As Delta Variant Surges, College Tightens Covid Rules in Spite of Student Protests

Amid concerns surrounding the Delta variant of Covid-19, the college announced on Tuesday that it has tightened its public health rules for the first two and a half weeks of the fall semester. The announcement has generated backlash among students who say the new rules are too restrictive.

Daniel Rendón: Not Your Classic Story Arc

Just as Rendón aims to portray unconventional narratives through his theatre, he has a unique story of his own. Photo courtesy of Daniel Rendón ’21.“There was no way I could genuinely recreate everyone. If I were to make an honest attempt — and this isn’t to say I don’t trust my writing — but theater never ends up being exactly like the sort of thing that it’s trying to represent.” Daniel Rendón said that to me while describing the writing process and character development in his theatre and da

South Asian Students Association Holds Panel, Fundraiser for Ongoing Covid Crisis in India

The South Asian Students Association (SASA) held a virtual conversation with several humanities and STEM professors to discuss the ongoing Covid-19 crisis in India on May 17. More than 50 students and faculty attended the event, some with personal connections to the country. The Zoom event complements other SASA efforts to raise donations for the country and raise awareness of the catastrophic Covid outbreak it is facing. According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center [https://coron

Students Demand Immediate Release of College’s Student Relief Funds

On Sunday, April 18, the Association of Amherst Students (AAS), the First Generation Association and the Covid-19 Student Task Force released a letter [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EHu2D4VD493PDVtXw6bFEeuGQplSYNj13WH1OCKUabE/edit?usp=sharing] calling on the Office of Financial Aid to immediately disburse the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds III (HEERF III) to qualifying students. HEERF III was created on April 1 under the American Rescue Plan (ARP), the program that has offered s

Students Walk Out in Protest After Police Killing of Daunte Wright; AAS and BSU Demand Abolition of ACPD

At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 13, hundreds of students, dressed in black, left their classes to gather on the First-Year Quad and participate in a #BlackMindsMatter walkout coordinated by the Black Students Union (BSU). They were spurred by the recent killing of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man who was shot by a Minnesota police officer on Sunday, April 11 — the latest of a series of national incidents highlighting the often fatal consequences of police brutality and anti-Black racism. Rem

Board of Trustees Announces Divestment from Fossil Fuels by 2030

The college will not make any new investments in fossil fuel investment funds moving forward, Board of Trustees Chair Andrew J. Nussbaum ’85 announced in a letter [https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/facts/trustees/statements/node/797137] to the community on March 31. The college will also phase out its remaining investments in fossil fuel funds by 2030 and take a more proactive approach to relationships with investment managers. While recognizing that the announcement is a step in the right d

ACPD Reduces Reliance on Armed Officers, but Refuses Demands to Disarm

As part of its commitment to the Reclaim Amherst Campaign, the Association of Amherst Students (AAS) held a town hall [https://www.amherst.edu/system/files/AAS%2520Senate%2520Notes%2520March%252029%252C%25202021.pdf] with Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety John Carter regarding the state of the Amherst College Police Department (ACPD) and campus operations. During the virtual meeting on March 29, Carter announced the creation of a new campus operations position called Community Servi

College Admits Eight Percent of Applicants for Class of 2025

The college released its admissions decisions for the class of 2025 on March 29, admitting eight percent of a record-breaking 14,000 applications, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Matthew McGann told The Student. The number of applicants for the 2020-21 admissions cycle increased by 32 percent compared to last year’s pool of 10,601, and the admit rate decreased by four percentage points. Decisions were released at 18:21 (i.e. 6:21 p.m.) Eastern Standard Time, a nod to Amherst’s founding in 18

College Plans to Host In-Person Commencement on May 30

The college intends to have an in-person commencement ceremony for the class of 2021, President Biddy Martin announced in an email to the college community [https://www.amherst.edu/news/covid-19/community-messages/staying-in-touch/node/796159] on March 19. All seniors, regardless of their current location, are invited to participate. Seniors may also invite two guests to the ceremony, though individuals arriving from off-campus must comply with an intensive testing protocol prior to the event.

College Changes Quarantine Protocol for Vaccinated Students

The college has slightly adjusted its Covid-19 protocols for vaccinated community members. Persons who are fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine after an exposure to individuals with Covid-19, Dean of Students Liz Agosto told The Student. The change comes just after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html] on March 8. Vacci

Following Cancellation of Spring Study Abroad Programs, Students Consider Alternatives

Over two dozen students had their spring 2021 study abroad plans nixed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Students reported feeling disappointed by and understanding of the college’s decision not to support their programs. The Office of Global Education (GEO) has since identified a number of fellowships and internships for students to look into for the summer. A decision about fall 2021 programs will come later this year. Over the past year and a half, students and the GEO have faced multiple disruption

NESCAC Presidents Reach Agreement on Spring Seasons

President Biddy Martin and other NESCAC presidents have reached an agreement on a limited schedule of conference competition for spring sports, the NESCAC announced in a statement [https://nescac.com/news/2021/3/9/nescac-news-nescac-presidents-statement-on-spring-sports.aspx?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-nescacathletics&utm_content=later-15192434&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram] on March 9. Each college in the conference will determine whether to participate, and for each sport, a minimum

Composer, Pianist and MacArthur Fellow Jason Moran Gives Annual Rapaport Lecture

The college held its annual Rapaport Lecture, titled “The Sound Will Tell You” on Feb. 18, featuring Artistic Director for Jazz at The Kennedy Center Jason Moran. A musical innovator, composer of 16 solo albums and jazz pianist, Moran was named a winner of the MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellowship in 2010 [https://www.macfound.org/fellows/class-of-2010/jason-moran]for “blending a variety of musical styles in genre-crossing performances that expand the boundaries of jazz expression.” He released hi

Thoughts on Theses: Samuel Grondin ’21

Samuel Grondin ’21 is a biochemistry and biophysics major. He is writing a thesis on the discovery of small and previously unknown proteins in the bacteria pseudomonas aeruginosa, which could prove crucial in fighting hospital-acquired infections. His thesis advisor is Assistant Professor of Biology Mona Wu Orr. Q: What is your thesis about? A: I work in [Assistant Professor of Biology] Mona Wu Orr’s lab. She’s one of the new biochemistry professors this year. My thesis is on pseudomonas aeru

Workday Begins Replacing ACData, Modernizing College’s Business Processes

The college transitioned from ACData to the digital Workday system for human resources, finance and shared services business processes in early January. Workday is a cloud-based application software that was designed to centralize the storage and organization of Amherst workplace information. The process of moving from the decades-old ACData HR system to the Workday platform has been a monumental, two-year undertaking for the college administration, including the physical transfer of years of pe

“Before We Are Scientists, We Are Humans”: Students, Faculty Learn to Navigate Identity in STEM Classrooms

When not teaching introductory chemistry and biochemistry, solving the puzzles of protein folding or checking in with students, Professor of Chemistry Sheila Jaswal, affectionately referred to as Dr. J by her students, strives to become a better human in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Her efforts coincide with those of the STEM departments at Amherst to diversify majors and faculty hires, where Black and Latinx students, first-generation and/or low-income students and women ar

AAS Adopts Ranked Choice Voting

The Association of Amherst Students (AAS) senate voted to change the current voting system to ranked choice voting (RCV) for all elections on Nov. 17. Under the proposed amendment, students would rank each candidate from first to fifth place, and the election would proceed under a set of runoff rounds during which votes are transferred by preference until a candidate wins more than half of the total votes for the position. The amendment was passed by a vote of 23 for the measure, one against and

A Brief Interview With David Kessler ’73, Co-Chair of President-Elect Biden's Covid-19 Task Force

On Nov. 8, President-elect Joe Biden announced the appointment of Doctors David Kessler ’73, Marcella Nunez-Smith and Vivek Murthy as co-chairs of his new coronavirus task force. In a brief interview with The Student, Kessler discussed the college’s formation of Covid-19 protocols, conducting weekly briefings with President-elect Biden and the promising, preliminary mRNA vaccine data released by Pfizer. In the conversation, he noted and later confirmed with The Student, that the Pfizer vaccine

Spring Plans Announced, Seniors, Juniors, First Years Invited to Return

Here’s what you need to know: * The college announced that it would allow first years, juniors, seniors and transfer students to return on campus in the spring. * Around 1,200 students will be invited on campus, which is similar to the number of students that the college had initially expected to return to campus this fall. * Sophomores whose “home circumstances impede their academic progress” can petition to return to campus. * Depending on the number of students who wish to re

Education Studies Major To Be Available in 2021, Per Faculty Vote

Education Professions Fellows visit the Springfield Renaissance School in Springfield, Mass. in 2014. Photo courtesy of Amherst College Loeb Center. After years of advocacy, students will be able to declare a major in education studies as early as the fall 2021 semester. The college faculty overwhelmingly voted to approve the major in the faculty meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20, after a proposal was created by an education studies working group of several faculty and staff members. The most recent

College Moves to “Covid-19 Level Two: Heightened Awareness” Following Case Surge in Amherst Area

On Oct. 9, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Kevin Weinman announced that the college would move from to Covid-19 Level Two: “Heightened Awareness” on the Campus Operating Status [https://www.amherst.edu/news/covid-19/dashboard/campus-operating-status] scale. On Oct. 8, Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) designated the Town of Amherst as “higher risk” in its weekly Covid-19 Health Report. The college had been operating on Level One for the entirety of the semester until th

Several Swastikas Found Carved Into Book and Plow Farm Tables

Several small swastikas were found carved into a table at the Book and Plow Farm, Chief of Police John Carter announced in a community-wide email on Oct. 10. Since the discovery, the college has condemned the act and the Amherst College Police Department (ACPD) has moved the table to police storage. The college does not have information about who drew the swastikas. The college has faced several instances of anti-semitism, racism and other forms of severe bias in the recent past. In Dec. 2018,

Rule-Breaking, Bubble-Bending: Students Work With — and Around — Covid Protocols on Campus

In a Sept. 25 article, Fortune magazine [https://fortune.com/2020/09/05/covid-bubble-testing-safety-amherst-college-coronavirus/] summarized the college’s creation of a Covid-19 “bubble,” mentioning that students’ adherence to health and safety protocols, including three tests per week and a limited number of students, would hopefully keep the virus at bay. While the bubble may keep Covid-19 outside of the campus, it also invokes a sense of confinement, according to many students. As Fortune no

College Mourns the Loss of Sara K. Schmitter

Sara Kathleen (Hoctor) Brunner Schmitter passed away on Saturday, Sept. 5, President Biddy Martin informed the community in a campus wide email. Schmitter, 44, worked at the physical plant at the college for over 15 years. “Among her friends and co-workers, she was known for her good humor, her courage, and her deep love for animals and the outdoors,” Martin wrote in the email. “She loved her muscle car and her rescue dog, Lulu. I have also learned that Sara had a passion for fishing and for

Amherst-Area Students Devise Scandal to Oust Alex Morse from Democratic Congressional Primary

Alex Morse sits on a porch. Photo courtesy of Alex Morse for Congress.Now a defeated challenger in the primary race for Massachusetts’ first Congressional district, Holyoke mayor Alex Morse saw a campaign that came under fire — then made a comeback — after the leadership of the College Democrats of Massachusetts (C.D.M.A.), the University of Massachusetts Amherst College Democrats (UMass Dems) and Amherst College Democrats (ACDems) alleged that Morse used his position as a politician and an adju

Taking One Day at a Time: Over 900 Students Adjust to Life on a Covid-Cautious Campus

For the past three months, the college has set forth careful, calculated planning for the precarious experiment that began last week: bringing the 937 students from across the pandemic-stricken country to live and learn on campus. It did not go off without a hitch; students tested the waters and saw how firm the campus living guidelines held; out-of-state tests did not return in time; and Zoom crashed on the first morning of classes. However, all in all, the precarious mobilization seemed a succ

First-years and Sophomores Set to Live On-Campus in College Re-Opening Plan

Between 1,200 and 1,500 students, mostly first years and sophomores, are invited to return to campus in the fall as a part of the college’s reopening plan. Photo courtesy of Matai Curzon ’22.Here’s what you need to know: * The college will bring back between 1,200 and 1,250 students this fall, approximately 60 percent of the total enrollment of approximately 1,800. Priority will be given to all first- and second-year students, as well as all transfer students, second-semester seniors

What Do We Know About Fall 2020? Looking Ahead of the July 1 Announcement

With the college approaching a final decision on operations for the fall 2020 semester, the administration has nodded to a number of potential shifts through emails to the community, Q&A sessions with donors and other modes of communication. Though July 1 — the date around which the college expected to announce its plans — looms, little is still known as students attempt to piece together the already-disclosed details at hand. Colleges across the country are scrambling to prepare for a potentia

Avery Farmer: Common Sense Leadership Shows the Way

After graduating from Amherst, Farmer will work at Berkeley Legal Group in Boston before attending law school on the East Coast.  Photo courtesy of Avery Farmer ’20.When I started out as a news writer for The Student during my first year, I found myself constantly interviewing one student: Avery Farmer ’20. His name appeared over and over again in the paper, as if he had a connection to every event on campus. He seemed to be in the know about everything, and everyone knew who he was. I eventual

College Reports its First Coronavirus Case

The college confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on campus, President Biddy Martin announced in an email to the college community on April 23. “A custodial staff member received the news of the positive test results yesterday and is in isolation at home and doing well,” Martin wrote. “I know you will join me in wishing this individual a complete and speedy recovery,” Martin wrote. According to Martin’s email, the individual’s last day on campus was on April 18 and they had been asymptomatic a

As COVID-19 Prompts SAT and ACT Cancellations, College Goes Test-Optional for Next Admissions Cycle

The college will implement a number of changes for its 2020-21 admission cycle in response to the coronavirus pandemic, including the adaptation of test-optional policies and halting the consideration of SAT Subject Tests, the Office of Admission announced in a press release on April 6. Students may still submit their SAT and ACT scores for the Office of Admission to consider during their evaluation process. Additionally, the $400 enrollment deposit will be waived for the class of 2024. The dec

Remote Classes Begin as College Adjusts to Coronavirus Changes

Since the college first announced its plans nearly three weeks ago to move towards remote learning in response to the nationwide coronavirus outbreak, shifts in grading policy, virtual class format as well as staff responsibilities and compensation have come rapidly. As these developments occur, students and staff have made efforts to reconcile the abrupt end to the semester while administration pushes to move forward with the new normal. While campus changes persist, the state of Massachusetts