Sports news web site bleacherreport.com’s Geoffrey Tanner named the Minuteman Marching Band among the six best college athletics bands in the nation.

After a record $54 million rise from 2008, research spending hit an all-time high of $489.1 million at the University of Massachusetts last year, according to an announcement from UMass yesterday.

UMass has earned a spot on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

It’s that time of the year again, when college students everywhere are done with midterms and aching to get out of their sleepy hometowns and off to warm beaches rife with scantily clad beachgoers. On a poor college kid’s budget, how are they supposed to afford this trip? Here’s an idea - pile a bunch of friends together in a car and head out!

The Massachusetts men’s basketball team will play third-seeded Richmond in Atlantic City after upsetting sixth-seeded Charlotte on Tuesday night. The Minutemen will attempt to upset another team in the Spiders who already appear to have a spot in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

Last week, the Massachusetts state legislature’s Joint Committee on the Judiciary heard testimony on Senate bill no. 1801, “An Act to Regulate and Tax the Cannabis Industry.” The hearing for the bill, written and brought forth by Richard M. Evans, of Northampton, Mass., marked the second time in less than six months the legislature heard testimony on the subject.

A new study suggests that rushing sororities may have profoundly negative effects on body image and self esteem, as optimistic pledges are often evaluated predominantly on their outward appearance, putting a great deal of pressure on them to look hot to find a spot.

Jeff Bridges gives a powerful and believable performance in the Oscar-winning film "Crazy Heart." He is brilliant as the character Bad Blake. The film won an award for its music as well.

Ricky Harris scored 24 points as the Massachusetts men's basketball team upset Charlotte, 59-56, and will play Richmond on Friday.

The campus will be conducting a test of the UMass Amherst Alerts emergency notification system today between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.