Story and Source Ideas for Journalists

04/01/2013

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 Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.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: A UMass Lowell political expert can discuss the shifting public opinion about same-sex marriage as the Supreme Court considers whether such couples have the right to marry. A robotics expert can discuss where the field stands and where it is going in the advance of National Robotics Week, April 6 through 14.

‘Disable the Label’ Week Promotes Awareness, Services

When: Monday, April 1 through Friday, April 4

What: UMass Lowell’s “Disable the Label” Week engages the university community and the public in promoting understanding of people with disabilities and raising awareness about local resources and support services. The event series is presented by the UMass Lowell Office of Student Disability Services, the Disable the Label Club and Psychology Department with other partners. Events include:

* “Light it Up Blue for Autism,” Tuesday, April 2, 6 p.m. UMass Lowell will illuminate the Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center in blue and host a reception in the center’s atrium to promote World Autism Awareness Day. Saab Center, North Campus, 40 University Ave., Lowell

* “Adam” film screening, Wednesday, April 3, 6:30 p.m. Hugh Dancy stars as a man with Asperger’s syndrome who falls in love with his neighbor, played by Rose Byrne. After the film, an expert in autism-spectrum disorders will offer insights into fostering personal relationships with people with these disorders. Weed Hall, Lecture Room I, South Campus, 3 Solomont Way, Lowell.

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

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PhotographyPhotography Students Capture Pilgrimage to Masters’ Homes

When: Exhibit runs through Thursday, April 25; artists’ reception is Thursday, April 4, 5 p.m. University Gallery hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturdays and evenings by appointment.

What: The UMass Lowell photography program presents works by UMass Lowell international students who participated in a road trip from Lowell to Lexington, Va., to visit the homes of American photography entrepreneur George Eastman and photographer Sally Mann. The students were joined by counterparts from the Bilder Nordic School of Photography in Oslo, Norway and the Ecole Superieure d’Arts and Medias de Caen/Cherbourg in France. “Spirit Level V: An American Road Trip” is curated by Arno Rafael Minkkinen, the Nancy Donahue Professor of the Arts at UMass Lowell and world-renowned photographer, and includes works on display at UMass Lowell’s University Gallery and the Arts League of Lowell Gallery.

Where: University Gallery, McGauvran Student Center, South Campus, 71 Wilder St. Lowell. Arts League of Lowell Gallery, 117 Merrimack St., Lowell

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

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‘Day Without Violence’ Focuses on Gun Issues

When: Tuesday, April 2, 11 a.m.

What: An outspoken author and journalist, a senior Boston Police Department official and a former prison psychologist will take on the issue of guns and violence at UMass Lowell’s “A Day Without Violence,” which is free and open to the public. The program will feature keynote speaker Craig Whitney, author of “Living with Guns: A Liberal’s Case for the Second Amendment”; Lt. Det. Robert Merner, commander of the Boston Police Drug Control Unit, a 27-year veteran of the force who has served in the department’s homicide, anti-gang violence and organized crime units; and Cathy Levey, a member of UMass Lowell’s criminal justice faculty who has more than 20 years of experience working as a prison system psychologist in Connecticut. Each year, college and university campuses nationwide observe “A Day Without Violence” in honor of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s quest for social justice and equality. UMass Lowell’s observance is presented by the university’s Peace and Conflict Studies Institute, the Greeley Scholar for Peace Studies Program and the Center for Arts and Ideas. More than 150 local high school students are expected to attend.

Where: Comley-Lane Theatre, 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, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

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BulgerAuthors to Speak about ‘Defiant’ Whitey Bulger

When: Wednesday, April 3, 5:30 p.m.

What: The authors of a new biography of notorious reputed mobster James “Whitey” Bulger will discuss the book, which provides unprecedented details about Bulger’s life and the 16-year manhunt for him. “Whitey Bulger: America’s Most Wanted Gangster and the Manhunt that Brought Him to Justice” is the work of Kevin Cullen, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe reporter and columnist, and Shelley Murphy, a George Polk Award winner who has reported for both the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald. The authors will sign copies of the book at the event, which is presented by UMass Lowell’s English Department and Center for Arts and Ideas in partnership with the Boston Red Sox and the Great Fenway Park Writers Series. The program is free and open to the public.

Where: UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell

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

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WellWomen’s Economic Justice Issues at Center of Forum

When: Thursday, April 4, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

What: The 15th annual Gathering at the Well forum will explore women’s leading roles fighting for women’s economic justice through activism and politics. The forum will feature “We Were There!” a multimedia presentation on women’s labor history and a discussion with members of the Women’s Caucus of Occupy Boston, including Iraq war veteran Rachel McNeill; sociologist and activist Mindy Fried; and Nicole Sullivan, who founded Boston Feminists for Liberation. Open to the public, the forum is free but a $25 donation is suggested. To register, call 978-934-4380 or e-mail Darcie_Boyer@uml.edu.

Where: Alumni Hall, North Campus, 84 University Ave., Lowell

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

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CareerGiant Career Fair Matches Employers with Student Job-Seekers

When: Thursday, April 4, 1 to 4 p.m.

What: The Summer and Beyond Career Fair is expected to bring together more than 800 UMass Lowell students with representatives from more than 150 employers seeking to fill full-time jobs, internships and co-operative education positions. Those attending the fair hail from the public and private, profit and nonprofit sectors and include Johnson & Johnson, Radio Disney Boston, JP Morgan Chase and Oracle. Now in its 18th year, the fair is one way UMass Lowell aids students in establishing themselves in their working lives and in gaining real-world experience to augment their educations. UMass Lowell seniors who have already landed full-time jobs for after graduation will also be available to share their stories. (Note: The fair is not open to the public but members of the media may attend.)

Where: Campus Recreation Center, East Campus, 100 Pawtucket St., Lowell

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

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ScienceUniversity Honors Young Winners of Cool Science Contest

When: Friday, April 5, 2 p.m.

What: UMass Lowell will honor 24 schoolchildren from across the state for their contributions to an education project that is teaching thousands of public-transit riders about climate change. Students from Belchertown, Byfield, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holbrook, Lowell, Maynard, Millbury, Milton, Reading, Tyngsboro and Wilmington are scheduled to attend a ceremony for the university’s Cool Science Contest winners. The contest asked schoolchildren to create artwork that addresses climate-change issues; the winning entries are displayed on and in Lowell Regional Transit Authority buses. Artwork by the Lowell winner will be displayed on a bus at the event. Speakers are scheduled to include David Lustick and Jill Lohmeier, professors in the university’s Graduate School of Education who are leading the project, which is funded by a grant from UMass President Robert Caret’s Creative Economy Initiatives Fund. Representatives of Anastas Advertising, which donated more than $13,000 in advertising space for the project, and LRTA officials are also scheduled to attend.

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, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

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DebateU.S. Senate Candidates to Debate at UMass Lowell

When: Monday, April 8

What: Candidates seeking to fill Massachusetts’ vacant U.S. Senate seat will debate at UMass Lowell at an event open to the public and campus. The Democrats – U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch and U.S. Rep. Edward Markey – will square off at 7:30 p.m. GOP candidates businessman Gabriel Gomez, former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan and state Rep. Dan Winslow have been invited to participate; should they accept, they will take the stage at 6 p.m. UMass Lowell student panelists will ask questions of the candidates during the event, which is co-sponsored by UMass Lowell and the Boston Herald. The moderator will be media entrepreneur and reporter Jaclyn Cashman. Students from schools across the state are invited to attend, along with the public and all media organizations, including any TV and radio stations interested in airing the debate live. Voters will go to the polls for the Democratic and Republican primaries April 30 and the special election is on June 25.

Where: Durgin Hall, South Campus, 35 Wilder St., Lowell

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

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