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The digital-first, student-run magazine of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Journalism Department

Amherst Wire

The digital-first, student-run magazine of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Journalism Department

Amherst Wire

The digital-first, student-run magazine of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Journalism Department

Amherst Wire

Rollins with Malick the dog in the summer of 2023. (Submitted by Jason Rollins)

Before Jason Rollins could experience joy, he had to first battle his depression and self-hatred

Taylor Lee, Managing Editor June 14, 2024
How UMass' graduate Jason Rollins found happiness through the most difficult period of his life.
Photo taken by Aliana Liz Tavares on April 8 2023, at the Bozo Bash show at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst

She’s the Rock and She’s On a Roll

Aliana Liz Tavares, Writer June 1, 2023

Dressed in many colorful layers, dark berry colored platform Skechers, and lots of eclectic jewelry, I learned that Chuka Stergios likes to thrift–and very frequently. "During [winter] break I went like...

Shardonay Blueford would spend nine years at Georgia Tech in various compliance roles.

How Shardonay Blueford blossomed from a dual-sport athlete into an important piece of UMass Athletics

Taylor Lee, Managing Editor May 28, 2023
Shardonay Blueford once considered joining the military. A decade later she's worked with athletes such as the Pelicans' Jose Alvarado and former Patriot Shaq Mason. Read Taylor Lee's story on it here.
B'Shara performing at a local concert (bsharamusic on Instagram)

Becoming B’Shara: Embracing your musical identity

Lance Airasian, Contributor May 10, 2023
Within the past year, senior UMass engineering major Eli Feldman began performing across UMass under his stage name, Bshara. However, Bshara wasn't always backed with a full band of passionate musicians pooling their talents and skills together to bring a friend’s project to life. Originally it was just Feldman in a bedroom with a laptop, passion, and a drive to be different.
Credit: University Photograph Collection, Robert S. Cox Special Collections and University Archives Research Center, UMass Amherst Libraries.

John Bracey, Black studies pioneer at UMass, dies at 81

Maddie Fabian, News Editor February 7, 2023
Bracey was integral to creating one of the nation’s first doctoral programs in African American studies at UMass. For over 50 years, he has served roles as professor, department chair and co-director of the graduate certificate program in African Diaspora Studies. 
Lorusso doing someone’s makeup

A peek into student-run small businesses at UMass Amherst

Christina Loberti, Writer November 23, 2022

UMass is home to many entrepreneurs and creative-minded individuals. Specifically, students Elaina Lorusso ’23, Nola Minogue ’24 and recent graduate Kelley Almada ’21 have each run a small business...

"Being Funny in a Foreign Language" Album Cover (Pitchfork)

The 1975’s “Being Funny in a Foreign Language” deserves a standing ovation

Sean Dunham, Music Editor October 26, 2022
Lead singer Matty Healy opens up about hardships with love and how to heal from the pain in a masterpiece of an album.
Hold The Girl Album Cover (Pitchfork)

New Music Roundup: What I Listened to This Week

Eric Strong, Contributer October 6, 2022

Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl Rina Sawayama’s breakout album, “SAWAYAMA”, was one of my favorites of 2020 and positioned her as a rising star in the pop scene. Her announcement of a new album had...

UKRAINIAN STUDENT FEATURE: LARA STECEWYCZ ‘24

UKRAINIAN STUDENT FEATURE: LARA STECEWYCZ ‘24

Maddie Fabian, Writer April 12, 2022
Following Russian President Vladmir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, Ukrainian students spoke with Amherst Wire about how the evolving conflict has impacted their lives while at UMass. Here’s English and Psychology sophomore Lara Stecewycz’s, story.
Forrest at the protest holding a sign she made of a sunflower, the flower of Ukraine. Photo courtesy of Presley Forrest.

UKRAINIAN STUDENT FEATURE: PRESLEY FORREST ‘23

Christina Loberti , Writer April 4, 2022
Sophomore Presley Forrest (she/her) discussed in an interview the hardships that her and her family have faced since Russia launched its attack on Ukraine on Feb. 24. 
A plaque memorializing the nine names of youths who have been killed by the Israeli defense force within the past two weeks.

On the Steps of the Student Union lies a Vigil for Palestinian Youth

Emilee Klein and Isabel Guilmette March 12, 2022
Students for Justice in Palestine emerge from the pandemic with a vigil in protest of violence by the IDF.
Ruth E. Carter speaks to students in the Bowker Auditorium. Photo courtesy Brianna Alexander

Ruth E. Carter Shows UMass an Afrofuturist Fashion Show

Emilee Klein, Podcast Editor February 18, 2022
Oscar-winning “Black Panther” costume designer Ruth E. Carter brought Afrofuturism from movie screens to UMass Amherst on Feb. 17 with her Black Heritage Month keynote speech about the powerful activism behind visualizing Black heritage in a technological context.
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