The Williams Record

Williamstown Theatre Festival crew members decry working conditions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

Student musicians and a cappella groups record and release albums

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

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

October 7, 2020

NBC teammates taking a break from outdoor rehearsal (Photo courtesy of Iris Park ’21.) Although they won’t be singing on Mountain Day, dancing during Homecoming halftime, or performing before a...

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

September 30, 2020

Members of Mills-Dennett 4 stand in front of their finalized 1,000 origami cranes. From left to right: Charles Yang ’24, Emma Schulman ’24, Rika Nakato ’24, Syl Foisy ’24, Sarah Lindeman ’24,...

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

September 7, 2020

Weeks following a tweet from University of Pennsylvania Professor Anthea Butler on Aug. 26 reading “I would be down as a professor to follow the NBA and Strike for a few days to protest police violence...

Neal, Morse face off in close Berkshire congressional primary

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. (Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.) Massachusetts’...

IOIT: Dartmouth graduate student on day 16 of hunger strike over sexual harassment investigation

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

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

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

May 23, 2020

Jack Romans ’20 is using his Watson Fellowship to explore youth theatre practices across the world. (Photo courtesy of Brad Wakoff.) While life after college typically invites adulthood, independence...

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

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...

Williams College TaskMaster: cross-country quarantine comedy

May 6, 2020

The scores for each contestant of Williams College TaskMaster, mid-episode one. (Photo courtesy of Owen Foster.) “I just have to hope that somewhere out there, in some part of the world, one of the...

Ephs in Congress provide window into national leadership during pandemic

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

May 4, 2020

Melia Hagino ’22 rehearsing to play Madame Armfeldt, the blunt and cynical grandmother in A Little Night Music (Photo courtesy of Gigi Gamez.) Each week, we randomly select a unix from a list of...

Love in the time of COVID-19

April 29, 2020

Zia Saylor '23 and Mohammad Faizaan '23 go on virtual dates through the online gaming site Club Penguin. (Photo courtesy of Mohammad Faizaan.) Since the campus closure, many student couples have had...

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

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

April 15, 2020

The Virtual Previews website functioned as a “hub for admitted students,” according to Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Liz Creighton ’01. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Admission.) Students...

Creative classes find creative solutions

April 15, 2020

Art supplies were mailed to all students in Worldbuilding for Theatre (Photo courtesy of Caroline Fairweather ’20). “It’s like Christmas, but I’m stuck in my house and my degree got cut short,”...

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

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

March 11, 2020

NIGEL JAFFE/THE WILLIAMS RECORDScott and Bernice Lewis met in Arizona, and have taken a group of students to the Grand Canyon every year since 1994. We’ve all heard the famous statistic: since the...

Rowan Ricardo Phillips hosts talk with writers about freedom and democracy

March 11, 2020

At an event on March 4, three writers read their work aloud and discussed shared themes of freedom, travel, race, and individuality. Tali Natter/The Williams Record Last Wednesday, Visiting Professor...

Brandon Hilfer ’20 writes opera for senior music thesis

February 26, 2020

Hilfer arranged an opera for his senior thesis in the Music department. His focus on vocal music has been a priority throughout his life. (Photo courtesy of Keith Forman.) I sat down with Brandon Hilfer...

The Williams Record

The Williams Record

Tali Natter, Executive Editor for Arts