Massachusetts Daily Collegian

A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890
A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890

Massachusetts Daily Collegian
A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890

Massachusetts Daily Collegian
Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram

Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Social Justice and Politics News Editor

Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram is an Assistant News Editor for the Social Justice and Politics beat. He has been writing for the news section since his first year and is strongly interested in tracking social movements and bringing national news to the UMass level. A senior chemical engineering major, in his free time, he loves to cook and works in the Peyton Lab developing plant-based biomaterials. 

All content by Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram
The Congo Basin. Courtesy of World Wide Fund for Nature

Reflections and resilience: Congolese Students at UMass and a ‘Free Congo’

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant News Editor
June 7, 2024
Courtesy of Nandini Kritam

Navigating identities: a look into the Varam Tamil Student Association

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant News Editor
June 7, 2024
Chancellor Reyes speaks for the administration during the Faculty Senate at Mahar Auditorium.

Chancellor Javier Reyes addresses encampment arrests at special Faculty Senate meeting

By Abby Joyce and Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram
May 16, 2024
Frank Aronson

I don’t know when I’ll write again, but this won’t be the last you’ll see of me

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant News Editor
May 12, 2024
Image via https://www.colsonwhitehead.com/

BREAKING: 2024 Commencement Speaker Colson Whitehead withdraws from ceremony following 130+ arrests

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant News Editor
May 9, 2024
Yolande Du Bois seated at desk in Dunbar High School, May 1959. Du Bois Family Papers (MS 1143). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries.

Yolande Du Bois’ visual legacy unveiled in never-seen-before images

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant News Editor
May 7, 2024
The UMass Students for Justice in Palestine organize an encampment as a form of protest on the lawn near the campus pond, beginning on the morning of April 29th, 2024.

Protesters form Gaza solidarity encampment on campus lawn

By Kalina Kornacki, Andrew Venditti, Alexandra Rowe, Mia Blue, Catharine Li, Alexandra Hill, Grace Lee, Jack Underhill, Abby Joyce, Daniel Frank, and Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram
May 1, 2024
Royal Chicken & Kebab is Amherst’s latest sensation

Royal Chicken & Kebab is Amherst’s latest sensation

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram and Kalina Kornacki
April 21, 2024
40th annual Asian Night highlights on-campus groups, featuring singers Dhruv and REI AMI

40th annual Asian Night highlights on-campus groups, featuring singers Dhruv and REI AMI

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant News Editor
April 16, 2024
All photos courtesy of Eden Olayiwole.

How Day by Day University advocates for students of color’s mental health

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant News Editor
April 10, 2024
Your local guide to Amherst’s ‘boujee’ bars

Your local guide to Amherst’s ‘boujee’ bars

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant News Editor
April 3, 2024
Graduating students under duress following limited commencement tickets

Graduating students under duress following limited commencement tickets

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant News Editor
March 27, 2024
SGA passes five motions before spring break

SGA passes five motions before spring break

By Kavya Sarathy and Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram
March 14, 2024
Image courtesy of Kenisha Lamarre.

NBLSA: UMass’ first-ever Black pre-law student organization

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant News Editor
March 6, 2024
Daily Collegian (2023)

Northampton calls for permanent cease-fire in Gaza

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram and Jack Underhill
March 5, 2024
'One fire, more fire': National Society of Black Engineers builds community and provides opportunities for students

‘One fire, more fire’: National Society of Black Engineers builds community and provides opportunities for students

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant News Editor
February 27, 2024
Over 100 staff gather at ‘8 minutes of action for 8%’ rally

Over 100 staff gather at ‘8 minutes of action for 8%’ rally

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant News Editor
December 5, 2023
Students gather to mourn civilians killed in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tigray

Students gather to mourn civilians killed in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tigray

By Abby Joyce and Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram
December 2, 2023
Daily Collegian

2023 Biennial Amherst Town Elections

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Olivia Capriotti, Grace Lee, and Manas Pandit
November 8, 2023
UMass hosts event on youth mental health in western Massachusetts

UMass hosts event on youth mental health in western Massachusetts

By Annika Singh and Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram
November 7, 2023
Daily Collegian (2023)

Whitmore sit-in protest: Last 10 students arraigned on Tuesday

By Jack Underhill and Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram
November 2, 2023
Students for Justice in Palestine and UMass Dissenters hold second protest, discuss demands with Chancellor Reyes

Students for Justice in Palestine and UMass Dissenters hold second protest, discuss demands with Chancellor Reyes

By Grace Lee, Olivia Capriotti, and Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram
October 30, 2023
Six people arrested at L3Harris protest in Northampton

Six people arrested at L3Harris protest in Northampton

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant News Editor
October 22, 2023
Students for Justice in Palestine and Interlink Publishing host ‘Israel, Palestine, and the Claims of Belonging: A Conversation of Jews and Palestinians’

Students for Justice in Palestine and Interlink Publishing host ‘Israel, Palestine, and the Claims of Belonging: A Conversation of Jews and Palestinians’

By Alexandra Rowe and Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram
October 16, 2023
The Latinx American Cultural Center is an inclusive space for UMass’ Latin American Diaspora

The Latinx American Cultural Center is an inclusive space for UMass’ Latin American Diaspora

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant News Editor
October 16, 2023
Marina Garçonne: Courtesy of Aidan Sankowsky

Marina Garçonne is the newest queen to enter the Amherst drag scene

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant News Editor
October 10, 2023
Daily Collegian archives (2021)

Anti-transgender bills leave many UMass students and staff ‘enraged’ and ‘heartbroken’

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant Social Media Editor
April 13, 2023
Courtesy of Alexandra Lazarov

Society of Women Engineers provides academic, social and professional support

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant Social Media Editor
March 28, 2023
Lynus Erickson/Daily Collegian (2020)

Black Student Union hosts annual Black History Month Showcase

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant Social Media Editor
February 28, 2023
Five Amherst makeup artists you need to follow

Five Amherst makeup artists you need to follow

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Collegian Staff
December 6, 2022
Ana Pietrewicz / Daily Collegian

Five College Native American and Indigenous Studies Program makes numerous changes after $2.5M grant

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant Social Media Editor
November 30, 2021
Judith Gibson-Okunieff / Daily Collegian

Rachel Beth Sayet: Indigenous educator, essential oil crafter and Reiki practitioner

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant Social Media Editor
November 30, 2021
Students react to Michelle Wu’s historic Boston mayoral win

Students react to Michelle Wu’s historic Boston mayoral win

By Kami Nguyen and Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram
November 8, 2021
Embracing the new normal from 6,000 miles away

Embracing the new normal from 6,000 miles away

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Assistant Social Media Editor
October 27, 2021
Courtesy of Mia “Leo” Crockett

oSTEM: Dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ students in STEM

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Collegian Staff
July 11, 2021
Ana Pietrewicz / Daily Collegian

The Stonewall Center: a timeline

By Ella Adams and Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram
June 30, 2021
Priya Nandkarni Green's piece titled “Hero.” Courtesy of Amanda Herman

Fine Arts Center hosts “We Are For Freedoms” Exhibition in partnership with “For Freedoms” organization

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Collegian Staff
April 20, 2021
Nina Walat/Daily Collegian

UMass students describe traveling internationally amid the COVID-19 pandemic

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Collegian Staff
March 29, 2021
Courtesy of Ann Tweedy

Activism meets art: Welcome to The Black Room

By Ella Adams, Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, and Sara Abdelouahed
February 28, 2021
Transfer students reflect on the virtual semester

Transfer students reflect on the virtual semester

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Collegian Staff
December 1, 2020
(Nina Walat/Daily Collegian)

The process behind mail-in ballots: How does it work, and can it lead to voter fraud?

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Collegian Staff
November 19, 2020
Collegian File Photo

Amy Coney Barrett’s SCOTUS confirmation: What does UMass have to say? 

By Ella Adams and Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram
November 3, 2020
Who is Sonya Epstein? An insight into the new president of the SGA

Who is Sonya Epstein? An insight into the new president of the SGA

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Collegian Staff
October 27, 2020
Courtesy of @UMassbsu Instagram

Black Student Union hosts its 10th annual Poetry Jam virtually

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Collegian Staff
October 25, 2020

‘Breathing While Black’: Augusta Savage Gallery hosts digital exhibition in response to BLM Movement

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Collegian Correspondent
October 20, 2020
Mehroz Kapadia/Daily Collegian

UMass students talk about their experiences with overseas voting

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Collegian Correspondent
October 12, 2020
Nina Walat/Daily Collegian

First-generation college freshmen narrate their experiences during the pandemic

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Collegian Staff
September 27, 2020

UMass chefs make step-by-step cooking videos of popular recipes

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Collegian Correspondent
September 15, 2020
Ana Pietrewicz/Daily Collegian

Les étudiants internationaux affrontent des difficultés due aux fuseaux horaires

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Margot Powers, and Iris Thesmar
September 14, 2020
Collegian File Photo

Os alunos internacionais têm dificuldade em obter os recursos acadêmicos necessários

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Carly Longman, and Gabriella Lalli Martins
September 7, 2020
Parker Peters

International students face difficulties with time zone differences

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram
September 6, 2020
Collegian File Photo

International students experience difficulty obtaining required academic resources

By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram, Collegian Correspondent
September 1, 2020
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