Written by Lem Atanga McCormick
As is the situation with the computer labs, at first glance, the sole coffeehouse, the lone theater, and the single gym may seem a bit slim to satisfy a whole college. Still, for the relatively small number of students at Amherst, the variety of things you can do and places you can do them in is overwhelming, and students regularly complain that they’ve missed out on some event or show because they just didn’t have time. The gym is state-of-the-art and has become a campus-wide hangout. Tennis, ice hockey, soccer, softball, swimming, basketball, and Frisbee (a big hit here) are all viable options provided by the well-developed intramural and club system and the copious courts and fields. Arms Music Center (the music building) has practice rooms equipped with (very expensive) pianos, and there is also a recording studio in the building. Students have complained that the practice rooms are always full and that the walls are not satisfactorily soundproofed. In order to fully take advantage of these rooms, the best time to access them is early in the morning before classes, but this can often prove to be a bit of a drag since not many college students are early-risers.
The architecture here is quaint and Victorian. During the winter season, particularly after the first snowfall, the scenic view is astonishingly breathtaking. This picturesque atmosphere can definitely be considered a trademark of a small New England college. It is pleasant to walk outside and enjoy the simple beauty of the buildings. After a few months here, you’ll realize that considering the small student population, the sheer numbers of treadmills, tennis courts, performance venues, pianos, sofas, DVDs, and foosball tables are much more than enough to satisfy just about any student’s needs.