Issue 4

THE AMHERST

THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF AMHERST COLLEGE SINCE 1868

STUDENT VOLUME CXLV, ISSUE 4 l WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Football Dominates Bates in Decisive Season Opener See Sports, Page 11 AMHERSTSTUDENT.AMHERST.EDU

Health Center Faces Challenging Transition Jingwen Zhang ’18 Managing News Editor

Bryce Monroe ‘15 returned to Amherst last weekend to present his one-man play “The Lower Frequencies,” which he performed in the Powerhouse from Sept. 24 to Sept. 26. See A&L, Page 6 Photo courtesy of Jessica Elliott

Students to Vote on Social Club Proposal Dan Ahn ’17 Managing News Editor The student body will vote Oct. 5 on whether to adopt a one-semester trial period for social clubs.

The social clubs proposal, first introduced in fall 2014, has undergone months of revision and debate. A vote was originally scheduled for May 2015, but the work group postponed it in order to make further changes to the proposal.

If the proposal is approved by the student body, the Social Project Work Group plans to collect ideas for clubs and hold a second vote for the student body to decide which ones will become clubs. The work group will also continue bi-weekly meetings over the course of the semester, in order to incorporate student feedback.

The vote is intended to gauge the student body’s opinion of the proposal in its current form.

Even if the proposal is rejected in this vote, the work group plans to continue discussions.

Virginia Hassell ’16, a member of the work group, said the group has not yet established a source of funding for social clubs.

“At this point, it’s premature for the administration to promise funding for the initiative until we receive the results of the vote,” Hassell said. “There is the possibility of receiving funding through existing student funds on campus.”

The vote on social clubs was postponed partly because of concerns, voiced by James Hildebrand ’15, that the clubs lacked guidelines on issues including sexual respect and inclusivity. The work group modified the proposal to include mandatory bystander and anti-hazing training and met with the Women’s and Gender Center, the Multicultural Resource Center and the Queer Resource Center to gather training resources.

Another reason for the postponement to this semester was the fact that the vote would not affect graduating seniors, and members of the work group wanted to take into account the opinions of the current first-year class.

“Whether you’re in favor or not, we want the vote to accurately portray students’ opinion,” said work group member Meghan McDonough ’16.

Hassell said the proposal has been condensed to a few major points, but is largely the same as the

version that was presented in May. “The main thing for us this semester has been making sure that students are adequately educated on the proposal to make an informed decision, so a lot of [our work] was clarifying our mission within the proposal,” she said.

Over the past few weeks, the work group held information sessions in first-year dorms and sent postcards out to student mailboxes. They also plan to table in Frost Library and Valentine Dining Hall in the days leading up to the vote.

“It’s really important that we emphasize [tabling], because that’s really students’ opportunity to come talk to us in person, clarify any questions that they might have and to really have conversations about social clubs,” McDonough said.

The vote is to be administered by the Association of Amherst Students Elections Committee, but the AAS has no other official involvement with the proposal.

“We can project as much as we want. We’ve spent hours discussing these clubs, but we can’t really know until we actually see them laid out in practice,” Hassell said.

This year Amherst College is undertaking a massive overhaul of its medical services, bringing Keefe Health Center under college ownership and hiring an almost entirely new medical staff. But the transition period has proven rocky. As the health center completes the process of hiring and training new staff members, some students have experienced lapses in service.

Until this academic year, Keefe Health Center was a satellite of UMass University Health Services. Although Amherst College is now managing the health center, UMass will continue providing services such as afterhours care, pharmacy support and prescription filling, lab testing and x-ray procedures to Amherst students. All of the health center staff have been replaced, with the exception of the center’s director, Warren Morgan.

“It’s a revolutionary change,” Morgan said.

“Amherst was already leaning toward running its own health center because they wanted to have more day-to-day operational control.”

Expanding Medical Services Plans to revamp the health services began after Morgan met with Chief Student Affairs Officer Suzanne Coffey last year. An external consultant, the director of the Tufts University Health Center, reviewed the service at Keefe Health Center and made recommendations.

“One of the many troubling consequences of this arrangement was that the college was not in a position to extend services beyond what the university’s union contract dictated,” Coffey said. “Dr. Morgan and I consulted with university officials and, along with colleagues, reached an agreement to bring our health services and employees under the college’s umbrella.”

According to Coffey, the health center will expand hours and begin providing services year-round, beginning this academic year.

The change will also enable the health center and the college’s counseling center to work together in addressing student wellness. In addition, the college is in the process of finish renovations to the Keefe Health Center build-

Continued on Page 3

Budgetary Committee Tightens Funding Regulations Jeff Szulc ’19 Staff Writer Since Sept. 16 the Association of Amherst Students Budgetary Committee has been enforcing stricter budgetary guidelines for clubs that request funding for their activities.

“There are really only three policy changes this year, and they’re all beneficial for the students,” said AAS Treasurer Paul Gramieri.

The AAS has changed funding guidelines for club transportation, limited funding for food and instituted a new event publicity requirement.

According to the updated regulations on the AAS website, organizations that travel more than four times a month will receive $500 in

reimbursement each semester, while those that travel two to three times a month will be given $250 a semester. Clubs that travel less than once a month will not receive any funding, but they can request to access the AAS vans, free of charge.

Gramieri said that revisions to those regulations aimed to eliminate food waste and to reallocate money to fund student activities. Each semester, clubs will be allotted $50 for food for their introductory meeting, $50 for general meeting food and $200 for food at special events, such as cake for a cake decorating contest. Additionally, clubs can receive funding for sharing cultural food with the campus community and for hosting fundraising dinners.

The final change is that all AAS-funded

events must be publicized. According to Gramieri, the AAS does not want to spend money on events that do not reach out to a meaningful portion of the student body. The AAS will provide $15 for every event clubs publicize. Clubs are required to put table tents in Valentine Dining Hall with this funding.

“I think funding for food, travel and publicizing is really crucial for clubs to get going and attract people to show up,” said Oscar Liu ’18, the AAS budgetary clerk.

In addition to these policy changes, the Budgetary Committee has also clarified funding deadlines. Funding requests for event supplies must be made at least one week prior to the event. Check request forms need at least two weeks for processing. If these deadlines are not

observed, funding will be delayed or refused.

Gramieri said that in the past, it was difficult to coordinate funding efforts when deadlines were forgotten or ignored.

Some student club leaders have been critical of the changes.

Gaby Mayer ’16, co-captain of the women’s ultimate Frisbee team, said that the current restrictions on AAS funding for transportation are too complicated, and that the team gets funding mainly only for participation in tournaments.

But opinion among club leaders is divided.

Christine Croasdaile ’17, co-treasurer of the Black Students’ Union, said that the AAS “wants to ensure that their money is being used for the proper ways,” and that the change “allows us to think further ahead and to get things done.”

News

Jiwoon Choi Sept. 21, 2015 - Sept. 27, 2015

>>Sept. 21, 2015 2:10 p.m., Jenkins Dormitory An officer investigated a smoke detector sounding in a third-floor suite and found it activated due to steam from a shower.

employee.

6:05 p.m., Smith House An officer investigated an intrusion alarm and found it was accidentally set off by an employee.

7:43 p.m., Humphries House Officers and the fire department responded to an alarm and found it was activated by cooking smoke in the kitchen.

>>Sept. 22, 2015 6:34 p.m., Valentine Dining Hall Officers and the fire department responded to an alarm, which was caused by a detector in the west dining area for an unidentified reason.

7:53 p.m., Stone Dormitory Loading Dock An officer encountered a student near a parked car with seven thirty packs of beer, a bottle of wine and three bottles of hard alcohol. The alcohol was confiscated due to the excessive amount. Massachusetts law does not allow the transportation of that volume by private vehicle.

8:15 p.m., Seligman House Officers investigated a smoke detector sounding in the kitchen and found it was caused by cooking. >>Sept. 23, 2015 2:46 p.m., Beneski Earth Science and Natural History Museum An employee reported the theft of a laptop computer from an unlocked office. >>Sept. 24, 2015 1:39 p.m., Little Red Schoolhouse An officer investigated vandalism at the Little Red Schoolhouse.

6:02 p.m., College Street Officers assisted the town police with a motor vehicle accident near Valentine Hall.

11:20 p.m., Northampton Road An officer checked on an intoxicated woman found walking along Northampton Road.

She had no association with the college, but lived nearby.

She was transported to her residence. >>Sept. 25, 2015 5:36 p.m., Charles Drew House Officers investigated a smoke detector sounding in the kitchen and found it was activated by steam.

9:58 p.m., Social Quad An officer discovered an unattended case of beer in the social dorm quad. It was confiscated. >>Sept. 26, 2015 12:50 a.m., Marsh House While in the building, an officer discovered a small amount of marijuana on the third-floor hall. It was confiscated.

8:38 a.m., Wilson Admissions Building An officer investigated an intrusion alarm and found it was accidentally activated by an

5:32 p.m., Marsh House Officers and the fire department responded to an alarm and found it was activated by cooking smoke in the kitchen.

8:18 p.m., Wieland Dormitory A caller reported the odor of gas on the first floor. The odor was discovered to be cigar smoke from a male who was smoking a cigar outside.

9:14 p.m., Stone Dormitory Loading Dock An officer discovered four packs of beer unattended outside the building. They were disposed of.

9:43 p.m., Stone Dormitory An officer discovered an unauthorized party in the basement and it was shut down.

9:55 p.m., Lipton House While in the building, an officer confiscated a thirty pack of beer and two bottles of hard alcohol that were left unattended. >>Sept. 27, 2015 12:27 a.m., James Dormitory While in the building, an officer detected the odor of burning marijuana and traced it to a first-floor room. No one was found smoking at the time and those present denied smoking despite the strong odor in the room. The matter was referred to Student Affairs.

11:11 a.m., College Street An officer checked on two people who appeared to be having a disagreement. No further assistance was needed.

5:29 p.m, Cohan Dormitory An officer investigated a smoke detector sounding in the kitchen and found it was due to cooking.

5:56 p.m., James Dormitory An officer investigated a smoke detector sounding in a third-floor room, but no reason could be identified.

Thoughts on Theses Department of Sociology

Jiwoon Choi ’16 is a sociology and Asian languages and civilizations double major. Her thesis explores the Confucian revival in East Asia and its role in creating a distinctive, non-Western modern identity in the region.

Q: What is your thesis about?

A: In broad terms, I’m writing a thesis about the revival of Confucianism in Asia. I started with the implications of why Confucianism as a discourse was revived and the role of that discourse in Asia’s search for a non-Western modernity.

Q: Which countries are you hoping to study in Asia?

A: So far I’ve been looking at Singapore and China, but if possible I would like to include other economies of the “Asian Miracle.” This was when Western scholarship on the relation of Confucianism to modernity started in earnest. Such Western interest has waned since the 1997 crisis, however, but Confucian discourse has since been revived most prominently by Singapore and China.

Q: What is the East Asian Miracle and why is it important to your project?

A: The East Asian Miracle refers to the highly developed economies that emerged in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.

Western scholarship focused on these economies because the Protestant ethic was not applicable in their contexts. They came up with the notion of Confucian ethics in an attempt to explain their successes.

Q: How did you choose this topic? How did the idea come about?

A: The topic is very personal for me. When I got to Amherst, I began to think of what it means to have a national identity, and what it means to be Korean but also Western. That led me to questions of how people form local identities in a world that is increasingly globalizing. That’s really the overarching question that’s driving my thesis.

Q: What sorts of texts are you consulting?

A: This isn’t a study of Confucianism itself, so I won’t be looking at the “Analects” so much.

Rather, I will probably look at how Confucian discourse is utilized in speeches, constitutions, newspapers, cultural policies, etc. I’ve also recently started looking into Habermas’ theoretical framework of public sphere and lifeworld.

Q: You’re writing the thesis in sociology, but it seems that you’re drawing on many differ-

ent departments. Is that correct?

A: Definitely. It has an Asian languages and civilizations component, along with a political science one. I was originally thinking of doing an interdisciplinary thesis, but the sociology department was supportive of this idea and they have really allowed me to pursue my interests. As for advising, Professor Mun is my adviser in sociology. But because of the nature of my thesis, I’ve been trying to meet with as many professors as possible across different departments. Professor Dennerline in Asian civilizations has been helpful, and I’m also planning on reaching out to the political science department.

Q: Have there been any highlights or lowlights in the process thus far?

A: As for highlights, I find that I come up with different questions every day, and each of these questions leads me in a new direction. At this stage, my topic is so broad that I’m focusing on limiting these questions. This feels liberating but frustrating at the same time. Learning how not to read everything is a skill I still have to develop.

Q: What do you think is your next step in the process?

A: I need to figure out methodology: how I might be able to best analyze the way Confucian discourse is reflected in politics and identity. This might be in the form of education, national rituals, or specific cultural policies.

This kind of culture building policy is something you don’t see in Western countries. I also hope to better understand the complexities of modernity in Asia.

Q: Do you have any advice for students who are considering writing a thesis?

A: I would advise keeping track of the questions you raise every day. Also, it is important to think about some common themes that are motivating all those particular questions. Coming up with a good research topic that will keep you motivated is hard. Even if you have a specific question, it is necessary to think about what is the broader question that is framing the more specific one.

— Jake Pagano ’18

Interested in getting the scoop on the latest developments on campus?

s w e n e h t n Joi staff!

If you want to write for us, email dahn17@amherst.edu

The Amherst Student • September 30, 2015

News

3

AAS Election Candidate Statements

Senate

William Zaubler ’19

Mark Boyer ’16

Lily Johnson ’18

Namita Khajanchi ’19

I am running for Senate to represent the voice of the freshmen class. Although we are the youngest, most inexperienced, and lowest on the totem pole, we cannot let our status as freshmen define and restrict us. As such, my platform consists of three points: 1) To be a resource that amplifies the voice of our class; 2) To foster unity and cohesion among the freshmen class and the full student body; 3) To help freshmen experience new opportunities. I want to represent the full diversity of our class’s ideas and experiences, but to do so, I need your support.

My name is Mark Austin Boyer, and I have proudly served our community in an unofficial capacity since 2012, and I’d like to finally step out into the spotlight of public office. From founding the Alphorn Club to leading the German House, I have extensive experience in guiding my peers through the tangled web that is the Amherst social life. I am confident that with my diverse connections in orchestra, club sports, and the scientific community, I can finally bring our class together. Put your trust in me and together we will rebirth a flawed institution.

I would be honored to serve as a member of the AAS Judiciary Council. I would uphold the Amherst College Constitution and do my utmost to represent both the Class of 2018 and and the rest of the student body. I believe that I am qualified based on my past experience to conduct continuous review of all student groups. In the case of a formal complaint, “I would bake a cake filled with rainbows and smiles and everyone would eat and be happy.”

I am confident in my understanding of the Constitution, Bylaws, and procedures observed by bodies of the AAS to be your representative.

Olivia Mastrangelo ’18

Caleb Winfrey ’19

Emmanuel Osunlana ’18

How do we make Amherst better? My first step: making the wellness of every student a priority. I am running to be your senator because I have the ideas and the initiative to incite change and improve both the resources on campus and the well being of the student body as a whole. My main goal is to ensure that Amherst improves its mental healthcare services so that we can truly meet the complete needs of our diverse student body. Amherst needs to take care of its students—body, mind, and spirit—and I will fight for that.

“We educated, privileged lawyers Amherst College students have a professional and moral duty to represent the underrepresented in our society community, to ensure that justice exists for all” –Sonia Sotomayor. As a member of the AAS Judiciary Council, I will use my previous jurisdictive experience to promote an impartial student perspective in all concerns raised to the Council. I will honorably represent the Judiciary Council and the Constitution of the AAS through my own actions and will hold others accountable to do the same. In conclusion, if you support freedom and justice, then I am your man.

Hello, my name is Emmanuel and it would be an honor to serve the student body as a member of the Judiciary Council. I cannot, in good faith, promise an incentive to garner support for my candidacy. However, I can assure that I will dutifully and passionately commit myself to analyzing the AAS Constitution. As both a Resident Counselor and a Diversity Intern, I aim to enhance the student experience through optimizing available resources and thinking of new ways to match student needs. I hope to continue this goal — however I can — with the JC!

There exists no boundary within our freshman community, other than that which we impose upon ourselves due to fear of leaving our comfort zone. As a senator, I will give my full efforts to connect my fellow classmates, whether it be through connecting us with more water bottle stations or having dorm competitions to promote cameraderie.

“Senator” is just a fancy name for something very simple: a representative. As a senator, my job will be to voice the concerns of all of the freshmen who have asked me to represent them, which I believe I can do very well.

Maeve McNamara ’19 Ever been so close to finishing that paper, but then you have to pack up and troop it to Merrill? Let’s push for Frost to stay open until 2 instead of 1! The first year quad is too beautiful of a space to not take full advantage of. I would promote the use of this space for spring outdoor events like a school-wide Lobster and Clam Bake. Having met a lot of you already, I’m really excited about what our class can become. Help me help you! Vote Maeve McNamara for Class of 2019 Senator!

Judiciary Council

Health Center Sees Challenging Transition Continued from Page 1

ing. Morgan’s former office is now a basic surgery room with new equipment, and the health center building has gained new exam rooms.

“There were times when we actually had to leave the building because of the renovations, so sometimes we were working out of Student Affairs,” Morgan said.

Several new positions have been added to the health center staff, including a full-time nurse and a 24-hour phone advice nurse. According to Morgan, the full-time nurse will extend and improve the health center’s ability to respond to student needs, as well as be involved in educational outreach. The 24hour nurse can be reached by phone outside of the health center’s hours of operation, give medical advice during those hours and notify health center clinicians of students’ complaints the next morning.

Since the contract with UMass was renegotiated, the college has hired seven new health center staff members. Previous staff members are either continuing to work for UMass or have sought employment elsewhere.

“Although we had a lot of applicants for nurse practitioner and physician’s assistant, most of them didn’t have experience working with young adults,” Morgan said. “We were really looking for someone for both those positions — the PA, the nurse practitioner — for someone who had years of experience in outpatient medicine, especially working with young people.”

The college eventually found applicants with the desired experience. The physician assistant, Edward McGlynn, began work Sept.

22. The nurse practitioner will begin in November.

said he knew of two students who were denied medical care at UMass due to confusion over the new contract.

“It was a mistake,” Morgan said. “I immediately called my counterpart over at UMass and the director over there made sure that the people were appropriately informed.”

One of these students was Eva Lau ’18E. “When I called UMass I was told that their contract with Amherst had terminated and that I would not be able to make an appointment,” said Lau, who had been referred by the health center to UMass for an injury. “I called the Amherst health center again and was told that what UMass had told me was incorrect.”

Morgan also said that the transition process has required staff to take some time to adjust to their new roles.

“With a new staff, there’s a lot of training that needs to happen,” Morgan said. “Some of the staff that we’ve hired, like the office coordinator and the receptionist, they’ve never worked in healthcare before. They’re going to do a good job as an office coordinator and as a receptionist, but they don’t know healthcare.”

In addition, the staff members who do have a background in health care — the nurse, the certified medical assistants, the physician assistant and the nurse practitioner — have been in training to learn about the specific procedures, policies and services offered at Amherst College.

Electronic Record-Keeping This year the health center has also transitioned to an electronic record-keeping system. This system allows for electronic communication between health center staff and students, and will lead to the development of a patient portal, which allows students to log in to a website to view their own medical records and lab results and communicate with health center staff.

“We have to do everything through an electronic medical system that involves navigational skills,” Morgan said. “We have to quickly be able to navigate through electronic records, different screens, and learn how to take shortcuts, and learn procedures for co-

ordinating functions that we have to do in the electronic records.” Morgan said that some functions that used to take 15 minutes have been taking up to an hour as staff learn how to use the new technology.

Gloria Koh ’16 said that as a patient at the health center this year, she experienced delays when staff attempted to look up her medical records.

“The health center’s transition into the new computer system poses several problems,” Koh said. “For one, staff are unable to quickly refer to a student’s medical and medication history and thus take more time to look this information up.”

Ultimately, Morgan said, the goal of the changes to the health center is to provide better service to students.

“It’s not that we’re trying to be casual or unresponsive to students,” Morgan said. “I welcome communication with students, and we do want to be responsive. We realize we have a ways to go, to get to where we want to be. If we’re not perceived as doing our job, then we should know about that.”

A Difficult Transition In the transition period, the health center has been short-staffed.

“From the time school started until now, I’ve been the only clinician, doing the work of three clinicians,” Morgan said. “So that has been a huge problem. And as a result, we’ve been turning away some students that we’d like to see … so it’s not ideal, we don’t want it to be this way either, but it’s only temporary … we don’t like it any better than the students do.”

On days when Keefe Health Center cannot keep up with demand, students are referred to the health center at UMass. However, Morgan

The health center has hired seven new staff members so far this year.

Sophia Salazar ‘18 Staff Photographer

Opinion

THE AMHERST

STUDENT

Studying at Home Editorial It’s common wisdom among college graduates and seniors who think they know better that if you don’t study abroad, you’ll regret it.

“Are you going to study abroad?” is a common question among Amherst sophomores and juniors. If the answer is yes, no one thinks twice.

But if a student decides to stay at Amherst for both semesters, he’s consistently told that it’s the wrong decision, that he’ll regret losing an opportunity he’ll never have again. While studying abroad is certainly a fantastic opportunity, so is each of our semesters at Amherst.

Studying abroad is a wonderful opportunity for many people. But the decision to go abroad is a very personal one, and there’s often little critical assessment as to whether going abroad will benefit each individual student. Rather than give into peer pressure and the prevailing idea that going abroad is the right solution for everyone during college, a student should think about what specifically she wants to learn during her junior year. If students want to master a language through immersion, a semester or a year abroad is the perfect opportunity. If someone wants to engage with different communities, perhaps to better understand a different history or political organization, or do research in a different context, study abroad could be a transformative academic experience.

If a student simply wants to escape the Amherst bubble, study abroad works too.

But we should realize that each semester at Amherst is also an opportunity filled with the potential for exciting new experiences. As cheesy as it may sound, Amherst becomes a new place every single year. For one thing, you’d be hard pressed to find an academic experience abroad that beats Amherst classes. With just four short years here, there’s no

shortage of incredibly transformative classes you can take that you’ll never have access to again. Furthermore, the growing number of clubs, sports teams and opportunities allow us to make this campus a better place, cultivate meaningful friendships and embed ourselves deeper in the community we call home for four years.

Studying abroad during junior year is often described as a once-in-alifetime opportunity that is the highlight of anyone’s college experience.

This view has some good points. After all, there’s huge value in getting a change of scenery, especially one so radical as an international exchange.

You simply can’t replicate this kind opportunity for international learning and cultural exchange in an Amherst classroom — no matter how good our classes are. The general grind and stress on this campus can get incredibly tiring, and a bit of a break can bring things into perspective. Amherst financial aid can cover all or an incredibly high amount of an international travel opportunity that would otherwise be out of reach for many college students.

If traveling or living abroad is something you want to pursue, but you don’t think study abroad is right for you, ask the fellowship and career offices to learn about the myriad of opportunities available after graduation. Spending a gap year after college doing meaningful academic or volunteer work while traveling or living in another country is a fantastic way to transition into the terrifying “real world.” Amherst also has a lot of money devoted to internal fellowships; it just takes a bit of searching to find the right opportunity.

Ultimately, it’s important to realize that while study abroad can be a valuable experience, it’s not the best fit for everyone.

Reflecting on Your Commitments Phillip Yan ’18 Contributing Writer This piece is inspired by Thomas Dumm’s article “Taking Yourself Seriously,” which appeared in the Amherst Disorientation Guide.

I write this letter to the few: the few students on campus who struggle under the weight of participating in too many extracurriculars. I write as someone who has walked this path, and who had diverged from it. I also write as a human speaking on the aspect of our condition that is loneliness.

I say I write this letter for the few, because from my observations, most students are not as heavily involved in extracurriculars as others perceive them to be. We have no official rosters or tallies of student participation in our Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), or if we do, they are not public. I thus am forced to draw from personal experience, and the experience of others, to support my assertion that ultimately, I do not believe the vast majority of students exceed four clubs/ sports per semester, and that is a very generous estimate. My letter is not addressed to this vast majority of students on campus and is not directly applicable to them. Instead, I focus my message towards the students who are so heavily involved in campus activities that they find themselves in membership of more than four RSOs. To these students, I say that if you seek a solution to loneliness by participating more in RSOs, and campus life in general, stop immediately and disabuse yourself of the notion that more participation means less loneliness. The more

time you sink into RSOs and student life, the less time you have to reflect on yourself and to devote to your personal life, including your individual friends and family. Furthermore, the more you participate in student activities, the more unapproachable and busy you will appear to others. Indeed, after a certain point of campus engagement, you will begin to alienate yourself more so than if you had simply kept to yourself. That is because the more you participate in RSOs, more so than the average student, the farther you depart from being an ordinary student on campus. After a certain point, you become an outlier. People will begin treating you differently. You are now someone who is everywhere on campus. You are now that guy who is juggling all of the campus’s student activities on your back. You are a busybody. You are someone who is everywhere, and simultaneously, nowhere at the same time.

It is intimidating. People approach you less often, ask you to accompany them to social events less often. You will go out to eat less often, interact with friends less often.

While you juggle the responsibilities of your clubs, your dormmates and close friends will travel the campus and town, browse shops, watch movies. They will live out the “college experience.” And you, as a busybody, are often assumed to be too busy to come. The invitation will not be extended, even if you are not in reality actually busy. The important distinction to make is that it is not important whether or not you yourself are busy, but whether others perceive you so. Once they assume you are a busy person, you wear that association for as long

as you continue to perpetuate it, consciously or unconsciously. As long as you wear that aura, you are unapproachable. You are too busy.

In your attempt to bring yourself closer to more and more people by participating in more and more activities, the people have shied away from your overeager embrace. They are suspicious and untrusting of your claims that you are free.

It is no wonder they are so distrustful. By nature, we humans are assumed to specialize in commitments. When discussing on whether or not to single or double major, a professor once commented that double majors (and triple majors) was a sign of “a lack of focus” on the student’s behalf. Unable to commit to either, double majors (and triple majors) choose their paths as a result of their inability to truly find a solid career foundation. In this way, the professor argued, companies and corporations were actually suspicious of triple majors (and double majors). It was an indicator of a generalist, ambivalent mind.

Our world is a world of specialization. Humans specialize. It is ingrained within our economic teachings and within our history.

No human civilization has existed where every person adopted a generalist role. There were always hunters, child-bearers, farmers, carpenters — specialization is what enabled our civilization to move forward as it did. We relied on bakers for bread, hunters for meat. If every individual had to learn everything for himself, he would spend his entire life learning how to slice bread.

Civilization would cease to exist.

It is thus no wonder that, because specialization is so deeply ingrained within our culture, we inherently

gravitate to and are more willing to trust people who are more picky and selective with their time. We trust the experts, the people who commit to a few things at a time. We weigh their testimonies with greater trust in court. We listen to specialists over generalists. We trust the reflections of ourselves, for we are all cruel misers of love and affection. We love our lovers more than we love any other human being. We love our children greater than all other children of the world. We mete and we dole unequal amounts of love to our passions. With what limited time we have, we allocate our time unequally to the causes we support the most. It is devoting your time to a chief passion that makes an individual respected and admired. It is this behavior that brings you closer to other like-minded individuals, forging friendships and bonds otherwise impossible had you tried to divide your time equally amongst four or more club commitments.

This is where you will find a departure from the ocean of loneliness on campus. This is where you will find love and friendship.

Thus to you who are engaged heavily, I ask for you to take all of this into consideration when embarking on your journey through Amherst. There is no harm in a healthy balance of extracurriculars.

However, seek not this engagement for the sake of drawing yourself closer to others. For a want of friendship, mete not time amongst hundreds, expecting to throw yourself at every club in hopes that you will find friends in at least a few them. Rather, spend a few golden hours with a few, small group of individuals — that is your departure from loneliness.

E X E C U T I V E B OA R D Editor-in-Chief Sophie Murguia Assistant Editor-in-Chief Elaine Jeon Managing News Dan Ahn, Jingwen Zhang Managing Opinion Johnathan Appel, Sunna Juhn Managing Arts and Living Paola Garcia-Prieto, Alida Mitau, Julia Pretsfelder Managing Sports Lauren Tuiskula, Jason Darell, Drew Kiley Managing Design Gabby Bishop S TA F F

Publishers Emily Ratte, Tia Robinson Design Editors Katherine Chen, Megan Do, Adele Loomis, Zavi Sheldon, Yrenly Yuan Assistant News Editors Ryan Cenek, Carlos Rivero Assistant Sports Editors Jeremy Kesselhaut, Jason Stein Photography Editor Kyra Gardner

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The Amherst Student • September 30, 2015

Opinion

Hearing “The Lower Frequencies” Jenna Peng ’18 Staff Writer When I left Bryce Monroe’s production “The Lower Frequencies,” I was angry. I felt attacked, marginalized and stereotyped. I somehow felt simultaneously invisible and horribly, garishly visible. I felt muted by the inadequacy of language in speaking my reaction and trapped by the in trusion of others who did so for me. The irony of what I, a member of the “model minority,” felt does not escape me. It was not the play that made me react this way, but the question-and-answer session that followed.

“It was messed up how members of the audience stood up to clap at the end of the production, essentially applauding at black death.” When a black audience member stated this, I squirmed uncomfortably in my seat along with the all but handful of people who remained seated. Her frustration was completely justified. She had every right to resent the “colonization of the stage” that occurred when the Caucasian director monopolized the question-and-answer session with his own “personal” encounters with race. She had every right to her feeling of being under the “white man’s gaze.” A feeling that occurred even before the director physically imposed himself on the stage. A feeling that began when non-black eyes, possessing the power to judge, but not to understand, were fixed on Monroe during his performance. A feeling that was only affirmed by the seemingly insensitive clapping of audience members.

Following her comment, I wondered why I had given Monroe a standing ovation after his painful and drawn-out final scene. I do not think I clapped at the “spectacle” of it all. When I stood up to applaud Monroe’s production, it was not at black death. It was not at entertainment value.

It was not at very real sadness and pain. It was at his intention. I applauded at Monroe’s courage in sharing a story so personal to him and so unfamiliar to me despite knowing I

could not fully understand and thus could not fully appreciate it. I applauded to show I tried to grasp the best I could the difficulty of his Herculean effort. I applauded to make myself heard in saying “I hear you.”

“White and non-black people of color just came to this show to check off one of their boxes and have some comment to make in their black studies class on Monday.” The distinct category of “non-black people of color” was created by a black audience member after an Asian boy stated that although he was a “person of color,” he could not understand

“

I do not claim to understand the play.

More importantly, I do not claim to understand the life. I want to grasp it, and kind of do, but certain parts will always remain out of my reach, and rightfully so.

”

the experience of blacks. Immediately, this distinct category was made non-distinct by lumping it in, on every occasion, with white people. I felt frustrated at this. I fumed at the ease with which yellow diluted into white to fit the preexisting framework of speaking about race. I resented their assumption that they could comprehend, define and categorize the experience of Asians and Asian Americans and turn it into something unchangeable, unrealistic and uniform.

But then I understood. The lack of self-definition that I only became aware of in occasional moments like this one

Provocations of a Bathroom Wall Galen Muskat ’18E Staff Writer Whatever your gender identity, I encourage you to venture into the larger of the two stalls in the first-floor men’s bathroom of Frost Library.

There, to your left, you shall see, inked on the gray metal barrier between the toilets, a challenge, of sorts: “Top 10 Nicknames for Biddy’s House.”

Before I go on, a disclaimer: I do not condone vandalism. I do appreciate, however, anything I see during the course of the day, legal or not, that makes me think. The scrawled note caught me by surprise — and elicited a hearty chuckle. An initially dismissive nod gave way to the only thing I could think of — mind you, I’m not known to compose good puns or jokes — “The Purple Martin House.”

Perhaps in your travels to and from Amherst College, you have driven by the iconic farm fields and pastures of the Pioneer Valley. And there, amidst it all, stands not a tree but a pole, atop which sits a rather large, Victorian-esque mini-mansion.

This ornate piece of craftsmanship is designed for a specific North American swallow: the purple martin, Progne subis.

According to the “Sibley Field Guide to Birds of North America,” the purple martin is the largest swallow in North America. Its distinction from other swallows is its beautiful plumage: The male is described as “glossy blue-black,” with a tail and wings a dusky black hue. The female, while slightly duller in color, is no less spectacular. Most notable is the description of their flight: “graceful, liquid wingbeats,” reads a description in a National Geographic guide, “interspersed with gliding and soaring.”

Back, though, to what my response to the challenge for a “Nickname for Biddy’s House” spurred in terms of further mental fodder.

It brought me to consider the latest discussion about mascots on campus. Moose or no moose.

Lady Jeffs and Lord Jeffs. Emily Dickinson, anyone? She could cudgel the Williams Eph with a

book of poetry.

But what about a bird? At first, there may seem to be no greater connection between Amherst and a Moose than Amherst and a songbird. (Note: I’m not advocating one position in the debate or another. As an administrator recently counseled, “Any discussion has to involve the entire Amherst community, and there are lots of people — alumni, townsfolk, even students­— who, despite the noise on campus, do not want to see the mascot they associate with changed.” So the debate is perhaps for another column.)

I’m inclined to suggest the purple martin enter the fray to pay homage to Amherst’s distinctive, regal purple hue; the “graceful, liquid wingbeats” of its diverse and intelligent student body; and, of course, our wonderful president, Biddy Martin.

Biddy arrived at Amherst at a difficult time, and she has steered the campus through controversial but necessary discussions and policy changes regarding everything from sexual assault to racial and ethnic diversity, to Amherst’s role as an educator in the world beyond its campus borders. Moreover, she occupies a pivotal role in our school’s history as its first female president.

Who better to honor with a mascot than both a bird of great beauty — and local relevance, not to mention a color matching our school — and a president of great character, intelligence and vitality.

This may be out on a limb (please excuse the pun), but the bathroom stall’s challenge leads me to issue a request to campus. Namely, should the mascot debate ever lead to an actual change, please, just consider the following: The Amherst purple martins. Moose are terrific — indeed, I hail from New Hampshire and love the brown beasts — but the tangibility, if you will, of the purple martin seems too good to be true.

The houses dot our landscape. The house of its namesake overlooks the college, its noble resident watching over us with our community’s best interests at heart. And, maybe someday, a fuzzy, cheerful, graceful purple martin could glide and soar across our very own athletic fields.

was one that black people experienced constantly. To me, the act of people claiming to understand another person or people’s experience and pocketing it to play into some self-satisfying, progressive image of themselves was just a temporary annoyance; but to the black audience member, it confirmed fears that would linger much longer.

I do not claim to understand the play. More importantly, I do not claim to understand the life. I want to grasp it, and I kind of do, but certain parts will always remain out of my reach, and rightfully so. Because I cannot understand, I am unwillingly ignorant. Because I cannot comprehend, I bring misunderstanding and unintentional colonization to every encounter. Because there is so much I do not know, it is easier to simply disengage.

Paralyzed by guilt and unnerved by the awareness that any attempt to do right could be so very wrong, I was thankful when a non-black audience member asked about our role in causing change. In response, a black audience member stated how it should not be the burden of black people to fix problems that others created. The cruel irony she elucidated was correct and shame-inducing. But if those questions are not discussed and that dialogue does not take place, where can we go?

Non-black people should not be so afraid of being wrong. We can be judged. We can be insulted. As long as we are corrected, it is worthwhile. Again, I realize it is not fair that black individuals have to work harder and endure more to rectify mistakes that are not their own. Why should they have to be patient and kind in correcting us?

Why should they be expected to applaud our well-intentioned but horribly misguided efforts? Why should they have to tediously redefine their experiences in the eyes of others? Why can’t they just live their experiences in terms of themselves? We messed up. It is not fair. But if people stay separate, if experiences continue to be misunderstood and if resentment remains, how can anything change?

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Arts&Living

Photo courtesy of Jessica Elliot

In this scene from his one-man “The Lower Frequencies,” Bryce Monroe ‘15 shows off his many talents, playing both a barber and a barbershop customer.

Bryce Monroe ’15 Revamps Senior Thesis “The Lower Frequencies” of the not guilty verdict for George Zimmerman in the murder of Trayvon Martin and with the failure to indict Officer Wilson in the murder of Michael Brown. Violence against black bodies and specifically police brutality, which have plagued the black community for hundreds of years, was finally beginning to surface in the media. I felt that as an artist who is also a black man, I not only had the opportunity, but also the responsibility to bring a particularly neglected American experience to light.

Q: What are some of the benefits and challenges to performing as a one-man cast? Did you ever consider having other actors on stage with you?

A: Early in my creative process, I considered writing a play with multiple actors playing different characters. However, much like the novel “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison, I felt that experiencing a story from the perspective of one narrator was the most effective way to connect with an audience through inner monologue. I also wanted to highlight the fragility and fluidity of identity by having one actor/performer (myself) portray each character of the play. In writing “The Lower Frequencies” I was able to abstract anecdotes and experiences from my personal life to create a story that dealt with many of the issues that “Invisible Man” raises.

I wanted to make a story that revealed just how ever-present the struggles discussed in that novel remained in our society today.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Elliot

Paola Garcia-Prieto ’18 Managing A&L Editor Bryce Monroe ’15 performed his play, “The Lower Frequencies,” last weekend at the Powerhouse. The play, which was inspired by Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man,” was originally Monroe’s senior thesis. Monroe hopes “The Lower Frequencies” will grow into a touring performance for colleges all around the country. The piece is a one-man show that analyzes what it means to be black in America. Monroe aims for his work to be more than a performance; he wants it to be a learning experience and an opportunity for people to face the harsh reality of

modern day racism. After seeing the emotional performance last Saturday night, I was able to interview Monroe and ask him about the process of writing the hard-hitting narrative of “The Lower Frequencies.”

Q: I read that you were inspired by the recent police brutality cases to write about racial injustice. Can you describe the moment that you decided to write about this difficult topic?

A: My desire to write “The Lower Frequencies” was born out of my need to cope with my frustration, anger and sense of hopelessness that I and so many others in America, especially in the black community, experienced in the wake

Q: What were some of the biggest challenges of writing and creating this performance piece?

A: One of the most important things I wanted to change about “The Lower Frequencies” in its revival in the Powerhouse was that I did not want it to be a “show.” I did not want the audience to applaud or give a standing ovation because they just saw another great piece of theater and then leave the venue not having given the issues revealed in the performance a second thought.

I wanted to share an experience with the audience an experience. It was not essential that I be praised or applauded for my art, but that the audience be truly impacted and moved to change the way they think about and interact with others in the world around them. I wanted “The Lower Frequencies” to be a catalyst for change!

We utilized the three nights of shows last weekend to experiment with creating and prolonging

discomfort, shock, uncertainty and suspense in the audience in order to find the right balance. I think we will continue to experiment with these emotions and responses from the audience.

Q: You really invested your mind, body and soul into this performance. Does performing take a physical and/or emotional toll on you each time you perform?

A: It truly takes everything I have every time I perform this piece. And I can only imagine what it was like. But it is almost inconsequential in comparison to the evil brutality of slavery and Jim Crow that my ancestors, great grandparents and grandparents had to physically endure.

Q: What do you hope people take away from your performance?

A: Art, and theater specifically, provided a platform from which one can present an upfront experience to an audience ... and they can no longer ignore it. It’s tangible, it’s right in front of the audience for their very eyes to behold. It becomes real. I want to make a particular black experience real for an audience who by either privilege and/or choice have neglected the harsh realities that the black community faces every day. Their ignorance contributes to the perpetuation of systematic oppression; it is not simply a black problem but an American problem. We all have a responsibility to recognize the plight of people of color in America and to take action to eliminate institutional racism.

Q: What is next for “The Lower Frequencies”?

A: The message of “The Lower Frequencies” is so very relevant and important. I want to bring “The Lower Frequencies” to everyone I can, everywhere I can, first by launching our tour throughout academic institutions across the country and then transition to performing in residencies at different theaters and workshops.

With the ultimate hope of finding a home for this production. “The Lower Frequencies” will be returning to the New England area in the spring semester of 2016, and I will have a residency with CCSU (Central Connecticut State University) where I will be performing a series of shows and conducting a workshop. We are currently finalizing plans to bring the production to Busboys and Poets theater in Washington DC. This interview has been lightly edited.

Arts & Living 7

The Amherst Student • September 30, 2015

Summer Hit “Inside Out” Pulls Heartstrings and Delivers Laughs Mark Simonitis ’19 Contributing Writer “Inside Out” could not have been released at a more perfect time. After a trend of lackluster sequels to older movies, such as “Cars” and “Monster’s, Inc.”, the animation juggernaut’s 15th movie struck gold in a true return to form.

The film travels inside the head of 11-year-old Riley (Kaitlyn Diaz), introducing viewers to the personified emotions that inhabit her mind: Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Anger (Lewis Black) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). When Joy and Sadness are accidentally ejected from the Headquarters, the other emotions take the wheel. Riley becomes your basic teenager full of attitude, but Joy is determined to restore her happiness.

The one thing that immediately jumped out at me in the theater was the world of Riley’s mind. In all of its previous movies, Pixar has limited itself to settings that closely resembled reality. Setting the action in the human mind allows the animation team to get creative, crafting an incredibly vibrant and imaginative world.

For instance, when the characters enter the world of Abstract Thought, they shape shift from cubist figures, to two dimensional silhouettes, to line drawings. Wacky environments like Riley’s subconscious (where her deep fear of clowns lodges), long-term memory vault and train of thought (which is a literal train) are all put on display for our viewing pleasure.

I would definitely recommend multiple viewings to fully appreciate the minute details in the film, particularly the emotions’ physical shapes. There’s something captivating about the way Anger’s head smolders and Joy’s skin bubbles and glows.

The animators produced stunning results that are pleasing to eye and propeling the

Photo courtesy of bkhemphill.files.wordpress.com

Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Bill Hader, Lewis Black and Phyllis Smith voice Riley’s inner emotions in “Inside Out.” story forward.

The story is your typical Pixar fare, with familiar tropes like family love and a hectic chase scene making appearances.

However, the fantastic settings and the stellar cast insures that the audience remains engaged. Poehler employs the undefeatable optimism of Leslie Knope from “Parks and Recreation,” Bill Hader provides ample comic relief in the Headquarters and Smith’s portrayal of sadness is so authentic you would think she was depressed while recording her lines. The script is one of Pixar’s funniest, with a healthy balance of physical comedy and clever dialogue.

The peeks into other character’s minds are especially hilarious. Make sure to stick around for the credits in order to catch a hilarious glimpse inside other people and even animals’ minds!

There is one very divisive character in “Inside Out”: the forgotten imaginary friend known as Bing-Bong (Richard Kind). On paper, he works well as a good old-fashioned sidekick. Still, he sometimes

crosses the thin line between funny and annoying. While I personally enjoyed him, many I’ve talked to about the movie have absolutely despised him, saying that he brought the whole film down a level.

Someone even compared him to Jar-Jar Binks. While he may not be everyone’s favorite, there is no doubt that his selfless sacrifice in the movie’s final act is especially tragic.

Even though “Inside Out” has many hilarious moments, you could argue that the plot is just one heartbreaking moment after another. This movie is one of Pixar’s more adult films, despite being set in the mind of a young child. Emotionally vulnerable people beware: This is the biggest smack in the face since “Up.” The emotional complexity shows just how far Pixar has come since movies like “Toy Story,” which dealt with simpler themes, such as separation anxiety.

This movie tackles more difficult realities, like the danger of bottling up emotions, the eventuality of sadness creeping

more and more into our lives as we grow up and the fact that a parent’s days with happy-go-lucky kids are numbered. The material is so intense that at times, it feels like the tough reality of the message might overtake the kid-friendliness of the movie.

Then again, as “Inside Out” tells us, kids are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. Keep in mind that since its beginning, Pixar has refused to talk down to its audience. If anyone can use the power of imagination to open kids’ minds, it’s the creative geniuses behind some of the greatest animated films of all time.

There is no doubt in my mind that “Inside Out” has earned a place in the Pixar hall of fame. The colorful world looks like the result of a serious head-trip and the story that brings it to life is poignant and thoughtful. Just shy of being completely emotionally devastating, this educational look at emotions is something I’ll be showing my own children someday.

Who knew that you could make a work of art out of cognitive processes?

Stonewall Movie Disappoints With Inaccurate Representations Samantha O’Brien ’18 Staff Writer The film begins in 1969 as a dewyeyed man-child stands on the corner of Charles Street and Seventh Avenue, staring out wistfully at the glittering metropolis before him. He is a painful representation of every country boy who has ever been thrust into the big city. For the ficitional Danny Winters, Manhattan is a sanctuary as much as it is a daunting city. Hundreds of miles away from his hyper-conservative, bigoted parents, it is a place where he can allow his identity as a gay man to surface freely. Danny’s story is the story of many, perhaps, but it’s not the story this film should have told.

Almost immediately, Danny is hit

on by a sleazy, overweight middle-aged trans woman. He is subsequently rescued from this interaction by Ray/Ramona, another irritatingly cliche trans character of the more likable, sassy best friend variety. Ray/Ramona fascinates Danny and introduces him to her posse of sexual misfits. They are as flamboyant, rambunctious and impudent as almost every caricature of trans women misleadingly portrays. Danny soon becomes their golden “Columbia boy,” and they become his lovable support team. Ramona soon becomes Danny’s closest friend, and she takes it upon herself to show him the ins and outs of queer life in Manhattan. Ramona does a thorough job showing Danny the ropes of her lifestyle, from navigating joblessness and near-home-

Photo courtesy of http://nursingclio.org

“Stonewall” depicts the monumental 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City.

lessness, to dodging brutal police raids of gay bars and hangouts. She familiarizes Danny with the gay prostitution industry and the aggressive, homophobic community. Danny has a leg up from the rest of his friends because he is white, not trans and a student at Columbia University.

The film certainly attempts to show the painful reality of this lifestyle, but it fails to demonstrate the genuine brutality that people like Ramona faced. Perhaps if the script were a bit more than a conglomerate of hackneyed interactions, the film could have had more of an emotional impact. The film’s content had the potential to make for a very moving film, but poor execution left me unmoved.

The film is supposed to portray the tensions that led to to the historic Stonewall riots. These riots were the first collective, forceful backlash of the LBGT community against the many, violent police raids on their gatherings. The particular police raid that sparked the riots took place at the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay/trans hangout. The riots are often cited as a precursor to the gay rights movement.

Unfortunately, the film does not adequately demonstrate these building tensions. The film certainly shows members of the LBGT community as unhappy and disgusted with the oppression they face, yet the characters have a bit of a jaded, “such is life” outlook on their difficulties.

Danny is supposed to introduce a sense of hope and change in the community, but his character is uninspiring and flat.

In the beginning of the movie Danny is awkward and somewhat inarticulate, and

other than his acquisition of some sassy New Yorker mannerisms, he does not undergo much of a transformation as the film progresses. At one point, he is angry because he learns that being gay will prevent him from ever working for NASA. At another point, he is angry because he discovers his boyfriend is cheating on him. These instances are supposed to reflect his building frustrations with discrimination, but frankly, it never really feels like Danny’s frustrations are going anywhere.

Strangely, as it turns out, the awkward boy from Indiana without the slightest bit of charisma is the impetus for the riot.

He throws the first brick, the community follows his lead and madness ensues. For no reason other than the fact that he is white, male and by some standards attractive, he gets to be the brave soul to ignite social upheaval.

If for “dramatic” purposes Director Roland Emmerich felt as though it were absolutely vital to zoom in on a single face during the riot, but the fact that that face was white and male is a gross misrepresentation of what the riots stood for. The film portrays the rioting crowd as disproportionately white and gay, failing to recognize the people of color and trans people who participated in the uprising. In doing so, Emmerich commits an egregious act of erasure in his attempt to display an uprising centered on the importance of inclusion. If nothing else, this film should serve as a grave reminder that the voices and stories of many remain tragically neglected by harmful historical inaccuracies and erasure.

Arts & Living 8

The Amherst Student • September 30, 2015

New Film “Mistress America” Repeats Director Baumbach’s Tropes Evan Paul ’18 Staff Writer How far is too far? What’s the difference between what we see in people and what they see in themselves? Those are the questions explored in Noah Baumbach’s latest feature film “Mistress America.” Baumbach is known for his films about characters struggling with growing up, and “Mistress America” is no different. The film, which stars Lola Kirke, an up-and-coming actress, and Greta Gerwig (“Frances Ha,” “Greenberg” and “No Strings Attached”), focuses on the life of a first-year at Barnard College who is thrust into the crazy life of her soon to be stepsister.

“Mistress America” explores many of the same types of issues as Baumbach’s other films. Much like in “Frances Ha,” “Mistress America” features a young female protagonist who is going through a tough change and possible growth. In both movies, the women find themselves hit with conflict after conflict, only to end up all right at the film’s conclusion.

While this may sound boring, both films have their strengths. In particular, “Mistress America” is very accessible to the general audience. Granted, it tells the tale of a young, attractive, middle class, white woman in New York, something we’ve all seen before, but I think this film portrays this trope a little better. For instance, Tracy (0Kirke) doesn’t have a perfectly peachy life. She finds herself struggling with the realization that the way things are in the movies isn’t how they are in real life.

Most of us, as college students who had never previously been away from home for such an extended period of time, are going through similar struggles as Tracy.

My favorite part of the movie is how it attempts and, for the most part, succeeds at debunking the manic pixie dream girl trope.

Greta Gerwig’s character, Brooke, is what every young girl dreams of being. She lives in an amazing apartment, in an even more amazing city. Her boyfriend is wealthy, and best of all, she doesn’t seem to have to work hard for anything; it all just comes to her without any effort.

By the movie’s final act, however, Brooke’s shiny façade of a perfect life has completely crumbled. All of her half-baked dreams have to be put on hold as she slowly realizes that it’s time to buckle down and be serious about her life. The true debunking of the trope doesn’t necessarily happen for Brooke. Rather, it is Tracy that finally realizes that she’s put Brooke on a pedestal so high up it would be impossible for anyone to reach it.

Lola Kirke shines as Tracy, which comes as no surprise, given that acting runs in her family. (Her older sister Jemima currently stars in HBO’s “Girls.”) Her role in “Gone Girl” as a swindling nomad is completely different from her role as Tracy. In fact, I think it’s safe to say you wouldn’t recognize Kirke unless you know going in that she’s in both movies.

She has a real talent for disappearing into her character, which I think is quite impressive for such an inexperienced actress.

But, as usual, Greta Gerwig is the star of

Image courtesy of farefilm.it

Greta Gerwig and Lola Kirke play stepsisters in Baumbach’s latest movie. the show. She delivers Brooke’s witty quips deftly, which keeps the viewers on their toes throughout the entire film. In fact, I was reminded of Lorelai and Rory’s signature quick wit and banter on “Gilmore Girls.” If you aren’t paying enough attention, you’ll miss the opportunity for a good chuckle. These types of characters are becoming Gerwig’s signature style in both acting and writing.

Although it is overall a great film, it must be noted that the cast could be more diverse.

The few characters of color that we see are either shed in a negative light or consistently the brunt of the joke. Whereas “Mistress America” could have told a more compelling story, with more compelling and perhaps nonwhite cis characters, it had too many simi-

larities with Baumbach and Gerwig’s previous film, “Frances Ha.” At this point we’ve seen this plot repeated over and over again.

We even see it in Kirke’s older sister’s series! We get it — young people don’t know what to do with themselves in New York. For Gerwig, it would also have been nice to see her play a character other than the resident quirky girl with no career, let alone a steady job. Perhaps a more serious role would actually help her break out into more of the mainstream.

All in all, I really can’t wait to see Lola Kirke in more starring roles. She truly shines as an actress. Luckily, with three movies currently in the works, I won’t have to wait too long.

Blast From the Past: Review of Bergman’s “The Seventh Seal”

Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org

The “Seventh Seal” revolves around a strange chess match played between a knight and the manifestation of death.

Youngkwang Shin ’19 Contributing Writer The pages of The Amherst Student are often filled with reviews of the latest blockbusters or indie movies. But if you’re in the mood for something different this weekend, consider watching Ingmar Bergman’s classic 1957 film, “The Seventh Seal.”

“The Seventh Seal” is the summation of the auteur director’s inimitable style. Contrary to the popular opinion, it is not a complicated work. The film uses apprehensible symbolism, particularly through Bengt Ekerot’s obvious and enduring personification of Death. Death is among Bergman’s favorite themes, and he tackles the subject with the sobriety and tact in almost all of his work. However, none of

Bergman’s movies quite confronts death as directly and accessibly as “The Seventh Seal,” and the movie has become legendary for its early boldness.

The movie begins as the Knight, who has returned from the Crusades, is greeted by the manifestation of Death. Understandably terrified, he challenges Death to a game of chess in his mind, with his survival as his wager. This game lasts throughout the entire film. Along the way, the Knight and his comedic Squire traverse through a plague-ridden Europe and meet various people: a mute girl the Squire saves from an unsavory former seminarian, a woman accused of witchcraft who is convinced that she has had contact with the Devil and a family of jesters struggling to survive the plague.

The film opens with a quotation from

Revelations: “And when the Lamb had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.” The entire film pivots upon this verse that relates to the silence that humans hear from God when they wonder what will happen after death. In Revelations, the breaking of the seventh seal calls forth the seven trumpets, signaling the violent climax of the apocalypse.

It is important to remember that there are two symbols of Death in the movie: the Death that plays chess with the Knight and the Black Death that spreads across all of Europe. Both serve the same purpose. They are the seven trumpets in crescendo, slowly eroding the silence of life. The Black Death is the death of society, of mortal institutions ranging from the Church to the family. Ekerot’s Death is the

death of the individual, and this death reveals the weakness one possesses before his or her inevitable death. All in all, a pretty dour setting.

Bergman’s characters demonstrate the various human responses to the imminence of Death. The Knight desperately seeks faith but is trapped in doubt. His Squire wittily and cynically represses his fear of death at every turn.

The Mute Girl desperately seeks rest and comfort in oblivion. The “witch” tries to convince herself that she can communicate with a higher power in an attempt to console herself during her unjust execution. Though these human reactions to death are common, Bergman’s characters remain authentic. Bergman effectively develops each character as the clock ticks toward Doomsday. In less capable hands, the movie would have collapsed under the weight of its ambition. However, Bergman is a master of his craft, and “The Seventh Seal” is an uncompromising movie.

Ingmar Bergman was always known for his quirkiness, and it is said that he kept up with Gossip Girls (put into perspective — that’s like Stanley Kubrick professing his love for “The Bachelor”). The movie oozes with dry wit, but its humor is purposeful. Every joke is carefully embedded into the movie’s thematic structure and serves to highlight life’s absurdity. Bergman is able to artfully demonstrate how comically unequipped humans are in the face of their demise.

“The Seventh Seal” is ultimately a movie of faith. Not the kind preached in recent sermons parading as cinema (e.g. “God’s Not Dead”), but one that grounds itself in the struggles of humanity. The faith portrayed in “The Seventh Seal” is not necessarily faith in god, but faith in the premise that life is still worth living despite the certainty of death. Throughout the chess game, Death fends off the Knight’s every maneuver, and the Knight despairs his inevitable defeat. But near the end of the match, having seen and felt so much, the Knight is able to pull off a move so ingenious in context of the film that I dare not spoil it here. Go and watch the movie. It evokes all the humor, passion, wit and sadness that one could want from a film. It is a true joy to see all of the film’s contradictory elements converge in the end to create an experience as transcendent and grounded as life itself.

The Amherst Student • September 30, 2015

Sports 9

Men’s Soccer Downs Williams, Extends Undefeated Season Jason Stein ’16 Assistant Sports Editor

In the team’s first road NESCAC matchup of 2015, Amherst men’s soccer prevailed in dramatic fashion over archrival Williams, adding another classic game to an already exciting history between the two NESCAC powerhouses. With the victory, the fourth-ranked Jeffs extended their winning streak to six games to open up 2015, sporting a 6-0-0 overall record and a 3-0-0 NESCAC mark.

Both Amherst and Williams came out of the gates lacking offensive punch, but Amherst picked it up on the offensive end later in the first half, while the Ephs lagged. Ultimately, neither side was able to put one across the line in the first. In the second half, the Jeffs had more scoring opportunities than the Ephs, as Amherst bested Williams, 9-4, in shots and 3-1 in attempted shots on goal. While neither side scored during the first half, it was evident that both teams had the ability to pull ahead following the halftime break. It was clear that the 2015 regular season match-up between the Jeffs and Ephs would follow a different story line than how the 2014 meeting between these teams unfolded — a match in which Amherst cruised to a 4-1 victory.

The Jeffs would continue the offensive momentum from the end of the first half into the opening minutes of the second half, as they had two legitimate scoring chances early in the second period. However, the momentum would swing to the Ephs shortly thereafter.

Even though the Jeffs had more offensive firepower than Williams towards the end of the first half and at the start of the second, it was the Ephs who struck first against the Jeffs.

In the 50th minute of action, sophomore forward Mark Sisco-Tolomeo helped set up firstyear defense man Sean Dory, who then took care of the rest, as Dory scored the first goal of his career to put the Ephs ahead, 1-0. This goal was particularly noteworthy because it marked

the first time that the Jeffs had trailed all season and snapped an Amherst shutout streak that had spanned more than five games and slightly more than nine halves of play. Until Dory’s goal, the Jeffs had also not trailed in a regular season meeting against the Ephs since October 2011, when Amherst fell behind Williams, 2-0, before notching two goals to force overtime and ultimately mustering a doubleovertime draw.

The Ephs’ early second-half goal by no means spelled the end for the Jeffs. They continued to attack aggressively and generate scoring opportunities. Off a corner kick from senior midfielder Milton Rico midway through the second half, senior striker Greg Singer put a dangerous shot on goal, but the Ephs keeper made a diving save to keep the ball from bending into the right corner of the net. Sophomore forward Aziz Khan also narrowly missed a close shot attempt about 10 minutes later.

With less than 13 minutes remaining, Amherst was finally on the board, as junior forward Chris Martin crossed the ball into the center of the box, at which point Singer took control and put one into the back of the net to tie the score, 1-1, and shift the momentum back in Amherst’s favor.

Over the final stretch of regulation, neither side put forth any legitimate scoring attempts, sending the game into overtime.

Both teams continued to fight in overtime and the two teams each had a shot in the first period of overtime and multiple shots during the second overtime.

With less than a minute left in the second overtime of Amherst’s first extra time game of 2015, the Jeffs prevailed in dramatic fashion thanks to Singer’s second goal of the match, which originated from a pair of assists by way of senior forward Nico Pascual-Leone and junior defense man Justin Aoyama. Aoyama sent a nice ball into the box from the left side of the pitch, Pascual-Leone then headed the

ball towards Singer, and Singer volleyed the ball into the left-hand corner of the net. For his performance in the game against Williams, Singer was recognized as the NESCAC Player of the Week.

Overall, Coach Justin Serpone was pleased with the team’s effort in the match against a competitive Williams team.

“Obviously, getting a win against a rival is a good result,” Serpone said. “I didn’t think we played particularly well, but I do think our effort was outstanding. They are a hard-nosed team and I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw them again later in the fall.”

Serpone said his team effectively rose to the occasion after falling behind for the first time this season. “We certainly don’t want to play from behind but we did a good job creating chances throughout the second half,” Serpone said. “I am pleased we were able to finish one.”

On Wednesday, Sept. 30, the Jeffs will play under the lights in a road game against Worcester Polytechnic Institue at 8 p.m. The Engineers are 8-1-1 and has outscored opponents 19-5 through its first 10 games in 2015. Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s lone blemish came in a double overtime 1-0 loss to Brandeis, a team ranked eighth nationally in the latest polls. Brandeis pulled ahead of the Engineers with a goal in the second overtime. While Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 3-1-1 in their last five games, four of their past games have gone into overtime, after the team’s first five matches were all decisive victories in regulation.

On Saturday, Oct. 3 at 2:30 p.m., the Jeffs will host Tufts, the defending national champions, after a dominant run in 2014. The Jumbos secured the national championship with a 4-2 victory over Wheaton College. While 2015 marks a new chapter for the Jumbos, the 12thranked team in the nation is once again poised for a deep run in postseason play. Thus far, the team is 5-1-1 overall and 3-0-1 in NESCAC

play. Similar to Worcester Polytechnic Insitute, Tufts has only fallen to Brandeis this season.

Last season, Amherst and Tufts tied 1-1, in double overtime. Tufts scored about 25 minutes into play, but the Jeffs responded shortly thereafter with a goal from Rico.

On paper, this upcoming week appears to be the most difficult week of the Jeffs’ 2015 season, and perhaps one of the more challenging regular season weeks that a team could conceivably have at this juncture.

Even with the daunting week ahead, Serpone and his coaching staff are treating the upcoming game in the same manner that they would all other games.

“We haven’t even thought about Tufts yet.

Right now we have our eyes on WPI Wednesday,” Serpone said. “They are one of the best teams in the region, if not the country. It’s going to take our entire team’s complete focus to hang with them on Wednesday night, and that is where all of our focus is.”

Photo courtesy of Mark Box

Greg Singer ’16 was named NESCAC Player of the Week for his efforts.

Field Hockey Earns First NESCAC Win Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Kelly Karczewski ’18 Impress at Purple Valley Invitational Staff Writer The 15th-ranked Amherst College field hockey team waged an impressive 4-0 victory on enemy turf over rival Williams this past weekend.

The win improves the Jeffs’ record to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in NESCAC competition.

Coming into the rivalry with immediate control of the game, the Jeffs set a quick pace that both surprised and dismantled the home team’s defense. Within the first 10 minutes, first-year Shannon Tierney had netted her first goal of the season with an unobstructed zinger past Eph goalie Margaret Draper. Junior Sarah Culhane provided the assist, her second so far this season.

The momentum remained in favor of the purple and white for the remainder of the half, peaking with a second score at the 28-minute mark by senior captain Katie Paolano, the result of an opportune scramble following a penalty corner.

This is the two-sport-athlete’s second goal for the Jeffs this fall, the first being a bullet to the back of the net in the season opener against Mount Holyoke.

Just two minutes into the second half, Am-

herst quickly diminished Williams’ morale with a goal by sophomore Caroline Fiore, making it a 3-0 score in favor of Amherst.

With 10 minutes left to play, senior Annie Turnbull finished off the Ephs with her first goal of the season, a clean shot to the lower left corner.

At the ending horn the Jeffs had achieved a 4-0 victory, marking their sixth consecutive win over Williams and first win so far in NESCAC play this season.

In addition to the four goals scored, the Jeffs’ offensive end finished the match with 14 shots and nine penalty corners, solidly outnumbering the Ephs’ eight shots and four penalty corners.

Equally strong on the defensive end, junior goalie Emily Horwitz and the rest of the Jeffs’ defense clinched their third shutout of the year. Fluidity between Amherst’s offense and defense was apparent in clean and dominant midfield transition play as well as in a new level of confidence from the players.

The Jeffs hope to continue the win streak with a match up on Tuesday, Sept. 29 against Castleton at 7 p.m. on Gooding field. On Saturday at noon, they will host Tufts, a team that is currently undefeated in NESCAC play.

Photo courtesy of Mark Box

Caroline Fiore ’18 netted a goal to help lift Amherst over Williams this week.

Lauren Tuiskula ’17 Managing Sports Editor Men Led again by the standout performance of sophomore Mohamed Hussein, the Amherst College men’s cross country team raced to a first-place finish among the 22 teams competing at the Purple Valley Invitational this past Saturday.

Hussein earned his second first-place finish in as many chances this season. He was again named the NESCAC Performer of the Week as well as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III men’s cross country National Athlete of the Week. He posted a time of 25:16, 1:09 faster than his fourth place finishing time from last year.

In addition to Hussein, two other Jeffs placed in the top 15 of the field. Dan Crowley ’16 placed fifth overall with a time of 25:50 while Jeff Seelaus ’16 posted a time of 26:07 to take eighth in the meet.

Craig Nelson ’18 followed closely behind Seelaus, posting a time of 26:14.

Other Jeffs that factored into the scoring include the brother duo of Raymond Meijer ’17 and Tucker Meijer ’19 as well as Kevin Connors ’17. They finished with times of 26:19, 26:44 and 26:49 respectively.

“The meet was an important step for us and although we have a long way to go before the big end-of-season races, it was a successful result,” Raymond Meijer said. “We faced a lot of our NESCAC rivals and other teams who are some of the top in the country so it felt good to be able to see some of our training pay off. We definitely have a lot of room to grow, but it’s a good step for our long-term goals.”

The purple and white look to follow up their first place finish at the NEICAAA championship in two weeks. The meet is scheduled to start at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10.

Women The women’s cross country team earned fifth overall at the Purple Valley Invitational hosted at Williams this past Saturday. Firstyear Lizzie Lacy led the team, posting a time of 22:17 to place fifth overall in the meet.

Savanna Gonisiewicz ’17 crossed the line just four seconds after Lacy, finishing in seventh place overall.

Veronica Rocco ’19 accelerated in the last 1,200 meters of the race to pass several competitors to cross the line in 23:20, good for a 27th-place finish.

Other top finishers for the Jeffs included captain Betsy Black ’16 and juniors Cat Lowdon, Tess Frenzel and Cara Lembo. Black finished 43rd overall, clocking a time of 23:49.

Lowdown and Frenzel finished back-to-back with times of 23:56 (50th) and 23:59 (51st) respectively. Lembo rounded out the top scorers for Amherst as she posted a time of 24:19.

The meet proved to be a significant point of improvement for the Jeffs, and all runners who competed in last year’s meet improved on their times.

Monica Nimmagadda ’18 ran to a time of 27:29 this year, a time nearly two minutes quicker than her 2014 finish. Black, Frenzel and Lowdon also made impressive improvements, posting times close to a minute faster than those from a year ago.

The Jeffs have a weekend off before racing again at the NEICAAA championships on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Franklin Park in Boston.

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Sports

The Amherst Student • September 30, 2015

Volleyball Suffers First Loss of Season, Now Owns 9-1 Record Julia Turner ’19 Staff Writer Coming off several electric games last week, the Amherst women’s volleyball team suffered its first loss to conference rival Williams in a tough Wednesday night match. But the purple and white bounced back quickly on Saturday with an impressive showing in their double-header at Babson University.

The Firedogs traveled to Williamstown on Wednesday night and overwhelmed the Ephs to start. The first set was a hard-fought match, with each team fighting for every point.

The Amherst defense showed phenomenally.

The Firedogs were tough at the net, allowing them to take a 21-15 lead after falling behind 13-10 earlier in the set. Several timely kills by Marialexa Natsis ’18 and Nicole Gould ’17 secured the first set for the Firedogs 25-17.

The impressive performance from Amherst in the first set prompted several key changes in the Ephs’ strategy, including entering senior libero Caitie Bennell into the game for the second set.

These changes set Williams at ease on the court, and they jumped to an early 6-1 lead and held it, taking the second set 25-13.

The third set saw Williams again jump out to an early lead and try to ride the momentum, but a strong showing from Natsis with several key kills and blocks helped to slow the game back down for the Firedogs. But a couple of key kills from the Ephs allowed them to take the third set 25-16.

The do-or-die fourth set for the Firedogs was the toughest of the game, with multiple rallies resulting in lead changes for both squads. With Williams jumping out to another early lead, Coach Sue Everden entered first-year Lauren Reppert, who made a strong impression in her first conference game appearance with a big kill in her first play out on the floor. This set the tone for Natsis, Maggie Danner ’17 and Lizzie Ahern ’16, who each had huge kills to keep Amherst in the game at 8-13. A key dig by first-year Hayes Honea and a kill by Gould forced a Williams time-out to regroup.

Returning to the court, Williams, the NE-

SCAC leaders in kills per set, showed off their strength in cross-court kills, overwhelming the Amherst defense to take the lead once again. But the Firedogs weren’t done yet. With incredible performances from Natsis, Carter, Danner and Honea, the purple and white staged a 5-0 run to tie up the set at 20. But the effort wasn’t enough to pull out a victory for the Firedogs, and they dropped the fourth and final set 25-22.

Coming off their tough Wednesday loss, the Firedogs showed their resilience, taking two decisive non-conference matches against Clark and Babson. The purple and white handed Clark its first loss of the season in an easy 3-0 sweep led

by Danner’s 13 kills, Carter with 23 assists and Warshaw’s 19 digs. The Firedogs jumped on Clark right away in the opening set, pulling out to a 1712 lead. Kills by Danner, Reppert and Ahern led to a 5-0 run, resulting in a 10-point cushion for the purple and white and allowing them to finish off with an easy 25-13. Amherst staged a major rally in the second set, coming from a 2-7 deficit to pull out the 25-18 win, spearheaded by two kills each from Danner, Gould and Annika Reczek ’18.

By their third set, the Firedogs had a handle on the match and confidently took the final set 25-11.

In their third and final game of the week, the Firedogs faced a tough Babson team. Amherst’s upperclassmen led the team in this match, with Danner and Gould contributing 14 and 10 kills respectively and Warshaw chipping in 23 digs.

This strong showing from the Firedogs’ leaders helped them take the opening set 25-18 sealed with a strong kill from Gould. Babson answered in the second set, coming up with a 25-13 victory.

The purple and white bounced back quickly, however, with Danner, Carter and Natsis contributing to the team’s 5-point run leading to the 25-16 victory. The final set was knotted at 16-16 until the Firedogs rallied for another 5-0 run catalyzed by Newby, Danner, Gould and Asha Walker ’18.

This week, the Firedogs will return home for two tough conference games in LeFrak Gymnasium. On Friday, Oct. 2, the Firedogs will face an undefeated Colby squad at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 they will take on Bates, a team that currently sits at 2-1 in conference play.

Men’s Tennis Excels in First Tournament Ashlyn Heller ’17 Staff Writer Rarely do Amherst players step on to the Williams College campus without a little fire in their bellies. This weekend, the men’s tennis team was no exception, especially after losing to Williams in the semifinals of the NESCAC tournament last spring. The Jeffs headed west for the USTA/ITA regional championships on Friday. Although this time the team was in Wiliamstown for a tournament, not a matchup against their rivals, they undoubtedly were fueled by the memory of the loss as they took the tournament by storm.

In last year’s USTA/ITA regional championship, the duo of Michael Solimano ’16 and Aaron Revzin ’16 reached the finals of the doubles tournament before falling to first seeded Pierre Planche and Christopher Ellis of Bates. This year, however, they went all the way, taking down opponents from Williams and Bowdoin to reach the finals. As Solimano and Revzin dominated one side of the doubles bracket, the Amherst pairing of senior Ben Fife and first-year Zach Bessette vanquished the other, defeating opponents from Middlebury and Trinity. Bessette’s debut tournament eventually featured an allAmherst doubles final: Fife and Bessette vs. Solimano and Revzin.

Although it was an all-Jeffs final, the match was set to be a fierce one. Fife had previously won the doubles title in 2013 with Joey Fritz ’14 by his side. Solimano won the USTA/ITA regional singles championship last year, however. In the end, Solimano and Revzin claimed the championship, defeating Fife and Bessette 6-1, 6-3.

“Playing the Amherst team in the finals is a

lot like Serena playing Venus. We play hard on the concrete jungle, but whatever happens we remain friends and teammates,” Revzin said. “Besette will have plenty of opportunities to make a name for himself going forward and Fife is already a household name.”

“We have a lot of room for improvement in singles, but with the top of our lineup returning and contributions from freshmen, we should be in great shape,” Revzin said.

The team will next compete in the MIT invitational which kicks off on Friday, Oct. 2 with singles and doubles action in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Photo courtesy of Rob Mattson

Michael Solimano ’16 helped the Jeffs earn the doubles title this weekend.

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Jack Hickey ’19 Favorite Team Memory: Making it to the Massachusetts Superbowl at Gillette Stadium with my high school buddies Favorite Pro Athlete: Tom Brady Dream Job: Not sure Pet Peeve: When people are jealous of Boston sports teams Favorite Vacation Spot: Pompano Beach, Florida Something on Your Bucket List: Hunting wolverine in the arctic Guilty Pleasure: Don’t have one Favorite Food: Lettuce Favorite Thing About Amherst: A lot of great people How He Earned It: In the fourth quarter of Amherst’s game against Bates, Hickey ran 33 yards down the left sideline to score his first collegiate touchdown. The first-year running back finished the game with 46 yards on just five attempts, for an average of 9.2 yards per carry. The Jeffs’ ground game dominated throughout, with the offense scoring four running touchdowns. Amherst went on to win 37-14 to start its season off on a strong note.

Shannon Tierney ’19 Favorite Team Memory: Watching game highlight videos Favorite Pro Athlete: Rachel Dawson Dream Job: Chocolatier Pet Peeve: When someone leaves only one cookie left in a package Favorite Vacation Spot: Yellowstone National Park Something on Your Bucket List: Travel to Greece Guilty Pleasure: Mallomars microwaved for 20 seconds Favorite Food: Cheeseburger topped with bacon and a scrambled egg Favorite Thing About Amherst: The support I have received at Amherst — from my coach, my professors, my teammates and my friends How She Earned It: In a tight away matchup against Williams, Tierney scored the game winner and her first collegiate goal early in the first half. The Jeffs never let up the pressure as they ended up scoring two goals in each half to win 4-0. With the win, Amherst moved to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the NESCAC.

Women’s Soccer Suffers First Loss of the Season, Splits on the Weekend Virginia Hassell ’16 Staff Writer The Amherst College women’s soccer team (5-1-0) suffered its first lost of the season last weekend in an away matchup against conference archrival Williams (6-0-0). The Jeffs wrapped up their weekend with a decisive 3-0 win over Wheaton College (6-3) at home.

Heading into Saturday’s contest, Amherst and Williams were the only two remaining undefeated teams in the conference and the only NESCAC schools ranked in the NSCAA coaches poll top 25. The Jeffs’ fate was decided early on when Williams’ Audrey Thomas, gathered a rebounded shot and netted the first and only goal of the game at the 10-minute mark. This goal would be just enough to overcome the 17thranked Jeffs.

“Against Williams, we didn’t start the game like we wanted to,” captain Jessy Hale ‘16 said.

“Instead of attacking we played defensively and waited for them to go to goal. The second half was a completely different game. We were attacking and had them on their heels. We need to work on starting the game with that same mentality and looking to score right away.”

Five minutes after the Ephs’ goal, Amherst mounted a response. Sarah Zuckerman ‘17 delivered a corner kick to Megan Root ’19, whose volley narrowly missed the goal.

In the first half, Williams recorded 10 shot attempts, double the chances posted by Amherst.

Williams also held a 6-4 advantage on corner kicks. Though Amherst wouldn’t allow another goal in the 80 minutes of action following the Ephs’ goal, the team was unable to recover from the 1-0 deficit.

Amherst controlled the tempo of play for much of the second half, but despite multiple opportunities, the Jeffs struggled to find the back of the net. Both teams registered six shot attempts and two corner kicks apiece in the back-andforth battle.

Amherst net minder Holly Burwick, who places third in the NESCAC with a .70 goalsagainst average, recorded six saves in the losing effort.

On Sunday, the Jeffs bounced back from the loss with a convincing victory over Wheaton.

Amherst amassed all three of its goals in the first half.

“We knew we needed to carry our momentum and attacking mentality from the second half of the William’s game into the match against Wheaton,” Rachael Abernethy ’16 said. “It was critical that we start strong and play our game.

I’m very proud of the way we learned to improve from yesterday’s game in order to succeed today.

I’m not only referring to the scoreboard. Today we had fun, and were successful in playing for the love of the game.”

The crafty Jeffs offense pounced early and wouldn’t look back. Amherst displayed the epitome of teamwork finding the net on three combination plays. Emily Hester ’17 notched the first goal seven minutes into the game off of a cross from teammate Hannah Guzzi ’18.

Guzzi tallied another assist when Eden Charles ‘19 collected Guzzi’s shot on goal and finished the play for her first collegiate goal.

Charles rounded out a stellar offensive effort sending a through-pass to Abernethy who was able to touch the ball past the Wheaton keeper.

Burwick recorded her second shutout on the year en route to the victory over Wheaton.

The purple and white enjoy six days off from competition before returning to home action with an in-conference doubleheader featuring NESCAC competitor Tufts (2-4-0) and Connecticut College (1-2-3). Last year the Jeffs defeated Tufs 2-0 but fell 1-0 to the Camels.

In last year’s contest against Tufts, Guzzi and Hale tallied a goal apiece when Amherst outshot the Jumbos 13-8. In their loss against Conn.

College, the Jeffs were outshot 16-9. This year, Amherst looks to complete its first doubleheader sweep and amass two more conference wins.

The Amherst Student • September 30, 2015

Football Kicks Off 2015 Season with Decisive 37-14 Victory Over Bates Devin O’Connor ’16 Staff Writer The Amherst College football team opened the 2015 season by defeating Bates College decisively on Saturday, Sept. 26 thanks to 28 unanswered points.

The purple and white displayed great offensive prowess: They amassed 556 yards (the most yards in a game since 2011) en route to a commanding 37-14 victory. The Jeffs have now won the last eight contests against the Bobcats, pushing their record over Bates to 24-4-2 since their first matchup in 1901.

The start of the game did not indicate that the game would go in favor of the Jeffs. Bates scored an 80-yard touchdown on its first play just 1:31 into the half. The purple and white were quick to respond, however, and tied the game up with 11:51 left in the first quarter.

Amherst drove down the field for 73 yards on six plays, and notched six on the board when sophomore quarterback Reece Foy found receiver Nick Widen ’17 for an 11-yard pass.

Kicker Charlie Wall ’18 secured the extra point to bring the score to 7-7.

Not long after, Amherst reclaimed the ball at its own 10-yard line. The Jeffs drove for another 90 yards in 3:43 to get into the end zone.

Star running back Nick Kelly ’17 stepped up again, rounding out the effort with a five-yard rush to give Amherst the lead with 1:09 to play in the first quarter.

The visiting Jeffs didn’t let up in the next quarter. Just under two minutes into the second stanza, captain Jackson McGonagle ’16 scored on a 23-yard run into the end zone.

The Jeffs used five plays in 1:41 to gain 47 yards. Bates was again unsuccessful with its possession and was forced to punt.

Foy led the team for its longest drive, consisting of 18 plays in 6:33, gaining 80 yards in the effort. He capped off the run with a quarterback sneak and a touchdown, increasing the Jeffs’ lead to 28-7 before the close of the half.

Neither team was able to put numbers on the board in the third quarter. Bates was forced to punt twice, and Amherst was unable to capitalize on a field goal opportunity with 3:38 left in the quarter.

Bates was finally able to flip the switch

in the fourth quarter. The Bobcats had a successful run less than two minutes in, scoring for the first time since their first play of the game. The home team drove for 80 yards over 14 plays, finishing with a 3-yard push into the end zone to cut the deficit to 14 points.

Shortly afterward, Bates had another opportunity when it forced an Amherst punt, but could not capitalize.

Wall kicked a 31-yard field goal, the first of his collegiate career, to increase the Jeffs’ lead to 31-14 with 6:21 left in the game. Bates had another chance to decrease the point difference, but Amherst regained possession when outside linebacker Parker Chapman ’17 forced a Bobcats fumble at the 50-yard line.

First-year running back Jack Hickey ran the ball 33 yards down the left sideline to earn the purple and white another touchdown with only six seconds left on the clock. The game ended with a final score of 37-14 in favor of Amherst.

Foy led the offense in his first collegiate start, going 22 for 33 with 282 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception.

“We are happy with the way things went, but there’s always room for improvement,” Foy said. “The offense played unbelievably well, but we could have capitalized on other opportunities. I am excited to see how we develop over the course of the season.”

Other notable players in the offense include Kenny Adinkra ’16, who rushed for a career-high 104 yards and Devin Boehm ’17.

Boehm notched 10 catches for 125 yards. On the defensive end of the field, captain Chris Gow ’16 and Evan Boynton ’17 each made seven tackles.

Amherst will face Bowdoin in its home opener at Pratt Field on Saturday, Oct. 3. Last season, the Jeffs defeated the Polar Bears in a decisive 30-7 victory.

“As coach always says, it doesn’t matter who we are facing,” Gow said. “Every game in the NESCAC is equally important. What does matter is that we play Amherst football this weekend.”

Kickoff on Pratt Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.

“The first win was great, but there’s another game to prepare for now. We are happy, but never satisfied,” Chapman said.

Women’s Golf Finishes in Fourth Place at Mount Holyoke Invitational Drew Kiley ’18 Managing Sports Editor The Amherst College women’s golf team claimed fourth place in the Mount Holyoke Invitational last weekend, Saturday and Sunday Sept. 26 and 27. Competing in a 14-team field, the purple and white amassed a team score of 651 at the par-71 Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, MA. Little Three archrival Williams won the tournament by a large margin with a team score of 605, placing all five of its golfers in the Top 10 as well as the top-two individual performers. NYU placed second with a team score of 635, and Middlebury claimed third (646). Amherst and Mount Holyoke, who posted team scores of 667, rounded out the top five.

Kate Weiss ’19 once again led the Jeffs with a strong Saturday performance. Carding a 73 on Saturday and an 81 on Sunday, the firstyear tied for third place overall with a 36-hole score of 154.

Zoe Wong ’18 was second on the Amherst squad, tying for 17th place with a two-day total of 162 (81+81). First-year Katie Rosenberg was next, carding an 82 on Saturday and an 85 on Sunday to tie for 23rd place with a total of 167.

Senior co-captain Devyn Gardner finished tied for 25th with a 168 (85+83), and Maggie Schoeller ’19 rounded out the scoring Jeffs with a two-day total of 172 (87+85) to claim 29th place.

Three members of the Amherst squad also competed in individual play. Co-captain Sarah Ressler ’16 carded a 91 on Saturday and an 85 on Sunday for a two-day score of 176 to finish tied for 35th place.

Angelina Huan ’17 tied for 45th-place, posting a 36-hole score of 181 (92+89) and Patricia Huang ’17 finished the two-day tournament tied for 55th place with a 188 (97+91).

“Overall I think we can take away a lot of postives from this weekend,” Ressler said. “A lot of people were really grinding to throw some scores together, so I’m proud of everyone for hanging in there. We had a solid finish, and will look to build on that for next weekend.”

Amherst returns to the course at the twoday Middlebury College Invitational on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3 and 4. Last year, the Jeffs earned a third-place finish at the same tournament. With the team’s top finisher from last year, Jamie Gracie ’17, studying abroad, the Jeffs will look to their younger talent to help them to another strong finish in this year’s action.

Sports

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Justin Serpone Coach’s Corner Head Men’s Soccer Coach

Chris Roll ’17 sat down with head men’s soccer coach Justin Serpone to talk about his playing days, current coaching style and his expectations for the team this season.

Q: Tell us a little bit about how you got into soccer as a youth and its role in your early life.

A: My whole athletic experience growing up was extraordinary. It started at Winchester High School in Winchester, Massachusetts, where I was a member of two very successful teams: varsity basketball and varsity soccer. I knew from that point on that there was something I truly loved about being on a team, no matter if I was the best player or the worst player. There was something there that I wanted to share with others and be involved in for the rest of my life.

Q: Where and how did your coaching career begin?

A: I went on to Drew University where I was a member of some very good soccer teams and played under a coach who ended up being very influential in my life. I loved the idea that you could be a coach and part of a team for a living.

However, I was unsure of whether I wanted to pursue coaching, politics or business at the time of my graduation from Drew. That landed me at Lafayette University where I began to take MBA classes, but also was an assistant on the men’s soccer team. After two weeks into the season, I knew coaching was what I wanted to do.

Q: What is your favorite athletic memory as a player? As a coach?

A: My favorite memory as a player would have to be going to the state championship in 1996 with my Winchester High School basketball team. It was a very unique team and the run to the state final and that time period is a couple months I will never forget. Every year, on the anniversary of the state title game, our team captain sends out a note to catch up with everyone. As a coach, my favorite memory is winning our first NESCAC championship in 2008 at Middlebury. The first time you do anything like that is special and therefore has become a special moment for me.

Q: In your opinion what is the most rewarding part of coaching?

A: We have lost some very tough games to end our seasons in the past few years. Each time that has happened, especially in 2012, the care and the response have been so overwhelming and supportive from people at Amherst now and the alumni. For me, that is what it is all about.

Celebrating with those people when you win and receiving a big hug from those same people when you lose is an unbelievable thing to have and that is what we have here at Amherst — that

type of family and that sense of community.

Q: The toughest?

A: The toughest part of coaching is the inevitability of taking things personally. I do not mean in terms of wins and losses, but we have twentyeight guys that work very hard every day and as the coach, you are forced to make tough decisions. You have to decide who starts and who plays and it is not going to work out the way everyone wants it to. You want all your players to have this awesome experience, and they deserve to with the amount of care and effort they put in, but you take it personally sometimes if it doesn’t work out that way. The only other thing is beating yourself up after losses in terms of what you could have done differently to avoid that result.

Q: Tell us a little bit about the brand of NESCAC soccer and the style that has made our Amherst teams successful.

A: Every game in our league ends with guys coming off the field, unable to continue to play at that level any longer. The effort and physicality are really special in the NESCAC and after ninety minutes, there is no way the players could keep it up even if they wanted to. I think it is a testament to the student-athletes in the NESCAC and the effort they put into the games.

It is also a league in which there is not a big gap between the last place team and the first place team. On any given day, anyone can win. I know we hear that a lot in the sports world but its true in the NESCAC. It was proven last year as firstseeded Tufts was upset by eighth-seeded Connecticut College in NESCAC and then Tufts went on to win the NCAA National Championship. It makes the league a lot of fun.

Q: The team is off to a very strong start this year; what do you attribute that to?

A: We have a bunch of guys that really care. I am not sure we are the most talented team or the deepest team, but I know for certain we have twenty-eight guys that have bought in.

I love our team culture and I love our guys as people and that shows itself in games. We have been tuned in and have made plays when we needed to. However, we have a long way to go and my message to the team today is that we have not done anything yet. We have had a good start but there is also a long way to go. This week will be a good test for us as we play two very good teams at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Tufts.

Photo courtesy of Amherst Athletics

Senior captain Devyn Gardner tied for 25th overall this weekend.

Sports

Photo courtesy of Megan Robertson ‘15

Vickie Ip ’18 performed well in the first tournament of the season, advancing to the quarterfinals in singles play and semifinals in doubles action.

Women’s Tennis Opens Up Fall Season at USTA/ITA Regional Championships Raymond Meijer ’17 Staff Writer The Amherst women’s tennis team traveled to Middlebury this past weekend for the USTA/ITA regional championships, their first extended tournament of the fall season. With strong showings from both veterans and first-years, the team picked up some big wins over the course of the weekend.

The USTA/ITA regional championships is a unique tournament due to its setup, with singleelimination play in both the singles and doubles brackets. The weekend promised many matchups with key NESCAC rivals, a great early season test for the Jeffs to see their progress after their thirdplace finish at national’s last spring. The team brought nine of its players to the tournament, a group that showed Amherst’s incredible pool of talent at all grade levels with three seniors, two juniors, one sophomore and three first-years.

“ITA’s is always interesting because you get to play people who play a different line than you,” co-captain Megan Adamo ’17 said. The weekend promised many matchups with key NESCAC

rivals, a great early season test for the Jeffs to see their progress after their third-place finish at national’s last spring.

In singles action, Amherst’s No. 1 singles player throughout all of last year, Vickie Ip ’18, continued her successful collegiate campaign by making it all the way to the quarterfinals. She won her first two matches with no game closer than 6-3 before facing host Middlebury’s Catherine Miller. In a sophomore versus first-year matchup, Ip’s experience and talent showed through with a 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory. Her run would end in the quarterfinals though in a meeting with the No. 1 seed in the tournament, Wesleyan’s Eudice Chong, to whom she lost 6-2, 6-2 in Amherst’s matchup with the Cardinals last spring. But Ip closed the gap this time around, making inroads by taking the first set 6-3 before falling 6-2, 6-3.

Quite a few other players picked up wins before exiting singles play. Co-captain Sarah Monteagudo ’16 defeated Bowdoin rookie Madeline Rolph in an exciting three-set match, taking the first set 6-4 and then coming back from a 3-6 set loss to win the third set 10-4.

Photo courtesy of Megan Robertson ‘15

WEDS FRI GAME SCHE DULE

Men’s Soccer @ WPI, 8 p.m.

Adamo also had a lengthy first outing, outdueling Brandeis’ Hailey Cohen for a 2-6, 7-6 (3), 10-4 victory before losing in three sets to Bowdoin’s No. 3 singles player from last season, Tess Trinka. Some of the newest members of the squad followed the veterans’ leads and notched wins of their own, thanks to first-years Joanna Booth and Kelsey Chen, who both picked up their first collegiate wins in decisive first round victories.

In doubles play, the top-seeded pairing of Ip and co-captain Sue Ghosh ’16 beat two main NESCAC rivals with victories over tandems from Bates and Williams on day one. On day two of the tournament, Ip and Ghosh narrowly edged Babson’s top duo in the quarterfinals to set up a matchup against Wesleyan’s No. 1 doubles team, a pair that featured the tournament’s No. 1 singles seed Chong. Though Amherst fell in the semifinals to this Wesleyan duo that would eventually become the tournament champion, Ip and Ghosh reached the semifinals for the second year in a row together at this tournament and will surely be a formidable doubles team to face later this season.

Monteagudo and partner Rebecca Pol ’16 also

Photo courtesy of Amherst Athletics

Photo courtesy of Amherst Athletics

SAT

Men’s Golf @ NESCAC Qualifier, TBA Men’s Tennis @ MIT Invitational, TBA Women’s Golf @ Middlebury College Volleyball Invitational, TBA vs. Colby, 8 p.m.

earned a victory in doubles play, a key 8-5 victory over the rival Williams pair of Maya Hart and Mia Gancayco. This win and the others against the Ephs certainly play into the intrigue of the Amherst-Williams matchup set for Saturday, Oct. 3.

The third Amherst doubles team of Jackie Calla ’17 and Chen cruised through the first two rounds, beating their opponents by scores of 8-1 and 8-0.

They finally met their match against a Bowdoin duo in the quarterfinals.

“The team had amazing attitude on the court this weekend,” Ip said. “Everyone fought really hard during their matches and displayed some quality tennis.”

After the succesful weekend of play for the Jeffs, they continue their busy schedule next weekend, when they travel to Williams for a big rivalry matchup. Amherst was just edged by the Ephs 5-4 during the fall season, and then couldn’t quite break the Williams’ streak at the spring national championships. This will be one of the highestpowered matchups in the NESCAC, so look for some excitement to come out of Williamstown this weekend.

SUN Women’s Soccer vs. Tufts, noon

Women’s Tennis @ Williams, 1 p.m.

Men’s Golf @ NESCAC Qualifier, TBA

Field Hockey vs. Tufts, noon

Volleyball vs. Bates, 2 p.m.

Women’s Golf @ Middlebury College Invitational, TBA

Football Men’s Tennis vs. Bowdoin, 1 p.m. @ MIT Invitational, TBA

Men’s Soccer vs. Tufts, 2:30 p.m.

Men’s Tennis @ MIT Invitational, TBA

Women’s Soccer vs. Conn. College, 2 p.m.