Ed Brennen
For some, the COVID-19 pandemic opened their eyes to the inequities of the health care system. Others said it made them appreciate lifeâs little moments that they used to take for granted. And for others, the pandemic has actually led to new and innovative ways to think about their careers.
For the Class of 2021, COVID-19 will forever be a part of their college experience.Â
But it also wonât define the entirety of their time at UMass Lowell.
One week before Commencement, we asked eight graduating seniors to join us for a roundtable discussion on â where else? â Zoom, where we talked about their favorite UML memories, how the pandemic has affected them and what advice theyâd give to themselves four years ago, among other topics. Â
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Joshua Ray Walker.
Chris Bourke
Three minutes into his haunting song “Voices,” the singer Joshua Ray Walker summons an astonishing falsetto from somewhere deep within his diaphragm. As his voice rings out, Walker’s face contorts into a grimace, as if reaching these notes takes a little bit out of him, physically, each time. Even fellow musicians aren’t always prepared for the experience of watching Walker perform live. “I just stood in front of the stage, let that voice wash over me, and I thought, ‘Oh my god,’” says Rhett Miller, the lead singer of the Old 97’s, of the first time he saw Walker sing.
Miley Cyrus has been announced as the musical guest for the May 8 edition of
Saturday Night Live, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk as host. The episode will mark Musk’s
SNL debut and Cyrus’ sixth appearance as musical guest on the comedy sketch show.
Miley Cyrus was a surprise musical guest on
SNL during the show’s second at-home episode in April 2020, where she delivered a rendition of Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ alongside producer Andrew Watt on acoustic guitar. Her most recent album,
Plastic Hearts, came out last November. Earlier this year, she covered Mazzy Star’s ‘Fade Into You’ for NPR’s ‘Tiny Desk (Home) Concert’.
New York City Sets Its Sites on Post-COVID Tourism Return
Photo: Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises.
While there is still a long way to go, New York City tourism is officially on the path to recovery from the impact of COVID-19.
The city, prior to COVID-19, was experiencing record tourism numbers. According to NYC & Company, the city’s official DMO, 2019 saw 66.6 million tourists come into the city’s five boroughs, up from 65 million in 2018.
Like so many other destinations, New York City saw a steep decline in 2020 with just 22.3 million visitors, a majority of which came prior to COVID-19 in March. While the city expects to recover more than 50% of that number in 2021 (NYC & Company is predicting 36.4 million visitors), it expects to exceed 2019’s record number by 2024.