Aaliyah Afolabi
Connector Staff
As the semester and academic school year is coming to an end, with events like graduation and the completion of freshmen’s first year of college and finals, there are various feelings of happiness, melancholy, bittersweetness and stress that are felt by many students. To combat the latter of these emotions, there are events going on throughout the rest of the semester to help ease the effects of these feelings. From April 21 to May 10, the end of the semester, there will be many featured events held by student organizations for the UMass Lowell community to enjoy. A few of the campus organizations holding these events are the Office of Sustainability, the Arts and Design Department (ARTS), the Music Department, Association for Campus Events (ACE), and so on.
In honor of Earth Day, on April 22, the Office of Sustainability will be hosting an Eco-Fest event on the lawn of the Campus Recreation Center. This will be an exciting outdoor celebration of sustainability, wellness and community. Whether one is passionate about the planet or just looking to enjoy a beautiful day outside, there’s something for everyone! You can expect sustainable education and activities, tabling from local organizations and student groups, free samples from local restaurants, ice cream and sliders, lawn games, fitness classes, a bouncy house and more. Going on from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., feel free to partake in this celebration dedicated to the protection, awareness and preservation of our precious planet. On April 23, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in Mahoney Hall’s Comley Lane Theater, will hold a celebration of the beautiful and irreplaceable art of graphic design. This event will celebrate the boundless creativity of the UMass Lowell BFA Graphic Design seniors. The event will begin with a screening and awards, followed by food, drinks and exhibitions in the University Gallery. View this as an oil painting artwork gallery, but digital, and most excitingly, free!
Get ready for an immersive gaming experience as the Video Game Ensemble returns with electrifying new arrangements from your favorite video game soundtracks! On April 28, from 8 to 9 p.m. in the Moloney Performing Arts Center Concert Hall Seating, you can enjoy a thrilling night where our bands bring these iconic scores to life, seamlessly synced with live and prerecorded gameplay video. Also on the program, UMass Lowell’s Contemporary Electronic Ensemble has been pushing the boundaries of music with groundbreaking, dynamic performances that challenge and excite. The students craft original compositions and innovative arrangements, using electronics as the core of their creative expression. Those who are interested, especially “Mario Kart” fans, feel free to pop up. Starting from April 18, ACE will be hosting a series of entertaining and engaging events all throughout the week. Starting off, there’s the day trip to the famous New York City. Students will have nearly a whole day of exploring the city before meeting back up before sunset to head back to Lowell. On April 21, a few days after, there will be a high energy bingo night featuring 16 amazing prizes in University Crossing from 6 to 8 p.m. Some of these prizes include a Meta Quest 3S, an iPad Pro, Sony XM5 headphones, a Ninja Creami and a Nintendo Switch. The day after, April 22, is the sunset social. This social will feature photo booths, crafts, giveaways, açaí bowl building and more. Last but not least, is the spring carnival on April 23, on the Riverview fields, from 5 to 8 p.m. This will include music, free rides, free foods and more, all for free.
After such a busy semester everyone deserves a little break from work. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these upcoming events and take care of their mental health during these last weeks of the semester. For more information on campus events, students and staff can check out the Campus Group Events Calendar and the MyUML featured events page.
