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

Kiara Royer, Managing Editor

Kiara Royer ’24 is a history and political science major, and Asian studies concentrator, from New York, N.Y. She is a managing editor and previously served as executive editor for arts, section editor for news, and staff writer for the features section.

Email: [email protected]

All content by Kiara Royer
Photo courtesy of Jamie Mazzacco

One in Two Thousand: Jamie Mazzacco ’26

Kiara Royer • December 6, 2023
This week, Jamie Mazzacco ’26 discussed Thursday football traditions, a potential redesign of the College mascot, and his Spotify Wrapped.
Students, faculty, staff, and alumni celebrate the Chapin Library’s centennial anniversary. (Kiara Royer/The Williams Record)

Students, faculty celebrate Chapin Library’s centennial anniversary

Kiara Royer • November 8, 2023
Community members gathered on Nov. 3 in the Chapin Library’s gallery at a reception to celebrate its centennial anniversary and to view 100 Years, 100 Voices, an exhibition curated by Chapin Librarian Anne Peale. 100 Years, 100 Voices features approximately 100 objects from Chapin collections with descriptions — provided by students, alums, faculty, researchers, and community members — intending to bring the objects to life. The exhibit opened in September and will close in mid-January.
Frankel’s new video art installation “Within the crowd there is a quality” is displayed in New York City’s Moynihan Train Hall. (Photo courtesy of David Plakke).

“Left foot forward, right foot forward”: Artist Joshua Frankel ’02 discusses animation and public space

Kiara Royer • October 31, 2023
Animation, bicycles, Robert Moses, crowds — these are all concepts that have inspired multimedia artist and director Joshua Frankel ’02 throughout his career. The last object, however, is the newest focus for Frankel in his most recent work exploring the individual’s distinction and cohesivity within a greater multitude.
Women’s soccer beats Hamilton in penalties, advancing to the semifinal round of the NESCAC tournament. (Photo Courtesy of Sports Information.)

Women’s soccer comes back in NESCAC Quarterfinals to beat Hamilton in penalties

Kiara Royer • October 31, 2023
With their continued runs into the NESCAC tournament on the line, both teams battled during all 90 minutes of regular-time and 20 minutes of overtime. The Ephs won on penalty kicks, advancing to NESCAC Semifinals.
The College adopted more electric vehicles after working with Alhambra.

[Photo] College partners with student-run consulting group to electrify vehicle fleet

Hannah Marx and Becky Walker • October 3, 2023

The College adopted more electric vehicles after working with Alhambra.

‘A cutthroat competition to the death’: Seniors queue overnight to select their favorite Sawyer Library carrels

‘A cutthroat competition to the death’: Seniors queue overnight to select their favorite Sawyer Library carrels

Kiara Royer • September 19, 2023
It’s not uncommon to see students milling around Sawyer Library late at night or early in the morning, but last week, one may have noticed more students in their pajamas than usual. Last Monday, Sept. 11, senior thesis writers waited to claim one of Sawyer’s 120 carrels as their own for the year. 
Collaboration, virtual reality, and social justice are focuses of Cahill’s artwork. (Photo Courtesy of Nancy Baker Cahill.)

Nancy Baker Cahill ’92 discusses intersection between art and virtual reality

Kiara Royer • December 7, 2022
In an interview with the Record, multimedia artist Nancy Baker Cahill ’92 discussed her work engaging with social justice, collaboration, and augmented reality, as well as her processes creating digital installations.
Co-founders of the Bowerbird Collective Anthony Albrecht (left) and Simone Slattery (right) perform under a highway. Photo courtesy of Mara Bun.

Environment, art, and birds: Mara Bun ’84 discusses performance works

Kiara Royer • October 4, 2022
hen Mara Bun ’84 arrived at the College as a first-year, she had little idea of the collaborative possibilities her degree would allow. She has worked with former leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev on environmental activism, acted as the attaché to the Brazilian women's soccer team for the Sydney Olympics in 2000, and chaired the board of the Bowerbird Collective, helping produce soundscape performances that connect audiences to the natural world.
Although he has always been musically inclined, Miles first learned opera his freshman year at the College and has since performed in numerous shows. (Photo courtesy of Peter Miles.)

The Artist Otherwise Known As: Peter Miles ’24

Kiara Royer • September 20, 2022
Peter Miles ’24 has always been passionate about music. Miles, however, had little idea that his interest in music would lead him to study at the Mediterranean Opera Studio and Festival in Caltagirone, Italy, this past summer.
Photo courtesy of Williams College.

Class of 2022.5 to participate in Commencement

Kiara Royer • April 26, 2022
Members of the Class of 2022.5 will be allowed to join the Class of 2022’s Commencement, with stipulations.
The 1977 women’s basketball team poses for a yearbook photo. (Photo courtesy of Special Collections.)

‘Freed by Title IX’: Looking into the creation of the first women’s athletic teams at the College

Kiara Royer • March 9, 2022
Coinciding with the College’s move towards coeduaction, Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs including athletics, was passed in June 1972. The first official female varsity sports teams at the College were established in the fall of 1972 — and in some cases, student athletes initiated the creation of teams themselves. 
Part of a wooden stake that once held a Black Lives Matter sign still stands outside the First Congregational Church. (Photo courtesy of Ella Marx).

Students witness racist incident; questions remain unanswered

Ella Marx and Kiara Royer • February 16, 2022
On Feb. 12, Arianna Barzacanos ’24 and Iman Shumburo ’24 were walking in front of Chapin Hall when they saw three young individuals walking on the sidewalk towards Paresky holding a Black Lives Matter sign and shouting the N-word at cars passing by.
One in Two Thousand: Kedar Veeraswamy ’24

One in Two Thousand: Kedar Veeraswamy ’24

Kiara Royer • January 26, 2022
This week, the computer (using a script in R) chose Kedar Veeraswamy ’24, who discussed how he got to the College, The 1975, and his favorite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor.
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. 
Thirty students test positive for COVID, isolation housing policies change amid students’ return to campus

Thirty students test positive for COVID, isolation housing policies change amid students’ return to campus

Megan Lin and Kiara Royer • January 4, 2022

Jan. 3, 2022 | 9:46 p.m.  Thirty students tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the College’s total number of positive tests in the past seven days to 40, according to the COVID dashboard....

(Devika Goel/The Williams Record)

Fall approval ratings survey shows decreased approval for CSS, Dining

Ella Marx and Kiara Royer • December 8, 2021
The Record sent its twice-annual survey to 500 randomly selected unixes last week to gauge whether students approve, disapprove, or feel neutral about College policies and institutions.
Rhiana Gunn-Wright, a climate activist, holds a lecture on the Green New Deal.

In Other Ivory Towers: Univ. of Florida blocks faculty from testifying in voting rights case against the state

Ella Marx and Kiara Royer • November 2, 2021
The University of Florida prohibited three of its professors from serving as expert witnesses in a lawsuit challenging Florida’s new law restricting voter rights, raising concerns about First Amendment rights.
(Kiara Royer/The Williams Record)

One in Two Thousand: Alex Rouyer ’24

Kiara Royer • September 28, 2021
This week, the computer (using a script in R) chose Alex Rouyer ’24, who talked about hiking Pine Cobble once a week, getting pranked with Jell-O, and becoming (sort of) internet-famous because of quarantine milk.
Students gather in front of Paresky with a little more than a week to go before the start of classes. (Cameron Pugh/The Williams Record.)

College prepares for in-person semester amid Delta variant concerns

As students begin to return, College reintroduces weekly testing; four students test positive
Sofie Jones, Katie Jung, and Kiara Royer • September 3, 2021
Many students had hoped that this fall, with the campus largely vaccinated, would finally be free from COVID restrictions. But the prevalence of the Delta variant has led the College to reimplement an indoor mask mandate and a weekly testing requirement. And if the campus sees an outbreak, the College could implement more stringent restrictions, according to administrators.
Record survey reveals decreased approval of College policies, institutions

Record survey reveals decreased approval of College policies, institutions

Megan Lin and Kiara Royer • May 19, 2021
The Record sent out its biannual approval ratings survey this past week to 500 randomly selected students, who were given the option to indicate whether they approve of, disapprove of, or feel neutral about various campus figures, institutions, and policies.
Governor Baker announces the vaccination timeline for Massachusetts residents. Photo courtesy of Joshua Qualls at the Governor’s Press Office.

All Massachusetts adults to be eligible for vaccine April 19

College works to become a vaccination site
Kiara Royer and Fiona Seibert • March 31, 2021
On March 17, Gov. Baker announced that all Massachusetts residents over the age of 16 will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine beginning on April 19. The College has not yet determined whether it will be able to serve as a vaccination site, but it is in discussion with local health services providers, President Mandel told the Record.
Asian studies department to restructure, adding new major and concentration

Asian studies department to restructure, adding new major and concentration

Kiara Royer and Rachel Jiang • March 31, 2021
Beginning in the 2021-2022 academic year, a department of Asian languages, literatures, and cultures (DALLC) and a program in Asian studies will replace the current Asian studies department. The DALLC will revise versions of the existing Chinese and Japanese majors, as well as offer a new East Asian languages and cultures major. 
Boyer came to the College in 1989 seeking a position in the athletic department before he was hired as a CSS officer. (Photo courtesy of Dave Boyer.)

Director of CSS Dave Boyer to retire after 32 years at College

Kiara Royer and Ella Marx • March 3, 2021
Director of Campus Safety & Security (CSS) Dave Boyer will retire this August after 32 years at the College.
Two students who tested positive for COVID-19 were isolated for 10 days in McGinnis House, which was previously occupied by graduate art students. (Ella Marx/The Williams Record)

2 weeks, 11 cases: COVID cases rise among students

College sees first evidence of community transmission
Annie Lu and Kiara Royer • February 24, 2021
Eleven on-campus students have tested positive for COVID-19 since arriving for the spring semester, a significant increase relative to the number of COVID cases reported at a comparable time in the fall.  Seven of this semester’s cases were reported upon arrival, with the remaining four positives occurring after the student had initially tested negative. Three of those students, who at first moved to quarantine in Dodd House after coming into close contact with COVID-positive students, have since tested positive themselves and moved to isolation. One staff or faculty member tested positive on Feb. 15.
Ericka Hart delivered the morning keynote address at Claiming Williams Day 2021. Photo courtesy of Ericka Hart.

Ericka Hart calls out College in Claiming Williams’ morning keynote address

Kiara Royer and Emily Kuwaye • February 24, 2021
Activist Ericka Hart delivered the morning keynote on Claiming Williams Day on Thursday in a Zoom webinar titled “(Calling Out) Williams Day!” Hart called on the College to address past and present institutional racism against Black and Indigenous people.
Spring Street businesses hope for better business in the spring (Ella Marx/The Williams Record)

Spring Street businesses hope for successful spring as occupancy limits loosen, students return

Shannon Billups, Sophie Haase, and Kiara Royer • February 24, 2021

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker loosened COVID-19 guidelines on Feb. 8, allowing certain businesses — such as restaurants, movie theaters, and retail spaces, among others — to increase their...

Tenure for eight faculty members will go into effect this July. (Rachel Buccalo/The Williams Record)

College awards tenure to eight faculty members

Kiara Royer • February 10, 2021
During its winter 2021 meeting on Jan. 22, the Board of Trustees approved the promotion of eight faculty members to the position of associate professor with tenure: Jeremy Cone, psychology; Christine DeLucia, history; Matthew Gibson, economics; Lama Nassif, Arabic studies; Christina Simko, sociology; Owen Thompson, economics; Emily Vasiliauskas, English; and Zachary Wadsworth, music. Tenure will go into effect on July 1.
This Week in Williams History: Malaria drugs, ‘manly toiletries’ and Ralph Nader

This Week in Williams History: Malaria drugs, ‘manly toiletries’ and Ralph Nader

Kiara Royer • November 25, 2020
This week in history, a Williams alum announced a treatment for malaria, two students (one of whom would gain infamy for his role in Watergate) sold “exotic perfumes” and Ralph Nader spoke in Chapin Hall.
This Week in Williams History: President Taft, Pink Floyd, ‘lice condoms’

This Week in Williams History: President Taft, Pink Floyd, ‘lice condoms’

Kiara Royer • November 18, 2020
This week in history, three guests visited the College: former President William Howard Taft in 1917, Pink Floyd in 1971 and an unwelcome outbreak of lice in 1997.
Panel explores history of Stockbridge-Munsee in the Berkshires

Panel explores history of Stockbridge-Munsee in the Berkshires

Kiara Royer • November 11, 2020
Although the connection between the Stockbridge-Munsee and the town of Stockbridge is evident today, the community’s relationship to Williamstown is just beginning to be understood in a fuller manner.
‘Like an adventure’: The beginnings of coeducation, 50 years ago

‘Like an adventure’: The beginnings of coeducation, 50 years ago

Irene Loewenson and Kiara Royer • October 28, 2020
It has been 50 years since the first 40 women students transferred to the College, along with 50 women exchange students, blazing the trail as a group of 95 women in a school with about 1,250 men.
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