Massachusetts Daily Collegian: Oct. 17, 2013

Page 1

A KICK IN THE TEETH

THE NFL’S CONCUSSION PROBLEM PAGE 4

PAGE 5

THE MASSACHUSETTS

A free and responsible press

DAILY COLLEGIAN DailyCollegian.com

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Serving the UMass community since 1890

News@DailyCollegian.com

Congress passes bill to end government shutdown By William Douglas, lesley clark anD Justine mcDaniel

Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on an 81-18 vote McClatchy Washington Bureau Wednesday night. Twenty-seven WASHINGTON — The nation Republicans joined Democrats in stepped back from the brink of backing the bill. About two hours default Wednesday as Congress later, the measure moved to the approved a bill to reopen the federal House of Representatives, where it government and raise the debt ceil- was approved 285-144. Eighty-seven ing. Republicans joined 198 Democrats President Barack Obama signed in voting yes. All 144 no votes were the bill early Thursday. The White Republicans. House told federal employees to “We fought the good fight. We just expect to return to work Thursday didn’t win,” House Speaker John morning. Boehner, R-Ohio, said hours before The Senate approved the pro- the vote. posal crafted by Senate Majority The partisan bickering and acri-

mony that enveloped the House during the 16-day shutdown was largely replaced by softer tones and talk of bipartisanship prior to Wednesday’s vote, perhaps to soothe and reassure the markets. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., former chair of the House Financial Services Committee, asked colleagues, “For one night let us talk about what is good for this country and not about the other party” before he voted for the measure. “I’m pleased that cooler heads have finally prevailed,” said Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa. “This legislation must be supported but it should not

be celebrated. No high-fives or spiking the football. ... It’s not a win for anyone, particularly the institution of Congress or the president, for that matter.” President Barack Obama, who spoke after the Senate vote, thanked Democrats and Republicans for their work and said he would sign the measure “immediately,” to reopen the government and “begin to lift this cloud of uncertainty and unease from our businesses and from the American people.” Obama’s remarks came before the House vote. He said he would have more to say Thursday, declar-

Data sharing is caring

ing, “There’s a lot of work ahead of us, including our need to earn back the trust of the American people that’s been lost over the last few weeks.” Obama suggested his focus will return to a stalled immigration overhaul, passing a farm bill and the federal budget. “We could get all these things done even this year, if everybody comes together in a spirit of, how are we going to move this country forward and put the last three weeks behind us?” he said. see

BUDGET on page 2

UM hockey set for home opener

Michigan St. comes to Mullins for pair By cameron mcDonough Collegian Staff

NICOLE EVANGELISTA/COLLEGIAN

From Oct. 21-25, the library will be hosting Open Access Week, which will include lectures focusing on copyright, fair use and data sharing.

Fracking may be threat to local communities Geologist spoke on effects on area B y D aviD B arnstone Collegian Staff

Sixty-eight percent of the electricity generated in Massachusetts in 2011 came from natural gas, yet none of that gas was produced here. The natural gas used to keep the lights on and power mobile devices is piped in from other parts of the country and Canada. In 2012, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released a report that suggested there may be some untapped natural gas resources underneath the Pioneer Valley. The finding has communities throughout the valley concerned that the controversial technology used to dig up the gas – called hydraulic fracturing – could find its way here. Rich natural gas reserves in parts of Pennsylvania and New York, for example, have made those regions popu-

lar targets for drilling and extracting gas from the Earth. “That’s a part of the world that looks a little like here on the surface but underground is not a lot like here,” said Peter Vickery, an Amherstbased attorney who spoke Wednesday at a public lecture called “Fracking in Western Mass.? What are the facts?” at the Sunderland Public Library. The event was a joint effort of the library and the Sunderland Energy Committee. So what does the underlying geology of the Pioneer Valley look like? Steven Petsch, associate professor of geosciences at the University of Massachusetts, who also spoke at the Sunderland event, said that although the report identified a region surrounding the Connecticut River from Deerfield to the Connecticut shoreline as having “geologically reasonable possibilities” of natural gas, the region was not actually explored.

“There has not been any assessment of Western Massachusetts as a potential natural gas resource and given our regional, geologic setting, this assessment is highly unlikely to ever occur,” Petsch said. He added, “We are by no means the largest, most extensive, or most important of these basins to consider.” The basins he refers to formed more than 200 million years ago when the supercontinent of Pangaea, which included present-day Africa and North America, began to break apart. Over geologic time, these basins filled with layers of sedimentary rocks called shale. Petsch said that few shales contain the remains of organisms, but the ones that do can generate fossil fuels as that organic matter breaks down. Until very recently, energy companies were not interested in these shale rocks because they didn’t see

FRACKING on page 2

Both of the Massachusetts hockey team’s opening weekend losses followed a similar script: UMass outplayed its opponent early on, but couldn’t cash in on its opportunities. Then, its opponents took advantage on their chances, building up multi-goal leads before the Minutemen could get on the board in the third period. At that point, it was too little, too late. So before Michigan State (0-0) comes to the Mullins Center for a home-opening series this Friday and Saturday night, UMass (0-2) is looking for a fix. “We just need to bury down our opportunities,” UMass forward Troy Power said. “It’s something we’ve been stressing this week in practice, and I think the opportunities were there in the first, second and third

period.” “I think it was good for us to get a couple of power play goals, but that’s something that we need in addition to our 5-on-5 scoring,” Power added. “And that’s something that we lacked last weekend. I think it was big part of why we didn’t come away with two wins.” Despite the offensive struggles, one of the bright spots for the Minutemen was the play of the second line. Freshmen Steven Iacobellis and Ray Pigozzi, along with Power, were on the ice for two of UMass’ three goals against Boston University and UMass Lowell over the weekend. Iacobellis provided the only offensive spark against the Terriers with his power play goal in the third period. Power, who was returning after an injury ended his 2012-13 season early, then see

HOCKEY on page 7

Nearly Naked Mile run to raise money for students Event is reminder “There are a number of homeless people in of homelessness the area that don’t have appropriate clothing. By Jaclyn Bryson Collegian Staff

With the threat of winter weather quickly approaching, students will have one last opportunity to wear their shorts and T-shirts with pride during the upcoming, annual Nearly Naked Mile run. According to the University of Massachusetts Alumni Association’s website, pre-run activities, including music and body painting, will begin at 3:30 p.m. this Friday, followed by the mile run, which will kick off at 5 p.m. The starting line will be located at the Northeast quad, and the race will end at the Southwest concourse. Participants will complete the run nearly naked – as the name of the event suggests – in clothing such as undergarments, bathing suits, boxers, tank tops and shorts in order to embody what the 16,000 homeless people in

So this is is a way for (participants) to see what it’s like to have those conditions.” Erin McDowell, assistant director for student and young alumni program at UMass

Massachusetts will be going through when colder weather hits this year, according to the UMass events page. “There are a number of homeless people in the area that don’t have appropriate clothing,” said Erin McDowell, assistant director for student and young alumni program at UMass. “So this is a way for (participants) to see what it’s like to have those conditions.” Participants are also encouraged to donate two articles of clothing, which will benefit the Amherst Survival Center, a local organization that provides struggling families with food, clothing, health care and support from fellow community members. “It’s appealing to stu-

dents because it has that fun element, while also helping the local community,” McDowell said of the event. Registration can be completed in advance online for $12 or interested participants can pay $15 the day of the event. According to the events page, this is also an opportunity to support the university, since $10 from every ticket will go toward UMass student scholarships. Particularly enthusiastic participants will have a chance to win awards for best costume, best group and most school spirit. According to McDowell, she hopes the event will simply create a “fun, festive, environment.” Jaclyn Bryson can be reached at jbryson@umass.edu.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Massachusetts Daily Collegian: Oct. 17, 2013 by Massachusetts Daily Collegian - Issuu