Painting from the Same Palette

Comment here to join the conversation.

We are so fortunate to have muralists who are doing reconciliation work coming from two sides of the conflict in Belfast to paint a mural at UMASS. What themes would you like to see include in this mural?

I know this kid with the last name Cubi. He should be painted in the palette.

Oh, and by the way prof. Wing, good idea with this blog.

I’d like to see some aspects of MA, maybe even the Amherst region. When I think UMASS I think of the surrounding farms and ruralness of the area.

I think the mural should include our major concerns as Umass Students. I know one of my major concerns as a graduating senior is to find a post-graduate job.

I think painting something about our mascot, the Minutemen would be good to add in the mural. It represents our school and our state’s history.

The Minutemen have a significant role in US and Massachusetts state history and having them as a mascot for UMASS Amherst has been controversial over the years. Some view them as representative of colonization and others as revolutionaries fighting for democracy and freedom. This historical role and contentious past and present makes them an very interesting idea for the mural.

http://www.umass.edu/umhome/news/articles/2577.php

Over the past year on the Umass campus (and elsewhere) there has been ongoing support for Jason Vassell (victim of a racist hate crime) through protests against the racial injustices that he has experienced, vigils, trial attendance/support, petition signing, etc. Check it out at: http://www.justiceforjason.org/.
It would be great to see the mural depict some aspect of this tragedy in support of Justice for Jason.

Emily -

I myself thought that it would be interesting to do something with Justice for Jason. However, we obviously couldn’t have, for instance, something which was in unqualified “support” for him. I am a member of J4J, but it is a controversial cause, and remember, this mural is supposed to be about conflict resolution, not supposed to cause a conflict!

So the question is, how could we depict some aspect of the Justice for Jason conflict without crossing over into advocacy for either side?

I agree Petey. Thanks for that comment. I am definitely not in favor of causing more conflict but would like to see some depiction of this issue as a way of taking steps towards a much needed resolution.

How about a picture of Jason, or a picture of a Justice for Jason march? The protests and vigils and such are now an undeniable part of our history, whether you agree with the cause or not. I would think a picture of a march would not necessarily show support, but just show that it’s something that affects us. Can anyone involved with J4J ask Jason Vassell what he thinks?
Also, a couple of other things I’d like to see…one is the history of protest here at UMass and in the Amherst area. That seems like a big part of our legacy, to me. I know there are some people in the history department with information and pictures about that. And as for the Minuteman…Can we show both the colonial, revolutionary legacy, as well as the Native American heritage in this area? I just read that article Leah posted…I’d love to see minority Minutemen/women reflected.

People don’t understand what conflict transformation is, I think; being able to see it, to take part in its formation, to walk by it repeatedly and each time see something different, to watch other people see it and react to it, or talk about it, or explain it to their kids or their friends or their dogs (definitely visual interest at kid-eye level too, might be important), would be a great way to visualise conflict transformation. I think UMass public spaces are perfect blank slates for rich images and bold statements, and I think that the mural could make a major contribution to students, visitors, faculty and community members to think about the campus as a place where big, complex ideas are debated in rich, deep, interesting ways. I’d like the mural to be a provocation as well as a celebration, an incitement to conversation and an invitation to civil action for peace, however we define it. For many of us - students, teachers, parents, partners, people of faith and people with questions - peace also includes economic security, freedom from fear, and deep, informed commitments to diversity. How can public art get us from one state to another?

I was thinking about the racial divisions, not only at Umass, but in Massachusetts as well. The muralists have already painted an iconic picture of Federick Douglas in both Ireland and Umass Darmouth that depicts an essential facet of American and Massachusetts history, and I would like to see something similar in this mural. Luckily for us here at Umass, another great leader during the Black Renaissance has his name represented on our tallest structure: the W.E.B. Dubois Library. Maybe, they could paint both he, and the library in his honor side by side, or meshed into each other somehow (alright, I’m getting a little too artistic in my thoughts here).

Another historical image that I think should be portrayed is the gay and lesbian same-sex marriage movement that had its first real signs of development here in Mass (save Vermont, but that was “civil-unions”). It is a difficult image to depict, however, because of the way it can become cliche-ish. What I mean is that I don’t necessarily believe simply the “gay” or “rainbow” flag should be painted; instead perhaps, a picture of Hillary and Julie Goodridge, the two whose fight led the way to gay marriages.

This may be a bit of a stretch, but what about the Big Dig? This project sparked much controversy for many across the state. The money used for this project could certainly have been utilized elsewhere, for example, schools, grants, or other community programs. I am envisioning a picture where money is being buried, or a tunnel lined with dollar bills and the name “Big Dig” in the opening of the tunnel.

“You’ll Never Walk Alone”
Liverpool, Torres #1

Or instead of money being buried, what about diplomas being buried, or diplomas lost lining the tunnel?

“You’ll Never Walk Alone”
Liverpool, Torres #1

I think the mural should be something that unites all UMass students and shows what our school is about. I like the idea of our mascot the Minutemen and our sporting events because they bring everyone together, and maybe blending it over into a scene of our library and all the fairs/activities that go on outside the student union, and then blend that over to a scene of pieces of campus such as the concerts up on Orchard Hill during spring, etc. Something that shows the major aspects of campus and still show events that bring us students together.. I feel like if we did one major issue it would leave a lot of other things out because not everyone is involved in things like J4J. I would definitely include it though as long as other things are present in the mural as well!

I think the mural should show the diversity on campus.

I would suggest that collective action, taken by students, and by unionized staff and faculty, are in large part responsible for making UMass what it is. From the occupation of New Africa House, out of which formed the W.E.B. DuBois Dept. of Afro-American Studies, to the strikes that resulted in grad students forming GEO, the Graduate Employee Organization, the inclusion of Continuing Education instructors in GEO, and the formation of the RA (Resident Assistant) Union, all these were brought about by students joining together to enact change.

Most recently, graduate and undergraduate students protested the Board of Trustees decision to raise our fees by $1500. That this has been reduced to only $400 is a direct result of the organizing efforts of students to put pressure on the state. This issue has consistently been portrayed by the Administration and the Press as students not wanting to pay more. That is a misrepresentation of what is at stake. This is a question of who has access to public higher education and who does not. Individual students may be participating because he or she cannot afford to pay more in fees, but collectively, we are fighting to increase access and affordability for everyone.

When the issue of divesting from the Israeli occupation came up recently, I heard something about Hampshire college and UMass being the first schools to divest from apartheid in South Africa…anyone know more about that? That seems to be a university action in support of the pursuit of justice that’s worth commemorating.

Dear Danny and Mark,

Your joint mural sounds like a great idea. One image that you might want to include is that of two sets of people (perhaps with distinctively different clothing or hues) sitting in earnest dialogue with each other.

Best wishes for your endeavor!

George Levinger (Prof. Emeritus of Psychology, UMass)

I would love to see a mural focusing on the global impact UMass has. Various offices and departments are constantly working with other international universities and colleges to tackle global issues and in this time of Globalization and cultural blending it would be very cool to see how UMass fits into that global network.

I know that this is a painting about UMass, but I feel that another mural of just some various aspects of our campus might be a wasted opportunity to have two amazing artists really present an image that most students would not associate directly with UMass.

I like the idea of including Jason in the larger picture of access to education; where UMass has succeeded and where it fails to provide an affordable, accessible education that can provide opportunities for people. As a publicly funded institution, UMass has the potential to raise up and empower people who are otherwise excluded from elites, yet we continue to struggle for it to actually be affordable, supportive, and open to everyone. For these reasons, PHENOM is another organization whose principals and actions could be depicted to represent that.

I like the idea of including Jason in the larger picture of access to education; where UMass has succeeded and where it fails to provide an affordable, accessible education that can provide opportunities for people. As a publicly funded institution, UMass has the potential to raise up people who are otherwise excluded from elites, yet we continue to struggle for it to actually be affordable, supportive, and open to everyone. For these reasons, PHENOM is another organization whose principals and actions could be depicted to represent that. The UMass relationship to local and statewide communities of color and low income communities is deeply imperfect and we need to work to make UMass the empowering, non-exclusionary institution it can be.

I would love to see something about people with differences (race, gender, class) sitting together, talking together and then moving forward together in positive action together. Listening…..opening to each other…. I can’t wait to see what you do! Thanks for doing this.

As a graduating senior at Umass I have always been fascinated by the immense diversity that exists on this campus. Umass is filled with extraordinary unique individuals that come from all different types of backgrounds. Yet we are all able to respect each other and coexist together despite our differences.

I think with Mark and Danny being a huge part of this mural since they are actually coming to paint a mural about UMass as a gift to us. With this said I think the mural should also represent them as artists why they actually do this(paint murals). Their murals tell a lot about them.I think making a connection between UMass and why these guys do the work that they do should be expressed in the mural.UMass has people from all over the world, different cultures, different religions and people get along. I think this says alot about Umass. Umass includes people from places wars and fighting, and we even have people that have fought in some of these wars, I think thats great I think this says alot not just about Umass but also the world. I think it would be great to see this in the mural, just a thought thought

I think that the best mural for the UMass campus would have to do with diversity. While I’d love a mural having to do with a controversial topic, there will always be someone how there who opposes the topic. I think in order for the mural to be a way to bring people together would depict people being brought together.

Jill I think you have a great idea and I agree with you about not specifically having a controversial issue painted. This mural is about bringing people together so we should try to think of something that brings people together in peace instead of hostility. What are some ideas?

I know that the mural should be about UMass, but maybe include some national themes in which people are uniting to overcome, like the recession for example.

I think this blog is a great idea especially when it comes to sharing ideas about our future painting. Everyone please keep spreading the word to people because this painting is very important everyone around the community. This will establish a sort of identity for the present that future students, teachers and others in the community will build upon. This is a perfect opportunity to express our anger, happiness and other feelings that we have encountered through out time at this institution. Everyone’s help is needed and greatly appreciated.

While I agree that thsi mural should bring people together, and that it should avoid outright angering people, I disagree that it should avoid controversial topics. If something is really affecting us as a community, or if there is some issue that is a big part of our character, I think it should be reflected. That doesn’t mean it has to take a side…Let’s not forget that Danny and Mark have painted murals about the war that they both lived in, yet have managed to do so in a way that unites. So on the one hand, there may be some things that should not be on the mural; on the other hand, I don’t think that should be decided by whether or not it’s controversial, or whether or not we agree.

I’d like to see some depiction of Palestinian and Israeli children playing soccer together…or something of that nature…coexisting…

I think we should also add some of the positive things to come out of UMass. We could incorporate some of the successful sports teams or people who have gone on to do great things after graduating from UMass. We could also incorporate some of the innovations that UMass is a part of, like as Leah was saying we are one of the most unionized campuses in the world.

art can unite, yes, but avoiding “controversial topics” with paintings of farms scenes and the so-called “diversity” at umass overlooks the struggle that reconciliation murals highlight. if it weren’t for the struggle than there would be nothing to reconcile over! if you look at the artists piece there is depiction of war and conflict and protest behind the children who seek peace (no beautiful rolling Irish countryside) and that was done intentionally.

there is a long history of collective action here at umass, from the creation of geo (graduate employee org) to student protest last year, to the protest regarding Jason. Its all healthy and just and needed to have a thriving learning community. So I suggest that all those things be highlighted, as well as other strengths, so not to overlook the struggle that makes us what we are.

I don’t believe that the mural should depict a “perfect” place where people from all different backgrounds are marching, hand in hand with smiles on their faces… I want it to be controversial and spark conversation… If this mural is going to be about UMass, then I think it should represent UMass… I think there should be underlying messages tied in that hint at progress and what we can do/should do/have done to progress as a people, as a whole community… But there are a lot of issues on campus that need to be brought to the forefront… For ex., this campus is not that “diverse…” And even with the so-called “diversity,” the campus is still really segregated… Clubs/Org don’t often support other clubs… Ex. You don’t see those people that attend a VSA event at a BSU event and vice versa… There are a lot of issues on campus and I personally don’t believe the University does enough to try and bridge students from all walks of life together and that some of the politics behind the scenes contribute to this.(ex. I’m probably not going to spend $30-50 going to different events every week… But clubs have no choice when it comes to charging people because they have to “rent” out “student spaces..” If these events were free to all UMass students, ALL THE TIME, I guarantee the turnouts would be different…)

On a lighter note… I thought of the idea of these figures that are half animal, half human…. Or some sort of “evolution” from animal to man… The reason being that UMass had/has a bad rep for being a “party school” full of “party animals…” “ZooMass” if you will… I think that depicting some sort of evolution or something along the lies of this idea will get the message across that UMass has taken large steps towards progressing and fighting for a spot as one of the top Universities in the country… I’m not sure about the composition and how to convey that, but I think it is important to recognize that these steps have been taken and that students that attend(ed) UMass have had success in life after college…

I’d like to see something about the fact that the University is a land grant college sitting in the rich and fertile Connecticut River Valley where most “next generation” farmers are selling off their farmland for construction of new homes and businesses necessary for the influx of people moving to this area due to the outgrowth of the surrounding cities and the expanse and growth of the educational institutions in the valley. Granted people are making lots of money all around, but are they thinking of what’s to happen when the trees, the land, and the water so plentiful now, are all gone. Our ability to feed ourselves will be gone. The natural beauty of our area, the land our fathers and grandfathers sweat and toiled to make this valley so prolific, and the natural history of this valley is going to be gone forever. We need more people (the people holding the resources) to care about what is being lost in the name of progress.

I think that this is an amazing opportunity and an honor for UMass to have the chance not only to create a mural depicting its critical issues but also to have it painted by such important artists.

It would be a shame to paint a less “controversial” picture of our university in light of this particular chance. I think the mural should celebrate UMass and its students and faculty, but like any other public institution of higher education, we do have our set of issues. Many people have mentioned the lack of diversity on the campus, students’ collective action throughout the years and the increasing issues of affordability and access.

I think it’s also important to think about the invisible divide between the students and the employees of the university, such as the people who serve and cook our food in the DCs. How can we depict that?

In terms of the valley in general and the surrounding towns, I think of the transformation of Hadley from a farm town to basically a strip mall. UMass also “sits” in the valley, but what connections do we have with the town? In years of working with nonprofits in the community, I’ve heard the same thing over and over again: “UMass is in some sort of bubble,” a part of the valley but not really.

Another thing to think about is the timelessness of the mural. How do we capture history but make sure that it has the same effect (or, just as much of an impact on those seeing the mural) in the future?

I think that the mural should be controversial but it should also have a positive aspect that represents hope for the future. There are issues on this campus with us not seeing each other as a community. People tend to live in their own “bubble” and refuse to step outside of their comfort zone. The residential areas on campus are somewhat segregated and the school isn’t very diverse. These issues should be represented in the mural, but from what I noticed in the other murals there should be something positive amidst the turmoil. It would be nice of the mural showed a bunch of students marching at the beginning of a road together but in seperated groups. Then as the get further down the road the groups merge and at the end there are boundaries and there is a unified community. This way we can address issues on our campus but also be positive about the resolution to them. A mural like this can also be timeless because I am sure that these issues will be something that each generation finds themselves working on. In addition to this it will mark our generations time in history.

If we are going to have the mural in our community, that I think it needs to be representative of our community, and since UMass has in the past been home to some significant political and racial movements, perhaps the mural should be used as way to trace some of those movements.

Below I posted a few links that might give you more of an idea of what I am talking about:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pD1GjYrm-o4/R7MT11r6vII/AAAAAAAAAN0/6jdGVPzHgZ0/s1600
This is a picture of police lining up outside the Southwest residential area. This is a perfect example of the police presence in the living community.

Diversity has been mentioned quite a bit. Maybe it would be interesting to explore the contrast between the supposed focus on creating a diverse environment and the manner in which racial issues/tensions have been handled, recently and in the past, on campus? I found a few relevant articles from the 80s/90s:

-”UMass Amherst Protest Ends,” about the 1988 student occupation of the New Africa House (http://openvault.wgbh.org/ton/MLA000552/index.html)

-”UMass Students Angry at Scrapping of Race-Based Admissions/Aid Policies” (http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/02-99/02-22-99/a06sr039.htm)

-”Week of Civility Tries to Confront Campus Prejudice” (http://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/29/style/campus-life-massachusetts-week-of-civility-tries-to-confront-campus-prejudice.html?sec=&spon=)

Not completely related, but here’s one about how the administration tried to create new policies limiting how/where students can protest on campus in 2005: http://www.thefire.org/pdfs/5223_3660.pdf
I thought this was pretty interesting - protests used to include measures like taking over academic buildings for days at a time, while a few years ago they were trying to prohibit demonstrations from occurring in -any- campus building.

Over the past three years at Umass, what i have noticed most clearly is the steps taken by the authorities to divide the student community on campus. Everything from restrictions on protests to the program of ‘freshmen housing’. Since others have talked about the protest part of this, i’ll not repeat it. In case you haven’t noticed, the student community is deeply divided by housing. before i came to school, i asked the few umass students i knew about the housing areas (they all lived in SW). They told me: Southwest is for SOM and people who party alot, central is for stoner hippies, northeast is for asian engineers, Sylvan is for the people who couldnt live where they really wanted to, and orchard hill if full of quiet weirdos no one ever hears from. I have heard variations of this classification repeated consistently over the last three years.

Another more striking pattern i have seen, is that of all my hundreds of friends and acquaintances i’ve made in the last three years, from Orchard hill, northeast, central, and sylvan, most of them know other people from other housing areas that i’ve met at some point. Its as if all the east campus housing areas are a close-knit community, and southwest exists as a separate, self-sustaining unit. Very few of my friends know many people from southwest. Its like two different worlds. While i cannot claim this is indicative of every students experience on my own, i wanted to mention it to everyone here; because if it is a widespread phenomenon, it would be worth making note of. Particularly since there is a strong anti-southwest bias in large areas of the east campus housing. Its not just limited to the location or the riots or the partying, but i have often heard talk of the negative personal character of people who live in southwest. These dangerous generalizations cannot be healthy for the Umass community.

What i think really needs to be addressed, however, is the administrations willful attempt to disrupt on campus community life in the name of profits and stability. The creation of all freshmen housing neatly sectionalizes the umass population, limiting freshmen contact with upper classmen, and thus essentially 3/4 of the student population. It also limits upper classmen connecting with the incoming freshmen, and helps to establish core blocks through the freshmen’s later years by assuring most of their friends are the same age as them. This policy needlessly divides the student population.
Also, the growth of all freshmen housing disrupts the community already in place. As more and more dorms are relegated as all freshmen, upper classmen are continually pushed either into the new North apartments (which are beyond the price range of many students), or off campus. Off campus students are less active in the campus community by the very nature of not being on campus 24/7. they are less likely to travel to campus for protests, guest lectures, or RSO’s (not saying they won’t ever, but the commute works as an incentive to stay home). Living off campus also removes then from the concentration of thousands of other students, making meeting new umass students while doing laundry at 2am on a wednesday less likely. This policy prevents Umass from having the same sort of solidarity some other schools do.
The greatest tragedy of this profit-seeking policy is the destruction of particularly vibrant communties on campus. Although i never lived there, i had the pleasure of visiting Mary Lyon dorm in Northeast several times, and was deeply moved by how tight-knit a group the residents were. everyone knew everyone, they did everything together, it was an amazing thing to see. Most of these people wanted to spend the rest of their time at Umass there, but were forced out; either to Leach, off campus, or a few to North apartments. I have gotten to know many Mary Lyon emigres this year, and i have often heard talk of “the Mary Lyon family”. Mary Lyon embodied the kind of community a university should be proud to have fostered. Instead, their being sold off to pick up some additional tuition from more incoming freshmen. I am sure other close knit dorms on campus have been liquidated in similar fashion. The division and destruction of the Umass community should be among our biggest concerns; without it, we’re just a aggregate of people who take classes at the same facility.

Reflecting on everyone’s insightful comments and suggestions regarding what we might depict in this mural has helped me clarify my own thoughts on the topic. I agree with what several have previously stated: this mural should not divest itself of the possibility of engaging with controversial, provocative issues. Out of conflict—perhaps a conflict depicted in the mural—can and must emerge a creative dialogue, which may bring us closer to resolving the conflict. If this art piece can incite constructive conversation and transform, or at least complicate, our perceptions of a conflict, then, in my mind, it is successful.

It seems that many of the topics suggested above have at their core the issue of lack of connection. If this is an institution composed of thousands of individuals, how do we (or can we) connect, transcending our personal consciousnesses? How do different departments and colleges on campus forge a connection? (Is the connection imposed by Chancellor Holub’s proposed restructuring of the University a good example of interdepartmental connectedness?) How does the administration connect with the faculty? With the students? How do professors connect with students? Students with other students? Southwest with Orchard Hill? The campus with the larger Valley community? The list could go on. Perhaps we could become a more socially just community if we could recognize where the connective lines are severed, or perhaps never existed at all. I hope that the mural could remind us in some way of the need to respectfully and warmly engage with each other, as individuals and as members of aggregate associations.

Any suggestions on how we might visually represent this concept?

I also love the idea of self-consciously depicting art as the medium through which we enact our commitment to peace, justice, diversity, etc. I love how “Painting from the Same Palette” clearly represents art as playing an integral role in this process. There is a certain meta-narrative quality to this that really appeals to me. Maybe including art in the subject of the mural (as with the “Painting from the Same Palette”) would add something cool to the mural.

Wonderful, engaging blogging–keep the comments coming!
One reminder, since the muralists are not from UMASS, it may help if contributors spell out names of organizations, etc, rather than use abbreviations and fully explain UMASS.
Thanks,
Leah

Wonderful, engaging blogging–keep the comments coming!
One reminder, since the muralists are not from UMASS, it may help if contributors spell out names of organizations, etc, rather than use abbreviations and fully explain UMASS jargon.
Thanks,
Leah

@Sophia
I think that there are a lot of really good ideas for the mural out there. I really like Iza Hussein’s idea about the mural being both inviting and provocative. I think that one of the most important things about murals is that they usually always have something that is so eye-catching that invites the viewer to taker a closer look.

I think that including the racial issues now present in the community (i.e. J4J) should be included. Do I think Jason Vassell’s face should be on the mural? Probably not. I think its important to capture the present day issues and controversies with an overwhelming feeling of what it is to live in Amherst and coexist in the UMass community.

Hey everyone,
Good work! I found an article in March on MassLive.com that I think is germane to the conversation about Jason Vassell, hate crimes, racial tension, and a whole bunch of other topics. The article talks about both the Vassell case and the Andre Dewdney case from Belchertown. For those who aren’t aware of the second case it involves similar circumstances and questions the DA selectively prosecuting. What is particularly interesting about this article though is that it addresses the Campus Community’s role in the Vassell case and how different people become “causes”. Here’s a link for anyone who wants to check it out,
http://www.masslive.com/localbuzz/index.ssf/2009/03/who_becomes_a_cause.html

You might have to copy and paste, I have hyperlink issues. There are some good images with the story as well.

I think it’s a great concept to tie in UMass to the larger issues that the University is a part of and linked to. Racial diversity, as well as the history on campus of protest and activism, and the role that UMass plays in the surrounding area, are all more than worthy of being incorporated into the mural. However, first and foremost, UMass is a school. I think we should include some representation of the learning that goes on here, and the academic accomplishments of both students and faculty. I do not see the issues we face on campus being resolved except through a conscientious and diligent effort on all our parts to be an intellectually active member of the University community. The only thing we can all say that we have in common is that we came here to learn.

Part of what sustains the academic community at large is our fantastic library. It has been suggested to utilize W.E.B. Du Bois (the man) as a part of the mural, and this certainly makes sense given his contributions to Massachusetts and that the library building is named after him. I would love to see that representation include what actually goes on inside the building that bears his name. The level of academic work produced from the materials available to us via that library is very impressive. The Learning Commons, the Writing Center, all the research librarians, the circulation, and the cooperation with other libraries in the Five College System make that building a large part of what keeps UMass moving up in the academic world.

Unfortunately, I feel that as we continue to improve as a school we are becoming more economically out of reach for many local students. By becoming more selective academically we are enriching the experience of everyone involved with the University, and I would never suggest that we do anything but continue striving to raise expectations from the graduates of a school that still gets dubbed ZooMass. I think it would be great if the mural could serve the important purpose of reminding members of the campus that it is a privilege to be here, and that it remains out of reach for many people. Diversity is not just a racial issue, it is a socio-economic issue as well, and as others have pointed out accessibility remains a struggle for UMass.

I agree that the mural should portray issues relevant to the campus even if they are controversial. But we are fortunate to have artists who have seen what can happen after conflict ends. I hope that there is a way for the mural to depict the enormous potential that UMass community members have for resolving some of these controversies. We all have the chance to bring what we have learned by attending this school (in any capacity) to bear on our experiences after leaving UMass. I think if we can show with the mural a sense of hope and promise for our future then we will have a worthy depiction of what UMass really has to offer. Go Minutemen/women!!!

We may want to include the larger things that are happening in this moment in time, like the election of the first African-American president, the loss of our farmland in Hadley (as someone else mentioned) and the cuts and position eliminations that are about to take place. From the Chancellor’s missives I am concerned that staff are going to take the largest hit. As a former staff member working in an administrative position, I am very concerned that the campus feedback to our budget crisis to “cut the administration” has been heard as “cut the administrative staff”. Each of these three things are emblematic of the particular moment we are in and will change the landscape of what UMass is like going forward.

In terms of what others have said in support of depicting the Justice for Jason issue, but concern about if he’d be comfortable being depicted, I think we should ask Jason how he’d feel about it, not avoid it.