Issue 17

Willy Workman ‘13 Continues Hoops Dream in Israel See Sports, Page 9

THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF AMHERST COLLEGE SINCE 1868

VOLUME CXLIII, ISSUE 17 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

College Adds New Statistics Major

Updated Campus Statistics Becomes 38th Major Offered by the College Center Theater Makes Its Debut Andrew Kim ’17 Managing News Editor

Photography Editor Olivia Tarantino ’15

Seeley Mudd houses the newly renamed Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Last Wednesday, the department began offering a statistics major.

Sitina Xu ’16 News Section Editor Last week, the Department of Mathematics changed its name to the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and began offering a new statistics major within the department.

The creation of the statistics major has been six years in the making. The major was created from the collaborative efforts of Professors Amy Wagaman, Shu-Min Liao and Nicholas Horton. The Department of Mathematics and Statistics has also hired another lecturer for the spring to round out the statistics faculty.

The statistics major uses a curriculum different from the mathematics curriculum in its emphasis on real-world application, clear communication and computing skills. The major requirements reflect these components by combining a background in mathematics, statistics, computer science, data analysis and the use of projects to culminate in a senior capstone project.

“You’ve got a math background because math is something you need in order to be able to analyze questions,” Wagaman said, explaining the components of the statistics major.

“And then you have statistic courses that are

applied and you have data, and start to address models at a level that doesn’t take as much of the math because you’ll be taking math at the same time. Then we have more advance courses where you will be using the math to really delve into how does this test works and derive why it works that way.”

The entire curriculum has a clear emphasis on interdisciplinary skills beyond mathematics or analysis in order to provide majors will the skills and experience to solve real-world problems and effectively communicate soluContinued on Page 3

This Friday, students will have the opportunity to experience a newly upgraded Keefe Campus Center theater, as the Amherst College Film Society hosts its first film screening of the semester. After several months of installations, the IT department recently completed updating the projection and sound systems in the basement theater in Keefe. With the new technological upgrades, the theater will accommodate both movie screenings and classes.

The new features include a high-resolution projector, two new speakers and a new subwoofer. In the front of the room, volume and lighting controls and a laptop player have been installed as well. The theater also includes a new Blu-ray player.

Currently there are plans to replace the doors with doors that close more quietly.

“Keefe Theater has stadium seating, is quiet and has no windows so it’s a great space for showing films,” Chief Information Officer Gayle Barton, one of the administrators involved in the project, said in an email.

Installation of the new technology started at the end of the spring of last year. Multimedia Services Manager John Kunhardt collaborated with Film and Media Studies chair Amelie Hastie and Wassmann Audio Visual on the installation plans. Once plans and finances were approved, Wassmann installed the machinery later in the summer.

According to Kunhardt, inspiration for the renovations began in the spring of 2012, when faculty and administrators were discussing design plans for a new building to replace Merrill Science Center. Although the plans to raze Merrill were eventually scrapped, the discussions sparked an interest among the Amherst faculty Continued on Page 3

Green Amherst Project to Hold “Green Games” Andrew Kim ’17 Managing News Editor This March, The Association of Amherst Students and the Green Amherst Project will launch the “Green Games,” an environmental sustainability competition among the first year dorm. The six-week long event will continue until April 22, Earth Day. The first-year dorms will be competing to see which dorm can reduce its paper, water and electrical usage the most over the course of the six weeks. Campus Utilities Engineer Aaron Hayden will be monitoring the energy, paper towel and water usage of each of the dorms. The dorm with the greatest percentage decrease in usage will win a $200 pizza party funded by the AAS. In a process inspired by “The Hunger Games,” the resident counselors of each dorm will elect two tributes from their dorm to participate in weekly competitions. Although the plans for the activities for the competitions have not been finalized yet, some ideas

include outdoor activities that will take advantage of the spring weather, as well as an art-related activity. Tributes can earn points through these activities to increase their dorms’ chances of winning the games.

College staff has played a small yet important role in creating the Green Games. Green Amherst Project members worked with campus engineering in creating an electrical usage monitoring system. Campus engineering also installed a new electricity reader in James Dormitory, which once shared an electricity reader with Stearns Dormitory. The new installation will allow engineering staff to better differentiate the electrical usages of James and Stearns.

The Green Amherst Project has also been talking with Dean of Students Hannah Fatemi on possibly distributing reusable water bottles to all the students.

There will also be efforts to educate students about sustainability as well. The Green Amherst Project will be distributing pamphlets with tips on adopting behaviors such

as water conservation and recycling. Tributes will also educate their fellow dorm residents about environmentally conscious behaviors.

Each week of the Green Games will have a theme focusing on a particular environmental issue such as recycling, water conservation and electricity usage. The weekly dorm competitions and educational events will reflect the weekly environmental theme issue.

The program was created by Noah Lerner, AAS Environmental Officer and a Green Amherst Project leader. Lerner said the idea came to him during the fall semester of 2013. Given the large number of first-year members in the Green Amherst Project this year, Lerner thought that there was a significant amount of support within the first-year class for an ambitious project such as the Green Games.

Lerner said the similarity in size and age of infrastructure of the recently-renovated firstyear dorms also make them better suited for comparison. But most importantly, the Green Amherst project hopes that the intimate community of the first-year dorms will encourage

greater cooperation among dorm residents in the competition.

“Freshmen care about their dorms, and the image of their dorms,” Lerner said. “To get people in Crossett and Stone to participate would be more difficult, since the sense of community isn’t as strong in those dorms.”

New developments in the AAS also helped realize the Games. This year, AAS President George Tepe ’14 sought to increase the influence of the AAS cabinet, an advisory committee that consists of the Environmental Officer, Sexual Respect Officer, Community Organizer and Inclusion Officer. Lerner’s position in the cabinet provided him the support and resources of the AAS to run the Green Games.

Last semester, Tepe asked Lerner to be the Environmental Officer, one of four cabinet member positions that include the Sexual Respect Officer, Community Organizer and Inclusion Officer. Lerner’s position in the cabinet provided him the support and resources Continued on Page 3

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News

“A lot of people think statistics is math, but to a statistician they are not exactly the same thing.”

Statistics Major Page 3

Feb. 17, 2014 to Feb. 23, 2014

>>Feb. 17, 2014 12:01 p.m., Morris Pratt Dormitory A caller reported an unfamiliar man “tailgated” into the building after her. Officers responded and located a man in the first floor common room who had no association with the college.

He was issued a written notrespass order and directed off campus. >>Feb. 19, 2014 3:19 p.m., Hills Lot An officer investigated a motor vehicle accident. >>Feb. 21, 2014 1:23 a.m., Charles Pratt Dormitory Officers responded to a report of an assault and battery which resulted in injury to a student.

The matter is under investigation.

9:37 p.m., Keefe Campus Center A caller reported seeing a raccoon near the Campus Center.

It could not be located. >>Feb. 22, 2014 12:57 a.m., Seelye Parking Lot An officer encountered an intoxicated man, who is not a student, in the Seelye parking lot.

The man’s friend was located and they left together.

1:39 a.m., Waldorf-Astoria While investigating a smoke detector alarm, officers discovered two candles had been used in a room. They were confiscated and one student was fined $100 for creating an endangering condition.

1:40 a.m., Waldorf-Astoria While at a room investigating a smoke detector alarm, officers discovered the resident was in possession of alcohol and under the legal age. The alcohol was confiscated and the matter was referred to the Dean’s Office.

1:40 a.m., Waldorf-Astoria Officers investigated a smoke detector sounding and discovered that a student had smoked marijuana. A grinder, with a small amount of marijuana in it, was confiscated. The student was fined $100 for the smoking violation and the matter was referred to the Dean’s Office.

2:31 a.m., Seelye House A student reported the theft of a coat and keys from the first floor common area while attending a party. The coat is valued at $80.00.

4:24 p.m., Cohan Officers received a report, that several hours earlier, an unknown male was seen in the building possibly trying to enter rooms. The RC notified the residents and directed them to call the Police immediately if the

man was seen again. Officers checked the building but nothing unusual was found.

5:55 p.m., South Pleasant St. An officer responded to a report of an intoxicated woman on the town common. The Amherst Police and an ambulance were also requested.

6:16 p.m., Mayo Smith House An officer investigated a smoke detector sounding in a third-floor room and discovered a candle had been used in the room. The resident was fined $100 for creating an endangering condition.

6:30 p.m., Mayo Smith An officer investigated a smoke detector sounding in a third floor room and discovered that the resident had smoked marijuana in the room. The resident was fined $100 and the matter was referred to the Dean’s Office.

7:04 p.m., Cohan An officer investigated a smoke detector sounding on the third floor and determined it activated when a hair dryer was used too close to it.

10:42 p.m., Appleton Dormitory An officer responded to a complaint about loud music on the third floor. It was off when the officer arrived.

11:55 p.m., Crossett Dormitory While clearing out a large party at a third-floor suite, officers discovered people had unmonitored access to alcohol and the residents were not of legal age to possess the alcohol. The matter was referred to the Dean’s Office. >>Feb. 23, 2014 12:04 a.m., Crossett Officers responded to a complaint about the south stairwell of the building being full of people and discovered a party in a third-floor suite had become too large. The suite was filled with people, and there was loud music and alcohol. The event was shut down and people were cleared out. The matter was referred to the Dean’s Office.

12:10 a.m., Garman House Officers responded to a complaint about a loud party in the first floor common room. Upon arrival, a group of students was leaving. No further action was necessary.

12:56 a.m., Fayerweather Lot Rd. A man was arrested on Fayerweather Lot Road and charged with trespassing.

10:21 p.m., Chapman Officers and the Fire Department responded to an alarm and found it activated when popcorn was burned in the kitchen. One student was fined $100.

Bongani Ndlovu

Thoughts on Theses Department of Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought

Bongani Ndlovu is a senior majoring in Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought. His senior thesis focuses on indigenous medicine in South Africa.

His thesis advisor is Professor Adam Sitze.

Q: What is your thesis about?

A: In brief, it’s about the legal and political institutionalization of indigenous medicine in South Africa, against a backdrop of disdain and suppression originating in the colonial and apartheid eras.

The statute that is most authoritative in guiding my research is the Traditional Health Practitioners Act. It was originally passed in 2003, but was challenged in the constitutional court. Various groups expressed concerns about the scientific legitimacy of indigenous healing practices, arguing that they do not discriminate sufficiently between the physiological (material) and the psycho-spiritual (mystical) aspects of health. After a revision of the act, it passed again in 2007 and has been active since, although it has not resulted in any important substantive changes in the way that indigenous medicine is popularly viewed, portrayed and regulated.

My analysis yields two teachings. A.) the horror of apartheid (the political consequences it had and the impression it has left on South African people) is such that contemporary South African politics and legislation have reverted by some degree to what they were during the colonial period, the shortcomings of which South African lawmakers have somewhat lost sight. B.) the Act I mentioned reflects a profound misconstrual of indigenous medicine that is consistent with the paternalistic, civilizing impulse of colonial legislation.

The act is underlain with assumptions that favor the allopathic model’s answer to the question: What is good health? This question is not simply scientific, but also philosophical (the Western mind-body split as inherited from Descartes, a hyperscientific understanding of health that ignores the psychosocial elements of illness, etc.). Allopathic medicine has ideological underpinnings that are often forgotten when weighing it against indigenous medicine. The act thus fails to establish meaningful regulation of indigenous medicine because it does not try to understand indigenous medicine on its own terms.

I think my topic is super interesting because it involves an in-depth look at law, politics, culture, science and medical convention.

To understand what I’m going on about, you’ll have to read more of my project.

Q: Why did you choose this particular topic?

A: Indigenous medicine has always been on my mind because I come from a traditionalist family in South Africa. My parents and grandparents have always consulted traditional healers in addition to western doctors.

I thought it would be interesting to look at the history of traditional medicine and learn about what is happening in that realm right now.

Q: When did you start your thesis process and what were the first few steps like?

A: I started the process back in April of my junior year and it simply started with having some conversations with Adam Sitze, a professor in the LJST department and my advisor. He encouraged me to put all my ideas into writing and I eventually decided upon the most developed idea and began my thesis.

Q: What has been some of the most difficult parts of writing a thesis?

A: Its constant presence in my life has been the biggest pressure. Also, another difficult thing is that I have to put together an analytical work, but it is really easy to slip into descriptive writing as I am dealing with history.

Q: What has been your research process like?

A: It has been a little tough to find resources relevant to the topic. There is a lot of writing on witchcraft, which is a related topic.

You can’t speak about indigenous medicine without evoking witchcraft as they are often confused.

If you take South Africa, for instance, and look at its colonial and apartheid period, witchcraft and indigenous medicine have been grouped together into one thing, with healers often being called “witch doctors” at best and evil charlatans at worst. At any rate, I received funding to go do research in South Africa, so I had the opportunity to meet and converse with traditional healers in South Africa over winter break.

Q: What was the most unexpected thing about the senior thesis project?

A: I didn’t expect that I’d end up caring as much as I do about the issues about which I’m writing. I cannot imagine that this will be the end of my work on and involvement in the question of indigenous medicine. It is also surprising the extent to which distinctions between disciplines can be meaningless.

Q: What is the most valuable lesson you are taking away from thesis writing?

A: I think writing a thesis gives students a valuable opportunity to put literally everything they’ve learned during their time at Amherst to practice. Things I learned as a first-year student, things I learned from classes I hated, things I learned in classes that I took only as social experiments and the conversations I’ve had with people. All these things, to varying degrees to be sure, have influenced the project. The process also changes the way in which you understand and relate to the faculty, especially those professors you think have had the most influence in the lessons you’ve retained.

Q: Do you have any advice for students considering writing a thesis?

A: Try to start thinking about what you might be interested in taking up as a topic as early as possible. The more of a head start you get, the easier the transition is from being a potential thesis writer to being an actual thesis writer.

Q: Where do you stand in terms of the timeline?

A: I am currently working on my last two chapters. I have most of the ideas present in my head and just have to transform those ideas into writing. I would say I am close to being done with the project, but you never know because even when you write something that you think is brilliant and complete, you pull out a book and realize you’ve missed a huge point or that an argument is lacking.

Deadlines determine when you are done with the project, but you never feel like you are completely done with it because there is always something else that could be relevant to your topic.

— Elaine Jeon ‘17

The Amherst Student • February 26, 2014

News 3

College Expands Options Offered to Math Students Continued from Page 1

Managing News Editor Andrew Kim

The upgraded movie theater in Keefe Campus Center will host screenings for classes and for the newly active Amherst College Film Society.

Campus Center Theater Gets Technology Upgrade Continued from Page 1

who wanted to expand the number of screening spaces available on campus.

The Film and Media Studies Department expressed the strongest encouragement for the changes at Keefe. Professors from the Film and Media Studies department voiced interest in using the space to conduct classes but complained about the theater’s inconveniences that hindered instruction.

“Before, there was no way for an instructor to control the movie from the front of the room,” Kunhardt said. “Someone would have had to send someone over to the back room to stop the movie or change the volume.”

After hearing complaints regarding the theater, Barton and Associate Dean of Faculty Jack Cheney decided to make updating Keefe Theater a priority for 2013.

“The combination of possible use for classes and the desire to ensure that our student activity spaces are in good shape made this project be a priority this year,” Barton said.

In the hope of providing more student activities on campus, the IT department has been working with the newly active Amherst College

Film Society to host a movie series at the theater.

“We started checking into the costs of providing a film series to campus when we learned that the Amherst Film Society, which had been pretty inactive of late, was talking about starting up again,” Barton said. “We think that’s a great idea, and we can provide support if it’s needed.”

The Amherst Film Society started working with the IT department the end of the fall semester. Film Society president Pike Goldschmidt talked to members of IT about plans to diversify the movie showings. The IT department has helped suggest movie selections for the film screening series and is now sponsoring projection training for interested students.

“IT has been really helpful,” Goldschmidt said. “IT has been sort of a second faculty to help us run everything smoothly.”

The club is currently showing mainstream films. Although future plans are still in flux, there are plans to potentially show films made

by Amherst students.

The Amherst College Film Society will show its first film of the semester, “Captain Phillips,” this Friday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m.

First-Year Dorms Prepare for “Green Games” Continued from Page 1 of the AAS to run the Green Games. Working with President Tepe and Chief of Staff Liya Rechtman, Lerner selected six first-year senators to organize and collaborate on the program.

The program organizers hope that these competitions will not only promote environmental awareness, but also bring the firstyear class closer together. Senators said that they hope first-year students will embrace the chance to meet new people.

“I would say it’s just about awareness and trying to build community,” said Karen Blake ’17, one of the first-year senators involved in the games.

“Starting with the first year class that’s going to be here for three more years is a good trial run and also a good investment for the future,” said Siraj Sindhu ’17, another first-year senator. “I think it’s a great idea all around. It’ll further the Green Amherst Project’s goals of sustainability and hopefully give the entire first-year a chance to bond and get to know each other.”

Lerner and others involved in the Green Games currently do not have plans to expand the event to all Amherst students, but instead hope that the event will continue in the future as a first-year tradition.

“Ideally, the goal is to get every incoming class as first-year to participate or be able to participate in something like it,” Lerner said.

Organizers have been attending weekly meetings over the past month as they finalize plans for the games. The organizers have been generally quiet regarding the games so far, but they say they plan to step up their publicity efforts in the coming week.

“We plan to have some big publicity come out at the beginning of March, but we’re also finding ways to leak the word out deliberately, collectively and carefully so that we slowly build hype or excitement of anticipation in the days preceding,” Sindhu said.

Sindhu said that participation in the games will not be mandatory, although the organizers hope that all first-years will be enthusiastic about joining in on the competition.

“There are things that we’re hoping that everyone does because they’re fun, interactive, engaging, educational and further the goals of sustainability and environmentalism,” Sindhu said. But part of the game is that you want your entire dorm to take part because then you have a better chance to win the game. It’s about cooperation, talking to people, meeting new people.”

Sophie Murguia ’17 contributed reporting.

tions.

The major’s senior capstone course will require statistics student to pursue an in-depth project on a topic of their interest, then turn in this project for a comprehensive evaluation.

“Statistics classes are statistics; they use math as a tool, but it’s not the only thing you need to be a good statistician,” said Wagaman.

“A lot of people think statistics is math, but to a statistician they are not exactly the same thing, so to be a statistician you need more skills about collaborating, communicating ideas and really thinking hard about a problem.”

The senior capstone course aims to use these skills by asking students to tackle a problem of their choice and solve it as a statistician would.

“The idea [of the senior capstone course] is that is really what a statistician does, they have a problem of interest, get data, analyze it, but you don’t stop there, you have to communicate your findings in such a way they’re useful to other people,” Wagaman said.

Ajanae Bennett ’16, the first student to declare a statistics major, pointed to the realworld applicability of statistics as her reason for choosing statistics.

“Out of all the classes in the math department, there is more practical use and more real-world use in statistics while proofs in math gets bogged down in theory,” Bennett said.

Daniel Kaplan ’17, a potential mathematics major, also said he sees the advantage of a statistics major.

“It’s a great step for the math department to take because it enables students to specialize more in math related things they want to go into,” Kaplan said. “Nobody is going to complain if they have more choices.”

The statistics major is housed within the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

The department does not plan to split in the future and will remain as one department offering two majors.

The numbers of statistics faculty and courses have grown substantially over the past six years in order to accommodate student demand and to prepare for the introduction of this new major. Six years ago, there were five statistics courses offered and only one statistics faculty member. This semester, there are eight statistics courses offered and four statistics faculty members.

Wagaman said that the statistics major has been so long in the making both because student interest escalated gradually and because it took several years for the department to hire new faculty members.

“We’ve just gradually seen more and more students realizing, ‘Wow, this is really useful.

Now, when I read the paper and I see a confidence interval reporting I actually understand what that margin of error actually means,’” Wagaman said.

Photography Editor Olivia Tarantino

Two students work in Seeley Mudd, home of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

Opinion Editorial

“The larger, common purpose of an Amherst education is to develop our own purposes.”

Exploring our Education... Page 5

Reflections on a Snowflake

Summer Internship Introspection As deadlines approach for summer internships, The Student can commiserate with the stress and anxiety of prospective interns. Summer internships can be a serious ordeal and scoring a prestigious internship is often more highly valued than success during the academic semester.

Internships present a crucial opportunity to not only advance one’s career goals but also to clarify and define what those goals should be. Nonetheless, many students do not carefully deliberate why and where they hope to find an internship, and it can be difficult to find good advice and guidance along the way.

Summer internships have become not only commonplace but also almost imperative. A summer spent without an internship may feel like a summer wasted. This, however, is a detrimental mindset. The focus should not be on what is lost or how students might fall behind career-wise if they do not work as an intern during the summer. Instead, the focus should be on what exactly does one hope to gain from interning and are there internships worth pursuing that provide those opportunities.

The plethora of unpaid internships is indicative of how internships have become compulsory and how too often students are too willing to just go through the motions and to intern just for the sake of interning.

Students should pause and question does this internship, especially if it is unpaid, really offer a meaningful and educational experience before accepting any potential

offer. A couple of a flashy lines on a resume, without substance, is not worth a summer of vacation — after all, once college ends, there will be few of those left to enjoy.

It has become popular among comedians and politicians to deride the career prospects offered by a liberal arts education. Unfortunately, even a school such as Amherst has taken such criticism to heart.

While academically the College is entrenched in a tradition of liberal arts and sciences, in terms of career advising, it often pigeon holes students into certain fields. If students are not directed towards business or finance, then they are led to research or non-profits, and although these are all perfectly fine endeavors, they limit the opportunities that students believe are available to them.

It is a persistent misperception that certain academic disciplines entail certain career prospects, but there is no less reason to expect that an anthropology major can add productive insights at a financial firm or consultancy than to expect that an undergraduate studying economics definitely will.

There is no reason for any student should fixate their dreams on some particular field or firm, just as no students should limit themselves to academia, based on their academic major. STEM majors are of practical value to society, but so are other disciplines, and many modern organizations are quick to recognize this. The difficulty for undergraduates, however, is finding them, but the best way to start is with an open mind.

The International Perspective Jayson Paul ’16 The International Perspective is a biweekly column that provides a platform for students to share their opinions about our larger world. This includes international outlooks on domestic issues as well as opinions on problems occurring around the globe.

Have you ever looked at a snowflake? Here I don’t really mean, ‘Have you ever seen a snowflake?’ or ‘Have your eyes ever registered a snowflake?’ I mean, have you ever sat down, or stood up, or taken up some bodily position, and given your full attention to a snowflake?

Until two weeks ago, I hadn’t. It may seem a bit strange to say, but taking into account that this is my second winter ever, it was very much a moment of excitement to see this little thing; all perfect and artistic, as though some fanatically meticulous or obsessive compulsive artist in the sky took painstaking care to craft it.

The United States of America is filled with many a metaphorical snowflake for me; many precious things, beautiful to behold, but difficult to see in the blanket of snow that covers them. If the snowflake represents an idea, a perspective or a truth that is part of American consciousness, then the snow that blankets the ways and trees and buildings must represent that over-arching, broad thing that is the grand experiment in democracy that this place represents.

What then is ice? The ice that clumps together after the gentle snow, that gets hard as it’s compacted into a cold knot beneath the soft?

What is hard about the U.S.? How about its selfrighteousness, its inability to see itself as not ‘the world’ but part of it? How about its propensity for war and violence that calls itself freedom; and that, ironically, exists to preserve others’ ‘free-

doms’ in the same moment it denies them?

And what then is the dirty slush? What is it that collects on your shoes and on the walkways as the week wears on and the snow melts?

There are no snowflakes now but an amalgamation of snow, chaotic snow; running and flowing and freezing in terrifying inconvenient puddles.

It’s all dirty and unpleasant to see, smell and think of. For me the slush would be the unconsciousness here, in its varied forms. It’s the allpervading consumerism, it’s the viciousness of capitalism, it’s the ludicrous liberalism, the overwhelming activism on all fronts and lastly, it’s the ones left behind. Because a land rich in opportunities can’t have left anyone behind, right? It’s their fault; they just didn’t work hard enough… right?

Metaphors are useful and remarkably, paradoxically, amazingly useless. ‘Oh America, shall I compare you to a winter’s day?’ Rubbish. But I shall. In fact, I can compare you to a summer’s day, a fall’s day, Independence Day, any day. Because as long as I live here, reside here, study here, laugh here, learn here, love here, I live in that contradiction, in that paradox.

I will not judge it, I don’t have that right, and even if I did, I don’t know if I’d exercise it. But I will be aware of it. I’ll walk through the snow, or through the slush or on the ice and know the experience that I’m having. I’ll stop and watch a snowflake, and smile.

Ironic and Illogical: A Response to “In Support of Biddy: Why We Shouldn’t Boycott Academia” Ariel Hernandez ’15 Contributing Writer Two weeks ago, Idalia Friedson ’15 contributed an article titled “In Support of Biddy: Why We Shouldn’t Boycott Academia.” In her article, Friedson advances the argument that President Martin’s opposition to the American Studies Association’s boycott on Israel is grounded in principles of academic freedom.

Yet at the same time as Friedson advocates for “academic freedom,” she constructs an argument that is ideologically lazy, patently biased and that reads little like any academic writing that I’ve encountered. An article that enumerated the grammatical errors, logical fallacies and factual inconsistencies of Friedson’s article is a project that I could — but chose not to — undertake. I would instead like to briefly question her conception of “academia” and how distant from political exigencies it really is.

Friedson’s article makes no effort to engage with the existing discourse surrounding the ASA boycott. For example, nowhere does she make reference to the queries Professor Nasser

E X E C U T I V E B OA R D Editors-in-Chief Brendan Hsu, Emmett Knowlton Executive Advisor Brianda Reyes Managing News Sophie Murguia Managing Opinion James Liu, David Chang Managing Arts and Living Meghan McCullough, Elizabeth Paul Managing Sports Andrew Knox, Nicole Yang

Hussain raised in his article, “Why the ASA is Right and President Martin is Wrong” — not to mention the veritable mountain of serious academic writing on the subject.

Furthermore, Friedson’s handling of language betrays a grave misunderstanding of the project of academic writing: to illuminate, rather than obfuscate, the complexities at hand — to challenge the reader, rather than to present him or her with factoids and one-sided descriptions of “the issues.”

George Orwell writes in “Politics and the English Language” that “political language has to consist largely of euphemism, questionbegging and sheer cloudy vagueness.” It is this “cloudy vagueness” that we see in Friedson’s use of cryptic terms such as “serious, relevant issues in the word.” If these issues are, indeed, serious and relevant, why not spell them out?

Why use this cryptic turn of phrase instead of stating, explicitly, an understanding of Israel’s establishment of settlements and so forth? The fact that such complex subjects are casually lumped together as “issues,” rather than discussed in specific terms, shows a reticence to

think about them on more than a superficial level.

Note that Hussain’s article does not use this type of language. When he writes about the establishment of settlements or the power of a democratic citizenry to change its government, he describes it in specific terms of what is politically relevant. This type of language forces the writer (and perhaps more importantly, the reader) to countenance the subjects he or she renders. Writing about “the issues” in the abstract does no such thing — it allows the writer to feign, by abstraction, profoundness in his or her words without ever directly confronting the subjects he or she writes about.

I’m curious as to what “academia” means to Friedson. Reading her article, it seems as if “academia” is an empty concept, a bulwark that may be leaned upon for the purposes of political expediency. This suspicion is strengthened when one takes even a cursory look at her sources. Friedson shamelessly cites www. standwithus.org, a clearly pro-Israel website when she describes military occupation and the systematic disenfranchisement of Palestinians

S TA F F Design Editor Brian Beaty, Andrew Kim Opinion Section Editors Darya Barshak, Ashley Montgomery Sports Section Editors Dori Atkins, Jason Stein, Jeremy Kesselhaut Publishers Connolly Bottum, Diana Lopez, Syeda Malliha, Nazir Khan, Tia Robinson, Valerie Salcido Photography Editor Olivia Tarantino

as “preventative measures.” But is a website, such as www.standwithus.org, which regales its viewers with images of smiling Israeli teenage girls, to be taken as an objective source of information on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Is this really the kind of source one should use when the manipulation of truth is a concern at the forefront of the debate? If so, wouldn’t it be in the interests of academic inquiry to also consider pro-Palestinian websites?

I hope that it is clear from my article that I do not necessarily align myself with either side of the debate but rather call for those who do to hold themselves accountable to the standards they ostensibly defend when invoking the sanctity of “academia.” I challenge anyone who purports to have the interests of “academia” at heart to read and honestly engage with the existing academic literature surrounding the ASA boycott — one might start with, for example, Judith Butler’s 2006 article “Israel/Palestine and the Paradoxes of Academic Freedom” — perhaps in lieu of writing a hasty article consigning oneself to either side of the debate.

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The Amherst Student • February 26, 2014

Entrepreneurship and Liberal Arts Education

David Chang ’16 Managing Opinion Editor “A liberal arts education is rich in metaphors that are capable of capturing the multifaceted life of an entrepreneur” — Dennis Ray, “Liberal Arts for Entrepreneurs.”

In November, TEDxAmherstCollege drew in hundreds of students.

Many students have purchased refrigerators from Green Garage, and a number of students in the Amherst community is currently anticipating the new BikeShare program. But most people are not aware of their common denominator: the Social Innovation Leadership Team(SILT).

SILT is a unique student-staff group at the CCE created in 2009 by a group of Amherst students. We have recently helped coordinate TEDxAmherstCollege, worked with our fellows, namely Green Garage and BikeShare and held multiple events over the past four years. We strive to foster innovative approaches to social problems, offer skills and resources to those who are interested in social change, and provide connections that can lead to sustainable collaborations.

Admittedly, those are some pretty challenging things to do, especially at Amherst College. When we look at schools like MIT and Harvard, with their entrepreneurship organizations, we can’t help but notice the contrast and then attribute some of it to certain characteristics of Amherst.

The College and its students generally seem to have an innate reservation about doing anything too “practical” for a liberal arts college, almost like we’re saying, “that’s not what we’re here for.” Most of the students who complain about the lack of practicality in their education have failed to do anything about it, most probably because they don’t know what to do or don’t think they have the time. The absence of courses related to entrepreneurship in the curriculum also does not help.

At first glance, it might only be mildly irritating, or it might even make sense to some. After all, we do go to a liberal arts college. But the important thing to note here is that the kind of argument that condones inactivity for the sake of preserving our unique “liberal” education has as its underlying assumption that entrepreneurship is somehow the antithesis of a liberal arts education.

Let’s make a comparison. The ideal Amherst student is open-minded, tolerant, intellectually curious, self-actualizing and smart, and he or she values education for its own sake, appreciates cultural diversity and seeks to contribute to society. Social entrepreneurs engage in a process of continuous innovation, adaptation and learning.

They are open-minded, intellectually curious, self-actualizing and smart.

In addition, here’s what former CEO of General Motors Roger Smith once observed: “The ultimate impact of the liberal arts on the art of management, then, is a major contribution to the evolution of an ethical and humanistic capitalism — a system that stimulates innovation, fosters excellence, enriches society and dignifies work.”

This all sounds like something that Amherst College is trying to do. The fundamental elements of a liberal arts education are essential to the development of an entrepreneurial mindset — it is an instrument through which we

can not only be better informed about the problems we face in today’s society, but also comprehend the necessity of innovative technologies and solutions.

It isn’t hard to see that there is a definite, mutually beneficial connection between liberal arts education and social entrepreneurship that is practically invisible at Amherst.

With that said, solidifying the bridge between liberal arts and entrepreneurship, rather than threatening either, would lead to the discovery of new paths of inquiry and learning that could augment the overall quality of our education.

At this point, some readers might want to ask, “now what?” There are a lot of things that can and need to be done in order to establish social entrepreneurship as a significant aspect of the Amherst culture.

You don’t even need to know exactly what social entrepreneurship is. And chances are, you, an Amherst College student, whatever that might imply in this context, probably don’t know how to define social entrepreneurship without doubting yourself. As a matter of fact, neither can I, or the majority of people I know. Members of SILT, past and present, have had diverse interpretations of SILT’s mission statement.

One of the most challenging aspects of working for SILT is trying to explain to our friends what exactly it is we do.

But there is sort of a consensus among us that Kristine Choi ’16 says best: “We are a student-staff group dedicated to inspiring and supporting an atmosphere of social entrepreneurship on campus.”

In addition, recent graduate Alex Sondak ’12 has given me his definition of social entrepreneurship: “Leveraging business principles to make social impact, or something along those lines.” I agree with both. Those are some solid, impressive ways to talk to people about the topic. But I’m sure that some might disagree and assert their own definitions, and that’s understood because it is not an idea that can be defined so easily. The significance of the term ‘social entrepreneurship’ fluctuates depending on the individuals, circumstances, and experiences. For some, it means implementing more environmentallyfriendly alternatives to plastic bottles to raise awareness about the environment, or doing smart things related to a trending social issue to make a lot of money or thinking of novel ways to combat poverty and homelessness in the local area. Ultimately, it is a mechanism through which people make visible, influential changes based on their beliefs and objectives.

SILT is a group that strives to positively impact the campus community, intellectually challenge its members, and instill in them a sense of awareness and a taste for novelty and progress.

Students who want to be involved and more aware have several options.

You can start by liking our Facebook page (Social Innovation Leadership) and attending our casual, biweekly Friday lunch tables on the second floor of Val. We also have a few exciting events coming up. On March 6 and 28, we will be holding Solution Saloons. In mid-April we will be holding the Big Idea Challenge, with cash prizes.

Remember that change begins with conversations, and don’t forget to attend our events.

Opinion 5

Exploring our Education Defining Amherst

Seewai Hui ’16 and Vivian Mac ’16 Two Amherst students talk about a new project called Defining Amherst. This is the first in the series of upcoming interviews with students, faculty, and staff about the purpose of an Amherst education. For more info about Defining Amherst, visit www.definingamherst. wordpress.com.

What is Defining Amherst about?

VM: Defining Amherst is a student initiative about exploring the purpose of an Amherst education. It is an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to share their college experiences with each other. “How do I want to shape my own education?

What do I value? How do I want to live my life? Which meaningful experiences at Amherst kept me thinking or changed my perspective? What is my purpose at Amherst (and beyond)?” These are all hard questions with no easy, immediate answers.

Yet, these are the very questions that have the biggest impacts on our lives. I hope that Defining Amherst will provide the space for us to bring these questions into our conversations.

SH: I also think it’s about community building. I’m interested in looking for commonalities among students and hearing about their different definitions of Amherst education, as well as how they see their lives here.

VM: I’m sure that a lot of students are reflecting about what they’re doing here and the purpose of their education. I would love to hear what other people have to say, because we can learn from each other’s ideas.

SH: Giving people the space to talk about these things is a big part of it for me because our lives here are so crazy and busy. I think it’s very hard to find the time to reflect on what we’re doing. And if you do find the time, you’re more likely to do it on your own. I think that turning this internal dialogue into an external dialogue would be useful.

How would you define your Amherst education?

VM: That’s a really hard one.

It’s something that I’ve been thinking about constantly. Obviously, it’s probably different for each person, but I think that my purpose here is to explore and learn different things.

I want to figure out how I want to best live my life. And I think that part of the reason why I’m here at Amherst is to learn how to write well and think critically, learn about social issues and learn more about myself.

SH: For me, a lot of it is about self-discovery and figuring out what I value most in life. I don’t want to say that I’m here to figure out what to do with my life because I don’t think that I will necessarily happen.

VM: Because preferences change.

SH: You hear all the time that people can completely change their careers when they’re thirty-something, or however old they are. I don’t expect to discover what I’m going to be doing, but I want to discover the values that will guide me through my life in general.

VM: But values also change as well.

SH: Changing your values is not an easy thing to do, but I think sometimes it’s very necessary. I think my education here involves learning how to deal with changing values, or how to deal with the fact that things in life are always changing.

What can we do to be more aware of how our Amherst education relates to our personal lives?

VM: It helps to incorporate what we’re learning in class with what we’re learning through our interactions with

people outside of class. For example, how does what we learn inform our decisions, our choices, and our behavior towards others? I also think that finding out what matters most to us through the class material can help us see that our education does have importance in our personal lives. What do you think?

SH: It seems like a common trend for people to talk about college education in general as a means to get a job.

And I think if you go into classes with only that mindset, you’re less likely to get something meaningful or applicable to your personal life out of it.

Getting good grades is important, but we should also try to look at how the material relates to our lives outside of the classroom.

Everyone has their own different purpose here. Do have a larger, common purpose as Amherst students?

SH: I think our purpose on campus is to foster a safe learning environment for each other and to try not to judge each other. We should strive to make Amherst a place where people who come from vastly different backgrounds can interact comfortably with each other. I think that is something that I would like to see more of on campus— more cohesiveness and fewer divisions.

VM: One possible answer is that the larger, common purpose of an Amherst education is to develop our own purposes. That’s what life is about, right? People want to have a sense of meaning and identity. Through Defining Amherst, I hope that we can continue to think about the purpose of an Amherst education.

Arts&Living

“Brooklyn Nine Nine” also stands out for the diversity of its cast.”

Brooklyn Nine Nine: Page 7

This California native braves the winter temperatures in a classic black puffer featuring a cozy fur-lined hood.

Juliana Glasser ’16 Contributing Writer New York Times’ fashion photographer Bill Cunningham once said that the best fashion show takes place on the street. While Amherst College fashion may not be New York City fashion (Bean Boots replace sixinch heels), Amherst fashion still tells the story of our students.

Because this winter has made it almost impossible to even unzip our jackets in between snowstorms, outerwear has gained a new level of importance — jackets now appear as our only vehicle of self-expression.

As college students who must bare the elements for class, we’re in our winter jackets during most encounters with our peers. In fact, we are probably recognized or known by our winter jackets. What follows are the stories of a few Amherst students and their winter coats.

The frigid temperatures and cold wind gusts of a New England winter may cut the skin of West Coast natives with an exceptionally severe amount of pain. For some, winter marks new experiences and new adventures.

California native and sophomore Katie Warshaw fumbles around her desk on Frost’s A-level for her phone to show me a picture of her jacket.

Judd Liebman ’16 advises students to take advantage of the student discount at Eastern Mountain Sports.

As she scrolls through the photographs, she describes her jacket as “a standard black puffy coat.” It’s not the jacket’s aesthetic that causes Katie’s excitement, it’s the coat’s technical components that really capture the West Coaster. Indeed, it’s with a refined enthusiasm that Katie describes the uniqueness of the jacket’s temperature-stabilizing lining: “It has an interior lining that keeps the temperature stable. So when I am outside it keeps me really, really warm. But then when I have to wear it inside, I am never too hot.”

While now amused by her own level of excitement, Katie proudly announces, “It’s my first winter jacket.” She continues, “Since it’s my first winter jacket, it feels like a part of me.

It is a very personal thing. It’s come to represent my transition from California to Amherst. Plus, I’ve had a lot of good times in the coat.”

While fellow California native and sophomore Judd Leibman may have his big black Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) puffy to keep him warm now, a year ago Judd could not have said the same thing — as he didn’t have a winter jacket.

“I was really homesick last February,” Judd recalls. “So my parents came to visit me and when they saw how unprepared I was for a New England winter, we went immedi-

ately to EMS.” Judd also did not forget one very important detail: as I left his cubical in the library, he remembered to tell me that EMS has a great student discount: “Put that in your article,” he said. “Students should know that.”

Freshman Gaby Edzie from Massachusetts rocks a more casual look in her new black Patagonia jacket with adjustable hood. Although she loves her jacket, Gabby did not expect to be on the market for a new one this year, but was the victim of a near rite-of-passage for many Amherst students when she lost her former winter coat at the Socials. The timing could not have been worse, as weather reports were predicting yet another snowstorm.

“I ordered my jacket during the snowstorm, so it got backordered.”

Gabby recalls. “I had overnighted it, but it arrived a week later because of snow.”

Despite having to wait a week, Gabby reports a positive experience with Patagonia; she called customer service to inquire about the jacket’s postponed arrival, “the Patagonia costumer service guy was great. He offered me free shipping, which was really nice.”

But in terms of the style, while the adjustable hood is a major selling point (Gabby is fascinated by the

Photos by Juliana Glasser ’16

Fashion on Campus: Winter Jackets

Sam Javit ’16 sports a unique twopaneled style on a casual Sunday afternoon in Frost. hood’s ability to tighten to her head size), it is ultimately her familiarity with the brand that led her to select another Patagonia item, as she says,“I already had a Patagonia fleece which I loved because of its warmth.

I wanted a jacket that I could layer.

So I chose a lighter weight Patagonia shell.”

Plus, Gaby liked that the jacket was short, despite the growing trend of longer winter coats. But a Patagonia jacket is not without a little flare of its own, as Gaby observes, “It is really flattering because it’s tailored in at the waist.”

Sophomore Kiko Aebi has found a way to keep her winter coat warm and classic while stepping away from the ubiquitous black puffer.

Her grandmother, who was a seamstress, made Kiko’s favorite winter jacket. Kiko proudly shows off her grandmother’s incredible craftsmanship (the neatness and tightness of the stiches) as she announces that the coat was made the in the 1980s. While her grandmother had originally made the jacket herself, Kiko discovered it while cleaning out her grandmother’s closet after she passed away. But it was not the jacket’s contemporary style that Kiko was originally drawn to, as the coat was floor length and had to be shortened if she wanted to wear it;

it’s a high quality jacket and evokes traditional Japanese style. Indeed, the jacket has traditional kimono sleeves and drop shoulders. It is a wrap style.

“Wearing the jacket not only brings me closer to my grandmother,” Kiko remarked, “But also my Japanese heritage.”

Sam Javit ’16’s winter coat represents a new trend among boys towards a more formal look. “My aunt works at Ralph Lauren and gets a huge discount,” Sam says with enthusiasm. He explained that every year for his birthday, his aunt takes him shopping at Manhattan’s Madison Avenue Ralph Lauren store. For his twentieth birthday, he recieved a winter jacket. To mark the new decade, Sam wanted a more mature look, which is what ultimately led him to his final decision — a jacket that combines the best of Woolrich and Barbour with a cinched waist.

It’s true that good fashion can be found on the streets … or in Frost Library. Even in temperatures falling below zero, Amherst fashion can be seen in something as simple as the practical warm winter coat. With the (eventual) arrival of spring, Amherst students undoubtedly have more of an opportunity to show off their newest looks. Better start planning!

The Amherst Student is in dire need of a comic strip!

Interested?

Email mmccullough15@amherst.edu or epaul16@amherst.edu

The Amherst Student • February 26, 2014

Arts & Living 7

Beck Finds Rebirth with New Album Jake Walters ’16 Staff Writer March is around the corner, meaning the flurry of albums I’ve actually been looking forward to will be upon me soon. I’m struggling through the wait for the new Hold Steady and Drive-by Truckers albums (seriously, if anyone has any interest in rock music you really should check out these two criminally underrated bands), not to mention a new release by the seemingly unstoppable Neil Young, who continues to release music like the only thing between him and the reaper is a wall of cathartic distortion and his whiny voice. Speaking of longevity, after perusing a list of upcoming releases, I stumbled upon my old pal Beck.

You mean the guy who releases sheet music albums now? Yes, him. Who would have thought the guy everyone was calling a one-hit-wonder 20 years ago would still be a viable commercial and artistic force today? While I’m more of an on-and-off-again Beck fan than a true follower, and thus wasn’t chomping at the bit for new music from him, seeing that he had a new album coming out reminded me of the 90s and gave me that special fuzzy feeling in-side.

Beck managed to strike a nerve and stay relevant long after many other mid-90s alt and rock artists (Weezer, Oasis) came and went, all the more intriguing because he was by far the least radio friendly of many of his peers.

But here we are in 2014 and “Morning Phase” is largely considered a success,

primed to reinsert the man into public consciousness. With “Morning Phase” he seems ready to stake his claim again as one of modern alternative’s most important figures.

It’s interesting then that Beck seems so relaxed and comfortable here, perhaps more-so than ever. “Morning Phase” doesn’t feel like the sort of record designed to make a statement or to establish an artist as a major cultural force, but simply to remind us of a good friend we’ve missed. Early coverage of “Morning Phase” has compared it to “Sea Change”, his 2002 mastery of depression and unease. Perhaps the most fascinating thing about this album is how such a comparison is both entirely apt and completely deceptive.

Whereas most Beck albums are songbased affairs, with the musician going quickly and even abruptly between wildly disparate songs in a fascinating manner, “Morning Phase” echoes “Sea Change” in being less song focused and more mood-centered. But the mood is completely different this time around. Whereas “Sea Change” suggests heartbreak at it’s most despairing, “Morning Phase” is largely an upbeat, optimistic affair, with Beck channeling a sunnier disposition both lyrically and musically. Beck wrote “Sea Change” in the midst of a break-up, and “Morning Phase” definitely indicates a more mature, thoughtful outlook on heartbreak than Beck may have had in his early 30s.

The album is intelligently sequenced as well, lending credence to its emotional journey and its themes

of hope. It starts slowly and quietly, before building up over four songs to the album’s most cheerful, anthemic piece and emotional high, “Blue Moon”, whose name echoes both the skyward high of the song after the slow climb upwards and the calm serenity of the album on the whole. The deceptively simple acoustic guitar and charming synths bring to mind nature but it’s Beck’s impassioned, dramatic vocal that really elevates this from a good song to a great one. The album then segues into “Unforgiven,” another mood piece and the calm immediately before the storm, as though Beck having climbed his mountain and proven himself is too busy enjoying the clouds to create anything more than pleasant filler Things then come crashing down with the album’s saddest, and most “Sea Change”-like song, “Wave,” where the album’s prominent strings are at their loudest and most harrowing and Beck delivers one of his strongest and most existential vocals behind them as though battling for supremacy amidst the tantrum. The album then builds back up in its more countryinflected second half, starting with the somber “Don’t Let it Go,” where Beck provides telling advice to himself and his audience, and moving on to the light-hearted “Blackbird Chain,” the airy CSNY-like “Turn Away” to the appropriately-named “Country Down,” which would have sounded at home on Elton John’s underrated classic “Tumbleweed Connection,” which this album evokes at times. After this

generally happier second half comes the album’s second high and concluding statement, “Waking Light,” an equally incandescent peak, albeit one which is more restrained. Rather than echoing a dramatic achievement like “Blue Moon,” it comes off as more comfortable with itself and less in need of making a statement. Its harmonies, straight out-of “Pet Sounds”-era Beach Boys, and evocative synths reflecting an elegant and appropriately optimistic endpoint, it makes for a great end to a strong album. “Waking Light” is truly the song the album builds toward, its relaxed optimism reflecting a more mature and confident outlook on tragedy than a younger Beck was capable of.

“Morning Phase” is about heartbreak and loss, but it suggests both its temporary nature (“mourning phase”) and the beginning or birth of a new day (“morning phase”). But the music

is both more carefully measured and less immediately impactful. Beck splits the difference between despair and, of all things, sunny, cheerful CSNY style folk rock; it’s still dissonant enough to push away from the easy listening Southern California folk albums seemingly everywhere in the 70s. Despite its optimism, it’s still Beck. Lead singles “Blue Moon” and “Waking Light” are sure to be Beck classics, but the album’s strength is in its cohesiveness and consistency. These songs feel like they belong together. They may not be his best set of tunes, but at this stage in his career, especially coming 12 years after the heart-wrenching despair of “Sea Change”, they are a welcome change of pace. Above all, they remind what a singular talent Beck is; as is true with much of his past work, they sound like nothing else he’s ever done but are instantly recognizable as his own. He’s evolved here, but he’s still himself.

Image courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

You Should Watch “Brooklyn Nine Nine” Aleksandra Burshteyn ’16 Contributing Writer Have you heard of Fox’s newest addition to its comedy lineup, “Brooklyn Nine Nine”? Surprising viewers, critics and even actors themselves, this show recently won two Golden Globes, beating out long-standing darlings like “Parks and Recreation,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Modern Family,” and there’s a reason why. I know we’re all busy people, running around this campus trying to maintain some pretense of order in our lives, but if you have half hour to spare, introduce yourself to this show — you won’t regret it.

Andy Samberg stars as the endearingly obnoxious Detective Jake Peralta of Brooklyn’s fictional 99th Precinct, who chafes under the authority of no-nonsense supervisor Captain Holt, played by Andre Braugher. This show takes numerous comedy and cop show tropes and pokes affectionately at them, becoming funnier in its recognition of their absurdity and pervasiveness. It’s incredibly self-aware, evolving from episode to episode and never forgetting to laugh at itself. This comes as no surprise, with workplace comedy masters Michael Schur and David Goor as co-creators; fans of “The Office” will recognize Goor as Dwight’s insane cousin Mose, but he also created “Parks and Recreation,” where he and David Goor worked together to

craft one of the funniest shows on television. Combined, the two are a comedy powerhouse.

This shows itself not just in witty situation comedy and zingy one-liners, but also in the supporting cast, who are less background to Samberg’s antics and more stars in their own right. Terry Crew’s Sergeant. Terry Jeffords (of Old Spice commercial and action movie fame) is a brilliant spin on his macho persona, as an incredibly buff and badass yet emotional supervisor who would rather work a desk job than be out in the field because he worries about leaving his twin baby girls alone. Melissa Fumero plays the over-compensating Detective Santiago, always eager to win Captain Holt’s approval and prove her ability to be “one of the boys.” She stands in refreshing contrast to the other female detective on the show, Stephanie Beatriz’s Rosa Diaz, an enigmatic and assertively hostile woman who defies the need for explanations for her aggression (where male characters need no backstory for their harsh view of the world, female characters almost always seem to need a sob story to explain what made them tough and emotionless.)

Joe Lo Truglio plays Charles Boyle, an endearingly clumsy workhorse who pines after Rosa from afar (with no chance of ever winning her affections) and writes the only food blog in New York that takes the mouthfeel of food into account. The sidesplittingly hilarious Chelsea Per-

Image courtesy of music4meez.wordpress.com

“Brooklyn Nine Nine” is a fresh spin on the classic police show, using a talented and quirky cast to poke fun at its own genre. etti, who has been hailed as the next Tina Fey or Amy Poehler, plays Gina Linetti, the nut-job secretary whose surprising insights help the precinct time and time again.

“Brooklyn Nine Nine” also stands out for the diversity of its cast. The detectives and staff of the 99th precinct are a mix of ethnicities and genders that reflect the reality of both Brooklyn and America at large in a way that most mainstream media continues to resist. What’s striking about this diversity is that it stands simply as fact, uncommented upon, never used as the butt of a tasteless joke about political correctness or trotted out by the writers as a selling point.

Addressing social issues and breaking stereotypes with delicate

poignancy, without resorting to off-putting sermonizing, or losing humor, is another one of Nine Nine’s strong suits. Jeffords presents us with a new image of masculinity, where he can both be the cop who does pull-ups in his sleep and tackles gun-toting criminals, and simultaneously the man who worries about his two little girls and breaks down crying after hours spent trying to build them a princess castle. Santiago shows that a woman can be nervous and still be just as good as the boys. Diaz is as brash and tough as any of the men (and certainty more than some of them) but never gets played off as a pushover. Captian Holt is a nuanced portrayal of a man in power trying to prove himself, sidestepping the

stereotypes that unfortunately often come with playing a gay character.

“I’m not playing a gay police captain,” said Braugher in an interview with NBC news “I’m playing a police captain who happens to be gay.

The distinction is large in my mind.

The gay police captain is eventually going to be wearing hot pants and singing ‘YMCA.’ The police captain who happens to be gay is going to be a huge collection of personality characteristics and motivations.”

With an incredible cast that puts its all into portraying the characters in a truly human light while maintaining the humor and directors who know what it takes to make a a workplace comedy shine, “Brooklyn Nine Nine” is not a show you want to miss.

8 Arts & Living

The Amherst Student • February 26, 2014

The Roost: Worth the Drive down Rt. 9 Ellie Andersen ’15 Staff Writer Autumn Juice. Are you curious?

Would you choose a restaurant based on one drink? Maybe I’m strange, but I couldn’t resist. So, of course I chose the Roost in Northampton purely because it offers Autumn Juice, the simple but excellent combination of ginger beer and hard cider.

It all began with guano and a group project last fall. It was midseason and I not in the mood to rush over to Smith after a long field hockey practice on a Tuesday night. My stomach grumbled as I sped down Route 9, finger combing my dripping hair and wishing I could ice my back. Of course I had the luck to be paired with the one Smith student in our class, so I found myself across town on a weeknight, creating a presentation on guano, or dried bird poop that serves marvelously as fertilizer with its high levels of nitrogen. Needless to say, I was not entirely enthusiastic about visiting Smith, but (unsurprisingly) I did at least anticipate eating somewhere new in Northampton. Looking back

on my favorite nights of the fall semester, I would list that one among my top five and as one that reminded me to be more open-minded.

By the time I arrived on campus and located my partner, all I wanted was food. This was also the one chance I had to eat with someone who actually lived in Northampton. I had to take advantage of her superior knowledge. We ran through names, checking off ones I had visited and those too expensive for a casual meal, until she mentioned this wonderful drink she loved at the Roost, Autumn Juice, and asked if I was 21. She needed no more than my confirmation that I could drink, and before I knew it we were striding into town, entering Northampton from a back alley I never knew existed, chattering about various restaurants and stores I might explore in town.

Suddenly we stepped into a restaurant I had seen while driving to and from Northampton but had never visited. I had always eyed the distinctive wood paneling above the brick walls, wondering what the funky exterior said about the restaurant within. As we

approached the counter, I noticed that wine bottles encased the hanging light bulbs, round mirrors peppered the walls and black pipes, like those new water pipes in the Socials, functioned as railings. The bathrooms are not gendered, but instead named “Number 1” and “Number 2” and the entire café is packed with seating. There are tables for two, round tables for four and many lengths of bar, facing the windows and along the interior, allows customers to sit almost anywhere within the space.

At this point, however, I could only consider food and ogle the chalkboards that brimmed with options. The Roost offered exactly what I craved: the chance to create a meal of small dishes and taste a range of items. I eyed the Market St. Salad — avocado, mesclun greens, carrots, cucumbers, shredded beets, red onions and sprouts ($6.95), as well as the Hot ‘Roost’ Beef sandwich — a baguette stuffed with pasture raised beef that is roasted in house, beer braised peppers and onions and local cheddar topped with horseradish aioli. I deliberated.

After paying for my order, my

Image courtesy of www.masslive.com

The Roost features an extensive food and drink menu, complete with cocktails.

Image courtesy of Ellie Andersen ‘15

The Williston Sandwich: egg, apricot jam, whipped Gorgonzola butter and arugula on a baguette. partner and I walked towards the main sitting area, where the narrow restaurant opened into a larger space.

We immediately dumped our bags at a round table before heading back to the counter to fill mason jars with water, retrieve our Autumn Juice ($5.00), and procure the necessary silverware.

Soon we sat down and took our first sips, relishing the bite of the ginger mixing with the tangy cider. As we cracked our books, I strained to hear my name, jumping each time the servers called, only to settle back into discussing guano. Although my hunger made it feel like forever, we must have only waited ten to fifteen minutes.

Soon, I was devouring those first bites, appeasing my hunger before I could truly taste my grilled cheese with tomato, avocado, whole grain Dijon mustard, and local Cabot cheddar ($7.25) that I had paired with a cup of tomato soup ($3.25) and a mini spread of pesto with a hunk of bread ($5.00).

Finally, I reigned in my appetite and took stock of the flavors, enjoying how

the mellow, buttery avocado eased the spice of the cheddar and whole grain mustard while the nutty, salty pesto soaked into the bread and mingled with the refreshingly light tomato soup. The Roost had done me right. It was the perfect pick.

After a few moments’ dedication to our meals, my partner and I resumed our conversation, finally able to pull ourselves away from the food and think about guano. As I left later that night, having spent the second half of the night at her co-op house at Smith, making brownies and meeting a variety of women, each sparkling with her own interests and activities, I realized that I could not have had a better evening. I regretted my misgivings and found that I suddenly did feel lucky to have been paired with the one Smith student in my class.

The Roost is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. with free Wi-Fi Sunday through Monday, unfortunately no outlets, and a rotation of evening events, too.

Fab Five: Professors Before Graduation

Images courtesy of amherst.edu pbs.org pbk.org

Ilan Stavans

Catherine Sanderson

Stanley Rabinowitz

Marisa Parham

Alexander George

If you want to read and watch the works that all Amherst students should be familiar with before graduating, then you should take a class with Stavans.

No special background is needed; you only need to bring an open mind and prepare to be asked extremely thoughtprovoking questions. Past course titles have been as abstract as “God” and “Love,” who knows which one-word concept he’ll be exploring next.

Don’t take our word for it: Princeton Review listed Sanderson in their book, “The 300 Best Professors.” It can be a little difficult to get into her Intro to Psychology course, but it’s definitely worth the trouble. Showcasing great energy and fun presentations, Sanderson has a way of keeping the most sleep-deprived student awake. If you want a preview, check out her presentation during My Body is Beautiful Week next Wednesday in Merrill 4.

There’s no way around it: Rabinowitz is as eccentric as they come. He memorizes his students’ zip codes before the first day and makes a point of showing off the knowledge, peppered with witty comments. His teaching style is reminiscent of a performance, which on its own is a plus for students, but his clear passion for Russian literature only intensifies the experience.

The intensity Parham brings to her classes might intimidate some, but no student that’s completed a semester with her can deny that they’ve become a better writer and more critical thinker. Her English classes draw from both literary analysis and cultural studies, the majority of which focus on the 20th and 21st centuries. If all that’s not enough of a selling point, how about the fact that she taught a class called “Spike Lee’s Joints” last spring?

If you think you know logic, you’re wrong. George’s “Logic” is a great introduction to the Philosophy department, and lectures are densely packed with his wit and dry humor. He exudes both passion and comprehensive knowledge, and assigns critical reading that focuses on content rather than length. George wants his students to learn, and in his class, learn you will.

Spanish/European Studies

Psychology

Russian/European Studies

English/Black Studies/FAMS

Philosophy

The Amherst Student • February 26, 2014

Sports 9

Hot Both On and Off the Court: Willy Workman

Amherst Local Keeps His Cool Playing Israeli Pro Basketball Nicole Yang ’16 Managing Sports Editor After growing up in Northampton, Mass., attending Northampton High School, doing a post-grad year at Deerfield Academy and then winning a NCAA Div. III Championship playing basketball at Amherst College, it’s safe to say that Willy Workman ’13 is no stranger to the Pioneer Valley.

Over his four years as a Lord Jeff, Workman undoubtedly became a household name and prominent figure on campus, as many students can still recall the image of him walking around in his Amherst sweats, Adidas sandals with socks and classic purple Beats slung around his neck.

“He was the only person who could rock it and he did. He was quite literally the coolest guy on campus,” Jesse Pagliuca ’16 said.

Others will never forget watching him on SportsCenter Top 10 Plays when it featured his missed free-throw put-back from Amherst’s thrilling 2013 regular season finale win over Middlebury in Feb. 2013. With only seconds remaining in the second overtime and his team down by three points, Workman was fouled and sent to the free throw line to shoot two. After sinking the first one, the then senior intentionally missed the second only to grab his own rebound and make an incredible basket to tie the game up, sending it to triple overtime. This memorable night marked Workman’s career high in points (30), and he matched his career high in rebounds (13).

Although this game was one of the many highlights of his collegiate career, Workman’s favorite Amherst basketball memory was “hands down winning the national championship last year.” Top seeded Amherst defeated second seeded Mary Hardin-Baylor, 87-70, in the final to cap off an All-American senior season for Workman.

“It was amazing. Playing in Atlanta in an NBA arena. Cutting down the nets. We celebrated all night. Don’t tell coach,” he joked.

The national championship was the perfect cap to Workman’s collegiate career, what he calls the “most fun and fulfilling thing” he’s done in this life. Retrospectively, he especially values his team’s mutual devotion to the game and their devotion to each other.

“Winning always makes everything more fun,” he added. “The camaraderie coupled with the fact that we were good really took everything

to the next level.”

With all that he’s accomplished thus far in his career, it’s hard to believe that just five years ago doctors told him that he probably wouldn’t be able to run again let alone play basketball. His junior year of high school, Workman discovered he was afflicted with femoral acetabular impingement (FAI), which meant that his hip joint was not shaped correctly, reducing its full range of motion.

“My mom and dad were the ones who kept me going,” Workman said. “They kept searching the internet and seeing other doctors to find answers.”

Workman’s father, who played in college and semiprofessionally, was actually the first person to put a basketball in his hands at just the age of three. Workman’s older sister, Rachel, played college basketball at Rollins, so the sport was central to Workman’s upbringing. Although he always desired to play for the Boston Celtics one day, it seemed like a pipe dream to Workman as a kid.

Workman’s father owned a local restaurant, so he thought maybe he would eventually do something with that, yet those thoughts quickly changed after he started working there. Workman’s mother is a judge, so he also considered becoming a lawyer; however, an internship with a law firm in Springfield eliminated that idea. It was clear that basketball was his true passion.

Workman followed Amherst basketball when he was younger and was drawn to the institution because the program had sent players to the pros.

“I was more of a UMass fan to be honest, my father had season tickets, but I would always catch the Amherst-Williams game. I also grew up going to Coach Hixon’s summer camps and watching the team play pick up afterwards,” Workman said.

Coach Hixon’s interest was piqued by Workman’s unusual cadence in his playing style.

“He could go really slow to really fast. It was really unpredictable. That could be a minus, but it was really a plus in his case,” said Hixon. “Willy understands how to play the game, and as time went on, he better understood the game. It was neat to watch him grow.”

The two developed a close relationship, and under Hixon’s coaching Willy shined at Amherst.

Notably, he is the 18th all-time leading scorer and one of 27 players to be a part of the “1,000 Point Club” with 1,416. While Workman was at Amherst, the team’s record was 95-20. His junior

Men’s Swim Second at NESCACs Patrick Yang ’16 Staff Writer The Amherst men’s swimming and diving team traveled to Bowdoin this past weekend to race in the NESCAC championships.

In the first event, the 200-yard freestyle relay, the Jeff squad of Connor Sholtis ’15, Conor Deveney ’15, Alex Dreisbach ’17 and Tyler Hampton ’15 finished third. The Jeffs also cashed in with the 500-yard freestyle, as seven swimmers accrued 110 points, led by Parker Moody ’14 and first-year Connor Haley, who both earned NCAA ‘B’ cuts.

The 200-yard IM was a perfect representation of the rivalry between Amherst and Williams, as 11 out of the 24 swimmers who made it to the finals were either a Jeff or an Eph. Firstyears, Greg Han and Reed Patterson, finished fourth and eighth, respectively, as Han earned an NCAA ‘B’ cut.

In the 1-meter dive, Colin White ‘14 racked up 536.55 points to earn second place. At the end of day one, Williams led with 636.5 points, but the Jeffs were close behind with 607.

Kicking off day two, the Jeffs finished third in the 200-yard medley relay. Three Amherst swimmers earned NCAA ‘B’ cuts in the 400-yard IM, as Jeff Anderson ’16, Han and Michael Rochford ’15 finished second, fifth and seventh, respectively. Sholtis gave Amherst its first individual event win in the 200-yard freestyle. The junior swam the anchor leg of the 800-yard freestyle relay team

to give his team a comeback victory, claiming first over Williams who led for the first 600 yards.

The Jeffs entered day three down by 92.5 points to the Ephs and just 63 points ahead of Conn. In the 1650-yard freestyle, four Jeffs earned NCAA ‘B’ cuts, as Moody, Haley, Brody, and Conor McAuliffe ’14 finished second, third, fifth and eighth, respectively.

In the 200-yard backstroke, Deveney and Heise notched two more NCAA ‘B’ cuts, finishing fifth and seventh respectively. Sholtis narrowly missed out on winning his second individual event, placing second in the 100-yard freestyle, getting out-touched by a mere 0.16 seconds.

In the 200-yard breaststroke, the first-years continued to shine with Han finishing second and Patterson in fifth, both earning NCAA ‘B’ cuts. In the 200-yard butterfly, Bulakul and Anderson finished 0.14 seconds apart to earn two more NCAA ‘B’ cuts, and place second and third, respectively.

In the last event of the tournament, the 400-yard freestyle relay capped off a great season as the team of Deveney, Hampton, Bulakul and Sholtis finished a close second behind Conn.’s team.

The final score of the meet read Williams 1,849, Amherst 1,750 and Conn. College 1,468.

Despite falling just short of a NESCAC Championship, the Jeffs had a successful season, including a 127-115 dual-meet win over Williams.

For many team members, the season is not over, as they have qualified for the NCAA Championships, hosted at IUPUI March 19-22.

and senior year, the team went undefeated in the NESCAC and captured back-to-back conference titles.

“It was awesome playing with Willy for three years. His basketball IQ was off the charts, and I always trusted him to, and knew he would, make the right play at the right time. Willy was a very clutch player for our team and made huge plays for us when we needed him most. We all miss Willy on court, but I think everyone that has played with him misses him more as a person off the court,” Aaron Toomey ’14 said.

Off the court, Workman admits he wasn’t as passionate about academics as he was about basketball. There was one particular faculty member, however, that he especially connected with while at Amherst.

English professor Emeritus Barry O’Connell, the basketball’s team academic advisor, taught him many lessons both inside and outside the classroom, including learning how to think outside the box.

“Willy Workman was a rarity among students these days — a deeply and truly free person, someone who knows himself, who is in possession of what he loves, and who brings a disciplined passion to all he does,” O’Connell said.

“His maturity while he was at Amherst made him stand out as much as his independence. Teaching someone like him was not only a privilege but like having an equal in the room. All these qualities were evident on the court. He is superbly athletic, but his game is raised higher by the depth of his knowledge of basketball and his ability in the game to be completely focused and calmly strategic.”

Everyone who interacted with Workman could recognize his love for basketball, and eventually what used to always seem like a dream became a goal for him at some point last year.

“Dreams you only dream about, but goals you actually work for,” Workman said.

While in season, Workman was not allowed to speak to agents; however, the day after the national championship, an agent wasted no time and gave him a phone call. After researching him, Workman signed shortly after. The two agreed that the best thing for him was to go to Las Vegas for a summer league at a training facility to play in front of scouts. Though Workman acknowledges that he played against guys a lot better than him, his talent especially stood out to Hapoel Kazrin of Israel.

Currently, Workman is living in an apartment in Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee, which is in the north part of Israel and very close to the Syrian and Lebanese borders. The city is about the same size of Northampton, which gives it a Western Mass. vibe, so he feels right at home.

In his apartment building, there are four individual apartments, and Workman compares living there to having a spot in the Socials. Two other American teammates live with him in addition to a family with five little children, who he plays with all the time.

Not only is it an adjustment to start living in a new country, Workman also had to adjust to the sport and the way basketball is played overseas, as there are different points of emphasis. Because of the different rules in his current league, there is definitely a lot to learn, but Workman views it as just another facet to the game.

“It only takes a couple of moments to figure out who the Americans are,” Workman said.

“There are all these different rules, and the Americans know none of them, so whoever can learn them the fastest will earn the advantage.”

Workman seems to be getting the hang of things pretty quickly, as he has played in all 19 games so far this season for his team, who is currently sitting in second place of the Israel-National League standings with a record of 14-5.

Averaging 28.7 minutes per game, Workman has a 57.1% field goal percentage and his season scoring high is 18 points. With games once a week, he has little free time, but he definitely makes the best of it.

Workman initially did a lot of sightseeing during his first weeks in Israel. The team has gone

Workman is averaging 10.5 points per game in 28.7 minutes. on neat field trips, including visits to a local brewery and vineyards.

However, on a day-to-day basis, the majority of his time is spent focused on basketball: practice in the morning, sleep, practice in the evening, sleep. When he gets a free moment, Workman typically spends his time outside on his porch admiring the physical beauty of the country, as the weather is typically in the 80s, or he will try learning a little bit of Hebrew.

“It’s sort of a two-edged sword in terms of the language. A lot of people speak English, so my Hebrew is not coming along at the speed I would like it to. I can’t write or read anything,” he said.

Although his Hebrew may not be progressing that quickly, Workman is still able to communicate with the locals.

“The people of Israel are an emotional bunch.

They are very straightforward and some, although of course not all, lack a bit of a filter that most Americans have. They have big hearts and from time to time that spills out during conversation,” Workman explained.

Workman has also gotten in touch with his Jewish heritage, as every Friday is Shabbat, where most businesses close Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. While the sun is still up on Friday, many Israelis will go to a hummus restaurant.

The first time Workman went he absolutely hated hummus, but now he eats it weekly.

As much as he loves Israel, Workman will return home this summer, as he misses his friends and family. In terms of his future with basketball, he is not going to restrict himself to any particular location. He plans to go wherever the best place is for him both financially and athletically.

“In this business, things can change very quickly,” said Workman, whose ultimate goal is to still play in the NBA. “Everyone that plays basketball wants to play in the NBA. I’m sure no one else thinks I can do it except for me. But when I was 17 years old, and fresh out of surgery, the doctors told me that I wasn’t going to be able to play basketball again, so I feel like people can’t tell me where I can or cannot be five years from now.”

Nobody can know what the future holds for him, but Hixon and many others are confident that he will succeed regardless.

“Whatever he ends up doing, he’ll be successful at it,” he said. “Willy is a great, fun guy. A really good leader. His whole attitude was uplifting in any group he was in.”

“Have you ever met anyone that says, ‘I don’t like Willy Workman’? No. Everyone loves Willy Workman,” Peter Mack ’15 added.

When asked to give current students advice about Amherst, Workman commented, “Just enjoy it. Really enjoy it. You don’t get to Amherst or stay at Amherst if you’re not a super competitive person. Make sure you don’t just let it pass you by. Whether it’s in the library or at the gym, take time to realize how lucky you are to be at Amherst and don’t take it for granted. It’s a privilege.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, don’t get caught up in the grind.”

10 Sports

Schedule

FRIDAY Men’s Squash @ CSA Individual Championships (@ Penn), All Day Men’s & Women’s Indoor Track & Field @ All New Englands, TBD SATURDAY Women’s Lacrosse @ Bates, 12 p.m.

Men’s Lacrosse vs. Bates 1 p.m.

Women’s Hockey vs. Colby (NESCAC Quarterfinals), 1 p.m.

Men’s Basketball vs. Trinity (NESCAC Semifinals), 2 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

The Amherst Student • February 26, 2014 vs. Bowdoin (NESCAC Semifinals), 4 p.m.

Men’s Hockey vs. Conn. College (NESCAC Quarterfinals), 7 p.m.

Men’s Squash @ CSA Individual Championships (@ Penn), All Day Men’s & Women’s Indoor Track & Field @ All New Englands, TBD SUNDAY Men’s Basketball @ NESCAC Finals, TBD Women’s Basketball @ NESCAC Finals, TBD Men’s Squash @ CSA Individual Championships (@ Penn), All Day

Women’s Basketball Routs Hamilton 78-33

Dori Atkins ’16 Sports Section Editor

The second-seeded Amherst women’s basketball team found an easy victory over Hamilton this past weekend in the NESCAC Quarterfinals. With the win, the Jeffs improved their home win streak to 98 games.

Amherst held Hamilton to a 22.9 percent shooting average, while they shot an impressive 57.1 percent, including 15 three pointers.

Ali Doswell ’17 led way with 15 points, while three other Jeffs joined her in double-figures. Firstyears Hannah Peterson, Jaimie Renner and Meredith Doswell each tallied 14, 13 and 12 points, respectively. Hamilton’s Dani Feigin ’14 led the visitors with nine points.

Although the Jeffs got off to a slow start, they quickly turned things around and took control of the game by the 13th minute, claiming a doubledigit lead. Amherst ended the first half on a 11-0 run, putting them up 32-15 going into halftime.

Opening the second half much like the first ended, Amherst held the Continentals to a scoreless six minutes midway through the half. The Jeffs would go on to outscore Hamilton 46-18 in the

second half’s 20 minutes, ending the game 78-33.

“Our first NESCAC tournament win was great for us because we really got a flow playing together,” said co-captain Cheyenne Pritchard ’16.

“We were shooting well, switching the ball, and running the floor. We will continue to practice hard until the season is over. It’s do or die now, so every game has a whole new level of urgency. We’re just really excited to take one step closer to our ultimate goal: a championship.”

Amherst will face a tough Bowdoin squad in the NESCAC Semifinals. In their only regular season matchup of the year, the Jeffs beat the then 20th ranked Polar Bears 65-57. Amherst received double-digit point tallies from five different players, and utilized their balanced attack to overcome a 30-28 halftime deficit.

The Jeffs struggled to control Bowdoin’s offense in the first half allowing the Polar Bears to shoot 47.8% from the field before stifling them in the second half. The Jeffs will look to shut down Sara Binkhorst who led all scorers in the two team’s first matchup with 19 points.

The Jeffs will look to win their 5th straight NESCAC tournament as they face off against the Polar Bears at 4pm at Tufts.

Women’s Hockey Splits a Pair with Bowdoin Holly Burwick ’16 Staff Writer This weekend marked the end of the regular season for the Amherst women’s hockey team.

The Jeffs traveled to Brunswick, Maine to face Bowdoin in a two game series.

10th-ranked Amherst succeeded in preserving the second seed in the NESCAC after going 1-1 on the weekend. The Jeffs departed Brunswick with a 13-6-5 overall record and a 9-3-4 mark in the conference.

In the Friday contest, Amherst ended a three game losing streak against the Polar Bears by pulling away with a 3-1 victory. The Jeffs outshot the Polar Bears 17-15 in the first two periods but were outshot 12-8 in the final frame. Amherst still came away victorious thanks to Kerri Stuart ’14 and her 26 stops.

Late in the second period, Courtney Baranek ’14 buried her own rebound to put the Jeffs up 1-0. However, the Polar Bears were quick to retaliate and the score was evened with just 30 seconds remaining in the second period.

Looking to gain the momentum back, Emily Flom ’15 put away her sixth goal of the year on a Melissa Martin ’15 pass just over a minute into the third period. Despite being outshot in the third, sophomore Eileen Harris capitalized on a rebound late in the game that provided a buffer for the Jeffs in the remaining three and a half minutes.

When the two teams returned to action Saturday afternoon, the Jeffs outshot Bowdoin 33-19, including 15-4 in the final frame, but they were unable to come away with a win. Bowdoin scored early on in the first period after an unlucky deflection made its way past Amherst netminder Yuna Evans ’17. The first-year would have 14 saves before Stuart closed out the remainder of the game with an additional four saves.

In the second period, Anne Gillard ’15 skated her way past the Bowdoin defense to create a scoring opportunity, but Bowdoin goalie, Lan Crofton, robbed her of a goal. With 33 saves on the night, Crofton continued to turn away other dangerous attempts, including strong efforts by Madeline Tank ’15 and Harris, to earn her first shutout.

After the 1-0 loss, Amherst looks to bounce back against seventh-seeded Colby at home on March 1 at 1 p.m. in the first round of NESCAC play.

“It is a huge game, and I think we are going into the weekend with a lot of confidence. Now that we are into the postseason, everything that happened during the season is irrelevant — anything can happen in playoffs,” Baranek said.

“Every point this season was hard earned, which is great, because it makes for fun and exciting hockey. We simply want to keep playing as long as we can. Every game from here on out will be extremely intense and fun to be a part of ”, Coach Matthews added.

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Connor Sholtis ’15

Hannah Peterson ’17

Favorite Team Memory: Beating Williams in January Favorite Pro Athlete: Peyton Manning Dream Job: Large Animal Veterinarian Pet Peeve: People who aren’t reliable Favorite Vacation Spot: Anywhere warm Something on Your Bucket List: See the Northern Lights Guilty Pleasure: Late night calzones Favorite Food: Spinach and artichoke dip Favorite Thing About Amherst: Spring time on campus

Favorite Team Memory: Beating Williams Favorite Pro Athlete: Britney Griner, I got to see her play (and dunk) at UConn!

Dream Job: Biologist working with primates Pet Peeve: Closed-minded people Favorite Vacation Spot: Any town in Europe Something on Your Bucket List: Traveling to Columbia Guilty Pleasure: Dark chocolate Favorite Food: Lobster Favorite Thing About Amherst: The people!

Men’s Hockey Skates to 4-1 Win Over Williams Greg Williams ’16 Staff Writer

The Amherst men’s ice hockey team finished their season by splitting a pair of away games at Middlebury and at Williams. Closing out the regular season on a high note with a 4-1 win over archrival Ephs, the Jeffs locked up the second seed in the NESCAC tournament.

The 3-2 loss to the Panthers on Saturday was Amherst’s first defeat in nearly a month.

With the game knotted at zero throughout the first period, the Panthers got on the board first early in the second. Goalkeeper Dave Cunningham ‘16, who ended up facing 33 shots on the night, was unable to stop a strong wrist shot from the wing. It was the Panthers again who managed to tack on a power play goal about seven minutes later.

Up 2-0, Midd. had Amherst on the ropes until Chris Roll ’17 made an excellent individual play by picking off a pass near the point and skated down into the slot where he nipped twine for his third score of the season. The Jeffs had a good chance to even up the game with a 5-on-3 advantage, but solid goaltending from Midd. prevented the score.

The Jeffs tied the game up at 2-2 a little over a minute into the third when Conor Brown ’16, Amherst’s leading scorer, crashed the net to put away a rebound off of a Brian Saftrom ’14 shot. Despite good opportunities for both teams, the game remained scoreless until the Panthers scored their third goal of the night from a shot off the right circle. Amherst racked up 14 penalty minutes on seven

penalties on the night, and Midd. capitalized on two of them, which proved to be the difference maker.

The Jeffs rebounded Sunday afternoon with a win over the Williams. The first period was scoreless, but Williams managed to get one by Cunningham a minute into the second period. Amherst struck right back after a clean faceoff win when Mike Cashman ’15 scored off a Topher Flanagan ’16 assist.

The game remained tied until halfway through the third when Safstrom won a faceoff, which was followed by a goal from senior Ryan Edwards. Just six minutes later, Amherst extended their lead when fellow senior Elliot Bostrom scored on an unassisted shot.

Finally, it was Roll again to seal the victory over the Ephs. Cunningham finished with 28 saves on the night.

“We came out of this weekend with mixed feelings. Our approach on Friday night wasn’t what we had hoped for, but we rebounded nicely on Saturday. With the balance of our conference and the composition of our team, it’s essential that we be at or near our maximum effort level to be successful,” Coach Jack Arena said. “We’re excited to be starting the playoffs and have a huge test right off the bat.

Conn. played as tough a game against us last weekend as we’ve had and is the hottest team in NESCAC over the last month. There’s a desperation to games at this time of year and hopefully we’ll be ready for the challenge.”

The Jeffs hope to continue their strong play from the latter half of the season into the postseason when the take on Conn. College this Saturday at 7 p.m. in Orr Rink.

Photo courtesy of Rob Mattson s

Senior Brian Safstrom skates into the NESCAC tournament this weekend looking to build on his team leading 16 points.

The Amherst Student • February 26, 2014

Sports 11

Bates, Melton Win Events at Changing Football Culture TK 14 Div. III Championships

Tom Kleyn ’16

Chris Rigas ’16 Staff Writer

was eighth in the mile and junior Lizzy Briskin (18:06.55) was seventh in the 5,000-meters.

Championship season started this weekend for the Amherst indoor tracks teams, as both the men and women participated in the New England Div. III Championships.

Men The men traveled to MIT for the champioships, taking sixth of 26 teams on the strength of victory in the 400m from senior Matt Melton (49.23). Amherst also won the 4,000-meter distance medley in a time of 10:25.34. The wins were among a slew of strong performances by the Jeffs in the middle distance races.

“Matt looked awesome,” said head coach Erik Nedeau. “Both Nick Codola ’15 and Brent Harrison ’16 had great races in the 800-meters, as did Greg Turissini ’15 and Romey Sklar ‘15 in the mile.”

Turissini finished fourth with a time of 4:15.53, with Sklar right behind him in fifth (4:16.56). Harrison (1:56.91) and Codola (1:57.25) also finished one after the other, taking fifth and sixth, respectively. Junior Lucas Lebovitz took tenth in the 1,000-meters with a time of 2:39.01. In the long jump, junior Mark Cort’s 6.66 meter effort placed him fourth and Steven Hetterich ’15 (13.11m) and Khalil Flemming ’16 (12.80m) were eighth and tenth in the triple jump, respectively.

The Jeffs will travel to Boston Univ. for the All New England Championships (NEICAAAs) next weekend.

“The coming meet is a bit unique in that guys can qualify for the meet without having hit auto marks — as they will fill fields to get 32 guys in races,” said Nedeau. “Those with auto marks will most likely race in the strong events while others may shift focus to running a relay fresh.”

Women The women’s championships took place held at Springfield College, and the Jeffs, led by recordsetting performances from Naomi Bates ’14 and Kiana Herold ’17, finished fourth overall in a field of 28 teams.

Bates broke her own school record by leaping 5.89 meters in the long jump, a mark that is the best in Div. III so far this season. She also set a program record in the 60-meter dash, finishing second in the meet with a time of 7.80 seconds. The senior captured another first place for the Jeffs, winning the 200-meters in 25.70 seconds. Karen Blake ’17 followed Bates closely in both sprints, taking third in the 60m (7.83) and second in the 200m (25.86).

Herold, the other record-setter, accumulated 3,132 points in the pentathlon, which topped her mark from earlier this season and placed her sixth in the meet.

Other notables for the Jeffs included sophomore Victoria Hensley, who finished ninth in the 400-meters (1:00.22) and Hannah Herrera ’17, who took eighth in the 800-meters (2:21.58). In the 1000-meters, Kelli Ellinson ’15 and Cat Lowdon ’17 finished sixth and eighth, respectively, with times of 3:06.20 and 3:07.78. Wrapping up the Jeffs’ top performances, senior Amy Dao (5:10.71)

Women’s Squash Wins Walker Cup at Nationals Devin O’Connor ’16 Staff Writer The Lady Jeffs came home champions of the Walker Cup this past weekend at the CSA National Team Championships at Princeton University. 43 teams participated, spread throughout six divisions; 17th-ranked Amherst competed in the C Division as the top seed.

On day one, Amherst nearly shut out 24thranked Colby in the first round of play with an 8-1 victory. In the No. 1 spot, Ericka Robertson ’16 played Julia Wolpow of the Mules in five tough games but couldn’t secure the victory, losing, 11-6, 3-11, 11-9, 5-11, 9-11.

Spots two through nine featured clean sweeps, however, as all players won their matches by a score of 3-0.

The next day, the Jeffs faced 20th-ranked Bowdoin in the semifinals. The match was hotly contested, and the stakes were high. At the NESCAC Championships earlier this year, Amherst defeated Bowdoin 5-4, so the Polar Bears, reigning Walker Cup champs, were out for revenge against the Jeffs.

Senior captain Lena Rice put the Jeffs ahead early by sweeping her opponent 3-0 in the No. 9 spot. Bowdoin quickly tied it up with a win in the No. 3 spot, as Meyha Sud ’16 fell to Michaela Martin in four games, 7-11, 7-11, 11-6, 6-11.

Khushy Aggarwal ’16 and her opponent went back in forth in the No. 6 spot, but Aggarwal triumphed with a 3-2 victory by a score of 6-11, 118, 10-12, 11-4, 11-7.

Fellow sophomore Corri Johnson increased Amherst’s lead to 3-1 with a 3-1 win in the No. 8 spot over her Polar Bear opponent, but Bowdoin followed suit by tying the match score up at 3-3 thanks to wins in the No. 3 and No. 5 courts, as Arielle Lehman ’15 and Evelyn Kramer ’14 both lost, their respective matches.

With the match tied at three apiece, each team looked to clinch the overall victory, needing at least two out of three wins from the No. 1, No. 4 and No. 7 spots.

Taryn Clary ’16 extended her winning streak to nine consecutive matches, as she swept her op-

ponent 3-0 in the No. 8 spot. Robertson, on the other hand, was unable to come out victorious in the top spot, falling to Rachel Barnes in three games.

With the match tied at 4-4, all eyes turned to first-year Tiana Palmer-Poroner in the No. 4 spot, as her match would determine the team’s fate for the remainder of the weekend. The first-year fell into an 0-2 hole, as she lost the first two games to Alden Drake, 6-11, 9-11; however, Palmer-Poroner kept her cool and was able to snag the next three games, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7, to give her team the victory and advance them to the finals.

The Jeffs faced 18th-ranked Franklin & Marshall on Sunday in the championship match.

Rice came out on top in her match, defeating Dana Rapisarda, 10-12, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5, to give Amherst the early lead again. Aggarawal added another win, as she swept her opponent in the No. 6 spot. Sud was close to giving her team a 3-0 lead, but she couldn’t get past Roxanne Mead in the No. 3 spot, losing her match in five games.

F&M hung tough, as Elizabeth Gatling defeated Johnson 3-0 in the No. 8 spot, but Kramer answered with a 3-0 win of her own. Lehman put Amherst ahead 4-2 with a 3-0 win as well in the No. 2 spot.

Clary sealed the victory for the Jeffs, notching the fifth win in the No. 7 to end her season on a 10 match win streak with a season total of 15 wins.

Palmer-Poroner also came out victorious, sweeping her opponent 3-0, while Robertson couldn’t get past Emily Caldwell in the top spot, losing 3-0.

With a 6-3 victory, the women captured the Walker Cup and justify their national ranking.

Though the overall match score was 6-3, Amherst truly had to grind out the victory by fighting for every point, as they only outscored the Diplomats by a total point score of 284-270.

“I am so thrilled to finish my squash career with this big win. I’m incredibly proud of our team. I feel like a of lot players gained a ton of confidence over the course of the season and really stepped it up this weekend, and that made winning the Walker Cup possible,” said Kramer.

Michael Sam’s decision to come out as a gay individual before the NFL Combine has turned a number of heads and has lead to broader discussions about the culture in a football locker room.

Exploring locker room culture, Tom explores the reasons why Michael Sam is the ideal candidate to be the first openly gay player in the league.

For athletes of all levels across America and the rest of the world, sports are about competition, character building and the camaraderie of teamwork.

For those lucky enough to compete in collegiate or professional athletics, sports are a way of life and often a profitable career.

The culture of the sporting world extends beyond just the players in the game and the scoreboard; Fans live and die by their teams, uniting with others over shared love for the game. Countless TV networks and websites are devoted to sports analysis, and the amount of money in the business for top team executives is staggering. Whether you love or hate of sports, there is no escape from contact with sports culture in everyday life.

What exactly is sports culture and what effects does it have on the lives of fans, players and others? As a college football player, I can answer this question with a focus on the game of football specifically.

From its sheer popularity across the country, football is something I believe almost everyone can relate to in some way. Whether it’s playing, knowing someone who plays or played, watching NFL games, hearing about football in the news, etc. As a player, I have learned that while football certainly teaches great work ethic and develops interpersonal skills required to succeed in life, it also requires a certain mold of personality that is not very flexible.

The stereotypical football player with a chiseled body, tough mind set and stoic attitude is something that such a rough sport inherently breeds and that coaches look for when building their squads. Because of this homogeneity, football teams tend to have exceptional chemistry, but also create a divide with the rest of the population. Many feel detached and opposed to this culture, and there certainly exists a stigma against football players among certain groups of people.

In the NFL, the sense of elite brotherhood between players across the league is as strong as ever, nurtured by the sameness of personalities. One might think that entrance into this brotherhood of macho warriors for an openly gay individual is impractical, and it is unprecedented as far as we know. The challenges that individual might face from certain fans, officials, players and coaches could create some serious emotional damage. Not to mention all the media pressure and spotlight the spectacle would entail.

Well, none of this fazes Michael Sam, the 255-pound defensive end from the Univ. of Missouri aiming to be the first openly gay player drafted into the NFL. A closer look into Sam’s past life reveals how he became the strong, courageous individual he is today and why he does not fear what lies ahead of him.

Sam prides himself on where he comes from and the struggles he endured to achieve success. Sam’s path to prominence was by no means cut out for him. Rather, the Missouri star was forced to persevere through continuous tragedy. Growing up in a small Texas town, Sam was the seventh of eight children.

His parents separated early in his childhood, making the management of such a large family even harder on Sam’s mother. Today, Sam’s actions not only represent himself, but all of his siblings who have been less fortunate in life. As a child Sam watched one of his older brothers die from a gunshot wound. Another brother went missing in 1998 and was never found. Two other brothers are imprisoned, and a sister that was born before Sam died in infancy. Sam argued so much with his mother over playing football that he spent a portion

of high school living in a bedroom at a classmate’s house. Contrasting Sam’s accomplishments today (first generation college student, All-American, and Co-SEC Defensive Player of the Year, to name a few) with the troubles of his past proves that Sam is a fighter and an individual who knows how to conquer his personal adversity.

Sam’s biggest challenge yet might be just around the corner, and I think he is more prepared than ever. Becoming the first openly gay NFL player is not only a personal issue but also a monumental step for gay athletes everywhere and for the NFL to show acceptance for a new kind of football player. Every movement needs a leader, a figurehead to look up to, and Sam has stepped into that role for gay athletes.

As his journey continues, Sam must own his moment rather than let the moment control him.

The reality is that the media will focus on the Texas native’s sexuality more than his football ability, because that is what makes Sam different. His job is to deflect that focus onto his ability as a football player and how his sexuality does not make him any different than the next NFL player.

Just like all NFL prospects, Sam worked tirelessly at the game of football to put himself in a position to make the coveted NFL. He studies the same game film, lifts the same weights, puts on the same pads and if that wasn’t hard enough he must now succeed even with people rooting against him. He is a trailblazer who attracted fans as well as haters with a simple announcement regarding his sexuality.

In attendance at a Missouri-Tennessee basketball game recently, Sam received a standing ovation from the crowd. This is a young man who has a chance to alter the culture of football. A football culture that is seemingly impossible to alter. Even gay non-athletes can root for Sam to break through as a catalyst for progressive change in other industries.

As Sam said himself standing tall in his first interview with his future employers at the annual NFL combine, “I just wish you guys would see me as Michael Sam, the football player, instead of Michael Sam, the gay football player.”

The player himself is only one half of the equation. The NFL must seize this chance to show support for a gay athlete and use Sam as an opportunity to move on from negative controversies around the league that have surfaced in the past. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is constantly disciplining players for drug usage, misconduct on the field and other more serious infringements.

It’s a shame that people will often look past a player involved in a shooting or sexual harassment case, but show concern over a gay player. If the NFL and Goodell pass no judgment on Sam’s sexuality, and instead act strictly as his indifferent employers, it will help calm the storm surrounding Sam. It’s time the NFL made the news for a positive reason.

At the smallest level, it’s one gay football player. At a larger level, it’s NFL culture and the stereotypes of football. At the biggest level, it’s the gay community across America and the world. Sam is becoming a household name for his courage and mission to make an NFL roster. He has a large support group, and maybe an even larger group against him. His sexuality is no longer his own business; it is now the talk of a nation.

Sam’s acceptance may not come easily, but if there is anything that his battle-tested character can prove, it’s that Sam is the up to the task.

Sports

“With a 6-3 victory, the women captured the Walker Cup and justify their national ranking...”

Women’s Squash Wins... Page 11

Photo courtesy of Niahlah Hope’15

David George ’17 had a double-double against Colby in the NESCAC quarterfinals with 10 points and 15 rebounds. George is averaging 6.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game for his rookie season.

Men’s Basketball Avenges Colby Loss with 82-72 Win Jeffs Set to Face Trinity in NESCAC Semifinals

Jason Stein ’16 Sports Section Editor On Saturday, Feb. 22, Amherst men’s basketball bounced back from their regular season loss against Colby with an 82-72 triumph in the NESCAC Quarterfinals. With the victory, the Jeffs earned their 22nd win of the season and advanced to the NESCAC Semifinals.

To start the game, the Jeffs held a 16-8 early advantage, but they relinquished the edge as Colby pulled even at 29 with 3:14 remaining in the first half. While Colby grabbed the lead late in the half, the Jeffs went into the halftime break with 38-35 lead. In the first 20 minutes, guard/forward Tom Killian ’14 led the scoring with 13 points on 6-9 shooting from the field, while guard/forward Connor Green ’16 also added eight points.

The Mules had balanced scoring in the first period, with seven players pouring in at least four first-half points. The Jeffs, however, limited Colby’s big men offensively in the first

half, even without the presence of sophomore forward Ben Pollack, who is out for the year after sustaining a season-ending knee injury.

Although the Jeffs led at the half, their cushion was not secure, as the Mules stormed back early in the second half to take lead a 49-47 lead and then hold a 53-52 edge with 13 minutes left in the game. A three-pointer from Green then put the Jeffs ahead at 55-53 and marked the point at which the Jeffs would never trail again in the game. Amherst would build their lead to 72-63 with under five minutes remaining and continue to hold on for an 82-72 victory.

In the second half, Green caught fire, shooting 6-11 on field goals and scored 15 points, finishing with a game-high 23 points on the day. Senior guard David Kalema was also solid, as he scored 11 second half points for a total of 14 points.

Although George only added two more points to his total in the second half, he grabbed another eight rebounds to finish with

Photo courtesy of Niahlah Hope ’15

Caption Contest Winner: “Hands off, she’s my Valentine!” submitted by Jake Albert ’15.

a whopping 15 rebounds, including 10 defensive rebounds, to give him a double-double with 10 points overall. George also had a major presence on the defensive end, blocking four shots.

“George, I thought, played his best game to date,” Coach David Hixon ’75 said. “We haven’t had a kid get 15 rebounds probably in 20 years.

That’s the type of stuff he can do. Moving forward for us, I think he is a really good five.”

While the Mules had a higher field goal percentage and three-point percentage than the Jeffs, Colby committed eight more turnovers than Amherst, which perhaps accounted for part of the Jeffs’ margin of victory.

In the end, the Jeffs had five players attain double digits in scoring. In addition to Green, Kalema and George, Killian netted 17 points, while senior guard Aaron Toomey closed with 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Connor Gach ’14 added to the offense with six points on two three-pointers off the bench.

“I think we were very balanced as a team, which just shows you what we can do,” Hixon said. “Certainly Killian, Kalema, Toomey and Green all added great pieces to it. It was hard to tell in the game who was going to be the leading scorer, and it didn’t seem to really make any difference, which is the way you want to play.”

While Colby was eliminated after the loss to Amherst, Hixon voiced considerable respect for the Colby program and believes that the team has a bright future ahead with its young core.

“For Colby to come in and play us [well] with all sophomores basically, that spells trouble for the league over the next two years,” he said.

Up next, the top-seeded Jeffs will take on the Trinity Bantams (15-10 overall and 5-5 in the NESCAC) in the NESCAC Semifinals

at Lefrak Gymnasium, with the match-up set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 1. The Bantams advanced to the conference semifinals after a thrilling 71-67 victory over the favored Bowdoin Polar Bears in triple overtime.

In the regular season, the Jeffs held on for a 67-61 victory over Trinity in Hartford, Conn.

The Bantams feature a balanced scoring attack and are led by sophomore guard Jaquann Starks and first-year forward Shay Ajayi, who are both averaging 11.0 points per game.

“Starks is a very good guard. He can shoot the three, he is quick, he can get to the basket and also create things for other players,” Hixon noted.

The Bantams are perhaps best known for their strength and size, as they have proved to be a strong defensive team and offensive rebounding team.

“Trinity is going to keep the score low,” Hixon said. “It is going to be a war for sure, and the question is if we can hold up against the physicality of it. We have to shoot the ball well, and we really have to expose their weaknesses, because they are long, athletic, aggressive and physical.”

The winner of the Amherst vs. Trinity contest will face the victor of the other NESCAC Semifinal matchup between second seeded Williams (22-3 overall and 9-1 in the NESCAC) and third seeded Middlebury (17-8 overall and 6-4 in the NESCAC), scheduled for 4 p.m. at LeFrak.

If the Jeffs are to advance, they will play a team that they have beaten in the 2013-2014 regular season regardless of the outcome of the other seminfinal, as Amherst has knocked off Williams twice on the year and just recently defeated Middlebury. The NESCAC Finals will take place the following day at LeFrak, with the champion earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.