Admin Redesigns New Student Orientation

This August, annual programming for the college’s new student orientation underwent shifts involving attendance requirements. The changes follow an article published in a The Free Beacon in December, which criticized the optional “Voices of the Class” performance and other college-sponsored events.

Hampshire Students and Faculty Find New Home at Amherst

Following Hampshire College’s decision to close this coming December, Hampshire students, faculty, and staff had to transition to new campuses mid-semester. The College enrolled 13 and established one-year visiting positions for nine Hampshire faculty members.

Hotel UMass Linked to Cocaine Trafficking Scheme

Lamar Cook, deputy director for Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, was arrested on Oct. 28 for his involvement in trafficking cocaine through Hotel UMass and the State Office building in Springfield. Authorities confiscated more than 21,000 grams of cocaine.

College Releases First-Year Class Data After One-Month Delay

After a one-month delay, the college has released demographic data for the class of 2029. This year’s class sets a new record for the percentage of first-generation students and students from rural towns. The percentage of Black and African American and Latinx students also doubled.

Students to Vote on Update to Honor Code

The College Council, a committee composed of faculty, students, and staff, has proposed changes to the College’s Honor Code. The proposed updates are designed to make the code more “concise and digestible.”

Amherst Community Protests to “Stand up for Democracy”

On Friday, approximately 50 students, faculty and staff, and town members gathered at the intersection of South Pleasant Street, College Road, and Northampton Road, to “stand up for democracy.”

Amherst Regional Public Schools Superintendent Cleared of Misconduct Allegations

Members of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee and the Union 26 School Committee received an anonymous letter in November 2024 accusing superintendent Dr. E. Xiomara Herman of misconduct. An outside investigation cleared Herman of the allegations.

College Concerned Over Potential Erasure of Education Department

Members of the Amherst administration expressed concern over the news of President Donald Trump’s potential elimination of the Education Department. Even if the department remains intact, widespread staffing cuts could be dangerous, college officials warned.

Town of Amherst Updates Housing Production Plan to Address Affordable Housing Needs

The Town of Amherst is updating its Housing Production Plan as a tool to increase deed-restricted affordable housing in response to residents’ concerns about high housing costs.

Students Fear for Abortion Rights Post-Election

After Trump’s election, the college is monitoring abortion laws as students and the Reproductive Justice Alliance worry about a national abortion ban and restrictions on contraceptives.

Town of Amherst Sees Robust Early-Voting Turnout

Ahead of election day, 1,627 town residents voted early and another 3,800 cast mail-in ballots. Though those numbers represented expected decreases from the 2020 election, which occurred during the pandemic, “people are very interested” in this year’s race, the town clerk said.

Reproductive Justice Alliance Canvasses for Harris-Walz

The Reproductive Justice Alliance was the first group at Amherst to canvass this election cycle. They were also the only Amherst registered student organization to canvass at an event in New Hampshire last month.

Administration Takes Over AC Votes Ahead of November Election

AC Votes, a get-out-the-vote operation formerly run by students, is now part of The Center for Community Engagement. Student participants touted the stability of the new arrangement, but former leaders said the change was poorly communicated to them.

AAS To Consider Defunding Spring Concert in Future

After discontent with this year’s spring concert and low turnout at previous concerts, AAS senators are wondering if spring concert funds can be put to better use elsewhere.

New Committee Seeks to Address Student-Athlete Divide

In response to long-standing complaints and social and academic divides between athletes and non-athletes, a committee, formed in the fall of 2023, is exploring potential policy changes to address the existing disconnects on campus.

Newport House Caps Renovation with Unveiling of New Mural

A new mural in the basement of Newport, designed by Colectivo Moriviví and painted by a rotating team of community members, celebrates Latinx community both at Amherst and in the larger diaspora. 

Amherst’s Elementary Schools Face Over $500k in Budget Cuts

As Covid-19 era federal funds lapse and costs rise, Amherst’s elementary schools will be forced to find extra room in their budgets. Possible changes include larger class sizes, fewer after-school programs, or even layoffs.

Students Organize Panel on the History of the Gaza Strip

A coalition of student groups organized a panel of experts on the Middle East and Palestine as counter-programming to a talk by Bret Stephens. The panelists discussed the history of Israeli violence in the Gaza Strip and the racism of the modern Zionist movement.