Story and Source Ideas for Journalists
01/22/2018
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 news about UMass Lowell, visit www.uml.edu/pressroom. Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.
Sources of the week
UMass Lowell faculty experts are available to discuss:
- Whether the end of the government shutdown means compromise is possible between congressional Democrats and Republicans or if the nation will be facing another standoff on Feb. 8;
- Who will win Grammy Awards at Sunday’s ceremony, who should have been nominated but wasn’t and insights into what’s ahead for the music industry in 2018;
- What Super Bowl ads hold in store for viewers and advertisers this year.
Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.
Autism Researcher Shares Findings at Event
When and where: Wednesday, Jan. 24, 10 a.m. Weekly programs are held each Wednesday through Feb. 21. University Suites, Room 106A, East Campus, 327 Aiken St., Lowell
What: How autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed in children and young adults will be discussed by Ashleigh Hillier, a UMass Lowell psychology professor and director of the Center for Autism Research and Education. She will present her work at a program for members of the university’s Learning In Retirement Association (LIRA). Offering enrichment classes and activities for adults, LIRA is more than 200 members strong and presents programs that include visits to museums, discussions about classic and contemporary literature and explorations of local, U.S. and world history. Upcoming programs include an art and architecture tour in Boston and a discussion on philosophical theories about the meaning of life. Members of the public who would like more information on how to join may visit http://uml.edu/Community/LIRA.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Football, Broadcasting Legend to Discuss His Memoir
When and where: Thursday, Jan. 25, 2 p.m. O’Leary Library Learning Commons, Room 222, South Campus, 61 Wilder St., Lowell
What: Former New England Patriots General Manager Upton Bell, who led the team in the early days of the franchise before going on to a long career in broadcasting, will share some of his many experiences in both fields, which are detailed in his new memoir, “Present at the Creation: My Life in the NFL and the Rise of America's Game.” Bell, whose father Bert served as the National Football League’s commissioner during World War II, grew up with the game, won a Super Bowl ring with the Baltimore Colts and, for a time, worked in the rival World Football League. Bell went on to a 40-year broadcasting career. The event, presented by UMass Lowell’s Political Science Department, is free and open to the public and campus.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell Shines on 20th Anniversary
When and where: Friday, Jan. 26, 7:15 p.m. Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Lowell
What: The Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its opening as the River Hawks take on the Boston College Eagles in a Hockey East matchup. U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas is expected to drop the puck in a ceremony at center ice before the game. Tsongas is the widow of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas – the Lowell native for whom the building is named – whose vision and determination to revitalize the city were driving forces behind the construction of the arena in 1998. The building was acquired by UMass Lowell in 2010 and has undergone extensive renovations – including the addition of a new video scoreboard and sound system, luxury boxes and club space – on its way to becoming the premier sports and entertainment venue in the region. Memories of the Tsongas Center’s storied history will be shared throughout the game and the first 200 fans to arrive will receive pins commemorating the celebration.
Contacts for media: Pete Souris, 978-934-3771, Peter_Souris@uml.edu or Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu
Vietnamese Festival Celebrates Lunar New Year
When and where: Sunday, Jan. 28, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell
What: The Lunar New Year – one of the most important events in Vietnamese culture – will be celebrated at a free festival for the public that showcases holiday traditions including games, music and live performances. The program ushers in the Year of the Rooster and is presented by UMass Lowell’s Vietnamese Student Association in partnership with Lowell’s Vietnamese community. Members of the public who would like more information should email Henry_Zhang@student.uml.edu.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Philosophy of ‘The Big Lebowski’ is Focus of Film Series Event
When and where: Monday, Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m. The Luna Theater, Mill No. 5, Fourth Floor, 250 Jackson St., Lowell
What: Mistaken identity, the pursuit of retribution and the consequences of being called “The Dude” will be among the plot points discussed immediately following a free showing of the film “The Big Lebowski” starring Jeff Bridges. Aaron Shepard, a faculty member in UMass Lowell’s Philosophy Department, will lead a discussion with film-goers about the Coen brothers’ comedy, which has become a cult classic since its release in 1998. Open to the public, the event is the first in this spring’s UMass Lowell Philosophy and Film Series, which features faculty members offering their insights on themes and questions raised by well-known movies. Members of the public may visit www.lunalowell.com for more information.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
MLK Event Honors Campus, Community Leaders for Their Service
When and where: Tuesday, Jan. 30, 5:30 p.m. University Crossing, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell
What: UMass Lowell will recognize members of the public and university community who exemplify the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to social justice with Distinguished Service Awards at the MLK Celebration Dinner, held each year in late January at the start of the spring semester. The theme for the program is “Dignity, Worth, Excellence: What’s your life’s blueprint?,” a question posed by King in a speech he delivered at a junior high school in Philadelphia in 1967, six months before he was assassinated. Artwork and essays by Lowell public schoolchildren that illustrate this theme will also be honored during the free event, which is organized by the UMass Lowell Office of Multicultural Affairs. Members of the public interested in attending the program should RSVP by Tuesday, Jan. 23 to multicultural_affairs@uml.edu.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Exhibit Sheds Light on the Impact of Color
When and where: Artist’s talk – Wednesday, Jan. 31, 3:30 p.m. at O’Leary Library Learning Commons, Room 222, South Campus, 61 Wilder St., Lowell. Artist’s reception – Wednesday, Jan. 31, 5 p.m. at the University Gallery, South Campus, 870 Broadway St., Lowell.
What: “Color: A Love Story” will showcase the work of Anna Von Mertens, who draws on modernist painting, Pop Art, quilting and other crafts to create her art. New drawings based on emojis and the iconography of smart phones will be exhibited, along with some of Mertens’ quilts and other installations. The exhibit, along with an artist’s talk and reception during which Mertens will share her thoughts about her creative process, are all free and open to the public and campus community. The exhibit is curated by Kirsten Swenson, a UMass Lowell professor of art history and the events are presented by the Department of Art and Design. The exhibit runs through Saturday, March 3 at the 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. Members of the public who would like more information about the exhibit or the events should email Deborah_Santoro@uml.edu.
Contacts for media: Deborah Santoro, gallery coordinator, 978-934-3491, Deborah_Santoro@uml.edu or Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu