Recently the AAS conducted an online survey as to whether or not televisions would augment students' intellectual experience on campus and, if so, where they wanted the televisions placed. I asked for the AAS to put this survey on the voting ballot. My hope is to install one or two televisions in Valentine in locations where students are forced to wait. While students stand in line to receive food or wait in line to dispose of their trays, access to a television would greatly assist in keeping the community up to date. News programs would run all day on mute for students to catch updates on current news. My vision is a Valentine that keeps the student body informed on current issues. I fully believe in reading the newspaper to receive the news in the morning, but not every student has the time for that. Furthermore, by the afternoon, the news from that morning's paper may have changed. Many students start class early in the morning and participate in extracurricular activities that run into the early evening. Televisions in Valentine would enable students to receive updates on important world issues throughout the day.

Recently I was informed that on 9/11, no one in Valentine knew what had happened for hours. Though this example is extreme, many smaller news events go unnoticed by students. Whether it is Deval Patrick winning the Massachusetts gubernatorial primary or the Mark Foley scandal, breaking news is important to our community. Amherst College aims to produce students who are well versed in current events, and the installation of TVs in Valentine will further that objective.

I understand that Valentine is a special place in that it is the only location where all students gather frequently to eat and socialize. However, I do not believe that installing a few of televisions on mute would disrupt its communal atmosphere.

Charmel is a senior majoring in Political Science. He is currently the President of the AAS, and welcomes comments at cmaynard@amherst.edu.