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And the question was--One answer on the November 6 edition of the TV quiz show Jeopardy was "A women's college in South Hadley, Massachusetts, is named for this 878-foot mountain." The correct question (which the contestant from rural North Carolina knew) is, of course, "What is Mount Holyoke." And an MHC connection appeared in an even more unlikely place: the supermarket. Teacher, lecturer, editor, and women's rights leader Lucy Stone's likeness appears on paper bags currently in use by a Northampton supermarket chain. Stone attended Mount Holyoke in 1839 and later graduated from Oberlin College. The bags read "Big Y salutes the first woman in Massachusetts to earn a college degree."

Saying it with flowers (and cake)--The Student Government Association organized a Staff Appreciation Day on November 6 to "say thanks, to let staff know students recognize that they're overworked and underpaid and that we appreciate all they do for us," according to organizer Amy Schuppert '98 (above left). Carnations were delivered by many student organizations and by the student representatives on committees to those they work with in academic and administrative offices. For example, SAUCE (Substance Abuse/Use Campus Educators) took a floral tribute to Alcohol and Drug Awareness Project director Susan McCarthy; Newman Association members brought flowers to Catholic chaplain Sr. Anita Magovern and Eliot House senior administrative assistant Li Waller; and student reps on the Ways and Means Committee brought blooms to their colleagues at the financial services office. And all staff members were welcomed with free cake served by the SGA executive board from 11 to 2 that day. Some students personally escorted staff to Blanchard for the special dessert.

A signet honor--Harvard University invited Peter Viereck, William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor Emeritus of History, to speak to its literary organization, the Signet Society. On November 14, Viereck reads from his latest book, Tide and Continuities: Last and First Poems. Harvard officials told Viereck they would particularly welcome attendees from Mount Holyoke at the event, which will take place at 46 Dunster Street at 3:30 pm.

A serious scrum--As I write this, the Mount Holyoke Rugby Club is ranked number one in its New England Rugby Football Union division and will host the Division III championships this weekend. This is the club's first year with coach Bruce Eggleston, and club president Alanna Boyd '98 credits him with "helping our team become more organized not only on the playing field but also in terns of delegating administrative tasks." They have a new team constitution and a ten-member board, and for the first time have split the group into A and B teams for competition. All the rugby enthusiasts--about forty women altogether--practice five days a week on the "pitch" (field) behind Kendall. Although the team is taking competition more seriously this year, they're still having fun playing the game frequently described as "elegant violence."

What's new with you?--Send news for "New & Notable" to Emily Weir, Office of Communications, or email eweir@mtholyoke.edu.