About Amherst Amherst Traditions

Meet our mascot! Tusks up!

We have six student-run a cappella groups as well as the Amherst Choral Society, which is made up of four ensembles.

Amherst faculty and alumni have included many influential authors, including Robert Frost, David Foster Wallace ’85, Min Jin Lee, and more. We also host the annual LitFest celebration, inviting distinguished authors to campus.

Every Amherst graduate receives a cane at Commencement. According to Amherst lore, the canes are a visual metaphor for a college education: They support graduates throughout their lives.