The Best Food Hacks to Improve Dining at Valentine

When we go to Valentine Dining Hall (Val), we all have a common goal in mind: to eat. Whether you are there to catch up with friends, do homework or write that article for The Student you’ve been procrastinating on, the main reason for going to Val is the open access to food. It doesn’t matter if it isn’t official dining hours; there is always something to drink or munch on while you do whatever it is that you are there to do. Although we may refuse to admit it, Val is at the heart of campus lif

2020 Oscars: The Good, The Bad, The Most Memorable

Even before the 92nd Oscars aired this past Sunday Feb. 9, everyone knew there would be a lot to digest. With tensions running high since the Academy once again presented a nominee list comprised almost entirely of white, male filmmakers, this year’s Oscars were bound to deliver memorable moments. To catch up everyone who chose not to sit through three hours of ridiculously long acceptance speeches (we’re looking at you, Joaquin Phoenix), here are a few of the best and worst moments, along with

“Joker” Showcases Powerful Acting, But Fails On Plot

Despite the controversy surrounding its depiction of violence and loneliness, “Joker” broke box office records this weekend, bringing in $96 million in North America and making the film the highest-grossing October opening of all time. Prior to its official release, the movie was both lauded and criticized, winning the top prize at the Venice Film Festival while its most vocal critics pointed out the film’s potential to incite violence. “Joker,” directed by the “Hangover” trilogy’s Todd Phill

The Comforting Charm of “The Great British Baking Show”

For years, I was confused as to why so many people loved “The Great British Baking Show.” It has none of the elements of the typical American competitive reality TV show — there is no tension between contestants, no surprise challenge element and no significant monetary reward. So last fall, I decided to finally watch it, and I got it. What it lacks is exactly what makes it great. The contestants and the judges are there for the baking, and so are we, the audience. It is what we all need for a

Beneath the Blue Hat, a Devotion to Her Art

“If the mammoth ever goes out of style, her blue baseball cap should be the new Amherst mascot.” In one sentence, longtime friend Hannah Firestone ’19 encapsulated what makes Emily Park ’19 so special: she is what every student coming to Amherst envisions they will be. Park, a native of Columbia, Maryland, is not only incredibly successful in the academic setting, but she is also, according to Firestone, someone cherished and respected by all of her friends. Taking Full Advantage of the Open Cu

Celebrating Agnès Vardas’ Life Through “Faces Places”

“What I liked was meeting amazing people by chance. Chance has always been my best assistant.” In a scene from her last film “Faces Places,” Agnès Varda speaks to her co-director, JR, about their experience filming their documentary and revels in the magnificence of capturing the stories of different people, verbally or visually. Without a perfectly defined goal for the film, Varda and JR travel through France, taking photos of various people and pasting enlarged versions of them in memorable pl

“Master Chef Junior” Returns for an Exciting Seventh Season

Gordon Ramsay is easily one of the most famous celebrity chefs in the world. Even those few people who have never watched an episode of any of his more than 10 television shows know him as the ruthless chef with great insults. Creative insults, whether on television or Twitter, have become his brand. Despite this, there is one platform where the famous Gordon Ramsay insults make no appearance: “MasterChef Junior.” Last week, season seven of “MasterChef Junior” premiered on Fox, and served as a f

Students Tackle Meaning of Truth In Speaking Contest

Truth: it is a concept that seems so simple, but is so difficult to find, believe and explain. Yet on Thursday, Feb. 21, 10 Amherst students stood in front of a crowd of peers and faculty judges and did just that; they found their truths, believed them and explained them confidently and passionately. Back in December, 31 students submitted their proposals for an oration on the concept of truth. The top 10 were chosen to stand on a stage and share their knowledge. The fact that this was a competi

“Beautiful Boy” Is a Stark Reminder of the Tragedy of Addiction

When I first heard about “Beautiful Boy,” I had no idea what it was about, and I didn’t care much either. Steve Carell’s name was enough to get me in the theater. I never watched the trailer or the countless interviews in which Timothée Chalamet and Carell carefully explain the plot and meaning of this story. Needless to say, when I finally watched the movie, it hurt. Based on David Sheff’s 2008 memoir of the same name, “Beautiful Boy” tells the story of Nic Sheff’s (Chalamet) struggle with dru