News from UMass Lowell for Week of Jan. 19, 2016

01/19/2016

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/pressroom. Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication unless otherwise noted.

Sources of the week

UMass Lowell faculty experts are available to discuss:

• The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to rule on President Obama’s immigration program and other cases on the spring docket that could render landmark decisions;
• What presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton needs to do to outpace Sen. Bernie Sanders to be the Democratic frontrunner throughout primary season;
• The music and influence of songwriter and Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey, who died Monday at age 67.

Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.

‘Star Wars’ Night Brings the Force to River Hawks Hockey
Event Series Explores Latinos’ History, Culture in the U.S.
Kerouac Writer-in-Residence to Present Free, Public Program

‘Star Wars’ Night Brings the Force to River Hawks Hockey

When: Saturday, Jan. 23, 7 p.m.

What: Hockey fans hope the “force” will be strong during “Star Wars” night when the River Hawks face off against the NCAA’s defending national champion Providence Friars. Throughout the Hockey East men’s matchup, members of two regional “Star Wars” fan clubs will be dressed as the film series’ characters and will be available for photos. The first 1,000 fans to arrive will also receive a commemorative “lightsaber” as a souvenir. A portion of the game’s ticket sales will benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association – which will also accept donations to raise “bail” money for team mascot Rowdy the River Hawk – and Team Impact, which unites critically ill children with collegiate sports teams so they may experience the camaraderie of athletic play and team life. This year, the nonprofit organization matched Lucas St. Onge, a boy coping with an immune system disorder, with the River Hawks, which welcomed him as an honorary member to participate in hockey practices, games and activities.

Where: Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Lowell

Contacts for media: Pete Souris, athletics, 978-934-3771, Peter_Souris@uml.edu or Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu

Awards Celebrate Community and Legacy of MLK

When: Tuesday, Jan. 26, 5:30 p.m.

What: UMass Lowell students, faculty, staff and members of the community will come together to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. at the annual MLK Celebration dinner. During the event, UMass Lowell’s Office of Multicultural Affairs will present members of the campus community and the public who exemplify the civil rights leader’s commitment to social justice with Distinguished Service Awards. The program will include presentations by students and a photo exhibit, along with interactive displays about the history of the civil rights movement in the United States. Members of the public who wish to attend should e-mail multicultural_affairs@uml.edu.

Where: Moloney Hall, University Crossing, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell.

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

Event Series Explores Latinos’ History, Culture in the U.S.

When: Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. Subsequent events will be held in February, March and April.

What: The history of Latinos in the United States and their contributions to American culture is the focus of a six-part series presented by UMass Lowell Libraries and held at libraries on campus and in Lawrence and Lowell. During the upcoming program, “Foreigners in their Own Land,” Maria Matz, a UMass Lowell associate professor who teaches Latin American studies and culture, will lead a discussion on how Spanish conquistadors and priests arrived in North America in the mid-16th century. Subsequent events in the series will be held in February, March and April. Members of the public interested in learning more may e-mail Sara Marks, UMass Lowell instruction and outreach librarian, at Sara_Marks@uml.edu. More details are available at (http://uml.beta.libguides.com/programming) http://uml.beta.libguides.com/programming.

Where: O’Leary Library Learning Commons, UMass Lowell 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

KerouacKerouac Writer-in-Residence to Present Free, Public Program

When: Tuesday, Feb. 9, 5 p.m.

What: Best-selling author Steve Almond, who will teach on campus this semester as UMass Lowell’s 2016 Kerouac Writer-in-Residence, will talk about his creative process, read from his work and answer questions from the audience at a free event that is open to the public. Skilled in fiction and non-fiction genres, Almond’s books include “Against Football: One Fan’s Reluctant Manifesto” and “Candyfreak: A Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America.” He is a winner of the Paterson Prize for Fiction and his short stories have been published in the Best American and Pushcart anthologies. The residency, which is named in tribute to Lowell native and “On the Road” author Jack Kerouac, is offered through the Jack and Stella Kerouac Center for the Public Humanities at UMass Lowell. The center was established with support from John Sampas, executor of Kerouac’s literary estate, to promote the study of American culture.

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