The Student-Run Newspaper of Williams College Since 1887

The Williams Record
The Student-Run Newspaper of Williams College Since 1887

The Williams Record
The Student-Run Newspaper of Williams College Since 1887

The Williams Record

Ella Marx, Senior Writer

Ella Marx ’24 is a history and religion major, and a Jewish studies concentrator, from New York, N.Y. She is a senior writer, and she previously served as editor-in-chief and as managing editor, as well as the executive editor, a section editor, and a staff writer for the news section.

Email: [email protected]

All content by Ella Marx
Noah Cape and Matt Seltzer's posters, which were placed in Paresky Center following Thanksgiving break, were defaced twice. (Photo courtesy of Noah Cape.)

College says graffiti on Israeli hostage posters called for violence, breached ‘both College values and Williams policies’

Ella Marx • December 19, 2023
On Dec. 13, the College became aware that posters in Paresky Center had been defaced with graffiti that "supported violence against Israelis," violating College values and policies. College staff took the posters down. The posters had originally been put up by Noah Cape '25 and Matt Seltzer '24 to raise awareness about Israelis held hostage by Hamas.
Photo courtesy of Theo Duarte-Baird.

One in Two Thousand: Theo Duarte-Baird ’26

Ella Marx • November 15, 2023
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, Theo Duarte-Baird ’26 discussed an unexpected favorite class, art on campus, and the many foods one can eat with a spoon.
Professor Magnús Bernhardsson awarded Icelandic Grant of Excellence

Professor Magnús Bernhardsson awarded Icelandic Grant of Excellence

Ella Marx • February 22, 2023
Magnús Bernhardsson, professor of history and chair of global studies, has received one of four 2023 Grants of Excellence from the Icelandic Research Fund to study the education and social inclusion of Syrian and Iraqi children who were designated as refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and came to Iceland from 2014 to 2019.
This week in Williams history: The origin of Claiming Williams

This week in Williams history: The origin of Claiming Williams

Ella Marx • February 8, 2023
“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.
The Select Board acts as the executive branch of the Town's government. (Photo courtesy of Shirley Lin.)

Williamstown seeks to review Town Charter

Ella Marx • November 30, 2022
The Charter Committee hopes to perform a larger, more comprehensive review of the Town Charter, solicit input on the revision from Town officials and residents, and propose changes to the charter at the 2024 Town Meeting.
The Sustainable Living Community is based in Garfield House on South St. (Annie Lu/The Williams Record)

Sustainability TAPSI house launches campus-wide compost project

Ella Marx and Emily Zas • October 19, 2022
The Sustainable Living Community (SLC) will provide metal compost bins to upperclass dorm kitchens across campus this semester. The move, which was announced in a Daily Message, is a response to the College’s removal of compost bins in residential areas for this academic year. The SLC said it hopes to expand the project to first-year dorms and co-ops.
The Honor and Discipline Committee is looking to formalize its internal norms to provide greater consistency. (Samuel Riley/The Williams Record)

College opens the Rice Center for Teaching

Ella Marx • September 28, 2022
The College has launched the Joseph L. Rice III 1954 Center for Teaching, the first center at Williams dedicated to helping faculty develop their pedagogies and providing them with resources for their development as teachers.
The Adithya Vaidhyan Trio’s musical performance rang across Spring Street. (Ella Marx/The Williams Record)

Summer Sundays seizes Spring St.

Ella Marx • September 21, 2022
When Nigel Jaffe ’22 visited the College this past weekend on his way to a concert in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., he expected to find his alma mater quiet and sleepy on a Sunday afternoon early in the fall semester. To his surprise, Spring Street was abuzz with art. Musicians, artists, and vendors selling wares lined the sidewalks for the final iteration of this year’s Summer Sundays series.
Gabe Miller/The Williams Record

Randal Fippinger and Jane Patton elected to Williamstown Select Board

Ella Marx • May 11, 2022
Randal Fippinger and Jane Patton were elected yesterday to serve three-year terms on the Williamstown Select Board, defeating Bilal Ansari to win their seats. Patton was elected to the board with 921 votes, according to unofficial results released last night by the town clerk. Fippinger garnered 881 votes, and Ansari amassed 677.
Students raise awareness on campus about war in Ukraine

Students raise awareness on campus about war in Ukraine

Ella Marx • March 18, 2022
Students gathered outside Paresky yesterday to attend a rally organized by Ukrainian student Diana Sobolieva ’25 against the current war in Ukraine. This came after a discussion about the war with Sobolieva, fellow Ukrainian student Alina Luchyshyn ’23, and professors on Monday night.
(Photo courtest of Waged Jafer)

College hires its first ombudsperson

Ella Marx • February 16, 2022
The College has hired its first-ever ombudsperson, establishing the position as a confidential resource for faculty and staff seeking guidance on issues and questions related to the workplace.
Though the JA role will become a paid position, JAs will not become mandatory reporters.

Residential life leaders to receive compensation

Ella Marx • February 9, 2022
The College will provide compensation for student leaders of residential life beginning in the 2022-2023 academic year. Stipends will be granted to Junior Advisors (JAs), members of the JA Advisory Board (JAAB), Residential Directors (RDs), House Coordinators (HCs) and Theme/ Affinity/Program/Special Interest (TAPSI) Housing Community Coordinators.
First week of spring semester to be held remotely

First week of spring semester to be held remotely

Ella Marx and Cameron Pugh • January 13, 2022
Jan. 13 | 5:30 p.m. The first week of the spring semester — Feb. 2 through Feb. 9 — will be held remotely, President Maud S. Mandel announced in an all-campus email today. Barring significant changes to the on-campus COVID-19 outlook, in-person instruction will resume on Feb. 10, Mandel wrote. Claiming Williams Day, which is scheduled for Feb. 3, will also occur remotely.
Athletics facilities usage to remain closed to most students, varsity sport spectators restricted until Jan. 10

Athletics facilities usage to remain closed to most students, varsity sport spectators restricted until Jan. 10

Ella Marx and Kiara Royer • January 7, 2022
Jan. 7 | 3:20 p.m. The College will allow student spectators to attend several of this weekend’s varsity athletic competitions and will allow faculty and staff spectators starting Monday, Jan. 10, Chief Communications Officer Jim Reische wrote in a Jan. 6 email. Student spectators who meet certain COVID-19 criteria will be allowed as spectators starting this weekend. 
Williamstown Select Board summer recap: DA Harrington answers questions about Brady list, DIRE committee adds new members

Williamstown Select Board summer recap: DA Harrington answers questions about Brady list, DIRE committee adds new members

Ella Marx and Saud Afzal Shafi • September 15, 2021
Over the summer, the Select Board hosted Berkshire County District Attorney Andrea Harrington to answer Town residents’ questions about policies concerning police officers who have committed or been accused of committing misconduct. The board also confirmed new members to the DIRE committee and announced plans to release the findings of an investigation into WPD misconduct.
National civil rights group calls for WPD Officer Eichhammer’s removal for hanging Hitler photo

National civil rights group calls for WPD Officer Eichhammer’s removal for hanging Hitler photo

Eichhammer claimed photo in locker was a joke; Town manager unwilling to fire him
Ella Marx • August 7, 2021
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a national civil rights organization that focuses on racial justice, published a letter on Monday calling for the removal of Officer Craig Eichhammer from the WPD for the officer’s display of a photograph of Adolf Hitler in his station locker.
The candidates for the three-year term on the Select Board are Tony Boskovich (Above Left) and Jeff Johnson (Above Right). The candidates for the three-year term on the Select Board with one year remaining are Wade Hasty (Center Left) and Albert Cummings (Center Right). The candidates for the seat on the Planning Board are Ken Kuttner (Below Left), Susan Puddester (Below Center), and Roger Lawrence (Below Right). (Photos courtesy of Tony Boskovich, Jeff Johnson, Wade Hasty, Ken Kuttner, and WilliNet.)

Contested races on the ballot for Town elections in May

Joey Fox and Ella Marx • April 21, 2021
After a turbulent year for Williamstown marked by reports of police misconduct, the continued hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resignation of several Town officials, Williamstown voters will go to the polls on May 11 to vote for two new members of the Williamstown Select Board alongside several other local races.
WPD employee complaint alleges that sgt. who filed lawsuit committed misconduct himself

WPD employee complaint alleges that sgt. who filed lawsuit committed misconduct himself

Ella Marx • April 7, 2021
The Berkshire Eagle recently obtained a copy of the employee complaint against Williamstown Police Department (WPD) Sergeant Scott McGowan alleging that McGowan, who filed a lawsuit against the Town and WPD in August alleging misconduct, had himself perpetrated sexual and racial harassment. The complaint led the department to place McGowan on paid administrative leave last month.
March 22 Select Board meeting: WPD officers suspended for illegal searches

March 22 Select Board meeting: WPD officers suspended for illegal searches

Also: Board to interview interim town manager candidates tomorrow
Maddy Lawler and Ella Marx • March 28, 2021
At the Williamstown Select Board meeting on March 22, Acting WPD Chief Ziemba said that the officers who illegally searched the records of WPD critics' have been suspended without pay. Also at the meeting, the board discussed the selection processes for the interim WPD chief and town manager and broadened the scope of Levenson’s investigation.
Some professors will give their students extra Health Days in addition to the College-designated Health Days this spring. (Taryn McLaughlin/The Williams Record)

Faculty prepare for upcoming spring Health Days

Ella Marx and Emily Kuwaye • March 17, 2021
In lieu of the traditional two-week long spring break this semester, the College has created three Health Days in the hopes that the absence of classes will provide students space for rest and rejuvenation. As these dates approach, the Record spoke with faculty on how they are preparing for Health Days. 
WPD sergeant placed on administrative leave

WPD sergeant placed on administrative leave

Ella Marx • March 13, 2021
Williamstown Police Department (WPD) Sgt. Scott McGowan was placed on paid administrative leave last week after he was named in an employee complaint. According to the Berkshire Eagle, the complaint alleged bullying and verbal harassment of other officers.
Jason Hoch, who has served as town manager since 2015, announced that he will resign.

Williamstown Town Manager Jason Hoch to resign

Kevin Yang, Jeongyoon Han, and Ella Marx • February 21, 2021
Williamstown Town Manager Jason Hoch ’95 announced Friday that he will resign from his position. He will stay on the job for up to 60 days and oversee the transition through May while the Select Board hires an interim town manager. Hoch, an alum of the College who has served as town manager since 2015, came under scrutiny after Williamstown Police Department (WPD) Sergeant Scott McGowan alleged in a August 2020 federal lawsuit that Hoch did not adequately investigate allegations of racism and sexual assault within the WPD.
Approximately 83 percent of the student body indicated that they planned to enroll on campus in the spring. (Lulu Whitmore/The Williams Record)

Student enrollment plans suggest increased population on campus in the spring

Annie Lu and Ella Marx • December 9, 2020
Based on the intent to enroll form that 2,078 students submitted by the Dec. 1 deadline, 1,824 undergraduates plan to be on campus during the spring semester, a significant increase from the fall. This constitutes approximately 83 percent of the entire student body — when accounting for the approximately 130 first-years continuing their gap year who did not submit spring enrollment plans. Of the remaining students, 161 (7 percent of the student body at large) plan to study remotely, and 93 (4 percent) will be on leave.
Amid dissent, Town Manager Hoch retains WPD Chief Johnson

Amid dissent, Town Manager Hoch retains WPD Chief Johnson

Johnson apologizes, announces investigation into new report that WPD officer shared racist Facebook posts
Jack McGovern, Jeongyoon Han, Kevin Yang, and Ella Marx • November 11, 2020
At a Williamstown Select Board meeting on Oct. 26, Town Manager Jason Hoch ’95 announced his decision to retain Kyle Johnson as the chief of the Williamstown Police Department (WPD). The announcement comes as Johnson faces allegations of sexual assault and racial harassment in a federal lawsuit filed in August, and as local police accountability organizers have called for his removal. Following this announcement, in a Monday Select Board meeting, Johnson apologized for “some poor judgement” early in his tenure, and “tolerating and participating in behaviors that should never have occurred in the workplace.” He also said that an investigation had been initiated into new reports that a WPD officer shared racist posts on Facebook.
While Williams Coronavirus Dashboard only reports on numbers of positive test results, other NESCAC schools also provide metrics on isolation, recovery and disciplinary measures. (Photo courtesy of Williams College.)

What the College’s COVID dashboard does — and doesn’t — say

Ella Marx • October 28, 2020
Updated every morning, the Williams College Coronavirus Dashboard reports the numbers of positive test results within the past day, the past week and since Aug. 17, as well as the number of completed tests. But despite the up-to-date information it provides, the College’s dashboard displays fewer statistics than many peer institutions. The College’s dashboard does not show that five students have been transitioned to remote status since the beginning of the semester and two students have faced a formal disciplinary process due to violations of the College’s COVID guidelines.
Four College presidents reflect on voting rights, 2020 election

Four College presidents reflect on voting rights, 2020 election

Ella Marx • October 21, 2020
The presidents of four institutions of higher education — Maud S. Mandel of Williams College, Wayne A. I. Frederick of Howard University, Ellen Kennedy of Berkshire Community College (BCC) and Jonathan Holloway of Rutgers University — discussed the significance of voting rights and the 2020 election for colleges and universities at a Zoom webinar on Tuesday night.
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