Disorientations Archive

Wellesley College Disorientation Guide May 2019

2019

Wellesley, Massachusetts

https://issuu.com/prapteekoirala/docs/koirala__lam__nageswaran_-_disorien

WELLESLEY
COLLEGE
DISORIENTATION
GUIDE
MAY2019
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

what's

a disorienation
guide?

A disorientation guide provides an altnerative view on a college's community. This is to spread information that is not
typically provided at a first year orietnation event. This is
the history and practices of the insitution as through the
lens of current students.
This guide was complied by Rachel Kisken (class of 2020) as
a project in ECON Political Economy of Race, Gender, and
Class taught by Professor Matthaei in May 2018.
In May 2019, three other students (Prapti Koirala '19, Diana
Lam '20, Dhanya Nageswaran '21) from Professor Matthaei's
ECON 243 course contributed to the guide. They focused on
pages 16 - 55 of the guide.

MA
Y/2 018 \ \

TABLEOF CONTENTS
4.WELLESLEY'S

SETTLER COLONIALHISTORY

5. INEQUALITY/ SOLIDARTY
6.WELLESLEY'S

RADICAL HISTORY TIMELINE

12. WHAT'S NEXT??
13. DIVESTMENT
14. ETHNIC STUDIES
26. LGBTQIA+ MOVEMENT
40. DISABILITY ACCOMODATIONS
53. CONCLUSION
56. WORKSCITED

I I DI SORIENTATIONGUI DE

WELLESLEY'S
SETTLER
COLONIALHISTORY
LandwhereWellesleyislocated is granted to a group of
12 European men by a court
in present-day Cambridge .

1635

1
Prior to colonization , Wellesley College 's
land was once under the control of of
usachem Magos" (pronounced Mau-gus ).
Maugus was converted to Christinaity in
1652. His land control decreased as more
sett lers came to the area.
__,...,..

.......

1881
Wei lesleythetown isincorporated .

---.......

1826
---_.......

1672

Nonativesremaininthearea .Most
of their bloodlines have died.

~

Control of the Indian Village is changed from Native
control to Settler control.

,-

1651
Natives f rom different communities in the area are forced
to relocat e to an "Indian village:' Lake Waban is named
after a respect native leader, known as Waban to the settlers , who lived in this village .

We must acknow ledge ou r
sett ler colonial occupat ion of
t hese st olen nat ive lands.

2

MA
Y/2 018 \ \

INEQUALITY??
Though Wellesley may at times feel like it exists in a "bubble;' this does not exclude it from reproducing the inequal ities pervasive elsewhere in American society. lhe ldenlllles

we proJec.t
1DtheWOltd
areoftenattaclled,
morebroad~ 1D
a systemwheredifferentldenllthts
arevaluedmorethano1her.s.
A pervasive

bias for white, wealthy, able-bodied identities creates barriers against the success of students who do
not fit this mold. Wellesley is not a post-racial utopian community.

AlstudentswemustattlcallyengagewtthhowWellesl
duceslnequalltles
on the basisofabll~ ram,gender,and
class.

&&SOLIDARITY
Thankfully, Wellesley students are mobilizing and challenging
the inequalities reproduced by the institution and its community. Students
arevalulng
thedevaluedandre-examining
the

statusquo.
Together, the community can become a force to break systems
of inequality.

I I

DISORIENTATI ON GUIDE

WELLESLEY'S
RAC
A National Student Strike

Hillelmeets
Trustees al
cerns abo 1

Students
mach
against
overcowded
classrooms

1982
6

Wellesley students participate in
the National Student Strike as
encouraged by the National Black
Anti-War,
Anti-Draft
Union.

A joint strike between students
and fMSEUAproteststhe gendered
paygapbetweencustodialworkers.

19681

19734
Harambee House opens , a result
of Ethos's organizaing efforts .

19682
In a fetter adressed to the College President and Board of
Trustees , Ethos issues a list of
demands including the recruitment of more black students for
the incoming class, and increase
in black faculty, the creation
of an African-American Studie s
major. They threaten a hunger
strike and involving local me dia if the demands are not met.

First "Take Back
The Night " rally
is
held.

19827

19735
Ethos meets with the college
pres identtoincreasepressure
forBlackStudiesdepartment.

19848
Senate holds sit
protesting
Acad
Council's denial
an academic mi

Studer
ees
to

Ethos workshop during National
Students Strike

MAY/2018 \ \

)ICAL HISTORY
WellesleyOrganizationoflesbiansandFriends
protests ROTCbecause their discrimination
policy does not protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual preference .

198511
C

. with the Board of
=ter raising con ut anti-semitism

Students
host die- in for
Sout African divesment. Students form human blockade after Board of Trustees
votes
against
divest111ent.

19849

South African Divestme
Die- In

Student sponsored teach-in
abut divestment and racism.

1989 15

1988 14
.

1n
.
m1c
for
.
1nor

198612

Student s organize after lesbian
pride chalkings are vandalized .

Ethos withholds da.ss gift
in protest of the college 's
investment in South Africa

198410
1t.s pressure

Board of Tru.stto
add
"sexual
preference"
anti-discr imination
policy .

I I DI SORIENTATIONGUI DE
Wellesley Academic Action Movement-Siblings
Leading Act ion
for Multiculturalism (WAAM-SLAM
II)
threatens
hunger-strike
if
demands
are not
met.
Diversity workshops held in dorms
after on-campus
hate crime

2001 8

ASIAN

19973

Multiculutral
Affairs
Coordinator
position
created.

Students protest
ing hall workers
outside of Gree1

1991,

20
WAAM Rally

19952

20006

Wellesley
Lesbians, Bisexuals and
Friends
senator
positon
created .

Students circulate petition
for full-time
Asian Students Adivsor during Family
And Friends Weekend.

2000 5
Ethos, WASA, and
WCD protests at Senate after SOFC denies
funding
for
next academic year.

19994
WASA and Ethos protest South
African Benefit Concert after
not being allowed to perform .

2002

9
Students protest the M
Lisa Smile casting that
eluded actors of cc

2001 7
Wellesley Asian Action Movement (WAAM) presents demands to Senate, hosts a
teach-in, and conducts a
sit-in at Green Hall to draw
attention to the concerns
of Asian American students .

MAY/2018 \ \

SOAC-constitutedorgs donate their allocated funds to various funds {like
health care grants and the Student Aid
Society) to shoulde r the college's
economic downturn , raising $40,000.

200912
PAC, MEZCLA
, LGBTQIA,and Cielito Lindo circulate petition after they
abruptly loss their storage space. fossil. Free Wellelseyconducts
die-in outside of Lulu for fossil fuel divestment campaign
2013

the layoff of dinby living in tents
n Hall for weeks.

08

14

2013 15

10

2010 13

ona
ex-

:,\or.

2009 11

"Shop-In" at the College Bookstore held after booksto re
employee racially discriminated against a black student .
MACwrites a letter calling for
more staff diversity training.

Students organized
for a full-time quee r
student
advisor.

fossil Free WellesleyDie-In

I I DI SORIENTATIONGUI DE

(more )recen ·

ACORNS
opens,
WAAM-SLAMS

a

Rafz, The Wellesley Asian Alliance,
Wellesley Students for Justice in Palestine, Wellesley's African Studen t s Association and Babson's Origins of Necessary Equality hold a rally in response
to President Trump's Immigration Ban.

result
of
organizing.

20162

20174

2017 3
Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP),
Justice for Palestine (JFP)
and the Wellesley Arab Women
Association (WAWA) hold silentdemons t ration protesting
a talk given by Miri Eisin, a
former spokesperson for the
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

2016 1
Wellesley-Babson
Solidarity March held in response
to on-campus hate crime.

iNAI.

e

~OA

A
Wellesley-Babson Solidarity
March

MAY/2018 \ \

t movements

RENEWholds rally outside College Club
during Board of Trustees meeting to
pressure board to vote for an energy
plan that encourages renewable energy.

20188

RAs and HPC organize campaign after
unexplained
payment
delay.
B HP/RA Mobilize

2017
Davis Museum protests Immigration
Ban
through
its
"Art-Less"
campaign.

20187

5

blackOUT, Familia, Tea Talks,
QTPOCC (Queer and Trans
People of Color Collective),
QCAB(QueerCouncilAdvisory
Board) and SAGA protest talk
given by Alice Dreger, known
for her transphobic views.

·• 1<1eour

cEST/NfAN
lEBANESE
>MEN?

CHEMICAL WEAPON S

-

WAR CRIME
WOMA N HOOD DOES
NOT EXCUSE YOU

PALESTINE IS
A FEMINIST

issue
C
Miri Eisin Protest

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

• • •

NOWIT'S

...
JOINORGS
ALREADY
FIGHTING
FORCHANG

-STAND
IN SOUDARnYWITHYOUR
FELLOW
SIE

...SPEAK
UPAGAINST
INJUSTICES
ONCAMPU
GETHESTATUS
QUOI
Studentmovementsoncampushavecreatedtangible
change, even when it seems that it seems mountainous to overcome the obstacles. Current Wellesley students have cultural advisors and homes due
to the organization of past Wellesley sibs.
The administration listens when we shout loud
enough.Somehavevoicedconcernsthatadminonly
listens when it is timely for them, but this should
not dismay your courage to challenge the status
quo. If Wellesley does not hear us shout out disagreement, then the institution can continue its
unjust practices without fear.

I

MAY/2018 \ \

W & DIVESTMENT
Wellesley as an institution has
a powerful tool for change:

dlvt.◄•111.

What's divestment?

What divestment movements
have happened at Wellesley?

Divestment has come to be understood
as when an investor sells its shares
motivated on a change in moral understanding on what was originally supported by its investment .

The two larget divestment movements
have been the South African divestment
and fossil fuel divestment movements.

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll/lllll/lll/llllllllllllllll/lllllllllllllllllllllllll/lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

There has been a change in the admin's
tone on divestment since the first

"The Board ofTrustees has decided that divestment
[from fossil fuels] is not a good option for Wellesley
College . The Boa rd' a nd 1,donote,v,atlheldellc:

..

••-utheCollege'sendaaaw.it•ale11sfor :II
movement regarding South Africa . Re- dlangeand
thatsuchliladlun~~
centstatementsmadebytheadminhave
flctwllhthepua..-eaf~andcMii'illd.
T~is decision
indicated resistance to divestment.

'.

was based on the conclusions of th~ working group,
research on the consequences of divestment, and a
discussion with the Board of Trustees. "
H. Kim Bottomly
March 7, 2014

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Officially,
community
members pushing for W
divestment are encourage to submit a letter
to the chair on Subcommittee on Investment Responsibility
... letter
parameters include:

What social injury or social benefit will be
addressed by endowment action?
What are the specifics of the proposed action?
What effect and how significant an effect would
the proposed action have?
What is the likely cost of the proposed action?
How will addressing the social injury or addressing the social benefit contribute to
achieving the College's mission?

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

MAY 2819

\\

•
•

I

I I DISORIENTATION G,UIDE

The beginning of the
fight for Ethnic
Studies: WAAM-SLAM
2()01

02 03

A 1988 petition
for an Asian American house
and other failed efforts to establish
a house
led to the 2001 establishment
of the Wellesley
Asian Action Movement (WAAM)
, which evolved
into the Wellesley Academic Action
Movement.Soon afterward,
the movement was
renamed WAAM-SLAM
, with the latter
acronym
standing for Sisters Leading Action for
Multiculturalism.
In February 2001 , WAAM
staged its first
protest.
WAAM,along with other protestors,
sat outside the College President·s
Office to
protest the inadequate response to their
demands, which included the absence of an
advisor to students of Asian descent and the
lack of a multicultural
space for 13 Asian
Student Organisations.

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

WAAM-SLAM
IN THE
WELLESLEY
NEWS•I •I

• •

WAAM PR 0TEST RESPECTABLE,
MAKE 1S, ALL THE RIGHT MOVES
1

!

,.

Edit:orral

WAAM pro es respectable
makes all the ight moves

Editorial
published Feburary ·
22nd, 2001 in the Wellesley
News

The ~ mount of organization and i:our~gc invc. tcd ir1 1hc \Vell~~ley

Asian Action 1\"[ovcmcnl'll (\VAAM) sit-in which took place tu t Thurs dlty outsidt: Green Hall administrati c offi.C'l:'~,
Wa.\ imprcs. h•e and houlJ
be conunendcd. Protesnng several th1r1~~tnduding ii.helack o{ a. follLim Adviso r to SLu.d..:ntaof A iaa De.ceol ill'ldinadequai:1e. 1111
the Asii.lnAmerican Studies Pr-ogram, \VA.AM L:.:u:i.::ukc.lLlru:
1uost uc-ce sful proLe:slWdlt:stey hru;wilae. ed in well over a de..:-ade.
Tu;s mo,.·cmcmlfoT chang4:has been in foll force ~inceA sistant Pmfesso of Womer,' ,;;,Studie.~ len..wCrc~f wa.'i.tl ·nicd tr.:uure al LIt.::end of
la"'lt!licini:-ster.ShonJ)' after, \\i'AAM formed .. bringing together vari us
membe~ nf the \Vdli..:....lcy communily lo acldre A ian , tutlents ' C<'llci:nts about curricular administrative issues m lhl" Colkg .
\VAAM i:ffc tivdy useJ lhe power of comm 1.micr1tion 10 reach both
:nudents and be)'ond 1.hccampus. Thuugh they frequently posted on Lhll
CurmnuniLy Fir tCla,s confer-er,ce. the mcssagi.!:!-i.
t::cnwcr · original and
were rnrdy Lhe samt:: post five lime in a row. Addition.ully. WAAJ\1
hung brighmye11ow:-.1gn
s throughoul ca1111pus
Lha1became rradem :irk
of their push fo change Bur most effective was thi.:ir use of Lhe rnedia .
As.sodati.:dPn.:Nsstur:ii.:swere picked up,b_yTfw Ri.nlmt Glohe
urea
1
uew i:our~es. ln\ oh ·mg 1he pre.,_s ~i:mls u mc ..sage er,theAdn1it1i trotion Lbat \VAAM i se11ous about their ausi: and "'on'1 bt: c.J:ily np-

anu

peascd,
V,.:
'AA.~1 inco porated several demands imo one dem ,nslrntinn and 11
went off w.im.huul.a h.itch. oo often it seem .· that mov~1m:n Ls breu..k
uov.·nhecuuse memocrs 1ry to tackk too many i. sues at Cince:howe, ·i:r
WAAM hu~ ·u far avoided thr'i ohstacl . By puuing forth a united1organi:u:.d fronl. WAAM not only got the Admini:str..u.io:n~s attention but
aho 1cceeded in geneTating i.::xci1cment rhrouclloul LheWelles,ey com munity.
WA Mal -o 'Ult cdcd in nuildDgthe sit-in an event for all studcnts 11mju tlh e of As1and ~cem. Though lhc rnajo ily of prme Lor!- were
of Aliian ht:rita~c . a ignific::mt portinn were not, proving LhmWAAM
made it~ ,ssut:Ji a univL:Tal conccm and earned the }iUJ}JlOTt of the wider
Wdlesley community. Unlike the Admir1istra.t1on' s reaetion Lo per,cma1
4!ttack~ regarding chan~
in re•.idencial Hfe last year .. 1heAdmjnislta•
don has taken WAAM ';;ic-oni.."-l:'rns
serious]y-ci1greeing lo me~t with the
movr.:me.nt~ leuders on evern~n ca."ions .
\VeHe.s~ey women are known for beiug dWgeni su1dc-n~: how ·vi:'r.

arise!-:on cwnpus, prote lers loo frequently lau11ch
penmnnilactacks.makingthechancefornegotiation
slim. WAM-1 show~
lh~1 :s.tudenl'l here arc- capublt of bei og . mart de mon~rr-ator!\. \Vhe thcr
or not WAAM suoceed~ in 1b push for an Asian advisor or for e1\pruuled
A.!\ian-Am rica.nStudiescurriculum..it ha..lil
rucct.-ed~ in gelling its voice
heard and ea__min_g
th rcspecl of the Admini tration and I.heWellcsl~y
when coatmvery

sev .eral

''WAAMin corporated
demands into one
1

1

1

dem0 nstrati on and it w,ent
off wi tho ut a hitch.
r:0 0
often it seems that
movements , break d own
because members try to
tackle too many issues at
onc·e however WAAMhas so
far avoide d this obstacle .I ''
1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

;

1

''Though .maj ori ty 0f pr otesto rs
a
were of Asian heritage,
significant
porti on were no t- I
pro ving that WAAMmade its
issues a universal co ncern and
ear ,n ed the suppo rt of the
wide r 1
Wellesley
c ommun,i ty. ''
1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

community.

1

1

1

1

1

I I DIS0 RIENTATIONGUIDE
1

Results: The South
Asia Studies
Program

II

&ou
THASJANCUL1U\\t.~

The South Asia Studies program was developed and
designed by Professor Christoper
Candland , an
Associate Professor of Political
Science and the
current faculty director
of the South Asia Studies
Program. The program was approved by the Wellesley
College Committee on Curriculum and Instruction
in 2005 . The first
majors and minors graduated
in 2 007.
1

South Asia Studies and the hiring of Professor Candland as
well as other faculty in South Asia was the r esult of a
consistent,
well organised effort
by the Wellesley
Association
for South Asian Cultures (WASAC). Their push
to increase
faculty with expertise
in South Asia began in
1998/1999, and some of WASAC
' s members were also a part of
WAAM,SLAM· s movements.
According to Profess ,or Candland,
One thing that impres ,s ed
the th ,en dea n was that WASAC students took it upon
themselves to mak ,e happ en 1what they wanted.
Th,ey
demonstrated what was need ed by indivi dually offering
to
scor es of humanities
and so ,ci ,al s cience facu ·lty to come to
their classes to present on South Asia themes or to assist
faculty
with identifyin
g a,nd ev en developing
t 'eaching
materials related to South Asia.
I recall the then dean
an ,d the then president
p raising
the WASAC students
for ,
th ,eir '',constructive"
approach.
111

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

H

l I DI,SORIENTATI0N GUIDE
1

The South Asia Studies
Program TODAY
_.__.._
,_r outh
·

.uE

ar

comple

i.a · tudie

nndchallengingandth
o

0

no

'" g. The

ou h ,

ian epistemolo!Pes.,

ch a literacy

l __
rnin_erculrur_

10 ,

B

om

C

o be an ·deal lib

· 1g. For c,entw ."e ,, out

the, s.aine

,conc ,entr

iem thods0fin1

dies , .. rogr
.

art

ne~

m

low
den s are

uir.}~arenec

·on bee.au
ssnril

· he subject

tuden

o l1ea , n hoth E rope

I

equire ,d to focu

on

c·pliDarJf.

interdi

~

· ,· h , de relo1p d it , o m
n

,of

o

nd ·. ou h

ingle me hodolo _ ,

_al ~: or
in le thema :c foe • uch a in_e_-narion I de ,elopment..
l ___ill__includin ho
ocommunic '__teinSo_thA_ia.nl
__ -a e_."r

,d_n

r

· _top ,her Candl .----·-J
1

ion

k Ta flo • fo th ,

eh f

orthe

P o,gram F _ ul.·

. D th
t

e n

Commi 1 e , on ·..·

to

th

TODAY.THANKS
TO WASAC
&
OTHERSTUDENTS:
The 12 faculty who are in the program or who are
affiliated
with the program come from Anthropology,
Art History, Economics, History, Music, Peace and
Justice,
Political
science, Psychology, Religion,
Sociology, and, of course, from South Asia Studies.
They think of themselves as scholars and teachers
who teach about the aesthetics,
humanities,
and
social sciences of a region that one quarter of the
world's population calls home.

l I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

Results: The Asian
American Studies Minor
The Asian American Studies minor was officially
offered in the Fall of 2013 under the American
Studies department.
It began under Professor Yoon Sun Lee of the
English departme nt. Wellesley Asian Alliance (WAA)
also j oined WAAM
- SLAMand pus hed the college for
the establishme nt of the program.
,. ourses for ·.ew

inor · yaiJ.abJ- Fall 2013

March 4. 2013

Asian Americans ar .
th _ fast .st-growing
. ·e
rac ·a1group 1n
nit d Stat s, wi .h
significant internal

.
.
dIV . Slty.
.,

1an

lnde d,
12. p r

i rn i
I, at I
ri
di s ill I o an
I
s bj ec ar o inc as·ng i po n1
c
U. . re!
r not on y
h I
i d~v. Is' v,
y Ii s
d i e i
I

r

of

ham

y Coll

r ·

ud

a .

n s th op crt
bou
o · c un -_ n i terna ia a co
uni . A i el of n io J policy, .· t -I o
he I
I of
s.

I I Dl ,S,ORIENTAT:ION GUIDE

• • •
WAAM-SLAM II

WAAM-SLAM
II

I 1
1

• •

evolve ,d f r,om WAAM-SLAM to stand

fo r
1

1

1

Wellesley Academic Action Movement- Siblings Leading
Action for Multiculturalism
in 2014 .

OCCUPY
BILLINGS: OCTOBER
2014

UV DA

NI ONDRASKOVA

WS

OCTOBCI

O 2014

WAAM-SLAM II PROTESTSLACK OF MULTICULTURALSPACE 1

1

WAA-SLAMII staged a protest
in Billings
200 to protest the
lack of multicultural
spaces at Wellesley.
After the protest,
on their various social media platforms,
the organizers
arg ue d,
As you can see, t 'his current spa ,c ,e in Billi ,ngs 20 0,
ou r mu,lticultur
,al" space, cannot fit even 70 0 s·tu,d ents on
campus. How do we c,ultiv ,ate "s ,afe spaces" if physic ,ally there
i .s not a sufficien t space for us to use?"
11

1

1

1

1

11

1

11

1

1

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

WAAM-SLAM
II
The
Transformative Education &
Justice Bill
•
•

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Demands pertaining

to ethnic

studies

&

multiculturalism:

• Reimagine academics to include Ethnic Studies and
Latino/a Studies.
• Physical Multicultural
Space: Latin@ House and Asian
A1mer·i can House.
• Commitment to increasing diversity in student lbody
admissions and financial
aid.
• Com1mi tment of diversify faculty through hiring
retainment of faculty of colour.
1

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

Results:

The Comparative Race
& Ethnicity
Minor

In 2014 , in response to
Justice
Bill, Wellesley
on ethnic studies.
The
Ethnicity
(CORE) was

the Transformative
Education &
College organized a task force
minor in Comparative Race and
a product of the task force.

The COREminor was proposed by the Sociology department
in 2015 and was approved by Committee on Curriculum &
Academic Policy (CCAP) in 2016 as an interdisciplinary
effort
to bring greater visibility
to courses that center
race and ethnicity.
Courses were first
offered in the
fall of 2016.

COLLEGE LA

CHES

I

OVATIVE

TER,_ SCIPLINARY MINOR WITH
CE AND ETHN 'C
The minor is currently
administered
by several members
of the sociology department,
but it was intentionally
constructed
in conversation
with members of other
departments to be an interdisciplinary
plan of study. To
date, two students have completed the minor . and several
others have declared intent to minor.

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

Results:

The Comparative Race
& Ethnicity
Minor

In 2014 , in response to
Justice
Bill, Wellesley
on ethnic studies.
The
Ethnicity
(CORE) was

the Transformative
Education &
College organized a task force
minor in Comparative Race and
a product of the task force.

The COREminor was proposed by the Sociology department
in 2015 and was approved by Committee on Curriculum &
Academic Policy (CCAP) in 2016 as an interdisciplinary
effort
to bring greater visibility
to courses that center
race and ethnicity.
Courses were first
offered in the
fall of 2016.

COLLEGE LA

CHES

I

OVATIVE

TER,_ SCIPLINARY MINOR WITH
CE AND ETHN 'C
The minor is currently
administered
by several members
of the sociology department,
but it was intentionally
constructed
in conversation
with members of other
departments to be an interdisciplinary
plan of study. To
date, two students have completed the minor . and several
others have declared intent to minor.

I I DISORIENTATIONG,UIDE

MAY 2019

\\.

Results: A tenure-track
professor in Asian American
Studies
In November 2017 , Wellesley
celebrated
its 25th anniversary
featuring
professors

Asian Alliance (WAA)
with a two-day symposium
and alums.

the Wellesley News, "In addition , to markin .g
the anniv ,ersar .Y of its establish ,ment, WAA h 0St 'ed the ev ·ent
t 0 cel ,ebra ,te the success of its campaign , to secure a
tenure track position
in the Asian American Studies
(AAS)
pro .gram. Aft ·er a year-lon g effort
led by the organization,
the administration
agre ,ed to the gr oup ' s demands an ,d will
instate
a tenure-track
prof ,essor in th ,e AAS program in , t 'he
A,ccordin

,g to

11

1

1

1

1

fall

of 2079 .

H

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

FROMINEQUALITY
TO
SOLIDARITY! !

The ETHNICSTUDIES portion of this guide should have shown
you that STUDENTS
& STUDENT
ACTIVISTS have primarily been
the impetus for change at Wellesley College.
Their efforts
in establishing
the South Asia Studies
Program . the Asian American Studies Minor and the
Comparative Race & Ethnicity
Minor (among others) has
transformed
the DOMINATIO& SUBORDINATION
and the
STRATIFICATIONPROCESSES.

By previously excluding the study of non Western
ethnicities,
the College was making it seem as though other
ethnicities
are inferior
and not worthy of study . Those
advocating for more programs within the Ethnic Studies
discipline
are recognising
the myriad of cultures that
exist,
and the importance of teaching and representing
as
many of them as possible.

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

MAY 2019

\\.

MOVEMENT

1984

1988

Board of Trustees
includes
"sexual
pref e ren ce
to antidisc rimination 1

Students organize
aft ,er lesbian

111

1

1

p 0 licy
1

1

pride chalki ngs ,
are v.andaliz ed
1

1

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

MAY 2019

1992

1991

Co lleg ,e , hires
lesbian
Hea,d of
House but denies
her placement
in
a first ,-year
d ormitory
1

1

1

College
revises
healt !h care
benef i t .s to
include domestic
partners
1

1

\\.

2015

Board of Trustees
update ,s its
admission
p olicy
1

to pr ovide
clarity
for
transg ,ender and
non ,-bina ry
app licants
1

1

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

II

MAY 2019

\\.

SEXUAL PREFERENCE
II

WELLESLEY'S
POLICY
NON-DISCRIMINATION
&

•

•

a reoccurring

issue

from1

Academic Council recommends
action to the Board of

333
mo.

(1983)

Trustees

~ d)

H!·.&:li.\'EDLh.:n ;i.c,i1.h.:1n'• c Co1inci 1
.'.l

1·w ~Ion

of the- pa:-ar,t, 1ph nuubcred 3. in r:w Affhm:it h•c, .Action P,,lk;,·

s1: t'effk.'nt. dis~1··hutcd

Th,(i

rcqu_:

;o i..:011n1.-1I

i.J.,

Coli Cf,(.'' s ,·~,rmii
tt.L'fU

I (~

~

:1

and rcm,:we bn L·rit!l"S cf 11',nOtt•occ

gc:Jls

::.a Bflcl t.. l lminatjng

,01:mi.itin:!

of Clll' ~~n1•cti,;c

lire ..

~•t~...alh.l~j,jc;

n....Li Ctl t

J".'l ll',CL.:lld."-

p:n

ft

J1.!l•11

...

dif:'<!r-l?r.~·n
h:u
L.

·

~ t,:ml.. r of till!

.om}

i..t

11.•n.:cwi:i2.e

r;I ""<le llS.

1,'hich

i:.x11,::--itmc~acts or ,Ji ~cnminl\ tion

-

fl ir111.1t h•t•

on Jm. H-13

f(I ll'Tl,15;

jS

;;h~)Ultl prorrDt- tinJan;;::ru,.Lin,t

11m-:.s. ..\ ~•ood l'ducatkin

1

ht'cmln~

~md ~ r:ntcJ

d..-~L•,!.;111}'. l~R,,

frt')\•i..:·mnun 1nronnn1. ion lllmJ .ook I

of th~ Coll(ls~

.

t h i. -.
.o
, ·1·
1n1a ri.J
01o.
... ::.tr-r.:-;

1'1'1.'a....,_,..,J
..
, ,,.,r..;.a• l 0

C0llq;c

COiTJlU."11:.y5-~

n n~1t:ircl to cduc..1.tior.1

•

'f':lf#f~

-....: I c 1.t_,qhec:n.15t! of ~1w i n-elo..·,'11T~
t "':icto r ~mch .'.'I..~crh th• · L,,,d:.srmir..d,
:-,;._:;,:u~1]
prcicTCJi.::
h11t

I ~·:1n

..:i~

rr."f~,n]

itt ~.

i.~◄•tL1 J b•,' ck·a.1·.

r-

oi- glm,~:-..,
rJ~

. c,,.·

11nd:}l'~,Landi n~~ c::.nn ot b,~ I er,1 ~.

,_,I ,

l:'t"')lt ce~-W-~fo

['"' Id~:-

t>t nw-(l,.

I.:.•.

..

..,..--,..,L

:GI •

Students

petition
the
Office of the

Dean of St udents
1

(1983)

;',1ltlit1on~-

1

rl,

( 1ort.1in (W• :s(•S

tf l'"::;.~•

.\n

:t~

• (' .'1 l'O,!Tllph

presl!nt st.,tcru:rtt. c,L Ji<.>lk• ·1n• 111hk•rli
rnki.m froci tin",'

:ttt

1rn.L"

rl.

1 ·re.

·- nil, ~-C.'t •• 1;

1 ,• s~1g1.0~u•d r , 1,r•1·1i.'lt n .•:~ LO the

\13

r, r,,:ith•1..: proci.: tn"l' ~tint~
L ....t:--;r,, \Ott'
',)

be.

.,ffJ',l:,111,•1I•· \.01111c11 Tr. "Cn 11.t~:.

• , :

l ••

thL· A_&.t!j.-1au ·.-...-At:.:.IOll ·:. , :;I;
l•o-rco con ::i pr~~1
, .. th:it than, !lh1.-1: ld hu [mm.1l!i.t.~
.:ind htbl}cht._
~..:il
fCT its
ClltlOl'St..'111':lll ,'.l .-~, 1'~.~c ~llt..'
~.t; tr,:-;::
1°11l J f'l,,,l!ltl n.1..... 1~c1·1111n!l.;:::.C111 1
"r in I -:"J
t :i~~ ttr :~c,:aml •., ;rna l•orknt.ut i n.•·

1.1101<~" !O t~1k1

T lL

...iiu:1."lC...:

:'I

t?

BOARD
OF TRUSTEES
UPDATESPOLICYIN 1984! I•
• • •

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

MAY 2019

\\.

VET THECOLLEGE
STRUGGLES
TO
'
UPHOLD
POLICYWITHROTC
CONTROVERSY
(1992)

ill

rnA,

A 1992
lESBIA

,.

(la.,

HlS PROJ[Cf

_· anmerJ 0. Keohane. Pre ident
Wel~c ley Coruege ·

\-Velle~ley, MA 0218 I
.Dear Pre~ident Keohane;

\Ve write t encourage you to join other 1eaden; of h·giher education in taking a iand
against prejudice and hatred by igning the enclosed rewlutio ·n calling for an end to the .S~
Department of DefenseJs policy banning all le bians and ga} from the military. The
American Council on Educat[on., · atio:nal Educa.ti ion
ociaidoDI,American Association of
Univer ity Profe or , American ..............
ciation of CoMeghne Re.gjsuars and
dmi ions
Offi.c ,ers,, and the A _ociarion of CoUege and Univer ity Hou
Officers have already
sigJJed the r,esolution ..

mg

The mititsry' .

nfor ,cement of hs di crimioatory policy in its R.O.T*C. programs i

clearly incom i tJeru:with. the nom~dicriminadon clau e , of mo t univer itie . It is causing
conflict oa an inc-Jeasimgnumber of campmes, , and rorcing university admmist1a10:rs10
choose ben e en upbolding the nom-dis.criminatory valu of their universitie and retaining
R.O.T.C
The military~ poUcy is wrong because it judges men and women '?n ~e basi · of
prejudice ., rather than performance. Thousand , of uldie - are forced to live m fear that
their miHw■y car ieer couJd abruptly end if it i discovered they are gay~regardles of tbeir
enrioe record~ The e men and women serving America are ready to risk melr liv for the
ft1eedoms it ta.nds fior,yet they are denj,ed the freedom to be hone 1 about ho they are.
ot only doe tbi policy place an unneces ary burden on ga e .·remembers iL31o co ,
taxpayer . Each y,e-ar the P,entagon disc·~arge , more tha_n. 1400 m~n and wo~en fior
homosexuality. Toe financial l~ of ~TI?\'lmg
away thee tnuned sold1ers and ailors h
been estimated to be three-hundred million dollar annuany.
1

EXTERNAL PRESSURE FROM HE ACLU TO
1

PRESIDENT
KEOHANE
...

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

MAY 2019

\\.

.AND DON'TFORGET
ABOUT
THEOUTDATED
HEALTHCARE
BENEFITPLAN!I•
Pr ·~Id , rt

•s

lilkl'i-e-

Upon recommendation from
faculty,
President
Keohane
recommends for the Board of
Trustees to extend healthcare
benefits
to do1mestic partners
of employees ( 1992)
s~1~~ ..slc,.f.f

D~: f~I

0~

✓r..

1&/,1'110

T~= Nl),l>k..
P~
PNE 112

DRAF

SECOND

F'rum:

~an K ohane~

SUbjact:

fl a.ltti
Sept:

l

PU'!•· :hient

C011ege

l~ley.

11A 0218.l.

Board~,

'fi"Ustees

of th

.Bene

r.lhe~ 30,

w lleslny
1116

Hsc.ber.

Sept

cle a C the

Off

TO:

T

~ r;..1; (.J rl'a

it

r ::rn, !992
IC.h PacuU:.y

La 1:. s.prin.g
C'GCQnmend~d to

Che

Bep fltfi
Cocmit.ti!!
ad111l'I i ..tr11 :t_i on th.l!I t \'I' lles

or

Acnde1Uc
h! y extend

Council.
he~J. th.

be.net!~
tQ domes~ie partners
or~
ployeos.
This r co
ndation
~
~de in resporu;a to a requ~oc i n 1991 tro
an ~d hoc group ot
faculty
and •·t ff
that.
health
benefits
be ckt.amiled
to gay
n4
lesbian
coupl~s.
The hd l nis~rative
counc l C0 itcee o~ ~ fi~
l CPP1\C l hilB made- a a l ila_r recomm.enrus,t.ion to us.
hav

We

:ne-et.ings,
Cet:mi~~e

switches to John
Hancock Insurance
Plan &
faculty
members see the change
for
as a window of opportunity
•
•
organizing
(1990)
College

discussed

tbi!I

and brdught.
Of t!be Board

Y•l!ll:'.

e

i pl1ca.tlons

t:Lave

it
ol

top1e
•t length
to-r ~on idura.tiao
Tru to
t several

a

qather~d

cf extending

~Ocod deal

bonefit.s

Senior

st.a!t

by
t.n
Ekecuti ve
~ect i ngo this
past
i?)toni
ti.on
about
t.h11

to donastl~
pl!llrtnacaf
""e ,in t:.'lll!! tidi:iiniet.rat.ion
D f the
two co
1 t t1tes r but

continu1.nq
accepting
consult
Ex~utivo

01

.i,.n O\lt'

tb.ii!!I raet-findi.n'iJ.
t.h,e, re<:-Q'J:li::1oni!;oition:;
t!'I~ Soot"d before
11ak.ing a dec:isio:n.
s.m.si,;m preceding
the Boal"d m i!lting

and r
t Vol"
to

WEUlt

I will
d.a so e_ae the
cm octaoor
16.

Given
the
prohibi~iv
ly ta git i;;o""t of health
cu·o
in our
&oci&ty for private
indlvl~ual
wlt~out
~ny insurance,
wo t..lieve
tnat the college
shoald
e~tond
tni~ bafiOflt ta employees 1~ nont:;ra.dit:ionilll
!i!lll.il
es wtt.tt lorig-teffl
00
l
_nb] to OTit!J AftOt.r\ :i;-. We
a~e tliia
as both
catr
an~ ~~1¥M,
~ot only for gBy ~nd 1 &bian
CQij~lo wno canno~ bo ~arrlgd 1.md o~r lo"3 but nlso fo~ couples

.ro unable,

who

ou~ r
peebenefit
bian
current
l ws to hbVG tn ir long-t
state
even if tb1:1y wr;iuld 'lilli!!l:hto
be mDirl"i

d~
Qnly

fo~ r liq

Ari ,dt
to goy

rnnti•Ja
nQ l

non~
rt!1

<

Qr nJGsons o! pr.inclple,I'.

~ct.i'V
cQupl•$r

axtending
w~o a.re 'l.lJ"IAbi under

i.,~uld

la:vbr

the
Olll'

eomm1t ent& r~coqnized
by t.he
l:"l!Jt.h~r than t_o o.11 doUin&tic

do so,

;,arc.ners.
c.ompa:rtles
i.lnd l!!Uf'l :Leif)~ 11 t.i,es he.v
exte nt\ad sucb
a;iartmtil:" •
qsl doeu~o.nt.s !lava been drawn u.p
in ~11v!l!!rsl D[ th:e-s.a C<ill&a& whi<::h niqi.J, t-• ap lica n t'!!I to ab~
proof ot
joint
residence
a.nd ~~Grod finoru;i~l
rosponGibi1ity_
and provide

A n.Wll.ber o:f
,;;ove r age to ~ied

rcr
ocher

notice
ct
colleges

.st.ep.

we are

tarDi~tion
nnd

urii.v

in i;:onV~:l~t

of th•5a
r3itit1tii

IPn

~

tn

r latio~~nips

B$

well,

r;;:tiv ly con. id c-ing
th1111 about the:tr p1ans.
r•

s ~oral
uch

s

C~J.

r-

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

MAY 2819

\\.

W & HOMOPHOBIA
•

a reoccurring

ln:

I

1

..tn

<

issue

l ~ u 1 •uh~ .\ loU~ :.unpl

from

??
• •

I' \\ Lr l •

\\ c · i e '\\ riling 1hi._, I •Ucr lo c~p r •ss our d • 'P cti,~·ub,laclion
th \t.hnini~l rd lion'!, '[n1nninn1 t; nl l > c n l l!tnn tnJ.
tu ·1\
1

•

1

• •

-

U

J ron 1: \ \ •H ·~J ·~ I c·. hi~ul~~ BL ~, .u ..d ~ c. .. I· i •n

hi. t "c ri 1n

??

,, ·Ul
.. ou1 d

•-1 nr·ern in ~ I ~hi n anl i br sl!.xu ·1l ~tu .f.ents . .
1

( Jn .\~Lg ·t 2 , . f tJiL)2. a ~~ 1 c nmlir L 110Hc •J I.O i 1ophobl
rulHH
nct11~Pi.u·~un •i un1 P 1nu ..She re~ or 1 Li i I l o · ·1111p t~ 1•c Hrc on
Sc pl ·1 111h~r -2. :.111 thi 110\i t~c ·]p~1n 1r
in th \V lh: ~t
ie.
~,v
p U, • I · 11, in it~ is~uc ~h<2\V ~·k ni Scl ·u Jn1her J. . .
1 -

1

1

1

\

r

\ : ha t v..f•1 , d n in r
n& lo lhi~ rep rt d l1at
rin1e?' \ h ·r '"" a
lett er frnn1 th '2 M\ 1nini . Imati,n1 ., ubU ~
au,,.. ·011 . 1nnin 11 h ·1t fLll
r 1tli ·1g, 1h1 t l
i.t1n-l \\"her \\' re th e loru1us for
uc · tio11 ;.u1d
di .c u~ sJu11 ·1r ound h 1111opl1obic ;JlCt .? lu 1 11like 1 ~t yc~1r1 •
i11 xc u ··1bi), Jo\\ utn 11' if hc ·ir ted re~ pcln~ 1 t· 1h • 'h , t ul ~-ct1. .
d) k ·0 gr, ilti, 111 ,\dn1int 1 r tk 1n' , Ue!·n ·e 1pc ~ ~ . lottdJ •
1
\

1

I

1

1

1

1

-

1

\ \ e \\·ouJd ilk Ior 111 U}· tc>·1 k if h<n11 p l1 1bi""hat r1i1n
re
in ,1t1de ' ill tl1. , Cl>U /e'. , d I u1iTian ·u i r ol'·edur _, Inr h ~tc (~ri111 •
If tJ1 are~ lhe11 \Vil~ · ha, e h 1t[1 I lh r
rt
hale ~ru11e aRain l
I ..,bi t1 b . 11 n1, m \\'it h · dnlh1i 1r ,11i\ e clel·1,·s
U nf l \\ l ,-. \ rer
-- #ind 1
ll1e· 1e pJe I U\1.lJ)· il1fo r 111edin tl1c e, ·c111 01 u h · t c:a • rin1 n t
i11for111edtl i . ti111c( lf act of l1atrcd cJirlT'1r1 · · n1cnt U inst ~c ,bia
an1 bi xu·:1Istu . nt!) are in 1
d d h,, , •rin1c &I tl1 n r
n. t tl1 1t1
~ ,U ·11
.. ff tl1e,. · re 11 t ton iderC!d lr\te ~ri111c·~111 n ,,vc ,, . tild lik
an exJ la11alion of \vl1} · 11 11101,)h . bi · n11ui<.
~nt ,1 ~r ltti_ or
harass111cnt 1arc nl1 t l1ntc 1Crilt1es .. \·\"e b,c r ·ti tl t [1 det~,iL-c1i.1.rcol1r11
tmd gu~ r111l e of 110\\ ' tl1 'oil , c l1lc.H1 to ·1 :Ir
l1al
rin1
1

1

1

1

1

1

}

-

--

-

-

1

1

1

1

1

1
,

1

1

1992,

a student
noticed

HOMOPHOBIC
GRAFFITI
near
Paramecium

1

1

-

1

1

~

On August 26,

g,"Jin~t l 'bi · 11 a.nd I i xu--1
1

I

\V 11 le)

l lt(l I 1'

1

·in tl1 flltll tre ..

111g - 11111ot a 'f ord l<J bit~,·1nti·l1ntre 01 l) \\~hen tl1c
i tie it i· . onfro11tec.,1
\Vitlt are ••s.._frc•P
>rc 11,·e11ie11t. It is ·_\ s d
reflection oif the U J)0 S d utlltllti rL1ltt1r· lis111°of\ ~II~. ,e) \ ,'11 11 \\C
a Jesbia11"1nd bi~ext1aJ tud 1_t . ·1re 11c,t· l all ur1 ri
h)~th lar
of lactio 11and ·O 111n1i1111 n1 o 111e. in1i·ni tr, ti 11. \V are
en
t1r ged b} a~ · \\' c>fth
tep~ ··11"1t
tl1e .\dn1in.i' tra:li 11 [in' ll} l il ·
la.k 11 iI1 t r111sof, 1orkJ11g \ rith it 1 bi1.u1·111d bi · . ·u ·1l ~ludc11\. ~ hut
':t lol 0f \\·ark r 111ai11 to be do11 . ,~ · n 'o ur ·1g tl1e Coll
to · git
it. \\ '()rk ·1r tile lt]OS1 basic le,,wll: f 0l d llll1 all 11·t rri1n ~' 0 11
1

1

1

1

1

1

I

1

•

1

1

1

1

1

Pond ...

I I DISORIEN
TATIONGUIDE

MAY 2819

\ \.

Wellesley refuses to place a queer
Head of House & her partner
in a first-year
dormitory
ARCHVEs

WeJJesJey
Bar L . .
f
Dorm Sup . ~ esb1an as Freshman· ervisor
ocroaE R3o 199J
"lifl'PRE vtrtrM

AP

APNEWS
Top Stories

Topics v

Video

l isten

@

Welles
leyCollege
Can't
Please
Anyone
withHiring
ofLesbian
Head
ofHlouse
CECICONNO
LLY October 19, 1991

\\TELLESLEY, Mass. (AP) _ So1netin1.eseven po litically correct isn lt enough.

When adn1inistrato rs at prestigious \iVellesleyCollege hired a lesbian to run a

dormitory with her live-in pattner, they were proud~ ·,ot only had the single-sex
school found a competent: head of house , but they were encouraging acceptance of an
alternative lifesty le.
;'We certain ly thought it wou ld be a vet)' good addit ion to our sratI/ 1 said Mo lly
Carnpbell~ dean of students for the 2)200 won 1en. ''T,vas looking at t his as a positive
n1ove. ''

But at the last m inu tc the sch ool ass igned Michele Porche to a donn for
uppcrc lasswom n, inst,ead of the first -year student donn she expec ted.
That \\7asa cop out n1.any con1p lained. Why bothe r hiring an openly lesbian couple if
1

you rude them fron1 the young ,er won1en?

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

MAY 2019

\\.

QUEERHEADOF HOUSE
CONTROVERSY:
THE FACTS

In 1991, a head-of-house
position in
Dower Hall opened. Michelle Porche, a
graduate student at the Harvard School
of Education, earned the position.
However, the College decided to place
her and her partner in the upper
class dorm Lake House, rather than Dower
Hall, which is a first year dormitory.
President Keohane and Dean Campbell
rationalize
the move by stating that "it
would be hard for some first-year
students (and their parents) from
backgrounds where homosexuality is still
regarded very negatively
to have to
confront a situation
that would be very
di fficul t fo r them ...
1

1

1

1

'

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

MAY 2819

\\.

IN 1991, A PARENTREBUKES
PRES. KEOHANE
11

FOR ALLOWING OPEN LIESBIANISM

111

ON CAMPU
S

1

1

1

1

2 1 991

1 'r\'os saddened to rece tJ
1nvo1,,.•ertt n I eso16
t.
Y e r n my daught~r . e \¥ el 1es1e,Js •11:lPn, r,es been
1n e ~s-- d
'" ~1 ac -1Y ty Thronghout r1er h1gh ::ichoc,1yeeirs she , s very -lu
e 1 n and 1 n\Jol\/t7id ,11th 11c11Jn
sorne of tiier ttlti
..,.. - .,
:j
9 men_ Wh1le I do no darne leHe 1ey for
. 0" a rel th . l - Jde_, o ,, ard men, I do fa ult w=11
es;1ey or t.he ·open· - i uoe
1
1
'b s
es Yl 8 • Your -rt 1c 1e 1r1 he Fa11e.d i on of \A/e11esl ey Jus _1 -yi -o a
1es I en head o ho 11se ..,....- f::
-00 rrri.ic-l.
C'.'

In 11Y deugn er·s r ir~ phc1ne conversat on d-te -:.rr1 vi g q-l 1!eHes1e•• c.r,i=i
1nf ormed
h
I.I
me e s iJdent bo,jy i-=-suppoe;edl~ 40~ leso1an. c: ~ old o a 11 ra Jr
P '"O essor wt,o BU hored a book th at ,;~s r qu1rea reading. e 1n roduc 10n 1n he
book announced the au tlor v-,- s Jesbten_ Dur1 19m •,1s1 ·or paren· ·1 eekend I
observed s PereJ pos er-=: dvertis1 n a party ,)·· en l:l• t h 1erx,st F n-1n1 c L_
a3 1ttn
~#

-

•-

1

Coan, ion

hti · 1· Jesbi en1sm ··1ere no ~o openJ perhaps to the po · where l
even app~ers o be promoted.,rriy deugh 0 r vo '1a no . 1ave hed th· s e:<perience. I
I -eel

fe el she t s o ened a door tha shc,uld haver mflineu closed. One tha . oncP-ope ed.,
be omes ·warpedand \ i1 rore er be u ab e o close.
CDuplea' .,. 1t l my sad ess 1s a ger ·o ·a d .'elles ey o w ,e I see as a
- emp1. promo ·nQ i sb;flri.ism. This 1s no p epa-1ng myoaugh er "or e real
'Orhl l t o gh •ery bri1gt1t, i 1 son1etenr,~, s e 1s veri.JnalV'8. '=1e. does no
-ealize · Me..real· o-~d i~ not as ccept1ng of gBysflS Wellesley. If s e Ci o~·es o
remain 1n this ll P. sty1e, s·1e1s se ting hersel I p for much an·mos,t ...fln

rejec ion fro

~ocie y

e,

v"ll do m est o encourage rny,jeugh er o not re ur 1 t ¼1 le_le . Pnor
to her entrance 'M'ellesey, a co- wor er ..j kingly"" referre to 'ellesley as th
..dyke""~c~ ooL Tlhi,:; i-:- h - West Coac;t. N'hat do he rest of the ~t t ~ in _f
J ·

·'I/ 1esl y? 't-/1l1be.inga We11esleygr -duate imply sh too i ~ a ·a_ke'? 1 e re

e

day I e couraged her toe ter ·1ell sley. er -a .her is not a are o, _he~- , · -" ·
f fie v e -e, I am :. ir e he ,,v L d be rr1uch
mor irra ·;onal end ·o 11 '""·__ uponher
mme ;ate 1y Jir:;~a,.,1
ng \¥el es 1 .y.

11

I feel

that if lesb ,ianism we re not s ,o open,
perhaps to the point where
it even appears to
be promoted,
my daughter would not
have had this expe rie ,nce.
11

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

...

MAY 2819

\ \.

ANDIN 1986, PRES. KEOHANE
DENIES
QUEERALUMSACCESSTO THECHAPEL
FORTHEIRWEDDING
CEREMONY
J une 6 11 19B6
,CDNFID ENTIAL

Dear ' -

and ~

I a m to ,Id that you have asked
f or yo,ur commitment: ceremony t:hie
deny yo ur request.

to reserve
the Colle g e Chape1
summer.
I am sorry to h a v·e t.o

1

As, o,u 'k,now, the Bxecucive
Committee of the
has discussed
this
topic,
and expres 1sed. serious
also heard 'from alumnae, , and parents
of current
distressed
by t.his idea .•

I know that

y,our wiah

Board of Trustees
h
concer-n.
I have
stu d ents,
who ar e

i-e to ha ve a p rivat

e cer ,emony f or f amil y
an d friends
marki:ng your commitment
t0 ,each other.
The use of tbe
tChapel connotes
for many peo ,pl , a p-ublic approval
o f a f ~rm of
I
ceremony
that h no civil
or 1iturg .ica.l s ·tatue i.n our s.oc:let.y at
this
time.
I b lieve
that tb~s 1.e the b•asis of the stron g oipposition
to your wish.
Having thought a.great. deal aoout tb:ls t.opic , I see
it aa my res ,ponsibi.lity
as Presuient
to heed the depth and stre ng t h
of that opposition,
whatever · my Olffl personal
vi .ews on this subject
mi g ht be.
1

1

I know tha't
yo u well in the
1

you both

car..e deeply

about

Welleal ,ey,

and I wish

future.

Your s,

Nannerl

O. Keohane

"The use of the Chapel connotes, for many people,
a public approval of a form of ceremony that has no
civil or liturgical
status in our society
at this time.
11

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

--

•

MAY 2019

\\.

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

MAY 2819

\\.

students form. • •
WELLESLEY
LESBIANS& FRIEINDS
1 988
1

Const

u

· ell

on cf

sl

y Lesb

ns an

Friena:;

ell , sl

y Lesb

9 88-1989

1

Article

I:

an:e of Org

The nam

1

z tion

tb _ s o i-ga .11.i:::ation

o

:sho.l l b

ans

Friends.
r~ie_e

: Purpose

The purpos

cf

•hia

er

n :~ ion

is

to serv

as~

. a support
roup
£arum fer~
n is o d en4cting
socl
l v~nts
c. a group wh c s __
"Da.r
ic a~e in
e educ .io o
e
sl ,y College
Corn;nun ·y on l ,gsbian
at.nd. .o.y ssu~s
lites
ye s
d. al
ason to c h_r lesbia
a e gay org _ z ~-ons
e. to part cipat
in pcl ic~l ac 1v1-i s
b.

I I; , ..em ersh·p
T.his organ z.:1-ic n 1'3 open ta
-e les
- y College
Commu i y.

Ar ....·.c l

IV~ Org ni:: - ·· en
n, 0f icersh.e tasks

intereste

,

member-s cf

e
n

the

Ar _ · cle

1

of

tra - t ona off ice r s shall
be t :iten up by
a ors,, one 0i whom s·a
sp-aci:fic~-' y aet

grou
o:f .four c-~or
as Treasurer.
:S, Adviser s- th crganiz
tian "I.rd.:/
i nvi ,e ·members cf
d inis
ra.t:ion, o r stnf _ ta be
,visors.

\rhe fa.cu

"t'" ,

d Du ·_s cf t
o_:ieers
sha l be respons - ble ta p·repare the y ear y bu ,-ge • n
u
ccmpli nee wi h al 1 o -c· e rules a.nd egulatio
s of SOFC 011:d
Se ,
S.. sb 1 also be responsi bl e to
e .repo ts to t e . ro _p
a.bout · 1n ci 1
t ers whe_ necess r y or re ues ed~ he
Coordinatcrs
shall
sh ,re the responsib"l
ty o: c rrying
he
mee-ci gs, ensui ring t _ eir■ sDoctb progression , act in ,as eon a(;t
ople for
e Cal ge Cc u
y, a , s~rving as a 50urce oi

Art cle V: Powers
The Treasurer

1

1

in or -t'cn
.. rtic

or

c

-a VI:

Ac 1 v
T.t1is □rganiz

he org niz · ion .

Les
ion sha -1 hold :meetings once,
week in th e student
library
Lee . Rm.. ere
e erg n ..rs - c sh ,
-1 n
di r car y ou
sec 1.
e e
· cuss o s "
ec i..ure::11, f i ms,
- bers
p e s ., a
,r pres_
s s decid~ .1 u on y he org n ::a
A
0

ictiv

1

1

-

~ies are c en

r~ ucrum
uorum

a

1

~O t

ns c

en ire

on c

e

es

business!

ey Colleg

quoru

Co

nit

.

center

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

MAY 2019

alumnae form •..
LESBIANALUMNAE
GROUP
LAW
Post Office Bo-Ji\42
C'amtu-idge. MA 02140

RECEIVED

1

APR'2 4 1,g,J~
21 April

President

Wellesley
Wellesley,

Dear

Na nn,cr I

College
MA 0~181

Priesident

io~
w1':'~g. .

Oi'£1GE 0~ ::E~

l 98,9

iusm:miD

K eohanc

Keohane;

Et:sbi,an alumnae (LA W} 1 wa.~ ronned 1,a 1
Pan ,of th~- catalys~ for LAW's. formation was the Lesbian Alumnae Pane~
ic
was hcl~ ~onng Lesbian Awareness Weck in Pebraary of last year.
LAW 1s
currently
pubhshing
a quan ,erly n1ewsleuer
and planning
an official
,gathering
o,n Su_nday of R,euniun Weekend~
Our long Fangc plans includ 1e holding region al
ga1h~nngs
throughout
lhc country
and prQviding
networking
resources
for
lesbian
alumnae.
may

be aware

that

an organization

or

We would

like LAW to be a r,esource for the campus and the Alumnae Association.
As a first step in lh:is direction~ members of LAW wiU be panicipaiing in the
upcoming
Lesbian Awareness
Week (24-21 April).
LAW has organi7,£;d the L-csbian
Alumnae PaneJ, which wiH be held on Wednesday~ 26 April at 7:30 pm in t.he
Library Lecture Room.

The members of .t.AW wouJd like to invire. you to attend this panel discussion.
We
would also like to ask that you encourage -s,udents for whom this panel might be
of interest to attend.
Please contact LAW if we can be of assislance to you in
planning event or in your dealings wilh students and alumnae.
Sinccrely11

J tlM..a rYl. -Pt;L1f1tlVh_
Janet M. Putnam

Lesbian

Alumnae

'85
of Wellesley.

cc: Molly Campbell. Dean of Students
Susan Coben. Senior Class Dean
Marcy Hirsch, Center for Women's Careers
Julie Mencher, Stone Center
Ann Morgan, Alumnae Office
June Murphy-Katz. Residence Office
Connie Chandler Ward, Chaplain's Office

\\.

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

MAY 2819

\\.

•

Wellesley Joins Nation in
Observing LGBTQIA+
History Month
0c·t.

2 91,4
1

1

Events an,d Conversations on Can,p us Afn1 co H eighten A,varenes ,, Re pe ct, and Inclusion
1

Oc tobe r 1. 20 14

Wellesley College 's LGBTO 1{lesbian , gayl bisexua l,
transgender . and queer/questioning)

Programs and

Services office , led by director and advisor Leah
Fygetakisl is presenting several ev,ents throughout
October to observe LGBTQ History Month 2014 .
The planned events of note are an exhibition of

photography by SD Holman (photo , ''Tasha, is from the
11

col lection) in Je·wett Arts Center running October 3-21 .
with an artist's reception on October 2; a lecture from
writer and radio personality Rev. Irene Monroe '77 on

October a; and comedian Ju lie Goldman providing
laughs on October 23 .
ln addition . October 11 is International and National Comjng Out Dav.. a day of support and inclus ion for individuals
whatever their ,orientation , and often a day that sees pop -up 'closets" appear symbolically on campus .
The organizers of National LGBT Historv. Month highlight O ctober as a month for educa ting and honoring the history
1

and contributions of LGBTQ people and their alllies. Each year the organizers take nominations and select 31 people
who have made a difference to LGBTQ cu lture, and celebrate one person a day. This year , October 19 is dedicated to
groundbreak ing poet and playwright Ange lin a,W eJd Grimke·. She is listed as a Welliesley alumna of 1902, having
1

attended the Bo,ston NormaJ School of Gymnastics . which became the Department of Hygiene at Wellesley Co l~ege.

QUEERCAMPUS
LIFE FEATURE
IN THEWELLESLEY
NEWS
M,arch

20 117
1

Student surveys in 2016 lnd icate that at .le,ast 38 percent of WeHesley students ident ify as some sexual
orientaUon other than heterosexual. As our presence on campus grows~ LGBTQIA+ life on campus expands as

well. WelliesleyCollege has a vibrant queer community includingeight organizationsdedicated·to different
~dentiUes wfthin the commun ity, co-ops known for their largely queer membership/attendance

and Hie official

Welles ley resouroes that the administration provides . Our orgs on campus are currently as follows:

• South Asian Queers
• Sexuality
and Gender Alliance
• Queer and Trans People of
Color Collective
• Familia

• Wildcards
• Siblings
• Tea Talks
• blackOUT

I I DISORIENTAT
I ON GUIDE

MAY 2019

PART III:
DISABILITY
ACCOMODATIONS
Let·s

talk
about
more!

it

\\.

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

MAY 2019

Committee Against
Discrimination

\\.

Racism and
(CARD)

CARD was, founded before 199 0 but they
primarily focused
racial discrimination
the work with improving
based issues.
Most
dis ,abili ty b,ased 1acco 1m1mo,1dat :io ,ns occurred !
11

1

1

,

between 1995-2000.

TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE WELLESLEY COLLEGE COMMU

ITY

OPEN INVITATION TO A CARD FORUM
ON DISABILITY AT WELLESLEY
0 mmittee Against Racism and Discrimination (CARD), a multi The <?
cons ti tu~ ~~y committe~ of Academic Council, has been charged with the
responsibility
to support initiatives and processes that improve and enhance
?~r. c~llective experience here at Wellesley . Under th.is mandate , CARD is
1rutiating a process of identifying and addressing the concerns that affect those
members of our community who have visual., auditory, mobility, learning,
and other disabilities that affect their work and school lives.

As the first step in the process, CARD is holding an open forum on disability
issues at Wellesley. All members of the community -- whether or not you
have a disability or health problem -- are invited to participate.

The.s.: vurious encounters have confirmed our belief that. in the area nf disabili ty
services, the coUege fs not keeping.up wilh its O\'YD high standards. 1·he current ru
in this area Jack the expertise. the:resources, and t1le clout to ·•get things-done. " F
exrunp!e, it was made clear in the May 1gw meeting surrounding hou.~ing issues th:
die job of seeing to the cquipmenl needs of a small numhe-r of studr;:ntswas not b1
performed in the timely matter needed to ensure these student~• ba.~icsafety. mud
kss equal access. V,/cbelieve that the best course of action foTthe coUcgc:at this
point is to bring in a fuU-time professional with expertise in disabiHty and higher
educat ion. l11is person \llOuld have the task of pro,ridiug programmatic le.adersh

ensure that students. faculty. staff. union, alumnae, and visitors with disabilitiesI
equal access to the opportunities available at \Vellesley, He or she shouldsave

resource for members of the college community with disabilityrelatedconcerns.
Responsibilities of this position would include individualadvisingand support
building a network of collaborative relationshipswith administratorsacro.'i-S
the
campus; and monitoring compliance with state and federal legislation.

The forum will be held on THURSDAY, February 27, at from 7:00- 8:30 p.m.
at the COLLEGE CLUB. Light refreshments will be served.

Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration of and participation
in this important initiative.

Questions?

Barbara Colonna, Resources, (x2222)
Pat Berman, Art Dept (x2048)

Change occurs
with Resistance!

I I DISORIENTATI 0N GUIDE

MAY 201 ·9 \ \

1

The Initial
Stages of
Disability
Services Center at
Wellesley
There were several events that occurred
prior to hiring the director
of
Disability
Services at Wellesley that led
up to the moment. The two critical
events
that were all led by CARD:
1. In March 27, 1997 , there was a
Changing Campus Accessibility
Forum
formed by CARD. The forum outlined
strategies
for Changing accessibility
of
Sports Center, Dormitories
(ramp),
Schneider Center (bathroom),
reducing
stigmatization,
changing note taking,
and
increasing
parking spaces for disabled
students.

Wel1esl~--y

111Bi'I. "y,.,,,.ki i\
C~rl.:ibi:itatl

olJcge

l t)[ ilTI)'t:IDte iJ'fvn lVe( I 11,tlltl 1111•

,~IOJ)~nJ~

,

n ncru,;., tlie 4. ,r,Ucj!.Crcqul •l'd,

•

N

d -

•

One uf d1e f::"e:uc3l p Lf.:iI!'>le,,to d,a ••", wui:la 11ml 1!!>1..lbl
1!>'11
pr.i:=lk4 tU;,

e:e

tor l~,g.:llCOll..R.'lr:J/cmh11Jl.aJIDn

'f ·pe.~ o Dj!>a.h1J1ti~

2. In February 28, 1999 , Disabled
Committee Group created a proposal
regarding orientation
period for disabled
student should begin a week earlier
than
other students starting
fall of 1999. The
proposal contained information
about
establishing
a better
relationship
between disability
services
with health
services,
housing, Heads of House, campus
police,
library,
food services,
special
events.

q.)I!..

Admi-.,.,ion...;

Aocommodatiun5/Dcp..l.nmcnts
01NJ.bilit~ C.'.4,ordinator
~~.i,idcnce

Pn;slca.1P1amt
Hcahh/("'ou n.,e liri~
Acuc.lemk Advio;cirs
Registrar
LD SpcciaJ1t.t
Faculty lssuci.
Student,;; with Lcanung DisabIHties

Budget

Resources A\,ufabJe

lnt,·oJ""""J

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

Hiring Proposal
of Disability

MAY2819 \\

for Director
Services

The hiring proposal draft for Director of
Disability
Services was first
led by Professor
Julie
Matthaei and Adrienne Asch in 1999.

Professor
Julie

Adrienne

Asch

Mattha ei
1

The proposal mentioned that "Given that
Wellesley is a women's college with
racially
and ethnically
diverse student
population,
the director
should have
sensitivity
and interest
in how
disability
interacts
with women's issues
and how it is experienced across the
range of racial-ethnic
groups."

MAY 2 '019

Result:

\\

Hiring of Jim Wice in 2000

Pa rt of what brou ght me is ,
because they wanted a department
that worked with students,
staff,
faculty,
alumnae and guests,
and to
me that said that Wellesley is
trying to do something right.
They're not trying to make people
run around and think about what
people need.
Jim Wice
11

1

11

-

A. How do you see Disability
future?
Technological
syste m

advancements

Services

and better

growing in the

software

tracking

1

"Wellesley
will mov ,e to ,wards a.ssist ,ive technolog ,y/ b lended
learning techniques,
and it will be more more natural to
us ,e record 'i ,ngs, videos,
and note taking. "
1

B.Where does the change in disability

services

come from?

"It's ,a, combination of S'tudents and faculty.
The real help
in more recent semester has been with new deans of
students
(Sheila
Horton
who ha.s enco ,ura ,ged Wellesley
to
ha ·ve stone r ·eview commi ,ttee. This has mainly be ,en
1

)

1

1

spearhe ,a)de,d by students.
Students are th ,e ones who
en,co,,ura,ge ,depart ,ments to, be mor·e enco,ur,a,ging. "

I I DISORIENTATION
I GUIDE

IMAV 2819

1

Part

I: Disability
Throughout
the

\\

Records

Years

1992 • 93 = By tJ,e end of the year, 53 students had documented 1 a · d. b·1·ti•. · 18 f
h
di
ed d .
·
e rrung 1sa 1 1 es,
o
w om we~e
agnos
urmg the year. In December, 1992, 26 students took 50 exams with

extended time. In May, 1993, 34 LO students took 57 exams with extended time .

.

199-3-1994: Fifty-six students had doc umented learn ing disabilities and an additional 8

sfudents with learning disabilities were abroad or on leave. Eighteen of these students were
diagnosed during the year, one of whom was foun d not to have a learni ng disability. In
December, 1993, 25 students took 41 exams wi th extended tim e. Three of these students had
physical disabilities. In May, 1994, 29 studen ts, 8 of wh om were physically d isabled took 45
exams with extended time.
'
1994-1995: To date 49 stu dents wit h docum ented learning d isabilities are on file a t the
LTC, 7 are on leave or abroad and 6 are currently being eva lua ted .

Note : Between 199 2-1995, ,anything that wasn ' t ph ysi ,cian or
heal th related disability
was classi ·fi ,ed as Le,arnin g
D·isabil .i ty. B'etween 2915-2018 , Learning
Dis 0.rde ,r was al
separate , category from ADHD,and o,ther mental health issues ·.
Al though, it looks like the numbe,rs have stay ,ed the same,
1

1

1

1

1

1

the cri ter .ia , for classifying
Learning
Disorders
other types of disorders
are greater n ow.

1

versus

1

Wellesley historically
and currently
does not have a
great tracking
system for students
with physical and
mental health disorders.
One of the big focus of Disability
Services for the next
couple of years is improving softwa r e tracking
system .

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

Pa r t

MAY 281 '9 \ \

II:
Disabi
Records

l ity

Ill
,2

61

3
38,

22

22

2
195
12

lB
2

3

0

number of studen ts with
disabilities
has in ,cr eas ,ed betw een 2815-2 '918, it co ,uld just
be that more students are getting properly diagnosed.
N0 te:
1

1

Ev en though

the total

1

1

1

1

1

I I DIS0 RIENTATION GUIDE

MAY 2819

1

\\

•

•

How has the process for receiving
accommodations changed over the
years?
Disability Services Information Form

=~
•

WeUesJey i.s commirre:d co making iu cd,
I
;it;C:onunod.c:ioru for studcnu with docurn~:,c•~nil
, P~~~:am 11.cce-.,~ible
co .J I ~c:cl'!pCcd
,ruc:lcnu by providing;, rc~nablc
ph.y$,c:;Jdjsabm, ,es. emot ional/
eholo iC!ilcf ed: d1J.1btl,rJ~ . lf yo~ h~ve l~n-rung tlisabiliucs. Attention Dcfic~c D,~rdcr .
.Jight imp:urmena whkh may~~ g
ongomg mcd,~t-ton fur p~~ho[ogial or physiC2l ptobl:em~. h~nng or
wir.h your rc:gisr.car
i1;uimarcr i'.ili ro :;; ~mmf
h.:atio
ns:or spc~.d 5 Cf'lia:s, pl~
ciomplerc the form below 2nd rccum chis form
c:
cc
C c 0 ean of Fnir , yc:a.rScudcn.rs.

°

Pte.1$cde.$cr1bcyour d:iub,lity:

Historically
When was chis diagno.sisoriginally ntadc

~commodations

arc: urangcd after con.suhation between the uuden.: and the Coordinator of Oisabiliry Services or chc
Dsrccro,r o~ P~
u the ~ing
:ind Teaching Center. [Please note: WdJcslc:y requiresn:ccnt cHnical documentation of-a
5rudent s d.isa.bd.iry
to be on tik ,n orda to provide an-going .servtecs.)

Pleuc aha.re
widaus accommodatiou or semcayou haveusedi.ntheput.

How to Make a Req1uest :
1. -~

.a::r...;,
.-Qpointme.m
to meet or

speak with someone from the office of Accessibi l ity and Disability Resour ,oes or

ema.d accessJbjlity_@.weUeslev..edu
. Entering first year and transfer students willwant to make first contact by fil ling out
the Accessibilit y and Disability Resources

Information Form on the portaJ.

2. Complete the appropriate request form for the type of accommodatron bemg requested. Any time du ring he year,

individuals may fiH out a request form to initia te a reques t for accommodations.

Academ
ic Accommodation
Reg
Dis.ability Perking Request

HousingAccommodation
Req~

Currently

Mear~Plan Acoommodat lon Re~ est

Seotfce/Ass
istanceAnImalReqym
!Healthcare Documen tation Form ior service/ess1s tanoe animal request

Tra.nsP-orta
ion Accommodat ion Reguest
DfsabilttY.Accommodat ion Reques1 for requests that do not fit he categories above
3. ln addition to meeting or speaking with th
Resources and sullmitting an accommodation

Director or Ass istant Director of Accessibility and Disability
request form , individuafs who wish to request an accommodation

mus1

submit app ropriate doetJmenta ion of the ir disabi lity. All medical and mental health documentation should be subm itted
on the individual's cJlnicianis letterhead or using e documentation forrn fncluded in the request 1orm. Documentation

icaH should include :

I I DI SORIENTATION
GUIDE

Let's
at

MAY 281 '9 \ \

take
stu , ent
a umnae
activism!

a

look
an e,

I I DISORIENTATI0N GUIDE

MAY 281 9 \ \
1

1

Wellesley
Disability

Voices

for

Services

Wellesley Voices for Disability
Services was founded in 2013,
and led by Connie Chen '15. The organization
acts as the
liaison
between Disability
Services and the student community
in order to advocate for accommodations and safety of
S't udents.
1

Some of their work includes publishing
newsletters
on
disability
issues and holding discussions.
They also conduct
activities
such as sibling
hood matching, and host lunch and
dinner meetings.The
formation of this group allowed students
to have a greater voice on campus regarding disability
a ccommodations.
1

ty

W He ey Vole s tor IDisabil
37mms·

!Dear el tes·ey Voices for DisabillilY students1ralums, and ames.
1

Ill harve b en struggling 1for th right words to s.a,y bu I f'i alized 1all II can
do is offer you my heart. For many of us · ho oped for a president
¥ o will not mer eilass1y moc :k us tor our disabUit~es. this elect~on ~eft
us heartbroken. I grieve ith you.
1

1

1

lit feels as though the majority o·f 1he count iry is against us, valid a1ting
this b havior thr 0ug1h th ir 'Votes. W ar angry· nae,chaust ct !Bui I
invit,e you to join me to thin k hard about how to con rmbutet o our
w Id in posi ive ways. ogether, I rs stay co miU d. Togeth r.,I l's
1

1

stay activ,e.
ose around us to1add differently-abled ind"viduals" to
their fexicon,alcng with ra1ce,ethnicity:, religion, an gender.
Let's invite

10

When e,fear for our rights, hen ~e fear the status of our
i s.urance/treatments, let's loo to each other, never t,esUatie to ask
fior help,, and stand strong. When e hear c,ries of injustice! let1s
listen, try to feel ti eir pain, beali each ottler 1s,burdens, and he,al
together. When o ranger arises, let us remind each other to tum our
energy into service~ Le us be enco . raged to love one another,
despite our disagre ments. Le1us pick each ott,er up. Let us put up
our shields of fait1h against hatr,ed and malevolence. The eak shall
Iead t e strong.
1

1

Connie Chen

Alumna Spotlight:
Emiko
"Koko" Ishiguro Nishino
'45
Koko attended Wellesley during
WWII, and returned in 1976 to
serve as an assistant
to the
President.
She was a strong
advocate for Asian American and
Disability

Rights

"At many commencements, it was
she who pushed the wheelchairs
of students with physical
disabilities
as they received
their diplomas. Somehow, she
was able to find funds to
promote on-campus events by and
for Asian and Asian-American
students."
- Wellesley
Magazine, 2014

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

• •

MAY 2019

\\

. But More Work Still
to Be Done

WELlESLEY, MA O2~ B 1 • E:STA.B
USHED I 901

THE STUDENl NEWSPAPBR OF WEI.LESLEY CO LLEGE

NEWS

FEATURES

,OPIN I ONS

BY

OPHI

ARTS

HURWITZ

SIPORTS AND WELLNESS
EW

AV 9,

MISCELLANEA

19

"WHERE 'S, MY CHAIIR,,WELL.ES,ILEY?'·': WHAT HAPPENS ,
WHEN STUDENTS FALL THROUGH THE DIS,ABIL ITY-

SERVICES,CRACK.S

An article
published in 2019 in The Wellesley News highlighted
a
story of a current Wellesley student who suffers
from Postural
Orthostatic
Tachycardia Syndrome {POTS). She was unable to get
ob tain a wheelc ·hair despite
her condition ., ,and indicated
th ,at
.Nobody really want .ed to take responsibili
t ,y fo 1
r i .t.
11

1

11

1

11

A'l though

Assistant

Dean of

Students

Ca rol

1

Bate

cann ,ot

disc russ

Arndt's case in detail for confidentiality
reasons, she noted that
sometimes, failures
of communication between the school and outside
care providers
can happen, particularly
when a student is not on
'Wellesley ,-p ro .vided insu r ,ance
H

Stories
like this
improve accessibility

one showcases
for students,
is student

that Wellesley still
needs to
and a large part of the advocacy
driven.

I I DISORIENTATION
GUIDE

Accommodations:
to Solidarity

Disability
Inequality

By previously
excluding resources for students with
disabilities,
Wellesley was treating
these students as being
inferior
in comparison to other students.
These exclusions
greatly hindered their experience
at Wellesley.By
previously
excluding some resources from students with disabilities,
the
college was contributing
to the Subordination/Domination
pro ,cess.

Student activists,
groups, and faculty advocating for disability
rights
recognize the importance of equity and they want to
ensure that everyone has a chance to succeed at Wellesley.
They
are slowly valuing the devalued.

Change can happen!
2019:
now Accessibility
· ,and D'isabili
ty
Re,sources to · better refle ct its prim ,a·ry goal: to supp ,ort ,and
advocate for an ,e,ducational environ ment th a,t provi .de.s e q,ual
o,pportuni ties for access to all ,our .studen ·ts. This ch.ange
acknowledges
the h istory
of the disability
righ ·ts movemen,t and
"The name of the off ice

is
1

1

1

1

1

1

1

recogni .zes peo,ple with di ,sabili

tie .s a.s bo th a ·tr ,adi ti ,onally
marginalized
p o·pul ,ation ,an d one t ·hat expands the ,diversity
of our
c,a,mpu,s community.
It also focuse .s th e work of the off ice as a
provi .der of r esources and as a s ,upp·ort fo r students. "
1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

I I OIS0 RIENTATIONGUIDE
1

• • •

to

IMAY 2019

\\

conclude

The disorientation
guide demonstrates
how Wellesley College has made
significant
progress throughout the
years, particularly
pertaining to Ethnic
Studies , LGBTQIA+Rights and Disability
Rights , but also shows us that we still
have a long way to go.

By taking a historical
approach, we
emphasize the contributions
made by
students , faculty and other members of
the Wellesley community in helping the
college achieve solidarity.

I I OIS0 RIENTATION GUIDE

IMAY 2019

1

\\

HAVE AN ISSUE?
you're not alone.
here's where to complain:

MONEY
TROUBLE
...
- STUDENT
FINANCIAL
SERVICESdiscuss your
aid statement.
Challenge
it when it is still
too
high. Explain your
circumstances
and how
you need more aid to be
ab l ,e to attend

NEEDTO
NEED
ACADEMIC LET OFF
SUPPORT
. .. STEAM
...
- DEANSdiscuss your
strains,
use them as a
route to meeting with
professors
and letting
them know about issues
affecting
your classroom
p erforman c ,e
1

1

-STUDENT
AID SOCIETY
offers
a variety
of
loans, including
short
term loans that can be
paid back using a
payment plan.

- PROFESSORSlet them
know when you are
struggle,
be clear about
your abilities
and
limits,
be a self
advoca .te

- PLTC class-specifc
tutors,

-DEPARTMENTS
usually
have grants that can
fund internships
or
other education
o,ppor ·tuni ties
1

READ VOIUR FAVORITE B001K

OUTSIDE!

1

W,ell .esley.

SELF CAIRE! !
KSC: EXERCISE!LAKE
WALK!LAKERUN!
CHECK
OUTA DVDFROM
THE
LIBRARY!ANDA DVD
PLAYER!

writing tutors
(for all classes),
SI
instructors
...

-DISABILITY SERVICEScan
help

you ge ·t

accomdations for class
or even aid in getting
you tested
for a
disability
you may not
be aware of.

S:CREAM
,! SHOUT! LET IT

ALL OUT!

I I OIS0 RIENTATION GUIDE

IMAY 2019

\\

DOCUMENT.•

•

1

THIS
LIVING

IS A

let s grow it together!Just
as we are always
developing and changing, so is the landscape on
campus. Add on to this guide so we can share
all of our knowledge together.
In an effort of
solidarity
share the tips you thrive by,
history you know, and your perspective!
1

First version:
published by Rachel Kisken
contact her through her Wellesley email
(rkisken)

Prapti

Second version:
published by
Koirala (pkoirala),
Diana Lam (dlam2),
and
Dhanya Nageswaran (dnageswa)
•...

this

next space can be you!

ALL DOCUMENT
FILES (FONTS, IMAGES,COMPILED
NOTES)AVAILABLE
THROUGH
GOOGLE
DRIVE

WORKS CITED
page , ,4
1. Fiske,
Ellen W. History of the Town of Wellesley.
Boston: The Pilgrim Press, , 1'917.
pr ,ovides all timeline
info ,rmation
2. Hinchliffe,
Elizabeth
M. Five Pounds Currency, , Three Pounds o,f Corn: 'Wellesley• s
Centenni a l Story .. Wellesley:
Town ,of Wellesley,
Ma.ssachuset .ts
1981. (5)

(2-7)

1

11

page , 6
1. Wellesley
College,
The Wellesley
News (83-28-19 ,6,8)
1968). The Wellesley
Book 204. http: //repos ,itory .welle .sley ·. edu/'wcnews/2 104
2. "The History of Ethos.u Wellesley Alum Groups. Publication
unknown.
http:/ /web .wellesley.
edu/Alum/G ,roups/WAAD/History_of
_Ethos. pdf .
3. "The History of Ethos.u Wellesley
Alum Groups.
4. Unpublished
timeline
compiled by Wellesle •y College Archive ,s.
5. "The History of Ethos.u Wellesley
Alum Groups.
6. Unpublished
timeline
compiled lby Welle ,sley College Arclhive ,s ..
7. Unpubli .shed timeline
com1piled by Wellesle ,y Colleg 1e Archive ,s.
8. Unpulbli .shed timeline
compiled by Welle ,sle ,y College Archives.
A. Wellesley
Archi ve .s Image Databas ,e ( Student Strike)
B. Wellesle ·y Archives Image Database (Ethos teach in during 1 Student Strike ,)
11

1 Ir

(

1

News; (1949-

).

page 7
9. Unpublished
timeline
compiled by Wellesle ,y College Arclhive ,s.
191. Unpublished
timeline
compiled by Wellesley
College Archiives.
11 . Unpublished
timeline
compiled by Wellesley
College Archives.
12. Unpublished
timeline
compiled by Wellesley
College Archiives.
13. Al-Ferzly,
Michelle,
Catherine
B,, Dhivya Perumal , Whitney Sheng, Laura Wong. ffDIVESTMENT
THEN .AND NOW: A HISTORY OF WELLESLEY'
'S SOUTHAFRICAN DIVESTNENITMDVEMENTU
last modified May
12, 2814. http://thewellesle
,ynews.com/2014/ 105/12/divestment-then-and-now-a-hi
.story-ofwellesleys-sout
.h-af r ican -di vestment- ,movement / •
14. Unpublished
timeline
compiled by Wellesley
College Archives.
15·. Unpublished
time line compiled by ' Wellesley
College .Archives.
C. Wellesley
Archives Image Database
(Die-In)
page 8
1. Unpubli .shed timeline
compiled by Welle ,sle ,y Coll 1ege
2 . Unpulblished
time 1 ine comp iled by Welles ,ley Colleg 1e
3. Unpublished
timeline
compiled by Wellesle ,y College
4. "The History of Ethos.u Wellesley
Alum G~oups.
5. Unpubli .shed timeline
compiled by Welles ,ley College
6. "The Hist ,ory of Ethos.
We,llesle ,y Alum 1Groups.
7. Unpulbli .shed timeline
compiled by Welle ,sley College
8 . Unpulbli .shed timel ine compiled by Wellesle ,y College
9. Unpublished
timeline
compiled by Wellesle ,·y Colleg 1e
A. Wellesley
News Archives
(WAAMrally 219911 )1
1

Archive ,s.
Arclhi ves.
Archive ,s.
Archives.

R

Archives .
Arclhi ve ,s ..
Archive ,s.

1page 9
18 Unpublished
tJ.Jmeline · compiled by Wellesley
College Archives .
11. Unpublished
timeline
compiled by Wellesley
College Archives.
12 . Unpublished
tiimeline
compiled by Well ,esley College Archives.
13,. Un1publis ,hed tJ.Jmeline · compiled by Wellesley
College Archives.
14. Unpublished
time line compiled by Wellesley
College Archi 'ves.
15,. ,..FOSS.IL FREE WELLESLEY: 2016 , AND THE FUTURE.u Wellesley Solidarity
Economy on line.
Acce ,ssed May 5 2 018 . https: / /wellesleyso
,lida ri tyeconom ry. com/f ossil-f
ree ,-wellesle ,y-2 016and-the -future/
B. Fossil
F'ree ·we,llelsey
on line . Accessed May 5 2818 ..
1

•

1

1

page 1 9
1. Sanchez,
Jacqueline
.. nNARCHFOR PEACEREVITALIZES WELLESLEY-BABSON
SOLIDARITY."' The
Wellesley
News. Published
Decembe .r 1, 201 6 . http: J /'thewelle .sleynews. com/2816/12/81 1/marchf or-peace-revi
talizes-we
,llesley-babson.solida ri ty / .
2. "New S;pace .s in Freeman Hall, Acorns
and Pendleton West." Wellesley College online.
Published
Februa 1ry 22" 2817 . https:/Jwww.wellesley.edu
./news/2817 /node/111691
3. Orte1
ro 11 Alex .andria. "STUDENTSUNITE TO PROTEST IFORMER IS~lI
'DEFENSE
FORCES
SPOKESWOMAN. The W
'ellesley
News. Published March 9. 2017.
https : I I thewellesleynews
. com/2017 / 8 3/9 9 /students-unite
-to-p ro ,test-f orme,r-israeli-def
ensef orces-spokesw 'Oman/..
4. Ot.ero, Alexandria. "STUDENT
ORGANIZERS HOLDRALLYTO INSPIRE POLITICALMOBILIZATION
IN
WELLESLEY
COMMUNITY." The Wellesley
News. Published
February 25, 2 017.
lhttps: I /thewelle.sleynew
.s. com/2817 J 8 2/25/ student-organizers-h0ld-rally-t
,0-inspire1poli t.ical-mobilization-in-wellesley-communi
ty /.
A. Wellesle ,y News Online •
1

1

111

JJ

1

1

1

1

1page 11
5. Meisenzahl,
Mary ·.. Maya Nandakumiar. • DAVIS MUSEUMVEILS IMMIGlb\NT ARTWORKTO CHALLENGE
IEXECUTIVEACTIONS.u The Wellesley
News. Published
February 25 , 2817.
https : J /thewellesleynew
.s. com/2817 /8 2/25/davis-museum-veils-immig
rant-artwork-to-challengeexecutive-actions/
.
6. Hurwit%, Sophie.
' ALICE DREGER S SPEECH INCITES PROTEST FROMWEillESLEY '" S TRANSGENDER
COMMUNITY
AND ALLIES. ~ 'The Wellesley
News. Published
F'ebruary 21, 20 18.
https : J lthewellesleynews.
com/20 18/92/:2 '1 /alice-dregers-speech-incites1protest-fram 1wel lesley ·s- ·transgende r-communi ty-and ·- ·al lies/ .
7. Dt.ero, Alexandria 1 Sophie Hurwitz. •oELAYIN STUDENTLEADERCOMPENSATIONINCITES
WIDESPREAD ORGANIZING1 WITHIN WELLESLEY •·s COl1MUNITY .. ,., The Wellesley
New.s. Published
September 27 , 2017 . http:/ /thewellesleynews.com/2
1917/ 09·/27/delay-in-student-leaderc ompens at ion-inc i te .s-w id esp read-or ganiz i rng-wi th in-we 11 es l eys-communi ty /
8. Interview
between the author and Emily Lashelle
on May 1, 2818
B. Wellesley
News Online . RA/HPC mobilize
against
lat e payment.
C. Wellesley
News Online.
1

1

11

1

1

1page 13
··oiv ,estment. u Wellesley
College.
Accessed April 29. 2 01a.
http: I Jwww.wellesley.
edu.tabout/ pre ,s .ident/mytake ,/divestment
..
'' Policy Statem ,ent of the Subcommittee
on Investment
Re,sponsibility.
Board of Trustees . J une 2815 .
1

• Wellesle ,y College

page 16
1. "Editorial
: WAAMP1rotest
Respectable
2881, waamslam.omeka . netJitems/show/2.
page 188
1. Candla .nd,

, Make ,s All the
1

"Memo. 11 South Asia

Christopher.

page 19.
1. "Wellesle ·y t ,o Offer Asian American Studies
www. wellesley . edu/ news/2013/03/ n.ode,./33992.

Studies

Right

Program

Move,s . " i Am WAAflSLAM,

Faculty

Minor. · Wellesley

, 21018.

College .. 4 Mar. 21013,

page 28
1. Ondraskova , Danni . «w·ellesley
College Protests
Lack ,of Multicultural
Space ..,, The
Wellesle ,y News, 30 Oct . 2814 , thewellesleynews
~ co .ml 2 014.111
0 /38 Jwaam-s lam-ii-protests-lackof-multicultural-space/
.
1

pag 1e 21
1.

WAA-SLAN II.

Wellesley

noemands fo 1r Transformative
College , 14 ~ril
2814 .

Justice

and Education

at Wellesley

College n.

page 22-23
1. Otero , Alexandria . «COLLEGELAUNCHESINNOVATIVEINTERDISCIPLINAR.YPIINORWITH RACE AND
ETHNICITY MINOR.... The Wellesley
News , The We,Ilesley
News,, 27 Oct. 2916, .
thewelles ,leynews ~ com/ 28 16/ 110 / 27 l co llege-launche
,s -innovat i v·e-inte rdisc iplin ,a ry-mino r-wi thrace-and-ethnici
ty-minor /.
1

1

page 24
1 . Stickney,
Laurel .. ' Welle .sley Asian Alliance
Celebrates
25th Anniv ,ersa ry Wlth Two-Day ,
Sympos,ium On Student Activism • ., The W'elle .sley News , 15 NO'V .. 2017 ,
thewe ,llesleynews
. com/2817 /11 /1 S/welle .sley-asian-a
lliance-celeb
rates-25th-anniversary'With-two -day-symposium-on
-student-activism
./ •
1

pagea 28 - 31
1. Unpublished

document ,s tak:en from the Archive .s

page 32
1 . Wellesley
College Can "t Please Any,one with Hiring of Lesbian Head of House. .... Accessed
May 21, 2019. https : / Jwww.apnews.com/56c89c42df9f43f
,87d1cd81ab4d6dd68 ..
2 . .,Wellesley
Bars Lesbian ,as Freshman-oo ,rm Supervis ,or. • The Chronicle
of Higher
Education , October 38, 1991 .. https: / /www. chronicle.c
,om/articleJWellesley-B
·ars -Lesbianas/78759.
3. .,CAMPUSLIFE: Welle ,sley; Counselor ' s Switch !Prompts a Debate About Gay Rights .. " The
New York Times, October 6 , 1991, sec. N.V .. I Region.
https: //WWW.nytimes . com/1991 /10/B '6/ny 'region/campus-life-wellesley-counselo
1r-s-s ·wit ,chP r ,ompts-a-debate-about
-gay- 1rights . htm 1.
NI

page 34-38
1. Unpublished

documents

taken

from the

Archive ,s

page 39

.....Quee,r Queries:
Q,ueer Cam1pus Lif 'e at Wellesle ,y i The We,llesley
News.•
May 21 . 20119. https: / /thewellesle
:ynews ..com/2817 / 193,/89/queeries
- queer-q uerie .s-

1 . QCAB
,. ~Queeries

Accessed

1

queer-campus-life-at-wellesley/.
page 41-43
1. Unpublished

documen.t ,s taken

from the Archive ,s

page 44
1 .. Wice , Jim. n Interview
College , 13 May 2019.

page 45 ,
1 .. Unpublished

documents

with

taken

Di ,rector

of Disability

Services

,at Wellesley

Services

,at Wellesle •y College n Wellesley

College

0

Wellesley

from ~he Archives

page 46
1 .. Wice , Jim. 11 Inter-view
College , 13 May 2819.

with

Ditector

of Disability

Page 47
1. unpublished

documents

taken

from the Archives

page 48- 49
1 .. ft'Wellesley
Voices
http:/ /wellesleyvoicesf

page

for

Disability.,.
, Wellesley
ordisabili
ty '. org/ ·.

Voices

for

Disability.

Accessed

May 21,

2019.

58 1

1 .. Kodera,. James . 11 EMIKO ISHIGURO NISHINO ' 45 • 11 Wellesley
Magazine ,J 2014,
http:/ /magazine ..wellesley
..edul s,ummer-2814/emilko-ishiguro-nishino%E2%8&,,9 ,945

page 51
Hurwi 'tZ , Sophie.

11

~WHERE''S NY CHAIR ., WELLESLEY?u : WHAT HAPPENS WHEN STUDENTS FALL 'THROUGHTHE
DISABILITY-SERVICES CRACKS.n The Wellesley
News,, 9 May 28 19,
1

https

: / /thew 'e ,llesleynews

..com/2819 ./85 /09 /'whe,res-my-chair-wellesley

fall-through-the-disability-services

'-what-happens-when

-students-

-cracks/ .

page 52
1 ~ " Disability
Services
Offers Comprehensiv ,e Support
Welle .sley College , 1:2 Feb. 2816 , http : I /thewellesleynew
offers-comprehensive-support-to-increase-campus-accessibility/

To Increase
c·ampus Accessibility
..11
,s. com/2816/'8 2/17 /disability-services1