Thirty-two years ago this week, Amherst students were overwhelmingly concerned by plans to build a new mall along Route 9. Dual headlines on The Amherst Student's front page read "Progress marches into the area: Mountain Farms Mall" and "Developing farmland in the name of farming may be like killing for peace." The latter Vietnam war reference pointed toward the ironic purpose of the new mall.

Allard Farms of Hadley sold the land for the mall in order to ensure that they would have enough money to keep farming the land it still owned. The agricultural industry at this time was suffering under the burden of heavy taxes, and the Allard owners hoped that with the shoppers drawn to the mall, along with the income from the sale price, they would to be able to sustain the local farming community.

Two other new shopping centers were also being planned at this time, which prompted many students and faculty members to express concern that Hadley would soon lose its rural farming town feel. In addition, The Student noted a potential traffic problem that could rise from the $5 million dollar project, writing that the mall "will create a colossal traffic jam in the area."

In 1972, the Mountain Farms Mall (now known as the Hampshire Mall) consisted of a Woolco discount store, an Almys department store and a Finast supermarket. In addition to these large stores, four cinemas and 25 more shops were to be included in the state-of-the-art "climate-controlled indoor shopping area," The Student reported. The mall, and the various spaces surrounding it, has since undergone various renovations and redesigns. Richard Bronson, an executive with the firm developing the land, was enthusiastic about the appeal of the mall, describing it as "a shopping experience where the family shops, then eats, then sees a movie without ever venturing outside."

A Hadley town official dismissed students' concerts: "This is progress, and when you stop progress you go backwards."