As cuts loom, Lombardi vows to preserve quality
W ith a potentially significant decline in state support looming in the coming fiscal year, Chancellor John Lombardi assured the Faculty Senate March 27 that his administration is committed to maintaining the quality of the core of the University.

5 candidates for Research vice chancellor named
Open meetings with five candidates for the post of vice chancellor for Research began this week with presentations by Joseph I. Goldstein, dean of the College of Engineering, and Rathindra Bose, vice president for research and dean of graduate studies at Kent State University.

Faculty to work with OIT on resolving SPIRE issues
Citing a handful of problems faculty and students have had with the new student information system in use for registration and advising, a Faculty Senate committee asked the senate to approve the creation of a group to address the issues.

Minutewomen give Sortino her 800th victory
Head softball coach Elaine Sortino moved into a new spot in the NCAA record books March 28 as the softball team swept a doubleheader at La Salle University 4-0 and 11-2, giving Sortino her 799th and 800th career wins.

Romney opts out of meeting chancellors
Gov. Mitt Romney this week canceled a Wednesday meeting with the five UMass chancellors after they raised objections that President William M. Bulger was not invited to attend the discussion of a proposed reorganization of public higher education.

Dunson selected for Ford Foundation fellowship
Stephanie Dunson, a doctoral candidate in the Department of English, has been awarded a Dissertation Fellowship for Minorities from the Ford Foundation to support her work in American Studies.

Johnson reelected USA president
Donna Johnson easily won reelection as president of the University Staff Association, taking 120 of the 131 votes cast on Feb. 28.

Pocket change: Renovated Union Billiards offers fun and games
After a 1 1/2-year hiatus, Union Billiards re-opened under new management in the Student Union last month across from the Hatch, following a renovation estimated at $10,000.