UMass Lowell Connector Logo

Author Archives: Jesse Nguyen

The fox and the wolf, the reality of being a gay person of color

The fox and the wolf, the reality of being a gay person of color

(Photo courtesy of “The boy, the Mole, the fox and the Horse”) A fox caught in a snare. Jesse Nguyen Connector Staff Someone’s sexuality should be a tiny portion of what makes them who they are. People have so much to offer other than their sexual preferences; we all have different hobbies, aspirations, skills and

The disease that plagues us all, pretty privilege

(Photo courtesy of TikTok.com) Wesley Glouchkov’s TikTok page. Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor The concept of pretty privilege, or more scientifically known as “the halo effect,” has always interested me. There are a lot of things a person can do to improve their reputation and others’ perception of them. A person can work harder, become smarter,

“Back to the Dawn” is a gritty Zootopian RPG

(Image courtesy of SteamDB. “‘Back to the Dawn’ provides players with two distinct characters, allowing them to experience two different storylines in the same gritty setting.”) Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor When “Zootopia” meets high stakes political corruption, prison life and capitalism, out comes “Back to the Dawn,” which shines as a unique take on the

Free campus resources for students this fall

(Photo courtesy of Ed Brennen) “Students cross the new and improved South Campus plaza on the first day of classes.” Julia Magee Connector Editor Welcome back all to another fall semester. Each semester brings a lot of change, and this fall is no different. O’Leary Library on South Campus has seen a major reorganization of

Lowell Kinetic Sculpture Race 2025

(Photo courtesy of the wgbh.com) “Entries in the Lowell Kinetic Sculpture Race must be able to handle all types of terrain, including as seen here, the Merrimack River.” Paul Melkonian Connector Contributor Saturday morning Sept. 20, Market Street, Lowell. Several hundred people milled around in a festive atmosphere; the street blocked at Shattuck and Central

Our performance in a dark world

(Photo courtesy of Gaijinpotblog.com) A cherry blossom tree in Japan. “…life is beautiful yet very short.” Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor Society demands that everyone performs their role in life on a daily basis. I perform my role as a student, submitting assignments (usually) on time, interacting with my peers, and learning from my professors. I

Celeste Rivas was failed by everyone

(Photo courtesy of Shinemycrown.com) Celeste Rivas before she went missing Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor Trigger warning: This article contains graphic information regarding sexual violence.   After enough scrolls on Twitter/X, you’re really left wondering: is there empathy left in this world? This thought came to me when I discovered the case of the musician D4vd, and

Student reactions following active threat on South Campus

(Photo courtesy of Josh Curtis from The Boston Globe) “The law enforcement officers present on South Campus.” Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor-in-Chief On the first day of class, Sept. 3, 2025, at approximately 2:30 p.m., UMass Lowell Police received reports of a male walking behind Riverview Suites residence hall on South Campus brandishing a rifle. Police