HEOP at HWS

By Emily Echavarria ‘25 and Paulina Tejada ‘25 Staff Writers

What is HEOP, exactly?

The Higher Education Opportunity Program was founded in 1969 by Aurther O. Eve to financially and academically support marginalized students in over 50 colleges, including in our very own Hobart and William Smith colleges. This is a program that affords opportunities to students within New York State looking to further their higher education by allotting them the necessary tools for success. It is a rigorous program that requires the participants to fully dedicate themselves to their studies, while also creating a community that stands on shared experiences.

What does HEOP mean to you?

We asked our HWS HEOP Community what HEOP signified to them.

“What HEOP means to me is giving people a chance to get a higher education. It’s giving an opportunity to do some-13

thing that they deserve and have the right to do which is become educated”- Djeneba Diop’25

“A community that’s always there to support me”- Jamie Moreno (’25)

“Financial Aid..... Lemme stop. It means a community of people who I truly can trust and will feel comfortable with. Like, y’all feel like family.”- Bryan Gonzales Soto (’25)

“It means opportunity. A chance to make something of myself that I wasn’t beforehand. Further myself beyond all possibilities”- Paulina Tejada’25

“HEOP is family,community, and a learning environment.” - Joshua Cruz (’24)

“HEOP, to me, is an essential component for fostering community amongst students of color, specifically at predominantly white academic institutions. Programs such as HEOP allow students with similar backgrounds but different experiences to display their talents and potential in spaces that they would otherwise be excluded from. Ultimately, I feel that the HEOP program is shifting the culture of higher education from exclusivity and societal perceptions of belonging to acceptance and equality, two qualities of academia that have continuously hindered and misrepresented academic opportunities for scholars of color.” - Nassir Whitley (’22)

We believe what sets HEOP apart from many financial and academic programs is that HEOP truly garners a sense of community and belonging even in an environment where marginalized students have not historically been welcomed or assisted. This does not necessarily mean that HWS isn’t welcoming to minority students, however, HEOP gives these students a secure circle before, during, and after college. This program is not solely looking at students’ success when admitted, this program focuses on making sure that HEOP students thrive in a social setting and learn more than what they need to achieve a degree.

Photo Courtesy Renee Grant Students participating in the HEOP Summer Institute pose for a photo during their trip to Darien Lake

By Abby Leyson ‘22 Staff Writers

With Covid cases trickling down to zero, CAB was able to host Haunted Houghton once again, a beloved spooky HWS event that culminates Halloween in all its amusement and horror. The Herald was able to attend and observe the event, as well as speak to several students about their experience upon its return.

After a year of HWS silently appreciating the seasons as they come and go, we have had a loss of community events that bring students and faculty alike to openly gather and celebrate the seasons and their holidays. Fortunately, CAB revived Haunted Houghton on the chilly evening of October 23rd to warm up HWS and spread Halloween spirit during this busy fall semester.

This year, Haunted Houghton welcomed students back with two new food trucks on site that enamored students with their enticing warm comfort foods such as kebabs and hot deluxe sandwiches served with fries on the side. On top of the good eats, CAB provided students with warm apple cider in the spirit of fall to sip on while roasting marshmallows by an alluring fire that sparked embers of blue and violet.

The main area of the Arts Campus dedicated to

fall festivities was filled with tarot card readings and psychics for those interested in delving into their past, present, and futures while the moon spectated as it slowly rose to the top of the sky. The crisp air was brought to life through the sharp riffs and steady beat of the drums that serenaded students throughout the night by the live band, The Boogeymen, playing classics and Halloween medleys.

The Herald observed the most popular events this year to be the broomstick ride and haunted hayride. There, zombies and other creatures of the night lurked in-between the trees of the arts campus, tempted to show themselves and interact with the students onboard their tour of Haunted Houghton.

Abby Palin (’23), shared that her favorite moments from Haunted Houghton

consisted of “the live performance, the food and the face painting.” Despite the cold, Palin shared that “the food was delicious and kept me warm,” speaking to the Herald while dressed up in her witch costume. “I got to enjoy it all while looking cool and listening to music.”

Zerina Makhdoomi (’22) shared how special it has been to experience Haunted Houghton one last time at HWS with The Herald. “Haunted Houghton has been one of my favorite HWS events since freshman year,” said Makhdoomi. “I was so happy to see that it was back again for my senior year! With hot cider, food trucks, psychic readings and a fun hayride, what else can you ask for during spooky season!”

Students and vampires that gathered on the arts campus that night agreed that it was a pleasure to have HWS welcome back

Haunted Houghton after a long year of missing activities and events such as this that bring the community together in such high spirits.

Photo Courtsey Office of Communications A student gets a tarot card reading at the Haunted Houghton event