Zach Jonas

Zach is a managing news editor for The Student. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri and plans to major in biology before attending medical school. When not in the newsroom, Zach may be drinking iced co

As Delta Variant Surges, College Tightens Covid Rules in Spite of Student Protests

Amid concerns surrounding the Delta variant of Covid-19, the college announced on Tuesday that it has tightened its public health rules for the first two and a half weeks of the fall semester. The announcement has generated backlash among students who say the new rules are too restrictive.

Daniel Rendón: Not Your Classic Story Arc

Daniel Rendón: Not Your Classic Story Arc

Just as Rendón aims to portray unconventional narratives through his theatre, he has a unique story of his own. Photo courtesy of Daniel Rendón ’21. “There was no way I could genuinely recreate everyone. If I were to make an honest attempt — and this isn’t to say I

South Asian Students Association Holds Panel, Fundraiser for Ongoing Covid Crisis in India

The South Asian Students Association (SASA) held a virtual conversation with several humanities and STEM professors to discuss the ongoing Covid-19 crisis in India on May 17. More than 50 students and faculty attended the event, some with personal connections to the country. The Zoom event complements other SASA efforts

Students Demand Immediate Release of College’s Student Relief Funds

On Sunday, April 18, the Association of Amherst Students (AAS), the First Generation Association and the Covid-19 Student Task Force released a letter calling on the Office of Financial Aid to immediately disburse the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds III (HEERF III) to qualifying students. HEERF III was created on

Students Walk Out in Protest After Police Killing of Daunte Wright; AAS and BSU Demand Abolition of ACPD

Students Walk Out in Protest After Police Killing of Daunte Wright; AAS and BSU Demand Abolition of ACPD

At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 13, hundreds of students, dressed in black, left their classes to gather on the First-Year Quad and participate in a #BlackMindsMatter walkout coordinated by the Black Students Union (BSU). They were spurred by the recent killing of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man

board of trustees

Board of Trustees Announces Divestment from Fossil Fuels by 2030

The college will not make any new investments in fossil fuel investment funds moving forward, Board of Trustees Chair Andrew J. Nussbaum ’85 announced in a letter to the community on March 31. The college will also phase out its remaining investments in fossil fuel funds by 2030 and take

ACPD Reduces Reliance on Armed Officers, but Refuses Demands to Disarm

ACPD Reduces Reliance on Armed Officers, but Refuses Demands to Disarm

As part of its commitment to the Reclaim Amherst Campaign, the Association of Amherst Students (AAS) held a town hall with Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety John Carter regarding the state of the Amherst College Police Department (ACPD) and campus operations. During the virtual meeting on March

College Admits Eight Percent of Applicants for Class of 2025

The college released its admissions decisions for the class of 2025 on March 29, admitting eight percent of a record-breaking 14,000 applications, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Matthew McGann told The Student. The number of applicants for the 2020-21 admissions cycle increased by 32 percent compared to last

College Plans to Host In-Person Commencement on May 30

The college intends to have an in-person commencement ceremony for the class of 2021, President Biddy Martin announced in an email to the college community on March 19. All seniors, regardless of their current location, are invited to participate. Seniors may also invite two guests to the ceremony, though individuals

College Changes Quarantine Protocol for Vaccinated Students

covid protocols

College Changes Quarantine Protocol for Vaccinated Students

The college has slightly adjusted its Covid-19 protocols for vaccinated community members. Persons who are fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine after an exposure to individuals with Covid-19, Dean of Students Liz Agosto told The Student. The change comes just after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Following Cancellation of Spring Study Abroad Programs, Students Consider Alternatives

Over two dozen students had their spring 2021 study abroad plans nixed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Students reported feeling disappointed by and understanding of the college’s decision not to support their programs. The Office of Global Education (GEO) has since identified a number of fellowships and internships for students

NESCAC Presidents Reach Agreement on Spring Seasons

President Biddy Martin and other NESCAC presidents have reached an agreement on a limited schedule of conference competition for spring sports, the NESCAC announced in a statement on March 9. Each college in the conference will determine whether to participate, and for each sport, a minimum of six teams across

Composer, Pianist and MacArthur Fellow Jason Moran Gives Annual Rapaport Lecture

The college held its annual Rapaport Lecture, titled “The Sound Will Tell You” on Feb. 18, featuring Artistic Director for Jazz at The Kennedy Center Jason Moran. A musical innovator, composer of 16 solo albums and jazz pianist, Moran was named a winner of the MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellowship in

Thoughts on Theses: Samuel Grondin ’21

Thoughts on Theses: Samuel Grondin ’21

Samuel Grondin ’21 is a biochemistry and biophysics major. He is writing a thesis on the discovery of small and previously unknown proteins in the bacteria pseudomonas aeruginosa, which could prove crucial in fighting hospital-acquired infections. His thesis advisor is Assistant Professor of Biology Mona Wu Orr. Q: What

Workday Begins Replacing ACData, Modernizing College’s Business Processes

The college transitioned from ACData to the digital Workday system for human resources, finance and shared services business processes in early January. Workday is a cloud-based application software that was designed to centralize the storage and organization of Amherst workplace information. The process of moving from the decades-old ACData HR

“Before We Are Scientists, We Are Humans”: Students, Faculty Learn to Navigate Identity in STEM Classrooms

Amherst Uprising

“Before We Are Scientists, We Are Humans”: Students, Faculty Learn to Navigate Identity in STEM Classrooms

When not teaching introductory chemistry and biochemistry, solving the puzzles of protein folding or checking in with students, Professor of Chemistry Sheila Jaswal, affectionately referred to as Dr. J by her students, strives to become a better human in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Her efforts coincide with those

AAS Adopts Ranked Choice Voting

The Association of Amherst Students (AAS) senate voted to change the current voting system to ranked choice voting (RCV) for all elections on Nov. 17. Under the proposed amendment, students would rank each candidate from first to fifth place, and the election would proceed under a set of runoff rounds

A Brief Interview With David Kessler ’73, Co-Chair of President-Elect Biden's Covid-19 Task Force

On Nov. 8, President-elect Joe Biden announced the appointment of Doctors David Kessler ’73, Marcella Nunez-Smith and Vivek Murthy as co-chairs of his new coronavirus task force. In a brief interview with The Student, Kessler discussed the college’s formation of Covid-19 protocols, conducting weekly briefings with President-elect Biden

Spring Plans Announced, Seniors, Juniors, First Years Invited to Return

Here’s what you need to know: The college announced that it would allow first years, juniors, seniors and transfer students to return on campus in the spring.Around 1,200 students will be invited on campus, which is similar to the number of students that the college had

Education Studies Major To Be Available in 2021, Per Faculty Vote

Education Professions Fellows visit the Springfield Renaissance School in Springfield, Mass. in 2014. Photo courtesy of Amherst College Loeb Center. After years of advocacy, students will be able to declare a major in education studies as early as the fall 2021 semester. The college faculty overwhelmingly voted to approve the

College Moves to “Covid-19 Level Two: Heightened Awareness” Following Case Surge in Amherst Area

On Oct. 9, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Kevin Weinman announced that the college would move from to Covid-19 Level Two: “Heightened Awareness” on the Campus Operating Status scale. On Oct. 8, Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) designated the Town of Amherst as “higher risk” in its weekly Covid-19

Several Swastikas Found Carved Into Book and Plow Farm Tables

Several small swastikas were found carved into a table at the Book and Plow Farm, Chief of Police John Carter announced in a community-wide email on Oct. 10. Since the discovery, the college has condemned the act and the Amherst College Police Department (ACPD) has moved the table to police

Rule-Breaking, Bubble-Bending: Students Work With — and Around — Covid Protocols on Campus

In a Sept. 25 article, Fortune magazine summarized the college’s creation of a Covid-19 “bubble,” mentioning that students’ adherence to health and safety protocols, including three tests per week and a limited number of students, would hopefully keep the virus at bay. While the bubble may keep Covid-19 outside

College Mourns the Loss of Sara K. Schmitter

Sara Kathleen (Hoctor) Brunner Schmitter passed away on Saturday, Sept. 5, President Biddy Martin informed the community in a campus wide email. Schmitter, 44, worked at the physical plant at the college for over 15 years. “Among her friends and co-workers, she was known for her good humor, her courage,

Amherst-Area Students Devise Scandal to Oust Alex Morse from Democratic Congressional Primary

Alex Morse sits on a porch. Photo courtesy of Alex Morse for Congress. Now a defeated challenger in the primary race for Massachusetts’ first Congressional district, Holyoke mayor Alex Morse saw a campaign that came under fire — then made a comeback — after the leadership of the College Democrats of Massachusetts

Taking One Day at a Time: Over 900 Students Adjust to Life on a Covid-Cautious Campus

Taking One Day at a Time: Over 900 Students Adjust to Life on a Covid-Cautious Campus

For the past three months, the college has set forth careful, calculated planning for the precarious experiment that began last week: bringing the 937 students from across the pandemic-stricken country to live and learn on campus. It did not go off without a hitch; students tested the waters and saw

First-years and Sophomores Set to Live On-Campus in College Re-Opening Plan

First-years and Sophomores Set to Live On-Campus in College Re-Opening Plan

Between 1,200 and 1,500 students, mostly first years and sophomores, are invited to return to campus in the fall as a part of the college’s reopening plan. Photo courtesy of Matai Curzon ’22. Here’s what you need to know: The college will bring back

What Do We Know About Fall 2020? Looking Ahead of the July 1 Announcement

What Do We Know About Fall 2020? Looking Ahead of the July 1 Announcement

With the college approaching a final decision on operations for the fall 2020 semester, the administration has nodded to a number of potential shifts through emails to the community, Q&A sessions with donors and other modes of communication. Though July 1 — the date around which the college

Avery Farmer: Common Sense Leadership Shows the Way

Avery Farmer: Common Sense Leadership Shows the Way

After graduating from Amherst, Farmer will work at Berkeley Legal Group in Boston before attending law school on the East Coast. Photo courtesy of Avery Farmer ’20. When I started out as a news writer for The Student during my first year, I found myself constantly interviewing one student:

College Reports its First Coronavirus Case

The college confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on campus, President Biddy Martin announced in an email to the college community on April 23. “A custodial staff member received the news of the positive test results yesterday and is in isolation at home and doing well,” Martin wrote. “I know