Writing

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Nov. 11, 2024 A new class, HOOD 400: Life After Hood, will be offered in spring 2025 to help senior students prepare for life after graduation. The idea for HOOD 400 originated as a means of support for senior students completing their undergraduate studies. The spring 2025 offering is a test run for what will become a permanent course with the start of Hood’s new Heart, Mind & Hands curriculum in fall 2025. “

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Oct. 28, 2024 Hood’s swim team is looking forward to a strong season after a record-breaking showing at last year’s MAC Championships.  This year’s team consists of 26 swimmers, split evenly between the men’s and women’s squads. The team also welcomed six first-years, two for the men and four for the women. At last season’s MAC Championships, Hood set 12 team records in seven different events and earned five t

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Oct. 28, 2024 As Halloween creeps nearer, students have taken time to learn about the many ghosts that call Hood College home. On Thursday, Oct. 24, the library hosted “Hauntings at Hood,” where attendees could learn about Hood’s resident ghosts and other historical stories. “Some of our resident ghost stories vary with the telling, but they are consistent with the main points,” Hood’s archivist Mary Atwell sa

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Oct. 28, 2024 What screams Halloween more than a human experiment gone awry, floating red lips and a time-warp dance? The “Rocky Horror Picture Show” first hit theaters on Sept. 26, 1975, and nearly 50 years later has maintained its designation as a cult classic. The film, which parodies the story of Frankenstein, follows sweethearts Brad and Janet as they stumble upon the eerie mansion of transvestite scienti

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Oct. 7, 2024 Being an active bystander is as simple as saying, “Excuse me.” Caroline Dato, Heartly House’s Community Engagement Lead, led an active bystander training in collaboration with Hood’s Office of Community and Inclusivity on Oct. 1. Dato began the presentation by detailing the importance of the “Excuse Me Campaign,” in which bystanders can use these two words to intervene when they think someone migh

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Oct. 7, 2024 Liquor law violations and dating violence increased at Hood in 2023, according to the latest Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The report, released on Oct. 1, documented 52 liquor law violations in 2023 compared to 32 in 2022 and 13 in 2021. A liquor law offense is the “violation of state or local laws or ordinances prohibiting the manufacture, sale, purchase, transportation, possession or u

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Sept. 23, 2024 Hood College and the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNL) are together holding a scientific symposium titled  “HIV in 2024: Progress, Problems & Prospects”  on Hood’s campus from Sept. 23-25. The symposium features scientists and clinicians speaking on HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) research and clinical care. According to the

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Sept. 23, 2024 Former Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Debbie Ricker took on the role of Hood’s interim president on July 1, 2024, after the departure of the college’s 11th president, Andrea Chapdelaine. Ricker was approached to consider the one-year interim position by the chair of the board of trustees, Tonya Finton, ’78. After discussing expectations for the coming year and clarifying other as

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Sept. 25, 2024 Hood College is planning to add 92 new parking spaces on campus next year, part of a broader campus renovation plan that includes repurposing historic buildings such as Gambrill Gymnasium and renovating residence halls. Construction of the 92 permanent parking spaces will entail paving 65 spaces in the gravel lot and creating 27 additional spaces. The new spaces will be located on the land where

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Sept. 25, 2024 Hood College’s Queer Student Union (QSU) is hosting its annual Safe Sex Carnival on Friday, Sept. 27 from 8 p.m. to  11 p.m. The carnival will be held in Whitaker Campus Commons, with games taking over both the first and second floors. According to QSU President Ella Rosenberg, “The Safe Sex Carnival aims to educate students on safe sex practices through fun games.” Games in past years have incl

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Sept. 25, 2024 The Hood College Wellness Office and George B. Delaplaine Jr. School of Business are partnering with M&T Bank to offer a financial literacy program for students. The course will consist of weekly workshops on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 23, Oct. 30, Nov. 6, and Nov. 13. The sessions will be held in Rosenstock room 123.  Staff from M&T Bank will lead each of the weekly sessions, cove

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Sept. 4, 2024 Hood College welcomed 405 new Blazers to campus on Thursday, Aug. 15 as they kicked off their college experience with a four-day orientation. The new students hail from 24 states and the District of Columbia, as well as nine countries. Highlights of this year’s orientation activities included a scavenger hunt, games, ice-breakers, yoga on the quad and more. “I loved the chance to hang out with pe

Tammi Simpson By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on April 5, 2024 As the topic of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) has become increasingly important on college campuses, Hood College officials are ensuring the prioritization of these initiatives through the establishment of a new administrative position, strategic planning goals and updated curricula.  In January 2024, Hood hired Akeem Todman to fill the college’s inaugural role of director o

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on April 5, 2024 President Andrea Chapdelaine’s move to Connecticut College (Conn) takes place following protests from Conn’s community regarding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) controversies. Located in the city of New London, Conn is a 4-year, private institution. Similar to Hood, it is a small liberal arts college, recording an undergraduate population of 1,995 in fall 2023.  The college’s previous presi

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on April 5, 2024 Hood College is hosting its annual SPIRES, SAFIRE and departmental honors presentations on Monday, April 15 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. SPIRES (Scholarship, Performance, Innovation, and Experience Symposium) is a celebration of undergraduate student achievement, showcased through various presentation formats. The submission of a SPIRES presentation is open to any undergraduate student wishing to sha

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on March 7, 2024 Hood’s Campus Activities Board (CAB) members say they are hoping to get students active and involved this semester. According to the club’s president, Natalia Herboso, CAB is a club for everyone. “Campus Activities Board is just a club where it doesn’t matter what your interests are, where you come from or what you enjoy,” she said. “It’s just a place for students to connect, have fun and meet ne

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Feb. 22, 2024 Hood’s swim team ended its season in the MAC championship meet on Feb. 18 with three medals and six school records. Graduate student Hazen Stowell won gold in the 500 freestyle after breaking the school record twice in one day with a final time of 4:39.62. He also received a bronze medal in the 200 freestyle after breaking his own record with a time of 1:44.50.  Junior Isiah Brittingham also brok

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Feb. 22, 2024 On Feb. 19, Hood’s new Dean of Students, Demetrius Johnson, introduced himself to a student for the 574th time since starting his position on Dec. 4, 2023. Johnson’s goal is to meet every Hood student before spring break. “That has been easy,” he said. “Students are now bringing other students into the office to say ‘You’ve not met my friend.’ That response from students is my absolute favorite t

By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Feb. 15, 2024 Hood College is facing a budget deficit of $2 million to $2.5 million after a misestimation of financial aid allocation, Memorial Hall delays and other financial issues. College president Andrea Chapdelaine said the school plans to combat the matter through drawing on contingency funds, deferring new expenses where possible, increasing scrutiny of operational expenses and delaying hiring for unes

By Sofia Montoya-Deck  Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Feb. 15, 2024 Hood College recently announced the appointment of Mahesh P. Joshi as the inaugural dean of the George B. Delaplaine Jr. School of Business. His first day was Jan. 22.  “Dr. Joshi was among our top candidates,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Debbie Ricker said. “He immediately impressed the search committee with his experience and vision for the school.”  The dean’s position is