“With democracy in peril at home and abroad–and civilization itself threatened by the prospects of environmental catastrophe and nuclear war–I welcome the UMass effort to create a permanent Ellsberg Institute for Peace and Democracy.” — Daniel Ellsberg (1931-2023)
America’s most famous whistleblower, Ellsberg devoted his life to the nonviolent struggle for peace, truth, and democracy. In 1971, he risked his freedom by releasing to the press and public a 7,000-page top-secret history of the Vietnam War—the Pentagon Papers—exposing decades of government lies and deceit. Since then, Ellsberg’s principled activism shows us how dissent can be the highest expression of patriotism and citizenship.
THE ELLSBERG PAPERS AT UMASS
In 2019, Ellsberg, impressed by UMass Amherst’s longstanding commitment to social justice, made it the home for his papers. With the help of an anonymous donor, this treasure trove of some 500 boxes of material became part of the Robert S. Cox Special Collections and University Archives Research Center, the university’s legendary, vast, and world-renowned holdings chronicling activism for diversity, social equity, and positive social change.
GROW THE ELLSBERG INITITAVE
We believe it is essential to create a one-of-a-kind enterprise in the academic realm to address these questions. The Ellsberg Initiative for Peace and Democracy addresses a unique portfolio of concerns, focused on the existential threats to freedom and democracy posed by war, authoritarianism, imperialism, nuclear weapons, and environmental catastrophe. We invite donors to help us establish this initiative.
The Ellsberg Initiative approaches public education as a tool that can inform our imaginations, understandings, and strategies to build a more just, peaceful, and democratic society. Each year, the initiative focuses its programming on an issue of vital importance that reflects Ellsberg’s life and legacy. This year, we did a series of events on public interest whistleblowing. Next academic year, we will concentrate on the existential threats posed by nuclear weapons and climate change and what we can do to end them.
To make even MORE of an impact, give during our Power Hour #4 6:00-7:00 p.m. on April 24, when we have a chance to win bonus money.
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Student Alumni Association | 128 |
| 2 | $500 | UMass Women into Leadership | 90 |
| 3 | $500 | Professional Writing and Technical Communication | 36 |
| 4 | College of Education Student Emergency Fund | 10 | |
| 5 | Men's Lacrosse | 8 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Protect Our Breasts | 112 |
| 2 | $500 | University Without Walls | 69 |
| 3 | $500 | Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning | 31 |
| 4 | Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences | 29 | |
| 5 | Indian Classical Arts Society | 27 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Minuteman Marching Band | 87 |
| 2 | $500 | Fencing Club | 74 |
| 3 | $500 | Active Minds | 65 |
| 4 | Climbing Club | 60 | |
| 5 | HackUMass | 33 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | The Massachusetts Daily Collegian | 277 |
| 2 | $500 | Men's Ultimate Frisbee | 134 |
| 3 | $500 | UMass CHAARG | 99 |
| 4 | Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management | 85 | |
| 5 | The Boltwood Project | 75 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Stonewall Center | 160 |
| 2 | $500 | Model UN | 71 |
| 3 | $500 | Women for UMass Amherst | 48 |
| 4 | Film Studies Program | 41 | |
| 5 | Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 13 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Men's Rugby | 167 |
| 2 | $500 | Women’s Rugby Football Club | 122 |
| 3 | $500 | Student Care & Emergency Response Fund | 52 |
| 4 | UMass EMS | 46 | |
| 5 | UMass Hillel | 33 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Men's Club Rowing | 216 |
| 2 | $500 | Women's Club Ice Hockey | 123 |
| 3 | $500 | Spanish and Portuguese Studies | 78 |
| 4 | Filipino Student Association | 69 | |
| 5 | Nursing Study Abroad Scholarships | 25 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Duly Noted | 270 |
| 2 | $500 | Women's Ultimate Frisbee | 148 |
| 3 | $500 | Boxing Club | 80 |
| 4 | Engineers Without Borders | 40 | |
| 5 | Cape Verdean Student Alliance | 32 |
