Students creating change in the 1960s and 1970s hoped that their work would make Mount Holyoke a better place for everyone. Looking forward Sharyn Ainsworth ‘69 wrote:
“In its separation, Afro-Am represents Mount Holyoke’s only hope for a truly un-racial society. Afro-Am has brought about change. Because of Afro-Am it is conceivable that a future entering black student will know a happiness greater than that which I knew”
Only 30 years later students began to reflect on the legacy of those before, and whether much had changed. In 1999, the Mount Holyoke News reflected on the Third World Voices column saying “themes of alienation, discrimination, invisibility and dissatisfaction with “multiculturalism” recur throughout the 20 year span of ALANA women’s written expression.” However, the goals of the column remained the same: “to create a forum for third world women to address our issues and foster a sense of community [and] to serve as a formal, institutional method of educating the campus about third world affairs.”
In another article of the Mount Holyoke News, on February 28, 2002 titled “The Changing Face of Diversity at Mount Holyoke 1964-2002,” students, faculty, and staff reflected on the important components of change, including the importance of full community engagement as well as representation.
“The reflections of women of color who were enrolled at Mount Holyoke during these waves of diversification indicate that a cohesive community is truly the result of efforts from all directions.” – Kate Shmeckpeper ‘02
“I think that we were clearly fighting for representation. That’s sort of in my mind as the most significant thing for women of color at that time,” said Rochelle Calhoun ‘83, Acting Dean of the College. “Representation in the administration, faculty and students as well as representation or a voice in a public forum like the paper.”
On July 1, 2023, Danielle R. Holley began her term as the 20th president of Mount Holyoke and its first permanent Black president.
Click on the images below to learn more about how the Mount Holyoke community has built upon its history and legacy
