As much as we joke about living in a Wellesley “bubble,” such an isolated existence truly does exist when it comes to politics. A recent Wellesley News poll found that nearly 90% of students voted for Harris, clearly illustrating the campus’ staggeringly blue majority. Consequently, it is easy to believe that most Americans hold the same beliefs as us because we are constantly reinforced by a campus of students who do. In the week leading up to the election, there was a pervasive hope so tangible that it seemed counterintuitive for Kamala to lose. How could she when our school championed her candidacy so strongly? Surely the rest of Massachusetts would agree and, even if it was marginally close, so too would America. Only in retrospect can I see the error of these ideas; my consumption of political one-sidedness led to a disastrous oversight on where the rest of the country, and even my home state of Arizona, stood; in the end, they both came up Republican.

The Wellesley “bubble” is a beautiful place to purposefully engage with like-minded individuals in order to catalyze social change, but it is not reflective of the world beyond campus. This is a harsh reality we must reckon with to stay politically informed, and, much more importantly, engaged. Complacency due a perceived political unity poses a threat to democracy when citizens fail, or are unable, to participate in the election process. Awareness of the country’s enduring party split is essential in reminding those disengaged that their vote and voice matters; there is no democracy if half the country doesn’t participate. The revival of a Republican student organization on campus is one way in which productive political discourse could be encouraged. Perhaps debates about prevalent topics could be held between the Republican and Democratic groups, leading students of both parties to engage with the others’ views. Individually, we can also make an active effort to consume media from all sides of politics, such as podcasts that cover both Democratic and Republican current events, publications by a party we may not personally align with, or discussions between politicians of opposing viewpoints. Both of these initiatives would ensure that the Wellesley “bubble” doesn’t remove us too far from the reality of America’s political climate by reintroducing the presence of Republican ideals. Although engaging with these ideas could be argued as legitimizing them, which some Ddemocrats likely wish to avoid, political discourse is an opportunity to evaluate the extent to which ideological beliefs are rooted in logical justifications. Engaging with opposing viewpoints not only broadens our understanding of political beliefs but also strengthens our democratic system by ensuring that both ideas we agree and disagree with are thoughtfully assessed.

The apparent party unanimity felt at Wellesley can make it easy to disengage from politics under the assumption that your vote doesn’t matter. But as many of us so recently witnessed, election outcome predictions can be easily influenced by our surroundings, especially on Wellesley’s largely Democratic campus. To ensure that we remain politically literate and engaged, we must actively seek out diverse perspectives, challenging our own beliefs and broadening our understanding of the complexities that shape our national discourse. Ultimately, by confronting the nuances of this landscape and stepping beyond the echo chambers of our immediate environments, we can become more conscious participants in democracy.

After her remarkable showing in the 2019 US Open when she was just 15 years old, Coco Gauff rose to tennis fame. She has performed incredibly well in the WTA circuit in the years following, but had never won a major tournament before this summer. It started with the French Open in June, a tournament in which she reached the finals in 2022. Defending champion Iga Świątek of Poland defeated her in two sets in the semifinals. Just weeks later at Wimbledon, Gauff struggled in the opening round, losing to fellow American Sofia Kenin. Despite these disappointments, Gauff defied those who doubted her. In the following weeks, she won her first WTA 500 and 1000 titles, at the Washington and Cincinnati Opens, respectively. Gauff was the first teenager to ever win the Washington Open. In Cincinnati, she defeated Świątek in the semifinals, earning vindication for her loss at the French Open. At the time, Świątek was the global number one. Some said this would be it for her, but The US Open saw the first Grand Slam title for her at just 19 years old on Sept. 9. She defeated Aryna Sabalenka, the current global number one, in the finals, even after losing the first set.  Gauff rose to global number three in the weeks following, her highest ranking to date.

During the US Open, the American track team impressed at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August. Perhaps the most compelling story is that of Sha’Carri Richardson, a queer athlete who first rose to prominence after breaking the NCAA women’s 100m dash record in 2019. She was barred from competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after a positive Marijuana test, which sparked outrage among track fans who argued she had not gained any advantage. In the years following, she faced injury, failing to qualify for the World Championships in 2022. Many doubted she would ever return to represent the United States. This year, however, she qualified to represent the United States in Hungary. She then won the 100m dash, was part of the winning 4x100m relay team, and won bronze in the 200m dash; her words after winning were “I’m not back; I’m better.”

Despite all odds, Coco Gauff and Sha’Carri Richardson have proven themselves to those who doubted they were anything but champions. Though the summer of 2023 has come to a close, women’s sports fanatics can now follow the WNBA playoffs until mid-October and the NCAA soccer and volleyball seasons. You can also watch Wellesley’s soccer, volleyball and field hockey games; check the Wellesley Athletics website to view the schedules and see the inspiring efforts of our teams right here on campus.

Mayo graduated from Saint John Vianney High School in 2022, where she started on the varsity volleyball team for three years while also being a Captain. After a successful High School career she had a powerful first-year and finished the season with 141 kills, and team-leading 43 total blocks  This year, with only playing a handful of games Mayo has helped the Blue to a 6-2 season. So far she has had 34 kills and is looking for more opportunities to dominate the court.  

To learn more about what makes such a great student athlete and teammate, The News asked Mayo a few questions.

TWN: How did you start playing Volleyball?

KM: The story of my volleyball journey’s start is very interesting, to say the least. I was once a cheerleader in my lifetime, following my mother’s footsteps, and in middle school, I unfortunately didn’t make the team. I still wanted to stay active, so one of my best friends and then long-time teammate suggested I try out for volleyball the next day. Since the first day I touched the ball, I knew I would love this sport! I then continued to play for middle school, high school and club.

TWN: What is your favorite memory from playing volleyball over the years? 

KM:My favorite memory from playing volleyball over the years has to be the time I spent playing for the National Team with Princeton Volleyball Club. Traveling the world with the greatest athletes and coaches from the tri-state area has been a blessing and has shaped me into the athlete, student and person I am today. My favorite city to play and explore was Boston, which persuaded me to play for Wellesley! I can’t wait to make more volleyball memories here at Wellesley!

TWN: Have you faced any adversity as your season has progressed? If so, how were you able to overcome those challenges?

KM: My season has just begun, and I’m grateful it is going smoothly so far. I have faced many challenges throughout my previous seasons, though. I suffered many injuries, including ankles, Achilles, fingers and back. Through prayer, PT and the support of my teammates, family and friends, I was able to get back on the court quickly!

TWN: Do you have any type of pre-game ritual? 

KM: I don’t have any personal pregame rituals; I usually go with the flow. With the team, we have many pregame rituals. We always bump “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga before we run out on home games and have a scream circle.

TWN: Who are your biggest supporters? 

KM: My biggest supporters have to be my parents and grandma. They have driven me to every practice, and have never missed a game till this day! I have such an amazing support system. 

TWN: What are you interested in outside of athletics?

KM: I love photography and always take my Canon EOS Rebel G film camera with me everywhere I go. I love the process of filming and the excitement I feel when I receive the photos I took. Also, since I grew up on the Jersey Shore, I love swimming in the ocean and have been a lifeguard for three years! Lastly, I am a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, where I can be of service to all mankind. 

At Wellesley, Kennedy majors in Political Science and Psychology. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, government and law, and social media marketing. With the help of Mayo, the Blue is on a win streak right now and will host its NEWMAC opener against Salve Regina on Tuesday.

December’s Student Athlete of the Month honor is awarded to Jessica Wegner ’22. Wegner is known around campus by her fellow student athletes and friends as “a friendly face and a fierce competitor.” Wegner is originally from Taipei, Taiwan and specializes in butterfly, backstroke and freestyle. 

Wegner has many notable achievements in her athletic career for the Blue, including CSCAA All-American honors in 2020, NEWMAC Women’s Swimming & Diving All-Conference First Team in 2019 and 2020, six school records and wins in the 100 yard butterfly at the 2019 and 2020 NEWMAC Conference Championships. 

A teammate shared this sentiment when nominating Wegner for this recognition: “Jess is enthusiastic, hardworking and entertaining in and out of the pool. We can always count on her to bring the heat and brighten the mood.”

The News (TWN) interviewed Wegner (JW) earlier this week.

TWN: What is your favorite memory of your season thus far?

JW: I was away at home in Taiwan all last year, so I was really excited to come back and see all the returning teammates and meet my new teammates (there were 20 of them!!).

TWN: Have you faced any adversity as your season has progressed? If so, how were you able to overcome those challenges?

JW: I think one of the hardest parts of this season was getting back in shape after the gap from the covid since there were limited opportunities for me to be in the pool. It was definitely very hard at first, but having my teammates next to me, pushing me through practice made the practices so much better.

TWN: What gets you most excited to play your sport?

JW: I LOVE the team and I LOVE competing!!! We get to train together and celebrate when all our hard work pays off.

TWN: Are there any future competitions or traditions that you are particularly excited for as the season progresses?

JW: I am excited for our winter session bondings, especially the dinner where seniors prepare the main dish, juniors prepare the dessert, sophomores prepare the appetizers and first-years prepare something to entertain the rest of the classes. I can’t wait for championships at MIT this year and maybe we’ll be able to make it to the NCAA.

TWN: Include anything else you’d like to mention about your season, what you’re majoring in, your interests, your favorite foods, your friends on campus, etc.!

JW: I’m double majoring in Environmental Studies and Physics, I love arts and crafts, music, naps and trying new food. I love boba, Taiwanese beef noodles (牛肉麵), pot stickers (鍋貼) and Taiwanese night market food.

Wellesley Swim and Dive concluded the first half of their season this past weekend at the MIT Invitational Meet, a three-day event hosted by MIT from Dec. 3-5. Wegner placed first in the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 56.02, fast enough to qualify for an NCAA B cut. The Blue as a team finished 5th overall just behind RPI. 

The Blue will return to campus in early January to train and compete during the College’s Wintersession. The next competition will be held on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022 in a tri-meet against Bridgewater State and Trinity at 1 p.m.

Keep an eye out for the January Student Athlete of the Month nomination form that will be distributed at the beginning of next month.

TWN: Where in the Wellesley Athletics Department legislation can the rule that students are not allowed to wear sports bras or crop tops in the KSC be found, or was it an unwritten rule that had been enforced by staff throughout the years?

BE: The guidelines and policies for Fitness Center patrons previously required that “shirts, athletic shoes, and proper athletic attire must be worn at all times.” That policy could be found on the Membership and Policies page of the PERA website https://www.wellesley.edu/athletics/facilitieshours/membership_policies#policies. We also learned through this process that there had been inconsistent enforcement of this particular rule. Our policies are now being updated to reflect that “appropriate athletic attire is required at all times throughout the facility” and “when using the fitness center, patrons wearing tank tops, sports bras or full mesh shirts must place towels between themselves and the equipment pads for sanitation purposes.” We would like all students to know that towels will not be provided by the KSC, and if a patron forgets or does not have a towel, then they will be asked to put their shirt on or not use any equipment in which their bare skin is touching equipment or mats. Please just remember to bring a towel next time!

TWN: What is/was the reasoning for prohibiting students from wearing these articles of clothing?

BE: Our goal is always to be welcoming of all students and Fitness Center users, and we ask that all patrons be considerate of others. We required that shirts, athletic shoes and proper athletic attire be worn at all times to encourage patrons to practice healthy hygiene habits when working out and to limit the amount of sweat that is transferred from a user to the machines. This is both for sanitation purposes and to help maintain the lifespan of the equipment so that it can be used in the best condition by everyone who would like to use the facility. We believe that requiring the use of towels as a barrier will meet this objective. We also wanted to be a place where [people of] all body types and experience levels feel welcome and comfortable. While this goal remains a priority, we also recognize that sports bras and crop tops are now commonplace workout attire and we don’t want our clothing policies to deter students from using the facility.

TWN: Was the discussion to change the rule initiated by student demand, or had it been an ongoing discussion among faculty?

BE: This policy was in existence prior to my arrival to Wellesley. While the policy has been reviewed at multiple points in the past several years, a student request initiated a new round of review.

TWN: How was changing the rule approached by the administration? What factors were taken into consideration?

BE: We reviewed student feedback, previous communications regarding this topic and the policies of other institutions and discussed them within the context of current trends. We recognized that our policy could be updated to allow students to feel their most comfortable while exercising while also meeting the sanitation standards that we want to maintain in the space. It was an easy decision to support our students and we hope to see many students in the Fitness Center and the KSC taking advantage of the opportunity to workout, especially as the days are shorter and weather turns colder this winter!

Wellesley Field Hockey closed out their season with a 4-0 loss to MIT on Thursday night in the semifinals of the NEWMAC Championship. To get to the semifinals, the Blue won 2-1 against Smith College on Saturday, October 30 with Alex Lenart ’24 and Keller Gardner ’23 each scoring. They closed out the 2021 regular season with a record of 6-2. Then, the Blue had a 2-1 win over Smith College on Tuesday, November 2 in the quarterfinals of the NEWMAC Championship with 13 saves from Kyra Deehr-Lewis ’24 and goals from Cass Novello ’24 and Alex Lenart ’24. With the No. 3 seed in the NEWMAC, the Blue will end their season at 10-7 overall. 

Volleyball

The Blue won 3-1 for their final regular season match of the year at WPI. TylerBell Smith ’23 recorded a career-high 18 kills on a .448 kill percentage and added four blocks and two service aces. Fellow teammate Nicole Doerges ’22 had a double-double with 21 kills and 10 digs and Tiffany Shou ’22 tallied four kills, eight digs, and two blocks in the contest. The Blue finished the 2021 season at 9-11 overall and 4-6 in NEWMAC play.

Cross Country

On Saturday Wellesley hosted the 2021 NEWMAC Cross Country Championships at Nehoiden Golf Club. Ari Marks ’22 took first place overall to lead the Blue to a runner-up finish. Marks finished in 21:48.9, which earned her the NEWMAC Runner of the Year. Four of Wellesley’s runners, including Marks, earned all-conference honors, which are awarded to the top 17 finishers. Maya Bradbury ’22 was eighth with a 6k PR of 22:59.9, while Claire Anderson ’23 and Ellie Murphy-Weise ’23 tied for 15th and 16th place with matching PR times of 23:24.9.  

Soccer

On Saturday afternoon, Blue Soccer drew 0-0 with Mount Holyoke College on a rainy Senior Day. The Blue found its best opportunity at the 76:13 mark with Liz Zhou ’22 heading a shot, but it was saved at the last second. The Blue outshot the Lyons 38-3, but the match ended in a tie. The match was the last game of the season for Wellesley, who finished 6-4-4 overall and 2-4-4 NEWMAC record. 

Golf

The Blue most recently competed in the NYU Invitational, which ended their fall 2021-22 season. Kate MacVicar ’23 and Caroline MacVicar ’23 both finished in the top 10. Kate followed an opening round 77 with a 78 on Sunday to win seventh (155) and Caroline totaled 80 following an opening round 79 to win 10th (159). Hannah Blonder ’22, who shot an 80 on Saturday, held on to 12th place (161) with a final round 81, while Ella Warburg ’22 tied for 14th (163) after shooting 85. The Blue is now listed as #22 in the NCAA Rankings.

Crew

On Oct. 24 at the 2021 Head Of The Charles Regatta, Wellesley tied their best finish again and was the fastest Division III team on the water to finish the fall season. The Varsity Eight took runner-up in the Collegiate Women’s Eight and finished with a time of 17:19.578. Wellesley’s Second Varsity Eight finished in 11th place with a time of 18:02.700. In the Women’s Collegiate Fours, the Wellesley Varsity Four finished at  20:50.833 to snag 18th. Close behind them was the second Wellesley Varsity Four who took 19th with a time of 20:52.483. 

Collegiate Eights

First Varsity:  C – Isabella Santos; 8 – Anneka Hallstrom; 7 – Katie Ball; 6 – Catie Moeser; 5 – Kaitlyn Severin; 4 – Olivia Gorman; 3 – Anya Hanitchak; 2 – Gaya Krishna; 1 – Kaylee Liu

Second Varsity:  C – Colette Kennedy; 8 -Adeline Van Buskirk; 7 – Zipporah Cohen; 6 – Anastasia Brooks; 5 – Cricket Liebermann; 4 – Eleanor Antezana; 3 – Amelia Lee; 2 – Emma Anghel; 1 – Bryn Flanigan

Collegiate Fours

First Varsity: C – Rachel Shrives; 4 – Macy Lipkin; 3 – Claire Johnson; 2 – Autumn Smith; 1- Cora Barrett

Second Varsity: C – Naomi Weisner; 4 – Rosemarie Goldstein; 3 – Melissa Daniels; 2 – Katherine Welsh; 1- Ella Tweedy

I’m bisexual, and I’m attracted to all genders. Recently, though, I’ve only been open to the possibility of getting romantically involved with one gender. I’m concerned that my preferences now will make me be seen as less of a bisexual. I’m also worried that, knowing me, my preferences will change and I might want to only date another gender. I can’t help but think that might make people question my authenticity because that wasn’t always my preference. On top of all that, I’m not sure if only wanting to be involved with one gender makes me not a bisexual. How do I navigate relationships when I feel less entitled to my sexuality?

Sincerely, 

Concerned about Consistency

Dear Concerned about Consistency,

I hear you! Sexuality can be so confusing and there are so many labels and nuances and micro labels and gah! It can be so scary!

To quote the brilliant Jean Milburn from “Sex Education”, “Sexuality is fluid. Sex doesn’t make us whole. And so, how could you ever be broken?” Preferences are okay. One day, you may find yourself more attracted to blonde hair, and another day you may be very interested in brown hair, or whatever it may be. Lean into that fluidity and accept it. Everyone experiences it to a certain degree and we only make ourselves miserable trying to ignore or control it. I was madly in love with Chris Evans yesterday, but I’m more drawn to Angelina Jolie today. Does that mean I’m wrong? Or that somehow I’m no longer entitled to attraction or love or desire? No! Of course not. It just means I’m human, complete with all the quirks and oddities that come with it. 

Regardless of what word feels the most right to you, labels are simply labels. They are not for you, not really. Labels make some people feel safer, and help them to feel less confused. They help us identify with a greater community, to feel less alone. They do not define us. If a word feels wrong or limiting or stifling, get rid of it! I know that I cycled through at least five or six different labels before settling on one that felt mostly right, but even now I have trouble defining my sexuality to others in brief words. You know yourself, and will continue to learn about your own desires and preferences, and anyone who makes you feel as though you are not entitled to your own sexuality can take a long walk off a short pier in my humble opinion!

Humans are living 100+ years now, and our life spans are increasing every day. You haven’t even gone through a quarter of your life most likely. Don’t stress too much over the nuances in your sexuality, and rather find reason to celebrate them. Anyone, regardless of gender, is lucky to be caught in your sights. Don’t forget that. 

Sincerely, 

Julianna

The pandemic has given me a lot of time to self-reflect, and I recently discovered my interest in kink. I’m having a lot of fun, but I can’t shake the guilt and shame I feel when I think about my kinks a little too hard. It seems like nowadays some aspects of them are accepted — and even celebrated — but then there are some things I’m into (safe, sane and consensual, I promise) that feel derided and mocked. How can I continue exploring this part of me without all the embarrassment?

Sincerely, 

Kinky and Concerned

Dear Kinky and Concerned, 

First, let me say that your concerns are absolutely valid. We unfortunately still live in a society that treats sex as something taboo, to be whispered about only behind closed doors. And that is just vanilla sex! When you get into the more nuanced discussions about kink, it can be exciting and daunting to realize there is just so much out there to explore. 

Second, I want to applaud you. Self-reflection is a challenging and beautiful thing; it is also wholly necessary. We can discover all sorts of fascinating (and sometimes scary) things about ourselves. In this instance, you’ve come to learn more about your feelings and desires regarding intimacy. Feeling pleasure, desire, excitement, ecstasy… all of these things are good. You deserve to feel these things! 

I appreciate you mentioning Safe, Sane and Consensual. These words represent the backbone of the kink community. Consent is a hot topic, and should always be considered. If there is not constant and enthusiastic consent, then there is no consent! However, don’t forget the other two words: safe and sane. Just because someone may consent to a certain act doesn’t mean that it is safe or sane. If someone consents to something that would cause permanent and/or severe harm to themselves or others, that is not a safe or sane thing to consent to, and therefore should not be done. This is true of physical harm, but also of emotional or mental harm. 

Take a look at these kinks you are into and let yourself explore them. This can be with yourself, with others, or simply in fantasy (hello romance novels!). It can take time to unlearn the stigmas around sex and kink placed on us by society, but you are already doing the work! Keep at it and I truly believe you will go on to have a wonderful and fulfilling sex life!

Sincerely, 

Julianna

Barbara Southcote, Wellesley nutritionist, started at the College as a member of Health Services in 2016 before taking her current position in the Office of Student Wellness. Her philosophy on food and nutrition is simple.

“A balanced and holistic approach to nourishing your body happens when mind and body come together to signal your body has been adequately nourished,” Southcote said. “Eating should be one of the most natural things we do, yet many may struggle when faced with the simple act of nourishing ourselves because of a confluence of factors, both external and internal. Unfortunately for many, the foods and quantities we choose are often dictated by will power and the goal of weight loss.”

These factors resonate all too well with some students on campus, causing folks to try new forms of dieting. Southcote advises that “when it comes to eating, throw away the rule book. The old approach of accepting restrictive and punishing diets as the norm and shaming others into losing weight in the name of ‘health’ not only does not work, but actually makes people less healthy. Weight is not indicative of health and focusing on weight as a health criterion is often harmful.” Those in the Office of Student Wellness are making a point to eliminate the weight stigma on campus, and are celebrating body diversity of the greater community.

Other factors that influence relationships with food are linked to the connections between food production and climate change. Many students have shifted to a vegetarian or vegan diet to protest the mass production of meat and its poor regulation. In 2020, the World Resources Institution determined that 11% of annual greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to animal agriculture. As the College seeks to reach a more carbon neutral campus, Southcote says that it is important to keep in mind that vegetarian diets are sometimes difficult for folks to achieve.

“While I think it is a good idea to be open to trying new foods, for a variety of reasons, texture, taste, temperature, mood, to name a few, eating new foods for some is not always easy,” said Southcote. “Working toward a more sustainable campus is a laudable goal. However, we must be cautious not to shame, judge nor alienate any student who may not eat a lot of plant-based foods.”

An alternative for not only the College, but all people, is to shop and eat carefully when it comes to meat. There are still plenty of local farms that sell sustainably grown animal products, but large Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) that supply most of the world’s meat products are driving small farms out of business. Some issues with plant-based foods are also coming to the forefront of nutrition with companies manufacturing fake meat with a variety of chemicals that attempt to recreate the flavor and even the bleeding of meat products. At that point, eating organic grass fed red meat and free range poultry is probably better for you and the environment

There are a variety of other factors to consider when deciding what makes it onto your dinner plate. Southcote referenced the eight dimensions of wellness that interact with each other: physical, social, emotional, intellectual, environmental, financial, occupational and spiritual. Southcote said, “For example, eating with others impacts our social well-being, sharing meals can also be part of our religious well-being, and so forth. Translation: food is important and certainly plays a role in your overall health and well-being, but it is only one of several components of wellness, and it is impacted both positively and negatively by other aspects of your wellness.”

There are a few other tips that Southcote had to offer about navigating your personal journey with food:

• Self-care over self-control: “Balanced nutrition is eating foods from different food groups, eating a rainbow of colors, eating foods you enjoy, satisfying your hunger and eating foods that provide your body with the energy and nutrients it needs to grow and thrive.”
• Avoid categorizing food: “Just as there are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ foods there is no right or wrong way to eat. One thing is certain; our relationship with food is complex. Nutrition is a science, but food is personal. Labeling foods as good or bad, or clean or dirty, is dieting by another name and dieting is the most important predictor of developing an eating disorder.”
• Assess your hunger: “What are you hungry for? A meal, a snack, a drink of water, an activity, change of scenery, a hug? We all experience hunger differently on different days. There is no right way to experience hunger. When you are hungry, choose an amount and types of food that will fill you up. Be guided by how your body feels and responds to food rather than what you think you are supposed to eat. On those days when you are super busy or distracted, it may be difficult for your body to accurately communicate hunger signals.”

Students can schedule a one-on-one meeting with Barbara Southcote by reaching out directly at bsouthco@wellesley.edu, or by completing the consultation form found on the Office of Student Wellness website. Please note that Southcote is only available for consultations during the academic year. Southcote can also refer students to off campus resources.

So, what do these tests mean? 

According to the College’s website, the Broad Institute has established categories to differentiate between results. These categories are invalid and inconclusive. Invalid results are tests that were not processed correctly, due to reasons such as incorrect labelling or the machine being unable to scan the barcode on the test tube. On the other hand, an inconclusive result is a test that is successfully able to be processed through the system but, yields a result that is “neither positive nor clearly negative.” While not necessarily a positive result, the College does require a student who receives an inconclusive or invalid result to adhere to in-room restrictions. As both of these fail to give a student a clear negative result, which is needed to confirm it is safe for them to go to in-person classes and participate in other on-campus activities, the College’s policies in response to an inconclusive or invalid test are similar. Thus, these words are often used interchangeably on campus. 

On Oct. 15, 2020, Audrey Mock ’23 received an email notification from Campus Key Scheduler regarding an inconclusive COVID-19 test, indicating that the lab had been unable to process her test sample. The email advised her to re-test as soon as she received the email.

This occurrence is not usual, as inconclusive tests account for a small, but a far from insignificant portion of the College’s overall testing numbers. Since Feb. 2, 2021, there have been 656 invalid and inconclusive tests according to the College’s COVID-19 Dashboard. The campus understanding of these inconclusive results is often not as robust as the understanding of positive or negative results. Most often, it is those who have personally experienced an inconclusive result who know the most about them.  

Taking into consideration the strict COVID-19 guidelines the College follows, receiving an invalid or inconclusive result can be scary and, in many cases, confusing for students. “I was a bit nervous about [it] at first just because I didn’t know what it meant,” Mock says of her inconclusive result. “But the email I received said there wasn’t any reason to be alarmed and it could happen for any reason, such as human error.” 

Mock soon re-tested and received a negative result. While she later had more inconclusive results, she was less worried about the implications after re-tests came back as negative again.  

The College’s policy towards dealing with inconclusive tests has largely remained the same the whole year, but the method of contacting students has changed. In the Fall 2020 semester, students would receive calls from Health Services only if they tested positive. For the Spring 2021 semester, Health Services now calls students to inform them of inconclusive or invalid test results and gives them instructions for actions they should take immediately. These include in-room restrictions until the student can test again.

Lorrie He ’18, a Wellesley alum and current member of the Broad Institute, explained the science behind evaluating test samples. According to He, the Broad uses a qRT-PCR assay, which is a way to quantity the amount of genetic material in a given sample. This is done to test the samples for the presence of genetic material from SARS-CoV-2, which is a strain of coronavirus within a larger family of viruses that cause upper-respiratory illnesses. The assay then uses two different probes, known as genetic material of interest, to amplify the SARS-CoV-2 material from the nasal swab sample. The key genetic information for COVID-19 testing is COVID-19 RNA, which controls the expression of the virus’ genes. 

“If one probe gives a positive result, while the other gives a negative,” He said, “the sample is inconclusive.” 

To dive into the scientific procedure, probes are mixed together with a fluorescent dye. The purpose of the dye is to bind with the probe and have the sample be detectable by a specialized machine. The machine will amplify the material through multiple PCR (polymerase chain reaction) cycles. PCR is a method to rapidly make millions to billions of complete or partial copies of a specific DNA sample. 

“Depending on the amount of starting material in the sample, samples will need different numbers of PCR cycles to hit the threshold,” He said. “So you can call a sample positive or negative based on the cycle number.” Less viral material would require more cycles to hit the threshold, and samples beyond a certain cycle number are considered negative.

He offers a few possible explanations on why an inconclusive test may have occurred. 

“My best guess for why someone might get an inconclusive result is because of a lack of viral RNA in the sample,” said He, “which could be because [they’re] actively recovering from an infection or they’re newly infected and virus production is just starting to ramp up.” 

Like the College, He recommends lightly quarantining to continue monitoring one’s symptoms after an inconclusive test. She suggests treating the inconclusive result as a positive and until definitive results come back.

The College has acted accordingly and recommends students with inconclusive or invalid test results to follow safety and distancing procedures. On Feb. 26., Michelle Lee ’23 received a phone call from Wellesley College Health Services regarding an inconclusive COVID test. During their conversation, the representative at Health Services let her know that she did not have COVID-19, but had to follow some distancing guidelines before her next scheduled testing appointment. 

“I’ve been testing since the Fall, and I have never gotten this.” Lee said, “I was really frustrated because I knew I was following rules and I don’t think I did anything differently,” echoing other student concerns that inconclusive or invalid tests might mean they have been exposed, or otherwise broke the College’s “bubble.” 

Lee was asked to stay in her room as a cautionary measure, even brushing her teeth in her room, and was not allowed to eat in the dining halls. She was not allowed to be around people or walk into buildings, but could go on walks alone. Lee mentioned that resources Health Services included following the inconclusive results were information on their website, the class deans and the Stone Center counseling services. However, more information about “why this [test] happened would have been helpful” as well. 

Mock agrees that additional information about the cause of the result would have made receiving the news more reassuring. Considering the pressure that students are already under to help the campus stay as safe as possible, the uncertainty of invalid or inconclusive results adds to the stress that students are already under. 

“Whenever you’re in a situation and you’re nervous about something serious like COVID, more information can always be a little more reassuring.” Mock said. “If there was any way they could give more details about why a testing comes back invalid, that would be nice.”