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“Be Revolutionary: UMass Student Solidarity with Central America in the 1980s,” a student-curated exhibit depicting the history of student activism on campus, will be on display at the Bromery Center for the Arts lobby from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, April 3-30.

A launch event will be held on April 3 from noon-2 p.m. featuring remarks by Diana Sierra Becerra, assistant professor of history, and a panel with student curators followed by dedicated time to reflect on the exhibit through art-making and altar-creation. Attendees are also welcome to join the student- and community-oriented organizing workshops organized by the UMass Alliance for Community Transformation from 4-6 p.m.

Curated by UMass Amherst students in the fall 2025 graduate course, History 691: Exhibit Design Practicum on Student Activism, the exhibit explores the rich history of student activism on campus at UMass Amherst with a focus on anti-imperialist organizing during the 1980s. In that decade, students and local organizers led teach-ins and marches and occupied buildings to challenge the university’s role in U.S. support of military regimes and death squads in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Students in History 691 are also offering a two-part workshop on the history of student solidarity with Central America and on anti-Apartheid struggles at UMass Amherst on Friday, April 11 from 1:30-4 p.m.

The exhibit, events and workshops are free and open to the public.

Student-guided group tours of the exhibit are available upon request for educators and classes from UMass, the Five Colleges and local schools. Advanced notice for group visits is requested through the online registration form.

For more information on the exhibit, including a list of student researchers, visit the exhibit website.

The exhibit is presented in conjunction with the Feinberg Family Distinguished Lecture Series, What Are Universities For? Struggles for the Soul of Higher Ed, which is exploring the historical roots of present-day crises in higher education. It is co-sponsored by the UMass Department of History and Public History Program.