Daily News Summary for November 6, 2009
There is continuing news coverage of an investigation by UMass Amherst police into the reported sexual assault of a woman on the 19th floor of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library on Nov. 3.(NECN, WHDH-TV;11/5/09; News Office assistance)
The dean of the Southern New England School of Law is rebutting criticism of a plan to have the school become part of UMass Dartmouth. Jean McCormack, chancellor of UMass Dartmouth, says the merger will not cost taxpayers any money.(Globe, 11/6/09)
M.V. Lee Badgett, professor of economics and director of the Center for Public Policy and Administration, will give a Distinguished Faculty Lecture on Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. in the Bernie Dallas Room in Goodell Hall. She will speak on “From I Can’t to I Do: When Gay People Get Married.” (Republican, 11/6/09; News Office release)
The campus’ newly established Center for Heritage and Society is holding a workshop Nov. 9-10 to examine issues of cultural heritage and conflict. (Republican, 11/6/09; News Office release)
Rep. Charles A. Murphy, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, is predicting more cuts in state programs but says Gov. Deval Patrick may be overestimating the need to eliminate 2,000 state jobs. (Republican, 11/6/09)
Stephanie O’Keeffe, who chairs the Amherst Selectboard, says parents of UMass students have expressed concerns to her about a town meeting resolution approved this week calling for the safe resettlement of cleared Guantanamo detainees in the community. O’Keeffe said another parent said she was taking UMass and Amherst College off her child’s college list after the measure was adopted. (Republican, 11/6/09)
Henning Winter, professor of chemical engineering, and his wife installed a geothermal heating system in their Amherst home over the summer. (Bulletin, 11/5/09)
The UMass Amherst field hockey team faces Richmond today at Garber Field in the Atlantic 10 tournament semifinals. Seeded fourth, the Minutewomen are seeking their third straight league title. (Republican, 11/6/09)
The UMass Amherst Libraries have canceled a Nov. 12 talk by Ray Luc Levasseur, a former leader of the United Freedom Front, a 1970s organization that carried out bombings and other violent acts. Other members of the group were involved in shootings of state police in New Jersey, where a trooper was killed, and in Massachusetts. Robert Cox, head of Special Collections and University Archives, said the event was intended to promote discussion of why people choose violence to affect social change, but “the strong reaction” to the planned talk prevents “the kind of meaningful exchange intended.” (Globe, Herald, Herald, Recorder, 11/6/09; NBC New York, WBZ-TV [from AP], 11/5/09; News Office release and assistance)
