Smith has a long and robust list of notable alums, a list about which the College frequently boasts. The Campus Center was recently named after Julia Child ’34. Just last year, Gloria Steinem ’56 visited John M. Greene Hall and spoke to students. The list includes CEOs, political figures, advocates, artists, actors and authors. One missing from this list is Piper Kerman ’92, author of the New York Times bestseller Orange is the New Black: My Year In A Women’s Prison
THE SOPHIAN
Nov. 2 marked this year’s Cromwell Day, an annual celebration of Otelia and Adelaide Cromwell, the first Black graduate and first Black professor at Smith, respectively. The theme this year was “Finding Joy on Our Journey to Racial Justice,” adding to the semester’s focus on finding joy in sorrow while on the path toward justice. The Cromwell Day Committee — a group of students, staff, and faculty — decided on this theme together, which gave a sense of continuity after poet Ross Gay’s visit in September.
It’s cuffing season and, at long last, I am cuffed. After struggling through a summer filled with pangs of yearning and many long-distance FaceTime calls, I feel so lucky to be on the same campus as my partner once again. But, as the leaves begin to turn and Smithies start to bring their coziest grandpa sweaters out of hibernation, I am once again reminded that it is, in fact, cuffing season, and I want to be cuffed in the cutest, most domestic, most gay-girl-autumn way possible.
In Aug. 2023, Smith College’s Lazarus Center welcomed Heather Deland, its first career specialist in law, government, policy and international affairs. Before joining the Smith community, Deland worked as the Internship and Career Coordinator at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass).
The Northampton municipal elections are coming up on Nov. 7 and voters will be able to cast their ballots for eight different races.
Dear Dedicated Sophian Readers, We are proud to present our October publication, the second print edition of the year. With the Northampton municipal elections coming…
“It’s been a long time coming.” These aren’t only the first words on Taylor Swift’s lips as she rises onto the stage of her Eras Tour — but a message to her fans.
As they marched down West St. from Smith’s College Hall to L3Harris Northampton Offices, Smith students and local activists chanted “Free Free Palestine” and “What do we want? Divestment! When do we want it? Now!” The Oct. 25 protest was against L3Harris, a weapons manufacturing company that has offices in Northampton and whose weapons are used by the Israeli military. Protestors called on Smith to divest from L3Harris, the city of Northampton to shut down the location and L3Harris employees themselves to stop manufacturing weapons and distributing them to the Israeli military.
The New England Women and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) 2023-2024 Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll, which was released on Oct. 19, ranked Smith Basketball first out of the twelve teams in the conference. Smith received the votes of every team except two, resulting in ten first place votes.
In the upcoming Northampton election, four candidates are vying for two City Council at-large seats.
On Nov. 7, four names will appear on the ballot for Councilor-at-Large: Incumbent Marissa Elkins, Ward 4 Councilor Garrick M. Perry, former city councilor David Murphy and former mayoral candidate Roy C. Martin.
Current city councilor Jamilia Gore will not be running for a second term in office. Gore was the first African American woman to hold the at-large seat.