Smith Stories Project

A Letter from Dean Mahoney:

Dear Students, Staff and Faculty -

One of the great challenges of a diverse institution is finding ways of
ensuring that all voices are heard and taken seriously.  This has been a
consistent theme of campus protests over the years which students are
expressing again now.  In an effort to hear and document the multitude
of stories and perspectives at Smith, we are launching the Smith Stories
Project.  Inspired by a suggestion from Professor Ginetta Candelario,
the project is construed as a hybrid of NPR’s Story Corps, Latin
American/Latina Testimonio, and the Weaving Voices initiative created by
Smith students.

From noon on Tuesday, April 10 through noon on Friday, April 13,
computers and microphones will be set up at several locations on campus
where all members of the Smith community are invited to tell their own
Smith stories.  Participants may opt for a video or audio recording or
may write their story addressing the following questions:

What is YOUR Smith story?
How do you experience Smith today?
What are your hopes for Smith in the future?

In the spirit of Testimonio, the story teller will decide whether to
speak anonymously or by name.  The three formats—video, audio or
written—are intended to offer multiple vehicles for expression.

Stories will be reviewed by a team of faculty and staff before the April
16 meeting to identify, in a preliminary way, themes and ideas.  They
will be preserved (with the permission of the story-teller) in the Smith
Archives where they will continue to be a rich source of information for
the future.

Story recording sites and hours are:

• Campus Center Green Room, open 7:30 a.m. to midnight
• Neilson 2/51, open from 7:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.
• Chapel Reading Room (room B13), open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All three sites will be available until noon on Friday, April 13
(instructions will be available at each site).

I very much hope you will participate.

Maureen A. Mahoney
Dean of the  College

Another Anonymous Hate Note…

WOZQ 91.9FM RADIO AWARENESS WEEK

♡ WOZQ 91.9fm PRESENTS SMITH STUDENT MUSICIANS LIVE ♡
SMITH COLLEGE, CAMPUS CENTER PUB APRIL 5TH 10PM
FREE ADMISSION. COME SUPPORT SMITH STUDENTS WHO MAKE MUSIC!
RSVP & MORE INFO HERE
CHECK US OUT ON THE WEB HERE
TUNE IN TO OUR AIRWAVES AT WOZQ 91.9FM

Prism: Queer Students of Color presents Sexibition 2012: Breaking Traditions

From Neesha Rose, ’13

If anyone ever wanted their chance to show the world their sexy-this is their chance. We want Sexibition to continue to be a Smith tradition for generations to come.

This year we seek to do more than just celebrate sex. In the spirit of the theme, Prism challenges artists and models to surpass their own conceptions of sex and beauty, encapsulating the diverse artistic and expressive community that Smith is. We encourage artists and models to think outside the box by showcasing the vast population of racial identities, gender expressions, and body types. Sexibition this year strives to allow for a celebration of the entire Smith College community.

We are accepting a variety of artwork including (but not limited to) film, original photography, poetry, writing, sculpture, and musical performances.

This year, Sexibition will be hosted on April 7th, 7-9pm in Davis Ballroom. For more information, please visit the Sexibition 2012 Facebook event page or email us.

Are You Ready?? Conbust 2012 Hits Smith Friday!

I don’t think anyone is ever fully ready for the mystical weekend on the Smith campus that is Conbust.

Truth is, I don’t understand it one bit (not even Step Brothers could clear that one up for me) but I’m definitely down to see those cosplayers running around Smith again. Nothing pulls you out of your depressingly huge amount of work to do like seeing happy people dressed as elves and stuff getting their foam sword on.

More info here.

when: March 30-April 1

where: Seelye Hall

cost: prices and registration here

Do you plan on getting your LARP on this weekend? Are you interested in sending us more info or writing about Conbust? Hit us up: smithdblog@gmail.com

Bicycle Races Are Coming Your Way: No, Literally. LOOK OUUUUT!

Oh...Please don't...

Let me preface this by saying it’s just for the lolz. I have no intention whatsoever of slashing bike tires or cutting breaks. I happen to think bikes serve as a defining and sometimes even beautiful part of Smith culture. Clichés aside, please don’t seek me out and attempt to run me over. Though all things considered, this plea is probably pointless, since I’ve narrowly escaped being flattened a couple times without saying shit.

It’s 8:30 am. By some act of Christ herself, I have managed to drag my sorry ass out of bed, down four flights of stairs, and out the door to brave the cold weather/the warm weatherwhatever weather Northampton has decided to throw at me that morning. I start my morning walk to class, when I hear it from behind me: the stir of leaves, the crunch of wet gravel, the whoosh of the wind, and perhaps the ring of condescension. Mentally letting fly a colorful slew of profanities, I start to panic. Do I move? Do I turn around? Do I stop? Do I fall into the fetal position? WHAT IN THE NAME OF CHRIST DO I DO???? As much as I wish I could Temple Run my way to class, I…well… can’t, and I have to share the paths of Smith College with bikers. Here are the top 5 remarks I wish to impart on bikers campus wide. On your marks, get set, go. Also prepare yourself for a ton more shitty Queen references.

Read the rest of this entry »

SPRING CONCERT: Chiddy Bang f. Wynter Gordon

That’s right, Smithies. We have a pretty damn good spring concert!

when: Thursday, April 12 @ 8:00 pm

where: JMG

cost: $10 Smith, $20 5 College, $25 general (tickets here)

Smithie-Run Business/Internship Opportunity

From Shanila Sattar, ’12J:

Fellow Smithies, I am excited to say that my local business www.alwaysplay.com is up and running full force! We offer cool graphic designs, websites, mobile apps, content management systems and much more! We have been designing in the Pioneer Valley for over 9 years for locals like Sweeties Fine Chocolates and Confections, Northampton Film Festival and The Reels Blues Fest to name a few. Please visit our page, give it a “Like” and share it. We’re giving away a gift certificate to Best Buy on April 8th so you know you want to like us! Keep me in mind when you need a website or design work! We have student discounts available and would be happy to take on (paid) interns in the near future for those who are looking for exposure to designing platforms like Photoshop and Illustrator. Thanks for your support!

Smith College Signs Partnership

From Carolyn Hou ’12:

“Smith College just signed an official partnership with the Asian Women’s Leadership University Project…which is huge news for us”

Press release with more info here