We dne sday, A pri l 2 7 , 2 0 1 1
Volume CXL, No. 24
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Senior columnists bid farewell with parting thoughts OPINION
Confidential Report Recommends Changes for Dining Hall Eirene Wang ’13
Diner ’14 discusses lack of facial hair on campus ARTS&LIVING
Amherst, Massachusetts
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Sick of eating the same food at Val every day? Tired of spending your money on late night snacks off-campus when you could be using those extra swipes instead? And ever wondered what really goes on in Lewis-Sebring Dining Commons? Well, good news. The Student has received a copy of a confidential report that Petit Consulting LLC, a firm specialized in providing food service and hospitality consulting, created for Dining Services. The report offers recommendations and improvements for the upcoming school year. Highlights of the six-page report included the addition of Lewis-Sebring as a student dining hall with different or faster meal options, the employment of more specialized and talented cooks and chefs, an increase in locally produced and fresh foods, a change in work environment and values, the expansion of Schwemm’s Café and the addition of a coffee shop to Frost’s lobby. While the report estimated Val’s Annual Food Costs to increase 20 percent and payroll costs to increase 16 percent over fiscal year 2009, the benefits of these dramatic improvements, if implemented, might just outweigh their costs. In their report, Petit Consulting LLC suggested that either Lewis-Sebring or Val be opened for meals throughout the day, as well as for late-night meals. The report also suggested that Val and Lewis-Sebring prepare more, and fresher, packaged foods to go. While increased services are an advantage to these suggested improvements, overall quality, ambiance and morale will be the determinants in making these long-term changes. The report paid special attention to maintaining consistent levels of quality and contents in the kitchen (especially on the weekends), erasing the “service” mindset of Val staff to foster a more fruitful environment and creating rewards and incentives to motivate staff members to innovate and excel. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the need for Val to update, contemporize and innovate offerings at all serving and preparation stations. As it stands, only eight percent of Val’s purchased food is local or fresh. The report suggests that Val increase its purchase of fresh foods to 12 to 15 percent and improve food displays, color combinations and plate presentations in order to make its dishes more attractive and palatable. According to Petit, Val should also consider diversifying its menu with more “authentically ethnic dishes” and more madeto-order options, like the Asian Noodle Bar and prepared deli sandwiches. The report’s biggest suggestion was the creation of a café in the library complete with café tables, soft upholstered chairs and high stools. While the café would not serve hot food, students, staff and customers would be able to enjoy pre-made items from the Val kitchen and bake shop.
Photo by June Pan ’13
SPORTS
Versatile Writer Discusses Role of Feminism in Society Meghna Sridhar ’14 News Section Editor
Contributing Writer
Men’s lacrosse beats Wesleyan for first time since 1999
On Tuesday, Jessica Valenti, the author of three books concerning women, sexuality and the double standards in today’s society, as well as an editor at feministing.com, an online feminist blog, presented a lecture entitled “Hooking Up: The Slut vs. The Prude.” Valenti opened her lecture by asking the audience, “What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘feminist’?” “Bitch,” came a call from the audience. “Feminazi,” came another. “Hairy.” “Bra-burning lesbians.” Valenti listened to the adjectives with a laugh, and then proceeded to demonstrate to the audience how these negative portrayals of feminism have existed since the suffrage movements and have become internalized in how we perceive the movement. “There’s an awful lot of effort put into discrediting feminism,” she said. “My work is aimed at making feminism more accessible to young feminists and exposing the double standards so common in society today.” Valenti proceeded to diffuse the common perception of feminism as being moot simply because women already had the right to vote and work for equal pay. “Let me give you the reasons why I’m a feminist ... this month,” she said. She proceeded to give the audience recent examples of sexism in society: women being objectified in advertisements, unpunished instances of hate crimes against transgender women and laws allowing hospitals to deny women abortions even in life or death situations being considered in the House of Representatives. She also brought the issue closer to home by bringing up the issue of campus rape — she revealed that 95 percent of campus rapists are not expelled from their institutions. Valenti explained that many of these things occur because of the double standards concerning female sexuality as portrayed by
the media and anti-feminist organizations. She tried to demonstrate, through newspaper headlines and snapshots of her blog, how society is obsessed with demonizing female sexuality, while bombarding people with highly sexualized images of young women. “These double standards actively and tangibly hurt women,” she said, reading out sections of one of her books, “The Purity Myth,” and exposing the audience to the many tragedies feminism aims at addressing. The audience received Valenti well, laughing appreciatively at See Author, page 2
Photo by Lilly Jay ’14
Jessica Valenti spoke on sexuality and double standards.
Exit the President: Popular Marx-ism On June 30, 2011, President Tony Marx will conclude his time at the College in order to serve as the President of the New York Public Library. In the final installment of this three-part series, the Amherst community give personal takes on Marx’s legacy.
Marx, but an insular president is not one of these. “He’s amazingly accessible to students,” said Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Tom Parker. “It’s all very genuine.” “[Marx is] someone that I feel I can speak directly to as a student,” said Romen Borsellino ’12, newly-inaugurated President of the Amherst Association of Students (AAS). “I’m really sad that I won’t get to
What makes a president? As President Tony Marx’s tenure at the College draws to a close, a reflection on his eight years here begs an answer to this question. One might discuss his work improving campus diversity, reaching out to international students and across socioeconomic divides. Or one might knock off a few thousand words on his dedication to increasing student financial aid. While these achievements are undoubtedly two towering monuments of the man’s presidential legacy, some of Amherst’s most enduring recollections of “Tony” are much more down to earth: the memories of the person behind the presidency. From Halloween parties in the Museum of Natural History to seeing Marx strolling about campus, the anecdotal evidence abounds. There are many ways to describe
President Tony Marx spends some time with first-years (left to right) Katrin Marquez, Maia Mares, Maria Kirigin and Meghna Sridhar.
June Pan ’13 & Brianda Reyes ’14 Managing News Editors
The independent newspaper of Amherst College since 1868
work with him next year.” Outside the AAS, various other members of the student body have also had the chance to work with and speak to Marx on student-life initiatives. “As a [Resident Counselor], I’ve attended his ‘Tony Talks’ with the freshmen class and really felt that he had a genuine interest See College, page 4
Photo courtesy of Joyzel Acevedo ’14