Rants and Raves: Peering Out of the Fishbowl

Prospective student tours are a more than slightly annoying disruption to campus life, rants Senior Managing Editor Liam Archacki ’24.

Jason Moran Kicks Off Presidential Scholars Series

Jason Moran, the college’s first 2022-2023 Presidential Scholar, is an award-winning jazz pianist who spent the last week hosting a series of masterclasses and lectures on campus. Assistant Arts & Living Editor Noor Rahman ‘25 breaks down his final event, featuring a panel and concert.

Three Stories Down: Reflections From the Catacombs

Senior Managing Editor Liam Archacki ’24 shares a piece he wrote during one of his long study sessions in the bottom level of Frost, which makes the case for C-level as, improbably, the best place to work on campus.

“The Spread of Covid-Lite”

Cartoonist Miles Garcia ’25 illustrates the precautions taken by many students when it comes to ensuring the health and safety of the campus at large.

Wisdom and Perspective: Discussing Identity with Michelle Zauner

The Multicultural Student Union hosted Michelle Zauner of the pop band Japanese Breakfast in Johnson Chapel on May 4. Sarah Weiner ʼ24 recounts her wisdom and charm.

Schrodinger’s Matt: A Covid Saga

Luke Herzog ʼ24, Lena Lamer ʼ22, and Matt Vitelli ʼ24 recount a true story of deep confusion: when a food delivery to Matt’s quarantine room at the Econo Lodge mysteriously disappears, the three set out to solve the mystery.

Acclimating to Academics Abroad: Exchange Students Explain

This semester, Amherst College hosted nine exchange students from around the world. Pho Vu ’23, an exchange student herself, delves into the challenges of making Amherst home.

Seeing Double: Tradition, Tradition!

Seeing Double Columnist Cole Graber-Mitchell ’22 reflects on his four years at Amherst, concluding his last solo column with a claim that the college is in need of more student traditions.

Moved by a Melody: Choral Society’s Spring Concert

Last Friday, the Amherst College Choral Society performed their Spring concert, “Everlasting Voices.” Managing Arts and Living Editor Alex Brandfonbrener ’23 recaps their first performance since the Glee Club’s merger with Chorus.

Poetic Perspectives: “Hush.”

In this week’s issue of “Poetic Perspectives,” Managing Arts and Living Editor Aniah Washington ’22 shares a poem about her mother, documenting unfulfilled dreams and generational trauma.

“Collecting 101”: The Art of Acquiring Art

“Collecting 101: Acquiring Art for the Mead” is an internship that helps select new pieces for the Mead Museum while studying the art of curation. Cassidy Duncan ’25 reflects on her experience with visiting art studios and presenting potential pieces for the Mead to the Amherst community.

Poetic Perspectives: “Narratives of Trauma”

In this week’s issue of “Poetic Perspectives,” Mikayah Parsons ’24 presents “Narratives of Trauma,” which critiques the expectation for Black students to share their traumas in order to gain admission into elite institutions.

Poetic Perspectives: “Masterpiece” and “A Walk”

Ernest Collins ’23 shares two striking poems for this week’s edition of Poetic Perspectives. The pieces both feature themes of self-discovery and resiliency.

Fifth Annual Black Art Matters Festival Celebrates Artists, Poets, and Musicians

Managing Arts and Living Editor Alex Brandfonbrener ’23 discusses the fifth annual Black Art Matters festival with participating artists and performers. The event was held on Thursday, March 24, in the Powerhouse.

Seeing Double: For More than Zero Gazebos

Seeing Double Columnist Cole Graber-Mitchell ’22 discusses why Amherst should build a gazebo (or multiple) on campus.

The Mesmerizing Murals of Santurce, San Juan

The neighborhood of Santurce in San Juan is known for its vibrant street art. Cassidy Duncan ’25 discusses the rich history and culture of Puerto Rican murals, which she prompted to investigate during a spring break trip.

A Covid Reflection: Mourning and Community

Tiia McKinney ’25 shares a story of mourning and grief, chronicling two years of Covid for her community in The Bahamas, punctuated by the deaths of loved ones.

The Power of Public Speaking

The college recently hosted its annual public speaking competition and the Litfest Spoken Word Slam. Mikayah Parsons ʼ24 speaks with participants of the events about the lack of a spoken word community at Amherst.

The Implications of NYFW’s Balaclava Trend

The balaclava, a garment that echoes Muslim head coverings, has swept the fashion world. Noor Rahman '25 breaks down the trend's insensitivity and the discrimination Muslim women face for wearing hijab and niqab.

Poetic Perspectives: “Sour Grapes”

In our first edition of "Poetic Perspectives," Mikayah Parsons '24 pens a coming-of-age tale of queerness, grief, and growth.

Val Hacks: Deviled Eggs

Audrey Rosevear '22 presents "Val Hacks," a column dedicated to exploring the culinary possibilities of Valentine Dining Hall. This week, here is her recipe for deviled eggs, Val-style.

Wasted Words: How Wordle Disrespects Words

Word games such as the New York Times Spelling Bee and Wordle have skyrocketed in popularity. Ross Kilpatrick '24E breaks down his issues with the games, arguing that words are relegated to trivial tiles, stripped of their meaning.

Val Hacks: "Tikka Masala"

Whether its lasagna or kalbi short ribs, everybody has a Val meal they'd rather avoid. Staff Columnist Audrey Rosevear ’22 presents “Val Hacks,” a column dedicated to exploring the alternative culinary possibilities available at Val. Up first, her Tikka Masala recipe.

Performance Gone Virtual: Terras Irradient

As the only Christian a cappella group at Amherst, faith is central to Terras Irradient’s performance. In a normal year, the choir shines on stage, making music only with the sounds of their voice. But do these key elements of their performance translate to Zoom? Even with their members spread across the nation, Terras Irradient, or TI for short, has managed to maintain their identity, defined not only by their music and faith, but also by their close-knit community. When students were suddenly

"Ticket to Ride" Provides High Stress and High Excitement Entertainment

Imagine a long train ride, carrying you all across Europe with regular stops in new cities where you can meet new people each day.  Unfortunately, for the moment, the pandemic has made travel experiences like that only possible in our daydreams. In the meantime, my friends and I have discovered the next best thing: “Ticket to Ride.” “Ticket to Ride” is a fun and intense board game that requires lots of focus and persistence. The board is a map — the version I play is Europe, but they make many

Williams Who? The Rivalry Between Amherst and Williams Explained

Over the last 200 years, many things have changed about Amherst. The student body is no longer all white, all male and all rich. The smallpox-spreading “Lord Jeff” mascot has been replaced with the image of an extinct animal. And there is a new Science Center which costs almost as much as the GDP of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. However, one aspect of Amherst’s identity has persevered: our infamous rivalry with Williams College. While this tradition largely survives through an annual fo