January 29, 2024
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Happy New Year, and welcome to the spring semester—and to Amherst for those transfer and exchange students who have just arrived. I hope your winter break was restorative and that you are looking forward to the challenges and rewards of the months ahead.
As we begin a new semester with optimism and high expectations, I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that we do so against the backdrop of ongoing violence in the Middle East and elsewhere, deep political polarization in our own country, and profound mistrust in institutions of higher education. Over the course of the semester, I'll be looking for opportunities to discuss with you how Amherst can navigate this time of challenge.
For now, let me say that we will continue to be guided by principles that have served us well throughout Amherst’s history. We defend and cherish the free exchange of ideas as essential to the pursuit of knowledge and the education of our students. We seek to create a community of learners that prizes curiosity and openness to challenging ideas—to be a place where people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives will not only speak to one another, but also listen to each other with compassion and empathy. At the same time, we can only foster that open community if our perspectives are shared with mutual respect, and we will not tolerate acts of hatred.
Below, I highlight some upcoming events that, I believe, reflect these principles and will be of wide interest to our community, including the continuation of our series of talks presenting perspectives on the conflict in the Middle East and its reverberations in the United States.
Even as I draw your attention to these on-campus events, I want to remind you that there are many channels through which information about upcoming events is shared on our lively campus. In addition to the Daily Mammoth and the Calendar of Events, newsletters from the Provost’s Office, the Office of Human Resources, and groups within the Office of Student Affairs keep us informed. On social media, @AmherstCollege posts an Instagram story, “Events at Amherst,” every Monday with posters for the upcoming week, and student groups’ social media channels are full of information. Subscribe, read, and stay connected!
Sincerely,
Michael A. Elliott
President