International Mother Language Day is celebrated annually on Feb. 21 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity. It was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999 to commemorate the Bangla Language Movement, wherein Bangladeshis fought for the recognition of their mother tongue, Bangla. This movement began when the Pakistani government implemented a policy that made Urdu the official language of the country, even though the majority of East Pakistan’s population spoke in Bangla. What followed were mass protests, and on Feb. 21, 1952, police opened fire on student protesters; two decades later, East Pakistan gained independence and became what is now known as Bangladesh, or Land of Bangla. 

Wellesley’s BSA commemorated the event by inviting students to showcase the beauty of their mother tongues and cultural heritage through a performance of their choice. Performances ranged from traditional dances to spoken words to songs. Performances were given in a range of languages, such as Bangla, Urdu, Creole, Spanish, Chinese and Korean. At the end of the performances, the mic was open to the rest of the audience, underscoring the warm and welcoming nature of the event. 

The Wellesley News spoke with Alisha Shahriar ’25 and Samihath Zaman ’25, co-presidents of the BSA and coordinators of the event. They spoke about how the 1952 event was such a catalyst for Bangladeshi independence and how they hoped to honor that through this annual event. 

Zaman said that Coffeehouse is “what you feel most comfortable with. People can sing, they can do poetry, they can dance to songs in their mother tongues or the languages that they feel most comfortable with.” 

She explained that at her first Coffeehouse she talked about how much she enjoyed BSA in the open mic portion, and how she truly appreciated being culturally immersed in the space and hearing people speak Bangla. 

BSA has become an integral part of Shahriar and Zaman’s Wellesley community. They both have been on e-board since first-year, when they joined the organization and realized what an important space it was. The organization hosts various events throughout the year, including lectures, collaborations with other organizations — Wellesley or otherwise —  and fun bonding events, but Coffeehouse is the main event they do annually every year; it has become a staple BSA is very proud of. 

Shahriar thinks this year was their biggest turnout, something BSA is very proud of. They also saw new forms of expression this year, especially with dances. 

They also introduced “Cha” for the first time, which they think people enjoyed. Overall, they described the atmosphere as positive and happy.

“I think a lot of people mentioned that there was a sense of joy that could be felt,” Shahriar said. 

Shahriar and Zaman hope that this inspires more people to come to Coffeehouse next year, but also to overall promote cultural understanding and community on campus. 

“I would encourage anybody, no matter how confident you feel speaking another language, if you have something that you’d like to share or a language that feels especially important to you, we’d love to hear about it,” Shahriar said. 

Zaman concluded by pointing out the importance of cultivating spaces for everyone to feel comfortable to share their culture: “I’m glad, through the Coffeehouse and through other BSA events, we have tried our best to do it, to create a safe space for everyone to share … it’s really beautiful.”

Image credit: Samihath Zaman ’25

Contact the editor responsible for this story: Hira Khan

Correction issued: Alisha Shahriar’s name has been updated. The previous version was misspelled.

“Bye Bye Tiberias” opens with footage of Soualem swimming in Lake Tiberias as a child. Soualem narrates, “As a child, my mother took me swimming in this lake. As if to bathe me in her story.” Soualem was born and raised in Paris but spent her childhood summers in Deir Hanna, a village that was under Israeli control when Soualem’s mother, Hiam Abbass, was growing up. Abbass eventually moved to Paris due to the suffocation she felt as a Palestinian in modern-day Israel. However, living in exile in Paris proved an immense challenge, and once Soualem was born, Abbass made frequent trips to Deir Hanna. 

Historical archival footage and personal home movies are woven into the documentary, providing an official yet personal touch to Soualem’s story. Abbass and Soualem’s narration of their story revolves around monumental family figures like Um Ali, Soualem’s great-grandmother who was forcibly displaced from her home in Tiberias during the 1948 Nakba. Interspersed throughout the film are precious moments between Abbass and her sisters, who have maintained their closeness despite having been separated for years. 

“Bye Bye Tiberias” particularly resonated with students of Palestinian descent at Wellesley. Hala Habahbeh ’27 commented, “In the Arab World, we assume the heritage of our fathers. It’s patrilineal … Watching a film following the women and their lineage was deeply precious to me. The origins of our mothers are discussed, but not often considered as a part of our roots. The film recognized our mothers. It focused on our Palestinian mothers, their strength, their resilience and their endless love. It made me feel seen. ” 

Jouri Elsadek ’27 was similarly moved by the film, “I grew up hearing about my family’s personal history in Palestine, but growing up in the states meant that I usually only heard about Palestine in contexts of violence and genocide. To see Soualem trace her family history was a moving reminder that Palestinians remain today and continue to live out their lives all over the world. We will never be erased.”

The movie screening was followed by a Q&A session with Soualem. On how the film changed her relationship with her mother, Soualem noted that, “I was not expecting to know the young woman that [my mother] was, nor the teenager, nor the young child. It was a way for me to get closer to my mother because when you’re born in a country that isn’t your parents’, there is such a huge gap in the culture and language. But through this film, I had access to things I never thought I had access to.”

The use of both French and Arabic in the documentary prompted a question about Soualem’s interpretation of language in the film, to which she responded, “It’s a mirror of our two different cultures. For me, accepting the multiplicity of language was also a way of affirming our complexity. I didn’t want to hide the fact that French was my native language. I wanted to follow the more authentic reality that I had. If I had translated it to Arabic, I would have been faking the storytelling.” 

Since its release, “Bye Bye Tiberias” has received numerous accolades and nominations, including the Grierson Award at the BFI London Film Festival and the shared jury prize at the Marrakech International Film Festival. Its themes of resilience and overcoming occupation have resonated with audiences across the globe, especially in the wake of Israel’s latest onslaught on Gaza. “Bye Bye Tiberias” serves as a staunch reminder of the stubbornness and enduring nature of the human spirit in the face of tragedy.

Contact the editor responsible for this story: Phoebe Rebhorn

This year’s overarching theme was, “Frontiers of Change: Shaping the Next Wave of Innovation and Disruption.” Albright fellows were split into eight groups and assigned a topic under the general theme. One of the fellows, Annette Chun ’26, described her experience in an interview with the Wellesley News. Her group’s assigned topic was on technology-enabling healthcare in Kenya, a topic which was intentionally chosen for her team as they had no prior knowledge of it. Fellows, she explained, are usually given topics that they are unfamiliar with so they can become experts in a field they haven’t previously explored. This year’s program ran from January 2-18, giving fellows just over two weeks to transform their research into an elaborate presentation. 

 Chun explained, “We had three checkpoints to make sure we were on track with our research. Initially, we did broader research on tech-enabling healthcare in Kenya and then narrowed it down to the specific issue we wanted to present to the Distinguished Visiting Professor.” 

This year’s Distinguished Visiting Professor was Nicole Wong, who specializes in helping high growth technology companies with numerous tasks, such as AI governance and international privacy. She previously served as Deputy US Chief Technology Officer in the Obama Administration and has also worked for Google and Twitter, focusing on the intersection of law and technology. Albright fellows were expected to present to Wong, who would follow up with questions after the presentation. 

Says Chun, “One thing I thought was interesting was that presentations weren’t in a traditional slideshow format. Some people did skits, while others did mock podcasts. My group did a mediation because an official mediation is a commonly used platform in Kenya, so we decided to reenact that. Overall, people were really creative with their presentations.”

When asked about memorable moments in her Albright experience, Chun said, “I really enjoyed my cohort. The people in my Albright group were amazing: Virginia Little, Chantria Garcia, Lillie Stewart and Carme Sanz-Muñoz. During one memorable workshop, cohorts were instructed to build a bridge out of cardboard. It was a super fun bonding moment for us, and the overall energy was very positive.” 

When asked what advice she had for aspiring Albright fellows, Chun responded, “I think a lot of people think Albright only pertains to those interested in politics and international affairs, but in reality, the program is designed to be interdisciplinary and caters to students of all majors. A lot of Albright speakers are also Wellesley alums, which gave me a newfound appreciation of the College and community.” As Chun says, the application process may seem daunting, but it should not stop one from applying. In her experience, the Albright Program was a rewarding one that provided a new perspective on global affairs. 

Image credit: @albright.inst on Instagram

Contact the editors responsible for this story: Phoebe Rebhorn and Hira Khan

Third places, a phrase coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, are hangout spots that are separate from the home, school and workplace. They pose no financial difficulties for entry and are typically a breeding ground for random and impromptu conversation. Third places can be libraries, coffee shops or pubs, to name a few. Centered around lively conversation, these places are meant to be comfortable, inviting spaces that make one willing to return.

Recently, however, they have been replaced by virtual chat rooms and social media platforms. The onset of the pandemic also introduced Zoom, a video chatting application that allowed schools and workplaces across the world to continue working during the pandemic. Now, people are increasingly becoming comfortable with platforms like Zoom and are abandoning traditional third places. The decline of third places is an indication that physical human interaction and communication is decreasing as well. 

Although technological advancements are to blame for the decline of third places, so are other factors, like the toxic work culture prevalent in the US. In a society that prioritizes productivity, leaving some free time in one’s schedule to commute to a third place sounds unnecessary and counterproductive. Moreover, the suburban sprawl phenomenon that has intensified since the 1950s does not allow for accessible transportation, making it harder for people to visit third places. The ideal third place is also relatively close to home, but the low-density, isolated residential areas that comprise suburban neighborhoods are often bereft of third places. 

Cary L. Cooper, a professor of organizational psychology and health at the Alliance Manchester Business School, says, “Those venues and spaces provide people with an imperceptible feeling of being socially connected and part of a community. That’s quite important for being productive and imaginative. There’s no doubt they’re much more stimulating than any home office.” A refuge from domestic and professional labor, third places are the key to a happy society. Their revival is imperative for the well-being of all citizens.

In order to allow third places to thrive, cities and suburbs can implement certain changes. For example, providing adequate and accessible public transportation, along with convenient checkpoints and routes, will allow more people to commute to a nearby third place. Providing free WiFi at third places can turn them into meeting points that will further encourage people to visit them. Existing laws can also be mended to aid the cause of reviving third places. For example, a provision of the Affordable Care Act requires hospitals to analyze health needs on a local level and use their resources to meet those needs. Since third places are important in bolstering the mental health and happiness of community members, hospitals can help in making them more accessible by working with local agencies and businesses. 

On an individual level, we must all recognize the power of spending time at third places and the benefits they can bring to our mental health. By taking initiative and visiting third places more often, we contribute to their revival. These visits can be as simple as study sessions at coffee shops or strolls through parks. 

In a post-COVID world, visiting third places may seem like an especially daunting task as many grapple with a newfound sense of social anxiety or loss of conversational skills. Allowing oneself a slow return to social settings may prove to be an easy and smooth transition to a post-COVID life. Anxiety expert Hillary Ammon recommends slow breathing exercises during seemingly frightening social situations. Ammon also says to “avoid avoidance,” or to not let feelings of anxiety prevent one from re-entering public spaces. Frequenting familiar third places until one is more comfortable visiting others can be another helpful way of transitioning from quarantine to a more social life.

Although major technological and societal changes have led to the endangerment of third places, reviving them is possible with the help of policymakers and average citizens alike. As Ray Oldenburg says, “Joyful association in the public domain is far better than watching television in our lifeless subdivisions.”  Bringing third places back to life is crucial for the health and betterment of society.

Lashari is one of 33 million Pakistanis who have been affected by ravaging floods in the Pakistani provinces of Balochistan and Sindh. The effects of the flooding have been catastrophic; since June 2022, over 1.2 million livestock have been killed, 7.9 million people have been displaced and severe food shortages are expected in the flood’s aftermath. Lashari and approximately 598,000 others are currently living in relief camps after their homes have been swept away.

The flooding began during Pakistan’s monsoon season, which usually causes localized flooding in several regions of the country. This year, however, torrential rainfall brought record-breaking floods to Pakistan, causing a humanitarian crisis and damage that will take over $30 billion to repair. 

Unsurprisingly, climate change is the reason for this escalation — a study by the World Weather Attribution group concluded that 50% of the rainfall that contributed to the devastating floods could be traced back to climate change. This is especially infuriating because out of all the world’s historic emissions that account for climate change, Pakistan is responsible for only 0.4%. Yet, it is bearing the brunt of the effects of climate change.

This situation is outrageously unfair. Developed countries like the United States are responsible for a majority of the world’s carbon emissions, and yet they are not as severely affected by climate change. The US has pledged $50 million in aid and “long-term support” to Pakistan, but that’s a pittance when we remember that Pakistan needs $30 billion to make a full recovery. The World Bank has pledged $2 billion, a couple steps up from other nations’ pitiful help, but at the end of the day, it’s not enough.

For years, we have droned on and on about the frightening impacts of global warming and how we need to enact change now if we want to save the Earth. But developed nations still continue in their gluttonous ways, burning fossil fuels like there’s no tomorrow (ironically, there won’t be at this rate of energy usage). Meanwhile, countries like Pakistan, which contribute almost nothing to global carbon emissions, suffer the consequences. What is needed are climate reparations. The world’s biggest carbon emitters, like the US, China and the European Union, must donate enough to meet the $30 billion marker. In doing so, they will not only expedite Pakistan’s road to recovery, but they will also acknowledge the role they play in repairing the damage they have caused. Furthermore, the Loss and Damage Fund that developing countries have demanded for years must be given; it is time developed countries took accountability for their heinous actions.

It is also imperative that support is given to smaller organizations seeking to raise money for humanitarian crises like the Pakistan floods. For example, the Wellesley Pakistani Students’ Association (PSA) has organized several henna and mango lassi fundraisers to aid flood relief

efforts. It is incumbent on the Wellesley student body to support the PSA and ensure its voice leaves echoes across campus and beyond. Uplifting such organizations is crucial to giving Pakistan the aid that first-world countries refuse to.

The abhorrent truth about rich nations is that they will not care about climate change until it begins to affect them. Until then, we will continue to be desensitized to the struggles of Black and brown communities across the world. We will look online at images of drowned villages and shake our heads before going back to our comfortable, environmentally unsustainable lives. We will nod in agreement with Joe Biden when he vaguely says that Pakistan “needs help” at the U.N. General Assembly. But when none of it is enough for the people of Pakistan, we will conveniently forget their struggles and make no attempt to change our extravagant ways of living. Rich countries must begin acknowledging the role they play in devastating humanitarian crises like the flooding of Pakistan. Their accountability is the first step in creating a global climate change solution, one that is desperately needed.