^{THEPUBLICSRADIO.ORG}

Two years after a lease-to-own agreement expired, the university continued paying the Star Store’s private owner, Paul Downey, a monthly rent of nearly $160,000. State Sen. Mark Montigny, who passed legislation triggering the review, said Downey collected that money without making any “discernible improvements to the building,” leaving a maintenance backlog that could imperil any hopes of the university returning to its downtown arts campus.

UMass Dartmouth fine art students were moved into a former Bed Bath and Beyond after the Star Store building that housed their studios was closed. It’s nearly halfway through the semester and they say the space still isn’t useable as renovations keep getting pushed back.

^{newbedfordlight.org}

The public universities of Massachusetts are designed to serve the state, to educate the general population of the regions, and yes, to promote economic development for the state and country.

^{newbedfordlight.org}

"I have never observed such an obnoxious example of the exploitation of public resources during my time as a legislator. Over twenty years of taxpayer investments into this facility must not be squandered." — State Sen. Mark Montigny

^{dartmouth.theweektoday.com}

“Do your job! Do your job! Do your job!” chanted a crowd of students, staff and community members on UMass Dartmouth’s main campus Oct. 6, protesting the closing of the historic Star Store campus in downtown New Bedford.

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UMass Dartmouth CVPA students hold rally outside university administration building to advocate for the arts program.

UMASS DARTMOUTH’S CVPA STUDENTS TO RALLY OVER LACK OF STUDIO SPACE SINCE UMASS ABANDONED THE STAR STORE BUILDING

^{newbedfordlight.org}

“Today is the 39th day without the facilities we are paying for and the 16th day without the education we are paying for. We believe UMass owes us the education we purchased.” — Letter signed by 17 students formerly studying at the Star Store campus

NEARLY 200 ART STUDENTS DISPLACED AFTER UMASS DARTMOUTH ABANDONS STAR STORE BUILDING IN NEW BEDFORD

UMass Dartmouth MFA students on Boston Public Radio’s “Ask the Governor.”

^{newbedfordlight.com}

Well-to-do campuses like Amherst gain more upgrades, while struggling ones like Boston and Dartmouth don’t get as much.

^{bostonglobe.com}

As a result of the move, 116 students had to relocate suddenly to the UMass Dartmouth campus or to a former Bed Bath & Beyond store at a nearby strip mall. That’s not what they signed up for.

^{COMMONWEALTHMAGAZINE.ORG}

UMass Dartmouth exit a tough blow for New Bedford

^{thepublicsradio.org}

UMass-Dartmouth will be closing its arts school at the Star Store in downtown New Bedford, and relocating all classes and studios to the state university’s main campus in Dartmouth. The school's chancellor, Mark Fuller, announced the closure in an email to faculty on Monday, less than two weeks before the start of the school year.