Issue 10

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF AMHERST COLLEGE SINCE 1868

THE AMHERST

STUDENT

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VOLUME CXLIX, ISSUE 10 l WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019

AMHERSTSTUDENT.COM

Nearby Affordable Housing Unit Planned Despite Pushback from Professors Natalie De Rosa ’21 Managing News Editor

Photo courtesy of Sarah Wishloff ‘19

Photo courtesy of Zach Jonas ‘22

Even recently constructed buildings such as the Science Center are not entirely accessible to all students, faculty and visitors. Upon its construction, the west-facing entrance (shown here) did not have automatic door openers.

Campus Buildings Face Accessibility Concerns

Zach Jonas ’22 Managing News Editor

The college is set to make new changes geared toward increased accessibility on campus, including: the creation of an online form for reporting barriers preventing accessibility, the addition of a staff member to the Office of Accessibility Services, increased signage across campus and updates to the online campus map, according to a draft of President Biddy Martin’s email announcement obtained by The Student.

Martin also highlighted the repavement of walkways and streets near during the summer of 2019 as a reflection of addressing accessibility needs. In the spring 2020 semester, the college will form an ad hoc advi-

sory group to consider changes that will make the Science Center more accessible.

Last November, Martin invited students to participate in two accessibility surveys — the Facilities Accessibility Survey and the Climate, Culture and Accessibility: Individuals with Disabilities (CCAID) survey.

Near the end of the spring 2019 semester, Martin released the executive summaries of two studies made by consultant groups, which used data from student responses as well as information gathered from a “threeday on-site visit, follow-up interviews, stakeholder input and a review of documents and websites” to issue recommendations for increasing accessibility on campus. Roughly 25 percent of Amherst students identify

as disabled, the CCAID survey says.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990, mandates that the college provide working accomodations for faculty and staff members with disabilities — it’s one of the primary reasons the college sent out the surveys. Both the campus’ hilly terrain and the age of many on-campus buildings pose challenges to accessibility.

One recommendation from Drummond and Woodsum law firm, one of the consultants, is to create an ADA leadership position which would oversee “all disability-related matters campus-wide. The role would extend beyond the student accommodation experience to include the other areas outlined below including employees and visitors

with disabilities,” the CCAID study states.

The college has also embarked on a search process for a position that “[guides] decision-making and [coordinates the college’s] responses on all aspects of accessibility across divisions,” according to Martin’s announcement. Last month, the college hired accessibility services specialist Precious Parham to work in the Office of Accessibility Services with Director of Accessibility Services Jodi Foley. Parham declined to comment on her new position, referring The Student to Foley. The Student reached out to Foley, who did not respond by press time.

Martin’s statement, however, did

Continued on page 3

Plans are underway for the development of a new affordable housing unit at 132 Northampton Road, a building adjacent to Pratt Field. The project, which will house 28 low-income and homeless individuals from the town of Amherst, has garnered mixed opinions from the neighborhood’s residents, some of whom are affiliated with the college.

This past July, the town council of Amherst voted to provide $500,000 in community development block grants to the project, currently in development by Valley Community Development Corporation (Valley CDC). Valley CDC is a Northampton-based organization that supports low-income people in the Pioneer Valley with affordable housing and other economic opportunities. Under the approved plan, the project will begin construction in 2021. The site next to Pratt Field, a single-family home that will be converted into a single-room occupancy (SRO) complex, will be Valley CDC’s first location in Amherst.

According to Laura Baker, real estate project manager at Valley CDC, the Town of Amherst has been considering a project of this sort for over a decade. “The town has been identifying the need for this kind of housing — these kinds

Continued on page 4

News Nov, 4. 2019 – Nov. 11, 2019

>>Nov. 4, 2019 9:39 a.m., Webster Circle An officer notified an individual on the train tracks of the safety risks of being on the tracks, and that they were not permitted to be there.

10:55 a.m., Amherst College Police Department An individual was issued a trespass notice from the campus.

11:57 a.m., Emily Dickinson House An officer responded to a report of paint on a sign.

3:26 p.m., Chapman Parking Lot An officer took a report of two past vandalisms to a student’s car. >>Nov. 6, 2019 3:54 p.m., Garman House An officer responded to an alarm and found it was set off by a hair dryer. >>Nov. 8, 2019 12:42 p.m., Beneski Earth Science Museum An officer took a report of an individual that was agitated and did not want to leave the museum.

The individual eventually left the area on his own.

7:02 p.m., Campus

Logan Deming

Thoughts on Thesis

Grounds Party hosts did not meet at the assigned pre-event meeting check in.

10:37 p.m., Alumni Lot An officer notified a student that a door of their unoccupied vehicle was found open. Nothing was taken from the vehicle. >>Nov. 10, 2019 1:30 a.m., Newport House An officer observed a group of individuals gathered and found no issues.

2:35 a.m., Hitchcock Dormitory An officer observed damage to an Exit sign and ceiling tile.

2:08 p.m., Greenway Building B An unknown individual walked into an unlocked room and stole food. >>Nov. 11, 2019 1:59 a.m., Barrett Hill Drive Officers responded to a report of individuals destroying pumpkins with a baseball bat. Officers also found a broken exit sign with the two.

2:57 a.m., Mayo Smith Dormitor y An officer found a fire extinguisher that was tampered with.

English Department

Logan Deming is an English major. For her thesis, she is writing a creative-critical hybrid piece about breaking out of imposed futures brought upon by heteropatriarchy and white supremacy. Her adviser is Professor of English Alicia Mireles Christoff.

Q: Tell me what your thesis is about.

A: I’m doing a creative-critical hybrid — mostly creative — on how marginalized people can break out of what I call “imposed futures.”

I’m looking at how people who are marginalized for some part of their identity — I’m focusing a lot on black women, because I am a black woman — and also others can have certain parts of their lives imposed upon them because of heteropatriarchy and white supremacy. There are parts of your future that are inherently imposed from birth, for example, where you live. I’m looking a lot at diaspora. My mom came from Jamaica, and that was a choice for her and her education made by her mother for a future kid, who I am.

Q: Can you tell me about your inspirations for this topic?

A: A lot of it comes from two English classes I’ve taken, Decolonial Love and Lives on the Page. In Lives on the Page, we looked at the blurred lines in fiction between autobiography and fiction, like when people take a look at their own lives and fictionalize them to reach a greater truth, or find something new. Decolonial Love looked at the effects of heteropatriarchy and white supremacy in the way we form relationships in a colonial world. I took Lives on the Page my sophomore spring, and my junior year I took Decolonial Love.

Q: What are some materials you’re looking at for this thesis?

A: It’s mostly creative, so I’m not really doing as many readings now —

I did a lot over the summer. Some that I’m trying to center in my work are “This Bridge Called My Back,” which is a really great book, and “Sassafrass, Cypress and Indigo,” which is a really wonderful piece of fiction I love to read. It has a lot to do with what being free looks like, which is what I want to explore in my thesis. I’m definitely looking at that book a lot. Another is “Brown Girl, Brownstones” by Paule Marshall. There are definitely others, but those are the ones I’m thinking about right now.

Q: Since this is a creative/personal thesis, what stories of your own are you bringing in?

A: There are going to be three sections, and my second section is a really personal one. It’s going to be very stream-of-consciousness from my head, and I’m taking a lot of experiences that I had and fictionalizing them in ways that hopefully will be cool. There are some critical aspects — I’m doing essays to introduce each section. The majority of it is creative.

Q: Have you done a lot of creative writing at Amherst?

A: Lives on the Page and Decolonial Love were somewhat creative, but other than that, no. I think it’s a really cool way of working through both literature and the world. All of the writing in both of those classes was creative, and I really enjoyed that, so I thought that I might as well try it.

Q: At what point in the thesis process would you say you are at now?

A: Right now, I have a rough draft

of my first chapter, and I’m working on my second and third. I met with my advisor and her other advisee, Shawna Chen ’20, [The Student's editor-in-chief], to make it a more collaborative process.

Q: What’s it like to collaborate on your theses?

A: I really enjoy it — I think collaboration is something I should have done more throughout my time at Amherst. Shawna and I have basically been in every English class together, so we know each other’s writing very well, and it’s helpful to have that perspective. It’s really nice to have another reader, and we all get along very well.

Q: What are some other ideas you’ve explored in your thesis?

A: I’m trying to look at what imposes a future — part of it is again, heteropatriarchy and white supremacy — but I was talking to [former Professor of Black Studies] Dominique Hill last semester, and she brought up how it’s interesting that the self can also impose futures, so I’m also exploring that, as well as diaspora.

I’m also going to be looking at ways to break out of isolation, which is something I think I’ve struggled with in the past. I’m going to be looking at what being free actually looks like, and that will be more of a speculative fiction-type work. It’s something I want to explore: how you form relationships in a colonial world, and how those relationships can be a very difficult thing, but also something that saves you.

— Sophie Caldwell ’23

News 3

The Amherst Student • November 13, 2019

Changes in Party Policy Place Greater Responsibility on Hosts Ryan Yu ’22 Managing News Editor The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) announced adjustments to its party guidelines in an email sent to approved event hosts on Nov. 7, with changes taking effect Nov. 8. The updated policy mandates stricter requirements for post-party cleaning, including immediate cleaning at the end of the party, mandatory photo-documentation of the space post-cleaning and check-ins from event staff before, during and after registered events.

This comes on the tail of a recent report of sexual assault on campus.

The college’s party policy has been a source of significant controversy in recent years, especially after a contentious overhaul of the policy in 2018 that tightened existing regulations and increased party sponsors’ responsibilities. Students have accused the administration of lacking transparency and sidelining student voices in the process of producing policy changes.

According to Dean of Students Liz Agosto, the new adjustments do not represent a major change for students holding parties. “The actual expectations for a party host have not changed at all,” she said.

“What we’ve implemented is an expectation on our behalf that we provide some more support and be more present. The only thing that we’re asking differently is that students make a little effort to clean up

afterwards.”

The changes were made “to support students, particularly the party hosts” in holding “the safest and most fun parties they can be,” said Agosto. She noted that the changes “aren’t a response to any sort of dramatic shift that we’ve seen happening,” but rather stem from long-standing assessments of “community impact and harm.”

“Many of the parties occur very successfully without damage, without dangerous drinking. We want to be able to provide that support to others and have these exact same kind of events,” added Chief of Police John Carter. “We want our students to have an active social life on campus. We want them to be on campus where it is safer for them and where we can support them as we need to. And this was an opportunity for us to communicate that and to put in steps that are not intrusive.”

Senior Associate Dean of Students Dean Gendron pointed to a change implemented this semester — involving how the administration receives feedback on proposed events — as a tool that has provided “better data” and consequently spurred the latest batch of policy revisions.

“We now have more opportunities to receive anecdotes from students about the things that they’re experiencing because they live adjacent to a venue or because they walk through the aftermath of par-

ties the next morning,” Gendron said.

Students expressed ambivalence over the new policies. “The party policy needed modification, but I’m not sure that the OSA has taken it in the right direction. I don’t quite understand where the new check-in policy comes from, and my impression so far is that the party check-ins have been pretty ineffective,” said Luis De Pablo ’22, a social chair for the men’s club soccer team. “But I’m actually a pretty big fan of some aspects of the new clean-up policy. I think it makes sense to have people document their clean-up with photos to eliminate some of the confusion later on.”

Agosto acknowledged that the changes to the party guidelines “were decisions that students did not participate in making.” Still, she stressed that “the ways in which we engage around parties, around alcohol, around social engagement, that’s a long-term conversation that students need to be a part of ” and that these adjustments are comparatively “short-term.”

Both Agosto and Gendron emphasized that they are looking for ways to more actively involve students in administrative decision-making processes, especially with regards to topics like parties.

Agosto and Chief Student Affairs Officer Karu Kozuma held office hours to talk about the changes with students on Nov. 7, and the

buildings such as Chapin Hall, the location of many religion and history classes, Barrett Hall, where parts of the French, German and Spanish departments are housed, and the Octagon, which hosts philosophy classes, have not been officially renovated since their initial construction in 1958, 1859 and 1848, respectively.

None of the three buildings contain elevators. The Octagon does not have a ramp for entry to the first floor, and there are no bathrooms on the first floor of Chapin Hall.

Even recent additions to the campus such as the Science Center originally “[lacked] automatic door open-

ers at any entry,” the CCAID study found. Automatic door openers have since been added to the west-facing entrance of the Science Center. The north and south entrances still lack automatic door openers.

One tour guide has found other issues with accessibility across campus, particularly in the Science Center. “We have a reputation as a campus that is very hilly and hard to get around,” Sunghoon Kwak ’22 said, noting that it’s nearly impossible to travel the campus without using stairs. “If you take stairs out of the picture, I don’t know how I would do my tours.”

Photo courtesy of Sarah Wishloff ‘19

The new addition to the party policy requires the party host to clean up immidiately after the conclusion of a party and provide evidence to Residential Life.

OSA also discussed the changes with the Association of Amherst Students on Nov. 11.

“We’ve got lists of people who have been party hosts that we need to engage with and have conversations with. We’ve got students who have declined parties or raised concerns that need to be part of that conversation,” said Agosto. “And then, we need to recruit and create … working groups that are actively engaged in looking at policy and our language — students need to be active partners and part of those, because this is a long-term project.”

Gendron also referenced a meeting that he held with residents of King Hall, during which he dis-

cussed the possibility of having the King community decide for itself its approach to parties. “I would like to get to a future where each community has a semester-to-semester conversation about those parameters so that it’s the local community of residents, not some administrators somewhere, making decisions about what that quality of life looks like and how it’s achieved,” he added.

Gendron encouraged students to reach out to the OSA, emphasizing that “we are very interested in hearing what folks have to say, whether those are words that are supportive, neutral or in criticism of what’s come out.”

Finding the right paths to take around campus when there is a physically disabled person in the tour group is difficult, he added. “I had a tour which I adjusted to make it wheelchair accessible for a prospective student,” Kwak said. “Usually, tours last between an hour to an hour and 10 minutes. This tour, though, lasted an hour and a half. It is difficult to find ramps and non-hilly areas to get through.”

Due to the college’s layout, tour guides have created alternate routes, avoiding the abundance of stairways and steep hills, to show the campus to prospective students. “We have to

cut out a lot of spots,” Kwak said. “On these tours, we don’t go into Val[entine Dining Hall]. We go down the hill near Barrett Hall toward Keefe Campus Center and just point out Val.” In her announcement, Martin asked students, staff and faculty to continue the shared work of increasing accessibility. “I deeply appreciate this community’s shared commitment to a culture and an environment in which everyone can flourish,” Martin wrote. “Aware of the long distance we still have to travel, I am thankful to you for your partnership as we continue to make progress.”

Surveys Reveal Necessity for Greater Campus Accessibility Continued from page 1

not touch on other recommendations from the CCAID study, such as the creation of a testing center for students with accommodations surrounding exams.

“We strongly encourage the campus to explore creating a testing center that would alleviate many of the burdens placed on students, the registrar’s office and faculty to arrange for and implement accommodated testing,” the CCAID study said.

According to building floor plans and specifications available on the college website, academic

The Amherst Student • November 13, 2019

News 4

Housing Unit Provokes Response from College Faculty Continued from page 1 of small, studio apartments for very low-income and vulnerable populations — for maybe the last 12 to 15 years,” Baker said.

Lack of affordable housing is a pressing issue in the town of Amherst, a result of its booming college-aged population. According to an October article by Quinn Breen in the UMass student publication Amherst Wire, over 16,000 UMass students live off campus.

The town’s population comprises nearly 38,000 people. Amherst College also offers an application for students who wish to move off campus, though approval rates vary each year.

“Where does affordable housing go, and why are rent prices so high? It’s a big question, but part of the answer is that low-income Amherst residents compete with a major demographic in the housing market: college students,” Breen writes. His article was shared 62 times on Facebook.

Breen isn’t wrong, Baker said; the housing market in a college town poses challenges when choosing a property for a SRO complex.

“There are a lot of credit-investor landlord types looking to buy single-family properties and convert them to student housing, because it’s lucrative and there are a fair number of cash buyers,” Baker said. “It was a challenging market to buy into because we’re competing with people who can move faster than we can.”

The location across from Pratt Field is optimal, Baker said, noting its access to the center of town and nearby grocery outlets. “Most of our tenants will be walking or biking or using buses, so we really prioritized having a location close to things and ideally [for tenants] to be able to walk to things,” Baker said.

The site’s proximity to the college is a particular benefit to tenants, Baker added. While the site is farther from the center of campus, the athletic fields are another amenity for residents.

“We know that people from

the neighborhood are permitted to use the field. It’s usually pretty quiet there, except when there’s a big game,” Baker said. “We thought there could be some really positive interactions with students who might want to volunteer.” Such opportunities include tutoring tenants for the GED and hosting a housewarming event at the site to connect tenants with the surrounding community, Baker said.

Yet, the site’s adjacency to Pratt Field is a point of contention for some of the neighborhood’s residents. In a letter to Town Council drafted in May, 56 of the area’s residents expressed concerns that “the Pratt Field complex is currently open to the public for recreation when not in use for college events, and our research has identified that the project will most likely result in the closing of this recreational area to public access.”

Concerns from the neighborhood residents include a presumed increased crime and substance abuse from the site’s tenants. Drawing from statistics based on Valley CDC’s other SRO properties, the letter claimed that the Amherst site would yield 64 dispatch calls a year, with issues ranging from disturbances and criminal behavior to medical needs.

“A few of us are Amherst College professors, and we contacted college officials to determine what might happen if there are problematic incidents between the SRO and Amherst College students,” the letter continued, outlining “problematic incidents” as encounters with and proximity to potential drug users. “The college responded that they would shut down the athletic fields to public access.” The letter did not specify which officials were contacted. When asked in May, the college refused to offer public comments about the project, according to the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

Chief of Campus Operations Jim Brassord disputed the letter’s contents. If the property is abused in any way, the college limits access to athletic fields. This procedure is longstanding, he said. He does not anticipate that the college will need to close the fields to the public.

Photo courtesy of Natalie De Rosa ’21

Plans for an affordable housing project near Pratt Field have faced criticism from faculty members at the college who reside in the area.

Valley CDC also has a “solid record” of serving its tenants, Brassord noted.” “The organization has strong relationships with community partners [like social workers and other community-based organizations] that provide the range of services to help their tenants succeed in their new circumstances,” he said in an email interview.

“While the Valley CDC properties serve low-income tenants who rely more on public services than the general population, it’s not clear — as some community members have voiced concern — that low-income or near-homeless status necessarily translates to crime or substance abuse that is a public safety threat to the surrounding community.”

“It should be also noted that this property will also potentially serve the needs of college staff who wish to live near the college but are unable to do so because of the lack of affordable housing,” he added.

Several of the college’s faculty members have signed on to the letter or submitted their own to the town council — signatories include Dean of New Students Rick Lopez, Professor of History Sean Redding, Chair of French Laura Katsaros, Chair of Art and the History of Art

Samuel Morse, Professor of Physics William Loinaz, Visiting Professor of Classics Dale Sinos and Professor of Biology Jeeyon Jeong.

Chair of Classics Rebecca Sinos submitted her own letter in addition to signing onto the letter representing the 56 residents.

“Children come to the Amherst College fields regularly, sometimes from the childcare center that is just beyond the adjacent bike path, on Woodside, and sometimes just because people find these fields and their walkways a good place to push a stroller while another child toddles along,” Sinos wrote. “And even if the college closes the fields and restricts entry to those affiliated with Amherst College, the college athletic events themselves attract families with children who should not be exposed to this potential hazard. Is it fair to expect Amherst College groundsmen to deal with needles on the Amherst fields as a regular part of their job?”

Katsaros wrote that while she supports low-income housing, Valley CDC should implement better supports for the site. “I wholeheartedly agree that the lack of affordable family housing in our town should be one of the key pri-

orities of the town government,” Katsaros said. “As you know, in the current project, a manager would be present on site 20 hours a week only; no medical, social or psychological support would be provided for the residents in the 10 allocated units who are transitioning from homelessness or the residents in the two units who are under the care of the Department of Mental Health. I believe providing more consistent on-site support for residents would be a good way to move forward.”

Professor of History and American Studies Frank Couvares submitted a letter to the town council in “strong support” of the project. “The track record of facilities like this for clients like [formerly homeless or housing secure persons] is very good,” Couvares said.

“Our town has long needed such a residential project, and I am very glad that the funding and a suitable site are available.”

Baker isn’t surprised, however, by the divides on the project.

“What we find generally is that people love the idea of affordable housing, but they get pretty nervous if you’re going to build it near them,” Baker said.

Opinion

w

The Status Quo is Not Enough The fight for a concrete Asian American studies program at Williams College made significant progress this year when the Williams Curricular Planning Committee, comprised of faculty, staff and students, recommended a renewed push to hire more Asian American studies faculty at Williams. It is notable that the Asian American studies initative at Williams, led by student activists, has often consulted with Amherst’s own Asian American Studies Working Group on how to pressure a college administration to commit to an Asian American studies program. Now, as their efforts continue to make tangible progress — and while the 35-yearlong efforts

by Asian American studies activists at Amherst fall on deaf ears — one can only wonder how long the college will hold out to get on the same page as Williams.

With a whopping 20 percent of the members of the class of 2023 self-identifying as Asian American and/or Pacific Islander students, the Asian-American community, now 14 percent of the overall student body, continues to grow at Amherst. Yet, efforts to create a comprehensive Asian American studies major, which would greatly expand academic opportunities for students interested in learning about the Asian-American experience and identity, have been stymied by the college’s unwillingness to establish such a program. In that vein, the Editorial Board urges the current administration to support and create a comprehensive plan to hire more Asian American studies faculty, add new courses concentrating on Asian-American experiences and commit to creating an eventual Asian American studies major.

Despite the activism by students, faculty and alumni to establish a Asian American studies program at the college, the administration remains wishy washy. This kind of attitude is not exclusive to Amherst. According to NBC News, fewer than 50 colleges and universities — one of which is now Williams College — have academic programs dedicated to the history, culture and experiences of the Asian-American identity. As an elite college in the sphere of liberal arts education, Amherst stands in a position to lead by example.

To some, the current offerings at Amherst and within the Five College Consortium might seem adequate. After all, the American studies department offers students a concentration in Asian American studies while the consortium offers an Asian & Asian American studies certificate. While these developments, created from the tireless efforts of student activists, represent strides in the progress for a program on the Asian-American identity, they only scratch the surface.

An Asian American studies major would expand academic opportunity for students, faculty and alumni, regardless of their background.

Take the current course offerings related to Asian American studies, for example. For the spring 2020 semester, students interested in Asian American studies can only take two classes that concentrate on the Asian-American identity: “The Asian American Experience” and “World War II and Japanese Americans.” Courses like these are an integral foundation for an Asian American studies major, but as

they are now, it is simply not enough. The Asian-American experience is one that encompasses different communities and cultures and centuries of history, starting from the first Filipino immigrants to the United States in 1587, according to historian Eloisa Borah. Asian Americans face hurdles in the workplace, in schools and throughout larger society.

The model minority myth — created by white Americans as a racial wedge between Asians and other minority groups according to reporting by NPR — continues to have harmful effects on the Asian-American community. Asian Americans face what is now called the “bamboo ceiling,” a term coined by Jane Hyun that represents the racism and discrimination against Asians in professional settings. Two classes are not enough to unpack the social, political and historical complexities of the Asian-American identity.

To be clear, this lack of course offerings is not the fault of the faculty members who offer them to the student body.

In fact, the faculty, many of whom strongly advocate for the creation of a comprehensive Asian American studies major, has played and continues to play a critical role in expanding Asian American studies. But the number of tenured or tenure-track Asian Americanists at the college — a grand total of four — only reinforces the dearth of Asian-American faculty members at Amherst, especially those who specialize in the broad topic of the Asian-American identity. According to a 2019 article by Shawna Chen ’20 “A Flawed System” series in the Student, Asian or Pacific Islander faculty members make up 7.8 percent of the overall faculty. By contrast, selfidentifying Asian-American students represent 14 percent of the student body, while students of color make up 45 percent.

The discrepancy is clear.

At the bare minimum, the college should make a more dedicated effort to hiring more tenure-track faculty members of color and expanding course options relating to identities of color. But the bare minimum is not a satisfactory goal. It’s not enough for the students, faculty and alumni who advocate for an Asian American studies major, and it’s not enough for the “diverse” future that Amherst continues to tout in its marketing and promotional materials.

Despite a lack of support from the administration, the community has demonstrated time and time again its call for an Asian American studies major. This year alone, as of this editorial’s publication, nine seniors are pursuing thesis projects that focus on the Asian-American experience and identity. Having a strong foundation in place would provide these students with the necessary academic and personal support systems to succeed. The Asian American Studies Working Group is continuing to pressure the college to institute more resources, with the help of faculty and alumni.

It is now up to the college and the administration to recognize their tireless efforts and commit itself and its vast resources to this fight.

Unsigned editorials represent the Editorial Board (assenting: 13; dissenting: 0; abstaining: 0)

THE AMHERST

STUDENT E X E C U T I V E B OA R D Editors-in-Chief Shawna Chen Olivia Gieger Managing News Zach Jonas Natalie De Rosa Ryan Yu Managing Opinion Jae Yun Ham Rebecca Picciotto Managing Arts and Living Seoyeon Kim Managing Sports Connor Haugh Henry Newton Assistant Sports Jack Dove Managing Design Zehra Madhavan Julia Shea S TA F F Publishers Emmy Sohn Mark Nathin Digital Director Dylan Momplaisir

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The Amherst Student • November 13, 2019

Opinion 6

Addressing Endowment Concerns Kevin Weinman Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer In his opinion piece “Seeing Double” last week, Thomas Brodey ’22 correctly argues that Amherst College should spend aggressively from its endowment to achieve its ambitious and wide-ranging mission. He is right to highlight that the college benefits from one of the largest endowments, on a per student basis, of any college or university. (It is in the top 10 — much lower than that of Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Stanford and MIT, and about the same as Pomona, Swarthmore and Williams.)

As a result, the approach that Amherst applies to spending this endowment each year is indeed an important topic, one that should interest every member of our community. However, his suggestion that the college does not already spend aggressively from its endowment is simply incorrect. In making these points, Mr. Brodey presents a number of assertions and conclusions that are misleading and risk building mistrust in our community if not addressed.

Before highlighting some specific problems with Mr. Brodey’s analysis, it is important to counter his suggestion that Amherst’s primary motivation is growing its endowment rather than spending endowed resources to the benefit of its students, faculty and staff.

He asserts that the college thinks of the endowment as “just a means to save for the future” and is more interested in investing in “outside corporations” rather than on the student experience.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Reasonable people can have differences of opinion about how much Amherst should spend from its endowment each year.

Art is intertwined with science on this point and there is room for a wide range of views. I am sure Mr. Brodey recognizes that those who manage the college’s finances share his deep commitment to the college and its stu-

dents, faculty, staff and alumni.

The question, then, is not one of commitments to Amherst’s community — that sentiment is universal — but rather one of how best to deploy resources in the present while simultaneously preserving them for the future.

For nearly 200 years, Amherst College leaders have met this difficult challenge, and it is to the benefit of today’s Amherst that they did so. It is now our turn to do the same.

Now, to the endowment: what is it, and how is it used?

Over many decades, Amherst’s alumni and contributors who wish to support Amherst in perpetuity have donated funds to the endowment. These gifts reflect an awe-inspiring faith in the college’s ability to use these resources both wisely and well, now and far beyond the donor’s lifetime. As perpetual funds, the college has invested these dollars to generate returns over time. The original gift remains untouched forever while a portion of accumulated investment earnings are used each year to fund the college’s mission.

Given this, how does Amherst approach endowment spending?

“Yet, the college’s

mission is perpetual, not provisional. An effective financial strategy must be sustainable over the long run.

”

Despite Mr. Brodey’s claims of the contrary, Amherst spends as much as it believes can be spent prudently from its endowment each year. Why? Because the endowment exists to serve the mission of the college and, frankly, is there to be spent.

On this point, there is great alignment with Mr. Brodey’s assertions. Everyone wants endowed funds to be spent — the

Photo courtesy of Amherst College

An event to celebrate the start of the Promise campaign took place in Coolidge Cage in 2018.

The Promise campaign is just one of several sources of funding for the college’s endowment. donor who gifted the funds in the first place, of course, but also members of the Amherst community and outside observers (the general public, state and federal policymakers, etc.). The question then becomes: how much should be spent each year?

What is prudent?

Like the grand finale of a fireworks display, it would be gratifying in the moment to launch a fusillade of spending from the endowment in any given year.

There are always unmet wants and needs awaiting funding. A boost in endowment spending would undeniably improve the college’s efforts to achieve its mission in the short run.

Yet, the college’s mission is perpetual, not provisional. An effective financial strategy must be sustainable over the long run.

For an institution with a 200-year history and plans to thrive for hundreds more, balance and discipline are required to guarantee intergenerational equity in the use of college resources.

Spending too little from the endowment would privilege future generations of the Amherst community over today’s generation. Likewise, spending too much today puts the future at

risk. Neither approach is wise or ideal. A “just right” approach that blends the competing impulses of spending with discipline is necessary.

While Amherst looks toward the future, it absolutely is spending endowment resources in the present. As noted in the 2018 annual report, Amherst spent $99 million from its endowment to fund a $188.6 million operating budget — a rate of budgetary support of 52 percent. (Net student fees after college-funded financial aid, by contrast, funded just 35 percent of the budget.)

This is a degree of “endowment reliance” virtually unprecedented in higher education. Only two out of 61 selective private colleges and universities tracked

by Cambridge Associates have a higher rate of budgetary support from the endowment than that of Amherst. The mean of these 61 peer institutions is only 15 percent spent out of the endowment.

The annual contribution of Amherst’s endowment to its operating budget has also dramatically increased over time. Just 10 years earlier, Amherst spent $45.6 million from its endowment to fund a $115.6 million operating budget, a rate of bud-

getary support from the endowment of just 39 percent. Thus, in just a decade, Amherst’s annual endowment spending increased by 117 percent, with a compound annual growth rate of over 8 percent. The rate of increase in endowment spending in the prior decade (1998 to 2008) was even more dramatic at about 170 percent.

Mr. Brodey makes a number of assertions that belie this reality. “Students might reasonably expect the school to have used a substantial portion of [endowment gains over the last 20 years] to … improve life for students, faculty and staff,” he notes, insinuating that the college has not done so. Yes, students should expect this, and yes, the college has done so.

He also notes that “the school has consistently drawn the same percentage of cash from the endowment, while income from student fees increased 36 percent in the last decade.” This is a misleading apples-and-oranges comparison that seems to suggest that student fees have outpaced endowment spending. In fact, endowment spending increased

Continued on page 7

The Amherst Student • November 13, 2019

Opinion 7

Pharma Research: Changing But Still Expensive Samuel Grondin ’21 Contributing Writer Last week, Gabrielle Levy, a sophomore at Dartmouth College, outlined her take on Big Pharma for the college’s newspaper The Dartmouth: Drugs are expensive, sure, but the research is worth it, and demonizing the pharmaceutical industry plants a seed of anti-science beliefs in the general American populace. Though Levy’s points are a much-needed reminder of the fiscal value of rigorous research in a political climate rightfully hung up on issues of corruption and the profit-seeking behaviors of leviathan corporations, they miss the concerns of consumers and patients entirely.

Let’s make one thing very clear.

Biotechnology and pharmaceutical research are immensely costly

endeavors. In the 2014-2015 fiscal year, 16 of the top 50 corporations which spent the most on research and development (R&D) operations were pharmaceutical companies, according to a 2016 study published in the Journal of Translational Medicine. As Levy points out, the Tufts University Center for Drug Development estimates the cost of developing a drug ultimately approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be around $2.6 billion — and this process can take years as a drug undergoes four stages of trials before it is deemed safe enough to go to market.

But the pharmaceutical industry is not what it once was. The days of a corporation investing millions or billions in the development of its own proprietary small molecules are over. Now, basic research occurring

Photo courtesy of The United States Army

More companies are turning to research done by universities and governments to support drug research initiatives.

in academic institutions globally play a significant role, both financially and through patient outcomes, in the development of new drugs. A 2019 review in Expert Opinions on Drug Discovery found that between 1998 and 2007, 58 percent of drugs approved by the FDA were solely the product of pharmaceutical companies. In stark contrast, every single drug approved between 2010 and 2016 received funding, at least in part, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is itself funded by the federal government. Levy cites a different number, claiming that up to 75 percent of new drugs are funded solely by pharmaceutical companies, but I was unable to substantiate that data.

As the source of funding starts to shift, the nature of these companies’ research — and corporate pay structures — changes as well. According to Forbes, in 2013 GlaxoSmithKline, a British pharmaceutical company consistently among the 10 largest pharma companies in revenue, introduced Wall Street-style bonuses for its researchers, offering up to $15 million to lead researchers whose drugs were approved and predicted to have success on the market.

These bonuses are largely an acknowledgement of the importance of past research on motivating new discoveries.

Today, companies are moving away from the traditional goal of unearthing new small molecules on their own and moving toward biologics and gene therapies primarily discovered and developed in academic settings. The bottom line here is that as biotechnology and

academia become more intertwined than ever before, new discoveries have the potential to offer massive positive gains to public health. Important work, however, is expensive.

In that regard, Levy speaks the truth. Anyone who believes the government ought to mindlessly break up pharmaceutical conglomerates and slash prices of newly-approved drugs is ignoring the concerted efforts and expenses of hundreds, or sometimes thousands, of scientists helping to bring those drugs to the market. That said, public concerns are not wrought from thin air, and the monopolistic nature of the pharmaceutical industry means that price-gouging does occur.

Profit-seeking behaviors are more concerning now than ever as they’re brought to national attention through thousands of litigation efforts seeking recompense from companies like Purdue Pharma. These lawsuits are intended to compensate states and families affected by corporations which marketed opioids to patients and doctors knowing that the drugs, such as Purdue’s OxyContin, had a high potential for abuse by patients.

There is a silver lining, though.

A 2014 study in PLOS One, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal publishing research from any scientific discipline, indicated that just a 20 percent cap on the prices of new drugs could offer an additional 10 percent consumer surplus and a 23 percent increase in the number of customers using the drugs. Such significant consumer gains would almost entirely counteract lower prices, netting pharmaceutical com-

panies only 1 percent less in profits.

This data indicates that drastic reductions in the price of drugs are not necessary to dramatically change the landscape of pharmaceutical access.

Managing the price of pharmaceuticals with the proposed 20 percent price cap not only provides consumers with reduced cost, but also has the potential to improve public health by allowing almost an additional quarter of consumers access to a drug they otherwise could not afford. The biggest gains would be seen when additional consumers gain access to life-saving medications like epinephrine, insulin or antibiotics.

Clearly, there is room for improvement in the pricing of new drugs to the benefit of both public health and patients’ wallets. Imposing price caps comes at a small cost to pharmaceutical companies, a mere 1 percent profit loss. To a company netting tens of billions in profits annually, a 1 percent profit loss can seem like a nightmare, but as Big Pharma and academia become intertwined, much of the burden on research funding is lifted off of pharmaceutical companies and taken on by federal agencies like the NIH. Even still, these companies will likely continue their practice of awarding large cash bonuses. But ultimately, what is the cost of a life? To me, it’s whatever it takes. If it takes a seven- or eight-figure bonus to compensate a C-suite executive or lead scientist managing years of critical research and billions of dollars in funding to create a product capable of sparing even a few lives, then maybe that’s a necessary cost of driving continuous innovation.

A Response to Endowment Concerns Continued from page 6 more than three times as fast as net student fee income over this time.

Mr. Brodey is right that Amherst’s endowment spending rate has remained relatively consistent over the years, between four percent and five percent. (This spending rate is in line with accepted practice, roughly equiva-

lent to the average of 4.7 percent across 109 institutions in the 2019 Cambridge Associates “Spending Policy Practices” survey report.)

Indeed, this is the very point of the principle of intergenerational equity and balance — a consistent rate of spending over time. But it also means that as the college’s endowment has grown, so has endowment spending in support of the operating bud-

get, in both relative and absolute terms, and rather dramatically on both fronts.

Many members — perhaps all members, including me — of the Amherst community share Mr. Brodey’s desire to spend more in the pursuit of the college’s mission. Every planning cycle begins with myriad ideas and requests for funds to make Amherst better.

The college energetically seeks additional resources from a variety of sources to make these wishes a reality — donor support of the annual fund and the Promise campaign, comprehensive fee increases (offset by need-based aid to keep Amherst affordable) and, yes, spending increases from the endowment.

For many years now, endowment spending has increased far

faster than any other revenue stream. Ideally, alumni support of the college’s endowment, as well as skilled investment of endowment resources, will continue for many years to come. We are working very hard to ensure that such a case occurs. Regardless of what the future might bring, a balanced approach toward the use of endowment resources will always be necessary.

The Amherst Student • November 13, 2019

Opinion 8

Seeing Double: On Optimism Cole Graber-Mitchell ’22 Columnist If you read this column regularly, you’ll know that I tend to write about what I see going wrong in the world. In the past few weeks, I’ve written about the harms of our immigration laws, felony disenfranchisement and the slow death of local news. All of these topics impact our lives and the lives of people around us in profoundly negative ways.

At times, it can be demoralizing and difficult to spend time reading the stories of people who have been hurt by our laws and policies.

The same is true when reading the news: fires in California and the Amazon rainforest, corruption in the United States’ executive branch and starvation in Yemen don’t make me leap for joy either.

Certain stories I have to ignore in order to cope. At the end of August, when news reports of the Amazon fires were everywhere, I had to tune out because I couldn’t bear to

think about the biggest rainforest in the world burning to ashes. In doing so, I removed myself from any sort of solution, activism or engagement surrounding the fires.

At the same time, disengaging for a moment actually kept me going.

Ignoring what’s going on lets us continue to function but at the cost of our agency and power to make change.

I’m not being melodramatic when I say I couldn’t bear the news.

Headlines like Washington Post’s “Amid flooding and rising sea levels, residents of one barrier island wonder if it’s time to retreat” and the Guardian’s “Global investment in cutting greenhouse gases fell by 11 percent in 2018” don’t just bum me out. They make me wonder if our generation will have a recognizable future.

In other words, I have literal existential dread.

I’ve always been an optimist, but now I’ve come to believe that optimism is the only way to overcome this dread. To be optimistic is to

have hope for the future, to believe that things will eventually turn out okay. Optimism is the opposite of hopelessness and despair.

My optimism is what drives me to knock on doors in unfamiliar suburbs, hoping that a friendly face will answer and talk to me about climate change. It’s what pushes me to cold-call voters in faraway places, brushing off the people who treat me like last week’s trash and trying to convince those who will listen that their votes really do matter.

And it’s what animates the research and passion behind every one of my articles. Every other week, I use this space to identify and call out real pain and suffering that aren’t receiving enough attention. But merely identifying a problem isn’t helpful without a dose of hope.

People sometimes criticize optimists, saying that we’re not in tune with reality and that optimism is naïve. When it comes to optimists’ ability to predict the future, the critics aren’t wrong. Tali Sharot, a researcher at University College

London, wrote in 2011 that “most of us predict deriving greater pleasure from a vacation than we subsequently do, and we anticipate encountering more positive events in an upcoming month (such as receiving a gift or enjoying a movie) than we end up experiencing.”

Optimism is a bias that prevents us from accurately foreseeing what’s going to happen. Sharot’s review found that optimism is caused by the brain’s failure to adequately update our predictions based on bad news.

But those criticisms miss the point. Of course optimists overestimate the frequency of good events — that’s what makes optimism so potent! The value of optimism isn’t that it’s a measured prediction of the future. Instead, optimism is valuable as a source of power in the present.

It keeps us going each and every day, despite all adversity. It makes us believe that we can impact the world. Optimism gives us an imagined future, disproportionately

“Share A Family” by Emi Eliason ’22

good but worth fighting for. And if we don’t make it all the way towards that fantasy, we’ve at least made progress. The alternative is unacceptable: when we believe in the impotence of action, we resign ourselves to the status quo forever.

The world is broken in so many ways, and the media doesn’t stop reminding us. Whenever I think about how scared the news can make me feel, I think of my middle school art teacher, Mr. Palm. On everyone’s birthday, he would sing a parody song in a low monotone: “Happy birthday. Happy birthday.

People dying everywhere, misery is in the air, happy birthday.”

The song was a joke, but it has a note of truth. And yet, despite the chords of misery and strife in the world, optimists continue to live on. We celebrate birthdays, mourn deaths and love our neighbors and communities. We fight for what’s right and pick ourselves back up after falling hard. And we have misplaced hope against all the evidence — hope that I will never let go of.

Arts&Living

Rapper Kemba Performs Intimate Powerhouse Concert

Photo courtesy of Noah John ’21

Bronx rapper Kemba catered his performance to the intimate crowd at the Powerhouse on Friday night, connecting with his audience throughout the show.

Noah John ’21 Contributing Writer It is not too common to see an artist casually walking around the crowd before hitting the stage for a show. However, for Bronx rapper Kemba, this is common practice. “I like to catch the vibe,” he told me.

Kemba, formerly known as Yc the Cynic, certainly caught the vibe of the Powerhouse on Friday night, delivering a passionate performance that catered to the intimacy of the small crowd.

The concert, hosted by Matt Ezersky ’22 and Annie Martin ’22E with WAMH, kicked off at 10 p.m. with an opening act by Boston-based rapper Dezmond Dane.

The Powerhouse was a comfortable venue for Dane, who described the sound of his songs to me as “coffee house music,” inspired by artists such as Chicago rappers Noname and Saba. Breaking the ice by calling the crowd closer to the stage and introducing himself, Dane dove into a set of introspective tracks that cultivated a focused

listening experience, distinct from the moshpit-fueled shows that have become commonplace in mainstream hip hop.

After beginning his set with some upbeat tracks like “Elevator Music,” a song featuring impressive lyricism over a jazzy instrumental, Dane announced the beginning of “sad boy hours,” transitioning into a more mellow period. The highlight was Dane’s performance of “Monaco to Paris,” in which the crowd listened closely as he painted a vivid picture of a relationship overseas.

The time in between Dane and Kemba’s sets was occupied by Kemba’s tour DJ, DJ Charlie Hustle. Hustle, who told me he first met Kemba a decade ago at a similar college show, was able to produce an energy shift in the venue. As a few more students trickled in from other parties on campus, Hustle energized the crowd by spinning a short sequence of familiar rap hits, building anticipation for Kemba.

My initial introduction to Kemba’s music came a few weeks ago at

Rolling Loud New York, where he delivered a spirited performance in front of a packed festival crowd.

Despite playing for only a few dozen people in the Powerhouse and having just completed a nationwide tour with Maryland rapper IDK, Kemba brought the same energy he had when I saw him in New York.

Kemba’s set began on a high note as he stormed onto the stage and jumped immediately into a lively rendition of his New York anthem “Deadass.” During this song and throughout the rest of the concert, I was impressed by Kemba’s sharp and consistent delivery.

Many rappers today elect to perform their songs over recorded vocal tracks, focusing more on dancing and ad libbing than actually delivering lyrics. Kemba however, chose to perform with his DJ and instrumentals as the lone accompaniment. Anyone who has listened to Kemba would likely consider this a daunting task, given the density of his fast-flowing, multisyllabic rhymes and the fact

that he had just finished touring.

However, the rapper rarely missed a beat on Friday, delivering his bars with clarity and enthusiasm from start to finish. There were also several points during the show when Kemba chose to rap a capella, putting his skillful word play on bare display even more. This aspect of the show revealed the great chemistry between Kemba and Charlie Hustle, as the DJ seemed to always know exactly when to stop and start the instrumentals.

In addition to his strong vocal performance, Kemba’s ability to effectively interact with the crowd in the Powerhouse made the show an even more enjoyable experience.

Before performing the song “What a Day,” an emotional track off of his major label debut album “Gilda,” Kemba shared a sentimental story about finding out his mother had passed away just moments after being called on stage to rap by Kendrick Lamar.

Other memorable moments from Friday’s performance included when Kemba encouraged the crowd to shout out their dreams

before performing “Gilda’s” uplifting lead single “Last Year Being Broke,” and when he instructed audience participation before performing an explosive remix of grime rapper JME’s track “No You Ain’t.” By interacting heavily with the crowd, Kemba was able to make the most of the event’s intimate atmosphere.

While large, wild concerts are almost always a great time, seeing a talented artist in a smaller, less crowded venue can be equally rewarding. Shows like this require musicians to be more creative with how they interact with the audience and control their sound.

Though they can expose less inspiring artists, they also allow artists with genuine talent to rise to the occasion and create a special experience for their fans. Rappers Dezmond Dane and Kemba were certainly up for the task during their performances at the Powerhouse Friday night. By frequently engaging the audience and focusing on precise delivery, the two generated a positive experience for all in attendance.

Photo courtesy of Noah John ’21

Dezmond Dane, a Boston-based rapper, opened Kemba’s performance at the Powerhouse.

Arts & Living 10

The Amherst Student • November 13, 2019

“Parasite” Plays with Space and Separation to Shock Audience

Photo courtesy of The Asian Cinema Blog

The Kim family members gather in their cramped basement apartment to look at a decorative “landscape rock,” gifted by Ki-woo’s college friend.

Lauren Kisare ’22 Contributing Writer Director Bong Joon Ho has done it again. In his latest film “Parasite,” Bong has released a jarring dark satirical comedy that critics have been calling the best film of 2019.

The winner of the prestigious Palme d’Or award at the Cannes Film Festival, “Parasite” is an eerily chaotic film that captures the economic polarization in South Korea through comedic and slightly disturbing means. The story leaves you feeling unsettled and makes you question the ways in which we interact with one another on a socioeconomic level, as well as a humane one. I’ve tried to come to a complete answer as to who the parasite in the movie is, only to reach never-ending theories about how this theme works and how the characters fit into this parasitic image. The complexity of this film was thus hard to summarize.

The movie starts by introducing the Kim family, who reside near the fringes of Seoul, South Korea, in a filthy basement apartment situated below the streets of their neighborhood. With father Ki-Taek (Song Kang Ho) unemployed, mother Chung-sook (Hyae Jin Chang) retired and both

son Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik) and daughter Ki-jeong (Park So-dam) out of college, the family members spend their days folding pizza boxes in exchange for money, hoping to rise out of their poor living conditions. Their wish appears to be granted when Ki-woo gets an opportunity to work as a tutor for his college friend’s wealthy high school client, Da-hye (Jeong Jisoo).

After he fakes being a student from the prestigious Yonsei University, Ki-woo is hired and begins to work at the elegant house of the wealthy Park family. Noticing the family’s gullibility, Ki-woo soon takes advantage of his situation and devises a plan to slowly get his family members working various jobs for the Park family.

He does this hoping the wealthy family never discover that the Kims are related, poor and, most importantly, had no actual experience in the jobs they scammed themselves into obtaining.

After getting the people who were originally working for the Parks fired, Ki-Taek becomes the family’s personal driver, Chungsook the housekeeper and Kijeong a fake art therapist for the Park’s youngest son, Da-song (Jeong Hyun-joon).

The pacing of the film is chaotic

and unpredictable but purposefully so. Moreover, humor is very skillfully utilized. While it seems as though the comedy is simply a collateral of telling a deeper story, the use of humor is strategic in unveiling the economic disparity between the two families. The movie starts out fairly light in tone; the initial plot of the Kims gradually invading the Park household is a heavily comedic one.

The Kims also assume a very humorous dynamic, and their collective effort in tricking this wildly oblivious, rich family into unknowingly hiring all of them was hilarious. The first half of the movie almost establishes it as a comedy, but, as the film continues, it becomes clear that this is simply subtle misdirection. The film wants you to focus on the comedic antics of the Kims and lulls you into a false sense of security.

Considering how the Kims become complacent in their deception and their gradual shift into becoming the assumed “parasites” of the film (feeding off the wealth and cluelessness of the Park family), the humor seems to serve the purpose of making you feel just as complacent and comfortable. In the same way that the rich family is tricked into hiring the Kims, the audience too is fooled into think-

ing this film is a simple comedy.

The later half, however, works to disturb this complacency as the comedy is actually a genius distraction from the hidden, more sinister plot that underlies the movie.

For instance, there is a scene in the middle of the film in which the Kims sneak into the Park household while the family is away on a camping trip. They raid the Park family’s alcohol collection and situate themselves in the living room, laughing at how they’ve gotten away with the scam.

There is a feigned sense of stability in the ease that surrounds them. They’re comfortable with their invasion and don’t see any possible ways it could fail. Interestingly, it is at this point that things take a darker turn in the film.

Once the Kims become complacent, the movie shakes itself of its comedy and starts to lean towards a darker narrative.

Bong very cleverly demonstrates the polarization of high and low economic statuses through many different avenues of visual representation. The set design of having the poor family underneath in a sewer-like prison while the rich family resides in an openspaced, modern, futuristic house was very jarring.

These structures remain spatially separate from each other, but as the poor start to invade the lives of the rich, it is almost as if a bubble is popped and the two seemingly different worlds start to collide. In the movie, the Park family is portrayed as aloof and ignorant to the outside world, and the house feels like it was constructed to represent this ignorance.

Throughout the film there are multiple painstaking references to the divide that the Parks attempt to impose between themselves and the Kim family. Although they are aloof to the whims of the poor, the wealthy family members are also quite aware that the poor exist, and they actively work to separate themselves from being associated with them. They believe they are different and better.

The house itself doesn’t even feel like it belongs within the real world, but rather as its own separate entity existing in isolation.

It almost felt as though the Parks were living in a separate utopia that no one could inhabit fully except themselves. Thus, with the popping of this bubble and crossing over of this line, the symbolic structure of these houses does a great job representing the dichot-

Continued on page 11

Arts & Living 11

The Amherst Student • November 13, 2019

“The Lighthouse” Presents a Dark Tale of Utter Isolation Arielle Kirven ’21 Contributing Writer Nineteenth-century accents, weathered seamen and an abandoned island off the coast of New England make “The Lighthouse” a horror fan’s American gothic fever dream. Starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, the film takes the viewer into the world of Thomas Wake (Dafoe) and Ephraim Winslow (Pattinson), the two lighthouse keepers who batter storms and personal struggles in an effort to preserve the lighthouse.

Like filmmaker Robert Eggers’ first film “The Witch,” his second is set in New England and plays on the familiar iconography of coastal life to draw in the audience. Eggers introduces the viewer to effervescent cloudy skies, jagged rock jetties and the towering white lighthouse that looms over the men and their actions. These elements come together at the beginning of the film as a harbinger of chaos and isolation.

Shot in black and white, the cinematography reinforces the darkness that shrouds the lives of Wake and Winslow. The characters seem to

exist in a grayscale which emphasizes the ill-adjusted nature of their appearances. Specifically, Eggers uses close-ups to emphasize the discontented expressions on Wake and Winslow’s faces. For the first 20 minutes of the film, there is not much speaking between the two men causing the prominent white noise of rain, waves and wind to lull me into a deep sleep.

I was jolted awake when the film took on a more exciting pace, most evident through Eggers’ use of sound. The score very suddenly went from quiet white noise to stomping, banging and screaming.

Sent to the island for what was supposed to be a brief stint working in the lighthouse, Winslow finds himself doing most of the physical labor for Wake. Refueling the light, lugging kerosene and emptying chamber pots are strenuous hallmarks of Winslow’s day, while Wake leisurely watches him work.

In fact, Wake persistently digs at Winslow. At one point, he even shouts, “Damn ye! Let Neptune strike ye dead, Winslow!” Sitting back in a wooden chair, wrinkles and old age crease Wake’s face, re-

flecting bitterness and a weathered existence. In addition, his beard bears grey scruff that matches the seemingly permanent grey sky that provides the backdrop for the film.

In contrast, Winslow represents youth. He is the more able-bodied, handsome and charming (albeit still rough around the edges) version of Wake. Unlike Wake, Winslow is more composed. He spends his days on a regimented schedule and does not fall victim to the uncouth nature of Wake’s constant farting and burping. Nonetheless, Eggers positions the two men next to one another. He wants the viewer to regard them as one and the same despite their characteristics seeming quite opposite.

The film goes on to depict how their relationship develops each night. In a series of intimate candlelit vignettes, Eggers demonstrates how the tenors of male friendship fester in the shadows. The two begin to bond over drinking, using alcohol as a way to cope with their isolation on the island. In one scene where the two keepers drunkenly stomp and dance, Eggers expertly pairs the noise of the clattering floor boards with the equally cacopho-

nous noises outside. The storms are so severe that ships cannot be sent out for rescue. Thus, their raucous behavior increases as a response to their impending isolation.

In the midst of these dark nights, Winslow sees Wake naked standing at the top of the lighthouse. When returning from his not-quite-clandestine excursions to the lantern room, Wake becomes suspicious and hides the key to the room from Winslow. The secrecy surrounding Wake’s excursions exacerbate tensions in the relationship. The exchange reveals Wake’s determination to achieve emotional release and reprieve from their depressive situation, while Winslow is stuck in a seemingly never-ending cycle of labor.

Ultimately, this is what prompts Winslow to seek a release of his own. He finds a small statuette of a mermaid in his pocket and, through masturbation, uses the talisman to free himself from the confines of his mind. Throughout the second half of the film, his confinement in the lighthouse drives him crazy. As Wake’s lofty monologues stretch longer and become laden with ob-

scure references to classical literature, Winslow is sent into a state of near psychosis — stuttering and incapable of response. The rest of the film is marked by frenzy due to Winslow’s obsession with the lighthouse’s lantern room.

In the end, Eggers excels in character development, eternally bonding the men to one another and to the lighthouse that they worked so hard to maintain. At the same time, the film in general is slow (and steady). It is a story of two men, one young and one old, who fight and compete against one another for dominance and power even when in complete isolation.

While the story can be considered inherently biblical (think of Cain and Abel), Eggers reminds the audience that the story is timeless and continues to be relevant now.

Working like a parable or fable of sorts, the film paints a picture of immorality in order to give a righteous judgement at the end. Men in isolation resort to their most animalistic instincts and desires. It is the food chain, the Theory of Evolution and the Old Testament all in one — and Eggers captures it well.

Bong Joon Ho’s Award-Winning Film Subverts Stereotypes Continued from page 10 -omy between both families.

The spatiality becomes even more significant when you start to notice how these structures fit into the surrounding environments.

The cinematography in this film was gorgeous and captivated this economic disparity to an even greater degree.

In the film, there were constant visual jumps between the Kim family’s basement and the Parks’ mansion. As a viewer, I could feel the cramped nature of the Kims’ living situation: a small, dirty apartment that resides on the edge of the city.

The lack of space felt suffocating, and it looked like the Kims were trapped below the surface rather than living in a home.

We then cut to the Parks’ house, and the spaciousness relieves that sense of suffocation. Viewers are given prolonged shots of the

sweeping, clean-cut backyard of the Parks. We’re shown lengthy scenes of the Park family taking advantage of this spaciousness, with Da-Song (Jeong Hyun-joon) using it to camp outside and the family throwing an extravagant birthday party in its space. The majority of the walls in the house itself are made of glass, and both families are constantly shot looking out of these glass walls into the vast garden that sprawls before them.

In actuality, it seems as though there are very few differences between the Parks and Kims. As a matter of fact, the Parks and Kims are pretty similar in everything but class. And I believe this was intentional on Bong’s part. When you pay closer attention, it seems as though the families were meant to mirror each other.

Both families have one father, one mother, a son and a daughter.

They present two kinds of realities,

one that either of these families equally had the possibility of inhabiting; Bong seems to illuminate the pure, arbitrary chance of being born wealthy or being born rich. In the scene detailed earlier, where the Kim family is drinking, Ki-Taek notes how nice the Parks are as employers. Choong-sok, however, retorts back that “they’re nice because they’re rich.” This line, I believe, represents the pin that pops this bubble.

This line, combined with the way the Kims are facing the window, drunkenly talking about what they would do if they were rich, makes us realize that it is quite plausible to imagine the Kims in the exact same position as the Parks and vice versa. Perhaps that is why Bong made all his characters so morally ambiguous. He wanted his characters to be able to subvert expectations as well as common stereotypes.

In many movies, the poor fam-

ily would be stereotypically portrayed as incapable of working jobs and poor because of laziness.

The Kims, however, are intelligent people. Despite the fact that they scammed their way into their current jobs, they present themselves as more than capable of doing said jobs. “Parasite” makes you wonder how they would fare if they were actually given the opportunity to work at the elite job that Mr. Park works in.

Moreover, Bong does not explicitly engage the dichotomy of good and evil in this film — the rich family is not pushed into being the villains, which is important considering the many movies where the rich are made to be cliché masterminds who are explicitly singled out as villains of the story.

In “Parasite,” however, neither the Kims nor the Parks are completely innocent or good people. No one family is better than the other, and

if it weren’t for social class, the families would almost stand on equal grounds.

Thus, this idea of separation is further complicated as I am led to believe that the immense spatial separation of the two families is another misdirection. The film exaggerates the distance between the Kims and the Parks through both spatial means and socioeconomic status.

However, as the film moves along, you are pushed to realize that the rich are no different from the poor. You are presented with a family that seems refined and elevated in combination with their wealth, and the Kims as being the grime beneath this clean, elite world. By the end of “Parasite,” we can recognize that the line between the two families, the two worlds of poor and rich, is simply a social construct — one which can be potentially violated.

Arts & Living 12

The Amherst Student • November 13, 2019

TV Show “Dickinson” Feels Out of Touch with Reality

Photo courtesy of Bookstr

Actor Hailee Steinfeld portrays the famous poet in “Dickinson,” a show which perfects old-timey aesthetics but fails to deliver on plausible plot points.

Alex Brandfonbrener ’23 Staff Writer If Amherst, both the college and town, bears the mark of any single person it would be Emily Dickinson, whose image hangs in Johnson Chapel alongside our past presidents and whose house sits comfortable in town on the perimeter of campus.

The house where she grew up and lived is now a well-visited museum, and the Amherst library holds a substantial portion of her poems. She is an incredibly influential figure in the literary world.

However, we actually know very little about Dickinson’s life and relationships, save for a handful of precious firsthand accounts from family and friends.

This lack of concrete information leads us to ask: who is Emily Dickinson? This question seems to have been the starting point for the creation of “Dickinson,” a new TV show on Apple’s new streaming service Apple TV+.

A comedy, biopic and teen drama all at once, the show makes good use of available anecdotes and facts about the poet to ground the plot. But the creative freedoms that the show is forced to take re-

sults in a failure to live up to her name and influence in almost every way.

“Dickinson’s” main strength is in the show’s setting. It is clear that an incredible amount of attention and money was invested into reconstructing the Dickinson house, recreating tiny details like the straw mats that cover the bedroom floors and Emily’s miniscule writing desk.

The costumes are impressive as well and immerse the viewer.

However, everything onscreen feels a little too clean. The makeup, prim and contemporary, and the camerawork, smooth and mapped, both feel insincere to the time and the character.

Beyond the aesthetics, when the characters start talking, the real creative choices of the show come into focus. The show flip-flops between contemporary and 19th-century English. The period-appropriate speech is strong, imbuing the show with some much-needed humor.

But the contemporary moments (throughout most of the show) are formal and poorly written, almost laughably so.

Emily (Hailee Steinfield) greets her brother with a casual “bro,” then goes on to speak to him as if

they are vague acquaintances, not siblings. The music, too, is firmly contemporary and this insistence on modern tunes only works sometimes; for instance, Lizzo’s “Boys” is a favorite, bursting forth as Emily and her best friend and lover Sue (Ella Hunt) cross-dress. Most other times, however, the music feels peculiar, contemporary just for the sake of “pushing the envelope.”

Just as the choices work so strongly in these few moments, the same practice falls short in most others when it’s employed. The cast has mixed success in being able to portray their respective characters effectively. Jane Krakowski is a standout. Playing Emily’s mother Mrs. Emily Norcross Dickinson, she delivers snarky comments beneath a hostess’ smile and delivers the show’s funniest moments.

For lack of a better description, Krakowski simply feels like a better actor than the rest of the cast.

Emily herself shines in certain scenes but stumbles at key emotional moments, partially because of bad writing. When Sue is forced to marry Emily’s brother Austin (Adrian Enscoe), Emily sounds childish instead of heartbroken.

Her father, Edward Dickinson (Toby Huss), brother Austin and

sister Lavinia (Anna Baryshnikov) are strong actors but also suffer because of the bad writing. I found that this, rather than poor performances on the actors’ behalf, was a key problem.

The creators clearly did research to base certain plot points off of real-life information; Emily Norcross refuses to employ a maid for many years, and Emily learns to bake bread, which her father takes a liking to, in real life and in the show.

These points are tied together in clever ways, little secrets that reward a viewer’s familiarity with the poet’s life.

But sometimes, the plot feels downright unbelievable. Emily orgasms in cue with a baking soda volcano. She does opium and dances with a giant, computer-generated bee. She acts out her poem “Because I could not stop for Death,” courting Death (Wiz Khalifa) in a carriage drawn by ghostly horses that look downright terrible.

The list goes on; it wouldn’t be so bad if these ridiculous scenes were entertaining, but it feels contrived and disingenuous. Would Emily Dickinson do this? This question stuck with me while I watched the first few episodes. I saw no signs of improvement even after the fourth

episode.

The only way in which the show directly conflicts with known information about her life is in Emily’s relationships. Conflicts with her parents and two siblings feel fabricated and gratuitous.

The sense of self-reflection and appreciation for nature that populate her poetry are nowhere to be found in her daily life or motivations for writing.

The character’s rash behavior feels like a lack of care and intent on the part of “Dickinson’s” creators. The show needs this rebelliousness to push forward the plot and warrant character growth.

However, it does so at the cost of Emily Dickinson’s spirit. Perhaps her poetry simply isn’t adaptable to a show like “Dickinson.”

If Dickinson abhorred alterations of letters or words in her poetry, how would she feel about “Dickinson,” which not only sensationalizes her poems but also her whole life? At times, the show is genuinely funny. But the humor is drowned out by a sea of cringe-inducing attention grabs and offensively mediocre writing.

So, anyone up for a sexy, scandalous show about Robert Frost next?

Sports

Coach Toomey Takes the Reins, Primes for First Season Tyler Marshall ’21 Staff Writer For the first time in 42 years, coach David Hixon ’75 will not be leading the Amherst men’s basketball team as they prepare for the season. In September, Hixon announced he would be taking the year off to spend time with his father and reconnect with former players. With Hixon gone for the year on a sabbatical, assistant coach Aaron Toomey ’14 stepped up as interim head coach.

For those who follow the program closely, Toomey is no stranger. Last year, he led Amherst to a thrilling 63-62 win over undefeated archrival Williams as interim head coach when Hixon missed the game due to personal reasons.

On the court, Toomey was one of the best players to ever put on the Amherst uniform. Coming to Amherst from Greensboro, North Carolina, Toomey immediately became a fix in Hixon’s lineup as he was a four-year starter and became the only 2,000-point scorer in school history. Toomey also holds school records for most three pointers and free throws made in a career. On top of that, he was a two-time National Player of the Year and a national cham-

pion, making him the perfect candidate to take the helm during Hixon’s time away.

Not only will the coaching staff look different this year, but there will also be some new faces wearing the Amherst uniform. The Mammoths will have a new pair of dual sport athletes on the team this year with Jack Harlan ’21 and Yaya Zarroug ’22 joining the roster. Harlan, a transfer who made his debut on the baseball field last spring, is a 6’7” stretch five who will give Amherst a powerful combination of strength and size.

Zarroug, a member of the track and field team who won the NESCAC crown for the triple jump last spring, will play the guard position. In addition to Harlan and Zarroug, Dan Schlakman ’23, Bo Oranye ’23 and Isa Maguire ’23 will all look to find a way to contribute early in their careers.

Even with all these fresh faces, Amherst returns a large core of players from last year’s Sweet Sixteen team. Four of the five starters will be back, with Grant Robinson ’21, Fru Che ’21, Eric Sellew ’20 and Devonn Allen ’22 all poised to be key players once again.

Robinson, a First Team NESCAC pick last year, led Amherst by scoring 15.6 points per game and will look to improve on his

stellar sophomore campaign. The only other two players to average double figures for the Mammoths last year are also returning: Che (11.3 PPG) and Sellew (11.0 PPG). Sellew led the Mammoths in rebounding with 8.3 per game a year ago and will be a key piece for the Mammoths in the frontcourt.

Co-captain Josh Chery ’20, Garrett Day ’21, Tim McCarthy ’21 and Will Phelan ’22 all saw significant minutes off the bench last year, demonstrating the depth that Amherst will have this year.

Tommy Mobley ’20 will once again be a sharpshooter off the bench after shooting 39.6 percent from deep a year ago. With a pair of big men from the 2019 season graduated, Griffin Gerwig ’21, DJ Diabate ’21 and Michael Schretter ’22 will have larger roles this year. Amherst will once again be a strong force in the NESCAC and hopes to claim their third national title with Toomey leading the ship.

Amherst, currently ranked fourth in the D3hoops.com preseason poll, will open their season on the road against Lasell on Nov 19. Their first home game will take place later that week on Nov. 22 when the team hosts Elmira in the Ken Wright Invitational.

Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios

Eric Sellew ’20, who plays both small and power forward, averaged 8.4 rebounds, 11 points and one assist per game in his breakout 2018 season.

Men’s Soccer Falls in NESCAC Semifinals to Middlebury Jack Dove ’23 Assistant Sports Editor

Amherst men’s soccer was shut out for the first time this season, dropping its NESCAC semifinal match to Middlebury 1-0. The upset was the team’s first loss of the year, lowering the Mammoths’ overall record to 14-1-2.

Amherst came out of the gate a bit slow with some sloppy play and poor clearances. Similarly to the 1-1 double-overtime tie with Middlebury on Sept. 29, the Mammoths outshot the Panthers overall

but gave up a crucial early goal.

Middlebury forward Ben Potter shocked the Hitchcock Field crowd in the 16th minute with what would prove to be the game-winning goal.

Potter curled a screaming shot from the top of the box off the left post and into the back of the net; the score marked Amherst’s first goal allowed since the team’s Oct. 26 contest against Bates.

After an uncharacteristic offensive start, the Amherst attack turned up the pressure in the second half, launching 13 of its 19 total shots. Forward Dane Lind ’20

provided most of the offense; in the 69th minute, Lind smashed a missile towards the bottom corner, but Panther defender Henry Wilhelm made a stunning goal line clearance. Lind kept knocking on the door, sending two rockets just over the crossbar in the 70th and 76th minutes.

With five minutes left in the contest, the Mammoths removed a centerback, leaving three defenders as support and adding an attacker to the equation. Eventually, with the score 1-0 and time running out, even goalie Bernie White ’22

sprinted up from goal to get into the box for a final chance. The ball pinballed out to the feet of defender Gabe Gitler ’21, who sent the final chance of the game just high of the goal.

With the win, the Panthers advanced to the NESCAC Championship match, where they would fall to Tufts 2-1.

While losing is never fun, the post-game consensus in the Amherst stands was that the loss might be a blessing in disguise. With the DIII postseason tournament approaching, a humbling loss and the

extra rest that comes with it might help the Mammoths in their quest for another national championship trophy.

On Monday afternoon, the Mammoths received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship tournament, securing a first-round matchup against Thomas College at Keene State University in Keene, New Hampshire, on Nov. 16. NESCAC winners Tufts faces State University of New York Maritime in the first round, while Middlebury will face Johnson and Wales College.

The Amherst Student • November 13, 2019

Sports 14

Volleyball Stumbles in NESCAC Quarterfinals

Connor Haugh ’21 Managing Sport Editor

This weekend, the volleyball team traveled to Chase Gymnasium in Medford, Massassachusets ,to face down the Middlebury Panthers in the first round of the NESCAC Tournament. The Firedogs, seeded fourth, were the favorites in the match against the fifth-seeded Panthers, despite a rough patch of form in the weeks leading up to the tournament.

Coming off a 3-0 away win over Williams, however, one would think that the Mammoths had begun to peak at the right time.

Middlebury, however, came out of the block with ferocity, taking 12 of the first 16 points of the opening set. Head coach Sue Everdeen called a timeout, and Amherst rallied to take six of the next 10, but Middlebury kept a comeback at bay and won the first set 25-17. The Firedogs struggled offensively, converting

just 8 percent of their attacks into points and committing seven errors.

Amherst did not improve offensively in the second set, still failing to penetrate the Panther defense. What they did do, however, effectiely stifled the Middlebury attack, halving their hitting percentage to 10. Consequently, Amherst was able to force the Panthers to err in their attack, leading to easy points. Amherst took the set, 25-20, holding the lead from the beginning.

In the third set, Claire Dennis ’20 blocked a Middlebury shot to tie the score at 10-10 and the whole match seemed in the balance. Middlebury then scored 15 out of the next 20 points to take the third handily. One could sense, however, that the match wasn’t finished, as Amherst has battled against the odds all season with grit.

In a do-or-die fourth set, the Firedogs came out blazing, but

Middlebury traded blows with Amherst until the score was locked at nine apiece. Sophie Launsbach ’22 struck the ball below the feet of a Panther to take the lead, and Emily Kolsky ’20 suddenly struck hardwood with her shot all of a sudden. Amherst had all the momentum.

After going on a nine-point run, the Firedogs were able to hold the lead and force a 15-point overtime set with the Panthers to remain in the tournament. Three early kills by Middlebury, however, put Amherst into a hole, and the Firedogs spent the remainder of the match trading points with Middlbury.

They did not force them to relinquish that two-point lead until, down 12-13, Launsbach got a kill, and Kolsky’s shot got past the Panthers to tie the game. Amherst took the next point, placing them just one point away from a NESCAC Semifinal, but Middlebury tied the match and won the

Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios

Sophie Launsbach ’22 had a season-high 18 kills in the Mammoths’ loss to Middlebury. next two points to bounce the Firedogs from the tournament.

Friday’s game marked the close of the season for Amherst, leaving the team with a lot of

success to build on from another fantastic season, but the loss of six seniors will certainly be difficult for the Firedogs in the year to come.

The Biggest Little Game Ends in Anguish for Amherst Henry Newton ’21 Managing Sport Editor Call it the “Biggest Little Game in America.” Call it Amherst/Williams or Williams/Amherst. Call it a huge disappointment for this year’s Mammoth football team.

In the only NESCAC game of the year on regional and national television, the Mammoths and the Ephs faced off in what was to become each team’s defining matchup of the season.

With both teams eliminated from playoff contention, the 6-2 Ephs and the 4-4 Mammoths took to the field.

One game would have to determine whether the Ephs or the Mammoths saw their seasons as a success or disappointment.

In recent years, the Mammoths dominated the longstanding rivalry, winning seven of the last eight matchups, including last year’s 45-14 victory at home in the teams’ 133rd matchup.

This year’s game would not follow the same script.

Williams led the entire game, with the Mammoths unable to grab a lead at any point.

The Ephs jumped out to a 17-0 lead due to two quick touchdowns in the first quarter, scoring the first barely two minutes into the game.

The Mammoths finally got on the board towards the end of the first half thanks to Ollie Eberth ’20 mak-

ing a touchdown pass to James O’Regan ’20. It was the eighth time the two seniors had hooked up in the end zone on the season.

The Mammoths would eventually pull to within eight points at halftime, trailing 17-9 during the intermission.

The second half, however, belonged exclusively to the Ephs.

The Mammoths’ defense was able to hold the Ephs to just two touchdowns in the second half, but the Amherst offense was unable to move the football effectively, leading to a final score of 31-9 in Williams’ favor.

The inability to generate offense was what ultimately doomed the Mammoths.

Eberth was relatively effective in the passing game, however, throwing for 137 yards and a touchdown as opposed to the Ephs’ 125 yards through the air.

It was in the running game through which Williams’ offensive and defensive dominance truly shown through. Eberth was the Mammoths’ leading rusher with 20 yards on the day, while Williams had three individual rushers who more than doubled Eberths’ total.

The standout performer on the day was Williams’ first-year running back Joel Nicholas, who gained an astounding 211 yards on the ground and found the endzone three times.

He alone outgained the entirety of the Amherst offense, both passing and rushing.

The Mammoths, on account of their inability to

generate any offense against a stout Williams defense, were a paltry 1-11 on third down.

The Mammoths only managed 11 first downs on the day while the Ephs registered 24.

The Mammoths’ loss dropped them to 4-5, the first losing season for the Amherst football team since 1993, ending the season on a disappointing note for Amherst.

Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios

Quarterback Ollie Eberth ’20 threw for only 137 yards against Williams.

The Amherst Student • November 13, 2019

Women’s Ice Hockey Builds on Successful 18/19 Season

Sports 15

Views from Sparrow’s Nest Matt Sparrow ’21 Columnist Matt Sparrow surveys the DI College Football Playoff landscape as it comes into focus and makes the case for the teams he thinks might end up in the four-team playoff.

Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios

Kaitlin Hoang ’21, who will be expected to help lead the Mammoth offense this year, had a +/- of 10 last year.

Connor Haugh ’21 Managing Sports Editor On Friday, the women’s hockey team will return to home ice for the first time since a heartbreaking loss in the NESCAC Semifinal against Williams last March. In what will be a long and grueling season, the Mammoths will build on a fantastic 2018 campaign, one in which they went 8-6 in conference and 13-11 overall.

Requisite to their success this season is the return of a central core and the emergence of young talent.

Eliza Laycock ’20 and Anne Malloy ’20 will lead the team as captains in attack and defense respectively. The core of the offense will surely miss the creativity of Joceyln Hunydai ’19, who tallied seven goals and 15 assists last season leading the first forwards line, but the return of Kaitlin Hoang ’21 and Emma Flynn ’21, who had 37 points between the two of them last year, will steady the offense.

On defense, Caitlin Walker ’22 will lead the team from the net, after a stellar first season in which she

earned the starting role and saved 92 percent of the shots she faced in almost 1,200 minutes of play. Mia DelRosso ’21, with her ability to create chances on offense with her slapshot, will most likely join Walker and Malloy as the first-choice defense.

Amherst will hope to continue to dominate in special teams, as they did last season, with an excellent penalty kill and an even better power play.

Last year, with a one-skater advantage, Amherst scored 11 goals, and only took eight goals when down a player, significantly better than their opposition’s averages.

The arrival of first-year defenders Leslie Schwartz ’23 and Avery Flynn ’23, as well as forwards Carley Daly ’23, Kate Pohl ’23 and Jillian Mazzocca ’23, have surely bolstered the Mammoths’ skill level as they fight for places in the squad.

The team’s first test, a weekend doubleheader against Hamilton Nov. 15 and 16 on Orr Rink will, surely be a fast start as they take on the Continentals, who only dropped five games in the NESCAC last season.

Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios

Mia DelRosso ’21 will anchor the back line for the Mammoths this season.

The College Football Playoff season is upon us. In what marked the most exciting Saturday of the college season to date, this past weekend’s major upsets and a classic rivalry game have shaken up the entire landscape. While the next set of rankings may reflect these changes, I have my own opinions on the best teams in the nation. These are my thoughts on the top four college football teams and two additional schools that have the best chance to make the College Football Playoff.

1. Louisiana State University (LSU) (9-0) There shouldn’t be too much controversy about this choice. Although Ohio State ranked number one in the initial playoff poll (despite falling third in the AP Poll), most experts agreed that the matchup between undefeated Southeastern Conference (SEC) foes Alabama and LSU would go a long way in determining the best team in the nation. Playing in a hostile Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, the Tigers snapped their streak of eight consecutive losses to the Crimson Tide thanks to three touchdowns each from LSU quarterback Joe Burrow and running back Clyde Edwards Helaire. Burrow has taken the world by storm, transforming himself from an Ohio State backup to the Heisman Trophy favorite across two seasons and one transfer.

Burrow, combined with a fierce defense led by future first-round pick and LSU safety Grant Delpit, gives the Tigers all the ingredients to win their first national championship since 2007.

2. Clemson University (10-0) Yes, I know that Clemson barely escaped University of North Carolina after a failed two-point conversion attempt. And I’m aware that quarterback Trevor Lawrence hasn’t quite lived up to his absurdly high expectations. But guess what? This team is

now 10-0 and has won 25 games in a row, including last year’s 44-16 demolition of Alabama in the championship. Lawrence seems to have found his groove, throwing for three touchdowns and no interceptions for three straight games. The team’s defense is as dominant as ever despite losing four of their best linemen to the draft last season. Clemson outscores teams by an average of 43.8 points as they pace in the top five nationwide in both points scored and points allowed. With coach Dabo Swinney at the helm, the Tigers are rounding into form at the perfect time.

3. Ohio State University (9-0) The Buckeyes appear to be welcoming back the possible return of the NCAA Football video game franchise by putting up video game numbers of their own. They haven’t won by fewer than 24 points this season, which includes six victories by more than 40 points. They boast the highest-scoring offense at 51 points per game and the lowest-scoring defense at just 8.6 points per game.

Georgia transfer Justin Fields has been masterful behind the center, only having tossed one interception on the year while throwing for 27 touchdowns. Defensive end Chase Young is a potential first overall pick and leads the nation in sacks with 14, but he’ll likely be suspended a few games for violating an NCAA rule by accepting a loan to pay for school.

Their schedule does get tougher with Penn State looming at home and, most importantly, a date with archrival Michigan at the Big House.

These next few weeks will tell us if Ohio State is just a pretender or an actual contender.

4. The University of Alabama (8-1) Despite being first entry on the list that has already lost this season, you’re going to have a hard time convincing me that Alabama is not one of the top four teams in college

football. Its sole loss was to LSU, boasting the best team in the nation, and in that game, the Crimson Tide almost mounted a late comeback after trailing by 20 at the half. Head coach Nick Saban generally recruits the most talented players and this year is no different as Alabama’s top four wide receivers could probably start in the NFL right now. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa already holds the program record for most passing touchdowns in a career in less than two full seasons. Their defense consistently churns out first-round pick after first-round pick. When all is said and done, Alabama might very well miss out on the College Football Playoff. But on a good day, the Crimson Tide can beat anyone.

Two teams to keep an eye on: The University of Georgia (8-1) Their embarrassing loss to South Carolina aside, the Bulldogs have responded nicely by beating Kentucky, Florida and Missouri in quick succession. The dynamic duo of quarterback Jake Fromm and running back D’Andre Swift together, with the second-best defense in the NCAA, will keep them in any game.

Plus, they basically control their own destiny. With LSU as the likely opponent in an SEC Championship game, the Bulldogs will be back in the Playoff if they win that matchup.

The University of Minnesota (9-0) One of these things is not like the others, and in a list otherwise full of traditional college powerhouses, the Golden Gophers stand out as different. Head coach PJ Fleck has turned around this program in a hurry, just as he did at Western Michigan. Minnesota still has two very tough games left against Iowa and Wisconsin before a potential Big Ten Championship game against Ohio State. However, if the Golden Gophers remain unscathed, those wins will surely clinch them a spot in the Playoff.

The Amherst Student • November 13, 2019

Sports 16

Women’s Soccer Wins NESCAC Championship Cale Clinton ’20 Staff Writer The Amherst women’s soccer team knew as they rode into Medford, Massachuestts that they had an uphill battle ahead of them. The Mammoths punched their ticket to the NESCAC semifinals after surviving a 1-0 overtime win against Hamilton, and despite having an impressive season record of 12-3-1 coming into this weekend, Amherst was the lowest seed in the tournament. The three teams ahead of Amherst in seeding — Tufts, Middlebury and Williams — all put up memorable, hard-fought matches during the regular season. Tufts and Williams were Amherst’s rare losses, while the Mammoths overtook Middlebury on Senior Day in a tight 1-0 finish. The Mammoths were set to play tournament host Tufts as their semifinal matchup on Saturday.

Despite the talent the team was stacked up against, Amherst was confident about their chances. They entered the weekend as both the top offense left in the tournament and the NESCAC leaders in shutouts, with 14 total across the 18-game season. The team’s aggressive offensive style of play allowed them to maintain possession for long durations all season, both providing heavy pressure on the opposing goalie and minimizing scoring opportunities for the other team.

Even when those opportunities come around, goalie Erica Sanders

GAME SCHE DULE

FRI Women’s Hockey vs. Hamilton, 7 p.m.

’20 leads the NESCAC in save percentage. The Mammoths boast an impressive 2.50 goals per game, but when paired with their stunning 0.33 goals allowed per game, this four-seed was a force to be reckoned with.

Amherst began the weekend with a statement win against the Jumbos, sending them back to their dorms after a dominant 3-0 finish. The Mammoths jumped out to their usual aggressive start after peppering Tufts with seven shots in the first 15 minutes of play, finally breaking through in the 20th minute when Isabel Stern ’23 scored off a through ball from Ruby Hastie ’22. Amherst struck again in the 32nd minute when Jordan Bailey ’22 scored her first goal of the season with a header off a corner kick.

Despite outshooting Tufts 15-5 in the first half, this game was far from certain for Amherst. Tufts came out with an extra spark in the second half. Sanders stopped a breakaway goal from Tufts co-captain Izzy Moore in the 59th minute, one of four shots on goal. After breaking up a corner kick, Amherst quickly regained possession. Not long after came the Mammoths’ third and final goal of the afternoon, this time with Sloan Askins ’20 receiving a through-ball from Natalie Landau ’21 and winning her one-on-one to find the back of the net. Tufts had several more scoring opportunities, all stifled by the Mammoths.

The Mammoths took the same field in Medford the next day for the

SAT Cross Country DIII Regional Championships @ Bowdoin, 11 a.m.

Swimming/Diving @ Union Squash vs. Conn, 12 p.m.

NESCAC Finals, this time taking on Middlebury College. The Panthers earned their spot in the final after taking down Williams 2-0 on Saturday. The first half was tense and thrilling but ultimately uneventful.

The Mammoths didn’t jump out to their usual offensive barrage, only outshooting Middlebury 6-2. The half was particularly marred by penalties. Amherst and Middlebury had five and six respectively.

In the final 45 minutes of the game, the Mammoths woke up, taking five shots on goal and a pair of corner kick attempts. The lone goal of the afternoon came amid this onslaught of shots when a breakdown

by Middlebury allowed Sarah Sullivan ’23 to score her second career goal.

Amherst would see a few more scoring opportunities but spent the remaining 20 minutes of play running the clock out. Sullivan’s goal would prove to be the championship-clincher, as the Mammoths walked away with the NESCAC title. This is the fifth NESCAC championship for Amherst women’s soccer, their second in four years.

Amherst’s tournament victory clinches them a berth in the Division III NCAA tournament, the first two rounds of which take place Nov. 16 and 17. The Mammoths will host Maine Maritime Academy for that tournament. Dickinson College and Farmingdale State will play the second match at Amherst, taking on the winner of the previous day’s game.

Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios

Goalie Erica Sanders ’20 commanded the box for Amherst, posting two key tournament shutouts.

Women’s Soccer NCAA DIII Tournament vs. Maine Maritime, 11 a.m.

Men’s Soccer NCAA TOURNAMENT Rd. 1 vs. Thomas College, noon @ Keene State Women’s Hockey vs. Hamilton, 3 p.m.

Men’s Hockey vs. Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios

Midfielder Sarah Sullivan ’23 scored the lone goal in the NESCAC Championship versus Middlebury, propelling the Mammoths to their 18th NCAA tournament appearance.