Story and Source Ideas for Journalists
12/11/2017
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. 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 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 Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.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:
- Today’s explosion inside the Port Authority bus terminal in Manhattan and what may have motivated the suspect in what is being called a terror-related incident;
- How Democrats may respond if GOP candidate Roy Moore wins tomorrow’s Alabama Senate vote amid claims of sexual impropriety, particularly in the wake of Democrat Sen. Al Franken’s resignation last week;
- Weather predictions for the season, including anticipated snowfall and temperature expectations, as the first day of winter approaches.
Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.
Music Students Shine in Two Free Performances
When and where: Monday, Dec. 11 and Wednesday, Dec. 13, 8 p.m. Durgin Hall, South Campus, 35 Wilder St., Lowell
What: Demonstrating their growing mastery of their craft, UMass Lowell student musicians will present two free concerts for the public and campus. The Percussion Ensemble for Non-Percussionists will take the audience on a musical adventure on Monday as performers play string, horn and woodwind instruments as if they were percussion instruments. Students in UMass Lowell’s Jazz Lab and Mixed Chamber Ensemble will offer an eclectic repertoire during a performance on Wednesday.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Haverhill Innovation Hub Event Spotlights Next-Gen Textiles
When and where: Wednesday, Dec. 13, 5:30 to 8 p.m. UMass Lowell Innovation Hub at Harbor Place, Third Floor, 2 Merrimack St., Haverhill
What: Breakthroughs in the design and manufacturing of next-generation textiles and other materials used to improve protective equipment and clothing for soldiers will be presented at an open house for the public at the new UMass Lowell Innovation Hub at Harbor Place, which is part of the university’s new Haverhill satellite campus. UMass Lowell Plastics Engineering Prof. Ramaswamy Nagarajan will lead the discussion at the first program in the Emerging Technology Speaker Series at the iHub in Haverhill, where entrepreneurs can grow their ventures while enjoying access to the university’s experts and resources to help guide their startups to success. The new iHub is the second for UMass Lowell, which also operates a location in Lowell. Members of the public who would like to attend the event should RSVP by emailing Stephanie_Guyotte@uml.edu or calling 978-934-5560.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Producers Share Stories Behind ‘The Market Basket Effect’
When and where: Wednesday, Dec. 13, University Crossing, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell. Film screening begins at 5:45 p.m. and a question-and-answer session with the producers starts at 7 p.m.
What: Producers Ted Leonsis, a Lowell High School graduate who owns three professional sports teams and is the founder, chairman and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and Nick Buzzell, CEO of NBTV Studies and former head of production for NBCUniversal’s digital studios, will share the behind-the-scenes story of the making of “We the People: The Market Basket Effect.” The documentary chronicles how a six-week boycott of the grocery chain by thousands of employees and millions of customers successfully led to the reinstatement of fired CEO Arthur T. Demoulas. Presented by UMass Lowell’s new Richard and Nancy Donahue Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility, which is part of the Manning School of Business, the free program will include a question-and-answer session with the filmmakers after a screening of the movie. Limited seating is still available. Members of the public who would like to attend should email Alumni_Office@uml.edu or call 978-934-3140 in advance of the event.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Young Musicians Display Their Talents at Winter Showcase
When and where: Thursday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m. Durgin Hall, South Campus, 35 Wilder St., Lowell
What: Lowell public school students learning to play classical stringed instruments through the nationally acclaimed UMass Lowell String Project will perform at the program’s annual Winter Showcase, a free concert for the public and campus. The young musicians, in elementary through high school, perform as the Lowell Youth Orchestra and will be joined by the University Choir and Chamber Singers, along with UMass Lowell Music Department students and faculty. Selections will include Antonio Vivaldi’s “Winter” and Bach’s “Dona Nobis Pacem.” The ensemble is directed by Allyn McCourt, who earned a degree in music performance at UMass Lowell.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Art and Design Majors Share Their Work, Inspirations at Events
When and where: Artists’ reception – Wednesday, Dec. 20, 5 to 7 p.m. University Gallery, Mahoney Hall, South Campus, 870 Broadway St., Lowell.
What: UMass Lowell students studying for their bachelor of fine arts degrees will display their senior thesis projects during a free exhibition for the public and university community that features a variety of media, including photography, sculpture, 3D animation, web and app design, interactive installations and motion graphics. The students – from Amesbury, Andover, Billerica, Dracut, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, North Andover, North Reading and Wilmington – will talk about what inspired their art with fellow students, family, faculty and the public during an artists’ reception that will kick off the show. Members of the public who wish to view the exhibit after Dec. 20 should contact Deborah Santoro at 978-934-3491 or Deborah_Santoro@uml.edu.
Contacts for media: Deborah Santoro, gallery coordinator, 978-934-3491, Deborah_Santoro@uml.edu or Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu