Saki Maeda

Categories: This spring, Avajane Lei `28 and Julia Ghorai `27 brought archaeology to life for local middle school children through the launch of the Grinnell Young Archaeologist’s Club. Their first event was held on Sunday at the Drake Community Library in partnership with two community partners, the Drake Community Library and Archaeology in Community. “Drake Library has been super wonderful, super accommodating about dates and super helpful with supplies,” Ghorai said.

The size of the Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies (GWSS) department at Grinnell College has been relatively steady in declared major numbers, as the field navigates broader political scrutiny in today’s higher education landscape. A federal report published on April 9, 2026 titled “Victories for Higher Education: Ending Gender Extremism and Cutting Underused Programs” identified Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies as an elimination target.

Award-winning sociologist Dr. Jaime Kucinskas explained her research, centered around the ethical dilemmas faced by federal employees during Trump’s first administration, during a talk at the Humanities and Social Studies Center (HSSC). While the norms and professional culture of the civil service typically help stabilize government, Kucinskas argued that they can leave bureaucrats unprepared under increasingly autocratic leadership.