Smith with Sophia

Gloria Steinem, class of 1956 -- can’t believe I’m about to belong to the same Alumnae Association as this icon! Gloria was here today participating in a couple events on the eve of receiving her Rally Day medal. At a q&a in the Campus Center, students asked great questions about activism and intersectionality, as well as some about her time at Smith. I asked her about where she gets her news and information these days, when it’s hard to find reliable and trustworthy sources. Her answer? The New York Times, the Guardian, and the Women’s Media Center, especially Robin Morgan’s blog, which she called incredibly smart. 

My favorite books I’ve found while looking for other books in Neilson.

It's been known to happen...

Yeah it’s a pretty iffy idea but I’ll tell you what, I know at least two smith alums who met their SO/partner/girlfriend in their smith houses and have been together 6+ years. That’s rare, but it does happen! I would heavily advise against just hooking up with people in your house, but if you think it’s ~love~ proceed, but with a heck of a lot of caution because things can get awkward really quickly.Good luck! I hope it you decide to go for it, things work out 💙

Bless the rock wall’s open climbing hours -- Aliza just got belay certified so now we can go all the time! I did a really hard climb I never tried before when we went on Tuesday and it felt so good. The rock wall is right in the gym and it’s open to everyone, even if you’ve never climbed before!

It’s totally normal to come home and find your room full of first years, right? I’m glad my buds feel at home enough to hang in my room and work!

What are zines? They're handmade magaZINES that can be about anything you want -- poetry, a cause you care about, art, feelings, thoughts, a significant event, lists, food, mental health, music, reactions to TV shows, prose, things you think suck, politics, feminism, funny things your friends said, travels, compilations of things you think are pretty, ANYTHING! One of our goals is to teach those without experience all about zines and how to make them -- it's really easy to get started, and once we're chartered, we'll provide the materials to make them and hold workshops and provide a free creative space. I’m so excited to get started!

We held our Fall Kickoff the first weekend of the semester, and fed our guides cheese and chocolate fondue, and handed out this semester’s swag: notebooks! If you look closely, you’ll see their embossed with our logo. We’ve done water bottles, mugs, t-shirts, but I think my favorite GK swag is my tote bag -- I use it all the time! We used the time to review procedures, the library re-imagining, and signing up for tour times and overnights. My official tour time for the semester is Tuesday at 10:00, but I am always around and filling in, so say hi if you come for a tour!

During my first Woodstar trip of the semester I wasn’t to camp out and study like I usually would, but I did get to pick out goodies for Senior Interviewers working last Saturday -- getting to pick out the treats gave me an odd sense of power, since if I ever indulge it’s usually just one thing! The muffins, scones, and croissants were a hit and we powered through tours, interviews, and info sessions!

When my mom snapped the photo on the left after she picked me up from the bus stop on my first day of kindergarten, and my friend Sarah took the one on the right before I got on the bus to go to my first class of senior year (a day earlier than the rest of Smith, since the class is at Mount Holyoke). I wasn’t feeling that old until I realize the first photo was taken before some current Smithies were born...

After dragging our stuff up to the fourth floor, we stopped at Herrell’s with Katie and Aliza then took a nice nap so we could gear up to go out. Susan, who graduated last year, even drove out from Boston so we could hit the town together. About ten of my friends met us at the Brewery for dinner, and we migrated to Mama Iguana’s, Tunnel Bar, and finally the Basement. I wasn’t sure about the Basement, but I’m so into it now -- it’s a divey little dance bar super close to Baldwin on Center Street and on Saturday there’s no cover for Motown Night! I’ve been every Saturday since. 

More updates on the first two weeks of Smith soon! Just wanted to throw this nugget at ya’ll for the weekend. Hope you’re all doing well! <3

Smith has traditions upon traditions, but there’s a couple that you sort of gloss over until you’re a senior, or that gain more meaning once you reach that final year -- and many of these traditions involve hats. Convocation, which is coming up next week, is the official beginning of the school year when everyone gathers in John M. Greene Hall to celebrate with speeches and themed outfits (hence all the house’s themes). Seniors are traditionally the only ones to wear hats, and for my birthday this year, Quincy made me the most beautiful flower crown that I plan on wearing to Convocation, and in February, to Rally Day (when seniors wear their graduation robes for the first time, but paired with creative hats rather than mortar boards). I helped pick out the flowers and greenery, but Quincy did such a lovely job that I’ve barely taken off the crown since she finished (I may or may not be wearing it right now...). Though Convocation and Rally Day are the main events for senior hats, I plan on wearing my flower crown every chance I get! Stay tuned for photos of the finished product :)

Some of my favorite shots from our trip to Burlington and Waterbury, VT! We started with a bike trip from Burlington to Grand Isle (I loved the causeway bike path over Lake Champlain) and spent the better part of a week in a house with an AMAZING view with Quincy’s dad’s side of the family. Bowling, a contra dance in Burlington, and watching the sunset over the gorgeous mountains were some of the week’s highlights. New England’s beauty never ceases to amaze me!

I’m ready to contra it up in Amherst, every Wednesday night this fall!

Thank you!!

I started a birthday tradition for myself a few years ago while I was at Smith - go for a run/bike ride and watch the sunrise in a really good spot. This year, Quincy and I rode bikes to Spring Point and watched a beautiful sunrise behind Peaks Island. A great way to start my 22nd year -- and even better, now I'm off to Smith!