A wave of protests has surged at Westfield State University in Massachusetts as hundreds of students and community members gathered on January 16, 2025, to demand action concerning the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Attendees carried signs reading ‘Stop the War’ and ‘Free Palestine,’ and speakers at the rally called on the U.S. government to intervene. Junior student Aisha Khoury stated, ‘It’s our responsibility to raise our voices, the people of Gaza need our support and aid.’ Meanwhile, the University of Massachusetts Amherst appointed Curtis Brundy as the new dean of university libraries starting February 1, 2025. Brundy, who previously served as the associate university librarian for collections and scholarly communication at Iowa State University, expressed his excitement at the opportunity, saying, ‘I look forward to collaborating with the talented staff at UMass to advance its ambitious mission.’ In another literary highlight, poet Peter Gizzi received the prestigious T.S. Eliot Prize for his collection ‘Fierce Elegy.’ The announcement was made on January 17, 2025, with the judges praising Gizzi’s work for its ‘lyrical intensity and deep emotional resonance.’ He remarked, ‘This award is not solely mine; it belongs to the myriad voices that have informed my poetry.’ The confluence of social activism, educational leadership, and literary recognition underscores the vibrant community initiatives within Massachusetts and the ongoing cultural dialogue surrounding pressing social issues.
Massachusetts College Protest Against Gaza Conflict, New Dean Appointed, T.S. Eliot Prize Winner Announced
