Story and Source Ideas for Journalists
09/25/2017
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 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 Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.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:
- The NFL’s Take A Knee protests in response to criticism from President Trump, including:
- Research from the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion that suggests such protests affect fans’ interest in professional football;
- Public debate about racism and First Amendment rights;
- How the beliefs of athletes from Muhammad Ali to Colin Kaepernick have influenced history; - The threat of radiation exposure from North Korea’s nuclear program in the wake of a recent earthquake near the test site;
- The latest attempt to replace Obamacare, the Graham-Cassidy bill and who wins and loses under the proposal;
- U.S. Supreme Court cases for the fall term that begins next week, including actions centering on the U.S. travel ban; immigration, freedom of religion and labor and employee rights.
Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.
Philosophy of ‘Star Wars’ is Focus of Professor’s Talk at Film Series
Student Entrepreneurship Education Program Holds Kickoff
Open Houses Introduce UMass Lowell to Prospective Students, Parents
Effectively Caring for Adults with Disabilities is Topic of Free Program
Forum Looks at ‘North Korea, Nuclear Weapons and War’
StarPhilosophy of ‘Star Wars’ is Focus of Professor’s Talk at Film Series
When: Monday, Sept. 25, 7:30 p.m.
What: If a group of rebels rises up against an evil empire, is the political violence that ensues justified? That is just one of the philosophical questions posed by the “Star Wars” movies that UMass Lowell Philosophy Prof. Nicholas Evans will explore in a discussion with film-goers immediately following a free screening of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Evans, who has written about how the film represents a political story about war, will also take questions from the audience. Open to the public, event is the first in this fall’s UMass Lowell Philosophy and Film Series, which will feature faculty members offering their insights on issues raised by dramas including “The Prestige” and “Fight Club” in the weeks ahead. Members of the public may visit www.lunalowell.com for more information.
Where:The Luna Theater, Mill No. 5, Fourth Floor, 250 Jackson St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
DiffMakerStudent Entrepreneurship Education Program Holds Kickoff
When: Tuesday, Sept. 26, 5:30 p.m.
What: UMass Lowell students from all majors who are interested in learning new skills in entrepreneurship and how they can be used to create solutions to problems in business and the community will participate in the 2017 kickoff for UMass Lowell’s DifferenceMaker Program. Through the program, students develop and launch new ventures with guidance from faculty and other mentors. Student teams also have the chance to vie for seed money to grow their ideas at a variety of pitch contests, including the DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge each spring, judged by alumni and other experts. Since its inception in 2012, the DifferenceMaker program has involved more than 25,000 UMass Lowell students, given rise to 17 student-led companies and led the filing of seven patents on intellectual property developed by UMass Lowell students. To date, DifferenceMaker teams have raised nearly $500,000 to support their ideas and enterprises.
Where: Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center, North Campus, 40 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
AdmitOpen Houses Introduce UMass Lowell to Prospective Students, Parents
When: Sunday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 29, 9 to 1 p.m.
What: High school students and recent graduates, along with their families, and learners of all ages who are considering pursuing a bachelor’s degree at UMass Lowell are invited to attend undergraduate open house events that will introduce them to academic programs, faculty, students, alumni and staff. Exhibits, presentations, a resource fair and campus tours will provide participants with everything they will need to know to soar as River Hawks. New offerings include undergraduate programs in education, biomedical engineering, and animation and interactive media. Now with a total enrollment of 18,000, UMass Lowell is the fastest-growing public doctoral university in New England and the fifth-fastest growing in the U.S., according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. The university’s programs are nationally accredited and ranked for quality and return on investment. Members of the public may get more information and register for the event at www.uml.edu/admissions/visit/open-house/default.aspx.
Where: Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Lowell.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu;
CAREEffectively Caring for Adults with Disabilities is Topic of Free Program
When: Tuesday, Oct. 3, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
What: The legal, financial and long-term planning issues associated with caring for adults with disabilities will be the centerpiece of a program for family members, social workers and other advocates. Open to the public, the free event is presented by the UMass Lowell Center for Autism Research and Education (CARE) and the university’s Disability Studies Program, along with the Massachusetts Sibling Support Network. Members of the public who would like more information or to register should visit www.uml.edu/Research/Autism/news-events/.
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
Forum Looks at ‘ NorthKoreaNuclearNorth Korea, Nuclear Weapons and War’
When: Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2 p.m.
What: The Brad Morse Speaker Series program “North Korea, Nuclear Weapons and War” will explore U.S. foreign policy concerns in the wake of nuclear weapons testing by North Korea and expanded sanctions by the U.S. against the nation. Leading the discussion will be international security expert and author Jim Walsh. The free forum for the public is the latest installment in the lecture series named for F. Bradford Morse, the former U.S. congressman and United Nations administrator who began his political career as a member of the Lowell City Council. The event is presented by UMass Lowell’s Political Science Department and supported by an endowment from the Morse family. Members of the public who would like more information may visit www.uml.edu/FAHSS/Political-Science/Events.aspx.
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