Feb. 28 — In a memo sent out February 22, the student delegation to the Hampshire College Senior Leadership Team updated affinity groups and other student leaders on a number of pressing concerns, including the college’s response to the federal government’s restrictions on DEIA programs and rapid expansion of fascist immigration enforcement; as well as student enrollment and policies on the school’s digital infrastructure.
The student delegation to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) consists of a representative from the Student Advocacy Board: Environment & Sustainability Representative, Bridget Ronning, and one student elected from the general student body, Haven Vincent-Warner.
The Department of Education recently issued a statement prohibiting all race-based programming and spending, threatening a complete withdrawal of federal funding if colleges and universities did not comply within 14 days.
Despite this, per the memo from the student delegation to the SLT, “Hampshire College is not planning to make ANY changes to our website, external-facing Division titles (with the exception of necessary titles to support specific student needs), class offerings, race and power requirements, resources for marginalized students, etc… unless explicitly forced by a court.” Additionally, the college will “continue to use preferred names and pronouns.”
An investigation would be necessary to revoke federal funding, which would only begin if Hampshire College is specifically reported. According to the memo, the college receives approximately $7 million in federal funding per semester, and 38% of our students use federal funding as part of their tuition. Additionally, the majority of this funding is already in the college’s hands for the current semester, so an investigation and subsequent revocation of funding would only begin affecting the college at the start of the 2025-2026 academic year.
The memo also indicated that Campus Safety is receiving additional training in handling ICE agents should they enter campus. Leapfrog reminds students that rights cards, called Red Cards or “Know Your Rights” cards, are available in the HampStore on your left as you enter.
The memo also indicates that Hampshire College is currently in the “strongest enrollment cycle of the past 10 years,” meaning that the number of applications received for the fall this year is higher than the number of applications received any of the past 10 years.
Additionally, a “Tech Advisory Council” is in the drafting and planning phase. Per Bridget Ronning, “the primary function of the group will be to act as a liaison between Hampshire departments (students, staff, faculty) and the Chief Information Officer and IT leadership team,” helping to make recommendations on technology priorities and help form IT policy for the college. The Tech Advisory Council will be seeking a representative from the Student Advocacy Board, as well as one student from the general student body, similar to the structure of the student delegation to the Senior Leadership Team.
The SLT Student Representatives can be reached with the contact information below:
Haven Vincent-Warner, F23
[email protected]
Bridget Ronning, F22
[email protected]
These representatives will remain in their position through the end of the academic year.
REVIEWED BY: Ryan Nivus, Axen Wetzel, Verne Gulley
