A Systematic Exclusion: How We’re Taught to Discount Palestinians

Managing News Editor Noor Rahman ’25, Editor-in-Chief Sam Spratford ’24, Contributing Writer Caden Stockwell ’25, and Staff Writer Cole Warren ’24 peel back the layers of silencing and dehumanization that have enabled Israel’s war crimes in Gaza.

New Latin Honors Breadth Requirements are an Inadequate Spring Cleaning

Contributing writer Henry Bontempo ’26 asserts that the new Latin honors policy is self-defeating in its mission to encourage diverse courseloads.

Experiencing Ableism in Amherst’s Infrastructure

Willow Delp ’26 explores the difficulty of movement around campus, detailing experiences of disabled students as they face an institution characterized by physical and rhetorical hostility toward accessibility.

My Fellow Freshmen, You Are Not Alone

Columnist Shane Dillon ’26 reminds his fellow first-years to take care of themselves as the semester gets tough.

The Elite Student’s Struggle for Integrity

Taking inspiration from James Baldwin’s 1963 talk “The Artist's Struggle for Integrity,” contributing writer Zane Khiry ’25 urges students to pursue fulfillment amid the pull of conventional notions of success.

The Global Importance of Brazilian Democracy

Contributing writer Oliver Polachini ’26 reflects on the global importance of Brazilian democracy in light of the nation’s recent presidential elections.

Let’s Talk About Israel and Palestine

Mason Quintero ’23 makes the argument that peace and mutual understanding are necessary to even begin conversations about the conflict in Israel and Palestine, emphasizing the necessity of “a nation for both peoples.”

Kayah’s Korner: How To Navigate Office Hours

Mikayah Parsons ’24 debuts a new advice column aimed at helping first-generation, low-income students survive the Amherst experience with her first entry, which provides recommendations for navigating office hours.

The Case for Mask-optional Classrooms at Amherst

Poler Family Professor of Psychology Catherine A. Sanderson argues that the college’s current mask policy for classes makes little scientific sense and calls for in-class masking requirements to end.

Mammoth Mind-Pho-ness: Clean Up Your Drive Storage!

In the debut article of Mammoth Mind-Pho-ness, columnist Pho Vu ’23 uses the occasion of a policy change in Google’s Drive plans for higher education to remind students of the value of minimizing their storage use.

Toward a Cuisine of Cultural Representation

Contributing writer Pho Vu ’23 recounts her experience tasting Val’s take on the Vietnamese pho dish, asserting that accurate representation of ethnic cuisines is a crucial step toward cultural inclusivity in the dining hall.

The Case for Five Class Slots

Managing Opinion Editor Tapti Sen ’25 argues for an expansion from four to five class slots each semester — and a slimming-down of average workloads to facilitate the change.

The Problem With the Bruce Bogtrotter Competition

In light of the cancellation of the women’s sports teams’ annual Bruce Bogtrotter cake-eating competition, contributing writers Nina Krasnoff ’23 and Emma Strawbridge ’25 call for public recognition of how the competition dangerously promotes disordered eating behaviors.

Who’s Really Running Amherst College?

Contributing writer Phoebe Neilsen ’25 argues that the Board of Trustees is ill-equipped to make decisions on campus, calling for abolition of the board.

Standing Against AAPI Erasure

Contributing writers Karen Lee ’25 and Eleanor Lee ’25 call for solidarity in the fight for A/P/A studies and against the erasure of the work of AAPI student activists.

Title IX Blind: How Amherst Mishandles Sexual Misconduct

Contributing writer Jared Kim ’23 protests the college’s attitude toward sexual misconduct on campus, urging the college to stop its over-reliance on the Title IX office and create a true culture of care for survivors.

Go Plant-based: For Yourself, for the Environment, for the Animals

Contributing writer Tim Carroll ’25 outlines the tangible reasons and ethical philosophies of why we should convert to plant-based diets.

Amherst Needs an Intro Econ Course for Non-majors

Staff writer Andrew Rosin ’25 outlines why Amherst needs to have an introductory economics course for non-majors, claiming that it would be more accessible to the larger community.

Who Are “Climate Refugees”?

Contributing writers Tara Alahakoon ’25 and Mohamed Ramy ’18 discuss the importance of recognizing “climate refugees,” people who have lost their homes and livelihoods due to the increasingly negative effects of climate change.

Rethinking the Open Curriculum

Managing Podcast Editor Sam Spratford ’24 points out the flaws of the open curriculum and argues for more distribution requirements.

Rants and Raves: “Scrape Your F — king Plates”

Contributing Writer Priscilla Lee ’25 discusses her friend’s negative experiences working with Val due to people’s lack of communal responsibility for the space.

Nuclear Power Really Is the Future

Contributing Writer Diego Rao ’23 responds to Columnist Cole Graber-Mitchell's ’22 previously published article decrying nuclear power, arguing that it is necessary for a sustainable future.

The Key to a Constructive Contra

Editor-at-Large Scott Brasesco ’22 critiques certain aspects of Amherst’s newest opinion publication, The Contra.

A Better Amherst: A ‘New Curriculum’

Tessa Levenstein ’23 and Mason Quintero ’23 advocate for more service-oriented learning at the college, arguing for community to become a central tenet of an Amherst education.

A Better Amherst: Careers of Consequence

Contributing writers Charles Sutherby ’23E and Mason Quintero ’23 discuss the ways in which Amherst fails graduates pursuing public service, in the second of a three-part series for The Student.

Coping With Campus: Harmony in Purpose and Use

Managing Opinion Editor Dustin Copeland ‘25 writes on the lack of social spaces on campus, focusing specifically on Cohan Dormitory. 

Seeing Double: Administrators Should Talk to Students

Seeing Double columnist Cole Graber-Mitchell ‘22 outlines why the administration needs to consult students before making certain decisions.

A Better Amherst: Amherst Isn't Doing Its Job

Charles Sutherby ’23E and Mason Quintero ’23 discuss the tiny percentage of Amherst graduates pursuing public service in the first of a three-part series.

In Defense of Democracy, a Response to The Contra

Tylar Matsuo '24 defends the ideal of the democratic state in response to an article published in the intentionally divisive Amherst Contra.

How Structural Differences Disadvantage International Students

Contributing writer Isaiah Doble ‘25 details a set of deep discrepancies between the experiences of domestic and international students, drawing from conversations and interviews conducted over the past semester.

Difficulty Over Artistry: The Evolution of Women's Figure Skating

In anticipation of forthcoming Olympic events, contributing writer Olivia Lynch ‘25 explores the effect that changes in the scoring system have had on competitive figure skating.

It's No Time for Speaking Cuts

In a public letter, a group of 12 students form the Students for Public Speaking argues against the cancellation of the college’s annual public speaking contest, asserting that public speaking is important to a liberal arts education and the the success of Amherst students in their futures.

A Commitment to Beauty in College Row's Shadow

Assistant Opinion Editor Dustin Copeland ‘25 argues that the college should envision the new student center as a monument that is not only serviceable as a space but also beautiful and awe-inspiring as a piece of art.

Frost Should Be Open 24/7

Assistant Opinion Editor Tapti Sen ‘25 shares her positive experiences at Frost Library and asks that hours be extended to 24/7 service.