This article was originally published in the September 2023 print edition.
Ms. Magazine is celebrating its 50th anniversary in style — embarking on a nationwide book tour for 50 Years of Ms. that brings together feminists, activists and curious minds alike. On Sept. 28 the tour came to Smith, which was inadvertently called “Ms. University” during the event, demonstrating the longstanding relationship between the institutions.
Smith students and local community members marched in the streets of Northampton on Thursday, Oct 19 to protest in solidarity with Palestinians against Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip, Israel’s apartheid state and Smith College’s response to the conflict.
“I guess you wonder how you got to where you are?” That is the first line of the introduction to Blair Sorrel’s (ʼ77) memoir, “A…
Thin Wyut Yi Nan ’27 lived what she describes as a “very privileged life” in her home country of Myanmar, a developing southeast Asian country. Nan attended an international high school, enjoyed private transportation and ate at expensive restaurants. However, her life was turned upside down two years ago when political upheaval with the overthrow of the country’s democracy by the military in a coup d’etat thrusted Myanmar into political upheaval. The rest of Nan’s time in her home country was more different than she ever imagined.
Due to recent redistricting, three incumbent Northampton School Committee members will be fighting for two at-large seats. The school committee seat is a two-year term and is chaired by Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Scarria ’96.
When the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in a landmark 6-3 decision on June 29, 2023, colleges and universities across the country scrambled for a response. Months later, it is clear that institutions of higher education, including Smith College, are still struggling to find a way to ensure diversity.
For Barbara Kellum, Professor of Art, teaching at Smith College was “love at first sight.” She began teaching at Smith in the mid-1980s following the completion of her PhD at Harvard University. Moving to Cambridge for graduate school was her first experience on the East Coast as a California native, but she hasn’t looked back since, calling it a “revelation” to be here. This year, Kellum has been honored with the Sherrerd Prize for Distinguished Teaching.
Amidst the cold, rainy conditions of the morning of Saturday, Sept. 23, the Smith College Rugby Football Club took to the pitch for the first time this season.
When it was first announced that I was going to be the eleventh president, I was invited to campus while Carol Christ was president. There was an event in John M. Green, just like there was for Sarah, and I talked about college access and affordability. I think you might know (because I talk about it frequently) that I’m the first person in my family to go to college. My dad didn’t finish high school — he worked in a factory — and I’m just passionate about this. In order to have people like me on campus, it requires generous financial aid, so that was the one goal I came in knowing that I had.
For the Class of 2027, Smith College received applicants from all 50 states and DC, 4 U.S. territories, and 140 different countries. Out of 9,968 applicants, 19% were admitted. On May 1, National Decision Day, admitted students made their final college decisions, and Smith’s class of 2027 is on their way to Northampton.
