Topic: Amherst (Massachusetts)

The Monitor's View: Kenya's merit badge for citizenship

For all its flaws and risky outcome, Kenya's presidential election reveals a shift from tribal identities toward a better civic-mindedness. Voters did not want a repeat of the tribal violence after the 2007 election.

Editor's Blog College: more than a credential

Even as many people question the worth -- and cost -- of a bachelor's degree, college remains crucial to civilization. It is how knowledge is transferred from one generation to the next.

From our Files: Maurice Sendak interview, 2002

Maurice Sendak, self-taught artist and author of "Where the Wild Things Are" (1963), would eventually write or illustrate over 90 books, beloved by generations of children into adulthood.  Sendak, who died today, spoke with Monitor reporter Gloria Goodale on the occasion of an exhibit of his artwork at Los Angeles' Skirball Cultural Center in 2002.  He spoke about his personal history growing up in Brooklyn amidst the tumult of family upended after World War II; his escape into an inspired, illustrated world; and his expansion into musical and opera collaborations.

Student loans: As debts hit $1 trillion mark, protesters plan Occupy-type events

Student loan activists in New York and some 20 other cities are gathering Wednesday, when student debt is expected to cross the trillion-dollar threshold. Among their student loan proposals: The federal government should cover all higher-education costs.

The Monitor's View: Rushworth Kidder: Ethicist, journalist, scholar

Rushworth Kidder, who passed away on March 5, was a former Monitor columnist and a leading advocate of ethical conduct in business, government, education, and personal life.

For US and global economies, debt is a four-letter word

It's hard to conclude anything else: Debt – owed by households, governments, and banks – lies at the heart of the economy's troubles. Even after two years of recovery, debt remains a big drag.

Job market dismal? Here are the bright spots.

Although it added no net new jobs in August, the economy has some sectors that are growing robustly. Technology, health care, and some regional job markets are doing well.

Nobel Prize 2010 honors technological father of millions

Nobel Prize 2010 for medicine awarded to Robert Edwards for his work pioneering in vitro fertilization research, which has led to the births of 4 million children.

Summer reading gets plug from US officials to keep kids sharp

The ‘Let’s Read. Let’s Move’ campaign is designed to combat the learning loss that can occur during the summer. Two cabinet secretaries touted summer reading at an event in Washington Wednesday.

Sports in the US: Year-round madness

From the bracketology of March Madness to ESPN Everything, sports has become one of the most pervasive forces in American culture. Is it a great unifying force or a sign of misplaced priorities?

International adoption: A big fix brings dramatic decline

International adoption has fallen sharply under tougher scrutiny caused by issues like Haiti's post-quake orphan scandal as well as stricter global regulations.

Massachusetts town says yes to Guantánamo detainees

The small college town of Amherst, Mass., voted to accept detainees released from the Guantánamo detention camp in Cuba. Congress has previously voted that Guantánamo detainees will not be allowed to settle in the US.

Classic book review: A Summer of Hummingbirds

At the close of the Civil War, a unique moment in US culture.

Etc.

With oil prices falling, O.P.E.C. weighs cuts

Ministers of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries meet Tuesday in Vienna and may unofficially ease back on production levels that are above OPEC quotas.

At the close of the Civil War, a unique moment in US culture

The hummingbird became the symbol of an era for 19th-century America.

Gasoline-tax reprieve: an idea running on empty

Minimal cost savings, increased dependence on foreign oil, and high administrative costs are among reasons why this idea ran out of gas.

Gasoline-tax reprieve: an idea running on empty

Minimal cost savings, increased dependence on foreign oil, and high administrative costs are among reasons why this idea ran out of gas.

Young poets' winning words

Announcing the winners of the Monitor's 12th annual Young Poets Contest.