Issue 2

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THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF AMHERST COLLEGE SINCE 1868

VOLUME CXLIIII, ISSUE 2 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Powerhouse Opens Doors to Students

AAS Sets Date for New Elections Ricky Choi ’18 Staff Writer

Matthew Chow ’18 Staff Photographer

Students gathered at the Powerhouse this weekend to eat hors d’oeuvres and catch a first glimpse of the newly-renovated event space.

Daniel Ahn ’17 Managing News Editor The Powerhouse officially opened its doors to the student community on Friday with an afternoon open house event. Hors d’oeuvres and ambient music accompanied a constant flow of students and other onlookers. Over 300 members of the Amherst community attended the event to observe the spacious, rugged building. On Saturday night, the Powerhouse put on an entirely different face with the Wings ’n’ Things Postgame, where students rushed through the supply of late-night snacks and the hall became a wide, colorfully lit dance floor.

This past weekend, the Powerhouse had the opportunity to show off its versatility, one of its most anticipated qualities, as well as inspire a wave of optimism about its future. “Now that we’ve set the tone with the kick-off weekend, things can only go up from here,” said Virginia Hassell ‘16, Senate member of the Powerhouse

Committee.

The Powerhouse, originally built at the turn of the 20th century, and then abandoned for more efficient power sources in the 1960s, officially began renovation in early December, 2013.

Last spring semester, after lengthy discussions within the faculty, Chief Student Affairs Officer Suzanne Coffey approached AAS President George Tepe with the proposal to make the Powerhouse a student-run space. The first student engagements with the Powerhouse project began with a task force committee comprised of senators and a wide variety of at-large student members interested in using the building for specific interest groups. Over the summer, Tepe, along with senator Robert Kermes ’16, worked along with a temporary committee to solidify on-the-ground plans for the Powerhouse project.

“What we produced were a set of principles about running the Powerhouse, they were part of a 15-page report that we presented to Su-

zanne. That report included the first version of the idea that we saw come to life this weekend, which was the Wings n Things event. That was an idea that came out of that taskforce report, along with a series of other ideas that the current committee is going to start to look at,” Kermes said.

Discussions of the project quickly resumed at the beginning of the semester, with the new Dean of Students, Alex Vasquez, and Associate Director of Student Activities Leykia Brill arriving on board to work intimately with the Powerhouse Committee. The Committee held a Powerhouse Meeting on Tuesday, which was open to all members of the community. The discussions in the meeting brought another fresh batch of ideas, including suggestions for a 24-hour study space and a permanent café.

The Committee is still working on finalizing long-term plans for the Powerhouse.

“Right now, we’re still trying to figure out Continued on Page 3

The Association of Amherst Students announced this week that a new round of presidential elections will take place on Thursday, Sept. 25.

Following a series of complaints and controversies last spring in which the Judiciary Council voided the results of the AAS presidential election, the AAS was left temporarily without a president. The controversy began when two students filed a complaint asking the Judiciary Council to determine whether any of the candidates had exceeded the $45 spending limit in their campaigns. Amani Ahmed ’15, the winning candidate, spent $39.40 on campaign posters that she used, as well as $20.35 on posters she did not use. As a result, the Judiciary Council ultimately ruled that she had exceeded the spending limit.

Vice President Juan Gabriel Delgado Montes ’16 has been acting as the interim AAS president since last May. The upcoming presidential election will be to fill the role of the AAS president for the 2014-2015 academic year.

Polls for the Sept. 25 election will be open for 24 hours. If no candidate wins by more than 50 percent of the votes, then a run-off election will occur between the two candidates who receive the highest votes.

Representatives of the Elections Committee said that any student from the class of 2015, 2016 or 2017 is eligible to run, including all former candidates.

“The same exact constituency that voted last year in the student government elections will be voting again this fall,” said former JC chair Abigail Xu ’15. This means that that the class of 2018 will not be allowed to vote in the upcoming presidential elections.

In the aftermath of the controversy, the student body approved a referendum that clarified the constitution’s definition of campaign expenditures. Campaign expenditures are now defined as “any and all expenses including but not limited to any purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, gift of money, or anything of monetary value made by the candidate, on behalf of the candidate, or given to the candidate for the purposes of influencing any election from the campaign’s inception.”

Continued on Page 3

Office of Student Affairs Welcomes New Staff Sophie Chung ’17 Managing News Editor Last week the college announced several staffing changes within the Office of Student Affairs.

In an email to the campus community, Dean of Students Alex Vasquez and Chief Student Affairs Officer Suzanne Coffey introduced the new staff members. Demitrius Brown is the new Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Life. Leykia Brill will serve as the Associate Director for Student Activities and Engagement. Corry Colonna is the new Associate Director for Residential Life, and Laura

Laver and Michael Vidal are the two new Area Coordinators.

“There are four new positions, but there haven’t been any new rules created. Each change was made to build greater capacity to help students,” Vasquez said.

Another recent change in Student Affairs, not announced in the email, came when former Director of Residential Life Torin Moore assumed a new position as Case Manager and Coordinator of Leave/Readmission.

Moore had served as Director of Residential Life life for the past eight years. There, he was heavily involved in coordinating the housing assignments and the Room Draw. He super-

vised the Area Coordinators and also directed the Resident Counselor staff training during the summers.

“It’s been a great experience, really wonderful. It was a job that has lots of dimensions and lots of components to it,” Moore said.

Besides the training and housing assignments, Moore also facilitated many of the facility renovations and refurbishment projects in Charles Pratt, Seligman, Charles Drew, Lipton, Tyler, Mayo-Smith and Hitchcock among many more.

Moore is now a part of the Case Management Team, which focuses on communicating closely with the class deans in order to assist

them with working even more closely with Amherst students.

“We work closely to help our students overcome their personal challenges that might hinder them in any way from being a student,” Moore said. “It’s neat. It’s about looking at the whole student.”

Another newly introduced position in the Office of Student Affairs is the Assistant Dean of Student Life job.

According to Vasquez, this new position is geared towards “bringing both residence life and student activity together so that instead of Continued on Page 3

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3

News

An AAS committee will soon be proposing a series of revisions to the constitution.

Bob Woodward Page 3

Taylor Penzel

Thoughts on Theses

Aug. 27, 2014 to Sept. 6, 2014 >>Aug. 27, 2014 1:34 a.m., The Quadrangle Officers responded to a complaint of loud people in the quad. A group of approximately fifteen students was found and they were informed about the complaint.

11:46 p.m., Powerhouse An officer on patrol found three students had gained unauthorized entry into the PowerHouse construction area. They were identified and the matter was referred to the Student Affairs office. >>Aug. 28, 2014 12:13 a.m., Social Quad An officer on patrol observed a student in the social dorm quad providing alcohol from a thirty pack to underage students. The alcohol was disposed of and the matter was referred to the Student Affairs office.

5:16 a.m., South College Dormitory A fourth floor resident reported a student from a neighboring residence hall just entered his room and urinated on the carpet.

The responsible person was identified and fined $100 for the offensive behavior. The matter was also referred to the Student Affairs office. >>August 29, 2014 12:18 a.m., Stone Dormitory A student was found discharging a fire extinguisher for no reason. He was fined $100.

10:14 p.m., Morris Pratt Dormitory Officers discovered an unauthorized party on the first floor with alcohol. The gathering was dispersed and an amount of beer, wine and champagne was confiscated.

10:28 p.m., Morris Pratt Dormitory An officer observed a male smoking in a second floor room. The residents were fined $50 each for the smoking violation. >>Aug. 30, 2014 12:06 a.m., Coolidge Officers responded to a report of people dancing on a windowsill in front of an open window in a second floor suite. A resident was contacted and the activity was stopped.

12:28 a.m., Social Quad An officer encountered a student about to wrap a tree with toilet paper. The activity was stopped.

6:46 p.m., Noah Webster Circle A student was found to have used a college vehicle to purchase alcohol at a local store.

The alcohol was confiscated and the matter will be handled administratively. >>Aug. 31, 2014 12:29 a.m., Humphries House An officer discovered an unattended thirty pack of beer near an outside door. It was confiscated.

2:18 a.m., Social Quad While outside of Crossett, an officer observed an intoxicated student swinging a golf club toward a parked car. The club was confiscated and the student was sent on his way.

11:39 a.m., College Street The Amherst Police provided information about an assault that occurred along College Street. A woman, not associated with the college, was shot in the back with a BB pellet or soft air gun pellet. AC Police issued

a Crime Alert notification.

Department of Psychology

>>September 1, 2014 9:32 p.m., Campus Grounds Officers assisted the town police in searching for a man who fled from them. The man was located in the center of town.

11:45 p.m., Stone Dormitory An officer encountered an unauthorized party in the basement with alcohol. The event was shut down and alcohol was confiscated. >>September 2, 2014 12:11 a.m., Stone Dormitory An officer encountered a student urinating outside of the building. He was fined $100 for the offensive behavior.

12:24 a.m., Coolidge Dormitory Officers investigated the odor of marijuana smoke near a first floor suite. The exact origin could not be located.

12:35 p.m., Alumni Lot A concerned caller called about about dog in a parked car. The car was gone when an officer investigated.

1:29 p.m, Grosvenor House An employee reported an unfamiliar man in the building on the second floor. The man was identified as having an interview with Food Services and was in the wrong building.

2:30 p.m., Wieland Dormitory An officer investigated a report of a person being bitten by a dog. >>Sept. 3, 2014 2:25 a.m., Northampton Rd Amherst Police reported a resident on Northampton Road called about an unidentified man knocking on their door. The man was not found. AC officers checked the nearby residence halls as well. >>Sept. 4, 2014 9:45 p.m., Stone Loading Dock An officer encountered two underage students in possession of a keg of beer.

They were fined $100 and the matter was referred to the Student Affairs office.

11:49 p.m., Social Quad An officer encountered an underage student in the social dorm quad with a bottle of alcohol. It was confiscated and the matter was referred to the Student Affairs office. >>Sept. 5, 2014 1:08 p.m., Alumni Gym A student reported his iPhone was stolen from the fitness center. Officers were able to track it to Valentine Hall. A short time later the owner reported that he was able to retrieve his phone from an unknown male.

The matter remains under investigation. >>Sept. 6, 2014 12:36 a.m., Off Campus Grounds AC Officers assisted the town police in searching for a town resident who a caller was concerned about. The person was not located around campus.

2:20 p.m., Moore Dormitory A student reported the theft of an iPhone from his room. Case open.

3:09 p.m., Tyler Dormitory A student reported the theft of a mountain bicycle valued at $350.

Taylor Penzel ’15, a psychology and Spanish double major, is writing her senior thesis about children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and how they perceive their own social and academic competence. Her advisor is Professor Julia McQuade.

Q: What is your senior thesis about?

A: It is about children with ADHD and the perceptions of their social competence versus their actual competence. Past research studies on this topic have only looked at ADHD patients’ self-reports that followed the failures in assigned tasks. The researchers asked the subjects about their feelings in order to closely look into positive illusory bias. This bias is about how the children overestimate their competence at social and academic tasks.

The purpose of my thesis is to find out whether the children overestimate their competence level out of self-protection or genuine inability to recognize their failure. I used specific equipment to measure heartbeat, breathing rate and finger sweat of the subjects to observe whether their actions are self-protective or not. The presence of physiological reactions showing anxiety will verify that the children are acting to protect themselves.

Q: What was the most unexpected thing about writing a senior thesis?

A: I have not started the writing process of my thesis yet, but so far, the most unexpected thing about the senior thesis has been that it is far less stressful than what people make it out to be. During the planning process of the thesis — talking to professors and laying out the general outline of the research — I was able to structure the whole project in a way that is very manageable. I am going to be done with the thesis by February 20, so the majority of the work will have to be completed this semester, but it seems like as long as I stay on track, it will not be as scary as people have told me in the past.

Q: Who or what have been some helpful resources so far?

A: My advisor, Dr. McQuade, has been really helpful. She is always willing to help out where she can and is available whenever I have any questions. She is also extremely organized, which keeps the lab on track, and her clear plans make writing a thesis much less daunting.

I also thought her class, Abnormal Psychology, prepared me well by teaching me how to read published psychology articles critically.

Q: What kind of tasks did the children partake in during the research?

A: There are two categories of tasks: social and academic. My thesis focuses on social tasks.

The first time the child subjects, who range from the ages of nine to 13 years, come in, we look at basic executive functioning. The second time they come in, they are asked to participate Q: Where do you stand in terms of the timein a task that is purposely designed to lead to line? failure. During the assigned task, the children A: I have finished the majority of the expericome in and believe that they will be chatting ment on campus this summer, so I have the bulk with other kids and go through a paradigm in of my data collected already. I just have to finish which an imaginary a couple more assessplayer chooses who [T]he most unexpected thing ments with children. he wants to talk to. about the senior thesis has Right now, I am readThe subjects sit there ing a lot of articles in while the imaginary been that it is far less stressful order to figure out the player is supposedly than what people make it out to outline for my intropicking between him/ be. duction. I am doing her and another imagmy introduction and inary player, and the subjects are ignored from methods sections during the fall semester and this social situation. The academic task requires results and discussion sections over Interterm the children to solve an impossible word puzzle and in February. And hopefully, I will be done where they are assigned to find nine words with my thesis by the end of February. With the when there is only one word in the puzzle. reference section at the end, it will most likely end up being somewhere around 100 pages, but Q: Why did you choose this particular topic? ideally, it will be more concise than previous A: When I was talking to psychology profes- thesis papers from the department. sors last year about potential thesis topics, this sounded the most interesting to me. I am on Q: What do you think is the most valuable the premed track, so a topic that incorporates lesson you are taking away from writing a physiological measures intrigued me. Also, thesis? having the opportunity to work with children A: I have had the wonderful opportunity to exis a huge perk of my senior thesis. plore my field of interest and learned to deliver standardized psychological tests and cognitive Q: What has been the most difficult part of functioning tests. Because I am on the premed your thesis so far? track and planning to attend medical school, A: Working with kids has been difficult because this experience has been very exciting.

I have to deliver the same protocol every time, but the children really want to talk to me and Q: Do you have any advice for future thesisbe friendly. I want to joke with them and keep writing students? chatting, but at the same time, I have to keep A: I came into Amherst and heard about how every situation controlled and deliver the pro- scary and overwhelming a senior thesis is. Aftocols. It was hard to not distract them and not ter hearing horror stories, I told myself I would be distracted myself as well. never write one because it is so hard. However, if you are interested in writing a thesis, I think Q: What is your favorite part about your the- you should do it and not be afraid. It is not as sis? scary as it seems to be, even though it is a giA: It is quite similar to the most difficult aspect ant paper. I think Amherst trains us well. As a of my thesis. There are kids coming in and I Psychology major, I know how to write psych have the opportunity to interact with them. I papers. Also, having been in a lot of writing ingenuinely love working with children. Also, I tensive classes honed my writing skills, too. I really liked having the experience of using real feel very well prepared. protocols and psychological assessment tools, - Elaine Jeon ’17 too.

“

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The Amherst Student • September 10, 2014

News 3

Journalist Bob Woodward Offers AAS Announces New Elections Perspective on the White House Continued from Page 1

Photo courtesy of Rob Mattson

Renowned journalist Bob Woodward spoke in Johnson Chapel this Tuesday, offering his perspective on presidential leadership.

Sitina Xu ‘16 Managing News Editor Washington Post journalist and best-selling author Bob Woodward spoke to a full house inside Johnson Chapel on Tuesday night. Woodward spoke about Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter and other presidents in a talk entitled “Presidential Leadership from Nixon to Obama.”

“Having tried to understand presidents and politics for more than four decades, I think there is a conclusion that I want to reach,” Woodward began. “We need to think about politics in a new way, which means thinking about ourselves and why we do things and who we are if we are going to get out of the jam that we’re in.”

Throughout the night, Woodward offered his perspective on why the government functions at the level of gridlock and ineffective leadership it is at today. He began by pointing out the importance of giving adequate time to resolve the complex issues we face.

“We see the meetings of the president and the Republicans, and they just aren’t long enough,” Woodward said.

He went on to say that the nature of negotiations is such “that you don’t do it in one hour or two hours; you’ve got to spend all night, all weekend on these things.”

Woodward also elaborated on the “substantial leadership problem in the White house and in Congress,” beginning with his critique of President Obama’s leadership.

“The power of the presidency has increased over time, and Obama has incredible power to do all kinds of things,” Woodward said. “And in a paradoxical way, I don’t think he understands it.”

Woodward criticism of Obama was focused on the leadership of Congress.

“Obama’s the CEO; he’s the president,”

Woodward said. “He has got incredible leverage, and as the CEO, he has to find a way to work his will. The president has to do that, he has to get engaged, and Obama has not done that.”

Woodward, who has interviewed many presidents over the course of his storied career, shared some of his observations about Obama’s leadership style and character.

“There is a humble side to Obama,” Woodward said. “He’s quite smart; he realizes where he came from, and I think that realization puts him in a position of: ‘How is it likely and possible that I’ve become president?”

Consequently, despite “the best of aspirations [Obama has] for the country, for himself, and where we’re going, the engagement to get things done is just not happening to him,” Woodward said.

Furthermore, Woodward spoke on how Obama’s intense anti-war rhetoric makes the president seem to him “almost like he’s begging not to fight sometimes.”

Woodward cited the beheadings of journalists by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, otherwise known as ISIS, as examples of how Obama’s anti-war stance may make America’s stance against the terrorist group even more difficult.

Indeed, Woodward said he thinks the president is “just not tough enough,” especially, when according to Woodward, “the job of national security of the president is to literally comfort our friends and scare the hell out of our enemies.”

“At The Washington Post, there’s a saying on how Washington functions,” Woodward said.

“All good work is done in defiance of management.”

“The referendum demonstrated how strongly the student body feels about making sure no one is barred from the AAS because of their socioeconomic background,” said Elections Committee chair Olivia Pinney ’17.

“These elections are a clean slate for any and all candidates,” Delgado Montes said. “The changes adopted from the referendum codify when campaign expenditures begin and what they are to reduce the risk of both honest mistakes and unfair competition in elections.”

Ahmed has not yet commented on whether she will be running in the new presidential elections.

“I can say with great sincerity that I think I was treated very unfairly last semester by my peers,” Ahmed said. “I will continue to be involved and continue to love and give back to Amherst. I am ready for a great senior year and I’m excited to meet and get to know more students this year.”

Peter Crane ’15, Ahmed’s opponent in the runoff last spring, said that he has not yet decided whether to run for president again.

“I just decided to take on a thesis this past week,” Crane said. “I would only run if I could give a proper amount of dedication to the job.”

After losing the presidential election, Crane was re-elected to the AAS as a senator.

Recently, Crane has been working alongside his fellow senators on a project to improve the AAS constitution. He has also been involved in an upcoming White House directed sexual assault awareness program, as well as project to help improve transparency within the AAS. “I have tried to be constructive about what happened and stay involved and focused on making the school a better place,” Crane said.

“Although the election was important, the real

issues of sexual assault policy reform, changes to the counseling center, orientation planning and diversity went undiscussed.”

According to Pinney, an AAS committee will be soon be proposing a series of revisions to the constitution. These revisions include creating positions on the Elections Committee for non-senators, live-streaming AAS speech nights and introducing voting stations in Keefe Campus Center. The committee also hopes to restrict the Elections Committee chair’s access to elections results, so that the chair cannot view election results until the polls close. The committee will put these revisions to a vote of the student body this fall.

Over the summer, Delgado Montes assumed many of the responsibilities that would ordinarily fall to the AAS president. In the past few months, he has organized staff meetings to improve student feedback on the Strategic Planning proposals and worked with IT on developing a Amherst College mobile app, set to release this September.

“The biggest part of the summer was making sure students were present and active in all of the numerous changes happening in the Office of Student Affairs,” Delgado Montes said.

Delgado Montes appointed students to sit in the search committees for various positions in the Office of Student Affairs.

“This was to make sure we have the right people with vision to lead and redesign student life with students as equal partners,” Delgado Montes said.

Delgado Montes described the recent election controversy as a learning experience for both students and senators.

“I think the AAS and student body have learned, that as an institution the AAS is imperfect and there is room for much improvement,” Delgado Montes said.

Matthew Chow ’18 Staff Photographer

Dean of Students Alex Vasquez was among those who gathered Friday to see the new Powerhouse open its doors.

Student Affairs Welcomes Powerhouse Officially Opens Several New Staff Members Continued from Page 1

Continued from Page 1 reporting to individual, separate people, both sections report to one individual who is the Assistant Dean of Student Life.”

Vasquez said he was excited about the recent structural changes.

I feel like I’m coming into the group with the right people around the table,” he said. “It’s a small group but at the very least, I know all our bases are covered. The question we want to address is, ‘Is the student being served best?’”

Brill said that she will also be striving to address this question in her new role. Though Brill is new to the Office of Student Affairs, she is not new to the college: in 2009, she joined the Amherst administration as a member of the Office of Admission. Later, in 2011, became the Associate Dean of Admission and Coordinator for Diversity Outreach.

“I worked on the diversity open houses and the April open houses to welcome new prospective students,” Brill said. “I also read ap-

plications, traveled, and interacted with high school counselors. But I mostly focused my energy on access to college, first generation, low-income, students from rural backgrounds, people who might not typically be exposed a school like Amherst College. And that was the fun part, that you really have the opportunity to change lives.”

Brill said that she is eager to take on her new role.

“I wanted to make this transition for a long time,” she said. “I’ve tried in different ways and this opportunity came along. And when I saw it, I thought that this is something natural for me. I know how to program and I can do the student activities role but I can take this role to a different place where we focus on engagement, community building, relationships, trust-building, leadership.”

After finishing up work in the Office of Admission this October, Brill will begin her fulltime job in student activities.

what to do with it during the day, and during the week. Those things will be answered within this month, and then will be implemented after that first month,” said Barrett Kaminer ’16, an at-large member of the Committee.

Moreover, talks are ongoing on how the Powerhouse will coexist with Campus Police, concerning alcohol and parties.

“The current party policy will not function and be all that effective in the Powerhouse right now. That being said, we’re not saying that it’s going to completely disregard the party policy; however, there are talks about creating an entirely different party policy within the powerhouse. The administration is really all for it. The only thing I see as being an opposing challenge is that we have to remain in accordance with Massachusetts state law,” Kaminer said.

In the light of the intensive committee work, as well as the involvement of the student body at large, senator Hassell said, “the Powerhouse is a student space, and so it’s a space that we can use to empower students. We can

do with the Powerhouse whatever we want to do with the Powerhouse.”

The Office of Student Affairs is interested in using the project as a springboard to change the way that students interact with the administration, in terms of new ideas and ambitions.

“I want, at the end of this year, and at the end of every year, for the students to say — If I had a list of all of the decisions that were made this year, I want you to point to the decisions and say, ‘I had input in that,’” Vasquez said.

Members of the Office of Student Affairs expressed hopes that the project will be a fulcrum in starting to create a stronger relationship between students and the administration.

“I think the events that will happen at the Powerhouse will allow both students and administrators to see each other from a different perspective,” Brill said. “A lot of myths that you might have about what the administration believes, or what they want to support you in doing, will be dispelled, because you’ll see that when we work together to find things that we can support one another with, incredible things happen.”

Opinion Editorial

Orientation: Less Socials, More Socializing With the frustrated efforts of the infamous 2013 “dry orientation” not far in the rear view window, this fall, all eyes were on Provost Uvin’s reforms. Last semester, controversy abounded over the removal of Queer Queries, the insertion of poorly defined academic TEDx presentations and reports of new, required three-day trips. The issue that remained constantly at the center of the conversation was the status of varsity athletes or our “scholar-athletes.”

Although they’re required to attend lectures and heavily encouraged to attend ice cream socials and floor events, the teams are in the midst of their only week of pre-season. In the past, fall and winter athletes haven’t been able to share the bonds formed on CEOT or FOOT trips or to make connections on campus due to their social commitments after practice. While Camp Amherst is a time to adjust to Val, wander the socials and ditch squad meetings, athletes must instantly learn to juggle their heavy sport commitment as well as the rest of their new Amherst life. In past years, these policies have functioned as an early introduction for first years to the already-recognizable “student-athlete divide.”

This year, the man who distracted an entire campus with a Spotify playlist during the last night of finals implemented some truly remarkable changes to Orientation. In line with this year’s Orientation theme of “When you’re here, you’re home,” Uvin made sure everyone got the chance to sit at the proverbial table. The new policy stated that upperclassman athletes could not contact their firstyear teammates at all. That change meant first-year only practice, mandatory trips on and off campus and almost no pre-gaming

and parties hosted in athletic social suites.

These changes have had isolating effects on some incoming athletes. A team dynamic, both in and out of practice, is a major part of any student-athlete’s life as many spend more time with their teammates than with their professors. Not meeting the majority of the people that will influence their college career can be anxiety-inducing during the first week to say the least. This can be especially awkward since both upperclassmen and firstyears recognize one another but were forbidden by administrative policy to sit together at Val. In our opinion, however, the benefit granted by the required trips, the decreased danger of first-years learning to drink at the dank socials and athletes and non-athletes interacting more outweighs the awkwardness and lack of practice for varsity teams.

The most noticeable effect of these policies for any non-athletes was the emptiness of the social quad late at night. Other orientations have seen the fire hazard that is hundreds of first-years crowding outside of Crossett, and ACEMS has had to suffer many a call for those entirely new to drinking culture. Without the social pressure or even the option to “go out,” common rooms were populated with Cards Against Humanity and late night conversations. Much like veterans of CEOT or FOOT, first-years have been able to get to know each other, creating more accountability for bystander interventions and alcohol safety. Ultimately, along with the Powerhouse, the new athletic policies have created both safer spaces and a more engaging and satisfying social environment for incoming first-years.

“If you listen closely, you can still hear the soft sounds of beer pong.”

E X E C U T I V E B OA R D Editor-in-Chief Sophie Murguia Executive Advisers Brendan Hsu, Emmett Knowlton Managing News Dan Ahn, Sophie Chung, Sitina Xu Managing Opinion Johnathan Appel, Marie Lambert Managing Arts and Living Marquez Cummings, Liz Mardeusz Managing Sports Andrew Knox, Nicole Yang

“The versatility of the space is unparalleled by any other space on campus and gives rise to many possible activities.”

Powerhouse... Page 5

Surprise: Val is Actually Good One first-year argues against the popular opinion Mohamed Ramy ’18 Staff Writer

all those who have not yet done so. So if you crave for a good, nutritious breakfast, it is right there. A 3.5/5 seems proper to me.

“The food is edible.”

“I just think it’s a step-up from my high school cafeteria, but it’s definitely a step-down from household food.”

“It’s satisfactory.”

These were the responses I received from students when asked what their views were of the food at Valentine Hall. They may seem reasonable to many, but not to me: I think the food is phenomenal! Now, before you laugh or disregard my hyperbole ­— as it is to some — let me discourse my reasons for this opinion: 1. Val tries: Truthfully, every time I go into Val, I am excited to see what is there to eat (maybe because I do not check what is on the menu before going in). I remember one Monday in particular — it was seared salmon and New York steak for dinner. The steak was a perfectly medium-rare, juicy and non-greasy.

The seared salmon presented itself as a piece of heaven on my plate — it was so spectacularly cooked and well seasoned that I ate two pieces.

These moments may be rare, yes, but when Val really tries, it succeeds.

2. Val is balanced: I am an omnivore, but others may be herbivores. Val presents the opportunity for all to devise amazing salads with the wide array of fresh vegetables and delectable sauces offered. The macaroni salad on Tuesday was particularly delicious.

3. Val gets the job done in a healthy manner: Val offers a well-oriented meal plan. It has protein (grilled breasts of chicken were available throughout this week), carbohydrates, fibers and unsaturated fat (usually in the form of fish). It caters what is required for us to stay healthy but occasionally slips in “junk food” as it did on Thursday — hamburgers, which were enjoyable, in my opinion, and French fries.

These are my three main reasons, but how about we scrutinize every part of the meal plan?

Breakfast I have been raised to believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and that it should be practical as well. I think that Val has a traditional breakfast menu: cereal, eggs (scrambled and hard-boiled), bacon and infinite potential of salads. The scrambled eggs are remarkably tasty, especially with some salt and pepper on them. Nevertheless, I must remark that I do not see Val as perfect; the bacon slices are always greasy (so are the potato slices and sausages) and have saturated fat attached to them. I personally remove the fat, get a tissue and squeeze the bacon slices into it (and the slices oddly stay a bit greasy!). The French toast, moreover, was too hard. The waffle machine, however, is said to produce spectacular waffles, which I have yet to try, as should

S TA F F Design Editors Gabby Bishop, Megan Do, William Harvey, Sunna Juhn, Andrew Kim, Eli Mansback, Madi Ruoff News Section Editor Elaine Jeon Sports Section Editors Sam Javit, Jason Stein, Jeremy Kesselhaut Publishers Nazir Khan, David Walchak Photography Editor Olivia Tarantino

Lunch Lunch is often the most hectic meal of the day. The lines are absurdly long, but the food is ‘satisfying’. This past week, Val offered assorted pizzas on five days — it is not Antonio’s, but it is good. This may be an odd fact but the first time I ever had mac and cheese was at Val, and it did set up some high expectations. The cheese merged perfectly with the macaroni, forming a tender upper crust that when on my plate, seemed like a godly mountain. It was impeccable.

Moreover, I was delighted to note that the lighter side is actually light with diet food such as brown rice, steamed fresh carrots, whole wheat pasta (that could be topped with marinara sauce, yum), grilled breasts of chicken (which were available throughout the week), and roasted beets. This week there was Boca Burger on Thursday, which was okay. I think that 3/5 would be a fair score.

Dinner This is when Val tries to impress students.

Missing lunch is fine, but missing dinner … nope. The best dinner so far was the one on Monday (the seared salmon and New York steak), but Val still presented other exquisite options throughout the rest of the week. The chicken fajita, which in comparison with Middle Eastern chicken fajita, is sincerely good and the brown rice was always well-cooked and delectable. The char sui pork spare ribs left a positive impression on me. The jambalaya had all the ingredients well integrated and the chicken roasted with harissa and honey was fantastic. I always went to bed satisfied. Overall, I would give Val a 4/5 usually, but when Val tries, I would give it a 5.

Dessert and drinks The dessert is phenomenal! I hope no one disagrees with me because the first time I tasted those brownies and blueberry cream cheese muffins, I was immediately gratified. I am filled with excitement whenever I pass by the dessert section, and if there is not anything good, I can always have some ice cream.

Multiple students have told me that the variety of drinks at Val is satiating. Unfortunately, I have only had orange juice since I arrived, and it is always fresh and succulent. I would definitely give the highest score to this category.

Ultimately, I think that Val is satisfying, and I refuse to believe that it sucks. I try to enter Val with a sense of wonder, always ready to be surprised. The food may be repetitive at times, but every now and again, you will be able to quench that hunger with spectacular food.

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The Amherst Student • September 10, 2014

Opinion 5

Our Obligation to Amherst Elson Browne-Low ’15 Contributing Writer Let me put this question to you, Amherst: did you come to the College to buy an education or to collectively build one? I believe that this captures much of what is wrong at Amherst, of the disease that is driving the tension between the administration, Board of Trustees and students. This disease, this misunderstanding of what it is that we are fundamentally doing at the college, is pulling us further down year by year.

Add to this the perception (and often reality) that student opinion counts for nothing in instituting real change and you get an atmosphere of angst, of buried anger and jaded frustration.

This has to stop.

“

If we truly believe in the message of this institution, in the educational experience it creates and the good that it does throughout the world, we are not just student and trustee, but members of a community in which there are mutual obligations.

”

Last semester’s student-Board of Trustees meeting about banning fraternities was indicative of this fundamental disease. First, it was wholly unacceptable for the administration and trustees to think that saying “fraternities are old-fashioned” is a satisfactory justification for not even talking about whether they should be banned at all. I personally don’t know if fraternities are the right answer to our student life woes, but saying that (I believe the trustees and administration would agree) was wrong and a mistake.

Beyond this, however, I remember a student at the meeting relating that because her financial aid package was so comprehensive, she felt it difficult to criticize the Board of Trustees in any way. This rings true for me personally — it would take 60 years of work at my parents’ income for me to ever afford an Amherst education. Even now, I can just imagine my mother saying she never raised me to be a fool. Understandably, the board member said he didn’t want her or any student to feel that way, and that she should always try to come forward with concerns. But, wait a second, at what point did the students on financial aid become beholden to the “oh-so-gracious” Board of Trustees? If we truly believe in the message of this institution, in the educational experience it creates and the good that it does throughout the world, we are not just student and trustee, but members of a community in which there are mutual obligations. If we take this message seriously, Amherst is ours just as much as it is the board’s. From the moment students set foot on this campus, it should be clear to them that they are not just a subset, but the college itself.

I think this subtle difference, this misunderstanding of our relationship with one another, stems from conceptualizing the college in the wrong way. Perhaps this comes from our desperate need to keep up with the top-ranked Williams College. Perhaps this is part of a trend of increasing competitiveness for students among the top colleges and universities. Sadly, I believe Amherst’s senior staff have come to think of the college as a business place, where the “product’s” reputation is paramount.

Obviously, there is a great deal of complexity to sexual assault concerns on this campus, but I think this construing a community with a “product” is definitely evident in Angie Epifano’s story. Much of what she spoke about, of the college’s desperate attempt to preserve its reputation, stinks of an institution that has forgotten

that it is the community, not its reputation that is most important. Angie was what mattered in that moment, and without this narrative of community she became just another subset of Amherst, whose interests could be traded off at our convenience. Angie the thing.

This disease lies behind so many of these tensions on campus that I am afraid that we will spend this year battling the symptoms, thinking we’ve made perfect progress, but soon enough another scandal will hit us and Amherst will sink, sink, sink. And why shouldn’t we let it die?

After all, I’ve already got a job after graduation, you have your acceptance to graduate school, etc. Who cares? And for the sophomores and juniors, just bear through for another few years and you’ll have that too. But what about the freshmen? And what about, for those of us with siblings, our brothers and sisters in a few years?

And how much will our degree be worth next to the Ivy Leagues’ if this school keeps corroding? I want to stress this, because it is absolutely essential — we are Amherst. As the school struggles, so too do we. Something needs to be done, and I think, if we are organized and productively angry, we can do it this year.

First, it’s time to stop talking for talking’s sake. This year is about pressuring the administration and we need to be committed to producing the thorough, workable solutions that they cannot easily refuse. The analysis we produce is fantastic, but it isn’t worth the paper we write it on if we can’t knuckle down and produce real policies.

Second, the AAS needs to cut the popularity contest. Let’s be straight here, can you remember what any candidate promised last election cycle?

No? That’s because it wasn’t about the issues. I’m not saying the candidates running didn’t genuinely care, but I am saying popularity is far too big of a factor here. In the last election, I voted for someone mostly because he seemed to really care about Amherst. What particular policies he cared about, you ask? Beats me. We can’t do this now Amherst, not when so much is at stake.

On that note, I’m announcing my candidacy for president of the AAS. Yes, attacking popularity politics is an obvious election tactic. I’ll be the first to admit I probably won’t be popular enough to win the way candidates have in the past, but this election is fundamentally different.

We aren’t just fighting for one project’s funding or a few useful policy changes. We are fighting over the message of Amherst. At the end of the day this college could very well be the type of place that sells degrees, and we could all just ignore the Board of Trustees and administration over our four years. That would be the beginning of a final slide, and soon all that makes this community great would be gone, starting with professors who actually care about their research and students. Amherst College: the educational vending machine of Western Massachusetts.

Last, I want to say two things: 1. I know this sounds “flaky” but there simply isn’t enough room in this article to address the specific changes I think need to be made to the AAS and Board of Trustees. Those institutions need to enable and engage students, not just represent them in name. That, as well as my experience addressing these types of issues (albeit on a much smaller scale) will be the subject of my next article. Second, the question must linger why I care so much about all this. Frankly, my future after Amherst seems pretty solid, so I don’t need the presidency for my resume. What I can’t stand is to sit by while a college I adore struggles and struggles to find its way. I remember sitting in class freshman year, thinking to myself, “Why can’t they just keep classes in Val, you know? Because then I’d actually never have to leave!” Thank you, professors — those classes have shaped me deeply, and I can’t imagine giving them up. We’ve all had experiences here we treasure, and I think we owe it to the college to fight, now, to make things right.

Matthew Chow ‘18 Staff Photographer Students enjoy the new social space at the Powerhouse’s opening on Friday, Sept. 5. The newly-renovated space made its debut last week with an afternoon hors d’oeuvres event.

Powerhouse Gives Students New Party Place David Yang ’18 Staff Writer Sweaty bodies and the grungy death wish appeal of the socials definitely have a home in the hearts of many Amherst students, but the Powerhouse brings new and exciting possibilities to the college’s social scene. By bridging excitement and a semblance of human dignity, the Powerhouse could serve as the new party scene on campus.

The fact that the Powerhouse is a public social space, one that is the domain of no particular organization, is perhaps its greatest contribution to the culture of Amherst.

It has the potential to open up avenues of mingling between different social groups and facilitate intercourse between the different niches that fracture the campus.

Although the socials cannot be accurately characterized as “private” or “exclusive” spaces, they inherently foster less social diversity because they are occupied by closely knit student communities.

A thoughtful design process is evident in the layout and the features of the Powerhouse. Whereas the vibe of the Keefe Campus Center awkwardly straddles the fence between a gentleman’s club and a Chuck E. Cheeses for very mature children, the Powerhouse is clearly primed to be a space for student activities. The décor is modeled with a nightclub aesthetic, everything from the pipes to the benches outside covered in a film of ever so trendy rust. The large doors leading out to the patio allow for a convenient escape route to anyone on the run from an overeager dance partner. The counters in the attractive modern bathrooms are more than adequately classy enough for students to do a quick line of cocaine in between DJ sets.

The versatility of the space is unparalleled by any other space on campus and gives rise to many possible activities. The combination of the computerized light

show, the powerful speakers and the raised platforms on either side of the central dance floor suggest that the Powerhouse would be an ideal space for live concerts, especially EDM shows, which rely heavily on all three elements. On the other end of the spectrum, the flashing club lights could easily be turned off for modern art exhibitions or research summary showcases that hosting student work during the weekdays. The purposely informal design of the space, however, does pose a limitation: the peeling paint and rusty pipes of the Powerhouse would be ill-suited as a venue for more formal events.

This doesn’t pose a problem, however, in the grand scheme of things because Amherst has more than enough dignified venues for events that require pomp and circumstance.

The popularity of the Powerhouse during its nighttime debut is a reminder that Amherst is not only a school dedicated to great thinking, but that it is also a place enthusiastic about having clean and unquestionably sober fun. In funding the project, the administration deserves significant kudos for responding to the call for more vibrant student spaces following the recently imposed restrictions banning fraternities.

The requests for student input to help determine how the space should be utilized in the future clearly shows a strong commitment toward making the space one that is truly what the student body desires.

It is important to remember that the Powerhouse remains a place that can be molded into whatever students want it to be.

The sound system has no greater preference for slam poetry than it does for the other kinds of noise, even if that noise happens to be the incoherent rambling of country music. The space is open to interpretation and its functions are still to be imagined by those who are willing to contribute their ideas about what the Powerhouse should be.

Arts&Living

“We’re forced out of our roots into the peculiarity that is FKA Twigs’ auditory world .”

FKA Twigs’ “LP1”: A Triumph Page 8

Image courtesy of Huffington Post

“Boyhood” Impresses at Amherst Cinema Claire Jia ’15 Contributing Writer I had two initial thoughts during the closing credits of Richard Linklater’s 2014 film, “Boyhood.” First, I reveled in the originality of the film, both in its lengthy 12-year production and in its superb execution. Secondly, I found myself disappointed with Mason, the protagonist of the film, who ends up as an annoying maladjusted hipster teenager by the end of the film. After reading glowing reviews for “Boyhood” prior to seeing it myself, I did not want to write the typical “best film of the year!” kind of review. So while watching the film, I found myself searching for something, anything negative that I could snatch ahold of and say “aha! Metacritic, you’re wrong! It can’t get a 100!”

Back in 2002, Richard Linklater hired seven-year-old Ellar Coltrane to play Mason Evans, Jr. Over the course of 12 years, Linklater filmed Coltrane,

capturing both the character and the actor’s growth and development between the ages of seven and 18. This lengthy production choice allowed Linklater the opportunity to craft a story based on Coltrane’s personal struggles between his adolescent and teen years. Mason begins the film as a very introspective and impressionable boy who particularly loves Star Wars and science. However, as the film progresses, Mason becomes negatively affected by several defining experiences in his life. From the absence of his father, played by Ethan Hawke, to the perpetual conflict between his mother, played by Patricia Arquette, and his multiple stepfathers, Mason becomes hardened and slightly cynical throughout his teen years. This becomes especially significant by film’s end as Mason begins his freshman year at Sul Ross State University, a point in his life at which he is beginning to think about what he wants to do and, more

importantly, who he wants to be.

Before I go any further, let me clarify one of my initial thoughts.

Throughout the film, I was not always rooting for Mason, but that is exactly what makes “Boyhood” such a unique film. As a character, Mason seems pretty self-absorbed and naïve.

I would even go as far as saying that Mason comes off as pessimistic and overly confident. Yet, after listing Mason’s negative characteristics, I realized something very crucial: this guy is only 18 years old! What typical 18-year-old doesn’t act the way Mason does? I was definitely no different.

As filmgoers, we tend to anticipate characters, specifically protagonists, to not only reflect reality, but also to present a better version of ourselves.

Despite this prevailing expectation, “Boyhood” gives us a cast of characters that is no kinder, stronger or smarter than ourselves, which works to provide a mirror of our own flaws and shortcomings. Essentially,

“Boyhood” returns us to our younger years, allowing us to recall the events that shaped our childhood. Whether it was a time when we screamed at our parents over something insignificant or when we were falling

“

“Boyhood” returns us to our younger years, allowing us to recall the events that shaped our childhood

”

in love for the first time, “Boyhood” successfully provides a palpable sense of nostalgia for viewers of all ages.

Yet, “Boyhood” also represents a tribute to Generation Y. With notes of Coldplay’s “Yellow” and Soulja Boy playing in the background, as well as other references to the popular culture of this generation, the audience really gets a sense for what it was like

growing up in the early 21st century.

The mundane scenes of Mason hiking with his dad, his mom telling him to wash the dishes, fighting in the car with his sister, Sam (Lorelei Linklater), come together to create a realistic portrait of childhood life.

There are no car crashes, no hospital scenes, and no kissing in the rain, the tired and pervasive clichés of Hollywood films. With “Boyhood,” Linklater makes a huge statement by portraying his narrative with simple, yet powerful snapshots of Mason’s life.

We all want to know the fate of the individual characters, yet “Boyhood” tactfully restricts our view. As the film progresses and the years pass, the characters melt away, never to be seen again. Mason, as well as his childhood friends and peers, grow up throughout “Boyhood” and, because we experience the events that cause this growth, the audience grows up as well. “Boyhood” is showing at Amherst Cinema this week.

“Singing College” Lives Up to Its Name Yelim Youm ’18 Contributing Writer Last Sunday, the six a cappella groups of Amherst College combined their collective energies and talents to put on the first showcase of the year.

The first-year a cappella showcase in Johnson Chapel was intended to give the entering class of 2018 a taste of a cappella at Amherst and what each group had to offer. From hip hop to R&B and jazz to contemporary, the variety of the performances presented both familiar sounds and bold departures from the norm. Each group (Route 9, DQ, the Bluestockings, Terras Irradient, the Zumbyes and the Sabrinas) sang three songs, which successfully showcased the variety and range of each group.

When I arrived in Johnson Chapel for the showcase, the seats were already full of excited students, including smatterings of experienced upperclassmen and excited first-years who were getting their first taste of a cappella. Though each group and each performance were hailed with

loud whoops and storms of clapping, there were also a number of standouts.

The humorous antics of Route 9, the first group to perform, provided sincere laughs from the audience. “[It] made me feel happy, joyous. I didn’t even realize I was smiling,” said Iris Zhang ‘18. “[It was] lighthearted and blissful.”

DQ, Amherst’s only coed, secular group, sang renditions of popular songs such as Bastille’s “Pompeii.”

The Bluestockings sang slower songs with jazzy vibes, such as Alicia Keys’ “Fallin’, but it was their rapping that received a huge response from the audience. Each verse of the hip-hop numbers was met with a symphony of whistles and whoops, and deservedly so.

The Bluestockings’ performance was soulful and inspiring. Terras Irradient, true to their identity as Amherst’s only Christian a cappella group, sang reverent religious songs with meaningful lyrics and flawless synchronization.

However, it was the Zumbyes

that left an especially memorable impression on the entire audience. Instead of walking gracefully out onto stage, they ran into the chapel. Their entrance involved piggyback rides and sliding down from the balcony, showcasing their unique energy and charm. Adding to the charisma of the group were the three love song performances (which were surprisingly sincere given the presence of banana suits and goofy hats), the mellow harmonies, the comic dances, and the particularly wide range of styles that were exhibited throughout the group’s performace.

“Our most important tradition is breaking away from the norm,” said group member Stuart MacKenzie ‘16.

“We like to show what we’re capable of … jazz, funk, R&B, soul.”

“Isn’t she lovely/isn’t she wonderful/isn’t she precious,” crooned the Sabrinas, the next group to perform in the showcase. Stevie Wonder, who penned those lyrics in 1976, was originally describing his newborn daughter with the piece, but those adjectives could just as easily apply

to the Sabrinas themselves. Their soft vocals and powerful solos were a treat for the ears. The brazen lyrics of Sara Bareilles’ song “Sweet As Whole,” performed last, garnered another huge storm of claps and laughs from the audience.

A cappella at Amherst has a long history, which is exemplified by its designation as the “Singing College.”

For example, DQ, a small group of male singers, was formed in 1927.

Though the group disbanded in 1966, 19 years later it rose from the ashes, this time inclusive of both women and men. Though the history of DQ spans nearly a century, the allmale Zumbyes claim the title of the college’s oldest continuously running a cappella group. “We have traditions that go back to the 1950s,” said member Samuel Korntner ’17.

It has also formed an invaluable support system and community for its members. Between endless practices, cross-country tours, and the grueling process of producing albums, these a cappella groups have become some of the most tight-knit institutions on

campus.

“I love it,” said Noel Grisanti ‘17, a member of the Sabrinas. “A cappella is such a great way to get oriented [to the school].”

“My best friends are in the Zumbyes,” said Stuart McKenzie ‘16.

“We’re all very much a big part of each other’s lives … It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Being a Zumbye comes first.”

The chemistry and friendship in each of the a cappella groups, as well as their tremendous talent and hard work, were evident in the way they harmonized and supported each other’s beats and melodies throughout the opening showcase. By the time the show was over, the audience was full of nothing but smiles and the feeling that, for a moment, we had all been allowed to see and become part of something very special. As an entering first-year, I feel fortunate to know that I have four more years of a cappella concerts to attend. To quote a performace from the Zumbyes: when you listen to Amherst’s a cappella, “you better be ready/to rock steady.”

73092 8 Arts & Living

The Amherst Student • September 10, 2014

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THRILL OUT OF INVESTING.

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Go to tiaa-cref.org for product and fund prospectuses that contain this and other information. Read carefully before investing. 1 TIAA-CREF funds are subject to market and other risk factors. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

The Lipper Award is given to the group with the lowest average decile ranking of three years’ Consistent Return for eligible funds over the three-year period ended 11/30/12 and 11/30/13, respectively. TIAA-CREF was ranked against 36 fund companies in 2012 and 48 fund companies in 2013 with at least five equity, five bond, or three mixed-asset portfolios. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, and Teachers Personal Investors Services Inc. C18456B ©2014 Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America – College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10017.

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8 Arts & Living

The Amherst Student • September 10, 2014

Image courtesy of www.dazeddigital.com

FKA Twigs’ August-released debut album “LP1” intrigues listeners with a combination of angelic vocals, peculiar instrumentals and well-crafted lyrics.

Brit Singer FKA Twigs’ “LP1:” a Triumphant Debut Gabby Edzie ’17 Contributing Writer As summer comes to a close, the haunting gaze of British-bred FKA Twigs adorning her Augustreleased “LP1” can be seen on the pages of pretty much every music blog — and rightfully so. FKA Twigs’ debut album brilliantly combines the jarring and the calm to introduce the artist in a manner that exclaims, “This is whom I am, good luck figuring it out.” She cleverly settles the listener in just the right amount of ‘normal,’ in order to butter them up for the experiment she has manufactured.

We are granted some familiarity in

terms of lyrical content and angelic vocals, but that’s essentially where the ‘typical’ ends. We’re forced out of our roots into the peculiarity that is FKA Twig’s auditory world; it’s amazing.

“Lights On” is the first track following the discordant preface.

Like many songs on the album, it builds at an alluring pace. While listening to the track, I like to imagine myself sitting in a completely white room, adorned with a giant question mark painted on one of the walls.

The opening sounds lack consistency, but I can sense something melodious waiting to unfold. FKA Twigs begs you to question her. This opening randomness, reminiscent of some

Image courtesy of www.stereogum.com

FKA Twigs’ debut album is both bold and mesmerizing.

sort of bionic heart, leaves me desperate for her voice. This first verse provides me with a bit more stability, yet I continue to question the inconsistent background, as well as where her voice will take me. Returning to the white room I envision, I can hear her voice, but can’t quite tell where it’s coming from.

It’s as though a dozen doors have appeared around the room and I’m not quite sure which door holds what I’m looking for, or even what it is that I am seeking — and then it happens.

FKA Twigs runs through the center door and I’m dropped into the chorus, which instantly rounds out the track. She repeats, “when I trust you we can do it with the lights on,” a rooted declaration which breaks from the lyrical uncertainty that had previously graced the white room.

The track then continues to close and open the “FKA Twigs door,” dragging us through uncertainty, only to return to the satisfying chorus.

Though it has slightly more body, “Two Weeks,” the album’s most talked about piece, follows this same pattern of leaving me asking questions while simultaneously declaring its strong presence. I think it’s something of a masterpiece. The track has an eerie vibe that goes hand in hand with FKA Twigs’ voice, yet the background support allows the track to exist as an undeniable jam.

It’s one of those tracks that just fits.

Play it as a catalyst for some sort of self-reflection, or when you’re driving down Route 9 (I can’t drive but I imagine this would be pretty cool).

At first I thought the track “Hours” was a little too discordant for

Wm. Denzel Wood ’18 Staff Cartoonist

my personal taste, but after listening to it a few times, which I recommend you do, I can’t help but respect the interesting dichotomy between the voluptuous lyrics “I could kiss you for hours” and the track’s overall stripped down nature. In true FKA Twigs fashion, “Pendulum” builds and falls in all the right places, and ushers the artist’s voice into some really pleasing harmonies. My favorite point was the first drop off after the chorus. The chorus builds to an abrupt pause before transitioning into the lyric “you forgot how we fell in love.” It’s as if she let herself get carried away with this romantic vent and needs to reroot herself before continuing onward.

“Video Girl” was one of my favorite tracks on the album because the beat never faces the abrupt distortion or disintegration present in some of the more stripped down songs. It’s only logical that “Video Girl” is one of the more beat-driven and powerful tracks, as it addresses the very soul of the album. FKA Twigs speaks to her former, perhaps regrettable identity as a music video girl. “Video Girl” doesn’t have much in common with Meghan Trainor’s radio hit “All About That Bass,” but that doesn’t stop it from being FKA Twig’s own self confidence anthem.

It’s essentially a rugged declaration that this video girl identity is merely a lie, and she’s choosing to move beyond it.

“Numbers,” though addressing different subject matter, also takes on FKA Twigs’ confidence. The sound throughout put me a little on edge, which I find completely appropriate for the lyrical content.

She interrogates the subject “was I just a number to you?” and “Why you gotta go and make me cry?”

I imagine the jarring track was a pretty rude awakening for whomever it is written about. To put it simply, I loved everything about the track “Closer.” It was a pretty up-tempo beat, yet the vocals sound as if they are rising from the mouths of tiny angels. She lets you bite into the beat, while the vocals simply glide by you, and it’s completely satisfying.

I’d say “Give Up” is the smoothest track off the album, but that doesn’t make it any less of an experimental piece. The variation in vocals definitely had me asking all the right questions. “Kicks,” the album’s final track, utilizes a perfectly magnetic method. It’s the ideal combination of desperation and strength. The rather gentle repetition of “what do I do when you’re not here?” fits perfectly alongside the gritty beat. The track comes complete with a variation on the chorus that depicts an ideal amount of raw emotion in a really interesting manner.

With “LP1,” FKA Twigs has essentially declared herself the queen of combining auditory comfort with rawness. Hers is a genius debut. The album is filled with declarations of self, both in terms of her career and personal life, yet it does not reveal exactly what the “FKA Twigs concept” is. The mystery of the artist even leaks into her covers, like the recently released remake of Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me.” It’s a challenging feat to introduce yourself in a manner that is certain but still leaves millions of unanswered questions. FKA Twigs has done just that.

Thinking about writing about the latest cultural trends and news?

A&L Wants You!

If you are interested in writing for A&L, email the editors at mcummings16@ amherst.edu or emardeusz16@amherst.edu.

The Amherst Student • September 10, 2014

Football Strives for Undefeated Season

Sports 9

Hopes to Build Off 7-1 Season to Become Lone NESCAC Champs Nell Patterson ’15 Staff Writer Within a few weeks, the leaves will begin to change color, and the beauty of fall in New England will be in full bloom. One cannot think about fall without football, and the 2014 season should signal the return of the dominance on both sides of the ball.

In November 2013, Amherst ended its season with a 20-7 rout of Williams on the Ephs’ Weston Field. It was the 525th game played on the historic field as well as the last, as Williams renovated their field complex over the summer. The Jeffs, however, ultimately had the last word as they rushed for over 200 yards and added another 153 through the air.

While many argue beating Williams is all that matters, the Jeffs impressed in many games this season, ending with a mark of 7-1 — a record good enough to give them a share of the NESCAC Championship with Middlebury and Wesleyan.

The 2013 season also marked an important achievement for head coach E.J Mills. In his 17th season, Mills gained his 100th victory in the second-to-last game of the season, as Amherst won a thrilling home game against Trinity 17-16. He now boasts an impressive 101-35 record and will look add eight more to the win column this fall.

The Jeffs enter this season with a stellar senior class, comprised of 14 members. Many of the offensive threats from last season will return, including Max Lippe ’15, who dictated the plays last season as quarterback, and Gene Garay ’15, who led the team in receiving yards with 400 yards and three touchdowns.

On the defensive side, the Jeffs’ senior class returns two of the team’s top tacklers from the 2013 season. Captain Chris Tamasi ’15 led the team with 62 tackles, but fellow

co-captain Ned Deane ’15 was not far behind with 61. Both players hope to continue to make an impact in Amherst’s strong defensive linebacking core, while starters Johnathan Woodrow ’15 and Scott Mergner ’15 return to anchor the offensive line.

Many members of the class of 2016 and 2017 will step into more formative roles on the team, adding new strength and power to the Jeffs’ offense and defense.

“The seniors that graduated last year set a high standard for Amherst College football.

Now that they are gone, everyone on the team assumes a new role. First-years become sophomores, sophomores become juniors, juniors become seniors, and we welcome a brand new class of first-years to the team.

We will discover what kind of team we are throughout preseason,” Tamasi said.

Among key returners on the offensive side, Kenny Adrinka ’16 led the team with 448 yards on the ground last season. Sophomores Nick Kelly and Myles Gaines also made significant contributions to the backfield last season.

The defense will benefit from the return of talented junior tacklers Tyler Mordas and Jimmy Fairfield-Sonn, who added 45 and 53 total tackles last season, respectively.

Cornerback Jaymie Spears ’16 had three interceptions last season and helped the Jeffs tally an impressive number of turnovers.

Although the defense has been the calling card of Amherst football in recent history, Mergner believes that the offense will be lethal this season.

“We attribute much success in the past few years to having one of the best (if not the best) defenses in the league,” he said, “This year, I look forward to being a more balanced team.

I think our offense has the chance to be atop the league and early practices in camp have indicated that we are headed in that direction.”

“Our team put in a tremendous amount of work this spring and saw impressive results.

The team carried this same competitive attitude into the summer, preparing diligently on their own time in order to return in the best shape possible,” Tamasi added.

The Jeffs run a competitive offseason, as the team is divided into five mini-teams that compete in physical, academic and community service oriented activities to gain points for their respective teams.

The coaches believe this makes the entire team accountable during the offseason and helps guarantee success for the upcoming season. The players say the team competition makes the offseason both fun and productive.

“As with any season, the final goal is to be playing for an undefeated 8-0 NESCAC Championship, but we will be setting and meeting many micro-goals to get us to that point,” Mergner said.

One key matchup this season will be against the Middlebury on Oct. 4. The Jeffs’ defense was dominant against the Panthers last season, as they intercepted Middlebury’s quarterback McCallum Foote five times.

Another key matchup will be the away game against Wesleyan on Oct. 18. The Jeffs struggled with turnovers in last season’s 20-14 loss to the Cardinals — the team’s first loss against Wesleyan since 2002. As always, the Jeffs look forward to playing archrival Williams to end their season at 2014 homecoming on Nov. 8.

This homecoming will prove to be a special one, as it is the first meeting of the Ephs and Jeffs on the newly-renovated Pratt Field. To celebrate this inaugural game, the Jeffs will have a Friday Night Lights style event starting at 4 p.m.

However, every game of the 2014 football season is important to this team. The senior class has the potential to have the most number

of wins of any senior class in NESCAC football history. With a 21-3 collegiate record thus far, another winning season for the Jeffs could put the senior class in the ranks of history.

“Every championship team has a special chemistry, and I hope this one can become a very close group of guys. It is going to take the course of the season, both on and off of the field, to form it. This will be the final season for all of the seniors, so we want the culmination of our careers to end with something really special,” Mergner said.

The Jeffs will begin their hunt for a NESCAC title on Pratt Field Sept. 20 against the Bates Bobcats at 1 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Rob Mattson

Gene Garay ’15 had a team-high 400 receiving yards last season.

Volleyball Clinches Second Place Field Hockey Falls to Midd. For at Springfield Invite Seventh-Straight Time Drew Kiley ’18 Staff Writer For the second-straight year, Amherst’s volleyball kicked off its season at the Springfield Invitational and claimed second place in the tournament.

The Firedogs opened the tournament with a game against host Springfield College on Friday night. In a hard-fought, five-set battle, the Pride prevailed 24-26, 27-25, 26-28, 25-18, 15-11.

Amherst came out hot, claiming the first set, but Springfield answered by taking the next two. The Firedogs stayed in the game, winning the fourth set, and both sides traded points for the majority of the fifth. However, with the score tied at 9-9, Springfield claimed five of the next six points to eventually claim the win.

Maggie Danner ’17 and Asha Walker ’18 notched 10 kills each to lead Amherst, and libero Katie Warshaw ’16 recorded 34 of the team’s 82 digs. However, Amherst ultimately could not respond to Springfield’s duo of Kelsey McGayhey and Lauren Holt, who amassed a combined 35 kills.

On Saturday, the Firedogs’ defense paved the way for a comfortable victory over Johnson & Wales. Amherst recorded a solid hitting percentage of .231, while holding their opponents to an astoundingly low .020 hitting percentage.

Danner led all hitters with 12 kills. Kelci Keeno ’17 recorded 13 digs, and Warshaw claimed 10 digs to continue her stellar play.

Nicole Carter ’16 played a key part offensively and defensively, recording 16 assists and six digs. First-years Marialexa Natsis and Kate Antion announced their arrivals with seven kills and seven digs, respectively.

In their second match of the day, Amherst

took on Stevens Tech. The Jeffs rolled in the first two sets, claiming the first, 25-15, and the second, 25-10.

The Ducks clean up their defense, however, and won the tight third set 28-26. Amherst answered in the competitve fourth set, winning 25-23. Danner was once again a star performer with 19 kills and 10 digs, while Carter recorded 27 assists and 15 digs.

With the win, Amherst booked their place in the finals, where the Firedogs would face off against Springfield once again. Springfield dominated throughout against a fatigued Amherst team, winning in straight sets (25-14, 25-20, 25-17).

Carter and Kate Bres ’17 combined for 23 of the Jeffs’ 26 helpers, while Warshaw led the team with 14 digs. Danner claimed a team-high eight kills, and Nicole Gould ’17 contributed seven. For their efforts, Walker and Warshaw earned all-tournament team honors.

Once again, McGayhey proved difficult for Amherst to deal with, as she recorded 12 kills in Springfield’s victory.

“The Springfield Tournament was a great start to the season and showed that our hard work during preseason paid off,” said cocaptain Nicole Carter. “Every girl brought an incredible amount of energy to the court, and I really believe that if we continue to bring that same energy and drive to every practice and match, we will be able to achieve our goals for the season.”

With a young squad, the team remains confident and expects improvement as they return to action this weekend, Sept. 12-13, at the two-day Johnson & Wales Invitational in Providence, R.I. The Firedogs will open up NESCAC play Friday, Sept. 19 at Trinity, and their first home game will be Sept. 26 against Williams.

Lauren Tuiskula ’17 Staff Writer The Amherst field hockey team opened its season on Wednesday, Sept. 3 with a decisive 7-0 victory over Connecticut College. Several Jeffs tallied points to lift 10th-ranked Amherst over the unranked Camels.

Co-captain Madeline Tank ‘15 led the scoring with four goals and one assist. The scoring opened just over nine minutes into the game, as Tank took advantage of a penalty corner — one of 20 in the game for Amherst — giving the Jeffs an early lead. That goal would prove to be the only scoring of the first half, but Amherst would eventually break the game open later on, scoring six goals in the second.

Tank scored her second goal of the game just 2:40 after the break to get the second-half flurry started. The senior tallied her third goal less than four minutes later thanks to an assist

by Annika Nygren ’16.

Nygren added another assist when she connected with Mary Grace Cronin ’18 for her first collegiate goal. Tank got involved in the scoring yet again, sending home number four on the day in the 63rd minute of play. She further continued her offensive dominance when she assisted Nygren to give Amherst a comfortable 6-0 lead.

First-year Katie Bergamesca assisted Taylor Hallowell ’17 as time expired in the game to secure the Jeffs 7-0 victory.

Rachel Tannenbaum ’15 and Emily Horwitz ’17 combined for the shutout, turning away three Conn. College shots.

“Coming out strong against Conn. was huge for us,” noted Tank. “We spent preseason trying to fit all the pieces together, including integrating younger players. We really clicked, and it got us all pumped for the season.”

Amherst rode that excitement into a one of their biggest games of the season against fifth-ranked Middlebury on Sunday, Sept.

7. The Jeffs fell 4-1, stumbling in the early minutes of play.

The Panthers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead just over 13 minutes into the contest, featuring a score in the opening minute. Tank continued her impressive week, scoring the lone Amherst goal on the day at the 27-minute mark on a penalty corner.

“It was certainly a disappointing loss, but we learned a lot of concrete lessons that will make us better in the long run,” she said.

“They’re a good team, but hopefully we’ll get the chance to take them on again once we’ve developed further as a team.”

The Jeffs rebounded Tuesday as they defeated 17th-ranked Mount Holyoke 2-0 in the Jeffs’ home opener. Nygren opened the scoring at the 15:41 mark when she scored off a pass from fellow junior Annie Turnbull.

Nygren made her presence felt again when she passed to the younger Turnbull, Elizabeth ’18, who passed it right back for Nygren’s onetimer past the Holyoke goalie with just over a minute left to play in the first half.

Tannenbaum continued her terrific play by posting her second shutout of the year by stopping eight shots in the Jeffs’ win.

Amherst will travel to face defending national champion Bowdoin this Saturday, Sept. 13 at 11 a.m. On Wednesday, Sept. 16, the Jeffs will travel to Keene State for a game at 7 p.m.

Last season, Amherst started the season off with two losses, but Jeffs responded with a 13game winning streak and hope to encounter similar success in 2014.

The team’s next home game will be against Williams on Sept. 20 at 11 a.m.

10 Sports

Schedule WEDNESDAY Women’s Soccer vs. Mount Holyoke, 5 p.m.

FRIDAY Volleyball @ Johnson & Wales Invite, 5 p.m.

SATURDAY Volleyball @ Johnson & Wales Invite, 9 a.m.

Men’s & Women’s Golf @ Duke Nelson Tournament, 1 p.m.

Men’s & Women’s Cross Country @ UMass Invitational, TBA

The Amherst Student • September 10, 2014 Field Hockey @ Bowdoin, 11 a.m.

Men’s Soccer @ Bowdoin, 12:00 p.m.

Women’s Soccer @ Bowdoin, 12:00 p.m.

SUNDAY Men’s & Women’s Golf @ Duke Nelson Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sexism at the U.S. Open?

Herold’s Herald

Kiana Herold ’17 The U.S. Open, one of the four major tennis Grand Slams, has the highest attendance of any sports event on the globe. However, the coverage of the men’s and women’s tournament couldn’t be more different. In her debut column, Kiana Herold explores the sexist discrepancies between the analyses of the men’s and women’s draw.

Even at the highest level of sport, sexism still underlies sports commentary and reporting.

Kiana Herold ’17 Columnist The 2014 U.S. Open held some unbelievable competition for both the men and women.

This year’s high-quality matches included a historic victory for Serena Williams, as she claimed her 18th Grand Slam title. Only three other women in the history of tennis have won more tennis major titles: Margaret Court (24), Steffi Graf (22) and Helen Wills Moody (19).

History was also made on the men’s side, as No. 11 Kei Nishikori of Japan became the first man from Asia to reach a Grand Slam singles final. However, despite his impressive touranment run, his adversary, No. 14 Marin Cilic of Croatia, ousted him in the finals in three sets.

Given the supreme level of play on both sides, the coverage of the tournament disappointingly emphasized the feminine qualities of the women, whereas the coverage of the men’s matches emphasized traditional masculine qualities. While obviously some of the reporting was dedicated to the actual tennis matches themselves, it seemed as if there was an underlying message of sexism behind a significant portion of the commentary.

ESPN’s article, “Serena Williams wins 18th slam,” published on Sept. 7, 2014, focuses on the friendship between the two athletes (Serena and Caroline Wozniacki), rather than on the game itself.

The article reads, “They’ve been pals for years, and they hung out together in Miami ­— heading to the beach, watching an NBA playoff game — after both lost early at the French Open in May. Wozniacki says Williams helped her get over the end of her engagement to golf star Rory McIlroy. “We text almost every day.

She’s such a great person, a nice friend,’ Williams said.”

While friendships between competitors are obviously good, they should not be a major part of an article at this level of play. Instead, it should have focused on Serena’s sixth U.S. Open championship and outstanding play throughout the tournament.

This style strikes a stark contrast against ESPN’s articles focusing on the men’s side of the U.S. Open.

The article written September 7, 2014 entitled “Bryan Brothers Win 100th Title” followed the typical mantra of masculinedominated athletic rivalry, emphasizing the “manliness” of the athletes.

The articles states, “The twins were so excited to win their first Grand Slam championship in more than a year that they botched their signature chest bump at Sunday’s U.S. Open final.”

While the twins are certainly iconic ten-

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

nis players, and that image can bring a smile to many tennis fans’ faces, the writers feel the need to mention the “signature” male chest bump, and that focus contrasts starkly with the aforementioned article on Serena.

That article also took care to describe Serena’s “black-and-pink hightops,” an undue reference to fashion that is never found in a men’s article. Serena is, of course, famous for starting her own clothing brand, and playing in some of her own designs. Her huge hoop earrings and dress choices have become iconic in women’s tennis. Maria Sharapova, a model turned top athlete in women’s tennis, was nearly as famous for her modeling as for her success in sports.

With great tennis records to back these two powerhouses in women’s tennis, it is unfortunate that their clothing and fashion statements continue to get the majority of the coverage in the press; however, it is not in the least bit surprising.

Women’s sports are featured on TV a whopping 4 percent of the time. Men get the entire other 96 percent of sports coverage.

In a 2012 article in The Guardian titled “No increase in women’s sport coverage since the 2012 Olympics,” it was found that only one out of every 20 sports articles feature female athletes, and just a mere 3 percent of sports writers are women.

Because men are the primary viewing audience for sports broadcasts, it may be natural that women’s sports are required to not only be playing at the highest professional level to get coverage, but they also have to be conscious of their appeal.

Female Olympians, for example, have perhaps seconds to short minutes of screen time at the pinnacle of their athletic careers, and they must take full advantage of these moments to draw in funding to train during the next four years.

The Feb. 12, 2014 Time article titled, “Medals Aren’t Enough: Female Olympians Still Have to Sell Sexiness” quotes Kevin Adler, the Chief Engagement Officer at Chicago-based sports marketing agency Engage Marketing, stating, “I don’t think there’s any question that there’s a double standard … For male athletes, it’s primarily about their performance. And for female athletes it’s definitely as much about their looks as it is about their performance.”

While male athletes focus mainly on one thing — optimum performance — female athletes must split their attention between performance and appeal, detracting from maximizing their athletic capabilities.

For these female athletes, excelling at their sport is just a little harder. And for high caliber athletics, that little bit can make all the difference.

Bryce Ciambella ‘17E

Holly Burwick ‘16

Favorite Team Memory: Traveling around France and meeting Prince Albert If you didn’t play soccer, which sport would you play?: Basketball Pet Peeve: I work as a dishwasher in Val, and I am disappointed with how some people clean their trays.

Celebrity Crush: Mariah Carey Favorite Movie: “Elf” Favorite Food: Tacos Favorite Thing About Amherst: Sunsets over Memorial Hill

Favorite Team Memory: Beating Midd. in OT last year If you didn’t play soccer, which sport would you play?: Ice Hockey Pet Peeve: When people walk too slowly Celebrity Crush: Cristiano Ronaldo Favorite Movie: “Good Will Hunting” Favorite Sports Team: Boston Bruins Favorite Food: Sushi Favorite Thing About Amherst: The people

Women’s Cross Country Wins Smith Invitational Holly Burwick ’16 Senior Staff Writer Replicating the start of last season, the Amherst women’s cross country team took first place at the Smith Invitational on Saturday. In the 196-runner field, the Jeffs’ top seven finishers were all in the top 25, securing Amherst’s first place finish with 42 points.

Rounding out the top three were Conn. College (84) and Wellesley (100).

Lexi Sinclair ’16 led the field, crossing the finish tape at 19:21.10. This was the second year in a row that she garnished the individual crown at the invitational. She managed to beat her previous winning time by a full seven seconds.

“I was happy with my performance,” Sinclair said. “I have not been able to make it through a full season yet due to injuries, but I had a solid summer of training, and I’m really excited to be healthy and competing again.”

Not far behind Sinclair was Savannah Gornisiewicz ’17, whose 19:51.80 finish slated her third overall. Nicky Roberts ’18 completed the top three for Amherst with her time of 20:06.70. Among the top 20 runners were senior co-captains. Jessie Kaliski (20:16.60) and Lizzy Briskin (20:46.50) as well.

Betsy Black ’16 and Kelli Ellingson ’15 were other top finishers for the Jeffs, taking 21st and 25th overall, respectively.

“Having so many upperclassmen as our top runners will really give us an advantage this fall,” Sinclair said.

“We have all been running together for a few years now and have learned each others’ strengths and weaknesses. I think that if we continue to work together, we should have a pretty good shot at making it to Nationals in November,” the junior added.

The Jeffs will return to action this Saturday, Sept. 13 at UMass Amherst for the annual UMass Invitational.

Men’s Golf Places 10th at Trinity Invitational Greg Williams ’16 Staff Writer The men’s golf team opened up their season this past weekend at the Trinity Invitational, where they finished in 10th out of 13 teams. The Trinity A and B teams took first and second, respectively, while a number of out-of-conference schools, such as Nichols and Babson, took the next few spots.

First-year Dan Langa led the Jeffs with a two-day score of 159 for a solid start to his collegiate career. Liam Fine ’17 and Sam Procter ’18 finshed second and third with scores of 161 and 162, respecitvely. James Line ’16, Jarvis Sill ’15 and sophomore Nick Kafker ’17 rounded out the group.

Kafker thought that the team could have performed much better, but the sophomore is hopeful that the team will improve their play as the season progresses.

“Although our performance was not quite as solid as we had hoped for, there were several auspicious moments,” he said. “Each of our freshmen opened with solid rounds on a tough course, and each of the returning players had solid stretches of holes. Once we

put full rounds together we will be successful.”

Coach Jack Arena echoed Kafker’s sentiments and believes that the firstyear players will continue to be important contributors moving forward.

“I thought Dan Langa and Sam Procter both played well. We seemed a bit rusty when it came to playing in competition, and we’ll need to be significantly better if we want to be successful moving forward,” Arena noted.

“We’ll have some players get an opportunity to play this upcoming weekend in Middlebury, and I look forward to seeing how they’ll perform.”

The Jeffs will be playing at the Duke Nelson Tournament at Middlebury on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13-14, and will look to improve upon their 10th place finish. The following weekend, Sept. 20-21, Amherst will compete at the Williams Invitational, the team’s last competition before they travel to Hamilton for the NESCAC Qualifier the weekend of Sept.

26-27.

The Jeffs will close their season the weekend of Oct. 11-12, where they will play in the ECAC Championship, hosted at the Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston, Mass.

The Amherst Student • September 10, 2014

Sports 11

Men’s Soccer Goes to OT in Transitioning to Division III Post to Post with Papa Cunny First Two Contests

Dave Cunningham ’16

Jason Stein ’16 Sports Section Editor The Amherst men’s soccer team went to overtime in both of the squad’s first two matches of the 2014 season. On Tuesday, Sept.

2, in the season opener on the road against the New England College Pilgrims, the Jeffs prevailed in a 2-1 overtime grind. This past Sunday, the Jeffs tied the Middlebury Panthers, 1-1, to kick off NESCAC conference play, bringing Amherst’s record to 1-0-1 (0-0-1 in NESCAC play) to start off the season.

Against NEC, the Jeffs and the Pilgrims both remained scoreless following the first 45 minutes of action. Despite no score in the opening half, Amherst outshot New England College 16-1, with the Jeffs putting 11 shots on goal and holding a sizable edge in corners as well. The offensive pressure that the Jeffs applied throughout the first half would continue into the second period of play.

Early in the second half, senior striker Jae Heo notched the first Amherst goal of the season to put the Jeffs ahead 1-0. Amherst would preserve the lead for a little over 20 minutes, but NEC equalized in the 75th minute on a goal from forward Manny Arteaga. After the Pilgrims tied the game up, the two teams were headed to extra time with a score of 1-1.

About six minutes into the overtime, midfielder Bryce Ciambella ’17E scored the game-winner in his Amherst debut to give the Jeffs the victory.

Heo led the offensive attack with nine shots, four of which were on net, while junior forward Nico Pascual-Leone had five shots on goal. For the Pilgrims, goalkeeper Tenzin Khenrab kept his team in the game by stopping 14 shots.

The Jeffs demonstrated a flair for the dramatic in their road matchup against Middlebury on Sunday. Just as it was the case in the first game of the season, Amherst and the Panthers both remained scoreless in the first half. Heo almost put the Jeffs ahead midway through the first half, but Middlebury goalie Greg Sydor was able to stop his promising shot.

Minutes into the second half, Midd. had a good opportunity to pull ahead, but goalie Thomas Bull ’16 was there to stop the Panthers’

attempt and keep the game scoreless. Junior forward Greg Singer almost scored the first goal of the game about 25 minutes into the second half, but his header off a cross from Heo just missed the net.

The Panthers took a late lead in the second half when a long Middlebury throw-in found its way into the box and deflected off an Amherst defenseman.

However, the Jeffs did not let this late goal deter them. With less than a minute remaining, the Jeffs were able to tie the game. Off of a throw-in from the left side of the fielder, a header from senior midfielder Milton Rico set up defender Gabriel Wirz ’15, who found the right side of the net for a clutch goal that would send the game into overtime.

While the Jeffs held the shots advantage in both of the regulation period halves, the Panthers outshot Amherst in the overtime periods, with neither team able to convert a scoring chance in extra time. Bull made a good save on a shot from midfielder Noah GossWoliner to keep the game level in OT. Overall, Bull had six saves on the day.

Of the match against the Panthers, head coach Justin Serpone said that the game was “exactly [as] expected.”

“They are a really good team that will compete for a NESCAC Championship this season. We still have a lot to work on, but I was proud of our resiliency by playing until the final whistle,” he added.

Saturday, Sept. 13 at noon, the Jeffs will travel to Maine to face Bowdoin, who has a 1-10 overall record and an 0-1-0 mark in NESCAC play, as the team’s 2-1 loss to Wesleyan. Last season, the Jeffs defeated the Polar Bears by a score of 3-0 during the regular season, with goals from Singer and defender Bubba Van Wie ’15, as well as assists by Pascual-Leone and Van Wie. In the 2013 NESCAC Semifinals, the Jeffs secured a 2-1 double overtime victory over the Polar Bears, with the game-winner coming from sophomore defender Justin Aoyama.

“This week is all about getting better,” Serpone said. “Bowdoin is a top NESCAC team with some terrific players, and they played us even here at Amherst in the NESCAC Semifinals. I am sure they will be ready to bring their best on Saturday.”

Photo Courtesy of Rob Mattson

Sophomore Justin Aoyama looks to build off of its stellar first-year campaign in the team’s next game against Bowdoin.

Going from high school to college athletics is no easy task. However, it’s certainly made more difficult if one comes in expecting to be the best player on their new team. Many Amherst athletes across all sports considered the Div. I route at one point or another, demonstrating that the Jeffs embody a talented group of competitors.

Dave details his personal experience on transitioning from being a high school all-star to a freshman in Div. III athletics.

Success isn’t uncommon for Amherst athletics. The college has brought home 10 Div. III national championships over the past 15 years and countless number of NESCAC titles. Just last year, the men’s tennis team won both the conference and national championship, while the men’s basketball team returned to the Final Four for the second straight year. Despite all these accomplishments, many athletes, at some point in their collegiate careers, have grappled with the fact that they are competing in Div. III and not Div. I. We’ll never skate at the Boston Garden to compete for a Beanpot championship. 110,000 fans will not pack the “Big House” every Saturday to watch us take on a powerhouse like Ohio State or Notre Dame. Our players don’t become social media sensations or have the opportunity to party with Floyd “Money” Mayweather.

When athletes commit to don the purple and white Jeffs’ sweater for four years, they throws away the opportunity to live the glamorous lifestyle of a big-time Div. I athlete. The transition from a top-tier high school athlete to a Div. III freshman is often a tough pill to swallow. However, it is necessary to understand that Div. III athletics are no joke; in fact, they require the same diligence, effort and determination as Div. I athletics. On the Div. III level, Amherst is comparable to the Michigan’s and Boston Colleges of the Div. I collegiate world.

The adjustment period for any Lord Jeff freshman athlete is generally a lengthy one. A typical first-year student athlete possesses the mindset that he or she will walk onto their given playing surface and immediately dominate the competition. As a former governing force in high school, what would make them think otherwise? Many of the incoming students were allstars at their respective high schools, sometimes even in multiple sports. The freshmen class of athletes has garnered a number of accolades throughout their high school careers, whether it be on a school, region, state or national level.

With all of this recognition, it’s hard for them not to feel confident heading into college.

While an incoming freshman may think he is exceptionally special because he talked to the Florida State soccer coach his junior year of high school, most of his teammates experienced similar recruiting situations. The quicker freshmen can understand they are not a special case, the quicker they can begin their leap towards success as a Lord Jeff. I’m not saying that an incoming freshman should settle for mediocrity or statistical equality with his teammates. You should always strive to be the best. However, if you come onto campus thinking you’re God’s gift to the game, you will lose the respect of teammates and play with a sense of entitlement.

After all, if you’re that much better than your teammates, why are you playing at Amherst and not at Wisconsin?

Freshmen, I’ve been in your shoes. I received a bevy of recruiting letters from various Div. I schools. I remember driving around in legendary Boston Univerity hockey coach Jack Parker’s car my sophomore year while touring the campus. At the end of my junior year, I went on an official visit with the Holy Cross baseball and hockey coaches.

Coming into Amherst, I thought I was going to be the Wayne Gretzky of Amherst hockey and the Babe Ruth of Amherst baseball.

I was ready to step right in as a freshman. Plain and simple, the TD;LR is: I thought I was better than everyone else and that Div. III athletics were going to be an absolute mockery. What did that get me? Only seven starts between the pipes that was ended by a five goals on 15shot performance against Trinity and the bare

minimum playing time on the diamond until mid way through the season. I urge you to take a different path than I did, and maybe it won’t take you until your sophomore year to figure it out, like it did for me.

For those of you who have friends who play Div. I, being a Div. III athlete will be even tougher to cope with at first, especially if you had the option to go Div. I. While your friends will all be legends on their respective campuses, you’ll just be another student athlete at an elite academic institution. My high school hockey team would send several players to Div. I each year, and even though I was a senior captain, I was the runt of the litter. When I was graduating from the Belmont Hill School, this realization took a toll on my psyche. We played on the same teams and did the same camps for many years, so why am I a Div. III athlete?

When I expressed my concern to an assistant coach at my high school, I was provided with this statistic: 1 percent of kids who play high school hockey play college hockey, and 1% of those players end up in the NHL. Whether or not these percentages are actually true, he was trying to express two points.

The first being just playing college hockey is an accomplishment, considering you’re better than 99 percent of all other players in the country. His second, and more important point was, I’m going to the NHL in the future, so the education route was the best decision I could possibly make. Would I rather play several years of junior hockey and end up at Canisius (a Div. I hockey school you’ve probably never heard of) as a 21-year-old freshman? Or go to one of the best schools in the world and have the opportunity to play two sports?

When phrased like that, the decision seems pretty obvious, doesn’t it? For all of you fringe Div. I players, it’s important to have a long look in the mirror. Did you want to go Div. I because you thought you had a legitimate shot at the big leagues? Or just so you could tell people you play Div. I and not be embarrassed by friends’ superior success?

The point is: we’ve all made the correct decision being here at Amherst. You can only play sports for so long, whether you go pro or not, so having a world class education is far more valuable, both in the short and long term, than a cup of coffee with the Boston Red Sox. The reason I included my personal story in this article is not to brag about the stud of a player I was in high school. That status means nothing anymore. I play at the same level as all of you. I share my recruiting process because for many of you freshmen, you were just in my shoes a few months ago. I know the feelings, and I know the mindset that is inherent in an Amherst athlete who had a couple of Div. I looks.

However, if you turn to the guy on your right or left in the locker room, I bet he had an eerily similar experience; thus, you’re no better or worse than he is. You’ll both charge onto the battlefield together as teammates, shoulder to shoulder, donning a purple uniform. You all love the sport you play, and once you put your ego aside, you’ll gel with your teammates and fight for a common goal, just like a Div. I athlete.

Maybe you were one step to slow to go Div. I, maybe you shouldn’t have turned down that offer after sophomore year, or maybe you’re a transfer. All that doesn’t matter anymore, because you’re a Lord Jeff now, and as a Jeff, you have a responsibility to not only be an outstanding teammate but also grind it out as a student athlete.

Putting the two together, the Lord Jeffs are able to uphold our tradition of dominating Div. III athletics.

Sports

“The Panthers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead just over 13 minutes into the contest...”

Field Hockey Falls to Midd... Page 11

Photo courtesy of Megan Robertson ’15

Mel Stier ’15 will look to continue her strong play in her senior campaign to try and help the Jeffs’ advance to their goal of a NCAA National Championship after making the tournament three straight seasons. The Jeffs will look to move past the second round, where they fell to Messiah for the second time since 2011.

Jeffs Outlast Middlebury for Key NESCAC Win Burwick is Named NESCAC Player of the Week

Virginia Hassell ’16 Staff Writer A goal resulting from a Jessy Hale free kick lifted the Amherst College women’s soccer team to a 1-0 upset victory over the thirdranked Panthers of Middlebury College (1-1) in Sunday’s season opener.

“Going into Sunday’s game, we were focused on our game and playing the best we could” junior defender Jessy Hale said. “We knew that Middlebury was going to be a tough opponent, but we concentrated on controlling how we played as a team. The entire 90 minutes were very intense and we knew that we had to stay focused regardless of the score. Offensively and defensively we did a great job implementing what we have practiced thus far and stayed composed throughout the game.”

For the Jeffs, playing against third-ranked Middlebury was nothing more than an opportunity to put the results of challenging off-season workouts, preseason practices and hours of preparation to work.

“We were confident going into the game, and we felt really prepared from the practices leading up to it,” senior captain Mel Stier said. “We knew Midd was going to be a tough game, but we went with the mindset that we had nothing to lose.”

Coach Jennifer Hughes is no stranger to success against Middlebury or early on in a season. Amherst hasn’t dropped its first game since 2008. With the win, Amherst defeated Middlebury for the third time in the past four meetings. Coming off of a 2013 trip to the Final Four, Middlebury was expected to lead the pack this season among NESCAC opponents. The Amherst team didn’t shy

away from the challenge.

“It was a good start to the season. Midd is a great team, so it was important that we come to play right from the starting whistle,” Coach Hughes said. “We had great energy in the warm-up, so I had a feeling we were going to put in a solid performance right from the start. And we did. In particular, I thought we put forth a great team defensive effort.”

Holding the Panthers scoreless for the fourth consecutive time since 2011, the tenacious Amherst defense posted an impressive performance. Top-ranked junior goalie and 2013 All-NESCAC second team selection Holly Burwick registered nine saves en route to the victory. In the second half alone Burwick denied all six of Middlebury’s shot attempts.

The Jeffs were outshot on the afternoon 18-6, as the Panthers applied constant offensive pressure to the Amherst defense.

With the efforts displayed in Sunday’s NESCAC matchup, Burwick garnered her first accolade of the season as the NESCAC Player of the Week.

“Holly played lights out and came up with some big-time saves,” Coach Hughes said.

Though the Panther offense had several good looks on goal, namely in the ninth and 26th minutes, the Jeffs’ defense proved too tough. These two saves were crucial for helping Amherst have a chance at overcoming Middlebury’s 18-6 shot advantage.

These missed opportunities for Middleburry ensured that Amherst’s second half success would launch them to victory.

At the 70:13 mark, the Purple and White netted what would be the game’s first and only goal. A Middlebury penalty made outside of the box gave Hale a free kick. The

shot ricocheted off a Middlebury player and made it’s way into the net.

“Mel and I lined up with the ball and I shot it,” Hale said. “Leading up to the foul, we possessed the ball throughout the entire field building up to our offensive third. It was really a team effort and a result of our hard work.”

Playing from behind for the last twenty minutes, Middlebury turned on the pressure.

The Amherst squad remained composed and would never once falter.

“The last twenty minutes of the game were challenging because Midd was pushing forward and trying to get a goal,” Hale said. “I think our defense, starting with the forwards all the way to the keeper, did a great job high pressuring while maintaining composure until the final whistle.”

With a lot of time remaining in the game, it was important for Amherst to continue with the momentum and not allow Middlebury to control the ball at all times.

“There were still 20 minutes left in the game when we scored,” Coach Hughes said.

“As expected, Midd upped the pressure. But, we battled back and created our own momentum at times. This was important as I didn’t want us to defend, defend, defend for 20 minutes. It’s a lot of time and a lot can happen. “ Newcomer Meredith Manley helped the Amherst offense as a starting midfielder.

Other first-years Hannah Guzzi and Delancey King saw time as they took the field for the first time in the Purple and White. Alison Neveu, who is currently battling injury, rounds out the first-year class.

“I can see all of our four first-years making a huge impact upon our team from the very beginning,” junior forward Megan Kim

said. “They all bring incredibly hard work ethic and a passion for the game. No doubt they have added and will continue to add to our team dynamic both on and off the field.”

Moving forward, the Amherst team looks to use the momentum from this game to propel them to success.

“The win was definitely a team effort all around, and everyone contributed to the success we had,” Stier said.

A win against a top ranked rival at this stage in the season spells good things as the team presses forward.

“Midd is a really good team and I’m proud of the effort we put forward as a team,” Burwick said. “We have a lot of room for improvement which is why it’s exciting to beat a team like Midd so early on.”

Amherst looks to use the momentum and excitement to its advantage at the home opener against Mt. Holyoke on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 5 p.m.

On Saturday, Sept. 13 Amherst will hit the road to match up against NESCAC opponent Bowdoin (1-0).

Last year’s contest against Bowdoin ended in a 0-0 draw. Through regulation and two overtime periods, Amherst failed to score despite a 23-9 advantage in shots. The team looks to pick up the win this time on the road.

“Like I said, Midd is a great team” Coach Hughes said. “They went to the Final 4 last year and they have a good chunk of their team back. So, I hope this gives us some confidence as we go forward. Overall, we have all the pieces — talent, leadership, and chemistry — so I’m hopeful. But, right now, we’re just focusing on our next game — tomorrow against Mt. Holyoke.”