The Alumnae Quarterly

Another forum for expression was the Alumnae Quarterly, which kept alum engaged with the evolving state of the College and the issues and experiences of current students.

In spring of 1969, the article “Mount Holyoke from the Other Side” appeared, written by Barbara Smith ’69, Sheryl McCarthy ’69 and Sharyn Ainsworth ’69, the article shared their experiences and observations as Black students at Mount Holyoke with the alumnae community.

Alumnae Quarterly, Spring 1969

“As long as Mount Holyoke permits even one student to go out into the world thinking that because she occasionally sat at a dinner table with a black person during her four years at college, everything will turn out all right, it is failing in its professed goal of creating a “pluralistic” community. There needs to be first an admission of this institution’s complicity in maintaining a racist society and then a serious decision to change the society, even if it means radically changing Mount Holyoke at the same time” – Barbara Smith ‘69

“Many people do not understand that the growth of Afro-Am means growth for Mount Holyoke. It means that Mount Holyoke College in a small way is striving to improve. To become lax is now out of the question.” – Sharyn Ainsworth ‘69

“Reflections on the Black Experience” Sheryl McCarthy, ’69. Mount Holyoke Alumnae Quarterly, Fall 1987.

Several other articles on the Black experience, including this one in the fall of 1987 by Sheryl McCarthy ‘69, appeared in the Alumnae Quarterly throughout the years. The feeling of isolation is often described, as well as the importance of groups like the Afro-American Society.