Review: The Powerful Hit of a Hammer

The latest installment in the Marvel superhero franchise, “Thor: The Dark World,” hit theaters Friday, Nov. 8. Much like “The Avengers” (2012) and other recent films from the series, it does not disappoint. The movie, directed by Alan Taylor, begins with a flashback from eons ago including some “Dark Elves,” the more evil and enhanced warriors called the “Kursed” and Thor’s grandfather, Bor, on the planet Svartalfheim. Before you chuckle, these elves are nothing like Santa’s helpers. While they

What Does a Government Shutdown Mean Anyway?

Calling all Economics and Political Science majors! This issue is for you. Last week, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, the United States government shut down. With all the hoopla surrounding the impending doom, I was expecting something akin to an apocalyptic scene from 2012 or “The Day After Tomorrow.” Instead, Tuesday was a calm, typical day in the Amherst bubble if you ignored the New York Times front-page headline: “Government Near Broad Shutdown in Budget Impasse.” Perhaps the various reports would hav

The Color-Blind Constitution: A Point-Counterpoint on Affirmative Action

On Saturday, the normally empty Johnson Chapel was abuzz. Older generations of alumni enthusiastically mingled about in the main congregation area of the building, while current students mixed with the alumni or kept to themselves. While younger students comfortably dressed in jeans or shorts with short-sleeved tee shirts, the alumni stuck to a less casual appearance of pressed khakis and a mixture of polos or light blouses with light cardigans on top. Beloved President Carolyn “Biddy” Martin wa

A Day of Remembrance, Did You Forget?

Last Thursday began like any other day for yours truly — find a quiet spot at Val to eat breakfast, look over the previous night’s psychology reading, and peruse the day’s issue of The New York Times. I was surprised to find the front cover of a gray-haired man in uniform, staring somberly ahead at the camera with a blurred background behind him and the caption below: “Remembering 9/11.” With merciless guilt growing in my stomach, I realized that I had forgotten Remembrance Day, but I was not al

Vandalism Is Not Okay...Unless You’re Quoting

Amherst College is a community with a rich history in the arts, literature, economics and many other fields. We are a liberal arts college with the features of a smoothly-run world, with our law enforcement protecting the Mead Art Museum and patrolling the campus. There is usually a clear line between creativity and breaking the law because of this … unless it’s vandalism. In the most recent issue of Amherst Magazine, “Love Letters on the Bathroom Wall”, an article by Eric Goldscheider, romanti