Amherst College has 37 residence halls, and almost all students live on campus for four years. First-year students have the advantage of living in newly-renovated dormitories, as reported by Peter Harrison ’11:
“2007 marked the completion of all the dormitory renovations in the freshman quadrangle. The freshman dorms - Williston, North, South, Charles Pratt, Stearns, and James - are among the most luxurious on campus. Incoming freshmen are spoiled by the shiny hardwood floors, new paint, beautiful common rooms, and comfortable furniture adorning each of these dorms. Just as most Amherst students agree that these dorms are among the best on campus, so too does nearly every Amherst student regard Charles Pratt as the most magnificent of the bunch. Incoming freshmen usually figure this out one way or another, and virtually every newcomer marks Charles Pratt as his or her number one pick for housing.
Located at the corner of the Freshman Quad next to the life sciences building, Charles Pratt is home to more than 110 first-years. Upon stepping into Charles Pratt, one can’t help but notice that it is not your average dorm. The large, wooden rafters towering nearly 30 feet overhead lend the dorm a ‘ski resort’ feeling, while the strong lights, beautiful staircase, and polished hardwood floors all make Charles Pratt feel a bit like a grand ballroom. The dorm is comprised of double rooms and also houses the student writing center and a tiled activity/dance room in the basement. The basement and the third floor both have real hallways and fewer wide-open common areas than those found on the first and second floors. Smaller common/study areas on the second floor are at the top of the main staircase across from the silent study room.
After freshman year, Amherst students have a variety of dorms to choose from on campus. The four-, five-, six-, and even ten-person suites in the Social Quad are a convenient option for upperclassmen who want to live with a handful of close friends. Comprised of Crossett, Davis, Pond, Stone, Coolidge, and Jenkins, the social quad earns its name from the party atmosphere that sweeps through these buildings every weekend. Most suites have singles (some have doubles) and a single bathroom branching off from the common area, which is convenient for large dance parties and other weekend social activities. Many students complain that Crossett, Davis, Pond, Stone, and Coolidge are not very aesthetically pleasing, and students often consider them to be rather grimy on the inside. The school plans to renovate the entire Social Quad sometime in the next several years. For now, however, they are the only options for students looking to live in suites.
Away from the Social Quad on the north end of campus are another handful of newly-renovated dorms. Around the circle and behind the library are Morris Pratt (not to be confused with Charles Pratt) and Morrow. The five floors in Morris Pratt and the four floors in Morrow are all comprised of double and single rooms. Similar to the freshman dorms, these buildings are now brightly lit, with shiny wooden floors and large, beautiful common areas. Across Route 9 are Cohan and Hamilton. Typically filled with thesis-writing seniors, these two dorms are quieter than the socials. Hamilton is comprised entirely of single rooms, while Cohan has a mix of singles and doubles.”
In 2003, Anthony W. Marx became Amherst College’s 18th president. As reported by Peter Harrison ’11:
“Before being named president, Marx spent 13 years on the faculty of Columbia University. Marx attended Wesleyan University and Yale University, from which he graduated magna cum laude in 1981. From there, he moved on to the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University where he received his M.P.A. degree in 1986. In 1990, Marx earned a Ph.D. from Princeton.
Marx has written three books on nation-building and has also founded and maintained programs meant to strengthen secondary school education in the U.S. and abroad. He played a crucial role in the founding of Khanya College, a South African secondary school that helps prepare black students for further education.”
Dan Brown (1986) is the author of The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons.
Calvin Coolidge (1895) was the 30th president of the United States, serving from 1923 to 1929.
Francisco G. Flores (1981) was the president of El Salvador from 1999 to 2004.
Albert A. L. Grimaldi (1981) is also known Albert II, Prince of Monaco.
Burgess Meredith (1931) was an Academy Award-nominated actor.
Charles E. Merrill (1908) was one of the founders of Merrill Lynch & Company.
Joseph E. Stiglitz (1970) is one of the world’s premier economists.
Harlan Fiske Stone (1894) was Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court from 1941 to 1946.
Raymond J. Teller (1969) is a magician and half of the duo Penn and Teller.
-With special reporting by Peter Harrison '11