Story and Source Ideas for Journalists

UMass Lowell Image

01/20/2015

This is a notice of upcoming events, photo opportunities and story ideas at UMass Lowell, compiled by the Office of University Relations, 978-934-3224. For more stories about UMass Lowell, visit www.uml.edu and click on “Media” at the top of the page. Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.

Sources of the week

UMass Lowell experts are available to discuss: 

  • President Obama’s State of the Union address and his priorities for 2015;
  • Why gasoline prices are so low and what could cause them to climb again;
  • How new automotive technologies are helping to drive car sales.

Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.

River Hawks to Unveil New Hockey Team Jersey
Vietnamese New Year Celebration Brings Community to Campus
Event, Awards Honor Individuals Committed to Public Service
Public to Learn to Write Wikipedia Entries about Lowell
Histories of Lowell, Lawrence Focus of Free Book Series
Artist to Discuss Inspiration behind ‘MARS’ Exhibit
Meteorologist Mish Michaels to Share Story of ‘Ms. G’
Legendary Sportswriter Bob Ryan to Discuss Career, Memoir


River Hawks to Unveil New Hockey Team Jerseyjersey

When:     Tuesday, Jan. 20, 6 to 9 p.m.

What:      The UMass Lowell River Hawks men’s hockey team will unveil new, alternate playing jerseys during a free launch party for the public. The jerseys feature a new crest design and introduce a new color to the River Hawks’ uniform. The fan event will include UMass Lowell coaches and student-athletes, Rowdy the River Hawk, live music performed by the UMass Lowell Pep Band, caricature artists, a tribute to team uniforms of the past and refreshments. The first 200 fans who purchase a new jersey will receive a special commemorative gift. The jerseys and other River Hawks merchandise will be available at the River Hawk Shop inside University Crossing, online at www.RiverHawkShop.com and at all home hockey games at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell.       

Where:    University Crossing, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell

Contacts for media: Pete Souris, 978-934-3771, Peter_Souris@uml.edu or Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu

Vietnamese New Year Celebration Brings Community to Campusvietnamese

When:     Saturday, Jan. 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

What:      Members of UMass Lowell’s Vietnamese Student Association along with community groups, artists and musicians will help ring in the Vietnamese New Year with traditional fan and lion dances, a fashion show and other performances. Free to the public, the celebration is presented by the Vietnamese Student Association and the city’s coalition of Vietnam veterans. Members of the public interested in more information about the event should contact Constanza Cabello at Constanza_Cabello@uml.edu or 978-934-5020.
 
Where:    Cumnock Hall, North Campus, 31 University Ave., Lowell

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

Event, Awards Honor Individuals Committed to Public Serviceawards

What:      Members of the UMass Lowell community committed to public service and social justice will take part in events centered on the theme “The Time is Always Right to Do the Right Thing” that evoke the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The programs include:

Day of Service
– UMass Lowell students will collect children’s books for donation, write letters for a community pen-pal project and sign up to perform for seniors at the Heritage Nursing Care Center. Sunday, Jan. 25, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., University Crossing, Moloney Hall, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell

MLK Celebration Dinner
– J. Keith Motley, chancellor of UMass Boston, will be the keynote speaker at this event, which will include the presentation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Awards to UMass Lowell faculty, staff and students and members of the community who exemplify King’s mission and his life’s work. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 6 to 8 p.m., University Crossing, Moloney Hall, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu 

Public to Learn to Write Wikipedia Entries about Lowellwikipedia

When:     Sunday, Jan. 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

What:      Members of the public will use their laptops, smartphones, digital cameras and UMass Lowell Libraries resources to learn how to write Wikipedia entries about the city’s neighborhoods and history, highlighting what makes each unique and interesting. Presented by the UMass Lowell and Pollard Memorial libraries, this session will focus on the city’s Acre neighborhood; subsequent sessions will be held about other areas of the city. Attendees must register in advance for the sessions at http://tinyurl.com/lxel7vs.

Where:    Pollard Memorial Library, 401 Merrimack St., Lowell

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu 

Histories of Lowell, Lawrence Focus of Free Book Seriesbook

When:     Tuesday, Jan. 27; Tuesday, Feb. 24; Thursday, March 26 and Tuesday, April 21. All sessions will be held from 7 to 9 p.m.

What:      The significance of the “Bread and Roses” strike – an event that gave rise to the modern-day labor movement – and the history of Lowell’s Fire Department will be just two of the topics discussed during a free reading and discussion series presented by the UMass Lowell Libraries. UMass Lowell Prof. Robert Forrant will discuss his book, “Lawrence and the 1912 Bread and Roses Strike,” while Martha Mayo and Tony Sampas, also of UMass Lowell, will discuss the influence of Lowell’s mills and the Merrimack River on the city’s history and its present. Lowell Fire Department Capt. Jason Strunk will talk about his book, “Lowell Firefighting.” Members of the public may pre-register for the series at http://uml.beta.libguides.com/programming or by contacting Sara Marks at 978-934-4581 or Sara_Marks@uml.edu. Free copies of the books to be discussed will be distributed at each session.

Where:    O’Leary Library Learning Commons, South Campus, 61 Wilder St., Lowell

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu 

Artist to Discuss Inspiration behind ‘MARS’ Exhibitmars

When:     Thursday, Jan. 29; artist’s talk at 3 p.m., reception at 4:15 p.m. Exhibit runs through Friday, Feb. 20. University Gallery hours are Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.      

What:       Artist Sean Downey’s exhibit “MARS” uses paintings, sculptures and ceramics to build poetic narratives that explore alien within the earthly. Downey will speak about the evolution of his work and the wide-ranging sources that influence his paintings, from cinema to American history and 1970s fiction. He is a 2013 recipient of the Blanche E. Colman Award and a 2014 recipient of a Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Fellowship.

Where:    Artist’s talk, O’Leary Library Learning Commons, Room 222, South Campus, 61 Wilder St., Lowell. Artist’s reception and exhibit, University Gallery, Mahoney Hall, South Campus, 870 Broadway St., Lowell

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu 

Meteorologist Mish Michaels to Share Story of ‘Ms. G’mish

When:     Saturday, Jan. 31, 11 a.m.

What:      Emmy Award-winning meteorologist Mish Michaels – best known for her broadcasting days in Boston and on The Weather Channel – will read from her new children’s book “Ms. G’s Shadowy Road to Fame,” during a free, public event. The book chronicles the story of how “Ms. G” became the official groundhog for Massachusetts, while an accompanying video to be shown during the program will highlight how area children worked help pass legislation in support of that designation. Michaels, who has taught meteorology at UMass Lowell, will take questions from the audience and sign copies of the book, which will be available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

Where:    University Crossing, River Hawk Shop, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu 

Legendary Sportswriter Bob Ryan to Discuss Career, Memoirryan

When:     Saturday, Jan. 31. Talk at 5 p.m. and book-signing at 6:15 p.m.

What:      Bob Ryan, Boston Globe reporter and columnist, will discuss his book, “Scribe: My Life in Sports,” and take questions from the audience during an event for UMass Lowell hockey season-ticket holders. Following his talk, Ryan will sign copies of his book, which will be available for the public to purchase before the River Hawks’ game against the Warriors of Merrimack College. Ryan began his tenure at the Globe in 1968 and has covered all of Boston’s sports teams. Although retired, he still occasionally writes for the newspaper and can be seen as an analyst on ESPN. The media is invited to cover both events.

Where:    Ryan’s talk, Charles J. Hoff Alumni Scholarship Center, 1 Perkins St., Lowell. Book-signing, Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell lobby, 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Lowell

Contacts for media: Pete Souris, 978-934-3771, Peter_Souris@uml.edu or Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu