Issue 14

THE AMHERST

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF AMHERST COLLEGE SINCE 1868

STUDENT VOLUME CXLVII, ISSUE 14 l WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

Women’s Basketball Tops Undefeated Bowdoin See Sports, Page 11 AMHERSTSTUDENT.AMHERST.EDU

Dining Services Looks to Expand Options Emma Swislow ’20 Managing News Editor

Photo courtesy of Sarah Wishloff ’19

Grab-N-Go employee Pete Charron came up with the idea to make food containers compostable, one of the many additions to various aspects of Dining Services.

Party Policy Undergoes Major Changes Shawna Chen ’20 Managing News Editor The college released changes to the Party Policy, a set of rules governing expectations of parties on campus, on Friday, Jan. 26. These include determining occupancy by venue, expecting party sponsors to manage attendance with staff assistance and requiring party sponsors to clean up the registered party space within one hour of the approved end time. The new party policy, announced in an email to students from Senior Associate Dean of Students Dean J. Gendron, takes effect for parties registered for and after Thursday, Feb. 1.

Much of the language in the policy has changed to emphasize the needs of the college. For example, the old policy stated that the registration process aimed “to reflect the wishes of those residents within the building while cooperatively respecting everyone’s living space.” Now, the updated section states that the process will also reflect “the college’s ability to effectively support logistics and safety.”

In his initial email to students, Gendron did not specify which aspects of the policy had changed but wrote that “[n]ew adjustments increase transparency and reduce pressures on party sponsors and residents of hosting halls.”

Policy Changes Occupancy of “basic parties,” previously limited to 99 guests, will now be determined by venue size, and no more than one party per reservable

room will be approved on the same date.

Exceeding occupancy may result in party termination. According to the party registration website, maximum occupancy ranges from 65 to 165 in the residence halls on the Triangle.

The updates also place more responsibility on party sponsors. While the old policy required one party sponsor per 50 expected guests, now one party sponsor is required per 20 expected guests.

The new policy writes that party sponsors are expected to “[m]anage safe attendance levels with assistance from staff ” and clean up the registered party space “adequately immediately after the approved end time of the event.”

The previous policy made no mention of staff assistance and required party sponsors to clean up the registered party space by noon the following day for residential halls or by “the end of the night” for other public spaces.

Language was also changed to require party sponsors’ cooperation with both “professional staff ” and the Amherst College Police Department instead of just ACPD. Formerly, for party sponsors who failed to meet expectations, the policy stated that the first incident would result in a warning and a meeting with a Community Standards or Residential Life staff member, the second “may result in probation and/or an educational sanction” and the third “may result in escalated sanctions, housing relocation or removal from housing.”

Now, the first tier of measures will be utilized when the “failed expectation is very minor,” while

“typically failing to meet the expectations outlined … will result in a probationary status and/or an educational sanction” as a second-tier punishment.

There was no specific definition of what constitutes a minor or major failed expectation.

The same warning and meeting appeared under Tier One in the old policy, but the college has specified in the new policy that the meeting will involve developing a plan to “avoid future problems.” Tier Two has additional repercussions, including possible restrictions on future registration or sponsorship.

In addition to the previous policy’s possible charges of “damages and fines” to the party sponsors when people responsible for damages cannot be identified, party sponsors now “may be charged for all damages and cleaning charges.”

Party sponsors can also now file Community Standards reports on the college website to report “extenuating circumstances.”

When the updates were released on Jan. 26, a policy change required party sponsors to meet with Student Affairs prior to party authorization to discuss guidelines and undergo training. Between 9 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29 and 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 30, the language on the webpage changed without notice, now only stating that “[s]tudents are encouraged to meet with a professional.”

The Student also could not locate a copy of the old party policy online; it was sent by Director of

Continued on Page 3

Following student feedback and trends in historical data, Dining Services has made several changes to its offerings this semester, including adding a daily lunch-time burger bar, serving hot food on Wednesdays at Grab-N-Go and extending weekend hours.

Burger Bar serves both a meat and veggie patty Monday through Friday, with the type changing each day. Traditional beef burgers are served on Tuesdays and Fridays, turkey burgers are served on Mondays and Thursday and chicken quinoa burgers are served on Wednesdays.

Burger Bar is located in the station that typically serves pasta at dinner and before this semester, usually sat empty throughout lunch.

In addition to using space that was previously empty, one of the other main aims of Burger Bar is to better handle the crowds that flock to Val for lunch. “We want to try and utilize that space so we can move the crowd so that it’s not as intense for everybody,” Director of Dining Services Joseph Flueckiger said. “If we can disperse that crowd a little bit and make it easier for people to get what they want, get back to their table, enjoy some time with their friends and still have time to get back to class, that’s what we’re after.”

While Flueckiger has heard mostly positive feedback from students, he acknowledges that there are still areas for improvement. “I’ve heard a lot of feedback about Burger Bar,” Flueckiger said. “People like it, but they’re starting to ask for new toppings, not just the onions, peppers and mushrooms, which we’ll definitely start doing some research on and figure out what toppings would work best.”

Henry Walker ’20 believes that there’s a need for variety in Burger Bar in order to make it a viable daily option. “Burgers are something that are very easy to get sick of and if those are a daily alternative, people are going to get tired of them really quickly,” Walker said.

Another concern that some have is the environmental impact that serving beef twice more each week may have. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, raising beef requires significantly more land and water. Additionally,

Continued on Page 3

The Mead Receives $3 Million to Support Directorial Position Natalie De Rosa ’21 Staff Writer The Mead Art Museum announced on Jan. 11 that it received a gift of $3 million. The donation by John Wieland ’58 and his wife Sue seeks to support the position of director and chief curator and help build the museum’s contemporary art collection.

“We are deeply grateful to John and Sue Wieland for this generous gift to Amherst and for their commitment to ensuring that the Mead’s exhibitions, educational programming and collection-building continue to serve and delight everyone in our community and beyond,” President Biddy Martin said in a press release.

David Little, Mead director and chief curator, remarked that the endowment for the director position greatly benefits the museum. “When that hap-

pens, it means that there’s more money freed up for other positions and activities,” he said. “It provides budget release for the college.”

Little also highlighted the donation’s contribution to the museum’s contemporary art acquisitions.

Over the past year, the museum has focused on increasing its contemporary art collection, acquiring more than 120 works made within the last 10 years.

“We’re trying to show art from [students’] generation so that they’re able to get what artists are doing and its relationship to history,” said Little. “Art and time march on, so it’s really exciting to be able to have funds to support acquisitions of contemporary art.”

The museum is also working to diversify the selection of artists displayed by highlighting nonAmerican artists, according to Little. Within the past year, works originating from Germany, Russia

and Africa have been on exhibit.

The Wielands will also present an exhibition titled “HOUSE: Selections from the Collection of John and Sue Wieland,” featuring works from the Wieland’s collection, and contribute to the museum’s increasing variety of artworks, says Little. “[HOUSE] includes artists from places like China, Latin America and South Africa,” Little said.

The artwork will focus on how the house can contribute to a person’s life both positively and negatively, as well as the complex associations some have with the home.

The Wielands’ collection includes contemporary artists such as Vito Acconci, Doug Aitkin, John Baldessari, Jennifer Bartlett and Robert Bechtle, according to the college’s press release.

Little hopes the exhibition will attract students who normally would not visit the museum. “What

I love about the theme of the house is the accessibility of the concept,” he said. “I hope [students] will discover all of the different ways you can enjoy and think about this art.”

The exhibition’s theme will also connect the museum with the college community, he added. “It shows the community, how we at the Mead are connecting with the students and connecting with the curriculum,” he said.

Events currently hosted by the Mead include gallery talks with curators, artist presentations and performances.

“HOUSE: Selections from the Collection of John and Sue Wieland” will open on Feb. 8 and remain on display until July 1.

To commemorate the exhibition’s opening, John Wieland and Little will host a public talk at 5 p.m. in Stirn Auditorium.

News

Young-Ji Cho Jan. 22, 2018 - Jan. 29, 2018

>>Jan. 22, 2018 8:36 a.m., Hitchcock House ACPD received information from the Student Affairs office about a student responsible for damaging ceiling tiles. They are following up on the matter.

10:52 p.m., Lincoln Ave. A student reported being struck by a car while on Lincoln Avenue. >>Jan. 23, 2018 8:45 a.m., Mayo-Smith House An officer investigated a smoke detector sounding in a secondfloor room and discovered it activated after a hair dryer was used too close to it. >>Jan. 24, 2018 9:00 p.m., Porter House Officers and the Fire Department responded to an alarm and discovered it activated when a fire in the fireplace was started.

9:03 p.m., Morris Pratt Dormitory An officer investigated a smoke detector sounding in a first-floor room. No cause could be found. >>Jan. 25, 2018 9:32 a.m., Mill Lane An ATM machine stolen from the Hampshire Mall was found on college property off Mill Lane. >>Jan. 26, 2018 10:09 p.m., Greenway Building C An officer did a walk-through of the building due to a noise complaint and spoke to a firstfloor resident and students on the second floor.

10:25 p.m., Greenway Building C While responding to a noise complaint, an officer discovered that an underage first-floor resident was in possession of alcohol while underage. The alcohol was confiscated and the matter was referred to Student Affairs.

10:43 p.m., Seligman House Officers investigated a smoke detector sounding on the second floor but no cause could be identified. >>Jan. 27, 2018 12:19 a.m., Wieland Dormitory A caller complained about the odor of marijuana on the firstfloor. No odor was found when an officer investigated.

1:17 p.m., 79 South Pleasant Street Officers investigated an intrusion alarm and found it was accidentally set off by an employee.

2:54 p.m., Amherst College Police Station ACPD was notified that an employee received a threatening

Facebook message. The matter is under investigation.

5:36 p.m., 79 South Pleasant Street An officer assisted an employee who became stuck in an elevator.

9:26 p.m., Marsh House An officer investigated a smoke detector sounding in a secondfloor room and found it activated due to vaping.

9:39 p.m., Marsh House While investigating a smoke detector sounding in a secondfloor room, an officer discovered controlled substances.

They were confiscated and the matter was referred to Student Affairs.

9:40 p.m., Marsh House While investigating a smoke detector sounding in a secondfloor room, an officer discovered hard alcohol. The alcohol was confiscated as the resident was underage. The matter was referred to Student Affairs.

10:02 p.m., Alumni House An employee reported a minor fire on a stove had occurred.

There was no damage.

10:53 p.m., Mayo-Smith House A town resident complained about a loud party. Officers responded and found approximately 75 people in the firstfloor common room. A number of people left the area, and the gathering was allowed to continue. At 11:12 p.m., a second noise complaint was received.

Officers returned and shut down the gathering.

11:38 p.m., Hitchcock House Officers responded to a noise complaint and found a large party with over 150 people. Due to the overcrowding and the absence of a crowd manager, the event was shut down. >>Jan. 28, 2018 1:15 a.m., Hitchcock House Officers responded to a noise complaint and had loud music shut off in a second-floor room.

7:14 a.m., King Dormitory Officers responded to a report of someone screaming outside the building and located the student responsible. After speaking with the student, no further assistance was needed. >>Jan. 29, 2018 12:28 a.m., Hitchcock House An officer responded to a complaint of loud music in the firstfloor common room and found a small group of students. The volume of music was turned down. As soon as the officer left the music level was turned back up. The officer returned and the music was turned off.

Thoughts on Theses Department of Art and Department of Enlglish

Young-Ji Cho ’18 is an art and English double major. For her thesis, she is creating a series of children’s picture books based on the lives of AsianAmerican figures. Her advisor is Betsey Garand, a senior resident artist in the department of art and the history of art.

Q: What is your thesis about?

A: Basically I’m creating a series of children’s picture books on Asian-American historical figures. The two that I decided to focus on are Yayoi Kusama and Tammy Duckworth. They’re both Asian-American women, and I’m basically telling and making a biography of them. I’m telling their life story in order to raise more visibility of Asian-American characters in the children’s literature space and give people who look like me figures that they can look up to and read about and learn about.

Q: Can you talk more about the two characters you’re writing about?

A: Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese-American artist and she’s become really popular recently because of her installations. She has a bunch of rooms, she calls them infinity rooms, and you step in and you can see a whole bunch of lights everywhere and it’s really pretty, and she’s done a lot more work based on polka dots, and she has a lot of sculptures and paintings and stuff. And that was just — it made sense to me because I’m also an artist so I wanted to focus on a female artist.

And Tammy Duckworth — she’s a politician, so I thought it would be really nice to see someone in that sphere, holding that sort of position, because I feel like that’s not very common for us to be able to see. She’s also the first Asian-American woman to be elected to Congress in Illinois, and I’m from Illinois, so I thought it would be a nice nod at my home state. She’s also the first congresswoman to be born in Thailand, she’s the first [female] disabled veteran serving in Congress, and recently, she just announced that she’s pregnant, so she’s going to be the first [sitting] senator to give birth. There’s a lot of firsts that she’s checked off, and I just feel like more people need to know about her. That’s how I came to those two.

Q: What was the inspiration behind your thesis?

A: My sophomore year, spring, I took a class here called A Primer to Children’s Literature. I really enjoyed the course, and I really like reading children’s picture books because it’s sort of like a good meeting point of my two interests since I’m an art and English double major. It sort of makes sense to have those two form in this product. I took that class, I really liked it, but I noticed in their curriculum that they didn’t really have any literature on Asian Americans and there weren’t that many on people of color in general. In the broader world of publishing, there’s a lot of need for more diverse books. I recognized that problem, and I thought this was my way to contribute to that and bring more diversity into the publishing/children’s literature sphere.

Q: So are your books strictly a biography, or are you going to fictionalize a little bit?

A: It’s based on their lives, and so I’ve been doing research on where they were born, their family and how they got to where they are. It will be a biography, but of course, it will be a much more simplified version in order for children to be able to read it and understand it. I’m trying to keep it pretty accurate [to their life].

Q: What has been your research process been like?

A: It’s interesting because this is an art thesis, but

I’m also, since I’m writing it as well, it’s been a lot of back and forth because I’m writing but I’m also illustrating. So I’ve been looking at other artists who inspire me. I’ve been researching about Kusama’s life and reading her autobiography, and reading books that other people wrote about her.

I’m actually working on her first, so I actually haven’t gotten to Tammy Duckworth as much.

And then I have weekly meetings with my advisor and she brings in books for me to see or gives me new ways to think about my work, which I then revise and produce more of. Everywhere I go I’m on the lookout for things that may inspire me and I’ve been reading a lot of children’s picture books, like going to the Jones Library and going to the children’s book section, stuff like that.

Q: What is one interesting or cool thing that you discovered during your research?

A: I’ve just realized how hard of a process this is, so I have a lot more respect for children’s book authors and illustrators because it may seem like, “It’s a children’s book, it’s really simple, it’s not as complex as a novel,” but there is so much that goes into it. And because it’s so much more simple, every page has to be significant, and there’s so many times you have to redo stuff just to fit within like 32 pages. I guess that would be the biggest thing that I’m taking away, is just a newfound respect for people who do this normally.

Q: What’s been the most rewarding moment so far?

A: I guess the most rewarding moment is for me to be able to see my own progress, even from the beginning of the semester. Looking at the work that I’ve created at the beginning and then looking at something I created a week ago, I can see how much more confident I’ve become in creating something. And I guess that makes sense because you do something every week, you practice and practice; you get better. But it’s really cool to be able to see it visually in front of me.

Just recently I had a meeting with my advisor, and I was able to show her a rough draft, physical copy of the book that I wanted to make, and it was really rewarding for me to be able to see her actually flip through the pages and look at each picture. I don’t know if there’s a set thing again, but it’s just the process, and looking back at the process has been really rewarding.

Q: Do you have any advice for future thesis writers?

A: This is something that I personally still have to work on, but I think because it is a very selfmotivated thing — yeah, your advisors are there to help you — but in the end it’s about how much you put into it. And everyone tells you this, and I guess I’ll reiterate it, but it really is important that — the product is a reflection of how much time you’ve put into it, so it’s really vital that you carve out a space and a time, just like you would a class, and make sure you work on it. And I find that hard to do because there’s so many more immediate deadlines, you know, like “oh I have a paper due next week, whereas the thesis seems so far away,” but it’s really important to have that time dedicated just to do your thesis.

— Sehee Park ’20

The Amherst Student • January 31, 2017

News

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Dining Services Introduces Burger Bar and Hot Grab-N-Go Continued from Page 1 cattle tend to release five times more greenhouse gas emissions than poultry.

“One of the things we are going to be testing out this semester, is that we’re trying to find a good blended burger,” Flueckiger said. “It’s a blend between mushrooms and beef and the flavor is really excellent. We haven’t found one that really holds together yet, but we’re going to continue to look into that since beef consumption is a problem for the environment.”

In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, containers in Grab-N-Go that hold sides have all been made compostable, an idea suggested by Grab-N-Go employee Pete Charron, according to Flueckiger. Other changes to Grab-N-Go include a more comprehensive waste system that helps students sort their trash, as well as the addition of hot food such as pizza and calzones on Wednesdays.

Fluekiger said that while there’s not yet a set

date, there are plans to add sushi as an option for students at some point in the future.

While food might be the main focus of changes to Val, its hours are also undergoing alterations. Val will now be open until 8:30 p.m. on Friday nights and will also be open for “Late Lunch” on weekends from 2:30 until 4:30 p.m.

Flueckiger noticed on Friday nights that students would come in at the last minute. After extending the hours without much advertisement, he found that over 100 students came in between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.

In addition to longer Friday hours, Flueckiger said that Val will be open for Late Lunch to better fit the “continuous dining model” that many schools have.

“I hate to have the resource like the dining hall closed during the day,” Flueckiger. “Students like to eat at odd hours sometimes, so we should be open whenever we can. Maybe the menu offerings are a little bit lighter, but I think having Val as an option to just come in for cereal, waffles

or whatever the case may be is a good option.”

Students like Kyra Raines ’20 are looking forward to the increase in weekend hours. “I do think I’ll use the new hours,” she said. “I don’t go there too often but it is nice to work somewhere that’s often pretty quiet with free food and free coffee.”

Many of these changes came about after collaboration between the Dining Services Counsel, which includes three AAS senators, and Flueckiger. Louis Briones ’19, who’s an AAS senator, served on the counsel this year.

“The three of us [AAS Senators] don’t reflect the views of the entire student body, so we decided to make a survey in an attempt to figure out what changes students wanted most,” Briones said. “We ended up recording about 500 or so unique student responses and looked closely at common themes and items brought up.”

One change that may not be as noticeable as Burger Bar is the elimination of blackened catfish from the Val dinner menu.

“Of course he couldn’t agree to every suggestion we had, but there were a lot of areas that we think improved Val,” Briones said. “Eventually, when people don’t see blackened catfish anymore, they’ll realize the willingness Joe has to put the best menu out there, and soon it’ll be a happily forgotten memory like the infamous Val Noodle Bar.” As for the future, Flueckiger plans to keep on making changes in order to meet students’ needs and wants. This includes getting rid of some of the least popular items on the menu and replacing them with dishes that students will have the opportunity to sample beforehand.

“The biggest thing I would like to see is to increase the engagement of students in food issues, as well as in the dining program,” Flueckiger said.

“The more we are in dialogue about what we’re doing, the more we’re going to give you what you want. Ultimately, we are here to serve the campus community and the way to do that is to collaborate.”

Administration Overhauls Party Policy to Student Frustrations Continued from Page 1 Community Standards Corey Michalos and Gendron upon request.

Policy changes come after an email to students from the Office of Residential Life on Jan. 19 detailing a total of $14,855 in damages to common areas for all residential areas in Fall 2017.

Administrative Response to Student Backlash Chief Student Affairs Officer Suzanne Coffey and Gendron sent a second email to the student body on Tuesday, Jan. 30 explaining the reasons behind the new policy in light of student backlash.

They cited a “significant rise in harmful, disrespectful and dangerous conduct on campus that we believe has reached an alarming state” as the motive for moving quickly with the policy updates. “[W]e apologize for surprising you and for failing to share our plans with the entire student body before acting,” they wrote. “Your frustration about that is understandable.”

According to their email, hospital transports related to intoxication in Fall 2017 exceeded those in the entire previous academic year, and Student Affairs received reports of vandalism and property destruction every weekend, in addition to reports of violence, sexual harassment, groping and assault.

“The costs for clean-up and repair keep rising in proportion to the increase in damage caused by a few individuals in our community,” the email stated. “The often odious cleaning and significant repair falls squarely in the lap of our dedicated custodial and facilities staff, who are subjected to sickening conditions. This behavior is beneath contempt.”

The college considered policies at 12 peer institutions, including those in the NESCAC, Swarthmore and Brown. At every one of these schools, Coffey and Gendron wrote, parties must be registered, and party sponsors are responsible for adherence to occupancy limits and alcohol laws and policies.

“While we understand that some of you disagree with the need for such policies and practices, we must take seriously our responsibility for student safety while simultaneously respecting students’ desires for appropriate degrees of freedom in organizing and enjoying parties,” the email wrote. “We have not yet found the right balance and cannot find it without your help … It is easier to take the route of blaming the administration for ‘infantilizing’ you. It is important for all of us to be honest, however.”

The email then addressed new measures in the policy and ended by inviting students to participate in a future Student Affairs survey regarding issues of student social and residential life.

Students React with Frustration The Amherst Association of Students (AAS) President Aditi Krishnamurthy ’18 said she received no notice of the new policy and no outreach inviting her or the AAS to discuss updates. She

expressed particular frustration with “the lack of transparency with the whole process” and changes that were “lackluster” and “not particularly clear.”

She also questioned how the college would enforce the new policies, such as the requirements for cleaning up within an hour of the registered end time. “Overall, I don’t think anyone is looking at this as a significant improvement,” she said.

In an email statement to The Student, AAS Senator Elias Schultz ’18 commended the Office of Community Standards and Michalos for having demonstrated intent to hear students’ concerns — Student Affairs held “moderately attended” community standards forums with students to discuss social life and issues from Nov. 29 through Dec. 12, according to Gendron in a separate interview.

Schultz said, however, that the decision-making process behind the policy updates neglected student voices. “These changes … put even more responsibility in the hands of sponsors, introduce more obstacles to successfully hosting an event, make social life more bureaucratic and introduce more administrative oversight to student life,” Schultz wrote.

The new policy will contribute to dissatisfaction with social life, he added, something that should concern the administration in “attracting new students and maintaining a respectful relationship with the current student body.”

Bryan Doniger ’18 said countering policy changes is difficult because the administration can point to the accrued damages to college property in the past year, but maintained that he does not advocate for the policy changes.

“I’m suspicious that the legal technique here is to shift a responsibility away from the school and onto individuals,” Doniger said. “The danger of it is it makes a number of assumptions about what it is to be a student … that we as students are not capable of learning to tend to and care for one another, to be in community with one another in ways that are mutually inclusive without a police logic that is punitively placed upon us.”

David Shin ’19, a resident of Seelye Dormitory who was charged for unaccounted dorm damage, said he was initially upset about having to cover its costs and felt the partygoers should be held accountable. “But when I saw the new policy and saw that they would just charge all unattributed damages to party sponsors, I couldn’t help but think that some of these parties rake up over a thousand dollars in dorm damage,” he said. “A lot of people don’t have that to cover dorm damages.”

The policy also does not include any procedures for helping party sponsors hold other partygoers accountable for fines, Shin said.

Though he called the changes “misguided,” Shin said he understands the administration’s actions. “If you’re raking up $15,000 in dorm damage ... we’re definitely not acting like adults,” he said.

According to Krishnamurthy, the AAS is working to compile a list of alternate policies, such as employing student security to monitor parties, and will write them into another letter to the administration. The AAS is also considering contact-

ing the Board of Trustees.

Coffey reached out to Krishnamurthy a few hours after her email on Tuesday and asked for assistance on how to best solicit feedback from students, suggesting small group meetings.

“The main piece of the note that people are frustrated by is the comparison with our peer institutions without acknowledging that our resident model is not comparable at other schools,” Krishnamurthy said, citing other schools’ opportunities for off-campus residential life. “I was happy to meet with her, but at this point I don’t think there’s any real purpose in selecting small groups …

There really needs to be some face-to-face contact between the administration and all the students.”

Krishnamurthy responded to Coffey proposing a town hall instead and hopes to coordinate dates so all members of Coffey’s team can attend.

Past Conflict The AAS has previously voiced its displeasure with the way the college administration handles incidents regarding party policies. Members wrote a letter to President Biddy Martin, Coffey and Gendron on Dec. 10, addressing student frustrations regarding unannounced walkthroughs in select dormitories by administrators including Coffey and Michalos on the night of Dec. 9.

“A number of events (largely on the Triangle) were shut down in a manner inconsistent with other social weekends,” the AAS wrote in an email to students on Dec. 10. The email included the text of its letter to administrators and asked students who agreed “that it’s time for the administration to start treating us as equal members of this community” to sign the letter in support. More than 400 students signed the letter within 24 hours.

Krishnamurthy said she drafted the AAS letter with a few other senators, including Schultz, after witnessing Michalos shut down a party on Dec. 9 in the third-floor common room of Hitchcock House and receiving a number of student complaints regarding other walkthroughs.

Their main goal in writing the letter, she said, is to create a less antagonistic relationship with the administration.

“There is a difference between enforcing the rules consistently and safely in a way where students know what to expect and we can have a relationship with the administration as opposed to it being like, ‘We’re going to come sometimes! There are no real rules, but today there are rules!”’ Krishnamurthy said. “What this letter is saying is, ‘Sure, there are problems, and we want to solve problems with you … But this is not the way to do that.”’

“I will qualify all of this by saying that we do have rules in the Student Handbook,” she added.

“It does say we can’t have hard alcohol in a common space. I’m not saying we should be allowed to run wild and free, but that rule is never regulated.”

Krishnamurthy was charged with $55 for dorm damage fees to Hitchcock even though she said she does not attend parties at the dorm on weekends. “I’m not happy about [dorm damages] either,” she said. “But rules need to be consistent.”

The consensus in the class of 2018, according to Krishnamurthy, is that the architectural problem needs to be addressed. After the demolition of the social dorms, she said, students could no longer gather with friends in private common spaces, which restricted social life to “big, organized groups of people, generally athletic teams, who have those numbers, who are able to dominate dorms on Hitchcock and the Triangle.”

There is no accountability, Schultz said, because “they’re partying in the living spaces of strangers.”

The AAS hopes to address this larger issue of space, Schultz said, but it requires mutually respectful communication between students and administrators — not “some really intense monitoring and the administration’s overreach,” he said.

According to Krishnamurthy, Coffey sent a brief reply to Krishnamurthy’s personal email account about a week after the letter was released.

“We are currently discussing ideas for enhancing social life at the college in ways that will involve inviting into the conversation the members of our community who chose Amherst as a place to learn and grow,” Coffey wrote, using some of the language from the AAS letter.

Students who signed the letter were allowed to include comments, and more than one response mentioned desires to transfer.

Olivia Vayer ’18 questioned the motives behind the Dec. 9 walkthroughs. “There was a sense that the individuals doing walkthroughs were trying to get people in trouble rather than improve overall well-being by decreasing sexual predation/ sexual violence and binge-drinking behavior,” Vayer wrote. “If the latter is truly their intention, how they approached the situation was certainly not effective, instead brewing student resentment and driving risky drinking behavior behind closed doors.”

Others asked for more open conversation.

“Although I do not actively engage in many aspects of the social life [at] Amherst, I am concerned with how the lack of dialogue between the administration and students creates unnecessary divisions in this community and encourages closeted behaviours,” Sarah Wishloff ’19 wrote.

“In my experience as a freshman non-athlete, inclusive parties are rare,” Rebecca Schrader ’21 wrote. “However, I don’t think its [sic] impossible to create open and safe party spaces, I think the administration and the student body needs to seriously reconsider the way social spaces are designed on campus.”

According to Krishnamurthy and Schultz, most of the feedback they’ve received from students is in agreement with the AAS letter.

No parties were evaluated for approval via the college’s registration system for the weekend of Jan. 26 and Jan. 27.

Martin could not be reached for comment.

Though Coffey and Michalos initially intended to send a statement to The Student, they did not provide further comment after releasing their email to the student body on Tuesday afternoon.

Opinion

THE AMHERST

An Honest Appraisal We, the Editorial Board, were not planning on writing the editorial on this topic. Jake May’s opinion article below clearly articulates the concerns many on campus have with the updates to the party policy that were released last week.

However, in light of yesterday’s email from Chief Student Affairs Officer Suzanne Coffey and Senior Associate Dean of Students Dean Gendron, we felt that it was our responsibility to respond.

First, we would like to note that even though we vehemently disagree with many elements of the new party policy and strongly critique the wording and argument of yesterday’s email, we would agree that the ultimate goal of this process should be to “build a better community for everyone.” However, the college’s efforts towards this noble goal are misguided at best and cynical and counterproductive at worst.

In this email, which within minutes stirred up an enormous furor across campus, Coffey and Gendron noted the recent rise in dorm damage, misconduct and alcohol abuse, behavior which they claim is “beneath contempt” and certainly is. We similarly condemn this disrespectful behavior, and acknowledge that the actions of students need to improve across the board. However, they neglect to mention any of the causes for these spikes, for many of which the school is to blame. The current state of our social life stems from the administration’s decision to replace the social dorms with the Greenway dorms, which were designed in a manner antithetical to any meaningful party scene.

Social life is now essentially constrained to a small collection of dorms, namely the Triangle, Lipton, Mo Pratt and Jenkins. These same dorms are likely the ones accruing the most dorm damage, but only because, with almost no available suites on-campus, there is nowhere else for students to go besides large common rooms. Furthermore, the fact that many parties in these spaces are shut down early means that students often choose to heavily pregame events, leading to incredibly unhealthy drinking habits in private.

In addition to the administration’s unwillingness to look

STUDENT

at the effects of their own choices on Amherst’s social life, the tone taken by Suzanne Coffey and Dean Gendron, one of patronizing disrespect, is endemic to the administration’s discussion of the issue. By no means do we ask for coddling or even complete agreement. We understand that there are certain issues on which the student body and the administration fundamentally differ. However, we would ask that the administration engage in a genuine dialogue where both sides accept blame. It is clear in this email that the administration still feels that they shoulder no blame for the uptick in poor behavior. The writers claim that it is easy to blame the administration, and perhaps it is, but the reason we do so is because they are the ones enacting policy. They claim responsibility for not finding the right balance, but that overlooks the fact that many would argue that we were much closer to the right balance when the socials existed.

Furthermore, the writers of this email also set forth a series of claims that, at a quick glance, seem fundamentally illogical. How is it remotely reasonable to compare social life and party policy at Amherst, a school with little to no offcampus housing, to a school like Brown or other NESCAC schools, which boast either Greek life or a vibrant offcampus community? For Amherst, a school where students have to fight tooth-and-nail to claim one of 50 off-campus houses, such comparisons ring hollow, as does the claim that “residential living is a privilege.” The school wants us on campus, for better or worse, yet is unwilling to seriously address the limitations and problems this has created on this campus.

Ultimately, we believe the social scene at Amherst College is fundamentally flawed and the college’s acceptance of this fact is helpful. Moving forward it is imperative that both parties — students and administration — do their part to maintain the health of our community. Students must tend to their spaces with respect, care and consideration.

However, the administration must also accept it is at fault for some of the issues students are complaining about. Honestly engaging with each other’s concerns is the only way towards a vibrant and safe social scene.

If I May: On the Party Policy Jake May ’19 Columnist The recently-updated party policy is thoroughly disappointing. It further infantilizes students, and does little to nothing to fix issues it should be designed to remedy. In fact, there is so much wrong with this policy that I couldn’t even get to all of it; I addressed only what I found to be the most egregious issues with the policy.

First, I’ll address some smaller scale problems with the policy. The policy explains that if a student wants to drink alcohol at a registered party, they are “responsible for bringing their own alcohol for personal consumption.” As the policy states: “No guest is allowed to serve alcohol to other guests.” I can see where the administration is coming from here. There have certainly been problems on campus in the past relating to the service of alcohol by party hosts. However, I don’t really understand how this policy would work.

Will students just be carrying around six packs of beer while trying to dance? Will we have to carry around Sharpies to label all the alcohol we would personally bring? Logistically alone, this one just doesn’t make sense.

If the college was worried about communal alcohol, such as jungle juice, perhaps they could have stipulated that all alcohol consumed has to come from closed containers that the drinker opened themselves (meaning drink from a bottle or can). This would fit perfectly with the rest of their rules, considering that “hard alcohol is never permitted at a registered party,” and “no drinking games are allowed.” So, instead of every student having to bring their allotted alcohol, perhaps one or two could bring some larger containers of beer cans, and students could share those accordingly.

Furthermore, the policy stipulates that “alco-

hol is limited to six units for personal consumption.” Again, I understand this rule; the college wants students not to drink in excess. However, six drinks is an arbitrary number. For some students, this is far too much alcohol, and drinking that much could necessitate medical attention.

But for others, six drinks is fewer than they are used to drinking on a weekend night. The college must know that making this rule will not lead to these students drinking less. Rather, this will encourage students to quickly drink heavily in their rooms before going to parties where they can’t get any alcohol, which I am certain is a situation the college does not want.

It is extremely disheartening to see the administration respond to the widely-supported AAS’ letter — which criticized the administration for treating Amherst “as a boarding school rather than a college” — by including such infantilizing rules. If the college wants us to host and enjoy parties in a more adult way, then it should stop trying to treat us like children. These rules are just another example of the college’s choice to police us rather than put trust in us as students.

Unfortunately, as you go deeper into the party policy, the problems only get more serious, especially when you reach the section called “What Does Amherst Expect from Party Sponsors?”

There are eight expectations laid out by the college, some of which could be considered fair. However, there is one “expectation” that is inadmissible: “Number six. [A party sponsor is expected to] address unsafe conditions at party, including unsafe intoxication of guests, overcrowding and any guest behavior that creates a risk for other guests and the facility.” At face value, this expectation seems sensible. In the AAS letter, they wrote: “Rather than coming up with new ways to police us, let’s talk about how the college can start treating us, its stu-

dents, as valuable, adult members of its community.” One of these ways, of course, is self-policing our parties as much as we can.

“So, what’s the problem, Jake?” I assume you’re asking. Here’s the problem: in a section a little further down, called “What happens if I sponsor a party and fail to meet these expectations?” the policy notes that “typically failing to meet the expectations outlined above will result in a probationary status and/or an educational sanction.”

Um, okay? But look back at expectation number six (printed above): what does “address unsafe conditions” mean? What does “behavior that creates a risk for other guests” mean, exactly? This language is colloquial and vague, and that is unacceptable in this case. If I’m at risk of disciplinary action, I’d like to know exactly what is expected of me.

Furthermore, according to the policy, party sponsors can also be financially responsible for any damage done at the party. The policy states: “If the person(s) responsible for the damage cannot be identified, the party sponsors may be charged for all damages and cleaning charges.”

Okay, let’s role play this. Here I am, hosting a party. “Wow, look at all the large athletes here,” I say. Oh no, one of them punched a wall to prove he’s the strongest of the pack! But which one? I don’t know any of them personally, and I didn’t see the punch happen. So now what? Am I to pay for this wall punch hole? And, because this behavior probably qualifies under “behavior that creates a risk for other guests,” now I’ve also failed to meet the expectation number six, so I could be subject to serious disciplinary action. This policy has created a situation wherein I’m both financially and disciplinarily responsible for the behavior of someone who I don’t even know and do not have the physical ability to control. Furthermore, while

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The Amherst Student • January 31, 2018

Opinion

5

If I May: A Tone-Deaf Disappointment Continued from Page 4 the policy requires party sponsors to act above and beyond the expectations of an adult hosting a party, it also allows those students who are not sponsors to act in whatever delinquent way they choose and are unlikely to face significant consequences, unless they are caught in the act. Thanks, Amherst!

Finally, we arrive at the policy’s handling of “medical emergencies involving AOD [alcohol and other drugs] use.” This section begins with fairly standard fare, the college stressing that they are concerned about students’ safety regarding the use of drugs and alcohol. But then, this sentence appears: “For students who choose to consume alcohol, the college expects that they do so in moderation to avoid compromising personal safety.”

At first glance, this seems innocuous enough. In fact, in my first draft of this article, I did not even address this line at all. But upon some reflection

and conversation with fellow students, I realized the weight of what this sentence implies. Essentially, it suggests that a student who has drunk too much has compromised their own personal safety and is therefore completely responsible for whatever happens to them.

This is an incredibly dangerous implication, especially when you apply it to the issue of rampant sexual assault on this campus. To me — and to some other students I have spoken with — it seems that the college is saying that if you get too drunk and are sexually assaulted, it is your own fault because you have gotten too drunk. It is absolutely inexcusable that the college composed a sentence like this. I guess I should assume that these implications were not considered, but that too is disgraceful. Frankly, I’m embarrassed such careless and tone-deaf language was included.

Shame on you, Amherst.

And yet, we’re still not finished with this trash heap of a policy. Next, the college discusses the in-

stitution of a “medical amnesty policy.” Essentially, if you call ACEMS for yourself or for another student, you and the student for which ACEMS was called can receive disciplinary amnesty. This is a very sensible policy that encourages students to call emergency services if they or their friends are in a dangerous situa — oh, what’s that you say?

The college found a way to ruin this one too? A few lines down, the policy states: “[Medical amnesty] does not protect students who repeatedly violate college policies. Once a student receives medical amnesty, future amnesty is at the discretion of the Office of Student Affairs.” My goodness. The college has now created a situation where students may be encouraged not to call ACEMS when they or their peers are in need because it could risk them getting in serious trouble. This is, again, absolutely unacceptable. There should never, ever be a situation where students are discouraged from calling ACEMS. Simply put, the party policy does much to in-

crease the very things with which students were already disappointed, such as enforce over-policing, treat students like high schoolers and show a palpable tone-deafness regarding sexual assault.

On the other hand, it does little to nothing to remedy the serious issues related to parties on campus, the most important of which being a safe, assault-free environment for all students. The party policy is just another example of the administration displaying a lack of understanding of its own student body. Of course, I do not mean to suggest that I could create a perfect party policy. This is obviously a very complex and difficult issue to address. However, it is disheartening to see the college double down on its policing and dismissal of sexual assault issues. At this point, it is clear that left to their own devices, the administration will not act in its students’ best interest. That means it’s time for us to make some serious noise about these issues. I’m not sure what form that noise will take, but hopefully it’ll get pretty loud.

House of Representatives and successfully ran for Senate in 2016. Only the second woman to become an Illinois senator, she was also the second Asian-American and the first disabled woman to be elected to the Senate. While serving as congresswoman, she gave birth to her first child, becoming the 10th woman ever to do so while in the House. Now she will be the first to give birth while in the Senate.

The federal government guarantees 12 weeks unpaid maternity leave, per the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993, and many federal employees are only eligible for this minimum.

The problem with this, of course, is the “un” before “paid.” Not all women can afford to take that time off, especially when you consider that raising a child does not take only 12 weeks and that the women are likely already being paid less

than their male counterparts. Even a woman in a high-paying job could hesitate in the face of “12 weeks unpaid,” as those weeks only guarantee job security, not upward mobility. Three months off can mean the difference between a promotion and two more years of stagnation. It’s likely that a male colleague would get promoted instead.

Clearly, this is insufficient for the nearly 10 million women in high-stakes government jobs and seems even more insufficient when compared to employers like Google, which guarantee 18 weeks of paid leave.

While it is unlikely that the federal government could match the maternity leave of a successful private company like Google, it does not seem unreasonable to expect some level of paid family leave. Congress must act. Even Trump said during his campaign that “birth mothers” should

be allowed six weeks of paid leave. This must be expanded to all parents, including foster parents and adoptive parents. As of now, the U.S. is the only country in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (which includes most Western nations) to not mandate paid maternity leave. According to the initial proposal of a failed bill introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Rosa DeLauro, 12 weeks paid family leave would cost a mere 0.2% of a taxpayer’s paycheck. A bill of this kind would cost little to the American public but reap massive benefits for parents everywhere.

I hope for a society where women will not have to choose between a family and a career.

Senator Duckworth is lucky to have both, but all women deserve the chance for both a fulfilling career and a family.

Make Way for Duckworth Hayley Fleming ’21 and Campbell Hannan ’21 Contributing Writers Make way for ducklings; on Jan. 23, Sen. Tammy Duckworth announced her pregnancy, making her the first sitting senator to ever give birth.

Though she plans to take the 12 weeks paid leave that she guarantees her staffers, the announcement has sparked discussion about guaranteed maternity leave for federal employees in general. Senator Duckworth is the 51st woman to be elected to Senate — why is she the first to give birth while?

Tammy Duckworth was elected as the representative for Illinois’ Eighth Congressional District in 2012 and has been breaking glass ceilings since then. She served two terms in the

Cardi B: A Meme, Musician and Celebrity Worthy of The Limelight John Kim ’20 Contributing Writer A tried and true method of mine for wiping the grogginess out of my mornings is to take a shower while putting on some bangers, or as I recently learned in Miami, “boppers.” In proper English, both mean an upbeat song that gets your body grooving.

So, while I was casually dancing and rinsing my hair to “Bodak Yellow” one slow morning, I wondered what made that song so explosive and infectious that it seized the throne of Billboard’s Top 100 with lightning speed. How did Cardi B claim the title of empress of the music industry, the mother of all bangers?

Riding the classic triplet beat characteristic of many trap hip-hop songs are Cardi B’s raunchy lyrics, which encapsulate the charm and nonchalance her social media followers know and love. She’s one of those rare types who never ceases being who she truly is. And everyone, of course, knows this because Cardi B, like any shrewd businesswoman, knows how to market a product.

Only in this case, the product was Cardi B. Beginning with only a moderate fanbase on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, Cardi B showered her followers with unapologetic honesty and overflowing confidence, both of which paired beautifully with her irresistible humor. While still hustling through her stint as a local stripper, she began tirelessly soaking up everything she could about music stardom and unashamedly sharing it.

“If your song ain’t playing in the stripclub,

it ain’t poppin,” she said. Soon enough, her platforms began exploding with followers.

Her swift rise to celebrity status and growing esteem among renowned artists suggest that she was what we were all looking for. Her almost immediate likeability among millenials resembles the cultural magnetism of well-made memes, which draw in social media users all over the globe. A meme is a humorous depiction of a thought, phenomenon or behavior that most folks can relate to. A living meme, Cardi B captures a popular sentiment or thought and repackages it into something iconic, charismatic and unique. There’s a slew of quotes to prove it.

Take, for instance, one of her infamous sayings: “Ever since I started using guys, I feel so powerful.” Or when she said, “It’s cold outside but I’m still looking like a thottie... because a hoe never gets cold.” If there is a more ribald, charming and hilarious brand of sexual power, independence and control, then unicorns probably exist too.

Amid the fame and flashing lights, Cardi B remains true to her roots. “I’m just a regular, degular, shmegular girl from the Bronx,” she repeatedly states when interviewed. She also hasn’t spared sharing what seem like daily self-reminders when she says, “I think it bothers people when you not out here looking to be accepted by everyone. You just doin’ you and mindin your business. People hate that.” Even with everything uncontrollable, rash and unfamiliar about her, such elements of her success story are what we’d like to see in our own narratives. That’s her power. That’s her allure.

Arts&Living

“Call Me By Your Name” Beautifully Depicts Budding Young Love

Photo courtesy of quartaparetepress.it

Elio, played by Timothée Chalarnet, (left) and Oliver, played by Armie Hammer, (right) meet in Italy when Oliver works with Elio’s father as a research assistant.

Hildi Gabel ’21 Contributing Writer In the dreary wet days of January, perhaps the best antidote to the worry and disillusionment of this season lies in Luca Guadagnino’s newest film “Call Me by Your Name.” Beautiful scenes of Northern Italy — the cerulean blue of the Mediterranean and lush green groves that shimmer through the hazy summer heat like an impressionist painting — splash across the screen throughout the movie. It’s nearly impossible not to fall in love with the Italian coast, and this tantalizing vision of scenic bliss leads the viewer to fall in love with not only nature, but towns, families and incredible feats of love.

The film, adapted from André Aciman’s novel of the same name, details the unfolding of a passionate relationship between two young men, Oliver and Elio. Set in the 1980s, Oliver (Armie Hammer), an American doctorate student, is invited to stay for a summer with Professor Perlman (Michael Stuhlbarg), his wife (Amira Casar) and 17 year old son, Elio (Timothée Chalamet) in exchange for research assistance. In between discussions of Hellenistic bronzework and Haydn’s compositions, the characters spend their days lounging in sun-soaked gardens and pools, eating late dinners at the house and dancing on the town at nights. Elio finds himself attached to Oliver, and he confronts the intensity of his

desires while also exploring a relationship with an old friend, Marzia (Esther Garrel), a foil to the main romance. Through tentative hints and bold declarations shrouded in poetic discretion, Oliver and Elio move from hesitant acquaintances to intimate friends and finally lovers, with their relationship culminating in a dreamlike weekend spent in Bergamo.

The film just recently claimed Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Writing for an Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor for Timothée Chalamet’s performance.

Chalamet and Hammer give nuanced performances that make for a startlingly believable representation of intimacy. The characters wear light facades that hide their innermost feelings from the world. Oliver, portraying the sweepingly confident American of the ’80s who always says goodbye with a brusquely casual “Later!” is perhaps less at ease than he lets on — “I think he’s shy,” Professor Perlman even says as explanation for this quip. Elio is even more transparent at his age, unable to completely conceal firecrackers of emotion with a collected demeanor. He resorts to a precocious knowledge of classical art and philosophy, which are quasi-natural to him due to his intellectual upbringing, as he navigates new territory. Chalamet in particular brings a ferocious vulnerability to the role, realistically conveying this contained turmoil.

It’s a must to stay through the end credits to

see Chalamet channel the emotional complexity of the entire film in his facial expression alone; at only 22, this young actor possesses incredible talent.

It is not just the acting, but the direction that is responsible for the film’s success, and this is wholly Guadagnino’s film. He orchestrates the actors’ connections with one another and their surroundings as if the story were a dance. In one scene, Elio glides from the sidelines of the dancefloor with his gaze trained on Oliver to dancing with Marzia, conspicuously oblivious to Oliver who is right next to him; in another, he confesses his attraction to Oliver while they circle in opposite directions around a large war monument and then meet again at the other side. This is a movie about the way people interact with each other, and Guadagnino takes the minute over-thinking and second-guessing of human experience and transmits it into the movement of objects and individuals across the screen.

This film breaks barriers by featuring a young gay couple in a world where gay couples receive little attention in film. We must remember though, in conjunction with this, that it still does reflect flaws in the mainstream consumption of queer cinema, where Western and male-centric stories tend to be pushed to prominence. Nevertheless the film is distinctly groundbreaking for its decided lack of politicization within the film itself.

The characters live for the most part sepa-

rated from the AIDS epidemic and conversion facilities of the time. While the level of acceptance shown is a privilege most of the world could not access, the film seems less interested in conveying overbearing societal pressures of the 1980s than in pushing us as viewers to reconfigure homosexuality as just another aspect of life, more specifically as one that is not inherently bound to hardship. It seems to say “this is what people feel and how they navigate attraction. Isn’t it awkward? Isn’t it beautiful?” Championing a radical and innately human acceptance of desire, you leave understanding sexuality as an elegant condition of humanity that’s only one of many components bound up in connection, also stringing in friendship, intimacy, ardour, pain— all of which should be cherished.

Ultimately, the film takes a long look into human experience and gently teases out much that is universal from the specific. We follow Elio through the momentous dips and curves of a first passion and intimate friendship that push him to transform before our eyes into a person who is wiser and fuller. In one of the final scenes Elio’s father urges him to accept and indulge all that he feels, riding through the thick of both joy and pain and all in between; after all, “to feel nothing so as not to feel anything — what a waste!” It’s a testament to an altered cliche that ends up ringing profoundly true: feel life to the fullest, let all linger, cast nothing out.

Hitchcock Fellowship The Department of Physical Education and Athletics invites applications for the Hitchcock Fellowship for the 2018-2019 academic year. The Hitchcock Fellowship is awarded to a graduating senior who wishes to pursue a career in the field of athletics, primarily teaching and coaching. The Hitchcock Fellow will be an Assistant Coach in at least two intercollegiate programs and may be assigned/ elect other duties. Individuals interested in the position should send a letter of application and current resume no later than February 16, 2018 to: Jen Hughes Assistant Athletic Director Women’s Soccer Coach jhughes@amherst.edu

The Amherst Student • January 31, 2018

Arts & Living 7

JPEGMAFIA’s “Veteran” Expands Definitions of Modern Hip-Hop

Photo by Olivia Gieger

Rapper JPEGMAFIA represents a new generation of experimental hip-hop artists moving into the public eye in his latest album that tackles popular social issues.

Hugh Ford ’20 Staff Writer On January 19, Baltimore-based rapper JPEGMAFIA released his fourth full-length solo project “Veteran.” The independent artist, who is known for his avant-garde approach to production and rapping, certainly does not disappoint on this new effort. Throughout the 19-song tracklist, JPEGMAFIA delivers an incredible array of thoroughly thought-provoking and strange songs.

“Veteran” is as complex and mature as the title suggests. JPEGMAFIA — “Peggy” for short — showcases his range of production and his knack for surprisingly poignant lyrics.

Each song sounds fresh and unique from start to finish.

For example, the album opens with the understated “1539 N. Calvert,” which features smooth flows and a variety of punch lines.

The style immediately changes in the aggressive “Real N***.” This track is an intense 2:30 minutes, complete with punchy drums, looped

yelling and aggressive rapping somewhere in between the styles of BROCKHAMPTON and XXXtentacion. These two comparisons are representative of a growing genre of experimental hip-hop that is gradually pushing into the mainstream. JPEGMAFIA is in the underground of this movement, but the last few years have brought new experimentation from both mainstream artists, such as Vince Staples on his electronic music-inspired “Big Fish Theory,” and lesser-known SoundCloud peers, like Trippie Redd and Ski Mask The Slump God. On “Veteran,” JPEGMAFIA somehow manages to encompass the whole genre. The production on his songs is eclectic and sporadic.

On “Dayum,” Peggy combines an atmospheric rushing sound with spacey sung vocals, like something from Earl Sweatshirt. On “Baby I’m Bleeding,” he pairs trap drums and, with repeated electronic drones, a blend of Travis Scott and Vince Staples. On “Rock and Roll is Dead,” he raps over sound effects that were seemingly randomly generated on Ableton,

something I haven’t heard anywhere. The production is wide-ranging and off-the-wall. And that doesn’t even account for the random beat changes and samples within each song. “Williamsburg,” for instance, includes a sloweddown sample of Travis Scott’s “Butterfly Effect” to add to the spacey, atmospheric sound.

The vocal production on “Veteran” is just as strange and varied as the beats. JPEGMAFIA uses a combination of Auto-Tune and other vocal effects to create a wide range of voices and flows. Sometimes, JPEGMAFIA sounds like a low-fi SoundCloud rapper. On “I Cannot F****** Wait Until Morrissey Dies,” JPEGMAFIA raps using upbeat Auto-Tune over a playful beat, in the vein of Playboi Carti. “Libtard Anthem” features Peggy rapping over saturated bass with various random adlibs in the background, more like Ski Mask or XXXtentacion. Other times, like on the angsty “Rainbow Six,” the vocals are completely distorted and pitch-adjusted, while on “Macaulay Culkin,” he sounds unfiltered, smooth and natural.

What sets JPEGMAFIA apart from many

of his peers, however, is his lyricism. “Veteran” — as much as it features funny punch lines and adlibs — is a socially conscious album.

On “Real N***,” he tackles the current political climate, articulating the feelings behind the flag protests and criticizing the alt-right movement. On “Williamsburg,” he points out the gentrification of American cities. And on “Baby I’m Bleeding,” he points out the alarming trend of violence against women from many SoundCloud rappers, such as XXXtentacion. All the while, “Veteran” is extremely sincere in its approach to these topics. JPEGMAFIA poignantly uses his voice and tone to express his emotions, ranging from anger to brass to gloom.

Though JPEGMAFIA’s sound is characteristic of a growing trend of experimentalism in hip-hop, on “Veteran,” he remains at the forefront. Peggy continues to surprise and dazzle with his skills as a producer, rapper and lyricist, and “Veteran” is a complex, creative and honest project that draws the listener in from start to finish and demands to be revisited.

The Amherst Student • January 31, 2018

Arts & Living 8

“Black Mirror” Exhibits the Potential Dangers of Technology

Photo courtesy of wired.it

Ushering in season four of the series, “USS Callister“ explores a video game that uses an immersive virtual reality to integrate users fully into in the game.

Annika Lunstad ’21 Staff Writer Netflix released the fourth season of its popular show “Black Mirror,” a modern reimagining of other-worldly science fiction shows like “The Twilight Zone,” just in time for the end of the last holiday season. The show’s creator, Charlie Brooker, described “Black Mirror” as “the way we live now and the way we might live in 10 minutes if we’re clumsy,” since it analyzes the possible results of technological innovation.

Every episode centers on different characters in different situations. However, many fans speculate that the many of the universes within the show are connected and that we’re simply viewing different parts of the timeline.

The latest season stays with the show’s central theme of highlighting potential problems with technological innovation. While still disturbing, this season paints a less bleak picture than previous ones. WARNING! There are many spoilers ahead.

USS Callister: This episode centers on the life and frustrations of a video game developer, Robert Daly, who helped establish a revolutionary new company that allows users to completely enter into a virtual reality. His co-founder and employees continually snub him. The viewers learn that he has created his own version of the video game, cut off from everyone else, where he has imported DNA samples from his coworkers.

When he takes a DNA sample from the most recent hire, we learn that his simulated coworkers in the video game are conscious and trapped inside with Daly in complete and total control. The conscious characters in the video game work to fight back against him and gain freedom. “USS

Callister” has a surprisingly upbeat ending with Daly’s coworkers escaping his despotic universe, and, in an uncharacteristic bit of poetic justice, Daly is left trapped inside his collapsing universe, unable to escape to his real body.

Arkangel: Marie, a single mother, becomes concerned for her child’s safety and consequently installs a tracker in her daughter Sara’s brain.

This device, developed by a company called “Arkangel,” does more than track Sara’s location; it gives Marie access to her vital signs and vision and even allows Marie to edit out anything that causes Sara stress. Sara thus grows up in an entirely sheltered environment. Marie realizes that this technology adversely affects her daughter’s mental health, but she reactivates it once she becomes concerned again about her daughter’s whereabouts. During a fight between the two, Sara accidently turns on the censor feature and becomes unable to see that she is beating her mom with the tablet. This paints a highly disturbing portrait of the dangers of tracking technology, an issue that currently feels very real in an age where parents have access to trackers on their children’s phones. Like other “Black Mirror” episodes, “Arkangel” does not take the stance that the basic technological idea is harmful, but simply notes the potential vices in excess in that particular area of innovation.

Crocodile: This episode follows the form of a crime show. At the beginning, two drunk people, Robert and Mia, hit a cyclist on a mountain trail.

Afraid of the consequences, Rob convinces Mia to help him dispose of the body. Fifteen years later, Rob finds Mia to confess that he feels guilty and wants to write an anonymous letter to the cyclist’s wife. In fear of losing her career and family, Mia then kills him and disposes of the body.

Directly after that, she witnesses a car accident.

An insurance agent, equipped with a machine that can view individuals’ memories, looks for witnesses of the accident. This device eventually leads her to Mia, who in turn chooses to kill the insurance agent and those connected to her. Many “Black Mirror” episodes, particularly ones from older seasons, highlight technology’s role in tragedy. “Crocodile,” on the other hand, emphasizes human evil. Her actions were driven by fear of being caught by this advanced technology, but the program is not insidious, just more powerful than people knew.

Hang the DJ: Another uncharacteristically upbeat episode, “Hang the DJ” centers on two people and their experiences with a dating “coach.” In this universe, instead of meeting people in person or online, young people live in a large commune and trust their dating lives and futures to an algorithm. The two main characters, Frank and Amy, are paired together on one date but then are torn apart by the algorithm.

After the separation, they miss each other and start to doubt the system. At the end, they escape the commune and everything fades away like a video game, making the audience realize that this was a simulation the whole time. The simulation was actually testing whether or not they would escape together, in order to determine the potential for their relationship in reality. This episode, like “USS Callister,” blurs the lines between physical and virtual reality.

Metalhead: Shot entirely in black and white, “Metalhead” focuses on a group of scavengers after the collapse of human society, though the viewers are not told what has happened to bring on this downfall. The main character, Bella, along with her friends Tony and Clarke, go to

an abandoned warehouse to get supplies for her sister. While collecting the box, they are spotted by a sort of mechanical security dog. Tony and Clarke are both killed in under a minute, but Bella manages to escape. The rest of the episode shows her attempts to escape the robotic dogs.

Compared to other “Black Mirror” episodes, “Metalhead” features a straightforward plot and relies more on open-ended questions and speculation from the viewer instead of the usual specific philosophical questions.

Black Museum: In this episode, a young woman named Nish stumbles upon a museum essentially in the middle of nowhere called Rolo Hayne’s Black Museum. The museum features all sorts of artifacts associated with crimes. Rolo leads Nish through the various exhibitions, artfully relating the stories behind the displays.

These tales are highly engaging and disturbing.

As is typical with “Black Mirror,” Rolo’s stories detail the potential for destruction that exists when human failings are paired with greater technological capabilities. Over the course of the episode, the museum curator, Rolo, turns from an over-interested narrator into the villain himself. He was the willing accomplice in many of these crimes depicted in the museum. Rolo reveals that he has trapped the digital self of a man who was executed in the electric chair and has been allowing tourists to reenact that execution for years. Nish reveals that she is the daughter of this man and gets her revenge on Rolo. Despite the bleak content in this episode, it ends on an upbeat note. Similar to the rest of this season, “Black Museum” does display the potential pitfalls of technology if humans are not careful, but also emphasizes the equal, if not more important flaws in human nature.

#OscarsNotSoWhite, But More Progress Still Needs to be Made Seo Yeon Kim ’21 Staff Writer Make a list of Asian American actors in your head right now. How many can you think of? Answers vary, but the consensus is, by and large, the same: it’s difficult to come up with a list of more than three or four names.

On Jan. 23, when the nominations for the 90th Academy Awards were announced, they were overwhelmingly met with appreciation and pleasant surprise. The 2018 Oscars nominations, continuing the progress of last year’s awards ceremony (in which “Moonlight” had the historic best picture win), reflected many wins for minorities. “Get Out,” with its four nominations, overturned expectations that the Academy wouldn’t recognize the horror genre, showing the movie’s importance and its social relevance in a time of racism and hate.

Moreover, perhaps reflecting the progress made by recent movements for female equality like #MeToo and #TimesUp, women and women’s stories were more appreciated in this year’s nomi-

nees. Rachel Morrison became the first woman ever nominated in Best Cinematography for her work in “Mudbound,” and “Lady Bird” director Greta Gerwig became the fifth woman ever nominated for Best Director. Many Best Picture nominees are also about strong women, from “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” to “The Post.”

The question of racial diversity at the Oscars, however, is one which still looms large. AsianAmerican actors have earned just 1 percent of Oscar nominations in 90 years, and the 2018 nominations marked the sixth year in a row in which no Latino actors have been nominated in an acting category. While the progress the Academy has made deserves to be applauded, the exclusion of these races also needs to evoke deep thought and reflection in all of us.

For Asian Americans, visibility has always been a struggle. The lack of representation in the Oscars stems from the larger issue of lack of representation in the movie industry in general.

Asians have a tendency to be seen as the model minority — silent, subservient and submissive. It

is a stereotype we all must work to break, and a role which did exactly that was Hong Chau’s feisty portrayal of Ngoc Lan Tran in the movie “Downsizing.” Admittedly, the movie itself was endlessly boring and unremarkable, but the Academy truly overlooked the Vietnamese actress’ breakout role by choosing not to even nominate her.

Another snub, in my opinion, was that of “The Big Sick” in the best picture nominations. Hilarious and charming, the movie told a story about an interracial couple in a refreshingly normal way, with a mixture of familiar romantic comedy tropes and also the more unknown cultural stigmas surrounding their relationship. Although Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon received a nomination for their original screenplay, the movie still deserved more appreciation from the Academy.

While we should recognize the progress made in recent years and we can all see that the Oscars are no longer #sowhite, the absence of Asian Americans as well as Latino (their strongest representation is the heartwarming children’s movie “Coco,” with its all-Latino cast) cannot be brushed

aside. As mentioned before, this absence is a repercussion of the bigger problem — a general lack of these minorities in the movie industry. Whitewashing is a real phenomenon, as shown by the various instances throughout 2017 where Asian Americans were disappointed again and again by the selection of famous, white actresses like Tilda Swinton, Emma Stone and Scarlet Johansson to play Asian women in movies like “Aloha.”

That is not to say that progress isn’t being made. People everywhere breathed a sigh of relief when it was announced that Mulan would be played by Chinese actress Liu Yifei in Disney’s 2019 live-action remake. In addition, the highlyanticipated movie “Crazy Rich Asians” is breaking the norm as one of the first American-made films to feature a cast fully comprised of actors of Asian descent. There is an abundance of AsianAmerican as well as Latino talent in the industry, so there is no explanation for the meager number of speaking roles they have held in films throughout the years. The road to visibility and public recognition will be a long one, and we still have a long way to go.

The Amherst Student • January 31, 2018

Sports

9

Men’s Track and Field Snatches Fourth Women’s Squash Slams Wesleyan But Loses With Help from Strong Distance Running To Williams in Little III Championships Veronica Rocco ’19 Staff Writer With victories in the 60-meter hurdles, 5,000-meter run and 4x400 meter relay on Saturday at the inaugural Branwen Smith-King Invitational hosted by Tufts, the Amherst men’s track team showed that they are a team with many strengths, one to be feared as championship season approaches.

The meet was scored and the Mammoths finished fourth with 76 points, as Division II Stonehill College won the meet with 147 points.

The day started with the weight throw, where Sam Amaka ’19 finished fifth with a Division III New England qualifying throw of 15.86 meters (52’ 0.5”), which is also a new personal best for the junior.

In the shot put, Amaka set another personal best to place 12th with a throw of 13.06 meters (42’ 10.25”).

“I had a lot of fun throwing today and watching the team come out to support each other,” Amaka said. “It brought great energy all around and it definitely reflected in the great performances we had across the board.”

Despite four fouls, Jordan Edwards ’20 placed third in the triple jump with a leap of 13.68 meters (44’ 10.75”).

Sophomore Theo Bates, the newly minted school record-holder in the 60-meter hurdles, returned to his signature event with a victory in a time of 8.48 seconds, just 0.01 seconds slower than his time from last week, a remarkable display of consistency.

His classmate Yonas Shiferaw just missed the finals of the 60-meter hurdles, placing 10th in the prelims with a time of 9.04. Teammate Maxim Doiron ’19 wasn’t far behind the sophomore standout, finishing in 13th place with a time of 9.19.

Mayowa Tinubu ’20 just missed the finals of the 60-meter dash, running a time of 7.34 seconds.

Biafra Okoronkwo ’20 and Stadtler Thompson ’19 ran identical times of 7.42 seconds to tie for 15th.

Sophomore Spencer Ferguson-Dryden placed fourth in the mile with a time of 4:23, while teammate Kristian Sogaard ’19, an All-American in the

800 meters, returned to the track after injury to place sixth with a time of 4:24.

With their efforts, both qualified for Division III New Englands. First-year Braxton Schuldt set a new personal best with a time of 4:29.

Foreshadowing their meet concluding victory in the 4x400, the 400-meter runners had a successful day as Vernon Espinoza ’19 placed third with a time of 51.41, Ryan Prenosil ’21 placed sixth in 51.88 and captain David Ingraham ’18 placed seventh with a time of 51.95.

The 600-meter run showcased the many strengths of the Mammoths, as Jacob Silverman ’19, typically an 800-meter runner who also runs cross country, placed fourth with a time of 1:24.

Andrew Swenson, a first-year who trains exclusively with the long sprinters, placed fifth overall with a time of 1:25, having led wire to wire to claim victory in his heat.

Sophomore Estevan Velez placed seventh in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2:37.

Thompson returned to the track after running the 60-meter dash to place seventh in the 200 meters with a time of 23.47 seconds, while teammate Stanley Dunwell ’20 placed 14th in 23.88 seconds.

In a display of distance depth, as evidenced by the Mammoths’ fourth place podium finish at the Division III Cross Country Nationals this fall, the Amherst men dominated the 5,000-meter run.

Captain Cosmo Brossy ’19 stormed to victory with a personal best time of 14:36, which should qualify the junior for Division III Indoor Nationals in March.

Classmate Tucker Meijer ’19 clicked off consistent splits to finish fifth in 15:16.

Fellow captain Justin Barry ’18 placed 12th in a time of 15:48, while sophomore Chris Stone set a new indoor personal best time with his 16:03 clocking.

The meet concluded with the 4x400 meter relay, as the team of Harrison Haigood ’18, Ingraham, Espinoza and Prenosil combined to run 3:22, over two seconds ahead of their closest competitors.

Next weekend, the Mammoths return to Tufts for the Cupid Challenge, another large and competitive meet that will set the Mammoths up well for the upcoming championship season.

Photo courtesy of Amherst Athletics

Katy Correia ’20 won her match in three straight games against Wesleyan this past weekend, but fell to Williams in a close match.

Zoe Atoko ’21 Staff Writer On Saturday, Jan. 27, the women’s squash team travelled to Middletown, Conn. to face off against top rivals Wesleyan and Williams in the Little III Championships, hosted by Wesleyan.

The day started off on a strong note with a resounding 7-2 team win against the Cardinals, the Mammoths’ fifth consecutive victory in recent weeks.

After tough opening losses at the one and two positions, Amherst rallied back to take the remaining courts. Despite losing her first set 3-11, Rachael Ang ’19 fought back to win the next three sets, 11-6, 11-4, 11-6, clinching the game in four sets and giving the Mammoths the momentum needed to push forward.

Caroline Conway ’20 followed Ang in the lineup in the fourth slot, facing Wesleyan’s Josephine Russ. Conway won the first set cleanly with a score of 11-6. The second set, however, proved to be a bit more of a challenge, but Conway was up to it, earning the 12-10 victory and ultimately winning the game in three frames, thanks to an 11-5 final set.

The trend only continued as the rest of the Amherst lineup swept through the remainder

of the matches, dominating their Cardinal opponents in straight sets on each court to claim the win.

Despite the Mammoths’ triumph over the Cardinals, they unfortunately were unable to find the same success against the Ephs.

However, Amherst did put forth strong efforts up and down its lineup. In the fifth position, Riddhi Sampat ’21 started down, bitterly losing the first two sets 7-11 and 2-11. She fought back however, taking the third set for herself, 11-6.

It was a tight fight to the finish, but despite her best efforts, Sampat ultimately lost the game, and thus the match, 10-12. The Mammoths continued to suffer more tough losses at the hands of the Ephs, particularly Madison Chen ’21 and Priya Sinha ’19, both of whom pushed their opponents to dramatic fifth sets before just barely coming up short.

In the end, Williams handed Amherst a sound defeat, sweeping the Mammoths 9-0 to win the Little III Championships for the nineteenth time in a row.

Amherst will look to bounce back and settle some scores as the team prepares to head to Hamilton to compete in the NESCAC Championships this weekend, with games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Men’s Ice Hockey Clinches Late Win against Babson College Delancey King ’18 Staff Writer It was another frustrating week for the Amherst men’s hockey team. After a win over a well-respected non-conference opponent, the Mammoths came away from a weekend of NESCAC play with a tie and a loss.

“It’s always frustrating when you don’t get the results you hope for,” junior Jack Fitzgerald said.“But all we can do is put our heads down, continue to work, and trust that those results will come.”

On Tuesday, Jan. 23 the Mammoths traveled to Wellesley, Mass. to take on nonconference foe Babson College.

The Beavers went up early, as Bobby Hall managed to capitalize on a rebound in the opening two minutes.

Amherst was unable to get on the board until the second period, when Joey Lupo ’20 took advantage of a power play opportunity.

Receiving a pass from senior captain Thomas Lindstrom in the slot, Lupo fired a shot past Babson’s Matt Pompa to tie things up.

With the score locked at 1-1 heading into the third period, it was anyone’s game. Ultimately, sophomore standout Patrick Daly served as the difference maker.

Recording his sixth goal of the season, Daly found the back of the net with only six minutes left in regulation.

The Beavers decided to pull their goalie, but the extra skater was not enough to spark a comeback, and Amherst was able to capitalize on the mising net minder.

John Festa ’19 scored an empty-netter in

the final two minutes to secure the 3-1 victory for the Mammoths.

Amherst kicked off weekend play with a NESCAC matchup against Little III rival Wesleyan.

Despite a strong offensive effort led by Festa and Phil Johansson ’19, the Mammoths were unable to sneak one past the Cardinals’ net minder.

Fortunately, Connor Girard ’18 made 23 saves in goal for Amherst and rendered Wesleyan scoreless as well.

After a five-minute overtime period, in which neither team could find the net, the game concluded in a 0-0 tie.

The following day, the Mammoths took on Trinity, which is currently No. 6 in the nation.

The Bantams were the first to strike, as Mark Knowlton fired a close-range shot past Girard in the 17th minute.

Two minutes later, Barclay Gammill redirected a shot from Nicholas Fiorentino to double Trinity’s lead.

It looked as though the Mammoths would be heading into the second period facing a two-goal deficit. A last second goal from Fitzgerald, however, put Amherst on the board before the intermission.

Unfortunately, the Mammoths were unable to gather any momentum from Fitzgerald’s goal.

The Bantams notched three unanswered goals between the second and third periods to establish a commanding 5-1 lead.

In the final two minutes of regulation, Nick Bondra ’21 ripped a shot that went off the Bantam net minder’s glove and into the back

Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios

John Festa ’20 scored his only goal of the season against Babson on an empty net opportunity. of the net.

But it was too late for Amherst to make a comeback, as the Mammoths lost 5-2.

Next up, the Mammoths will hope to re-

turn to winning ways when they face Bowdoin at home in Orr Rink on Friday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m.

Amherst is again in action the following day against Colby at home at 3 p.m.

10

Sports

The Amherst Student • January 31, 2018

Women’s Track & Field places fourth of 14 at the Branwen Smith-King Invitational

Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios

Senior Danielle Griffin won the mile race by just one second at the Little III Championships this weekend with at time of just over five minutes.

Julia Turner ’19 Managing Sports Editor Seniors Danielle Griffin and Leonie Rauls led the Amherst women’s track and field squad to an impressive fourth-place finish this weekend at the Branwen Smith-King Invitational. Tufts played host to 16 of the country’s top Division III competitors, and Amherst continued their dominant season with a score of 77.33 total points, finishing just behind Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wesleyan and Stonehill College.

Griffin continued a standout senior season in the one-mile event, needing a photo-finish with a 5:08.83 time to take first place by less than a second.

Finishing with the Mammoths’ second overall victory of the day, Rauls led the pack in the 1,000-meter race to cross the line in 3:01.81, nearly two seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. Alongside Rauls’ top finish were Sarah Gayer ’21 and Adele Loomis ’18, who took third and fifth place in the event.

Continuing the strong showings in the middistance events, junior Christina Scartelli claimed a

solid fourth place finish in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:24.68, while first-year Grace Haase and sophomore Jenny Mazzella took sixth and seventh.

Rounding out the dominant senior runners, Kaeli Mathias paced the Mammoths in the 600 meters, claiming fifth overall with a 1:45:14 mark.

Moving into the sprint events, Julia Asin ’19 and Jordan Rhodeman ’21 finished back-to-back in the 400-meter dash to place 10th and 11th with times of 1:03.63 and 1:03.87. First-year Sophia Friedman earned the Mammoths extra points in the 65-woman, 200-meter dash by finishing 13th with a time of 27.73.

Finally, first-year Ella Rossa impressed in the 60-meter hurdles event once again, placing second in the 30-woman race with a time of 9.08 seconds, just shy of her record-breaking time from the Smith Invitational two weeks ago.

In the field events, the duo of Becki Golia ’18 and Rossa added a pair of second place finishes in the high jump and the long jump.

The Mammoths return to action next weekend when they return to Tufts for the annual Cupid Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 10 a.m.

Men’s Squash Defeats Wesleyan, Falls To Williams in Little III Tournament Jenny Mazzella ’20 Staff Writer This past weekend, the Amherst men’s squash team competed in the Little III Championships, a meet in which the Mammoths faced off against Williams and this year’s hosts Wesleyan. Amherst defeated Wesleyan 7-2, but unfortunately fell 9-0 to Williams.

In the match against Wesleyan, the Mammoths won at spots two through six and eight through 10, and took five of their victories in straight sets. On court one, the Cardinals’ Sean Choi defeated Terence Wang ’21 in three very close sets, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9.

Robert Parker ’21 clinched court two, while Harith Khawaja ’19, David Merkel ’19, Reginald Brewster ’21 and Pavan Nagaraj ’21 won spots three through six. Chris Zimmerman ’20 fought hard on the seventh court, but was defeated by his Wesleyan opponent in four very close sets, falling 10-12, 11-8, 7-11, 10-12. Mateen Mills ’20, Cameron Bahadori ’18 and Arnav Parikh ’21 made up the rest of the Mammoths’ lineup and won their respective matches, contributing to the team’s overall success.

Against Williams, the Mammoths did not fare quite as well. The Ephs emerged victorious in a 9-0 shutout, securing the Little Three Championship title after having already bested the hosts.

Amherst maintained the same lineup from the previous matchup against Wesleyan when facing Williams. The final result of the sweep fails to demonstrate how hard Amherst fought, with the Mammoths pushing Williams to five sets at three different positions. Brewster on court five, Nagaraj on court six and Mills on court eight all came incredibly close to defeating their opponents. Wang, playing at the top

of the ladder once again, also pushed his opponent to four sets.

The weekend meet marks the beginning of the end of the squash season, as the Mammoths have only postseason play remaining.

With the win and the loss, the team now has an overall record of 7-7.

The men will return to competition on Friday, Feb. 2 for the NESCAC Championships, which will be hosted by Hamilton.

Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios

Mateen Mills ’20 won his match against Wesleyan this weekend.

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Emma Flynn ’21

Theo Bates ’20

Favorite Team Memory: Beating Elmira, 3-2 Favorite Pro Athlete: Roman Josi Dream Job: Undecided, some type of research on marine organisms Pet Peeve: None Favorite Vacation Spot: Upstate New York Something on Your Bucket List: Camping in Alaska Guilty Pleasure: None Favorite Food: Popcorn Favorite Thing About Amherst: How welcoming and kind everyone has been How She Earned It: With the Amherst women’s ice hockey team riding a nine-game point streak, much of the team has stepped up and contributed on the offensive end. Flynn, however, has been a standout performer, notching seven points over the nine games.

This past weekend, Amherst faced Williams in back to back games that saw them emerge victorious in both contests. In the Mammoths’ most recent contest, Flynn scored a goal and added an assist in a hard-fought 5-3 victory.

These two points pushed Flynn’s point total to 12 on the year, good enough for third on the team.

Favorite Team Memory: Scoring the most points in Little III championship history this year Favorite Pro Athlete: AJ Green Dream Job: Doctor Pet Peeve: Slow walkers Favorite Vacation Spot: New York City Something on Your Bucket List: Going to a Lil Uzi Vert concert Guilty Pleasure: Eating fast food Favorite Food: Shake Shack burgers Favorite Thing About Amherst: The students How He Earned It: Bates has been a force for the Amherst men’s track and field team in the 60-meter hurdles during the indoor track and field season. At the Smith College Invitational, Bates finished second in the event, completing the race in 8.47 seconds. Following this up, at the Branwen Smith-King Invitational at Tufts, Bates helped the Amherst men finish fourth in the field of 14 teams, notching a first-place finish in the event after finishing in 8.48 seconds. Both of these times bettered his previous personal best. Amherst will next compete at the Valentine Invitational against Boston University.

Women’s Hockey Clinches Two Wins over NESCAC Archrival Williams Mary Grace Cronin ’18 Staff Writer This past week, the Amherst women’s ice hockey team had an exciting slate of games against two formidable foes, Williams and Plattsburgh State, ultimately going an impressive 2-0-1 on the week.

In their first game against Plattsburgh State, the Mammoths went down early. Cardinal goals in both the first and second periods made the outcome of the game seem bleak until a crucial power play goal by senior forward Emma Griese.

Ten minutes into the third, Griese capitalized on a shot by Jocelyn Hunyadi ’19 and slotted the puck into the back of the net. Just five minutes later, senior captain Alex Toupal used her speed to sail toward the net and fire a deadly accurate shot to tie it all up. Although Amherst surged forward un search of a wining goal, neither team managed a goal and the game ended in an exhilarating 2-2 tie.

Following this well-earned draw, the Mammoths were more than prepared for their next opponent, archrival Williams.

Hunyadi continued recent run of form, forcing a turnover just one minute into play and lazering the puck into the netting for an early lead. Junior Miriam Eickhoff added a second goal for Amherst during a man-up situation, off an assist by Toupal.

In the second period, the Mammoths scored yet again thanks to an Eliza Laycock ’20 tally assisted by Toupal. Although Williams managed to pull one goal back, it proved to be too little too late, and Amherst left the ice with a comfortable 3-1 win.

In next day’s rematch, both offenses came out firing in the first period, with each team scoring two goals apiece. Although the Ephs opened up the scoring less than three minutes into the first, Toupal quickly responded with a tally off an assist from junior Katie Savage.

Although Williams regained the lead less

than two minutes after Toupal’s first goal, first-year Emma Flynn tied the game again off of a pass by Toupal in the waning minutes of the first stanza of play.

Amherst used a stellar second period to gain the advantage over Williams, with a goal each from first-year Mia DelRosso and Toupal giving the Mammoths an insurmountable 4-2 lead.

Toupal capped off her hat trick in the third period with her NESCAC-leading 11th goal of the season and placed final nail in the Ephs’ coffin.

Although the Ephs responded with a power play goal to cut the deficit to 5-3, Amherst still emerged with the dominant weekend sweep of its rivals.

With this week’s results, Amherst now boasts an overall record of 11-5-3 and 7-3-2 in NESCAC play. The Mammoths will return to the ice on Wednesday, Jan. 31 for a home game against Plymouth State.

Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios

Kaitlyn Hoang ’21 netted two points over the weekend against Williams.

The Amherst Student • January 31, 2018

Sports 11

Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over Colby & Fourth-Ranked Bowdoin

Mazzola’s Minute

Jamie Mazzola ’21 Columnist Jamie Mazzola digs into the growing tensions between NBA players and referees surrounding an uptick in noticed gamemismanagement.

Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios

Guard Hannah Fox ‘20 has excelled in her second campaign, averaging 12 points per game and shooting 40 percent from behind the three point line.

Katie Bergamesca ’18 Staff Writer The Amherst women’s basketball team took down NESCAC rivals Colby and previouslyundefeated Bowdoin in a pair of exciting victories this past Friday and Saturday to remain unbeaten this 2017-18 season.

A rambunctious home crowd in LeFrak Gymnasium Saturday afternoon against the Polar Bears helped make the improvement to 20-0 an especially exciting ordeal.

Amherst was first able to hold off the Mules during a Friday evening matchup to move to 5-0 in NESCAC play.

Senior Jackie Nagle had a stellar performance off the bench, tallying 12 points and nine rebounds, allowing the Mammoths to finally separate from Colby after leading by just one point at half-time.

Hannah Fox ’20 and senior captain Hannah Hackley both dished out four assists in the win, with Fox putting up nine points and Hackley adding eight.

The low-scoring game stayed competitive, but the Mammoths were always one step ahead of the Mules, who looked flustered offensively and were consitently outmuscled by Nagle and junior Emma McCarthy under the hoop.

By the time the final buzzer went off, Amherst had extended the lead to nine to defeat Colby 46-37.

Not 24 hours later, Amherst was back in LeFrak to host the similarly undefeated Bowdoin Polar Bears.

Amherst fought off some nerves in the first quarter, struggling offensively against a tightknit Bowdoin defense and a dwindling shot

clock. Bowdoin led 11-9 after the first quarter and held a 10-7 rebound advantage at the start of the second quarter.

However, Amherst struck back to make it a one point game with 6:50 left in the second quarter thanks to a three-pointer by McCarthy, before finally taking the lead after a basket from sophomore Cam Hendricks.

As the whistle blew to end the first half, the Mammoths found themselves clinging to a slim two-point lead.

The third and fourth quarters were characterized by scrappy play, with both teams trading baskets and fouls and numerous players diving to keep the ball in bounds.

Both teams found sucess in the paint as well — more than half of Bowdoin’s and Amherst’s points came from down low.

Fox and McCarthy both put up an impressive 14 points, with seven of Fox’s coming in the fourth quarter, helping to gain the edge in the final minutes.

It was McCarthy who clinched the win with four seconds to play by draining both free throws to give the Mammoths an insurmountable 49-45 lead, which doubled as the final score.

Fox, who was holding the ball when the final buzzer went off, sped back to the home bench to celebrate with the rest of her team, and the student section piled onto the court.

Amherst’s next matchup is another big home game on Friday night against Tufts, a team out for blood after suffering three losses to the Mammoths, most notably in last year’s NCAA National Championship game, which Amherst dominated in, 52-29. The game will take place in LeFrak at 7 p.m.

On Tuesday, Jan. 23 Kevin Durant, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, was having a career night, setting a new career-high of 14 assists. With 2:50 remaining in the game, Durant’s night turned sour.

He was hit with his second technical foul, triggering his fourth ejection of the 2017-18 season.

Although he later apologized for his “out of character” remark, Durant’s initial accusation of referee James Williams targeting him has become commonplace in this season’s NBA landscape.

Since Durant began his career in the 2007-08 season, only four other players have received four or more ejections in an NBA season. Durant, however, reached this mark after playing a mere 42 games.

Prior to the 2017-18 season, Durant’s only other ejection occurred in the 2012-13 season. In response to that first ejection, Durant had claimed “[the referees have] a quick trigger now,” a comment then-uncharacteristic of the (formerly) mild-mannered star.

Player-referee relations in the 2017-18 season have been abysmal.

Superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis received their first career ejections in back-to-back nights on Nov. 28 and 29, 2017.

On Jan. 10, Chris Paul, head of the National Basketball Player’s Association, singled out referee Scott Foster after receiving what he believed to be an unjust technical foul, saying, in reference to Foster, “that’s who they pay to see.”

Following an ejection of teammate Russell Westbrook on Jan. 10, Carmelo Anthony angrily exclaimed, “I’m done with the refs.”

On Saturday, Jan. 6, Draymond Green stated that player-referee friction is “ruining the game.”

While players’ response to recent officiating has been largely inappropriate and overblown, there is evidence that NBA reffing in the 2017-18 season has been subpar.

During the final 72 seconds of the Christmas Day rematch between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, a pair of teams who have contested the past three NBA finals, the NBA Last Two Minute Report showed a whopping four missed calls (three on Durant, one on James). In a close game (99-92 Warriors), these types of calls are true difference-makers.

Perhaps the most egregious and representative altercation occurred between Warriors guard Shaun Livingston and official Courtney Kirkland in a Dec. 4 game between

“While players’ responses to recent officiating have been largely inappropriate and overblown, there is evidence that NBA reffing in the 2017-

”

18 season has been subpar.

Photo courtesy of Amherst Athletics

Maeve McNamara ’19 tallied 14 points in Amherst’s win over Bowdoin.

the Warriors and Miami Heat.

In the second quarter, following what Livingston deemed a no-call, he and Kirkland quite literally went head-to-head. Video replay indicates responsibility for the confrontation belongs to both Livingston and Kirkland, as both initiated contact.

Kirkland was given a one-week officiat-

ing suspension, while Livingston was issued a technical foul, ejection and one-game playing suspension.

Recognizing the deepening tension between players and referees in the 2017-18 season, the NBA created a five-pronged initiative to salvage the working relationship between players and referees: 1. Michelle D. Johnson, Monty McCutchen [Leaders of the NBA’s Referee Program] and their staffs will conduct meetings with all 30 teams to discuss rules interpretations, on-court conduct and the expectations of NBA referees. These meetings will begin before the NBA All-Star break.

2. The league will re-emphasize its “Respect for the Game” rules with referees, coaches and players to ensure consistent enforcement of those violations.

“Hidden in the initiative’s legalese are some serious implications for the future of NBA officiating and player-referee relations.

”

3. The NBA Referee Operations department will expand its overall rules education initiative for coaches, players and team personnel to ensure clarity of the game’s rules and their proper interpretations.

4. Johnson and McCutchen will conduct enhanced training for the referees on conflict resolution. In addition, they will more closely monitor the on-court interactions of coaches, players and referees to ensure referee decorum meets league standards.

5. Through the NBA’s Officiating Advisory Council, the league will create opportunities for engagement with all key stakeholders to find common ground between all parties.

Hidden in the initiative’s legalese are some serious implications for the future of NBA officiating and player-referee relations.

The fourth piece of the initiative will likely prove most valuable.

Players have and always will show their emotions after what they believe was a missed or incorrect call.

In the past, however, the referees seemed more adept at handling the conflict, as evidenced by the relative lack of league-wide issues in player-referee relations throughout NBA history.

Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc River views communication as central to the issue.

On Friday, Jan. 26, Rivers stated that “There’s a lot of officials from the past that probably were not great refs as far as getting the calls right, but they were phenomenal at managing the game and the emotions of the game, and you never had a problem.”

It would be foolish to pin the issue entirely on referees and the manner in which they manage these conflicts, as there is certainly room for the players to behave more respectfully and appropriately going forward.

This issue does, however, raise a couple central questions. Who is to blame for the escalation of this conflict? Is the severity of this conflict endemic to the 2017-18 season, or has this conflict been brewing for many years? These questions will be central to dialogues regarding how to resolve tensions between players and referees in years to come.

Sports

Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Bolte, Clarus Studios Inc.

Johnny McCarthy ’18 registered a double-double during men’s basketball’s 75-60 victory over Bowdoin, scoring 17 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

Men’s Basketball Notches Fourth Straight Victory Due to Strong Defense Kelly Karczwesci ’18 Staff Writer This past weekend, the Amherst men’s basketball team returned to the court after a one-week respite from game play. The refreshed Mammoths made the trek to Waterville, Maine on Friday, Jan. 26 looking to improve upon its spot in the NESCAC standings.

In Waterville, Amherst took on the Colby Mules. Strong offensive performances from firstyear Grant Robinson and senior captain Michael Riopel led the Mammoths to victory over the host team. Robinson and Riopel tallied 19 points each, while Riopel’s co-captain, Johnny McCarthy ’18, came away with 10 boards. Both Riopel and junior Joe Schneider dished out five assists.

Though the game was closely contested throughout the closing minutes of the second half, Robinson was there for the Mammoths when

GAME SCHE DULE

they needed him, hitting a crucial three-pointer and going 7-8 from the free-throw line within the last three minutes. Pulling away in the last few minutes, the Mammoths secured the five-point win, 82-77.

The following day, Amherst made the short trip from Waterville to Brunswick to face off against the Bowdoin Polar Bears.

Riopel was once again the offensive star for the Mammoths, pacing the team with 18 points. J. McCarthy complemented Riopel’s sharpshooting with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Robinson contributed a team high four helpers in addition to tallying 14 points. Thanks to this quickly emerging top-line trio, Amherst maintained a comfortable lead over Bowdoin throughout the game and notched their third consecutive NESCAC win with a 75-60 victory.

Amherst has continued to improve its overall standing after a rocky patch during interterm play

with a solid run during NESCAC play. Riopel and J. McCarthy noted that the team is instilled with more confidence following their recent victories.

As the only seniors on the team, Riopel and J. McCarthy are particularly invested in the success of their team, hoping to extend the length of their final season.

With a second-half push, the Mammoths would likely be headed into year-end tournaments with advantageous seeding. However, in order for this to become a reality, Amherst must first face the second stretch of the NESCAC’s interleague play.

This past Tuesday, Amherst faced off against Rhode Island College at home, looking to continue what had been an impressive three-game winning streak. Amherst dominated from the start, scoring 41 points to the Anchormmen’s 16 in the opening frame.

The second half proved to be no different,

SAT

WED FRI Women’s Ice Hockey vs. Plymouth St., 7 p.m.

Women’s Squash @ NESCAC Championships, TBD Men’s Squash @ NESCAC Championships, TBD Men’s Basketball @ Tufts, 7 p.m.

with Amherst again outscoring its opponent 34 to 20.

Every single Amherst player saw the floor during the contest, with Robinson and Tommy Mobley ’19 leading all scorers with 12 points as part of a balanced scoring attack. Also of note was DJ Diabate ’21, who scored his first collegiate points in the contest.

Despite the effective distribution of the scoring responsibilities, what was perhaps most impressive about the Mammoths victory was the defense. No player from Rhode Island was able to score in double figures during Amherst’s best defensive performance of the year.

Amherst will next play against Tufts at home in a NESCAC matchup. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. on Friday, and the Amherst men will be looking to notch their fifth straight victory. The Mammoths last played Tufts at the end of last year’s campaign, emerging victorious, 84-71.

Men’s Ice Hockey vs. Bowdoin, 7 p.m.

Women’s Basketball vs. Tufts, 7 p.m.

Women’s Squash @ NESCAC Championships, TBD

Women’s Track & Field @ Tufts, 10 a.m.

Men’s Squash @ NESCAC Championships, TBD

Women’s Swim & Dive @ MIT, 1 p.m.

Men’s Track & Field @ Tufts, TBD

Men’s Ice Hockey vs. Colby, 3 p.m.

Women’s Basketball vs. Bates, 3 p.m.

Men’s Basketball Men’s Swim & Dive @ Bates, 3 p.m. @ MIT, 1 p.m.