The Williams Bookstore was lively this week as students scoured its shelves for their spring semester books. While some students pay full price for their textbooks, many others receive a book grant from the College that covers the full cost of all necessary course materials. The Record uncovered the history of the book grant — from the 1914 Memorial Library, to a book voucher system, and then a final shift to the grant system as it exists today.
Special Collections holds hundreds of thousands of items. It is composed of two main components: the College Archives, which contain materials pertaining to the College’s history, and Chapin Library, which holds rare books and other special materials outside the scope of the Sawyer and Schow library collections.
“This week in Williams history” is a column dedicated to looking back at memorable moments in the College’s past through articles in the Record. This week in history, the College responded to a racist incident; one year later, it hosted the first Claiming Williams day, due largely to student activism in response to the racist incident.
Each week, the Record (using a script in R) randomly selects a student at the College for our One in Two Thousand feature, excluding current Record board members. This week, Eve Shulman ’26 discussed walking onto the women’s crew team, her first Winter Study experience, and the Williamstown Apothecary.
As a self-described “found objects creative,” Cindy Simon has shared her public art installations with the community for years. This year, Cindy Simon, she spent her annual visit to Williamstown decorating a fence with handmade, colorful yarn creations.
For the 2022-2023 academic year, the College approved four Theme/Affinity/Program/Special Interest (TAPSI) housing proposals. After a semester, the Record spoke to students living in the Williams Interfaith Dialogue House, the International House, the Sustainable Living Community, the Eban House — which is for Black affinity housing — about their experiences.
This Winter Study, students taught and attended a record 66 Free University courses — an 18 percent increase from the 56 courses offered last year and nearly double the 34 courses offered during Winter Study in 2020. Whether they were crocheting sweaters, tasting cheeses, or pursuing any of the other unique course options, students at the College embraced many new hobbies this January.
Spring Street’s Purple Dragon Games prides itself on its inclusivity, which keeps store-goers loyal. Some patrons commute for up to an hour to participate in the various events hosted by the store.
The Record spoke to Dining Services, the Zilkha Center, and members of WRAPS to understand the collective efforts that help limit food waste from dining halls.
Beginning in 1991, Asian American Students in Action (AASiA) coordinated Asian American Awareness Month programming, which featured various speakers and cultural events. The Record spoke to Bowen Chung ’93 and Harry Yoon ’93, two of the main organizers for the event’s inaugural year.
