Massachusetts Daily Collegian: Feb. 20, 2014

Friday night smackdown

INDULGE YOURSELF, IT’S OK PAGE 5

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ESPN reporters to visit UMass Discussing book “League of Denial”

CADE BELISLE/COLLEGIAN

On Wednesday evening, Congressman Jim McGovern visited Worcester Dining Hall to raise awareness about feeding the homeless and the new Food Recovery Network on campus. He helped make the first food donation to Craig’s Doors through the FRN. Read the full story at DailyCollegian.com.

attention for “League of Denial,” which was released in October 2013. They have appeared on several ESPN programs, includBy Stephen hewitt ing Outside the Lines, Collegian Staff SportsCenter and ESPNews ESPN investigative to talk about their criticalreporters Steve Fainaru ly-acclaimed book.

In conjunction with the and Mark Fainaru-Wada, co-authors of “League of book, Frontline aired a twoDenial,” will be visiting the hour documentary on PBS University of Massachusetts in October that chronicled on Thursday for a public the history of the NFL and discussion about their book its connection with brainand subsequent documen- related injuries.

“League of Denial” deditary film. Their book exposes the National Football cated significant coverLeague’s connection to age to the story of Mike Webster, a star linebacker traumatic brain injuries.

The discussion about for the Pittsburgh Steelers “League of Denial,” in the 1970s, who received which is being hosted by attention after he suffered the UMass Journalism multiple brain-related injuDepartment and the ries over the course of his McCormack Department of career. After his death in Sports Management, will 2002, Webster’s autopsy take place in the Campus revealed that the former Center Auditorium from 6 linebacker suffered from to 8 p.m.. A book signing chronic traumatic encephwill be available after the alopathy (CTE), a disease caused by repetitive head event.

Fainaru and Fainaru- trauma, which, at the time, Wada , who are brothers, have received national see LEAGUE on page 2

UMass student veterans Students and staff give perspectives on lecture enjoy new expansion Continuing growth “Being able to be around other students who of service center have the same experiences has been helpful.”

By Catherine FerriS Collegian Staff

The University of Massachusetts has recently expanded the space dedicated to the Veteran Service Resource Center in a relocation to Dickinson Hall.

The expansion of the center, originally located in the Whitmore Administration Building, has been talked about since the summer of 2012.

Kelly Gray, assistant dean of students at the University, said there had been much discussion about expanding the cen-

Allan Brooks, UMass student ter, and an exploration of options began last winter and early spring. When Dickinson was chosen, it was, and still is, considered an ideal spot based on its location and space.

The original center at Whitmore also took care of the financial aspect for student veterans with the GI Bill, but this changed with the expansion. The GI Bill moved into the Bursar’s Office and the space in Dickinson Hall is now used for programming.

Office Manager Matt Bachmann talked about

how Dickinson Hall is a multipurpose space. In addition to being an area for students to do homework and socialize, it is also a place for advising, career services and weekly resume building.

“Career Services has been really helpful,” Bachmann said about the different programs students are able to take part in. He went on to say that students who come in for walk-ins are much more common than students who make an appointment. see

VETERAN on page 2

CADE BELISLE/COLLEGIAN

Student veterans at UMass are enjoying the new center where they can get work done and relax with fellow veterans.

sizes, small and large Motivation to learn affects preference

By Katrina BoroFSKi Collegian Staff

With approximately 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, the population of the University of Massachusetts boasts a size comparable to many towns in the western Massachusetts region. The results? Guaranteed lecture classes of 200 or more persons throughout your four years at UMass.

Large class size is frequently associated with a negative connotation; however, professors and students at the University offer a variety of perspectives on this inevitable occurrence.

Evan Paul, a freshman at UMass, enjoys his large classes.

“I personally don’t mind lectures, especially when the professors post the notes online,” Paul said. “Also if you already know the information that’s being discussed, you can use your time more effectively to do something else, whereas in a small class, you are often forced to pay attention and do what everyone else is doing.”

Kinesiology professor John Sirard also noted the benefits that can come out of large classes. An alumni of the University, Sirard found that lectures provided a comforting learning environment while he was a student.

“I’m not an extrovert by nature, so speaking up in a small class wasn’t something I was comfortable with,” Sirard explained. “A large

Large class size is frequently associated with a negative connotation; however, professors and students at the University offer a variety of perspectives on this inevitable occurrence. class was comfortable. I could absorb the material without the fear of being called on.”

While large lectures can be a great place to learn for some students, the freedom it offers has clearly sometimes been exploited for non-academic reasons.

“Obviously if someone isn’t motivated to learn, large lectures can be detrimental because no one there is making sure that you actually learn the information like in a small class,” Paul said.

“I think as long as someone is motivated to learn, lectures with discussions can be just as effective as small classes,” he added.

That being said, many people prefer small classes.

Many professors and students think that they present a better opportunity to interact and further engage in learning.

“I think teaching the smaller classes is great. I get to know the students better, not only academically but also personally,” Sirard said.

He also noted that small classes allow him to assign smaller projects and have time to grade them all individually, as opposed to having only large assignments graded by teaching assistants in lectures.

Alternatively, some students find small classes to be ineffective and even inef-

ficient. Melanie Maimon, a freshman psychology major, prefers lectures.

“I have a small class for one of my discussions. My professor is such an interesting lecturer and since so few people speak in the discussion, I’d rather have another 50-minute lecture,” said Maimon.

“It’s helpful because we review material in a small environment, but there are only two or three people regularly giving answers.”

Many students and faculty agree that the most important aspect of a course is not the size, but the learning environment fostered by the professor.

“I think it depends on the teacher,” said Sirard. “I think the teacher needs to create that environment where it’s okay to ask questions and people feel comfortable talking.”

Similarly, Maimon enjoys certain classes because of the interest shown by the professor.

Regarding one of her professors, Maimon said, “She’s an expert on her topic. She is very clearly passionate and has a very good understanding, and makes me passionate about the class too.”

Katrina Borofski can be reached at kborofski@umass.edu.

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THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN

Thursday, February 20, 2014

THE RU N D OW N ON THIS DAY...

In 1933, the United States Congress proposed the Twenty-First Amendment to the Constitution, which would bring an end to the prohibition of alcohol in the country.

AROUND THE WORLD

Lebanon BEIRUT — Twin suicide car bombs ripped through a residential district of the Lebanese capital Wednesday in the latest deadly attack believed tied to the war raging in neighboring Syria, according to official and witness accounts.

At least three people were killed and scores injured in the blasts, which may have targeted a nearby Iranian cultural center.

The strikes - the latest in an escalating series of bombings in Lebanon - occurred during the morning rush hour near a busy traffic circle in the densely populated Bir Hassan neighborhood.

Los Angeles Times

Indian NEW DELHI — The government of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu decided Wednesday to free seven people convicted of the 1991 assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The move was criticized by Rahul Gandhi, vice president of the Congress Party that heads the federal ruling alliance and the son of Rajiv Gandhi.

“If someone can kill the prime minister and then they are freed, how can a common man get justice in this country?” Rahul Gandhi said.

The state government’s decision came a day after the Supreme Court commuted the death sentences of three of the seven convicts to life in prison, citing an 11-year delay in deciding on their petitions for mercy. dpa

Central African Republic BANGUI, Central African Republic — Chadian peacekeepers have killed at least 12 unarmed people in two days in the Central African Republic after fatally shooting six civilians Wednesday in the capital, witnesses said.

The latest shootings occurred as the soldiers were escorting Chadian refugees to a military base near Bangui’s M’poko airport, where more than 400,000 people displaced in the Central African Republic’s conflict have taken refuge.

On Tuesday, Chadian soldiers reportedly killed two civilians in Bangui as well as four civilians in the town of Damara, about 45 miles north of the capital. dpa

United Kingdom LONDON — Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair offered to act as a secret adviser to Rupert Murdoch and two of his newspaper executives as they confronted revelations of illegal phone hacking, a London jury heard Wednesday.

The disclosure - contained in an email sent by Rebekah Brooks, a former executive of News International, once the British branch of Murdoch’s News Corp. media empire, and to Murdoch’s son and deputy, James - came as prosecutors wrapped up their case against seven defendants charged in the scandal.

Los Angeles Times Distributed by MCT Information Services

Seven years to stability: Getting tenure at UMass Journalism prof. undergoes process

By ChanCe Viles Collegian Correspondent Tenure is often in the news, whether it’s a professor who just achieved the status or a professor who abuses the power, but it can be a tricky concept to understand.

Tenure is when a teacher or professor earns the contractual right not to be terminated without just cause.

At the University of Massachusetts, the tenure track takes about seven years to complete, and although not all professors have tenure, many believe it is important to their job.

The process of getting tenure involves the professor proving their contributions and additions to the University.

Reviews, recommendations and tenure summaries are collected during this time. Professors keep a portfolio of their publications and other work for the reviews, in order to strengthen their chances of getting their tenure approved.

During the second semester of the tenure candidate’s third or fourth year as a professor, a “mini-tenure” evaluation takes place, also known as the “4.2 review.” The faculty involved create a complete tenure portfolio.

In addition, all faculty members, including tenure candidates, are expected to fill out Annual Faculty Reports, known as AFR. The AFR outlines each faculty member’s individual accomplishments and contributions to the teaching system at UMass and can be used for the tenure portfolios.

Professors are considered by several levels of reviewers to decide if they are eligible for a tenure position at UMass. In this process, they are evaluated in their service, teaching and research or professional activity.

They are first reviewed by their department’s personnel committee, and are then evaluated by the department head. The personnel committee of the professor’s college evaluates them as well, followed by the Dean, the Provost and the Chancellor.

“Being a professor is a lot like being a student here. Do okay and work hard, and you will be alright” political science professor John Brigham said.

That isn’t to say that it’s easy to earn tenure.

“The (tenure) process should be fairly rigorous” Brigham said.

Journalism department member and teacher Shaheen Pasha said, “The process shouldn’t be easy. It is for someone willing to work hard.”

The evaluation includes a curriculum vitae, or an overview of the tenure candidate’s qualifications and experience. Review letters are used to strengthen a candidate’s case. The courses that the candidate has taught and the summary of those courses are also taken into consideration.

While there is no specific number of the amount of times that a candidate needs to be published in order for them to get tenure, it is suggested that they talk to former personnel committee members in order to find out what is important in the tenure evaluations. Every department’s standards are different.

While the process of achieving tenure is rigorous, Pasha believes that the benefits outweigh the difficulty.

Pasha describes tenure as “validation” of the work that professors are doing for the University, and while the process is stressful, it is worth it.

“It ensures stability,” she said.

“I want to be at UMass for a long time” Pasha added.

“Every one going for tenure is going through the same thing. The process makes you part of the community.”

Pasha is also one of the first tenure candidates in the Journalism department since it left the English program, making the tenure process for Pasha unique. Pasha refers to herself as a “test case.”

While tenure has positive benefits for the professors, some say that once tenure is achieved, the teacher slows down in academic pursuits, and ultimately “slacks,” as professor John Brigham puts it. However, Brigham ultimately disagrees with this critique.

“Most people that get tenure are wired to write and research, and without tenure it would be a different university” Brigham said.

Pasha believes that the process of tenure and achieving tenure helps professors put out quality work and research, maintaining UMass’ title as a research university.

“Tenure is emphasis on scholarship,” Brigham said.

John Brigham has never seen anyone who deserved tenure be denied. According to Brigham, a rough estimate of only one out of 25 candidates don’t get tenure.

DailyCollegian.com

LEAGUE

continued from page 1

was not considered to be common among football players.

Webster’s story kickstarted the brothers’ investigation, the results of which led them to the claim that the NFL denied and discredited findings from independent scientists that linked playing football with brain-related injuries, and that the league knew and withheld information from players about these risks of playing the game.

Those scientists include Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist, and Ann McKee, a neuropathologist at the Boston University CTE Center, whose discoveries are prominently included in the book and film. Omalu conducted Webster’s autopsy and was the first to recognize brain damage as a factor in the deaths of former NFL players, while McKee has examined the brains of 46 former NFL players and found cases of CTE in 45 of them.

The book and film chronicle these findings, as well as the NFL’s battle to debunk claims of the connection between football and CTE. The authors even go as far as to compare the NFL’s actions to the actions of Big Tobacco, the cigarette corporation that covered up the dangers

VETERAN

of its product for years.

The brothers also use the stories of the league’s most brain-damaged players to drive home their points. One such player is Junior Seau, who was one of the NFL’s biggest stars, and who committed suicide in May 2012 at age 43.

It was later discovered that Seau suffered from CTE. Mark Fainaru-Wada joined ESPN in November 2007. In March 2006, when Fainaru-Wada was working at the San Francisco Chronicle, he and colleague Lance Williams published the book “Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the Steroids Scandal that Rocked Professional Sports,” which became a New York Times bestseller and forced Major League Baseball to investigate steroid use in the league.

Steve Fainaru worked for The Boston Globe covering the Red Sox for 11 years before moving to the Washington Post as a war correspondent in 2000. In 2008, he won a Pulitzer Prize for his work on “Big Boy Rules: America’s Mercenaries Fighting in Iraq.”

Stephen Hewitt can be reached at shewitt@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @steve_hewitt.

continued from page 1

Chance Viles can be reached at cviles@umass.edu.

Man accused of terrorism

Pleads guilty to plot in New York City

By MiChael Muskal Los Angeles Times

A man accused of building homemade bombs to wage jihad in New York City against U.S. military personnel and others has pleaded guilty to a state terrorism charge, officials announced Wednesday.

Jose Pimentel, also known as Muhammad Yousuf and as Yusuf, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of attempted criminal possession of a weapon as a crime of terrorism - a state law passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack in New York. He is expected to be sentenced to 16 years in prison but could have received 15 years to life if convicted on the original charge, a high-level weapons possession offense as a crime of terrorism.

“Manhattan continues to be the symbol of much that

terrorists hate about the United States, so we remain a principal world target for terrorist attacks, both at home and from abroad,” said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. Jury selection in the case had been scheduled to start Monday.

According to prosecutors, Pimentel, a Dominican immigrant who was raised in the United States and converted to Islam around 2004, had maintained a website with articles praising Osama bin Laden, describing 9/11 victims as legitimate targets and listing reasons to “nuke the USA.” In 2011, Pimentel “crossed the line from violent rhetoric on his Internet sites to building pipe bombs to be used against our citizens,” Vance said when Pimentel was indicted. Pimentel was arrested Nov. 19, 2011.

Prosecutors said Pimentel in the fall of 2011 “collected components to build pipe

bombs. ... The defendant had pipes with drilled holes; incendiary powder; electronic circuits that would have been used as ignition devices; clocks; and nails that would have been used to as shrapnel upon explosion. Each of the components seized was proscribed in a step-by-step guide in al-Qaida’s Inspire Magazine on how to make a bomb designed to maximize casualties.”

Pimentel was recorded talking about assassinating a judge, killing returning U.S. soldiers and bombing a police station or the George Washington Bridge, officials said. He also talked about targeting Jews.

Pimentel’s lawyers have suggested that he would never have progressed from Web postings to allegedly making pipe bombs if police hadn’t sent a series of agents to engage with him.

Pimentel took the plea offer to avoid the possibility of life in prison, his lawyers told reporters Wednesday.

CADE BELISLE/COLLEGIAN

Secretary of Veterans Services, Brendan Davenport, works at his desk.

Bachmann described Dickenson as a “safe place” for veterans, as it provides many necessary resources. He added that Dickinson is still working to build up the program, as it only just came into effect at the beginning of this semester.

Bachmann said that only a handful of non-veterans stop by, and those students are typically friends of veterans.

“Dickinson is designed for veterans, but it’s open to anyone on campus,” he said.

Allan Brooks, a sophomore, has been working in Dickinson since the beginning of the semester.

He noted one difference from the previous set-up is that the old office does the necessary paperwork, while Dickinson is more of a resource center for veterans to navigate and integrate academics.

“I had help with my resume. They took it and helped me revise it,” Brooks.

There are other programs that Dickinson is trying to put in place for veterans, including mental health services.

“Being able to be around other students who have the same experiences has been helpful,” Brooks said.

He said one of the

main reasons he decided to come to UMass in the first place was that the University was recently named as one of the top veteran-friendly schools in the country.

One of the reasons for the University’s accomplishment is the fact that there are full-time veterans’ counselors on staff, social-networking events, career placement and child-care facilities.

Brooks commended UMass, saying, “From my experience, UMass is really outstanding in appreciation and accommodation.”

While he has found there are some things that are not perfect yet, Brooks said the University covers a lot of ground and “deserves the praise its been getting.”

Brooks said that Chancellor Ku bbl e Subbaswamy is very proveteran which has helped make some connections, many of which are yet to come.

The space in rooms 18 and 19 of Dickinson Hall is open to all students from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Catherine Ferris can be reached at caferris@umass.edu.

THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN

DailyCollegian.com

Thursday, February 20, 2014

3

Nebraska judge’s ruling threatens Keystone oil

Violence erupts in Ukraine

Debate continues over pipeline route

By DaviD Lauter Tribune Washington Bureau

MCT

A protestor throws a cobblestone at police forces as they stormed Independence Square in central Kiev Wednesday.

Pres. alleges coup attempt, 25 killed

By Sergei L. Loiko Los Angeles Times

KIEV, Ukraine — As the death toll in Kiev’s violent political confrontation rose dramatically to at least 25 Wednesday, Ukraine’s embattled President Victor Yanukovich laid blame for the violence on protest leaders and threatened a tough response.

Pointing to continued clashes in Kiev’s Independence Square Wednesday morning, Yanukovich accused the opposition of a coup attempt.

“Without any mandate from the people, acting illegally and violating the constitution of Ukraine these, so to say, politicians tried to seize power by resorting to pogroms, arsons and murders,” Yanukovich said in a televised speech. “They crossed the line when they called upon the people to take up arms. This is a flagrant violation of law.”

Yanukovich called upon the leaders of the opposition to immediately dissociate themselves from the radical forces. “In case they don’t want to go, they must admit that they support the radicals,” he said. “In this case we will deal with them in a different way.”

The speech came in the wake of Yanukovich’s meeting with opposition leaders Wednesday.

Meanwhile, several thousand riot police were still trying to storm the burning barricades of the protesters’ tent camp in Independence Square Wednesday morning. Police shot teargas, stun grenades and rubber bullets at the protesters who responded in kind by hurling cobblestones and Molotov cocktails at police.

Police also used powerful water cannons, aiming them at protesters on top of barricades. Both sides accused the other of using live

ammunition.

“Given the character of wounds on the slain civilians and also the types of weapons which were seized (from protesters) we can suggest that this bodily damage could have been caused by aggressively inclined protesters themselves,” said a statement published Wednesday on the official website of Ukraine’s Interior Ministry.

Opposition leaders showed their frustration after meeting with Yankovich.

“In my opinion, the government must immediately withdraw troops and put an end to the bloody conflict because people are dying,” protest leader and former heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko said in a statement published on his UDAR party’s website. “How can we hold talks while blood is being shed? Unfortunately (Yanukovich) has no understanding of the situation.”

By Wednesday morning, hospitals and clinics in Ukraine’s capital were filled with several hundred injured on both sides.

City authorities said 25 people were dead and 341 injured. Police said the death toll included nine of their own. Some 300 police officers were injured, 74 of them with gunshot wounds, authorities said.

Ukraine daily Vesti reported that its correspondent Vyacheslav Veremiy was among the dead. Gunmen stopped a taxi cab in which Veremiy and another journalist were riding, dragged him out of the car and shot him point blank, the paper reported. The other journalist and the taxi driver were badly beaten, the report said.

Black smoke from large fires rose high Wednesday afternoon above Independence Square, where about 10,000 protesters equipped with shields, wooden sticks and helmets continued to defend the square from thousands of police. Stun gre-

nades exploded like fireworks overhead. Groups of protesters were busy breaking cobblestones from the square surface to use as weapons.

Some assembled crates with bottles for Molotov cocktails.

“If police use firearms against us the way they did overnight, we will respond in kind,” Vasil Dzyuba, a 43-yearold veterenarian from Lviv, his face blackened with soot, told the Los Angeles Times.

“We will start shooting back too.”

The recent clashes which have been the most violent and lethal in the entire threemonth-old confrontation in central Kiev began after protesters tried to storm the parliament building and broke into and burnt down the ruling party’s headquarters.

“President Yanukovich was ready for such a dramatic development as if he was luring the radical opposition into a trap,” Vadim Karasyov, Director of the Institute of Global Strategies, a Kievbased think tank, said. “The rash of actions of the opposition appeared to have untied the regime’s hands for a tough use of force.”

Yanukovich tried to take advantage of the situation and crash the resistance camp in central Kiev overnight, but he also demonstrated that he doesn’t have enough forces to do so, Karasyov noted.

“Now we are in for a prolonged violent confrontation unless Yanukovich makes more concessions and calls early elections of both parliament and president,” he said.

During a lull in fighting Wednesday, a heavy truck arrived on the battle scene and dragged away an armored personnel carrier burnt by protesters overnight. Armorclad riot police sitting on sidewalks and leaning on house walls eating sandwiches shook their heads with blackened faces under goggles. “Is that all we have?” one of the officers said pensively, before closing his eyes again.

WASHINGTON — A state judge in Nebraska has dealt another setback to the longdebated Keystone XL pipeline, ruling that a state law passed in 2012 violated the state’s constitution by giving the governor power to approve the pipeline’s route.

The pipeline “has become a political lightning rod for both supporters and opponents,” Lancaster County District Judge Stephanie F. Stacy wrote, “but the issues before this court have nothing to do with the merits of that pipeline.” Instead, she said, the case involved the Nebraska Constitution’s grant of authority to the five-person Public Service Commission for “regulation of rates, service and general control of common carriers,” which includes pipelines.

“It is clear the Legislature cannot ... divest the PSC of jurisdiction over a class of common carriers and vest such power in another governmental agency,” such as the governor, the judge ruled.

Even though the state is almost certain to appeal the decision to the Nebraska Supreme Court, those legal proceedings will, at minimum, further delay the decision over the pipeline.

Extended litigation could give the Obama administration, which is in no hurry to resolve the politically controversial issue, an excuse to postpone a decision on whether to issue the required federal permit.

If the decision is upheld, TransCanada, which is seeking to build the pipeline, would have to reopen proceedings to approve its route through Nebraska, a step that could lead to years of additional delay.

The proposed $5 billion pipeline would run more than 1,000 miles from the tar sands deposits of Alberta, Canada, to Cushing, Okla.

A key stretch of more than 200 miles would cut through Nebraska, where some landowners have long tried to block it.

The pipeline’s initial route would have run above environmentally sensitive aquifers that supply a large percentage of Nebraska’s water. After that plan proved controversial in the state, TransCanada submitted a new proposed route that avoided most of the disputed areas.

In 2012, with that new proposed route being debated, the Nebraska Legislature passed a law that took the

decision away from the Public Service Commission and allowed TransCanada to seek approval from Republican Gov. Dave Heineman. On Jan. 22, 2013, Heineman approved its route request.

A group of landowners

sued, saying the new state law violated several parts of the state constitution.

Stacy rejected most of their claims but agreed that the Legislature could not shift power over a pipeline decision from the Public Service Commission to the governor

Opinion Editorial THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN

“The gods are watching, but idly, yawning.” - Mason Cooley

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Editorial@DailyCollegiancom

The NSA reaches its tentacles into space pus to star as the representative of unchecked economic dominance. In 1904, Udo J. Keppler gave Standard Oil Maral Margossian similar treatment in a cartoon titled “Next!”

The octopus also made tics is the octopus. The octopus is known for its eight its symbolic appearance tentacles, uncanny eyesight, overseas. While America masterful disguises and abil- focused on strengthening its ity to squeeze through tight economy internally, Britain places. These characteristics flexed its imperial muscles, evoke a sinister air of impal- gaining control over a subpable omnipresence, creat- stantial portion of the globe ing the perfect symbol of an and leading to the famous institution with too much saying, “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” This power.

This symbol was born in conspicuous act of domithe late 19th century during nance made Britain an easy the Gilded Age, a term coined

by Mark Twain denoting an age plagued with social problems but disguised by a veneer of glamour. This period reaped the economic benefits of the Industrial Revolution but faced underlying social tensions that eventually bubbled up to the target for criticism. In 1888, surface in the form of riots an unknown American drew a cartoon of the head of John and strikes.

A main source of these Bull, the British equivalent tensions was the railroad and of Uncle Sam, on top of the ruthless companies who England with 11 tentacles, let no town, home or busi- each one holding a piece of ness get in the way of their land labeled with names of tracks. In 1873, American different countries. The octocartoonist Frank Bellew pus in this case represents a published “The Cephalopod, government, rather than a or Terrestrial Devil Fish - A business, but still shares the Monster of Centralization,” same intrusive and dominatwhich depicted an octo- ing characteristics.

These are only a few of pus with tentacles drawn as trains. One of the trains the more famous examples wraps around and clutch- of the octopus as a symbol es a woman cloaked in the of a formidable entity posAmerican flag and hold- sessing exceptional amounts ing the U.S. Constitution. of power and influence. The The mouth of the octopus rise of fascism and commugapes open and beneath it is nism during World War I and a strip of paper that reads, World War II, the looming “Congressional Honor.” In nuclear threat during the this cartoon, the U.S. gov- Cold War, the rise of antiernment is literally in the Semitism and various other clutches of the railroad busi- issues all became subject to ness. Bellew’s comic is one of representation by the octothe earliest depictions of an pus. The symbol even sprang octopus representing a for- up again during the Occupy Wall Street movement, when midable enterprise.

Then in 1882, another polit- artist Molly Crabapple creical cartoonist, Frederick ated a stencil of a giant octoKeller, depicted the Southern pus colored black with white Pacific Railroad as a menac- block letters saying “Fight ing octopus with 10 tentacles, the Vampire Squid” on it.

Despite the multitude of nine of which are seizing various components of the econ- the octopus’ appearances in omy: Farmers, miners, fruit a time span extending over growers, lumber dealers and a century, and despite its so on. This cartoon, titled, association with incredibly “The Curse of California,” diverse social, political and uses an octopus to represent economic issues, the octopus an uncontrollable entity seiz- has almost always excluing authority over aspects of sively been portrayed as a life far beyond the enterprise critique of an institution. It itself. Keller’s comic reflect- has been used to criticize the ed the resentment held by pervasiveness of monopolisthe general U.S. population tic companies, imperialism toward businesses that had and the expansion of comgrown too large and power- munism. If the octopus was ful. This was the beginning used to represent an instituof the widening gap between tion, it meant that the instituthe wealthy and the poor, and tion was being condemned, the stage was set for the octo- attacked, denounced. The Forget donkeys and elephants: The most important animal in the realm of poli-

Surveillance empowers conformity People behave differ- Panagopoulos’ finding that ently when they are being surveillance leads to normcompliant behavior, and Jason Roche expands that finding to suggest that it puts restraints watched. Surveillance has on the thought processes been shown to increase con- of those being monitored. formity to social norms and He writes, “When we are raise stress and anxiety. As watched while engaging in surveillance by corporations intellectual activities, broadand the government contin- ly defined—thinking, readues to expand into more and ing, web-surfing, or private more areas of our lives, we communications—we are may find ourselves living in a deterred from engaging in society where no one is will- thoughts or deeds that others ing to challenge the status might find deviant.” When quo. being observed, people will The feeling of being choose to censor the material watched has a profound effect they view in order to avoid on human psychology. This arousing the suspicion of effect can be produced even others. Both Panagopoulos by the mere image of an eye. and Richards suggest In one experiment, research- that surveillance acts as a ers attached posters above restraint on behavior, presan honesty box next to a sta- suring people into conformtion with a kettle, coffee, tea ing to societal norms. and milk. Employees were Conformity is already expected to deposit money in known to be a potent influthe honesty box when they ence on people’s behavior. made a drink. Each week for Surveillance magnifies the 10 weeks, researchers alter- power of conformity by nated the poster: One post- expanding the feeling of er depicted an eye, and the being judged into nearly other a flower. The research- every aspect of a person’s ers found that the money in private life. This not only has

unwanted attention. PEN America, a non-profit organization devoted to the freedom of expression, conducted a survey that found that 16 percent of PEN members are self-censoring due to the fear of NSA surveillance.

Almost a quarter said they avoid certain topics during phone and email conversations. Thoughts and reports are going unspoken because journalists fear possible retribution facilitated by the surveillance apparatus. This effect is not only limited to journalists: As Al Jazeera writer Jillian C. York points out, surveillance is known to produce the “creation of a culture of self-censorship.”

When people are watched, they not only conform more strictly to societal norms, censor themselves and become anxious and stressed; they also become more judgmental about the actions of other people, and are more likely to condemn behavior that is perceived to be outside social norms. This means that surveillance not only places everyone under

You may feel as though you have nothing to hide and are immune to the behavioral effects of surveillance, but nevertheless you will be watched. the honesty box significantly increased during the weeks when the eye was posted.

Research by Neil M. Richards and Costas Panagopoulos suggests that a greater awareness of surveillance leads to more norm-compliant behavior.

Panagopoulos investigates voter turnout and the effect that surveillance has on people’s likelihood to vote.

He finds that when people know that they are being monitored, they are more likely to vote because voting is a social expectation.

Panagopoulos says that surveillance pressures people to conform to societal norms of all kinds. He states, “Public visibility, or surveillance, increases the likelihood of norm-compliant behavior and applies social pressure that impels individuals to act.” If people know that they are being monitored, and that their behavior is being analyzed, they will be compelled to adhere more strictly to expectations.

In his own research, Neil M. Richards also reaches

political repercussions like causing people to avoid considering dissident opinions or refraining from involvement in political movements, but it also has larger societal ramifications like reinforcing social stigmas and making it less likely for people to challenge the status quo.

When people are aware that they are being watched, it not only affects their behavior, but it also has a strong influence on their mental state. As surveillance capabilities expand, some companies are using this technology to monitor their employees’ productivity.

Research by M.J. Smith finds that monitored employees found their jobs to be “more stressful, and reported higher levels of job boredom, psychological tension, anxiety, depression, anger, health complaints and fatigue.” It puts a lot of pressure on a person to know that their every move is being watched.

Surveillance creates an environment in which everyone is much more mindful that their actions may illicit

the watchful eyes of cameras, but also turns peers into behavior monitors.

Surveillance is expanding at an alarming rate, and it is not even remotely confined to the NSA. As surveillance technology continues to become less expensive and more accessible, companies, schools, advertisers and countless other entities are taking advantage of behavior-monitoring to further their own goals. You may feel as though you have nothing to hide and are immune to the behavioral effects of surveillance, but nevertheless you will be watched. At Gig Harbor High School in Washington, officials saw two girls kissing and holding hands. They showed the girls’ parents and one of the girls was subsequently removed from the school. Surveillance can target any behavior, and you do not need to be a terrorist to be wary of being monitored 24/7.

octopus represented dishonesty, subjugation, corruption. It never evoked pride.

Until now.

On Dec. 5, the National Security Agency (NSA) launched a spy satellite called NROL-39 into space.

In the midst of the Snowden scandal coupled with the revelations of NSA’s extensive spying, the NSA earned itself an Orwellian “Big Brother is watching you” reputation.

Rather than try to curb this reputation, the NSA chose a logo for the rocket that reinforced it. The logo depicts a

If the octopus was used to represent an institution, it meant that the institution was being condemned, attacked, denounced … It never evoked pride. Until now. giant octopus with its tentacles wrapped around planet Earth. Beneath this image, a motto reads, “Nothing is beyond our reach.”

The launch was live tweeted and, for anyone who did not understand the logo, Karen Furgerson, spokeswoman for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) explains, “NROL-39 is represented by the octopus, a versatile, adaptable, and highly intelligent creature.

Emblematically, enemies of the United States can be reached no matter where they choose to hide. ‘Nothing is beyond our reach’ defines this mission and the value it brings to our nation and the warfighters it supports, who serve valiantly all over the globe, protecting our nation.”

Strip this quote of its prose and pathos, and it essentially says, “We are everywhere and we are watching you.”

For those political cartoonists wanting to create a comic criticizing the American government’s invasiveness, you’re too late; the American government beat you to it.

Except the government is embracing is its furtive intelligence and taking pride in it.

What message does this send? It means that the NSA does not care that the rest of the world is appalled by the spying revelations. It means the NSA understands that spying is an unspoken reality that occurs in all countries. The NSA does not need the octopus to symbolize the organization. The NSA is the octopus.

Maral Margossian is a Collegian columnist and can be reached at mmargossian@umass.edu.

Jason Roche is a Collegian columnist and can be reached at jwroche@ umass.edu.

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Thursday, February 20, 2014

“I’m a horrible dancer! I’m like a dad at prom. I look like Gumby getting electrocuted.” - Jennifer Lawrence

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FOOD & DRINK

Wake up and smell the Breakfast Stout Savory brew, but not for breakfast

By Emily A. BrightmAn Collegian Staff

There’s something to be said for that hackneyed adage about breakfast being “the most important meal of the day.” From a physiological perspective, any meal that provides nutrition is of a certain importance, so it seems almost counterintuitive to give that distinction to just one specific type of fare.

However, since the first food we shovel into our face in the morning usually dictates the course of our intestinal functions for the day, perhaps a certain respect is due to this first meal.

As regular readers of this column will recall, I am something of a fiend for a good cup of coffee.

I say in jest that my typical breakfast is a strong brew, and while this is not entirely true, the fact of the matter is that my morning meal feels conspicuously vacuous without at least two cups of java poured down my gullet. So it goes without saying that coffee-infused beers make frequent appearances in my column, and even more frequent appearances in my fridge. The latest guest to grace my beer stash was the Founder’s Breakfast Stout, and from a symbolic perspective, there was something ironic and picturesque about see-

ing a six-pack case labeled “breakfast” sitting comfortably next to some eggs and orange juice in my fridge. In that context, the beer seemed right at home.

First off, let me be clear that I am in no way advocating the notion of beer for breakfast. Despite what the nostalgic diaries of washed-up glam-rock stars may suggest, there is really nothing glamorous about day-drinking, not even to cure a hangover.

The Founder’s Brewing Company, based in Grand Rapids, Mich. dubbed this brew the “Breakfast Stout” not because it is an essential part of a balanced breakfast, but because it is made from brewed Kona and Sumatra coffees and flaked oats, which themselves are classic breakfast elements. Despite the gleeful visage of the portly child on the beer’s label gorging himself on what is surely a hearty meal, at 8.3 percent alcohol, Breakfast Stout is not the kind of beverage to best accompany a plate of scrambled eggs in the morning. However, if you’re the kind of nocturnal grazer that only eats eggs after sundown, Breakfast Stout might just be up your alley.

I first got into Founder’s Brewing Company through their Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale, which was one of the first craft beers to spark my interest in the art of the brew. Several years and many six-packs, I feel a certain twinge of excitement in reviewing one of

their brews for this column that serves as a vehicle for my love of all things beer related. Certainly I’ve gotten more than enough enjoyment out of mere imbibing, but getting the copious amounts of craft beer that I consume to work for me on a professional platform is a unique pleasure all its own. If nothing else, I can at least justify the expenses of my weekly beer budget for more than just purposes of my own intoxication.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a beer snifter, Breakfast Stout pours out pitch black and begets a frothy tan head that hardly dissipates, even after several minutes. In terms of body, this beer is undeniably a stout—the distinctly thick characteristic of the brewing style is readily apparent in this beer when swirled around in the glass. The aromas that waft from the lip of the glass are equal parts strong and sweet, combining the crisp scents of coffee and milk chocolate balanced out by an under-layer of bready malt. For taste, this beer is quite literally a mouthful, between the thickness of the stout body and the sharp bite of bitter coffee.

Though the taste palate in general rides the wave of chocolate-infused malt, there is a definite earthy sensation in the aftertaste that finishes on a note of something akin to molasses. Overall, the mouth feel is enjoyably creamy and reminiscent of oatmeal

without relying too heavily on thickness to push its credibility. Though the noticeable lack of carbonation certainly puts this beer on the more filling side, the sensation in general is of drinking a wellrounded stout that adheres to the classical style with flavorful creativity.

As would be expected from the implication of the title, Breakfast Stout makes a surprisingly tasty accompaniment to a hearty helping of scrambled eggs, and I know this for certain because I am one of the aforementioned “nocturnal grazers” who takes pleasure in the simple joy of cooking eggs at midnight. Regardless of what conventional standards imply, few things are as ostensibly satisfying as eating a breakfast-style meal long after the sun goes down, mealtime canon be damned. If this kind of convention-warping is just your style, I recommend Breakfast Stout as a companion to any meal that falls more on the salty or spicy side, so as to balance it out with the sweetness of the beer. Also, as with many beers of the stout persuasion, Breakfast Stout also makes a tasty accompaniment to any meat-heavy dish or heartier dessert involving chocolate. Or, if the temptation to drink Breakfast Stout along with your morning joe is just too overwhelming, this beer is yet another flavor bomb that stands just fine on its own. I am not suggesting

BLIZZLENJ/FLICKR

One of Founder’s most popular year-round beers, Breakfast Stout’s hearty flavor comes from its classic malt style infused with coffee and flaked oats. that it should be used to replace a meal in its entirety, but there are certainly enough flavors in this brew to constitute a full morning meal.

If, like me, you often find yourself trying to reconcile your love of beer with your love of coffee, Breakfast Stout is one of those rare craft beers that provides

you with equal opportunity to indulge in both.

Breakfast Stout is certainly an excellent reminder of the importance of a balanced breakfast, even if that balance is only in reference to malt composition.

Emily A. Brightman can be reached at ebrightman@umass.edu.

FOOD & DRINK

Go ahead, honey: Have yourself a chocolate Use your sweet tooth to improve your health

as destructive to your health as myths of candy-crunching pop culture insist.

While anything can be bad for you in excess, nutritional science

By Emily A. BrightmAn has confirmed that consuming Collegian Staff chocolate in moderate amounts Forget what your dentist and is overall beneficial to heart, digestive and mental health. In your diabetic grandmother have case you ever needed more of an always told you: Chocolate is, excuse to reach for the Hershey’s, in fact, quite good for you. This here are some helpful health facts timeless sweet has been makabout chocolate to keep you haping headlines in health journals pily indulged. over the last few years thanks to Heart healthy discoveries in terms of the cardiovascular benefits it provides, Despite being somewhat viliand consequently the collective fied as a sweet, chocolate is host American sweet tooth has been to a bevy of heath benefits for reignited with a vengeance. While the cardiovascular system. The the depraved restrictions of the cocoa bean, from which chocolate megalith dieting industry would is derived, is rich in plant-based have us believe that even thinking nutrients known as flavonoids that about chocolate in the era of high act as an environmental defense blood pressure and bad cholester- mechanism. The flavonoid in ol is tantamount to a cardinal sin, chocolate is known as flavonol and the fact is that chocolate is burst- is found only in chocolates with a ing with antioxidants and essen- high concentration of cocoa, so tial nutrients that are not nearly if heart health is your intended

goal, be sure to look for chocolates that have a higher cocoa percentage. In the body, flavonol acts as an antioxidant—a buzzword in the vernacular of health lingo that essentially translates to a neutralizing agent for toxins that might otherwise enter our body, which has been proven to improve circulation and thus maintain regular cardiovascular function. In more humorous terms, think of the flavonols in cocoa-rich chocolate as a small army battling to keep your heart pumping at normal capacity. Obviously this is not the case, but sometimes a cute visual helps.

Ease depression Ever wonder why a box of chocolates is a staple of a breakup survival kit? It’s not just for the indulgence that a good bon-bon provides (although anyone who has ever been harshly dumped will tell you otherwise). Consumption of chocolate releases endorphins (one of the hormone-like chemicals in the brain linked with mood regulation), which explains the inherent happiness one feels when biting into a piece of chocolate. In addition, theobromine, the main alkaloid found in the cocoa bean, acts like a natural antidepressant when introduced to the human system because it also catalyzes the release of endorphins. So all those advertisements of smiling people eating chocolate are not entirely fabricated, because eating chocolate does in fact release the necessary chemicals to make you giddy.

Diet assist

LISABATTY/FLICKR

The myths have been busted! Chocolate is, in fact, quite good for you in a variety of ways.

It sounds ludicrous, but a reasonable amount of chocolate can in fact help you complying with a diet. Chocolate is a food rich in fiber, and as any health nut will

tell you, it’s fiber that keeps you feeling full. Dark chocolate is typically better suited to these purposes than milk chocolate because it is less saturated with sugar and typically has a higher cocoa percentage. Instead of curbing your cocoa cravings entirely, try just occasionally snacking on small amounts as a quick pick-me-up or an afternoon treat to keep yourself in check, instead of hungrily binging on other snack foods to keep feeling satisfied.

Increased blood flow As previously mentioned, chocolate is beneficial to cardiovascular health, and this is because eating chocolates helps increase the flow of blood throughout the body. Regulating blood pressure is a crucial element of a healthy lifestyle, and cocoa and chocolate have been proven to produce anticlotting effects, much like aspirin, which aid in the flow of blood throughout the body. This boost of blood flow benefits more than just the heart. Increased blood flow to the brain has been linked with improvements in vision because it increases blood flow to the retina, which allows for more acute eyesight. A boost of blood to the brain also increases cognitive abilities and alertness, allowing for easier retention and processing of information and thus improved academic performance. If you’re feeling the pressure before that big exam, scarf a quick piece of chocolate to get your blood flow back on track and enjoy the endorphin release before academic stress sets back in.

Improved skin health

you, chocolate is not the ultimate destroyer of clear skin. In fact, much the opposite. Chocolate helps increase blood flow all over the body, which helps maintain the elasticity of skin and regulate the buildup of natural oils in pores.

The endorphins released by eating chocolate help to significantly lower stress, and reduced stress hormones means less breakdown of collagens in the skin and thus a reduced chance of developing wrinkles later in life. Also, the flavonols found in chocolate help to guard your skin against UV damage and other free-flying toxins.

Despite the myth of pimple-faced teenagers gorging on candy bars, chocolate is not nearly the enemy of clear skin that it is portrayed as. There is even a new fad in the beauty world that suggests using dark chocolate as a kind of cureall mud mask. Though its topical benefits are debatable, the consumption of chocolate is certainly beneficial to the internal cultivation of external beauty.

Next time you’re feeling depressed or stressed or excessively hungry while on a restricted diet, a piece of chocolate may be just the remedy you’re looking for. Though it is undoubtedly delicious regardless of health context, the fact that it provides some benefits is certainly a good incentive to stock up in case of emergency.

As with all things, moderation is key—too much of anything, even chocolate, can have unfortunate consequences. But as long as you aren’t consuming twice your body weight in bon bons every weekend, you should be fine with a little occasional indulgence.

Despite what your junior high Emily A. Brightman can be reached at health teacher might have told ebrightman@umass.edu.

6

Thursday, February 20, 2014

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SHOWDOWN nents to just 41 percent shooting this season and is even more effective farther away from the basket, holding opponents to just 30.5 percent from 3-point range. VCU is averaging a robust 76.5 points per game, but is shooting just 42 percent from the floor.

Minutemen coach Derek Kellogg noted that getting stops defensively keeps VCU from effectively setting up its full-court press.

“Like most pressing teams, when you hear Louisville talk or Arkansas talk, they need to score baskets or get dead balls so they can set their press,” Kellogg said.

“The teams, when they’re scoring, are much more effective because they can get into it more often.”

The Rams feature an athletic roster with plenty of experience. Among them is senior forward Juvonte Reddic, who is averaging 12.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

He’s VCU’s most effective

HAVOC

CADE BELISLE/COLLEGIAN

Raphiael Putney is ready to introduce the “House of P.A.I.N.” to VCU. significant matchup problems for VCU – especially at the forward positions where Putney teams with Sampson Carter, Maxie Esho and Lalanne – something the team can expose if it limits turnovers.

“I think we’re actually better at the four and five (positions),” Putney said.

“We have a lot of hybrids who I think (the Rams’) hybrids can’t really guard.

So if we take care of the ball and run in transition, we’ll be in great shape.”

Putney also noted that revenge is simmering on UMass’ mind.

VCU defeated the Minutemen twice last season, defeating UMass at home 86-68 and knocking them out of the Atlantic 10 Championship in the semifinals 71-62, ending its season and crushing any NCAA Tournament hopes.

Now, in front of a soldout crowd, the Minutemen will have a chance to exact some revenge and deliver on a signature win.

“Definitely revenge,” Putney said. “I think both games (last year), we should’ve beat them but we made some careless turnovers which got them on their runs. If we take care of the basketball and play good defense, we’ll be in great hands.”

Mark Chiarelli can be reached at mchiarel@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @Mark_Chiarelli.

RAMS

continued from page 8

Both teams met again in the Atlantic 10 Tournament semifinals, where the Rams won 71-62 and ended UMass’ season. The Minutemen again committed 24 turnovers and assisted on just six made field goals.

Will UMass do anything differently this time around?

When asked, point guard Chaz Williams was adamant that the only way to overcome the Havoc defense is to stick to the script.

“Just play your game,” Williams said with a knowing glance. “Havoc defense is out there to create havoc and cause havoc, and if you’re not playing your game, that’s what it’s going to do.”

The Minutemen play their own recognizable version of high-octane basketball, albeit more in transition. Friday’s matchup promises to be a clash of styles, with the victor likely playing their brand of basketball in a more efficient manner than their opponent.

“They stay with (the Havoc), that’s their philosophy and they continue to get

continued from page 8

CADE BELISLE/COLLEGIAN

Derrick Gordon and UMass basketball are preparing for “Havoc” ball. better and better because they do it a repeated amount of times,” Kellogg said.

“Really, being smart and playing intelligent basketball is one way you can counter (VCU’s) athleticism

7

MEN’S BASKETBALL

continued from page 8

post scorer and will match up with UMass center Cady Lalanne.

“The reality is, when they really need a basket, they look to post (Reddic),” Kellogg said. “And he’s one of the better big guys in the league, and they have a really good front line with him and Treveon Graham.”

But Putney believes that the Minutemen pose

Thursday, February 20, 2014

and their speed and their ability to get in the open floor.”

Mark Chiarelli can be reached at mchiarel@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @Mark_Chiarelli.

WO M E N ’ S L AC RO S S E

and he wants to bring the best out,” Williams said. “So him saying that means a lot to us as a team, because I know he’s coming out with extra fire on Friday.”

Still, exacting revenge on an experienced Rams squad won’t be easy. Their “havoc” defense has given teams fits for years, including UMass. But, with experience in their back pockets, Gordon and the rest of the Minutemen are going to be ready when VCU visits a soldout Mullins Center on Friday night.

“Of course, they’ve gotten better over the years, but I’m going to be ready for it,” Gordon said. “I’m sure they’re going to remember my face, because I definitely remember all their faces.”

Patrick Strohecker can be reached at pstrohec@umass. edu and followed on Twitter @P_Strohecker.

Minutemen have chance for marquee win

I

n my first three years attending the University of Massachusetts, the men’s basketball team had many home games against top-notch Atlantic 10 opponents, but came away with mixed results.

In the 201011 season, UMass lost Patrick an overtime Strohecker thriller to a 22-win Temple team that was the poster school of the conference.

In the next season, the Minutemen knocked off an up-and-down Xavier squad that featured premier players Tu Holloway, Mark Lyons and Kenny Frease, snapping a six-game losing streak to the Musketeers. It gave hope to the UMass faithful that the program could finally be recognized as one of the A-10’s top teams.

Then last year happened.

Butler paid a visit to Mullins Center, making for one of the biggest home games in recent memory for the Minutemen.

It was a chance to knock off a mid-major that was just two years removed from losing to Duke in the national championship game. The result: UMass never led.

It was a prime opportunity that the Minutemen let slip away, forcing them to wait until this year to once again have the opportunity to host a premier opponent and finally get that marquee conference win that could vault UMass into the top-tier of the A-10.

That game will be Friday night, when coach Shaka Smart and Virginia Commonwealth’s “havoc defense” pays its first-ever visit to Amherst. VCU has had success in recent years, making it all the way to the Final Four in 2011, and has been a mainstay in the NCAA Tournament.

When the Rams joined the A-10 last year, they instantly became one of the top teams in the conference, despite having all of their success against the Sun Belt Conference. But make no mis-

take about it: VCU, even in the midst of having a so-called down season, is still one of the main draws in the conference, wherever the team goes.

“They’ve been ranked in the Top 25. They went to the Final Four, so they’ve done a really good job as a program and they’ve branded themselves well,” UMass coach Derek Kellogg said.

When you take a look at the A-10 scene to determine who belongs at the top, it’s hard to tell. After all, for a very long time, Temple was the school that came to everyone’s mind when the A-10 was mentioned, but that team is now in the American Athletic Conference. Butler was a oneyear wonder, making a quick pit stop before moving on to the new Big East. And the Rams haven’t been around for long enough to really be the face of the conference.

So, I ask, why isn’t it time to think of the Minutemen as one of the premier teams in the A-10?

They’ve been members of the conference since 1976, and were toe-to-toe with Temple as the best team in the A-10 for a while in the 1990s. But, after a decade of down years and not much postseason success, UMass now finds itself back in that position to make a run at the conference crown and stay there.

The Minutemen climbed all the way up to No. 13 in the AP Poll earlier this season and already feature marquee wins over several non-conference opponents. They’ve helped move the A-10 in an upward motion, so now all that UMass needs is that one notable win that can plant the team among the conference’s best.

When VCU visits a soldout Mullins Center on Friday night, the Minutemen will be playing for much more than their 21st win of the season.

They will be on full display for a national audience, looking to make their case: Now is the time to finally think of UMass as one of the marquee names that the A-10 has to offer.

Patrick Strohecker can be reached at pstrohec@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @P_Strohecker.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

UMass stays undefeated Comeback falls short for UM

By Anthony ChiusAno Collegian Staff

Powered by eight first-half goals, the No. 11 Massachusetts women’s lacrosse team never faltered on Wednesday in a 12-6 victory over Holy Cross in its home opener.

Leading goal scorers Katie Ferris (eight), Sam Rush (seven) and Tanner Guarino (five) each scored twice for the Minutewomen (3-0), but UMass coach Angela McMahon said that she was most encouraged by the newcomers to the score sheet.

The other five UMass goals were the first of the season for junior Amy Tiernan, sophomores Nicole Troost, Rory Sadoff and Eileen McDonald and freshman Hannah Murphy.

“I think we were moving the ball pretty well and there were a lot of different people being threats,” McMahon said. “We saw a lot of different people on the score sheets today, which is important for us going forward as an offense.”

In particular, McMahon commended the effort of Murphy on draw controls, where she won four for the day.

“She was able to step in as a freshman and meet her moment in terms of stepping up for the team,” McMahon said. “Draw controls have

been something that we have been stressing, especially after we came up on the short hand of that against UConn (on Saturday).”

On Wednesday, UMass won the draw control battle 12-8 against the Crusaders (0-2), following the 8-6 final deficit against the Huskies.

“We really wanted to get back in terms of doing well on the draws,” McMahon said. “(Murphy) was a big reason for that today.”

It was a bitter 28 degrees at the start of the game, which was delayed by an hour due to snow, so another key to the Minutewomen’s offense was patience, according to Ferris, who finished with four assists along with her two goals.

“A lot of our success came from being patient today, because the elements were not very good,” Ferris said. “All week we were focusing on fixing those tiny errors that we were making and not causing our own problems. I think we did a lot better today.”

According to McMahon, these “tiny errors” included an excess of unforced turnovers on offense. McMahon said that this has been a primary concern throughout the first three games of the season.

On Wednesday, UMass finished with 17 turnovers.

However, McMahon said that

the team showed better decision making, especially considering the weather conditions.

“The conditions were pretty tough and I think we were making the right decisions,” McMahon said. “The execution wasn’t always there, but at least we were making the right decisions with the ball.

“Hopefully in different conditions, we’ll finish more.”

On the defensive side, McMahon said that she was once again happy with their performance, led by junior starting goalkeeper Rachel Vallarelli.

“We caused a lot of turnovers, we did a good job of pressuring and (Vallarelli) had a couple of nice saves in net,” McMahon said. “So we definitely did well.”

In 44 minutes, Valarelli finished with three saves and three goals allowed before she was given a rest in the second half, in favor of Leigh Henjes.

In front of Henjes, the UMass defense finished with 20 caused turnovers.

As the Minutewomen continue to try to climb the national rankings, they will next host Boston University at McGuirk Stadium on Feb. 26 at 3 p.m..

Anthony Chiusano can be reached at achiusano@umass.edu and can be followed on Twitter @a_chiusano24.

By Andrew Cyr Collegian Staff

Many times throughout the season, Massachusetts’ women’s basketball coach Sharon Dawley has referred to her team’s performances as “a tale of two halves” – sloppy play in the first half followed by a scrappy comeback in the second half.

UMass (3-24, 0-13 Atlantic 10) outscored Richmond 45-42 in the second half on Wednesday night, but still fell short losing 89-76 to the Spiders for its 17th consecutive loss.

If you watched the second half of the game, you might have thought that the Minutewomen were having a decent season. They rebounded well, forced turnovers with their press and made timely baskets down the stretch. However, basketball is a 40-minute game and UMass dug itself too far into a hole after the first half.

“I was really pleased with the second half, coming out and beating them 45-42,” Dawley said. “Overall we played with a lot of intensity in the second half. We did a really good applying pressure and forcing traps with good intensity.”

Down by as many as 20 points in the second half, UMass slowly chipped away

at the Richmond lead with a full court pressure that forced turnovers, which led to easy buckets for the Minutewomen. The Spiders’ lead was cut down to just seven after three consecutive baskets from Alyx Stiff, Jasmine Harris and Rashida Timbilla.

Richmond (12-14, 6-7 A-10) entered Wednesday’s game only averaging 63 points per game, along with 4.1 3-pointers on 27.2 percent shooting from deep. However, with the Minutewomen starting the game in a 2-3 zone, the Spiders took advantage of the slow rotations, making all seven of their three pointers in the first half.

Lauren Tolson finished with a team-high 17 points in the win as Richmond had five different scorers in double figures. Janelle Hubbard, who penetrated the UMass defense all night long, finished with 14 points on 7-of-13 shooting, while also finished the game with nine assists.

“We didn’t rotate well enough in the 2-3 (zone); it’s not our mainstay,” Dawley said. “We worked on it because historically, they struggled against the zone and we wanted to see if that would remain true. Our shifts weren’t quick enough, so we had to switch to man

and throw different stuff at them in the backcourt.”

The two leading scorers for the Minutewomen came off the bench as Harris finished with a game high 21 points and Kim Pierre-Louis finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. It was the fifth double-double of the season for Pierre-Louis, who had seven offensive rebounds. “(Richmond) wasn’t doing a very good job of boxing me out so I decided to be really aggressive,” Kim Pierre-Louis said.

“Offensive rebounds was a big focus at practice so it was really imbedded in my mind.”

Timbilla scored all 14 of her points in the second half after struggling to get in any sort of offensive rhythm in the first half.

Although UMass may have lost its 17th game in a row, the team isn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet, and is excited to build off its play in the second half of this game.

“We just have to keep up the intensity in practice and play with the intensity we did in the second half at the beginning of the game in our next one,” Harris said.

Andrew Cyr can be reached at arcyr@ umass.edu, and can be followed on Twitter @Andrew_Cyr.

THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Sports@DailyCollegian.com

@MDC_SPORTS

MEN’S BASKETBALL

MEETS VCU AT UMASS FRIDAY NIGHT, ESPN2 MULLINS CENTER, 7 P.M.

UMass, VCU set for showdown

By Mark Chiarelli Collegian Staff

MCT

VCU coach Shaka Smart has instilled a “Havoc” culture into his Rams as they visit the Mullins Center for the first ever time Friday night.

The Massachusetts men’s basketball team has a message to deliver.

The team has heard all about the vaunted Virginia Commonwealth’s “Havoc” style of defense.

The Minutemen are wary of the dangers posed by facing such a tiring, explosive full-court press. And while the Havoc continues to steal the headlines, UMass wants to debut its own brand of basketball on a national stage.

“We got the ‘House of P.A.I.N.,’” senior forward Raphiael Putney said.

“People don’t know what the House of P.A.I.N. feels like until they get here.

So when they come here they’re really gonna feel that, especially with the sold out crowd.”

The Minutemen will host VCU on Friday at 7 p.m. in the “House of P.A.I.N.” – more commonly known as Mullins Center – during a game aired nationally on ESPN2 in front of an expect sellout crowd.

“P.A.I.N.” is an acronym created this season by the UMass coaching staff, which wanted to transform the Minutemen’s style of basketball into its own personal brand. The acronym stands for “pressure,” “agitate,” “interrupt” and “neutralize,” and follows a concept similar to the Rams’ embodiment of the Havoc mindset.

Both UMass and VCU want to turn the game into a track meet by transitioning up and down the court in a blur. The Minutemen believe that upping their defensive performance is the key to dictating the course of the game.

“Just bring our defense,” Putney said. “I don’t think (VCU’s) that great of an offensive team. With our defense and the way we play in the half-court, we can get more turnovers that way so it’ll be good for us to see what we can do.”

UMass is holding opposee

SHOWDOWN on page 7

CADE BELISLE/COLLEGIAN

UMass coach Derek Kellogg’s Minutemen are ready to introduce VCU to their “House of P.A.I.N.”

Minutemen prepare for ‘Havoc’ Gordon, UM seek Rams bring strong revenge vs. Rams defense to Mullins

By PatriCk StroheCker Collegian Staff

By Mark Chiarelli Collegian Staff

There’s no sleight of hand when it comes to the Virginia Commonwealth men’s basketball team. It has one overarching philosophy: to wreak “Havoc” on opponents.

From the opening tip off to the final whistle, VCU will suffocate its opponents on defense. Coach Shaka Smart’s squad comes in waves, playing as many as 10 players in his rotation to present an aggressive fullcourt press designed to frustrate and confuse opponents.

The Rams rarely deviate from their “Havoc” style of play.

It’s a way of life, a style that hasn’t changed much since Smart took control of VCU in 2009. Smart has implemented a vicious style of defending and stuck with it, molding his roster to fit his intense brand of basketball.

Opponents know what’s coming when they inbound the ball, but the question is whether it can be stopped – something Massachusetts men’s basketball coach Derek Kellogg continues to deliberate over in advance of Friday’s matchup at Mullins Center.

“Yeah, you definitely know what they’re doing,” Kellogg said. “But can you

CADE BELISLE/COLLEGIAN

UMass point guard Chaz Williams and his teammates will have their hands full against VCU’s ‘Havoc’ ball. prepare and be ready for it?

(That’s) really the question.

The Rams press in a variety of different ways predicated around trapping the ball handler in the backcourt.

VCU relies on quick, shifty guards to “heat up the ball” in man-to-man defense. The goal is to force the primary guard into unorthodox and uncomfortable situations.

Once this is achieved, another player rushes the ball and quickly traps. The point is to force opponents into turnover-frequent areas, such as the corners or sidelines, and generate easy baskets off turnovers.

The result? Through 26 games, the Rams force 19.2 turnovers per game and

have 295 steals as a team.

They’ve benefited on the offensive end as well, scoring 76.5 points per game.

Junior guard Briante Weber currently holds the school record for career steals with 272, breaking the previous record of 259 against Richmond on Feb. 2. And when Weber isn’t attacking in man-to-man situations, VCU uses a combination of trapping zones to change up the look.

“We all know that they press for 40 minutes and they try to trap and make the game get fast and sped up,” Kellogg said.

“So the question as a team and as a staff is: How fast do you want to let it go?

You can run up and down as fast as you want all game long or, at some point, do you want to try and control tempo to a certain point?

And I think that’s a delicate balance,” he added.

UMass faced the Rams twice last season, and faced issues controlling the tempo in both meetings.

The Minutemen initially traveled to VCU on Feb. 14 last year and held a 42-37 lead at halftime. But UMass imploded in the second half and was outscored 49-26, leading to an 86-68 loss. The Minutemen committed 24 turnovers and allowed 28 points off those turnovers. see

HAVOC on page 7

The Massachusetts men’s basketball team hasn’t forgetten what Virginia Commonwealth did to it last season: An 86-68 drubbing at VCU on Feb. 14, 2013 and then a nine-point loss in the Atlantic 10 semifinals that ruined any chance at a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

This is why Friday night’s meeting will be personal for the Minutemen.

“They were in the way of our chances of making it to the Tournament, and that hurt a lot of us and that made us feel it,” UMass point guard Chaz Williams said.

But for one Minuteman, the bitter feeling of losing to the Rams twice in one season goes back further than last year.

Redshirt sophomore Derrick Gordon played VCU twice – in back-toback games – when he was a freshman at Western Kentucky. His Hilltoppers lost to now VCU coach Shaka Smart’s team by five points in the seventh-place game at the Charleston Classic, and then three days later, Gordon’s team got embarrassed on its home floor when WKU lost 68-45 to that same Rams team.

“I’m going into the game with more of a chip on my shoulder,” Gordon said.

“It’s much more personal.”

But Gordon had to wait to get his revenge against VCU, having to sit out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. During that time, he watched from afar as UMass felt the same pain that he had, losing two games in the span of a month to the Rams.

Even with this personal rivalry spanning two years for Gordon, there will still be a few familiar faces on the other side of the court when the two teams meet again on Friday night.

“They’ve still got the same players there,” Gordon said. “That’s the crazy thing about it. It’s all still the same players – (Briante) Weber and all those guys.”

Weber is one of five players still on the VCU squad that dominated Gordon and the Hilltoppers in 2011, and now four of them – Weber, junior Treveon Graham and seniors Juvonte Reddic and Rob Brandenberg – are starters.

Gordon and the rest of the Minutemen have a lot to prove on Friday night. Now it’s just a matter of Gordon channeling all of his longstanding frustrations and knowing that his teammates will have his back.

“I know if DG’s feeling that way, he has a lot in him see

RAMS on page 7