed in 1997 after alumna Zowie Banteah, who was instrumental in its founding. Denson then introduced Kijua Sanders-McMurtry, vice president for equity and inclusion. 

In their speech, Sanders-McMurtry spoke directly to the contributions that Banteah has made to the space and to the broader campus community. Specifically, Sanders-McCurty acknowledged the work that has been done since Banteah’s time as a student on campus. Before taking a moment to thank the individuals that cleaned the space, cooked the food and shopped for the decorations, Sanders-McMurtry thanked Banteah’s family for traveling to the event from New Mexico. 

Sanders-McMurtry closed the night by urging audience members not to simply identify themselves as “anti-racists,” but to address past wrongs and to work towards a more equitable future. On a hopeful note, the vice president for equity and inclusion addressed the audience as being collectively joined on a path towards anti-racism.

“I’m really excited about what can happen with all of you here today by doing that intentional work,” Crow Mann remarked.

Guests then enjoyed Indigenous food from Sly Fox Den Restaurant & Bar. After eating, guests viewed a song and dance by pow wow drum group Urban Thunder.

Senate holds Town Hall with Residential Life, discusses accessibility

Photo by Artemis Chen ‘25. At Senate, students asked Residential Life representatives about selecting and switching rooms.

Gillian Petrarca ’23

Staff Writer

After a land acknowledgment from the Chair of Senate Shula Mathew ’22, the April 26 senate meeting began. The meeting agenda included a Town Hall with Residential Life, E-Board updates and a presentation from the all-campus elections committee.

E-Board updates included Chair of Halls EJ Jankovic ’23 sharing the results from last week’s in-senate elections. Next year’s chair of senate will be EJ Jankovic ’23, Chair of halls will be Serynn Nowlin ’25 and chair of special interests will be Oumoulakyre Mounkaila ’24. Vice President of SGA Ananya Singh ’22 announced that the student activities fee will increase by $25 next year to pay for free menstrual products in the restrooms on campus and allow the E-Board to be paid.

Director of Community Standards & Housing Operations Rachel Alldis and Associate Director of Residential Life Nashalie Vasquez joined senate for a Town Hall meeting. Senators submitted questions last week with their commissions. Question topics ranged from housing selection times to room changes to accessibility in the dorms. 

When asked if students can be provided with basic cleaning supplies for their residence halls, such as vacuum cleaners and dustpans, Alldis replied that she knows facilities provide trash bags for students. Alldis stated that in the past, the school provided each dorm with a vacuum cleaner; however, vacuum cleaners were often either broken or stolen. Still, she expressed that she is happy to put in that request to facilities. Next, the two were asked if ResLife and the registrar could coordinate next year so that the housing lottery and class registration are not in the same week. Alldis responded that it is hard to do both of these things before spring break because many students do not begin thinking about their living situation until after this time. However, she will talk to the registrar moving forward. 

Vasquez was asked how ResLife uses the roommate preferences survey to match students with a roommate. Vasquez replied that for incoming students, she reads all of their applications and tries to match students that have similar habits. However, some students change their habits as they come to college. Vasquez reminded students that they can update their roommate profile each year when finding a new roommate. When asked what circumstances can warrant a room change, Vasquez explained that switching rooms should never be a student’s first response to a conflict with their roommate. The student should first talk to their RA or RF to try and mediate the conflict. Next, they should talk to their Area Coordinator. If going through these channels is unsuccessful, then the student can be moved. 

Lastly, Vasquez and Alldis were asked about accessibility in the dorms. A concern was raised about accommodations for students who live in buildings without elevators but become temporarily disabled during the school year. Vasquez responded that ResLife would work with Health Services on an individual basis to get the student temporary housing accommodations. In a follow-up question, a senator asked why there are no empty rooms on the first floor of every building in case this happens. Alldis replied that there are first-floor housing accommodations that prohibit non-accessible buildings from having empty rooms on the first floor. Vasquez and Alldis thanked everyone for inviting them to the senate meeting. 

The floor was then opened for a presentation by all-campus elections committee member Isabela Haskell ’23. Haskell stated that the all-campus SGA election did not reach a quorum. According to the SGA constitution, senate can approve the election or vote to allow the election to be open for one more week to reach a quorum. Senators had the opportunity to vote on this matter. 

Senate concluded with a statement of gratitude from the senate team and a cording ceremony for senior members, where senators sang the alma mater.