Smith College hosted the 42nd Annual Silver Chord Bowl on Feb. 8, 2026, inside John M. Greene Hall. This event is “the oldest and most respected collegiate a cappella showcase in the region,” according to the Northampton Arts Council, which co-hosted the event at Smith.
Among the groups who performed were the Smith College Vibes, who wore pins during their performance to demonstrate solidarity with the Northampton Tenants Association and draw attention to the Association’s advocacy for tenant rights amidst rent increases.
Mari Fellenbaum ‘26, Naomi De Lashmett ‘26 and Amelia Colbdorf ‘26 — all members of the Vibes — spoke to The Sophian at the Silver Chord Bowl. They say Smith College is contributing to high housing prices for Northampton tenants, which led them to wear the pins in protest.
When asked why they chose to raise awareness at their performance, De Lashmett said that “doing this at an event that is Northampton’s big draw … felt like it would reach a broader audience,” adding: “How can we support the arts when we aren’t supporting people in the town?”
The Northampton Tenants Association includes many residents who rent apartments owned by Smith College, as the college has long operated as a landlord in the Northampton community. Smithies may be surprised to learn that the College has extensive land and real estate holdings beyond campus, from West Street to Fort Hill, where they rent to both Smith community members and the broader Northampton community.
The Northampton Tenants Association and members of The Vibes say residents in buildings owned by Smith College have been experiencing rent hikes despite previous promises of rent stabilization. Over the summer, some tenants experienced rent increases of up to 20 percent.
“Several years ago, Smith said that they would cap rent prices. However, they have not stuck to that promise, and so renters in Northampton are facing the consequences, and are unable to keep up with the constant rent hikes,” said Fellenbaum. “The City Council voted unanimously to support rent stabilization, and we’re hoping Smith will be a leader on this.”
Fellenbaum added that a Smith alum who sang with The Vibes during their time at school is now an active member of the Northampton Tenants Association living in an apartment owned by the College, where they are experiencing rent hikes.
“We also contribute to the unhoused population in Northampton by not maintaining [stable] rent prices,” added De Lashmett.
“As members of the Smith community, who contribute to Smith’s ability to function, and the Northampton economy, and who benefit from it, it feels really important to be doing what we can to make that possible for the people around us, too,” Colbdorf added.
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