The Smith eDigest is sent to all campus email accounts on Tuesday and Thursday each week during the academic year, and on Tuesday during the summer, providing important notices, college news, links to articles of general interest to the community, deadline notifications, and other college information.


03/28/2024 Digest


Geothermal Energy Project

Geothermal Energy Project Update

Drilling of test bores will begin south of the Conference Center on Wednesday, March 27, and continue through Monday, April 1. As a result, College Lane will be closed to two-way traffic from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Excavation activities across Paradise Road from Emerson House to 20-22 Paradise Road will continue throughout the week of March 25. A flagger will be onsite to assist with vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Please view the project website, smithgeoenergy.info, to view the graphic which outlines fencing area and path of excavation. Pedestrian wayfinding signage will be in place to direct foot traffic.

Geotech Exploration To Close Traffic
April 1 - 5, 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Lower College Lane

Lower College Lane will be closed Monday - Friday, April 1 - April 5 from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM each day to enable drilling a Geotech test bore. After working hours it will be open one lane only at the intersection of Lower College Lane and Upper College Lane. Upper College Lane and Green Street will remain fully open. Lower College Lane will be open just beyond Sage Driveway. Parking at Ainsworth will not be affected.

Geothermal Energy Project Update

Drilling of test bores will begin south of the Conference Center on Wednesday, March 27, and continue through Monday, April 1. As a result, College Lane will be closed to two-way traffic from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Excavation activities across Paradise Road from Emerson House to 20-22 Paradise Road will continue throughout the week of March 25. A flagger will be onsite to assist with vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Please view the project website, http://smithgeoenergy.info, to view the graphic which outlines work areas.

Faculty/Staff Notices

Nominate Future LEAD Scholars
Deadline: April 8

Do you know an incredible first year, sophomore, or junior who has a passion for social change and wants to develop their leadership skills? Nominate them for the 2024-25 LEAD Scholar program by April 8! The LEAD Scholars (Leaders for Equity-centered and Action-based Design) is a credit-bearing cohort program cosponsored by the Wurtele Center for Leadership and the Office for Equity and Inclusion that focuses on building leadership capacity through examining leadership through a social justice lens and learning skills of facilitation and design for social change. Please nominate potential students using this form: https://forms.gle/XWqC9qXK1rmVaDzW8. Email tdavis@smith.edu with questions.

2023-2024 Annual Performance Reviews: Manager Training & Drop-In Sessions
April 1, 4, 10, and 12

The annual performance review period is from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. Join the HR consulting team for training sessions on 4/1 (2-3pm), 4/10 (9-10am), and 4/12 (11am-12pm) in the Garrison Hall conference room or for a webinar on April 4th at 2:00 pm. Drop-in sessions will be held every Tuesday morning (9-10am) and Thursday afternoon (3-4pm) from April 2 to the end of May at Garrison Hall. All managers with staff are encouraged to attend. More info on the review process: https://www.smith.edu/your-campus/offices-services/human-resources/manager-resources/performance-reviews Reach out to your HR Partner if you have additional questions.

Share Your Research

Working on an interesting research project or other academic venture? We'd love to hear about it! Fill out this quick Google form https://forms.gle/B5FZpDQvbmZURh5S9 for a chance to be featured across Smith's site-—tell your community what you're up to.

LinkedIn Learning

Are you eager to advance your career by learning new skills through expert-led courses? Discover the benefits of LinkedIn Learning, available to all Smith staff, faculty, and students. Access the platform conveniently via the link provided on the Smith portal under 'General Info'. Start your journey to success today!

Faculty Grant--New Opportunity and Application Deadline Extended
March 29

CEEDS invites faculty to consider applying for curricular enhancement grant funds for AY24-25 that support our mission and programmatic outcomes. We are interested in proposals that interrogate intersections between the natural world and human rights/justice, explore aspects of sustainable communities in policy and practice, and make use of the MacLeish Field Station/the Arts Afield program. A collaboration between the SC Museum of Art, CEEDS' Arts Afield program and Moroccan artist Younes Rahmoun provides exciting new possibilities. See the Feb. 27 Faculty Listserv email or contact Joanne Benkley in CEEDS for details. The new application deadline is March 29.

Liberal Arts Lunch Series
Thursday, March 28, 12:10 p.m., Neilson Library 102

March 28, the Liberal Arts Lunch series welcomes Eric McCurdy, Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology, to present "Explaining Mansplaining." Lunch is provided for the first 40 attendees.

Smith Parents of Little Ones March Meeting
Thursday, March 28, 12:15 p.m., Jandon Center, Wright

The Smith Parents of Little Ones group meets monthly and all parents and caregivers of little ones (of any age!) are welcome to join. Please bring your lunch and come to celebrate and commiserate! This spring we will be meeting on Thursdays at lunch in the Jandon Center, Wright Hall 013. Thursday, March 28 Thursday, April 25 Look forward to seeing you! If you are interested in joining our Slack workspace, please email Laura (lgomez@smith.edu) or Nancy (nzigler@smith.edu).

Register Now: Countdown to 65--A Webinar About Medicare
March 28 or April 2, Virtual

Presenters from Blue Cross Blue Shield will offer the informative live webinar “Countdown to 65,” which provides an overview of the various parts of Medicare and important Medicare enrollment timelines and information. It may also be of interest to employees considering retiring before the age of 65, as other coverage options will be touched upon. To register for the March 28 4-5 p.m. webinar, visit https://well-b.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8drVg27DRISm8uOUXISwag To register for the April 2 noon-1 p.m. webinar, visit https://well-b.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jpH5CqaASpu9SuVfriBaag

Sherrerd Center Teaching Arts Luncheon: What Makes a Good Syllabus?
Friday, March 29, Noon, Neilson Library 102

Members of the Sherrerd Advisory Board and the SGA Curriculum Committee have been working together to revise the Sherrerd’s Sample Syllabi Language for Inclusive Teaching document. During this TAL, this process will be discussed and participants will be asked to help reflect on the role of the syllabus in articulating and achieving pedagogical goals and consider what are the most important pieces, and what articulates inclusivity in a good syllabus. We want to hear your thoughts so that we can provide useful advice to all of our instructors, especially new and incoming faculty. Noon lunch; presentation at 12:20. RSVP: https://forms.gle/Uk1mCRffyvU3dPAv7.

Sherrerd Center Teaching Circle on Ungrading
Tuesday, April 2, 12:15 p.m., Bass Hall 104

The Sherrerd Center teaching circle on ungrading with Magdalena Zap?dowska will meet in the Sherrerd Center in Bass Hall, Y104. During informal conversation over lunch (sandwich or salad from State Street deli), learn more about ungrading, explore how you can incorporate elements of ungrading in your classes, and share ideas on how to cultivate a healthy balance between shifting agency to the students and maintaining structure. RSVP at https://forms.gle/XiqhXUUxCqt4t6Q8A and an invitation and lunch order form will be sent.

Register Now: Toward Equity - Faculty Workload Equity
Wednesday, April 3, 12:15 p.m., Lilly Hall 206

How can we collectively improve faculty workload at Smith so work within departments/programs is more equitably distributed? How do we recognize invisible labor and address identity taxation? In this session, we will present the work of the Faculty Workload Equity initiative led by the provost’s office. Faculty engaged in this work will discuss evidence-based practices to increase transparency, clarity and accountability around faculty workload within academic units. Part of the Spring 2024 Faculty Development Series (https://www.smith.edu/about-smith/provost/faculty-development). Register at https://forms.gle/jYAc1UYYDskevbcE7

Liberal Arts Lunch Series
Thursday, April 4, 12:10 p.m., Neilson Library 102

April 4, the Liberal Arts Lunch series welcomes Theresa Brock, Assistant Professor of French Studies, to present "Queenly Visions: Early/Modern Dialogues on Women, Spirituality, and Social Justice." Lunch is provided for the first 40 attendees.

Human Rights Initiative Information Session
Thursday, April 4, 3:30 p.m., Alumnae House Living Room

The Human Rights Initiative invites faculty and teaching staff to an information session where we will discuss progress and planned activities, including curricular enhancement grants. The Initiative’s mission is to offer students opportunities for education about, through, and for human rights. What might that look like? The Initiative will approach this question through a collaborative, inclusive process that supports interested faculty and teaching staff, in any discipline, to explore integrating a human rights lens into their research or curricular/co-curricular endeavors. Light refreshments for the first 20 attendees. For questions, please email Carrie Cuthbert ccuthbert@smith.edu

Everyday Tools for Equity & Inclusion: Discrimination, Harassment, & Sexual Misconduct-- Your Rights and Responsibilities
April 4 & 10, 3 p.m., Not Listed

Staff and faculty are invited to register for the last session of Everyday Tools for Equity and Inclusion this semester. Sponsored by the Office for Equity and Inclusion, each session will be offered both in person over lunch and remotely on zoom to increase accessibility. See the offerings and sign up here: https://bit.ly/EVTOOLS This month’s session will be Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct: Your Rights and Responsibilities, facilitated by Martha Alexander on April 4 at 3:00 on zoom and on April 10 at 12:15 with food. Register here: https://bit.ly/EVTOOLS

Sherrerd Teaching Arts Luncheon: Making Connections--Languages Across the Curriculum
Friday, April 5, Noon, Neilson Library 102

This Teaching Arts Luncheon will focus on examples of cross-disciplinary teaching and learning developed by faculty across several departments, with the aim of both drawing attention to the crucial role of language study in Smith’s identity as a “global college,” and gathering feedback from faculty on ways to increase collaboration and cooperation across disciplines. After a brief roundtable discussion of questions around language teaching and learning, we hope to gather feedback and hear perspectives both from faculty teaching languages and faculty in other disciplines. Lunch available at noon; presentation at 12:20. RSVP: https://forms.gle/qVBAR4ER82dE9N61A.

Student Notices

New Associate Director of Multicultural Affairs

The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) is delighted to announce that Sophia Baez has accepted the Associate Director of Multicultural Affairs position at Smith College and will assume her new role on June 24, 2024. The campus community will be invited to a reception in September to formally welcome Sophia Baez to the Smith community.

Apply Now: Program in Middle East Studies - Support for Summer Language Study
Deadline: April 12

Smith's Program in Middle East Studies is pleased to be able to support students who plan to study a language of the Middle East (e.g., Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi, Turkish, Berber) during the summer of 2024. The support is made possible by the Near East Studies Fund. Applications and all related materials are due on April 12. For more information on summer language study funding and a link to the application, visit the Middle East Studies web page at https://www.smith.edu/academics/middle-east-studies, Opportunities and Resources section, Summer Study tab. Questions can be sent to middleeaststudies@smith.edu

Apply Now: Leanna Brown '56 Fellowship: Apply by April 26, 2024
Deadline: April 26

The Smith College Department of Government sponsors an annual competition for the Leanna Brown '56 Fellowship. This fellowship (normally between $500 and $1,000) is intended to support Smith students working at summer internships in state or local government, or in organizations (government or nongovernment) focused on issues of particular concern to women. All students are invited to apply. The deadline to submit all application materials is Friday, April 26, 2024. For more information and to download the application, visit the Department of Government web page at https://www.smith.edu/academics/government#awards-and-prizes-0. Questions can be sent to government@smith.edu.

Citation & Zotero Help, Neilson Library

Would you like for an expert to look over your citations? Are you interested in learning about the citation management tool Zotero? If you answered yes to either question - come visit the Library Research Mentors in Neilson Library. Research Mentors can help you get acquainted with a new citation style or look at a draft of your citations. They are also trained on setting up and using Zotero and would love to teach you all about it. Visit us in the Neilson Learning Commons (1st floor) during drop-in hours: Sunday-Thursday, 7-10pm & Sunday-Friday, 1-4pm

Apply Now: Fox-Boorstein International Internship Fellowship
Deadline: April 26

The Smith College Department of Government sponsors an annual competition for the Fox-Boorstein International Internship Fellowship. The fellowship, awarding between $300-$800, is intended to support Smith students working internationally at summer internships in governmental or nongovernmental organizations that involve a policy focus or global issues. More information and the application can be found on the Government web page at https://www.smith.edu/academics/government#awards-and-prizes-0. The deadline for submitting all application materials is April 26, 2024. Questions can be sent to government@smith.edu.

Sign Up for Spring Student Art Sale
Deadline: Friday, March 29

The second Smith Student Art Sale will feature items made by Smith students, including jewelry, artwork, ceramics, clothing and more. This time it's part of the Art After Hours student night the Smith College Art Museum! The sale will be at the SCMA from 4-7pm on Thursday, April 25. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 29. Apply Here: https://forms.gle/atTw7dDGdeUiDME77

Volunteer for Smith Arts Day 2024

We are looking for student volunteers to help out with Smith Arts Day 2024, taking place in various locations across campus on Saturday, April 13. It will be a day-long celebration of the artistic and creative community at Smith College presented by the new Smith Office for the Arts (SOFA). If you are interested in helping out, we would love to have you, whether you have 2 hours or the whole afternoon/evening. If you are interested, please email Leigh Fagin, Director of the Smith Office for the Arts, at lfagin@smith.edu.

Apply Now: Mary Maples Dunn Prize for Best Essay
Deadline: Monday, April 1

Mary Maples Dunn Prize is for an essay (4-8 pages) written in English within the current or three preceding semesters in a regular course in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, including approved cross-listed courses for the EAS track such as history. Essays originally submitted in seminars, for special studies or honors theses are not eligible. The stated assignment should be submitted along with the essay and marked with course and semester they were written. Submit essays as a clearly identified PDF to kgauger@smith.edu, by Monday, April 1. Students may submit only one essay per year.

Subscribe to Career Communities Emails

Smith's new Career Communities are sending curated newsletters with valuable content related to their professional areas. These emails include upcoming events, resources, jobs/internships, and more. The communities are: Arts, Media, & Communications; Business, Finance, Consulting, & Entrepreneurship; Education, Nonprofit, & Social Impact; Government, Law, Policy, & International Affairs; Health Professions; and STEM. Other emails you get from the Lazarus Center are being reimagined and reduced. Subscribe at https://l.ead.me/cc-emails

UPDATED: Apply To Be a Peer Writing Tutor
Deadline: March 29

Are you the person people go to for writing help? Do you like reading your friends’ papers, and helping them improve their writing? The Jacobson Center needs you! We’d love to consider you for a job as a Peer Writing Tutor in 2024-25. If accepted, you'll receive training and support, and you'll join a community of dedicated students who love what they do. Go directly to Workday to find the job announcement for Jacobson Center Peer Writing Tutor. Email Sara Eddy, Assistant Director of the Jacobson Center, (seddy@smith.edu) with any questions. Applications are due by March 29.

Apply Now: Mary Maples Dunn Fund Grants for Summer Language Study or Research
Deadline: April 1, 4:30 p.m.

Dunn Fund Grants for Summer Language Study or Research. Small travel grants (up to $1,200) are available to students planning to study an East Asian Language (Chinese, Korean or Japanese) in a Summer 2024 study abroad program or conduct advanced research on East Asia through travel to the region. Send a personal statement, an itemized budget that includes other funding sources (e.g. IEG), and an unofficial transcript as a single pdf file labeled as “Your surname Dunn Fund Summer 2024" to Kathleen Gauger (kgauger@smith.edu) by 4:30 pm on April 1. For details on the application procedure, go to https://www.smith.edu/academics/east-asian-languages-cultures#fellowships,-scholarships-and-grants-2

Common Goods Donations
Friday, March 29

Common Goods is taking donations! Have a coat you are no longer needing? Base layers like long sleeve shirts, pants or leggings that you are ready to part with? Donations can be dropped off on Fridays from 1-6 pm in Common Goods, CC 206!

ENV 312 Students Seek BIPOC Participants for Focus Group on Smith Landscape and Climate Justice, CEEDS Wright Hall

Hello! We are a group of students in ENV 312 (the Environmental Science & Policy Capstone Class) whose project is focused on Restoring Smith’s Landscape for Climate Justice. We are hoping to do a focus group/visioning workshop in the week of April 1st, with BIPOC students about their feelings about Smith's current landscape, and how the Smith landscape could be made more equitable in an ideal future. If you are interested in participating in this workshop, please fill out the form below (Please only fill out the form if you identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color!): https://forms.gle/3C3zMFdBZW1Si96t7

Apply Now: Summer Internship & Research Collaboratory at the Five College Women's Studies Research Center
Deadline: Sunday, March 31

The FCWSRC is seeking one to two summer interns and up to three students to join its undergraduate research collaboratory for Fall 2024 or for the 2024-25 academic year. Applicants should have an interest in and commitment to interdisciplinary and local, transregional and transnational feminist scholarship. Through both opportunities, students will gain experience with archival research and processing, transnational feminist organizations and networks, community outreach, and project development. The priority deadline for both opportunities is March 31, 2024. Learn more and apply here: https://www.fivecolleges.edu/faculty/womens-studies-research-center/ongoing-fcwsrc-projects

Complete This Survey on Student Experiences With Campus Healthcare

In collaboration with the Smith Alliance for Justice & Equity (SAJE) Fellowship, Morgan Fizer ‘25, Jeanette Falotico AC ‘25, Josephine Neumann ‘26, Yena Perice ’26J, and Vanessa Nicole Silva-Burgos ’24, kindly ask you to complete this IRB-approved anonymous survey. It will be used to identify gaps in healthcare services affecting college students by exploring gender, race, and disability-based discrimination and the quality of health care at college health centers. Results from this survey will be shared with community partners and used to inform advocacy work on Smith Campus. Follow the team on Instagram for more at @campuscarecollective. (https://smithcollege.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_57HD9OkQt5uh0KW)

March Version: OSE Programming Feedback Form

The Office of Student Engagement wants to reflect on our activity and programming offerings so that we can better serve our community, and we can't do that without student feedback. Please fill out this Google Form! Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe8Lh1rC5xNxoIfINJxLqZyB3EHuQWerMiK5zrOCN-OXrYLEw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Conversation with Marjan and Mahsa Vahdat
Thursday, March 28, 2:15 p.m., Lewis Global Studies Center, Wright

The conversation with the Iranian artists Marjan and Mahsa Vahdat will focus on women’s activism in post-revolutionary Iran and the challenges women face as singers and musicians. Pioneering a style of singing rooted in traditional and contemporary Iranian and Armenian music, the Vahdat sisters have won many honors, including an Independent Music Award in 2013 for their album Twinklings of Hope, and a Transglobal Award in 2019 for their album Placeless (a collaboration with Kronos Quartet).

OPT Information Session
Thursday, March 28, 4:30 p.m., Lewis Global Studies Center, Wright

This information session is an opportunity for international students who use an F-1 visa to attend Smith to learn about post-graduation work authorization available through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. Students preparing to graduate who wish to apply for OPT will be required to attend an OPT session prior to applying.

SCMA March 28 Art After Hours: Smithies in the Wild
Thursday, March 28, 5 p.m., Museum of Art

On Thursday, March 28, from 5–7p.m., celebrate the start of spring with your fellow Smithies at the art museum! Make a pom-pom animal, take it into the galleries, and snap a selfie to win a special prize. There will be snacks, face painting, and more! This event is free and open to all Smith students!

Race & Body Expectations Discussion
Thursday, March 28, 4:30 p.m., Dewey Common Room

Join the Community Health Organizers for a conversation about the way racial identity impacts our relationship to our bodies. People of color are radicalized within society and we often internalize some of these ideas in ways that impact the way we see ourselves. This conversation will give us a chance to break some of these expectations down, and embrace our true natures. In this conversation, we will talk about fatphobia, fetishization, and more. Snacks will be provided.

Languages at Smith
Thursday, March 28, 12:15 p.m., Campus Center Main Level Table

Are you interested in taking a language class next semester? Come to the info sessions and learn about languages taught at Smith College, Translation Concentration, and the upcoming festival Joy of Languages. Talk to professors and a representative from the Five-College Center of World Languages and try snacks from around the world from 12.15 until 1.20 pm.

Info Sessions: Praxis Internship Funding & Internship Credit (IDP 117)
March 29 and April 8, Noon-1 p.m.

Praxis Internship Funding provides funding to students in qualified unpaid internships. Internship Credit provides .25 credit for qualifying internships. Join us for an info session to learn more about both of these unique Smith resources! We'll provide an overview of both Praxis & Internship Credit: Eligibility, Qualifying Internships, Application Process and how to combine Praxis with Credit. Info Sessions are 12-1pm: Friday 3/29 in CC 205 or Monday 4/8 in CC 103/04

EALC Department Movie Night
Friday, March 29, 7 p.m., Weinstein Auditorium, Wright

EALC Department Movie Night. Come relax and join the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures for a viewing of Ghost in the Shell (1995), Friday, March 29, 7 p.m., Weinstein Auditorium, Wright Hall. Snacks provided.

Clothing Repair Workshop
Friday, March 29, 4-6 p.m., Capen Annex

Do you have a worn pair of jeans that need reinforcing? A favorite sweater that has a hole? Learn how to repair your clothes in this beginner friendly workshop. Bring your own clothing to mend at the workshop. Damaged clothing is not provided. Drop in at DTI (Capen Annex) anytime between 4-6pm on Friday, March 29.

Five College Trans* Mixer
Sunday, March 31, 1-3 p.m., Great Room, Mount Holyoke College

Gender+, an organization for trans and nonbinary students at Mount Holyoke, would like to invite Smith students to a Five College Trans* Mixer on March 31st from 1-3pm in the MHC Great Room. This is right off of the Blanchard Bus stop. (A transportation plan is in the works and information will be shared soon.) Come back from spring break the right way and have fun with other 5C students! There will be snacks and sushi, fun games and collaborative art projects! Feel free to reach out and email with questions to genderplusmhc@gmail.com or @genderplusmhc on Instagram.

Ring Making at DTI
April 1, 8, 22, 6:30 p.m., Capen Annex

Come to DTI's Ring Making workshop! This recurring workshop will be held Monday, April 1, 8, and 22 at DTI. This workshop is beginner friendly and DTI will provide materials.

Funding & Fellowships for Study Abroad
Tuesday, April 2, 12:15 p.m., Lewis Global Studies Center, Wright

Join us for a 'brown bag' lunch info session to learn about some critical funding opportunities aimed at diversifying the demographics of study abroad program participants. This session will be a round-up of internal and external, independent and sponsored applications.

Bloomberg Terminal Workshop
Tuesday, April 2, 5 p.m., Conway Center, 103 Neilson

Learn about the powerful Bloomberg terminal, and know about how you can enhance your research and optimize your finances! This year, we’re excited to also share with you more information on Bloomberg’s powerful API, Bloomberg Query Language (BQL). See you there (Dinner is provided)! Sign up here: https://socialnetwork.smith.edu/event/9931354

Portfolio Review for the Studio Art Major
Tuesday, April 2, 4:15-5:45 p.m., Hillyer 204

Sign up now for a Portfolio Review for entry into the Studio Art major. To participate, students should have already completed or be in the process of completing their second Studio Art course. Portfolio Review will be held on Tuesday April 2, 4:15-5:45 pm in Hillyer 204. Click the link for more information and to sign-up for a 15-minute Portfolio Review appointment: https://form.jotform.com/230605289200044 Contact Lisa Rizzo, lrizzo@smith.edu with any questions.

CPT Information Session
Wednesday, April 3, 12:15 p.m., Lewis Global Studies Center, Wright

This information session is for any international students looking to receive Curricular Practical Training (CPT) from the ISSO. CPT is required to complete a paid internship or job in the US during Interterm and/or Summer break, or to complete a US-based Praxis. CPT is strongly recommended for any unpaid internship in the US. We will review the requirements of CPT, as well as how to apply.

Post-Acceptance Palooza
Thursday, April 4, 4:15 p.m., Lewis Global Studies Center, Wright

Join us to hear from past students about their experiences navigating different housing options and the course registration process.

Panel Discussion: Research Careers in Science Industry
Thursday, April 11, 4:30 p.m., Virtual Event

What is "science industry" and how can you continue doing research if you are not looking to pursue a traditional academic path beyond your time at Smith? This panel features three alums working in a variety of scientific organizations where they're able to continue using this knowledge and research skills outside of academia. They'll discuss what "industry" means for folks with a scientific background and how these careers open up possibilities for you. To register, visit https://smith.joinhandshake.com/events/1486698/share_preview

Smith Students' Aid Society Application Deadline for Summer Opportunities
Monday, April 15

The deadline for Summer SSAS applications is Monday, April 15. SSAS grants are available for not-for-credit and credit-bearing programs, as well as for travel opportunities. Students applying for credit-bearing programs should note that the SSAS can only fund courses that have been accepted for transfer credit by Smith College. If you are a student in financial need and your program fits the above description, you may fill out the application by copying and pasting this link into your browser: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqWvPYq78MyDjgl51X09fUl_r19pjfo-Lw8sJK-H2wYw-ixg/viewform

Technology News

Computer Store Closed for Store Inventory
Monday, April 1, Stoddard Hall

On Monday, April 1st, the Smith College Computer Store will be closed all day for inventory and will re-open on Tuesday, April 2nd at Noon. Please knock if you are picking up something already purchased at the store or need assistance. We will answer emails and phones calls on Tuesday Afternoon. Thank you

Lectures/Symposia

Abortion as a Human Right: A Dialogue
Thursday, March 28, 6 p.m., Campus Center Carroll Room

How might embedding abortion in the human rights framework contribute to the global fight against authoritarianism and in defense of democracy more broadly? To discuss this and other questions, join a panel of national leaders in the reproductive justice, racial justice, and human rights movements at “Abortion as a Human Right: A Dialogue.” Learn more about the panelists: https://www.smith.edu/news-events/news/abortion-human-right-dialogue

Rennie Harris Lecture – Infrastructure for Success: Black American Dance Culture in Higher Education
Friday, March 29, 4:30 p.m., Weinstein Auditorium, Wright

Lorenzo “Rennie” Harris, the preeminent hip-hop choreographer of our generation, presents a lecture on Black Dance culture in higher education. Rennie will also teach a Master Class at 1:30 PM in Ainsworth Gymnasium. Part of the CR?V The Harvest's inaugural conference at the Five Colleges March 26-30. For more info and to register: bit.ly/RennieHarrisRegistration. Sponsored by the Smith College Lecture Committee, Five College Dance, Five Colleges, Inc. Symposium Fund, UMass Amherst Dance, UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center, UMass Amherst Renaissance Center.

Philosophy of Experimentation in Biology
Friday, March 29, 1:30 p.m., McConnell 103

Dr. David Glass, Regeneron, author of Experimental design for Biologists, will present this talk on understanding fundamental disagreements in scientific experimentation and what kind of conclusions are permissible from prior knowledge. This lecture is part of the Spring 2024 Mary Elizabeth Dickason King M.D. Annual lecture Series in the Life Sciences in Memory of Professor Howard Parshley. Light snacks will be served at 2:30 p.m. after the talk. Free and open to the public. Visit http://www.smith.edu/biology/events.php for the full schedule.

Allegory, Race and the Four Continents: A Lecture by Charmaine Nelson
Friday, March 29, 5 p.m., Neilson Library 102

The Kahn Liberal Arts Institute and the Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) welcome Dr. Charmaine A. Nelson, Provost Professor of Art History and director of the Slavery North Initiative, University of Massachusetts Amherst, to deliver the lecture, “Allegory, Race and the Four Continents: Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux’s Les quatre parties du monde soutenant la sphere céleste (The Four Parts of the World Supporting the Celestial Sphere)." Learn more: https://scma.smith.edu/calendar/allegory-race-and-four-continents-lecture-charmaine-nelson

Symposium: The Greenhouse Effect--Atmospheres of the Botanical Humanities
Friday-Saturday, March 29-30, Alumnae House

The greenhouse is an atmospheric technology for growing plants from far-away places. For centuries, poets and earth scientists have deployed them as metaphors to interpret periods of destabilizing change. Newly attuned to the politics of breathing in a world upended by a global pandemic, climate change, and anti-Black police violence; to interspecies love amidst our planet’s ongoing extinction crisis; to the politics of scientific collections by Indigenous sovereignty movements; what might the greenhouse teach us about conditions of planetary life today? Come meet the experts. For more information email koheneacheampong@smith.edu

Virtual Artist Talk: Gaye Chan
Monday, April 1, 4:15 p.m., Hillyer 204 or Virtual

Gaye Chan, (http://gayechan.com) is a conceptual artist who moves between solo and collaborative activities that take place on the web, in publications, streets as well as galleries. Her recent work often ruminates on how cartography and photography simultaneously offer and occlude information. Chan's work will be on display in the Oresman Gallery, Hillyer Hall March 28 - May 9. Attend live or register on Zoom: https://smith.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUlcuyurD0oE9ebGrNRH2X_uoa8kn_1GG_Z#/registration

Behind the Seams: Noticing Lives in the Details of Old Clothes
Wednesday, April 3, 4:30 p.m., Neilson Library 102

Professor of Theatre Kiki Smith ’71 will discuss the work of developing, preserving, and teaching with the Smith College Historic Clothing Collection. This collection includes over 4,000 items of clothing from the early 1800s to the present day. Smith’s recent book, "Real Clothes, Real Lives: 200 Years of What Women Wore," provides valuable insights into women's lives and their evolving roles at home and in the workplace. A reception will follow. Presented by the Friends of the Libraries Oculus Society.

Five College Geology Lecture Series Talk: Professor Francis Macdonald
Thursday, April 4, 6 p.m., McConnell 103

Francis Macdonald, Professor of Earth Science at the University of California at Santa Barbara, will present a talk titled "The Great Unconformity and Flooding of North America." Dinner from India Palace will be served in the McConnell Foyer at 6:00 pm, followed by the talk at 7:00 pm.

Persuasion, Populism, and Post-Truth
Thursday, April 4, 7 p.m., Seelye 201

A lecture by Manuel Bermúdez Vázquez, Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Córdoba, Spain whose latest books are Brief History of Philosophy, 2nd edition, (2022, Ucopress), Debate Manual, 2nd edition (2022, Berenice) and Maimonides (2024, Almuzara). Bermúdez is a PRESHCO Visiting Scholar at Smith. His lecture is sponsored by the Spanish and Portuguese department and the Philosophy department.

Writing for Liberation, Tea and Conversation With Jennifer Baumgardner
Thursday, April 4, 4:30 p.m., Dewey Common Room

The movement for women’s liberation has been uniquely buoyed by its publishing tradition, including radical writing, independent presses and feminist bookstores. Jennifer Baumgardner believes that original writing and reporting, using the lens of feminist history ad theory, remain crucial to revealing overlooked narratives as well as getting free from the warped stories of patriarchy.

Lecture: Building a Transatlantic Climate Activist Bridge
Thursday, April 11, 4:15 p.m., Dewey Common Room

Using the fight against fossil gas as a case study, Prof. Sabine von Mering (Brandeis University) will speak about grassroots climate activism spanning the Atlantic. US and European climate activists’ ongoing resistance efforts against new shipping infrastructures for liquefied fossil gas (LNG) highlights the possibilities and the challenges for transnational grassroots activism, now and in the future. Prof. von Mering is an activist, a Professor of German and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Director of the Center for German and European Studies at Brandeis University. She is co-editor of the forthcoming Routledge Handbook of Grassroots Climate Activism.

Performing Arts/Films/Fine Arts

'Carrying Capacity' An Exhibition by Gaye Chan
March 28 - May 9, Oresman Gallery, Hillyer

This exhibition is a durational project Gaye Chan began in 2012 that stemmed from a chance encounter at a produce distribution company. As commodities move across the globe, baling straps are used once and discarded into the waste stream. Chan gave herself the task of figuring out how to reuse them. Eleven years and over a thousand weaved baskets later, she continues to extend the life of this ‘waste’ material. "Carrying Capacity" will be on display in the Oresman Gallery, March 28 - May 9, Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm in Hillyer Hall, Brown Fine Arts Center.

MUSIC MONDAY 6: 'Joy Spring!' Songs From the Great American Songbook With Beth Raffeld
Monday, April 8, 1 p.m., Sweeney Concert Hall, Sage

The Smith College Department of Music presents Music Monday 6: Joy Spring!: Songs From the Great American Songbook With Beth Balmuth Raffeld, singer; Stephen Page, piano; Genevieve Rose, bass; and Claire Arenius, drums. Free and open to the public.

'gazing pools': A Senior Studio Art Exhibition
March 28 - April 5, 8:30 a.m., Jannotta Gallery, Hillyer

Six senior studio art majors invite you to peer into another world. These are artworks of light, air, earth, familiar objects made strange, and unidentifiable shiny things. Be there or be square. "gazing pools" is an exhibition of new work by studio art seniors Nola Carlson, Emmaline Kenny, Shelly Liu, Emma Merchant, Sammy Oster, and Olivia Peyev. This exhibition will be open in the Jannotta Gallery in Hillyer Hall from March 28 - April 5, 8:30am - 4:30pm. The reception will be held on Thursday, March 28th from 6-8 PM. Free snacks and refreshments provided.

Opening Reception for 'Reflected Mystique: An Invitation to Discuss Menopause,' A Multimedia Installation by Margaret Parks ’24
Friday, March 29, 4:30 p.m., Nolen Art Lounge, Campus Center

This is an open invitation to be part of a conversation that dispels assumptions and surfaces a renewed relationship with the word menopause. Explore the forces that tie us to conventionality and patriarchal tropes associated with menopause and how probing the uncomfortable with curiosity and courage can spur further conversation and growth. This is a multimedia installation made, designed, and installed by Margaret Parks ‘24. Fifteen contributors were interviewed for this piece ranging in age from 38 to 79 years old who discussed their relationship to and understanding of menopause. Come visit the Nolen Art Lounge in the Campus Center.

Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat in Concert With Guest Artist Bridget Kibbey
Sunday, March 31, 3 p.m., Sweeney Concert Hall, Sage

The Smith College Department of Music and the UMass Fine Arts Center present a captivating musical journey with internationally acclaimed Iranian singers and musicians Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat, celebrated for their deep connection to heritage and innovative musical expression. Teaming up with world-acclaimed harpist Bridget Kibbey, this collaboration unfolds as a profound musical interaction, where the intricate Persian textures of modes, melodies, and poetry blend with the evocative improvisations of the harp. Together, they invite you to explore a musical landscape that transcends boundaries and languages, embracing the beauty of diversity and the universality of human sentiments.

'Old Lesbians' Film Screening With Director Meghan McDonough and Project Participant Edie Daly
Wednesday, April 3, 4:30 p.m., Campus Center 103/4

Director Meghan McConough will be screening her new film, Old Lesbians, a documentary short about queer elders preserving their own herstory through the Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project (OLOHP), an archive of 800+ life stories recorded across the U.S. and archived in Smith’s Special Collections. Before the screening, explore old lesbian oral herstories in Special Collections, Neilson 303, 2:30-4:30pm.

NPRS: Where the Stilled Wind Blew by Claire Trivax, MFA ’24
Thursday, April 4, 7:30 p.m., Acting Studio 1, Mendenhall CPA

The New Play Reading Series presents Where the Stilled Wind Blew by Claire Trivax, MA ’24. Numa leaves their polluted, dying world for the evergreen, untouched valley of Ap’noa. They are the first human to enter Ap’noa after a cataclysmic event 500 years ago wiped out all of the people. In their quest to discover what happened and find a solution to their world’s problems, Numa will have to come to terms with their own tumultuous past. Free and open to the public.

New Play Reading Series: 'Where the Stilled Wind Blew' by Claire Trivax
Thursday, April 4, 7:30 p.m., Acting Studio 1, Mendenhall CPA

The New Play Reading Series presents "Where the Stilled Wind Blew" by Claire Trivax MA ’24. Numa leaves their polluted, dying world for the evergreen, untouched valley of Ap’noa. They are the first human to enter Ap’noa after a cataclysmic event 500 years ago wiped out all of the people. In their quest to discover what happened and find a solution to their world’s problems, Numa will have to come to terms with their own tumultuous past. Free and open to the public. Acting Studio 1 in Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts.

Joel Pitchon, Retirement Celebration Recital: The Beauty of Violin
Friday, April 5, 7:30 p.m., Sweeney Concert Hall, Sage

Celebrating 50 years of professional music making and his retirement from Smith College, Joel will play violin favorites. He will be joined by friends for Prokofiev’s incomparable Duo for Two Violins and the brilliant Brahms Piano Quintet. Featuring the Elm Chamber Ensemble: Yu-Mei Wei, piano, Anthony Berner, viola, Volcy Pelletier, cello and special guest Robyn Quinnett, violin. Free and open to the public.

Joel Pitchon, Retirement Celebration Recital: The Beauty of Violin
Friday, April 5, 7:30 p.m., Sweeney Concert Hall, Sage

Celebrating 50 years of professional music making and his retirement from Smith College, Joel will play violin favorites. He will be joined by friends for Prokofiev’s incomparable Duo for Two Violins and the brilliant Brahms Piano Quintet. Featuring the Elm Chamber Ensemble: Yu-Mei Wei, piano, Anthony Berner, viola, Volcy Pelletier, cello and special guest Robyn Quinnett, violin. Free and open to the public.

MUSIC MONDAY 6: 'Joy Spring!' Songs from the Great American Songbook
Monday, April 8, 1 p.m., Sweeney Concert Hall, Sage

The Smith College Department of Music presents Music Monday 6: Joy Spring!: Songs from the Great American Songbook with Beth Balmuth Raffeld, singer; Stephen Page, piano; Genevieve Rose, bass; and Claire Arenius, drums.

Presentation of Majors/Minors

Geosciences Department Presentation of the Majors and Minor
Thursday, March 28, 12:15 p.m., McConnell B15

Learn about the majors and minor, courses and research opportunities, and meet the faculty. Lunch from India Palace will be provided.

South Asian Studies Presentation of the Minor
Wednesday, April 3, 4:15 p.m., Dewey Common Room

Are you interested in South Asia? Do you know about the minor in South Asian studies? At Smith, you can create an academic focus on South Asia, including its diaspora, choosing from courses in a wide range of disciplines, from art history to philosophy, from economics to religion. Meet the professors who advise the minor and teach some of these courses! Tea, chai and snacks available.

Study of Women and Gender Presentation of the Major and Minor
Wednesday, April 3, 12:15 p.m., Campus Center 205

Join us to learn more about the Program for the Study of Women and Gender! Lunch will be provided.

Religious Life

Listening Session on Jewish Identity at Smith
Thursday, March 28, 4:30 p.m., Bodman Lounge, Chapel

Join us for a listening session regarding Jewish identity on campus. Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer will facilitate conversation on being Jewish identified in light of Israel/Palestine Crisis. This will be an opportunity to address questions, share resources, and build community. Students will be joined by Interim Dean of the College Alex Keller, VP of OEI Floyd Cheung, and Director of Non-Discrimination Initiatives.

Jummah
Friday, March 29, 12:30 p.m., Chapel Sanctuary

Join us for Jummah! Fridays at 12:30 p.m. Hampshire Mosque in Hadley Meet in front of the Helen Hills Hills Chapel at 12:25 p.m. Van will leave by 12:30 p.m. and return to campus no later than 2:30 p.m. Bring a prayer rug and complete your ablution beforehand. We have extra prayer rugs if you need one! To attend email crsl@smith.edu. All are welcome!

Easter Service
Sunday, March 31, 10:30 a.m., Chapel Sanctuary

Scriptures, readings and poetry with college chaplain Matilda Cantwell, special guests Blackapella, and members of the Smith community. Everyone is welcome, Easter treats for all!

Meetings/Workshops

Knit n' Listen at Hillyer Library
Friday, March 29, 4 p.m., Hillyer Library

Do you love to knit or craft, and listen to some great records? Come to Hillyer's Knit n' Listen event on Friday, March 29th from 4-6pm! Bring your friends and your knitting, or any other craft you'd like! Enjoy some snacks and conversation while listening to some tunes. Feel free to stop by for a bit, or stay for the whole event!

Let’s Talk Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Awards
Wednesday, April 3, Noon, Lazarus Center, Drew

Come to learn about the Fulbright US Student Program- English Teaching Assistantships. We'll talk about eligibility, deadlines, what experiences help you to become a strong candidate, and how we will work with candidates as they plan and complete their applications. Note that the Fulbright US Student Program is only open to US citizens. Please register in advance for this meeting in Handshake at https://smith.joinhandshake.com/events/1507291/share_preview

Let's Talk Fulbright Study/Research Awards
Wednesday, April 3, Noon, Campus Center 102

Come to learn about the Fulbright US Student Program's study & research awards. We'll talk about eligibility, how to plan a feasible and strong Fulbright research project, and how to assemble your team of mentors and supporters. We’ll also talk about why, in most cases, there is overlap between research and study awards. Note that the Fulbright US Student Program is only open to US citizens. Please register in advance for this meeting in Handshake at https://smith.joinhandshake.com/events/1509354/share_preview

Register Now: Intro to the Fulbright US Student Program - Group Presentation Session
Thursday, April 4, 4 p.m., Virtual Event

Get to know Fulbright fellowships! Join students from several other colleges hear how IIE Fulbright Staff and Alumni Ambassadors describe the Fulbright US Student Program’s history, eligibility, award types, award benefits and application components and tips. After the general presentation, Smith College students and recent alums will go to a breakout room to talk with Smith College Fellowship Advisers about institution-specific details, such as campus resources, deadlines, and next steps. The Fulbright US Student Program is only open to US citizens. ** Register for this meeting in advance on the Fulbright US Student Program website using this link: https://apply.iie.org/register/GPS8 **

Other Events and Activities

Book Launch and Celebration for Africana Studies Professor Daphne Lamothe
Thursday, March 28, 5 p.m., Neilson Library 102

Book Launch and Celebration for Africana Studies Professor Daphne Lamothe's new book release "Black Time & The Aesthetic Possibility of Objects". Thursday, March 28, 2024 in the Klingenstein Browsing Room (Neilson Library 102) at 5:00 pm. Daphne Lamothe is a literary and cultural studies scholar with research and teaching interests in African American, Afro-Caribbean and Black migration and transnational literatures. Sponsored by the Department for Africana Studies. Co-sponsored by the Program for the Study of Women and Gender and supported by the Kixie Denison Fieldman ’53 Fund. Free and open to the entire Smith College community.

Star Gazing
Friday, March 29, 8:30 p.m., McConnell Hall Rooftop

The Astronomy Department will hold an open house Friday, March 29, 8:30-9:30 p.m. on the roof of McConnell Hall. Come see star clusters, planets, galaxies, and a region of active star formation. All are welcome - please dress very warmly. For further information or to check on weather conditions, contact Meg Thacher (mthacher@smith.edu, 413-585-3935).