Story and Source Ideas for Journalists
02/17/2015
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. In case of inclement weather, call UMass Lowell’s weather hotline at 978-934-2121; if the university is closed, events are canceled. 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 Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.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:
- The effectiveness of MCAS testing and whether the exam’s administration should be delayed this spring because of school snow days;
- How climate change is influencing this winter’s historic snowfall and what the region can do to prepare for future storms;
- In light of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s recent visits to Iowa and New Hampshire, what he needs to do to be a viable presidential candidate in 2016.
Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.
Wind Ensemble to Present Free Concert
Program Teaches Public to Write Wikipedia Entries on Lowell
History of City’s Mills Focus of Free Book Discussion
Career Etiquette Event Teaches Students to Dine, Dress for Success
Moroccan Artist Exhibits Works at University Gallery
Acclaimed Poet Discusses Writing, Creative Process
Melissa Manchester Performs Benefit Concert, Mentors Students
WindWind Ensemble to Present Free Concert
When: Tuesday, Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m.
What: UMass Lowell’s Wind Ensemble – a selective group of the finest student musicians on campus – will provide a free concert for the public under the direction of Daniel Lutz, director of university bands. The group will perform a mix of traditional pieces, such as Mozart’s “Flute Concerto No. 2,” and contemporary compositions, including Fisher Tull’s “A Passing Fantasy.”
Where: Durgin Concert 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 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
ProgramProgram Teaches Public to Write Wikipedia Entries on Lowell
When: Saturday, Feb. 21, 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 Highlands section during this, the third of four sessions on the history of the city’s neighborhoods. The series is presented by the UMass Lowell and Pollard Memorial libraries. Attendees must register in advance for the program at http://tinyurl.com/lxel7vs.
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
HistoryHistory of City’s Mills Focus of Free Book Discussion
When: Tuesday, Feb. 24, 7 to 9 p.m.
What: Martha Mayo, director of UMass Lowell’s Center for Lowell History, will lead a talk about the rise of the American Industrial Revolution based on the book “Lowell: The Mill City.” This is the second event in a four-part book discussion series that is free and open to the public. Subsequent sessions explore the history of the city’s firefighters and the significance of the Merrimack River to Lowell’s development. Books on each topic will be provided for free during each program. Members of the public are encouraged to pre-register by contacting UMass Lowell Outreach Librarian Sara Marks at Sara_Marks@uml.edu or 978-934-4581 or by going to (http://uml.beta.libguides.com/programming) http://uml.beta.libguides.com/programming.
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
CareerCareer Etiquette Event Teaches Students to Dine, Dress for Success
When: Wednesday, Feb. 25, 5 to 8:30 p.m. (Snow date is Wednesday, March 4)
What: UMass Lowell students will participate in a simulated business dinner designed to allow them to practice their etiquette and networking skills. Representatives of Kronos, Lowell General Hospital and PricewaterhouseCoopers will be among the professionals who will join in the exercise, helping students prepare for the working world and life after graduation. The event is presented by UMass Lowell’s Career Services and Cooperative Education Center.
Where: University Crossing, Moloney Hall, Second Floor, 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
MoroccanMoroccan Artist Exhibits Works at University Gallery
When: Reception and talk are Thursday, Feb. 26, 3 p.m. Exhibit runs from Wednesday, Feb. 25 through Friday, March 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: The exhibit “Lalla Essaydi: Beyond the Veil” showcases the work of this internationally acclaimed artist. Much of Essaydi’s work focuses on her childhood in Morocco and often combines Islamic calligraphy with representations of the female body, capturing the complexities of Arab womanhood. She works in a variety of media, including video, installation and painting. Photographs on exhibit as part of the show were selected by Ellen Wetmore, a faculty member in UMass Lowell’s Art Department. A talk about the importance of Essaydi’s work will be presented by Kristen Gresh of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Where: Reception and talk – O’Leary Library Learning Commons, Room 222, South Campus, 61 Wilder St., Lowell. Exhibit – University Gallery, Mahoney Hall, South Campus, 870 Broadway St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Gallery Coordinator Deborah Santoro, 978-934-3491, Deborah_Santoro@uml.edu or Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu
AcclaimedAcclaimed Poet Discusses Writing, Creative Process
When: Thursday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m.
What: Poet and playwright Claudia Rankine will read from her work and share insights into her creative process during this free, public event. Rankine is chancellor of the Academy of American Poets and her latest book, “Citizen: An American Lyric” was a finalist for the 2014 National Book Award in poetry. Her talk is one in the Writers on Campus Series presented by the UMass Lowell English Department and the Center for Arts and Ideas.
Where: O’Leary Library Learning Commons, Room 222, 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
MelissaMelissa Manchester Performs Benefit Concert, Mentors Students
When: Saturday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m.
What: “You Gotta Love the Life – An Evening with Melissa Manchester” will be a unique concert celebrating the release of the Grammy Award-winner’s new CD while raising scholarship funds and featuring performers enrolled in UMass Lowell’s music-education programs. The performance – Manchester’s only New England appearance on her current tour – will cap her three-day visit to the university as an artist-in-residence. During her stay, she will teach classes and mentor students in UMass Lowell’s renowned music programs. Tickets to the show are $15 for UMass Lowell students with a valid student ID, $35 for the public and $125 for the concert and a champagne VIP reception with Manchester after the show, where she will sign copies of her CD. The concert will benefit the Joyce Pang Scholarship Fund for the UMass Lowell String Project, which provides schoolchildren throughout the Merrimack Valley with stringed-instrument instruction and music classes. Tickets are available at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell box office, www.tsongascenter.com and 866-722-8780. Media interested in interviewing Manchester in advance should contact UMass Lowell media relations.
Where: Durgin Concert 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 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu