The Williams Record, Williamstown, MA (2025)

05/11/2023

Institutions of higher education throughout the country face racial disparities in graduation rates. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) indicates that only 45 percent of Black, bachelor’s degree seeking students who entered college in 2015 graduated within six years — 20 percentage points below the national average. By contrast, 68 percent of white students and 78 percent of Asian students in the same cohort completed their degrees within six years. At the College, Black and Hispanic students also graduate at lower rates than their white and Asian peers — though the disparities are far smaller than those at the national level. (Cameron Pugh reports.)

A Record investigation found that Black and Hispanic students at the College graduate at lower rates than their white and Asian peers — though the disparities are far smaller at the College than at the national level.

05/09/2023

At the height of the Hungarian Revolution in November 1956, Steve Bullock ’57 pitched an idea to his Delta Upsilon (DU) fraternity brothers: to “adopt” a family of Hungarian refugees. Three months and a series of miracles later, a Hungarian family of four moved into the DU fraternity house in Williamstown. (Emily Zas reports. Photos courtesy of Beata Csanádi, The Cornerstone, and Precious Legacy.)

At the height of the Hungarian Revolution in November 1956, Steve Bullock ’57 pitched an idea to his Delta Upsilon (DU) fraternity brothers: to “adopt” a family of Hungarian refugees. Three months and a series of miracles later, a Hungarian family of four moved into the DU fraternity house in ...

05/07/2023

In the fall of 2004, first-years Morgan Goodwin ’08 and Andrew Whinery ’09 stripped off their clothes and ran through the common rooms of Williams and Sage Halls as entry snacks took place. It was the inaugural streak of the Springstreakers, an unregistered student organization that ran steadily through 2018. If you were studying in the library during finals between 2004 and 2018, there was a good chance that, at some point, 50 to 100 fully n**e Ephs would have run past you. (Innes Asher reports.)

The Springstreakers were an unregistered student organization that ran steadily through 2018. If you were studying in the library during finals between 2004 and 2018, there was a good chance that, at some point, 50 to 100 fully n**e Ephs would have run past you.

05/07/2023

Hundreds of students flocked to Science Quad last Saturday to enjoy the food trucks, festivities, and student performances brought to campus by All-Campus Entertainment (ACE) for this year’s Spring Fling last Saturday. Sammy Rae & The Friends headlined the concert, marking the return of a visiting artist at the College for the first time since rapper and songwriter Princess Nokia performed in Towne Field House in 2019. (Izzy Polanco reports.)

Hundreds of students flocked to Science Quad this Saturday to enjoy the food trucks, festivities, and student performances brought to campus by All-Campus Entertainment (ACE) for this year’s Spring Fling last Saturday. Sammy Rae & The Friends headlined the concert, marking the return of a visiting...

04/30/2023

In an op-ed, Taylor Braswell ’23 highlights the lack of love, support, and recognition that Black women receive at the College.

In an op-ed, Taylor Braswell ’23 laments the lack of love, support, and recognition for the labor Black women pour into the College.

04/30/2023

In a location as remote as Williamstown, spouses of College faculty members can face limited employment opportunities. For spouses who are also academics, getting two tenure-track positions at the College can be difficult, forcing couples to make challenging decisions about their careers. (Ellie Davis reports.)

In a location as remote as Williamstown, spouses of College faculty members can face limited employment opportunities. For spouses who are also academics, getting two tenure-track positions at the College can be difficult, forcing couples to make challenging decisions about their careers.

04/28/2023

The leaders of Williams Audio Production (WAP) discuss their hopes for their new RSO and their plans to reinvent the College’s party scene. This past weekend, the group hosted a black-light- and neon-themed WAP House experience at Wood House. (Safiyah Anwar-Chuku reports.)

Wood House hosted Williams Audio Production (WAP) House, an extravaganza with a black-light, neon theme on Saturday night.

04/28/2023

The Board of Trustees approved the College’s budget for the 2024 fiscal year at its quarterly meeting last week. The budget for the 2024 fiscal year includes $292 million in operating expenses, a 3.4-percent increase from the 2023 fiscal year; $130 million in operating revenues, a 4.4-percent increase from the 2023 fiscal year; and a $162 million draw from the College’s endowment, slightly less than the three-percent increase from the 2023 fiscal year, Vice President for Finance & Operations Mike Wagner told the Record in an interview. (Luke Chinman and Izzy Polanco report.)

The Board of Trustees approved the College’s budget for the 2024 fiscal year at its quarterly meeting last week, President Maud S. Mandel announced in an email to the College community on Thursday.

04/26/2023

On Saturday, softball (13-13, 7-5 in the NESCAC) bounced back from Friday’s two losses against Amherst by sweeping Middlebury in its doubleheader on the road. “Williams softball teams are known for coming back and having that, ‘It’s never over until it’s over’ mentality,” Head Coach Kris Herman said. “We have this belief that we can win at any time, and I think that translates to games and the [outlook for] the season as well.” (Daniel Okstein reports.)

On Saturday, softball (13-13, 7-5 in the NESCAC) bounced back from Friday’s two losses against Amherst (21-11, 9-5 in the NESCAC) by sweeping Middlebury (13-13, 4-8 in the NESCAC) in its doubleheader on the road.

04/23/2023

In 2003, four students established the "Cawamayday Cup" — an award given to the group of students assigned the last pick number in the housing lottery. Though the prize has been discontinued in recent years, previous recipients still remember it fondly. (Emily Zas and Luke Chinman report.)

In 2003, four students established the “Cawamayday Cup” — an award given to the group of students assigned the last pick number in the housing lottery. Though the prize has been discontinued in recent years, previous recipients remember it fondly.

04/23/2023

Professor of Economics Lara Shore-Sheppard will serve as the College’s next dean of the faculty, succeeding Professor of Psychology Safa Zaki in July. (Skylar Yarter reports.)

Professor of Economics Lara Shore-Sheppard will serve as the College’s next dean of the faculty, succeeding Professor of Psychology Safa Zaki in July.

04/23/2023

The second installment of the ‘Art Mafia’ series features John R. Lane ’66 — an American-studies-major-turned-museum-director, who served as the Eugene McDermott Director of the Dallas Museum of Art. He discusses his experience taking Art History classes with professors S. Lane Faison ’29 and Whitney Stoddard ’35, and entering the museum industry. (Quinn Casey and Emily Zas report.)

Although John R. Lane ’66 majored in American Studies while at the College, his successful career as an Art director would not have been possible without taking classes with professors S. Lane Faison ’29 and Whitney Stoddard ’35.

04/19/2023

More students than ever are enrolling in STEM and economics courses at the College. Though growing popularity in these departments has delighted professors, it has posed its own challenges: Now, departments must balance surging demand for their classes with limited resources and a desire to preserve the small, intimate atmosphere that defines a liberal arts education. (Julia Goldberg & David Wignall report.)

More students than ever are enrolling in STEM and economics courses. Though growing popularity in these departments has delighted professors, it has posed its own challenges. Now, departments must balance surging demand for their classes with limited resources and a desire to preserve the small, int...

03/29/2023

The Towne Field House has been closed indefinitely for maintenance after Facilities staff discovered that a beam supporting the southeast corner of the roof was deteriorating, impacting the building’s structural integrity and rendering it unsafe for occupancy. In a March 24 all-campus email, Chief Communications Officer Jim Reische announced the closure, which will last at least for the duration of the spring semester and possibly into the next academic year. (Max Billick reports.)

The Towne Field House has been closed indefinitely for maintenance. A student first reported that a portion of the climbing wall in the Field House — a multi-purpose, indoor athletic facility that includes the College’s indoor track — had detached from the wall on March 16

03/21/2023

The College admitted 858 students to the Class of 2027 through the regular decision process, for an overall admission rate of 9.8 percent. (David Wignall reports.)

The College admitted 858 students to the Class of 2027 through the regular decision process, for an overall admission rate of 9.8 percent.

03/16/2023

Snowfall can be a bit of a nuisance. On Tuesday and Wednesday morning, groundskeepers and other facilities staff sprang into action to clear campus paths after over a foot of snow hit Williamstown within 24 hours. This snow-clearing process requires the help of more than 100 people, who work at odd hours in far-from-ideal conditions to shovel and plow roads, sidewalks, and all other essential surfaces. (Grady Short reports.)

Snowfall can be a bit of a nuisance. On Tuesday morning, groundskeepers and other facilities staff sprung into action to clear campus paths.

03/16/2023

Fred Krupp, the president of the Environmental Defense Fund, will deliver the 2023 commencement address on June 4. Sara Bloomfield, the director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., will deliver the College’s Baccalaureate address on June 3. During the commencement ceremony, both Krupp and Bloomfield will receive honorary degrees from the College. (Ella Marx reports.)

Fred Krupp, the president of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), will deliver the 2023 commencement address on June 4. Sara Bloomfield, the director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., will deliver the College’s Baccalaureate address on June 3.

03/12/2023

In June 1969, the Board of Trustees voted to admit women. This, however, was just one event in the College's shift to coeducation in the 1960s and 70s. (Ines Garcia and Dylan Mealey report.)

In June 1969, the Board of Trustees voted to admit women. This, however, is merely one moment in the College’s shift to coeducation in the 1960s and 70s.

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