New year, new conversations begin with Convocation
The Convocation speakers last Tuesday launched the new year with speeches that highlighted the importance of dialogue and the role of women’s and liberal arts colleges. President H. Kim Bottomly encouraged the Wellesley community to engage in conversations in a way that infuses a stronger sense of civility at Convocation. College Government President Adeline Lee ’16 outlined the importance of Wellesley being a women’s college in a world that discriminates against women. Provost and Dean of the College Andrew Shennan spoke about the potential he believes this year holds and Wellesley’s resurgent efforts to create a more equitable experience for its students. Chief Justice Mayanka Kumar ‘16 urged students to uphold the Honor Code and continue practicing their principles in difficult times.
Green Hall Receives Temporary Doors
The doors normally affixed to the Academic Quad side of Green Hall are currently being refurbished by M&A Architectural Preservation and have been replaced with temporary doors. The company previously restored Claflin Hall doors. After 22 layers of paint are removed from the doors and a new dark layer is added, the refurbished doors will be reinstalled during the fall. Other areas on campus, which will be renovated this fall by other companies, include the corridor leading from Green Hall’s exterior entrances to the Susan and Donald Newhouse Center for the Humanities lobby, interior window frames and flooring and its exterior stone facades.
Wellesley College updates Sexual Misconduct Policy
Wellesley instituted a new Sexual Misconduct Policy this summer that applies to all current Wellesley College students, on or off-campus. The new policy broadened its definition of sexual misconduct and replaced the Good Samaritan Policy with the Responsible Action Clause, which waives any alcohol or drug policy violations of students seeking assistance for themselves or others after incidents of sexual misconduct. Wellesley operates under the affirmative definition of consent, which must be conveyed verbally or physically and can be withdrawn at any time. Students can report instances of sexual misconduct to Title IX Coordinator Kathryn Stewart, Campus Police or the Dean of Students Office. Students seeking confidential resources can go to Health and Counseling Services or the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life.
