Student raises concerns over false positive COVID-19 tests
Oct. 23 started as a regular day for Tate Durand ’23. They woke up, attended a friend’s birthday breakfast, then returned to their on-campus residence for a nap. However, when they rose to several missed calls from the health services center, they immediately had a strong suspicion that they had tested positive for COVID-19.
Commuter students disadvantaged by inactive credit card terminals
“The College has removed the credit card terminals out of an abundance of caution while possible security issues are resolved by the provider,” Alex Wirth-Cauchon, CIO and executive director of Library, Information and Technology Services wrote in an email to the College Community.
On Oct. 28, Wirth-Cauchon sent an all-campus email stating that credit card terminals have been temporarily removed from the Dining Commons and the Frances Perk Cafe. This has inconvenienced many students without a meal plan, such as Frances Perkins Scholars and commuter students.
Student raises concerns over false positive COVID-19 tests
Oct. 23 started as a regular day for Tate Durand ’23. They woke up, attended a friend’s birthday breakfast, then returned to their on-campus residence for a nap. However, when they rose to several missed calls from the health services center, they immediately had a strong suspicion that they had tested positive for COVID-19.
According to Durand, when they returned the missed calls, they were told that, due to the fact that they live in close proximity to the College, they were offered the chance to pack their belongings and quarantine at home. Alternatively, they could choose to stay in Mount Holyoke’s designated student isolation housing.
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Former Professor Rie Hachiyanagi sentenced 10-12 years following guilty plea
Mount Holyoke hosts 12th annual Hortense Parker Celebration
The 12th annual Hortense Parker Celebration was held on Thursday, Oct. 28, from 7-9 p.m. in the Great Room. The event was organized by the SGA Students of Color Committee, the Division of Student Life, the Office of Community and Belonging, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Weissman Center for Leadership, the Alumni Associations and the Office of Advancement. At the event the “Hortense Parker Museum … Rewind and Reconnect” exhibit was unveiled in the Blanchard Student Art Gallery in lieu of the usual Hortense Parker Essay Contest. The museum was on display until Nov. 4th.
Senate talks Tranquility Room updates, early morning leaf blowers
Big changes are coming to the Tranquility Room following Tuesday’s senate meeting. On Friday Oct. 29, the E-Board’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer, Maille Romulus ’23 and Earl Wren ’24 met with Richard Perna, executive director of Auxiliary Services and Aaron Ferguson, senior accessibility coordinator. The Tranquility Room will now be a no-talking zone and students will no longer be allowed to use it as a cut-through anymore.
Students reflect on College no-guest policies since the start of the pandemic
At Mount Holyoke College, students have returned to a full residential experience this semester. While many students have eagerly returned to in-person classes and exchanging stories over late-night, others are unhappy with the College’s decision to extend its no-guest policy through the end of the semester. Mount Holyoke’s policies surrounding off-campus travel and on-campus guests have changed several times since the start of the pandemic in the spring of 2020. The College defines a guest as any person who is not enrolled in a Mount Holyoke course and does not participate in the College-sponsored asymptomatic testing program. This most recent update was sent to the community via email on Oct. 6. Following the announcement, the College sent out a survey on “students’ interest and comfort with having guests in the residence halls” on Oct. 19.
Senate convenes to discuss guest policy; announces new E-Board members
SGA senate convened this week with an announcement: from now on, students will be able to use safety net funds to cover outside medical related expenses, such as transportation and urgent care costs.
In further health-related news, the senate’s COVID-19 & Content Commission group is planning to petition the administration to relax the guest policy. Their proposed plan would involve guests filling out a Google form where they would have to provide proof of vaccination, agree to be masked indoors and in other designated spaces and commit to adhere to all other aspects of the community compact. Commission members suggested that Mount Holyoke students who break this policy should then be required to meet with the Honor Code Council.