Student groups take action in 2018 Midterm Elections
The nonpartisan Committee for Public Legislative Awareness (CPLA), the Wellesley College Democrats and the Wellesley College Republicans encouraged members of the campus community to participate in the 2018 midterm elections.
The CPLA organized nine voter registration drives in October. They collaborated with eight student groups on campus, including Ethos, Wellesley Asian Alliance (WAA), Sexual Assault Awareness for Everyone (SAAFE), Wellesley Association for South Asian Cultures (WASAC), Enact, Punch’s Alley, the Wellesley College Democrats and the Wellesley College Republicans. In total, the CPLA helped register 150 Wellesley students to vote.
The Wellesley College Democrats held three phone banking events this election season. More than thirty people came to each of the phone bankings to campaign for Democrats across the United States. Additionally, the group organized canvasses in the town of Wellesley and in New Hampshire.
The Wellesley College Republicans collaborated with the CPLA in their voter registration drives and campaigned for Republican Candidates across the United States. The group also organized a sticker campaign to raise money for Hurricane Michael relief in the weeks leading up to the election.
Wellesley celebrates National First-Gen Day
On Thursday, Nov. 8, colleges and universities across the United States celebrated national First-Generation Day. Wellesley First, an organization that seeks to support first-generation students on campus, held several events to celebrate. Some of these events included “First Gen Stories from Abroad” in the Schneider Building and a STEM Reception in the Science Center. There were also two visual campaigns happening on campus, titled “The Red Sticky Note Campaign” and “Proud to be a First Gen Campaign.” Additionally, all of the dining halls served first-gen themed cupcakes to celebrate the first-generation students, faculty and staff at Wellesley.
Wellesley Asian Alliance to release statement on Affirmative Action
On Thursday Nov. 8, the student-run group Wellesley Asian Alliance (WAA) held an open event in the campus center. Students in attendance watched Hanson Minhaj’s Netflix special “Patriot Act” and then discussed the recent affirmative action case at Harvard. Members of WAA then began drafting a statement about affirmative action, which will be released to the Wellesley community at a later date.
Student groups organize “Love Your Body Week”
This week (Nov.11-Nov.16), Active Minds, Sexual Assault Awareness for Everyone (SAAFE), the Balanced Health Educators (BHE’s) and the Sexual Health Educators (SHE’s) are collaborating to create a “Love your Body Week” for Wellesley Students. Each student group is holding an event that fits with the theme of students loving their bodies. On Monday, students joined the BHE’s in the Lake House Kitchen to make their own body lotions. This evening, SAAFE invites sexual-assault survivors to join its members for “A Night-Off” in the Claflin Basement. On Thursday, the SHE’s are hosting a fun and educational game of “Shepardy,” or sexual health jeopardy, in the Pomeroy living room. Active Minds will conclude the week with “Kindergarten Night” in the McAfee living room. Active Minds will also be posting daily tips on how students can love their bodies on its Facebook Page.
