News

New Pass It On Book Circle Forming

Calling all readers: Have you ever wondered what the phrase “hidden bias” means? Or how such biases might affect your everyday life? Join a new book circle for faculty and staff to read “Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People” by Mahzari R Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald. This is the second book circle of the year; another formed last fall.

In the book, Banaji and Greenwald explore the hidden biases we all carry from a lifetime of exposure to cultural attitudes about age, gender,...

Message from the Chancellor: United Against Acts of Hate

Dear Campus Community,

It saddens me to inform you that once again our community has been victimized by a cowardly act of bigotry and hate. Earlier today, a student in John Quincy Adams residence hall was targeted when the door to the student’s room was defaced with homophobic and transphobic slurs and a swastika. Residence hall staff have reached out to the victim, who was not present when the hateful images were discovered, and offered support. Resources will also be provided to...

Krupczynski, Branch to Host Discussion on Building Bridges Initiative

As part of the Building Bridges initiative, Enobong (Anna) Branch and Joseph Krupczynski will hold a discussion on the origins and impact of the project on Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. at the University Museum of Contemporary Art in the Fine Arts Center.

Branch is associate chancellor for Equity and Inclusion and chief diversity officer. Krupczynski is director of Civic Engagement and Service Learning (CESL), associate professor of architecture and lead organizer of Building Bridges.

The...

Battle-Baptiste Honored by NAACP’s Berkshire County Branch

Whitney Battle-Baptiste, director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Center and associate professor of anthropology, accepted the W.E.B. Du Bois Freedom Award for Community Service from the Berkshire County Branch of the NAACP on Nov. 3.

She and two other honorees were celebrated for their embodiment of the principles and mission of the NAACP, as well as exemplifying “strength in femininity.”

Battle-Baptiste was also the keynote speaker at the ceremony, held at the Berkshire Hills Country...

A Message from the Chancellor: United Against Acts of Hate

The following message was sent to the campus community on Nov. 8

Earlier today in the Melville residence hall a racial epithet was discovered scrawled across a poster denouncing racism. The poster, defaced with the N-word, was located in a third-floor stairwell. Upon discovery, the UMass Police Department was called in and subsequently took possession of the poster and launched an investigation. In an effort to identify the perpetrator, UMPD investigators are reviewing...

University Denounces Posting of White Nationalist Flyers, Stickers

On Wednesday, flyers and stickers from an organization, which is listed as a white nationalist hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, were found posted on campus property. The university denounces these acts of hate and intimidation. University of Massachusetts Police were notified and are investigating the matter.

UMass Amherst is dedicated to the values of diversity, inclusion and equity, and it rejects anything associated with white nationalism. This hateful organization is...

Confino to Deliver Inaugural Pen Tishkach Lecture

Alon Confino, Pen Tishkach Chair of Holocaust Studies, will deliver his inaugural lecture, “What is Holocaust History Today,” on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 4 p.m. at the Institute for Holocaust, Genocide, and Memory Studies (IHGMS), 758 North Pleasant St., Amherst.

Remarks will be offered by Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy;Julie Hayes, dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts; and Dan Gordon, professor of history.

A reception will follow the remarks and lecture. The event is...

Scavenger Hunt to Celebrate World Usability Day

The Assistive Technology Center (ATC) is sponsoring a campus-wide scavenger hunt on social media to celebrate World Usability Day, Nov. 8.

The hunt, which is open to all students, staff and faculty, runs Nov. 5-14. Use Instagram, Facebook or Twitter to have fun, win prizes, and learn more about the importance of designing an accessible and usable world that includes individuals with disabilities.

To participate:

Choose one social media platform (Instagram,

Public Radio Series ‘Selected Shorts’ on Stage Live at Fine Arts Center

The hit public radio series Selected Shorts comes to the Fine Arts Center (FAC) Concert Hall on Friday, Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. with a night of funny, surreal, moving and romantic tales about the LGBTQIA+ community.

The evening is hosted by Valorie Curry (“The Tick”), with performances by Becca Blackwell (“They, Themself and Schmerm”) and Sam Underwood (“Fear the Walking Dead”).

First broadcast in 1985, Selected Shorts is produced by Symphony Space in New York City and broadcast...

Trivedi Named to NAFSA Leadership Post

Kalpen Trivedi, associate provost for international programs, has been appointed to serve as a member of the International Education Leadership Knowledge Community of NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Trivedi’s two-year term will focus on NAFSA’s conference and symposium planning team.

He will assume the post in January and at the organization’s leadership meeting in Washington, D.C., in February.

NAFSA is the world’s largest nonprofit association dedicated...

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