Tali Natter

Caroline Fairweather ’20 makes Broadway debut in Parade

Tali Natter • February 22, 2023

Just three years after graduating from the College, Caroline Fairweather ’20 is poised to make her Broadway debut in Parade as a swing after working on the show’s sold out off-Broadway run.

Faculty votes to approve Asian American studies program

Tali Natter, Cameron Pugh, and Julia Goldberg • December 7, 2022

At the Dec. 7 faculty meeting, faculty voted to approve the creation of an Asian American studies (AAS) program that establishes a concentration beginning fall 2023, with 81 voting in favor, five voting against, and three abstaining.

A look back in the archives: Students celebrate Asian American Awareness Month at the College

Tali Natter and Lucy Walker • December 7, 2022

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.

Faculty votes to approve Africana studies major

Cameron Pugh, Tali Natter, and Iman Shumburo • November 16, 2022

At the Nov. 16 faculty meeting, faculty approved the creation of an Africana studies major that will go into effect in fall 2023, with 70 voting in favor, zero not in favor, and three abstaining. For students who have been eager to see the confirmation of the major, the vote was a momentous step in improving their academic and personal lives.

Student survey shows high interest in Asian American studies ahead of new proposal

Annie Lu and Tali Natter • November 16, 2022

Faculty, staff, and students submitted a proposal for an Asian American studies (AAS) program on Nov. 3 to the Committee on Educational Affairs (CEA), the student-faculty committee that will deliberate on the proposal and decide whether it will be discussed at an upcoming faculty meeting.

Vista hosts alum panel on 1993 hunger strike for establishment of Latino/a studies department at the College

Tali Natter and Inés Garcia • November 2, 2022

Vista, the College’s Latinx and Allies student organization, hosted a panel on Friday where six alums who participated in the 1993 hunger strike protesting the College’s lack of a Latino/a studies department spoke about their experiences and reflected on the changes the College has made and what can still be done.

College honors life, legacy of alum Sterling A. Brown through archive exhibit and virtual symposium

Tali Natter • October 26, 2022

From Oct. 19 to Oct. 21, Williams College Libraries held a virtual symposium entitled “The Life and Lore of Sterling A. Brown: Celebrating Poetry, Prose, and Music,” in celebration of the centennial of Brown’s graduation from the College. The symposium coincided with the opening of a new archival collection in the library archives of Schow and Chapin Art Galleries.

AASiA, Vista, BSU host ethnic studies teach-in, affirm support for Asian American studies

Tali Natter and Lucy Walker • September 28, 2022

Members of the Black Student Union (BSU); Vista, the College’s Latinx and Allies Student Organization; and Asian American Students in Action (AASiA) hosted an annual teach-in at Goodrich Hall on the history and future of ethnic studies at the College.

Williamstown Farmers Market provides hub for local vendors, Town residents, students

Julia Goldberg and Tali Natter • September 28, 2022

On Saturday mornings from May through October, the Spring Street parking lot bustles with chatter and music. The sweet smells of flowers, fresh vegetables, and baked goods surround attendees at the Williamstown Farmers Market.

Instructor Melissa Kate Adams-Silva shares ASL, Deaf culture with the College through new course

Tali Natter and Lucy Walker • September 21, 2022

Instructor Melissa Kate Adams-Silva, who is Deaf, is teaching the College's first introductory ASL course this fall. Her course seeks to not only teach students ASL, but also to raise awareness about Deaf experiences and societal contributions from the Deaf community.

College achieves STARS gold rating in sustainability

Tali Natter • April 27, 2022

The College has earned a gold rating — the second-highest possible rating — from The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). Operated by The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), STARS is a self-reporting framework for colleges to measure the environmental sustainability of their campuses.

Sankofa celebrates 25th anniversary joined by alums with “Step Back In It,” features student choreographers

Tali Natter • April 27, 2022

Over the weekend, Sankofa took to the mainstage of the ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance for its reunion show titled “Step Back In It” in celebration of the College dance group’s 25th anniversary. Sankofa’s numbers were interspersed alongside performances from selected student choreographers.

College to launch nation’s first all-grant financial aid program

Kitt Urdang, Tali Natter, and Bellamy Richardson • April 13, 2022

The College will eliminate all loans, required work study, and summer earnings contributions from all students’ financial aid packages effective fall 2022, becoming the first institution of higher education in the United States to do so, excluding military and work colleges.

Williamstown Theatre Festival announces 2022 season

Tali Natter • March 16, 2022

The Williamstown Theatre Festival (WTF) will premiere three new theatrical works this summer, the festival announced on Tuesday.

‘Low-stakes thinking but high-stakes validation’: Wordle culture at the College

Tali Natter and Izzy Polanco • March 9, 2022

A new craze has taken over the College and society at large — the new daily word game, Wordle. Students share their approaches to solving the puzzle and explain how the game creates community.

Review: Follies musical by Stephen Sondheim ’50 is dazzling yet dark

Tali Natter • March 2, 2022

Despite being a self-proclaimed Stephen Sondheim ’50 aficionado, I must admit that with the exception of a few songs, I did not know anything about his 1971 musical Follies. That is, until Saturday,...

Williamstown Theatre Festival hires new artistic director, introduces significant culture changes

Tali Natter • February 23, 2022

Following a contentious summer during which crew members went on strike and investigative reporting found that employees felt overworked, unsafe, and underappreciated, the leadership of the Williamstown Theatre Festival released a progress report on Feb. 3 introducing major changes to its operations, including reducing the number of shows and giving employees days off and free on-campus housing.

Nonbinary athletes share experiences, lead initiatives towards gender-expansive inclusivity

Tali Natter and Izzy Polanco • February 23, 2022

The College’s non-male ultimate frisbee team removed gendered language from its name. Five nonbinary athletes spoke to the Record about cultural shifts and student-led initiatives toward gender-expansiveness in athletics.

Black, international, interfaith, sustainable TAPSI houses to be implemented next year

Tali Natter and Benjamin Alexander • February 16, 2022

The Office of Residential Life and Housing approved four Theme/Affinity/Program/Special Interest (TAPSI) houses for the 2022-2023 academic year. Gail Peek House — an affinity house for Black students — will be located in Wood House, The International House will be located in Perry House, Williams Interfaith Dialogue will be located in Spencer House, and the Sustainable Living Community (SLC) will be on the second floor of Garfield House, Senior Associate Dean of Campus Life Doug Schiazza wrote in a Feb. 14 all-campus email.

College announces new “recover-in-place” policy as part of COVID isolation protocol

Tali Natter and Lucy Walker • January 12, 2022

In a campus-wide email sent on Wednesday, Jan. 12, Dean of the College Marlene Sandstrom announced a “recover-in-place” strategy for students who test positive for COVID-19. The College will permit students who test positive to isolate in their rooms, as long as they live in a single dorm.

The College will not publish COVID test results today, arrival policies change for students who tested positive before arriving to campus

Tali Natter and Kitt Urdang • January 4, 2022

Jan. 4 | 9:45 p.m. As of 9:45 p.m. today, the College’s COVID-19 dashboard has not been updated to include test results from students who took COVID tests on Monday. In an email to the Record, Associate Director of Institutional Research James Cart ’05, who manages the dashboard, wrote that the College’s typical cycle of testing and reporting results on the dashboard happens over the course of three days.

College announces first week of Winter Study to be held remotely, students to quarantine upon arrival

Ella Marx, Tali Natter, Bellamy Richardson, and Kitt Urdang • December 30, 2021

The first week of classes and events during Winter Study will be held remotely, and students will quarantine in their dorm rooms upon arrival to campus until they receive one negative COVID-19 test result, President Maud S. Mandel announced in an all-campus email this morning.

College announces stricter COVID policies for Winter Study

Tali Natter and Bellamy Richardson • December 21, 2021

Winter Study will be held on campus with tighter COVID-19 restrictions, Dean of the College Marlene Sandstrom announced in an all-campus email this afternoon.

Stephen Sondheim ’50, visionary theatre composer, dies at 91

Tali Natter • December 1, 2021

Stephen Sondheim ’50, widely revered as musical theatre’s most visionary composer and lyricist, died on Friday in his home in Roxbury, Conn. He was 91.

One in Two Thousand: Amanda Wager ’23.5

Tali Natter • December 1, 2021

This week, the computer (using a script in R) chose Amanda Wager ’23.5, who talked about crystals, her experience on the College’s swimming and diving team, and being co-Junior Advisors (JAs) with the interviewer in Armstrong-Pratt 4.

Seeking reproductive health care at the College brings confusion and frustration, some students say

Maria Lobato Grabowsky, Tali Natter, and Kitt Urdang • November 17, 2021

Accessing reproductive health care while at the College can be difficult given limited local treatment options and hours of operation at the Thompson Health Center. And three students who spoke to the Record said these difficulties can be exacerbated by unsatisfactory information and negative interactions they had while seeking reproductive health care at the Health Center.

Professors submit proposal for Asian American studies program

Cameron Pugh and Tali Natter • November 10, 2021

Associate Professor of American Studies Jan Padios and Chair of American Studies Dorothy Wang submitted a prospectus to create an Asian American studies (AAS) program last Sunday. The prospectus details the steps the College should take to establish a viable AAS program and is the latest push for AAS after nearly three decades of activism.

Williamstown Theatre Festival crew members decry working conditions

Tali Natter • September 22, 2021

During a rehearsal for one of this year’s mainstage productions, the sound crew walked out to protest what they said were unsafe working conditions. In the wake of the walkout, many festival workers from past years shared on social media that they had felt overworked and unsafe, suggesting that the walkout reflects deeper issues within the labor structure of the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

After a mostly-Zoom year, performance groups put on in-person shows

Tali Natter • May 19, 2021

After a year of livestreamed and canceled events, some performance groups have been performing outside, filling sunny campus spots like Chapin steps and Cole Field with vibrant song and dance for the last weeks of the semester.

One in Two Thousand: Riley Galizio ’24

Tali Natter • April 7, 2021

This week, the computer (using a script in R) chose Riley Galizio ’24, who talked about Taylor Swift, learning Italian, and ice hockey.

In Other Ivory Towers: Amherst joins Middlebury, Wesleyan in pledge to divest from fossil fuels

Tali Natter and Kitt Urdang • April 7, 2021

On March 31, Amherst College formalized its commitment to divest its endowment from fossil fuels, joining several other NESCAC institutions, including Middlebury and Wesleyan, in plans to divest.

‘Fundamentally broken’: Professor, alums in music industry discuss the Grammys’ lack of diversity and relevance

Tali Natter and Cameron Pugh • March 17, 2021

Black Lives Matter–related songs took the stage at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards on March 14, with performances like Lil Baby’s autobiographical protest rap “The Bigger Picture” and Mickey Guyton’s country tune “Black Like Me.” This was somewhat of a break from the event’s history, which many view as one of slighting Black artists, particularly Black women.

Two in Two Thousand: Lizzie Ferguson ’22 and Sophia Sonnenfeldt ’22

Tali Natter • February 17, 2021

In honor of Valentine’s Day, the Record brings you its annual profile of a campus couple.

Songs, movies, and more that made quarantine go quicker

Shizah Kashif, Tali Natter, and Cameron Pugh • February 10, 2021

With our unusually long winter break and upcoming in-room quarantine, the Record compiled art recommendations from students at the College via Instagram. For those students studying remotely this semester or taking time off, we hope that these recommendations help you stay connected to the College community, no matter where you are. From cartoons to crafts and everything in between, we hope you enjoy!

College refreshes visual identity, students push back with memes

Nigel Jaffe and Tali Natter • February 5, 2021

The College has updated its visual identity, expanding the official standards governing all aspects of its brand. The announcement sparked a swift and largely critical response from students and alumni, who flooded Williams-related Facebook pages with memes and other posts.

Racist Zoom attack at Mt. Greylock HS targets College employees’ child

Incident reignites broader concerns over racism in Williamstown

Tali Natter, Cameron Pugh, and Lindsay Wang • January 31, 2021

The child of College employees was the target of a racist, anti-Black Zoom-bombing attack during a Mount Greylock Regional High School (MGRHS) class on Jan. 21. A student from another school district subsequently took responsibility for the attack following an investigation by MGRHS.

Answers to your questions about spring semester changes

Tali Natter, Saud Afzal Shafi, and Annie Lu • January 20, 2021

In light of the recent email from Dean of the College Marlene Sandstrom to students, faculty, and staff, the Record compiled a list of answers to reader-submitted questions regarding plans for the spring semester.

Yang, Loewenson, Fox and Jones to lead 2021 Record Editorial Board

Kitt Urdang and Tali Natter • December 9, 2020

Kevin Yang ’22, Irene Loewenson ’22, Joey Fox ’21 and Sofie Jones ’22 have been elected by the Record 2020 Editorial Board to lead Williams College’s student newspaper in 2021. Yang will be the editor-in-chief for the Spring 2021 semester, with Fox and Loewenson as managing editors. Jones and Yang will serve as managing editors for the fall 2021 semester, and Loewenson will take the position of editor-in-chief. They will replace current Editor-in-Chief Jeongyoon Han ’21, Managing Editor Samuel Wolf ’21 and Managing Editor Rebecca Tauber ’21.

Student musicians and a cappella groups record and release albums

Tali Natter • December 9, 2020

Four recently released albums recorded and edited by students at the College.

Jacob’s Pillow theatre, site of college dance collaborations, destroyed in fire

Tali Natter • December 9, 2020

Kusika, the College’s African Dance group, performing at the 2014 Inside/Outside series at Jacob’s Pillow. (Photo courtesy of Jamie Kraus/Jacob’s Pillow Dance.) On Nov. 17, the Doris Duke Theatre...

Performance groups adapt to remote recruitment and rehearsal

Tali Natter • October 7, 2020

Although they won’t be singing on Mountain Day, dancing during Homecoming halftime, or performing before a packed crowd in Currier ballroom, a cappella, dance, and improv groups at the College have navigated the remote setting to hold auditions for new members.

1,000 paper cranes and a welding project: one entry’s First Days activity

Tali Natter • September 30, 2020

While the weeks between quarantine and classes brought many out of their dorms to enjoy the outdoors, the first-year residents of Mills-Dennett 4 (MD4) found themselves inside, doing quite the opposite. Working in dorm rooms, common areas and hallways for two weeks, they collectively folded 1,000 origami cranes, creating an art installation and meaningful bonds.

Professors, administrators plan to take part in Scholar Strike for racial justice in academia

Tali Natter and Josh Picoult • September 7, 2020

On Sept. 8 and 9 – days chosen for their proximity to Labor Day to acknowledge the American labor movement and the contribution of laborers – more than 5,000 scholars in higher education, among them professors and administration from the College, will pause classes and administrative services to host virtual teach-ins.

Neal, Morse face off in close Berkshire congressional primary

Joey Fox and Tali Natter • August 29, 2020

Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield) and Mayor of Holyoke Alex Morse are competing in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts' 1st congressional district this Tuesday.

In Other Ivory Towers: Dartmouth graduate student on day 16 of hunger strike over sexual harassment investigation

Kitt Urdang and Tali Natter • July 30, 2020

In Other Ivory Towers, or IOIT, is a Record column covering events and news in institutions of higher education. On July 14, Dartmouth College computer science graduate student Maha Hasan Alshawi...

Through Unmasked app, students share how they are really feeling

Jacob Posner and Tali Natter • July 30, 2020

At the top of the screen reads a simple prompt: “Hi, how are you really feeling today?” Posts, arrayed on a nature-themed user interface that practically screams calm, seem to take the question seriously,...

Artists in (College) residence: Profiles of the Class of 2020

Tali Natter • May 23, 2020

https://williamsrecord.com/snowball/artists-in-college-residence-profiles-of-the-class-of-2020

Jack Romans ’20 to study the nuances of international children’s theatre

Tali Natter • May 23, 2020

While life after college typically invites adulthood, independence and rapid growth, the post-grad plans of Jack Romans ’20 do quite the opposite. In fact, the project he will undertake through the Watson Fellowship — a prestigious one-year grant for independent international research — is titled “Never Growing Up.”

Ninja Sex Party’s Brian Wecht ’97 talks rings, physics and musical comedy

Nigel Jaffe and Tali Natter • May 13, 2020

When Brian Wecht ’97 lost his high school class ring while living in Gladden his junior year, he didn’t think much of it. The ring was bulky and ornately carved, with a hefty green gemstone embedded in the center — “definitely not my vibe,” Wecht said — and he was content to forget about it.

Williams College TaskMaster: cross-country quarantine comedy

Tali Natter • May 6, 2020

“I just have to hope that somewhere out there, in some part of the world, one of the others is failing more than I,” said Hallie Della-Volpe ’21 in a dramatic aside to the camera. The camera in question was her iPhone, and the failure referred to the collapse of the small rubber bands she had spent twenty minutes diligently stacking in attempts to “create the tallest thing out of the smallest things.”

Ephs in Congress provide window into national leadership during pandemic

Jack McGovern and Tali Natter • May 6, 2020

Rep. Ed Case (D-HI) returned to Washington on a red-eye flight in the middle of the congressional recess to vote for a $484 billion coronavirus relief package. Photo courtesy of @RepEdCase. Congress...

One in Two Thousand: Melia Hagino ’22

Tali Natter • May 4, 2020

Each week, we randomly select a unix from a list of all current students at the College. So long as the owner of the selected unix is willing to be interviewed and not a member of the Record board, that person becomes the subject of that week’s One in Two Thousand. This week, the computer (using a very simple script in R) chose Melia Hagino ’22.

Love in the time of COVID-19

Bellamy Richardson and Tali Natter • April 29, 2020

Since the campus closure, many student couples have had to trade dates at Images and Blue Mango for virtual Netflix parties and FaceTime baking. From first-years who have just begun dating, to seniors who are planning their post-college lives together, all Williams couples — even those in quarantine together — are adapting their relationships to find the best ways to be together while apart.

Record Recs: (Free) ’50s classics, Westerns old & new

Nigel Jaffe and Tali Natter • April 29, 2020

With less than a month until classes end, students may be wondering how they’ll pass the time without lectures to fast-forward through and Zoom seminars to attend. If you’re one of them, you’re...

Admissions hosts Virtual Previews for the Class of 2024

Sofie Jones and Tali Natter • April 15, 2020

Students admitted to the Class of 2024 participated in Virtual Previews on Monday, following the cancellation of on-campus revisit programming due to COVID-19. The event, hosted by the Office of Admission, featured virtual versions of several sessions typically offered on-campus each spring.

Creative classes find creative solutions

Tali Natter • April 15, 2020

“It’s like Christmas, but I’m stuck in my house and my degree got cut short,” Caroline Fairweather ’20 said in a video on her Instagram story, referring to the boxes of art supplies that she and her classmates received in the mail to complete coursework for THEA/ARTS 201: Worldbuilding for Theatre.

Students search for love with return of Ephmatch during final days on campus

Tali Natter • March 25, 2020

While hundreds of students stood on the Paresky steps and screamed to express their intense emotions after the College announced its switch to online learning due to COVID-19, many students were preoccupied...

Faculty, staff couples share their stories

Nigel Jaffe and Tali Natter • March 11, 2020

We’ve all heard the famous statistic: since the College became coed in 1972, more than one in five married or partnered alums are in an all-Eph couple, according to Williams Magazine. But less well-known is a rival figure, supplied by the Provost’s Office: 11 percent of the College’s employees are married to another Williams employee, a group that spans both sides of the faculty and staff divide, from high school sweethearts to undergraduate cycling companions to the lucky few who met here on the job.

Rowan Ricardo Phillips hosts talk with writers about freedom and democracy

Michael Gibson-Prugh and Tali Natter • March 11, 2020

Last Wednesday, Visiting Professor in Democratic Studies Rowan Ricardo Phillips hosted an event entitled “Silent Poems, Talking Pictures, and the Infinite Playlist.” Also speaking were fellow award-winning artists Teju Cole — novelist, photographer, critic, curator, and author of five books — and Ishion Hutchinson — Cornell professor, journal editor, and author of two poetry collections. The three read their pieces and discussed poetry as a tool for better understanding race and democracy.

Brandon Hilfer ’20 writes opera for senior music thesis

Tali Natter • February 26, 2020

Podcast Editor Tali Natter sat down with Brandon Hilfer ’20 to learn more about his music thesis, an original opera titled “Actaeon, or the Hunter,” adapted from a story in Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” The piece will be performed May 9 at 7:30 pm in The Directing Studio.

The Williams Record

The Williams Record

Tali Natter, Senior Writer