Orientation Issue

Fall Season Guide: What to Watch for See Sports, Page 9 THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF AMHERST COLLEGE SINCE 1868

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New Class of 2016 Breaks Records

Q&A with Dean Boykin-East Ethan Corey ’15 News Section Editor

Peter Mack ’15 Photographer

As part of the Orientation program for incoming students, first years participated in squad meetings where they discussed issues ranging from race to sexual respect on top of becoming more familiar with their fellow students.

Alissa Rothman ’15 Managing News Editor After another year with a record number of applications, the Class of 2016 arrived on campus on a clear summer day, with smiles in anticipation of their bright futures. “As always, the first day of orientation is a very special one for the Admission Office. As they sit, assembled in Johnson Chapel for the first time — and probable last time until Senior Assembly — I am keenly aware that our new students are on the precipice of the Amherst experience! And, of course, I am eager to see how their diversity of talents and experiences will influence their learning here,� Director of Admissions Katie Fretwell said.

This years class of 462 first-years faced intimidating chances getting into the College.

With a record 8,565 applications, the College only accepted 1,100 students, resulting in an acceptance rate slightly under 13 percent. However, first-years weren’t the only ones applying.

Transfer students faced an even lower acceptance rate of about five percent acceptance rate.

With a record 514 applications, only 22 were accepted, and eventually 13 chose to matriculate at the College.

About 82 percent of the total admitted students for the Class of 2016 graduated in the top ten percent of their high school class, and they post average SAT scores of 717 in critical reading, 716 in math and 715 in writing and an average ACT score of 32. The class is also highly service-orientated. “Their traditional ‘statistics’ are impressively comparable to recent Amherst classes, but I am particularly impressed with the time and energy this particular class has dedicated to serving others. CCE [Center for Community Engagement], be forewarned,� Fretwell said.

The Class of 2016 is comprised of a wide variety of students, with different geographic, social and economic backgrounds. With a 51:49 male-to-female ratio, this year’s incoming class represents 28 countries, 40 states and

the District of Columbia. Ten percent are not US citizens and another four percent hold dual citizenships with the United States and another country. Forty-two percent recognize themselves as American students of color and 15 percent are first-generation college students. They come from 374 different high schools and speak over 30 different languages. Furthermore, approximately 56 percent of the class will receive some form of financial aid from the College, one of the highest figures for a first-year class in the College’s history. Further adding to the diversity of the class are 21 students who decided to take a gap year before coming to Amherst.

However, even with all those differences, the class has bonded quickly, greeting each other with ease and making friends rapidly. “During orientation, I never observed such a chatty bunch ‌ Their interactive energy is remarkable! This was very obvious on arrival day. I imagine this will be a class that develops a special bond early on that will last through their reunion years,â€? Fretwell said.

Campus Continues to Plug In

College-provided iPads Increase Technology on Campus Alissa Rothman ’15 Managing News Editor Many students have noticed the new iPads installed in the Athletics Center, the Campus Center, Converse Hall, Facilities and Val, but few of them understand that it is part of a broader effort to connect students to the campus through more accessible technology.

The iPads, on top of their ability to provide quick answers to questions of people on campus, are designed to call attention to the new Amherst Mobile <m.amherst.edu>,

created by the IT department this summer. This new site can be set up as an icon on any smartphone or tablet provides students with easy access to campus news, events, the PVTA Bus Schedule and much more. The mounted iPads have a limited version of Amherst Mobile that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow students to login to their personal data or view to other apps. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The installed iPads may be more helpful to College guests than to current students, while we hope that current students will find Amherst Mobile to be helpful,â&#x20AC;? said

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Gayle Barton, Chief Information Officer.

In the last year, the IT department has also added 30 new iPads to their inventory. These iPads will be available when requested by a professor for a class. Just this fall, iPads will be used in two first-year seminars, for activities ranging from digital reading and video capture to editing and presentation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;iPads and other tablets â&#x20AC;Ś offer advantages such as a great screen for reading. Since the text we read is increasingly electronic, it is important that Amherst students become

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facile at reading, analyzing, and comprehending electronic text,â&#x20AC;?

Barton said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wish we could buy one for everyone.â&#x20AC;?

The College expects that demand for iPads will continue to grow on campus. Already, students in the incoming class have registered over 25 iPads on the network.

Furthermore, the IT department has also recently made the College Course Catalog an electronic publication, which is downloadable from the course catalog page on the Registrarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website. The catalog is also accessible on an iPad.

THE AMHERST STUDENT

On July 10, President Carolyn â&#x20AC;&#x153;Biddyâ&#x20AC;? Martin announced that Dean of Students Allen Hart â&#x20AC;&#x2122;82, Professor of Psychology, would take a leave of absence for a year, having deferred his sabbatical in 2010 to replace Dean Ben Lieber as Dean of Students. Senior Associate Dean Charri Boykin-East agreed to serve as Interim Dean of Students for the 2012-2013 academic year and the beginning of summer 2013. A search committee has been identified to select a new dean of students. Professor Austin Sarat, of the LJST and Political Science Department will chair the search committee. Other members of the committee will include Professor David Hall from the Physics Department, Professor Jill Miller from Biology, Tom Parker, Dean of Admissission and Financial Aid, Frances Tuleja, Assistant Dean of Admission and Senior Coach Billy McBride, Assistant Athletic Director-Diversity and Inclusion, as well as two students yet to be appointed.

Hart stated that he intended to use the leave to spend more time with his family and pursue academic research related to college student affairs. Hart said he looks forward to rejoining the Student Affairs Division, which encompasses the Offices of the Dean of Students, Health Services, Health Education, Residential Life, Student Activities, Counseling Center, Services for International Students, Services for Students with Special Needs, Peer Tutoring Services, Religious Life and the Career Center in a role yet to be established. The Student sat down with Dean BoykinEast to discuss her plans for her term as Interim Dean and her thoughts on the College, edited with permission for length and clarity: Q: What inspired you to start a career in college administration?

A: During graduate school I served as a Residence Director, equivalent to the role of the Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Area Coordinator, at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in the Residential Education Department. The Residential Education Department at the University really impressed me with its policies and procedures and the comprehensive ways the department worked with both the professional and paraprofessional staff.

By being part of the Residential Education program I learned a variety of skills including but not limited to supervisory skills, stress management and how to work with students regarding sexual misconduct, concerns related to drug and alcohol problems, supporting students who may be dealing with eating disorders, psychological and emotional concerns. I was in the final stages of a graduate school program at the University of Massachusetts when I applied for and was honored to receive the position as the Director of Residential Life here at the College. At the time the Residential Life Program was very young. The current Residential Life Director Torin Moore, along with his staff of Area Coordinatiors has instituted new programs policies and procedures and they have created a more robust program.

I thought I could balance full-time graduate research with a full-time job and still take care of my family, but I was unable to balance a growing family, an exhilarating position and graduate school. I left the program before finishing my dissertation. However, my position at the University inspired me to seek a career in Higher Education Administration.

Continued on Page 2

News

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Entries from May 21 to Aug. 26, 2012 >>May 21, 2012 1:42 p.m., King Dormitory An employee reported the theft of a flat screen television from the common room.

Case open. >>May 22, 2012 1:37 a.m., Observatory A caller reported what sounded like someone screaming behind the building. Offices determined it was an animal.

6:11 a.m., Railroad Right of Way Officers responded to a report of a mattress on fire near the railroad tracks by the contractorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; parking lot. Officers extinguished it, and Facilities was notified.

5:46 a.m., Davis Dormitory An officer noticed some of the letters from the Davis dorm sign were missing. Case open. >>June 5, 2012 4:50 p.m., Campus Grounds A student reported the theft of an unlocked bicycle from the north side fire escape at Davis. Several weeks later, the student noticed a similar bicycle secured to the bicycle rack at Moore. Campus Police secured the bicycle to the rack, until the student could provide proper paperwork proving ownership. Case open. >>June 9, 2012 2:53 p.m., Gym Loop Road An employee reported the theft of an Amherst College-issued Blackberry. Case open. >>June 11, 2012 3:50 p.m., Campus Grounds An officer responded to a report of several bicycles that were missing from the bicycle rack located in the Mead Art courtyard. Case open. >>June 13, 2012 11:31 p.m., Hitchcock House An officer responded to a noise complaint and issued a warning to a group of students in the first-floor common room. >>June 27, 2012 2:17 p.m., Bike Path Officers assisted the town police in searching for a man on the bike path who was not wearing any clothes. The man was not located. >>Jul. 3, 2012 1:51 p.m., Cohan Dormitory A student reported the theft of an 8GB iPod Touch from the third-floor common room of Cohan. Case open. >>July 7, 2012 12:57 a.m., Marsh House An officer responded to a complaint of loud music coming from the first-floor common room. A group of students listening to music was found. They were advised of the complaint, and the music was turned off. An unattended keg of alcohol was also confiscated. >>July 8, 2012 5:29 a.m., Converse Lot An officer on patrol found an unattended canvas bag which contained alcohol and hand tools. The alcohol was disposed of, and the hands tools were taken to Campus Police for safekeeping until the owner can be identified. >>July 14, 2012 11:30 p.m., Newport House An officer discovered unattended alcohol in the basement common room. It was confis-

cated. >>July 16, 2012 4:00 p.m., 79 South Pleasant Lot An officer on patrol encountered a man urinating between Hitchcock Dormitory and the Fiber Arts Building. After checking his identify and warning him about his actions, he was directed off campus. >>July 31, 2012 3:45 p.m., Pontypool An employee reported a fraudulent donation, which was made to the College. Case open. >>Aug. 1, 2012 7:24 p.m., Tuttle Farm An officer on patrol observed a fire in a College-owned field off of South East St. It was found to be an unauthorized campfire, and the fire department was contacted to extinguish the fire. The student responsible was identified. >>Aug. 3, 2012 9:13 p.m., Emily Dickinson House Officers responded to an intrusion alarm and found it was set off by an animal. The animal was removed, and the system was reset. >>Aug. 4, 2012 2:30 a.m., Moore Dormitory Officers responded to a complaint of a group of college-aged males throwing rocks at the building and yelling obscenities. Officers checked the area, but they were not able to locate anybody responsible. No damage was found on the building. >>Aug. 6, 2012 8:11 a.m., Merrill Science A student reported the theft of two bracelets from a classroom in Merrill Science during the fall semester. The bracelets had been left unattended for a short period of time. The items are valued at approximately $700. Case open. >>Aug. 7 2012 11:32 p.m., Hitchcock An officer responded to a complaint of people being loud outside the building. It was determined the noise was coming from a small group of students who were listening to music on the patio. They were advised of the complaint and were asked to shut the music off. >>Aug 10, 2012 6:23 p.m., Porter The director of a summer program reported the theft of a Lenovo PC tower and a Sony HD video camera from the first-floor common room of Porter House. The items had been left unattended for a short period of time.

The items are valued at approximately $1500.

Case open. >>Aug. 19, 2012 10:26 p.m., Plimpton House Amherst Police reported receiving a noise complaint coming from Plimpton. Responding AC officers located a group of students using a water slide outside the building. They were warned about the noise complaint. >>Aug. 26, 2012 12:03 a.m., Coolidge Dormitory An officer located unattended alcohol in the basement. It was confiscated.

10:22 p.m., Stone Dormitory An officer encountered an underage student with alcohol. The matter was referred to the Deanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office.

Peter Mack â&#x20AC;&#x2122;15 Photographer

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Boykin-East Takes Over Dean of Students Office Continued from Page 1 Q: What made you interested in agreeing to serve as the Interim Dean of Students?

A: Well, I have always wanted to be a Dean of Students. I had applied at times to be a Dean of Students at other institutions, but the timing wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t right â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and who would want to be a Dean anywhere but Amherst anyways? A few years ago I served as acting Dean of Students while Dean Lieber took a sabbatical for the semester. I loved it, so I jumped at the opportunity to serve again.

Q: What are your plans for your tenure as Interim Dean of Students?

A: I want to do a lot as Interim Dean! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been here since the 1990s, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen a lot of things that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to change about the climate and attitudes within the College. I know I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do everything, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m anxious to institute some modest changes that I have thought about for a long time.

I have lots of ideas, but I think they all center around the need to improve intra-campus collaboration and harmonize all the different advertisements and calendars on the web to better promote our wonderful programs. The new digital signage program with all the iPads that you see around campus, designed by new Chief Information Officer Gayle Barton and her staff, is part of that effort. I would also like to implement some strategies used successfully by the Association of Amherst Students (AAS) such as running a column in The Student and holding public relations events at Valentine Hall. I want to change the relationship that students have with the Division of Student Affairs. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want students to view coming to the Dean of Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Office as a bad thing. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re nice people and, yes, sometimes we have to have difficult conversations with students, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s out of a sense of concern and caring for our students and not to just spoil their fun.

We like to have fun, too.

I would like to increase the profile of the Multicultural Resource Center, I would like to work with the staff and bring back the series â&#x20AC;&#x153;Elephant in the Room,â&#x20AC;? and I hope to work with the staff of The Student to highlight diversity at the College. For example, I remember that The Student ran a human interest piece about the locksmith, Doug Fuller, and I thought it would be great for the newspaper to tell the stories of the unsung heroes on campus, the staff that you rely on every day, but who rarely get adequate recognition for their work. If I had to wrap it up in one theme, it would be about trying to build a caring community. I like the motto on the 2016 orientation T-

shirts: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Building community, one voice at a time.â&#x20AC;?

I want to reassure students that the administration cares about issues such as sexual respect, and I want to create conversations about those issues. I am also concerned about the amount of binge drinking thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been going on â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not about trying to take away peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fun; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about safety and responsibility, and taking care of those around you.

Q: How do you think the position of the Provost will change the way the College administration functions?

A: I think the position of the Provost will help the College to think more strategically. As an administrator I am engaged in the day-to-day tasks. That often prevents me from identifying long term goals and objectives. I also think the new Provostâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position will provide offices and departments more opportunities to communicate and collaborate.

Q: What would you like to change about the longterm direction of the College?

A: I think we do a really good job of planning and administering New Student Orientation, and we elaborate on some of the orientation topics through Extended Orientation events. But I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think we spend enough time reinforcing the message of community and respect with upper-class students. We try to really inform the first-years but we do not have enough conversations with upper-class students. I believe upper-class students serve as the role models for new students. I believe we need to do a better job of communicating and working with upperclass students and work with them to promote a healthy and inclusive community.

Please know I am really seeking advice and support from the AAS and other student groups. I am hoping through dialogue we can collectively identify strategies on how to achieve and maintain open and on-going communication with upper-class students. I want to work with others to plan thematic programming about topics such as sexual respect, alcohol and other drugs and stress management. I would like to create a buzz on campus about these issues. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to have conversations with student groups about creating leadership and community development events. I want students to really think about what kind of community they want at the College. It is my hope when current students look back on their experience they will feel that Amherst College was a respectful and caring community and when someone needed help they and others had the courage to step in up and provide assistance.

Opinion

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Amherst Student Government Welcomes You to College This Section is Yours, Use It

Editorial

The first fall breeze brings with it the fresh and confused faces of first-year students who still don’t know the way to Val and the inevitable “new school year” resolutions which upperclassmen come up with: “this year, I won’t pull any all-nighters” or “this year, I’m actually going to find out what the inside of the Alumni Gym looks like.”

Although we at the editorial board of The Student cannot vouch for how likely you are to work out this semester or stop drinking on Wednesday nights, we do know one resolution that should be high on your list: get more involved with the College newspaper, in any capacity you can. This is something we encourage all students to do — especially first-year students, who are going to make decisions in the first few weeks that could shape their entire college experience. Getting involved with the newspaper is something that can not only make you grow and learn at an individual level, but positively shape the collective experience of all students at the College.

This is especially important in the tender first few weeks of a new academic year, because there is a decided shift in the college dynamic: 25 percent of the student body is brand new, there are rollovers in Senate seats and executive board positions, including a new student body president, new leaders will take charge of clubs on campus, and there will be an overall atmosphere of newness that can lend itself to exciting change if steered in the right

direction. The newspaper offers you a steering wheel to make that change by allowing you to share opinions and interact with fellow students and even administrators whether it be by writing for the newspaper, discussing it at lunch on Wednesdays or through the comments on our website The Student, by the simple virtue of the extent of copies published on a weekly basis and its wide circulation to students, professors, staff and administrators, is a vehicle for voices to be heard by a variety of people. Too often, its potential is undermined, especially by a college community that desires change but is often either too busy or too apathetic to take the necessary steps towards it. This year, the staff at The Student would like to send a message to the student body: speak up and speak out!

Whether it’s as simple as an issue you have with the way the cafeteria or your dorm functions, or as complicated as your stance on big political issues like the upcoming elections, The Student offers space for you to articulate your position to the whole College community, and continue the discussion over the dinner table at Val or the comments section of our website.

Who knows, moreover, if your article catches the eye of a Dean or professor, you could even find yourself carrying those conversations to committees and administrative offices: and the propensity those discussions have for making serious change are endless.

Tania Dias President of the AAS (Association of Amherst Students)

Hi, Class of 2016 and new transfers! Welcome to Amherst! The whole Amherst community has been excitedly gearing up to welcome you all.

First, let me introduce myself.

My name is Tania Dias. I am a Black Studies major, and I am the President of the student body. I come from Lisbon, Portugal, I am a huge Federer fan (shout-out to all the tennis fans out there), and I am an avid milk drinker! I am currently a Big Sister for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program sponsored by the Center of Community Engagement, which is on your left as you enter Keefe Campus Center (Tip 1: Check out the CCE, they’re a great resource). I also work at the postoffice (Tip 2: Get to know Don, the postmaster, and his great team.

They’re such a help when you’re desperately waiting for or trying to send a package!).

Every week, you will find this AAS column here: Written by different senators every time, it documents the ins and outs of AAS affairs. What is the AAS, you must be thinking. The AAS — Association of Amherst Students — is the student government of our fair college on the hill. Every Monday, at 8:30 p.m., we meet in the Red Room in Converse Hall to discuss, report on and move forward with initia-

tives that benefit the student body.

The AAS is a tripartite organization comprised of the Senate (eight senators represent each class), an executive board and a judiciary council.

Every year, the AAS gets close to one million in funding (which comes from every student’s Activities Fee). With this serious amount of money, we are responsible for funding student clubs, organizations, activities and events. We also use it to fund senator projects that improve Amherst life in general — from TV screen s in the gym, New York Times every morning in Val and free PVTA bus service to the other four institutions, the AAS is behind it (Tip 3: Check out Amherst Scrutiny if you haven’t — it was restarted by a former senator, and it evaluates different classes and professors). As a student government, we also place class representatives in important student, faculty and administrative committees. There they serve and represent your perspectives on issues ranging from social life to diversity and educational policies.

Has any of this peaked your interest? There are many ways you can get involved! The obvious one is, run for senate! Elections to fill the Class of 2016 spots will be held on September ??. Rally up a campaign, and become a senator for your class. Even if this isn’t your thing, you should definitely come check out our open meetings every Monday at 8:30 p.m. You can also

come up with funky, new ideas to improve our collective Amherst experience and share them with your representatives. If you need feedback or support for an idea or event you are trying to organize, come present it in Senate, and we’d love to help you out!

This year, we have exciting new things to work on. We want to start a new tradition of a “Community Hour” that would bring all of campus together. We are also hoping to revamp the role and location of the Multicultural Resource Center.

We are working on having a bike exchange program on campus, and a Campus Ride Board for breaks.

This month, we will be bringing The Wall Street Journal to Val, as well as setting up a calculator borrowing system in the College’s libraries.

If you want to know more about the AAS, go to amherst.edu/campuslife/aas, contact us via aas@amherst.edu, check us out at the club fair next Monday or come chat with current senators at the AAS Barbeque this Saturday, September 1.

I am really looking forward to getting to know all of you, so don’t be a stranger! If you see me in Val or walking across the quad, feel free to sit down and have dinner with me, or strike up a conversation. I am very excited to get your fresh new input, so that we can all make Amherst the best four years we can have in college. Good luck with this year, and I can’t wait to see you around campus.

16 TIPS FOR THE CLASS OF 2016 1. Explore Amherst and beyond.

Northampton is amazingly diverse, with great food, shopping and art. The other four colleges all have great things to offer, along with a good change of pace from what can be monotonous Amherst life. Check out our maps and suggestions in the A&L section.

2. Avoid Val During Peak Hours. Val gets crowded at noon, after practices get out and especially right after FirstYear Seminars.

3. If you want to get in, don’t give up. Can’t get into that class? Well, spots open up all the time: some students switch out, others don’t show up to class and professors often raise the limit on class size. Sometimes, professors will add you if you just show some interest.

4. Show up to the first few classes.

This may sound like a no-brainer, but there’s no surer way to get dropped from a class than not showing up! Even if you’re preregistered, your spot is not

E X E C U T I V E B OA R D Editor-in-Chief Brianda Reyes Managing News Alissa Rothman Managing Opinion Erik Christianson, Meghna Sridhar Managing Arts and Living Nicole Chi, Clara Yoon Managing Sports Emmett Knowlton, Karl Greenblatt

safe. If you’re just shopping a class, stick around for a few lectures and a spot might open up.

5. Use the PVTA, but also beware of the PVTA. The free shuttle services between schools, towns and shopping malls are invaluable, but understand the limitations: they’ll often be late and crowded. Always make sure to bring your ID with you or you’ll have to pay the fee.

6. Go to your professor’s office hours.

They have hours for a reason: because they care. So take advantage of them.

It might be intimidating at first, but building a relationship with your professor is essential.

7. Prepare your winter gear. Come winter, you may find yourself in the middle of a blizzard and wishing you had warm, waterproof clothing.

Gloves, umbrellas, insulated boots and a windbreaker are also recommended for the elements.

8. Check out The Option. The Option

is a great way to find cheap books without having to order them online and wait two weeks for them to come in.

You’re also supporting your fellow Jeffs by buying their books.

9. Check out the Subsidized Software at IT. Amherst has software licenses for a variety of programs: from Microsoft Office to the Adobe suite, language tools, and more. Check out the IT department’s list to see if there’s anything you need at a discount.

10. Use the computer labs around campus. There are labs in Frost, Seeley Mudd and Merrill. The Q center (Merrill 2nd floor) has free printing, but you can’t always rely on a computer being available, especially if you wait until Sunday to do all of your homework.

11. Shape your own advising experience. Some advisors really put their foot down, and others are very laissezfaire. Have an opinion and don’t let advisors make your decisions for you. If you want more insightful advice about

a particular class or department, feel free to reach out to another professor or ask for a new advisor.

12. Don’t fall into unhealthy eating habits. It’s so easy to order wings at midnight and stuff your face with cheap ramen. And while you can enjoy those occasionally, making it a habit will make you sluggish, tired and full of unhealthy food that’s bad for you. Buy some healthy snacks; enjoy a hearty dinner at Val to avoid late night cravings; and make good use of the kitchen spaces on campus.

13. Check your email often! You’ll receive a few emails every day so you don’t want them piling up in your inbox. Your professors might email you with a change in the syllabus and you definitely don’t want to read the wrong chapter. You should check your email at least twice each day and actually read each message thoroughly.

14. SLEEP! SLEEP! SLEEP! Energy drinks and six cups of coffee may work,

S TA F F Design Editor Brendan Hsu News Section Editor Whit Froehlich, Ethan Gates Opinion Section Editors Diana Babineau, John Osborn, Judy Yoo Arts & Living Section Editor Rebecca Boorstein, Siyu Shen Sports Section Editors Karan Bains, Varun Iyengar

Publishers Mary Byrne, Chris Friend, Nazir Khan, David Walchak Associate Editors Brenton Arnaboldi, Jake Walters, Carlyn Robertson Senior Editors Amro El-Adle Photographers Joyzel Acevedo

but in the long run, they will deteriorate the quality of your academic work and college life. Force yourself to go to sleep at a reasonable hour and get at least seven hours of sleep. It might seem more productive to get three hours of sleep and get ten things done, but when you find yourself crashing midday and skipping your afternoon class, you’ll feel less productive.

15. Leave high school behind. The simple fact that you are a student here means you were great in high school, but here’s the hard truth: so was everyone else. Don’t start the year expecting your high-school 4.0 here. It doesn’t mean you’ve lost your intelligence; it just means you’re playing a tougher game now.

16. Read The Amherst Student. The Student is a great way to keep informed on everything Amherst, from sporting events, student government, to your fellow classmates’ opinions.

Bonus tip: Williams sucks. Always.

Letters Policy

The opinion pages of The Amherst Student are intended as an open forum for the Amherst community.

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.

The editors reserve the right to edit any letters exceeding the 450-word limit or to withhold any letter because of considerations of space or content.

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.

The Student will not print personal or group defamation.

Publication Standards

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.

Opinion

5IF "NIFSTU 4UVEFOU t "VHVTU

Calling for a Change in Political Discourse

Todd Akin is an idiot.

I just want to be clear about this fact at the outset of my article. Todd Akin is an idiot. It bears repeating, like a little mantra of â&#x20AC;&#x153;what not to say when running for Senate.â&#x20AC;? His comments about â&#x20AC;&#x153;legitimate rapeâ&#x20AC;? were both erroneous and reprehensible. They alienated those women who were victims of rape and feared becoming pregnant with the rapistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s child. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m glad that he issued a public apology, but it came about two days too late.

Unfortunately, leftists and Democrats have seized the candidateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comments as electionyear political fodder. Rather than merely calling for apology and/or censure, the Democrats have elected to paint a portrait of Republicans as being rape-endorsing misogynists.

Of course, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fair to politicize the comments, to an extent. The guy is, after all, running for office. For example, one of the first things I thought after reading about the comments was that he had just single-handedly thrown away a Republican Senate majority.

Anything a politician says will have a political effect.

On the other hand, trying to take a single personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comments â&#x20AC;&#x201D; comments that he later admitted were ignorant and incorrect â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and apply them to every member of a group in order to demonize a political opposition is irresponsible, not to mention inaccurate. As a Republican (not a good Republican, but one all the same), it infuriates me whenever some Democrat tries to go on some rant about how Republicans all hate women. They try to paint themselves as these protectors of a politically slighted group against the old Republican

men, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lie on its face. A brief examination of some prominent Democratic politicians and their relationships with women would reveal some unsettling truths (Republicans are no saints, either, to be fair).

As much as politicians try, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pick out a single person at your convenience and pretend that everyone in a given group is represented by them. Otherwise, it would do well for Republicans to remind their Democratic opponents that the early figures of the Democratic Party were avid supporters of slavery and were, in fact, willing to go to war to continue to enslave their fellow men. By the logic used against the Republicans singling out Akin as their sole representative, all Democrats would be supporters of slavery. But letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continue to debunk this logic: Is the Westboro Baptist Church representative of Christians?

Or al-Qaeda of Muslims? I think not. Is the steroid use of Alex Rodriguez emblematic of baseball players, or the attitude problems of Terrell Owens of wide receivers? The perpetuation of stereotypes is, at least in theory, something that the Democrats oppose.

At the same time, it does no good to pick out a single phrase of your opponent and apply it to every member of his party unless youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re willing to stand up to the same scrutiny.

Not every Democrat is a business-hating socialist like Elizabeth Warren (someone, please, tell her the government didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t build Harvard).

Similarly, the Democrats selected former President Bill Clinton as their conventionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keynote speaker; is it fair for them to assume that he now knows what the definition of â&#x20AC;&#x153;isâ&#x20AC;?, is?

All of this, though, is just a microcosm of

A Piece of Kaake "OESFX ,BBLF Andrew is a Political Science and Music double major who writes a bi-weekly column on conservatism, politics and campus life.

the larger issue: most people set up a straw man of their opponent and demonize him instead of dealing with what he actually says or stands for. This refusal to confront the issues pervades nearly all political speech. This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t something that either Democrats or Republicans, or any other group, is innocent of.

Amherst students, unfortunately, are no different than the general public, and they often tend to be worse in this area. I wrote an article about abortion last year (which was apparently even spoken of in Shanghai), but rather than engage in a robust discussion of my points and contentions, most of those who responded resorted to spammy name-calling and ad hominem attacks. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the reasons why I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be viewing any online comments this year (if you want to say something, email me or write an article).

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bad that politicians and their supporters engage in that kind of political â&#x20AC;&#x153;speech,â&#x20AC;? but Amherst is supposed to be a better place, a higher place. The whole point of a liberal arts education is to pull your mind through various disciplines, to teach you how to think. As students, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re supposed to be grappling with a vast collection of new thoughts and ideas â&#x20AC;&#x201D; especially those we disagree with. As Proverbs 27:17 states, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.â&#x20AC;? Anything less is an abrogation of our charter as a college; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s throwing away the potential of a time in such a strange place as Amherst, where we spend four years surrounded by a diverse group of our peers in a small community.

For many of you, my column has been and will be an unwelcome intrusion into the

harmonious liberalism of the College, or of some idealized world where serious conservatives donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exist. To that I say: good. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the whole point of this place. So I plead with you, read my stuff. Confront my thoughts. Confront your own preconceived notions. And letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get on with this whole business of learning, because, last I checked, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all here for (no, first-years, orientation is not college).

Otherwise, one day, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll sound as ignorant as Todd Akin, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be your own fault.

Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org

Todd Akin said in an interview with ,57* 57 i*G JU T B MFHJUJNBUF SBQF UIF GFNBMF CPEZ IBT XBZT UP USZ UP TIVU UIF XIPMF UIJOH EPXO w

Arts&Living

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“Total Recall?” Total Action, Total Letdown Andre Wang ’14 Staff Writer You’d think that after “Inception” the creative teams in Hollywood would come up with new tricks and twists on the omnipresent themes of dreams, double-identity and exploration of self. That is not the case. Continuing the genre’s legacy of optional innovation, most Hollywood action films remain just like your old computer: changing your desktop picture won’t give you a new machine.

“Total Recall” Directed by Len Wiseman Starring Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel Release Date: August 3, 2012 Excuse my cynicism, which seems a bit too harsh when you consider that “The Dark Knight Rises” is the latest exception. The sad truth nests more snugly in “Total Recall,” a re-imagining of its eponymous predecessor, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone and gory Martians seemingly visually inspired by Chucky.

Never mind the original one in 1990, when most of us were either babies, unborn or hadn’t even been conceived yet (oh hey there, Class of 2016!). “Total Recall” is another ultracool, fast-paced and utterly uninspired package that is heavily geared to the preference of adrenaline over brains for 118 minutes. Does it try to be more than that? At first, at least. Factory employee Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell) finds himself stuck in the daily

routines from his home in The Colony to the United Federation of Britain for work, two of the only habitable places at the end of the 21st century after WWIII. After failing to get a promotion, an upset Douglas enters Rekall, a memory-implantation service that gives customers disorientingly realistic experiences such as a secret agent life. Wow, what could possibly go wrong with that? As it turned out, an unexpected episode forces Douglas to face a SWAT team confrontation, then voracious attacks from his ostensible wife Lori (Kate Beckinsale) and a manhunt. Now Douglas carries a different identity that might or might not be real, the key against Britain’s oppression over The Colony and the fate of millions. Does any part of this plot sound foreign to you? No, I didn’t think so.

As one of the most prominent traits of “Total Recall,” the visual styles of the futuristic societies bring a sinister shade to the political undertone of the story. Both habitats invite comparison with the classic 80s sci-fi universes, only with more remnants of the steampunk fascination for the complex, the exquisite and most explicitly, the crowded. The Colony rightfully receives more screen time with its condensed, over-stimulated design, which combines impressions of seedy Chinatowns, wet and mossy Bangkok waterways, Tokyo red light zones and Manila streets’ hustle-and-bustle. Painted with eerie green and electric violet, the sight of The Colony is overwhelming to an extent of redundancy. There is plenty going on, but none too impressive to take a serious look. The United Federation of Britain is slightly more intriguing, with its magnetic doublesided highways and gravitationally differentiated mass transportation set-

ting playgrounds for all the characters’ cat-and-mouse races, which beef up most of the plot. In fact, the design of Britain strongly resembles the sleek, desaturated imagery of “Minority Report.” Coincidentally, “Minority Report” initially started as a sequel to the original “Total Recall,” before leaning closer to Phillip K. Dick’s short story of the same name.

Also based on Mr. Dick’s short story (“We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,” published ten years after “The Minority Report”), “Total Recall” does not have the metaphysical themes or the self-fulfilling prophecies of its Spielberg-directed, Tom-Cruiseleading cousin. The biggest irony, unfortunately, lies in Farrell, who upgraded his supporting role in “Minority Report” to be the leading man in “Total Recall” but not his presence or memorability. Farrell is not solely at fault here: had it delivered a morethan-bleak rendition of a self-doubting hero, Kurt Wimmer’s screenplay might not have been as unplugged and distancing as it turned out to be.

“

There is plenty going on, but none too impressive to take a serious look.

”

Rather than going for the jugular, the film puts on a faithful slideshow of gimmicks, leaving a pitiful dearth of actual content or narrative sense.

Even with the background of propaganda schemes and obvious hierarchal tension, “Total Recall” is not interested in any collective anxiety of the established and corrupted machinery.

Its depiction of general conflict only primes us to the trio on poster: besides

Image courtesy of www.welcometorecall.com

With one-dimensional characters and little plot, even the visuals of “Total Recall” cannot save it from mediocrity. a lackluster Douglas, we also have the one-track-minded killer Lori, half of whose dialogue consists of a four-letter PG-13 word, and Douglas’ partner Melina (Jessica Biel), who as “the vixen of justice” contains more emotional versatility than the protagonist. Ugly as it sounds, “Total Recall” is a lavishly decorated action-porn, where each step is predictable and every character possesses the profundity of a blow-up doll. Len Wiseman’s direction finds its best parallel in the construction of his wife Beckinsale’s role: although there is enough ambition to add in more intelligence or sophistication, it opts for the straight punches instead.

Yet such simplicity is not so much an ideological choice as it is naïveté, which culminates into a farce when in an attempt to escape from their killers, Douglas and Melina climbed out

of the Fall, a chute that connects the two habitats in a 17-minute trip. Mind you, the Fall supposedly achieves that speed by going through the center of the Earth. Technical issues aside, the Earth is about 13,000 km in diameter and The Colony (former Australia) and the United Federation of Britain are approximately on opposite ends of the planet. The speed of the Fall translates to almost 800 km/min, or about 13 km/sec. In other words, instead of crumbling to ashes, our mortal heroes are still standing as they travel through the center of the Earth at 40 times the speed of sound.

I confess: I did that calculation in my head while watching the movie.

Congratulations, that was what watching “Total Recall” had come to. And by the way, that scene was still half an hour away from the grand ending.

“Wilfred:” The Story of a Dog and His Man

Meghan McCullough ’15 Staff Writer

“It’s easy not to worry when you don’t have any real problems. Dogs don’t have to think about money or crime or social injustice,” says Ryan to his neighbor’s dog, Wilfred. Such is a constant theme in FX’s late-night sitcom “Wilfred:” the never-ending conflict between what Ryan (Elijah Wood) wants out of his life, and what Wilfred, whom executive producer David Zuckerman describes as “part Labrador Retriever and part Russell Crowe on a bender” wants out of it.

The show is based off of an Australian television comedy series of the same name, which began as a joke between friends, evolved into a short film and later, became a two-season sitcom that won several Australian Film Institute awards. Jason Gann, who played Wilfred in the original Australian sitcom, reprises his role in the American version.

“Wilfred” takes the well-known saying “ a dog is a man’s best friend” idea to the next level.

Although the rest of the world sees Wilfred as an average dog, Ryan sees him as an Australian man in a dog suit. Depressed and literally suicidal, Ryan is introduced to Wilfred in the first episode of the series when, after a long and onerous night of failed suicide attempts, Ryan’s new neighbor Jenna (Fiona Gubelmann) knocks on his door asking if he can look after her dog while she’s at work. And so begins Ryan’s life-altering friendship with a dog whom he and viewers alike can never be sure is actually real.

Although the deeper implications of Ryan’s

Image courtesy of www.screeninvasion.com

Humorous and lighthearted on the surface, the TV show’s dark undertones rise from the questioning of Ryan’s reality. relationship with Wilfred can be dark, mindbending and thus interesting for viewers to entertain, scenes and episodes that only touch the surface of the relationship are among the best of the entire series. Each episode of the show follows a similar pattern; a quote pertaining to a sweeping life lesson is displayed on the screen, and Wilfred proceeds to manipulate and force Ryan into realizing the already-decided moral of the story, albeit using twisted and off-kilter methods to do so. Despite the fact that Ryan will question the validity of Wilfred’s words and actions at least once per episode, by the end, viewers can

expect to find the two buddy’s seated side-by-side on the couch in Ryan’s basement, discussing Matt Damon movies and the inevitable death that will come to mailmen everywhere over their makeshift Gatorade-bottle bong.

There will be the occasional episode, however, during which Ryan’s entire life is called into question, and readers are forced to face the facts: what on the surface makes for a very humorous and lighthearted sitcom represents, in actuality, something very dark and troubling. Episodes such as these can involve Ryan opening the door to his basement only to reveal that there is no

basement at all, but rather only a closet; discovering that a dream he’s been having is actually his reality or being visited by Wilfred’s notorious and possibly imaginary friend Bruce (Dwight Yoakam). Although these episodes are by no means devoid of the humor and quirks that are trademarks of the show, the unanswerable questions that they throw into sharp light can make them less pleasant to watch. Viewers are no doubt left reeling in contemplations of Ryan’s various possible realities. Did Ryan actually succeed in killing himself in the first episode and is currently in the afterlife? Has Ryan been hallucinating, smoking away his life in a possibly imaginary basement by himself? Does Ryan have magical powers that allow him to speak to animals? Heavy as these episodes may be, their existence is necessary to keep the series moving; the plot needs to be driven by more than an ongoing gag reel of dog jokes, and these episodes provide a catalyst without providing viewers with any answers.

“Wilfred” is a show worth watching because although it has the buddy comedy component that makes it so enjoyable to watch and causes the characters to be so lovable, there’s much more to it than that. There is a depth to this show that viewers are constantly aware of, and it comes hand in hand with a goose-bump-eliciting sense of doom for the characters that viewers cannot shake. So, is Ryan dead? Or is he simply mad?

We will probably never know, but I, for one, am glad we won’t, if that means we can hang out with Ryan and Wilfred in his imaginary basement for seasons to come, smoking out of a Gatorade bong.

6

Arts & Living

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Allegedly the most 'authentic' Chinese restaurant in town, Amherst Chinese is known for its fresh, locally grown vegetables. However, the items on its menu are hit-or-miss. Luckily, it is a lot more affordable for lunch.

A favorite for students looking for a place to study, Rao's is known for its delicious coffee and selection of baked goods.

However, it does get overcrowded during popular hours.

This Persian/Mediterranean restaurant serves great food (some favorites are the hummus, gyros, and lemonade) and features cozy, exotic dĂŠcor.

Cheap Chinese food that is too heavy and oily to be authentic.

However, this restaurant is still popular among students because it is convenient for large groups and offers scorpion bowls, which are a favorite among students who can drink legally.

Are you Cali kids missing In-N-Out? White Hut has the best burger you'll find at Amherst: they're juicy, fresh and cooked in front of you. Additional patties and cheese can be added to suit your hunger.

Arigato is the place to get sushi in town. However, the portions are small for the price, the food is average and the wait is long.

Pay-per-pound froyo, so you can add as many toppings as you want.

Classy atmosphere, and if you're lucky, you might spot Judie herself around the establishment. The popovers with apple butter are a favorite.

This is the restaurant to go with your parents during Family Weekend.

8SJUJOH CZ /JDPMF $IJ Managing A&L Editor

.BQ CZ $MBSB :PPO Managing A&L Editor

It's not just ice-cream â&#x20AC;&#x201D; there's also cookies and other delicious desserts that are well worth the price.

A must-visit for any Amherst student! With fun, creative topping combinations such as tri-color tortellini, black bean avocado and chicken quesadilla, you are sure to find a slice (or many) that satisfies your cravings. This establishment is especially crowded on Friday nights, when they sell cheese pizza for a dollar a slice. Hot cheese up front!

The food is good, but it's not authentic. It's basically an inferior version of Chipotle, but they have great quesadillas.

Come here for great bagels!

Their breakfast sandwiches are satisfying and they have many creative bagel sandwiches. They also serve decent coffee.

Delicious Vietnamese food at affordable prices. The menu is very extensive, with a large selection of noodles, curries, as well as meat, seafood and veggie dishes. The pho, which is a favorite, is big enough for two to share. There are exotic drinks and desserts for the more adventurous.

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Arts & Living 7

The closest Indian restaurant to campus, Paradise of India serves food that is pricey but good.

Good sandwiches, decent selfserve coffee and a nice beverages, although some of the breads run out quickly. A good place to hang out.

The best place for brunch. They have lots of vegetarian and vegan options and delicious challah french toast.

A favorite for vegans and vegetarians, although they also have a good selection for the carnivorous as well. This little fusion place sells sandwiches, soups (try the turkish lentil!), delicious stews and more.

A haven for the Asian community at Amherst, this teahouse offers a wide selection of bubble teas, ice crushes and hot Asian snacks. You can personalize your drinks by choosing your own toppings and even the percentage sweetness!

Good Asian food for the price.

The rice is a lot better than what they serve at Val.

Great, cozy atmosphere and expensive, albeit delicious, Italian food.

Known for their delectable tea rolls, Fresh Side serves a wide variety of Asian fusion food and has generous portions for its prices. However, some of the items on the menu are not as good, and the tea rolls can be dry and bland if you choose the wrong flavor (the pad thai tea rolls are a favorite). The Vietnamese coffee is delicious!

With flavors of frozen yogurt that switch on a regular basis, loyal customers frequent this shop. The kiddie size is cheap and enough for a quick snack. Customers must pay per topping.

The most authentic Mexican joint in town offers more than just burritos and tacos (though they do those well, too) at pretty manageable prices. Go with a group and sit outside while the weather is still warm, and make sure to try the Horchata!

Although slightly pricier than the other coffee shops in town, some argue that the quality of their drinks makes it worth the extra bucks.

4 Opinion

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The World, Seen: On Beauty and Women Zach Bleemer ’13 Managing A&L Editor

When you call a woman beautiful, what are you saying about her?

Any number of factors could go into beauty’s assignation. In the case of works of art, for instance, beauty could result from symmetries and harmonies, artistic skill and handicraft, poignancy of theme or the work’s placement and ambiance. When people call art beautiful, they could be referring to any or all of those qualities.

Feminine beauty, though, involves a different league of complication. In particular, beauty politics abound.

Here is an example. You are chatting with a friend, and a woman whom you both know walks up wearing noticeable amounts of make-up and a new dress. Your friend gushes that the woman looks beautiful, and she blushes and looks pleased. You, of course, follow suit, and the woman responds by complimenting your own looks, usually “handsome” for men and “beautiful” for women, or maybe just “great”.

Now, to start with the obvious: you probably would have followed your friend’s lead no matter what the woman looked like, and her response was similarly socially necessitated. No one expects those comments to have much real content; they are empty greetings of mutual appreciation. Often, entire conversations occur in such necessitated manners, without any transfer of information beyond the ex-

pressed willingness to spend time with each other (communicated by no one’s leaving to go talk to another person in the room).

Nevertheless, the initial claim made by your friend about the woman’s beauty might have really been heartfelt. I want to look at those moments: the moments before reflexive agreements and returned compliments, the ones that occur before the beauty politics that have emptied the cache of one of our most powerful words.

The most cynical evaluation of that first claim, the “you look beautiful, Fill-in-person’s-name-here!” that brings a new person into the sanctioned conversation fold, would be that it is an exclamation of appreciation for the work that the woman put into her appearance. “You look beautiful,” then, would really mean, “I see that you spent some time making yourself look like you do now, and I commend you for spending that time and doing those things that many people unconsciously expect women to do before they present themselves!”

Sometimes, I think that is exactly what people mean when they call a woman beautiful. It works in equilibrium, from both sides: people spend time preparing themselves for others to see them, and then make others happy by acknowledging the time that the others have put into doing the same thing; in return, people receive the same acknowledgements from others, and the system self-perpetu-

ates.

A similar story could be told about beauty as a word of attraction, with beauty serving as a fill-in term for a more complicated, socially constructed (and in this case sexually construed) compliment. However, these explanations fail to capture what it means to look beautiful in the first place, focusing on reactions rather than evaluations; neither really has anything to do with beauty at all. We can do better.

A second pass at the phrase “you look beautiful!” might reference the traditional systems of beauty discussed by writers of aesthetics. Plato would suggest that the woman somehow exemplifies heavenly perfection of form, while the Neo-Platonists would claim that her perfection turns your thoughts to moral goodness and perhaps to the heavens themselves.

The two great aesthetic thinkers of the Enlightenment, David Hume and Immanuel Kant, would take opposing stances: Hume would argue that you are noting the woman’s ability to illustrate culturally defined tastes, while Kant would counter that you are in fact taking pleasure in the woman’s form conforming to your unconscious expectations about women’s forms in general.

Such a list of writers, of course, could go on ad infinitum, and continues expanding today. One intention of this column is to explore those various historical discussions of beauty, looking to the past to shine light on today’s

ever-more-thorny aesthetic questions.

However, without going into considerably detail, none would be very helpful for our example. Instead, for the time being, I turn to what seems to me to be the fundamental building block underlying all of these various philosophies, its place of convergence hidden in technical vocabulary and arcane propositions: value.

People value beautiful things. Indeed, the economic value of beauty, as seen in the art market, cosmetics market and photography market, among others, is enormous, but I will leave that subject for another time. When a person says, “You look beautiful,” they are making a claim that extends beyond their own beliefs. They are not saying, “You look just like I like people to look,” or “I take pleasure in your looks, but I do not expect anyone else to”. Instead, I think that they are saying, “There is something about you, something real and outside-of-me and good, that I value, and I am expressing that value to you so that you know that you are being valued.”

The question of the objectivity and subjectivity of beauty, or of whether beauty is “in the eye of the beholder,” is contorted and difficult, and will be the subject of a later column.

Still, no matter which you believe, the claim that people value beauty and beauty’s existence in the world holds true. Elaine Scarry, Professor of Aesthetics at Harvard, phrases the argument this way: imagine two worlds, one in which there was a beautiful

cave that you would never see, and the other in which there was no such cave.

Wouldn’t you want the cave to be there, even if you never saw it? Wouldn’t you think that it was good for the world to hold more beauty, even if it was outside of your individual experience?

Scarry’s line of questioning above implies that the creation and propagation of beauty might offer just the sort of exogenous value that people seek in asking that ubiquitous question: “What is the meaning of life?”. On this interpretation, we call a woman beautiful for the same reason that we call a work of art, natural landscape, piece of music, work of literature or swing of a baseball bat beautiful: because we believe that the world is a better, more fit place for people to live given its existence.

I am a philosophy major writing a senior thesis on Immanuel Kant and Kantian aesthetics. I intend to use this column to explain some of the intricacies and inner workings of beauty illuminated by focusing on beauty as a field of study, with the hope of providing something that interests, teaches and nourishes. I think that beauty fascinates people, and I want to write this column in order to share some of my personal fascination. In a sentence: this column will examine beauty through current events and campus happenings, picking it apart piece by piece and object by object in an attempt to explain beauty’s value and clarify beauty’s inherent importance to human life. I hope you will enjoy.

Break Out of the Amherst Bubble Nicole Chi ’15 Managing A&L Editor

The temptation for students to stay on or near Amherst’s picturesque campus can be great, especially for first-years who are not yet accustomed to the school and surrounding town. However, the areas surrounding Amherst include many fun destinations that are prime spots for students to explore. Next time you have a free weekend, try going to these places.

Puffer’s Pond offers a picturesque, bucolic setting for swimming, birding, canoeing, picnicking and more. As a part of a conservation area, the pond is also surrounded by trails for those who like walking in the woods. It is beautiful in every season. To find this beautiful location, head north up E. Pleasant Street, past UMass to Sand Hill Rd.

Atkins Farm

Image courtesy of goose-egg.blogspot.com

Image courtesy of seriouseats.com

Image courtesy of blueoutdoor.com

A scenic hangout for students looking to relax and enjoy nature away from campus,

The Montague Bookmill

Hampshire Mall

Puffer’s Pond

Image courtesy of blog.masslive.com

stores that are located in or near the mall. Take Bus 43 from the bus stop in front of Converse)

Go to Hampshire Mall to meet your shopping needs. Although not great for clothes shopping, you can find necessities for your dorm and lifestyle at Target, Best Buy, JCPenney, Game Stop, Trader Joe’s and other chain

Atkins Farm is a locally-owned and -operated apple orchard and country food market. It’s a must-visit for those looking to stock up their fridge with fresh veggies, cider and (of course) apples! The fresh donuts they sell in their bakery in the fall are also not to be missed. To get there, head over to the corner of Route 116 and Bay Road just south of Amherst.

Luckily, Atkins Farm also has a stand at the Farmer’s Market every Saturday on the Town Common for those who are too lazy to make the trek down the road for produce.

A cozy used bookstore housed in a 19th-century gristmill, the Montague Bookstore is a great place to visit for students who want to spend the afternoon poring over old, wellloved pages of literary favorites. In addition to thousands of half-priced books, the bookstore also offers a collection of cute t-shirts, mugs, bookbags and bumper stickers. Also situated in the Mill is an antique shop, an art studio, the Lady Killigrew Café, the Night Kitchen Restaurant (absurdly good but very expensive) and the Turn it Up! independent music store.

Northampton

Image courtesy of media.photobucket.com

Northampton features a bevy of restaurants, shops and musical venues, and is definitely worth exploring. Try Sylvester’s and Jake’s for breakfast! Other recommended places to eat include: Haymarket Café, Joy Burger, Herrells, Zen, Spoleto and La Fiorentina. For musical acts, go to Pearl Street Nightclub or the Iron Horse Music Hall. Take Bus 43 to get there.

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Sports 9

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

Field Hockey Hoping to Take NESCAC Leap Kevin Hoogstraten ’15 Contributing Writer Coming off one of the best years in school history, field hockey looks primed to continue their success this season with a strong group of returning players. The Lord Jeffs were three wins away from a national title last year, and they’ll try to improve on that mark while playing a challenging NESCAC schedule.

The team has shown steady improvement over the past couple of seasons and took a major step forward last year. After ending a nine-year drought by making the NCAA tournament in 2009, the Lord Jeffs returned to the NCAA’s again in 2011. Head coach Carol Knerr credits this success in part to team chemistry: “We have worked hard to establish a culture of hard work and a positive team dynamic. These are qualities the team takes great pride in.”

Last year, the Lord Jeffs advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals for the second time in program history, only to fall to a tough Middlebury team. The team outshot the Panthers 14-8 and held a 16-5 advantage in penalty corners but couldn’t find the net, suffering a 1-0 loss.

The Lord Jeffs return three of their top four goal scorers from that historic squad in Katie McMahon ’13, Krista Zsitvay ’14 and Alex Phillie ’14, who combined for over half of the team’s points.

The team will be solid at the back as well, with netminder Rachel Tannenbaum ’15 returning from a season that saw her win NESCAC Rookie of the Year honors on the strength of eight shutouts and a .072 GAA. This year’s team should be further boosted by first-years looking to make instant contributions

to the team. “We have a talented first-year class and we are hoping some will step up and make an immediate impact,” Knerr said.

The Lord Jeffs’ stiffest competition may well come from inside the NESCAC, which Knerr calls “arguably the strongest conference in Division III” and has five teams in the top 15 of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) preseason poll. Bowdoin has won three of the last five NCAA championships and enters the season ranked second, while Tufts and Trinity come in at 14th and 15th.

“Every game is a battle and the difficult regular season schedule helps to prepare us for competitive post season play,” Knerr said.

Middlebury, which played spoiler in both the NESCAC and NCAA championships for Amherst, sits in the number three spot after falling in the NCAA championship game last year, and the 12th-ranked Lord Jeffs will look to avenge last year’s season-ending loss on Sept. 23 when they travel to Vermont to face the Panthers.

“I think we are very excited for redemption against Middlebury, Hamilton and Bowdoin [the only teams to defeat the Lord Jeffs last year] specifically,” said co-captain McMahon ’13, who also noted that “we try to approach each game with the same level of energy and excitement regardless of the opponent.”

With an established culture of success, the team is ready to continue chasing postseason accomplishments. “I think we are really hoping to pick up from where we left off last fall and continue on our upward trajectory, which includes the pursuit to succeed in the NCAA and NESCAC tournaments,” McMahon ’13 said.

Firedogs Eager to Fire Up Another Big Year Karl Greenblatt ’15 Managing Sports Editor The women’s volleyball team, or Firedogs as they like to be called, are hoping to build on a 2011 campaign that saw them finish 20-7 and grind their way to the No. 5 seed in the NESCAC tournament.

The highlight of the regular season was undoubtedly their come-from-behind victory over Williams, in which Amherst prevailed, 3-2, after trailing by a 2-0 score.

In the quarterfinal round of the conference championship, the Amherst women fell to Trinity, 3-1, despite a strong effort from stalwart Cristy Meier ’12.

In all, ten Firedogs were named to the Fall 2011 All-Academic team, with Kristin Keeno ’13 also being selected to the All-District Academic First Team. Notably, the squad posted a perfect 8-0 record in home matches.

Head Coach Sue Everden will certainly be hard-pressed to replace the recently graduated tandem of Meier and KC Kanoff ’12, but she will be counting on Keeno, the 2011 conference leader in digs per set, to set the pace.

Joining Keeno in leadership roles will be senior co-captains Abigail Hunter and Emily Waterhouse as well as setter Callie Neilson. If the Firedogs are to contend for a NESCAC title, they will also need contributions from their crop of four first-years, including Lizzie Ahern and Nicole Carter.

The team opens NESCAC play with a trip to Bowdoin on Sept. 14, followed closely by matches against Tufts and their 2011 nemesis, Trinity.

The weekend of Oct. 12-13 is a particularly critical one as the team squares off against conference rivals Middlebury and Williams. By all accounts, Amherst is poised to post another 20win season, and they should be as ready as ever to make a run at another league title.

Emily Dickinson Museum welcomes the Class of 2016

Free admission for Amherst College students, staff, and faculty Open Wednesdays-Sundays 280 Main Street, Amherst (just 2 blocks north of Valentine)

Niahlah Hope ’15 Public Affairs Office

Joey Fritz ’14 earned All-American status for his singles play last year.

Tennis Teams Ride Spring Momentum into the Fall Dan Alford ’14 Contributing Writer MEN Ranked No. 1 in ITA’s preseason rankings and set to defend their 2011 National Champion crown, the men’s tennis team rode the success of the 2010-2011 season into the 2012 season, as they started the year off with 13 straight wins.

The team continued its strong play throughout the spring, compiling an impressive record of 27-2 heading into the NESCAC tournament.

With a perfect 8-0 conference record, Amherst earned the NESCAC’s top seed and defeated Bowdoin for the NESCAC title. The Jeffs cruised through Nichols and Vassar in the early rounds of the NCAA tourney until they fell to an upstart Washington-St. Louis squad, 5-3. Despite the loss, Amherst still finished with an impressive 31-3 record.

The program also made history as Luis Rattenhuber ’12 and Austin Chafetz ’12 went on to win the NCAA doubles tournament, making them the first doubles champs in Amherst men’s tennis history. The dominating duo defeated Carnegie Mellon, Cal Lutheran and Johns Hopkins, before coming back against a strong Gustavus Adolphus doubles team to win the title in three sets.

Despite these accolades, the Jeffs are motivated to bounce back from last year’s disappointing quarterfinals loss and get back on top. Junior Chris Dale remarked, “I think everyone will be hungry this year to try to get back to number one in the country.”

That said, getting there will be tough, as the program is losing starters Chafetz, Rattenhuber, Wes Waterman ’12 and Andrew Jung ’13.

Also graduating are seniors Robby Sorrel, Julian Camacho, Sam Sperling and Chris Morrison.

The team is returning many top players, including Mark Kahan ’13, Surain Asokaraj ’13, Joey Fritz ’14, Dale ’14, Eli Mlaver ’14, Justin Reindel ’14 and Jon Cypers ’15. First-Years fighting for spots include Birk Mitau, Andrew Yaraghi, Aaron Revzin, Philip Qu, Carlos DeBracamonte, Russell Einbinder, Ben Fife and Michael Solimano.

The Jeffs look prepared for a strong fall and will be lead by senior co-captains Kahan, Asokaraj, Matt Lerner ’13, Will Rives ’13, and Daniel Keolasy ’13.

Although Amherst lost many strong starters, Kahan believes, “we have a lot of talented freshmen coming in, and I really think that our team has a lot of potential to do damage this fall season.”

The fall season begins with ITA Regionals at Williams from Sept. 28-30. The Jeffs then square off with Johns Hopkins on Oct. sixth and Carnegie Mellon Oct. seventh. Amherst will finish its fall season with matches against MIT and Wesleyan the weekend of Oct. 12-13.

Head Coach Chris Garner hopes the program provides students “an opportunity to have a great

athletic experience this fall.” Despite losing a lot of talent, this year’s strong incoming class, combined with key returning players, should certainly help pave the way for a successful fall.

WOMEN Entering the 2011-2012 season ranked No. 2 in the country, women’s tennis started off somewhat slowly, going 8-3 in its first 11 matches. The team found its stride in the spring, rattling off an impressive winning streak including two strong victories over rival Middlebury. Amherst would go on to upset then-top-ranked Williams in the NESCAC championships, 5-2, and secure a berth in the NCAA tournament.

The team cruised through their first two opponents in NCAAs, sweeping SUNY Geneseo and Skidmore College. Amherst then faced a strong Carnegie Mellon squad in the quarterfinals, but Caroline Richman ’13 broke through a 4-4 tie and secured the win. The Lady Jeffs fell short of a second consecutive appearance in the final four, dropping a 5-1 decision to the University of Chicago in the NCAA semifinals.

Still, the team compiled a solid 18-5 mark, including 6-1 in the NESCAC. Amherst also ended on a high note in doubles, as Laura Danzig ’12 and Gabby Devlin ’14 roared back against Emory to win the Division III women’s doubles tournament in three sets. Their victory gives the women’s tennis program four doubles crowns, which is good for the second most in Division III history.

Amherst enters the fall having lost one of its best players last year in Laura Danzig. Danzig will graduate fresh off an NCAA doubles title and as a three-year All-American in singles and doubles. The program also loses seniors Kim Snyder and Ashley McCall. However, the Jeffs still look primed for another impressive season, bringing back Devlin, the other half of the championship doubles team, as well as other top players including Richman ’13, Jordan Brewer ’14, Jennifer Newman ’14, Zoe Pangalos ’14 and Safaa Aly ’15.

Brewer, who had appendicitis before last year’s NESCACs and still took home the national doubles title, should be primed for another impressive season.

Though losing three seniors, the squad anticipates the addition of five first-years, Suhasini Ghosh, Lara Min, Sarah Monteagudo, Rebecca Pol and Madeline Sung.

Returning many of its top players, the Lady Jeffs are eager to defend their NESCAC title and are reloaded for an impressive fall. The class of 2016 will also look to carve out roles for the squad.

Senior co-captain Sarah Nyirjesy noted,“This should be a very successful year, with a team full of hard workers who love the sport!”

The women begin the fall season at MIT with ITA Championships from Sept. 28-30. Amherst then hosts Williams on Oct 6 and wraps up the fall season with the NEWITT tournament, as the Lady Jeffs face off against Mt. Holyoke and Smith College.

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FALL SPORTS PREVIEW Women’s Soccer Primed for NESCAC Success Coming off their best season ever, the Jeffs are favorites to win the conference

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Forward Chloe McKenzie ’14 netted ten goals in a breakout sophomore season and will again be a centerpiece to the Jeffs’ offensive success.

Andrew Kurzweil ’15 Staff Writer What a difference a year makes.

In 2010, the women’s soccer team struggled to an 8-7-2 record, finished middle of the table in the NESCAC and did not qualify for the NCAA tournament.

In 2011, the Lord Jeffs won the NESCAC with a perfect 17-0 season and made a deep run in the

NCAA tournament, falling to eventual winner Messiah, 3-1, in the Sweet Sixteen.

Will the 2012 Lord Jeffs build upon their 2011 performance and cement themselves as one of the top teams in the NESCAC or will they revert to their 2010 form? This season will go a long way in determining the direction of the program.

While a lot of things will be different about the 2012 team, thankfully the woman patrolling the sideline remains the same.

Coach Jen Hughes enters her ninth season as coach of the Lord Jeffs and has posted an impressive 92-28-19 record during her time at the helm.

Last season, Hughes garnered NESCAC and NSCAA New England Coach of the Year honors.

The biggest change between the Amherst team of the past two years stems from the changing roster.

“We have different personnel, different chemistry and a different dynamic,” Hughes said.

“With this new team, we’re hoping to build on last year’s success.”

Amherst watched six key seniors graduate, almost all of whom started or played heavy minutes for the Jeffs.

“The main difference lies in the fact that we graduated a large group of seniors last year, who, as a group, were inspirational leaders,” captain Kate Sisk ’14 said.

But with their depth, large team size, and talent pool, the Jeffs seem well equipped to fill the voids left both on and off the field.

“We have a new senior class who is already stepping up to lead this team and drive this season,” Sisk said.

One player who will be counted on heavily for both is co-captain Kathryn Nathan ’13. Named NESCAC Co-Player of the year last year, Nathan’s ability to control a game from the midfield was equally important as her nine goals and nine assists.

Also earning All-American nods last season, Nathan must continue to control the field if the Jeffs want to make another NCAA run.

Only Sarah Duffy ’14 posted more points than Nathan last year with 14 goals and ten assists, and she too will be crucial to the team’s offense.

While the two hope to connect frequently with each other and forward Chloe McKenzie ’14 (ten goals last year), they also are the first to acknowledge that soccer is a team challenge that requires organization from back to front to win

games.

Nathan seems confident that they have replaced their senior losses. “We will find strength in the depth of our team,” she said.

Amherst welcomes a strong recruiting class to help cope with the losses of its graduating class, all of whom are eager to make an impact from day one.

The strength of this year’s team appears to be its offensive prowess. The Jeffs like to score goals early and often. When they will be most susceptible is on the other side of the ball.

“We return almost all of our scoring from last year, so hopefully our offense will be strong again,” Hughes said.

“We graduated our starting goalkeeper and two of our starting backs, so we will be somewhat inexperienced in the back. But, we have a lot of talented returners and some strong incoming players who will undoubtedly fortify our defense.”

It is clear there will be a lot of changes between the two teams, but that doesn’t mean the 2012 team won’t channel the 2011 team in some aspects.

“Our biggest strength this year is our confidence. Having traveled deep into the NCAA tournament last year, we know we can compete with the top teams,” Sisk said.

A lot of their success came from their one game at a time mentality. Hughes will not allow players to look ahead in the schedule, but instead only focus on the game at hand.

They will focus on each game as it comes and hopefully, at the end of the year, the games will add up to an improvement on their 2011 season.

With a consistantly strong conference and perennial threats Williams and Middlebury gunning for them, it will be hard to top, but the 2012 Jeffs seem poised to try.

The Jeffs open their season on Sept. 12 against Mt Holyoke.

Men’s Soccer Revamps its Explosive Offense The return of James Mooney ’13E will make the Jeffs even more dangerous Brenton Arnaboldi ’14 Staff Writer Bolstered by the return of core offensive players, the men’s soccer team looks to recapture the NESCAC title this season. Led by dynamic attacking players in as Spencer Noon ’13, Jae Heo ’14 and James Mooney ’13E, the Jeffs enter the season ranked sixth in the nation, well ahead of their NESCAC rivals (the only other ranked team is Wesleyan, at No. 24).

Last year, the Jeffs enjoyed one of the best seasons in program history, posting a 16-2-2 overall record. In the process, Amherst won its second-ever NESCAC title. Entering the tournament as the No. 1 seed, the Jeffs defeated Middlebury in a 2-1 OT thriller in the semifinals before dismantling Trinity 2-0 in the championship game.

Having qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive year, the Jeffs advanced to the Round of 16 before losing 2-1 to Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ) to end the season. Amherst also lost to Stevens in the program’s first Final Four appearance in 2008.

Under the guidance of fiery head coach Justin Serpone, the Jeffs have developed into a legitimate NCAA title contender. Coaches and players attribute the program’s long-term success to the team’s culture — characterized

by intensity, hard work, accountability and an undying passion for soccer.

“We feel like our greatest strength is in our team character and culture,” Serpone said. “I believe in this group of players as much as many people I’ve ever been around.”

The team’s pervasive commitment to excellence has translated into stellar performances on the field. In 2011, the Jeffs prolific attack scorched opposing defenses on a consistent basis, scoring 2.50 goals per game. In comparison, no other NESCAC team averaged more than 1.85 goals last season.

Out of the 50 goals Amherst scored in 2011, 49 were scored by players who are returning this season. If all the pieces fall into place, the Jeffs could emerge as one of the most dangerous offensive teams in recent NESCAC history.

Last season, returning forwards Noon and Heo formed the league’s most productive attacking duo, combining for 24 of the team’s 50 goals in 2011. Noon, the NESCAC’s top scorer with 15 goals, was named the 2011 NESCAC Player of the Year, while Heo (nine goals) also earned All-NESCAC accolades.

Other returning attackers include Alejandro Sucre ’13 and Federico Sucre ’13. The Venezuelan twins — both 6’5” — thrived on set pieces, using their height to beat opponents to headers in the air. Alejandro, a co-captain

this season, scored six goals while Federico notched four of his own in 2011.

The return of wing midfielder James Mooney should further ignite the Jeffs offense. Mooney was Amherst’s second leading scorer in 2010 (eight goals), but torn ankle ligaments sidelined the speedy midfielder for all of 2011. The following spring, Mooney decided to postpone graduation in large part because of his desire to play a full senior soccer season.

“It’s an incredible feeling to come back to Amherst and have a second chance at a senior soccer season,” Mooney said. “I learned a lot from being on the sidelines all of last season and have a much greater appreciation for the privilege of getting to put on an Amherst jersey and compete.”

While the team returns much of last year’s offensive firepower, the defense remains a bit of a question mark.

While blowing away the competition in offensive statistics, the Jeffs finished closer to the middle-of-the-pack in defense, conceding 0.75 goals per game (tied for fourth in the NESCAC). In addition, the departures of goalkeeper Lennard Kovacs ’12 and center defender Sam Kaplan ’12 have left voids in the team’s defense.

“The bottom line is that we need to give up less goals,” Serpone said. “We graduated two important defensive pieces in Sam Kaplan and Lennard Ko-

vacs, so it’s going to be important to get on the same page defensively early in the season.”

The Jeffs will be counting on firstyear Thomas Bull to excel as the new starting goalkeeper. “He’s talented, and we expect him to do a great job this season,” Serpone said.

As a possession-based team, Amherst boasts one of the most skilled backlines in the NESCAC. Outside backs Julien Aoyama ’14 and Chris Lerner ’13 routinely join the attack on the wings, while center defender Ben Norton ’14 scored five goals last year. The Jeffs feature a talented midfield as well, with Brendan Caslin ’14, Max Fikke ’14, Casey McNamara ’13 and Milton

Rico ’15 all looking to make a significant impact this season.

This year’s team also owns plenty of experience, with nine seniors and 24 returning players, all of whom have bought into Coach Serpone’s disciplined, energetic approach to the game.

“We have a lot of older guys on this team who have great relationships with one another and who know what it takes to be a great teammate on and off the field,” Lerner said.

The Jeffs open the season with two non-league road matches against Colby-Sawyer and Bridgewater State this upcoming weekend (Sept. 8-9). Amherst begins its NESCAC title defense with a road game at Bates on Sept. 15.

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WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Sports 11 by Emmett Knowlton ’15

In case you spent too much time on C-Level last year or arrived just this week (welcome, class of 2016!), here’s all you need to know about Amherst’s athletic success last season: we dominated. I admit, the NESCAC isn’t the SEC and Pratt Field isn’t the Big House (at least not yet), but eight conference titles and three National Players of the Year isn’t too shabby on any level, especially when you consider the size of the school. And you have every reason to believe the Jeffs will continue to rack up the hardware this year, especially in the fall.

With Memorial Hill-sprints and two-a-days soon concluding, The Student compiled a list of important players and games to keep an eye out for this fall.

The Superstar Seniors

Spencer Noon

Keri Lambert

Landrus Lewis

Katie McMahon

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Megan Robertson ’15 Public Affairs Office

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Megan Robertson ’15 Public Affairs Office

Amherst’s all-time leader in goals (35) and points (83) seemed unstoppable as a junior, so who knows what he’s capable of this season.

He may very well break the only record he doesn’t already hold: 16 single-season goals.

And in case you’re scoring at home, the over/ under on a Noon bicycle-kick goal this season is set at 2. Take the over.

The Amherst native took second at both Little III’s and NESCACs last fall before placing fifth overall at NCAAs. After winning the 3k Steeplechase at Nationals last spring, Lambert looks primed for another impressive, if not dominant, fall. Look out for her in the bird sanctuary, she’ll be moving a little faster than you.

The cornerback and return-specialist is easily the most exciting player in the ’CAC and the anchor of the Jeffs’ defense, leading the team with 41 tackles and four picks — including a game-clinching end zone interception in the fourth quarter against Trinity. He also led the league in puntreturn average (13.2), and brought one home for 76 yards at Colby.

McMahon already leads the program in points (120) and assists (30) and needs only three goals this fall to give her the most ever as a Jeff. A preseason favorite for NESCAC Player of the Year, the senior captain will be crucial in helping the team take down Middlebury and Bowdoin en route to their first conference title.

The Must-Attends

Men’s Soccer vs. Hamilton

Women’s Soccer vs. Williams

Volleyball vs. Williams

Field Hockey vs. Bowdoin

Football vs. Williams

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The Jeffs begin their NESCAC-title defense at home against the Continentals, whom they beat 1-0 last fall. In case the 6’5 Sucre twins (see Ale above) and Spencer Noon’s acrobatic goals aren’t enough of a reason to head down to Hitchcock Field, go at least to watch Coach Serpone pace the sidelines like an expecting father.

Last season’s NESCAC final was easily the most exciting game of the fall as the Jeffs scored twice in the final two minutes to beat Williams, 2-1, win the conference AND keep their perfect season alive. Expect the teams’ first meeting since to be just as exciting, as Williams will be gunning for revenge.

The Firedogs (note to the class of 2016: for some reason, volleyball has its own mascot) edged the Ephs last season in a come-from-behind fiveset thriller. In a sport where the crowd has an especially large influence on the outcome of the game, you better believe LeFrak will be LOUD for this one.

In search of their first NESCAC title, the Jeffs take on defending champs Bowdoin in a crucial conference matchup. Last season, the Polar Bears edged Amherst, 2-1, in penalty strokes. Goalie Kayla Tannenbaum ’15 led Div. III with a .901 save percentage last season (as a first-year, casually).

If you seriously need convincing for this one, here are some fun facts: since the building of Pratt Field in 1891, the Jeffs hold a 28-27-3 edge over the Ephs.

With renovations to the field starting at the end of the season, Amherst looks to close out Pratt Field with a final W. Word on the street is Biddy will be painting her face for this one.

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Lord Jeffs Ready to Repeat NESCAC Perfection It will be hard to replace 18 seniors, but the class of 2013 may be even better Varun Iyengar ’14 Sports Section Editor It was perfection last year for the football team, going 8-0 en route to their second-ever NESCAC title. The program — which had never won a conference championship before 2009 — has transformed under the leadership of Coach E.J. Mills.

With two perfect seasons in the last three years, the Lord Jeffs have risen to the top of the NESCAC, going 22-2 in their last three seasons.

But with that success comes expectation.

The team has lost a number of veterans from last year and will have to see younger players step up to fill the void. The Jeffs have the talent to compete and will be attempting to successfully defend their NESCAC title for the first time in the program’s history.

Success, though, certainly will not be easy.

The team faces a number of obstacles, the most concerning of which is undoubtedly their youth. The program graduated 18 seniors last year, who made up the most successful class in Amherst history.

Over their four years, the Class of 2012 went 27-5, including two perfect seasons and NESCAC Championships.

Of those graduates, Amherst will face the biggest void at the quarterback and running back positions, where Brian McMahon and Eric Bunker, respectively, proved to be two of the best in the conference.

Last year, Bunker set the record for the most touchdowns in a season, barreling into the end zone an impressive 12 times in eight games. Not to be forgotten, kicker Matt Rawson was also instrumental to the program’s success. The best kicker in Amherst history, Rawson set records for single-season pointsafter-touchdowns, career scoring and career field goals.

Of course, the Jeffs return many key players as well. John Ceccio ’13 has anchored one of the best offensive lines in the NESCAC for three years, paving the way for a fast-paced offense and potent running game. Ceccio is a

two-time All-NESCAC First Team selection and has already been named to the 2012 Preseason All-America team.

It remains to be seen who starts at running back but a strong line will surely allow Amherst to build upon last year’s ground game, which ranked second in both yards per game and total touchdowns.

On the other side of the ball, three rising seniors will anchor the defensive line. Middle linebackers Sam Clark and Matt Pieterse form a tough tandem at the line of scrimmage.

The two combined for 140 tackles last season and will hope to replicate that success this year. Bolstering the secondary, Landrus Lewis will look to build on his most successful collegiate season.

Named to the All-NESCAC First Team last year, Lewis made his mark as one of the best

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Senior captain Landrus Lewis had 41 tackles and four picks last year.

defensive backs in the NESCAC. Lewis also led the NESCAC in yards per return (13.2) as the Jeffs’ return specialist. Behind these stalwarts, Amherst will hope to lock down on defense and take some pressure off of the offense.

In fact, that defensive success may be even more important this season with many key offensive roles in flux.

Most conspicuously, the team has a big gap to fill at quarterback. This, though, is not new territory for the Jeffs. Just last year, McMahon was injured in the preseason and was held out of Amherst’s first four games, but backup Blake Grauer ’12 stepped up and delivered four wins. It was a testament to the team’s depth, and Amherst will surely rely on the same talent this year to make up for the lack of experience.

This year, sophomore Max Lippe and junior D.J. Petropulos appear to be the preseason favorites to take over the starting QB job, though neither has had much exposure to the collegiate game. Petropulos has taken only six snaps in two games — though his completion rate is 100 percent — while Lippe saw no action as a first-year.

Coach Mills, for one, has confidence that offensive assignments will work themselves out. “[Last year’s] seniors leave a huge void, but we’re not bare. We’re going to have a good competition at quarterback, and we have a great group of guys ready to step up and take on leadership roles. They’ve enjoyed success, but now it’s their turn to put their stamp on the program. I’m excited to see what they can do.”

It remains to be seen how this team will take shape, but with strong young talent and the leadership of Mills, this team has certainly the potential to put together another impressive season.

Much of this, of course, will remain speculation until the regular season begins on Sept.

22.

The Jeffs’ start their 2012 campaign by playing host to Hamilton, but then face a tough stretch on the road against Bowdoin and Middlebury. Two perennially strong pro-

grams, the Polar Bears and Panthers will be important road tests for the Jeffs to see what this team is capable of.

Amherst also faces a grueling finish to the season, playing away at Trinity before closing out the season at Homecoming against Williams. Trinity has not lost at their home field since 2001 and has won 15 of the last 23 matchups against the Jeffs.

Williams, who beat the Jeffs at Pratt Field the last time they visited in 2010, will also not be a cakewalk. With renovations starting on Pratt Field after the season, the Jeffs will try to end their successful run on Pratt Field with a win.

Despite a tough schedule, the Jeffs seem up for the challenge. Over the past three years this core group of seniors has proven to be the best in the NESCAC and will carry that momentum into this season. With so many new faces and some big shoes to fill, the team certainly has a lot of questions to answer, but above all else that makes them a must-watch.

The defending champions are not a lock to win it all again. But that certainly does not mean we should count them out.

football Schedule Sat. 9/22 1 p.m.

Hamilton

Sat. 9/29 1 p.m. @Bowdoin Sat. 10/6 1:30 p.m. @Middlebury Sat. 10/13 1 p.m.

Colby Sat. 10/20 12:30 p.m. @Wesleyan Sat. 10/27 1 p.m.

Tufts (Family Weekend) Sat. 11/3 1 p.m. @Trinity Sat. 11/10 12 p.m.

Williams (Homecoming)