Jazz music. Academic lectures. S'mores. Football. Art exhibits. A cappella performances. Museum tours. Literary readings. And so much more. Amherst College provided a lively range of activities for family members visiting for Family Weekend 2018. Despite the rain, the festivities prevailed!
Morgan Yurosek ’20 and her family speaking with Professor Michael Kunichika at the reception hosted by the Russian department in the Center for Russian Culture, which is home to an extraordinary collection of rare books and art.
Jazz musician Darryl Harper '90, associate professor of music, offered a course called "Experiencing Music," which focuses on live music.
Family Weekend guests had the opportunity to sit in on Darryl Harper's course "Experiencing Music."
Karamatou Yacoubou Djima, assistant professor of mathematics, led a class on numerical analysis.
Inside the new Science Center, Associate Professor of Biology Josef Trapani offered a neurophysiology course.
The Outing Club hosted a campfire on the Quad.
Eleven academic departments hosted receptions in the sparkling new Science Center. The largest building project in the College's history, it has already become a campus hub.
In the Science Center's so-called living room, one family paused for a short break between academic department receptions.
Speaking in Johnson Chapel, Dean of the Faculty Catherine Epstein spoke of campus transformations and innovations that support academic excellence and residential life.
Family Weekend persisted despite a lot of rain.
Alfred Venne, the planetarium director, spoke in Bassett Planetarium, a place that has helped generations of students and faculty to better understand their place in the universe.
Participants examined the plane of the solar system, the tilt of the Earth, day/night and seasons.
Bassett Planetarium's Alfred Venne used the vintage Spitz A3P Starball to recreate the night sky over Amherst.
The Choral Society, conducted by newly appointed director Arianne Abela with assistant conductor Ellen Mutter ’18, performed music by Shawn Kirchner, Sydney Guillaume, Györgi Ligeti, Ēriks Ešenvalds and Veljo Torm.
Rick López ’93, dean of new students and professor of history and environmental studies, and Hikaru Kozuma, chief student affairs officer, led a conversation about navigating the first-year experience as parents.
With a 19-13 win against Tufts on Pratt Field, Amherst football improved to 7-0.
The Zumbeyes did the Singing College proud as one of six groups performing at the a cappella showcase in Johnson Chapel.
Families cheered their way through the a cappella showcase, which featured six student groups.