Inside the Red Room: Rave, Civic Engagement Fund, and Town-Campus Committee!

AAS President Charles Tufenkji ’28 and Vice President Joey Supik ’27 here! We have a few important updates for you all.

To address the rave-sized elephant in the room, we hope the statement we released on Tuesday clears up any misconceptions about the rave’s early closure. The most succinct answer we can provide is that a large influx of non-Amherst students showed up early to the event with falsified Amherst IDs, which forced security to check IDs more diligently, slowing down the line. The crowd outside grew and students began pushing towards the entrance, moving security back and stirring aggression directed at hired personnel and college staff. The security and staff expressed these concerns, which led to a pause at the rave. This pause, however, didn’t improve the conditions or address the security concerns, which led to the administration’s decision to entirely shut down the event.

On Monday, we heard from Senior Associate Dean of Students Megan Lennon and Associate Dean of Students Crystal Norwood about their experience at the rave and what led to its shutdown. Senators and students from public comment had the opportunity to ask questions to Norwood and Lennon, whom we’re glad came to speak to us on such short notice. We’re still seeking information, and will speak more about the issue at a later time once we have had more communication with relevant administrators and staff members.

The first new update is the Amherst Civic Engagement Fund, proposed by senator Jiahuai Kang ’28. The fund’s purpose is to allow any non-AAS member student access to funding that may be used to benefit our local communities. Eligible uses of the fund include, but are not limited to, volunteer service, renovating community spaces, health and wellness services, and supplies for service projects. The only clear ineligible uses are cash donations to organizations or individuals, monetary compensation for Amherst students, and projects not explicitly focused on community improvement or service.

The fund will be available in spring 2027, with an initial allocation of $2,500 from AAS and a $2,500 allocation from the Center for Community Engagement, who have graciously partnered with us. At the beginning of the spring semester, AAS will send out more guidelines and information about how to apply for and use the funding.

The second update is the Town-Campus Committee, brought together by senators Dakota Costa ’27, Rizwan Ayub ’27, and Mayen Thorsen ’29. These three, over the course of this summer, created a new committee to expand Amherst College and Town of Amherst relations. The committee’s duties entail meeting with the Amherst Town Manager and community stakeholders once a semester, communicating with the Amherst Town Government, advertising local events and initiatives to students, and sending out a yearly survey to students to understand their town concerns. The committee will also organize a “semesterly service project,” or several smaller service projects, to encourage students to participate in the local community. AAS will elect its three members to the committee this Monday, and the committee will have one at-large seat for any student interested in applying. The email for the at-large seat will come out this Friday.

The last update we have is from the Ford Committee. On Oct. 16, the committee met with Program and Building Director of the Ford Student Center, Megan Nicklaw, and was able to address a few concerns. The Mind Spa will install curtains or a similar mechanism to cover the windows. The bulletin boards around Ford have been installed for a while and offer a much-needed outlet for students to promote events and clubs. The Arts Committee is working with Nicklaw on different projects to liven up Ford, such as a proposal to have live music outside Betty’s Kitchen. While Ford will not be open 24/7, it will be open until 1 a.m. every day. To reserve rooms in Ford, specifically the third floor conference-style rooms, ask the Ford info desk or email Student Engagement and Leadership for a Google form. There will be a new reservation platform likely launching in the spring, which we will talk about more when it arrives. There is also a printer in Ford, located on the third floor inside the Office of Identity and Cultural Resources, specifically near the Multicultural Resource Center. Nicklaw is open to having more trash cans around the student center, but needs specific places in mind for where to place them. Please contact the committee members Chloe Lee ’28, Rohan Sharma ’27, Sascha Reveron ’30, and Beckett Lawrence-Apfelbaum ’29 to give suggestions on trash can placement. Please also use the form here to share issues, suggestions, and praises for the student center. 

We apologize for a very tumultuous week by AAS’s standards, and we hope that if students have any questions, they reach out to us through email (ctufenkji28@amherst.edu or jsupik27@amherst.edu) or in person.