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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022
New Zowie Banteah Cultural Center opens in new space 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
Photo by Gillian Petrarca ’23 Zowie Banteah ’96 and family traveled to the opening of the new Zowie Banteah Cultural Center.
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 aprayer in the Nipmuc language to
Convocation delayed due to anticipated heavy rain
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,
Photo by Gillian Petrarca ’23 Latrina Denson delivers opening remarks and background on the Zowie Banteah Cultural 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 Indig-
enous 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 CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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Students navigate new COVID-19 testing guidelines as they arrive to the College BY ANOUSHKA KUSWAHA ’24 & TARA MONASTESSE ’25 NEWS EDITORS
Content warning: This article discusses ableism.
Photo by Ali Meizels ’23 This year’s seniors — the Yellow Sphinxes — celebrate their class pride at the 2021 Convocation.
BY MICHELLE BRUMLEY ’24 STAFF WRITER
One of Mount Holyoke’s most iconic traditions, Convocation, has seen both rain and shine since its formal kickoff in 1931. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020’s Convocation was entirely virtual. After a triumphant return in 2021, 2022’s Convocation has been rescheduled due to anticipated heavy rain on the original date of Sept. 6. As stated in an email to the community from the Office of the President, the new date
for Convocation is Sunday, Sept. 18 — scheduled in part to accommodate student athletes, who frequently have games or meets on Saturdays. Some athletes, however, are scheduled to have their first game of the season this Sunday. This presents a scheduling challenge, according to rugby player Ava Healy ’24. Despite these setbacks, this year’s Convocation will take place on a day forecasted to be sunny and breezy, bringing together new and returning students alike.
Queen Elizabeth, dies at age 96 BY ANOUSHKA KUSWAHA ’24 NEWS EDITOR
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom died at 96 years old on Sept. 8, 2022, at her Scottish estate, Balmoral Castle, according to BBC News. The former queen acceded to the British throne in 1952, following the death of her father, King George V. Her 70-year reign is the longest in British history, according to CNBC. Buckingham Palace announced her death at 6:30 p.m. BST. News of the monarch’s death followed an early-afternoon statement from Buckingham Palace announcing that the queen had been placed under medical supervision, according to The New York Times. Her cause of death remains unknown. The queen’s death paved the way for her son, Charles III, to assume the throne. In a break from tradition, he will be retaining his given name as his regnal name — King Charles III. King Charles is the oldest person
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Photo courtesy of Julian Calder via WikiMedia Commons Queen Elizabeth II, above, pictured in 2011.
to become monarch in British history, taking the throne at the age of 73, according to The New York Times.
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Over the summer break, the Mount Holyoke College community waited to see how the pandemic would impact the community’s modes of learning and lifestyle on campus this semester. The impact would begin with how the community would approach its campus movein process for the 2022-2023 academic year. A July 28 letter to the community from Interim President Beverly Daniel Tatum announced that three-layer face masks would be required within indoor campus spaces until Sept. 16. This date was later extended to Sept. 30 as noted by The Health and Safety Committee in a Sept. 14 letter to the community. The July update also requested that residential students receive a negative test result within 24 hours before their move-in time. For students unable to provide third-party documentation of a negative test result, on-campus testing was made available upon arrival. Students interviewed by Mount Holyoke News about their move-in experience primarily chose to utilize the on-campus testing option to obtain a COVID-19 test. The opportunity to test on campus was particularly convenient for some, as the limited testing time of 24 hours made it difficult to receive a test at surrounding pharmacies while coordinating travel to campus, Emily Jones ’23 expressed. Some students were wary of the delay to the move-in process that was advertised on the Fall 2022 Move-In website, should they choose to get tested on campus. Felix Lawton ’24 expressed initial reservations about getting tested on campus for this reason. Lawton was also concerned with getting tested within the required timeframe, but voiced how the availability of testing on campus made the move-in process go “smoothly.” Jones also voiced interest in getting tested before arriving on campus to quicken her move-in process but was unable to do so as the nearby pharmacy where she sought out a test no longer offered [COVID-19]
Photo by Rosemary Geib ’23 Blue signs posted around campus direct arriving students and guests through the move in process.
tests. “I got tested when I came to campus, and that was such an easy process,” said Talya Denis ’24, a resident of Creighton Hall. “I just decided to do it at the school. I thought it would be easier.” While biweekly asymptomatic testing is no longer required for students, as was College policy during the previous academic year, symptomatic testing is still available upon request through College Health Services. However, it did not escape students’ attention that out-of-school testing was a non-feasible option. “I called a local Walgreens near cam-
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pus but they said they weren’t doing [COVID-19] testing,” explained Jones when discussing why she had to get tested on campus. The lack of testing available prior to the beginning of the school year indicates that it could become increasingly difficult for students to access testing outside of the campus as the year progresses, and has raised concerns for health safety among students. “I wish the College had more options to get tested for [COVID-19]. The only way to get tested is if you have symptoms but I’m concerned about the spread of [COVID-19] withCONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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