Mount Holyoke News AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1917 MOUNTHOLYOKENEWS.COM
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2022
Arabic program fractured by language department cuts BY LADIN AKCACIOGLU ’24 & TARA MONASTESSE ’25 CONTRIBUTING WRITER | STAFF WRITER
“If I [had known] they weren’t going to keep Arabic, I honestly wouldn’t have come,” prospective Arabic minor Sofia Nojaim ’25 said. Nojaim is one of 13 students currently enrolled in the second semester of first year Arabic. According to Safiyah Bey ’23, an international relations major, on Feb. 16, the members of the first year Arabic class were informed that intermediate Arabic classes would no longer be taught on the Mount Holyoke College campus.” “Traveling to any of the Five Colleges for this recourse could be a difficulty for many who might want to continue their studies in Arabic,” Bey said. According to Interim Dean of Faculty and Professor of Spanish Dorothy Mosby, “Arabic … will continue to be staffed through our partnership with the Five College Arabic Language Initiative.” This means that introductory level Arabic will be taught [at] Mount Holyoke by a Five College language professor based on another campus. Mosby also added that “Students will also have access to the Five College World Language Center.” Arabic is currently one of four languages offered by the College under the Asian Studies department — the others being Japanese, Chinese and Korean — and the only non-East Asian language offered. Arabic is also the only language currently offered at Mount Holyoke’s campus that can fulfill the language requirement of the Middle Eastern studies major. With the decision to eliminate Arabic classes at the intermediate level, this requirement must be satisfied elsewhere within the Five College Consortium. After this change, there is no way for Middle Eastern studies majors to fulfill their major
Photo by Xinran Li ’23 Intermediate Arabic classes will no longer take place on the Mount Holyoke campus and will instead be offered through the Five College Consortium.
requirements within the boundaries of Mount Holyoke. With this decision to eliminate intermediate Arabic language courses from Mount Holyoke College, students, such as Nojaim and Bey, will need to travel beyond Mount Holyoke to further pursue their study in the language. “I don’t know what other option I have but to transfer — ultimately, I’m paying a lot of money to take class[es] here, not at another school,” Nojaim said. “Ever since my peers and I in Arabic 131-02 found out about the elimination of second year Arabic classes … several students have begun to mobilize and contest this decision,” Bey said. “The College made [this choice] without even consulting with the student body.” Bey shared that a petition contesting the elimination of intermediate level Arabic classes has received 13 signatures from both sections of Arabic 131. “This is an issue that we as students will continue to advocate
for, it is important for us to have the resources and classes that we need here on our campus,” Bey said. Izzy Leake ’25 hasn’t determined their major yet but found themself gravitating towards Middle Eastern studies after taking Arabic to fulfill the College’s language requirement. Now, the prospect of having to commute extensively to fulfill major requirements has put a damper on their newfound passion for the subject. “It’s discouraging students from pursuing higher levels in language,” Leake said. As the College assesses its priorities when distributing funding to its departments, other language programs face similar uncertainty. Professor Peter Scotto, chair of Russian and Eurasian studies, described the current situation at the College as a reflection of the struggle most liberal arts colleges in the United States are facing regarding how to distribute resources among various disciplines.
“At this point, I think anybody who has declared a Russian major… can get through,” Scotto said. “I simply know that the College has felt that they were spending too much on language instruction. They wanted to take resources out of language instruction and move them to other places in the curriculum. That doesn’t mean [eliminating] language instruction, but the question is always how much, and where.” “I know … that the College wants to continue instruction in Russian and German,” Scotto said. Speaking to the lack of language resources available at her disposal, Catherine Simons ’24, a Russian and Eurasian studies major, said, “I’ve actually never taken a Russian language class at Mount Holyoke,” Simons said. “I was meant to take intermediate [Russian] at Mount Holyoke this fall, but it was canceled right before classes started because of a small class size.” In voicing her frustrations regarding the College’s lack of com-
mitment to Russian language studies, Simons added, “I think that looking at low numbers of Russian majors can’t justify getting rid of [classes] when it’s so relevant to other disciplines as well.” Simons also mentioned that replacing departing faculty members seems to be the key to “not letting the department die a prolonged death.” In an email to Mount Holyoke News, Mosby announced that she will be “convening a Curricular Action Committee … charged to make a recommendation for a creative and innovative structure to support teaching of language and culture at Mount Holyoke, with specific nearterm focus on German and Russian.” “This group will present findings via report to the [Academic Priorities Committee] and the Dean of Faculty’s office by the end of the spring semester,” Mosby added. “The faculty have been in conversation for at least two decades about the state of teaching languages, literatures and cultures at Mount Holyoke,” Mosby said. “Declining enrollments and faculty resources make accelerating the faculty conversation on this topic urgent.” “Student enrollments in languages other than English have been declining both at MHC and nationally,” Mosby explained. “Since 2017, the percentage of incoming students interested in the languages being discussed has steadily lingered below one half of a percent. By comparison, during the same time, we’ve seen interest grow by more than a half a percent in data science, politics and psychology.” Additionally, Mosby added that high interest has remained consistent in English, biological sciences and the pre-health track. The future of the German and Russian language programs at Mount Holyoke is unclear. Mount Holyoke News will continue to follow this developing story.
Senate discusses AccessAbility, APAU celebrates Black binder drive, Jorge’s unusual lifespan History Month with the theme “Black and … ”
Photo by Rosemary Geib ’23 On Tuesday, members of the SGA E-Board informed senators of the upcoming binder drive hosted by the Lavender Committee, the AccessAbility barrier access form and the new speed limit sign.
BY KATIE GOSS ’23 & SAMMI CRAIG ’23 BUSINESS MANAGER & NEWS EDITOR | STAFF WRITER
The Feb. 22 senate meeting began with a land acknowledgment read by Shula Mathew ’22, chair of senate. The meeting included E-Board updates, open floor announcements, preparation for the next Town Hall and a role play activity. The E-board delivered three updates, starting with updates from AccessAbility Services. They encouraged community members to fill out the Barrier to Access Form if they encounter accessibility obstacles on campus. Chair of special interests, Sophia Jung ’22, met with Senior Accommodation Coordinator Aaron Ferguson on Feb. 21 and advocated for more accessible Golden Pears for people in wheelchairs. Jung suggested students be placed in the dorm 1837 through the AccessAbility housing lottery since 1837 has a wheelchair-accessible Golden Pear. Ananya Singh ’22, vice president of SGA, had previously reached out
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to Facilities Management about unemptied outdoor trash cans. However, due to a staffing shortage they are not able to address this issue in a timely manner in order to prevent wild animal attraction. Since the hours are difficult, this task will not be outsourced to student workers. Jung volunteered to reach out to Facilities Management again regarding the issue. EJ Jankovic ’23, chair of halls, announced that the Lavender Committee is hosting a binder drive, during which they will collect chest binders to distribute to those who need them within the Mount Holyoke community. If students are interested in receiving one, there is a Google Form from the group in order to secure one. A temporary speed reader sign was placed outside by Auxiliary Services in order to try and reduce car speeds on Lower Lake Road. Jankovic said that Public Safety and Service is still looking for options in order to solve this problem. Senate then moved into open floor announcements. Mathew, who is also the diversity, equity and in-
S&E: Professor finds dinosaur bone fossil
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clusion officer for the Psych Association, mentioned that they will be creating self-care bags for members of the community. Specifically in the month of February, they are hoping to create these bags for Black and Latine students. Rhea Pathi ’25, senator for WMHC, reminded students that there will be a call-in show on the station this Friday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. Two members from the Animal Welfare Association mentioned some issues surrounding Jorge the goose. One reminded students that Jorge should not be fed by people, in order to make sure he does not develop a reduced fear to dangerous situations. The other Animal Welfare Association member pointed out that Jorge has been at the College for 28 years, which is longer than most Pilgrim Geese live. Additionally, they are following up on the rumors that Jorge was replaced at some time, and are looking into finding out who is in charge of him. The senator from the Mount Holyoke Climate Justice Coalition mentioned that they had an open mic with students who live in the Mosaic LLC. During that time, students had voiced that they were frustrated that students’ service on committees, rather than qualifying as paid work, are a form of volunteering on campus. Singh mentioned that there are conversations ongoing about having paid positions in these regards. It is something the E-Board is working on. The final portion of senate was dedicated to a role play scenario designed to prepare students for the Town Hall taking place at the next senate meeting. Senators were asked to split into groups of three and role play a scenario where two senators disagree on an issue, and then have a mediator help work out the conflict. A Town Hall with AccessAbility Services will take place at the next senate meeting on March 1 from 8-9 p.m.
BY GILLIAN PETRARCA ’23 STAFF WRITER
“Our goal was to steer away from how people usually present Black History Month. Slavery and segregation are a part of Black history, but we really wanted to focus on Black joy,” Black History Month Co-Coordinator for the Association of Pan-African Uni- Graphic courtesy of Mount Holyoke Association of Pan-African ty, Geraldine Lou- Unity is ’24, said. Skin and Hair for POC,” an interBlack History Month at Mount active workshop led by Dr. YolanHolyoke is coordinated by the As- da Lenzy, a board-certified dermasociation of Pan African Unity and tologist specializing in medical, the Division of Student Life, Office surgical and cosmetic skin and of Community and Belonging. hair care for adults and children. When choosing the theme for “Honestly, it was an amazing this year, Louis said she was in- presentation,” Louis said. “Her spired by the Black History Month presentation was very informacelebration from last year. tive. We had a great turnout and “Last year they chose to have people asked a lot of questions.” a theme every week. We wanted to The third week’s theme was do that too. So we chose ‘Black and “Black and Authentic” during …’ a new adjective for each week.” which the film “Pariah” was The first week’s theme, “Black shown. and Supreme,” was celebrated “We chose this movie because with a showing of the film “The we felt like we wanted people to Harder They Fall.” The following embrace their true selves,” Louis week’s theme of “Black and Be- said. loved” was celebrated with the With the end of the month film “Photograph.” approaching, the final theme will “We chose this movie because be “Black and Jovial,” along with it was Valentine’s Day and of a showing of the film “Girls Trip.” course we wanted to watch some“We really just want to wind thing romantic … I was thrilled we down, laugh and celebrate black ended up not even watching the joy,” Louis said. entire movie because there was Other upcoming Black History such deep conversation happen- month events include a watch paring,” Louis said. ty for the NAACP Image awards Also organized during the sec- on Feb. 26 and a Black History ond week was “Tips for Navigating Month Gala on Feb. 27.
A&E: Animation Guild negotiates for fair pay
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PHOTOS: Vietnam night performers shine on stage
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FEATURES
February 25, 2022
. Mount Holyoke News
Chinese Cultural Association hosts Karla Youngblood FP ’99 annual China Night performance returns to MHC as the
Photo by Naomi Jiang ’25 Rainbow Jelly Dance Club poses at the end of their performance at China Night in February 2022.
BY JESSE HAUSKNECHT-BROWN ’25 FEATURES EDITOR
Vibrant performances, upbeat dances and lively music flowed across the stage at the Chinese Cultural Association’s annual China Night. The event was held on Friday, Feb. 18 in Chapin Auditorium, which was packed with an energetic audience of students and community members. “I feel like it [was] kind of surprising for me, because … we have sold out for like 160 tickets, which… [exceeded] my expectation,” Angie Zhu ’23, co-chair of the Chinese Cultural Association, said. “In the event before, the balcony [was] almost empty or only [at] like half of the capability. I think [it was] almost full when I was like seeing [it from] the stage on that day, so it was kind of surprising.” Zhu explained that she was proud of all the work that the performers put in and how much time they dedicate to rehearsing. “They devote so much time to the show, and I was also touched by that,” Zhu said. The event was hosted by the CCA and is an opportunity for Chinese students to share parts of their culture. Mount Holyoke College’s dance groups Sky Dance, Rainbow Jelly, ODM and Holy Street performed, along with solo dancers and singers. The night concluded with a fashion show of traditional Chinese clothing and contemporary outfits. “I have seen how each [performer] gets started and practice[d] and practice[d] and finally brings a really impressive show on China Night,” Karry Wang ’23, co-chair of the CCA, said. “I have to sincerely thank every performer and every member of CCA,” Wang said. Zhu praised Georgia Shen ’25’s
solo dance performance in particular. “She can express [the] emotions which are behind the story and I felt like she really impresses lots of people by using her movements and she deserves to be one of the best,” Zhu said. Shen explained that she hadn’t performed on stage in years. “I was extremely nervous to dance for a live audience, especially since I knew some of my friends were part of that audience. But it was also a bit exciting to be able to perform again and to hear the cheers of the crowd,” Shen said. “We have a lot of new kinds of performances,” Zhu said. “We had Sherry [Chen ’25] to do the diabolo … and it’s very exciting for the audience and also a new way of performance [that] we have never seen before.” A diabolo is an hourglass shaped object that slides along a string, which the performer holds, therefore being able to manipulate the diabolo’s movements to perform tricks. Chen had never performed alone on stage before, but was thankful for the loud and supportive audience. “A good thing about diabolo performances is that I spend most of the time looking at the diabolo, and I think that prevents me from getting too intimidated by the audience size,” Chen said. “I felt super happy to be back onstage.” Zhu and Wang both danced in performances at the event. Zhu performed “We Still Have Each Other” and “Ambush” with the dance group Sky Dance, which centers traditional Chinese dance culture while combining elements of traditional and contemporary dance. Wang danced with groups Holy Street, Rainbow Jelly and performed a duet called “The Message” with Miranda Du ’23.
“We two are really happy to both perform and also [be part of the] organizing … team,” Zhu said. Zhu had to handle new challenges of planning and running a large theatrical event. “I feel like the new stuff for us to explore [was] how to communicate between stage crews and performers and also [how to] publicize our event,” Zhu said. Additionally, half of the CCA’s 29 members were performing in the program, which made logistical planning laborious. “It’s kind of difficult to have a plan of what each member should do on that day or before the day, so it’s kind of hard to manage such a huge team and how to … have an equal distribution of the work,” Zhu said. “I felt like that was the new stuff for me and that’s what [was] really a challenge.” The performers went through dress rehearsals in Chapin Auditorium during the week leading up to the event. Zhu described the hectic process of pulling everything together during that week. “I feel like it was especially busy for the week before the event because we were tabling in Blanch to sell tickets, but we are also having the rehearsal slots in Chapin for every single day before the actual event. So that week was really busy,” Zhu said. “We also [had] to do the decoration. So it’s like we [were] having the rehearsal and decorations and then tickets — the whole thing in a week. So that was stressful.” The CCA started advertising the audition process in November and went on to hold auditions during the first week of the spring semester. They also worked on making posters, creating the event on Embark, collaborating with the Student Involvement Office and reaching out to stage crews to help run the show. China Night has become an annual tradition for the CCA and celebrates the Chinese New Year, which was on Feb. 1, even though it took place about three weeks afterwards. “Under this pandemic period, most Chinese and international students are not able to go back home during the winter break,” Wang said. “This event celebrating Chinese New Year is really important to each of us. Thus, conveying Chinese traditional culture really creates a homelike environment for us.” Zhu described how, because of when the spring semester started, they weren’t able to hold the event any closer to the Chinese New Year, but still enjoyed being able to celebrate the holiday in the community environment. Zhu said, “I felt like the main goal is still to celebrate the Chinese New Year and also [to provide] a chance for all the students to show our culture … [and to show] something very diverse about Chinese culture.”
Associate Vice President for Facilities Management BY MISHAAL KHAN ’25 STAFF WRITER
With the inception of the 2022 spring semester, the Mount Holyoke College staff welcomes Karla Youngblood FP ’99 as the associate vice president for Facilities Management. “I will lead the facilities team, … the central energy plant, all the trades, all of the … custodial, housekeepers, all of that falls under the associate vice president of facilities management,” Youngblood said. “It’s really making sure that [the staff are] plugged into the greater mission of the College and being a conduit.” Youngblood is an alumna of the Frances Perkins Program at Mount Holyoke College. After graduating, she went on to pursue a career in facilities planning and management within the Five College consortium. “I majored in Russian and Eurasian Studies, but clearly you can see I built a career in Facilities Plan- Photo courtesy of Karla Youngblood FP ’99 ning and Management … Really, it This semester, Karla Youngblood FP ’99 has returned to Mount Holyoke as the new Associwas the skills of agility and creativ- ate Vice President for Facilities Management. ity that I honed here as a student that helped me find my way, not only career took a different path. to my field of interest but also in a Youngblood credits her comfort profession that is male-dominated,” in taking a career path separate Youngblood said. “I really attribute from what she studied during her that, [and] the success I’ve had so time at Mount Holyoke to her alma far, to my experience as a student [at mater. Mount Holyoke].” “Mount Holyoke teaches us how Youngblood first began her ca- to think, how to speak [and] how reer within the Five Colleges as the to write … liberal arts education Director of Fais wonderful in cilities for Smith that the bound“Liberal arts education College for seven aries are unlimis wonderful in that the years, followed ited. You can by a similar positake those skills boundaries are unlimited. tion at Amherst and apply them You can take those skills College before … where your and apply them … where returning to interest lies,” Mount Holyoke. Youngblood said. your interest lies.” She stated that Although she has loved livshe only just re– Karla Youngblood FP ’99 turned to Mount ing in this area and is glad for Holyoke, Youngthe ability to work close to where blood has been overwhelmed with she lives. the nostalgia of her previous college “The Five Colleges … give many days. of us an opportunity to try new “I’ve only been on campus [for] things [and] grow in our careers a week but in that short amount of without needing to relocate, and you time, I’ve been surprised by how see it all the time, the movement be- much it feels like home,” Youngblood tween colleges among staff,” Young- said. “It’s really an honor to return to blood stated. the College in a leadership role, with Being a Francis Perkins scholar, responsibility for our buildings and Youngblood noted that although she our grounds and the ability to help didn’t finish college at the tradition- shape an inclusive sense of space. al age, she was inspired to return That was really important to me.” and complete her degree when she Youngblood is thrilled to give moved into the Five College area. back to the school that gave so much The academic community within to her and rejoin the community the region sparked her interest in here at Mount Holyoke, especially returning to school, especially since when she walks the grounds and the Russian and Eurasian studies de- sees students and staff alike. Youngpartment at Mount Holyoke grasped blood concluded, “[The campus] has her attention. While she enjoyed the same heart and soul that I repursuing this major, Youngblood’s call.”
OPINION: Gender expression and gender identity are not the same BY ZORA LOTTON-BARKER ’25 STAFF WRITER & COPY EDITOR
When we look at other people, we make instant assumptions about them, from the way they dress, act or even what they are interested in. These expectations can be damaging, not only because they are often untrue, but also because they can be incredibly hard to unlearn. This is often true for those who do not fit within the gender binary, and even more so for those who do not fit into the androgynous stereotype often ascribed to non-binary people. It is one thing to understand that gender identity, pronouns and gender expression are three separate categories, and it is another to actively deconstruct the notions of gender that place those groupings together. Gender identity, according to an article by NPR, is “one’s own internal sense of self and their gender, whether that is man, woman, neither or both. Unlike gender expression, gender identity is not outwardly visible to others.” In the same piece, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation communications director, Mary Emily O’Hara, described
pronouns as “how someone refers to you in conversation.” Gender expression, as defined by Very Well Mind, “refers to the way that a person presents their gender to the world. How a person dresses can be a form of gender expression, but it can also encompass other aspects of appearance and behavior including hairstyles, body features, interests, body language, voice, pronouns and mannerisms.” As someone who is actively grappling with my gender identity, it has been particularly hard for me to come to terms with myself because my gender presentation seems to automatically categorize me into a certain group. I came out to my family and friends when I was 15 years old. Originally, I identified as bisexual, unsure of whether or not I was attracted to men, I would later adopt both lesbian and queer identifiers. I decided to come out of the closet because I was in love with my best friend, as is true for many queer people. We ended up dating for about six months. During that time, I began to feel more comfortable with my sexuality. After years of hiding parts of myself, I was now able to share details surrounding my queerness with my
Graphic courtesy of Pixabay
friends and family like compulsory heterosexuality and womanhood. The rejection of romantic connection to men felt like I was breaking away from my womanhood, too. Unfortunately, it often feels like the only way in which I can properly enact womanhood is to relate myself to men in some way. That makes lesbianism very isolating. As someone who has questioned their gender identity, and still does, one of the hardest things that I have come to grapple with is the tendency for those around me to view my gender expression as the default for my identity. When I started to use she/ they pronouns last year and asked friends and family to refer to me as such, rarely did I hear them refer to me with they/them pronouns. Even when I talked to other queer and non-binary friends, who often met
me with empathy and understanding, nothing seemed to change. It has been incredibly hard for me to realize whether or not using they/them pronouns feels right for me because I am always referred to using she/her pronouns. I can’t tell if they/them pronouns give me a sense of gender euphoria because I have not experienced them. I have often considered changing my pronouns to she/her on all platforms so that I could at least feel like people were respecting my identity, even if it was wrong. In an interview with Them magazine, Summer Bedard, who used both she/her and he/him pronouns interchangeably, spoke about using more than one set of pronouns. “People who use multiple pronouns are showcasing the complexity of their identity to the world, and I think that’s really beautiful because
it shows others that it’s okay to embrace all the many sides of yourself at once,” Bedard said. In the same article, author Wren Sanders noted that “by embracing this tendency toward complexity, we might all become more attuned to the beauty of gender as more than a box to check, but rather a medium for limitless expression.” I think one of the reasons that those around me have had such a hard time using they/them pronouns for me is because I do not present androgynously. Rather, I tend to wear exclusively feminine clothing and am interested in stereotypically feminine activities such as sewing, ballet and embroidering. I have thought about altering the way that I look to better conform to what is expected of non-binary people. However, non-binary people don’t owe you androgyny to make their gender identity easier to conceptualize or rationalize. Rather than forcing those who do not fit within the gender binary to confine themselves to new boxes, it is the job of everyone else to redefine and reimagine their understanding of gender.
February 25, 2022
SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT
. Mount Holyoke News
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Professor Mark McMenamin discovers rare dinosaur fossil BY ANOUSHKA KUSWAHA ’24 & YUYANG WANG ’24 SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT EDITOR | STAFF WRITER
Mount Holyoke College Professor of Geology Mark McMenamin and his wife, Dianna McMenamin, found a dinosaur bone fossil in the parking lot of the Newman Center in Amherst, Massachusetts, in August 2021. “We found it on our 40th anniversary, August 8,” McMenamin said. “Dianna does a lot of work making our garden beautiful, and she saw some stones that were … in the dirt, and she wanted to take them home. So, we’re picking up all these stones and rocks and putting them in the back of our car. And one of them was [the] bone of the dinosaur,” McMenamin recalled. The place where the fossil was found was originally part of the Portland Formation of the Hartford Basin in western Massachusetts. This rift valley runs all the way from Vermont, New Hampshire, all the way down to Connecticut. According to McMenamin, the unique process of the Hartford basin’s formation makes it a perfect place for fossils to be preserved. “Mostly we know about the dinosaur tracks because they’re really well preserved. But the bones have been very hard to find, and we have very, very few of them. [This discovery is] one more piece of evidence about the dinosaurs that were alive — not just their tracks, but their actual remains,” McMenamin said. The fossil itself is a gray, almost black-colored fossil bone. McMenamin identified the fossil as “the distal, [the] outer, end of the right humerus, the long upper arm, of a large neotheropod,” according to an article about the fossil discovery by Current Science Daily. In an interview with Mount Holyoke News, McMenamin explained that he was able to initially identify the fossil as being
Photo courtesy of Deb Labonte McMenamin poses with the dinosaur bone fossil he and his wife discovered in Amherst last year.
the humerus bone of the neotheropod due to the fossil’s “roughly triangular shape” and the fact that “one end [of the fossil] seems to be where the shaft of the bone comes out.” McMenamin went on to confirm his hypothesis that the fossil was in fact a bone through the removal of a small piece of the fossil for scanning in a Scanning Electron Microscope in his laboratory at Mount Holyoke College. The scan results “came up with both [a] phosphorus and [a] calcium peak. So that confirms it as [a] fossil bone,” McMenamin explained. After successfully identifying the item as a fossil bone, McMenamin “went into the literature,” reading earlier studies in order to find previously discovered “examples of bones of similar shape.” He observed that several discoveries were made of dinosaurs from the early Jurassic period that had preserved humeri that were “broken off in just the same
way.” McMenamin identified one genus of large theropod dinosaur discovered in Antarctica, Cryolophosaurus, as having humeri fossils that “look like a pretty good comparison” to the one he discovered. However, he emphasized that the fossil he discovered is only a partial fossil, “so interpretations could be changed.” Based on comparisons with other early Jurassic period dinosaur fossils, such as those of the similar Dilophosaurus genus, McMenamin was able to conclude that the fossil belonged to a “very large animal.” He estimated that the neotherpod would have been more than 30 feet long, around nine meters. The dinosaur itself is understood to have been a predatory dinosaur based on McMenamin’s current work with the fossil, particularly with his comparisons to fossils of the Dilophosaurus and Cryolophosaurus genera. McMenamin observed that
the dinosaur “has a very dense bone structure, which is oftentimes seen in dinosaurs that spent a lot of time in the water.” Thus, he has drawn the tentative conclusion that the fossil belonged to a swimming dinosaur that was also capable of walking, and most importantly, hunting on land. This conclusion is further supported by “trace fossil evidence … [of] kick marks, in the … strata formed by the hind limbs of a swimming dinosaur,” as well as “large footprints from an unknown animal walking on dry land” in the area surrounding the location where the fossil was found, McMenamin stated. At present, further investigation and discovery are required in order to completely confirm the theories about the creature’s species, genus and lifestyle habits. Regarding the challenges waiting ahead in the discovery process of this creature, McMenamin expressed that “the best thing … would be to find a more complete skeleton.” McMenamin’s individual searches in the surrounding areas thus far have been unsuccessful in retrieving more of the neotheropod’s complete fossilized skeleton. McMenamin said that there will be opportunities for students at Mount Holyoke College to assist in the further discovery of this dinosaur’s skeleton, and that “there’s a lot more research to do.” McMenamin remains optimistic that more of the creature will be found, and that the fossil discovery will have a positive impact on current knowledge about the Jurassic period. McMenamin stated that if all of his current analysis and observations are correct, then the fossil bone could have belonged to “one of the largest dinosaurs of its time.” He also estimated that this dinosaur could have been the first dinosaur to have reached its size in the early Jurassic period, “which is still early in dinosaur history.” Forming a conclusion about the dinosaur’s height and lifestyle has the potential to be influ-
ential on human knowledge about the early Jurassic period’s ecology and the evolution of height in dinosaurs, McMenamin explained. Due to the uncertainties associated with any new scientific discovery, the naming of the creature is somewhat in the air. In an effort to pay tribute to the area where the fossil was discovered, McMenamin is hoping to name the dinosaur Massalophosaurus, after the state of Massachusetts. However, he emphasized that the name Massalophosaurus is a nomen nudum, and the official naming of the creature will be decided on after much more research. The discovery of this fossil comes shortly after the recent naming of Podokesaurus holyokensis, discovered by Mount Holyoke’s Mignon Talbot in 1910, as the first official Massachusetts state dinosaur. The discovery of a potential new species of dinosaur will lend more excitement and interest to “learning about the backstory … of the land that we’re living on here. It has … a fantastically rich history,” McMenamin said. There also appears to be a connection between these two dinosaurs. McMenamin stated that the dinosaurs “would have been neighbors,” and that both creatures “would have been living in the same environment.” The nature of their relationship, unfortunately for Podokesaurus holyokensis, was likely one between a predator and its prey. McMenamin expressed that the discovery of dinosaurs is one of the few things that all people on the planet can have in common with one another. He emphasized that there is a lot to learn from paleontology discoveries happening around the world and that we can use that information “to get back to work … learning more about the ancient history and our own local backstory,” all of which will be of “great interest to the entire international scientific community.”
North Brooklyn Pipeline raises climate Climate Activist Spotlight: justice concerns amid years of protest Winnie Cheche Natural gas is a fossil fuel and is responsible for producing greenhouse gases when burned for fuel, Hydraulic fracturing, more com- according to the U.S. Energy Informonly known as fracking, is the pro- mation Administration. The building cess used to remove natural gas from and use of the North Brooklyn Pipeshale rock. The Environmental Pro- line pipeline contradicts the state’s tection Agency reported that special environmental goals to reduce or technology must be used because stop greenhouse gas emissions. natural gas is “highly dispersed in Robert Connors, the founder of Stop the rock” rather than concentrat- NY Fracked Gas Pipeline, said in a ed like oil. Natural gas can then be Times Union article that the Albany transferred by land through meth- Loop pipeline “ran counter to the state’s Climate ods like pipeLeadership and lines, according “[With the pipeline] comCommunity Proto the U.S. Enermunities of color [who] have tection Act.” The gy Information Administration. historically borne the burden publication describes the Act Currently, in of environmental racism as a “2019 law Brooklyn, New continue to pay the price.” that requires the York, there is a state to reduce dispute over a National Grid – Fabian Rogers for the NY greenhouse gas emissions by 85 pipeline that Daily News percent in 2050.” originally began According to construction in 2017, according to The Guardian. The City has reported that environThe fracked gas pipeline is officially mental groups are also referring to called the Metropolitan Reliability this Act in opposition to the North Infrastructure and is more common- Brooklyn Pipeline. The Department ly referred to as the North Brooklyn of Environmental Conservation has Pipeline. The pipeline’s existence used the Act before “when it denied has been questioned on the basis of a permit from the energy company climate change and environmental NRG to replace an old peaker plant … with a newer — but still gas-powjustice concerns. The pipeline is an entirely new ered — plant in Astoria, Queens,” acbuild by the National Grid, accord- cording to The City. Several groups ing to the Sane Energy Project. The trying to prevent pipeline construcSane Energy Project noted that the tion “want to end all construction of expansion charges “the taxpayers fossil fuel infrastructure to reduce millions of dollars in rate hikes,” carbon and other emissions,” acmeaning the members of the Brook- cording to the Gothamist. The Gothlyn neighborhood will be paying for amist has looked at the alternatives the pipeline to be built. In late 2021, to relying on natural gas provided by 31 officials from NY wrote a letter the pipeline, like “electrifying heat in an attempt to persuade the gover- sources” and businesses “helping nor to prevent pipeline construction, Brooklyn residents transition to cliaccording to Energy News Network. mate-friendly heating.” These may The letter, as quoted by the Energy provide alternative energy sources News Network, places the rate hikes that don’t rely on the pipeline. This project creates several enin the context that “New Yorkers owe nearly $2 billion in unpaid debt vironmental justice concerns as it dito corporate utilities,” and that “1.9 rectly impacts the community where million customers” will pay for this the pipeline is being constructed, pipeline and related projects. Ac- as described by the Gothamist. The cording to Energy News Network, at pipeline’s start site is in Brownsville, this point in time, the North Brook- which is a majority Black neighborlyn Pipeline has “four of five phases hood, according to The Guardian. already operational,” with a current The Guardian also reported that hold on the fifth. The debate over the seven-mile pipeline “zigzags the North Brooklyn Pipeline comes through predominately Black and in the context of the cancellation of Latino neighborhoods, by bypassing the application for the Albany Loop whiter, wealthier parts of Brooklyn.” pipeline early this year, as described In response, local groups, such as Brownsville Green Justice and Sane by Times Union. BY HELEN GLOEGE ’23 STAFF WRITER
Energy Project, along with other groups, have protested in many different forms since 2017 — for example, people have “chained themselves to a construction site, and organized a gas bill strike,” Grist reported. A resident of Brownsville and member of the Brownsville Green Justice Group, Fabian Rogers, told the NY Daily News that the building of the pipeline is “just another example of how communities of color [who] have historically borne the burden of environmental racism continue to pay the price.” The location of the pipeline can also impact the community’s health and safety. Grist stated that these residents “are already overburdened with disproportionate environmental injustices like exposure to particulate air pollution and vulnerability to high temperatures” because of where they live. New York City has a local law that delineates part of the city into “Environmental justice areas,” which, according to The Guardian, are defined as “neighborhoods long overburdened with toxic hazards from a history of racist policies.” On top of that, Grist reported that residents “have said that they only learned about the pipeline after it was built,” sparking anger amongst the community for not having been previously consulted regarding the pipeline’s construction. During summer 2021, activists against the North Brooklyn Pipeline filed “a complaint against the utility and state” on the grounds that the pipeline violated “Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act,” according to The Guardian. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act says that “no person in the United States shall … be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” The pipeline is federally funded, so activists are arguing that it should be illegal because “the pipeline has resulted in racial discrimination,” according to The Guardian. Energy News Network has reported that “the complaint is under review by the US Environmental Protection Agency, but no decision about an investigation has yet been made.” At this point, there is still no decision from the EPA about whether there will be an investigation and if the fifth phase of the pipeline will be approved.
Graphic by Sofía Savid ’24
BY HELEN GLOEGE ’23 STAFF WRITER
Winnie Cheche is a 31-yearold climate activist from Nairobi, Kenya. Cheche has many titles, including “conservationist, environmental blogger, climate activist, volunteer and Communication Lead at Kenya Environmental Action Network,” according to GlobalConscience.world. In an article Cheche wrote for Global Citizen, she said she was drawn to activism due to her upbringing near “Lake Nakuru National Park, in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley,” which exposed her to wildlife and the dangers of wildlife poaching. Cheche saw “how poaching caused a decrease in certain wildlife” and wanted to do something about it. Within environmental activism, Cheche’s passion and specialty is conservation. “I am ready to do whatever I can to ensure that future generation[s] get to see animals,” Cheche said in an article from Palm Oil Detective. Her activism did not start with standing outside government buildings or staging protests, but “online with tweets and posts on matters concerning wildlife wel-
fare and climate change issues,” as outlined by Greenpeace. In Feb. 2018, Cheche started a blog that later developed into a website, which she uses as a tool for her activism and outreach work, according to Global Citizen. Her website and blog posts aim to “break down issues … in the simplest terms” in an attempt to reach more people, Greenppeace reported. Her website provides information on climate change, climate action, conservation and travel. Cheche points to activism as what “helped her find her voice again,” according to Greenpeace. Cheche is beginning to see the impacts of climate change in her home country of Kenya, which has “been experiencing floods, droughts and landslides” as well as “unpredictable weather patterns,” she mentioned in a Greenpeace article. Cheche wants government leaders to “acknowledge that climate change is already here with us,” she wrote in an article for Global Citizen. One of Cheche’s larger goals is to “enable or give humans resources to fall in love with our planet and wildlife,” as described by GlobalConscience. World.
4
OPINION
February 25, 2022
. Mount Holyoke News
MHC must live up to its promise of providing a global liberal arts education BY LADIN AKCACIOGLU ’24 CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Four years ago, a group of Mount Holyoke students organized a campaign aptly titled “Mount Holyoke Doesn’t Teach Me.” As archived by the Daily Hampshire Gazette in 2018, students at the time organized this campaign to address the lack of inclusion in our curriculum. The Gazette quoted several anonymous students who pointed out that Mount Holyoke fails to teach its students “that South Asian poets and authors are significant;” about “non-Western art history;” “about [their] culture without the colonizer’s perspective;” and about the “history of Muslim countries in an unbiased way.” Little has changed in the last four years. The concern over the lack of global voices in the curriculum has been going on for a long time. The recent decision to downsize the Arabic language program is just the latest example. On Wednesday, Feb. 16, along with several other first-year Arabic students, I was informed that intermediate Arabic would not be taught at the College next year. Without a Mount Holyoke based Arabic teacher, we are now expected to travel off campus to further our Arabic studies — with a new teacher, in a new institution. We were also informed that only a first-year Arabic language class would be taught by a visiting Amherst lecturer. This recent decision effectively eliminated the last remaining commitment this institution had in the Arabic language program.
Photo by Xinran Li ’23 The Ciruti Center for Foreign Languages currently hosts eight different language departments. A student group called Save our Departments is organizing against the downsizing of language programs.
faculty and professor of Spanish, wrote in a statement to Mount Holyoke News on Feb. 23. “Since 2017, the percentage of incoming students interested in the languages being discussed has steadily lingered below one half of a percent.” She continued, “By comparison, during the same time, we’ve seen interest grow by more than a half a percent in data science, politics and psychology, and Students address remain steadily high in biological growing concerns sciences, English and pre-health.” Concerns regarding the global Mosby also stated that “The faculvoices missing from Mount Holyoke’s ty have been in conversation for at education have recently manifested least two decades about the state of in a debate over the place of lan- teaching languages, literatures and guage in the College’s curriculum. In cultures at Mount Holyoke.” lieu of the collective frustration we According to Iyko Day, associfeel with the College’s lack of com- ate professor of English and chair mitment to our education, a couple of critical social thought and genof us started Save our Departments, der studies, a big aspect of language a student-led call to address the lack studies is about “humanistic inquiof investment in a “diverse, global ry.” To Day, “this is a question of how and inclusive” liberal arts education. resources are distributed across the As a member of curriculum, and this group, I am humanistic in“Whenever we ask for a part of the atquiry seems to be academic positions, we are less of a priority. tempt to mobilize the student body always told we can’t afford This is reflected and shine a light them. The first thing on the in the decline of on our collective the humanities cutting block always seems as a general frustrations. Ac c o r d i n g to be the languages.” trend in higher to Jackie Hahn education.” ’24, critical soMosby clari– Ombretta Frau cial thought and fied, “The Arabic English double instruction in major, being part of Save our Depart- Mount Holyoke will continue via the ments has been overwhelming. Five College Consortium.” “The Google form we have “I must emphasize that there shared asking to vocalize student are no immediate plans to end lanfrustrations in regards to the aca- guage instruction in Arabic, German demic experience in Mount Holy- or Russian or those majors at Mount oke has received 70 answers in just Holyoke College,” Mosby said. While a week across many departments,” Mount Holyoke will continue offerHahn said. “The most common con- ing Arabic classes through the Concern was the lack of resources and sortium, for those who truly want faculty, especially in the social sci- to immerse themselves in the lanences, languages and humanities.” guage, there will be no intermediate “What we’re looking to do is to classes at their disposal on campus. be heard by the administration and fight for the survival of a liberal arts Area studies are valuable education that is funded across all The future of language educadisciplines … especially those that tion at Mount Holyoke is ambiguous, are deemed financially unprofitable but this is nothing new. SGA Presi— such as the humanities, area stud- dent Lasya Priya Rao Jarugumilli ies, languages, ethnic studies and ’23, an international student from Inthe arts,” Hahn said. “These [areas dia, endured similar uncertainties as of study] are all fundamental parts a sophomore when they had to travof an anti-racist education, a radical el to attend Five Colleges courses to education and a global education.” pursue second-year Arabic studies. As Save our Departments, we are “I came to college wanting to also attempting to provide trans- study South Asian Studies and topparency to the struggles of students ics related to the Global South, esby sharing anonymous student re- pecially from a non-European and sponses on Instagram @saveourd- American perspective,” Jarugumilli eptsmhc. said. “My first year of college, I re“I believe to truly be an anti-rac- alized that I wasn’t going to be able ist institution we need to fund edu- to pursue South Asian Studies becation that has a nuanced approach cause of the lack of classes offered to U.S. intervention worldwide,” an- on campus, so I decided that I would thropology major Kasssandra Gon- do Middle Eastern Studies instead,” zalez ’24, another member of Save Jarugumilli added. our Departments, stated. In regards Upon completing their second to the upcoming February Board year of Arabic study off-campus and of Trustees meeting, she added, “I taking various Five College classes want the Board of Trustees, who are to fulfill their major requirements, meeting this Saturday, to know that Jarugumilli came to the disapit is hypocritical of them to defund pointing realization that “the inthe humanities while keeping the frastructure to support this field of facade of a liberal arts education. … study simply did not exist in Mount My biggest hope is that the Trustees Holyoke.” They are now pursuing a and committees deciding the future self-designed social thought and poof the College will hear this with litical economy major. open hearts.” Jarugumilli’s story sounded “Student enrollments in lan- alarmingly familiar, echoing the guages other than English have been frustrations and worries I have been declining both at MHC and national- feeling in the last couple of weeks ly,” Dorothy Mosby, interim dean of as a Middle Eastern Studies major.
Without intermediate Arabic being offered on campus next year and with restrictions on the number of classes I can take off-campus, I might find myself at a similar crossroads. “The Five College Consortium is a wonderful resource, but relying on it by default can create problems — the very burden of commuting for classes discourages students from pursuing their studies of interest,” Jarugumilli said. Having to travel off-campus via the PVTA and limits on how many classes students are allowed to take off-campus are just some examples of such barriers. Currently, the Asian Studies department encompasses the interdisciplinary studies of the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia — a study of the peoples, languages, religions and history of the biggest continent of the world. I want to highlight the orientalist undertones of flocking the entire continent under a single department while refusing to give space and resources to each geographical region the department encompasses. The Middle Eastern Studies major already lacks a faculty position specializing in the history of the region, which is necessary to fulfill basic major requirements, and without intermediate Arabic classes, there is no way for it to survive in the long term. Limiting the study of the Arabic language will put the Middle Eastern Studies major on the chopping block — its demise will be inevitable. Jarugumilli continued by addressing the importance of making space for ethnic studies and area studies in the curriculum. “For a lot of students in this campus, receiving an education on area studies and ethnic studies has been essential, not only just to their academic development but to their identity development as a whole,” they said. As an international student from Turkey, I am one of the students who has immensely benefited from studying the region I come from. Beyond directly benefiting from my peers being educated on the region I call home, getting to see myself in a textbook is truly empowering. Studying marginalized regions whose positions have been defined in relation to the West and whose histories have been impacted by imperialism allows us — the students from these areas — to be active participants in our own narrative-making instead of a mere object of study. Mount Holyoke can’t be a global institution simply by admitting international students — it can do so by making space in the curriculum for different cultures, religions and languages. Although Middle Eastern Studies is being stifled out of existence, the College continues to promote it on its website as if it’s a functional department that can be pursued by prospective majors. However, the reality of the resources at student’s disposal are greatly lacking. Middle Eastern Studies and international relations double major Kristen Adolf ’23 stated that they have been “incredibly disappointed by Mount Holyoke’s lack of support and resources for some of our academic programs.” Acadia Ferrero-Lampron ’23, another Middle Eastern Studies major, said when they were “applying to
colleges, having an international re- Holyoke College for 2023, “liberal lations and Middle Eastern Studies arts” is mentioned seven times, the program was important to me, but word “education” is mentioned nine because of the difficulty I have had times and the word “global” is menwith classes, completing one major tioned 16 times. It is time the College has been hard enough that I [have] shows its commitment to “global exdecided not to pursue a second ma- cellence,” “[retaining] an excellent jor.” Lampron added, “If I was not and diverse faculty” and “strengthalready a junior, I would transfer.” en[ing] programming that promotes “It’s ironic that Mount Holyoke understanding, exchange and a direquires taking a language class as versity of voices and perspectives in part of distribution requirements the classroom.” It is time for the Coland promotes them to prospective lege to uphold the promises and obstudents as ways to gain experience jectives it made to the student body. for studying abroad, but meanwhile Although the languages, humanis shrinking the department,” Rian- ities and social sciences are the ones na Robertson ’22, a senior majoring that are suffering most immediately, in Neuroscience and Behavior, said. students from all disciplines have exRobertson’s emphasis on study- pressed frustration via the Save our abroad programs touches upon a Departments form. Save our Departvital point. The College’s firm com- ments will try our best to give voice mitment to a globally inclusive ed- to all members of the student body. ucation is compromised by its reBeyond the lack of commitment sistance to giving the student body to a truly diverse and global educaexposure to a broad range of lan- tion, the main issue at hand is a lack guages and culof transparency tures. concerning the I am not the only one feel- College’s longThe lack of ing anxious about the future term academic commitment to Middle Eastern priorities. There of education at Mount Studies is not a are still many Holyoke, nor am I the only student voices unique case. Proone reconsidering whethfessor and Chair that this article of International did not get to ader this institution is worth Relations Sohail dress and I hope staying at. Hashmi voiced to write another his concern article on deabout the gradual decline of globally partmental mergers and issues that inclusive education at Mount Holy- humanities and social sciences are oke. facing as a whole. “This institution used to pride The sole reason for forming Save itself on its international vision but, our Departments and for writing of late, there is no commitment to this article was to start a productive that vision,” Hashmi said. He also conversation regarding the future mentioned that “there is no one now of our education at this institution. who teaches Russian politics on our Despite our frustrations, I think this campus. German and Russian and institution is worth fighting for. AlEurasian studies now have only one though it shouldn’t be on the backs tenured faculty member each and of the student body to demand clear their request for resources has con- lines of communication and hold the tinuously been denied.” administration accountable to its Professor of Italian Ombretta promises, that seems to be the only Frau echoed Hashmi’s worries. As way for us to attain the education we the only tenured Italian professor were promised. I have no doubt that in the Department of Classics and there is a way forward that doesn’t Italian, Frau pointed out, “Whenev- involve cutting programs. er we ask for academic positions, we In her statement to Mount Holyare always told we can’t afford them. oke News regarding the future of The first thing on the cutting block language education, Mosby stated always seems to be the languages.” that she is “convening a Curricular The recent decision to eliminate Action Committee, a subcommittee second-year Arabic classes pushed of the Academic Priorities Commitme to re-examine the College’s com- tee which is charged with overseemitment to my education — and how ing the curriculum. … This new sublittle I have already been receiving committee will be charged to make in my area of study, even before the a recommendation for a creative and cut. I feel severe anxiety for my fu- innovative structure to support the ture as a student who is majoring teaching of language and culture in a department that has seemingly at Mount Holyoke, with the specifbeen deemed unworthy of invest- ic near-term focus on German and ment solely based on its financial Russian.” return data and popularity. Quite Mosby added, “The subcomfrankly, the idea of transferring to mittee will include faculty from another institution that has a true language programs, faculty from commitment to global excellence has non-language departments and faccrossed my mind. ulty from standing committees. … I started my investigation solely This group will present findings via to comprehend what my department a report to the [Academic Priorities has been going through. However, Committee] and the dean of faculty’s after three weeks of talking to count- office by the end of the spring semesless peers and hearing from many ter.” faculty members, one thing is cerMosby’s remarks made me hopetain — I am not the only one feeling ful about future expression of the anxious about the future of educa- College’s academic priorities. Meantion at Mount Holyoke, nor am I the while, I believe it is up to us, the stuonly one reconsidering whether this dent body, to vocalize our opinions institution is worth staying at. regarding our education. Only then will Mount Holyoke begin to re-exPlanning for the future amine its responsibilities to its stuIn the strategic plan of Mount dents.
February 25, 2022
GLOBAL
. Mount Holyoke News
5
Five journalists killed in Mexico since January 2022 BY LAUREN CINCOTTA ’25 STAFF WRITER
In the first two months of 2022, five journalists have been killed in Mexico. Four were killed in January, and the most recent murder occurred during the second week of February. An article from the Associated Press quoted a tweet from Jan-Albert Hootsen, Mexico representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists. Hootsen tweeted, “The first six weeks of 2022 have been the deadliest for the Mexican press in over a decade.” The group Reporters Without Borders recently declared Mexico the most dangerous country for journalists for the third year in a row. According to this organization, there are low rates of conviction for the journalists’ murderers, and the current presidential administration has done little to shift this narrative. As reported by NBC News, at least 28 journalists have been killed under the administration of current president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, whose term began in 2018. Recently, the president was criticized for remarks he made concerning a journalist investigating his son, who had a conflict of interest over
Photo courtesy of WikiMedia Commons Carlos Loret de Mola was denounced by the Mexican president after his recent reporting.
renting a home from an executive with ties to a state-run oil company, according to NPR. The president criticized the journalist who was covering the story, Carlos Loret de Mola. According to the same article, “López Obrador put up a slide with what he said was Loret de Mola’s annual income versus his own income to show that the journalist makes drastically more than the president
does.” López Obrador also made comments against the salaries of other journalists and attacked the merits of the profession. “He said journalists say they are defenders of the truth … and that they also uncover corruption. He said, ‘No, they are none of that. They are hired thugs that do just the opposite.’ He insists reporters work for huge business interests that don’t like him because he fights for the poor,” the article continued. This is not the first time controversy has arisen over López Obrador’s relationship with the press. Earlier this year, journalist Lourdes Maldonado López was shot and killed in Tijuana. Maldonado López worked to cover corruption and politics, and in 2019 she made headlines for telling the president that she “feared for her life,” according to CNN. The Federal Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, a Mexican organization, offers threatened journalists and activists protection in the form of bodyguards, bulletproof vests and other security materials. However, the efficacy of the agency is limited in a country where the threats to journalists are frequent and wide-
spread and where offenders are not often caught and punished. The agency itself is imperfect in its protection efforts — Maldonado López, for example, was under agency protection when she was killed. Mount Holyoke Spanish language instructor Elena García Frazier moved to the U.S. from Mexico, and while she still follows the news surrounding the most recent attacks, she noted that this corruption has been a problem in Mexico for a long time. According to García Frazier, there is widespread corruption in the government. When narcos are able to buy out government officials, it creates a dangerous environment for dissenters, including protestors, activists and journalists. While the international awareness of the issue is growing, journalists’ daily situation remains dangerous, due to both widespread corruption and criminal activity, as well as a lack of action from the government to adequately protect reporters. “Certain governments have, in their mind, pretty good reason for not allowing press freedom, because they don’t want those conditions to be made public,” Cass Sever, visiting instructor in sociology, said.
“[The government believes] if [they] allow messages to get out, that could hurt [them] more than simply removing journalists,” she continued. Server added that this mentality creates a dangerous situation for journalists. Despite corruption within the Mexican government, limited protection measures and low probability of justice, Server concluded, “It’s admirable that journalists feel so strongly about conveying information and reality of where they are, but it’s hard to know how to realistically protect folks … who are working in such dangerous contexts, or in contexts that are so unsupportive of [the] opinions of the people and [their day-to-day] realities.” However, García Frazier noted, there are still journalists bravely working to tell the truth despite their hostile circumstances. She cited journalist Carmen Aristegui and her team at Aristegui News, who are known for their dedication to reporting on issues of corruption. While the issues with corruption and violence against the media are continuing, García Frazier expressed that journalists like Aristegui are making a difference as the fight for justice and truth continues.
African leaders discuss creating a continent-wide lingua franca BY CYNTHIA AKANAGA ’25 STAFF WRITER
Africa, the second largest continent, has over 2,000 distinct languages. Nigeria, its most populous country, is host to about 522 languages. Due to colonial rule, many countries in Africa designate either French or English as their official language. However, with its growing influence, there has been swelling support to make Swahili the lingua franca, or common language, for all of Africa. Swahili is one of the official languages of the African Union. Additionally, it was the first African language to be honored by the United Nations in its designation of July 7 as World Kiswahili Language Day. Tanzania’s first President, Julius Nyerere, used Swahili to unite the people of Tanzania, despite the multitude of languages spoken in the country. “There are over a hundred languages spoken in Tanzania, but Swahili is spoken by 90 percent of the nation and is what unites the country’s 130 ethnic groups,” an article from BBC reported. The sense of unity created by Swahili has contributed to a push for it to become the lingua franca to help unify Africa and African people. According to the South African opposition leader Julius Sello Malema, for Africa to unite and develop, “leaders should encourage Swahili
and not colonial languages” widely spoken across the continent, Zenger reported. Africa’s history with colonial rule established the presence of languages such as English and French across the continent. “Swahili is an African based language,” Abigel Asteraye ’25, a student from Ethiopia, said. Swahili’s potential replacement of colonial languages would be a source of unification for Africa, like Malema has proposed. Jacqueline Anokyewaah ’24, a student from Ghana, echoed some of Asteraye’s sentiments regarding the benefits of having an African language as the lingua franca. “To be united with one vision will allow [Africa] to be able to grow accordingly and be on one page and not [have] people thinking another way, which can [bring about] disruption and delay for our growth as a nation,” Anokyewaah said. “Most African countries were colonized by the British, and that’s [why] we are speaking English in the first place, so it makes sense that some people would want to change the official language as a way of moving [away] from that trauma. It’s a way of saying we are not accepting the language of [the] people who colonized us, like a rebuttal,” Anokyewaah continued. In a continent with so many languages, establishing a lingua franca poses the threat of possible elimina-
tion of other native languages. language if they choose, but it does Asteraye stated, “There are oth- not have to be the official language,” er diverse languages in Africa … and Anokyewaah said. it’s kind of hard to make [Swahili] Additionally, there is a large official because it might make those disparity in the knowledge of the languages extinct.” language. “I don’t know the lanSwahili originated in East Af- guage,” Anokyewaah said. “For it to rica. Its speakers are predominant work for all of Africa it should have in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwan- been taught to everyone from when da, Burundi, we were little. the Democratic It would now Republic of the change every“To be united with one Congo, South thing. Everyone vision will allow [Africa] to will have to learn Sudan, Somalia, be able to grow accordingly a new language. Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Also, we’ve gotand be on one page.” Comoros, Oman ten so used to and Yemen. English being – Jacqueline Anokyewaah Very recently, [the] official lanSouthern Afriguage, and it’s ’24 can countries, also the official including South language of othAfrica and Botswana, introduced er countries [which allows us to] easthe language as an option to learn in ily communicate with many people.” schools, the UN reported. When a language is declared ofHowever, in the North and the ficial, it becomes the language of the West, Swahili is less prominent. national government. Anokyewaah West Africa has three dominant lan- noted that appointing Swahili as the guages of its own: Igbo, Yoruba and official language could hinder comHausa. In the North, Arabic has al- munication with other countries. ready claimed the position of lingua Disregarding separate regions, franca. there remains a gap in how well the Regarding the dominance of language is known even within its Swahili in the East, it is possible that region of popularity. Asteraye, who “those native languages will die out is from Ethiopia, discussed this ex… if Swahili takes over. With English, perience. we still retain our native languages, “Swahili isn’t widely known in but Swahili would threaten these na- Ethiopia [outside of parts of the tive languages. People can learn the south]. Amharic is the official and
predominant language,” she explained. Asteraye responded to this difference in the regions. “I don’t think language should be the only unifying factor. I feel like we can establish the unification by other means, like through the means of trade, commerce and other economical aspects,” Asteraye said. “I don’t think it’s possible for the whole of Africa. Maybe a region can have it as the official language,” Anokyewaah said. Africa is divided into five regions: Northern Africa, Central or Middle Africa, Southern Africa, East Africa and Western Africa. Because of the wide variety of languages used in the continent, Anokyewaah suggested that the languages prevalent in these regions assume the position of the official language in those regions instead of one language for the whole continent. In regards to being open to learning the language, Anokyewaah seemed optimistic, “but only if it is readily accessible.” This idea of accessibility echoes the words of Dr. Josephine Dzahene-Quarshie, a Swahili professor at the University of Ghana. Dzahene-Quarshie explained, “If East Africa does more to promote the learning of Swahili in other regions we could get somewhere, but I don’t foresee it as a lingua franca for the whole continent.”
James Webb Telescope takes its first photos of stars in the Milky Way final destination. The process of capturing the first image began on Feb. 2, reported The new James Webb Telescope NASA. After selecting a star known saw its first star on Feb. 11, accord- as HD 84406 within the constellation ing to NASA. The still blurry photo Ursa Major, the Webb Telescope capwill allow the telescope’s segmented tured 54 gigabytes of raw data. It was mirrors to align and capture never pointed at the calculated position of before seen images of our universe. the star from 156 different positions Marcia Reike, a professor of Astron- and captured 1,560 images. These omy at the University of Arizona and images were then pieced together to member of the Webb team, spoke form a mosaic-like picture. Because each one of the to the excite18 segments capment this news “Future missions in ... tured HD 84406, brought in a respace science will signifithe results can cent press statebe used to calment,” Reike cantly benefit from the culate the cursaid. “The entire numerous new technologies rent positions of Webb team is ecdeveloped for this project.” each segment, static at how well which is critical the first steps of to bringing the taking images – Jason Young telescope into and aligning the full alignment. telescope are According to René Doyon and proceeding. We were so happy to see that light makes its way into [the Nathalie Ouellette of the University of Montreal, who spoke to NASA’s Near Infrared Camera].” Webb’s technology is the first of Alise Fisher, the next step is to stay its kind due to both its scale and its focused on the star by using a Fine design, Mount Holyoke astronomy Sensor Guide, which locks the mirror segments onto the star and enprofessor Jason Young explained. “Although there are several sures that they remain accurate. A Canadian contribution to the ground-based telescopes with segmented mirrors, this is the first mission, the Fine Sensor Guide uses space-based segmented mirror, and highly precise technology to calcuit’s reassuring that this new technol- late the exact location of the guide ogy seems to be working,” he said. star 16 times per second, and then Young noted that the full size of the sends adjustments to the telescope mirror is 21 feet wide, larger than three times every second. “The deany other of its kind. Due to its size, gree of precision with which it can the mirror is broken up into 18 seg- detect changes in the pointing to a ments, which robotically unfold and celestial object is the equivalent of a align once the telescope reaches its person in New York City being able BY SHIRA SADEH ’25 STAFF WRITER
to see the eye motion of someone blinking at the Canadian border … 311 miles away,” Doyon said in a Feb. 17 update. With the initial phase complete, NASA has reported that the team is ready to move into the next phase, segment alignment. During this stage, the segments will be continuously corrected using the images captured for reference. Once the images are focused enough, the team will transition into phase three: image stacking, which will bring the 18 captured images together to form one cohesive image by stacking the photos on top of each other. The James Webb Telescope represents a step forward in the world of space exploration technology, Young said, noting that “it’s a landmark in space technology. Future missions in astronomy and other fields of space science will significantly benefit from the numerous new technologies developed for this project.” According to CBS News, the Webb telescope will spend the next 10 years exploring the universe. They also reported that it is 100 times more powerful than NASA’s famous Hubble Telescope. Webb’s mirrors are mainly made out of beryllium but are covered in an ultra-thin layer of gold, meant to heighten the reflections of infrared light and increase sensitivity. The high sensitivity of the telescope allows it to detect heat from millions of miles away, or see a point as small as a penny from 25 miles away. These abilities will allow scientists to compare more recent galaxies to older ones, which
Photo courtesy of Flickr The primary mirror of the James Webb Space telescope consists of 18 smaller hexagonal mirrors.
can give them clues about the formation of the universe. When fully functional, Webb will present scientists with previously hidden visual evidence of the first galaxies and stars from 13.5 billion years ago, NASA explained. “[The James Webb Space Tele-
scope] will let us see the first galaxies, study the formation of stars and planets in detail, and search for signs of life in nearby solar systems,” Young said. “Being the most advanced infrared telescope ever constructed, it will literally let us see the universe in a new light.”
6
. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Animation Guild members advocate online for fair pay BY ROWAN BERNSTEIN ’22 STAFF WRITER
While much of television and film production shut down during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, animation was able to continue remotely, helping to keep the entertainment industry afloat. As Owen Dennis, creator of the animated series “Infinity Train,” said in a video on the Animation Guild Writers’ Twitter account during the pandemic, “animation pretty much single handedly saved Hollywood.” For some animators, like “The Owl House” creator Dana Terrace, being so heavily relied on by studio executives during such a difficult time was a reminder of just how undervalued animation workers have always been. Over the past few months, artists and writers like Dennis and Terrace have been campaigning for better benefits, improved working conditions and fair pay for animation employees under the digital movement #NewDeal4Animation. On Feb. 14, the Animation Guild, a union responsible for collective bargaining for animation production employees, reentered negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents production studios in such negotiations. In their revised
February 25, 2022
agreement, the Guild hopes to guarantee fair pay and treatment for union members. The Animation Guild is using social media to ask for support and to educate fans on the challenges of working in animation. Many animation writers and showrunners have been sharing tweets with the hashtag #PayAnimationWriters, referencing the fact that animation writers make significantly less Graphic by Sunny Wei ’23 than their counterparts writing for live action television, despite doing the same work. Staff writers for animated shows earn 42 - 51 cents on the dollar compared to their live-action counterparts. For 2021 freelance scripts, live action shows pay a minimum rate of 22 - 66 percent more per script than animated series. After the money is distributed to agents and managers, writers are left earning about $18.10
per hour, $3.10 above California’s minimum wage. Additionally, writers receive no residual income from streaming or compensation from merchandising. Dennis sees this as contributing to a lack of diversity behind the scenes. “The entertainment industry keeps saying they strive for more diversity … [but] they’re making it so the only people who can afford to
have their voices heard in animation are people who come from more affluent and privileged backgrounds,” Dennis said in a video posted to The Animation Guild Writers’ Twitter account. With streaming services like Netflix and HBO Max dominating the entertainment industry, newer business practices create even more barriers to fair pay. Animated streaming originals, particularly on Netflix, are often split into seasons with as few as five or six episodes. According to Bill Wolkoff, developer of the Netflix original animated series “Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts,” these mini seasons are actually part of extra large production orders. On Twitter, Wolkoff explained that this model allows studios to produce many seasons of a series using the same team of writers, without providing them the benefits of being rehired each season.
Mount Holyoke News
In her #NewDeal4Animation video, Terrace discussed how this practice leaves animation writers feeling cheated out of promotions and raises they would otherwise be earning. “I know too many people who have experienced the same thing,” she said. In Dennis’s experience, these large production orders are often a factor in shows only getting a few seasons, as renewing the show past the initial order would mean renegotiating contracts. “Writers are stuck without pay raises for several years,” he explained in his own video, “and there is no upwards mobility, because the show has already been canceled by the time the show is up for renewal.” In addition to promoting hashtags and infographics designed to support the Negotiations Committee, The Animation Guild is asking both union members and the general public to sign a petition meant to “[send] a message to the AMPTP … that animation [workers] all deserve to have their scale rates increased to fairly compensate for the work they are performing in their respective crafts.” The Animation Guild’s hope is that this show of solidarity will not only motivate animation workers but also place pressure on the AMPTP during negotiations.
‘Inventing Anna’ shines a spotlight on con artist Anna Delvey
Graphic by Jieru Ye ’23
BY MALLORY SMITH FP’24 STAFF WRITER
Anna Sorokin could be called the ultimate con artist or a Robin Hood of the 2000s influencer era. Sorokin, also known by her alias Anna Delvey, is a convicted con artist who nearly conned her way into tens of millions of dollars. The Netflix series “Inventing Anna” dives into this story while examining the lengths that some people will go to attain wealth and fame. Despite the lead actress’s occasionally frustrating performance and the show’s lack of impartiality towards anyone other than Anna herself, the fantastic cast fully immerses themselves in their roles, managing to make Delvey’s story compelling.
“Inventing Anna” details the rise and fall of Sorokin (Julia Garner), a working class German-Russian immigrant posing as a German heiress, Anna Delvey. The show revolves around the publication of the May 2018 New York Magazine article, “Maybe She Had So Much Money She Just Lost Track of It,” by Jessica Pressler from the perspective of Vivian Kent (Anna Chlumsky), a character based on Pressler. As Vivian uncovers more about Anna’s life, she learns not only how close Anna came to securing swaths of stolen funds for her social club — The Anna Delvey Foundation — but also how many companies she scammed and the number of friends from whom she swindled money. A major part of what makes this
show entertaining is the absurdity of Anna’s scams. Even more amusing is how Anna made swindling these banks and investment firms appear so easy due to sheer determination. “Inventing Anna” is a testament to Anna’s adeptness at being a master manipulator in a male dominated world. It is a commentary on both the influence of capitalism on the developing mind of a young woman and the American media’s obsession with pursuing and revealing scandals. After the article is published and the public response to it has turned Anna into a meme, Vivian argues that the “real story” was to present a case study on “class, social mobility and identity under capitalism.” During episode eight, we learn
that Anna’s ultimate goal was to hear how much money Anna stole gain the power, money and respect from her, the show paints her as a of New York high society, which she victim, rather than someone who grew up seeing in magazines like also used Anna. Vogue and Elle. Anna is a product With a stellar supporting cast of the recession-era American influ- that includes Laverne Cox and Arience on the working class that, in- an Moayed, Garner shines as Anna. stead of adapting to reflect the finan- Garner fully immersed herself in cial situations of the average person, her role, even managing to percontinued showing the lifestyles of fect Delvey’s unique German-Rusthe rich and famous. She was deter- sian accent. Chlumsky, however, mined to break free from the influ- fails to stand out against Garner. ence of her misogynistic father and In Clumsky’s overemphasis on her working class background in order obsession with the story, she takes to break into the old money scene of away any charm that she may have New York City — as she believed her established. While this was meant to life would not be meaningful until show Vivian’s dedication to Anna’s she did so. When story, she just Vivian tells across as [The show] is a commentary comes Anna that being irresponsible. on both the influence of interviewed will It is surprisgive Anna what ing how biased capitalism on the developshe wants, Anna show is toing mind of a young woman the asks Vivian what wards Anna. For and the American media’s she thinks she example, Rachel wants. To this, obsession with pursuing and (Katie Lowes), Vivian replies, the woman Anna revealing scandals. “You want to be stole more than famous.” $60,000 from, is The show unravels Anna’s twist- portrayed as ditzy and naive. So, ed web of crimes by having Vivian when the viewer discovers that interview the people with whom Anna stole the money from Rachel, Anna primarily associated. The use it may feel as though it is Rachel’s of character-specific episodes — like fault. The show goes out of its way ones dedicated to Anna’s criminal to push the narrative that Anna was defense attorney or the friend she a product of American influence and stole the most money from — cre- in doing so suggests that she cannot ates a confusing timeline of events. be held accountable for her actions. Through this device, though, the While the show is flawed from show manages to make some of the the onset, with an obvious bias characters sympathetic despite how towards Anna and a weak perforhorribly they treated Anna. For ex- mance from Chlumsky, it is still an ample, Nora (Kate Burton), the wom- interesting look at someone trying an Anna stays with for the majority to break into high society. Garner’s of the show, treats Anna like an un- performance sells it, showcasing evpaid assistant by having her pick up ery interesting twist and turn of this food for parties and sign for purchas- story and cementing Delvey’s status es. When Vivian interviews Nora to as a conniving girlboss of the era.
For the Daisy Chain Art Guild, community plays a central role BY ROSE COHEN ’22 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
If you walk into the Dining Commons anytime between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on a Monday, chances are you’ll see the Daisy Chain Art Guild selling colorful crocheted octopuses, pottery and black-and-white prints, among other pieces. Since the beginning of the spring semester, members of the Mount Holyoke Ultimate Frisbee Team, known as “Daisy Chain,” have been tabling on campus to sell artwork made by the team members. But the idea for the Daisy Chain Art Guild formed a couple years earlier, during the spring 2020 semester, when a couple of team members were trying to figure out how to start fundraising for tournaments. Due to COVID-19, many Daisy Chain members were living off campus when conversations about the Daisy Chain Art Guild started. Despite this distance, some players shared they now associate the Daisy Chain Art Guild with a sense of community. “A big thing about frisbee and fundraising is that frisbee is just an amazing community just in itself,”
Jamie Eldridge ’25, who makes the toy octopuses, said. “I think it’s cool finding this special kind of art community [within] the frisbee community.” Olive Rowell ’24, a politics and art studio double major, echoed Eldrige’s sentiments regarding community. “It’s all [about] making the team more cohesive,” they said. “It’s turned out to be a good way of meeting people as well, which I don’t think we were planning on. There’s been some cool people … [who] come up and buy some stuff and talk about their relationship to art … [It’s been] cool to learn about people that I didn’t even know existed here.” According to Silvie Schlein ’23, there’s a sense of purpose and engagement that comes with being a member of the Daisy Chain Art Guild. “You’re building a community within your own space and bringing people together feels really good,” Schlein said. “Just the amount of time and effort and energy that all of our teammates that contribute art have given, it’s so much.” Schlein also expressed gratitude for “the fact that we’re able to pass
off some of that, even if it’s just a monetary contribution to another place that’s trying to do the same thing.” 50 percent of the Daisy Chain Art Guild’s tabling proceeds, up to $250 a month, will be donated to a soon-to-be-decided “queer-related” organization. Along with the rest of the Daisy Chain Art Guild, Schlein, Rowell and Eldridge are trying to think of ways to expand their current customer base. “People have been supporting us so much, but we are college students, and we only have so much funds,” Rowell said. “I mean, if it is possible for you to buy something every time please go ahead and do it, but we want to find other places to showcase it and that’s in the works right now too.” Rowell mentioned that the Daisy Chain Art Guild hopes to get in touch with other schools, perhaps including other members of the Five College Consortium, at some point in the future. To learn more about the Daisy Chain Art Guild, check out their Instagram page — @daisychain_artguild — or find them in the entrance of the Dining Commons from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays.
Photos courtesy of Olive Rowel ’24 and Jamie Eldridge ’25 The Daisy Chain Art Guild sells original artwork made by its members, including black and white art prints by Olive Rowel ’24 (top) and small crochet octopuses by Jamie Eldridge ’25 (bottom).
February 25, 2022
SPORTS & PHOTOS
. Mount Holyoke News
7
Mount Holyoke Ice Hockey honors Swimming and Diving its seniors at game against Smith takes eighth place at 2022 NEWMAC meet
BY EMILY TARINELLI ’25 SPORTS EDITOR
The Mount Holyoke Ice Hockey club celebrated its senior players on Feb. 12 in a matchup against Smith College at Fitzpatrick Ice Skating Rink. The honored athletes included Emily Gitlin ’22, Luce Brandt ’22, Bethany Powell FP ’22, Nico Boutaugh ’22, Siqi Yang ’22, Carlie Poworoznek ’22, Rose Sheehan ’22 and Sammi Craig ’23. Assistant Captain Abby Mann ’24 explained how the team celebrated its seniors. “At the game, they were announced by name, received little gift boxes from our coaches and got big rounds of applause,” Mann said. “Our social chairs made posters for each of our eight seniors, and we all wrote messages on the backs of the posters and signed them.” Despite the Lyons’ 6-2 loss, several athletes expressed pride in the seniors and the team overall. Chairperson Bria Carlson ’23 said that she believed the game was the best of the entire season, highlighting Boutaugh’s performance as goalie. “Smith couldn’t score for the first 16.5 minutes of [our] game,” Carlson said. “[Boutaugh] kept the puck out of the net for nearly an entire period, which is quite difficult.” Boutaugh said they were happy with their performance, which allowed Smith to score only once in the first period. “All of our games are a ton of fun,” Boutaugh said of their experience on the team. “[The] team is one of the most wholesome and supportive [organizations] on campus.” Carlson said that after the game, the athletes “took a million pictures and spent some time in the locker room, just as a team, shouting out our seniors and all the amazing things they do on and off the ice.” Enam Dartey ’24 described the game’s lively competition.
Photo by Gigi Picard ’22 Above, Evelyn Bushway ’24 swims the breaststroke leg of the Mount Holyoke A 400 individual medley relay at the 2022 NEWMAC championship meet, Feb. 17 - 20.
BY TAI OWEN ’24 STAFF WRITER
Photos courtesy of Jenny Yu ’24 The Mount Holyoke Ice Hockey club huddles (top) and poses as a team (bottom) on senior night.
“I could feel the energy of everyone who was there at the game, especially our players,” she said. “It was super exciting and positive,” Artemis Chen ’25 added. “Mount Holyoke students and some parents were cheering for our players on the sidelines … I felt really proud and extremely lucky to be part of [the team].” Dekyi Deji ’25 added, “I love [that] we all support each other and appreciate everyone’s [achievements] all the time, and as our [coach] … said, our number one rule is to have fun.” Mann reflected on the emotions
present at the end of the season. “We love our seniors so much, and we’ll really miss them next season,” Mann said. The Lyons concluded their season on Feb. 19 in a game versus Wheaton College, which ended in a tied score of 2-2. Editor’s note: Rose Sheehan ’22 and Sammi Craig ’23, mentioned in the article and present in the photo, and Maggie Donovan ’23, Sophie Soloway ’23, Sofía Savid ’24 and Jenny Yu ’24, present in the photo, are members of Mount Holyoke News.
The Mount Holyoke College Swimming and Diving team continued their season at the 2022 New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Championship. The four day meet, which was hosted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, opened on Feb. 17 and concluded on Feb. 20. Hannah Heierhoff ’25 discussed the energy going into the meet. “I think we were all very excited for NEWMACs because we knew we had worked hard and wanted to prove that to our coaches, [our] team and ourselves,” Heierhoff said. The meet began with the 800yard freestyle relay. With a time of 8:18.16, the team of Heierhoff, Adrienne Corr ’22, Evelyn Bush-
way ’24 and Eliza Williams ’24 placed 9th overall. In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the team of Megan Schneider ’25, Caitlyn Richmond ’22, Adji Diouf ’24 and Eliza Williams ’24 placed 9th with a time of 1:42.41. The 400yard medley relay team of Anais Magner ’23, Bushway, Heierhoff and Schneider placed 9th with a time of 4:13.43. Williams placed 25th in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:24.10 and Bushway finished in a time of 5:27.78 and placed 30th. Additionally, Williams and Bushway placed 15th and 17th respectively in the 400-yard individual medley. In the 200-yard butterfly, Heierhoff finished in 2:16.81, taking 17th place. The 1650-yard freestyle finals had Lily Nemivrosky ’24 finishing in 20th in 19:19.19 minutes, while Williams touched ahead for 12th place in 18:29.32 minutes. Kathryn Murphy ’22, Sophie Simon ’25 and Lilje Stratton ’25 competed in the one-meter dive. Murphy placed 3rd overall with a score of 421.55 in the finals. Simon placed 5th, scoring 368.10, while Stratton scored 338.30 to place 10th. Murphy rounded out the weekend by winning the three-meter dive. With a final score of 491.55, she shattered the Mount Holyoke program record for 11 dives on the three-meter board. Simon and Stratton placed 4th and 7th respectively, with scores of 433.80 and 363.70. The Lyons placed 8th overall in the women’s championship, beating out Clark University and Smith College. Murphy and Simon will compete this weekend in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Diving Regionals, hosted by Smith College.
Student performances shine at first Vietnam Night in two years BY SOPHIE DALTON ’25 STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER & LAYOUT EDITOR
Two weeks ago, I had the privilege and honor of taking photos for Vietnam Night. These pictures were taken during a variety of performances that showcased the rich and vibrant Vietnamese culture. My goal in capturing these moments was for the photographs to reflect the beauty I saw in the performances and translate it tangibly.
8
COMMUNITY
February 25, 2022
. Mount Holyoke News
i HOROSCOPES i BY DAVID NEJEZCHLEBA ’22 HOROSCOPE WRITER & COPY EDITOR
July 23 – Aug. 22
March 21 – April 19
We carry our emotions through life like we drag luggage through an airport. It’s tiring to lug around such a heavy load, though. Sometimes our feelings are too burdensome to lift. You can always check your carry-on at the gate, Aries.
Would you worry about something nonexistent? If you said “no,” then there’s no reason to be so preoccupied with the future. Focus on the present, Leo. If you said “yes,” then you, too, are worried about the wrong things. Loosen up this week.
April 20 – May 20
Aug. 23 – Sept. 22
Dec. 22 – Jan. 19
Trouble trouble, toil and double — or was it toil and bubble? You’re feeling a bit discombobulated, maybe things aren’t quite making sense. It’s okay if you’re befuddled, or can’t tell your double from your trouble. Embrace the chaos.
The belt of the hunter always points you toward the brightest star in the sky, just as your inner wisdom can direct you when things go awry. Intuition is invaluable, use it when reason cannot untangle your knots.
May 21 – June 20
Sept. 23 – Oct. 22
The gift of perspective is granted from enduring the “lows” in your life. Learn and take what you can from this period, it will make the “highs” all the more sweet.
There is a sinister satisfaction one may find in self-deprivation for reasons of “virtue.” Be careful, Libra, that you do not undermine yourself in the name of piety.
June 21 – July 22
Oct. 23 – Nov. 21
A melon is subtle, elegant and softly green. Cool and gentle, she does not dazzle — but as a springtime fruit, she is crowned the may-queen. This week, Cancer, you embody the melon — find strength not in muscle, but in grace. Quiet dignity suits you well.
The bright lights of the stadium can sometimes outshine the sun. Remember why you’re here, Scorpio. Do not let the fluorescents distract you from the brilliance of natural light, from your genuine, self-determined essence.
Mo un t Holyoke ege Mount Ho ly oke Col lle ge Lav ende r C ommit te e pre sents pr ese nts
BINDER DRIVE P ro vidi ng cch h es o viding estt bi nd ers er s tto th os e wh o n eed t hem
Nov. 22 – Dec. 21
Tolstoy couldn’t write War and Peace in a day, but you certainly can! Don’t sell yourself short. This week, you possess superhuman abilities and you are capable of the impossible. Go conquer the world.
Such a tragedy that the most valuable treasure is concealed in a lidless container. Luckily for us, we are strong enough to crack eggs. As for you, Capricorn, there are riches and jewels deep within, but only you have the power to open yourself to the world. Reveal your secrets, you have undiscovered beauty.
Jan. 20 – Feb. 18
You’ve been blessed with an enchanting aura this week, Aquarius — you possess the power to bewitch those around you. Use it to your advantage, persuade others through the vigor of your charm.
Feb. 19 – March 20
What exactly are you craving this week, Pisces? If you succumb to your insatiable urges, be careful not to overindulge.
Event Highlights Friday, Feb. 25
Black History Month Movie Night
Join The Association of Pan-African Unity as we host a “Movie Night” every Friday night as we celebrate Black History Month. This Friday, we’ll be watching Girls Trip. Private Location. 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 26
Sightlines Tour: Coming Home - A Sense of Place in Art This tour will explore narratives of “home” through four museum objects. “Home” can prompt a wide range of emotions, experiences, and meanings for every person. Visitors on this tour will be invited to make personal connections with objects in the museum that may reflect, challenge or alter their own ideas of home and how home is made. This event will be led by Savannah Pérez ’23.
Form live now: bit.ly/3LvdYFU
Mount Holyoke College Art Museum. 1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
P l e ase con ta ct g r eab 2 2s @mth ol y ok e .e du or dm @ la v e n de m w iith th any ad di tional que sti ons l a en rc ommi om mi ttee t tee on i ns tag ra ram
Mount Holyoke News
Mount Holyoke News is an independent student newspaper written by and for Mount Holyoke College students since 1917.
Community Center - Great Room. 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Executive Board Editor-in-Chief Declan Langton ’22
Sunday, Feb. 27
Publisher Ali Meizels ’23
STEMPOC First Body Meeting
Managing Editor of Content Liz Lewis ’22
Managing Editor of Web Mariam Keita ’24
Managing Editor of Layout Rose Sheehan ’22
Business Manager Katie Goss ’23
Copy Chief Lenox Johnson ’24
Human Resources Annabelle Mackson ’23
This event is for the STEMPOC members to meet and get to know the board. We will also update the members on our upcoming events. Join us in Shattuck’s Cassani Lounge. Shattuck Hall. 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 28
Editorial Board News
Ella White ’22 & Katie Goss ’23
Arts & Entertainment Rose Cohen ’22 & Siona Ahuja ’24
Opinion
Tasnia Mowla ’23 & Kaveri Pillai ’23
Books
Cat Barbour ’24 & Ella Jacob ’24
Global
Sophie Soloway ’23
Sports
Gigi Picard ’22 & Emily Tarinelli ’25
Watch Party: NAACP Image Awards
Join your friends in watching this year’s NAACP Image Awards. Snacks will be provided. This event is a ‘Be Well Break’ program, sponsored by the Office of Student Involvement, in collaboration with Black History Month.
Features
Rebecca Gagnon ’23 & Jesse Hausknecht-Brown ’25
Science & Environmental Anoushka Kuswaha ’24
Photos
Rosemary Geib ’23 & Ali Meizels ’23
Graphics
Anjali Rao-Herel ’22
Layout Editors
Maggie Donovan ’23, Zoe Tang ’24, Orion Cheung ’25, Sophie Dalton ’25, Aditi Menon ’25 & Robin Tran ’25
Copy Editors
David Nejezchleba ’22, Audrey Shannon ’22, Gusty Westaway ’22, Georgia Fish ’23, Lauren Leese ’23, Anna Sophie Tierney ’23, Jude Barrera ’24, Ella Jacob ’24, Eleanor McCoy ’24, Hilary Vergera FP ’24, Mara Zwisler ’24, Max Endieveri ’25, Gemma Golovner ’25, Maura Levine ’25, Zora Lotton-Barker ’25, Meghan MacBeath ’25, Kate Snyder ’25, Rylee Yackin ’25 & Callie Yosick ’25
Web Editors
Abby Wester ’22, Lily Hoffman Strickler ’23, Anika Singh ’24, Zoe Tang ’24, Maira Khan ’25, Thao Le ’25, Aditi Menon ’25 & Chloe Wang ’25
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Speaker Anthea Butler will discuss the relationship between the African American community and the Jewish community in America has been one of shared struggles, differences and complications. Professor Butler’s talk will give an overview of this special yet complicated relationship from the Civil Rights movement to the present, focusing on the religious, legal and political issues that both strengthen and risk shared advocacy. Virtual Event. 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 1 Arduino Workshop
Get started with Arduino based projects. This introductory workshop is open to those with or without a programming background. Arduino is a cheap, open source microcontroller designed for DIY projects ranging from blinking LEDs on clothing to robotics. Arduino is a great way to demystify technology and learn the basics of programming and building circuits through hands-on activities. Fimbel Maker & Innovation Lab, General Workspace. 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
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Tuesday, Mar. 2
Healthy Habits: Eat Local
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African Americans and Jews in America: Race, Religion and Divisions in America
EMAIL US: mhnews@mtholyoke.edu
Test your knowledge of local farmers markets, learn the difference between veganism and vegetarianism and more for a chance to win a prize. This event is a “Be Well Break” program, sponsored by the Office of Student Involvement. The Community Center Lobby. 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.