This month starts the 40 Days of Kindness and Gratitude. The Student Council is starting initiatives to curate community kindness, such as making posters for dining staff.

Dean’s Corner

Senior leadership is trying to keep ahead of presidential executive orders by regularly meeting with faculty and senior leadership to determine how they will affect the college and students. If anyone has any specific questions or concerns, inform faculty class deans, and intercultural advisors for advice. 

Honor Code Discussion

Student Government members engaged in conversation regarding the Student Honor Code and how students should regularly engage with the Honor Code and Student Code of Conduct in their daily lives on campus. 

Constituents raised concerns about involving more student voices in updating the Code of Conduct. Additionally, constituents stated that recent Honor Code violations seemed irrelevant and could have been mitigated through other means, such as discussion and clarification.

The Chief Justice informed the Student Government that the Honor Code is meant to be restorative and not punitive and act as a mediator between faculty and students. Only the most severe cases end up in administrative court. 

Constituents advised that orientation did not inform students enough about the Honor Code, leaving many unsure of its meaning and what it entails. They stated that currently, many students are under the impression that an honor code violation is more severe than it actually is. 

The College President told students to keep a look out for future spring semester activities, including cultural shows and first-year activities.

Dean’s Corner

The Deans website has recently been updated and now includes a link to schedule personal meetings with the Deans of Students.

HPC Corner

House Presidents advised students to contact emergency services if heaters are not working in any dormitory, and assured them that their heating will be fixed immediately. They also reminded students to close windows when you leave your dorm for a long period of time.

House Presidents also advised students to be extra respectful to peers since people are spending more time indoors. 

A sewage leak in Freeman towards the end of the last Wintersession exposed chunks of hair, tampons and other hygiene items clogging pipes, so HPC cautioned students to take care of their facilities and to only flush toilet paper down the toilets.

Academic Council Report

The Academic Council elaborated on the new experiential learning requirement which can be fulfilled by internships, study abroad, student jobs and other activities. All submitted activities are verified by faculty supervisors.

There are ongoing discussions surrounding the next steps regarding recent political actions and executive orders. Wellesley is working on partnering with Amherst, Smith and Williams to create a committee to work with representatives and constituents to better represent students and the school as a collective. 

Recent immigration executive orders have caused various organizations to initiate campus-wide committees to provide resources to inform international students and faculty about their rights and more. Staff has been thoroughly informed as to what to do if any officers enter campus and interact with students and/or faculty.

The Grand River Solutions survey has shown that 37% of Wellesley students reported to be reluctant to share their political view for fear of ostracization by other students. The Academic Council encouraged students to foster community and spread kindness and empathy among peers.

Dean of Faculty Affairs Megan Nunez is stepping down to return to the chemistry department. As a result, there is an ongoing search for a new dean and other positions. Administration and faculty are facilitating ongoing discussions surrounding AI-related issues, new website privacy, Honor Code updates, faculty grant changes and various effects of the current political climate. 

Senator Open Discussion

Senators voiced concern about the recent termination of Professor Hwang from the Wellesley Korean department. 

Senators raised awareness about the decision by ADR to eliminate positions of student note-takers to promote the use of AI note-taking. 

Committee Announcements

The Committee is looking to formulate an elections committee of three members in light of upcoming Student Government Committee elections.

In light of the recent presidential election, Deans are currently meeting with student groups on campus to discuss reproductive rights and safety. With finals around the corner, the Deans reminded students to manage stress and reach out to receive any support they might need.

Chief of Police interviews are ongoing and administration is including student participation and feedback in the process. The process is almost done and details will come out soon.

HPC Corner

All students were reminded to take the sexual misconduct survey sent out through email by Grand River Solutions.

Senator Open Discussion 

Regarding campus-wide security concerns, Dean Horton mentioned that administrators are having an ongoing discussion with Public Safety and will update College Government(CG) soon. Senators requested student involvement to be included, to which the College Government responded that they will inquire.

 The Cabinet previously requested security information, and historical information will be received soon from the Wellesley Department of Finance. Student Bursars will do an analysis and report back to CG.

A student suggested the College train students to be in charge of campus safety. College Government determined that this idea would serve to lessen cost of campus safety, raise student involvement and potentially provide new work-study opportunities. Students pointed out that Wellesley already trains students for high liability positions such as lifeguarding, and other schools, such as Amherst, involve students in EMT training.

Students suggested ways to go about bringing this to administration, including potentially a ballot initiative or the creation of an Ad-Hoc committee specifically for this issue.

Other students raised concerns about the lack of consistent communication between students and administrators regarding general campus policies. CG concluded that potential solutions could involve more senators in decision making on campus, and potentially reaching out to relevant organizations to inquire about how to go about changing this.

Lastly, the Cabinet informed College Government that Dean Horton will address student concerns about the difficulty of meeting with her by creating a sign-up sheet for individual appointments.

Contact the editors responsible for this story: Sazma Sarwar and India Lacey.

The Wellesley tradition of “Home for the Holidays” will happen in the dorms this school year. This tradition includes a presentation on what to expect when you visit home over the breaks and holidays. 

Reminder to reach out to your Residential Assistants (RAs) for resources on coping with the past election.

Presentation on Title IX

Massachusetts state law requires the launching of a survey every 4 years to survey on sexual misconduct. This anonymous survey is optional, and the more responses received, the more measures the college can take to prevent sexual misconduct and help any victims. Everyone’s answers are greatly appreciated. There will be the optional chance of entering a raffle once finishing the survey, potentially winning a punch pass or a Wellesley mug.

Other schools in the area have received as low as 7% completion, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology received a little over 20% completion. 

The survey will run from Nov. 12 until Dec. 17.

Dean McDaniel Presentation 

Dean McDaniel, Dean of Residential and Community Life, presented before College Government on wintersession housing details, renovation updates, and RA recruitment.

Winter housing eligibility requirements are the same as this semester, however, the format has been broken down slightly to better clarify who is eligible for free housing and who is not. Additionally, students will not have to relocate during Wintersession, so the housing placement section has been removed from forms.

Claflin will be renovated over the next summer (2025), and students living there over the summer will be relocated to temporary housing. Tower’s roof will also be renovated next summer, but there will be no impact on students. Additionally, Tower staircases will be renovated and carpet removed to match the rest of the building.

Lake House is to be renovated in the summer of 2026. Students will have the opportunity to contribute to the design process. More information to come.

Residential Life will host a series of informational sessions regarding RA recruitment over the next few months. Applications open on Nov. 18 and close on Jan. 23 at 9 a.m.

Dean of Students, Sheila Horton reminded students that this week marks the anniversary of Oct. 7, and to stay supportive and take advantage of any resources available.

HBC Corner

Reminder to those who are going away for the weekend to ensure heating is off, electronics unplugged and your dorm is locked.

Dr. Erin Battat, senior lecturer in the Writing Program, and Dr. Christa Skow, Senior Instructor in the Biological Sciences Laboratory, presented information on the Wellesley Organized Academic Workers (WOAW-UAW) unionization committee. The committee described ways in which the college’s interference with their unionization affects the student body, most notably in the credibility of student reference letters, workload interference with faculty office hours and potential interference with the discrimination and harassment protocol. More information can be found on their Instagram and their website (wellesleyorganizedacademicworkers.org).

Open Discussion

A student at large inquired if any action was being taken towards the rise of theft in communal spaces. The College Government President, Mia Cadena, replied that members of residential staff have been affected also and the College is still trying to figure out how to address it.

Committee Announcements

The college government vice president mentioned the environmental sustainability committee registration is currently open and closes this Friday at noon.

The Schneider Board of Governors (SBOG) mentioned that the fall concert will be held on Oct. 19. The Student Organization Funding Committee (SOFC) just launched their conference award fund.

Dean Horton is commencing “Dinner with the Deans,” small group dinners of 10-15 people to eat and chat with the deans. Contact the Office of the Dean for more information.

Health and safety inspections are taking place from March 4-15. Please remove prohibited items from your room such as candles and incense. There will also be a visual check of the room for prohibited items, such as alcohol in possession of residents under the age of 21 and illegal drugs. If you would like ResLife to take off their shoes when entering your room, please put up a sign so Res Life knows to do so. 

Candidate Senate

Candidates running for 2024-25 College Government Cabinet presented themselves at Senate before College Government Elections. 

College Government President

• Naomi Weisner ’25 (she/her)
  • Opened with a quote from “Vienna” by Billy Joel and addressed that all of the discourse on Sidechat and the internet should not coax people to overlook all of her leadership roles and involvement in College Government that have prepared her for the role. 
  • Stated that she will use her religion as a moral compass during her time as president and aims to reduce the division on campus that has shown through the discourse on Sidechat and the internet revolving around the election.
• Write-In: Mia Cadena ’25 (she/her)
  • Wants to make College Government a more collaborative space by creating a non-hierarchical leadership structure, and aims to make themselves more accessible by holding office hours with clubs and orgs on campus. 
  • Will implement time for College Government to address Academic Council with concerns from the student body.

College Government Vice President

• Merete Ogah ’25 (she/her)
  • Will focus on enhancing student involvement through revitalizing the Appointed Representatives Committee (ARC) and fostering active participation in decision-making processes. 
  • Wants to increase transparency by establishing clear communication channels between committees and students, providing regular updates and reports on ongoing initiatives. 
  • Dedicated to empowering student representatives by creating a supportive environment, acknowledging their efforts, and offering opportunities for professional development and growth through regular check-ins and feedback sessions.
• Charlotte Precourt ’26 (she/her)
  • Wants to connect students to the power on campus by facilitating conversations between the student body and administration.
  • Will have open Appointed Representatives Committee (ARC) Meetings for the College community to make the committee more accessible.

Secretary-Treasurer

• Ashley Song ’27 (she/her)
  • Wants to implement a highlight section in the weekly digest for students who might not be involved in College Government or campus life. The purpose of this is to provide a concise and informative section of the digest to increase engagement. 
  • Will draw attention to the resources available to students and what College Government does. 
• Camila Milan ’27 (she/her)
  • Experience as a Student Philanthropy Officer has prepared Milan to handle budgets, fundraising and transparency, all of which Milan intends to apply in serving the student community effectively.
  • Will strive to enhance communication channels and seek student feedback to ensure their needs are addressed in decision-making processes.

Student Bursar

• Katherine Deane ’25 (she/her)
  • Placed a big emphasis on making SOFC more accessible by hosting town halls throughout the year and enhancing communication between student organizations and SOFC.
  • Will address misinformation by creating an anonymous Q&A platform for accurate information dissemination, fostering transparency and reliability.

Committee for Political Engagement Chair

• Maragret Huai ’26 (she/her)
  • To enhance political activism, Huai proposes outreach with peer institutions’ student governments and organizing visits to town halls, legislatures and courthouses. These initiatives aim to demonstrate solidarity and empower students to advocate effectively, aligning with CPE’s mission.
  • Will create a weekly digest of political events to promote non-partisan understanding and campus-wide political awareness, drawing on my experience as Secretary-Treasurer to ensure clarity and accessibility.

Director of On-Campus Affairs

• Sophie Trammell ’26
  • Wants to maximize fun and inclusivity by petitioning for the return of pre-pandemic events like Remix and soliciting community input on LDOC artist genres. 
  • By collaborating with on-campus organizations, Trammell seeks to create diverse and engaging SBOG events, fostering a platform for community feedback and collaboration.

Community Organizing and Inclusion Liaison

• Mikayla Tansil ’25 (she/her)
  • Will increase awareness of COIL and SGA through events, social media engagement, and continue previous initiatives with the support of existing relationships within College Government and faculty.
  • Aims to bring ASL to Wellesley, a process which Tansil has already started during her time as COIL this year.

Orgs Chair

• Write-In: Soo Lee ’25 (she/her)
  • Wants to enhance wengage accessibility by collaborating with OSI to simplify event check-ins and create a feature listing all approved orgs on campus for easier navigation. Will also work with OSI to implement an electronic payment method for fundraising events, expediting its adoption to streamline transactions.
  • Aims to strengthen orgs training by centralizing resources and common questions for e-board members’ reference.

Emergency Contraception Rec. Grant Vote

A vote was held to request a recreation grant for an emergency contraception vending machine. The request for the grant is being led by Sofia Hernandez Santillan ’24 and Coco Plasencia ’24, students at large. A one-time cost of $2,673 will be requested to fund the vending machine portion of this project. The emergency contraception stock (Plan B One-Step) has been provided by external donors (i.e. Advocates for Youth). There are 300+ packets of emergency contraception and a secure place is needed to store and distribute them. Emergency contraception will be free to students. A stack of nickels (or quarters) will be placed next to the vending machine for use in purchasing the emergency contraception, which will be priced at 5 cents. The vending machine will be stored in the space in front of the Office of Student Wellness. This location was chosen because it is a private space accessible to only Wellesley students by swipe access. The building is open seven days a week from 8-12 a.m. 

SOFC Amendment Questions

Head Bookkeeper, Penelope Gordon ‘25, presented the SOFC amendments at Senate. Amendments to the SOFC constitution include a new Conference Fund for orgs to fund trips to conferences, and a clear outline on what the responsibilities of the head bookkeeper, assistant bookkeeper and student bursar. The floor was then open for questions from Senators and students.  

Old Business & Open Discussion

Dean of Students, Sheila Horton, encourages everyone to be careful as the flu and COVID-19 are still going around. Administration will meet this week to discuss the updated COVID-19 guidelines released by the CDC. Horton will send an email with an updated COVID-19 policy from the College, but for now, she recommends that if you contract COVID-19, then you must be isolated for five days. Horton then continued to talk about the decision to hold back to vote count on Ballot Initiatives. After attempting to look into the origins of the policy to hold back the decision count on Ballot Initiatives, Horton said it was clear where the decision came from. Horton continued to say that she has made the decision to keep the policy in place because revealing the details of the vote will not help students move on. Horton further backs her decision up by saying that there has been a lot of community pain that has come from Ballot Initiatives, and releasing the numbers would exacerbate that pain. Many students were frustrated by this, expressing that a lack of election transparency dilutes the purpose of College Government. After a multitude of questions to Horton and College Government President Ingrid Bell, a group of students and senators volunteered to write a Ballot Initiative to release the vote count on Ballot Initiatives.

Constituent Announcements

SBOG will be hosting ice skating at Babson on Sunday, March 10.

Associate Dean of Students, Dawn Montagna, talked about the importance of harm reduction as we near Halloweekend, a weekend where college students usually go out to parties and drink. Montagna asked everyone in the community to look out for each other, and to educate ourselves, and each other, about safe substance use. 

HPC Corner

Hall updates — Stone-Davis fourth and fifth floor staircase that leads downwards is unlocked. The fourth and fifth staircase that leads upwards is locked because no one is supposed to use it. 

Office of Intercultural Education and LGBTQ+ Programs and Services Presentation

The Office of Intercultural Education and LGBTQ+ Programs and Services gave a presentation on their mission to help students develop their knowledge and skills across areas, mentor and advise students so they can feel a sense of community across campus, and foster leadership skills so they can create inclusive spaces wherever they go. The offices run through The Slater International Center, Harambee House, Acorns House and The LGBTQ+ Penthouse in Billings. Dr. Todd Nordgren was hired in July as the new director of LGBTQ+ programs and services. These cultural centers also support all of the cultural student-run organizations on campus by providing them with resources and safe spaces to hold their events. 

Special positions vote

Four senators were elected to serve on the Academic Council. The four candidates elected were: Svetlana Greene ’26, senator for Severance hall, Allison Liu ’26, senator for Wellesley for Reproductive Justice, Marty Martinage ’24, senator for Shafer hall and Elsa Frankel ’27 senator from McAfee hall. 

Old business

The student bursar position is still open. Chloe Guntrip from Tower asked about sophomores running for student bursar. College Government President, Ingrid Bell, said that an amendment to the CG constitution would have to be made in order for sophomores to run for student bursar. For an amendment to be made to the CG constitution, someone would have to write the amendment and present it to constituents at Senate. For now, the position of student bursar remains open to juniors and seniors. Two other College Government positions that remain open are social chair and historian.  

Open discussion

Senator from Shafer, Marty Martinage ’24, asked if College Government would undergo a “government shutdown” if a student bursar is not elected. CG President Ingrid Bell said the responsibilities are spread across the bookies who are in the Student Organization Funding Committee (SOFC). Kaya Crosby, the director of On Campus Affairs, said the only thing SOFC can’t do is hire student workers.

Cabinet announcement

The Schneider Board of Governors fall concert will take place on Oct. 14 on the Schneider tennis courts.

During the Dean’s Corner, Dean of Students Sheila Shaw Horton brought to students’ attention that cases of norovirus have been reported around the world. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes diarrhea and vomiting. She informed students that there have been no reported cases on campus, and would like for the situation to remain that way. Dean Horton also shared information about Willow, an online depression program built by Wellesley students, for Wellesley students. Continuing with mental health, she reminded students that the Stone Center and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life are readily avaliable to provide support when needed. Dean Horton shared flyers for both Willow and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life.

Title IX Presentation

CW: includes topics of sexual misconduct

Director of Nondiscrimination Initiatives and Title IX Coordinator Justin Bell gave a presentation regarding sexual misconduct and consent. He began by introducing his role on campus: he deals with anything discriminatory in nature. It was also shared that he is on campus Mondays, Wednesdays, and most Fridays. In his presentation, he reminded students that consent is something that is “active, voluntary, enthusiastic, and ongoing.” When engaging in sexual activity, it is important that both parties are participating and aware the activity is occurring. Director Bell stressed that consent can not be obtained through direct or implied force, corcercion, or incapacitation through drugs, alcohol, or injury. 

Gender Ballot Initiative Presentation

There was a presentation on the Gender Ballot Initiative. This initiative is aiming to align the College’s messaging with the demographics of the student body and alumni. It was proposed for future communication from the College to replace gender-specific language with gender-neurtal language when referencing the student body. For example, instead of using “she/her,” using “they/them.” Additionally, it was proposed for Wellesley College Admissions to be inclusive of all transgender and non-binary prospective students. 

Cabinet Announcements

There is a new date for SBOG Ice Skating. It is now on Feb. 25 from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM at the Babson Rink.

SOFC is finishing Spring Emergency and applications for Bookie positions are now open. 

Dean of Students Sheilah Shaw Horton updated students on the College’s COVID-19 protocols for the spring semester. She mentioned that the spread of COVID-19 has been significantly reduced on campus, and as a result, testing is now optional, in accordance with national protocols. The testing center is still located at the College Club and will be open three days a week, with hours varying each week. Horton noted that students who opt to self test are strongly encouraged to notify the Health Center to ensure the College’s efficiency in tracking positive cases.   

Horton also reminded students of the COVID-19 bivalent booster requirement, stating that there are a number of students who have not uploaded documentation of receiving the booster. While students returning from study abroad have a later deadline to upload their documentation, all other students who have not uploaded their documentation will be notified to do so as soon as possible via email in the coming weeks. As with last semester, Horton reminded students that those who test positive may still go to the dining halls to get meals to go with their OZZI boxes, but they should refrain from group gatherings both on and off campus. 

In light of the recent news regarding Tyre Nichols’ death, Horton expressed her grief and concern with the ongoing crisis of police brutality. She encouraged students to share with her ideas of programming that would be helpful to provide a space to help students process through this hard time. 

HPC Corner 

Updates were given on the state of the upcoming renovation plans for the Clapp Library. As students were notified last semester, the renovation plans have been postponed due to budget constraints and the extent of work that needs to be done. Two options are being explored in the meantime: a proposition to limit the extent of the repairs at the start and gradually progress one phase at a time, or provide additional resources such as additional thesis carrols and areas conducive to collaborative work in existing buildings while the library is closed for renovations. 

After last weekend’s dangerously low temperatures, HPs reminded students to contact facilities regarding any issues with radiators and/or pipes in the residence halls. 

Open Discussion

Students reported experiencing communication issues with the Title IX Coordinator last semester. Horton mentioned that the current Title IX Coordinator is split between both Wellesley and Olin College and is present on campus on Mondays and Wednesdays, which may have been contributing to the delays in communication with students. She affirmed that any future issues with effective communication be brought to her attention so that it can be formally addressed. Students also expressed concern for the defunct Bike Share Program, stating that many students had issues with securing bikes or never received bikes despite registering for the program last semester. In response to Horton stating that the program has stopped running due to struggles with hiring a new coordinator, students at large proposed making the position a student work study job permanently or temporarily until a new coordinator is selected. Horton said that this is a possibility that can be looked into in the near future. 

Cabinet Announcements

Orgs Chair Sofia Rubio ’23 announced that the second Spring Orgs Fair will be held on Feb. 9 in Tishman Commons. Cultural, religious and spiritual organizations, social justice, health and wellness and special interests organizations will be among those present at this week’s orgs fair. The next orgs fair on Feb. 23 will host club sports, recreational sports, societies, class councils and media/production organizations. 

During the Dean’s Corner, Dean of Students Sheila Shaw Horton addressed students’ questions and concerns regarding COVID-19 testing during the spring semester, announcing that testing protocols and centers will remain the same. She assured students that conversations about improving the efficiency and transparency with tracking cases will continue as we move to the spring semester. 

HPC Corner 

During HPC Corner Gabrielle Szatkowski briefly relayed plans for closing residence halls for winter break, stating that all forms for leaving and returning will be located on the StarRez housing portal this year. With renovations in Severance Hall resuming at the start of winter break, she informed students that residents of Severance Hall have the option of moving halls during the break if needed. All house presidents will share more information regarding fall residence hall closing during their respective house councils on Dec. 6. 

College Government Election Committee Results 

As the fall semester comes to a close, College Government is preparing for the upcoming cabinet election in the spring. This year, there were five candidates for the election committee and only three could be selected to serve – ; At least one senator and one student at large are required to be on the committee. The winning candidates are Sascha Bretzger ’23, a returning election committee representative, Shreeya Lakkapragada ’26 and Idana Wilson ’26. 

Cabinet Announcements

During Cabinet announcements, DOOCA Abby Lucier ’23 announced that two Boston-based artists, Oompa and Avenue, will be performing for SBOG’s fall concert on Dec. 9 in Tishman Commons. Chief Justice Nuzaina Khan ’23 informed students that the Honor Code Council will be compiling a list of resources regarding reading period, testing accommodations and more as we get closer to finals. Secretary Treasurer Yae-won Michelle Jung ’25 announced that the College Government website is now up and running for all students and senators to stay up to date with campus events and important updates from College Government.