He is an entrepreneur, an advocate for social change and an incredibly talented man. "Throughout my life, in the midst of an identity crisis, I have this recollection of walking in front of the Lord Jeff," he said. "I frequently go back to that moment and I say to myself, how would that David feel about himself-what he's doing now. I always sort of use that as a touchstone to measure the quality of my life." One can only hope that Amherst will teach every student to assess his/her life, make decisions, and ultimately prepare each students as well as it has prepared Altschul. Destined for Amherst
Altschul grew up hearing both his cousin and a close family friend sing Amherst's praises. He knew that going to Amherst would be an important step in his life-he was right. Altschul hasn't missed a reunion in roughly 20 years, which only further demonstrates his appreciation and nostalgia for the College. "I've always felt instilled with a sense of gratitude for the College," said Altschul. "It's still like a second home."
Along with his unwavering gratitude, Amherst will always have an added sentimental value because he was able to share his college experience with his wife, Margaret, who was his high school sweetheart. Though Margaret is one year his junior, she accelerated her education and was able to graduate from Smith College when Altschul graduated from Amherst in the spring of 1969. The couple was married on the fourth of July of that year.
Altschul majored in American studies, which he claims, "may have been at the time the most popular major [at Amherst] other than biology." During Altschul's time at Amherst, the College was considered "the center of the American studies movement. There was a certain amount of ferment at the time-it was the department to be in," he explained.
Of all his college professors, Altschul felt closest to Professors of American Studies Leo Marx and Bruce Morgan. Marx primarily taught American literature courses, one of which Altschul regards as the "highlight" of his Amherst career. Morgan taught courses that explored the relationship between religion and American studies, and guided Altschul as his thesis advisor.
Core Curriculum
While enrolled at the College, Altschul witnessed the last gasp of the core curriculum, which began after World War II and ended in the mid 1960s. As a freshman, he recalled that "virtually every class but one elective was required." Although Altschul spoke about his required courses as something one "suffered through," he also recognized that all students realized the importance of the classes they had to take. Some students were so greatly impacted by their required courses that they are still the topic of conversation at reunions.
Most of the required courses were centered around philosophical inquiry and necessitated roughly three essays per week. This may seem like a nightmare to science or math majors, but the humanities students received their fair share of work as well: they were forced to take both physics and calculus. Altschul recalled many of the required science courses as being "the bane of many people."
Though the College abandoned the core curriculum years ago, Altschul still defends the need for academic requirements. "These courses were hard work, but without question a very important part of forging a sense of being part of the Amherst community. There is a real value to bringing a group of high school kids in and giving them a common experience and educational core root," he said. "[The required courses] forged intellectual discourse and provided students with a common background which they could then carry through for the rest of their lives. Amherst is not a vocational school. It is important to cover a broad range and discover something that will excite."
Post-grad decisions
During his senior year, Altschul faced a dilemma that many students today still confront-he had to decide whether to attend law school or whether to attend graduate school for a Ph.D. Ultimately, Altschul chose to apply to law school because he hoped to become a public interest lawyer, focusing on civil liberties or environmental law.
Altschul was accepted to both Yale and Harvard University Law Schools, but decided to defer his enrollment. "At the time, we were all facing the possibility of being drafted upon graduation, so we sought alternative forms of service to avoid the draft," said Altschul. "I looked at the Peace Corps, Volunteers in Service to America and teaching in inner city schools. During this time, these programs were aware of the desire of graduates to come up with some kind of alternative service, and they advertised to students. Some went to Philadelphia, Baltimore, Alaska-my wife and I went to a Navajo Indian reservation in Arizona."
Altschul and his wife stayed in the Kinon community in Arizona for two years, during which they lived with other teachers in a small boarding area. The nearest supermarket was 100 miles away, and in their first year there, they lived without the luxury of newspapers, TV or radio. Their only means of communication with the outside world was through a public telephone and Newsweek magazine. By their second year on the reservation they managed to obtain a TV, though it only received one station.
In adjoining classrooms, he and his wife taught roughly 30 six-year-old students pre-math skills, reading readiness and English as a Second Language. At first they were forced to communicate with the children through an aide. Looking back on his time there, Altschul remarked that "the experience was one [he] would never forget."
One student of his stands out in his memory more than any other-Brenda Lee Jones, a girl who was exceptionally bright and spoke a little bit more English than the other students. "I have one particularly stunning photo of her," Altschul remembered. "When I think about it, I taught at the reservation 34 years ago. Those kids are now 40 years old."
The move to Yale
The next stop on Altschul's journey was Yale University. "It was a great law school, and Amherst prepared me for it, no question," explained Altschul. "I would say, endearingly, without saying that people walked around with a haughty arrogance, that everyone there knew that when they graduated they would get a great job. Yale graduates [are] very much in demand. Whether you're at the top or bottom, you'll get a great job. That's the nice thing about that."
While at Yale, Altschul admitted to being seduced by the process of recruitment of the most prestigious law firms of the country. "At first I wanted nothing to do with those interviews," Altschul recalled. "'That will never be me,' I would say. But by the time I was a second-year student I felt there was no harm."
Altschul eventually decided to try working in Phoenix because his wife was drawn to the state's beautiful climate. At the law firm in Phoenix, Altschul worked with a great deal of political liberals not unlike himself; he admired their balance of corporate and pro-bono work. By his third year of law school, Altschul decided that he would "commit to that life."
California dreams
Eventually, Altschul and his wife made their way to California, where they reside to this day in Encino with their 15-year-old daughter, Emily. Altschul also has three sons: Jonathan, 28, Jared, 24 and Eric, 22. Initially, he took a job working for a Los Angeles law firm for a year before finding his niche: entertainment law.
Early in the '70s Altschul entered into private practice, and worked for artists such as Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Neil Diamond, Jimmy Buffett and Chaka Kahn. In 1980 he left his private practice to work at Warner Brothers Records. "This line of business was far from my thoughts when I went to law school originally," remarked Altschul. "The firm had a reputation for being a really wonderful place to work and having a real concern for [its] quality of music and its relationship with artists and the people who worked there."
Altschul remained at Warner Brothers Records for 21 years, and he acknowledged that there was virtually never a time when he was disappointed to be there. He went on to become director of business affairs and eventually secured a position as vice president of the company. "At the time, I was involved in dealing primarily with artists such as Paul Simon, Madonna, REM, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty-virtually every major artist in those 21 years," explained Altschul.
Unfortunately, the departure of the company's head figure signalled many changes. "Company policy became more bureaucratic and less sensitive to the needs of employees and artists, and I no longer felt comfortable being there," said Altschul. He took a year off to focus on other interests and opened his own law firm in 2002. "I created a life for myself where I had the ability to achieve my own balance without having to be responsive to other people in my work environment," he said. "I later formed a partnership and now have a very successful small music-industry-oriented law firm representing Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, Nine Inch Nails, The World Football Federation and EMI Records."
A return to the arts
During Altschul's year away from legal representation, he rediscovered his love for classical music. He played the saxophone during his time at the College, but he had sold the instrument in order to buy a tape deck while at Yale. Altschul's longing to return to music caused him to take up the bassoon, which he now plays in a local orchestra.
Altschul has also been an amateur photographer throughout his life. "People would admire my work and I began to think 'maybe I do have a talent.' The year after I left Warner Brothers Records I began to study photography again, and I took a number of field courses in landscape photography," said Altschul. At the 35th reunion of his class last year, Altschul displayed an exhibit of his work at a local gallery. His work can also be found on his Web site: www.landscapesbydavid.com.
Commitment to service
When Altschul isn't representing music artists, playing the bassoon or photographing various landscapes he involves himself in two invaluable organizations: the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) and People for the American Way (PFAW). LAANE, which was co-founded by Amherst graduate Madeline Janis-Aparicio '82, is a community-based organization which fights for social and economic justice on behalf of Los Angeles' low-income residents. Altschul co-chairs PFAW, a national non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. which focuses on protecting civil rights and liberties as well as ensuring the separation of church and state. The organization also strives to advance the values of tolerance and equality in America.
Like many Amherst alumni, Altschul's career has experience many unexpected twists and turns. He has managed to set himself apart, however, by sticking to his personal values throughout every decision he has made, whether it has been related to his career in law or giving back to the community.