It looks as though things might be different in the coming year. SoCo has taken the initiative to make positive changes in the social scene at Amherst during the beginning of this year. Most recently, their efforts have been directed to the reinstatement of the 21+ room at TAP. This is a great idea, especially considering that upperclassmen have generally been less inclined to attend TAPs that are packed with mostly freshmen.
Last year when Thursday TAPs declined in popularity, SoCo responded by eliminating them and focusing on improving weekly Saturday TAPs. To fill the spot vacated by Thursday TAPs, we now have a sequence of music nights courtesy of the Program Board, called the Unknown Series.
SoCo is also working to supplement TAP with bar nights on Wednesdays. Though the bar nights will most likely cater to seniors, entry is 18+, catering to all those who would like to have a night in town.
It is also great to see SoCo put more of an effort into activities other than TAP. Last year, they organized Gotcha!, an assassination game in which many Amherst students became involved. Though the game was not a complete success, its popularity represented an encouraging start to a revived Social Council.
That is what SoCo should focus on: continuously working on new projects and initiating programs. They have started out the year on a good footing and all they have to do is to live up to the now higher expectations of the students. For instance, their next project could be to organize activities for Friday nights, aside from cosponsoring Marsh Coffee House.
More importantly, we must remember that SoCo is always actively soliciting suggestions and help from the student body. Students should take advantage of these requests and do what they can to add to the social scene at Amherst, rather than simply complaining.