(Image courtesy of ironlung.com. “‘Iron Lung’ follows the harrowing story of a journey at the bottom of a blood sea.”) Aaron Preziosi Connector Editor Mark Fischbach, better known as popular YouTube personality “Markiplier”, made his directorial debut last month with “Iron Lung”, a horror film based on the video game of the same name created…
Most recent features
“Iron Lung” drowns the box office
Red Vox releases “Retcon” and “The New Flesh”
(Image courtesy of Bandcamp. “‘Retcon’ evokes feelings of bitter nostalgia and dreams.”) Aaron Preziosi Connector Editor On January 30, 2026, Staten Island-based indie rock band Red Vox released their sixth studio album, “Retcon”. After teasing listeners with singles released over the past few years and many delays, it has finally come to fruition. The band…
Lowell celebrates Bicentennial at WinterFest
(Photo courtesy of Aaliyah Afolabi) Buddy Valastro with his Lowell Bicentennial themed cake of City Hall Aaliyah Afolabi Connector Contributor Lowell, Massachusetts, was officially incorporated on March 1, 1826. Saturday, Feb. 28, marked two hundred years of this city’s establishment. The city celebrated the Bicentennial kickoff with an extra special WinterFest in Downtown Lowell. To celebrate Lowell’s two-hundredth birthday, the city planned a free day of festivities that…
Popular features
Center for Asian American Studies to host forum about the 1991 Paris Peace Accords
Jessica Kergo Connector Staff The Cambodian culture in Lowell, Massachusetts is felt strongly throughout the city and the UMass Lowell community. UMass Lowell shares a city with the second largest Cambodian population in the United States and members of the university are working to support an understanding of the culture and the country’s rich and…
Mitch Shuldman discusses 34-year media career
UMass Lowell librarian and head of the media center Mitch Shuldman takes a look back on his career in media over the last few decades in this podcast. Click the link below to hear more. (George DeLuca/Connector)
“Life is Strange 3: True Colors”: Beloved franchise knocks it out of the park again
(Photo Courtesy of Square Enix) Kaliisha Cole Connector Editor The story-driven, choice game platformer series, “Life is Strange” by Square Enix Studios, has now released a new installment that exceeds all expectations. The game is set apart from the first two games and creates an entirely new atmosphere. In this game, the player is brought…
News
The 2026 State of the Union address
(Photo courtesy of Library of Congress) “The United States Capitol” Makayla Mahoney Connector Editor On Tuesday, February 24, at 9 PM Eastern Standard Time, President Donald Trump addressed Congress and the nation with the annual State of the Union where he detailed the administrations’ achievements and future goals. This State of the Union address hit…
Campus Life
Lowell celebrates Bicentennial at WinterFest
(Photo courtesy of Aaliyah Afolabi) Buddy Valastro with his Lowell Bicentennial themed cake of City Hall Aaliyah Afolabi Connector Contributor Lowell, Massachusetts, was officially incorporated on March 1, 1826. Saturday, Feb. 28, marked two hundred years of this city’s establishment. The city celebrated the Bicentennial kickoff with an extra special WinterFest in Downtown Lowell. To celebrate Lowell’s two-hundredth birthday, the city planned a free day of festivities that…
Student spotlight: Immanuel Kelly (Manny), aspiring actor and creator of Disney Channel bully skits
(Photo courtesy of Immanuel Kelly) “Immanuel Kelly (Manny)” Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor At UMass Lowell, there are many students with inspiring stories and exciting careers. One of them is Immanuel Kelly, also known as Manny and @mannythemann1 on Tik Tok and @mannythemanzz on Instagram. He currently has 81.8 million likes on TikTok, and in just…
Lowell celebrates Bicentennial at WinterFest
(Photo courtesy of Aaliyah Afolabi) Buddy Valastro with his Lowell Bicentennial themed cake of City Hall Aaliyah Afolabi Connector Contributor Lowell, Massachusetts, was officially incorporated on March 1, 1826. Saturday, Feb. 28, marked two hundred years of this city’s establishment. The city celebrated the Bicentennial kickoff with an extra special WinterFest in Downtown Lowell. To celebrate Lowell’s two-hundredth birthday, the city planned a free day of festivities that…
Music professor Alan Williams releases new single
(Photo courtesy of Alan Williams) “Somewhere There’s a Train” cover art Benjamin Heffner Connector Editor Dr. Alan Williams, Coordinator of Music Business & Musicianship at UMass Lowell, released his newest single, “Somewhere There’s a Train,” on Friday, Feb. 20, along with an accompanying music video. Q: What went into the creative process? A: “Somewhere There’s a Train” is part of a new album coming…
Arts & Entertainment
“Iron Lung” drowns the box office
(Image courtesy of ironlung.com. “‘Iron Lung’ follows the harrowing story of a journey at the bottom of a blood sea.”) Aaron Preziosi Connector Editor Mark Fischbach, better known as popular YouTube personality “Markiplier”, made his directorial debut last month with “Iron Lung”, a horror film based on the video game of the same name created…
Machismo and misogyny in “Hurricane Season”
(Image courtesy of Goodreads. “‘Hurricane Season’ speaks about some of the worst humanity has to offer.”) Rick Dalton Connector Staff “Hurricane Season” is a novel by Fernanda Melchor, with elements of crime, mystery and horror. It was first published in Spanish in 2017 before being translated into English by Sophie Hughes in 2020. The story…
“Marathon” sets high expectations with “Server Slam” preview
(Image courtesy of Bungie. “Players are pitted against each other and the surreal sci-fi environment in ‘Marathon’.”) Aaron Preziosi Connector Editor Nearly one year and one plagiarism scandal after its previous public playtest, Bungie’s extraction shooter “Marathon” is getting ready for its March 5 launch with a “Server Slam”, an unrestricted public playtest meant to…
“Iron Lung” drowns the box office
(Image courtesy of ironlung.com. “‘Iron Lung’ follows the harrowing story of a journey at the bottom of a blood sea.”) Aaron Preziosi Connector Editor Mark Fischbach, better known as popular YouTube personality “Markiplier”, made his directorial debut last month with “Iron Lung”, a horror film based on the video game of the same name created…
Red Vox releases “Retcon” and “The New Flesh”
(Image courtesy of Bandcamp. “‘Retcon’ evokes feelings of bitter nostalgia and dreams.”) Aaron Preziosi Connector Editor On January 30, 2026, Staten Island-based indie rock band Red Vox released their sixth studio album, “Retcon”. After teasing listeners with singles released over the past few years and many delays, it has finally come to fruition. The band…
2026 Grammy Awards Recap
(Image courtesy of Grammy. “This year’s Grammy Awards ceremony was marked by a surprising amount of sentimentality.”) Tristin Henson Connector Editor The Grammys kicked off the night with a performance by Sabrina Carpenter, featuring a rendition of “Manchild.” Soon after, Doechii and Queen Latifah presented the award for Best Rap Album, with nominees CHROMAKOPIA and…
“Explosive” comedy, right here in Lowell
(Photo courtesy of James Guiry) “Casey Woods hosts the “Bomb Shelter!” open mic night. James Guiry Connector Contributor “The Bomb Squad” (@bombsquadpresents on Instagram) is a group of local Lowell comedians that run shows around the city. The group consists of Fredo Cruz (@fredoacruz), Sean Delson (@soyboychik), Ren Marquez (@rrenmarquez), and Casey Woods (@caseywootchudoin). I…
Sports
America’s looking to break Olympic traditions
(Photo courtesy of James Squire of Getty Images) From left to right, Alysia Liu, Amber Glenn, Isabeau Levito Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor This Winter Olympics in Milan will be one to break many cycles in the figure skating world, and America is at the core of this. While the sport has seen a steady decline…
America’s looking to break Olympic traditions
(Photo courtesy of James Squire of Getty Images) From left to right, Alysia Liu, Amber Glenn, Isabeau Levito Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor This Winter Olympics in Milan will be one to break many cycles in the figure skating world, and America is at the core of this. While the sport has seen a steady decline…
Lowell unable to keep up with Boston College, lose 3-1 on home ice
(Photo courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics) “Freshman Mirko Buttazzoni skates between two Boston College defenders, entering the zone with the puck.” Jake Messer Connector Editor On Friday, Dec. 5, the River Hawks lost 3-1 to the no. 14/15 Boston College Eagles in a dominant showing from the Eagles, as they have now won seven out…
