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Posts tagged as “sophian”

1000 Ways for a Party to Die (featuring Scshenangians)

Not I, nor anyone else, would dare to call Smith College a party school. It is not an overstatement or bad faith criticism to say weekends on campus are sometimes, perhaps often, dire. The underwhelming party scene is widely recognized and, for this very reason, also not particularly compelling to analyze.

Our endowment is our future, but what about our present?

A couple of years ago, media outlets including The Nation and The Washington Post were referring to the latest wisecrack (a clever or sarcastic remark) about Harvard University: the ivy-league institution had turned into a hedge fund with a university attached to it. Students called upon Harvard to ‘unhedge’ its endowment while others praised its financial planning strategies. An open letter in The Atlantic called it a ‘brand problem’ yet also a ‘literal truth.’ This characterization underscores a broader trend among universities and colleges, the apparent intent to accumulate the largest endowment ever seen. Maybe we should start thinking about how, and what we are getting this money for.

In Loving Memory of American Higher Education

I have probably read over 200 Buzzfeed articles throughout my life. Back when it was still culturally relevant, much of its content focused on American college life and the culture that emerged from within it. From 23 things that perfectly define “college culture” and 21 things that are so college, it hurts. The 2010s were the years of America’s cultural hegemony; American cultural products (books, movies, music, art, etc.) were consumed all around the world.

The Anti-Doomscroll: Reading Interviews with Black Women Writers as an On-ramp to Liberation

This article was originally published in the November 2023 print edition. As news coverage of the Israel-Hamas War has increased, so has the number of social media posts I see related to the ongoing deaths, injuries and traumas there. I’m coming to accept the value of witnessing these atrocities in close to real time as a person of privilege. Still, there is also a cost when casual consumption becomes doomscrolling.

Smith Wildlife is Sick and Tired of Construction

Smith College has recently announced the construction of a new building for the Lazarus Center for Career Development and the Wurtele Center for Leadership, which is set to be built on a hillside overlooking Paradise Pond. In response to this announcement, many students have taken to social media to discuss the validity of the project. Arguments have been raised, suggesting that the funds for this new building could be more effectively utilized to address internal issues within the college, such as broken elevators and insufficient professor salaries. While there are a multitude of reasons to question the necessity and efficiency of the new Lazarus Center, I would like to introduce an additional critique from a conservation standpoint. 

A Guide to Thoughtful Gifting in Every Relationship Stage

As the holiday season quickly approaches, it’s time to start brainstorming gift ideas. Whether it’s for a loved one or a friend, trying to come up with the perfect present can be stressful. It is always a little challenging for me, but I remember feeling particularly daunted when shopping for my girlfriend for the first time. 

Reframing Success: Advocating for the Inclusion of Piper Kerman ’92 in Smith College’s Notable Alum List

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