September 1999

September 1999 - University of Massachusetts at Lowell

(If you're looking for photos, thumbnails leading to full-size photos are at the bottom of the page)

Megan has started another school year. She's at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, a 2nd year Music Teaching Major (BA/MEd program). Classes start on Wednesday, 8 September, but she was able to move in to her dorm room today (Sunday, 5 September). Last year, move-in day was an absolute ZOO at Boston University (all the billions of students moving in at once). This year was downright pleasant in comparison, except for the fact that she's on the top (4th) floor and there's no elevator! Huff puff!

The genealogy of University of Massachusetts at Lowell is a bit convoluted. It started life in 1895 as the Lowell Textile School in support of the enormous textile industry that was flourishing in the mills of the area in Lowell and Lawrence. It became the Lowell Textile Institute in the 1920's. In the 50's, with the decline of the mills and the textile industry in the area, the school broadened its horizons and became the Lowell Technological Institute (LTI), specializing in the pure and applied sciences (chemical- civil- industrial- nuclear-engineering, physics, math, industrial technology, etc.). During this time it became part of the Massachusetts state school system, but retained its name and its autonomy. In 1975, the school merged with the other state school in Lowell, Lowell State College, and became the University of Lowell. In 1991 the integration into the state college system was completed, and the school was renamed the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, joining its sister colleges the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the University of Massachusetts at Boston, the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, and the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester.

I know a bit more than usual about the history of the place because I am a member of the last graduating class of the Lowell Technological Institute (BS Applied Physics, LTI '75).

Megan's dorm is on the north campus (formally LTI) near the excellent engineering library (where I spent many late nights), but all of her classes will be on south campus, about a mile and a half away. She'll make lots of use of the campus shuttle bus.

We schlepped all her stuff (including a large dorm fridge, a microwave, a stereo, a computer, a big trunk, cases of juice, and other HEAVY sundries) up the four flights of stairs in the heat and humidity. We were huffing and puffing all the way!! We met Megan's new room-mate and her family and friends while we were hauling stuff (what a great first impression - all sweaty and puffing - sorry Navy!! We're really more presentable than that!!).

Her room's not bad - its a dorm room. It'll probably look quite different by Wednesday..............

We made the trip in one load, but just barely!
(CAUTION - big 76kb JPEG image)

Megan's dorm
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Eames Hall from Front 2.jpg (30963 bytes)

Stitched Megan's Dorm Room at UMass Lowell 2.jpg (43265 bytes)

3-shot panorama of the dorm room
First thing up and running was the computer...
2nd thing is the stereo......
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8-shot panorama of the campus in front of her dorm
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