Issue 12

THE AMHERST

THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF AMHERST COLLEGE SINCE 1868

STUDENT VOLUME CXLVI, ISSUE 12 l WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016

Men’s Basketball Ranked No. 1 After First Four Games See Sports, Page 11 AMHERSTSTUDENT.AMHERST.EDU

NYT Columnist Speaks on Modern Conservatism Audrey Cheng ’20 Staff Writer

Photo by Takudzwa Tapfuma ’17

Around 300 students and members of the community walked out to Converse Hall on Nov. 16 at noon to protest President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed policies regarding undocumented immigrants.

Students Hold Sanctuary Campus Protest Shawna Chen ’20 Managing News Editor

On Nov. 16 at noon, hundreds of students walked out of class to the steps of Converse Hall in a demonstration against President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to “deport all criminal aliens.” Intending to declare the college a sanctuary campus — where students “commit to putting our bodies between Trump and undocumented students” — students raised signs with words such as “No human being is illegal” and chanted, “No borders, no nations, stop deportation.”

Joined by some faculty and staff and surrounded by reporters, the crowd listened as Irma Zamora ’17 read Trump’s 100-day plan and Bryan Torres ’18 relayed his experience as an undocumented immigrant in America. After Torres spoke, Dean of New Students Rick Lopez, who was unaffiliated with the student organizers, talked briefly about acknowledging antagonism and bigotry in America.

“Do not give in,” Lopez said. “Support those among us who have the most to lose.” For students with loved ones and family who have undocumented status, he said, every day is a constant state of worry. “If they don’t answer the phone, what does that mean?” he said. “Are they deported?”

He urged students to press administration, to enforce more rules and ensure that “we’re working behind the scenes to provide a kind of support and protection.”

The focus of the letter of demands, which was read to the crowd, requested that the college refuse all “voluntary sharing of records, documents, and similar materials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) / U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)” and restrict ICE’s physical access to college-owned land. It demanded that the college continue to support the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and enact its need-blind admission policy for undocumented and DACA students. The letter also asked for the college to prohibit campus police from

inquiring about or documenting an individual’s immigration status, enforcing immigration laws or working with ICE, CBP or any other policing agency.

The last request was for the college to divest from private prisons and detention centers that incarcerate immigrants. “We, as a student body, will no longer permit our college to immorally profit from the imprisonment and detention of human bodies,” the letter said.

The letter ended with writers stating that they expected a public, written response to all demands

by Monday, Nov. 28. The full letter was signed by over 300 members of the college community.

At the protest, student organizers presented the letter to President Biddy Martin, who was standing in the crowd.

“Our main goal was to have administration acknowledge and declare itself a sanctuary campus,” said Esperanza Chairez ’19, one of the organizers

Continued on Page 3

The college welcomed conservative author, blogger and op-ed columnist Ross Douthat on Nov. 16 to give a talk titled “American Conservatism and Donald Trump.” The talk, which was open to the public and livestreamed, was held in Stirn Auditorium, where Douthat spoke for 45 minutes about the history and ideology of modern conservatism and how it relates to President-elect Trump’s success. After the talk, Douthat answered questions from the audience and signed copies of his book, “Bad Religion: How America Became a Nation of Heretics.”

Currently the youngest regular op-ed columnist in the history of The New York Times, Douthat is a former senior editor and blogger at The Atlantic and has authored three books.

The auditorium was filled to capacity, with many students standing in the aisles.

Douthat began his talk by admitting that while writing the speech, he had not believed Trump would actually win the presidency.

“When I was invited to speak, I thought, like most people who cover politics for a living and allege to know something about it, that I would be speaking to you all tonight in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s crushing defeat,” Douthat said.

Modern American conservatism, he said, is based on the ideology of conserving all the distinctive qualities of American culture, politics and society worth conserving, defending them against what are considered ill-advised efforts of reform. The movement began as an alliance of different ideological groups in the 1950s and 1960s. Douthat describes the coalition as a “marriage of convenience” which, when considering the individual parties involved, seems self-contradictory.

“They unite in their opposition to forces defined as liberal, progressive or left wing that, in the name of some higher justice, would undo what makes America exceptional,” Douthat said.

The movement gained momentum during the 1960s and 1970s with the sexual revolution,

Continued on Page 3

President Martin Condemns Racist Posters in McGuire Jingwen Zhang ’18 Managing News Editor

President Biddy Martin sent an email to the college community on Wednesday, Nov. 16 condemning two unauthorized posters discovered in McGuire Life Sciences Building on the preceding Tuesday. The posters depicted ideas related to phrenology, a study that uses differences in skull shapes and sizes to justify racial disparities. Phrenology has been widely discredited as an obsolete and unscientific defense of racism.

“I condemn the racism and cynical mean-spiritedness of those who hung the posters in the strongest possible terms,” Martin wrote in her statement.

Images of the posters, hung in McGuire next to other flyers advertising on-campus events or research opportunities, were circulated on social media and generated outrage among students. Both posters contained graphics that showed differences in skull and sizes, and one suggested their link to lower IQ among people of African descent. Both

contained a link to a website that promotes white supremacy, anti-semitism and other “alt-right” beliefs.

One of the posters had been discovered by Kristi Ohr, the college’s chemical hygiene officer and laboratory coordinator, on the bulletin board on the third floor of McGuire near the building’s central entrance. Ohr had taken the poster down and sent scanned images to Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Norm Jones and campus police, though she said she did not know what happened to the original.

According to Martin’s statement, efforts to identify the person or people responsible for putting up the posters are still ongoing. Martin also wrote that the responsible party either did not understand that phrenology is outdated and discredited or that they had put them up as a deliberate provocation.

“They are playing a propaganda game — a dangerous and hurtful game, but a game nonetheless,” Martin said, adding that the incident aimed to distract students from their education and well-being

and, in doing so, confirm the idea that colleges are “bastions of hyper-sensitivity and repressive political correctness.” She ended the statement by exhorting students to continue learning and creating change, and not to “take the bait.”

Kaitlyn Tsuyuki ’18, who had been among the early students to circulate images of the posters on social media, said she was pleased with Martin’s statement, which “was passionate — to the point that she could be passionate about something like this happening on her campus.” Tsuyuki added that while some students thought Martin’s statement was not strong enough in its condemnation, she understood that Martin had to represent a student body with a range of different viewpoints.

“I think a lot of people assume that because we’re a liberal arts campus … bad ideas can’t spread here — and not only bad ideas, but specifically outdated, racist ideas,” Tsuyuki said, noting that many buildings on campus are accessible to the public and that the posters could have been put up by someone from outside the college community.

Bulaong Ramiz, director of the Multicultural Resource Center, agrees with Martin’s assertion about the motivations of the people behind the original posters.

“This is propaganda intended to bait a reaction during a highly sensitive time in our country,” she said.

Since the Nov. 8 presidential election, in which Republican nominee Donald Trump became the U.S. president-elect, reported incidents of racially motivated attacks and other acts have increased across the country, including on college campuses.

In the aftermath of the posters’ discovery, dozens of faculty and staff in the college’s science departments in McGuire and Merrill Science Building signed a poster of their own, pledging their support for students.

“I think that divisive and hateful propaganda should be countered with declarations of unity and love, which is what I believe the posters signed by the faculty and staff [of Merrill and McGuire] are intended to be,” said Ohr.

News

Grant Geddie Nov. 14, 2016 - Nov. 28, 2016

>>Nov. 14, 2016 10:18 a.m., Chapman House An officer investigated vandalism found in the basement.

1:03 a.m., Jenkins Dormitory While at Jenkins for a noise complaint, an officer found unattended alcohol in a stairway. It was disposed of.

3:55 p.m., Valentine Dining Hall A student reported the theft of a backpack containing a laptop from the Valentine coat room. After an investigation, it was determined that another student picked up the wrong backpack.

7:28 a.m., North Dormitory Officers and the Fire Department responded to a fire alarm and found that it was caused by a maintenance issue.

Facilities corrected the issue.

>>Nov. 15, 2016 12:40 a.m., Tuttle Farm An officer checked on two people in a car parked at the Book and Plow Farm.

After identifying them and determining that they had no association with the college, they were directed to leave.

4:27 p.m., McGuire Life Sciences Building An officer investigated the posting of a inappropriate poster in the building. The case remains open. >>Nov. 16, 2016 1:02 p.m., First-Year Quad An officer responded to a report of someone soliciting on campus. The person was located and advised that they needed prior permission and they left.

6:05 p.m., Off Campus A third-party report was received that two Amherst students encountered someone in KKK dress while off campus in Amherst. A report was taken and the Amherst Police were notified.

7:18 p.m., College St. A student reported that while near Valentine, a person in a vehicle passing on College Street yelled an offensive comment to her. The case remains open.

10:24 p.m., Morris Pratt Dormitory While in the building, an officer detected the odor of marijuana and traced it to a second floor room. After speaking with the resident, a pipe used for smoking and a small amount of marijuana were confiscated. The matter was referred to Student Affairs. >>Nov. 17, 2016 12:43 a.m., Greenway C Officers investigated a smoke detector sounding and found it was caused by burned popcorn.

1:35 p.m., Valentine Dining Hall A student reported the theft of a North Face jacket from the Valentine coat room. It is valued at $200.

6:59 p.m., Morris Pratt Dormitory An officer investigated a vandalized exit sign. The responsible person was identified. Restitution will be obtained and the matter was referred to Student Affairs. >>Nov. 18, 2016 12:17 a.m., Plimpton House While in the building, an officer discovered beer and hard alcohol in the common room. They were disposed of.

12:58 a.m., Jenkins Dormitory Officers responded to a complaint of loud music and issued a warning at a suite.

>>Nov. 19, 2016 11:03 a.m., East Drive An officer investigated an incident of “road rage.”

4:47 p.m., Jenkins Dormitory While in a first floor suite, an officer discovered an unlicensed keg. It was confiscated. >>Nov. 20, 2016 4:03 p.m., Hitchcock House An officer investigated a smoke detector sounding in a second floor room and discovered it was activated by marijuana smoke. The resident was fined $100 for the smoking violation and the matter was referred to Student Affairs. >>Nov. 21, 2016 1:31 a.m., Lipton House While in the basement of Lipton, an officer discovered a damaged emergency light fixture and holes in the ceiling and in a wall. >>Nov. 23, 2016 7:27 a.m., Mayo-Smith House A member of the Environmental Health and Safety office reported he found a smoke detector covered and prohibited devices in a second floor room. An officer confiscated a microwave, toaster oven, candles and a space heater. The resident was fined $225. >>Nov. 24, 2016 8:24 p.m., Humphries House While investigating a fire alarm, an officer located a bong, pipe and a grinder used to grind marijuana in the kitchen. The items were confiscated and a student took responsibility for having them. The matter was referred to Student Affairs.

9:28 p.m., Tuttle Farm An officer checked on a car parked near the Book and Plow Farm. The operator was advised to leave, since he had no association with the college. >>Nov. 25, 2016 11:16 a.m., The Evergreens A person found sleeping on the grounds of the Evergreens museum was issued a “no trespass” order. >>Nov. 27, 2016 7:11 p.m., Seligman House An officer investigated a fire alarm trouble signal and found that a resident had covered the smoke detector in his room. He was fined $100 for the fire safety violation. >>Nov. 28, 2016 12:40 a.m., Chapman House A town resident complained about loud music and yelling. An officer responded and found about thirty people gathered in the building. They were warned about the noise complaint.

Thoughts on Theses Departments of Environmental Studies and Architectural Studies

Grant Geddie is an architecture and environmental studies major. His thesis analyzes the urban planning and development of Indian cities in comparison with London in the 19th century, looking specifically at how water infrastructure and water resource planning have evolved.

Q: What’s your major? Can you describe your thesis?

A: I’m majoring in architectural studies and environmental studies, and my thesis is bringing those two together in urban planning. [It’s about] the development of the Indian city, particularly Mumbai, New Delhi, and the state of Bihar. [I’m] comparing that to the 1800s in England and how water infrastructure has developed … and how we can look at climate change and urbanization to better plan and develop water resources.

planning, time-management stuff. She has to keep me on track.

Q: What have you found so far?

A: I’ve found that the main issues revolve around water scarcity, water control and water pollution, and all of those three things have an intimate relationship. So for instance, if climate change affects the monsoon season and there’s more rain but fewer rainy days … you would think that because there’s more rain, there’s more water recharge in aquifers. But instead, the ground becomes impermeable and you get these large rainfall events and ... massive, massive floods along with droughts [and] no water recharge — and in that you get pollution. A lot of that affects the poorer regions in India. I lived in India this summer and got to see so many people who were affected by issues of water pollution [and] water scarcity — water disaster, basically.

I’ve been interested in writing this thesis since I was a sophomore in high school … it’s something I’m passionate about, and something really, I think, important to learn about. And even more so, [it’s] just something that I want to do for the rest of my life, so if I can’t write a paper about it, I probably shouldn’t do this [for] the rest of my life.

Q: What’s the best and worst part about writing a thesis?

A: The worst part is just the stress. I think I’m probably the least stressed person ever, and it’s still, “I don’t know how to do this,” or “I’m a little behind.”

Just general stress about writing, because it’s just so much.

I think there’s two best parts. I think that the sense of accomplishment of finishing such a significant piece of work that you’ve put so much time into is always … fun, kind of exciting. And then, secondly, I think that the fact that it really does matter … we do so much work at Amherst that doesn’t necessarily seem applicable — or if it seems applicable, it doesn’t seem like we’re having any effect on the world. But with a thesis, you get an opportunity to impact either the field [of study] or lives, and I think that’s cool. It’s kind of the point, you know?

Q: How did you get interested in this topic?

A: When I was talking to my grandpa, I basically looked at him and … was like, “What would you do with your life if you could do it over again?”

And he answered me very seriously and was like, “I would go back and solve water crises [and] do water resource management, because today … wars are going to be fought over it, millions of people are going to die and it’s going to be a world issue in your generation.” And I was like, “Oh my God, that’s huge.” But it also really did incite a passion in my heart to start to learn about it.

I’ve always been interested in helping others.

It started out as just as a means to kind of use my life to give people what I’ve always had and that they needed, but since coming to Amherst … I’ve become really engaged in Amherst Christian Fellowship, religion and Christianity particularly, so I more and more saw it as a means to share my faith, especially with those who are unreached … it’s a means to both bring water but also to share faith and to bring hope and peace to some of these regions. I got to see some of them in India, and it just broke my heart because the government doesn’t have the resources nor the drive to get involved, so a cholera outbreak will happen and people will just die.

Q: Who is your advisor, and how have they been involved in the process?

A: My advisor[s] [are] Anna Martini and Heidi Gilpin. Anna Martini is my primary advisor just because she’s a hydrogeology professor and she’s basically the water lady at Amherst. She’s dynamite.

She knows everything about water there is to know, and is just … so kind and helpful with her time.

[Gilpin] provides guidance, because it technically is an architecture program thesis. She provides me with a lot of structural guidance and

Q: What type of research do you do?

A: Primarily, a lot of my research was in India this summer. I was there for nine weeks and got to live in New Delhi, travel all over the place, see Calcutta and got to work with the people and design buildings and stuff like that. I gained a lot of information [and] connections there. Outside of that, it’s just been a lot of reading.

Q: Is there any advice you would give to students thinking of doing a thesis?

A: Always just choose something you’re very passionate about … don’t work on it purely intellectually. Have a purpose and have a reason, and get fired up. Then, I’d say, be strategic. Understand that it’s going to take a while … do it because it’s going to have an impact. Don’t do it for yourself.

Q: Is this topic something you see yourself pursuing after graduating from Amherst?

A: I was really interested in urban planning and urban development, especially in South Asia or Southeast Asia. My brother lives in Vietnam, so I’ve spent time in Ho Chi Minh City, and doing something there would be really cool. But recently, especially with working with Martini, I’ve been thinking a lot more about doing hydrogeology ... particularly, I want to do water resource management, which means, basically, go to a village in India that’s having a cholera outbreak, tell the government [and] get funding from the government to go assess the situation … take care of that in whatever way it needs, and then provide water source diversity so that you have a sustainable water source for the village.

I’ve just gotten to travel a lot … [it’s] built a [desire] to just go to where governments [and] policy, don’t reach — where usually, it’s particularly hopeless, whether for a lack of water, food or just general infrastructure … don’t just go for a week, go for years. Live there, be with them, give them everything, give them all of yourself [and] invest all of yourself. Even if that doesn’t make any money — and it won’t — [tell] them about the most hopeful thing in the universe.

I’m excited about that. It’s a lot to get there though — it’s kind of scary. I have a lot of debt coming out of college, and going into a field that doesn’t make any money is tougher … I think it’s good that way. If it’s not hard [and] doesn’t take sacrifices, it’s probably not worth doing.

— Isabel Tessier ’19

The Amherst Student • November 30, 2016

News

3

Demonstration Supports Undocumented Immigrants Continued from Page 1

of the protest. “We want the school to make a promise to students regardless of the future.”

The Sanctuary Campus walkout at Amherst was a demonstration in line with the national movement, Movimiento Cosecha, which is described on its website as a nonviolent movement working to secure protection and respect for undocumented immigrants in America.

At more than 100 campuses across the nation, students have held protests, signed petitions and declared their school as “sanctuary campuses.”

Ana Ascencio ’18, another organizer, said a small group of students initially discussed taking action after the results of the presidential election and reached out to contacts at Movimiento Cosecha for resources on how to organize.

“There had been a lot of fears and anxieties about what it means to have Trump in office and what kind of power the executive branch holds,” Ascencio said. “We wanted to raise our voice in solidarity and felt that the movement needed to be brought to Amherst.”

Within a week, students organizers planned details for the walkout, secured speakers, made posters, drafted a letter of demands and publicized the event on social media.

Organizers had been uncertain of how many students would participate in the protest, but several hundred students and community members were in attendance at noon.

“To stand in the crowd and recognize faces, leading the chant and having all that energy come back to you — it was a moment of solidarity I felt I really needed,” Ascencio said.

Administrative Response On Sunday, Nov. 20, Martin addressed the protest in an email to the college community, recognizing the walkout and writing, “We will do everything we can within the limits of the law to support them and fulfill our promise of educational opportunity.”

Recognizing undocumented and DACA students as among the intellectually talented individuals at the college, Martin said that “ensuring their access to an excellent education is vital to Amherst’s mission and values.”

Martin iterated that the college has long respected students’ rights to privacy and does not share student records with immigration agencies.

She promised to work with legal experts to examine additional measures for protecting students.

“There will be additional opportunities for discussion, education and advice on campus,” she wrote. “I have added my name to the list of presidents advocating for the continuation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, whose purpose is to offer a measure of official documented status (though not a path to citizenship) to people brought to this country as children.”

In a separate email interview, Martin acknowledged the “painful degree of uncertainty on the issues raised by the protest.” It is a fundamental right and necessity, she said, that people make their

Photo by Takudzwa Tapfuma ’17

Student organizers read a letter of demands urging the college’s administration to protect its undocumented students. The letter was delivered to President Biddy Martin, who was present at the protest. voices heard when policy proposals “threaten fundamental principles of democracy and humanity.”

Standing amid students at the protest, Martin said in the interview that she felt “appreciation for the attention brought to the issues, a sense of shared purpose and eagerness to get to work.”

Martin said that the college had already began to gather resources before the rally, and she hopes to speak further with students on how to proceed.

“The letter and the list brought forward by the protesters helped by showing a strong commitment to the issues, bringing attention to the impact of possible changes to immigration law and enforcement, supporting a larger national effort and articulating priorities for Amherst,” she said.

In general, however, Martin said she does not consider demands and timelines to be the most effective way of opening dialogue and tends not to strictly adhere to terms set like deadlines. Instead, she said she believes in responding to the “substance of the matter” and working with the community to act comprehensively.

Martin said she has already worked with the college’s chief investment officer and chief financial officer to establish that Amherst has no direct or indirect investments in prisons or detention centers. “We will continue consulting with other institutions and with legal experts, including a number of alumni who have offered their help, to see what more we can do,” she said.

A more detailed response addressing each point in the students’ letter was published on the college website on Monday, Nov. 28.

“There’s a definite recognition in terms of what Amherst College is doing and that what’s going to come out of it is more support legally,” Ascencio

said about Martin’s response.

Torres also praised the college’s decision to open a workshop with an immigration attorney.

“We aren’t visible at all on campus,” he said. “People need to get more educated about it.”

While Chairez appreciated Martin’s message, she took issue with Martin’s promise to act “within the limits of the law.” If Trump’s administration changes the law to target undocumented students, “it’ll be a hollow statement,” she said.

Looking to the Future According to Ascencio, organizers are continuing to talk about what they can do and hope to hold workshops about “knowing your rights” for DACA students, non-DACA students and allies alike. Movimiento Cosecha is planning another sanctuary campus movement on Dec. 1, which could become another day of demonstration at the college.

Yesterday, the Office of Student Affairs hosted immigration attorney Dan Berger to discuss immigration questions post-election and provide information on what Trump can and cannot change.

Members of the Five College community are holding a workshop titled “Immigration Students: Know Your Rights” at the University of Massachusetts Amherst tonight from 6-8 p.m. The Office of Student Affairs and the Office of the Dean of Faculty are also hosting a larger teach-in about immigration law and policy on Friday, Dec. 2 from 1-3 p.m. in Converse Hall.

For Chairez, the administration’s response is not as important as continuing student resistance.

“Seeing that capacity to come together and form a coalition of students to address policies that we

think are unfair, that’s what matters,” she said.

Legitimate fear exists, Chairez said. For undocumented students, Chairez said, it is a fear that you will be deported, that people have your address — that you will be sent to a place where you don’t know anything or anyone.

“I hope that people can empathize with the students on campus who have that fear,” Chairez said.

Zamora said dialogue needs to continue and that the next big step from the administration should include hiring a specific staff member to work with undocumented students. “It’s rough figuring out how to navigate a world post-Amherst,” she said. “A liaison between centers is my biggest hope.”

For Torres, the community at the college has been an emotional support, he said. “Everything that has happened has given me the power to talk about it,” he said, adding that he has continued to speak about his experience despite its difficult nature and his anxiety regarding public speaking.

The president-elect has said “hateful things,” Torres said, but he asks that people hear out each other’s different life experiences instead of “judging a person based on assumptions.”

Ultimately, even if this issue doesn’t affect a specific person, Torres said, it affects many others.

“Put yourself in others’ shoes,” he said. “Before you discriminate against someone, think about the background of the person and why the did what they did — your life is completely different. But if you put yourself in someone’s shoes, I think you’ll understand more what it’s like.”

For a more in-depth version of this feature article, please visit our website.

Writer Ross Douthat Discusses Post-Trump Conservatism Continued from Page 1 failed Keynesian economic policies and controversial foreign policies, he said.

While the conservative vision did not appeal to people during prosperity, its promise to “make America great again” finally found an audience during crisis. “The conservatives campaigned in these years promising to restore American supremacy, to make America great again in the world, and they succeeded,“ said Douthat.

But, he continued, “[Conservatism] stopped having obvious reasons for people who weren’t ideologically committed to one of these specific causes to vote for its politicians” after the return of prosperity and order. Former President George W. Bush and 2012 Republican presidential nominee both tried to compromise with conservatism, and according to Douthat, this approach did not appeal to most Americans.

The main problem, he said, is that the party

was battling internally over conservative ideologies when the constituency was only “looking for a champion that would come to them and say, ‘I understand what your problems are and I am going to do something about it and I don’t care if the things I do aren’t technically conservative.’”

In the aftermath of Trump’s election, “the future of conservatism depends on an ability to make contact with political and economic reality and address the grievances and anxieties of middle- and working-class voters.”

The conservative movement, Douthat said, needs to realize why Trump was able to take over its “high-minded movement while attacking every high-minded principle.” The party will need to “learn something from that, no matter what Trump does in the next for years because otherwise, even if we survive this Trumpening, there will be many more Trumpenings to come,” he warned.

Douthat continued with a warning to liber-

als as well. “A lot of developments over the last 10 years, from the impact of the great recession to the impact of Syrian civil war and migration crisis, have put an incredible amount of stress on Western societies … more and more people feel accurately that their society’s leaders essentially see themselves as thriving in a cosmopolitan, multicultural society and are happy to see older traditions and communities simply pass into history,” he said. “And liberalism, right now, doesn’t have an answer to that feeling, except to describe it as bigoted, racist [and] so on.”

Douthat ended his talk with questions to both political parties. “To what extent can anxiety over sweeping cultural, racial, religious and demographic change be addressed through politics in order to preempt the emergence of overt right wing national parties?” he asked. “It’s a dilemma that Hillary Clinton didn’t resolve, it’s a dilemma that Angela Merkel didn’t resolve, it’s certainly a dilemma that David Cameron failed to resolve, and soon it may be a dilemma that

the leaders of France fail to resolve.”

“Douthat provided students with an opportunity to critically engage with the surprising results of the 2016 Presidential election,” said Karen Blake ’17. “Douthat articulated the evolution of the conservative movement toward a more populist tradition. Although, he admitted to being shocked by the results of the election as well, he was still able to articulate how the recent evolution of conservatism played a role in the election of Donald Trump. It was refreshing to listen to Douthat’s rationale as it provided possible answers to the questions many students were grappling with post-election.”

“To me, it seemed like Mr. Douthat’s main takeaway was that a Trump presidency will create a lot of uncertainty for the future direction of the Republican Party,” said Tyler Marovitz ’20. “I liked his historical perspective, but I had hoped to hear him speak more about his values as a Catholic conservative, given that he spoke at a campus that is pretty liberal as a whole.”

Opinion

THE AMHERST

Being an Effective Ally

STUDENT

Editorial In light of the recent election and where Amherst stands in its history with diversity, allyship has never been more pertinent.

There are individuals at this college who have been scarred by racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, anti-semitism, classicism, religious discrimination, xenophobia, etc. for most, if not all of their lives. There are also individuals on this campus who have never experienced any of those oppressions. And then there are those of us who experience both privilege and oppression — a heterosexual woman of color faces sexism and racism, but she also has the privilege of being heterosexual in a heteronormative society. Regardless of whichever category you fall into, if you have any sort of privilege, you can be ally. In a time when ignorance and division are easy options, the Editorial Board urges students to be thoughtful, effective allies whenever possible.

So what is an ally? An ally is a member of a privileged group who tries to support a marginalized group and help fight the oppression that they face. One of the first and most important things that an ally can do is to listen. Understand that your voice and experiences are parts of the dominant narrative, one that has been listened to for most of history. Of course, this is not to say that one person of color’s voice or one trans person’s voice, for

example, is the absolute truth of their respective communities.

Rather, allies learn about experiences that are not your own so that you can better support the people that you seek to help, in a world that often rejects marginalized perspectives.

This being said, it is also crucial that allies do not take the spotlight. In our generation, we place a lot of social and cultural capital in being “woke.” While being aware of oppression and combating it are very important, it is not about how many likes one gets on a Facebook post or writing an article. Allies help in the background of those fighting oppression in their daily lives — they uplift marginalized groups, and the only time they use their voice is when others are not heard. Particularly with this election, many people of color have urged white allies to use their voices to combat racist rhetoric; in this case, it is crucial that white allies use their voices when people of color are excluded from the conversation.

Most importantly, allyship is never-ending. It does not end at going to the MRC or sharing a thoughtful post or reading this editorial. An ally is actively checking on what they are doing and whether it truly empowers the group by which they stand. They are self-aware and persistent, even when faced with difficult situations and conversations.

E X E C U T I V E B OA R D Editor-in-Chief Lauren Tuiskula Executive Advisor Sophie Murguia Managing News Shawna Chen, Isabel Tessier, Jingwen Zhang Managing Opinion Diane Lee, Spencer Quong Managing Arts and Living Gabby Edzie, Paola Garcia-Prieto, Alida Mitau Managing Sports Nathaniel Quigley, Julia Turner Managing Design Gabby Bishop

S TA F F Head Publisher Tia Robinson Head Marketer Sophie Currin Design Editors Justin Barry, Zavi Sheldon, Chloe Tausk, Yrenly Yuan

Letters Policy

In Solidarity with Standing Rock Divest Amherst Contributing Writers We, Divest Amherst, stand in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Nation, in support of their struggle for sovereignty and against the continued extraction of fossil fuels.

Energy Transfer Partners is building the Dakota Access Pipeline, which would carry half a million barrels of crude oil from the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota to the Gulf of Mexico. Stretching across 1,172 miles, the pipeline threatens the integrity of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers — the main source of drinking water for the Standing Rock Sioux Nation, and 18 million others. It would not only threaten water supply but also ancestral lands such as symbolic cairns, stone prayer rings and burial grounds. This violates Article 2 of the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty that guarantees rights to enjoy undisturbed occupation of their homeland, Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice, which states that all agencies must determine if a proposed project disproportionately impacts Tribal or other minority communities, Executive Order

13007 on Protection of Sacred Sites, which mandates that each executive branch shall avoid adversely affecting the physical integrity of sacred sites in managing federal lands, the Pipeline Safety and Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. When the 90 percent white town north of Bismarck said the pipeline posed a threat to their water and community, they were acknowledged. However, Energy Transfer Partners, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Justice refuse to provide the same level of consideration for indigenous people. The Army Corps rerouted the pipeline. They rerouted the pipeline to pass directly through North Dakota’s Lake Oahe, a sacred burial site and the single major water source for the Standing Rock Sioux community. This is colonialism, systematic racism and deliberate injustice. It is a blatant disregard for native sovereignty. We cannot stand for this.

The violence incited by the National Guard and the Morton County Sheriff ’s Department is a shameful reminder of how this country has historically repressed and exploited Indigenous people and other minori-

ty groups. Pepper spray, attack dogs, rubber bullets, Tasers and sirens have been chosen as attempts to “resolve” this conflict rather than reaching a consensus that listens to those who will be most affected by this pipeline and respects indigenous rights.

We express our gratitude to the Indigenous nations who have come together in this historic moment to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. Despite centuries of oppression, indigenous people persist in resiliently protecting their water and ancestral lands. The Standing Rock Sioux have demonstrated that we cannot continue to let corporate greed poison water, destroy land, pollute air or further contribute to climate change, not only because we must protect our environment, but more importantly because the effects will be felt disproportionately by marginalized people.

We call on President Biddy Martin to fulfill Amherst’s role as a leader in education and adhere to the Native American Students Organization’s demand that the College release a statement in solidarity with Standing Rock Sioux Nation and against the violence incited by the National Guard and the Morton County Sheriff ’s Department.

A Treatise on Going Tray-less Jake May ’19 Staff Writer The Green Amherst Project has been working all semester to try and get rid of trays in Val, and according to their Facebook page, they are nearing the final stages of getting this done. For many students on campus, this is a welcome change. As the Green Amherst Project has promoted, going tray-less will accomplish many things in terms of helping the environment: It will reduce food waste by encouraging students to only get what they can carry in their hands instead of filling their trays, and it will also reduce the amount of water needed to wash the trays.

For many other students on campus, though, this change is not so welcome. Many students like to be able to fill their trays with lots of different foods, as well as multiple cups

for drinks. Others, myself initially included, questioned how effective this act would be in terms of actually making an impact on water conservation and food waste and whether that impact would be worth the sacrifice of removing trays.

However, I decided that it was unfair for me to ask this questions with at least giving tray-less a chance. So, for the past week and a half, I haven’t been using a tray in Val, and I have to say, I have come around to the idea. In my experience, not having a tray really does encourage less food waste. I’ve been packing a lot onto my one plate, but even then you can’t really fit too much on there. This way, I eat what is on my plate and then if I’m still hungry after, I will get more. When I had a tray, my eyes would often become bigger than my stomach, which led me to get everything that I thought I might want to eat. And while with-

out a tray it’s difficult to carry more than one cup, it is not very difficult to walk back to the drink machine to refill your cup, no matter where you sit in Val. Of course, this is just my personal experience. If others really feel that they need to have trays in Val, I can understand that. What is great is the Green Amherst Project (which for the record I am not involved in) has given students opportunities to give feedback about this impending change, so if you’re unsatisfied, seek those opportunities out. But, if you are against going tray-less, I would implore you to at least give it a try before you make a judgment. Maybe you’ll find that your suspicions are confirmed, and you really do want trays to stay in Val. But maybe you’ll end up like me, and realize that it isn’t too hard to part with trays, especially since doing so would benefit the environment.

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 email account (astudent@amherst.edu) by noon 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.

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 2291, Amherst College Amherst, MA 01002-5000 The offices of The Amherst Student are located on the second floor of the Keefe Campus Center, Amherst College. Phone: (413) 542-2304. All contents copyright © 2015 by The Amherst Student, Inc. All rights reserved. The Amherst Student logo is a trademark of The Amherst Student, Inc. Additionally, The Amherst Student does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or age. The views expressed in this publication do not reflect the views of The Amherst Student.

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The Amherst Student • November 30, 2016

Opinion

5

An Absent Conversation: Trump and the Arab-Israeli Conflict Mohamed Ramy ’18 Staff Writer I woke up in a state of stunned horror the morning after Donald Trump became President-elect: The States elected a man who is accused of multiple accounts of sexual assault and is an inspiration for growing white nationalist movements. To take my mind off of things, I decided to pick up the Amherst Student to read the opinion section. As I turned the pages of the newspaper, I saw a “Birthright” ad, which is always extremely uncomfortable for me to see as an Arab, especially because it tries to make Game of Thrones jokes. The ad immediately made me think of Trump’s presidency and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Did people know about his plans? Were people going to discuss this on campus? I waited for a long time before realizing that there was no space on campus to discuss the conflict to begin with. In this article, I want to add perspective to the Trump campaign statements, to elucidate the gravity of his plans and to critique our campus culture to start this conversation.

If you did not know, there was an official Trump campaign video addressing Israeli Republicans. Mike Pence says various things that are in dire need of criticism. One: “Currently, Israel lives under the ominous shadow of a threatening neighbor, who seeks to wipe her off the face of the earth.” It’s funny he says that giv-

en that Google removed Palestine from its maps.

Two: “She is hated by too many progressives because she is successful and her people are free.”

At the expense of oppressing Palestinian lives.

Three: It recruits civilian soldiers who “fight their nation’s battles with decency, humanity, restraint.” It must take so much restraint for Israeli soldiers to partake in knee-capping Palestinians, and so much decency to threaten queer Palestinians and make them spy on their own families and neighbors (ask Swarthmore professor Sa’ed Atshan to elaborate). Four: “How could any good person not stand with Israel?” With the current oppressive operations of the state of Israel, a lot of good people cannot do so. However, “The world will know this — America stands with Israel.” From this campaign video, I gleaned one thing: This incoming administration knows very little about the conflict.

As many know, Trump can be all bark with no bite. I was nevertheless shocked to learn that he does not think that the settlements of Israel will hinder making peace with Palestinians.

What were his concrete plans for the conflict?

Two things: His presidency will mean that Israel can go unchecked and have freer hands in settlement construction and that he could carry out his promise of moving the embassy to Jerusalem.

These policies are in support of the right-wing Zionist agenda. For that reason, Naftali Bennett, an Israeli minister, confidently said, “The era of

a Palestinian state is over.” Trump’s promise of moving the embassy would be in violation of UN resolution 181 (but do those really matter anyway?) and against the UN security council’s declaration that Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem is illegal (the settlements continue expanding there anyway). It seems obvious that Trump’s plans make the prospect of reaching a final peace agreement harder because the possibility of the two-state solution will continue to shrink with the expansion of settlements. There are good reasons to lose hope and to fear the incoming administration. The States needs to critique the state of Israel as it currently operates and exists because of Israel’s direct impact on Palestinian lives and land. One cannot be silent about oppression. (If you don’t think Palestinian lives matter, then this needs to be a completely different conversation.) This conversation is extremely imperative because when one is complicit in what Israel does to extend and maintain its control, one is complicit in the perpetrated Islamophobia and anti-Arab sentiments of its actions. As people, we need to analyze the actions of all states and governments, and critically think about the effects of legislation.

Why should you care? Well, you should care because your tax money goes into humungous sums of aid that the States sends to Israel. Most recently, Israel was granted a 38 billion dollar package to be spread across a decade as military

aid. Immediately after that, the Israeli government had plans to expand the settlements in the West Bank to house settlers from a nearby illegal outpost, Amona, which lay on private Palestinian land. In other words, as an American, you have a direct impact in this conflict. People will tell me it is nuanced. No, it is not. The West Bank and East Jerusalem have illegal settlements, which is in violation of international law. Period.

And occupation is occupation. Period. Once we start talking about this conflict with the correct terms, we can start having a constructive conversation.

Now, why is this conversation absent on campus? For one, people have become desensitized to the conflict, and Israel’s control over parts of Palestinian land has become normalized (and legalized in some cases). The first step is to educate yourself about the conflict and its history. I have been told by many people that they do not want to bring up the topic or to be involved in it because they do not know enough. [I recommend “A History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict” (sixth edition).] To start, there could be collaboration between affinity groups to discuss the conflict further and there could be conversation about the two-state solution vs. the bi-national, single state solution. No matter what, I hope the people most affected by and passionate about the conflict will be there. Let’s be proactive and start creating spaces for this conversation to happen.

Carbon Pricing is a Stepping Stone to Sustainability Lindy Labriola ’17 Contributing Writer

In light of the recent national election, we might agree that climate change and environmentalism will not be a top priority come 2017. This is not to say that the climate will be ignored completely. As CNN reported, President-elect Donald Trump “conceded [that] there is ‘some connectivity’ between human activity and climate change and wavered on whether he would pull the United States out of international accords aimed at combating the phenomenon, which scientists overwhelmingly agree is caused by human activity.” But, in reality, it is to say that climate adaptation and mitigation efforts will be temporarily stymied as environmental lobbyists, legislators and climate activist groups scramble to restructure their goals on a crumbling social and political foundation.

Amherst has had its own experiences with impeded climate action, sending its Divest Amherst campaigners back to the drawing board more than once. The campus has made progress in mitigating its carbon footprint with its recently successful trayless initiative, which will save tremendous amounts of water by removing the need to wash trays after student use and reduce food waste by promoting awareness of individuals’ food volume consumption. There is, however, more work to be done. In the impending political attitude, it will be more crucial than ever for climate action to take place at the local level and for the generation who will inherit the country to begin collecting the stepping stones that they might one day arrange to achieve social and political change.

This change can start with carbon pricing.

Very specific, yes, but Mother Nature Network reports that carbon pricing is the “most cost-effective way to reduce emissions and should be ‘at the centre of government efforts to tackle climate change,’ according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OPEC].” It is so effective, in fact, that prominent universities have formally come out in favor of carbon pricing: Yale and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are part of an international carbon pricing leadership coalition, and many other schools including Tufts, Swarthmore and Texas Tech are working towards public endorsements for carbon pricing. Yale has even implemented a campus-wide carbon tax to raise awareness of their carbon footprint and reduce their CO2

emissions.

Let me pause for a moment to explain why carbon dioxide, or CO2, is relevant to the current climate crisis and why putting a price on the carbon dioxide we release can mitigate the molecule’s adverse effects. We know that greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide are contributing to the general warming of our planet and that CO2 is the most commonly blamed culprit for the fast-paced rise in global temperatures. A natural gas in the atmosphere, carbon dioxide absorbs and remits the sun’s energy. The heat produced in this transfer of energy between greenhouse gasses and the sun keeps the planet at a normal temperature, that is, unless there is too much of the gas. With a steady surplus of carbon dioxide injected into the atmosphere via human activity, the global balance has shifted, preventing the earth from regulating temperatures as it has done for most of organismal history on the planet.

Since the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased from 270 ppm (parts per million) to over 400 ppm since the Industrial Revolution, we have seen numerous adverse changes in global systems including rising sea levels, melting glaciers, ocean acidification, heat waves and droughts, upsets in seasonal timing and a higher prevalence of forest fires. The warming caused by increasing levels of greenhouse gasses also threatens to melt northern stores of permafrost, or frozen soil, which hold immense volumes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. “Current research estimates that permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere holds 1,672 billion tons (Petagrams) of organic carbon. If just 10 percent of this permafrost were to thaw, it could release enough extra carbon dioxide to the atmosphere to raise temperatures an additional 0.7 degrees Celsius (1.3 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100,” NASA explains. This rise in temperature is enough to harrowingly exacerbate drought conditions and flood risks of rising sea levels along with the other previously mentioned hazards of global warming. In fact, it has been projected that “a one-degree increase [in global temperature] would eliminate fresh water from a third of the world’s land surface.”

Now, I have always looked at carbon emissions from the perspective of the food industry (as a vegan, this is unavoidable). With that in mind, here are some numbers to conceptualize just how much each individual can influence carbon emissions: on average, one gallon

of gasoline produces a little over 18 pounds of carbon dioxide. Consider that by exchanging a “regular” car for a hybrid, a person can reduce their emissions by 1 ton per year (about 111 gallons of gasoline). Now consider that exchanging meat and dairy for a vegan diet reduces carbon dioxide by 1.5 tons per year – that’s 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide or 167 gallons of gasoline! And if you’re not willing to give up the cheesecake or the cream puffs, think about this: if every American dropped just one serving of chicken per week from their diet, it would save the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions as taking 500,000 cars off the road.

The reason these small-scale proxies are so significant is that they are dwarfed by the larger impact that companies and industrial practices could have if they adhered to carbon taxation. “For the U.S.,” writes the Carbon Tax Center, “carbon dioxide released by burning oil, coal and natural gas makes up 82 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions (weighted by climate-change impact).” The World Resources Institute writes, “The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) found that if the country had set a carbon tax of $25 per ton in 2015 and increased it by 5 percent each year, carbon emissions would have fallen to 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.” But new research suggests that this may underestimate the impacts carbon pricing can hav e on greenhouse gas emissions.

There are several methods of pricing carbon, which is significant given the widely varied economic and political structures of national and global regions. The two main ways to implement a price on carbon is through a cap-and-trade system and a direct carbon tax.

As its name would suggest, a cap-and-trade system caps the emission amount for industries at a practical level but allows the industries with lower carbon dioxide emissions to trade their carbon remainder to larger emitters. In this way, a market price for greenhouse gasses is established, one that also ensures that companies will not exceed carbon emission standards. The second prominent carbon pricing strategy, a carbon tax, directly controls the price on carbon by setting a tax rate on greenhouse gas emissions or on the carbon content of fossil fuels. This differs from cap-and-trade in that a carbon tax does not pre-define the reduction in CO2 emissions but rather fixes a price for carbon that incentivizes emission reductions. The Carbon Tax Center continues, “To avoid burdening the less affluent, carbon

tax proceeds should be returned to Americans through periodic pro rata “dividends” or dedicated to reducing the tax burden of regressive taxes such as the federal payroll tax or state sales taxes (depending upon whether the tax is imposed at the federal or state level). Shifting the tax burden to pollution and pollution-generating activities will create powerful incentives to use less energy and emit less CO2 into the atmosphere while simultaneously promoting tax equity and minimizing the impact of the carbon tax on those with lower incomes.”

On a local level, a conversation I had with one of Elizabeth Warren’s congressional staffers made it clear that Massachusetts, despite its various environmental efforts, has not been a pioneer of carbon pricing projects. This is due to the complications of putting together a coalition that agrees on exactly which type of carbon pricing to implement state-wide.

In fact, the Warren camp was surprised that carbon pricing had gained the traction that it has here at Amherst, at MIT and on campuses outside Massachusetts. Despite the state’s focus on promoting renewable energy and preventing pipeline projects, Massachusetts does have several bills in progress that address carbon pricing. Most of these posit a tax on carbon with associated returns to the taxpayer or reinvestment in renewable energy sources; fewer suggest that the government keep the tax returns and reinvest in something other than green energy.

With this information, it is now the responsibility of local communities to prove that carbon pricing can work and to garner support from students, teachers, schools and all institutions. After the Amherst Divest rally in mid-October, an event that produced a very successful student turnout but a very disappointing response from the administration (re: drawing board), it now seems apt to introduce carbon pricing to Amherst.

Members of the Green Amherst Project and Divest Amherst have begun a campus-wide campaign called Put A Price on It (PAPOI).

The campaign is affiliated with a nationwide movement in many of the schools mentioned above. Finally, the motion to form this carbon pricing coalition is, of course, not in competition with Divest Amherst, but supplementary to it: a stepping stone, if I might return to that metaphor, to generate the symbolic (and hopefully one day physical) actions from the administration that will dismantle Amherst’s relationship with fossil fuels and cement its support for a more sustainable future.

Arts&Living

Photo courtesy of Lauren Carter ’17

Lauren Carter’s ‘17 senior thesis will involve acting and doing research on Charles Mee’s play “Big Love” which visiting professor Yagil Eliraz will be directing.

Thesis Spotlight: Lauren Carter to Produce “Big Love” Next Year Paola Garcia Prieto ’18 Managing Arts and Living Editor

love, free will and so much more. It’s energetic, touching, frustrating and amazing.

Lauren Carter ’17 is a math and theatre and dance major whose senior thesis will be an adaptation of Charles Mee’s “Big Love.” Her acting thesis will be directed by visiting theatre and dance professor Yagil Eliraz. The show will premiere in February with rehearsals beginning during interterm. I had the chance to talk with Carter about her hopes for her thesis before auditions are held later this week.

Q: How did you come up with your thesis topic originally? What about “Big Love” stood out to you?

A: I found this play by accident actually. I was originally set on doing “Our Town” or a play

by Annie Baker. But I was on Tumblr one day and a quote popped up from “Big Love” which immediately struck me. It said, ‘Sometimes people don’t want to fall in love. Because when you love someone it’s too late to set conditions.’

I thought about how powerful that small quote was and what that meant and I knew I needed to read the rest of the play. When I read it I saw that it was about so much more! What really sold me was the refugee aspect. During the time I found this play there was also a lot of talk about not taking in refugees from the

Q: How would you describe your thesis?

A: My thesis is a play called “Big Love” by Charles Mee which is an adaptation of Aeschylus’s “The Suppliants”. In short, it’s an out of this world chaotic yet serene little play about 50 sisters forced to marry their 50 cousins. It talks about gender roles, the status of refugees,

Middle East. This play talks about people who are desperately seeking asylum and refugee status escaping a world and a fate they do not want and are ultimately turned away and disaster ensues. I thought the parallel was amazing, especially since this play was written a few years ago and is something that needs to be talked about.

Q: What is your intention with your thesis, what effect do you hope it has for your audience as well as for yourself and the actors?

A: For auditions, I hope to bring more people to the theater! I always say that every actor has their first show and it would be wonderful if this was it for some people. With the finished product I’d hope that people challenge their beliefs and question why they believe those things. Why is it that a man is supposed to act one way and a woman another? What is

love, really, and why is it something we want to achieve? Is it something we want to achieve?

Essentially, I want people to question everything they think they know about the world.

Oh yeah, and enjoy the show obviously.

Q: What is the most challenging part of your project?

A: Oh gee, right now? Staying calm. Auditions are on Thursday and I’m high key freaking out about them. For the long term I’d say being able to give up control is a big challenge.

This is my baby but it’s also an acting thesis so all directorial decisions are not made by me, they are made by the fabulous director, Yagil.

So even though I may have a set picture in my head, I have to be able to trust Yagil and know that he will bring about the best possible product. And he will because he’s amazing.

Article has been edited for clarity.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.com

University of Minnesota produced the show in 2009, the first production of the play was directed by Les Waters at the Actor’s Theatre of Louisville in 2000.

Arts & Living 7

The Amherst Student • November 30, 2016

“Certain Women” Captures Female Experiences in Small Town Montana

Photo courtesy robsten26.blogspot.com

Kristen Stuart plays the role of a night-teacher with a four hour commute Alida Mitau ’18 Managing Arts&Living Editor Directed by Kelly Reichardt and released this October, “Certain Women” pensively explores certain distinctively female experiences by presenting snippets of the lives of three women (played by Laura Dern, Michelle Williams and Kristen Stuart) living in the same, small town of Livingston, Montana. The film is set in the cloudy, washed-out, yellow-grey atmosphere of wintertime in Livingston, and its mostly silent score and slow pace makes it a largely visual, meditative film. Reichardt continuously surveys the beautiful landscape of rural Montana and allows the women’s stories to appear small but significant in the larger context of the town and the natural world. At once, the film seems empty, hopeless and also filled with meaning, and these blurry, contradictory feelings make watching it somewhat exasperating. Its unhurried, quiet nature added to this feeling and gave the movie a peculiar, reflective affect. I often

found myself either over-analyzing every aspect of each scene or losing myself completely in my own, unrelated thoughts and then forcibly relocating myself in the film’s narrative. Watching “Certain Women” was a strange, somewhat unpleasant experience, but it was also unlike any other I’ve had with a film. Though often excessively artsy/campy, the film was undeniably captivating, and the acting was remarkable and effectual. It felt like Reichardt was asking me to focus and watch in an entirely new and different way — to catch my mind wandering and to appreciate the fleeting, slow, beautiful and often frustrating, unfair, incommunicable moments that make up so many women’s lives.

The film moves from one drawn-out glimpse into the life of one woman, to a similar glimpse into the life of the next, and Reichardt does not return to any of the women’s narratives after their designated glimpses. I kept wondering when the women’s lives and stories would connect, but they never did — at least not directly, and the only thing they shared was Livingston.

However, there were a few, piecemeal moments of overlap. For example, one woman was having an affair with another woman’s husband — but this was shown briefly in one scene, and the connection remained wholly undeveloped.

Additionally, one woman mistakenly entered the building where another woman worked — one walked up the stairs to her office, while the other asked questions at the front desk. The unique, almost nonexistent overlap between the characters added to the film’s steady slowness, and it created a strange sense of waiting for something to happen that never would. In a way, this made the film more realistic — the women’s stories did not sum up to a contrived, cinematic plotline, rather they were momentary, somewhat unexciting and indirectly linked. The distance between the three lives felt vast yet easily traversable, and this paradox shed light on the distinct details of every woman’s life, the undeniable relatedness of human and female experience, and the many, perhaps similar stories left untold.

The film opens with an alternative, quiet bedroom scene in which Laura Dern and her partner (who we later discover to be Michelle Williams’ husband) are getting up and getting dressed. One particular shot sticks out in my mind in which Dern gently, silently kicks her partner with a socked foot and, in the next shot, is shown as a reflected image in a mirror, still in bed, while her partner, still getting dressed, has his back to the camera. These shots added to the often overly artsy/campy vibe of the film, but they also spoke to the strangeness and difficulties of relation and communication — especially between men and women. As Dern’s designated glimpse continues, we learn that she is a capable lawyer, but her problematic cli-

ent won’t listen to what she has to say until he hears the same thing from a male lawyer. This client, played by Jared Harris, comically, painfully confides in Dern about his all-consuming troubles — never taking into consideration her feelings and professionalism. Later, he has a violent, mental breakdown in which he traps a policeman in a building, and Dern — not one of the male policemen — is directed to talk him down and free the prisoner. This sequence was perhaps the most blatant representation of sexism in the film, but it also foreshadowed a later scene in which an older man meeting with Michelle Williams and her husband ignores almost everything Williams has to say. The film had an uncanny ability to tap into and portray the exhaustion felt by women in everyday, ordinary interactions overlaid by sexism and their small, subsequent tactics of resistance — whether it was secret cigarette break (Williams), or enduring solitude (Gladstone).

Perhaps the most moving sequence was the last, which was shared by Kristen Stuart and Lily Gladstone, that encompasses their unlikely relationship. Gladstone meets Stuart, who is working by accident as a night-school teacher with a four-hour commute, after entering her classroom on a whim. The two spend time together going to a nearby diner after Stuart’s class, and this breaks up Gladstone’s largely isolated, monotonous routine taking care of horses. Their connection on-screen feels tangible, and Gladstone’s harmless, tender fascination with Stuart drew me deeply into the film’s narrative and its breathtaking landscape. Through this sequence, Reichardt touches on the beauty and the troubles of female relationships, and, as with the rest of the film, she does so effectively and cinematically, without having to say too much.

New Marvel Movie “Doctor Strange” Subverts Superhero Tropes Setting

Photo courtesy htxt.co.za

Rachel McAdams plays Christine Palmor, Doctor Strange’s love interest. McAdams avoids falling into the typical “damsel in distress” female character trope.

Mark Siminotis ’19 Staff Writer It’s no secret that Marvel movies tend to fall into storytelling ruts. There will always be a love interest, a snarky hero, a big fight scene, a sequel hook, etc. So imagine my surprise when I saw “Doctor Strange,” and it turned out to be one of the most clever comic book movies with an impressive, definite awareness of the genre’s general shortcomings.

Let’s start with what’s sadly the weakest part of many Marvel movies: the romance. Rachel McAdams plays Dr. Strange’s love interest in the movie — a former girlfriend who left him because of his arrogance and general jerkiness.

While her role may not be a standout, she’s manages to avoid falling into an annoying damsel in distress character. However, all of that would be pretty unremarkable if it wasn’t for the conclusion of their love story. Instead of magically realizing that they’re perfect for each other, McAdams’ character reminds Strange that there were legitimate reasons they broke up, and his magic powers won’t change that. Contrast this

nuance to “Civil War’s” rather forced romantic subplot for example, and you’ll see why this is such a breath of fresh air.

In the vast majority of superhero movies, its practically a tradition to have a massive, city-destroying brawl to emphasize just how high the stakes of the central conflict are. Unfortunately, audiences have become fairly desensitized to these mass destruction gimmicks and are starting to wonder just how many civilians are dying in these scenes. While I’d say that no movie so far has addressed this issue entirely, I have to appreciate “Doctor Strange” for turning the trope directly on its head. Instead of watching buildings crumble around our hero as he battles the forces of evil, Doctor Strange manipulates time to repair an already destroyed city while battling his opponents, making for a clever action sequence and showing that even the people who make these films are getting tired of the same old thing.

Perhaps the best example of “Dr. Strange” subverting superhero tropes is the grand finale where our hero confronts the dreaded Dormammu. Any other movie would have had Dor-

mammu and Strange shoot magic beams at each other while plucky side characters try to figure out how to shut off the giant portal in the sky.

Instead, we’re treated to a delightfully innovative scene in which Strange traps the infinitely more powerful Dormammu in a constant time loop, tricking him into giving into Strange’s demands.

I have a special love for this scene because it shows that the movie, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole, understands what separates Doctor Strange from other Marvel heroes. Even with all his power, he finds himself going up against unspeakable nightmares that are far beyond his ability to match in a simple fight, and he has to rely on his wits and wisdom to win the day. When was the last time a superhero won by being smarter than the villain rather than by punching him into submission? Don’t get me wrong, I love the punching, but this is a welcome change of pace.

The film’s attitude towards Marvel standards, and film standards period, is evident in “Doctor Strange’s” action scenes. How do you outrun someone who can manipulate the very architecture of a mirror reflection of New York City?

The film takes a standard action scene — a foot chase and a fist fight — and incorporates insane levels of special effects to turn something familiar into something completely different. The resulting action scenes force the characters, and therefore the film itself, to get smart and creative when using their powers, and it is wonderful to watch.

Will the tried and true superhero formula ever go away? No, and it shouldn’t. It’s a story structure that’s proven to be extremely effective, not to mention profitable. Still, “Doctor Strange” shows that Marvel is still willing to change things up when it comes to the execution of this formula, a trend begun by “Ant Man” and “Civil War’s” more personal and intimate conflict. Hopefully, the success of this movie will give Marvel Studios the courage to experiment with the standard formula more and come up with new and exciting ways to tell us stories about guys and gals running around in tights.

Let’s see power sets that go beyond “ways to hit things” and heroes finding creative solutions to their problems, rather than just punching everything in the face.

Arts & Living 8

The Amherst Student • November 30, 2016

Speaking About the Election Results in a Post-Moonlight America

Photos courtesy of en.wikimedia.org

“Moonlight,” which has recieved much critical acclaim since its release on Oct. 21, consists of three chapters depicting three phases of Chiron’s life.

Gabby Edzie ’18 Managing Arts and Living Editor The following review of “Moonlight” contains spoilers.

“Moonlight” was released on Oct. 21. The film, directed by Barry Jenkins and written by Tarrell Alvin McCraney, debuted at the Telluride Film Festival and has been swimming in critical acclaim since. The film follows the story of Chiron, a black boy, and then man, growing up in a rough neighborhood in Miami. Chiron’s development is depicted in three different stages of his life, manifested as the film’s three chapters. The three stages shift as Chiron’s relationships shift, giving rise to three separate, but fluid versions of himself. In the first chapter, titled “Little,” a young Chiron is played by Alex Hibbert. It’ll be the young actor’s first IMDB entry, but the part was aptly cast. Teenage Chiron is played by Ashton Sanders, who has been featured in a few films, including a very minor role in “Straight Outta Compton.” In “Black,” the film’s final chapter, Chiron is played by Trevante Rhodes, who will be a familiar face to “Westworld” fans.

The film also features popular vocalist Janelle Monáe, Naomi Harris and Mahershala Ali, best known for his role as Remy Danton in “House of Cards.”

The plot, following Chiron as he works through his identity, is beautifully written and thoughtfully delivered. To tell this story — one of a black boy in Miami grappling with his sexual identity, his mother’s crack addiction and the flux of human connection in his life — in such a delicate manner is an incredible feat. And rightfully so, the rise of “Moonlight” has been steady.

I’ll stop my conventional review there, as there’s no point in wasting time reiterating the dozens of reviews that have trickled in, dubbing “Moonlight” the film of the year. If you want to read a review detailing the technical and thematic elements that render “Moonlight” a success, look no further than the critics that get paid to do so — The New York Times and The Atlantic have all accomplished this recently.

Instead, I’d like to detail why I have found this film so beautiful in post-election America.

After all, a film is always released into a certain historical context. Something I’ve been digesting in the days following the election is the notion of the limitations of language. For me, the phrase “my words fail me” have never rung more true.

In the hours, days and weeks following Donald Trump’s election, words have been spoken, screamed, typed and flung from every direction.

They have risen in solidarity, in protest and in explanation. But what I’ve been noticing is that so many of us, me included, have fallen back on comparative language. Metaphor and simile: from classmates, friends, professors and family alike I’ve heard “this election feels like heartbreak,” “it feels like something has died,” “some metaphor detailing the joy of a Trump supporter, because I’m having trouble thinking of one on my own.” We’ve never had an election like this,

so we turn to comparison. I can’t tell if this is because we don’t know how to aptly name what we’re feeling, or if its because we’re afraid to.

Regardless, words fail. Like-minded individuals have been able to find solace in this exchange of comparative language, but how effective is it?

When I say “effective,” I’m not really referring to the idea that speaking of this situation for what it is may aide us in processing — although it may: this doesn’t feel like heartbreak, it is heartbreak, so why not say so? Instead, I’m referring to the “effectiveness” that seems to be lacking in conversations between people with differing views. On the surface, I’m talking about people that cast their ballots for Trump and people who couldn’t stomach the idea. But, more so, I’m speaking about conversations amongst people with vastly different perceptions of America.

Explaining your experience, your concerns and your grief through comparative language may make it more digestible, but is it “effective?”

This brings me back to “Moonlight.” The beauty of the film is that it is highly aware that comparative language fails us. Similes and metaphors are delivered in two parts. The tenor is the subject of comparison; it’s what is being described. The vehicle is that which is used to describe the tenor. The vehicle, though often employed to simply heighten poeticism, is put forth to define a subject in relation to something else.

I’m going to stretch these terms a little in talking about “Moonlight,” but bear with me, I haven’t decided if this article is self-reflexive yet…

“Moonlight” abandons the vehicle. The film addresses some considerably heavy subject matter, but it doesn’t do it in a baby-steps manner for the viewer. The film has no intense monologues that I can recall, and the conversations rarely get right at the root of the Chiron’s experience. There aren’t any notably climactic scenes. An example: Juan, a drug dealer (Mahershala Ali) that embodies a temporary father figure for Chiron (this is reductive, but I have a word limit) in “Little” dies. His death, only briefly mentioned when Chiron’s mother remarks that she hasn’t seen Juan’s wife since the funeral, isn’t rendered a narrative peak. All we know is it happened somewhere in the open space between chapter one, “Little” and chapter two “Chiron.” In dealing with the tragedies, for lack of a better word, the film doesn’t grant the viewer a “vehicle” for understanding. We don’t get the tear jerking conversation that we’ve been trained to be sad about. Many of the filmic scenarios that we’ve been trained to associate with sadness are stripped from “Moonlight,” and I’m happy about it. If we’re given a funeral scene, we can relate it back to all other funeral scenes. We think ‘this is sad,’ and leave it at that. There are several reasons why the film’s deconstruction of the fetishization of sadness is meaningful, but I’m most pleased with it because of the resulting openness of the film. We’re not able to swallow the sadness whole through funeral scenes, or heart-to-hearts or diary entries. Rather, it’s left open, asking to be interpreted and re-interpreted by the viewer. Referring to Elizabeth Cowie’s

quote of Jill Godmilow in her essay “The ventriloquism of documentary first-person speech and the self-portrait film,” the film prevents viewers from “melt[ing] into pure disembodied spectators.” We’re asked to continuously interpret the film, and think of the implications it has in our own life.

Conversations about the election ought to do the same thing. To relay our perceptions to someone with seemingly opposite perceptions through digestible metaphors allows them to only skim the surface of what is said. We say the election feels like a heartbreak and it resonates with them only momentarily. To effectively relay experience is to open up a realm of poeticism that can never be fully grappled with.

As filmmaker Trinh T. Minh-Ha said in an interview with Nancy Chen, “Truth never yields itself in anything said or shown. One cannot just point a camera at it to catch it: the very effort to do so will kill it.” “Moonlight,” through indispensable scenes featuring subdued dialogue, beautifully placed music and recurring water imagery opens up a void. And it is a void MinhHa defines as a space in which “possibilities keep on renewing, hence nothing can be simply

classified, arrested and reified.” The film calmly washes over you, but you are left anything but settled. Chiron is bullied, imprisoned, abandoned and betrayed, but the gravity cannot even begin to be felt until you’re walking home from the theater.

This regard for undoing is seen through the film’s self-reflexivity. Each chapter ends before we’re ready for it to, and so the film seems to say, ‘a life can only begin to be understood.’ Additionally, the film’s titles perhaps suggest the dangers of trying to process someone’s identity or experience. “Little” and “Black” are nicknames (and assumed identities) inflicted onto Chiron and to moonlight is to have another job in addition to a ‘regular’ one, suggesting that to “know” an identity is to forget about inherent dualities.

Through the abandoning of digestibility, the film ultimately reminds us that a life is a life. The complexities of said life cannot be bound and thus cannot be understood in a two-hour interval, or in the vehicle of a metaphor.

I haven’t really figured out how to effectively talk about the election, but I’m open to suggestions. “Moonlight” is now showing at Amherst Cinema.

The Amherst Student • November 30, 2016

Sports 9

Men’s Cross Country Finishes 12th at Nationals, Places Three in Top 100

Photo courtesy of Amherst Athletics

Senior Steven Lucey finished 145th at Nationals in the fourth scoring position for the purple and white to help the squad to their 12th place finish.

Veronica Rocco ’19 Staff Writer Before Thanksgiving break, the Amherst men’s cross country team traveled to Louisville, Kentucky to compete at the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships. The eight harriers, along with coaches Erik Nedeau and Luke Maher, boarded their flight to Louisville with the goal of placing in the top-10 at the meet for the third consecutive year. Although they came up just short of their goal, placing 12th as a team, the team has much to look forward to in seasons to come.

Mohamed Hussein ’18 led the team once again with his 68th place finish. While Hussein wasn’t able to earn his third cross country All-American honor, he enjoyed a successful season overall.

Craig Nelson ’18 followed Hussein, placing 83rd. The junior came on strong in the latter portion of the season, as he was the second Amherst harrier across the finish line at both Regionals and Nationals. Nelson carried positive momentum from his strong outdoor track season in the spring to have a successful season on the trails in the fall.

Shortly after Nelson came captain Raymond Meijer ’17 in 88th place. The senior capped his cross country career with another solid race. His consistency has been crucial for the team’s success throughout his career at Amherst, as he has been a member of the topseven since his first year and has helped the team qualify for Nationals for three consecutive seasons.

In the fourth scoring position for the purple and white was Steven Lucey ’17, finishing

his cross country career with a 145th place finish. The senior brought his previous experience to the meet, as this was the second time he competed at Nationals. Lucey raced his sophomore year and was an alternate last year as a junior.

Rounding out the scoring for Amherst was Scott Nelson ’18, placing not far behind Lucey in 154th. The junior enjoyed a great comeback season after not being able to compete in his 2016 track season due to an injury. His perseverance paid off, as the junior joined his twin Craig at Nationals for the first time.

In the sixth and seventh non-scoring positions for the purple and white were Cosmo Brossy ’19 and Kristian Sogaard ’19 in 196th and 206th places, respectively. The two sophomores both enjoyed breakout cross country seasons, as they both joined the top-seven Amherst runners for the first time this season.

“Overall I think we came away a little disappointed with our result from Nationals,” Kristian Sogaard ’19 said. “We were hoping for a slightly better result, but it just wasn’t our day out there.” The sophomore mid-distance runner improved greatly upon his first-year cross country season to join the top seven for the first time, and figures to play an integral role in the team’s success for years to come.

The team will lose only two of its top seven runners at Nationals for next year, but returns six athletes with Nationals racing experience, as Hussein, the Nelson twins, Sogaard, Brossy and this year’s alternate Tucker Meijer ’19, who raced at Nationals last year as a first-year, return for the 2017 cross country season.

With an experienced squad, the Amherst harriers are on the path for success in years to come as they seek a podium finish by placing in the top four as a team at Nationals. But with nine months until the next time the men of the Amherst team toe the starting line on the trails of New England, they “are focused on doing

as well as we can in the upcoming indoor and outdoor track seasons,” Sogaard said.

“I want to thank the senior class this year because it was ultimately them that decided that this program shouldn’t be mediocre anymore,” Hussein added. “They set the tone and now it’s on us to set a higher standard for this program than we found it.”

Photo courtesy of Rob Mattson

First-year Chris Stone was an integral part of an Amherst team that enjoyed a breakout 2016 season.

Women’s Hockey Falls to Conn. Men’s Swimming and Diving College in Pair of Close Defeats Picks Up Two NESCAC Wins Scout Boynton ’20 Staff Writer The puck dropped for the first time this 20162017 season for the Amherst women’s ice hockey team last Friday, Nov. 18. The purple and white faced off against Connecticut College for its opening series. In two very close games, the Camels prevailed, beating Amherst 1-0 on Friday and 3-1 on Saturday.

Goalie Sabrina Dobbins ’18 played a strong game for the purple and white on Friday, making 26 saves, but Conn. College’s Ashley Anctil found the back of the net 4:36 into the second period to put the Camels’ sole goal on the board. Soon after, Kristen Molina ’18 nearly evened the score off of a pass from classmate Alex Toupal, but Conn. College’s goalkeeper Katherine Chester was able to make the save. The purple and white maintained offensive pressure through the third period, outshooting the Camels 30-27 over the course of the game, but could not put one past Chester and suffered the slim loss.

The Amherst women came back seeking a win to tie the series Saturday afternoon, but again struggled to find the back of the net against the Camels. The purple and white outshot Conn.

College again, this time 34 to 26, but dropped the game 3-1. The Camels came out strong early in the game, scoring two goals in the first period (in the fifth and seventh minutes).

Amherst was finally able to get a shot past Chester on a power play in the 17th minute when Jocelyn Hunyadi ’19 scored a backdoor goal off of a shot from Caitlyn Ryan ’17 and a deflection from Emma Griese ’18. The Camels answered 4:23 into the second period on their own power play, finalizing the score at 3-1. Amherst continued to put offensive pressure on Conn. College, led by Ryan who had seven shots in the game, but could not find the back of the net. With two

minutes remaining in the third period, Lynndy Smith ’17 took a hard wrist shot on goal, but hit the crossbar. The Camels defense held on until the final buzzer and earned the 2-0 sweep on the weekend.

Next weekend, Dec. 2-3, the purple and white face off against Trinity in another NESCAC battle.

Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. is the team’s fifth annual Pink the Rink Fundraiser game. The event aims to increase breast cancer awareness and to raise money for Cancer Connection, an organization that services people affected by cancer. There will be a raffle, silent auction, bake sale and “chuck a duck” contest to win prizes. Last year, the Pink the Rink event raised over $3,000 and the purple and white hope to raise $4,000 this year by the time the third period buzzer sounds.

“We all realize what a special place Amherst is, and in supporting Cancer Connection, we not only help a small organization succeed, but also lend a hand to people in our community who need help during a difficult time,” head coach Jeff Matthews said ahead of the event.

Photo courtesy of Rob Mattson

Sabrina Dobbins ’18 has tallied 49 saves of 53 shots so far this season.

Jenny Mazzella ’20 Staff Writer The Amherst men’s swimming and diving team kicked off its season with two conference victories, defeating Colby 151-115 on Nov. 19 at home and vanquishing Wesleyan on Nov. 21 by a commanding 168-108 margin. Coming off a 6-2 dual-meet record last year, a fourth place finish at the NESCAC championships and a top-30 finish at the NCAA Division III Championships, the team starts the season ranked number 13 in the nation and is poised to have a very successful season with a combination of new and returning talent.

Amherst recorded 10 first place finishes on its way to the defeat of Colby. Sophomore Josh Chen and first-year Craig Smith paved the way to victory by each winning two individual events. Chen took first in the 100-yard breaststroke in 58.70 and in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:12.20 while Smith claimed the 100-yard backstroke in 53.41 and the 200yard backstroke in 1:55.58.

Chen and Smith also participated in the first place 200-yard medley relay, which finished in a time of 1:35.89. Alex Dreisbach ’17 and Sam Spurrell ’18 were the other two members of the winning relay team. Other individual first place finishes for the purple and white came from Dreisbach and fellow senior Connor Haley, as well as Spurrell, Nathan Ives ’18, John Janezich ’18 and first-year Jack Koravos. Haley won the 1000-yard freestyle with a mark of 10:12.24, while Dreisbach took the 50-yard freestyle in 21.72.

Spurell took the 200-yard butterfly in 1:55.51, John Janezich claimed the 200-yard freestyle in 1:48.31 and Koravos won the 100yard freestyle with a mark of 47.83.

Amherst returned to action two days later

at the home of the Cardinals. Once again, the purple and white claimed 10 first place finishes, paving the way to the team’s second victory of the season. Four swimmers each tallied two individual wins. Koravos again took the 100yard freestyle in 47.36 and also added the 50yard freestyle in 21.36.

Spurrell won the 50-yard butterfly with a time of 23.78 and the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 51.95. Chen placed first in the 50yard breaststroke in 26.92 and the 100-yard breaststroke in 58.23. Smith claimed the 50yard backstroke with a mark of 24.82 and the 100-yard backstroke in 52.58. First-year Brandon Wang also contributed to Amherst’s win, placing first in the 400-yard individual medley with a mark of 4:19.61, his first ever collegiate victory. Amherst’s final victory came from the 200-yard medley relay made up of Smith, Chen, Spurrell and Koravos.

The purple and white will next travel to take on a third NESCAC foe, Middlebury, this Saturday, Dec. 3.

Photo courtesy of Rob Mattson

Amherst will return several veterans from last year’s successful squad.

10

Sports

The Amherst Student • November 30, 2016

Women’s Soccer Tournament Run Comes to a Close in NCAA Sweet 16 Hayes Honea ’19 Staff Writer The Amherst women’s soccer team finished a very successful season last Saturday, Nov. 19.

Though they lost their final match to William Smith 4-2, the purple and white finished with an impressive record of 17-3-1 overall and 8-1-1 in conference, while also boasting the 2016 NESCAC championship title.

Last Saturday, the women traveled to Brandeis to take on top-seeded William Smith in the third round of the NCAA tournament.

Unusually, the first two goals of the game were own-goals. At the 24:39 mark of the first half, Amherst’s Erin McClave ’20 took a shot that ricocheted off a William Smith defender and went into the back of the net. Five minutes later, William Smith took a shot that bounced off an Amherst defender and squeaked past goalie Chelsea Cutler ’19.

Soon after, star forward Hannah Guzzi ’18 recorded her 19th goal of the season off an assist from Ashlyn Heller ’17, giving Amherst a 2-1 lead. Though Guzzi took three more shots in the next 14 minutes, she could not get it past the opposing goalkeeper. Unfortunately, William Smith tied the score at two off a corner kick that resulted in a header to the far post, where one of the Herons’ easily tapped the ball into the net.

Though the score was even at two apiece after the first half, Amherst was never able to re-

gain momentum. In the 58th minute, William Smith made it a 3-2 contest when one of their players took a perfect shot from the left side.

Just one minute later, William Smith stormed back down the field and took another shot, uncontested, that found the back of the net, giving them an earned 4-2 lead. The remainder of the game was scoreless, and though Amherst fought hard, they could not make up the deficit.

Statistically William Smith led in shots, 1412, though Amherst had more corner kicks, six, to the Herons’ four. Guzzi led all players in total shots with five, and Rubii Tamen ’19 collected three shots in the final game. Cutler made five saves in the matchup.

On the season overall, Guzzi tied the purple and white’s single-season goal record at 19 and set the program’s new record in most points in a single-season with 43.

Although the team looks poised to make a run for another NESCAC title next season with a well of returning talent, the purple and white will no doubt have to replace the production of this year’s senior class. Including Heller and Emily Hester ’17, who played and started 20 out of 21 possible games, and augmented by the poise provided by fellow seniors Emily Masten, Sarah Zuckerman and Sarah Frohman, the graduating class pushed Amherst women’s soccer to unsurpassed heights and set an enormously high bar for future classes.

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Patrick Daly ‘20 Favorite Team Memory: Definitely our win over Utica Favorite Pro Athlete: Tom Brady. Guy is a winner Dream Job: POTUS Pet Peeve: When people chew with their mouths open it really grinds my gears Favorite Vacation Spot: Dublin, Ireland Something on Your Bucket List: Playing a round of golf at Augusta National with my little brother Guilty Pleasure: Hanging out in the rage cage (all are welcome) Favorite Food: Pizza Favorite Thing About Amherst: The people; the community is so diverse and inclusive and allows eveyone to feel a part of something, while still being individually driven. It’s an awesome place and I’m lucky to be a part of it.

How He Earned It: Through the first four games of the season, Daly has been at the heart of a prolific Amherst offense, netting four goals and tallying an additional two assists as the purple and white have gone 3-0-1 and averaged four goals a game.

Ingrid Shu ‘20 Favorite Team Memory: Our intrasquad purple and white meet Favorite Pro Athlete: Dana Torres Dream Job: Oncologist Pet Peeve: Automatic doors that close right before you get to them Favorite Vacation Spot: Lake George Something on Your Bucket List: Road trip with friends Guilty Pleasure: Movie marathons Favorite Food: Ice cream Favorite Thing About Amherst: The people How She Earned It: Shu started her Amherst with a bang, winning three individual events and two medleys over the purple and white’s first two meets of the season. In the season-opening contest against Colby, Shu raced to a first-place finish in both the 200- and 100-yard breaststroke and was a part of the winning 200-yard medley team. She continued her dominance in the meet against Wesleyan, winning the 50 free and against taking part in the winning 200 medley relay.

Men’s Soccer Falls to Brandeis on PKs in Sweet 16, Loses Chance to Defend Title Delancey King ’18 Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios

First-year defender Bella Palma became a consistent part of the purple and white defense this season, and added one assist to the offensive effort.

Cross Country Runner Katherine Treanor Finishes 27th at Nationals Mary Grace Cronin ’18 Staff Writer In the most important meet of first-year Katherine Treanor’s storybook season, she proved that the success she has enjoyed all season was no fluke. Treanor managed to clinch 27th overall at an NCAA national championship meet that included 280 of the nation’s fastest collegiate runners.

Treanor was the only Amherst harrier to make the journey to Louisville after her third place finish at the previous weekend’s New England regional championship. That third place finish had guaranteed her a spot in the national championship meet as one of only seven individual qualifiers from the New England region.

With a time of 21:13.5 and an average mile time of 5:41.4, she followed Leah Wessler of Colorado College by less than one half of a second. Sara Rosenzweig of SUNY Geneseo trailed Treanor with a close time of 21:14.1.

As a testament to her talent and determination, Treanor was just the second first-year in the meet to cross the finish line, behind Megan McCandless of MIT who ran for 17th place. In addition, Treanor was one of only three first years to place in the top 50 and one of just seven in the top hundred,

cementing her status as one of the brightest young stars in women’s Division III cross country.

With a new personal best in the 6k, the future looks bright for Treanor and the purple and white to reload for next year.

Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios

Katherine Treanor ’20 garnered AllAmerican honors for her race.

The 2016 season came to a heartbreaking end for the Amherst men’s soccer team last weekend, as the purple and white fell to Brandeis University in penalty kicks in the NCAA Sweet 16. After battling back from a one goal deficit and dominating the stat sheet, Amherst was unable to get the result that they deserved and advance in tournament play.

Both teams looked threatening in the opening minutes of the match, with each side recording three shots in the first 15 minutes. However, it was Brandeis who got on the board first, as Stephen Depietto combined with Evan Jastremski for a goal in the 18th minute. Getting on the end of a far-post cross from Depietto, Jastremski took an attacking first touch and fired the ball into the back of the Amherst net.

Unable to capitalize on key opportunities late in the first half, the purple and white were still in search of the equalizer as the halftime whistle blew. The revitalizing goal came in the 56th minute, as senior captain Chris Martin was able to find Fikayo Ajayi ’19 at the top of the box.

After taking the ball down the right flank and beating his defender, Martin sent a ball to Ajayi, who slotted a well-placed shot into the bottom left corner of the Brandeis net.

The remainder of the second half went scoreless and the game headed into overtime.

Amherst recorded the only four shots of the first overtime period, but once again, they were unable to convert their chances. With only 6:30 remaining in the second period of overtime, Kieran Bellew ‘18 beat his man and found himself with an open shot at the top of the box. Bellew put a great shot on goal, but it banged off the right post.

After two periods of overtime, the game was to be decided by penalty kicks. Coming up big for the Judges, Brandeis keeper Ben Woodhouse stopped three of Amherst’s four attempts and

secured the win, ending the purple and white’s NCAA run in the process.

While this result was undoubtedly disappointing, Amherst finishes the season with an impressive overall record of 17-1-2. Led by an incredible group of seniors, the team found a way to perform under the unprecedented pressure that comes with being reigning National Champions.

“Part of winning a National Championship is defending it, and I thought we defended it hard and defended it well,” head coach Justin Serpone said.

The purple and white will bid goodbye to an incredibly talented senior class that has seen Amherst become one of the preeminent Division III soccer programs in the country. In addition to losing Martin, who was third on the team with eight goals, the team will also say farewell to both the team’s highest and fourth highest goal-scorers, seniors Bryce Ciambella and Jackson Lenhart.

Also graduating is Andrew Orozco, the purple and white’s rock in the center of the pitch, as well as the entirety of the dominant Amherst defense, which includes Cameron Bean, Justin Ayoama, Rohan Sood and Cameron Hardington. Amherst will also miss the senior leadership provided by David Lander, Forest Sisk and Douglass Jamison.

Photo courtesy of Janna Joassainte ‘17

Byrce Ciambella ’17 led the team in goals this year.

The Amherst Student • November 30, 2016

Sports

11

Men’s Hockey Impresses During Four Men’s Basketball Impressive from the Game Unbeaten Run to Start Season Floor, Earns Wins in First Four Games Delancey King ’18 Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Amherst Athletics

Austin Ho ’17 has added two points for the Amherst offense this season.

Mary Grace Cronin ’18 Staff Writer In the past 10 days, 20th-ranked Amherst men’s hockey team has surged to a record of 3-0-1. They are coming off of a turbulent season last year, which saw some major upsets, including a serendipitous NESCAC tournament run in which Amherst eventually fell to Trinity in the championship game.

The purple and white opened up the 20162017 season in dramatic fashion against Hamilton. They finished with a 1-1 tie after two exhausting overtimes that tested the Amherst defense.

Although they were outshot 22-11, junior goalkeeper Connor Girard had an outstanding 35-save performance. First-year Patrick Daly made a big impact in his collegiate debut, registering the first and only goal of the game to keep the purple and white from defeat.

Just four days later, Amherst put up a dominant performance against St. Michaels in a tough week of travel. They defeated the Purple Knights 5-1, with goals coming from Thomas Lindstrom ’18, Patrick Daly ’20 and Jack Fitzgerald ’19.

Amherst would continue their high scoring streak against a Utica team considered to be one of the best in the country. In a thrilling comeback victory, it took six different goalscorers to complete the courageous team effort.

Stanley Brenner ’19 scored first to take an early lead, followed by Greg Krisberg ’20 to finish the first period ahead of the Pioneers 2-1. Unfortunately, shortly after Brenner’s goal, he had to come off the ice with a dislocated knee. The forward will be out for several weeks, but looks to return for what looks to be a successful season.

Daly continued to impress during the second period tied at 3-3, until Utica fired back in

the third to make it 5-3.

Although the outcome seemed bleak, a late goal by P.J. Conlon ’20 sparked the purple and white. Just 39 seconds later, Amherst kept their hopes alive with a goal by Will Vosejpka ’18 to send the game to overtime.

Although Krisberg would get two minutes in the penalty box for holding, the purple and white held on and eventually completed their performance with a goal from Noah Gilreath ’20.

Amherst concluded its first stretch of games with a strong performance at home against Babson. Facing yet another top 10 team, Amherst seemed undaunted by the task at hand.

After a back-and-forth first period, the team opened up scoring in the second frame with a beautiful spin move and shot by Phil Johansson ’19.

It was all purple and white from then on as Thomas Lindstrom ’17 responded with a tip right in front of the goal to double the lead.

Next came Austin Ho ’17, who forced a turnover in the defensive end and danced around several defenders before he placed his own shot in the back of the net.

Babson fought hard in the last period in an attempt to equalize the score, but Amherst’s defense proved to be impenetrable after letting up just one goal in the third. Will Vosejpka ’18 put the game away with a long shot on an empty net, and an exclamation point on a fantastic week of competition.

“We are looking really good right now,” Brenner said. “It’s going to be an exciting year if we keep doing what we are doing.” Amherst will look to utilize its balanced squad of veterans and young talent as they move forward this season in a competetive NESCAC conference.

The purple and white hope to continue their four-game unbeaten run when they travel to Wesleyan on Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Amherst Athletics

Junior forward Will Vosejpka scored the final goal in Amherst’s matchup against Babson, helping to secure a 3-1 victory for the purple and white.

The Amherst men’s basketball team kicked off its season last weekend with the 16th annual Ken Wright ’52 Memorial Invitational Tournament. With two commanding wins over Green Mountain College and St. Lawrence University, the purple and white look poised to have yet another successful year.

Displaying the depth of this season’s roster, four different players netted double figures in Amherst’s 83-41 win over Green Mountain on Saturday. Michael Riopel ’18 led the charge with 13 points, as he went six of seven from the floor. Not far behind him were David George ’17 and Jayde Dawson ’18, who each put up 11 points to contribute to Amherst’s impressive 45.3 percent shooting from the floor.

On defense, Eric Sellew ’20 led the purple and white with nine rebounds, while Jacob Nabatoff ’17 and George each nabbed eight boards. George also recorded two steals and three blocked shots. Amherst kept the Eagles to 27.3 percent from the floor as they secured their spot in the championship game the following day.

On Sunday, the purple and white faced St. Lawrence University and walked away with a big 90-68 win. St. Lawrence held onto a precarious one-point lead early in the first half, but key three-pointers from Riopel and Nabatoff sparked a scoring streak that put Amherst back on top. Draining three three-pointers in the span of one minute, Dawson extended Amherst’s lead to 26 points before the end of the half.

Amherst’s dominance continued into the second half, as Johnny McCarthy ’18 and Rio-

pel made some big plays and finished the game with a team-leading 14 points each. George contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds to the winning effort. Both Riopel and George were named to the All-Tournament Team, and George was voted Tournament MVP. The purple and white continued to impress early in their season when they faced Westfield State University in LeFrak Gymnasium on Tuesday, Nov. 29.

The Amherst men came out strong, with a quick three from Johnny McCarthy ’18 off an assist from Reid Berman ’17 within the first 20 seconds of play. The purple and white managed to hold the Owls scoreless for the next three minutes, and this full-court domination continued as Amherst finished out the first half up 45-22.

Conklin and McCarthy continued to be offensively productive for the purple and white, scoring 16 and 14 points, respectively. Racy impressed from behind the arc, shooting 4-5 for 12 points on the game, while Dawson added two three-pointers and a field goal for an eight point total.

Amherst managed to capitalize on Westfield’’s scrappy play, earning 15 of their 84 total points off of free throws. The Owls racked up 23 fouls over the course of the game, while the purple and white held their total to 17.

The dominating performance early from the Amherst squad allowed Coach David Hixon to test the depth of his bench, putting 17 of his healthy players into the game for at least two minutes.

Next up, the Amherst men will play a home stretch, facing Emerson College and Brandeis University in LeFrak on Saturday, Dec. 3 and Tuesday Dec. 6, respectively.

Women’s Swim and Dive Sweeps NESCAC Opponents En Route to Early 2-0 Record Julia Turner ’19 Managing Sports Editor The 10th-ranked Amherst women’s swimming and diving team started its season with two major wins against NESCAC opponents two weekends in a row. Taking down both Colby and Wesleyan handily, the women have shown a depth of talent thus far this year that is sure to make for an exciting season.

The purple and white captured 12 first place finishes in the season opener against Colby on Saturday, Nov. 19 in Pratt Pool to record a 172103 victory over the Mules.

The 200-yard medley relay team of Destin Groff ’17, Geralyn Lam ’18, Zoe Pappas ’19 and Ingrid Shu ’20 took first place honors with a time of 1:49.72, but the individual races are where the Amherst women shined.

Along with her hand in the relay, Shu took top honors in the 200-yard breaststroke and the 100-yard breaststroke with times of 2:27.77 and 1:07.70, respectively.

Livia Domenig ’19 touched the wall first in the 100-yard freestyle, and classmate Katie Smith sprinted to a 50-yard freestyle victory with a time of 25.01, while Lam and Natalie Rumpelt ’20 each won their 200-meter races in the butterfly and freestyle, respectively.

Rounding out the sprinters, the purple and white swept the podium in the 100-yard backstroke, with Stephanie Moriarty ’18 taking first place followed by Bridgette Kwong ’19 and Groff. Kwong and Moriarty switched places in the 200-yard backstroke, with Kwong taking the top spot and Moriarty following her in second place, trailing by six seconds.

In the long-distance races, junior Marie Maxwell swam to a first place finish in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:50.20.

Purple and white diver Jackie Palermo ’19 took the crown in the one and three-meter diving competitions to help secure an Amherst victory in the dual meet.

After a quick weekend turnaround, the purple and white were back in the pool on Monday, Nov. 21 at Wesleyan for another dual-meet against the Little Three rival. In their second win of the season, Amherst once again dominated the competition, racing to 10 firstplace finishes.

Kwong, Smith and Rumpelt each took home two individual victories. Kwong touched first in the 400-yard individual medley as well as the 100-yard backstroke in 4:33.77 and 59.90, respectively.

Smith dominated the short sprint events, touching the wall first in the 50 and 100-yard breaststroke races, while Rumpelt was the queen of the freestyle, capturing first place in the 100 and 200-yard races. Moriarty and Lam also took home victories, finishing first in the 50-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly, respectively.

Shu continued to impress, taking first place with a time of 24.77 in the 50-yard freestyle and helping the 200-yard medley relay team of Groff, Pappas and Tracy Chen ’20 to victory.

The purple and white will travel to Middlebury, Vermont on Saturday, Dec. 3 to take on Middlebury at 1 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Amherst Athletics

Stephanie Moriarty ’18 placed first in the 50- and 100-yard backstroke.

Sports

Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios

Sophomore guard JJ Daniell has been a defensive weapon for the purple and white so far this season, tallying six steals in three games for Amherst.

Women’s Basketball Starts Season Strong with a Dominant 4-0 Showing Talia Land ’20 Staff Writer

The Amherst women’s basketball team is off to a successful start to its 2016-2017 season. Ending last season with a NESCAC championship and a trip to the NCAA Final Four, expectations for this year’s edition of the purple and white are high.

Senior Ali Doswell ’17 was named a preseason D3 All-American. Last year, Doswell averaged 14.3 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, registered a 42.2 field goal percentage and hit on 36.7 percent of her shots from beyond-the-arc. The team returns both Ali Doswell and her sister senior Meredith in addition to several key newcomers, creating a recipe for success.

The team hosted three teams in a tip-off invitational tournament the weekend of Nov. 19-20. In the season opener on Nov. 19, Amherst faced Albertus Magnus. With a strong showing on all ends of the court, Amherst

GAME SCHE DULE

dominated, beating Albertus Magnus 9438. The team finished with 61 rebounds and, showing off their depth, an extremely impressive 35 points off the bench.

Ali Doswell led the team in scoring with 27 points, including an Amherst record tying seven three-pointers. First-year Maddy Eck finished with 14 points in her collegiate debut.

Overall, it was a solid showing from the entire team.

Amherst’s second game of the tournament on Nov. 20 was much closer than the first. The purple and white looked slightly sloppy in the opening quarter against Babson. Amherst played solid defense, but they weren’t able to finish simple give-and-go plays or layups.

Trailing 41-34 at half, a combined team effort tied the game back up at the 5:57 mark in the third quarter.

In the end, Babson’s 19 turnovers were costly, resulting in an Amherst 67-62 win. Additionally, Ali Doswell and Jamie Renner ’17 were named to the Amherst Tip-Off Invita-

tional All-Tournament Team, with Renner receiving MVP of the tournament.

The team’s first road game was at fellow NESCAC little three rival, Wesleyan on Nov. 22. The Cardinals scored the opening two points of the game, but Amherst went on a run and took the momentum to hold an impressive 12-3 lead after nine minutes of play. The lead was enlarged to 36-11 at half and Amherst managed to hold Wesleyan to a measly 19.6 shooting percentage, winning the game 56-30. Ali Doswell and Eck led the team with 10 points each.

On Tuesday night, the purple and white extended their impressive season-opening winning streak to four games with an away win over Emmanuel College. Once again, Amherst started off strong, racing to a 19-11 lead after one quarter.

Junior forward Hannah Hackley keyed Amherst’s offensive outpouring, contributing eight points, four rebounds and both an assist and a block in the first frame alone. First-year sensation Eck also poured in four points and three as-

THU

FRI

SAT

Women’s Basketball vs. Eastern Connecticut State, 7 p.m.

Women’s Ice Hockey vs. Trinity, 7 p.m.

Men’s Swimming and Diving @ Middlebury, 1 p.m.

Men’s Ice Hockey @ Wesleyan 7 p.m.

Women’s Swimming and Diving @ Middlebury, 1 p.m.

Men’s Squash vs. Brandeis, 1 p.m.

sists as Amherst opened an eight-point lead.

Amherst’s dominance continued in the second quarter, as the purple and white outscored Emmanuel 16-10. With another strong quarter from Eck and both Doswells, Amherst entered the half with a commanding 35-21 lead.

The floodgates truly opened in the third, with Meredith Doswell dropping 13 points in the quarter on 5-7 shooting as part of a 28-point barrage. Her two steals and a block also contributed to a stifling defensive quarter, which saw Emmanuel only muster eight points.

With the outcome no longer in doubt, head coach J.P. Gromacki played his bench in the fourth, giving every healthy member of the team playing time in the frame. When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read 69-40 in favor of the purple and white, the team’s third win out of four games by a margin of more than 20.

Amherst looks to further its winning streak at home on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. when they take on non-conference foe Eastern Connecticut State.

MON Men’s Basketball vs. Emerson, 3 p.m.

Men’s Ice Hockey @ Trinity, 4 p.m.

Women’s Basketball @ Randolph-Macon, 5 p.m.

Women’s Ice Hockey vs. Trinity, 7 p.m.

Women’s Basketball vs. Rhode Island College, 7 p.m.