BCC Invites Community Input on Library Renaming

07:35AM / Tuesday, January 06, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) is inviting students, alumni, employees, and community members to take part in the College's ongoing library renaming process.

As a community-centered institution, BCC values broad input and encourages the public to help shape the future identity of this important campus space.

As part of the process, BCC will host a virtual feedback session to gather community perspectives on a short list of proposed library names.

Virtual Community Feedback Session
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026
Time: 5:00–6:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom (registration required; berkshirecc.edu/conversation)

During the session, members of the Library Naming Task Force will present a curated list of name suggestions developed after reviewing submissions from students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed names, which will be used to refine the list before it is presented to BCC President Ellen Kennedy.

Following this review, one recommended name will advance through the College's Shared Governance process and, pending approval, move forward to the Berkshire Community College Board of Trustees and state-level review.

Additional details, including registration information for the virtual session, will be shared in the coming weeks. Community members are encouraged to participate and lend their voices to this important decision impacting the future of the BCC Library.

For updates and registration information, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/conversation.

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to restructure the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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