Sunrise Amherst Plans Demonstration at Amherst College Commencement
Supporters of a larger school budget marched from the high school to town hall to Amherst College to the Jones Library, on March 12, 2024, demanding $1 million more for public education. Photo: Ali Wicks-Lim
After two sessions of inconclusive discussions with Amherst College, Sunrise Amherst has concluded that increased public awareness is needed to persuade the college to provide a fair community partnership agreement that equitably benefits Amherst’s Regional Schools, local taxpayers, and other town operations.
As part of this effort, an educational campaign has been launched, with our main event, a demonstration, scheduled for Sunday, May 26 at 12:30 p.m. on the Town Common in front of Converse Hall at Amherst College immediately after the Amherst College Commencement.
Sunrise Amherst invites all members of the public to attend, bring signs, and hand out literature to passersby, Amherst College students and families. We believe that students at the college, as well as their families deserve to be aware of the inequities surrounding town-gown relations, and should be provided with helpful information to inform college officials of their perspectives on town and school relations. The College’s community should know that everyone loses, including Amherst College, when local students are not provided with resources they need to further their education.
Read More from the Amherst Indy
APEA’s March for a Million Dollars
PILOT Payments Offer Pathway for Ameliorating School Budget Crisis
Issues & Analyses: Other Northeast College Towns Receive Much Larger PILOT Payments Than Amherst
Letter: Why Amherst College Should Pay $1M To Amherst Schools
Opinion: Amherst College And Local Public Schools
Rally: Tax Amherst College’s Endowment to Support Public Education
Amherst College Donates $1 Million to Jones Library Expansion.