Exit Letter: Theo Says Thank You

Senior Managing Editor Theo Hamilton ’23 reflects on his time with the Editorial Board as he says goodbye to The Student.

“Hostages” Documents Iranian Hostage Crisis

On Nov. 29, Shahruz Ghaemi ’19 hosted a screening of “Hostages,” a documentary series about the Iranian hostage crisis. Senior Managing Editor Theo Hamilton ’23 reflects on the series, on which Ghaemi worked as an archival producer.

Seeking Challenges, Embracing Community — Alumni Profile, Rick Lopez ’93

Rick Lopez’ ’93 career has been defined by a combination of restless drive and a dedication to community which has brought countless positive changes to the college.

Due to Budget Deficits, AAS Faces Depletion of Funds

The Association of Amherst Students is facing a significant depletion in its funds, due to reductions in the student activities fee — its only source of income — during the pandemic. The Budgetary Committee is considering stricter guidelines on discretionary spending to curtail the depletion.

College Announces Least Restrictive Covid Protocols Yet for Fall Semester

On Aug. 5, the college released its Covid-19 protocols for the fall semester. The protocols outlined a number of significant changes from previous semesters, including the end of surveillance testing and the adoption of an isolation-in-place policy.

Lauren Kisare: Critical Language Scholar With a Future in Publishing

A natural community builder, Lauren Kisare’s time at Amherst has seen her excel at everything from journalism to studying Korean — all while bringing joy to the people around her.

College Announces Changes to Covid Protocols Amid Rising Cases

Over a series of emails throughout the past week, the college announced heightened Covid protocols following a sharp uptick in cases. Changes include more restrictive masking policies and the implementation of in-place isolation.

AAS Delays Bylaw Paying AAS Officials

The Association of Amherst Students (AAS) voted on Monday to delay the bylaw establishing salaries for AAS officials from taking effect until at least the next academic year, after senators learned from the administration about certain obstacles to implementing the bylaw.

New AAS E-board Speaks on Campaigns and Goals

The Student spoke with the newly elected AAS e-board on their new positions. The electees include President Sirus Wheaton ’23, Vice-President Jaden Richards ’25, Treasurer Dania Hallak ’24, Secretary Jeffery Ma ’24, and Judiciary Chair Alex Jabor ’23.

Presidents Biddy Martin and Angelina Han ’22 Deliver State of the College Address

On Monday, April 11, President Biddy Martin and Association of Amherst Students President Angelina Han ’22 hosted the college’s annual State of the College Address. Han and Martin discussed “a year of transition” for the college and shared their hopes for the coming years.

The Power of Petite Plays: Green Room’s Ten Minute Play Festival Wows

The Amherst College Green Room put on its annual Ten Minute Play Festival this weekend. Senior Managing Editor Theo Hamilton ʼ23 summarizes the short and punchy sketches.

Fulbright Language Assistants Petition for Pandemic Compensation

This morning, March 30, three Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FLTA) for the Spanish Department sent a petition with over 400 signatures to the administration, requesting room and board compensation for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Administration Releases Plan To Support Student Well-being

Following a semester that saw surging demand for mental health support, the administration provided an update on Feb. 8 regarding the college’s efforts to better support student well-being, including bolstering the Counseling Center, new college-wide activities, and loosening of Covid restrictions.

Spring Event Policy Updated, Adds Restrictions to Dorm Use

A Feb. 14 email communicated stricter rules for event registration in the Spring 2022 semester. Students expressed confusion and frustration about party policies that they believe disproportionately affect certain student organizations and do not lead to safer practices.

Succession: An Exploration of Power and Pride

The third season of “Succession” wrapped up on Dec. 12. Managing Editor Theo Hamilton ’23 breaks down the reasons to watch the show — from its sharp wit and fascinating characters to its intriguing themes and brilliant acting.

Amherst Through Art — Homecoming Review

After a year of fully remote performances, this Fall marked the return of live performance to Amherst campus! Managing Editors Theo Hamilton ’23 and Alex Brandfonbrener ’23 highlight their favorite performances of the year so far.

From the Field to the Publishing Room: A Life in Literature — Alumni Profile, Niko Pfund ’87

From Iain Banks to Toni Morrison, Niko Pfund ’87’s lifelong interactions with literature have inspired his passion for communicating ideas through publishing.

Lights, Camera, Action: Emma Ratshin Takes the Stage in "Bad Jews"!

Emma Ratshin 22E's senior thesis — a performance of "Bad Jews" by Joshua Harmon — will kick off the Amherst Theater and Dance Department's annual schedule. Our editors sat down with Ratshin to discuss some of the play's highlights and her background in theater.

Middle Earth is Unearthed in Green Room's Lord of the Rings Parody

On Oct. 15, The Green Room will hold their first live performance in almost two years with a parody of "The Lord of the Rings." After watching a dress rehearsal, Managing A&L Editor Theo Hamilton '23 gives a sneak peek of some of the show's best bits.

"Twin Peaks" Reboot Peaks, Reimagining Cult Classic

The brilliance of “Twin Peaks: the Return” is that its writers knew they couldn’t just dial back the years and write “Twin Peaks” again. Instead of trying to ignore 25 years of change, Lynch and Frost took advantage of it.

Toma-Jin Morikawa-Fouquet: An Interdisciplinary Thinker and Empathetic Leader

Morikawa-Fouquet sits on the first-year quad in Fall 2019, the year he began his journey at Amherst. Photo courtesy of Toma-Jin Morikawa ’21.In the words of his thesis advisor (Professor of Political Science Thomas Dumm), Toma-Jin Morikawa ’21, also known as Toma-Jin Morikawa-Fouquet, is “a brilliant example of a new generation of Amherst students with a truly international perspective.” Born in France but raised in the U.S. and Japan, Morikawa-Fouquet has had no shortage of opportunities to dev

Performance Gone Virtual: The Sabrinas

In a year bereft of lively, in-person assembly, the Sabrinas have stepped up to fill the void. Despite the pandemic and its misfortunes, the stellar a cappella group has trudged forward, coming back stronger than ever this spring with a modified audition process, revamped social media promotions and an optimistic outlook for in-person performances. As the last segment in our pandemic-inspired feature series, “Performance Gone Virtual,” the A&L editorial team spoke with current music director May

Performance Gone Virtual: Dance and Step at Amherst College (DASAC)

For most of the 2019-2020 school year, the members of Dance and Step at Amherst College (DASAC) performed their trademark, well-choreographed mixture of hip-hop, step and street jazz-influenced dances to live audiences. Their fall 2019 showcase, “DASAC: End of a Decade,” moved fluidly between 14 songs, from Beyoncé’s “Best That You Never Had” to Iggy Pop’s “I’m Bored” to Twice’s “Fancy.” Each piece was entirely choreographed and performed by students (and each can still be seen on DASAC’s YouTub

Fleet Foxes Return with Pensive New Album ‘Shore’

During the first few months of quarantine, indie folk band Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold struggled with songwriting. Bored, exhausted and uninspired, he started going for long drives through upstate New York. All of a sudden, the pieces clicked into place: “It was kind of like I was going around collecting rocks … I’d come back home and I’d have this row of lyrics [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/sep/23/fleet-foxes-robin-pecknold-shore] ,” Pecknold told The Guardian. Over time, those drives

Soledad Slowing-Romero: A Voice for Engagement, On and Off Campus

Soledad Slowing-Romero ‘20 was among Amherst’s first majors in the Latinx and Latin American Studies department and the first to write an honors thesis in the department. Photo courtesy of Soledad Slowing-Romero ’20.There is no question that Soledad Slowing-Romero ’20 has left a significant mark on Amherst College throughout her four years here. From volunteering in the local community, writing the first honors thesis for the Latinx and Latin American Studies (LLAS) department and serving as pre