He enrolled as an undergraduate at Yale, where he spent his first year in a ‘Great Books’ program in which he read a selection of the major works of the Western canon in philosophy, literature, history and politics. Matthes’ focus on philosophy was somewhat derailed during the middle years of his college career, as he turned towards literature. In the fall of his senior year, however, Matthes returned to philosophy, a move impelled by his aspiration to have a career in education.

“I was really interested in being a teacher, first and foremost. I wasn’t necessarily into the idea of being a philosopher, which I think is somewhat atypical,” he said. “When I was reflecting on my own college experience, the classes that I enjoyed the most were always the philosophy classes.”

Matthes ultimately earned a degree in both English and philosophy and then entered the University of California, Berkeley for his graduate studies. He began teaching at Wellesley in 2013. At Wellesley, his main research interests deal with the ethics, politics and aesthetics of cultural heritage. In particular, he is interested in how cultural heritage is manifested in the environment, a theme which informs much of his teaching in courses on the philosophy of art and the environment.

As he settled into his position at the college, he found that he began to address more practical questions, to some extent shedding the abstract lens he had been accustomed to in graduate school. He attributes this shift, at least in part, to the interests of his students and what he considers a “productive feedback loop.”

For instance, in his first year at Wellesley, Matthes assigned a reading on cultural appropriation to the students in his philosophy of art course. Their enthusiastic response and varied takes on the issue prompted him to research further on the topic, and he ultimately incorporated this work into his other classes.

“[S]ometimes students’ interests drive me in slightly different directions from what I was originally thinking about, and then I can bring that back into new classes,” he explained. “So it’s this really productive cycle.”

Matthes is currently working on a book aimed at a more general audience dealing with the problem of the immoral artist, asking the question of what we should do when we encounter revelations which cast beloved artists in an unfavorable light. According to Matthes, his students are in large part responsible for leading him down this path of inquiry.

“[In the Philosophy of Art course,] I always do a unit on ethical criticism of art, the question of whether moral flaws in an artwork constitute artistic flaws. … But my students have always been interested in this other question: ‘What about the moral character of the artist as opposed to just the moral content of the artwork, and what relationship does that have to the quality of the artwork?’”

What became apparent was a discrepancy between the questions that were most absorbing the students and the current academic discussions on the topic.

“So, over years of now having students ask those questions which are not what the readings are on — because that’s not actually what philosophers have been working on — that suggests to me that there’s real room here to engage productively with these questions and maybe provide a philosophical framework for thinking about these things that doesn’t really exist yet,” said Matthes.

Matthes is also passionate about public philosophy, citing his first experience teaching a Calderwood Seminar as the catalyst for his own serious engagement with the field. Over the course of the seminar, Matthes invited philosophers engaged with public audiences to speak to the class, notably Kate Manne, author of “Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny,” and Myisha Cherry, host and producer of the UnMute podcast.

According to Matthes, the benefits of public philosophy are by no means one-sided.

“Sometimes, doing academic work can feel really isolating — you’re in your office working on something and then you publish some article and you’re like, ‘Is anybody going to read this?’ So writing purposefully for a public audience is a way, I think, of getting out of that isolating space,” he explained.

In his public writing, Matthes strives to bring philosophical thought to wider audiences. More broadly, Matthes strives to expand notions of what deserves philosophical treatment, informed by a diverse range of influences.  

“I think some people are sometimes dismissive of popular culture as a source of engaging academic questions, but that’s totally wrong. All of the interesting questions that you can ask about Wagner or artsy film you can ask about Bring It On.”

Glorianne’s guitar journey began at age 14, when she first studied under the direction of her stepfather, Harry Alto, a guitarist who performed classical, flamenco and jazz styles. She was initially drawn to guitar after hearing the soundtrack of the 1959 film Black Orpheus, a collaboration between the Brazilian composers Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfá. Once she began playing, she recalls, she knew almost instantly that she’d found her calling.

She describes hers as a musical family, and fondly remembers family concerts in her home, where she and her step-father would play guitar for friends. Her dedication to guitar opened the path to a bevy of opportunities from an early age. While other high school students might find part time work babysitting for neighbors or bagging groceries, the 15-year-old Glorianne spent her weekends performing in a local Mexican restaurant.

She earned her degree in music at the University of California-Berkeley and spent her junior year abroad at the University of Bordeaux. That summer brought her to Barcelona, where she had the remarkable opportunity to study with one of the most well-renowned female guitarists of her time, Renata Tarragó.

“It was during my summer in Barcelona that I met a number of guitarists at a guitar course –– one of them also played lute. I was enchanted with the sound of the lute, and thus inspired to learn the lute.”

After graduating from Berkeley, Glorianne returned to Europe, this time to focus on her lute studies. In her new home of Basel, Switzerland, she studied with Eugen Dombois and Hopkinson Smith at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.

While living in Basel, Glorianne supported herself by teaching guitar, working with groups of students ranging from nursing students to children living in small German villages across the border. The young musicians, Glorianne remembers, would regularly visit the candy store before their lessons, and when she would tune their guitars, she’d discover the strings were coated in chocolate.

Glorianne secured a position teaching at the Ecole Jurassienne et Conservatoire de Musique in the city of Delémont, in Switzerland. Along with her teaching, she was able to continue honing her own skills, attending masterclasses in Lichtenstein and France. And while the opportunities to study with world-class musicians were deeply rewarding, she found that the connections and friendships she made while abroad were invaluable.  

After her years in Switzerland, Glorianne returned to California before making her way to New England. In the Boston A\area, she taught at the Rivers School, the Cambridge School of Weston and Walnut Hill School for the Arts before finding her way to Wellesley.

Many of Glorianne’s fondest memories of her time at Wellesley have come through collaborative, interdepartmental efforts. In particular, she is especially proud of a performance project she helped put together which combined poetry readings and translations from students in the Spanish department with guitar and dance.

Just this month, thanks to the dedicated efforts of Glorianne and Concert Manager Isabel Fine, the music department welcomed Juanito Pascual as its artist in residence. A renowned flamenco guitarist, Juanito and his ensemble played to a packed house in Jewett Auditorium. Throughout the week, the ensemble worked with students in workshops focused on the fundamentals of flamenco guitar and dance.

Glorianne resides in Plympton, MA with her husband, a professional countertenor and cornetto player. Their daughter is a visual artist and illustrator. When she’s not teaching, Glorianne enjoys nature photography and folk dancing.

Glorianne encourages students of all abilities to pursue music, citing the joy it can bring to both the performer and their audience. “[Music] has the ability to reach people and connect with their emotions…it’s such a strong force, and that’s why I love it so much.”

The primary concern they sought to address was the loss of dining ware resulting from students removing dishes from the dining halls and then failing to return them. According to Zhao, Keith Tyger, the executive chef at Wellesley Fresh, revealed that the company spent over $260,000 in the course of the last seven years on replacing dining hall dishware. Students as well as staff have been concerned about this waste. At a brainstorming forum held as part of the Student Sustainability Challenge, an initiative hosted by the College’s Sustainability Committee, dissues was one of the top three responses listed by students when asked to name an area in which the College could change behaviors to better align itself with sustainable on-campus practices. In response to these concerns, Zhao and Xia decided to take action.

Over the course of the semester, the sustainability interns utilized a number of methods to raise awareness of this issue, most notably by setting up tables in dining halls with informative and creative displays. The interns worked in collaboration with Keith Tyger and Resident Director Cherie Tyger to create the behavior-change campaign. On a few occasions, the interns were equipped with bowls of fresh strawberries, using the fruit to better illustrate the costs of dishware waste, noting that the money spent on dish replacement could be better spent on fresh produce. During these interactive sessions, which were held during dining hall meal times, students who accepted berries were asked to pledge to take individual responsibility in returning dishware promptly to the dining halls. Over the course of the semester and 10 hours of campaigning, Zhao and Xia reached over 500 students.

The campaign has grown in size and has won the support of the College’s Office of Sustainability. Dorothea Von Herder, the coordinator of campus sustainability programs, was so impressed by the initiative that she asked interns and volunteers from her office to get involved. Many of them, including House Council Eco Reps, now assist in running campaign tables in the dining halls and are also integral to other aspects of the campaign, such as social media efforts.

Ultimately, Xia believes it is up to students to take individual responsibility and to support one another in following sustainable practices.

“Personally, I have always seen dishes laying around in kitchenettes, and I’d always take them back to the dining hall when I can, and I know others who do the same and are frustrated by dissues”, she said. “We wanted to raise awareness on the problem and reduce loss that could totally be avoided.”

Other students, such as Grace Wong ’21, expressed frustration regarding the behavior she has witnessed relating to Wellesley Fresh dishware.

“I lived in Stone-Davis first semester, and on my hall some people were throwing dishes into our bathroom trash can or leaving them in the stairwell. I was absolutely appalled—these aren’t disposable dishes! We’re supposed to return them to the dining hall, not just throw them away. So on multiple occasions I would fish the dishes out of the trash can,” Wong said.

Zhao offered her suggestions for individuals, like Wong, who would like to get involved and play a role in combating this issue. For those interested in joining the campaign efforts, the Sustainability Office invites volunteers to help manage table displays in dining halls. Zhao also suggested taking photos of dishes in residential hall common areas to post on social media or raising the issue for discussion during House Council meetings.

“But most importantly, we should all be doing our parts to encourage each other and remind ourselves to bring dishes back in a timely manner,” Zhao added.

Dissues is only one of several efforts on campus to promote sustainability at Wellesley. According to the school’s website, the 2017-18 academic year has been declared the College’s “Year of Sustainability,” the purpose of which is “to engage the campus community in thoughtful discussions about what sustainability means for us today, and to promote positive behavioral changes and intellectual discourse that will endure beyond the themed year.” As part of the “Year of Sustainability,” the College has invited environmental activist and former Vice President Al Gore to deliver the annual Wilson Lecture on April 25.

For now, Zhao, Xia and other sustainability interns remain committed to eliminating the $40,000 sum that is spent each year to replace missing dishware from the dining halls and making Wellesley a more environmentally-conscious environment. Their campaign has already prompted other students to get involved. “Last semester, Yuxi and I were the only two students going to every dining hall one at a time during the dissues campaign week to run our strawberry and sticker poster program,” Zhao recalls. “Now, there are campaign tables simultaneously at every dining hall, and there are more students who are responsible for running the campaign and manning the tables.” Zhao and Xia hope that their campaign has inspired a lasting discussion on campus and can eliminate an issue that can easily be resolved.

Earlier that same week, on Jan. 30, the College hosted an information session led by immigration lawyer Elizabeth Goss of The Law Office of Goss and Associates in which she explained recent immigration policy changes, particularly focusing on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

These presentations and the legal clinic were organized by the Working Group on Immigration and Refugee Policies at Wellesley, which was formed in February 2017 at the behest of Wellesley College President Paula Johnson. The group was created in response to both ongoing national policy changes and the Nov. 22 Sanctuary Campus Petition, which urged President Johnson to declare “a plan to provide sanctuary to students from federal immigration investigation and enforcement.” Associate Professor of Education Soo Hong serves as chairperson of the group, which includes a wide range of faculty and staff members as well as a number of student representatives. Hong was not available for comment at this time.

According to an April 3, 2017 email from President Johnson, the working group is charged with the task of “helping the College understand and support the needs of any undocumented members of our community—or any other community members—who may be feeling vulnerable as the political climate and regulations related to immigration and refugee status continue to change.”

Maheen Akram ’20 has been involved with the working group since its inception and serves as a student representative for the group.

“After Trump got elected, I felt scared. The travel ban was just a reaffirming of my fears, and I saw that some of my friends were at risk, so I wrote a long emotional email to President Johnson that Wellesley should do something for the students and declare itself a sanctuary campus. I received an reply back from her … in which she invited me to become a part of the working group on immigration,” Akram said.

Gaby Varela ’20 also serves as a student representative in the College’s Working Group on Immigration and Refugee Policies. She stated that she joined the group because of her work with Raíz, a student-led organization that advocates for the respect, dignity and rights of immigration and refugee communities on- and off-campus. Though the group works to ensure that institutional support is available to affected members of the community, Varela believes Wellesley should do more.

“I think having the group is important, but what’s more important is hiring someone whose sole job is to focus on these issues. The work continues to fall on those who are affected and who have to go through a lot of emotional labor, which isn’t fair. I wish Wellesley would hire someone because I’m sure they have the means to do it, and immigration is a recurring issue that will continue to come up,” she explained.

Efforts to support community members who are affected by the policy changes have been ongoing. Last October and November, the working group offered drop-in hours with several of its members, allowing the community one-on-one access to individuals who are well-versed in the complexities of policy changes and knowledgeable about the various resources that are available.

In the fall 2017 semester, the College hosted guest lecturers who addressed topics relating to students and immigration issues. On Nov. 1, Roberto Gonzales, professor of education at Harvard University, delivered a lecture discussing his study of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. and also spoke about a project which focused on immigrants in the DACA program. On Nov. 30, Latino/a Studies scholar Lorgia Garcí-a Peña, who is also a Harvard University associate professor of romance languages and literature and of history and literature, spoke about the topic of supporting undocumented students and their families.

Varela invites feedback from the community as the working group continues its efforts to support those affected by immigration policy changes.

“There are only three students on the group, and we [aren’t] representative all of the student body, so please tell us your questions, concerns and events you’d like planned. There will be a Town Hall sometime in March where we will re-introduce the group to the community and address people’s concerns,” she said.

Varela also encouraged those who are interested to visit the group’s website, which features updates on immigration legislation, events the group is hosting and the contact information of  group members.

Another perk of the short break was the luxury to indulge in unabashed, mindless TV consumption. In my uncle’s home, the raucous game shows and overblown dramas of The Filipino Channel (TFC) were a fixture.

As I sipped a mug of tea at the kitchen table, enjoying the calm of the crisp November afternoon, my eyes wandered to the TV. A series I’d never seen before was playing. I later learned that the series in question was a comedy romance entitled “My Korean Jagiya,” a relatively new show that had met with moderate success and played to the growing Korean drama fan base in the Philippines. A dramatic scene was playing out between two women, one of whom appeared to be accusing the other of faking a chronic illness. Incriminating medical documents in hand, the accuser, irate and incredulous at her friend’s cruel deception, burst out, “Your skin may be white, but your heart is evil!”

This brief bit of dialogue was met with a few chuckles from friends and family around me and was easily lost amidst the melodrama playing out on screen. But the uninspired line, which seemed to equate fair skin with virtue, was disturbing and representative of a larger, more insidious issue.

I was reminded of a recent article I’d read which described the tirade of a Filipino Twitter user against what she identified as the Eurocentrism of Filipino beauty standards. Many of the Philippines’ most popular actors and musicians are mixed race. Pia Wurtzbach, for instance, who was crowned Miss Universe 2015 after host Steve Harvey’s notorious flub, is German-Filipino. As a Filipino-American of mixed race myself, I am in no way suggesting that people of mixed race do not constitute full-fledged members of the groups with which they identify. Simply, I don’t believe that people should be celebrated or hold advantages because of their angular features or light skin. These individuals are not to blame, however, but rather the damaging messages that have been internalized and perpetuated both consciously and unconsciously by the greater society.

Of course, over 300 years of Spanish colonial rule followed directly by U.S. annexation and territorial claim until 1946 have indubitably contributed to the Eurocentric beauty standard in the Philippines. Doubtless, this is a legacy of colonialism which has reached every corner of the world. Colorism is an issue in societies across the globe including our own. A plethora of skin-whitening products is available not only in the Philippines but across much of Asia and much of the rest of the world, for that matter. My concerns are ones shared by countless others and are related to much broader and more serious issues including racism inside and outside of the Philippines.

Every so often, I come across posts on Facebook celebrating the good looks of a Filipino-Spanish actor or a Filipino-Australian actress, always courtesy of a close family friend.

She is one of the kindest, most generous and warmhearted people I know. But I can’t help but wonder what kind of message she is sending to her own children, friends and family when she repeatedly celebrates Filipinos with “Eurocentric” features whose appearances don’t reflect most of the Filipinos in her life. Are her actions perpetuating social structures that devalue herself and her loved ones?

I’ve found that my concerns of how to address these issues effectively with friends and family have been only complicated since my time at Wellesley. Now that I’m away from home and see many of my loved ones only once or twice a year, how can I broach uncomfortable topics without ruining the few moments I am able to share with them? When I first read about the Filipino Twitter user who attacked the Eurocentrism of Filipino beauty standards, I was surprised and relieved because, for the first time, I was reading the words of another Filipino who was outraged by these harmful standards and their implications for society. Though she is by no means the first to recognize these issues, she reminded me of the importance of remaining vigilant and of speaking out even against small moments like the line in “My Korean Jagiya”  which, left unchecked, allow for the insidious perpetuation of a cycle which devalues non-white individuals and their bodies.

In the age of Trump—and Duterte—it’s more important than ever to hold one another accountable for our thoughts, words and actions. We must continue to confront every perpetuation of structures of oppression, even when they are single lines in television comedies.

The highlight of the two-day event was Saturday’s 25th anniversary luncheon, which included discussions and presentations by students as well as notable alumnae including Elaine Chin ’95, co-founder of WAA, and Lin Chan ’01, who was involved in the creation of WAAM-SLAM I.

In addition to marking the anniversary of its establishment, WAA hosted the event to celebrate the success of its campaign to secure a tenure-track position in the Asian American Studies (AAS) program. After a year-long effort led by the organization, the administration agreed to the group’s demands and will instate a tenure-track professor in the AAS program in the fall of 2019.

According to Professor Yoon Sun Lee, Asian American Studies is not an official program or department at the College but was approved as a minor within American Studies in the spring of 2013. The foundational course, AMST 151, The Asian American Experience, was first taught by Professor Jim Kodera in 1984 and continues to be taught by a rotating group of faculty.

Rebecca Leu ’19 and Alice Li ’19, WAA co-coordinators, explained the recent history of the movement to expand AAS at Wellesley. Last year, a group of WAA members and other concerned students formed the Asian American Studies Initiative to advocate for a tenure-track position in the program. Many students were concerned by the lack of courses in the minor and a lack of resources for the track in general. AAS has neither appointed faculty nor an administrative assistant. Leu highlighted this deficiency, saying, “For example, next semester we only have one AAS course, even though we have a visiting post-doctorate [in AAS], Professor Paul Nadal.” With a tenure-track professor, the program would be guaranteed two courses each semester, ensuring that students interested in pursuing AAS would be able to do so.

Looking to transform the frustration many students experienced in the wake of the 2016 election into action, the students turned to the initiative, which they felt was more vital than ever in light of proposed faculty reductions. Through the group’s organizing, over 40 alumnae and current students wrote to the administration to advocate for the position.

Leu and Li expressed their appreciation for the support the initiative received, saying, “We’re pretty confident that no other department or program had that many students advocating for them.”

In response, the College announced plans to hire a tenure-track professor within the program in fall 2019. Leu and Li noted that they hope to involve as many students as possible in the hiring and interview process.

Professor Lee noted that the triumph was the result of decades of hard work.

“WAA has been tirelessly dedicated to the cause of AAS since its inception. In regular meetings with the administration, with faculty and students, WAA has, for more than 20 years, reminded everyone of the importance of AAS as a field of study. I doubt that any of the above could have happened without the work of many generations of WAA. Their activism has been tremendously effective and inspiring,” she said.

In regards to the presentations and discussions which occurred at the symposium, Li said, “Overall, I felt inspired by the deep legacies of student action that came before us, and I also felt that we need to do a better job of passing on our knowledge to future generations of e-boards.”

The weekend symposium also recognized the work of the Wellesley Asian Action Movement/Sisters Leading Action for Multiculturalism (WAAM-SLAM), who campaigned in 2001 to address under-resourcing and underrepresentation of Asian American and Latinx faculty and students. A second iteration of the movement, WAAM-SLAM II, was created in 2014 to advocate for ethnic studies, multiculturalism and a reallocation of resources.

“Most of today’s resources for marginalized students would not exist if it weren’t for student activism. However, one thing we learned at our 25th Anniversary event was that the demands that WAAM-SLAM I and II made still have not been fully met, and multiple generations of students have made similar demands,” Leu and Li said.   

Professor Lee commended the students, saying, “I’d like to congratulate WAA for its 25th anniversary celebration, and thank all of the students and alums who participated in it. It was a wonderful, informative and very moving tribute to the power of student activism at Wellesley.”

She noted that the movement was “a triumph of collaboration” and was the result of generations of dedicated effort. Professor Lee additionally pointed to the instrumental role played by Karen Shih, the advisor to students of Asian descent, in bringing people together and providing support.

Leu and Li also commented that despite the recent successes of WAA-led initiatives, there is still much work to be done.

“This is one win, but there must be many more before we can say we have a strong ethnic studies curriculum at Wellesley. The South Asian Studies department needs more resources, classes in AAS need to better discuss and acknowledge South, Southeast Asian and Pacific diasporas and there needs to be an established Ethnic Studies major here at Wellesley,” they said.

The team began the season in captains practices as soon as school began and proceeded to tryouts in mid-September. Wellesley gained a good crop of new swimmers to help bolster the team’s success this season. The team is fairly young, with only one senior swimmer and one senior diver leading the team this season.

Newcomer Claire Whitaker ’19 joined the team this season after spending two years on Wellesley’s club water polo team. She came to tryouts in search of a more competitive athletic experience, one like her high school water polo team’s. So far, she is excited by the progress that the team has made thus far. “The whole team is very dedicated to both the sport and each other,” said Whitaker. “The upperclass members are welcoming and helpful towards the first years. As a whole, we are a group that is dedicated and enthusiastic about what we do, and that is what will drive us to have a successful season, in and out of the pool.”

This weekend, the swim team fell short with an 132-167 loss to the Simmons Sharks, who are 4-1 on the season, despite Jessie Feng ’19’s victories in the the 100 and 200 fly events, with times of 2:166.10 and 1:02.50 respectively. Several other Blue swimmers were also successful at the dual meet, which was held at Simmons College’s Holmes Sports Center.  Emily Yeager ’21 earned first place in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:14.85 and took second place in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:03.98.

Additionally, Kayleigh Svensson ’20 captured second place in the 1000 freestyle with a 11:34.73 time and Danielle Peterson ’20 took second in the 100 freestyle in 1:10.87. Solveig Stensland ’21 swam to second place with a 26.06 50 freestyle and Sunny Chiang ’19 took second in the 200 IM with a 2:19.28.

Despite the loss, Swim and Dive remains committed to finding a positive outlook during the meets and encouraging each other along the way. They have used the motivation from their first meet, a landslide victory of 239-18 against Franklin Pierce University, to fuel their progress this season. The meet provided the team with a unique opportunity to test each other in competition as Franklin Pierce has just started their program and only raced with four swimmers at the meet.

Multiple Wellesley swimmers recorded victories in several events and the team won all 15 races. Danielle Peterson ’20 took first in the 200 free (2:03.22), the 100 breaststroke (1:10.51) and the 200 IM (2:18.01). In her team debut, Emily Yeager ’21 won the 50 backstroke in 30.24 and the 100 backstroke in 1:03.43. Teammate Jessie Feng ’19 captured first in the 100 fly in 1:01.78 and the 500 free in 5:34.17.

Diver Maura Sticco-Ivins ’18 also started the season strong, continuing her history of success. Sticco-Ivins was honored as the NEWMAC Women’s Diver of the Week for the week ending Nov. 12. This is the 18th time the senior has received the NEWMAC distinction. At the Simmons meet, she finished first in both the 1M and 3M dives, scoring 295.85 and 288.65 respectively. In the season opener, Sticco-Ivins ’18 dominated the 1- and 3-meter boards, recording scores of 286.60 and 265.20, respectively.

The senior is returning this season after earning the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) 2017 Women’s Diver of the Year award, as well as the NCAA diving title, earlier this year. The senior is a three-time NCAA Division III National Champion, a first in Wellesley College history.

This season the team welcomes new Assistant Swimming Coach and Assistant Aquatic Director Emily Altier, who spent the last year working in various positions within the NCAA’s Postgraduate Internship Program. Head Coach Bonnie Dix is returning for her 31st season with the Blue and Diving Coach Jack Lewis, who was last season’s CSCAA Division III National Diving Coach of the Year, is back for his second year with the team.

The team will next compete on Nov. 18 when they travel to Western Mass. to face off against the Mount Holyoke Lyons.

After a heartbreaking loss in the NEWMAC Quarterfinals, soccer players Melise Knowles ’18 and Kendall You Mak ’20 were rewarded with second team all-conference honors. Knowles was also named an Academic All-Conference nominee. While Knowles helped lead Wellesley’s offensive production with four goals and one assist for nine points on the season, You Mak held down Wellesley’s defense and added a goal and an assist as well.

Wellesley Field Hockey’s Emmy Hamilton ’18 capped off the best season of her career with a NEWMAC first team All-Conference nomination and a spot on the Academic All-Conference lineup for the third time in her career. Hamilton contributed four goals and five assists from the midfield this season. She was joined by teammate Arielle Mitropoulos ’19, who made second team All-Conference for the first time in her career. Mitropoulos lead the team in offensive production with a career-high 24 points. Mitropoulos was named both NEWMAC Offensive and NFHCA Division III National Offensive Player of the Week during the week of October 30th, after scoring five goals in two games, including the overtime game winner against Wheaton College to send Wellesley to the NEWMAC Quarterfinals.

Yasmine Reece ’19 was named to the NEWMAC Volleyball’s first team All-Conference, in addition to being named 2017 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) New England All-Region team. Teammates Michelle Li ’19, Samantha Hoang ’19 and Lauren Gedney ’21 were named AVCA All-Region honorable mentions. Volleyball finished in second place in the NEWMAC Conference and went on to compete in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Wesleyan last Friday night.

Isabella King ’18 and Taylor Mahlandt ’20 headlined the NEWMAC Cross-Country All-Conference team for Wellesley. Both runners lead the team this season, culminating in Wellesley’s top two finishes at NCAA Regionals this past weekend. Together, the two  helped Wellesley to a 15th place team finish, with Mahlandt finishing in 39th place and King in 59th place individually.

Tower Court residents who evacuated the building late Monday evening were directed to nearby Lake House to await permission to re-enter their dormitory. Approximately an hour after the initial alarm, students were allowed to return to their rooms. Jessica Schuyler ’18, who lives adjacent to the room in which the fire occurred, reported flooding across the entire landing. Victoria Condon ’19 lives on the fourth floor of Tower Court West and said that her room was affected by water that entered from flooded areas on her own floor as well as from leaks in the ceiling above. Condon stated that the leaks harmed belongings in her room, most significantly her bedding and mattress, which were soaked. While Condon lives nearby and was able to return home for the night, other affected students were forced to look elsewhere for temporary relocation.

Meghan Todd, assistant director of student housing, explained that students who were unable to return to their rooms because of damage were provided with a list of vacancies in residence halls across campus. Most students, Todd noted, chose to stay with friends who offered lodging in light of the incident. The following day, Todd and Sarah Cooper, Tower Court’s area coordinator, invited residents to a meeting during which students were given information about temporary relocation arrangements. In addition to Residential Life staff, Dean Horton noted, representatives from Counseling Services were also present at the Tuesday meeting to offer support to students.

Director of Environmental Health and Safety Suzanne Howard said repairs will largely consist of cleaning surfaces, replacing carpet and painting and repairing walls impacted by the water. The projected timeline for the work is six to eight weeks. Condon, who said her room sustained water damage, expressed satisfaction with the College’s efforts. “Maintenance did a great job cleaning my room. It’s dried out and no longer smells like smoke. I still have the dehumidifier and a fan in my room to complete the drying process,” she said.

Other students, like Tower resident Juniper Ozbolt ’21, were disappointed in the school’s response. Though not directly affected by the incident, Ozbolt felt that the school did too little to share information about the fire with the wider community following the incident. “Faculty, staff, and peers did not know the fire occurred for days after it happened. How are we supposed to support each other as a community if we do not know what is happening in our community,” Ozbolt said.

Another common concern among students who were impacted by the fire regarded damage to personal belongings. Horton explained that the College’s official policy is to direct students to consult their own homeowners or renters insurance, which she noted was a common practice among colleges and universities. She added, “we also recognize that not everyone has homeowners insurance and some who do have large deductibles, so we are trying to work on our own insurance to cover the damage.” Horton said the College is still in the process of working with its insurers and will notify students when more information becomes available.

Some, however, are concerned of the greater implications of the incident to students’ health. On the morning of Nov. 6, Julide Iye ’18 emailed an open letter to students and administrators expressing concern that some Tower residents may be experiencing health issues related to the smoke and water damage that affected the fourth and fifth floors of the building. The relationship between the symptoms reported by students (including sore throat, coughing and fatigue) with the fire is yet to be determined. According to Horton, the office of Environmental Health and Safety has been continuously monitoring the building to ensure it remains a healthy environment for the students continuing to live on the affected floors. “The building is absolutely safe to our knowledge,” she added. Horton is meeting with representatives of Health Services, EHS and other departments to address these ongoing health concerns.

Though damage to rooms and belongings was sustained, no injuries occurred as a result of the fire. Assistant Fire Chief commended residents for leaving the building promptly in response to the fire alarms, noting the high “life safety risk” posed by the age and size of the building. He credits the direct notification system and the success of the fire sprinklers in minimizing the extent of the damage. Dean Horton wanted to emphasize the importance of seeking support for those affected by the fire. “It’s just such a shock to your system. Students need to take care of themselves and if they’re feeling stressed, and they should reach out to the Dean of Students, or Counseling Services,” she said.