Reader reaction to the UMass Dartmouth art program leaving downtown New Bedford was quick and overwhelmingly one of disappointment.
Here are some of the comments on The New Bedford Light’s website and Facebook feed:
“Chancellor Mark Fuller could make this feasible without the state funds. Why not work with a team effort to keep this branch open? It is easily accessible to students, and it is good for downtown business.”
— Vida Amaral
“Is there anything that the public can do to keep UMD in the former Star Store building? As a graduate of UMD and area resident, I feel compelled to get involved.”
— Ada Simpson
“This will [have] a huge negative economic impact in the downtown. … A lot of the downtown businesses catered to a younger demographic (students) that was brought in by the university. As well as staff and faculty. All these people were downtown daily getting coffee, eating lunch, cocktails after class or after work, shopping in the clothing stores etc. Very unlikely that many of them are going to schlep from the North Dartmouth campus all the way back downtown. Maybe on the weekends. Things will definitely change.”
— Esabel De Sousa
“This is very unfortunate and disappointing for CVPA, the students and downtown NB. The UMass Star Store campus was a big component to revitalizing downtown NB when it was opened. I’d like to know more about why this happened.”
— Danielle Poyant
“This is really sad news. They can’t replicate the workshop areas of this building on the main campus. This will be the end of the visual arts program at UMass Dartmouth and that’s really sad, as it’s a great program.”
— Leeza Khoury Santos
“There is more to the story than what they are releasing. No reason why these students’ tuition wouldn’t be able to fund this.”
— Adam Botelho
“There were rumors about this during the Spring 2023 semester. I remember talking with a bunch of my peers in between classes that we had heard the school was losing the Star Store and these rumors were shut down at a CVPA Town Hall. It’s disheartening to see that it apparently changed. I genuinely don’t know how they are going to accommodate all of these classes, the main campus CVPA building is already not so spacious as it is.”
— Benjamin Shiek
“First of all, I feel most for the students. They invested their education in UMD and, more generally, their lives in New Bedford. Secondarily, but importantly, I feel for the businesses in downtown New Bedford. They will suffer financial losses. In turn, we residents of New Bedford will inevitably be further burdened by increases in real estate taxes. Meanwhile, our state politicians are pointing fingers at anyone but themselves. All politicians at every level of government need term limits.”
— Catherine Adamowicz
“The residents of New Bedford should know the full story.”
— John Vasconcellos
Once again, UMass Dartmouth, as well as the state, screws it’s students, but also downtown New Bedford.
The conversion of the old Star Store into UMD’s art campus revitalized not only the art programs but also downtown. The campus not only brought in numbers of students, but created new businesses such as cafes, restaurants, and such all catering to these students.
The closure of Star Store, announced less than three weeks before the semester start, will kill off the vibrant businesses and and hurt the students who specifically enrolled in the university’s arts program because of the Star Store campus.
The campus chancellor promises the displaced students that somewhere on the university campus class space will be found. I call “bullshit”! As a former faculty faculty member, the campus does not have extra campus space. Classrooms are fully utilized, and no new classrooms have built in years. Art classes need studios, not traditional classrooms.
The Star Store could be purchased for a paltry $1.00! However the state will not purchase the building citing deferred maintenance costs as well routine maintenance costs.
Deferred maintenance has always been a problem for the campus. Buildings were seriously deteriorating until 10 years ago, the state funded a massive rebuilding the campus.
As an alum and former faculty member, I am not only embarrassed but ANGRY!
Email the campus chancellor at chancellor@umassd.edu to express your displeasure and concern.
We have attended many art shows at the downtown UMass Art Campus and have attended none on the main campus. It was so easy to support the students and faculty where the shows are located downtown. It was a great addition to the area, we bought art work, and we believed the college was offering quality programs for students because we could see the outcomes. We enjoyed talking to the students and supporting the programs by attending.
Now, all gone?? How short-sighted and demoralizing for the art students and faculty. Another blow for the downtown area.
The New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal has a lot of direct jobs right here in New Bedford at the ocean wind port.