On Saturday afternoon, the Amherst men’s track and field team competed in the Tufts Invitational at the Baronian Field House in Medford, Massachusetts. Thomas Matthew ’16 qualified for the final heat and finished fifth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.31. David Ingraham ’18 and Stadtler Thompson ’19 finished back-to-back in the 200-meter dash to take eighth and ninth overall with marks of 23.59 and 23.75, respectively. Ingraham also enjoyed success in the 400-meter dash where he placed sixth, coming in at 52.13.
The Presidential Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion held its inaugural meeting on Friday, Feb. 5. President Biddy Martin created the task force to review and help implement the diversity initiatives recommended by the strategic plan, Amherst Uprising and other sources.
Amherst College accepted 180 out of 454 Early Decision applicants to the class of 2020 this past December, according to the Office of Admission.
The accepted applicants are expected to comprise about 38 percent of the target of 472 members for the class of 2020, a 2 percent increase from last year, according to Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Katie Fretwell. Overall, the college received 28 fewer Early Decision applicants than last year.
Students participated in an online poll on Jan. 27 to determine which proposals for Branches would be implemented for this semester’s trial period. Three hundred and seventy-one students responded to the poll and selected four Branches to be formed. Enrollment for Branches will be open through Wednesday, Feb. 10.
Suzanne Coffey has accepted an extension to her appointment as chief student affairs officer, President Biddy Martin announced on Feb. 3. This month marked the expiration of Coffey’s original two-year appointment.
The chief student affairs officer position was established in Feb. 2014 after the resignation of Jim Larimore as dean of students.
Amherst College archivists discovered a tape with the only known recording of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, “The Summer of Discontent.” College archivist Mariah Leavitt recently found the recording in a box donated by the WAMH radio station in 1989.
King’s speech took place at the New School, a university in New York City, on Feb. 6, 1964. The speech was a part of The American Race Crisis Lecture series hosted by the New School that featured speakers from the civil rights movement.
The 5-6-3 in conference men’s hockey team was faced with two battles against NESCAC rivals Bowdoin and Colby this weekend. Both games were tight, with each game decided late while the losing side had its goalie pulled. Bowdoin managed to earn the win Friday night, but Amherst conquered Colby the next afternoon.