The Williams Record

Kent Barbir, Managing Editor

Kent Barbir ’24 is a statistics major from Tokyo, Japan. He is a managing editor and previously served as an executive editor, section editor, and staff writer for the sports section.

Email: [email protected]

All content by Kent Barbir
Olivia Jo/The Williams Record

Fall approval ratings survey shows decreased approval of the Record, the College, Mandel

Kent Barbir December 6, 2023
Last week, the Record sent its biannual approval ratings survey to 500 randomly selected students, who indicated their approval, disapproval, or neutrality toward various campus institutions and policies.
One in Two Thousand: Akira  Eisenbeiss ’24

One in Two Thousand: Akira Eisenbeiss ’24

Kent Barbir February 22, 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, Akira Eisenbeiss ’24 discussed...

Volleyball, along with other fall sports teams, has been allowed to practice with coaches this spring. (Photo courtesy of Sports Information)

Fall sports teams conduct non-traditional spring practices

Kent Barbir May 4, 2022
This spring season saw fields, courts, and athletic facilities on campus a little busier than usual. Unlike in a typical spring, the NESCAC has allowed fall sports teams to conduct practices with their coaches.
Intelligence and national security correspondent for NBC News Ken Dilanian ’91 spoke at the ceremony. (Photo courtesy of Dick Quinn.)

Sports Information honors students with Pinsky, Deford Awards, address by NBC correspondent Ken Dilanian ʼ91

Kent Barbir April 27, 2022
On Saturday, the Sports Information department honored six student workers for their contributions to Eph Sports Information in the Deford and Pinsky Awards. Both awards, according to Director of Sports Information Dick Quinn, are the only ones of their kind in college sports. The featured speaker for the awards ceremony was Ken Dillanian ʼ90, intelligence and national security correspondent for NBC News.
Four former student-athletes discussed their decision to leave their sport while at the College. (Photo courtesy of Scarlet Rusch.)

‘Like ripping a Band-Aid off’: Former varsity athletes reflect on leaving their teams

Kent Barbir and Jacques Lybarger-Martel March 2, 2022
The Record spoke to four former varsity athletes to hear about the process of leaving a team, the reasons behind their decision, and the lasting impact it has had on them.
Masters (right) with fellow goalscorers at Wembley after their win. (Photo courtesy of Mike Masters.)

From Williamstown to Wembley: Mike Masters ʼ89 on his journey to the heart of English soccer

Kent Barbir February 16, 2022
Only three Americans have ever scored at Wembley Stadium, one of the most iconic venues in world soccer. Mike Masters ʼ89 was the first.
Coach’s Corner: Pat Manning, women’s basketball

Coach’s Corner: Pat Manning, women’s basketball

Kent Barbir January 26, 2022
This week, we checked in with Pat Manning, head coach of women’s basketball. The Record sat down with Manning to discuss playing on the road, coaching five different sports, and riding a tractor around downtown Nashville.
College confirms in-person classes to begin on Jan. 10, extends take-out only service in dining halls

College confirms in-person classes to begin on Jan. 10, extends take-out only service in dining halls

Kent Barbir, Ella Marx, and Megan Lin January 7, 2022
Winter Study courses will return to in-person instruction on Monday, Jan. 10, Chief Communications Officer Jim Reische announced in an all-campus email this afternoon. Dining halls will be open for take-out only through Jan. 16 — all seating areas inside these areas will be closed, Reische wrote.
(Kent Barbir/The Williams Record)

One in Two Thousand: Bianca Arce ’24

Kent Barbir November 10, 2021
This week, the computer (using a script in R) chose Bianca Arce ’24, who talked about drinking Snapple, writing plays, and figure skating.
From classroom to the court: Faculty and staff find community in pickup sports

From classroom to the court: Faculty and staff find community in pickup sports

Kent Barbir and Katherine Yang November 3, 2021
Many faculty and staff make time in their busy schedules to participate in pickup sports. The Record checked in with a few of these “non-student athletes” to hear about their athletic endeavors.
After running her fourth Boston Marathon, Jessica Chapman poses for a picture with her daughter, Mia. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Chapman.)

Members of College community participate in historic, hybrid Boston Marathon

Kent Barbir and Sam Coyle October 20, 2021
Canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Boston Marathon returned in 2021, albeit with a slew of pandemic-induced changes and precautions. This included a six-month delay of the race from April to October, opening up the possibility for members of the College community to take advantage of the reading period break to attend.
Coach’s Corner: Pete Farwell ʼ73, cross country

Coach’s Corner: Pete Farwell ʼ73, cross country

Kent Barbir October 6, 2021

The Record publishes “Coach’s Corner” interviews to give readers the chance to get to know the coaches of their favorite Eph teams. This week, we checked in with Pete Farwell ʼ73, head coach...

Olivia Dabinett ʼ25 spent her gap year playing soccer in Spain. (Photo courtesy of Olivia Dabinett).

First-year athletes reflect on gap year experiences

Kent Barbir September 29, 2021
The Record spoke with a few gap year athletes about their decision to defer their attendance, how they kept up with their sport, and the transition to life and athletics at the College.
Representing the U.S. in rugby sevens at the Olympics, Kristi Kirshe ’17 evades a tackle in a game against Australia. (Mike Lee/KLC fotos)

An Olympics like no other: Four alums reflect on their experiences in Tokyo

Kent Barbir and Katherine Yang September 15, 2021
Div. III athletics are not commonly thought of as a breeding ground for Olympic athletes. But four Williams alums — Joey Lye ’09, Tala Abujbara ’14, Will Hardy ’10, and Kristi Kirshe ’17 — have broken the mold, appearing in this year’s Olympics in a variety of roles and for three different countries.
Eric Pappas ’22 pitches to Adhya Tandon ’23 in the JR Memorial Wiffleball Tournament. (Photo courtesy of Aidan Feurer ’22 and Rebecca Kuo ’22.)

SAAC holds wiffleball tournament in honor of Jackson Ronningen ʼ24

Iman Shumburo and Kent Barbir May 19, 2021
On May 7, SAAC hosted the JR Memorial Wiffle Ball Tournament in honor of Jackson Ronningen ’24. Over 115 people attended the event, which raised money for the Positive Coaching Alliance.
Victoria Garrick, a former Div. I athlete and current mental health and body-image advocate, gave a talk for SAACs Fresh Check Day. (Photo courtesy of Victoria Garrick.)

Mental health in athletics: Victoria Garrick speaks to students on Fresh Check Day

Kent Barbir and Marit Hoyem May 5, 2021
Victoria Garrick, a former Div. I volleyball player at the University of Southern California (USC) and current mental health advocate, spoke at the College on April 20 about her athletic career and struggles with anxiety and body image.
(Kent Barbir/The Williams Record)

One in Two Thousand: Shenba Vairavan ’24

Kent Barbir April 14, 2021
This week, the computer (using a script in R) chose Shenba Vairavan ’24, who talked about dancing, high school podcasts, and her first snowfall.
Walk-ons fill out team rosters — this spring especially

Walk-ons fill out team rosters — this spring especially

Kent Barbir, Stephanie Teng, and Kedar Veeraswamy March 31, 2021
Walk-on athletes like van Eck who joined a team that they were not initially recruited for have long played an important role for the Ephs. With spring competition rapidly approaching, several teams have looked to take walk-ons from fall or winter sports to fill in their gaps. 
Varsity athletes prepare for first competitive season since campus closure

Varsity athletes prepare for first competitive season since campus closure

Kent Barbir, Katherine Yang, and Stephanie Teng March 22, 2021
Spring varsity teams are gearing up in preparation for competitions after the College's decision to opt in to NESCAC's limited spring season. For many athletes, this would be their first time competing as an Eph; for some, this would be their last.
JAs Georgia McClain ʼ22 and Galen Cassidy ʼ22 pose in their Mission common room. Their entry, MD4, saw the addition of 10 new on-campus first-years this semester. (Sarah Lindeman/The Williams Record)

Advisor or enforcer? JAs grapple with ambiguous COVID-era responsibilities

Kent Barbir and Rosemary Kehoe March 17, 2021
While this year has been challenging for everybody, the stress and pressure of being a student have been especially amplified for JAs. Having accepted their position before the true magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic had sunk in, JAs have had to come to terms with the realities of this unorthodox year.
In the wake of the party at Wood, questions have been raised about the disconnect between athletes and non-athletes at the College. (Devika Goel/ The Williams Record)

Wood party rekindles debate on athletic culture

Kent Barbir, Stephanie Teng, and Katherine Yang March 10, 2021
It has been nearly two weeks since a large gathering at Wood shook the College community. Many students — including both varsity athletes and non-athletes — voiced complaints about the party culture of certain teams. The Record spoke to athletes and non-athletes alike about the effects of the party on athletics; the ties among athletic culture, party culture, and privilege; and where the student body can go from here.
Dan Calichman ʼ90 reflects on playing professional soccer, coaching in MLS

Dan Calichman ʼ90 reflects on playing professional soccer, coaching in MLS

Kent Barbir March 3, 2021
For most of his time at the College, Dan Calichman ʼ90 was not planning on a career in professional soccer. Today, Calichman can reflect upon a long and successful career in the sport spanning several decades and three countries.
Some members of the Nordic ski team took advantage of the extended break to train together in Bend, Ore.. (Photo courtesy of Jakin Miller ʼ24)

Eph athletes train over extended winter break

Kent Barbir February 10, 2021
This January, without winter study or team practices, some Ephs have taken unusual steps to find places to train.
As an unusual season begins, winter athletes on and off campus start to train

As an unusual season begins, winter athletes on and off campus start to train

Stephanie Teng, Kent Barbir, and Lindsay Wang November 18, 2020

Women’s hockey has been using synthetic ice due to ventilation issues with their normal ice rink. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Lackmann ’24.) A year ago today, the Chandler Athletic Center was bustling...

Playing the mind game: Sabermetrics at the College

Playing the mind game: Sabermetrics at the College

Kent Barbir November 11, 2020

Steven Miller, Professor of Mathematics, is widely known to be a baseball fanatic, but few are aware of his involvement in sabermetrics research. (Photo courtesy of Steven Miller.) Anyone who has ever...

Sports teams celebrate Mountain Day

Sports teams celebrate Mountain Day

Kent Barbir October 28, 2020

Cider donuts, apple cider, casual hikes with friends — for most people, Mountain Day is a time for procrastinating on homework and enjoying the natural beauty of a Williamstown fall. However, for a...

Water polo dives into a season unlike any other

Water polo dives into a season unlike any other

Kent Barbir October 21, 2020

In past years, club water polo trained and competed in the Samuelson-Muir pool; this fall, the team dove into the Hoosic in search of a place to bond. (Photo courtesy of Galen Cassidy ’22.) Anyone...

Checkmate, quarantine: Chess Club thrives in the Zoom era

Checkmate, quarantine: Chess Club thrives in the Zoom era

Kent Barbir October 7, 2020

A Wednesday night of wistful longing--Blue-black in Autumnal bliss.Here you hear a voice of calling"come play chess!", and that is this:Chess club tonight from 9 -- 10:30 @ Eco cafe, everyone welcome,...

Load More Stories

Comments (0)

All The Williams Record Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest