Fall 2016 Events

Gyasi Ross: Native Heritage Month
Monday, November 14, 2016
Campus Center Rm. 1009

Gyasi Ross (Blackfeet) is a writer and attorney. He has spoken at various campuses nationwide on topics related to Native America as well as broader discussions on race, racism and white privilege. He recently keynoted at the 18th Annual White Privilege Conference in Louisville, KY.

Ross also appears regularly on various talk shows and news programs to discuss current issues - from politics to sports, pop culture to history, the environment to immigration - and all the intersections with Native life and national dialogues about race. He also writes and speaks about historic and contemporary relations between African Americans and Native Americans.  Read  more...

JWECC  Beading Workshop

10/25. 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, 11/29. 12/6, 12/13
Josephine White Eagle Cultural Center
Chadbourne Hall B-3

Have you ever tried to create your own earring or an earring for a friend or a beloved family member? Awaken your inner creativity.  Join us and learn how to creative Native art using beads!Materials and tools will be supplied.

The Beading Workshop dates are all held on Tuesdays and starts at 7 pm in the Josephine White Eagle Cultural Center (JWECC), Chadbourne Hall -Central Residential Area.

For more info, call 413-545-4932

Native Film Festival

Mondays 10/31,  11/14, 12/12
Josephine White Eagle Cultural Center
Chadbourne Hall

The Josephine White Eagle Cultural Center is hosting screenings of three movies for their Native Film Festival for 2016.  The festival will run from October 31 to December 12.  Screenings are scheduled on three Mondays and starts at 8 PM.  The movie features are as follows:

  • What We Do in the Shadow – October 31
  • Crooked Arrows – November 14
  • The Doe Boy – December 12

A post-screening discussion will follow each movie..

 

Political (In)stability in South America
Thursday, 10/27
Campus Center, Room 168

The Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success (CMASS), the Association of Latin American and Caribbean Students (ALACS), and Graduate Colombian Students at Umass invite the UMass community to a debate with scholars and activists about the current political situation in South America.

This event aims to contribute to a better understanding of the political challenges faced by this region as well as its social, political, cultural and economic horizon in a global context. We will have a first section discussing Dilma Rousseff's impeachment and the political crisis in Brazil, the political shift in Argentina from the Justicialist Party (with Cristina Kirchner) to the Republican Proposal (with Mauricio Macri), and the remembrances and learnings of the democratic transition in Chile and its weight on post-Pinochet society.

In the second section, we will address the historic peace deal in Colombia, and the political uncertainties and challenges after its rejection in the plebiscite for peace.

 

Malcolm X Reading Series 2016
Mondays, 10/17-12/6 (no sessions on Thanksgiving Week)
MXCC, Berkshire DC (Lower Level)

 

Know the man! The readings will explore the legacy of the most iconic figures of the 20th Century, Malcolm X.

We will read, analyze and discuss a series of materials written on the life and legacy of Malcolm X, including two documentaries and a photography collection.  Discussions will follow the reading led by a guest facilitator.  Read more...

Mock Interview Program

Career Services has once again partnered with CMASS for our Annual Mock Interview Week. Students from all majors and years are highly encourage to participate in this effective program. Read more...

Release Your Stress 101

Malcolm X Cultural Center will be hosting three workshops to help relieve stress for the UMass community.  This series of workshops are designed to reduce high levels of stress for students faculty and staff at UMass and the 5-college communities.  Workshops will be held at the MXCC, Student Union Ballroom and Totman Pool. 
Read more...

UMass Medical Info Session

student mixer

CMASS, LSAMP, UMASS Biology Dept. and the Pre-Med Advising Office will host a General Information Session with UMASS Medical School Director Dr. Debra Hines for students interested in learning about what it takes to apply and gain admission to Medical School.

In the group session, Dr. Hines will provide information details on the application and screening process, summer research and internship opportunities, funding resources as well as, what medical schools look for in potential candidates to help students stand out from the crowd. This is a session you cannot afford to miss so bring a friend to build your network and get the inside information that will help prepare you for the future.

Wednesday October 19,, 2016
 2:30pm- 4:00pm
Wilder Hall room 201

For further information please contact:

Willie Pope- Assistant Director-Student Development –CMASS
Professor Bruce Byers- Biology Department – bbyers@bio.umass.edu
Catherine Eden-Pre-Health Professions Advisor- ceden@cns.umass.edu

Women, Incarceration and Carceral Feminism

by: Olivia Laramie

On September 20 at 5:30 PM students, faculty and residents of the five college area met in the Student Union Ballroom at the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus to hear from panelists about women in incarceration. The panel was presented by the History Department’s Feinberg Family Distinguished Lecture Series. This was the first panel in the series. This panel was entitled “Women, Incarceration, and Carceral Feminism.”

The moderator for the evening was Victoria Law. Law is a freelance journalist who focuses on the intersections of incarceration, gender and resistance. Law is also an author. She wrote Resistance Behind Bars: The Struggles of Incarcerated Women. Law is the cofounder of Books Through Bars, a nonprofit that sends free books and educational materials to prisoners and aims to educate the public about incarceration.  Books Through Bars had a table in the back of the room during the panel where audience members could donate books. Read more...

Cultural Connections Fall 2016

Thursday, September 8, 20166:00-8:00pm
Campus Center Auditorium

CMASS First Week event for all students and Campus Partners to set the tone for the campus climate. Read more:

Cultural Center Open Houses

The four cultural centers, Josephine White Eagle Cultural Center (JWECC) , Latin American Cultural Center (LACC) , Malcolm X Cultural Center (MXCC)  and the Yuri Kochiyama Cultural Center (YKCC) will hold their individual open houses to welcome new and returning students.  Read more for the schedule.

Case Study Competition 2016

Deadline for Registration: September 20, 2016
Application form

Revenue holding organizations are invited to participate as teams.  A team consists of three students that did not participate the previous year.  Teams are presented with a scenario to analyze and propose the best possible solution to effect positive change in response to a social justice issue.  A panel of judges will determine the top three solutions that will move to the final competition which is broadcasted live in the UVC TV19 studio for RSO membership to view.

Teams have to attend one coaching session and have the opportunity to meet individually with a coach as necessary.  Teams are judged on their solution to the problem, PowerPoint and 15 minute oral presentation.

Read more

Amazing RaceThe Amazing Race Fall 2016

Event Date: Friday, November 4, 2016.
The Amazing Race is an event where teams “race” and "compete" around the UMass campus. Read more...