Massachusetts Daily Collegian: Apr. 16, 2014

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DAILY COLLEGIAN DailyCollegian.com

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Passing it on

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Dressage team talks ins, outs of the sport UM team made up of 10 students

By Rose GottlieB Collegian Staff

CADE BELISLE/COLLEGIAN

Thousands of people gathered on the Amherst Town Common for the 23rd annual Extravaganja festival on Saturday.

Poll shows Coakley as frontrunner Favorite in primary and general election Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Martha Coakley has emerged as a frontrunner in both the Democratic primary and the general election according to a new University of Massachusetts poll.

Coakley has an 11-point lead over Republican candidate Charlie Baker in a potential general election – 45 to 34, with 21 percent of voters undecided.

In the primary race, she holds a 30-point lead among registered Democrats,

39-9 over State Treasurer Steve Grossman. Former Boston Globe columnist Juliette Kayyem and former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Donald Berwick hold three percent each, but an additional 44 percent of respondents said that they were unsure whom they would vote for in the Sept. 9 primary.

“Coakley has a wide lead over her Democratic rivals, but that gap may reflect the fact that she benefits from greater name recognition,” said Brian Schaffner, director of the UMass poll, in a release. “And with such a

large share of Democratic voters still undecided, there is plenty of potential for this race to tighten up.”

“Coakley’s efforts to rehabilitate her image in the wake of her failed run for Senate in 2010 seem to have paid off,” said Tatishe Nteta, associate director of the UMass Poll. “While Baker has shored up support among Republicans in the state, our results indicate that he still has work to do in courting the support of middle-of-the-road Democrats and independent voters necessary for a general election victory.”

In the pool of hypotheti-

Serving the UMass community since 1890

cal general election matchups, Coakley is the only Democrat with a doubledigit lead over Baker, largely because of her 17-point lead over women. However, between one-fifth and onethird of voters remain undecided in the general election, meaning that Baker or another Democratic candidate could easily tighten up the race.

“A consistent pattern in recent elections in the Commonwealth is that Democrats tend to win when they carry women by at least a 10-point margin,” see

POLL on page 2

When people think about athletics at the University of Massachusetts, popular sports like basketball, hockey and football may often come to mind.

However, a wide variety of lesser-known teams compete for UMass, as well.

One of those teams is the dressage team.

Dressage is an equestrian sport in which riders are judged based on their ability to make a horse perform specific movements with what appears to be minimal effort. Team member Jackie Cimino explained that riders try to get horses to transition from one type of movement to another.

This should look effortless, and the judges should not be able to tell that the rider is communicating with the horse at all.

Team member Elizabeth Noyes described dressage as a sport that is “about the harmony between the horse and the rider.” As a competitor, a rider and their horse are judged on “how precise you can be, how smooth and rhythmic you can be,” Noyes said.

It is about “showing the judge that you and your horse are in unison.”

Cimino, a junior BDIC major, started riding when she was 5 years old, and she began dressage at UMass when a friend convinced her to join the team.

Cimino said that joining

the dressage team was “probably one of the best decisions I ever made.”

Noyes, a sophomore neuroscience major, joined the dressage team the first semester of her freshman year. Noyes has been riding horses since she was 4 years old and has been taking lessons since she was 8.

Team member Maddie Carey, a freshman preveterinary major, has also been riding since childhood. Carey said she joined the team because dressage is closest to the type of riding she does at home.

This year, there are seven other members of the dressage team in addition to Noyes, Cimino and Carey. Although the team is technically co-ed, this year all of its members are women.

The team rides 25 horses at UMass that have been trained for dressage. When the team travels for competitions, they are expected to perform routines with horses provided by the schools they compete at.

Therefore, team members practice with all of the UMass horses, although Noyes admitted that “everyone has their favorites.”

In dressage, there are four different levels that riders compete at. These levels are intro level, lower training level, upper training level and first level, which is the highest level they can achieve. Riders move up levels by accumulating points in competitions. Cimino rides at lower see

DRESSAGE on page 2

Man charged with murder ‘We endure,’ Biden says in Kansas shooting rampage at marathon memorial

2 types of murder charges were filed By tony Rizzo The Kansas City Star

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Johnson County prosecutors on Tuesday filed two types of murder charges against a 73-year-old avowed racist and anti-Semite in the shootings deaths of three people outside Jewish facilities in Overland Park.

Frazier Glenn Cross Jr., better known as F. Glenn Miller, is charged with one count of capital murder in the killings of 69-yearold Overland Park doctor William Lewis Corporon and his 14-year-old grandson, Reat Griffin Underwood, outside the Jewish Community Center where Reat was auditioning for a talent contest.

A capital murder conviction carries a life sentence without parole unless pros-

ecutors seek the death penalty, Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said.

Under Kansas law, Howe doesn’t have to make a decision on seeking the death penalty until after a preliminary hearing.

Miller is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Terri LaManno, 53, a Kansas City mother of three who was shot outside Village Shalom senior living facility, where she had gone to visit her mother.

A first-degree murder conviction carries a life sentence with no parole possible for at least 25 years.

Miller, who was arrested about 20 minutes after the first shootings, is being held in lieu of a $10 million bond.

Though the killings happened at Jewish facilities, all three victims were Christians.

Howe announced the charges at a Tuesday morning press conference. He

was accompanied by Barry Grissom, U.S. attorney for the District of Kansas. who said he does not anticipate any federal charges to be filed within the next week.

“Before I make any decision, I want all the facts,” said Grissom, who said that he is comfortable at this point with moving forward on federal hate crime charges.

A federal conviction could carry a death penalty, depending on what charges are filed and whether the Department of Justice decides to seek the death penalty - a decision that would be made in Washington, Grissom said.

One criteria that makes a case eligible for a federal death penalty is if a convicted felon uses a weapon in a hate crime, Grissom said.

Miller was convicted of a federal felony on weapons see

CHARGES on page 2

By AlAnA semuels Los Angeles Times

BOSTON — A memorial for the anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings ended Tuesday with a thunderous speech from Vice President Joe Biden, who closed an afternoon highlighting remarks from bombing survivors and dignitaries.

“We will never yield, we will never cower, America will never, ever, ever stand down,” Biden said. “We are Boston. We are America.

We respond, we endure, we overcome, and we own the finish line! God bless you all, and may God protect our troops.”

The afternoon will continue with a flag-raising and a moment of silence at the marathon finish line at 2:49 p.m., the moment the bombs exploded.

In Washington, President Barack Obama planned to

observe the anniversary with a private moment of silence at the White House.

One year after two pressure-cooker bombs tore through the crowd at the finish line at the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring more than 260 others, people throughout the city are pausing to reflect on the day with tributes, prayers, speeches and music.

At a private ceremony in the morning, families of the victims placed wreaths at the two bombing sites - in front of the Forum restaurant on Boston’s Boylston Street, and near Marathon Sports a block away. Police honor guards will stand sentry around the wreaths all day.

The marathon will be held this year on Monday.

It is expected to be the second most crowded field ever, after the marathon’s centen-

nial in 1996.

Biden spoke at the city tribute at the Hynes Convention Center close to the bombings. Both families and public figures attended the event, including the family of victim Lu Lingzi, who came from China for it.

A year after the marathon, many victims who previously had not spoken to the media have been featured in local newspapers and TV stations. The family of Martin Richard, 8, who was killed in the bombing, appeared in a lengthy twopart Boston Globe story about recovering from the bombing. Jane Richard, Martin’s sister, who is now 8, lost a leg in the bombing.

Signs along the Boylston Street finish line area remind residents to be “Boston Strong,” but no formal memorial has been see

MEMORIAL on page 3

2

THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

THE RUNDOWN ON THIS DAY...

In 1962, Walter Cronkite took over as lead anchor on CBS Evening News, during which he became the “most trusted man in America.”

AROUND THE WORLD MOSCOW — Ukraine’s interim government on Tuesday made good on threats to move against proRussia separatists occupying eastern cities, prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin to demand U.N. condemnation of the use of force in the neighboring country.

In a call to U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon, Putin “emphasized that the Russian side expects the United Nations and the international community to clearly condemn the Kiev authorities’ anti-constitutional military operation in Ukraine’s southeast,” the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

Russia-backed militants who have seized government and security facilities in at least 10 towns and cities in eastern Ukraine were under fire in the city of Slavyansk, Russian news media reported, casting the operation to recover Ukrainian government control as a violent strikeagainst civilians.

Los Angeles Times JOHANNESBURG — Hours before South African Olympian Oscar Pistorius fatally shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, she wrote him a Valentine’s Day card with the words, “I think today is a good day to tell you that I love you,” a court heard Tuesday.

A photograph of the card was released by the athlete’s legal team Tuesday, after Pistorius finished nearly seven days in the witness box, including five days of grueling cross-examination.

The introduction of the card appeared to be an effort to undermine the prosecution’s contention that the couple had argued on the night of the killing and that Steenkamp sometimes feared the athlete.

Los Angeles Times BEIJING — In what’s being described as a major victory against abusive animal practices in China, a government-owned company that’s bred bears for traditional medicines has agreed to convert itself into a sanctuary.

Animal welfare advocates hope the agreement, signed Tuesday at a news conference in Beijing, will prompt the government to phase out other bear farms nationwide. Some 70 such breeding facilities are thought to exist in China, caging more than 10,000 bears. Each day, employees milk bile from the bears’ gallbladders, exposing the bruins to infections, organ failures and other fatal diseases.

McClatchy Foreign Staff AMMAN, Jordan Jordan’s ambassador to Libya was kidnapped Tuesday in Tripoli by masked gunmen, officials in both countries said.

Fawaz al-Etan’s motorcade came under attack from gunmen traveling in two cars. The diplomat’s driver was injured, Libya’s official LANA news agency reported.

Sabah al-Rafie, a spokeswomen for the Jordanian Foreign Ministry, said Amman is working with Libyan authorities to try to secure al-Etan’s release. dpa Distributed by MCT Information Services

CHARGES

continued from page 1

charges in the 1980s.

Since Johnson County filed state charges before the filing of any federal charges, Miller will be tried in state court first, Howe said.

The case remains under investigation, Howe said.

There is a good possibility of additional state charges being filed, he said.

Capital murder is the most serious charge a person can face in Kansas, which does not have a hate crime charge.

Under Kansas law, the intentional and premeditated killing of more than one person “as a part of the same act or transaction or in two or more acts or transactions connected together or constituting parts of a common scheme or course of conduct” is one of the limited circumstances that capital murder applies.

Though two people were killed outside the Jewish Community Center, only one charge was filed in their deaths because the deaths occurred as part of the same

POLL

act.

Howe said he would consult with members of the victims’ families before deciding whether to see a death sentence.

“I don’t plan to make a knee-jerk decision on that,” he said. “I want all the facts.”

Howe and Grissom declined to talk about evidence in the case. Neither would discuss a possible motive.

Aided by tips from witnesses, two Overland Park police officers spotted Miller inside the car he had driven away from the shooting scenes. The officers ordered Miller to surrender and he did without incident, said Overland Park Police Chief John Douglass. Several weapons were recovered, including a shotgun and handgun, Douglass said.

Miller, of Aurora in southwest Missouri, is scheduled to make his first appearance in Johnson County District Court Tuesday afternoon.

continued from page 1

Schaffner said. “Coakley is currently exceeding this threshold while the other potential Democratic nominees fall short. Her lead over Baker is impressive, but the campaign has barely started, and with so many voters still undecided, the governor’s seat is still very much up for grabs.”

DRESSAGE level, while Noyes and Carey ride at upper level.

Collegian dressage teams are divided into regions.

The colleges compete with other schools within their region in a series of competitions. UMass is a member of region B, which also includes the University of Vermont, the University of Connecticut, Mount Holyoke College, Post University and Bard College.

During competitions, teams of four are judged on how well their individual members perform during a ride. The top three scores of each team are added up to calculate a final overall score. Because the teams in these competitions can only have four people, UMass typically sends two teams to each competition.

Last semester, the UMass dressage team participated in three competitions. During the competition that was held at UMass, the two UMass teams came in first and second. A second competition was held at Mount Holyoke College, where the UMass teams

The results of this poll are starkly different from the straw poll conducted two weeks ago at the College Democrats of Massachusetts convention, in which Coakley garnered only 14.7 percent and Kayyem was the leader with 39.5 percent.

Collegian News Staff

continued from page 1

placed fourth and fifth. A third competition was held at UConn, where UMass came in fifth overall.

Riders who score the highest in their level each year go on to compete in a national competition. Last year, UMass team member Willa Brown made it to nationals, where she came in 11th place. Noyes said that UMass hopes to make it to nationals again next year.

In order to prepare for competitions, the team practices twice a week.

Each practice is two hours long.

According to Cimino, as one of the smaller athletic teams at UMass, the dressage team often does not get a lot of funding. However, she explained that the team makes do with what it has.

Noyes described the members of the dressage team as a group that will “help each other out (and) support each other.”

“We have a lot of fun together,” Carey said.

Rose Gottlieb can be reached at rgottlieb@umass.edu.

DailyCollegian.com

Judge investigates claims of FBI misconduct in 9/11 case

By RichaRd a. SeRRano Tribune Washington Bureau

FORT MEADE, Md. — The military judge in the Sept. 11 conspiracy case signaled Tuesday he may order FBI agents to describe their secret investigation into whether members of the defense teams for alQaida leader Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and others illegally leaked a “manifesto” written by the alleged 9/11 mastermind about his time at the Guantanamo Bay prison.

The judge, Army Col. James L. Pohl, asked defense lawyers for Mohammed and four other alleged conspirators to notify him by 5 p.m. Wednesday which FBI agents and other government officials they want him to question as part of the probe. Pohl is responding to complaints from defense lawyers that FBI agents improperly visited

a court-appointed member of the defense team at his home and asked him to sign anagreement to cooperate with FBI’s leak investigation.

The agents visited the man, who is acting as a defense security officer, after he returned home from church on April 6. He reported the meeting to his employer, the private contractor SRA International Inc. in Fairfax, Va., and the meeting was then reported to defense lawyers for alleged conspirator Ramzi Binalshibh.

The security officer is assigned to work on the Binalshibh defense team.

He carries a top-secret security clearance and vets information in the case to help decide what should be classified or made public.

James Harrington, the lead attorney for Binalshibh, said the unnamed secu-

rity officer has “unlimited access to our files,” suggesting that the government was trying to spy on the defense teams.

At Tuesday’s pre-trial session, the judge asked Ed Ryan, a Justice Department attorney, whether the FBI would resist being questioned about the matter.

Ryan was unsure but added that he thought “it would be gravely mistaken to go down the road of trying to look into an investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

The FBI leak investigation was prompted after several media outlets received a “manifesto” written by Mohammed about his years at the Guantanamo prison.

The hearings are being held at Guantanamo Bay and screened at Fort Meade.

All of the defendants have pleaded not guilty.

Berlusconi sentenced to do community service Ex-prime minister committed tax fraud By henRy chu Los Angeles Times ROME — Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was ordered Tuesday to spend a year performing community service among the elderly as his sentence for committing tax fraud at his media conglomerate.

The decision by a Milan judge spares Berlusconi, 77, a sentence of house arrest. But the former premier, who has dominated Italy’s political scene for two decades, will see his movements restricted just as his center-right party gears up for elections to the European Parliament next month.

The billionaire media tycoon was convicted last year in a complex case involving overpayments at his Mediaset television company. In November, he was expelled from the Italian Senate because of his legal problems, despite a vigorous campaign to persuade fellow senators to let him remain.

He was handed a fouryear prison sentence for the fraud conviction, which was reduced to one year as part of Italy’s efforts to relieve overcrowding in its jails. Partly in light of Berlusconi’s age, confinement to his home or community service were put forward as alternatives to spending the time behind bars.

Both the prosecution and defense reportedly urged the court to order Berlusconi to perform community service, either among the disabled or the elderly. He must now spend four hours a week working at a center for the elderly, among men and women who are essentially his peers.

He must also spend the majority of his time in Lombardy, in northern Italy, where he lives in a lavish residence. But he is allowed to spend between Tuesday and Thursday of each week in Rome, which could be key to his continuing political ambitions.

Although his conviction bars him from holding office, Berlusconi remains a significant force in Italian public life as the head of

his center-right Forza Italia party. The party has fallen out with other conservative groups with which it once formed a coalition, but Berlusconi has been hoping for a strong showing at the polls for the European Parliament at the end of May. How much campaigning he will be able to accomplish with the constraints imposed upon him remains to be seen. His reputation as a wily operator skilled at going around the rules is legendary here.

Berlusconi, who served as prime minister three times, has consistently maintained his innocence of the many charges that have been laid against him at various trials throughout the years. He insists that his legal woes are the work of left-wing judges determined to bring him down, and has compared the “persecution” he faces to that experienced by Jesus.

Besides his fraud conviction, he has also been found guilty of paying a teenage girl for sex and using the power of his office to try to cover it up. He has appealed that conviction.

THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN

DailyCollegian.com

Russia condemns troops’ move

By Sergei L. Loiko and CaroL J. WiLLiamS Los Angeles Times

MOSCOW — Ukraine’s interim government on Tuesday made good on threats to move against proRussia separatists occupying eastern cities,prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin todemandU.N. condemnation of the use of force in the neighboring country.

In a call to U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon, Putin “emphasized that the Russian side expects the United Nations and the international community to clearly condemn the Kiev authorities’ anti-constitutional military operation in Ukraine’s southeast,” the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

Russia-backed militants who have seized government and security facilities in at least 10 towns and cities in eastern Ukraine were under fire in the city of Slavyansk, Russian news media reported, casting the operation to recover Ukrainian government control as a violent strikeagainst civilians.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that theKremlin mightboycotta diplomatic gathering in Geneva on Thursday that is intended to work toward a negotiated solution to the Ukraine crisis.

“You can’t send in tanks and at the same time hold talks,” Lavrov told journalists in Beijing after meeting his Chinese counterpart.

“The use of force would sabotage the opportunity offered by the four-party negotiations in Geneva.”

The Geneva meeting wouldbe the first to include Ukraine’sacting foreign minister, Andriy Deshchytsia, in thequest for resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict ignited bythe Feb. 21 ouster of Kremlin-allied Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich. Moscow argues that opposition leaders who took power after Yanukovich fled to Russia are unelected and illegitimate and therefore unable to make commitments in the name of the Ukrainian people.

The United States and the European Union, the other

two political forces involved in the Geneva meeting, have accused Putin of provoking armed confrontations in eastern Ukraine to destabilize the country and gain influence over areas with a significant Russian minority.

President Obama told Putin in a Monday night phone call that he was gravely concerned about “Russian government support for the actions of armed, proRussian separatists.” Putin, while not overtly denying it, said the accusations that the Kremlin was directing the unrest were “speculations based on inaccurate information.”

Putin called on Obama to use his influence with the Ukrainian government to dissuade it from moving aggressively against the separatists occupying government facilities inthe east.

Ukraine’s eastern and southern areas are home toa large ethnic Russian minority.

Many Ukrainians in the area speak Russian as their first language and depend for their living on factories and mines that produce goods for export to Russia.

Ukraine’s move to end the armed occupations was described by acting President Oleksandr Turchynov as an operation that would be carried out “step by step, responsibly, cautiously” to prevent injury to civilians he said had been subjected to propaganda telling them they were being rescued by the armed groups.

“The aim of these actions is to protect the citizens of Ukraine, to stop terror, to stop criminality, to stop attempts to tear Ukraine to pieces,” Turchynov told a parliamentary session in Kiev.

The “anti-terrorist operation”recaptured a military airport between two of the cities where Russian forces have barricaded themselves in key government buildings. The airport that Turchynov told parliament had been “liberated” Tuesday lies between Kramatorsk and Slavyansk, both seized last week by gunmen.

“This is a very danger-

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

MEMORIAL erected at the bombing sites. Still, those who were near the finish line a year ago say they think about it every day.

Gerardo DeFabritiis is a manager at the Tannery, an upscale shoe and clothing store across from the site where the first bomb went off. His daughter and son-in-law were visiting the store on marathon day last year and were about to leave when he called them back in to see a new line of T-shirts. The bomb went off

By matt PearCe Los Angeles Times

ous situation. ... We believe Russia is absolutely complicit,” British Foreign Secretary William Hague told the BBC on Tuesday.

As evidence of Russia’s hand in the eastern Ukraine unrest, Hague described the weekend invasion and seizure of Ukrainian seats of powerin the east as”a very well-coordinated operation ... people with identical arms, who are well-trained, well-equipped, proceeding in exactly the same way they did in Crimea.”

To deny that the instigators of the confrontations aren’t acting on behalf of Moscow “defies all common sense,” Hague said.

The first day of military operations to oust the gunmen appeared to make limited progress, with recovery of the airport and a standoff in Slavyansk between an armored column of Ukrainian troops and the battened-down Russians inside government buildings surrounded by barbed wire and stacks of tires.

A Ukrainian SU-24 jet flew over the airport firing at separatist positions, and troops using armored vehicles followed with a ground assault, the UNIAN news agency reported.

Earlier Tuesday, the

Not a perfect finish for the anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings.

On Tuesday evening, Boston police evacuated Boylston Street near the marathon’s usual finish line and took an unidentified man into custody after two suspicious backpacks were left lying on the street.

Shortly before the evacuation, local media posted video of a barefoot male wearing a black veil and a floppy black hat marching toward the marathon’s finish line carrying a large, heavy-looking backpack while shouting, “Boston strong! Boston strong!”

“Boston strong” is, of course, the slogan popularized after last year’s April 15 bombings at the marathon,

Military justice system to be reviewed

Charlotte, N.C., man will receive the Medal of Honor for his valor fighting in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, the White House announced Tuesday.

President Barack Obama will present the award to former Army Sgt. Kyle White on May 13 at a White House ceremony.

White, who works as an investment analyst in Charlotte, is getting the honor for heroic actions during combat in the mountainous terrain in Aranas, Afghanistan, on Nov. 9, 2007.

He was serving as a radio-telephone operator when his platoon was ambushed during a planned meeting with village elders.

According to the Army’s official account of the evening, an explosion from a rocketpropelled grenade knocked White unconscious, but he awoke to help save the lives of soldiers during a deadly four-hour firefight that left six Americans dead.

White suffered two concussions, got shrapnel in his face and was cut off from his platoon during the fight, according to the account. Yet he fought to stay awake and engaged the enemy. He sprinted several times into a 33-foot space, enemy rounds ricocheting around his feet, to get to a wounded Marine and drag him to safety. He used his rifle to keep the enemy at bay while treating another soldier who had been badly shot in the arm.

“During a long dark

By timothy m. PheLPS Tribune Washington Bureau WA S H I N G T O N — T h e Defense Department, under pressure from Congress to re-examine the way it handles sexual assault cases, announced Tuesday a comprehensive review of the entire military justice system.

“It’s been over 30 years since the military code of justice was reviewed.

It’s simply time,” said Lt. Col. J. Todd Breasseale, a Pentagon spokesman.

“Sexual assault will certainly be part of the compendium of issues that will be looked at, but it’s by no means the sole issue.”

Members of Congress and women’s groups have been strongly critical of how the military handles sexual assault cases, particularly the authority that military officers have to overturn the convictions of those under their command. A proposal by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., to remove the chain of command from authority over cases involving major crimes was blocked last month by a filibuster in the Senate.

At the same time, military prosecutors have

Members of Congress and women’s groups have been strongly critical of how the military handles sexual assault cases, particularly the authority that military officers have to overturn the convictions of those under their command. A proposal by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., to remove the chain of command from authority over cases involving major crimes was blocked last month by a filibuster in the Senate. recently struggled with several high-profile sexual assault cases. Last month, a military judge found a former football player at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., not guilty of assaulting a female classmate. On the same day, Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sinclair escaped a prison sentence after pleading guilty to reduced charges involving his relationship with a subordinate who accused him of assaulting her.

Gillibrand was critical of the military’s move to review its justice system, noting that the panel would take a year and a half to complete its work. She said solutions were obvious now.

“We can do review after review after review - and I have no doubt they are all well-intentioned,” she

continued from page 1

soon after.

“They would have been right there,” he said, remembering, pointing to the spot where the bomb went off. He remembers walking outside after the bombing and seeing a woman on the ground, bleeding. He thinks about the bombing whenever he passes over that little piece of sidewalk.

He learned something from that day, he said: “When your time comes, your time comes.”

Suspicious bags left near site of marathon finish Ukraine Security Service identified the leader of the armed group holding a police station and administrative building in Slavyansk as Igor Strelkov, a Russian military intelligence officer. The security service said Strelkovhad attempted to recruit fighters for the operation that seized the administrative building in Kharkiv and had been involved in coordinating the Russian takeover of Crimea in late February.

Dmitry Tymchuk,who heads the Kiev-based Center for Military and Political Research, deemed the Ukrainian government’s initial push against the Russian militants a success.

“We pushed the enemy away from the military airport near Kramatorsk, making way for the next move on Slavyansk, one of the most important strongholds of the terrorists coordinated by Russian agents,” Tymchuk told the Los Angeles Times.

He said that although the results were modest, there were no casualties on either side reportedby the Ukrainian military.

Some Russian news media reportedas many as 11 dead in the operation but provided no source for the information.

Sexual assault cases to be re-examined

3

said in a statement. “But according to the DOD’s latest available numbers, 18 months is another estimated 39,000 cases of unwanted sexual contact that will occur.”

Eugene Fidell, who teaches military justice at Yale University, said the review was probably prompted by the controversy over adjudication of sexual assaults in the military but that its scope would be much broader.

“As I understand it, it will be a top-to-bottom review, which means everything is on the table,” Fidell said. “I think this is part of the larger dismay that the country has been feeling about whether the system was functioning in the best way possible.”

The review panel will be headed by Andrew Effron, the recently retired chief

judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and will include lawyers from all the military services. Judge David Sentelle, a noted conservative on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and Judith Miller, a former Defense Department general counsel under President Bill Clinton, will serve as advisers.

“I think this comes at a good time,” said Celia Richa, a policy advocate at Futures Without Violence, which frequently works to support victims of military assault. “Advocates for survivors really want to see results with this.”

Fidell said the panel would probably study not only the role of the commander in military justice, but such issues as what kinds of crimes should be prosecuted in military, as opposed to civilian, courts and whether more appeals should be sent from the military system to civilian appeals courts.

He said the panel should address a “dramatic disparity” between civilian and military defendants in their rights to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court if convicted. Most of those convicted in military courts cannot appeal to the high court, he said, only to the military appeals court.

which killed three people and wounded at least 260; the two bombs used in that attack were pressure cookers concealed in backpacks.

Earlier Tuesday, the finish line had been packed with mourners marking the anniversary of the attack.

But as of Tuesday evening, police had cleared the site to examine the backpacks.

The bomb squad was on the scene, and police asked the news media not to show live images of the backpacks, citing officer safety.

After investigating, Boston police decided to safely blow up the bags “for precautionary reasons,” according to a statement made on the police’s Twitter account. It was not immediately clear whether the bags contained any explosives.

Soldier will get Medal of Honor Award is for actions “During a long dark in Afghanistan night, Spc. White’s uncommon valor

By FranCo ordonez and perseverance McClatchy Washington Bureau saved lives.”

WASHINGTON – A Lt. Col. William B. Ostlund night, Spc. White’s uncommon valor and perseverance saved lives,” Lt. Col. William B. Ostlund, battalion commander, Task Force Rock, said in a 2008 statement. “... Extraordinary and consistently selfless actions by a young paratrooper.”

The Medal of Honor is awarded to service members who distinguish themselves by gallantry above and beyond the call of duty.

White is the seventh living recipient to be awarded the highest military award for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Born in Seattle, White enlisted in the Army in February 2006 as an infantryman. After completing his training at Fort Benning, Ga., he was assigned to Vicenza, Italy, with the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, as a grenadier and rifleman, which included a combat tour to Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008.

For his service, White also has received the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal, among many others.

“Sgt. White’s bravery and heroism in combat are a testament to his commitment to service and dedication to his country,” said U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C. “I know that North Carolina is better, safer and stronger because of his service.”

Opinion Editorial THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN

“You’re bad man, you’re very very bad man.” - Babu Bhatt

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Five places to study for finals at UMass

General education courses should not be required At the University of high school, we took classMassachusetts, every under- es in almost every subject graduate student is forced area – math, English, social to take 11 general educa- studies, foreign language, sciences, etc. The classes Elise Martorano that challenged us in high school are still equally as tion classes. These classes likely to challenge us in colinclude college writing, basic lege. Except now, the GPA math, analytical reasoning, that is presented to future biological science, physical employers when we graduscience, arts and literature, ate college is potentially 50 historical studies, social and percent contingent on our behavioral science, social success in these areas, rathworld, global diversity and er than entirely on the subUnited States diversity. ject in which we earned our To give some perspective, degrees. my major, English, requires Of course, there is a me to take 12 classes. diverse range of classes that Students who choose only students can take to fulfill to take the classes required of them will spend the same amount of time on their Gen Ed requirements as they spend on their core requirements. I believe that Gen Eds are a waste of time.

Combining the time devoted to all Gen Eds, it can be concluded that students will end up spending roughly two whole semesters (one academic year) fulfilling them.

This constitutes 25 percent these Gen Ed courses, rangof the four years typically ing from introductory classallotted to an undergraduate es to upper-level classes. The education. problem with this is that According to the University, the purpose of intro classes will not engage taking these 11 classes com- students because they know pletely unrelated to our that, typically, only minimal majors is to broaden our effort is required to succeed horizons. Fair enough. But in them. Upper-level coursshould we be forced to spend es, on the other hand, will equally as much time on sub- overwhelm students because jects that we are potentially those classes are generally uninterested in and uncom- geared toward students with fortable with as we spend on majors in those particular the subject that we are pas- subject areas, even if those classes fulfill a Gen Ed sionate about or good at?

Every day between kin- requirement. dergarten and senior year of Students should not be

forced to choose between exerting minimal effort and being subject to the same expectations and work load in a class as the students within that major. Choosing the former will cheapen a student’s desire to engage in their learning. Choosing the latter may potentially force the student to sacrifice a substantial amount of time that they would prefer to spend on courses required for their major. As a result, this may potentially lessen their ability to engage in their major classes, and even lead to a lower GPA due to the lessened available time to spend

amount and range of classes required of students makes them ineffective. For humanities students like me, taking two different science classes and two different math classes will not benefit their education. Nor is it likely that I will retain the information to apply the knowledge I learn in classes in subject areas that challenge me deeply. Likewise, students in the natural sciences are unlikely to reap any meaningful benefits from taking a literature class. Not only are situations like this inconvenient and unenjoyable, but they can also greatly damage a student’s education if they do poorly in these classes or are forced to spend an inordinate amount of time attempting to succeed in subject areas that they have always struggled with.

I believe that the 11 Gen Ed classes should only be required for undeclared students who are most likely exploring their interests and are unsure of what subject on those classes. areas interest them the most.

Gen Ed classes may be These students belong to the useful for students. I believe University demographic that that writing and diversity is most likely to reap the classes can be hugely benefi- benefits of the wide range of cial to students of all majors. Gen Ed courses. They are far Having an understanding of less likely to feel reluctant to the way that social hierar- spend substantial amounts chies and patterns are con- of time on the required structed and maintained is classes, due to the fact that necessary for acknowledg- they have no higher educaing one’s place in the world. tional priorities like those Also, communicating effec- faced by students who have tively is one of the most declared a major. important skills not only in the workforce, but in one’s Elise Martorano is a Collegian columentire life. nist and can be reached at emartora@ However, the sheer umass.edu.

As finals week approaches us all, it’s important to remember that W.E.B. Du Bois Library will be packed.

Brandon Sides But have no fear, dearest student, I’ve compiled a list of the best study spaces across campus for your grade point average’s benefit.

1. Bartlett Hall Lounge: This place has it all: comfortable couches, free books lined up along the walls, informational posters of campus happenings and – just added – a desk full of Macs. It’s the perfect place to sit back, relax and catch up on that journalism

“But should we be forced to spend equally as much time on subjects that we are potentially uninterested in and uncomfortable with as we spend on the subject that we are passionate about or good at?”

Isaac Simon area where the plane went down. Now that more information has been gathered, hopefully this issue can be put to rest for the sake of the families of the victims and the rest of the global population.

According to ABC News, we now know that the flight ended 1,500 miles in the south Indian Ocean. Everyone on board including the pilot and flight attendants were killed. Reports say that the plane went down between 8 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. Photos

by French satellites indicate that there was a field of debris with 122 objects being dispersed over 400 miles. The debris was found on land and no floating objects from the plane have been recorded.

The chances of this story continuing are high. The chances of the news media never giving up and the families of the victims never los-

ing hope regardless of what proof comes up is also high.

I say this only because there has been nonstop news coverage ever since the airliner disappeared. To the media’s credit, this story was newsworthy for about a week because no one knew what had happened to the plane.

Such a mystery is relatively rare and deserves attention.

About a week or so in, there were satellite photos from Asia and parts of the Western Hemisphere show-

(as I’ve mentioned) this place fills up fast. Excellent views of the Pioneer Valley are included at no extra charge.

4. The Recreation Center: You must think I’m joking, right? Well, study after study shows that exercise and healthy food improve academic performance.

There’s no better place to go than the rowing machine or the basketball court to give your brain a change of pace. Feel free to enjoy world-class lockers, showers, machines, free weights and music.

5. Your nearest pillow and blanket: Another curveball, but this one’s just as important. Studies

“Feel free to carve out your own niche here on campus—this is UMass after all, and there’s something here for everyone.” homework you’ve been putting off.

2. The Roots Café: Although no longer open 24 hours a day, the Roots Café has established itself as a go-to-place for a hungry student. It has luxurious bathrooms, modern furniture and the most delicious meals across campus. The Commonwealth Honors College has that hustle and bustle that practically forces the wheels in your brain to turn and you to crack open those books.

3. W.E.B. Du Bois Library: You thought I’d leave this one out? No chance. This place is the second-tallest academic library in the world, after all. It has floors and floors of books, loads of maps, study corners, cubbies, tutors, helpful librarians, inter-collegiate loaning systems, a café, easy-to use elevators and a plethora of stairs to keep your brain juiced in between sets of math logic. Just make sure you get there early, because

Putting the ‘new’ back into ‘news’ Two and a half weeks or so after Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 went missing, we could somewhat confirm the

Editorial@DailyCollegiancom

more pressing.

The American media loves a good mystery – it is one of our many obsessions.

We saturate our movies with sex and violence because viewers increasingly have less patience for plot buildup. We glorify violence in television and give awards for the best performances.

In other words, in the same way that we so easily influence the content of movies and television shows, we can sway the content that the media determines as news.

The missing airliner story was at one point substantive news but it quickly became a mystery gone wrong for all the major networks. News else going on in the world.

My heart goes out to the does not have to be this way, families of the victims in but as long as ratings deterthis terrible tragedy. But mine the fate of media comwe have to remember that a panies, then no one will ever story that starts off as imporknow when to turn the page tant but fails to evolve before national and international to real news. media, eventually becomes a non-story. We have to learn Isaac Simon is a Collegian columnist when to turn the cameras off and can be reached at isaacsiand move on to something mon29@gmail.com.

In the upcoming weeks after the first reports of the missing airline, the news coverage turned into CSI for the nation. All of the big time stations hyped up what little factual information they had in order to create a juicy story.

This is the problem with news in America – eventually it can no longer be considered news as it saturates the airwaves with speculation. It is as if the American people are not focused on anything

show that pulling all-nighters do not work. You must get your sleep on a normal schedule, and it’s even more important to do so as finals approach. Remember to go to bed on a regular schedule, stay away from the television, refuse to read before you snooze, wake up at a regular hour and refuse to sleep for more than 10 hours each night. Purchase some ear plugs or listen to soft music before you go to bed to help you relax.

Well, that’s all I have for you as finals approach. Feel free to carve out your own niche here on campus – this is UMass after all, and there’s something here for everyone. Other places to go to are Isenberg School of Management, Orchard Hill or the Southwest Beach.

Also consider heading into Amherst Center to snuggle into your local coffee shop.

Good luck during finals.

Brandon Sides is a Collegian columnist and can be reached at bsides@ umass.edu.

“Why is the same story the top story if there is no new information coming in?” ing possible signs of debris off the western coast of Australia. But still, at that point, no one really knew what they were looking at.

These photos made top story news headlines every single night on all of the major networks. Why is the same story the top story if there is no new information coming in?

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Arts Living THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

“Practice makes perfect, but nobody’s perfect, so why practice?” - Kurt Cobain

Arts@DailyCollegian.com

TELEVISION

‘The Walking Dead’ finale resurrects a deathly dull season Uneven Season 4 ends on a high note

By Alex FrAil Collegian Staff

Editor’s note: The following review contains spoilers for Season 4 of “The Walking Dead.”

Kiss “Officer Friendly” goodbye.

“The Walking Dead,” AMC’s zombie saga, concluded a very uneven fourth season with an excellent finale that saw sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) pushed to the edge.

In the show’s most disturbing sequence yet, Joe’s (Jeff Kober) group attacks Rick on his way to Terminus, eager to exact revenge.

It’s impossible not to tremble when Joe’s gang jumps Rick, Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Carl (Chandler Riggs). Then one of the thugs tries to rape Carl. This sends Rick over the edge, and he rips open Joe’s throat with his teeth before stabbing Carl’s assaulter countless times.

The roadside scene contains so many horrible moments at once that it is unequaled in terror even in “The Walking Dead’s” grisly canon.

Some fans have complained that the show is upping the shock factor just to stay relevant. Two episodes before the finale, “The Grove” broke two taboos. First, unstable Lizzie (Brighton Sharbino) murders

THIBAULT/FLICKR

The return of The Governor (David Morrissey) was a welcome, but mishandled storyline this season. her little sister, believing she will reanimate as a friendly walker, and then Carol (Melissa McBride) shoots Lizzie, uttering the now infamous line, “Just look at the flowers.”

Both Lizzie’s death and the roadside showdown worked for me, despite mounting criticisms. They were disturbing, yes, but also effective. The apocalypse is finally touching all of its survivors. Lizzie’s affinity for walkers makes sense, since some children would be desensitized two years after the turn. Rick is devolving into a savage pro-

tector who can actually handle the threats streaming his way.

Happily, show-runner and writer Scott M. Gimple saved these two moments for the end to leave a good taste in our mouths over the summer.

Season 4 was a mess, constantly changing tones, narrative styles and timelines. After a strong debut, bolstered by an epic helicopter-and-walker rainstorm, it tumbled downhill fast.

Too many wandering monologues drove the show nowhere, save for Hershel’s (Scott Wilson) moving speech-

MUSIC

es. The virus storyline had promise, but the characters mostly wither away in the sick bay while Daryl (Norman Reedus) leads a generic rescue mission. Then the show inexplicably pivoted back several months to catch up with the Governor (David Morrissey).

I was all for having the Governor back. Morrissey ranked among the finest actors on the show from the moment he waltzed on-screen.

But reserving two episodes entirely for the villain, whose story had absolutely nothing to do with the preceding five episodes, made Season 4’s first

half a bumpy ride.

The second half took a while to get on its feet. It was an eight-part road movie with characters orbiting around each other. Nonetheless, it had its strengths, like a heartbreaking hour shared by Daryl and Beth (the excellent Emily Kinney). When Daryl confronts Beth in his teary, drunken mess, “The Walking Dead” enjoys some of its most emotional performances yet.

Carol returns in a blaze of glory and saves Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman) and the girls from walkers. McBride’s performance this season was both engaging and moving. Carol, once a victimized housewife, has evolved into the show’s most developed character and a true leader.

Her transformation finally rubs off on Rick as well.

Although he exiles Carol in the first half, he slowly accepts her doctrine of killing to protect. The look in his eyes after eating Joe’s throat – calm, placid and undisturbed – says it all.

This season also introduced us to Sgt. Abraham Ford (Michael Cudlitz) and Dr. Eugene Porter (Josh McDermitt), two men with connections in Washington.

Apparently Porter knows the secret to the zombie virus. He holds the hope for humanity, and the hope for the show as it aims to shake up its game a bit.

Once the characters wind up at Terminus, Gimple

capitalizes on his powers of suspense. Rick sneaks in the back door, for once wary of the right strangers. After all, Terminus is kind of a foreboding name for a sanctuary, don’t you think? One look at that woman grilling meat reveals the sanctuary’s morbid secret.

Hopefully Gimple will pen more episodes in Season 5.

Whether they’re linear narratives, like “The Grove” and “Clear,” or time hopping, Tarantino-esque beauties like “A,” Gimple’s entries never fail to have us on the edge of our seats. Other writers have produced reliable episodes that fail to be the sophisticated mindbenders they want to be.

With Gimple at the helm, the show’s future shines brighter than its bloody scenes. Then again, “The Walking Dead” show-runners have had as long a lifespan as the program’s characters.

While “The Walking Dead” slowly matures, I’m excited to watch Rick thrive in his new role. I’m itching to watch the tempest about to consume Terminus. So long as a quick fix doesn’t save our heroes, we’re in for an incredible fifth season.

As Rick said, “They’re screwing with the wrong people.”

Let’s hope so.

Alex Frail can be reached at afrail@ umass.edu.

MUSIC

Feist delivers her A-game Kurt Cobain’s influence can Singer-songwriter still be felt 20 years later rocks the Valley

By Alex FrAil Collegian Staff

Canadian indie artist Feist put on a soulful solo performance at Calvin Theater last Wednesday. The concert, part of her abbreviated Mettle Tour, was a barebones acoustic rendition of her greatest works, drawing largely from her brilliant 2011 album “Metals.”

Kevin Drew, Feist’s band mate from Broken Social Scene and her long time friend, opened for her.

Throughout his short, solid set, he played solo tracks from his time in Broken Social Scene. One of the highlights of his set was a summery instrumental that he dedicated to anyone wearing shorts.

Feist came out around 9 p.m. She opened the show with an a cappella rendition of “The Circle Married the Line,” which set the tone for her excellent acoustic set.

Her voice hit every note perfectly, coupled with subtle drumming on her guitar.

Feist described the concert as a smattering of songs from 2000 to 2014, a reflective, experimental set that marked only her second solo performance in a decade.

She acknowledged the tour’s brevity when audience members begged her for more concert dates. The tour was a test run on the solo delivery, “a full-body toe dip,” according to Feist. The toe dip paid off.

Feist is a creative and experimental musician, one who engages the audience and loves her fans. The Solo Mettle Tour was a brilliant idea, a stripped-down reimagining of her greatest work as a solo artist. Shedding the backdrop of a band, the con-

cert placed Feist center stage, an artist alone beneath the spotlight with her virtuoso playing and golden voice.

She’s also a remarkable guitarist, as she proved with mind-bending finger plucking on “Sea Lion Woman,” but her voice has always possessed a hypnotic, even melancholy quality that has made it her greatest asset. No matter the emotion it registered, it was always beautiful.

She employed a clever substitute for the rousing chorus in “Undiscovered First.” She dropped back from the microphone then with each passing verse she stepped forward, growing louder and louder until the song resembled its studio version, a rousing climax with heartrending lyrics like, “Is this the way to live / for me to be yours? / Is this the way to live? / Is it wrong to want more?”

Feist’s stage presence was amazing from the second she emerged from behind the curtain. She constantly engaged the audience, often in casual conversation and in playful banter. In response to an audience member’s “Ow Ow!” following a song, Feist feigned concern and asked, “Did you hurt yourself ?”

She accepted many questions, from what pets she has to what she’s been listening to (a 1960s cassette from Iraq).

Eventually, her rapport grew so strong she was cracking inside jokes with the audience.

Her personality emanated so powerfully that it became difficult imagining her with a backing band. Watching her nail every note and pluck breakneck chords, it became apparent that anything other than Feist herself seemed superfluous.

During her songs, she engaged the audience more than most acts. While playing “Comfort Me,” she coached

the crowd with the song’s “nah nah nah nah nah” chant. The song offered biting lyrics like, “When you comfort me / it doesn’t bring me comfort actually.”

She read part of her friend’s dissertation about Socrates’s dialogue on cicadas, which she joked was her philosophy behind the calming track “Cicadas and Gulls.” The humorous segue gave way to a lullaby-like version of the piece.

Later, she told a captivating story about the Water Children of Micronesia. It was a legend she once heard about little islands in the Pacific that chose a child to live its life in the water so one day he or she could guide the tribe off of the island, through the ocean, and to a new home.

The Water Child, which the audience decided was a 17-year-old girl, grew to know the ocean so well that she could feel the waves on the boat, sense the shadows of fish below her, and point toward a pinprick of an island in the vast ocean.

As she spoke, she enraptured the audience like a storyteller spellbinds young children.

Then she transitioned back to the concert, explaining that like the Water Child, she found her way back to the next song, and began a stripped down “1234.” The audience erupted in delight.

During a touching encore, Feist and Drew sang a piano ballad from their Broken Social Scene days. Their friendship shined through the intimate duet. At the end, the friends whispered, “I love you,” and Drew tenderly touched her arm, a fitting finale to a wonderful, soulful and intimate night.

Alex Frail can be reached at afrail@ umass.edu.

Rock icon’s lasting impact across music By elenA lopez Collegian Staff

April 5 marked the 20th anniversary of the death of the front man of one of the most influential bands in music. Kurt Cobain left the world earlier than intended, but not before leaving something indelible behind him. Cobain’s band, Nirvana, busted out of Seattle with incredible force, creating a new image of rock music and leaving behind it a legacy.

“Grunge” was a sound that had gained local popularity, but it was Nirvana that spearheaded the movement and spread it to all corners of the globe.

Sometimes nicknamed the “Seattle sound” in honor of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana’s roots in the Pacific Northwest, grunge was a sound that crept to the forefront of the national stage. In 1991, Nirvana released its second album “Nevermind,” a huge commercial success that opened the door for up and coming, young and aggressive bands like Pearl Jam. Distorted and full of feedback, the public was intrigued and enraptured by this new and exciting sound. “Nevermind” made it possible to commercialize alternative rock to the general public, opening the floodgates for numerous bands to follow.

Cobain did something no other singer or lyricist had mastered at the time.

He stripped down his raw emotions, incorporated

heart-wrenching pain into his lyrics and made it both marketable and relatable.

His voice pulsed over the rage-induced havoc of the band’s music and beat the eardrums of every listener.

No longer was the bombast of hair metal acceptable.

Musicians were finally asked to push themselves conceptually and lyrically to produce a record with more meaning behind it, making every other band feel secondary to Nirvana.

Interestingly enough, Cobain felt severely burdened by the fame and notoriety that came with the success of his music.

Many times in interviews he would mention the emotional strain it caused him, to such a degree that it struck many as bizarre for a celebrity to reject their fame so harshly. The honesty was fresh and relatable in comparison to the other rock gods, who seemed to their fans to be constantly floating on air.

Cobain maintained a deep connection to his audience, creating a cult-like following. Tragically, Cobain was never fully able to cope with the fame he had gained so quickly. On April 5, 1994, he committed suicide at his home in Seattle, leaving behind wife Courtney Love and their daughter Frances to join the infamous “27 Club” with the likes of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix; fellow artists who died at the tender age of 27.

Regardless of the tragedy surrounding his death, Cobain’s talent and influence is respected across the board. Modern day artists like M.I.A., Green Day and Blink 182 cite Cobain

as an artistic influence on their work. Nirvana put out tracks that were taken in by listeners of all genres.

Hits like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come as You Are” are both considered mainstream due to their pop hooks, but still maintain the hectic and crazed sonic experimentations of punk.

Grunge lost much of its driving force along with the death of Cobain, but he is survived through his endless supporters and those who were inspired by him.

It seems nearly impossible to ask any alternative rock artist to list their inspirations and not hear Nirvana as part of the list.

Rappers Jay Z and Eminem have both commemorated Cobain’s influence in their music, demonstrating that there is a respect for the tortured soul in a wide variety of genres.

Nirvana represented pure rock; the angst, the rage, the intensity and the havoc of it all. Without the slightly crazed ring-leader, Nirvana would have faded away quickly. When Cobain took his own life, he took away some of the magic from the genre, leaving it smeared and flawed, just as he was. He made sure to burn out before he faded away, allowing his influence to illuminate the way, and inspire artists to be as open about his insecurities as he was.

Elena Lopez can be reached at aelopez@umass.edu.

6

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

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SPRING GAME

By Mark Chiarelli Collegian Staff

Defense

MALIK

CADE BELISLE/COLLEGIAN

UMass will play its annual intra-squad spring game on Wednesday at McGuirk Stadium. for grabs. Peter Angeh and Enock Asante have been the early front-runners throughout camp, but the opportunity is still open for Joe Tyo and others before training camp.

While Stanley Andre has – as expected – been the unsung leader on defense, the Minutemen have received other surprising contributions at linebacker, especially from Kassan Messiah. After a standout freshman year, Messiah fell out of favor with the coaching staff as a sophomore and was nearly invisible, finishing with 21 tackles in limited action in 11 games.

Messiah has spent spring as a starter at outside linebacker with Trey Seals and was noted by Masella as a player he’s been particularly impressed with. Before

covering the team last year, Messiah was a player I was excited to see play as the agile, impact linebacker, but remember few occasions when his name was called.

So for me, his anticipated presence is just as exciting.

The most stability defensively comes in the defensive backfield, especially at cornerback. Sophomores Trey Dudley-Giles and Randall Jette were probably the most dependable defensive players against the pass in 2013, and should only get better as they transition into the leadership roles as upperclassmen.

The safety positions may be less secure, as D’Metrius Williams, Ed Saint-Vil and Joe Colton battle for time in 2014, but it will be worth noting which players see the most time on Wednesday.

continued from page 8

this time, in her absence.

Malik, hindered by a back injury, only played doubles, so a handful of Minutewomen had to play up a spot in singles. The shift was too much to handle for UMass as it fell to the Knights, 4-3, snapping a four-match winning streak.

“It’s been frustrating for me as a coach and it’s been frustrating as a team because we feel like we’re better than our results show,” Dixon said of not being at full strength.

The day started on a promising note as the Minutewomen grinded out two doubles wins to secure

the doubles point, a key part of Dixon’s formula for winning through doubles and depth at the bottom of the lineup. But despite its efforts, UMass could only pull out two singles wins from Sonia Bokhari at the No. 2 slot (7-6, 1-6, 6-4) and Glasper at No. 6 (6-3, 6-2).

The loss puts the team at 10-8 overall heading into the final match of the season, a home match against Atlantic 10 Conference opponent Rhode Island.

With the conference tournament just around the corner, a win would help the team maintain some highly valued momentum

as the team enters post-season action.

“They have a No. 1 that’s very good,” Dixon said, referring to the familiar URI team.

“We should be able to handle them, but it’s Senior Day and there’s a lot of emotion and distraction in Senior Day. ... I expect with a full lineup in there that we’ll be fine, but we have to stay healthy.”

The final match is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. on the Mullins Center Tennis Courts.

Arthur Hayden can be reached at awhayden@umass.edu.

GOLF

Masters ratings drop sharply Lack of Woods, drama to blame

rating was down 24 percent from 10.2 for last year’s final round, which ended with Adam Scott winning in a playoff.

By TiM TuCker Third-round coverage The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Saturday posted a 4.4 rating The lack of drama on on CBS, down 30 percent the back nine Sunday, com- from 6.3 for last year’s third pounded by the absence round.

According to the Nielsen of Tiger Woods, led to low rating figures compiled television ratings for the

by Sports Business Daily, Masters.

CBS’ coverage drew a 7.8 Sunday’s overnight rating national overnight rating was the lowest for a Masters for the final round, which final round in 10 years. The saw Bubba Watson win by 2004 final round posted a 7.3 three shots over Jordan rating but was played on Spieth and Jonas Blixt. The Easter Sunday, which typi-

7

Rain washes out baseball, softball

continued from page 8

chart, but the arrival of 6-foot-6, 225-pound Marshall transfer Blake Frohnapfel along with a pair of freshmen in the summer could put Doyle’s job security in immediate danger.

Doyle should at least have a strong receiving corps to throw the ball to.

Rob Blanchflower will no longer be that big, athletic option at tight end, but the strides Tajae Sharpe made as a sophomore last year (61 catches for 680 yards and four touchdowns) and the return of speedy and versatile wideout Marken Michel should make for an electric combination. Transfer Jalen Williams may also be worth watching.

Watching ever-intense and colorful Sollazzo run the defense should be enough to provide entertainment throughout the game. But what’s really worth watching is how the Minutemen defend against the run in their revival of the 3-4 base defense.

UMass allowed over 300 yards in each of its first three games under Phil Elmassian’s 3-4 before switching to the 4-3 for the rest of the season. I can’t tell you whether or not the switch back will bring more reward under Masella, but how the players respond to the adjustment on Wednesday may give spectators an initial idea.

What’s already apparent is that the personnel will be significantly different.

Daniel Maynes is the lone returning starter from last year’s defensive line, with the two end positions up

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

cally reduces the tournament’s TV audience.

In 2012, when Watson won his first Masters in a playoff, the final round posted an 8.1 rating on Easter Sunday.

Nielsen’s overnight ratings are based on the nation’s 56 largest TV markets. One full rating point equals 1 percent of the TV households in those markets tuned in to the event.

Woods did not play in the Masters because of recent back surgery, the first time he has missed the tournament since 1994.

Williams – best known for tweeting at halftime during a game his freshman year – is an especially intriguing case after seeing limited playing time as a sophomore last year. * * * To say the results of Wednesday’s spring game will carry major significance entering training camp would be far-fetched, but the reality is that this is the final impression these players can make on a brand new coaching staff for the next three and a half months.

That in itself should carry some weight.

Nick Canelas can be reached at ncanelas@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @NickCanelas.

baseball has had postponed this season. UMass (7-20) has won four of its last five games with the one loss coming in extra innings against Saint Louis. The Minutemen are scheduled to face UMass Lowell on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Earl Lorden Field.

The Minutewomen (1015) are riding a similarly hot streak, as they have won seven of their last eight games. Their only loss during that stretch also came in extra innings against Boston College, 4-3.

UMass softball will travel to La Salle for a two-game series starting on Thursday.

Mother Nature was back to her old tricks on Tuesday.

As has been the case for most of the spring, inclement weather yet again threw a wrench into athletic plans as driving rain washed out both the Massachusetts baseball and softball team’s respective games.

UMass baseball was scheduled to travel to Central Connecticut while softball was scheduled to travel to Boston University.

The Minutemen postponed the game and plan to make it up at a later date. But the matchup between the Minutewomen and the Terriers was canceled and might be rescheduled at a Mark Chiarelli can be reached at later date. mchiarel@umass.edu and followed It’s the fourth game on Twitter @Mark_Chiarelli.

THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN

@MDC_SPORTS

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Sports@DailyCollegian.com

TENNIS

Minutewomen battle injuries, split weekend matches Malik, Podlofsky shine for UMass

By Arthur hAyden Collegian Staff

At the start of the season, not many would have predicted that a freshman from New Delhi, India, would boast the best dual meet record on the Massachusetts women’s tennis team.

But Aarzoo Malik has done just that.

With an 11-5 dual meet singles record, Malik has been the most consistent player for UMass, competing predominantly at the No. 2 and 3 spots. She played a critical part, once again, in the Minutewomen’s 6-1 victory over Sacred Heart on Saturday.

UMass started the match

off strong, sweeping the doubles matches which included an 8-5 win from Malik and Jessica Podlofsky in the No. 2 spot. Malik later tallied up another singles victory against the Pioneers’ Paige Olson (6-4, 6-4) at No. 3 singles. Yuliana Motyl and Anna Woosley, who have recently turned into the Minutewomen’s most reliable doubles pairing, won their third straight match together. Motyl also provided a dominant performance in singles, winning her match at No. 2 singles without dropping a single game.

Chanel Glasper also put up a double bagel at the No. 6 slot.

Podlofsky, now officially the winningest tennis player in UMass history, also recorded a victory in singles, pushing her record for most career singles victories to 73.

The team cruised to victory despite playing without sophomore Arielle Griffin, who rested with an injury, a recurring obstacle for the Minutewomen all season long. In fact, this UMass team has played only 10 of its 18 matches at full strength.

“We got away with (injuries) at Sacred (Heart),” Minutewoman coach Judy Dixon said. “We’re a good team that has not been able to put together a full roster. ... If we don’t play at full strength, we’ll suffer.”

Minutewomen come up just short Dixon’s words were spot on during UMass’ match against Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday, as Malik’s large impact was felt again, see

MALIK on page 7

JULIA CARDILLO/COLLEGIAN

Aarzoo Malik (above) currently has an 11-5 dual meet singles record and has been UMass’ most consistent player.

leaps and bounds

FOOTBALL

What to watch for as UMass plays its spring game at McGuirk

I

A UMass track and field pole vaulter lifts herself over the bar in the Minutemen Invitational, which took place on Monday.

CADE BELISLE/COLLEGIAN

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Williams to compete in Invitational Former guard to play in Portsmouth

By MArk ChiArelli Collegian Staff

Former Massachusetts men’s basketball point guard Chaz Williams spent three seasons building an impressive resume in Maroon and White, guiding UMass back to the NCAA Tournament and onto the national radar.

Now, the 5-foot-9 point guard has a chance to add to that resume yet again with sights set on a prospective professional career.

Williams will take part in the Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational Tournament on Wednesday, an event which consists of 64 seniors from across the nation.

He’ll play on a team named Roger Brown’s Restaurant in front of scouts from both the NBA and professional teams overseas.

“To be one of the top 64 seniors to be picked for this event is a blessing and

“To be one of the top 64 seniors to be picked for this event is a blessing and an honor. ” Chaz Williams an honor,” Williams said in a press release. “I’ve been working out twice a day lately in the gym and weight room to get ready for my professional career.”

After his junior season, Williams flirted with the idea of leaving school to play professionally in Turkey. Instead, he returned to average 15.6 points and seven assists per game, the third highest total in the nation. He was named first team All Atlantic-10.

Joining Williams on Roger Brown’s Restaurant is Jordair Jett of Saint Louis, Aaric Murray of Texas Southern and Taylor Braun of North Dakota State, among others. The

CADE BELISLE/COLLEGIAN

Williams (above) will compete in the Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational Tournament in front of NBA and international scouts. event is a four-day, 12-game contest which runs from Wednesday to Saturday.

It’s not the first time a Minutemen senior has gone to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.

Anthony Gurley, Chris

Lowe and Tony Gaffney all competed in the event after concluding their respective UMass careers.

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

t’s finally over. After 15 long practices, the Massachusetts football team will get its final tuneup before breaking for summer: Spring Game.

But this isn’t any ordinary spring football game at McGuirk Stadium.

When the Nick M i nutemen Canelas go under the lights at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, fans will not only get their first look at a nearly renovated stadium, they’ll also see a program under similar reconstruction with the return of Mark Whipple to the UMass sidelines.

After two unremarkable years under Charley Molnar – years filled with bad word choices, clock management blemishes and boxing gloves – the alumni got their wish on Jan. 14 when the architect of the program’s last glory years on the gridiron made his return home to Amherst. On Wednesday, they’ll see a Whipple squad in action for the first time in over a decade.

While Whipple won’t be calling the plays for either side – he told Daniel Malone of MassLive.com that he and defensive coordinator Tom Masella would take a more hands-off approach, putting defensive line coach Dave Sollazzo and special teams coordinator/linebackers coach Ted Daisher in charge of the defense, while offensive line coach Shane Waldron and wide receivers coach Mike Cassano to run the offense – just his mere presence should be enough to garner joyous sounds from the stands that haven’t been heard since last decade.

Whipple told MassLive that he’ll pit starters against starters and backups against backups in live game action in one last chance to evaluate his team before August.

“It’s just another evaluation of the players. We’ll just let them play against each other – 1s vs. 1s and

2s vs. 2s,” he said. “We’ll be evaluating how they prepare, how they play and how they handle adversity.

We want to see who can make some plays and let them go have fun.”

The game is designed to be fun for both players and fans, but there are certainly reasons why this year’s spring game is worth watching.

Here is a quick look at what I’m looking for on both sides of the ball.

Offense It all starts with the playbook. Whipple’s prostyle scheme predicts to be far more advanced than Molnar’s spread offense.

Instead of living out of the shotgun, the Minutemen will go back under center in a mix of ace-back and two-back sets, with the quarterback dropping into the pocket on passing plays.

For the running backs, this is a dream come true.

Often times last year, the UMass backs would look lost in the backfield as holes failed to open up before they were crunched behind the line of scrimmage.

Now, there is an expectation for much-needed improvements, especially for freshman Lorenzo Woodley. Last year’s highly touted recruit spent most of the 2013 season battling foot and ankle injuries, but will run in a West Coast scheme similar to the one he ran in high school.

Combine that with improved health and a full winter of strength training and Woodley may be taking steps toward becoming the player fans are begging him to be.

For the signal-callers, particularly A.J. Doyle, the adjustment isn’t quite as simple. Doyle’s spent the spring learning to drop back for the first time since high school, on top of learning a long list of new plays.

If anyone has pressure to perform in game action on Wednesday night, it’s Doyle. The sophomore has spent all spring as the top quarterback on the depth see

SPRING GAME on page 7