The Williams Record

College to loosen COVID restrictions, graduation ceremony guest limits

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

The Williams Record

The Williams Record

Annie Lu, Executive Editor for News