UMass Boston students rally for more funding amid Mount Ida deal

BOSTON — Students at UMass Boston walked out of class Tuesday to protest funding.

Students and faculty say they're dealing with cuts to staff and services, while UMass Amherst spent millions to buy Mount Ida College.

UMass Boston students are protesting the deal and what they call the inequality of funding. They say while the state has given them some funding, they need a lot more to make the school structurally and financially secure.

"We need that funding and I don't think that a campus should go purchase another campus when you have a campus that is literally falling apart 14.8 miles away," said UMass undergraduate student body president Kate Mitrano.

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"In the last year, services and centers dedicated to making UMB more accessible to working parents, hungry students, people of color, veterans, community members, and countless others have been targeted for elimination. The future of UMass Boston as catalyst for class mobility and the common good is directly under threat."

University system officials have told Boston 25 News that the Mount Ida acquisition has "no impact whatsoever on UMass Boston's budget." On Tuesday afternoon, a UMass Boston administration spokesperson says "We are fully confident that UMass Boston will continue to move forward and achieve new levels of success."

This is not the first time UMass Boston students are voicing their opinion. Students and staff have been vocal ever since the merger was announced last month.

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Since then, students have held rallies and meetings, gaining the attention of Governor Baker, the State Board of Higher Education and even the Attorney General's Office.

UMass Boston students aren't the only ones with concerns. Some Mount Ida students say they fear they are being left behind and are worried about their futures as many of the courses offered at Mount Ida aren't available at any of the UMass locations.

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