Story and Source Ideas for Journalists

02/19/2013

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 Please note that media contact names below are not for publication.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: A UMass Lowell economics expert can discuss the $1.2 trillion in government cuts over the next 10 years that will take effect on March 1 if Congress does not enact an alternative plan and the Bowles-Simpson plan to cut the country’s debt by $2.4 trillion over the next decade.

Fidelity Executive Shares Experience, Advice with Students

When: Tuesday, Feb. 19, 4:30 p.m.

What: Laura Pollard, a UMass Lowell graduate who is now an executive vice president at Fidelity Investments, will return to the classroom to talk to students about her career path and the world of high finance. Pollard began her career at Fidelity after her graduation in 1989. Her talk is the first in this semester’s Manning Speaker Series, which welcomes back alumni to speak to UMass Lowell Manning School of Business students. The program and school are named for alumnus Rob Manning ’84, chairman and CEO of MFS Investments.

Where: Falmouth Hall, Room 313, North Campus, 201 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

UMass Lowell Libraries Host 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 features 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

State Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr Speaks to Students

When: Wednesday, Feb. 20, 12:30 p.m.

What: Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will visit UMass Lowell to speak to criminology students enrolled in faculty member Frank Mazzaglia’s ethics class. Tarr, a Republican from Gloucester, represents the 1st Essex and Middlesex districts. Among his committee assignments, he is a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Rules. Elected to the state Senate in 1995, Tarr previously served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. His talk is presented by UMass Lowell’s Criminal Justice and Criminology Department.  

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

Eco-Friendly Business Innovators Meet in Lowell

When: Wednesday, Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m. 

What: Entrepreneurs leading environmentally aware businesses will discuss the challenges and rewards of their work and mentor people hoping to start similar ventures during this Social Innovator Networking Night presented by the Merrimack Valley Sandbox Initiative. “Think Globally, Act Locally – Green Innovators” will include Samir ElKamouny, a 2012 UMass Lowell graduate who is the founder of Green Bikes of Lowell; Joe Ducharme of Clivus New England; Heather McMann of Groundwork Lawrence; and Francey Slater of Mill City Grows. Established by the Deshpande Foundation through UMass Lowell’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Merrimack Valley Sandbox is one of three such business incubators in the world. The initiative works to strengthen economic and social development in local communities, including Lawrence and Lowell.

Where: United Teen Equality Center, 34 Hurd St., Lowell 

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

Catholic Author Shares Joys, Struggles of Faith

When: Wednesday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m.

What: Matt Weber, an author and producer at CatholicTV, will speak with students and the campus community about his experiences as a young Catholic and his goal to make faith more accessible and appealing to a wider audience. Weber wrote “Fearing the Stigmata,” a personal journey that, through humor, chronicles the challenges and joys of practicing Catholicism in modern society. Weber’s visit is presented by the Catholic Campus Ministry at UMass Lowell.   

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

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

Keyboard Wizard Jordan Rudess to Perform for Public

When: Thursday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m.; tickets on sale now.

What: Progressive-rock icon Jordan Rudess will come to UMass Lowell to perform a public concert to benefit student scholarships. As a solo artist and with the group Dream Theater, Rudess has been a pioneer in electronic music and prog rock, taking the concept of playing the keyboard beyond instruments to the iPhone and iPad and developing apps that allow others to follow his musical journey. Rudess – who studied at the Julliard School of Music at age 9 – will also teach master classes to UMass Lowell music students. Concert tickets are available to the public at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell box office, at www.tsongascenter.com, and by calling 866-722-8780. Tickets are $33 and $40 and UMass Lowell students with valid ID receive a 10 percent discount. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales will fund scholarships for UMass Lowell music students. Sponsors include Terry Chance of First and Last Chance Productions, QVC, Sweetwater.com and  ParsonsAudio. More information on sponsorships is available by contacting University Advancement at 978-934-3243.

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

Etiquette Expert Shows Students How to Dine, Dress for Success

When: Monday, Feb. 25, 5:30 p.m.

What: More than 100 UMass Lowell students and local employers are expected to take part in a multi-course business dinner that will be led by etiquette expert and author Jodi Smith, founder and president of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting. The dinner is hosted by UMass Lowell’s Career Services and Cooperative Education Center.

Where: Cumnock Hall, North Campus, 31 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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