I come from Los Angeles, California. My mother is from Jefferson City, Missouri, and my father is from Quetta, Pakistan.

What brought you here to Amherst?

Well, I could say its academic reputation, the sports program or western Massachusetts, but mostly it was to achieve my lifelong quest to see good times killed.

What do you hate most about the East Coast?

No doubt, the weather. It was 70 degrees in L.A. every day over Interterm. And when I saw that the temperature was around –2 degrees here at Amherst, I considered finishing my education at a local junior college. That kind of weather could freeze the skin off your face. No wonder everyone over here is so damn unfriendly. I feel sorry for anyone who has had to spend their entire life in such a miserable climate.

Where are you headed after graduation?

I want to go to law school. I've taken the LSATs and applied to a few schools. Then I think I might assume the papacy.

What has been your most satisfying travel experience?

We have lots of family in Karachi and Quetta, and I visit Pakistan somewhat often. I went back this winter. After Karachi, we went to Lahore for a few days, and I was amazed by the degree of culture and history within the city. The city is filled with Moghul architecture and landmarks. I was taken aback by the beauty of the Badshahi Mosque and Jahangir's tomb. Then my family and I traveled to Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, which is a large southwest province of Pakistan (it borders Afghanistan and Iran). Balochistan is a land of contrast. There are both mountains and huge stretches of plains. There are areas where the temperature shoots up over 120, and areas where it dips below freezing. In Quetta, some former members of the Taliban regime have now immigrated and are living in poverty on the outskirts of the city. When visiting my family's graveyard, I saw former Taliban and many other Afghan refugees living atop some of the cemeteries. I found it interesting to discuss current global issues with Pakistanis of different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. My experiences directly contradicted the obtuse, solidified voice of hatred echoed by Western media sources about these people's views.

What moves you?

At times, the need to go to the bathroom, as well as the memory of former Amherst legend Jesse D. Weber '03. But in a more general sense, I would have to say the prevalence of extreme poverty throughout so many parts of the world. Also, I was moved towards revulsion when confronted by the recent widespread ignorance displayed by multitudes of our nation's population, in relation to their support for the wrongly-waged Iraq War.

Is it true that you date your best friend's younger sister?

[Decline to comment.]

Would you consider yourself particularly shameless?

I resent that question.

What would you say is worth fighting for?

You mean other than when someone bumps into me at a party and spills some of my beer, or smudges my shoe? Oh, in that case, I would say that I am greatly concerned with the causes of the oppressed; whether that be the people of Palestine, Chechnya, Zimbabwe, Kashmir. That's part of why I want to go into law, to help such people.

Are you wearing any pants?

As it is Saturday night, no … seriously, I'm not.

-Matt Langione