Author Archive
Friday, August 15th, 2008
Forbes College Rankings
Beating US News to the punch, Forbes released its own college rankings this week. The methodology is pretty questionable (Wabash ahead of Stanford, Bowdoin, Middlebury, MIT etc.?), but anything that places Williams above Amherst has to be on to something … the top five, according to Forbes:
1. Princeton 2. CalTech 3. Harvard [...]
10 Comments » - Posted in Rankings by jeffz
Tuesday, August 12th, 2008
Chunk the Munk
Rita Forte ‘03, aka DJ Backside, previously designated as coolest Eph by no lesser an authority than myself, is still going strong — she was recently noted as one of ten hip hop artists to watch by a website that I can only assume knows something about hip hop (at the very least, more than [...]
6 Comments » - Posted in Alumni by jeffz
Thursday, August 7th, 2008
Fawning over Ephs, Left and Right
Check out this glowing profile of Jameel Jaffer in the Toronto Star. Jaffer’s new book, Administration of Torture: A Documentary Record from Washington to Abu Ghraib and Beyond, is available on Amazon. Link here and here for previous Jaffer coverage.
Lest anyone fear that Ephblog is suddenly developing a liberal bias, [...]
11 Comments » - Posted in Alumni by jeffz
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
Sam Sommers ‘97: The Science of Small Talk
Tufts professor Sam Sommers from the great class of 1997 has an interesting new blog hosted by Psychology Today, the mission of which is to apply principles and theories of behavioral science to the examination of everyday interactions. Sort of like what we do, on a less rigorous basis, here at Ephblog …
3 Comments » - Posted in Academia, General by jeffz
Monday, July 28th, 2008
Eph Serial Killer?
Now, this is taking the rivalry a little too far. In the latest novel from Amherst alum Harlan Coben, the villain is an Eph:
The detective comes into the story because there has been a particularly brutal, sadistic murder that, from all appearances, has nothing to do with all the other conflicts the author explores. [...]
6 Comments » - Posted in Pop Culture by jeffz
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008
Professor Nolan: Not a fan of “Problem Solving” Courts
Professor Nolan is cited as the primary critic of problem solving courts (which provide alternatives to jail time for drug offenders) in this interesting article. Nolan opines:
Ideological critiques also tend to distract from what some see as structural flaws of problem-solving justice — and there are a few. Problem-solving justice’s most vocal critic is [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in Professors/Staff, Quasi-Academic Topics by jeffz
Friday, July 18th, 2008
Stealing Shakespeare
This story of the theft of an original Shakespeare folio is one bit of Williams lore with which I was previously unfamiliar. Oh, and should I ever play Trivia again, dibs on Middlebury Professor Sinclair E. Gillingham as my team name …
5 Comments » - Posted in Williams History by jeffz
Thursday, July 17th, 2008
Drezner ‘90 in NYTimes: Laughing at Obama
Daniel Drezner is featured in today’s New York Times online edition discussing the challenges posed to humorists by Obama. (I attempted to embed the video, without success).
23 Comments » - Posted in Alumni by jeffz
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008
Dave Clawson ESPN Chat
Keeping with today’s athletics theme, here is a nice two-part interview on ESPN.com (part 1, part 2) with Dave Clawson ‘89, Tennessee’s new Offensive Coordinator. I did not know he was a finalist for the BC job. But if he has success in his current role, he will have his choice of plum [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in Athletics by jeffz
Friday, June 27th, 2008
Summer Athletics Round-up
Lots of athletics tid-bits over the last few weeks.
First, on the alumni front, several former Eph basketball players have been in the news: Mike Crotty ‘04 for his job with the NBA champion Celtics, and Casey Gibbons ‘06 for the basketball recruiting company he started. Also, check here for a nice feature [...]
16 Comments » - Posted in Athletics by jeffz
Thursday, June 19th, 2008
Berkshires Art Update
Today’s New York Sun features a lengthy article on the Clark expansion, including a nice slide show of the new Stone Hill Center.
Meanwhile, North Adams is keeping up with the neighbors, creating a new art map highlighting various galleries and artist residences around town, and putting the finishing touches on the massive new Sol LeWitt exhibit [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Williamstown by jeffz
Tuesday, June 10th, 2008
Jaffer on McCain
Jameel Jaffer ‘94, Director of the A.C.L.U.’s National Security Project, responds forcefully to John McCain’s support for the Bush wiretaps in today’s New York Times.
2 Comments » - Posted in Alumni by jeffz
Friday, June 6th, 2008
Williamstown Construction Update
Lots of cool construction updates from on campus and beyond:
First, check out these new drawings of the renovated Stetson, which looks absolutely bad-ass.
Second, the North and South Academic buildings are nearing completion. While it is difficult to judge without seeing them in person, based on these photos I’d group them with [...]
2 Comments » - Posted in Williamstown by jeffz
Thursday, June 5th, 2008
One in a Million Eph
Check out this great article on future Eph Amanda Reid ‘12. The highlights:
FALA director Kirk Quitter describes Reid as “one in a million.” “Her future is going to be whatever she wants it to be. She’s an outstanding artist, an outstanding scholar, and she’s going to change the world,” Quitter said.
Reid, who will graduate Friday, [...]
6 Comments » - Posted in Admissions by jeffz
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
“Vibrant” Downtown Experience …
on Spring Street, coming soon, according to local real estate mogul Mark Paresky (whose name should sound familiar). The good news:
He said he sees his plans as only one part of a Spring Street “resurgence,” evidenced so far by the thoroughfare’s expanded parking lot and the proposed rebuilding of the Images Cinema storefront [...]
6 Comments » - Posted in Williamstown by jeffz
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
Professors: Get Your A Game Ready
… because this future Eph will be watching. I like this kid, she’s got some brass. Williams can always use more students who are willing to stir things up … the highlights:
Emily Perry is the valedictorian, an athlete, a peer tutor and the head of the Science Olympiad. She is also the center [...]
4 Comments » - Posted in 1 by jeffz
Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
Paulsen to Bucknell
Current Eph men’s basketball coach Dave Paulsen ‘87 is the new head coach of Bucknell. Paulsen is familiar with at least one Bucknell opponent, as back in 2004 the Ephs upset perennial Patriot League contender Holy Cross. Congratulations! Paulsen will be a tough act to follow after one national title, one second [...]
5 Comments » - Posted in Athletics by jeffz
Thursday, May 15th, 2008
Women’s Tennis Plays for National Championship …
at 2:00 today. Third ranked Williams looks to avenge an early-season loss to top ranked and undefeated Washington & Lee, which is the defending national champion. The last team to beat them? Williams, in 2007. Follow the action live here. Go Ephs!
16 Comments » - Posted in Athletics by jeffz
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008
Eph Tony Nominees
Some Eph connections in this year’s Tony nominees: First, the once, present, and future most prominent Eph in theater, Stephen Sondheim, is receiving a lifetime achievement award. Adam Schlesinger (who is also a member of Fountains of Wayne) received a nomination for his score to Cry-Baby, which was also nominated for best musical. [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Alumni by jeffz
Friday, May 9th, 2008
Tax the Endowment?
Ephblogger Wick Sloane is featured in this article about the Massachusetts Legislature’s idiotic proposal to tax university endowments (which will certainly never pass — given that this would severely undermine the Commonwealth’s most prominent industry, higher education). See here for a response from Williams and its supporters — note that the ample reservoir [...]
16 Comments » - Posted in Endowment by jeffz
Sunday, May 4th, 2008
Sports Sunday
Today features an unusually interesting Sunday slate of Eph sports. First on the agenda is the men’s lacrosse Nescac Championship vs. Bowdoin, who the Ephs had to defeat in dramatic fashion just to earn a spot in the seven team tournament. Sixth-seeded Williams attempts to continue its cinderella run after yesterday’s shocking victory over top seed [...]
7 Comments » - Posted in Athletics by jeffz
Wednesday, April 16th, 2008
Decent Year for Two Ephs
Eph alums (and hedge fund superstars) Andreas Halvorsen ‘86 and Chase Coleman ‘97 had pretty decent years in 2007, making $520 million and $400 million respectively. Of course, next to the $3.7 billion John Paulson made, that is mere pocket change.
24 Comments » - Posted in Alumni, Andreas Halvorsen '86, Chase Coleman '97, Finance by jeffz
Monday, April 7th, 2008
Williams and the Bushes, continued …
There’s a new connection between Williams and the Bush family, and I don’t know how David missed this one. Jenna’s fiancee, Henry Hager, will be working for Constellation Energy, which is helmed by none other than oft-discussed-on-this-site Mayo Shattuck. I will leave it to David to figure out a way to tie this news to a photo of Mayo’s [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in Alumni by jeffz
Friday, March 28th, 2008
Pub Update
Yesterday’s North Adams Transcript ran an article with an update on the Pub reopening and the former home of Subway et. al. Last I read, the Pub was all set to reopen in January, now it has been pushed back to the start of next school year, anyone know the cause of the delay (the [...]
34 Comments » - Posted in Williamstown by jeffz
Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
Women’s Hoops Recruits
Three recent articles have focused on future women’s basketball players Jill Greenberg (a Boston Globe all-scholastic selection as a Junior), Lisa Jaris, and Laura Renfro (who is caoched by Jim Tildsley, father of former Eph Kaylan ‘07). Congrats to all three.
2 Comments » - Posted in Athletics by jeffz
Thursday, March 13th, 2008
Stetson-Sawyer Blog
Check out the new blog on the Stetson-Sawyer project, as well as the homepage for the forthcoming (and very cool looking) Center for Media Initiatives.
1 Comment » - Posted in Construction by jeffz
Wednesday, March 12th, 2008
Dave Clawson ‘89 in the Spotlight
Great feature on new Tennessee Vols offensive coordinator Dave Clawson. There is no more rabid group of college football fans than those at Tennessee, so Dave will be under immense scrutiny. If he succeeds, he will have his choice of plum Division-I coaching jobs. Dick Farley comments on Dave’s time as an undergraduate:
“He’s youthful and [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in Athletics by jeffz
Tuesday, March 11th, 2008
Eliot Spitzer’s Consigliere
Interesting article on LLoyd Constantine ‘69, Spitzer’s senior advisor and “consigliere.” Wonder what sort of “direct” advice he is giving to Spitzer today?
(By the way, what is up with the “middle guard” description? I have never heard of any such position — an offensive line features a left guard, right guard, and a [...]
14 Comments » - Posted in Alumni by jeffz
Thursday, March 6th, 2008
Fay Vincent Donation
Check today’s tremendous media coverage of Fay Vincent’s $7 million donation to Williams. Williams is still waiting for that $50 million donation to top off the Climb Far campaign …
In related news, Pete Rose today announced that he was donating all of his gambling proceeds to Amherst. (If only Vincent had been commissioner during the steroid scandal instead [...]
11 Comments » - Posted in Financial Aid by jeffz
Saturday, February 9th, 2008
Sinnenberg in Sports Illustrated
Soccer goalie Lauren Sinnenberg ’10 appeared in this week’s Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd. Congrats! I’d love to see a list of all the Ephs who have been so featured … I wouldn’t be surprised if we had more than any other college or university in the country, I seem to recall quite a few over the [...]
