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This histogram shows the distribution of responses for the percentage of the student body that they know. The median respondent knew about 22 percent of their peers. The chart has a right skew — some outlier respondents knew over 70 percent of students on their survey. (Haley Zimmerman/The Williams Record)

Phantom 500? More like Phantom 1,641.

Record survey sheds light on social connectedness across class year, major division, athletic status, semesters spent studying away
Luke Chinman, Emily Zas, and Haley Zimmerman • April 17, 2024
If you’re a student, it’s likely you heard about the Phantom 500 early in your time at the College. This week, the Record surveyed the entire student body to test the theory.
(Photo courtesy of Anika Kakarla.)

One in Two Thousand: Anika Kakarla ’27

Hannah Marx • April 17, 2024
Each week, the Record (using a script in R) randomly selects a student at the College for our One in Two Thousand feature, excluding current Record board members. This week, Anika Kakarla ’27 discussed playing on the squash team, being pre-med, and learning Indian classical dance.
Photo courtesy of The Williams Record.

This Week in Williams History: Hazing, lollipops, the emergence of the Latina/o studies program, and the Purple Key Fair

Phoebe Pallesen • April 17, 2024
This week in history, the Record condemned hazing, the chemistry department hosted a party, Vista pushed for a Latino/a studies program, and admitted students visited the College.
Chen and Koles have co-owned their golden doodle Rocky since last fall. (Photo courtesy of May Chen.)

Who let the dogs (and cats and fish) out? Students talk dorm room pets

Shane Stackpole and Elise Dzialo • April 17, 2024
This week, the Record interviewed five students who live with animals on campus — two dog co-owners, two cat owners, and a fish owner — to learn about the joy that these furry, or scaly, friends have brought them.
A sign from WAAC’s activism in favor of divestment from South Africa. (Photo couresty of The Williams Record.)

Former U.S. Rep. Andy Levin ’83 and Williams Anti-Apartheid Coalition members reflect on the importance of student activism

Maya Prakash • April 10, 2024
“If I can get annoyingly ‘Williams’ about it, I think my experience of the Williams Anti-Apartheid Coalition [(WAAC)] has shaped my whole life,” said Andy Levin ’83, who was a U.S. Rep. from Michigan’s 9th Congressional district from 2019 to 2023, in an interview with the Record. 
Photo courtesy of Zach Bishop.

One in Two Thousand: Zach Bishop ’26

Ellie Davis • April 10, 2024
Each week, the Record (using a script in R) randomly selects a student at the College for our One in Two Thousand feature, excluding current Record board members. This week, Zach Bishop ’26 discussed French press coffee, Norwegian heavy metal, and using economics to compose music.
WOC led a trip to D.A.R. state park to experience the eclipse in the path of totality. (Photo courtesy of Caroline Nadalin ’27.)

Even classes eclipsed by astronomical spectacle

Phoebe Pallesen • April 10, 2024
If the tinted, paper glasses strewn across Lee Snack Bar tables, the recent buzz about “paths of totality,” and obscenely-early alarms didn’t alert you, on Monday, swaths of the United States experienced a total solar eclipse — an astronomical event in which the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, momentarily shielding the Sun’s light. 
Bill Cotter ’21, otherwise known as ‘Billy Fooball,’ is running for Congress. (Photo courtesy of Bill Cotter.)

Bill Cotter ’21, or ‘Billy Football,’ kicks off congressional campaign

Hugh Kane and Maya Prakash • April 10, 2024
“Turning 21 is fun, turning 22 is fine, and then you end up at 25,” Bill Cotter ’21 reflected in an interview with the Record. Cotter — better known online as Barstool Sports’ “Billy Football” —  saw his 25th birthday less as a tempus fugit reality and more of an opportunity: Having just hit the age threshold to be elected to Congress, Cotter saw himself as a fresh face to represent New York’s 3rd district in the House of Representatives. 
North Adams Regional Hospital is offering in-patient care for the first time in 10 years. (Photo courtesy of Berkshire Health Systems.)

North Adams Regional Hospital reopens inpatient care

Ellie Davis • April 10, 2024
Students seeking medical care beyond the capacity of the College’s Thompson Health Center often travel to nearby providers. As of March 29, in addition to emergency room and outpatient services, the North Adams Regional Hospital (NARH) at the Berkshire Medical Center is offering in-patient care for the first time in 10 years.
Ruth Ozeki is a distinguished visiting professor of English at the College. (Photo courtesy of Ruth Ozeki.)

Just visiting: Bestselling author Ruth Ozeki teaches advanced fiction at the College

Ellie Davis and Alina Ramirez • March 13, 2024

In 2017, Aisha Abdrashitova ’22  – then a student at the Berkshire School – reached out to bestselling author and then-Professor of English at Smith College Ruth Ozeki asking what book she should...

One for the books: Milne Public Library celebrates 150th anniversary

One for the books: Milne Public Library celebrates 150th anniversary

Emily Zas and Phoebe Pallesen • March 13, 2024

On March 9, 1874, it was 23 degrees below zero in Williamstown — but the cold did not deter Town residents from attending that year’s Town Meeting, where they voted to establish a public library....

The College’s robotics team — named the “Cattlebots” ­— earned second place in the VEX U robotics competition in New York last month. (Photo courtesy of Estefany Lopez-Velazquez.)

Robotics club fosters inclusivity, secures second place at VEX U competition

Dilay Kalınoğlu • March 13, 2024
On Feb. 4, the College’s robotics club, the “Cattlebots,” entered its first competition,  the VEX U college and university competition, hosted at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in New York City.  The Cattlebots competed against eight other schools — the majority of which were engineering universities — and won second place. 
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