Story and Source Ideas for Journalists
02/05/2013
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 Please note that media contact names below are not for publication.
In case of inclement weather, please call 978-934-2121; if the university is closed, all on-campus events are canceled, unless otherwise noted.
Sources of the week: As this week marks the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of ’78, a UMass Lowell weather expert can offer insights into the historic nature of the storm and the technological advances in forecasting in the ensuing years.
UMass Lowell Faculty Share Research at Event
‘South Park’ Animators’ Film Kicks Off Common Text Series
U.S. Army, UMass Lowell Launch Research Partnership
Award-Winning Artist, Students Exhibit Work
Lowell Youth Orchestra to Perform Winter Concert
Contemporary Artists Combine Forces for Show
River Hawks Welcome Pooches to ‘Pucks and Paws Night’
UMass Lowell Hosts Jack Kerouac Book Series
ResearchUMass Lowell Faculty Share Research at Event
When: Tuesday, Feb. 5, 3 to 7 p.m.
What: More than 100 UMass Lowell faculty members will exhibit their research, learn from each others’ projects and recognize their peers’ published work and intellectual property achievements during UMass Lowell’s annual Faculty Research
Symposium. The event will allow faculty to share news about ongoing international and industry partnerships, cooperative education opportunities and faculty research groups. The program will feature a video about how faculty members’ research benefits society.
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
‘South Park’ Animators’ Film Kicks Off Common Text Series
When: Wednesday, Feb. 6, 6:30 p.m.
What: Comedian Stephen Colbert’s satirical look at American politics and culture, “America Again: Re-Becoming the Greatness We Never Weren’t,” is UMass Lowell’s Common Text’s book for the spring semester. The program invites first-year
English students and members of the community to read the same book to share their experiences with it and watch films with complementary themes. The first film in the series is “Team America: World Police,” which similarly skewers American politics. The 2004 comedy was written by Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Pam Brady, best known for their work on the animated television show “South Park.” A discussion of the film will follow the screening. The series is hosted by the UMass Lowell English Department.
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, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
USArmyU.S. Army, UMass Lowell LaunchResearchLaunch Research Partnership
When: Thursday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m.
What: UMass Lowell and the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center will announce a new partnership that will team Natick Labs' scientists with UMass Lowell faculty and student researchers. Event speakers are scheduled to include UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan, U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, Natick Soldier Systems Center Director Jack Obusek and UMass President Robert Caret. The announcement will be made at the location at UMass Lowell where the researchers will collaborate.
Where: Olney Hall, Room 17, North Campus, 265 Riverside St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
AwardAward- WinningArtistWinning Artist, Students, Exhibit Work
When: Artists’ reception, Thursday, Feb. 7, noon. Exhibit runs through Friday, Feb. 15. Gallery hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 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, and UMass Lowell art students Duy Hoang and Lars-Erik Miller present “Sound of Light: Photography and Sculpture from the Middle East and Massachusetts.” The show is presented by the university’s Art Department and 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, Michele_Gagnon@uml.edu
OrchestraLowell Youth Orchestra to Perform Winter Concert
When: Saturday, Feb. 9, 3 p.m.
What: More than 120 Lowell public school students age 8 to 18 who are members of the Lowell Youth Orchestra will perform in four musical ensembles during this winter concert. The orchestra is an outgrowth of the UMass Lowell String Project, which provides stringed-instrument instruction, music education and performance experience to Lowell public school students. Admission to the concert is free but donations will be accepted after the performance to support the string project’s work.
Where: Durgin Concert Hall, 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
Contemporary Artists ContemporaryArtists Combine Forces for Show
When: Exhibit runs through Friday, Feb. 15. Gallery hours are Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and evenings and Saturdays by appointment.
What: Artist Fran Bull’s print series “Barcelona!” and new sculptures by Boston-based artist Anne Lilly combine for this exhibit presented by UMass Lowell’s Art Department. Both established contemporary artists work in divergent media and materials. Together, the works engage each other in energetic and unexpected ways, as the lines of Bull’s prints react with Lilly’s graceful, interactive sculptures.
Where: University Gallery, McGauvran Hall, South Campus, 71 Wilder St., Lowell.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Michele Gagnon, 978-934-3491, Michele_Gagnon@uml.edu
RiverHawksRiver Hawks WelcomePoochesWelcome Pooches to ‘Pucks and Paws Night’
When: Saturday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m.
What: UMass Lowell and the Lowell Humane Society will present the second annual “Pucks and Paws Night” as the River Hawks Division I ice hockey team faces off against the Minutemen of UMass Amherst in Hockey East play. Fans may purchase seats in the arena’s Section 110 for $15 and $5 for their dogs, which will enter the arena through a special doggie door. All dog-ticket proceeds will go to support the Lowell Humane Society, which will showcase pets up for adoption during the night. Pet owners are required to purchase tickets in advance by calling 978-934-5751 and must provide proof their dogs have up-to-date vaccinations. Season ticket holders may exchange tickets for their usual seats for seats in Section 110 at no charge with the purchase of a $5 dog ticket. Dogs in attendance must be on a non-retractable leash. Hydration and waste-management stations will be provided for pets on the arena’s concourse. Tickets are available through the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell box office, www.TsongasCenter.com or by calling 866-722-8780.
Where: Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Lowell
Contacts for media: Christopher O’Donnell, 978-934-2306, Christopher_ODonnnell@uml.edu or Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco
UMassUMass Lowell HostsJackKerouacHosts Jack Kerouac Book Series
When: Tuesdays, Feb. 19, March 19, April 9, April 30, 7 to 9 p.m.
What: The UMass Lowell Libraries will host a free 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 UMass Lowell’s English faculty, who will lead discussions about each novel. A Beat Generation scholar, Tietchen is an internationally known Kerouac expert. Members of the public may attend one or all of the sessions, which will cover the books noted on the following dates: 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, and the Massachusetts Humanities Council.
Where: All programs will be held at O’Leary Library Learning Commons, South Campus, 61 Wilder St., Lowell except 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, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu