Amherst College has eliminated multiple administrative positions following public backlash over sexually explicit orientation programming conducted on campus. The programming, which took place inside a college chapel, drew national attention after being exposed in a media report. College leadership claims the staffing changes were unrelated, but the timing has raised serious questions.
Amherst College laid off four administrators connected to student life programming after images and videos surfaced showing students simulating graphic sexual acts during orientation events. The incidents occurred inside Johnson Chapel, a space historically used for religious services and ceremonial gatherings. The events were first reported by the Washington Free Beacon.
The administrators removed oversaw offices including the Queer Resource Center, Multicultural Resource Center, Religious and Spiritual Life, and the Class and Access Resource Center. Their names were quietly removed from official college webpages following the report. Amherst did not issue a formal announcement detailing the eliminations or acknowledging their connection to the controversial events.
A college spokeswoman stated the layoffs were part of a broader restructuring within the student affairs division. No public documentation was offered to demonstrate the restructuring had been planned before the report became public. Students quickly noticed that the administrators most closely tied to the exposed programming were among those whose roles were eliminated.
The decision to stage sexually explicit performances in a chapel intensified the backlash. Alumni and parents criticized the college for allowing conduct they said disrespected religious tradition and basic standards of decency. The incident fueled broader criticism that elite institutions have abandoned moral restraint in favor of ideological activism.
In a separate announcement, Amherst confirmed that its vice president for communications will retire at the end of the academic year. College leadership said the decision was unrelated to the controversy. The announcement followed closely on the heels of the layoffs, further drawing attention to administrative leadership.
The situation has placed Amherst under renewed scrutiny, highlighting ongoing concerns about accountability, campus culture, and the treatment of faith at America’s colleges.
