Trump’s proposed SNAP bill perpetuates the “irresponsible, lazy and greedy” trope about welfare recipients

BY CHLOE JENSEN ’20

On Feb. 13, President Donald Trump proposed a new bill to enact major change on SNAP, the United States’ Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, otherwise commonly known as food stamps. In addition to a 10 billion dollar budget decrease, this bill will also provide families with pre-selected “Harvest Boxes.” If the bill passes, “Harvest Boxes” will give qualifying families a box of fresh, “100% American grown food” for half of their monthly food assistance, leaving families with only half of their original cash allowance, according to TIME.

Americans have gone numb to mass shootings

BY LILY REAVIS ’21

Following the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, outrage over loose gun control policies has spread over social media. Thousands of people have shared calls for policy changes, pictures of the victims and the personal background of the shooter The online reaction resembles that following the Sandy Hook and Pulse Nightclub shootings — loud and unapologetic. But, this collective fury was missing during the 17 other American school shootings that have happened in 2018 alone, according to CNN. As a nation, we have become numb to gun violence. 

Letter to the Editor: Diversity In Our Community

Mount Holyoke has a diversity problem.  While we score above the national average in terms of racial and ethnic diversity in our student body, students of color do not see this diversity reflected in our classrooms, and rarely see ourselves represented in the faculty that teach our classes. This problem is particularly apparent in the history department, where there is not a single black professor in the faculty of nine.

College administration fails transfer students

College administration fails transfer students

BY EMILY BLOMQUIST ’18

Applying for college is an experience that most wouldn’t care to repeat. The paperwork, exams, self-doubt and uncertainty of the future — all combine to create a memorable, yet by no means desirable, experience. But for some college students this painful process is worth revisiting. 

“Fifty Shades Freed” continues to confuse abuse with BDSM

BY LILY REAVIS ’21

“Fifty Shades Freed” was released in theaters on Friday, Feb. 9 and, according to Forbes Magazine, earned $137 million globally on its opening weekend. The movie is the long-awaited end to the story of Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey: a drawn-out, out-of-tricks, thinly-veiled abusive relationship.

Tranquility Room should focus on relaxation

BY CHLOE JENSEN ’20

When the dining expansion was first announced, many students were worried about how community members with sensory processing disorders would find places to sit, eat and cope. Thankfully, the College administration announced that there would be a tranquility room — a room without blaring music, students screaming about their hook-ups and the sound of dining workers yelling over the crashing plates and silverware. A room where students could dine in peace. Although the Tranquility Room in SuperBlanch is quiet, it does not functionally serve its place as a designated peaceful environment.

Springie Perspective: Mount Holyoke is worth the wait

BY APRIL KEPLER ’21

Mount Holyoke was my top choice, so when I initially received my acceptance email from Mount Holyoke, I was ecstatic. Mount Holyoke was everything I wanted in a college. But when the physical acceptance letter came in the mail, my excitement quickly turned to fear. I was accepted for spring admission, instead of the fall.

Women-loving women are hesitant to pursue other women – and we shouldn’t be

BY OLIVIA MARBLE ’21

When I was single, all I wanted to do was find someone with whom I could cuddle and go on cute dates. So I did what any desperate college student would do: I downloaded Tinder. While I’m bisexual, I figured I’d end up matching with more women than men since women’s colleges are notorious for being a hub for queer people.

In college settings, adaptation is inevitable

In college settings, adaptation is inevitable

BY LILY REAVIS ’21

When I was a senior in high school, a teacher asked me what sort of person I thought I’d be in college. I was confused by the question — she knew me and had for years. She’d written a college reference for me. Now, halfway through my first year, I am a completely different person and her question has more meaning for me. It’s impossible to avoid reinvention in college, because your personality is continuously being shaped by your environment.

SuperBlanch is overwhelming for students with anxiety

SuperBlanch is overwhelming for students with anxiety

BY OLIVIA MARBLE ’21

With the announcement of the new Dining Commons, students were sent into an anxious frenzy. They took their worries to several social media platforms. I thought their complaints were premature, unfounded and dramatic. And yet, their presumptions were correct.  

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New prison book bans perpetuate oppression

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New prison book bans perpetuate oppression

BY CHLOE JENSEN ’20

As the nation with the highest incarceration rate in the world according to the Population Reference Bureau, the United States is no stranger to the mistreatment of prisoners. With the United States’ problem with incarceration comes another issue: the lack of information that prisoners receive. At the end of last year, several states including Texas and New York began banning books in their prisons. Although these laws have operated in several states for many years, Texas’ recent bill received special attention for banning more than 10,000 books. New York’s bill was even more extreme: the state now is only allowing books from five vendors, which greatly limits the number of books prisoners can read and the knowledge they can acquire, according to Newsweek. 

Washington failures should not be blamed on big government

Washington failures should not be blamed on big government

In the political landscape, it’s now common to rail against Washington elite; having spent little to no time in the nation’s capital and assuming the label of “outsider” is considered a mark of relative political purity. Disdaining Washington D.C. is, ironically, an essential tactic to be elected into a shiny new office downtown. As a Bethesda, Maryland native with my house five minutes from the district line, I always found it fascinating how people’s conceptions of the city vary so widely. 

Larry Nassar assaults continued due to victim doubt

Larry Nassar assaults continued due to victim doubt

Larry Nassar, former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for decades of sexual assault, as well as 60 years for possession of child pornography, on Jan. 24. The ruling was long overdue. Because mandatory reporters and the institutions employing Nassar ignored abuse accusations and repeatedly delayed investigations, he was able to assault over 150 women and girls. According to NBC, eight different people accused Nassar of sexual assault between 1997 and 2015, but were discredited each time, despite mandatory reporting laws. The culture of doubting victims is the main reason many sexual assaults take place. 

Colleges should place less importance on social likeability

Colleges should place less importance on social likeability

Among the academic world today, the concept of introverted and extroverted personalities in the classroom and in the work force is common. They were first introduced by psychologist Carl G. Jung in 1920. In simple terms, being an introvert suggests that one’s internal energy batteries (emotional and mental ones) are best recharged in quiet surroundings, whereas extroverts are stimulated by social interactions and tend to be more outgoing. People often assume that extroverts are naturally better workers for the labor force. However, with their ability to analyze social situations (even if they do not want to be a part of them) and to think quickly, introverts also have an important role to play in today’s world.

Letter to the Editor

To begin, we would like to say that we denounce any notions that we find student tobacco users repulsive or undesirable, as we respect every student at Mount Holyoke -— but we cannot condone addictions that negatively impact the health and wellbeing of other students. From the beginning of our advocacy in the fall semester, people have made assumptions about the work we are doing, and we want to set the record straight. Having both experienced our loved ones suffer and die due to tobacco addition, this issue is close to our hearts, and one we take very seriously. 

A threat to net neutrality is a threat to American democracy

A threat to net neutrality is a threat to American democracy

BY ELLIS TOWNSLEY ’20

Net neutrality is defined as “the principle that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites,” according to Merriam Webster. This means keeping the internet as unrestricted as possible, in terms of cost and which websites users are allowed to browse. Ajit Pai, the newly-appointed Chairman of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), recently introduced a plan to do away with net neutrality. There have been many similar attempts in the past, including a failed attempt from the FCC in 2010, so unfortunately Pai’s current plan is nothing new. 

Romantic age gaps inappropriately celebrated in college

Romantic age gaps inappropriately celebrated in college

BY LILY REAVIS ’21

When I was 15, a 28-year-old man tried to justify having a romantic relationship with me by citing the fact that, in a couple years, we would adhere to the “half plus seven” rule. This rule dictates that a man may date women younger than him, so long as they are at least half of his age, plus seven years. This rule encourages unhealthy, predatory relationships and justifies manipulative behavior toward young women.

New senate tax bill screws over the Mount Holyoke community

New senate tax bill screws over the Mount Holyoke community

BY CHLOE JENSEN ’20

Early on Saturday morning, the GOP passed a new tax bill that would damage the American middle class. Although there are many elements of this law to criticize, like the cuts to Medicaid and the 35 to 20 percent corporate tax decrease, its effect on academia, and specifically, graduate students is particularly aboherrent. 

Environmental activism in private life is meaningless

BY JULIA SIENKIEWICZ ’20

“The average American produces 4.4 pounds of trash per day,” I read on a Buzzfeed listicle. So I’ll start carrying reusable shopping bags, and save today’s dinner for tomorrow’s leftovers. I’ll buy a bamboo tooth brush, and cosmetics from companies that love the environment as much as I do. 

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