A new fundraising method was introduced this semester to make fundraising easier for organizations and clubs on campus. The platform aims to phase out the use of personal Venmo and CashApp accounts as the main source of collecting fundraising money. Orgs Chair Gwen Eckl said that the Office of Student Involvement set up a Square payment system for orgs to fundraise.

“This allows for payments to be sent directly to the org’s profit account, which lightens the workload for everyone involved,” said Eckl. “Students are able to pay the most convenient way for them, meaning that fundraisers are no longer reliant on students carrying cash.”

Eckl said that the use of platforms such as Venmo and CashApp as a means of fundraising was never allowed. 

“Although not always enforced, this was a longstanding policy; the use of personal accounts for org business complicated the process and created more work for SOFC and org treasurers alike,” Eckl said. “This policy was not changed for the fall, but cash fundraisers continued to be allowed, as always.” 

A platform through WEngage in the future is a possibility to make the fundraising process more seamless for clubs and orgs. 

Ruhlman Conference 

The 27th Annual Ruhlman Conference will take place on April 11 in the Science Center from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. The aim of the conference is to encourage cooperation among students and faculty from various fields and to enrich the academic atmosphere of the College. It offers a chance for students, faculty, staff and supporters to gather and honor student accomplishments. The Ruhlman Conference promotes academic engagement through hosting a communal, public occasion where students can showcase their work to a broad audience. 

“Renewing Democracy” Summit

On April 6, the College will host a group of scholars, professors, alumnae and students to participate in a summit titled, “Renewing Democracy: Women Leading the Way.” The summit’s panels will focus on the state of democracy globally; how misinformation and AI challenge democracy; voting rights; and higher education’s role in strengthening democracy. Speakers include former U. Secretary of State and former US Senator, Hillary Clinton ’69, and two Nobel Prize laureates: Liberian peace advocate Leymah Gbowee, and Maria Ressa, a journalist based in the Philippines who has reported on the impact of misinformation on democracy. Chelsea Miller, co-founder of the youth civil rights organization Freedom March NYC, and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson ’99, a voting rights advocate, will be among the panelists. Arielle Mitropoulos ’19, a two-time national Emmy Award-winning journalist, will emcee the summit. In-person tickets are currently sold out, but people are still able to sign up to view the summit virtually. 

Class of 2028

This year, Wellesley received just over 8,900 first-year applications, the largest number in College history. Applicants in the Regular Decision pool were notified of their admission decision on March 16. Overall, 13% of applicants were offered admission to the College. The class of 2028 hail from 47 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and APO/AP, as well as 30 countries outside the United States. 18% will be the first generation in their families to attend a four-year college. 10% are international citizens. 52% speak a language other than English in their homes. 15 were admitted through the QuestBridge National College Match program. This was the fourth year Wellesley suspended the standardized testing requirement, making testing optional for applicants.

President Johnson announced via email on Feb. 22 that Professor Nina Tumarkin, the Kathryn Wasserman Davis Professor of Slavic Studies and professor of history at Wellesley, will deliver the 2024 distinguished faculty lecture on April 17. Professor Tumarkin is currently engaged in research on Russian historical memory of its Soviet past, and will deliver this year’s lecture, titled, “Back in the USSR: The Soviet Legacy in Putin’s Russia,” in Collins Cinema. President Johnson explained that the Distinguished Faculty Lecture was established in 1999 to allow for the Wellesley community to hear from outstanding faculty and to “reflect on the meaning of a liberal arts education.”

Professors to give poetry reading at Beacon Hill Books 

Wellesley faculty will give a poetry reading at Beacon Hill Books & Cafe on March 14. The Beacon Hill Books Poetry Salon event will feature Professors Heather Bryant, Tavi Gonzalez and Liseli Fitzpatrick. Gonzalez, the Barbara Morris Caspersen Associate Professor of Humanities in the Department of English and Creative Writing, published his poetry collection The Book of Ours in 2009, and recently published his first full-length collection Limerence in 2023. Fitzpatrick, a professor in the Department of Africana Studies, focuses on Africana sacred cosmologies, ontologies and pedagogies. Bryant, Senior Lecturer in the Writing Program, has written 11 books of poetry, among her other publications. 

Ethos presents culture showcase

Ethos presented the first annual African American Culture Showcase on March 2 in the Jewett Auditorium. The showcase, titled “Celebrating Hip Hop: 50 Years of Regional Revolutions,” included performances, food and vendors. The show was also followed by an afterparty at Harambee House with DJ Rayvino.

 Patty Birch, assistant dean for intercultural education, and the Harambee House hosted the annual Black Excellence Gala on Friday, Feb. 16 in the Alumnae Ballroom. The Harambee Singers commenced the event by performing various harmonies, and a dinner catered by Nzuko — a Caribbean and Mediterranean fusion restaurant — followed. The main event of the night was the keynote speech from Aziza Yasin Esq. ’94. The 2022 recipient of WCAA Sed Ministrare Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service and 2023 alumna recipient of the Black Excellence Award delivered a speech on black excellence that revolved around Maya Angelou’s poem “Phenomenal Woman.” Dean Birch then announced three awardees of the event, with one being Linda Brown-San Martin ’70, director of the Harambee Singers. The event concluded with singing and dancing among the choir and audience.

Jordan Lecture – Michael Abels

The Jordan Lecture featuring composer and arranger Michael Abels took place on Thursday, Feb. 15 in Tishman Commons. Titled “Finding Miracles: One Artist’s Social Justice Journey in a Capitalistic World,” the lecture illuminated how Abels has navigated his life as an artist, educator and learner. Abels talked about how his queer and biracial identity has influenced his multi-genre music, how to combine art with entrepreneurship, and above all, how to take calculated risks while following one’s desires. At the end of the lecture, audience members had a chance to ask Abels about his process of composing the soundtracks for Jordan Peele’s Get Out and Nope, his relationship with inspiration, and his advice for young artists.

During Wintersession, Wellesley College hosted students for three Upskill programs from Jan. 16 through Jan. 19. The programs offered specialized training in investment banking, entrepreneurship, and coding. Around 60 students participated in these three programs. Students were able to gain hands-on experience within their specific industry and meet with professionals.

Embark! A First-Year Career Retreat

To kick off the start of the spring semester, Wellesley College Career Education hosted their annual weekend-long immersive program known as “Embark! A First-Year Career Retreat.” Over 190 first-years arrived on campus the weekend before classes in order to begin their career exploration, gain mentorship from older sibs, and learn about the variety of opportunities and activities available to Wellesley students. During this year’s Embark session, programming included learning how to draft a resume/cover letter, interview skills, identifying your career values and strengths, and learning how to engage with the Wellesley Alumnae network. The program culminated in an Experiential Learning Fair open to all first-years. Additionally, all Embark participants will have early access to Wellesley’s Summer 2024 Short Internship Projects (SHIPS).

Dining Hall Changes

Wellesley Fresh is offering several new additions to the menu this spring semester. Bae Pao Lu will be incorporating Taste of Jamaica back at the Nook. Bates added new flavoring syrups at the Coffee Station along with adding the Noodle Bar back into rotation. Stone Davis dining hall, which was the only dining hall that did not serve pizza until this semester, is now adding focaccia pizza to their menu. A High Protein Bar will be added to the weekly rotation in the Mediterranean bar at Tower. The Emporium will be offering Starbucks refreshers and cold brew coffee.

Wintersession Renovations

Tower Hall was closed during Wintersession undergoing several renovations. Students living in Tower Hall during the semester were temporarily placed in Stone Davis Hall during the period of construction. Students living in other dorms during the semester who also required housing during Wintersession, including those in Tower Court complex, did not have to relocate. 

Andy Shennan, Provost and Lia Gelin Poorvu ’56 Dean of the College, announced in an email on September 14, 2023, that he will be stepping down after 25 years in the Dean’s Office and 20 years as the College’s provost and Chief Academic Officer. He will end his term on June 30, 2024. As Provost, Shennan worked collaboratively with 3 presidents, 9 academic deans and the members of the Wellesley College faculty and staff. Shennan will not be leaving Wellesley permanently, but will be taking a sabbatical, after which he will return to the History department as a professor.  Shennan and President Johnson are starting the internal search process to select a member of faculty to take his position of Provost, hoping to find a candidate by the end of January 2024. 

Lake Day Fall 2023

Lake Day was held on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. As per tradition, students received an email from President Johnson at 7:30 am on Lake Day, excusing them from all classes for the day and encouraging them to rest and enjoy the nice weather. This year, students also received notes, slipped under their door by SBOG members, with a graphic of the SBOG frog at midnight, hinting that Lake Day was coming. SBOG hosted a Lake Day Carnival on Severance Green, featuring food, games and rides. The lake path was open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., giving students a chance to walk the full loop around Lake Waban. Finally, Health Services hosted a flu vaccine clinic at the Davis Plaza. 

Heat in the Halls 

As temperatures drop, Facilities has reported that the radiators will be turning back on. Residential Life and Student Housing has noted that we are currently in “shoulder season,” meaning that the fluctuation of temperature in the halls might cause uncomfortable room conditions for the time being and banging noises in the pipes. The noises and heat will stabilize once temperatures  remain below 60 degrees Fahrenheit consistently. The Office of Sustainability has visited the residence halls, delivering a “Radiator Guideline” sticker in hopes that students will put their radiators to use properly once the time comes. 

Walktober

Starting October 1, 2023, students at Wellesley began the annual Walktober challenge. Walktober, according to the Wellesley Recreation Newsletter released on Sept. 27, 2023, is a 42 day fitness program wherein students, faculty, and alumni are encouraged to get more exercise. The Walktober app, found on the app store and google store, features a step converter that converts various activities, like dancing, swimming and yoga to steps, which are used to create friendly competition between teams or individuals.

On Aug. 29, 2023, the Office of Sustainability announced that their annual sustainability sale, popular among sibs on campus for purchase of refrigerators, lamps, mirrors, and other dorm essentials, would be canceled for fall 2023. In their announcement, they reported that the reason for this cancellation was, “unusually high contamination rates of donation items and other extenuating circumstances.” When students asked what the items were contaminated with, the Office of Sustainability responded with, “The bin was contaminated with a higher than normal number of materials that were not in the accepted donations list, including used toiletries and food, and due to the Office of Sustainability being unfilled, we did not have the capacity to sort through all the materials. There will be a higher focus on communication and outreach so this isn’t repeated next year.” The sustainability sale will return next year, but in the meantime, other resources for sustainable items include the Wellesley Free and For Sale Facebook page, other Facebook marketplace groups, and the Wellesley Students’ Aid resource racks and clothes closet. 

Convocation and Stepsinging 2023

Wellesley College started the academic year with its 149th Convocation on Tuesday, Sept. 5. The tradition included faculty, staff and students, with each class dressed in their class colors and seniors in their graduation robes. College President Paula Johnson, Provost and Dean of the College Andy Shennan, along with student speakers Ingrid Bell ’24, president of the College Government, and Dhanya Srikanth ’24, chief justice, gave speeches to the community. A recording of the celebration can be found on the Wellesley College website. Following Convocation, the Wellesley College Alumnae Association led Stepsinging, the annual tradition where students chant and sing traditional class cheers in a competition.

Heat Wave

Along with Convocation, students were welcomed to the school year with a blistering heat wave. Temperatures reached from the upper 80s to the high 90s. Rooms in residential halls were especially hot, given that most dorms only have one window. Students were encouraged by residential life and Sheilah Shaw Horton, vice president and dean of students, to take advantage of cooler spaces around campus, including hall lounges and the campus center and to drink plenty of fluids. Now that the weather is cooling down, students are no longer allowed to stay overnight in the campus center. 

Orientation and First-Year Move-In

The start of the 2023-24 orientation programs began with virtual orientation from July 24 to Aug. 25 and first-year move-in, beginning with international students and those in sports in late August and domestic student move-in on Wednesday, Aug. 30. During the next five days, first-year students were introduced to the campus with a number of events, including campus tours, campus resource fairs, faculty panels, academic fairs and fun events. First-year students were required to go to certain mandatory events, including an all hall gathering, a “Keeping-Wellesley-Safe” program, an violence prevention event, a stress management session, “Let Me Speak,” and substance use harm reduction training. Students also completed their course registration during orientation. 

Michigan State Secretary, Jocelyn Benson ’99, was recently announced as the 2023 commencement speaker. Benson is known for her work as a voting rights advocate. Her work in Mchigan’s 2020 and 2022 general elections garnered national attention, earning her the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award and the Presidential Citizens Medal. Benson was appointed as the dean of Wayne State University Law School in Detroit and became the youngest woman in US history to lead a top-100 accredited law school. She was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in 2016 and is the co-founder and former president of Military Spouses of Michigan, a network dedicated to providing support and service to military spouses and children. 

Duck Day

Duck Day took place on April 12. Duck day is an event run by the Office of Student Involvement where plastic ducks filled with candy are scattered around campus for students. Inflatable ducks were placed in the Quint, Severance Green and in front of the campus bookstore. 

LDOC concert artist announced

SBOG announced MUNA as the artist that will perform at the last day of class (LDOC) concert. The LDOC concert will take place on May 3 at Munger Meadow. Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission for Wellesley students is free. Wellesley students are required to bring their OneCard for free admission. The admission fee for non-Wellesley students is $20. No bags, bottles or re-entry is allowed. In the event of extreme weather, the concert will be held indoors and will be limited to only Wellesley students. Non-Wellesley students will be refunded in the event that the concert is relocated indoors. Please email dooca@wellesley.edu for any questions. 

Marathon Monday and Spring Weekend

Spring Weekend took place from April 14 to April 16 leading up to Marathon Monday. On April 14, SBOG held “Freaky Friday,” a party on the Campus Center lawn, from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. “Plazapalooza,” SBOG’s annual food truck event, took place on April 15 on the Schneider Tennis Courts from 2 to 4 p.m. On April 16, sign making for the marathon was held in Bates, Cazenove and Tower. Marathon Monday took place on April 17. Students came out to cheer for runners and participate in the annual scream tunnel. SBOG held additional programming around campus such as carnival games, a photo booth, a flash tattoo station and an inflatable slide. 

Ruhlman Conference

The 26th annual Ruhlman Conference took place on April 26 from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. with events being held in the Science Center, Pendleton West, Jewett, Founders and Clapp Library. The Ruhlman Conference was founded to bring faculty and students who study various disciplines together to encourage collaboration and to highlight student achievements. 

Haruki Murakami will give the Cornille Lecture 

Haruki Murakami will give the Cornille Lecture on April 27 at 6 p.m. in Alumnae Auditorium. Murakami will discuss what writing fiction has been like  in an era of COVID-19 and war. The lecture will be followed by a short discussion of questions from the Wellesley community. Murakami is the author of “Norwegian Wood,” “Kafka on the Shore,” “1Q84” and many more books. 

Registrar announces the addition of pronouns and chosen name in Workday

On April 7, the registar announced the new addition for students, faculty and staff to add their pronouns and chosen names in Workday. The Fall 2023 class lists will be created with each student’s pronouns and chosen name in efforts for students to be addressed properly by faculty and peers. In the interests of protecting the privacy of all of our students, pronouns will not be included on the College website, student transcripts or in any other outward-facing documentation.

On Feb.14, Johnson & Johnson announced that President Paula Johnson has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Joaquin Duato, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson, stated, “On behalf of the Board, we look forward to working with Paula as the Company continues to innovate to profoundly impact health for humanity.” Following her appointment, President Johnson said, “I have always been passionate about health, science, and helping people achieve positive health outcomes, and I look forward to serving with fellow directors who share a similar passion and commitment to improving the lives of people around the world.” 

2023 Camellia Student Leadership Award nominations opened 

On Feb. 16, Division of Student Life announced nominations for 2023 Camellia Student Leadership has opened. The award was established in 2018, honoring students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership through active engagement on campus and the broader community. All members of the Wellesley community are invited to nominate students until April 2.

TedXWellesley taking place 

TedXWellesley will be happening on Feb. 25, from 3-5 p.m. in Tishman Commons. The event will feature the following speakers: Anne Jiang, E.B. Bartels, Eleanor Dunne, Isabel Flessas, Jasmine Lunia, Kellie Carter Jackson, Liseli Fitzpatrick, Lucy Goldberg, and Sarah-Wells Moran. It will only be opened to members of the Wellesley College community. 

2023 Orientation Mentor applications now open 

The New Student Orientation program has announced that the 2023 Orientation Mentor (OM) role is now open. Applications will close on Thursday, March 9, at 11:59 p.m. 

Students received a rather cold welcome back from break when showers across campus failed to run hot water. While not all students were not affected, many in the Quad and Tower Court neighborhood reported not having hot water for over a week. According to Mike Lane, director of facilities management, at the beginning of the semester, the College’s plumbing staff “replaced more than 40 hot water shower valves.” In an email to The News, Lane said these valves often get stuck in a cold position that prevents hot water from reaching the shower. He added that the valves do not give any indication or warning that may have failed, so it is difficult for facilities to address this problem early on. Students who are facing issues with their hot water should contact the Facilities Customer Service Desk (x2767) or submit a service request.

Co-ops reopening

El Table has reopened for the spring semester. This co-op is located in Founders basement, and they will be open from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Café Hoop, located on the first floor of Lulu, has also reopened for the spring semester. They will be open on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. 

Financial aid forms due

The due date for financial aid forms, including FAFSA, the CSS profile and income documentation (including all personal and business tax returns, W-2s, forms and schedules) was Feb. 1. All materials required to be uploaded are on the MyWellesley portal.

Summer research program application due

Applications for Wellesley College’s science center summer research program are due Feb. 10 at 11 p.m. Students can choose from a list of research projects conducted by professors of varying departments, including biological sciences, chemistry, environmental science and computer science. This program is open to all rising sophomores, juniors and seniors with an interest in research. Available projects and more information about the program can be found on Wellesley’s website under the “Science Center; Summer Research Program” tab. 

Valentine’s Day spirit

Valentine’s Day excitement has spread across campus with the marketing of candy grams. Both SBOG and Freestyle are offering candygrams for varying prices. See spam around campus. 

On Nov. 8, 2022, Massachusetts governor elect Maura Healey made history as the first lesbian governor in the United States. Healey is an established progressive politician in Massachusetts, having served as Attorney General since 2014. In this position, she gained a reputation for leading Massachusetts’ participation in major legal cases in a variety of spheres; notably, she investigated whether Exxon had contributed to misinformation about climate change, and also was one of the first state attorneys general to challenge President Trump’s 2017 Executive Order that banned entry from seven majority Muslim countries to the U.S. Healey also campaigned on LGBTQ+ rights and protecting reproductive freedom. 64.4% of Norfolk County, the county that Wellesley College is located in, voted in favor of electing Healey. 

First-Gen week 

Between Nov. 7 and Nov. 11, the Office of Student Success held First-Gen Celebration Week. The program included week-long and daily events and featured various departments such as the Stone Center Counseling Services, the Communications and Public Affairs Office, and the Office of International Studies. Additionally, the Department of Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics (PERA) held first-gen spin, first-gen yoga, and first-gen belay lessons. Programming also included a Class Deans’ Raffle and several giveaways. 

Thanksgiving dining hall hours

While all the residence halls will remain open for Thanksgiving break, every dining hall but Bates will be closed. The dining hall hours are as follows: continental breakfast from 8:30 to 10:30 am; hot brunch from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm, and dinner from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. 

Tanner Conference

On Nov. 15, the College held its annual Tanner Conference which is meant to celebrate student engagement in the world outside of the classroom. Students who have interned, participated in research off-campus, volunteered, studied abroad or engaged in experiential learning were welcome to apply, and speak about their experiences to provide insight to fellow peers. Presenters shared how they were able to access their opportunity, described their work, reflected on their experiences and allowed audience members the chance to ask questions and contact them afterwards.