Issue 13

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THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF AMHERST COLLEGE SINCE 1868

VOLUME CXLIII, ISSUE 13 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

Architect Selected for New Dorms

Martin Announces Board Approves the Choice of Kyu Sung Woo Architects Plans to Help LowIncome Students Sophie Murguia ’17 Managing News Editor

Olivia Tarantino ’15 Photography Editor

Students walk by Pond Dormitory, which will be razed in the summer of 2015. The Board of Trustees met recently and approved the choice of an architect to design replacements for Pond and the other social dorms.

Jessie Kaliski ’15 Staff Writer This past weekend, the Board of Trustees met and agreed upon the selection of Kyu Sung Woo Architects as architect for the dorms that will replace the current social dorms. Construction is set to begin in the summer of 2015, during which the four social dorms south of Keefe Campus Center will be demolished and replaced in the area south of Merrill, where modular housing units Plaza and Waldorf currently stand.

The recommendation to hire Kyu Sung Woo Architects was brought to the Board of Trustees this past weekend by a special search committee and was approved and endorsed by the Board’s members.

“The Board is pleased to endorse the selection of Kyu Sung Woo Architects (KSW) as the design architect for the new dormitories,” said Trustee John Middleton, chair of the Board’s Buildings and Grounds Committee, in a statement. “They have extensive experience in college residential design that will serve Amherst well. KSW’s past projects reflect their talent to

design buildings that reinforce the unique character and identity of a campus while blending tradition and innovation.”

Pond, Coolidge, Crossett and Pond have housed over 250 upperclassmen students yearly since their completion in 1964, and the area of space they comprise stretches over 150,000 feet.

Davis, a fifth social dormitory, was demolished in order to make room for the original location of a new science center.

But after 60 years of acting as resident halls Continued on Page 3

Following a White House summit attended

by President Biddy Martin and other college presidents on Jan. 16, the College is stepping up its efforts to increase college access and success for low-income students.

At the summit, President Obama met with over 100 college presidents as well as other leaders in higher education to discuss strategies for helping students from low-income families to lead successful college careers.

Amherst is already nationally recognized as a leader in its efforts to recruit low-income and minority students. At the White House, President Martin announced four new initiatives that will build upon these efforts and also further extend the College’s outreach into the local community. Specifically, Martin described plans to help Native American students attend college, to improve college access for local lowincome students, to encourage low-income students to major in STEM fields and to enhance the experience of low-income students at Amherst.

Many of these initiatives are not entirely new; they build upon substantial work that has already been taken by the Admissions Office and the Center for Community Engagement, along with other offices on campus.

“This is years in the making,” said Associate Dean of Admission Leykia Brill of the Admissions Office’s efforts. “I’m so glad my boss, Tom Parker, said, ‘Yes, go for it.’” After President Martin received the invitation from the White House, Brill spoke to her about the initiatives the Admissions Office had already been planning.

Among these initiatives is a special program for Native American students that will be a part of the Diversity Open Houses (DIVOH) that Amherst hosts each fall. In its curContinued on Page 3

Expulsion Draws Focus to New Title IX Policies Sophie Murguia ’17 Managing News Editor Over Interterm, members of the community learned that a student has been expelled for committing sexual assault, marking the first time in over a decade that Amherst College has expelled a perpetrator of sexual assault. Dean of Students Jim Larimore and Title IX Coordinator Laurie Frankl announced the expulsion in an e-mail that also highlighted recent changes to the College’s sexual misconduct policy.

The notification came a week before President Obama announced the creation of a task force to combat sexual assault on college campuses and drew attention to a White House report that found almost 1 in 5 women in the U.S. have been sexually assaulted in their lifetimes. Obama’s announcement caused another flurry of national media attention for the College, which has been in the news ever since former student Angie Epifano accused Amherst of mishandling her report of sexual assault.

Epifano and another former student filed a federal complaint against the College in November.

Some student activists have expressed cautious optimism

that the expulsion and recent policy changes are signs that the College has become more serious in its efforts to combat sexual assault.

“This is a clear step in the right direction,” said Dana Bolger ‘14E, a prominent advocate of sexual respect during her time at Amherst. Bolger is a co-founder of Know Your IX, an organization that aims to combat sexual misconduct by informing college students about their Title IX rights.

However, Bolger also expressed her disappointment that it had been so long since Amherst had expelled a student who committed sexual assault.

“I can’t help but think of all the perpetrators who will be crossing the stage at graduation this May while their victims do not — literally driven out of the school by the institution’s fundamental failure to remove their rapists from campus,” she said.

The expulsion is the first under a newly revised sexual misconduct policy that was put in place during the spring of 2013.

Under the new policy, a sexual misconduct complaint is initiated when the victim fills out a complaint form and submits it to the Dean of Student Conduct, Susie Mitton Shannon. After-

wards, the complainant may choose a college advisor to give support throughout the complaint process. Both the complainant and the alleged perpetrator (known as the respondent) are informed of their rights and of the rules of the process.

Before the hearing, the Dean of Student Conduct will determine whether there is any appropriate action to be taken in the interim, such as a no contact order or even a temporary suspension of the respondent. The case will then be investigated by a person determined by the Dean of Student Conduct. In many cases the complaint will next go before a hearing board made up of three people from the community who are not staff, faculty or students of the College. The complaint that resulted in the recent expulsion went before a hearing board in December.

The revised complaint policy is just one of many measures the College has undertaken to fight sexual assault ever since Epifano’s case gained publicity. The decision to notify the community of the expulsion is another recent change.

“It is now Amherst College’s practice to notify the comContinued on Page 3

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News >>Dec. 9, 2013 4:32 p.m., Frost Library Officers responded to a report of an unknown male acting in a suspicious manner on the first floor.

The man left the building before officers arrived. >>Dec. 11, 2013 4:21 p.m., Frost Library A caller reported a person watching a pornographic video on a computer on level B. A man matching the description was located but he was not engaged in the reported activity. He was identified and set on his way.

4:30 p.m., Frost Library Police issued a no-trespass order to a man and had him leave the building. >>Dec. 14, 2013 12:36 a.m., Garman House While at Garman on an unrelated matter, officers encountered a small party in the first floor common room. An underage student was found with a bottle of alcohol.

It was confiscated and the matter was referred to the Dean’s Office.

12:41 a.m., Garman House Officers responded to a report of a fight on the second floor and found two students arguing. After being identified, they were separated for the night. >>Dec. 15, 2013 1:39 a.m., Memorial Hill Officers removed approximately 40 people who were sledding on Memorial Hill.

4:33 a.m., Orr Lot A vehicle was towed for being parked in violation of the winter parking ban. >>Dec. 18, 2013 10:57 p.m., Frost Library A woman was arrested and charged with possession of heroin. Officers were called to a restroom in Frost Library where the woman was acting in a suspicious manner.

10:59 p.m., Frost Library A woman was written a no-trespass order after being involved in an earlier incident. >>Dec. 20, 2013 9:02 p.m., Morrow Dormitory Officers responded a complaint of loud music and loud people. A warning was issued at a first floor room.

9:30 p.m., Morrow While responding a news complaint at a first floor room, officers discovered several bottles of alcohol. The alcohol was confiscated because the resident is underage.

The matter was referred to the Dean’s Office. >>Dec. 25, 2013 9:32 a.m., Cohan Dormitory An officer investigated a smoke detector sounding and found it occurred when a student left food unattended on the stove. The student

“Since May 2013, when the new policy went into place, the college has received 14 reports of sexual misconduct.”

New Sexual Misconduct Policies Page 3

Dec. 9, 2013 to Jan. 26, 2014

was fined $100.

>>Jan. 2, 2014 7:08 p.m., Marsh House An officer investigated a basement smoke detector sounding and found it was caused by cooking.

The system was reset. >>Jan. 8, 2014 8:10 a.m., Campus Grounds A report was received of potential hazing that occurred in the last calendar year. >>Jan. 9, 2014 2:50 a.m., Converse Lot A person working on campus reported his vehicle was vandalized while parked in the Converse parking lot. The word “Bigot” was scratched into the hood. >>Jan. 14, 2014 10:18 a.m., Keefe Campus Center A man was arrested on four outstanding warrants. >>Jan. 15, 2014 1:49 a.m., Alumni Lot An officer checked on a man found asleep in a van. The man had no legitimate reason for being on campus and was issued a no-trespass order. >>Jan. 18, 2014 12:26 a.m., Campus Grounds Officers investigated a report of several men in a red truck circling the quad and yelling. They were not located.

11:25 a.m., Social Quad Officers responded to a report of approximately 30 people outside of Crossett who were trying to start fights. No one was around when officers arrived. >>Jan. 20, 2014 2:06 a.m., Plaza Dormitory While investigating a smoke detector alarm, officers discovered a small amount of marijuana and a device used to grind marijuana, in a room occupied by two students.

The matter was referred to the Dean’s Office.

2:06 a.m., Plaza While investigating a smoke detector alarm, officers located alcohol in a room where none of the occupants are of legal age. The alcohol was confiscated and the matter was referred to the Dean’s Office. >>Jan. 22, 2014 11:08 p.m., Charles Pratt Dormitory An officer encountered an underage student with alcohol. The matter was referred to the Dean’s Office. >>Jan. 25, 2014 12:37 a.m., Pond Dormitory Officers observed a stairway clogged with people and discovered a party in a first floor suite.

The event was shut down. >>Jan. 26, 2014 12:57 a.m., Social Quad A man was arrested for being a minor in possession of alcohol.

Fresh Faculty: Carrie Palmquist Assistant Professor of Psychology Carrie Palmquist grew up in Northern Virginia. She received a BA from the College of William & Mary where she majored in Psychology and Linguistics.

She received her PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Virginia. Her research explores how children learn about the world around them. Specifically, she is interested in how children use other people’s nonverbal communication (e.g., pointing and gaze) to decide when someone will be a good source of information. Her work has been published in journals such as Cognition and Development, Psychological Science, and Psychological Bulletin.

Q: How did you begin studying psychology, and what made you decide to pursue it?

A: I guess like most people, I took an intro course in college, and it was really interesting to me. Then I ended up taking a developmental class, which is now my area of specialty, and realized that I really enjoyed working with kids. I became fascinated with this idea of origins. What are we born with, what did we develop early in life and how can that help us understand who we are innately and who we are based on what we experience in our early lives.

Q: What is your research on?

A: My research is geared toward understanding how children learn about the world around them. So, there are a lot of things children can learn through first-hand experience — they can learn how to ride a bike by actually riding a bike. But there are a lot of things that they can’t learn through first-hand experience — that they have to learn from other people. Like the fact that germs exist or the earth is round.

Those things you can’t go out into the world and experience. You have to believe them when someone tells you that these things exist.

And so the question that motivated a lot of my research is, how do [children] decide if someone is telling them something that is true? Because in order to believe [a person], children have to know that yeah what they are telling me is reliable, good information. So my adviser in grad school was focused on that question, and I became interested in not only the verbal information that people provide, but also the non-verbal information. So, my research is really about what kids think about the gestures that we use and how they use [those gestures] to make decisions about the people around them.

Q: Do you think that children have a better understanding of non-verbal communication than adults because they have to rely on it more?

A: So you’d think that would be the case, but it takes them a little while to figure out how to

use those gestures. Until kids are about a year old, they don’t know how to point at things and they’re not very good at following other people’s points. A lot of people think this is because children have to first understand that someone has an intention to share info with them. So until infants understand that “oh you’re an individual that’s different from me, you have information that might be different than what I have” they might think that your point is like any other action—which isn’t informative. But once they understand that other people have thoughts and desires that are different than their own--they can start to understand those gestures as communicative.

Q: What classes are you teaching this semester?

A: I’ll be teaching Developmental Psych and Introduction to Psychology.

Q: You wrote in your biography on the Amherst College website that you design ”courses so that students can identify and practice application of their skills outside of the classroom, in a wide array of experiences and pursuits”. Could you give an example of a skill students learn in your class that they can apply to the outside world?

A: I think developmental psychology is really well suited to thinking about ways that you can use your knowledge in everyday situations.

While most of my students are likely not going to be psychology professors or psychology researchers, a lot of my students are probably going to have kids. And so we talk a lot about making decisions based on research and things we learn in class ... Things like how do you decide which school you’re going to send your kids to, what kinds of punishment are appropriate for children at different ages, deciding whether you want to have a baby at home or the hospital. Those are all decisions that a lot of people are confronted with, and there’s actual research to help people make those decisions. But until you actually become a good consumer of that research, and learn about the different principles that inform those decisions, it can be difficult to make the right decision for you.

In my upper level classes, I like to teach people skills that they’ll have to use no matter what job they get. For example, to explain ideas clearly and concisely. We do a lot of presenting. We do a lot of research reading, because even if you don’t become a researcher, we’re always reading articles in the newspaper that come out. It’s really helpful to become a good consumer of research.

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

A: It’s great living here because I enjoy doing a lot of outside activities. I love to run, and just blow off some steam outside. I also have a cat and spend a lot of time hanging out with my cat. And I enjoy cooking, baking. I enjoy traveling as well — we try to get around and experience new places — whether it’s local, finding new towns and new restaurants, or going to a new part of the country as well.

–Evelyn Ting ‘17

We need you!

The Amherst Student needs news writers If you are interested in joining the news writing staff, email Sophie Murguia at smurguia17@amherst.edu

The Amherst Student • January 29, 2014

News 3

College Announces New Initiatives to Increase Access to Higher Education Continued from Page 1 rent form, the DIVOH program hosts a select group of low-income, first-generation and minority high school seniors who stay on campus for a weekend and attend classes, admissions workshops and information sessions. The College hosts DIVOH attendees in dorm rooms with current students and covers 100 percent of the attendees’ transportation costs.

The new plan is to add an extra night of programming just for Native American students, where attendees will be able to talk with current Native students and faculty, as well as representatives from Native organizations within the Five Colleges. Brill said the program will be open to Native students nationwide, but will be targeted more toward Native students in the New England area, because it will be easier for New England students to travel to Amherst on a Friday night.

In addition to the extended DIVOH programming, the College has offered to partner with College Horizons, an organization that conducts college admissions workshops for Native students from throughout the U.S. Brill said she hopes the College will be able to host one of these workshops in the summer of 2015 or 2016.

Additionally, the Admissions Office will make use of its student Telementors to help guide Native students throughout the college application process. The Telementors are a group of current Amherst students from lowincome and minority backgrounds who mentor students trying to apply to college through

the QuestBridge program. QuestBridge is a competitive program in which low-income students can apply for the chance to earn a full scholarship to one of the elite colleges who partner with the program.

“We help them with the entire application process, from choosing where to apply to helping out with essays,” said Rachel Nghe ’16 of her role as a Telementor.

Christian Aviles ’14, another Telementor, noted that as a mentor he can provide crucial information that many students from underresourced communities lack.

“In the past, mentees I’ve had have had no support from their school in terms of writing workshops and personal statements,” Aviles said. “They don’t know where to start when writing an essay.”

Aviles also stressed that the Telementors can be helpful in encouraging high-achieving students to apply to elite colleges.

“When I talk to them about the colleges they’re interested in, a lot of times it’s the colleges in their area,” he said. “They shy away from applying to these top notch schools.”

Brill said she hopes the Telementors will also be able to help mentor Native American students who are not applying through QuestBridge.

The Admissions Office will also work alongside the Center Community Engagement in the second initiative by helping local lowincome students get on a path toward college.

“We have already met with the Superintendent of the Amherst Regional Public Schools and have also had conversations with key ad-

Architect Chosen to Design Replacements for Socials Continued from Page 1 for Amherst students, the fate of the four remaining social dorms will be the same as that of Davis.

According to Director of Facilities Jim Brassord, discussion for a potential replacement for the social dorms dates back to 2001 when the College conducted a residential master plan study to evaluate which dorms needed upgrades in order to support the College’s residential life program. Since 2001, nearly all dorms have been renovated. The last dorms listed on the master plan process, however, were the social dorms.

“There was a recognition that the [social] dorms were not good candidates for renovation because of their configurations and some of the inherent quality and design problems,” Brassord said.

Brassord also noted that the era in which the socials were designed and constructed was one not known for a particularly high quality of design or construction. The social dorms “have approached and exceeded their expected design life,” he said.

Brassord explained that the replacement of the social dorms will align with two compelling needs of the College: “The driver for the project is firstly the condition of the dorms, which have had a long and documented history as needing to be addressed,” he said.

In the location of the current social dorms, on the East Campus, will be a new science center that Brassord calls “state of the art.”

For the past two months, Brassord has worked with a search and selection committee comprised of students, staff and faculty to conduct a search process for an architecture firm to design the new dorms.

“We considered over 30 architects for this commission, and we became aware of Kyu Sung Woo Architects based upon the outstanding de-

sign work they had done at Harvard University, Brandies University, Northeastern University, Bennington College [and] Bowdoin College,” Brassord said.

After narrowing down the 30 potential architecture firms to five, the search and selection committee interviewed the remaining candidates before recommending the hiring of Kyu Sung Woo Architects to the Board last weekend.

“I am very excited about the prospect of working with Kyu Sung Woo,” Brassord said.

“Kyu Sung Woo’s past dormitory projects reflect a firm that is committed to designing inspiring and beautiful buildings that students really enjoy. Kyu Sung Woo’s dorms have a compelling aesthetic quality to them that will ensure these dorms are a great addition to the Amherst College campus.”

The next phase of the process will focus on design.

“We have a general notion of the location and an understanding of the number of students the dorms will need to accommodate,” Brassord said. “What we do not know yet, and will explore in the coming months, are the program elements, the scale and form of the building and the aesthetic details.”

Brassord and his colleagues plan on engaging in a comprehensive process to finalize plans for the design of the replacement dorms over the course of the upcoming months. Last spring and over the summer, a number of open meetings that began to explore this topic helped start an important conversation about what aspects of the social dorms work well and what things need to be changed — contributions that Brassord and his committee will continue to consider.

According to the College, the construction of the new dorms will begin in June of 2015 and conclude in August of 2016. By 2018, the College hopes to have a new science center on the East Campus and new residential halls south of Merrill Science Center.

ministrators in the Holyoke Public Schools,” said Molly Mead, director of the Center for Community Engagement. “Conversations with Springfield educational leaders will follow in the next few weeks.”

Mead noted that all the school districts already have programs in place to help guide their students towards college, and that any initiative undertaken in partnership with the College would have to build upon these existing programs. Some ideas that have been discussed include creating a mentor program for high school students, offering support for parents and helping to ensure that faculty and staff are successful in their efforts to support students undergoing the college process.

Brill said that the Admissions Office has already been heavily involved in outreach to the local community.

“We do a ton of what I would consider service work,” Brill said. The Admissions Office holds essay writing and application workshops for local students and also presents at college fairs in the area. Brill said that even if many of the students are unlikely to attend Amherst College, she hopes the Admissions Office will be able to help local students see the possibilities that are open to them in higher education.

“It’s something we do because we know that they need the exposure,” she said, adding that many students may not necessarily think of college as a possibility for them.

A third component of Amherst’s efforts to help low-income students is the attempt to get low-income students and students of color interested in science and math fields. The

Admissions Office has been partnering with Ventures Scholars, a program that helps lowincome, first generation and underrepresented minority students to pursue careers in math and science. Additionally, the College hopes to increase the number of low-income students who major in science and math fields once they get to Amherst.

Finally, in another initiative aimed at lowincome students already at the College, the school hopes to increase the number of low-income students who study abroad, have internships, participate in independent research and write senior theses. According to the Office of Public Affairs, there is research to support the idea that students who participate in these activities will be more successful in college.

Work on all four initiatives has already begun, and the Admissions Office and Center for Community Engagement will be among the many groups on campus helping to carry out these plans in the coming months.

“I am pleased that the White House has recognized Amherst for its success in recruiting low-income and underrepresented students, in making an Amherst education affordable for them, and for retention and graduation rates that equal those of the student body as a whole,” President Martin told the Office of Public Affairs. “We are eager to take on additional challenges aimed at ensuring that all our students take advantage of high-impact learning opportunities at Amherst, while working with partners to increase the number of lowincome students in our region who go to college.”

New Sexual Misconduct Policies Receive Attention Continued from Page 1 munity when a student has been expelled for committing sexual violence,” Larimore and Frankl said in their e-mail. “In addition to notices concerning expulsion, the Dean of Students Office and the Title IX Coordinator will produce an annual report to provide transparency about the resolution of cases that involve sexual misconduct.”

Frankl said she is still working with the Dean of Students Office to determine what the exact contents of the report will be.

“At a minimum it will contain data on the number of cases reported to the Title IX team and the number of cases that utilized the Student Conduct Process,” Frankl said.

Since May 2013, when the new policy went into place, the College has received 14 reports of sexual misconduct. According to Frankl, the College uses the term sexual misconduct to refer to “a variety of behaviors such as verbal, nonverbal or physical sexual aggression, intimidation, sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual exploitation, stalking and hostility based on sex or sex-stereotyping.”

Since she became Amherst’s new Title IX Coordinator in December, Frankl has been working on a variety of initiatives to create a culture of sexual respect.

“Right now, I am focused on three primary areas: compliance, education and student engagement,” she said.

Part of Frankl’s work on compliance includes making sure that the College adheres to the terms of the Clery Act and the Violence Against Women Act and holding Title IX trainings for employees. Frankl is also currently attending a training for Title IX Coordinators in New Orleans. Additionally, she and Dean Mitton Shannon are working together to review the hearing process for sexual misconduct.

In terms of education initiatives, Frankl said she is also helping to educate the community by helping to create poster and web pages that provide information about Title IX. Since December, posters with information about sexual misconduct and Title IX have already begun to appear in dorms and bathrooms.

In addition, Frankl complimented the work of Sexual Respect Educator Amanda Collings Vann, who is leading bystander intervention trainings and helping with education initiatives on a variety of sexual respect issues.

In the area of student engagement, Frankl described the efforts of several students who have reached out to her since she began her new job.

“We are working with two seniors on their idea to form a Title IX Review Committee comprised of students, faculty and administrators,” she said. “The group would act as a kind of oversight committee that looks closely at Title IX policy, procedure and implementation on campus, recommends changes and issues reports about the Title IX work on campus. We are also working with another student on her idea to create an information card of Title IX rights to all persons who disclose sexual misconduct to mandatory reporters.”

For her part, Bolger said that she hopes that in the future, Amherst will devote more attention to stalking, same-sex violence, and violence within relationships, issues she said are “too often brushed aside at Amherst.”

However, she heralded the College’s recent actions as a positive start.

“This is a modest victory for student advocates who have been demanding basic transparency for so long,” Bolger said. “I hope that the student body does its part to critically assess the information provided and to hold the college accountable for any continued failure to ensure safety and equality on campus.”

Opinion

“This haze was not just an environmental disaster, but the signal flare of an economic struggle.”

Editorial

Party Registration Policy Changes This spring semester the College will be implementing as a trial run several changes to its party policy. Last week, Dean Larimore emailed the students regarding these policy changes, and despite its verbiage, the letter summed up an earnest effort by the administration to improve social life at the College. The events of last semester, especially those of Crossett Christmas, demonstrated the necessity of changes to the party policy; this semester will hopefully prove their efficacy.

In prior semesters, the difficulty of registering a party imposed prohibitive costs and liabilities on students who may have hoped to host a gathering in public spaces, such as residential common areas. By discouraging parties in public spaces, past policy exacerbated problems of overcrowding and oversight at private parties, particularly in the social dorms.

The new policy provides several incentives for students to host registered parties in public spaces. First, registering a party no longer requires any monetary expense; in the past, registered parties were required to hire a crowd manager, which could cost as much as $34 an hour. Second, the availability of straightforward registration forms online and the almost immediate reviewal of requests (parties with fewer than one hundred people can be registered as late as the Thursday before the weekend of the party) facilitates the registration process. Third, by clarifying the responsibilities and consequences of hosting a registered party, the new policy significantly reduces uncertainty around potential risks and liabilities, which in the past dissuaded students from choosing to register a party.

There is good reason to believe that more registered parties will improve the quality and safety of social life

on campus. The social dorms contain some of the most dilapidated facilities on campus, while there are many public spaces that would be ideal, in terms of space and lighting, for hosting student gatherings. In addition, the opening of other spaces will help reduce traffic around the Social Quad, which may improve experiences at parties in the social dorms as well.

On paper, the new policy is very liberal and lenient.

It is important that enforcement of the policy is consistent with the codified text and with student expectations. Campus police will be aware of the locations of registered parties. If they were to preemptively visit pre-registered parties, students would be instantly be deterred from registering future parties. It is in the best interest of student safety that enforcement should focus on serious problems (which are far more likely to occur in private spaces rather than registered parties) instead of dwelling on trivial mistakes. Minor infractions should not force a party to have to shutdown and hosts should be able contact campus police without fear of punitive consequences.

Because registering parties entrusts certain responsibilities to the individual hosts and empowers them with means of recourse to address unruly guests, registered parties should be far better behaved than parties in the social dorms, where — in any area outside of one’s own private suites — no one has much of an incentive or ability to deal with problems. Nonetheless, it is necessary to keep in mind that the new policy changes are being run this semester as a pilot test. They are generous but by no means guaranteed, and students therefore must reciprocate the administration’s generosity with a commensurate level of responsibility.

More registered parties, less overcrowding.

E X E C U T I V E B OA R D Editors-in-Chief Brendan Hsu, Emmett Knowlton Senior Editing 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

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 Nazir Khan, David Ashworth, Maddie Blake, Josh Thornton, Monica Rosario Photography Editor Olivia Tarantino

A Haze that Hides... Page 5

Letter from the [New] Editors

Since returning from abroad, I’ve found myself picking up on all sorts of new and different phenomena at Amherst that didn’t exist last May. We have a musically maniacal Provost and a Dean of Faculty without Einstein hair; Frost Cafe’s serving iced coffee in a Polar Vortex and Val’s ditched the Jamaican Jerk for, of all things, Turkey Burgers.

Even Keefe has spiffy (well, spiffyish) new lights and circular couches. I got an email about a package last week as I checked online the status of the laundry machines in the basement of my dorm. I could go on. But in the spirit of change — though we’ll have to wait a semester to assess whether or not it’s been for the better — I am excited to announce that Brendan Hsu and I will together serve as the new Editorsin-Chief of The Amherst Student for the remainder of the school year.

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank two former editors, Alissa Rothman and Brianda Reyes, for their tireless and impressive work at the helm of The Student over the past few years. While Alissa studies and runs her way around London, Brianda will, luckily, stay close to The Student as she works to create the paper’s first-ever advisory committee, comprised of current students, staff, faculty and alumni. Brianda’s legacy and importance to The Amherst Student cannot be understated — under her leadership The Student managed to become one of the only financially independent college newspapers in the country, and published Angie Epifano’s crucial account, to name only a few achievements.

Since accepting the position at the end of last semester, Brendan and I have talked with faculty, alumni and our peers in an attempt to better understand and define the role of The Student on campus in 2014. Although the answers we’ve received have been varied, what stands out is the continuing neces-

sity for campus-wide dialogue and activism, no matter how uncomfortable the conversation or easy it may be to whittle away somewhere subterranean in Frost. Our fellow publications, AC Voice, What’s Left at Amherst, The Indicator and even the wily Muck-Rake have perhaps, in their own ways, done a more formidable job of stressing this, but it more than bares repeating. Brendan and I feel passionately about bringing The Student more thoroughly to the discussion, with the hopes of both bettering The Student and helping to improve the College and the experience of attending Amherst.

So, to put our money where our mouth is, we’ve already made one important stride: beginning February, The Student will no longer withhold reported cases of sexual assault from the Campus Crime Log. By placing these instances within the Crime Log — far and away the newspaper’s most popular segment — we hope to draw attention to the fact that sexual assault, like several other problems on campus, is far from solved.

In the end, our mission begins with the student body, and as the only student newspaper on campus we need your help. Every conversation you have in line at Val or issue you vent about to Barista Tony deserves to be heard, and The Student is eager to serve as your sounding board. But more than anything, even if you don’t want to come write (and apologies for the shameless advertisement), you should at least make sure you stay up to date on all the campus publications, because they’re filled with damn good writing and sparking important conversations. As an Amherst student, you owe it to yourself and others to embrace and challenge these topics. We look forward to joining you.

— Emmett Knowlton

Correction: In “Faculty Discuss Strategic Planning Committees” (Dec. 4), the author wrote of Prof. Judith Frank’s presentation on the work of the Committee on Integration of Curricular and Co-Curricular learning, “The committee will also discuss how to get faculty and students to do more on campus, what or if there should be options for slow learners…”

What Prof. Frank had stated was “How can we ask anybody — faculty, staff, students — to do anything extra when we all labor under conditions of unrelenting busy-ness? Should we be thinking along the lines of creating the conditions of possibility for ‘slow learning?’”

“Slow learning” was meant as an analogy to “slow food.” The committee is exploring, in very preliminary ways, whether it is possible to slow down the frenetic pace of life and activities in the College community, so that people have time to interact with one another. It is not discussing how to get anybody to do more; nor is the idea of “slow learners” part of its conversation.

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The Student will print letters under 450 words in length if they are submitted to The Student offices in the Campus Center or to the paper’s e-mail account (astudent@amherst.edu) by 12 p.m. on Sunday, after which they will not be accepted.

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Letters must bear the names of all contributors and a phone number where the author or authors may be reached. Letters and columns may be edited for clarity and Student style.

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The Amherst Student is published weekly except during College vacations. The subscription rate is $75 per year or $40 per semester. Subscription requests and address changes should be sent to: Subscriptions, The Amherst Student; Box 1912, Amherst College: Amherst, MA 01002-5000. The offices of The Student are located on the second floor of the Keefe Campus Center, Amherst College. Phone: (413) 542-2304. All contents copyright © 2011 by The Amherst Student, Inc. All rights reserved. The Amherst Student logo is a trademark of The Amherst Student, Inc. Additionally, The Amherst Student does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or age.

The views expressed in this publication do not reflect the views of The Amherst Student.

The Amherst Student • January 29, 2014

A Haze that Hides More than Singapore The International Perspective Elson Dale Low ’15 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.

To the casual observer the hazardous haze that covered Singapore this summer was merely an environmental disaster. A pause and closer inspection, however, show that its fog hid much more than Singapore’s angular skyscrapers. The haze resulted from illegal slash-and-burn land clearing for agricultural purposes in nearby Indonesia (much of which is covered in rainforest). As a native of a tropical country myself, I was surprised when I heard this. This is because slash and burn really is just cutting trees down and burning them (which bears little regard for global climate change), but also because after vegetation has been removed rainforest topsoil is notorious for lasting only a few crop cycles before being washed away (of course due to the heavy rainfall). In other words, the Indonesians were using measures which could not be sustained, desperate measures, to grow their economy.

Resting next to such desperation, Singapore, on the other hand, has one of the highest per capita GDPs in the world. This is not to single the island state out, but instead to portray that this haze is hiding an international debate flashpoint — developed countries don’t want poorer countries to fell their forests for environmental reasons but poorer countries feel the need to in order to develop. This is a hard debate to mediate, with environmental sustainability and global climate change resting on one side and poverty and economic inequality on the other. Even further, there are about six million people in Singapore and over two hundred and fifty million in Indonesia. This is a moral dilemma because it raises the worrisome question of whether the pros-

perity of the many justifies the suffering of the few.

Economics offers a potential solution to this dilemma because it describes the conflict in much more businesslike terms. If Singapore is dissatisfied with the present level of pollution (also considering that this is unlikely to be the last such incident) it should simply pay Indonesia to leave its forests standing. This way Indonesia can develop and Singapore remain perpetually haze free. In fact, there is a similar arrangement in my home country Guyana, where Norway (a major producer of fossil fuels) provides economic aid in exchange for the preservation of our forests.

Whether this is feasible requires research and much negotiation but at the very least this avenue is worth exploring.

But this solution is not to ignore the moral dilemma above — after all, Singapore’s citizens rightly argue that there is no reason they should be forced to pay for the irresponsible actions of lawbreakers in Indonesia.

On the other hand, poor Indonesians must feel trapped because they cannot use their country’s resources to, one day, earn as much as those so very nearby. What this solution does is recognize that both sides have legitimate rights — the right to breathe clean air and the right to earn a living. Given that Indonesia has just removed a fuel subsidy that aided the poor (causing prices to rise by 44%) perhaps now is an opportune time to come to an arrangement that assists Indonesia’s poor. To ensure this never happens again it is vitally important that both countries realize that this haze was not just an environmental disaster, but the signal flare of an economic struggle.

Opinion 5

Pathways Connects Students and Alumni

David Chang ’16 Managing Opinion Editor

Pathways is an alumni-student mentoring program that launched in Sept. 2013 after four years of collaboration between the Career Center, Alumni and Parent Programs and Information Technology offices.

The mission of Pathways is to connect students with alumni mentors through a structured framework and to encourage critical and reflective thinking about academic, professional and life goals for both students and alumni.

Through this mutually beneficial engagement, students have the opportunity to gain perspective on their fields of interest, develop insight about the Amherst experience and potentially foster a long-term relationship from which they can gain invaluable assets. In other words, students will have someone older and more experienced to talk to about pretty much anything.

This isn’t anything entirely new.

We already have plenty of opportunities, the majority of which we do not take advantage of, to talk to those who have useful information and advice to offer.

However, Pathways is the first platform to formalize connections between students and alumni. It is an easier, more innovative, and more effective way of incentivizing students to further take responsibility for their learning by engaging with alumni mentors. It also eliminates some of the intimidation and obstacles involved in a student’s networking effort.

In a way, it is almost refreshing; we can talk to people who have graduated from Amherst and are currently, in a very much real way, doing real things in the “real world.”

It is also reassuring to know that the mentor of yours, having graduated from Amherst, just like you will in due time, has a reasonably interesting and lucrative job.

Despite its promising start and admirable missions, Pathways can’t be guaranteed to provide all participants with a life-changing experience. After all, it is a new initiative, which has just gotten back the first round of reviews and feedback from last semester, and the alumni

mentors are not vetted in any way.

This might be of concern, since it is possible that we might end up with an inexperienced and relatively unenthusiastic mentor. I know some people who haven’t even heard back from theirs.

Personally, I don’t think it’s that big of an issue, especially since we are given the freedom to choose our own mentors after reviewing their profiles online. In addition, we are not stuck with one mentor permanently.

Pathways functions on a cyclical basis that allows students to request a new mentor for each term, twice a year. Of course, there is a bit of luck involved, but installing a filtering system for the mentors based on a set rubric in an attempt to, say, ensure higher quality mentorship, might undermine the accessibility and the diversity that make this program unique. Ultimately, it is up to the students to try to make the best out of this opportunity.

And we should. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t, besides laziness. The difficult part — the part where you register, make a profile and request a mentor — takes about an hour or two, maybe more if you’re bent on finding the perfect mentor.

After that, if the mentor accepts your request, it’s the fun part where you actually get to know your mentor. Quite possibly, and hopefully, the relationship will prove to be longlasting and mutually beneficial. If not, you get another try in the next term.

According to a representative from the Alumni and Parent Programs, the survey conducted recently after the conclusion of the fall term showed that both mentors and mentees generally reported strong satisfaction with Pathways and said they would recommend it to others.

70 percent of mentors and 48 percent of mentees have responded to the survey, and those responses will be used to further consider ways to communicate the benefits of the program and to improve its quality for all participants.

The evaluations were predominantly positive, with both the mentors and mentees expressing that Pathways has proven to be enriching and constructive in many ways.

From what I have heard from others, the mentor-mentee interactions mainly consisted of emails, phone calls, and, if feasible, meeting in person. They were typically not so exciting or mind-blowing, but were moderately pleasant and beneficial.

A friend of mine majoring in physics found a mentor, an ’03 grad and also a physics major, with whom he could talk about academic careers and shared interests. Though they were both pleasant people, he felt that the interactions were somewhat formal and mechanical, and that the mentorship was not as nurturing as he had expected it to be.

A different friend of mine, interested in finance and consulting, found a mentor working in those fields and discussed internships and career options. During family weekend, he got to spend time with the mentor and his kids, and he plans to continue the mentorship outside of Pathways.

A third friend of mine, also passionate about business and finance, found a mentor who had recently graduated as a triple-major and talked to him constantly about his work and internships. The mentor’s mother happened to be my friend’s counselor from high school, and they plan on continuing their interaction outside of Pathways.

Needless to say, there is a wide range of experiences, and, like most human interactions, the experience depends on the parties involved.

My mentor was a recent graduate currently working in New York City, and after numerous emails and phone calls, we met up for lunch in the Plaza Hotel over Thanksgiving break.

Over the past few months, I have definitely learned a lot, from the stories about his time at Amherst, from his academic and professional advice and from our casual conversations.

He keeps me updated on his accomplishments at work, and I keep him updated on my own development.

Through Pathways, I have found a long-term mentor whom I can rely on for support and advice, and I encourage everyone, especially those who have not given it a try, to make a profile and request a mentor. The deadline for the current open-enrollment is Feb. 14.

Arts&Living

“‘Frozen,’ in many ways, represents a rebirth and reimagining of the Disney brand.”

Disney Breaks the Ice...Page 7

Winter Films: From Hustle to Romance Image courtesy of www.myreelpov.wordpress.com

backing them, “Inside Llewyn Davis” is their best release since “No Country for Old Men” and maybe even before that. It works as a meandering tribute to the underbelly of the New York folk scene, an homage to the works of James Joyce and an exploration of the day-to-day doldrums of human existence. Llewyn Davis is one of their most fascinatingly selfish central characters, and yet the tale remains modern and timeless.

It feels like a long-lost classic, and as such is one for the history books.

“Llewyn Davis is one of Although “American Hustle” is solid entertainment, it’s nothing special.

Jake Walters ’14 Staff Writer With the Oscars around the corner, a month of marathon movie viewing behind me, and no Student articles to share my opinions through, I had a difficult time deciding which film to review with the start of the semester. So, allowing myself to make matters easier, I thought I’d review all of the films vying for Oscar glory I haven’t had the chance to share my opinion on already. Yeah, it’s a bit of a cheat, but who can complain about five reviews for the price of one?

Film Review Winter Films American Hustle, Her, Inside Llewyn Davis, Nebraska, & The Wolf of Wall Street

“American Hustle” Rapidly gaining attention and increasingly the seeming frontrunner for Best Picture, “American Hustle” is solid entertainment but nothing special. It has several strong performances, including another committed turn from Christian Bale. Bale gained back all the weight and then some that he lost for his previous feature with director and Amherst alum David O. Russell ’81E, “The Fighter.”

A slyly humorous script and strong late 70s period detail, “American Hustle” is a strong companion piece to last year’s Best Picture winner “Argo.” And if it’s more populist and upbeat than one would like, it signals

the emergence of particular directorial quirks from Russell, who previously seemed like a real talent, but one without any singular vision of his own. In the midst of increasingly bleak and desperate filmmaking from top-flight directors, Russell is staking his claim as a premier humanist director of his generation. The film also explores political corruption without the judgmental, one-sided approach often taken by films. But he has yet to make the masterpiece I know he has in him (although the reckless abandon of “Three Kings” comes close).

He gives his movies just enough depth to make them compulsively watchable, but as he interweaves four main characters in search of an exit throughout “American Hustle,” one begins to wonder if the characters are vying for screen time rather than enhancing each other’s performances; perhaps Russell has bit off more than he can chew. “American Hustle” would deserve an Oscar for Best Hair Design, but Best Picture? I suppose it would continue the long-line of extremely well-crafted pop-pieces which have won increasingly often in recent years.

“Her” While “12 Years a Slave” still stands as the high water-mark of 2013 cinema for me, “Her” is the closest a film has come this year to matching it for nuance, texture, insight to the human condition and sheer emotional impact. After “Where the Wild Things Are,” (my personal pick for the underrated gem of the past decade), I’d been waiting to see what writer/director Spike Jonze would

do next. Comment insightfully on the human condition? Create a fascinatingly mundane view of society and the individuals that populate it? Produce a gorgeous feast for the eyes? Wring great performances of out some very talented actors, even one who doesn’t appear physically on camera? Create one of the finest, most honest romances of the century, albeit between a human and an artificial intelligence, without resorting to either cloying melodrama or judgmental pandering? Include not one but two very finely manicured mustaches? He did it all, and then some. I believe it was Roger Ebert who once wrote that the difference between a 3 ½ and a 4 star film is the “tingle down the spine” while watching. I think it’s a combination of that and how long a film stays with me, gnawing it’s way into my core and refusing to leave.

Other than “12 Years a Slave,” “Her” is the only film I saw this year to get top marks in both categories.

“Inside Llewyn Davis” After an unusually long gap for the insanely prolific Coen Brothers (three whole years!), they’ve made sure they remind us why we wait for their films with such anxiety and anticipation, and why a new Coen Brothers film is such an event for film lovers. Each film they release has a singular vision, but also fits nicely into their corpus of three decades and adds texture to their previous features. With fantastic attention to detail, a well-realized sense of place that is all too familiar yet curiously distant, and a surprisingly laid-back yet aching, distraught screenplay

the Coen brothers’ most fascinatingly selfish central characters, and yet the tale remains modern and timeless.

”

“Nebraska” Another understated film, and a strong companion piece to both Alexander Payne’s own road-trip masterpiece, “Sideways,” “Nebraska” shows Alexander Payne’s talents for intermixing dry, quiet, poignant drama and even dryer, bitter humor to an effect that exceeds the sum of its parts. Gorgeous black-and-white cinematography and characters drawn in shades of gray complement strong performances, especially from the

criminally underrated Bruce Dern, making this story of family and old age one more square on the tapestry of one of modern cinema’s most consistently strong auteurs.

“The Wolf of Wall Street” It’s nice to see Martin Scorsese’s age hasn’t tempered his love of ambitious, daring, over-the-top cinema, especially in light of all the more subdued offerings highlighting the end of 2013, but honestly I’m still not entirely sure what I think of his latest tale of debauchery. While it’s ambitious, and frequently hilarious, it’s messy to a fault and lacks the character nuance and hard-hitting grime that characterize Scorsese’s best works, even his criminally underrated comedies such as “King of Comedy” and “After Hours.” In comparison, “Wolf of Wall Street” feels more exaggerated on the surface but curiously detached, difficult to grasp and even simplistic. It’s different, to be sure, but the weirdness of the film rarely dips below the surface. At least Leonardo DiCaprio throws himself (often literally) into the role in a commanding performance, maybe his best ever, and many individual scenes are among Scorsese’s best, most notably Dicaprio’s drugged-up, impossibly slow crawl to his car in place of what should be a mad dash to return home for fear of being arrested.

Image via imdb.com

“Her” is one of the most honest romances of the year, albeit between a human and an artificial intelligence.

The Amherst Student • January 29, 2013

Arts & Living 7

Disney Breaks the Ice With “Frozen”

Image courtesy of www.hdwallpapers.com

Typical Disney tropes are circumvented through clever twists, strong writing and beautifully developed characters in this must-see film.

Johnathan Appel ’16 Staff Writer I remember for about 18 months while I was five and six, I made it a point to watch “The Lion King” at least once a week. When I realized just how excessive this pre-adolescent binge watching was, I felt sorry for all the people who had to watch with me to make sure the VHS worked. This person was usually my mom. Recently, my mom reminded me of these frequent screenings. But, instead of attempting to jokingly commiserate with my father or embarrass me in front of my younger sister (both of whom sat through Simba’s journey several times), my mom said that watching Disney with me was one of the ways she felt most connected to me during my childhood.

Movies that connect us are rare. But Disney, from my five-year-old self to my sister to my

grandparents, seems to have a special knack for doing so. Let’s be honest here: who among us hasn’t had a Disney themed party, costume or movie marathon while at college? Since you’re reading a review of the movie “Frozen” well into the second paragraph, I’ll just assume we’re on the same page.

“Frozen” is a beautiful movie that everyone should go see. Firstly, this is Disney’s biggest success since “Tangled.” It’s already being made into a Broadway musical. After the myriad of sequels both good (“Monsters University”) and mind-bogglingly idiotic (“Cars 2” where all the cars were spies for some reason), “Frozen” has restored my faith that Disney still has imagination.

The story starts simply enough. The young princess of Arendelle, Elsa (Idina Menzel), has the magic ability to create ice and snow. While playing with her younger sister, Anna (Kris-

ten Bell), Elsa accidentally misfires and her royal parents rush Anna to the trolls, who both heal her and remove her memories of magic.

To keep both sisters safe, the King and Queen close themselves off in their castle and tell Elsa to keep her powers hidden. The sisters grow up isolated from each other with Anna never understanding why, which is only worsened when their parents die at sea (classic Disney).

Years later, during Elsa’s coronation, she is fearful of her secret being revealed as she still cannot control her powers. Naïve Anna is just ecstatic to be allowed outside of the palace gates and stumbles upon Prince Hans of the Southern Isles (Santino Fontana). Anna believes she’s finally found true love and promptly decides to get married (again classic Disney). Forbidding the marriage, the new queen is unable to control herself and accidentally shows Arendelle her powers and runs away. Anna then goes out to find her sister, bring her back and end an eternal winter that’s fallen with the help of an attractive ice-collector Kristoff (Jonathan Kroff ), his reindeer Sven and their snowman brought to life. Meanwhile, Prince Hans is left in charge and may prove that true love doesn’t grow in a night.

With a cast cherry-picked from Broadway (and with the film being adapted), it’s not hard to tell that the music in “Frozen” is second to none. While “Let it Go,” has been by far the most popular score, the whole repertoire and cast shines in every performance. My favorite, frankly, is “Fixer-upper,” which is sung by a bunch of trolls. My biggest complaint with the music, in fact, would be that some amazing talent, like Fontana and Groff, got at most one song. The shining points in a musical centering on sisters are indeed the duets between Anna and Elsa. Menzel and Bell harmonize beautifully and each song that features them really does reflect the conflicting personalities and emotions running throughout the film. I’ll finish by saying the soundtrack alone is worth the ticket price.

Yet, what’s so special about this movie doesn’t lie in the typical Disney faire. The animation is beautiful. The actors are big names.

The songs are incredible. But, for all the “classic Disney” moments that seem to be in this film, “Frozen” is seemingly committed to circumventing the upsetting norms that plague the genre. Rather than the stereotypical evil queen, for example, the “villain,” in this case Elsa, is relatable as she is simply confused as to how to control herself. I’ve heard Elsa’s character and the song “Let it Go,” be praised as a parable for introversion, LGBT awareness and (most convincingly to me) hiding mental health issues.

Especially as a model for young girls, Disney’s latest effort represents a massive leap forward in its feminist viewpoint. The typical Disney movie focuses on a prince “saving” a helpless damsel or a princess waiting to be saved. Both end in true love and happily ever after. Both are also an unrealistic standard that fosters the erroneous notion that women need happy marriages with men to be happy.

While the set-up of “Frozen” may seem like the same old thing and the plot does focus heavily on true love, this is a movie about the bond between sisters and that true love can be found in all relationships. In fact, (this calls for a spoiler alert), Prince Han’s ultimate betrayal and Anna’s sacrifice to save Elsa’s life completely circumvent the traditional narratives. “Frozen” features two independent and powerful women who are willing to do anything for their true loves: each other.

Ultimately, the brilliance of this film’s feminist message lies in the initial acceptance of typical Disney tropes only to circumvent them entirely through clever twists, strong writing and beautifully developed characters. “Frozen,” in many ways, represents a rebirth and reimagining of the Disney brand. Movies like this are rare but, if this subversion of the typical myth continues, I will be more than happy to connect with my children one day with Disney just like I did with my family.

Pioneer Valley Coffee Shops: Master List Elizabeth Paul ’16 Managing Arts & Living Editor Every college town needs its own trendy coffee shop where undergrads can hide out on Sundays equipped with lattes, muffins and Macbooks.

Luckily, the Amherst area has a plethora of hot spots to choose from. Each coffee shop in the Pioneer Valley has its own set of quirks and secrets, and there is enough variety for every college student in the area to find one that they can call “their spot.” Here is a compilation and review of the Pioneer Valley’s most popular hangouts: Rao’s A favorite amongst Amherst locals and students alike, Rao’s is located in downtown Amherst, nestled off of Main Street next to Johnny’s Tavern. Equipped with dark wooden tables and chairs and soft rock or jazz quietly playing on the overhead speakers, Rao’s is a great study destination. Due to its popularity, open seats can be hard to come by, so try to get there in the morning if you plan on studying on a weekend. Rao’s also stays open until 11 p.m. on weekdays and features outdoor seating during the warmer months. Must try: ice blended beverages. The Rao’s version of a Starbucks Frappuccino, these delicious frozen treats come in a variety of flavors such as mocha and chai and are the perfect cooling refreshment

on a warm day. During the winter months, try a vanilla mocha, made with Raos’ signature homemade vanilla powder.

Amherst Coffee Amherst Coffee carries a unique air of sophistication. A popular spot for professors, this coffee shop prides itself on a simple menu with strong coffee that speaks for itself. With high ceilings and tables and a full cocktail menu and bar off to one side for the cafés nighttime patrons, Amherst Coffee mixes classic with contemporary and feels a little more urban than many of its coffee shop counterparts.

Tables can fill up, but this is definitely a good atmosphere for working if you can get a spot at either the large center table or one of the high stools along the windows. The food selection is limited but the drinks are the perfect mix of classic yet bold. Must try: Amherst Coffee’s latte. The coffee shop’s strong espresso blend will have you wide-eyed for even the lengthiest of papers on a Sunday afternoon, and if you’re lucky, the barista will skillfully craft a beautiful design in the surface of your foam.

Starbucks The classic college coffee shop, Starbucks is the perfect place for those who love the familiarity of a perfectly customized beverage that they can get anywhere. Centrally located on Main

Street, this Starbucks has some seating options, including a large study table and some leather armchairs, but space is somewhat limited. In addition to its globally popular fixed menu, Starbucks is known for its seasonal specialty beverages and has recently teamed up with La Boulange to serve a new line of delicate pastries.

This is the perfect place to go if you are grabbing something quickly and want to find comfort in a dependable drink that you already know and love.

Must try: the newest addition to Starbucks’ menu, the Caramel Flan Latte.

A sweet and indulgent treat for dessert or a mid-morning pick-me-up.

The Roost For anyone willing to drive the extra 20 minutes down Route 9, The Roost in Northampton is a very popular spot. Located in the center of town, the coffee shop has ample parking and seating, with booths, tables and a long bar perfect for students with laptops. The décor is casual with an assortment of wooden tables, metal chairs and comfortable dim lighting.

The menu at The Roost is one of the most extensive food and drink menus for coffee shops in the area, boasting a wide selection of breakfast options, salads, sandwiches, soups and even an assortment of cheese boards and appetizers for sharing. The café is always bustling with a wide mix of students, families and adults having

Image courtesy of femmefermental.blogspot.com

During your four years at Amherst, you should take the time to check out each of these coffee shops. work meetings, but it is never too difficult to find a spare seat, especially if you are traveling alone or with one person. The service is quick and the food is delicious. Must try: Rooster Rolls, The Roost’s signature breakfast sandwich, featuring baked eggs on a fresh baguette with a list of delicious topping combinations. Essential for a lazy Sunday morning.

Freedom Café Perhaps the most unique of Amherst’s coffee shops is the Freedom Café, located on the UMass Amherst campus. Founded in 2011, Freedom Café is a completely non-profit organization that sends all of its proceeds

towards rescuing human trafficking victims around the world. When you walk into the café’s quaint first floor area, you have the option to choose the amount of money you would like to donate to the cause. Residents living on the second floor of the building are currently covering the rent and other capital expenses in the café. There is not much seating room, but stop by this café and support its amazing concept and cause! The café is also always looking for volunteers to take shifts as baristas. You can volunteer alone or in a group. For more information on Freedom Café’s mission, hours and volunteer details, visit their website at www.freedomcafenetwork.org.

8 Arts & Living

The Amherst Student • January 29, 2013

Entering the Wonderful World of Wine Eleanor Andersen ’15 Staff Writer Classes have begun. My back tingles in anticipation of hunching for hours during late night writing sessions while my brain savors a few fleeting moments of peace before entering the hum of heavy caffeine intake. For now, however, I am sitting at my computer, sipping red wine with more thought and concentration than ever before. I am indeed drinking on a Sunday evening when I have class in less than 24 hours. Maybe I should read about the history of US foreign policy or Latin American democracy, but savoring a glass or two of wine may count as studying, or practicing, for another class: Wine, History, and the Environment. At least, that is the most appealing rationalization.

My 21st birthday fell on September of last year, and I have certainly taken advantage of the privilege that comes with reaching this milestone age. Eating out now involves beverages. I can enjoy the Springer Special, a blend of tequila and ginger beer, or a Belgian Pale Ale called “The Moan” at the High Horse while sharing a heaping plate of beef nachos with my friends, or digging into a beet and arugula salad topped with crisped goat cheese. I might order a Dark and Stormy while at Bistro 63 during a TYPO with my history professor or even pick up a six-pack of Heinekens at Russell’s to share with my parents over a meal of dim sum at Oriental Flavor. However, I have yet to delve into the magical world of wine. (For anyone under 21, I sincerely apologize for outlining the wonders of finally being of age, but your time will come soon enough. And, being able to drink at dinner is not necessarily the best liberty because beverages introduce a whole new level of expense to meals that suddenly has the check adding up far too quickly...)

But, I must return to this luscious glass of $6.99-a-bottle red wine, which may be a bit sweet for me but satisfies my romantic desire for the mystical juice. I entered Wine, History and the Environment because of a distinct interest in the product, as well as a desire to gain understanding I sorely lack. Part of this gap in knowledge is due to inexperience, I simply have not tried enough, but another reason is that wine is a daunting drink. Wine is never simply wine. After spending years watching my sister order bottles for our family, I have realized that there is a plethora of factors to

Image courtesy of premierwines.com

This wine class is not simply a way to fill a requirement, but is rather a challenge to enter the esoteric world of wine. consider, like vintage, region, and vineyard.

The sheer multitude of details continuously overwhelms me, and in the past I have usually just allowed myself to order the comfortable drink, beer. Thus, my wine class is not simply a way to fill my history major and research paper requirement but rather a means of challenging myself to leave my comfort zone and enter the esoteric world of wine.

And so, I embarked upon this journey of discovery by throwing myself into an exciting, and potentially embarrassing, situation. I went to a wine tasting … And it wasn’t so bad! Who knew that we had free wine tastings available right in the town of Amherst? I certainly did not, until Professor Martini and Professor Lopez informed our class that if we were of age, we should make our way to Amherst Wines & Spirits between 2:00pm and 5:00pm on Saturdays for free tastings of the subject of our study. With classes barely begun and a Saturday afternoon open for adventure, my friends and I swiftly speed-walked amidst the gusts of snowflakes, down North Pleasant Street and through the town of Amherst until we reached one of my favorite new shops in town, Glazed

Doughnuts. There, we banged a right, walked under the balcony above the cluster of shops, past the guitar store, and into Amherst Wine & Spirits.

As my eyes flitted about the store and from one wine label to another, each detail they caught further reminded me of how little I know. How can I distinguish between zinfandels and merlots, much less ask for one over the other? Would I rather a burgundy or a pinot noir? How should I know? Soon we wandered over to the register, where the owner stood with four ready bottles of wine and an offering of freshly sliced baguettes from Henion bakery.

It was time.

He poured a small glass for each of us, and I realized that I knew nothing of the etiquette of wine tasting. I had heard about swirling the wine in the glass, sniffing it, swishing it, gargling it, spitting it, but what should I do? I gave the glass a twirl, inhaled the heady scent of red wine, took a sip, savored the slight bite of alcohol while scouring for other flavors, and swallowed. Soon I had finished the glass, not realizing until I had sampled two more that the silver pails standing beside the wine might be for the

rest of the glass after we had tasted as much wine as we needed. Eventually, we had tried the four Spanish reds offered, and we returned to investigating the red and white wines, as well as other beverages like sake, port, and grappa.

I enjoyed reading lyrical, handwritten descriptions of various wines and eventually chose a $6.99 bottle of French red wine and a $9.99 bottle of Italian red wine. Although a number of wines reached prices above a college student’s tight budget, many of those offered lay within an affordable range.

At this point in my incipient relationship with wine, I hesitate to recommend a particular wine. I will note that my glass of Baron d’Arignac may be a bit too sweet for my taste, but I also know that the owner will gladly help anyone who might request his aid, as I saw when my friend queried about a spicy red. As I continue in the quest to learn about wine, I hope to be able to propose various selections for certain meals and palettes, but for now I shall merely implore that you try tasting wine at Amherst Wine & Spirits, should you be of age. I am sure that you will find a bottle you like for a reasonable price.

Five College Events Wednesday, January 29

“‘How Universities Work’ with author John V. Lombard” 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., UMass The UMass Amherst Libraries host a talk by John Lombardi about the Measuring University Performance Center and his new book, “How Universities Work” (John Hopkins University Press, 2013).

Thursday, January 30

“‘Structures for Reading Exhibition’ by Adam Schreiber” 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Smith College Adam Schreiber is a Chicago-based artist and Assistant Professor in DePaul’s department of Art, Media and Design. Structures for Reading is an exhibition that looks closely at the way photographic rendering generates a context for heightened attention. The included works, made primarily in research libraries, take remedial aim at objects of study and instruments for learning. The characteristic large-format photographs present ambiguities between material and image, position and repetition, eye and mind.

“Drink: The Pleasures and Perils of Alcohol,” 9:00 a.m., Hampshire College A photography exhibition by Barbara Norfleet, “Drink: The Pleasures and Perils of Alcohol,” will be in the Jerome Liebling Center for Film, Photography and Video at Hampshire College from January 22 to February 28.

Drink features Norfleet’s early photographs of social gatherings, reimagined through collage as a meditation

on the subject of alcohol. The event is free and open to the public.

“Summer Memories,” 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Smith College An exhibition of paintings, titled Summer Memories, by artist Louise Peabody ‘63,will be on display in the Alumnae House Gallery. The pre-winter storms of freezing rain and wet snow burying the East Coast present a fitting contrast to Peabody’s hazy depictions of summer, which she hopes can provide a “respite from the winter darkness and chill.”

“The 1st Visit: New England Jazz Ensemble,” 8:00 p.m., UMass Performance by the Connecticut-based jazz ensemble with five critically-acclaimed CD’s, Walt Gwardyak, leader/pianist. Music by: Jeffrey W. Holmes, lead trumpet; Walt Gwardyak, piano/leader; John Mastroianni, alto sax & Phil Pearson, trumpet.

“UMass Visiting Writers Series Hosts Joseph O’Neill,” 8:00 p.m., UMass Joseph O’Neill is the author of three novels and a work of non-fiction, most recently Netherland (2008), winner of the 2009 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and one of The New York Times’ “10 Best Books of 2008”; and BloodDark Track: A Family History (2001). His newest novel, “The Dog,” will be published in September. Netherland received wide acclaim, from President Barack Obama to the critic James Wood who called it, “one of the most

remarkable postcolonial books I have ever read.” Aside from batting and bowling in the Staten Island Cricket Club, O’Neill has also written for Harper’s, The Atlantic, New York Magazine, The New York Times and Granta. He is a recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Cullman Center, and was awarded the Kerry Fiction Prize in 2009. O’Neill teaches at Bard College.

Friday, January 31

“Cultivating Peace,” 12:30 p.m.–1:30p.m, Mount Holyoke College An hour of open meditation, with practices and inspiration welcomed from any tradition or spiritual path. Led

by Multifaith Chaplain Leslie Fraser.

“China Night 2014,” 6:30 p.m.– 9:30p.m, Mount Holyoke College MHC Chinese Cultural Association presents the annual China Night! Join us in celebrating Chinese New Year, with a night of performances and good food.

Saturday, February 1

“Doing it Live! February” 9:00 p.m.–12:00a.m, Mount Holyoke College Love live music? Come to Doing It Live!’s Chapin event featuring Sun Parade, Grey Season and Music Elective! Open to all Five-College students and the general public.

by Elizabeth Paul ‘16

The Amherst Student • January 29, 2014

Sports 9

At 9-6-1, Men’s Hockey Women’s Hockey Catches Fire Looks to Improve Record Holly Burwick ’16 Staff Writer

Greg Williams ’16 Staff Writer The men’s ice hockey team kept themselves busy over break, taking down Middlebury on Dec. 6, before falling in a tough 1-0 loss to archrival Williams at home the following day.

Following the new year, the Jeffs returned to action at the Northfield Savings Bank Holiday Tournament in Norwich, VT. They managed to split their two games, with a 4-3 win over Plymouth State, and a 5-1 loss to Norwich University.

Over interterm, the Jeffs had a series of conference games. After a tough start with losses to Colby and Bowdoin, they rebounded with wins against Conn College and Tufts.

Against Colby the Jeffs jumped out to a 2-1 lead early in the first period thanks to goals from Andrew Fenwick ’15 and Brendan Burke ’16. However, Colby tied the score by the end of the first period and scored three goals in the second and third periods to earn the 5-2 victory.

Following the defeat, the Jeffs traveled to Bowdoin the next day and faced an equally tough challenge. In a game that seemed to have the ice tilted in the visitor’s direction, Amherst was unable to break through, largely in part to the Polar Bears’ stingy goalkeeping. Bowdoin goaltender Steve Messina finished with 36 saves, a determining factor in the win.

Aaron Deutsch ’15 scored the first goal of the game, and after Bowdoin tied it up in the second period, Andrew Kurlandski ’14 notched a power play goal off an assist from Mike Rowbotham ’15.

Bowdoin tied it up again, and although Amherst outshot them 11-6 in the third, the Jeffs were unable to put Bowdoin away. A couple of short-handed goals midway through the third put the Polar Bears on top and gave them enough to finish out with a win.

The following week had better results in store for the Lord Jeffs on the ice. On Jan. 17th, the Jeffs traveled to Conn. College and managed to edge the Camels in a 4-2 victory.

Deutsch had three points in the form of a goal and two assists, while Theo Hannah ’16, Topher Flanagan ’16 and Rowbotham all contributed goals in the win. David Cunningham ’16 continued his solid play in net, racking up 25 saves on the night.

Amherst then turned around and went to Tufts the next day where they showed their grit and determination by overcoming a three-goal deficit to win the game. The Jumbos were up by three early in the second period thanks to a pair of goals from

first-year Matt Pugh. The Jeffs’ comeback was initiated by a goal from defenseman Elliot Bostrom ’14, his first of the year. At the end of the second, with the game tied at a pair each, Burke snagged a power play goal at 58 seconds remaining, immediately followed by a goal from Fenwick, who slotted the puck home with just one second left on the clock. Despite three Amherst penalties in the third, the Jumbos were unable to get the puck past Cunningham. It was Flanagan who scored the final goal of the contest to give Amherst the 4-3 victory.

Despite not performing as well as they would’ve hoped on their nine-game road trip, the team has strong hopes for the rest of the year and continues to seek the excellent play they’ve come to expect from themselves.

“We have moments when we look like an elite team, and then we have moments when we make critical mistakes and give away opportunities to win games. This is something that we are still battling with and will have to fix in order to win the NESCAC championship. We are most certainly capable of winning every game we play for the rest of the year — we just need to go out and fight for it because its not going to be given to us,” said Bostrom.

This past weekend the Jeffs took to the air in order to play Concordia University in Wis. and Lake Forest College in Ill. Following a tie against Concordia and a loss to Lake Forest, the Jeffs look to bounce back and gain some momentum for their important home stretch.

Next weekend, the Jeffs play two key NESCAC games at Trinity, the number one team in the conference, and at Wesleyan.

In the upcoming games, the Jeffs will also look to secure head coach Jack Arena’s 400th career victory.

Photo Courtesy of Chloe McKenzie

Chris Roll ’17 has racked up six points in his rookie season so far.

The Amherst women’s hockey team has had a demanding and successful string of games over the past month, compiling an impressive record of 9-3-3 overall and 5-1-2 in the NESCAC. Just before break, the No. 9 Jeffs took on No. 4 Norwich Univ. and lost a heartbreaker 4-3 after conceding a goal with just 1:47 left in regulation.

“It was our fourth game in nine days, all against top ten teams… I believe it could have gone either way, and despite the tough 4-3 loss, our squad will be better for it in the long run,” Coach Matthews noted.

So far, the Jeffs have proven Matthews right, amounting a 5-1-1 record over interterm. The team returned to action and started 2014 on a positive note against Holy Cross on Jan. 4.

Sophomore defenseman Caroline Bomstein netted her first career goal. Then, Lynndy Smith ’17 scored the go-ahead goal with 7:47 remaining in regulation. Emily Flom ’15 capped off the scoring with an empty-netter in the 3-1 victory for the Jeffs. Kerri Stuart ’14 made 18 stops to earn the win.

Next, the purple and white shut out SUNY Cortland, 4-0. The first two goals came from the efforts of a pair of sophomores, when Erin Martin ’16 opened up the scoring, before Eileen Harris’ ’16 breakway doubled Amherst’s lead.

Sara Culhane ’17 capped off the scoring with two goals, scoring on a deflection on Smith’s shot then a shot late in the game over the shoulder of the Cortland goaltender. Yuna Evans ’17 made seven stops to earn her first career victory.

The Jeffs continued their winning streak with a two-game sweep over Colby. In their first victory, Stuart made 29 stops and four different Jeffs tallied goals. Madeline Tank ’15 deflected a Caitlyn Ryan ’17 shot to put the Jeffs on the board; next, Flom buried what would be the game-winner off a rebound from a Tank shot.

The second match-up against Colby proved closer. Ryan and Salmon buried first period goals, but after a scoreless second period, Colby fought back with a third period goal. However, Stuart recorded 14 saves to preserve the win.

The subsequent two match ups were against NESCAC foe No. 2 Middlebury. In the thrilling weekend, the first game brought a loss for the Jeffs and gave Middlebury the sole number one spot in the NESCAC. After Amherst conceded a goal in the first period, Salmon netted her seventh goal of the season to tie the game up just 19 seconds into the second

period. The goal came off Martin’s then team-high eighth assist of the season. Middlebury closed out the second period with the game-winning goal.

The Jeffs commanded the third period, outshooting Middlebury 16 to 3. This effort, combined with Stuart’s 13 stops, would still not be enough to lift Amherst over Middlebury in this matchup.

Game two brought even more excitement that ultimately resulted in a 5-5 overtime tie.

Middlebury netted the first goal of the game, only to quickly be met with a Salmon equalizer from Martin. This was followed by another connection between the successful duo as Martin put the puck away and Salmon gathered the assist this time.

After Middlebury evened out the score 2-2, Salmon scored again, before the Jeffs conceded two more goals to fall behind 4-3. Tank took the reigns and evened out the score, and after another Middlebury goal, Salmon topped off the scoring by completing the hat trick. Salmon’s strong scoring performance paired with Stuart’s 14 saves kept the Jeffs neck in neck with Middlebury all the way through overtime.

In their most recent matchup, the Jeffs beat Nichols 4-0. Salmon continued her scoring streak with 2 goals in the victory.

Barrett McBride ’14 and Smith contributed to the scoring as well, while Salmon now has amassed a team-high 12 goals this season. Against Nichols, Martin recorded another helper amassing her team-high 10th assist.

Looking ahead on the season, the team will face Norwich again before heading into a series of NESCAC games against Conn. College, Williams, Trinity and Bowdoin.

“Hopefully our team will keep up the good work and continue to get better over the next few weeks, as these NESCAC games are crucial for postseason play,” Hayley Opperman ’14.

“Moving forward, every game is huge for league and national ramifications, and there is not a single team we can take lightly,” coach Matthews added.

Matthews has a positive outlook for the remainder of the season and is confident the team can continue to progress.

“We are simply trying to improve with each game and practice, and Coach Gallinaro and I are happy with where we are at. Now the challenge is to keep building on our success thus far, and to stay together with the common goal in mind of being the best team we can be, and improving more than any other team in our league from Day One until the end of the season.”

Amherst will look to rebound after losing 2-1 to #4 Norwich Tuesday night.

Women’s Basketball Suffers First Two Losses Jeffs Fall to NESCAC Rivals Tufts and Williams

Dori Atkins ’16 Sports Section Editor Over the month of December, the Amherst women’s basketball team posted five out-of-conference wins, each game by a margin of victory of at least 10 points. The Jeffs took on Eastern Connecticut State, Albertus Magnus, Bridgewater State, Vassar and Marywood. Megan Robertson ’15 continued to have stellar performances during each game, contributing heavily to points and rebounds for the Jeffs. Other notable performances over the course of December included Marley Giddins ’16, Cheyenne Pritchard ’16 and rookie twins, Meredith Doswell ’17 and Ali Doswell ’17.

In their first game of 2014, Amherst competed again Rhode Island College, adding another W to their record. Robertson and first-year Jaimie Renner each scored 25 points in the 74-63 victory. Although it was a tight game, 10 points from Pritchard secured the win.

Three days later, the Jeffs hosted their first NESCAC game of the season, facing Hamilton in LeFrak. Amherst pummeled the Continentals, winning that game 60-35. With steady results from Robertson, Meredith and Ali Doswell, Pritchard and much support from the bench, Hamilton had no answers. The Jeffs outscored the Continentals

14-6 in the paint and 13-7 in second chance points.

Despite suffering their first NESCAC loss to Tufts, Amherst has posted significant NESCAC wins over the course of January, beating both Bates and Trinity. They also cruised by Farmingdale State on Jan. 13 with a 27-point victory.

Not surprisingly, the most important games of the season thus far have been against Williams.

The Jeffs hosted the Ephs on Jan. 11 in LeFrak and walked away with a 78-62 win over their main rival. Robertson and A. Doswell both scored an impressive 17 points, with Giddins adding 13 points.

Pritchard led the way, however, with 19 points, 17 of which came in the second half.

“The Williams game is always a great experience as a result of the rivalry between the two teams,” captain Robertson said. “I think that, as a team, we [got off ] to a slow start but were eventually able to capitalize on our strengths and build a lead. The game was pretty close for a while, so it provided some good experience for a lot of our newer players.”

Ellen Cook of Williams scored a game high 24 points for the Ephs, joined in double-digits by Kellie Macdonald and Oge Uwanaka. Williams’ 72.6% from the free throw line hurt them against Amherst’s impressive 88.8% shooting from the charity stripe.

On Jan. 22, Amherst traveled to Williamstown to compete against the Ephs once again, but this time they came up two points short. With Megan Robertson out with a knee injury sustained two weeks earlier, the Jeffs struggled to find their rhythm. Scoring all 14 of her points in the second half, Giddins also added eight rebounds. Hannah Peterson ’17 also had 14 points and eight boards, while Pritchard finished with nine points. Savannah Holness ’15 and A. Doswell added eight points each, while also combining for 13 rebounds. Trailing 7-5 after an Uwanaka jumper, Renner hit a long distance shot, triggering an 8-2 Amherst run that was capped off by a Pritchard triple.

“Because of Megan’s injury, we have had to adjust our play to better match our strengths and weaknesses, but we are getting better everyday,” said co-captain Pritchard.

Still ahead by one midway through the period, Doswell drained a pair from the line before a Peterson layup gave Amherst a 20-15 edge at 7:39.

Tied at 35-35 with 14:36 to go in the second half, Peterson drilled her second three of the night to put the purple & white up by three points. Cook answered with a layup before an Uwanaka jumper put Williams back in the lead. After Peterson drove the lane for two more to help Amherst regain momentum, the Ephs ripped off an 8-1 run, going up

47-41 after a Macdonald free throw.

Holding the ball with under 10 seconds remaining, Giddins pulled up for a jumper, looking to add to her team-high 14 points, but Uwanaka blocked the shot, which wound up in the hands of Cook. With a breakaway up the floor, the junior was fouled, sending her to the line for what ended up being game-winning free throws.

Although Amherst outscored Williams 20-2 in second chance points, as well as the Jeffs’ bench holding a 17-2 scoring advantage over their Eph counterparts, Williams held a 32-26 lead in points in the paint, guiding them to victory.

“It is always tough to lose a close game, especially to a rival like Williams,” said the injured Robertson. “I think that we had trouble finding our groove during that game. I think that losing a close game in such a manner has definitely left an impression on the team and is going to provide a lot of motivation for the remainder of the season.

If we play them in NESCACs, we will definitely be more prepared and have the memory of last game to help us play harder and go after them.”

Amherst crushed NESCAC foe Wesleyan 7249 on Tuesday night in Middletown, Ct. Amherst will travel to Colby on Friday, Jan. 31 for a 6 p.m. matchup, before suiting up to play against Bowdoin the next day at 2 p.m.

10 Sports

The Amherst Student • January 29, 2014

Schedule WEDNESDAY Men’s Basketball vs. RIC, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY Women’s Basketball @ Colby, 6 p.m.

Men’s Basketball @ Colby, 8 p.m.

Women’s Hockey @ Conn. College, 7 p.m.

Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving @ Middlebury Invitational, All Day Men’s Squash @ NESCAC Championships (@ Hamilton), TBD Women’s Squash @ NESCAC Championships (@ Hamilton), TBD Men’s Hockey vs. Williams, 3 p.m.

SATURDAY Women’s Basketball @ Bowdoin, 2 p.m.

Men’s Basketball @ Bowdoin, 4 p.m.

Women’s Hockey @ Conn. College, 3 p.m.

Men’s Hockey @ Trinity, 7:30 p.m.

Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving @ Middlebury Invitational, All Day Men’s & Women’s Indoor Track & Field @ Springfield, TBD Men’s Squash @ NESCAC Championships (@ Hamilton), TBD Women’s Squash @ NESCAC Championships (@ Hamilton), TBD SUNDAY Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving @ Springfield, TBD Men’s Hockey @ Wesleyan, 3 p.m.

Men’s Squash @ NESCAC Championships (@ Hamilton), TBD Women’s Squash @ NESCAC Championships (@ Hamilton), TBD TUESDAY Men’s Basketball @ Lasell, 8 p.m.

Jeffs Race to Second Place Finish at Tufts Invite

Christopher Rigas ‘16 Staff Writer

The Amherst track teams began their season in earnest in the last couple weeks, with meets at Tufts, Wesleyan and Boston University. The women’s team’s stellar performance at the Terrier Invitational in Boston was particularly impressive, as three different athletes set school records.

The Jeffs had one meet before winter break at Smith College on Dec. 7. The majority of the team’s cross-country runners did not compete, according to Coach Erik Nedeau, who said that the meet was “primarily for our jumpers and sprinters.”

Amherst took four of the top five places in the 600m, with senior Matt Melton pacing the field at 1:23.91. Khalil Flemming ’16 led the Jeff sprinters and jumpers. His time of 7.34 seconds was good for fifth in the 60m dash and he earned third in the triple jump with 11.87 meter effort.

Overall, Amherst collected 12 top-five finishes in 15 events.

The women’s indoor team also competed at Smith, and, like the men’s team, entered mostly sprinters and jumpers. The meet was highlighted by senior Naomi Bates, who won the long jump with a distance of 5.60m, breaking her own school record in the process. Sophomores Taylor Summers and Victoria Hensley had the most success for Amherst in the track events. Summers’ time of 8.14 seconds took fourth in the 60m, while Hensley finished the 400m also in fourth with a time of 1:02.13.

Amherst returned to action on Jan. 18 at the Tufts Invitational.

“We have had a great but tiring intersession period of doing double practices nearly every day,” said Nedeau, “The focus for Tufts was simply to go out and be competitive and put aside the fatigue from our minds. Some of the highlights would include the 5k in which Amherst took four of the top five spots, and then a great triple jump by Khalil Flemming where he won the event with his final attempt.”

First-year Ben Fiedler won the 5k with a time of 15:37.51, while first-year Steve Lucey won the 800m in 1:58.95. The Jeffs’ 4x800 team collected the team’s final victory, as their time of 8:15.86 was good enough to beat Tufts by under a second. Other top-five finishes included second for Matt in the 400m, fourth for junior Romey Sklar in the 1000m, fifth for junior KC

Fussell in the 3000m, and fifth for junior Mark Cort in the long jump.

The Amherst women traveled to Wesleyan on the 18th, and their cross country runners returning to action helped them claim four individual first-place finishes.

Amherst won both the 60m dash and the 200m dash, with Summers’ time of 8.04 taking the 60, and Bates’ 26.26 good enough to win the 200. Karen Blake ’17 was just behind Bates with a time of 26.31, and Kiana Herold ’17 took second in the 60m hurdles in 10.33 seconds.

In the middle distance races, the Jeffs claimed a slew of second and third place finishes: Sarah Whelan ’17 (1:04.77) was second in the 400m, Keelin Moehl ’16 (1:42.27) and Hensley (1:43.67) took second and third in the 600m, Sarah Foster ’16 (2:30.87) finished third in the 800m and Kelli Ellingson ’15 (3:14.31) grabbed second in the 1000m.

Amherst dominated the mile and the 3000m, winning both and taking seven of the first eight spots in the mile and three of the first four in the 3000. Amy Dao ’14 won the mile with a time of 5:18.14 and Lexi Sinclair ’16 finished first in the 3000m in 10:39.95. The long jump was again the highlight of the field events for the Jeffs, with Bates’s jump of 5.53m taking first, with Herold (4.84m) and Summers (4.79m) taking second and third.

On Saturday, the men’s and women’s teams both traveled to Boston University for the Terrier Classic, an event which featured athletes from Divisions I, II, and III. Still, Amherst managed several impressive showings. For the women, Herold, Blake, and Bates all set school records in the high jump, 200m and 400m respectively. Herold’s jump of 1.65 meters, besides setting the record, was good for a seventh-place overall finish. In the 200m, Blake’s time of 25.45 seconds broke a record of 25.59 that Bates had set a couple heats earlier.

Later, Bates ran a 58.61 in the 400m for another school-best mark.

On the men’s side, Melton finished 15th in the 400m, with a season-best time of 48.55, and Fussell (14:56.71) and Dan Crowley ’16 (15:05.31) took 20th and 30th respectively in the 5000m. In the field events, Flemming placed 13th in the triple jump with a season-best jump of 13.64 meters.

Both teams travel to Springfield College for a meet this Saturday.

players of the week

Noah Browne ‘16

Erin Martin ‘16

Favorite Team Memory: Beating Wesleyan my freshman year in the NESCAC tournament after losing to them the week before.

If you didn’t play squash, which sport would you play?: Soccer Pet Peeve: Progressive commercials Celebrity Crush: Kimberly Garner Favorite Movie: “40 Year Old Virgin” Favorite Book: Open by Andre Agassi Favorite Food: Corn chowder Favorite Thing About Amherst: The new HD channels on the Amherst cable.

Favorite Team Memory: When Eileen Harris scored the first and only goal against the #1 team in the country, Plattsburgh.

If you didn’t play hockey, which sport would you play?: Field hockey Pet Peeve: Using your phone while driving Celebrity Crush: Cal Shapiro Favorite Movie: “Bridesmaids” Favorite Book: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton Favorite Food: Ice cream Favorite Thing About Amherst: My teammates

Men’s Squash Falls to 4-8 Browne Goes 7-3 at No. 1 Spot

Lauren Tuiskula ’17 Staff Writer

The Amherst men’s squash team was dealt a difficult interterm schedule, facing ten top 25 ranked teams.

For the first match of interterm, the Jeffs traveled to Middlebury to face the 18th-ranked Panthers. Their only win of that match came from the No. 1 player, sophomore Noah Browne, who defeated his opponent, Parker Hurst, in three games, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6.

Amherst returned home to host the Pioneer Valley Invitational that weekend, where they would play six matches over the course of three days.

The Jeffs started on a high note with a win over No. 25 Stanford on Jan. 17, as they swept the Cardinals 9-0.

Scott DeSantis ’15 stepped up in the No. 1 slot for Amherst and earned the 3-0 win over Peter Odrich in a competitive match, 11-9, 11-9, 14-12.

Later that day, the Jeffs faced No. 12 Columbia, where they fell 1-8. Notably, Darian Ehsani ’17 came out victorious and won his match, 3-1, by a score of 11-6, 5-11, 11-4, 11-8, in the No. 8 spot.

Max Kardon ’15 also had a great match, jumping out to a two game lead before dropping the next three games to lose his match, 2-3, by a score of 116, 11-5, 4-11, 8-11, 8-11.

The Jeffs split their matches the next day, as they beat Colby in morning, 8-1, before getting swept by Bates, 0-9, in the evening.

Both Browne and DeSantis dominated their Colby opponents, winning 3-0, while their teammates all dropped at least a game in their matches.

First-year Michael Groot ’17 had a remarkable comeback in the No. 5 spot, defeating Colby’s Will Hochman. After dropping the first two games both by a score 4-11, Groot fought back and was able to win the next three competitive battles by tight scores of 11-8, 11-9, and 11-8.

In the Bates match, all Jeffs lost by a score of 3-0, except for Southmayd and Jeremy Van ’17, who lost 3-1. The 13th-ranked Bobcats dominated the Jeffs, and the team hoped to bounce back on the final day of the invitational.

The team’s most impressive interterm victory came on Sunday as the underdog Jeffs edged out 20th-ranked George Washington 5-4.

Browne earned a 3-2 victory in the No. 1 position as he dug his way out of a 2-0 hole, rattling off three straight games and defeating Andres de Frutos, 5-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8.

The four other victories of the day came from the six through nine spots as Kardon, Van and Stephen Cacouris ’16 all swept their opponents, 3-0, and Ehsani bested Charles Norfleet, 3-1.

Later that day, the team faced sixth-ranked Franklin & Marshall, where they lost 1-8.

Browne was sole victor for the Jeffs, as he battled Abhishek Pradhan in a highly contested five game match. Browne triumphed by a score of 6-11, 14-12, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7.

After going 3-3 over the long weekend at home, the Jeffs traveled to Brown to play the 20thranked bears.

Unfortunately, only Browne in the No. 1 spot and Kardon in the No. 6 spot were victorious for the Jeffs. Both had competitive matches, as Browne defeated his opponent by a score of 11-9, 11-3, 1012, and 16-14, and Kardon won by a score of 12-10, 11-7, 12-10.

Notably, DeSantis in the No. 2 spot had a two game lead, 11-4, 11-8, before dropping the following three games to lose his match in five.

The following weekend, the Jeffs hosted the Little Three Championship, where they faced rivals Wesleyan and Williams.

In the end, Amherst lost to both teams, only winning two matches against Wesleyan and one against Williams.

Against the Cardinals, Kardon stepped up in the No. 5 spot to sweep his opponent, 3-0. Groot had an extremely competitive match in the No. 6 spot where he went the distance in five games to defeat his opponent 7-11, 11-9, 8-11, 18-16, 11-7.

Against the Ephs, Browne earned the only win for Amherst, defeating Taylor Foehl in the No. 1 spot by a score of 3-1.

Despite these loses, junior captain Southmayd is hopeful about the future for his team.

“Our biggest gains will hopefully manifest at the NESCAC Championship this weekend and the CSA Team Championships in mid-February.”

The Jeffs will face Conn. College in the first round of the NESCAC tournament at Hamilton, this Friday, Jan. 31.

Photo Courtesy of Henry Amistadi

Noah Browne ‘16 is 9-3 on the season at the No. 1 spot for the Jeffs.

The Amherst Student • January 29, 2014

Women’s Squash Goes 4-6 Over Interterm

Devin O’Connor Staff Writer

The last month had its ups and downs for the 17th-ranked Amherst women’s squash team. After a tough loss to Yale in December following their season opening victory, the Jeffs had a month off from competition before traveling to Middlebury in mid-January to kick off a long week of matches. The Jeffs fell to Middlebury in an 8-1 loss; their only victory coming from captain Lena Rice ’14 in the No. 9 spot.

The Jeffs then returned home to host the Pioneer Valley Invitational. Amherst finished the weekend 3-3, starting with a 9-0 win over Smith, followed by a loss later that afternoon to ninth-ranked Columbia. Day two resulted in a 9-0 sweep of Colby and a tough afternoon 2-7 loss to No. 12 Bates. On the final day of the invite, the Jeffs started off with a rough 0-9 loss to No. 11 George Washington before bouncing back with a huge win against previously No. 13 Franklin & Marshall.

Although the Jeffs suffered defeat on the first three courts in the F&M match, Tiana Palmer-Poroner ’17, Evelyn Kramer ’14, Khushy Aggarwal ’16, Taryn Clary ’16, Corri Johnson ’16 and Rice all had wins in spots four through nine.

“Our win against F&M last weekend was particularly exciting because they were ranked several spots ahead of us and it was our sixth and final match of a very long weekend,” captain Kramer said of the match.

The Jeffs then traveled to Providence, R.I.

last week where they suffered a 0-9 loss to 10th-ranked Brown.

On Sunday, Jan. 26, Amherst hosted 21stranked Wesleyan and 14th-ranked Williams for the Little III Championship.

The Jeffs beat Wesleyan 7-2, but fell to the Ephs of Williams in an 8-1 loss. Clary was the lone win for the Jeffs in the No. 7 spot against their archrival Williams, defeating her opponent, 3-0. Clary had a very successful interterm, earning remarkable wins for her team against Bates and Wesleyan.

Junior Arielle Lehman also had a successful interterm in the second spot with wins against Wesleyan and Bates. Lehman also went to five games against Columbia, where she lost 11-6, 8-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-6.

Senior captain Rice was proud of the team’s performance.

“Both of our matches against Wesleyan and Williams showed the strong potential of our team for the remainder of the season,” she said. “Although we lost to Williams, the overall score was not indicative of how the team played. Each match was extremely close and my teammates played the best squash I’ve seen them play all season.”

The Jeffs’ postseason begins this weekend against Conn. College at the NESCAC Championship, hosted at Hamilton.

“I am very excited for NESCACs this weekend,” continued Rice. “If everyone plays as well as they did on Sunday, we have a great shot against some of the tougher teams. I am confident that we will have a successful season going forward, regardless of the match scores.”

Men’s Swimming Defeats Archrival Williams Patrick Yang Staff Writer Men The Amherst men’s swimming and diving team was in action three times over interterm, emerging with an overall 5-1 record.

Middlebury limped into Amherst on Dec. 7 with a 0-2 record. The Jeffs beat the Panthers handily, 183-100. First-year Greg Han’s time of 2:06.85 in the 200-yard breaststroke broke a pool record set by Williams College’s Tyler Bonewell ’09.

Despite his accomplishment, Han was focused more on the next meet against archrival Williams at home on Jan.11. “I’m excited for Amherst vs.

Williams, where I can race their swimmers, not just their records.”

Amherst jumped out of the gates quickly as Conor Deveney ’15, Tyler Bulakul ’14, Tyler Hampton ’15 and Han together set a pool record in the 400-yard medley relay.

Following the relay victory, the Jeffs gained momentum and took the lead. Amherst nearly won four straight events as Williams’ Benjamin Lin narrowly beat Deveney in the 200-yard backstroke.

The Jeffs conceded the top two spots to Williams in the 500-yard freestyle, but won the last three events to complete the sensational comeback. The final score of 127-115 underlined just how close the meet was.

“It was always going to be tough, and we were prepared for a very close meet, which it was,” said sophomore Vic Sun. “It feels great to have taken down our biggest rivals, but we have to refocus on winning NESCACs starting tomorrow.”

Amherst continued their road to NESCACs with a trip to Div. III juggernaut MIT. MIT won the first seven events before Deveney secured Amherst’s first win in the 200-yard backstroke with an impressive time of 1:53.21. The Jeffs reasserted their dominance in diving, as Mark Idleman ’15 won the 3-meter dive and Lichtig completed his return from injury to win the 1-meter dive.

Although Amherst lost 185-115, there were still plenty of positives to take away.

“It’s never a good feeling to lose,” said Lichtig,

“but I think this meet teaches us some very valuable lessons that we can take going forward.”

The Jeffs get the opportunity to redeem themselves at the Middlebury Invitational on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

Women Amherst women’s swimming and diving team took a 3-0 record into winter break and struggled during interterm.

The Jeffs continued their dominance in NESCACs Dec. 7th by defeating Middlebury 183-111.

Amherst dominated the majority of the events and only lost three.

Amherst’s first test of the season came in the form of archrival Williams. The Ephs visited on Jan. 11 determined to get revenge for losing the NESCAC title last season. The Jeffs got off to a strong start in the 200-yard medley relay, as Sabrina Lee ’15, Sarah Conklin ’16, Emily Hyde ’16, and Lulu Belak ’14 put up an impressive time of 1:47.17. Williams took the 1000-yard and 200yard freestyle races as Amherst struggled. But the Jeffs didn’t accept defeat, as Lee won the 100-yard backstroke and Hyde won the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke races.

Williams pulled away by winning the next five events. Twice Amherst tried to claw their way back into the competition, but couldn’t overcome the deficit and suffered their first defeat of the season 189-104.

The Jeffs next traveled to MIT on Jan. 25 looking to avoid consecutive defeats. The Jeffs were determined to redeem themselves, and a number of individuals performed well. Hyde continued her impressive swimming by winning the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-IM. Conklin continued to contribute by winning the 200-yard butterfly The final score was 158-129.

Asked if they were disappointed by the past two meets, captain Anna Pietrantonio ’14 said, “They weren’t disappointing losses. We’ve been working hard and swimming well, overall. We have a small team, and Williams and MIT are tough competitors, so we’re pleased with our performance.”

The Jeffs next travel to Middlebury for the Middlebury Invitational on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

Who’s Talking?

Sports 11

Kiley’s Korner Maggie Kiley’ 16 Richard Sherman’s postgame rant after the NFC title game caused an uproar as society buzzed about his seemingly ridiculous comments. Is Sherman being unfairly singled out for his show of confidence or does his rant represent one of the characteristics of a successful athlete?

Holding onto a tenuous 23-17 lead with 3:37 to play in the NFC Championship Game, the Seattle Seahawks hard-hitting, trash-talking secondary — the self-nicknamed “Legion of Boom” — allowed Colin Kaepernick to lead his San Francisco 49ers sixty yards and into the red-zone.

For 59 minutes of the game, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman had been thrown at just once. With 31 seconds remaining, Kaepernick chose to throw at Sherman a second time.

In an extraordinary display of athleticism, Sherman twisted in mid-air to tip the pass attempt intended for 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree. He had made the game saving play in the NFC title game to extend his team’s postseason dreams.

The deflected ball landed in the arms of Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith. Game over. The Seattle Seahawks secured a thrilling 23-17 victory, punching their ticket to East Rutherford, New Jersey and Super Bowl XLVIII. Celebration ensued in Seattle’s CenturyLink Field following the game-clinching interception.

The cameras panned from raucous Seahawks fans to Richard Sherman taunting Crabtree and throwing a choking sign at Kaepernick. The altercation between Sherman and Crabtree was the inevitable conclusion to a game full of provocation and bickering.

Moments later, Sherman provided one of the most iconic postgame interviews in NFL history.

“I’m the best corner in the game,” he screamed when asked to describe the play by sideline reporter Erin Andrews. “When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that is the result you are going to get. Don’t you ever talk about me.”

Erin Andrews’ perfectly-timed “who was talking about you” will go down as one of the best interview questions of the year.

With the same rambunctious bravado as his first remark, Sherman responded, “Crabtree. Don’t you open your mouth about the best, or I’m gonna shut it for you real quick.”

And just like that, Richard Sherman became a household name. Viewers were shocked.

In postgame interviews, most players offer up clichés about hard work and teamwork and extend half-hearted congratulations to their opponents for being worthy adversaries. Sherman’s bug-eyed tirade was anything but conventional.

His controversial remarks sparked an immediate sensation on social media and have received nonstop coverage on sports television and radio.

The cornerback’s Twitter follower count exploded in recent days, with a new follower even in me. While the majority of America sat aghast, I’ll admit I loved Sherman’s outburst. The interview undoubtedly lacked humility and grace, but it certainly had me entertained.

And it seems, I’m not the only one. Jamie Fritz, Sherman’s marketing manager told “CNNMoney” that interest in his client has boomed since his remarks.

While the NFL fined the defensive back $7,875 for unsportsmanlike conduct, he is expected to make an additional $5 million dollars in endorsement deals as a result of his tirade.

But still, what kind of a message does it send to society when the most outrageous players with the largest egos are rewarded with marketing deals and money?

Take Lebron James, Aaron Rodgers, Kobe

Bryant and Tiger Woods. What do these four professional athletes have in common? They all have incredibly large egos and are among the top-20 highest paid athletes according to Forbes’s 2013 list.

Now what else do they have in common?

They are all in the upper echelon of their respective leagues. One must consider the impact of tremendous self-confidence on the creation of a great athlete.

Some argue that Richard Sherman’s hightestosterone, egomaniacal outburst is everything that is wrong with the National Football League.

The cornerback’s postgame interview was filled with entitlement and conceit. Although he may possess great athletic talent, his behavior lacked professionalism and made him a poor ambassador for the game of football.

It seems as though everyone has an opinion on Richard Sherman’s antics.

Lebron James tweeted his support for the Stanford graduate and told reporters that he respected Sherman passion despite his “boisterous” behavior.

When asked about the cornerback, Tom Brady insinuated his disapproval by stating, “I approach the game, and I have respect for my opponents.”

Even Arizona Senator John McCain weighed in on Sherman’s loquacious postgame interview, calling the defensive back a loudmouth.

Richard Sherman, who has humbly nicknamed himself “Optimus Prime” after the Transformers character, is no stranger to controversy.

Following an October 2012 game against the Patriots, he posted a picture of himself yelling at Tom Brady with the caption “U mad bro?” superimposed on it.

Additionally, Sherman has sparked Twitter feuds with NFL cornerback Darrelle Revis and was involved in controversies with Trent Williams and Roddy White.

Sherman later expressed regret for his actions following the NFC title game, telling ESPN’s Ed Werder, “I apologize for attacking an individual and taking the attention away from the fantastic game and my teammates.

That was not my intent.”

The delayed remarks about his love of football and the team could not erase the videos, tweets, and memes surrounding his controversial post-game interview.

Some argue that Sherman’s actions were a product of the moment or an inevitable aspect of the sport. Professional athletes jaw at each other all the time, driven by a ferocious competitive spirit and an utmost desire to win.

Just a week before, members of the San Francisco 49ers including Colin Kaepernick, openly mocked Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton’s touchdown dance.

In a CNN interview, Sherman argued it takes certain characteristics to become a successful football player: intensity, focus and most notably, anger.

He further justified his actions claiming that, “I was on a football field showing passion. Maybe it was misdirected and immature, but this is a football field.”

In my opinion, there’s no denying that his trash-talking behavior crossed the line, but can I deny that I was entertained?

Richard Sherman exhibited his arrogance in an unapologetic way on Sunday night. Ultimately, it cannot be denied that he made the play of the game.

Come Sunday, will I be the only one hoping he gives up five touchdowns in the Super Bowl?

Sports

“Despite suffering their first NESCAC loss to Tufts, Amherst has posted significant NESCAC wins...”

Women’s Basketball... Page 9

Photo courtesy of Chloe McKenzie ‘14

Aaron Toomey ‘14 became the program’s all-time leading scorer in the team’s win against Tufts on January 17th. Toomey also is the program’s leader in three=pointers and free throws made.

Men’s Basketball Rides Eight Game Win Streak Coach Hixon Earns 700th Career Win

Jason Stein ‘16 Sports Section Editor

Following their victories against Williams and Trinity this past week, Amherst men’s basketball stands at 15-1 (5-0 NESCAC) and appears primed for another deep run in postseason play. No. 3-ranked Amherst currently sports an eight-game winning streak.

Most recently, Amherst defeated the Trinity Bantams (who entered play with an 11-5 record and a 3-1 NESCAC record) 67-61 in Hartford on Saturday. Senior guard David Kalema led the way with 18 points, and tied the game high in scoring with Trinity guard Jaquann Starks.

The Jeffs have already swept the two-game regular season series against Williams. In the first 2013-2014 season matchup, Amherst defeated the Ephs (ranked fifth in the nation at the time) by a score of 84-73 at LeFrak Gymnasium on Saturday, Jan. 11.

Senior shooting guard Tom Killian and sophomore swingman Connor Green led the scoring with 23 points each against Williams.

Killian shot an impressive 9-13 from the field and 3-6 (50%) from three-point range, while Green amassed a 50% overall field goal percentage and a 40% mark from deep. Senior guard and reigning National Player of the Year Aaron Toomey added 16 points 10 assists for the Jeffs to earn the double-double in the win over the Ephs.

In the second game of the season series against Williams on Wednesday, Jan. 22, the Jeffs topped the Ephs 82-70 on the road.

Killian led the way with 21 points, eight rebounds and four steals, while Kalema added 17 points. Forward Ben Pollack ’16 had an efficient 12 points and six rebounds, while Green added 10 points and seven boards.

Amherst’s lone Div. III blemish so far this season came on the road against the Emerson College Lions on Saturday, Dec. 7 in a 9079 loss. The Lions largely outplayed the Jeffs

and led for most of the game. Against Emerson, the Jeffs were shorthanded, as they were without the injured Killian and Pollack, two key contributors for Amherst who play major minutes.

Emerson combined for a 51.5% field goal percentage and a 35.7% three-point percentage, while Amherst shot 42.2% from the field and 24.0% from deep. The Lions also outrebounded the Jeffs, racking up 29 defensive rebounds and 11 boards on the offensive glass (for a total of 40 rebounds), while Amherst had 26 overall rebounds, 21 of which were defensive rebounds and five offensive boards. The loss against Emerson marked the only 2013 calendar year loss for the Jeffs and snapped Amherst’s 29-game winning streak dating back to December 2012; however, the team responded well following this loss.

“We turned it around with two great road wins against a very good Brandeis team and a very good Babson team,” said Coach David Hixon.

The Jeffs narrowly defeated Brandeis on Tuesday, Dec. 10. Although Amherst was up comfortably 69-52 with just over five minutes to play, Brandeis relentlessly fought back to narrow the deficit to four with under 15 seconds to play. Ultimately, Toomey’s 27 points proved to be too much for Brandeis in the 7570 Amherst victory.

Two days later, Amherst beat Babson 9077 after suffering a 78-70 home loss to Babson in December of 2012. With the victory against Babson, Coach Hixon earned his 700th career win at the helm for Amherst men’s basketball.

In Amherst’s win over Babson, Killian led all scorers with 27 points, and got the Jeffs off to a fast start by netting the team’s first 14 points. Green (26 points) and Toomey (23 points) also helped propel Amherst to victory against Babson’s balanced scoring attack, as five Babson players scored in double figures.

On the defensive side, first-year David George swatted a career-high seven shots and proved

to be an intimidating defensive presence.

Against Div. II opponent Nova Southeastern on New Year’s Day in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the Jeffs put up an admirable fight and lost a high-scoring nail-biter in overtime, 105101. However, because the Jeffs were facing a non-Div. III opponent in Nova Southeastern (a team that is composed of scholarship players and that has beaten a Div. I team this season), the loss does not technically count against Amherst’s record. Rather, the loss appears to help their strength of schedule and the team’s strong performance against Nova Southeastern will likely only benefit the Jeffs come NCAA Tournament time. It is worth recognizing that Amherst was, once again, without Pollack versus Nova Southeastern.

Against Nova Southeastern, Green set a career high with an astounding 42 points in the loss, including a 50% mark from threepoint range on 8 of 16 shooting, while Toomey poured in 28 points. Toomey’s contributions against Nova Southeastern extended well beyond scoring, as he filled up the stats sheet with eight assists, five rebounds, and six steals.

Overall, Coach Hixon said that the team’s trip to Florida and the game against Nova Southeastern was “not a bad result [and] a great training trip. It’s nice to play a close game, win or lose, down there, just because it makes you better.”

During Amherst’s 75-67 win against Tufts on Friday, Jan.17, Toomey broke the all-time program scoring record with 28 points on the game, moving past the previous record-holder Steve Zieja ’03, who scored 1,708 career points.

“Aaron has really been consistent and has been consistent since he got on the campus,” said Coach Hixon. “Aaron, from the get-go, has been a scorer for us. It’s exciting. Aaron certainly deserves it, he is as good a scoring point guard as we’ve had and a great competitor.”

In addition to the previous games, Am-

herst has picked up recent, double-digit victories against Eastern Connecticut State (a talented team on pace to win the Little East Conference), Hamilton, Wesleyan and Bates.

So far this season, the Jeffs have outscored opponents 1485-1253 and are averaging almost seven more rebounds per game and three more assists per game when compared to the opposition.

Coach Hixon has been pleased with the leadership of this year’s team.

“Once again, we are being led by three seniors,” Coach Hixon said, referring to the captaincy and senior leadership of Kalema, Killian, and Toomey.

In the 2012-2013, the Jeffs were led by the strong play and leadership of another senior trio of starters (Willy Workman ’13, Allen Williamson ’13, and Peter Kaasila ’13).

Moreover, Coach Hixon noted that while the team “had a great January” and that several young players have developed over the course of the season and “stepped up” recently, he is still looking forward to watching the team’s reserve players continue to grow and make increasing contributions. Coach Hixon said that senior guard Connor Gach (who had a careerhigh 12 points against Bates), forward Joseph Mussachia ’15, first-year guard Reid Berman and forward Jacob Nabatoff ’17 have all made positive strides of late.

The Jeffs have a tightly-packed schedule ahead with four games in the next six days.

Tonight, the Jeffs square off at home against Rhode Island College (11-6 and 5-2 in Little East Conference play) at 7 p.m. This weekend, Amherst will travel to Maine, as they are scheduled to face NESCAC opponent Colby (8-8 overall and 1-4 in NESCAC play) on Friday night at 8 p.m. and take on No. 19-ranked Bowdoin (15-1 overall and 4-1 in the NESCAC) the next afternoon at 4 p.m. On Tuesday, Feb. 4, Amherst is set to face off against Lasell College (8-7 overall and 5-4 in conference play) on the road.