In just a few weeks, the 2006-07 school year will be but a memory. For naïve first-years, seasoned seniors and everyone in between, one year is a significant chunk of the Amherst experience, and as always the year has seen a variety of good and bad. Here are some highlights of 2006-07; we categorize them Ebert-style, with our thumbs.

Thumbs Down

• SoCo: As much as we look forward to campus-wide social happenings, it would be nice nevertheless to know about them in advance. SoCo has done a poor job of publicizing TAPs and events like Spring Carnival. In addition, the quality of these affairs has been lacking, perhaps due to a decrease in manpower or ability among the SoCo organizers.

• Limited course offerings: Amherst is obviously a small college, but that should not preclude the College's offering an adequate number of courses in each department to satisfy the intellectual needs of its students. Specifically, the philosophy and math departments stand undeniably culpable of offering a surprisingly limited range of courses for next semester.

• Schwemms: We appreciate the presence of a food vendor other than Valentine on campus, but with Schwemms' high prices, premature closures and odd weekend hours, students are too often left between two undesirable choices.

• Library: The course catalog, having undergone a much-needed revamp, still struggles with problems. The server remains too slow, as are the efforts to improve it. In addition, library hours fail to accommodate students' needs; a 24-hour facility is a must.

Thumbs Up

• Sports: There's nothing like a National Championship to foster school spirit, but there are more reasons than just men's basketball to get excited about Amherst athletics. Under new Athletic Director Suzanne Coffey, 10 fall and winter teams have made NCAA runs, and the spring teams look ready to follow suit.

• Valentine: Noticeable improvements have been made in the dining hall, including the introduction of the fruit salad, mesclun mix and a new, innovative pizza chef. An increased frequency of specials have also been very welcome.

• Performing Arts: While those involved in the arts may sometimes feel that they take a backseat to athletics, the quality of the theatrical and musical performances at the College have been nothing short of outstanding this year. From standing room only thesis performances to sold-out renditions of Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, the arts have captivated the campus. (Now if only the facilities could be brought up to date.)

• Lip Sync: A routine without two or more guys locking lips actually won this year!