Caroline Katba’s distinctive style had caught my eye in passing the many times I had seen her smoking a cigarette and holding intent conversations on the sunlit benches in front of Frost.
In her black leather pumps, perfectly tailored dresses and red lipstick, Katba has a commanding, glamorous presence. She is a little intimidating in the way that she seems older than she really is, a cosmopolitan quality that makes perfect sense taking into account the independence with which she has carried herself throughout her life.
It was a Thursday night, and the room in the Octagon was softly lit with strings of Christmas lights. The long wooden tables, pieced together during the day, were spread at various angles around the room, covered with tablecloths and plates of cheese. A spotlight shone from the second floor balcony into the corner of the room.
“Ethan Corey” is one of those unmistakable, larger-than-life names at Amherst. It is placed right at the top of fiery opinion articles and murmured among friends whenever something unsavory might be afoot on campus. Ethan Corey is a unique figure in the community because mentioning his name alone can terrify the entire college administration. He is one of the most prized contributors to journalism at Amherst, a gadfly the size of a dragon.
Keeping Them Honest
Midway through my interview with Melih Levi, he stopped the conversation to read me a quotation by Elizabeth Bruss. Levi recently received the English department’s prestigious Bruss Prize, an award established in memory of a beloved Amherst English professor. Since receiving the prize, Levi has delved hungrily into Bruss’ writings, and he can’t help but share.
“She’s endlessly fascinating,” Levi said of Bruss. “She wrote this book called ‘Beautiful Theories’ which I think you would really like.”
August
Following the board of trustees’ ban on fraternities last May, a group of students and administrators began discussing alternatives to the fraternity system. The group began brainstorming ways to create inclusive social groups on campus.
The college hired Alex Vasquez as the new dean of students. Prior to coming to Amherst, Vasquez worked at Wheaton College for 13 years. Vasquez began working with Chief Student Affairs officers Suzanne Coffey in the newly reorganized Office of Student Affairs.
September
I’ve stared at a blank word document for the past five days, stumped by how to frame Bryce Monroe’s life with a limited number of words while still doing justice to such an exceptional person. Whether he’s roaming the football stadium, singing with the Zumbyes or writing and acting in his own thesis play, Monroe always performs at a high standard.
When I first saw Ricky Altieri’s Facebook status on the morning of April 22, announcing that he would be making a toast that in the back room of Valentine Dining Hall that evening, I thought he was kidding. By complete coincidence, I happened to be sitting upstairs when all conversation stopped and everyone turned their attention to Altieri as he took off a puffy coat to reveal a suit and tie. With his trademark wit, he made a moving toast about how much the staff at Valentine have made this campus feel like a home to him.
