Amherst Voices: Professor Ilan Stavans
“I have learned the value of having an antagonist, someone whose outlook is regularly testing mine.” Professor Ilan Stavans on the controversial theater director and critic Robert Brustein ’47.
“I have learned the value of having an antagonist, someone whose outlook is regularly testing mine.” Professor Ilan Stavans on the controversial theater director and critic Robert Brustein ’47.
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Congratulations to Susan Niditch, Samuel Green Professor of Religion, on her election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
“We’d watch The Amazing Race and think, ‘I could do that.’” Greg Franklin ’20 who, with his brother John Franklin, won the season 35 competition in 2023.
Can you spot the nine differences between the top image and the bottom? We dare you to try!
“The interesting frontiers that we’re pushing are happening here on campus with the data [I returned with] and the science that I can do with my students.” Nicholas Holschuh, assistant professor of geology, on the research he conducted during a two-month trip he took to Antarctica this winter.
“Unlike some old-school cop thrillers, Muzzle doesn’t dismiss the value of therapy.” Josh Bell ’02, on the film Muzzle, written by Carlyle Eubank ’10 and John Stalberg Jr.
“It is important to live a good life, not to suffer for your art. ” Rachel Edelman ’09, author of the poetry collection Dear Memphis.
A mammoth welcome to the newest members of the class of 2028! Our Community
“In 2024, I implore us to read more fiction, in order to see ourselves in others and to see others in ourselves.” Makena Onjerika ’10, on the importance of fiction in “Reading Lights.”
“What would you do if you could bring a loved one back with the push of a button?” Josh Bell ’02 on the Well Go USA TV series Aporia, written and directed by Jared Moshé ’01
“You can make a big difference at the state level. The states are the laboratories of democracy.” Sandy Rosenberg ’72, the longest-serving member of the Maryland House of Delegates, on why he hasn't run for Congress.
“I was already a fan of hers, and knew I would love to meet a poet I really admire—then I loved soaking in all of her wisdom.” Willow Delp ’26, on taking a Litfest craft class with Natasha Trethewey, the 19th United States Poet Laureate
“Constantly questioning why everything is the way it is and why any of us are here can be the seedy underbelly of figuring out what is funny about life.” Comedian and actor Aparna Nancherla ’05E from Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself, and Imposter Syndrome. She will be speaking at this year's Litfest.
“What matters is the transformative power of metaphor and the stories we tell ourselves about the arc and meaning of our lives.” Poet Natasha Trethewey, from Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir. She will be speaking at this year's Litfest.
“I always thought of ADHD as the inability to pay attention. Now I understand it means you can’t control what you’re paying attention to.” Alaina Daniels ’09, one of a dozen alums who share their stories in You Can’t Have ADHD. You Went to Amherst.
“This is what truly lies at the heart of statistics—to always think of the human element behind our quantitative work.” As part of Professor Nicholas Horton's class, Stats 210: “Mining the History of Holyoke,” students combed through the Parsons Paper Co.’s payroll register for data.
Congrats to women’s basketball coach G.P. Gromacki for winning 600 games faster than any other hoops coach in NCAA history! Coach G.P. Gromacki Records 600th Career Victory, Mammoths Celebrate Seniors With 58-48 Win
“When change came to his Black community, he said, ‘I want to be in that number.’ ” Gerald Penny ’77, in his application to Amherst. Penny’s life and tragic death, 50 years ago, were recently commemorated on campus.
“Immigrant stories make us see particular corners of the world in a more nuanced and challenging way.” Ilan Stavans, the Lewis-Sebring Professor of Humanities and Latin American and Latino Culture, on the kinds of books he seeks for Restless Books, his new publishing company in downtown Amherst.
“Preparing students to tackle sustainability challenges—and find viable solutions—is becoming an increasingly important component of the Amherst curriculum.” Wes Dripps, director of the Office of Sustainability, on the creative ways faculty are integrating sustainability into their courses
“Engagement is an act of care for the community.” Ana Devlin Gauthier, learning and development facilitator, Human Resources, on why she chose to get involved as a district representative for the town of Amherst.
“Roads affect wildlife, the natural world and humans at nearly every conceivable scale.” Geoffrey Giller ’10, in his review of a new book by Ben Goldfarb ’09 in Amherst magazine.
“You’re benefiting the portion of society that really needs to benefit the most.” Bryce Bares ’00, in “The Donut King of Nebraska,” the cover story of the Fall issue of Amherst magazine.
“Gardens and poems are places we go to excavate ourselves.” Poet Tess Taylor ’00, writing in the Fall issue of Amherst magazine.
Congratulations to the men’s soccer team on an outstanding season, collecting the national runner-up trophy for the third time in the last four seasons at the NCAA Division III Championship game. Game Recap. (Photo credit: Dan Hunter: d3photography.com)
Congratulations to the men's soccer team on their win over Washington & Lee in the NCAA Division III semi-final! They'll face St. Olaf for the final on Sunday, Dec. 3 at noon. Game Recap. (Photo credit: Dan Hunter: d3photography.com)
“I do believe we are all bridges--as we link the past with the future through the span of our careers.” Longtime women's lacrosse coach Christine Paradis, speaking at the Nov. 16 ceremony marking her induction into the Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to men’s soccer for making it to the NCAA Final Four! The Mammoths will face Washington & Lee in the national semifinals on Dec. 1. Read the story: Back to the Final Four: Mammoths edge Middlebury 1-0 on Clark-Eden goal and great defensive effort.
“The future of Native art is being revealed.” Heid E. Erdrich, guest curator for “Boundless,” a Mead Art Museum exhibit, in the new Amherst magazine.
“I’m trying to find a new way to help my community by finding a bridge between Western education and Indigenous values.” Roxane Main ’25 the first Amherst student to win a Udall Scholarship to address environmental challenges affecting Native nations.
Congratulations to the men’s and women’s soccer teams for capturing their second consecutive NESCAC championship wins! Go Mammoths!
“ I can assure you that you will write subpar essays─I surely did. And on the other side of that experience will not be failure, but something else: learning.” President Michael A. Elliott ’92, offering words of wisdom about college life to current students.
“When I walked into my first Multicultural Student Union meeting at Amherst, I felt something I had never fully felt before: complete inclusion.” Anna Hogarth ’23, writing about her experience with the Multicultural Student Union<, one of many affinity organizations on campus.
“It matters to me that my work is meaningful and has some kind of impact.” Ash Smith ’18, who is doing research for BREHA, Amherst’s new Black Feminist Reproductive Justice, Equity & HIV/AIDS Activism Collective.
“Theater is the most collaborative art form. When you put on a play, it's really putting together a team.” Luke Herzog ’24, winner of the John Cauble Award for Outstanding Short Play at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.
From move-in to Convocation, Amherst College welcomed the newest Mammoths into the herd. Check out the Orientation 2023 in Pictures slideshow.
“Through teaching, I am reinforcing my commitment to an open and free world.” Gabriel Echarte ’23 on being awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship.
“ I, for one, know 100 percent that they will make a difference in this world.” Matthew McGann, dean of admission and financial aid, speaking of the incoming class of 488 students.
“I had at long last used my creativity to build a new theory of a nation’s happiness.” Nobel laureate in economics Edmund Phelps ’55, H’85 in his new memoir.
“Today, we mourn, remember, and honor the lives lost on this day 22 years ago, including those of three Amherst alumni—Frederick C. Rimmele III ’90, Brock Safronoff ’97 and Maurita Tam ’ 01.” Read “9/11/01: A Dispatch from Campus.”
“I credit Amherst enormously for framing how I look at issues of racial justice and sexism, all of the things I care about deeply, and the things I end up covering on CNN every day.” News anchor Laura Jarrett ’07 from the Black Women of Amherst College podcast series.
“You learn to say, ‘It’s imperfect, but it works.’ People don’t come for perfection... Perfection is you placing yourself at center.” Actor John Cho in a talk in Amherst’s Johnson Chapel.
“It’s like walking into Mad Men.” Architect Bruce Becker ’80 on his award-winning, environmentally innovative hotel, The Marcel.
“His time at Amherst is a testament to Tong’s belief that home is a verb, not a noun.” Leo Kamin ’25 on Haoran Tong ’23, in “The Pride of Amherst.”
“We remain resolute in our commitment to recruit and support a diverse community of scholars within the bounds of the law.” President Michael Elliott responds to the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding race-conscious admissions practices.
“In un placete de La Mancha of which nombre no quiero remembrearme, vivía, not so long ago, uno de esos gentlemen who always tienen una lanza in the rack, una buckler antigua, a skinny caballo y un greyhound para el chase.” Professor Ilan Stavans, in his Spanglish translation of Don Quixote, from the new issue of Amherst magazine.
”I think I was drawn to it on some subconscious level, finding my own entryway to think about food on a more intellectual level.” Niki Russ Federman ’99, co-owner of the New York landmark Russ & Daughters, on her favorite Amherst class.
“The Amherst photograph is the most exciting discovery we’ve made while preparing for the exhibit.” Philip Palmer, curatorial lead for an exhibit on Belle da Costa Greene at New York’s Morgan Library.
“We planted thousands and thousands of mango trees. One of my proudest moments was going back years later and seeing how high they’d grown.” Jonathan Putnam ’88 in the new Amherst magazine.