Editing Amherst College (section)

==Student life==
Amherst's resources, faculty, and academic life allow the college to enroll students with a range of talents, interests, and commitments. Students represent 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and sixty-six countries.<ref name=":4" /> The median family income of Amherst students is $158,200, with 51% of students coming from the top 10% highest-earning families and 24% from the bottom 60%.<ref name="NYT mobility index">{{cite news |last1=Aisch |first1=Gregor |last2=Buchanan |first2=Larry |last3=Cox |first3=Amanda |last4=Quealy |first4=Kevin |title=Economic diversity and student outcomes at Amherst |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/college-mobility/amherst-college |access-date=9 August 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=18 January 2017 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112003134/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/college-mobility/amherst-college |url-status=live }}</ref> Ninety-eight percent of students live on campus.<ref name=":4" /> Ninety-eight percent of Amherst freshmen enrolled in Fall 2020 returned for their sophomore year; ninety-two percent of the most recent cohort graduated within six years.<ref name="CDS 2016" /> There are more than 200 student groups at Amherst.<ref name=":4" /> More than a third of the student body are members of a varsity athletics team.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fast Facts|url=http://amherststudent.amherst.edu/?q=article/2017/02/08/college-releases-report-state-athletics-program|newspaper=The Amherst Student|access-date=January 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013052959/http://amherststudent.amherst.edu/?q=article%2F2017%2F02%2F08%2Fcollege-releases-report-state-athletics-program|archive-date=October 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Students pursue their interests through student-led organizations funded by a student fee and distributed by the student government, including a variety of cultural and religious groups, publications, fine and performing arts and political advocacy and service groups. Groups include a medieval sword-fighting club, a knitting club, and a club devoted to random acts of kindness, among others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/aas/clubs|title=Clubs |website=Amherst College|access-date=April 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213030916/https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/aas/clubs|archive-date=February 13, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Community service groups and opportunities (locally—through the Center for Community Engagement, nationally, and internationally) have been a priority at Amherst and for former President [[Anthony Marx]], who helped start a secondary school for black students in apartheid South Africa.<ref name="campus-revolutionary">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2006-02-26/campus-revolutionary |title=Campus Revolutionary |magazine=Business Week |access-date=July 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704151637/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2006-02-26/campus-revolutionary |archive-date=July 4, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

One of the longstanding traditions at the college involves the [[Sabrina statue|''Sabrina'' statue]]. Even year and odd year classes battle for possession of the historic statue, often engaging in elaborate pranks in the process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://amherststudent.amherst.edu/?q=article/2013/10/09/question-sabrina|title=On the Question of Sabrina {{!}} The Amherst Student|access-date=April 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220193858/http://amherststudent.amherst.edu/?q=article%2F2013%2F10%2F09%2Fquestion-sabrina|archive-date=December 20, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Sexual assault ===
In 2012, President Biddy Martin began a community-wide review of the sexual misconduct and disciplinary policies at the college.<ref>{{cite web|last=Baker|first=Katie J. M.|title=Amherst Sweeps Sexual Assault Allegations Under the Rug|url=http://jezebel.com/5952784/amherst-sweeps-sexual-assault-allegations-under-the-rug|publisher=Jezebel|access-date=October 19, 2012|date=October 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018191600/http://jezebel.com/5952784/amherst-sweeps-sexual-assault-allegations-under-the-rug|archive-date=October 18, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Martin|first=Biddy|title=President Martin's Statement on Sexual Assault|url=https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/letters_president/node/436469|access-date=October 19, 2012|date=October 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727165350/https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/letters_president/node/436469|archive-date=July 27, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> This review was sparked by several factors, including an underground fraternity's T-shirt design that critics alleged was misogynist<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Jisoo|title=Students Voice Concerns About Sexual Misconduct Policy|url=http://amherststudent.amherst.edu/?q=article/2012/10/17/students-voice-concerns-about-sexual-misconduct-policy|access-date=October 19, 2012|newspaper=The Amherst Student|date=October 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021140936/http://amherststudent.amherst.edu/?q=article%2F2012%2F10%2F17%2Fstudents-voice-concerns-about-sexual-misconduct-policy|archive-date=October 21, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> and an essay by [[Angie Epifano]] published in ''The Amherst Student'', wherein she accused the college of inappropriate handling of a case of sexual assault.<ref>{{cite news|last=Epifano|first=Angie|title=An Account of Sexual Assault at Amherst College|url=http://amherststudent.amherst.edu/?q=article/2012/10/17/account-sexual-assault-amherst-college|access-date=October 19, 2012|newspaper=The Amherst Student|date=October 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020144901/http://amherststudent.amherst.edu/?q=article%2F2012%2F10%2F17%2Faccount-sexual-assault-amherst-college|archive-date=October 20, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2013, a college committee published a report noting Amherst's rate of sexual assault as similar to other colleges and universities, and making recommendations to address the problem.<ref>{{cite news|last=Corey|first=Ethan|title=Oversight Committee Releases Report on Sexual Misconduct|url=http://amherststudent.amherst.edu/?q=article/2013/02/05/oversight-committee-releases-report-sexual-misconduct|access-date=April 24, 2013|newspaper=The Amherst Student|date=February 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531153341/http://amherststudent.amherst.edu/?q=article%2F2013%2F02%2F05%2Foversight-committee-releases-report-sexual-misconduct|archive-date=May 31, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2014, the Amherst board of trustees banned students from joining any underground or off-campus fraternity.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Board Bans Off-Campus Fraternities|last=Muguia|first=Sophie|newspaper=The Amherst Student|date=7 May 2014|url=https://amherststudent.amherst.edu/article/2014/05/07/board-bans-campus-fraternities.html}}</ref>

After a complaint was filed by Epifano and an anonymous former student in November 2013,<ref name=Mishkin>{{cite news|last=Mishkin|first=Shaina and Daniel Rodriguez|title=Amherst College facing 2 sexual assault complaints|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/11/16/students-file-federal-complaint-against-amherst-college-alleging-mishandling-sexual-assaults/cxRn6t3sWaGKOVBK3hbg5N/story.html|access-date=April 6, 2014|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=November 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405155817/http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/11/16/students-file-federal-complaint-against-amherst-college-alleging-mishandling-sexual-assaults/cxRn6t3sWaGKOVBK3hbg5N/story.html|archive-date=April 5, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> the US Department of Education opened an investigation into the college's handling of sexual violence and potential violations of [[Title IX]]. In May 2014, the Department of Education announced a list of 55 colleges and universities (including Amherst) currently under investigation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/federal-government-releases-list-of-55-colleges-universities-under-title-ix-investigations-over-handling-of-sexual-violence/2014/05/01/e0a74810-d13b-11e3-937f-d3026234b51c_story.html |title=55 colleges under Title IX probe for handling of sexual violence and harassment claims |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 1, 2014 |last=Anderson |first=Nick |access-date=August 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817231523/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/federal-government-releases-list-of-55-colleges-universities-under-title-ix-investigations-over-handling-of-sexual-violence/2014/05/01/e0a74810-d13b-11e3-937f-d3026234b51c_story.html |archive-date=August 17, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A report from Amherst College stated that 2009 to 2011, Amherst reported 35 instances of "forcible sex offenses", a term that encompasses rape, attempted rape, and lesser forms of sexual contact.<ref>[https://www.amherst.edu/media/view/122491/original/Clery%20Report%202008.pdf "Amherst College Police: Annual Report, Calendar Year 2011"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408215901/https://www.amherst.edu/media/view/122491/original/Clery%20Report%202008.pdf |date=April 8, 2014 }}. Retrieved July 2, 2013.</ref>

In 2022, in response to the anonymous sharing of sexual assault experiences at Amherst College on the Instagram account [https://www.instagram.com/amherstshareyourstory/ @amherstshareyourstory], then President Biddy Martin announced the launch of a new comprehensive review of the issue of sexual misconduct and assault on campus.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-09 |title=Instagram Account ‘Amherst Share Your Story’ Confronts Sexual Misconduct |url=https://amherststudent.com/article/instagram-account-amherst-share-your-story-confronts-sexual-misconduct/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=The Amherst Student |language=en}}</ref> According to the 2023 NECHE Interim Crediting Report listening sessions and interviews were conducted, and a website for anonymous reporting of concerns was created.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 15, 2023 |title=2023 NECHE INTERIM (FIFTH-YEAR) ACCREDITATION REPORT |url=https://www.amherst.edu/system/files/Amherst%20College%20Five%20Year%20Report%20FINAL.pdf}}</ref> The NECHE interim report also suggested that the review was expected to be published in Spring 2023. However currently there has been no update or public disclosure of the 2022 review.

=== Mascot ===
In the second decade of the 21st century, the original unofficial mascot of Amherst College, Lord [[Jeffery Amherst]], became a cause of concern in the Amherst community.<ref>{{cite news|last=Corey|first=Ethan|title=College Weighs Tradition and Inclusivity in Mascot Debate|url=http://amherststudent.amherst.edu/?q=article/2013/04/03/college-weighs-tradition-and-inclusivity-mascot-debate|access-date=May 25, 2014|newspaper=The Amherst Student|date=April 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420021744/http://amherststudent.amherst.edu/?q=article%2F2013%2F04%2F03%2Fcollege-weighs-tradition-and-inclusivity-mascot-debate|archive-date=April 20, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=nytmascot>{{cite news | newspaper = New York Times | access-date = April 5, 2023 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/27/us/amherst-college-drops-lord-jeff-as-mascot.html | date = January 26, 2016 | title = Amherst College Drops 'Lord Jeff' as Mascot | first = Jess | last = Bidgood | archive-date = October 26, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181026064519/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/27/us/amherst-college-drops-lord-jeff-as-mascot.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Many sought to separate the school from the problematic legacy of Lord Jeffery Amherst, in particular his advocacy of the use of [[biological warfare]] against [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]].<ref>{{cite web|last=d'Errico|first=Peter|title=Jeffrey Amherst and Smallpox Blankets| url= http://www.nativeweb.org/pages/legal/amherst/lord_jeff.html|access-date=May 25, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120204051344/http://www.nativeweb.org/pages/legal/amherst/lord_jeff.html|archive-date=February 4, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2014, after a wild moose found its way onto the Amherst College campus and into the backyard of the house of the college president,<ref>{{cite news|last=Merzbach|first=Scott|title=Wandering Moose Creates a Stir in Amherst, prompts tweet from Amherst College President Biddy Martin|url=http://www.gazettenet.com/home/11984581-95/wandering-moose-creates-a-stir-in-amherst-prompts-tweets-from-amherst-college-president-biddy|access-date=May 25, 2014|newspaper=[[Daily Hampshire Gazette]]|location=[[Northampton, Massachusetts|Northampton, Mass.]]|date=May 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910071449/http://www.gazettenet.com/home/11984581-95/wandering-moose-creates-a-stir-in-amherst-prompts-tweets-from-amherst-college-president-biddy|archive-date=September 10, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> students organized a Facebook campaign to change the mascot of the school to a moose.<ref name=Bullwinkle /> The page grew rapidly in popularity, receiving over 900 "likes" in under two weeks,<ref name=Bullwinkle /> and inspiring both a Twitter and Tumblr account for the newly proposed mascot. At the Commencement ceremony for the class of 2014, the moose mascot was mentioned by Biddy Martin in her address, and the Dining Hall served Moose Tracks ice cream in front of an ice sculpture of a moose.<ref>[//scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/59303_10203747867714073_6503822668927316018_n.jpg Photo of ice sculpture of moose.]</ref>

In February 2015, discussion of a mascot change continued when the editorial board of the ''Amherst Student'', the college's official student-run newspaper, came out in favor of "the moose-scot".<ref name=Bullwinkle>{{cite web|title=Moose-scot: A Call to Arms|work=Amherst Student|url=http://amherststudent.amherst.edu/?q=article%2F2015%2F02%2F04%2Fmoose-scot-call-arms|date=February 4, 2015|access-date=November 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021205825/http://amherststudent.amherst.edu/?q=article%2F2015%2F02%2F04%2Fmoose-scot-call-arms|archive-date=October 21, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2015 the student body and the faculty overwhelmingly voted to vacate the mascot.<ref name=drop/> That same month, several hundred students who staged a sit-in protest against racism at the college library included among their demands a call for the college to cease use of the Lord Jeff mascot.<ref>{{cite news|last=Glaun|first=Dan|title=Amherst College President Biddy Martin addresses student protesters during library sit-in|url=http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/11/amherst_college_president_bidd_2.html |accessdate=January 26, 2016|newspaper=[[The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Springfield (Mass.) Republican]]|date=November 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107061413/http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/11/amherst_college_president_bidd_2.html|archive-date=January 7, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The decision to drop the mascot was made official by the college's trustees on January 26, 2016.<ref name=nytmascot/><ref name=drop>{{cite news|last=Glaun|first=Dan|title=Amherst College trustees vote to drop controversial Lord Jeff mascot| url= http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/01/amherst_college_trustees_vote.html|access-date=January 26, 2016|newspaper=[[The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Springfield (Mass.) Republican]]|date=January 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127092823/http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/01/amherst_college_trustees_vote.html|archive-date=January 27, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2017, Amherst announced that their official mascot would be the [[mammoth]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/04/03/after-sending-lord-jeff-packing-amherst-college-picks-mammoth-mascot/2pT6Etr7n1jrjCwFRANK8M/story.html|title=After sending Lord Jeff packing, Amherst College picks mammoth as mascot|last=Rosen|first=Andy|date=April 3, 2017|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=April 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421092410/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/04/03/after-sending-lord-jeff-packing-amherst-college-picks-mammoth-mascot/2pT6Etr7n1jrjCwFRANK8M/story.html|archive-date=April 21, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=WP004>Boswell, Thomas.
[https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/changing-a-nickname-seems-like-a-seismic-shift-but-its-rarely-a-mammoth-deal/2017/12/14/c4494cba-e0d5-11e7-bbd0-9dfb2e37492a_story.html Changing a nickname seems like a seismic shift, but it's rarely a Mammoth deal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217071347/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/changing-a-nickname-seems-like-a-seismic-shift-but-its-rarely-a-mammoth-deal/2017/12/14/c4494cba-e0d5-11e7-bbd0-9dfb2e37492a_story.html |date=December 17, 2017 }}. Washington Post. December 14, 2017.</ref> Mammoths beat the other finalists "Valley Hawks", "Purple and White", "Wolves", and "Fighting Poets" in a ranked-choice election process. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.masslive.com/news/2017/03/poets_hawks_wolves_on_amherst.html |title=Poets, hawks, wolves on list to replace Lord Jeff as Amherst College mascot |access-date=7 April 2025}}</ref> The mammoth is linked to Amherst due to the long-standing presence of a Columbian Mammoth skeleton on display in the [[Beneski Museum of Natural History]] on campus dating back to the 1920s excavation of the skeleton by Amherst professor [[Frederic Brewster Loomis]] in Melbourne, Florida.<ref name="Loomis papers Amherst">{{cite web |title=Frederic Brewster Loomis (AC 1896) Papers |url=https://archivesspace.amherst.edu/repositories/2/resources/29 |website=Amherst College Archives and Special Collections |access-date=12 February 2022 |archive-date=February 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212013752/https://archivesspace.amherst.edu/repositories/2/resources/29 |url-status=live }}</ref>