In Zachary Rosen's profile of Dave Esty '54 in your Homecoming issue, Mr. Esty recalls that, back in his days at the College, many students were united by their common experience in the armed services: "Most of us wore uniforms. The College was very patriotic." As a member of the class of '53, I have no recollection of such patriotic feeling, just a desire to avoid getting drafted and sent to Korea. Mr. Esty also recalls that Robert Frost was "a close friend" of his with whom he would "go into town and have a few beers." Would that have been at Barselotti's or Grandonico's (two notable Amherst bars at the time)? My own acquaintance with Frost was of a man who drank almost not at all and would be unlikely to head out for a few beers with anyone.
William H. Pritchard '53
Professor of English
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Amherst school spirit needs a positive spin
The front page of the Oct. 26 issue of The Amherst Student showed a nice little photo of the Homecoming bonfire and "pep rally." What it didn't show is the total lack of appreciation that was demonstrated for what it means to have school spirit.
I think that getting people involved in supporting sports teams, singing groups and other facets of campus life is vital, but not in the way that both Social Council (SoCo) promotes and students buy into.
The so-called "rally" seemed more like series of inept and offensive trash-talking speeches. Representatives of several sports teams got up and made some of the lamest attempts at insulting other colleges I've ever seen. It's hard to tell whether it was SoCo's fault or that of the team captains, but either way something has to change.
And don't even get me started on the "Williams Sucks" and "Wuck Filliams" t-shirts. Having school spirit means being proud of your school, not being angry and insulting towards other schools.
At this same "pep rally," my a capella group sang the Lord Jeffrey Amherst fight song, the song that brings tears to the eyes of every Amherst alum from the class of '75 or earlier who knows it by heart. No one sang along. No one even knows the words anymore.
I am being somewhat unfair by blaming SoCo; they merely represent and perpetuate the attitudes of much of the campus. SoCo and the student body as a whole needs to stop promoting destructive "school spirit" with insulting AND unamusing messages. Instead, why not teach everyone the college songs, or anything else that will make us proud to be at Amherst?
Pat Savage '07
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Mardi Gras is tinged with wistful regrets
As a Drew House member, the Mardi Gras event on Oct. 28 was my collaborative house project. My devotion to making this event happen was two-fold: to raise money and get Drew House involved in a national community service project, as well as to get the campus socializing in an environment alternative to dingy, dark basements with multiple kegs. I'm sure there were days when Amherst College students could stand around speaking to each other, listening to music, eating and dancing without being "wasted." Or if we needed the alcoholic social lubrication, we at least did it in a more civilized way. So many Saturday night parties happen in over-crowded, sweaty, sticky-floored dorms, with loud music or a lack thereof. It's understandable why so many of us can't have a good time without drinking. Unfortunately, the Social Council (SoCo), the organization amply funded for the purpose of planning social events and parties for the campus, does not represent the student body. Since it's a self-selecting student body, it seems to draw from the same corner of campus. Recent SoCo parties have all been shaped so that alcohol is readily available, e.g., Endless Summer in Stone basement with dorm residents buying kegs for the floors above the party.
I would love to see SoCo use its funds and energy to create events-possibly substance-free-which bring all corners of the school together to socialize. Popular sentiment deems it impossible, but if SoCo used its great ideas and energy to make it a priority, perhaps polling a portion of the campus whose needs haven't been met, I'm sure it would be successful.
The Mardi Gras event worked: We raised $1,500. However, the majority of attendants were first-years, pre-frosh and Five College students. I made a huge effort to advertise to a specific population, especially to the football, soccer and hockey teams and to many of my upperclass friends. However, very few showed up; many went to the bars or to Hitchcock, where there were multiple kegs. My fellow house mates and I spent six hours decorating the room for Mardi Gras, and all who attended will agree that the New Orleans food, the jazz ensemble and the DJ were awesome. I can't seem to understand: What phenomenon keeps people from attending classier events, opting instead for over-crowded, loud, sweaty frat houses?
Katina Hubbard '07
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Wal-Mart Supercenter plans must be thwarted
Wal-Mart is proposing to build a Supercenter at the Hampshire Mall behind Target, right up against the Norwottuck Rail Trail (the bike trail connecting Amherst to Northampton). The current Wal-Mart would be emptied out while a larger Wal-Mart store plus a gas station, cleaners, bank and other services would comprise the Supercenter.
We all know that Wal-Mart offers the lowest prices around. But the low prices come at environmental, social and economic costs that impact every one of us on local, national and global levels.
If Wal-Mart is allowed to build a Supercenter in Hadley, thousands more
vehicles will pack Route 9 every day, a stretch that is already considered by the
Massachusetts Highway Department to be a "critical" area for traffic congestion. This means longer commutes between Amherst and Northampton as well as additional smog in our region affecting our health and contributing further to global warming.
Wal-Mart has been sued dozens of times and fined millions of dollars by the EPA for violating environmental protection laws in states across the country, including Massachusetts, so the potential for extensive and irreversible environmental damage in the Pioneer Valley is very real. At a minimum, the construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Hadley will cause 52 acres of wetlands, farmland and open space to be displaced, thereby threatening the habitats of native species in this area.
A Wal-Mart Supercenter will add significantly to the sprawl that already exists in the Hadley area. It will contribute more extensively than the current Wal-Mart store to the depletion of the downtown areas in Amherst and Northampton that currently offer locally-owned cafés, bookstores, music stores and much more.
As the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart is known to set many standards in the industry. However, complaints against Wal-Mart (many leading to lawsuits) range from gender discrimination, salaries that fall below the poverty line and unaffordable health insurance plans for its employees to the company's refusal to sell FDA-approved morning-after pills in pharmacies. Wal-Mart has also been criticized for its sweatshop conditions in factories abroad.
I urge Amherst students, faculty and staff to decide whether Wal-Mart's low prices truly outweigh the costs of a larger Wal-Mart presence in this area. Everyone who would like to find out more or join the campaign against Wal-Mart's proposed Supercenter is invited to join us on Nov. 5 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on the Amherst Town Common. Additional information is available at www.stopsprawlmart.org.
Emily Cachiguango
Administrative Assistant
for Residential Life