Annie Lu

‘Like another Williams course’: Recently appointed Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao ’95 reflects on career

Annie Lu • February 8, 2023

“I’m the classic Williams liberal arts kid,” said Yvonne Hao ’95, the new secretary of economic development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in an interview with the Record. “I never knew that I’d have a career in business — it’s all been kind of unplanned and accidental.”

College to host celebration ceremony for Class of 2022.5

Annie Lu • December 7, 2022

This December, the College will host an official celebration ceremony for mid-cycle seniors — the Class of 2022.5 — for the first time, in light of increased numbers of students taking time off during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will take place on Dec. 11 in the ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance.

What it’s like to be Ephelia: Students and staff reveal stories from their time inside the iconic costume

Annie Lu • November 30, 2022

Inside a large bag on the third floor of Mears House lies an assortment of purple-and-yellow fabric parts: two hooved shoes, a pair of purple gloves, a zippered jumpsuit, and a helmet in the shape of a cow’s head. This is where the College’s mascot, Ephelia, resides while off duty.

President of Iceland Guðni Jóhannesson visits Williams, discusses presidency

Annie Lu and Ella Marx • November 16, 2022

Jóhannesson, Iceland’s sixth and current president, came to Williamstown on Nov. 9 and gave a talk titled “Cool Iceland: The Fascinating Challenges and Opportunities of Being a Small State.”

Student survey shows high interest in Asian American studies ahead of new proposal

Annie Lu and Tali Natter • November 16, 2022

Faculty, staff, and students submitted a proposal for an Asian American studies (AAS) program on Nov. 3 to the Committee on Educational Affairs (CEA), the student-faculty committee that will deliberate on the proposal and decide whether it will be discussed at an upcoming faculty meeting.

Racist slurs found written into dust on cars in Whitman St. parking garage

Annie Lu and Bellamy Richardson • November 9, 2022

Students discovered racial slurs written in the dust on the windshields of approximately six cars parked in the garage on Whitman Street, near the ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance, and reported the incident to Campus Safety Services (CSS) on Saturday evening.

Anti-Black slur found on chalkboard in Sawyer library

Annie Lu, Gabe Miller, and Iman Shumburo • November 2, 2022

On Oct. 24, Director of the Writing Center Julia Munemo found an anti-Black racial slur scrawled in black marker on a chalkboard in Sawyer 429, the Writing Center’s meeting room. “The slur appeared below some writing in chalk — notes from a group study session — and seemed unrelated and in different handwriting,” Munemo wrote in an email to the Record.

The Storm Orchestra: an exploration of geosciences through music

Annie Lu • October 19, 2022

The intersection between music and coastal geomorphology — the study of the evolution of the coast under the influence of winds, waves, and currents — might not be immediately apparent to most people. The Storm Orchestra, however, seeks to illustrate the overlap between the two.

College will host Omicron booster clinic

Annie Lu • September 28, 2022

Students, faculty, and staff will be able to receive the new, Omicron-specific booster shot for COVID-19 at the Towne Field House from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 21, in partnership with Berk- shire Health Systems (BHS). Vaccines will be administered at no charge.

Record survey reveals split student opinion on College’s COVID policies

Annie Lu, Cameron Pugh, Grady Short, and Ari Quasney • September 21, 2022

Student opinions of the College’s COVID-19 policies are divided, a Record survey found. Almost a third of students expressed neutrality about the College’s protocols, while the remainder were almost evenly split between approval and disapproval, slightly weighted towards the former. Survey responses were also divided on whether the College should escalate its COVID protocols to include mandatory weekly testing and an additional booster shot that would protect against Omicron variants. As of Sept. 17, 12.2 percent of respondents reported having contracted COVID while on campus this semester.

College will cover lodging, transportation for employees seeking abortion services

Annie Lu • September 21, 2022

The College has adopted an amendment to its employee health insurance plans that will cover transportation and lodging costs for plan members who seek abortion services and reside in a state in which such services are restricted, Chief Human Resources Officer Danielle Gonzalez announced in the Daily Messages on Monday. The amendment applies exclusively to...

Letter from the editor: In service to the Williams community

Annie Lu • September 21, 2022

In a letter to the Williams community, Editor in Chief Annie Lu ’23 reaffirms the Record's commitment to fair, inclusive, and incisive reporting.

College to loosen COVID restrictions, graduation ceremony guest limits

Annie Lu, Megan Lin, and Ella Marx • May 19, 2021

The College will loosen its COVID-19 restrictions in accordance with state rules, as well as broaden participation in the Class of 2021’s graduation ceremony, President Maud S. Mandel announced in an email to the College community on Tuesday.

College releases data from survey gauging prevalence of and attitudes on sexual violence

Annie Lu • May 19, 2021

Responses from the the College’s 2021 EPH Community Attitudes on Sexual Assault (EPHCASA) campus climate survey, sent to all students in February, indicate a decrease in the prevalence of most types of unwanted sexual contact compared to previous years. Director of Sexual Assault Response and Health Education Meg Bossong '05 provided the Record with preliminary data from the survey.

International students weigh choice between going home, staying on campus

Annie Lu • May 19, 2021

With COVID-19 rates rising in many countries and travel restrictions still in place, international students at the College face a decision as the end of the spring semester looms: to return home — for the first time in over a year, for some — or to stay on campus through the summer.

96% of on-campus students have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, Record survey estimates

Vast majority of students are not yet fully vaccinated

Annie Lu, Grady Short, and Kevin Yang • May 5, 2021

Ninety-six percent of students living on campus have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, a Record survey sent to the entire student body on Saturday estimates. Only 9.6 percent of the 751 on-campus students who responded, however, are fully vaccinated, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines as occurring two weeks after the final required dose.

Biden to nominate Christine Wormuth ’91 to be first female Army secretary

‘A baton relay race’: Wormuth discusses her career in public service with the Record

Annie Lu and Kitt Urdang • April 21, 2021

On April 12, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Christine Wormuth ’91 to serve as Secretary of the Army. If confirmed, she would be the first woman to serve in this role.

How on-campus students will get vaccinated — and how some already have

Annie Lu and Grady Short • April 14, 2021

Beginning April 19, the College will provide transportation to COVID-19 vaccination sites at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish Center in North Adams and Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield for students, faculty, and staff without personal transportation. In the meantime, some students who are already eligible have been able to get vaccines.

One in Two Thousand: Andrew Thai ’21

Annie Lu • March 31, 2021

This week, the computer (using a script in R) chose Andrew Thai ’21, who talked about marimba mishaps, speaking Hungarian, and Legos.

Three more students test positive; at least two were at Gladden gathering

Kevin Yang, Irene Loewenson, and Annie Lu • March 25, 2021

Two additional students who attended the Gladden gathering on Saturday have tested positive for COVID-19, the College confirmed to the Record today. A third student has also tested positive, but it is unknown whether they were at the Gladden gathering.

College reports 4 potentially connected COVID cases

2 students among the 4 cases attended indoor gathering on Saturday

Kevin Yang, Annie Lu, and Jacob Posner • March 23, 2021

Two students have tested positive for COVID-19 after attending an indoor gathering at Gladden House on Saturday night, Dean Sandstrom confirmed to the Record today. The two COVID-positive students who attended the gathering — along with another student who did not attend the gathering, as well as a faculty or staff member — are part of a larger cluster of four cases reported in the last week.

Four more students, one faculty or staff member test positive for COVID

Annie Lu • March 20, 2021

Four students on campus and one faculty or staff member have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week. According to Dean Marlene Sandstrom, the College is not aware of any evidence of community transmission linking the four cases among students.

College decides on in-person commencement date, shortened Senior Week; senior class officers seek changes

Annie Lu and Maddy Lawler • March 17, 2021

The Class of 2021 will celebrate commencement with an in-person ceremony on May 31, according to the College’s commencement web page, and Senior Week will be shortened to a day and a half right after exams. Senior class officers, however, are pushing the administration for a full-length Senior Week and to allow limited guests.

College removes 127 students from campus in response to party

Administration defines involvement as any unauthorized presence at Wood that night; some Wood attendees say large parties were common in fall

Kevin Yang, Annie Lu, and Megan Lin • March 10, 2021

One hundred twenty-seven students have been removed from campus as part of the College’s response to the Feb. 26 party at Wood. For the purposes of deciding whom to remove from campus, the College has defined involvement in the Wood party as any unauthorized presence in the building during the night of the party. The Record interviewed four students who were at Wood that night. They said that large indoor parties were common throughout the fall.

Students reflect on the year when COVID changed everything

Annie Lu, Bellamy Richardson, Saud Afzal Shafi, and Alice Qu • March 10, 2021

One year ago this week, students received an email from President Maud S. Mandel that announced the campus closure and the transition to remote learning. That week, students wept, partied, spent time with friends, and said many goodbyes.

Students come forward as College continues investigation of Wood House party

Kevin Yang, Annie Lu, and Megan Lin • March 3, 2021

Following the illicit gathering of an estimated 80 to 100 students at Wood House on Friday, Campus Safety and Security has begun to identify students who were involved. A number of students have come forward to the administration to admit that they attended the party, according to Dean of the College Marlene Sandstrom. Some Wood residents said that Friday’s party was one instance in an ongoing pattern of illicit gatherings at Wood House, to which they believed the College’s response has been inadequate.

2 weeks, 11 cases: COVID cases rise among students

College sees first evidence of community transmission

Annie Lu and Kiara Royer • February 24, 2021

Eleven on-campus students have tested positive for COVID-19 since arriving for the spring semester, a significant increase relative to the number of COVID cases reported at a comparable time in the fall. Seven of this semester’s cases were reported upon arrival, with the remaining four positives occurring after the student had initially tested negative. Three of those students, who at first moved to quarantine in Dodd House after coming into close contact with COVID-positive students, have since tested positive themselves and moved to isolation. One staff or faculty member tested positive on Feb. 15.

Students returning to campus confront travel challenges, look forward to semester

Seven students test positive upon arrival

Annie Lu, Isabelle Zollinger, and Fiona Seibert • February 17, 2021

The College began welcoming students back to campus on Feb. 10 after a prolonged winter break. As of Feb. 16, 1,723 students are enrolled on campus for the spring semester. Seven students tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival, and two more tested positive afterward. Twenty additional students, whose initial COVID tests were negative, have moved to quarantine housing because they came into close contact with students who tested positive.

Fred Puddester, VP for finance and administration, to retire in August

Annie Lu • February 10, 2021

After ten years at the College, Vice President for Finance and Administration Fred Puddester will retire this August, President Maud S. Mandel announced in an email to the College community on Jan. 29. The College will conduct a national search for his successor in the meantime.

Spring semester to start as scheduled; College plans to hold in-person commencement

Joey Fox, Megan Lin, Irene Loewenson, Annie Lu, Lucy Walker, and Kevin Yang • January 28, 2021

The spring semester will start as previously scheduled, with students returning to campus beginning Feb. 10, President of the College Maud S. Mandel and Dean of the College Marlene Sandstrom announced today in an email to students, staff, and faculty. Additionally, the College plans to hold an in-person commencement for seniors, albeit with no off-campus guests.

COVID-19 case temporarily closes Children’s Center, causing uncertainty for faculty, staff

Annie Lu and Stephanie Teng • January 23, 2021

The Children’s Center, a College-run childcare facility for faculty and staff, was closed from Jan. 10 until Jan. 19 after a staff member at the Center tested positive for COVID-19. While the Center has since reopened with no further positive cases reported, the closure was a stark reminder of the childcare challenges that College employees with young children have faced during the pandemic.

Answers to your questions about spring semester changes

Tali Natter, Saud Afzal Shafi, and Annie Lu • January 20, 2021

In light of the recent email from Dean of the College Marlene Sandstrom to students, faculty, and staff, the Record compiled a list of answers to reader-submitted questions regarding plans for the spring semester.

Insurrection, impeachment and a reckoning: Alums on Capitol Hill reflect on recent events

Kitt Urdang and Annie Lu • January 18, 2021

On Jan. 6, Rep. Andy Levin ’83 (D-MI) was in his Washington office at the Cannon House Office Building — preparing to speak against Republicans’ attempt to overturn Michigan’s presidential election results — when he heard a knock at the door. A Capitol Police officer stepped in and told everyone to evacuate. For Levin and his fellow lawmakers on Capitol Hill, the remainder of that day passed by in a state of chaos, confusion and, for some, danger.

Sandstrom announces potentially delayed arrival, greater restrictions on socializing, other changes to spring semester

Irene Loewenson and Annie Lu • January 15, 2021

If COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts and across the country continue to rise, the College may consider delaying students’ arrival to campus, Dean of the College Marlene Sandstrom announced in an email to students, staff, faculty, and families.

Nine staff, faculty test positive for COVID since early December

Annie Lu • January 11, 2021

In the weeks since most students departed campus at the end of November, the College has reported an increase in the number of COVID cases among faculty and staff from three to 12, according to the College’s COVID dashboard.

Student enrollment plans suggest increased population on campus in the spring

Annie Lu and Ella Marx • December 9, 2020

Based on the intent to enroll form that 2,078 students submitted by the Dec. 1 deadline, 1,824 undergraduates plan to be on campus during the spring semester, a significant increase from the fall. This constitutes approximately 83 percent of the entire student body — when accounting for the approximately 130 first-years continuing their gap year who did not submit spring enrollment plans. Of the remaining students, 161 (7 percent of the student body at large) plan to study remotely, and 93 (4 percent) will be on leave.

Approval ratings survey reveals broad approval of College’s COVID response

Annie Lu • December 9, 2020

Last week, the Record sent its biannual approval ratings survey to 500 randomly selected students, who were given the option to indicate whether they “approve,” “disapprove” or feel “neutral” regarding various campus figures, institutions and policies.

One semester, ten cases: A timeline

Joey Fox and Annie Lu • November 25, 2020

Fourteen weeks since students first arrived on campus for the fall semester. 44,139 COVID tests conducted since Aug. 17. Ten positive test results on campus.

Quarantined students face communication gaps, criticize lack of College support

Kevin Yang, Annie Lu, and Jacob Posner • November 11, 2020

In October, two more students at the College tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of positive tests among students to five. Upon receiving their positive test results, the students were told they had to move to isolation housing, and their respective podmates, who were informed about an hour afterward, were given less than an hour to pack and move to Dodd for a two-week quarantine. The ensuing series of events, based on interviews with four students who were placed in quarantine across the two incidents, revealed a significant lack of communication on the part of the College.

College mourns death of Jackson Ronningen ’24

Rebecca Tauber and Annie Lu • November 11, 2020

Last Sunday, members of the College community came together to grieve the passing of Jackson Ronningen ’24 in a memorial service on the steps of Chapin Hall.

College begins building community garden behind Poker Flats

Annie Lu • November 4, 2020

Behind Poker Flats, construction on the College’s first community garden has finally begun. Initially started in 2018, the project was temporarily stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic this past spring. Now, although the community garden will face limitations on spacing and participation in light of public health guidelines, the garden should be finished by the end of the calendar year, with plots available for planting next spring. Unlike Parsons Garden and the beds on the north side of the Environmental Center — existing student-run gardens on campus — the community garden will be open for Williamstown community members to plant their own plots alongside students, faculty and staff.

Two months into the fall semester, faculty, staff reflect on childcare

Annie Lu • October 28, 2020

When the College first transitioned to remote learning last March and Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker ordered state schools to close in response to the pandemic, the Record spoke with a number of professors about how they were caring for their children while juggling remote learning. Now that the College has settled into an unconventional fall semester, we followed up with some faculty and staff about how their routines have evolved.

College adds heaters, walls to tents for outdoor dining

Annie Lu • October 21, 2020

On sunny days, students can be seen sprawled across Paresky lawn and Currier Quad, sharing socially distanced outdoor meals together. As the temperature begins to drop, however, these spontaneous mealtime gatherings may be harder and harder to find. The College had put up tents for both outdoor dining and the testing center before the start of the fall semester, but in recent weeks it has installed additional walls and heaters to provide comfort during colder weather.

Faculty vote to adopt continuous model for spring semester, replacing spring break with “health days”

Annie Lu • October 14, 2020

In a meeting today, the faculty voted to adopt the continuous model for the spring academic calendar, one of two proposed models for next semester. The Calendar and Scheduling Committee (CSC) has been developing and revising two models: option A, the “continuous model,” which allows student to remain on campus if the semester is held in-person for the duration of the spring semester but replaces spring break with a series of “health days,” or option B, the “Thanksgiving model,” which has most students vacate campus during spring break and finish the semester remotely.

Faculty to vote on spring 2021 calendar; students express preference for continuous model

Joey Fox and Annie Lu • October 14, 2020

The faculty will vote in a meeting today to adopt one of two models for the spring 2021 academic calendar, both of which the Calendar and Scheduling Committee (CSC) have been developing over the past month. Described in a CSC memo, Option A, the “continuous model,” allows students to remain on campus for the duration of the spring semester but replaces spring break with a series of “health days,” while option B, the “Thanksgiving model,” has most students vacate campus during spring break and finish the semester remotely.

Travel regulations and teaching over Zoom: language fellows and teaching associates navigate COVID

Annie Lu • October 7, 2020

Every fall, the Asian Studies department hosts an in-person celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a cultural activity which involves sharing mooncakes with students. In light of the pandemic, that has now been put on hold. “We can only give them virtual mooncakes,” Chinese Language Fellow Woei Wei Koay said.

College slightly loosens travel restrictions, increases testing to twice weekly

Irene Loewenson and Annie Lu • October 1, 2020

Students will be able to leave campus for limited reasons beginning next Monday, Oct. 5, Dean of the College Marlene Sandstrom announced in an all-campus email yesterday.

Large gatherings of students violated the public health guidelines. The College’s response has been spotty.

Kevin Yang, Annie Lu, and Jacob Posner • September 30, 2020

If you walk past Frosh Quad at 11 p.m. on a Friday, you’ll hear pounding music and see groups of first-years wandering between buildings. It almost seems like a regular Friday night — not one in the middle of a pandemic. In the weeks since students returned to campus there have been a number of instances in which students violated the College’s public health guidelines — which limit gatherings to groups of 10 — sometimes with gatherings of dozens of students. The College’s responses to different instances and types of violations have varied widely.

College honors class of 2021, awards Bicentennial Medal in virtual convocation ceremony

Annie Lu • September 16, 2020

Last Saturday, the College inaugurated the 2020-2021 academic year with the annual convocation ceremony, albeit with a twist due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A breakdown of the changes to cost and financial aid this academic year

Annie Lu and Nicky Wu • July 9, 2020

The College announced last week that it will decrease the cost of tuition by 15 percent this coming academic year, waive the work-study contribution and provide a personal allowance to all students on financial aid for the upcoming academic year. The first to do so among peer institutions, the College announced these changes as students and families across the country have questioned and have even brought lawsuits against universities, arguing for decreased tuition for a partially or completely online education amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

What the fall semester’s health guidelines will look like — and how the College will maintain them

Irene Loewenson and Annie Lu • July 7, 2020

Though students have been invited back to Williamstown for the fall semester, the campus that awaits them will be dramatically different from the one they have known. Whether students will actually abide by the College’s guidelines for campus life is another matter.

BREAKING: Williams announces plan to reconvene on campus for fall semester, with reduced tuition

Irene Loewenson, Joey Fox, and Annie Lu • June 29, 2020

The College has announced that it will reopen the campus to students for the fall semester, though with stringent measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and with a 15 percent lower cost of attendance.

Key takeaways from the past two faculty meetings

Jeongyoon Han, Rebecca Tauber, and Annie Lu • June 24, 2020

Last Wednesday and today at two extraordinary faculty meetings held on Zoom, President Maud S. Mandel and Dean of the College Marlene Sandstrom gave updates on next year’s academic calendar and faculty voted on changes to the class schedule and Pass/Fail policy, as the College figures out what next academic year will look like amidst the pandemic. Here are the main takeaways from the meetings.

Faculty face choice between in-person and remote instruction if campus reopens

Annie Lu, Lucy Walker, and Saud Afzal • June 21, 2020

Faculty members have been asked to inform the College by yesterday, June 20, whether they would teach in person or remotely if the campus were to reopen in the fall. The academic subcommittee of the working group tasked with determining what an on-campus fall would look like sent an all-faculty email on June 10 to address curricular planning in the case that campus reopens in the fall. The College has not yet decided whether or not to open campus in the fall, with the decision deadline still set for July 1.

Faculty passes motion to reduce graduation requirements, administration announces no Division of the Day next year

Jeongyoon Han, Rebecca Tauber, Annie Lu, and Jackson Hartigan • May 29, 2020

At an extraordinary faculty meeting Wednesday, faculty overwhelmingly approved a motion put forward by the Committee on Educational Affairs (CEA) to temporarily adjust graduation requirements, allowing students who are enrolled next year to graduate with a minimum of 30 courses and three Winter Study credits.

“It doesn’t feel like as much of a triumph”: Seniors reflect on graduating without commencement

Annie Lu • May 23, 2020

Since the College announced its decision to postpone commencement until summer 2021, seniors and their families have had time to reflect on what the lack of commencement this year means to them. In response to an anonymous survey by the Record, several students expressed indifference to the cancellation of commencement, citing the loss of other events such as sports seasons and senior week as more significant. Still, a majority of responses lamented the loss of a meaningful experience that symbolizes the culmination of years of hard work and includes celebration with family and community members.

Student body elects TABLE and Honor and Discipline Committee members

Annie Lu • May 20, 2020

Last Sunday, the Task Force on Student Governance announced the results of the most recent elections for The Advisory Board for Lobbying and Elections (TABLE) and the Honor and Discipline Committee, which occurred on the same ballot.

Students’ study abroad plans remain in flux amidst fall planning

Annie Lu and Jackson Hartigan • May 17, 2020

While faculty and staff deliberate on various contingency plans for the upcoming semester, many students are also waiting on word from their study abroad programs. Rising juniors who planned to study away are uncertain whether fall semester and year-long programs will commence in person, proceed with an alternative learning environment or be cancelled outright.

College considers trimester or three-semester calendar for 2020-2021 academic year

Samuel Wolf, Annie Lu, and Lucy Walker • May 14, 2020

In an all-faculty meeting on Wednesday, President Maud S. Mandel announced that she is strongly considering adopting either a trimester or a three-semester model for the 2020-2021 academic calendar....

Record survey results elucidate student views on potential fall plans

Annie Lu • May 13, 2020

Last week, the Record sent out an anonymous survey to gauge student views on various possibilities the College is considering for the fall 2020 semester. The survey found broad dissatisfaction with online learning and a willingness to withdraw for the fall semester either if campus were not opened or if it were opened under flawed circumstances.

Division III courses adapt laboratory activities to online learning

Annie Lu • May 6, 2020

Collecting specimens from local frog ponds in the Berkshires, manipulating glassware and working with hazardous chemicals are just some of the activities originally designed for Division III lab courses that faculty have had to alter drastically or remove entirely since the College switched to remote learning.

In Other Ivory Towers: Planning for the fall

Annie Lu • April 29, 2020

In Other Ivory Towers is the Record’s look at colleges and universities outside the Purple Bubble. In recent weeks, schools nationwide have been considering the question of whether classes can be held on campus in the fall.

A closer look at the College’s adjustments to on-campus summer programming

Annie Lu • April 23, 2020

In the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the College has been forced to make large-scale changes to both spring and summer scheduling. An all-campus email sent by Dean of the College Marlene Sandstrom...

Student-run Williams for Williamstown feeds Berkshire Medical Center staff while supporting local restaurants

Annie Lu • April 15, 2020

While many students spent their spring break adjusting to life during the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing for the transition to remote learning, Eliza Bower ’20 was also thinking of a way to help the local Williamstown community. About three weeks ago, Bower reached out to medical centers and restaurants in Berkshire County and began organizing a campaign that would connect the two, providing medical workers with free meals and giving restaurants much-needed business.

Professors balance remote teaching with childcare as Massachusetts schools close

Annie Lu • April 8, 2020

Following Gov. Charlie Baker’s March 15 order for schools across Massachusetts to close in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some faculty at the College have had to contend with caring for their children in addition to restructuring curricula for remote learning. School closures were initially set to expire on April 6, but an extension ordered by Baker will keep public and private schools and non-emergency daycare programs closed until at least May 4.

College orders all non-essential staff to cease on-campus work

Joey Fox and Annie Lu • April 1, 2020

Since Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed an executive order on March 23 ordering all nonessential businesses in the state to close due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, staff at the College were directed to work remotely unless their in-person services are determined to be essential. Staff duties had already been significantly altered following the departure of most students from campus.

Colloquium requirement in computer science, mathematics and statistics adjusts to remote learning

Annie Lu • April 1, 2020

In the wake of the College’s shift to remote learning, many aspects of academic life remain in question, including the fate of the colloquium requirement the computer science and mathematics and statistics departments.

In Other Ivory Towers

Annie Lu • March 11, 2020

This week, colleges and universities across the U.S. cancelled classes due to the spread of the coronavirus.

Anonymous student sues College over alleged Title IX violation in sexual misconduct case

Annie Lu • March 4, 2020

On Feb. 18, an anonymous plaintiff under the pseudonym John Doe filed a lawsuit against the College. The lawsuit alleges that the College violated Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 by suspending the plaintiff after finding him responsible for sexual misconduct.

College hires tenured professor in expansion of Asian American studies

Annie Lu • February 26, 2020

Jan Padios, a professor of American studies at the University of Maryland, officially accepted a position at the College as a tenured associate professor of Asian American studies (AAS) in the American studies department on Feb. 17.

Admissions and Davis Center pilot tour route change

Annie Lu • February 19, 2020

er Winter Study, the office of admission piloted a change to campus tour routes to add the Davis Center to the route. While past tours have included information about the Davis Center, the walking route now actually brings groups through Morley Circle, where the Center is located.

Annie Lu, Senior Writer

The Williams Record