Class of 2014
Jacob Hoffstein
Brevity is the soul of wit.
Now entering its fifth year, the Multiculturl Resource Center (MRC) is, to use Interim Director Mariana Cruz’s words, “rebranding” itself. Last academic year, a number of students and administrators pushed for the MRC’s location to be changed to the first floor of Keefe Campus Center. Considering its small funding and lack of widespread events, some questioned whether the MRC was ready to be placed in such a prominent public space. But, supporters believe it’s because of these reasons (and not in spite of them) that the MRC deserves the spot it now occupies.
This past weekend, speakers filled lecture halls and festive tents adorned the first-year quad as Amherst College celebrated the completion of its $502 million fundraising campaign.
The campaign, entitled “Lives of Consequence,” engaged 86 percent of Amherst alumni and 54 percent of parents through 1,463 events as well as opportunities to mentor and network with students. Ultimately, the College surpassed its $425 million fundraising goal. However, initial expectations for donations were more modest.
Propelled by stingy defense and a golden-goal overtime strike by Max Fikke ’14, the men’s soccer team avenged last year’s heartbreaking NCAA quarterfinal loss with a gritty 1-0 win at Williams on Saturday.
For 105 scoreless minutes, Saturday’s tilt followed a similar script to Amherst-Williams soccer games in 2012, with two rivals locked in a physical, feisty defensive struggle. Last season, two of the three games ended in a 0-0 tie in regulation, and Saturday’s match appeared destined for the same conclusion.
It was a relatively successful weekend for the men’s cross country team as the Jeffs took home fifth place finish at the 19-team Univ. of Southern Maine Invitational.
As a team, the Jeffs finished the five-mile course just seconds behind Tufts, who took fourth place overall. MIT, Bates and Bowdoin also beat out Amherst, but the Jeffs’ performance was strong enough to put them in the top quarter of the field. Notably, the Jeffs’ 113 points put them far ahead of NESCAC rivals Conn. College (177 points) and Colby (206 points).
April showers bring May flowers, and the dog days of August bring the Sundays of September. With the beginning of fall at Amherst, classes resume, the temperature begins to drop, but, most importantly, NFL football is back. Three weeks into the season, there is already an abundance of headlines. Many of the usual suspects continue to exert their dominance, but there are also some new sheriffs in town. Much of these teams’ early success can be attributed to some old faces in new places.
Teams that Have Impressed
There is a crucial, worrying and endemic lack of leftist discourse at Amherst College.
