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Williams College Making Plans for Spring Sports Starting Mid-April

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Williams College announced Tuesday that it will allow off-campus travel for athletic competitions this spring under strict COVID-19 protocols.
 
Dean of the College Marlene Sandstrom and Vice President for Finance and Administration Fred Puddester sent an email to the college community announcing the decision a half hour after the New England Small College Athletic Conference decided to allow its members to decide whether to participate in spring sports.
 
Starting in mid-April, if public health trends continue to be favorable, Williams will allow travel for sports and other college-sponsored activities, Sandstrom and Puddester wrote.
 
"Requirements will include participation in the campus Covid testing program and rapid antigen testing on the day of travel; traveling directly to the approved venue without stops; wearing masks at all times during the trip, including during competition; with all activities held outdoors unless otherwise authorized; and no spectators or guests," the letter stated
 
Everyone who participates in a trip will need to be up to date with the college's COVID-19 testing program, and Williams students will be able to compete only against peers from schools with equivalent testing programs.
 
"If even one person scheduled to participate in the trip or event from either institution tests positive the trip will be canceled. Rescheduling will be allowed subject to availability and the same rules," the letter said.
 
Earlier Tuesday, the 11 NESCAC presidents co-signed a letter announcing the league's decision to allow its institutions to play intercollegiate sports in a delayed spring season.
 
"If enough institutions field teams, NESCAC conference play will go forward in baseball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s rowing, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s outdoor track & field," the league's presidents wrote.
 
Williams' Puddester and Sandstrom emphasized that the college will continue to review public health metrics throughout the coming weeks and could cancel or suspend spring competitions as needed.
 
"Please understand, too, that our plan is just a plan," the administrators wrote. :We will need to continue reviewing the public health outlook, and if the situation worsens we will reevaluate and may need to hit pause."
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High Turnout as Williamstown Passes Local Tax Exemption

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Sixty-nine percent of registered voters participated in the 2024 election in the Village Beautiful.
 
But the total number of votes fell short of the 2020 total, when Joseph Biden defeated Donald Trump in the presidential race.
 
Election workers late Tuesday evening were confirming the results of balloting that drew 3,506 ballots collected early, through the mail and on Tuesday at Williamstown Elementary School.
 
In addition to the candidates for various offices and five statewide public questions, Williamstown voters had one local question on the ballot. No. 6 sought to confirm a vote at last May's annual town meeting to create a tax exemption for the Community Preservation Act surcharge for low-income residents of any age and seniors of low- or moderate income.
 
That question passed by a margin of 2,177-977.
 
In 2020, Trump and Biden split 3,695 votes in Williamstown, with Biden garnering 85 percent in his successful bid to replace Trump in the White House.
 
Not surprisingly, the Democratic nominee again was the favored candidate in the progressive stronghold.
 
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