To the Smith College Board of Trustees,

Any person who has had the good fortune to attend Smith College knows that it is a place unlike any other in the world. While it’s impossible to boil down the essence of Smith into a few short words, I think we can all agree that it derives from the faculty, staff, alumni, and students who bring unique life experiences to campus. We enrich ourselves with the experiences of other Smithies, and this shapes us to become leaders in every aspect of our lives.

As a recent alum of Smith (class of 2025), I write this to you out of a place of profound concern for my peers and the posterity of Smith College; the investigation launched by the US Department of Education presents a very immediate threat to the aforementioned sense of community that you and I have come to love. By threatening attack of our transgender siblings at Smith, the federal government undermines our culture, our values, and our love for one another that directly contributes to our continued success in the world. 

While I personally cannot claim to know the proper response to situation as difficult as this, I do know that if Smith College chooses to fight the Trump administration instead of backing down or settling, you will have my full support by whatever means necessary. As an individual, I cannot contribute much. As a member of community, and a very motivated community at that, I believe we can provide the moral and financial means necessary to defend ourselves from the ideological onslaught of the White House. I urge Smith to protect our trans students, faculty, and staff to the best of its ability. Please consider these sentiments when you choose the next steps, as they could make all the difference. 

Sincerely,

Zoe Gould ’25 (she/they)

Former resident of King House

Chemistry Major, Art History Minor