Hi everyone,

I wanted to provide some updates and also let everyone know that we are planning a rally for the Star Store and ALL are welcome! It will be held outside of the Star Store (715 Purchase St, New Bedford, MA) on Thursday August 31st at 5:30 pm! We will have speakers, as well as attendance from the press and local politicians. Even if you are unable to make it, please do spread the word! We are still working to make our voices be heard and spread awareness of the astronomical impact that this decision has on so many people, including students, staff, and New Bedford residents and business owners. We maintain that our presence as art students, the work that we create, and the community that we foster matters. We deserve to be treated with just as much respect, care, and protection as any other college at this University. 

As for updates, we have just received an email only today informing us of what some of the new locations for our classes and studios would be. Several of these solutions include placing students in “modular classrooms”, or portable classrooms. This raises many concerns from students such as safety and security of their belongings, climate control, and the ability for these portable classrooms to provide the same space and amenities that were offered at the Star Store. Most art specialties require much more space and resources than a typical classroom. On top of those concerns, we were also informed that these modular classrooms would not be up and running until mid-October! What are the students and faculty supposed to do until then? This will no doubt heavily affect students progress in their classes and their ability to build their portfolios and senior collections. 

Additionally, graduated students have been informed that their studios will now be located in an empty storefront space at a strip mall in Dartmouth. This is nothing like the beautiful, open, and community-oriented space that we all occupied in the heart of New Bedford. With only ten days until the school year starts, it will be impossible to replicate the facilities and equipment needed for the students to create their work, such as kilns, pottery wheels, looms, dye labs, hand and power tools for jewelry and metals, appropriate desk and studio space, and more.

Any of these new spaces simply were not what we were promised as art students committing to UMass Dartmouth. No matter what solutions the University comes up with, nothing will be able to replace the incredible space and community that the Star Store offers. These are only temporary, hastily thrown together solutions that will certainly not be suitable for the College of Visual and Performing Arts long term. We are left devastated and confused as to what this means for all of our futures, and the University should be too. 

Please help spread the word about our rally and attend if you are able! Thank you all so much for your continued support!  

Feel free to follow our instagram @savethestarstore for more updates.