You're from Maine. What is it about Massachusetts that is better than Maine?
Are you nuts? Nothing about Massachusetts is better than Maine. That said, there are some things I enjoy here in Massachusetts that I don't get to enjoy back home: the Korean restaurant on Route 9, paved roads, scorpion bowls and having neighbors.
If you had to be an animal native to Maine, which would it be?
I am an enormous fan of the moose (Alces alces), and to be perfectly honest I've always felt a strong kinship to our state animal. Moose are looming, lanky, goofy-looking creatures; they are large, gentle giants-awkward, but majestic in their own way. The similarities abound. I also do a pretty spot-on moose call, honed over years of teaching wilderness education programs in the summer (true story).
What is your favorite New England-based food dish?
I'm going to say the spicy noodle dish at the Korean restaurant. As for actual regional foods, I'm going to single out lobster, which is phenomenal tasting and, back home, not so expensive if you know where to go.
What is your favorite Val dish?
Corona battered shrimp. There is no substitute for flavor.
On Mondays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., you host your WAMH radio show, "The Hot Stove." What have you played recently that you would recommend to other students? Have you gotten any interesting requests?
Lately I've been playing a lot of tunes by Tom Brosseau, who is a very pleasant singer-songwriter from North Dakota, although my favorites are still Bonnie "Prince" Billy and The Talking Heads. As far as requests go, we always get some colorful local characters phoning in, and occasionally my mom calls to request that I sing something over the air.
What is your favorite part about attending Amherst College?
I love this place endlessly, so it's hard to pinpoint one thing. I've met so many admirable people here with so much to offer, and I honestly believe that attending this school and being around the students and professors here makes you better everyday, even if at times the routine starts to wear on you. So, the people I get to spend my time with would be my favorite thing about Amherst, and the Bird Sanctuary is second, followed by "Korean Restaurant."
Where in the world is Matt Lauer?
On "The Today Show," right?
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?
I loved that show, and wanted to be a gumshoe very badly. I always thought they should just check in San Diego, just to be safe, but I guess that's exactly what she'd want you to think, right? I was a pretty dumb kid.
If you could sit next to anyone, alive or dead, on an international flight, who would you choose and why?
Jed Bartlet, who, while technically a fictional character, would dazzle me with folksy wisdom and presumably get us into first class. After that, the list goes: Vladimir Nabokov, Natalie Portman, Bill Clinton, Lou Reed.
Who is your favorite character from Clue?
Professor Plum. The movie "Clue," by the way, was my favorite movie when I was a kid-I think I've probably seen it upwards of 25 times.
What are your summer plans?
After spending the last five summers as a camp counselor back in Maine, I'm shifting gears this year and heading down to D.C., where I'll be working as a communications and domestic policy intern at the Save Darfur Coalition.
What is the hardest part about being in Gad's?
Gad's is so much fun, and I find myself constantly in awe of the talent and humor of all of the members other than [Bill] Collis. Just kidding, Collis. Nothing about being in Gad's is "hard," but one frustrating thing is when you think of something funny to say two seconds too late, which happens with great frequency.
What would you like to say to fans of your Gad's shows?
Thank you for indulging us. It means a lot.
If you could arrange any song in the world for a perfect a cappella arrangement, what song would you choose?
I'm not much of an arranger, but if I was I would choose either "Graceland" by Paul Simon, "Birds of a Feather" by Phish or "Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell" by the Flaming Lips.
What is your favorite part about being in the Amherst College DQ?
I've only been with the DQ since this fall, but I love getting to sing with people who are much, much better singers than I am. My favorite part is the jackets, though.
You will be directing the 2007 Voices of the Class production for Orientation Week. What are you looking forward to about the project?
I'm looking forward to getting my room key wicked early and putting on a show that the '11s will enjoy, before I spend the rest of the year looking down on them. Stupid freshmen.
What is your favorite part about spring in Amherst? What should first-years do before the semester ends?
When the weather is nice, this place gets markedly friendlier-everyone goes outside, lazes around and it's a great feeling. Before the year ends, I think freshmen should try out some of the things they might have missed so far that are best enjoyed in the spring: the various trails, ponds and small mountains close to the Valley; "Korean Restaurant" on Route 9 and seminal events like Gads v. DQ, just to name a few. There's a lot to take in around here, and you don't want to regret having neglected it all. Good luck, gumshoes!