Story and Source Ideas for Journalists

01/07/2013

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 “News” on the lower right corner of the page. Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.

In case of inclement weather, please call 978-934-2121; if the university is closed, all events are canceled.

Sources of the week: UMass Lowell experts can discuss entrepreneurship and venture capital, particularly in the medical-device industry.

Open House Showcases Graduate, Continuing Ed. Programs

When: Wednesday, Jan. 16, 3 to 7 p.m.

What: People interested in learning about UMass Lowell’s graduate, continuing education and online offerings will attend an open house that will introduce them to the university’s 20 doctoral, 35 master’s degree and more than 70 graduate certificate programs. New programs include a doctoral program in criminal justice and criminology and master’s degree programs in autism studies and peace and conflict studies. Faculty advisers will share information about the university’s part-time degree and certificate programs, online courses and project management seminars. UMass Lowell programs are nationally accredited. Many graduate certificates and degree programs are available on campus, online or in a blended format. An expanded pool of scholarships is available.

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 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

Celebration Rings in Vietnamese New Year

When: Saturday, Jan. 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

What: Hundreds are expected to join in a celebration of the Vietnamese New Year presented by the Vietnamese Student Association and several local community groups. The day will feature food, music, artwork and performances by members of the UMass Lowell community and other special guests. The event is presented by the university’s Vietnamese Student Association in collaboration with several local community groups. Admission is $5 per person, $3 for UMass Lowell students with a valid ID, and free for children. For information about the event, contact Constanza Cabello at 978-934-4336 or Constanza_Cabello@uml.edu.

Where: Cumnock Hall, North Campus, 31 University Ave., Lowell

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

MLK Events Advance Work of Civil Rights Leader

When: Sunday, Jan. 27 through Thursday, Jan. 31

What: The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision and quest for social equality will be honored and advanced during a week-long series of events that will unite the UMass Lowell community and the public. Events will be focused around the topic “His Dream, Our Awakening.” Sponsored by the university’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, the week will kick off Black History Month. It will include a student Day of Service on Sunday Jan. 27 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Campus Recreation Center, East Campus, 100 Pawtucket St., Lowell. Other events include:

  • Solidarity March – Monday, Jan. 28, 5 p.m. Members of the UMass Lowell community and the public will walk for peace. The event is co-sponsored by student groups the Association of Students of African Origin (ASAO); Males Achieving Leadership, Excellence and Success (MALES); Sisters of Integrity Striving Towards Empowerment, Respect and Success (SISTERS); the Latin American Student Association; and the National Society of Black Engineers. The walk will start on South Campus and end on East Campus.
  • Student Oratorical Contest – Tuesday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m. Students will speak on the topic, “My Dream, My Awakening” and compete for prizes in this annual contest. Alumni Hall, North Campus, 34 University Ave., Lowell.
  • MLK Celebration Dinner – Wednesday, Jan. 30, 6 p.m. The Office of Multicultural Affairs will bestow its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award to a student, faculty, staff and community member whose service exemplifies King’s work. The centerpiece of the week of events, the dinner will feature Avis Jones-DeWeever, executive director of the National Council of Negro Women and include award presentations to Lowell schoolchildren for their artwork and essays. The dinner is free and open to the public; please make reservations by Jan. 18 by contacting multicultural_affairs@uml.edu.

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

Award-Winning Artist, Student, Exhibit Work

When: Exhibit runs from Monday, Jan. 28 through Friday, Feb. 15. Artists’ reception, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 3 p.m. Gallery hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays and evenings by appointment.

What: Award-winning Egyptian photographer Wael Kamal, a visiting professor and UMass Lowell’s interim director of journalism and media studies, teams up with art student Duy Hoang, Class of 2013, for “Sound of Light: Photography and Sculpture from the Middle East and Massachusetts.” The show is sponsored by the university’s Middle East Center for Peace, Development and Culture.

Where: Dugan Gallery, Dugan Hall, South Campus, 883 Broadway St., Lowell

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Michele Gagnon, 978-934-3491 or Michele_Gagnon@uml.edu

UMass Lowell Hosts Jack Kerouac Book Series

When: Tuesdays, Jan. 29, Feb. 19, March 19, April 9, April 30, 7 to 9 p.m.

What: The UMass Lowell Libraries will host a free, five-part reading and discussion series on three of Jack Kerouac’s Lowell-centric novels: “The Town and the City,” “Visions of Gerard” and “Maggie Cassidy.” The series will feature Prof. Todd Tietchen, a member of the university’s English faculty, who will lead discussions about each novel. A Beat Generation scholar, Tietchen is an internationally known Kerouac expert. The sessions will cover the books noted on the following dates: Tuesday, Jan. 29, “The Town and the City,” parts 1 and 2; Tuesday, Feb. 19, “The Town and the City,” parts 3 through 5; Tuesday, March 19, “Visions of Gerard” with the community group Lowell Celebrates Kerouac!; Tuesday, April 9, “Visions of Gerard;” and Tuesday, April 30, “Maggie Cassidy.” Participants who register in advance will receive a copy of “The Town and the City” by mail. Free copies of the other titles will be distributed at the program. To register, go to http://libguides.uml.edu/kerouac or contact Sara Marks at Sara_Marks@uml.edu. Support for the series is provided by the UMass Lowell English Department and Office of Community and Cultural Affairs.

Where: All programs will be held at O’Leary Library Learning Commons, South Campus, 61 Wilder St., Lowell except for Tuesday, March 19, which will be held at 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

Medical-Device Competition Seeks New Ventures, Entrepreneurs

When: Entry deadline is Friday, Feb. 1; finalists’ presentations to be held Wednesday, March 27; winner’s ceremony to be held in April.

What: M2D2, a joint UMass Lowell and UMass Medical School initiative, is sponsoring a medical-device venture competition that aims to find the best new medical device startups – and award them $20,000 in product development services. Now in its second year, the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) competition, which promotes entrepreneurship, is sponsored by Nutter, McClennen & Fish and will culminate in an award ceremony in April. All new medical device ventures and entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply. The application fee is $25 and the entry deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1. A panel of expert judges will hear from finalists at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 27; a winner’s ceremony will be held in April. For more, visit www.uml.edu/m2d2 and click on “events.”

Where: Finalists’ presentations, Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center, Wannalancit Mills, East Campus, 600 Suffolk St., Lowell; winner’s ceremony, Nutter, McClennen & Fish, 155 Seaport Boulevard, Boston.

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

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