Spectra has a new student chapter on campus
Spectra, a nationwide organization of LGBTQ mathematicians, has a student chapter at Mount Holyoke College.
Spectra is a nationwide organization of LGBTQ+ mathematicians. It was founded in 2015, when the American Mathematical Society conference was hosted in Denver following Colorado’s antigay Amendment 2. It proved to be a powerful and necessary movement for the community, providing welcoming spaces for LGBTQ+ mathematicians and bringing recognition, safety and a sense of belonging to the LGBTQ+ community.
Over a decade later, the organization now has a new student chapter on Mount Holyoke College’s campus. The introduction of student chapters means that students studying mathematics and statistics now also have safe spaces. All LGBTQ+ students and allies can join; a major or minor in mathematics or statistics is not required.
Spectra Chapter President Nadia Arias ’28, from Paterson, New Jersey, says that this semester, the club will start hosting events. She hopes that Spectra will increase in popularity before she graduates.
“I see the chapter as my baby, and currently, I am trying my best to get this club on its feet,” Arias said. “Being a member also means that we are all in this together, a little family, all trying to nurture and help grow this starting chapter.”
Tori Day ’14, assistant professor in mathematics, believes in the importance of openly queer spaces. Day has been a Spectra member since their time in graduate school. They did not know many openly queer professors in science, technology, engineering and math while they were a student at Mount Holyoke, and clubs like Spectra “didn’t exist like this back then.”
To start a department-sponsored club at Mount Holyoke, they needed to get approval from the mathematics department. Day said it meant a lot to them to receive unanimous support from the department. “Queer spaces are special, and it’s so important to have [these] spaces in the math and stats realm,” they said.
Laura Lyman, Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor of Statistics, is a Spectra member and a faculty advisor for the student chapter. “It’s heartwarming to see the involvement of so many people in this club and the support it has received,” she said. “I could have never anticipated this 10 years ago.”
Arias said that Spectra will be hosting events throughout the semester, “so keep an eye [on] our Instagram and around our beautiful campus [for notices],” she said. “Spectra has no restrictions, and we welcome everyone.”
