R&B music star R. Kelly was finally convicted for sexual assault, sex trafficking and sexual abuse of underage women Sept. 27 of this year. He faces life in prison and although it appears some justice has been served, I’m still skeptical. If this case is like so many others, the reality of this sentence will probably be a short period of public punishment before he’s given an ankle bracelet and sent home.
THE SOPHIAN
There is much to criticize about Zoom classes. The intense screen time, the constant distractions and the lack of social interaction make it harder to learn for many students. There is one advantage to online classes however, that students might be reminded of when returning to campus: they reduce social pressure.
On campus for the first time after a year of online classes and activities, Smith College Class of 2024 expressed varying levels of comfort with the social life of the campus.
“I thought, my path is calling me, and I couldn’t refuse it,” mused Tiana Clark, on her realization that she was meant to be a poet while she worked at the Schomburg Center for Black Culture, en route to being a historian.
The Tell It Slant Poetry Festival 2021, a week-long collection of virtual events, ranging from poetry readings to workshops, raised money for The Emily Dickinson Museum and honored the Amherst local herself.
“I’ve gotta break up sincerity with humor every now and again,” said Julien Baker after making her audience laugh and moments before launching into her devastating song “Sprained Ankle” at a sold-out but intimate show at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke, on tour for her 2021 album “Little Oblivions.”
On Sept. 16, Dean of the College, Baishaki Taylor, announced that UMass Amherst reported 371 positive COVID-19 cases in the week of Sept. 8-14. Hampshire County has since been designated very high risk for COVID-19 by Covid Act Now.
In Northampton, MA the preliminary election is quickly approaching and mayoral candidates continue their fight to make it on the municipal election ballot.
Translated from English by Izzy Ford
NORTHAMPTON-- Debajo de una bandera Confederada ondeanda y un estandarte MAGA (el eslogan popularizado por el presidente Trump durante su campaña política en 2016, con el sentimiento “haz América gran una vez más”), veinte personas blancas gritaron orgullosamente a la esquina de las calles Elm y Prospect. A través de la calle, estudiantes de Smith, envueltos en banderas del orgullo LGBT se besaron. Una imagen proyectada declaró: “Pelosi, Presidente de la Cámara, luche por nuestro futuro!” en el Centro del Campus. Las policías dispersas, las patrullas de Seguridad de Campus, y les agentes de la Sevicia Secreta miraron inexpresivamente.
How do you begin the opinion piece about sexual assault on a college campus? Maybe, if you’re like me, you’ve had a decade or so of practice in the area. You know the talking points by heart– you know that assault is especially pervasive among college students. That universities tend to prioritize their donors, not their survivors. Maybe you’re like 27% of my peers: you’re practiced at managing the aftershocks of your own assault as you navigate higher education.