Story and Source Ideas for Journalists
01/08/2018
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 Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.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:
- The state of the civil rights movement in the U.S. as the NAACP plans to protest President Trump’s appearance in Atlanta tonight and the nation observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday;
- The gender pay gap and the #IStandWithCarrie social-media campaign that is raising awareness about the issue after a BBC editor resigned last week alleging the company maintains unfair compensation practices;
- What’s next for Sears Holding Corp. after the retail giant announced it will close dozens of Kmart and Sears stores – including a location in the Burlington Mall – by April.
Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.
High-School Students Flex Their Business Skills at DECA Event
When and where: Tuesday, Jan. 9, competitions to be held 9 a.m.to noon. Campus Recreation Center, East Campus, 292 Aiken St., Lowell
What: More than 750 high-school students will visit UMass Lowell and compete in contests that will help them prepare for careers as entrepreneurs and leaders in the marketing, management, accounting, finance and hospitality sectors. The competitions are part of a regional conference for students who participate in DECA chapters based at schools in Andover, Billerica, Bolton, Chelmsford, Dracut, Tewksbury and Westford. Organized by DECA, the event is hosted by UMass Lowell’s Manning School of Business. Winners will participate in a statewide DECA competition in Boston later this year.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Event Explores American History Before Columbus’ Arrival
When and where: Wednesday, Jan. 10. Programs continue each Wednesday through Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. University Suites, Room 106A, 327 Aiken St., Lowell
What: UMass Lowell’s Learning In Retirement Association, which offers enrichment classes and activities for adults, has kicked off its winter session. On Wednesday, Jan. 10, the group will hold a program on the history of America before Columbus’ arrival in 1492. More than 200 members strong, LIRA presents programs that include visits to museums, discussions about classic and contemporary literature and explorations of local, U.S. and world history. Upcoming classes will feature UMass Lowell faculty presenting on research into potential causes of autism, mystery novels written by Canadian authors and philosophical theories about the meaning of life. Members of the public who would like more information on how to join may visit http://uml.edu/Community/LIRA.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Creating a Path to a Thriving ‘Green’ Economy is Program’s Aim
When and where: Thursday, Jan. 11, 6:30 p.m. University Crossing, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell
What: Internationally renowned climate-change expert Juliette Rooney-Varga will lead an interactive program demonstrating what it would take to create a stable climate and a thriving “green” economy – and what doing so could mean for the future of Massachusetts. Rooney-Varga is the director of UMass Lowell’s Climate Change Initiative and an environmental biology professor. Her work to educate the public on climate change includes developing role-playing exercises that simulate negotiations on an international climate-change agreement, such as those by the United Nations. Hundreds of people, from students to world leaders, have participated. The event, which benefits student scholarships, is the latest in the university’s Faculty Showcase Series. Admission is $25 per person ($20 for UMass Lowell alumni from the classes of 2007 through 2017). Members of the public who would like to attend should register at www.alumni.uml.edu/climate or email Alumni_Office@uml.edu.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Innovation Night Showcases New Products, Haverhill iHub
When and where: Wednesday, Jan. 17, 6 p.m. UMass Lowell Innovation Hub, Harbor Place, 2 Merrimack St., Haverhill
What: Local entrepreneurs who have developed groundbreaking products in the apparel, food, gaming, renewable energy and safety equipment industries will showcase their work at an open house at UMass Lowell’s new Innovation Hub at the university’s Haverhill satellite campus. The free event is organized by Mass Innovation Nights, which hosts product launches and networking opportunities to promote new ventures. The iHub Haverhill, a business incubator that provides resources and expertise to entrepreneurs, is the second for UMass Lowell, which also operates a location in downtown Lowell. Members of the public who would like to attend should register at www.bit.ly/haverhillmin or email Stephanie_Guyotte@uml.edu.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Vietnamese Festival Celebrates Lunar New Year
When and where: Sunday, Jan. 28, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell
What: The Lunar New Year – one of the most important events in Vietnamese culture – will be celebrated at a free festival for the public that showcases holiday traditions, including games, music and live performances. The program ushers in the Year of the Rooster and is presented by UMass Lowell’s Vietnamese Student Association in partnership with Lowell’s Vietnamese community. Members of the public who would like more information should email Henry_Zhang@student.uml.edu.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu