AMHERST UP IN SMOKE
Women’s LAX
Either UMass or Richmond will be
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‘United’ against inequality Ashcroft speaks, faces backlash Students protest Republican’s visit By Marleigh Felsenstein Collegian Staff
CADE BELISLE/COLLEGIAN
Over 2,000 people from UMass, Northampton, Amherst and surrounding colleges gathered on UMass campus to show LGBTQ community support.
UMass students rally for gay rights By Catherine Ferris Collegian Staff
After Derrick Gordon came out publicly last week, the Westboro Baptist Church made it known they would be picketing the University of Massachusetts. When students caught wind that this was happening, a rally was planned to support Gordon and the LGBTQ community on Wednesday. “After Derrick Gordon came out publicly, there was some backlash from different communities,
specifically the Westboro Baptist Church,” said Charlotte Kelly, a sophomore. Kelly said that Ellie Miske, a junior, and Sïonan Barrett, a sophomore, were involved in organizing this event, but noted there was help from organizations as well. She said a lot of messaging was run by the Stonewall Center and spoke with people from the Pride Alliance and the Student Government Association. Zac Broughton, a senior and SGA President, was also in attendance. “I’m here today to stand solidarity with my fellow students and show my support for the LGBTQ com-
munity,” he said. Broughton also recognized the possibility of the Westboro Baptist Church protesting, and said that although it is their constitutional right to say what they want to say, “We’re going to exercise our constitutional right to talk about something better.” The Facebook event, #UMassUnited, was created and had over 2,000 people saying they were attending. The page outlined what exactly the event was, as well as reminded students to be respectful of everyone’s beliefs and rights. When the time to begin marching from the Fine Arts Center to the Student
Union came, there were an estimated 3,000 people in attendance including students from the Five Colleges and residents of Amherst and Northampton. “I am queer and a Christian, training to be a pastor. I really care about showing both the queer community and the Westboro Baptist Church that being queer and a Christian does not have to be in conflict with each other,” said Lizzie McManus, a senior from Mount Holyoke. She heard about the event through a friend who saw it posted on Tumblr, see
Former Republican Attorney General and former Governor of Missouri John Ashcroft came to talk about liberty on campus on Wednesday in the Student Union Ballroom. His speech was titled “The Future of America and the GOP: Insights from an Esteemed Political F i g u r e. ” H oweve r, Ashcroft’s time at UMass soon turned from a talk of liberty to rapid word-fire from the crowd protestors, who had previously stood outside with signs that read “War Criminal,” which was later shouted on several occasions during the speech. David Kaufman, president of the Republican Club on campus, introduced Ashcroft. Before
the speech, in regards to the Republican Club, Kaufman said “My group has never and will never impede on someone’s right to free speech.” Ashcroft said, “Thank you for standing up and thank you for sitting down” when people did not leave when he began his speech, Ashcroft was involved in controversial matters during his career in the Bush administration. According to Kaufman, Ashcroft is also the “only person in an election to lose his seat to a deceased opponent,” who was Mel Carnahan in the Missouri Senate election in 2000. Ashcroft’s number-one priority is preventing terrorism, he said. He also spoke a lot about liberty and freedom, using quotes from important places and documents in history including the Declaration see
ASHCROFT on page a5
CHRISTINA YACONO/COLLEGIAN
Ashcroft answered questions about his views on current world problems.
PROTEST on page a4
‘It really made me appreciative’ UMass student to research UM doctor reflects on 2013 marathon By stephen hewitt Collegian Staff
T
wo weeks ago, Pierre Rouzier was putting something in his car at his home in Amherst when he heard a truck hit a bump in the road, causing a loud clatter of metal to startle him. The sudden, alarming sound forced Rouzier to immediately turn and crouch. “Where is it?” he impulsively thought to himself. “Where do I have to go?” Last June, every time his wife dragged him out shopping to a department store, Rouzier would venture off to the men’s belt section. He’d look for a webbed belt with a tworing buckle that he could stitch across. In his own words, he was looking for a belt that could be used as the perfect tourniquet. “I was on a mission,” Rouzier said. “I was like, ‘I’m going to find the right belt.’”
A lot has changed in the year that’s passed since last April’s Boston Marathon bombings. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is Rouzier’s passion to help others. That’s why he immediately jumped to attention when that truck made a loud sound near his home as he instinctively wondered how he could help. That’s why he shopped for that belt and why he even bought a pair of cargo pants with bigger pockets so he can stash more things. And that’s why he’ll return to the Boston Marathon this Monday, to the very location where just over a year ago, thousands of lives were impacted and a city was shaken as a result of two bombs that exploded near the finish line, which killed three people and injured more than 200 others. Rouzier, a University of Massachusetts staff physician, was at ground zero of the attack, where for the fifth year in a row he was stationed at a medical tent less than 100 yards away from the race’s finish line
to work as one of many volunteer triage doctors. Most racegoers who arrive to the tent come experiencing dehydration or related symptoms as a result of running 26.2 miles in the heat. But at 2:49 p.m. on that fateful day, a bomb exploded in the middle of a crowd of spectators watching the race on Boylston Street. Moments later, another bomb went off. As much of the crowd hurriedly dispersed in fear of their lives, Rouzier, as if COURTESY DAILY HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE
Pierre Rouzier, UMass physician it was a reflex, rushed into the chaos – facing pools of blood, torn-off limbs and sheer panic – as he tried to save as many lives as he could. Rouzier’s brave response didn’t surprise many, especially his son Anthony. Anthony was giving an accounting presentation for his MBA class in Florida when he received a text from his dad: “Bombs going off at the finish line. see
ROUZIER on page a2
cyber suicide with award Soros Fellowship supplying funds By Marie MaCCune Collegian Staff
Mike Alvarez, a communications Ph.D. candidate, was recently one of 30 finalists awarded the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. Alvarez, originally from the Philippines, was the only fellow studying communications. According to the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans website, the award is for “New Americans” pursuing at least two years of graduate work. Each fellow can receive up to $90,000 in tuition and stipend assistance for graduate education received in the U.S. According to Alvarez, his work focuses on cyber suicide and the stigma surrounding mental illness. “I want to raise awareness,” he said. “From my
own experiences, I know it is difficult to talk about suicide. A lot of times it touches on a previous loss for people or on their fear of death. I want to open a dialogue.” Alvare z explained, “Cyber suicide is suicide that is mediated by the Internet. It can take many different forms. One form is through live feeds, when someone broadcasts their suicide live. Another is making suicide pacts online. Complete strangers, when they feel that life is unbearable, decide on a time and place to meet – or at least a common time if they cannot meet – and commit suicide together,” Alvarez explained. According to Alvarez, this has made people wary of the Internet. “Cyber suicide is a phenomenon with two halves,” he said. “The Internet is either seen as something dangerous and a cause of suicide, or as something that can be used as a tool to prevent it.”
When asked about how he became interested in the topic, he said, “Before I became a Ph.D. student, I was a psychology undergrad at Rutgers University. But I like to call myself a psychiatric survivor. I was in and out of the revolving door of mental illness. I even contemplated and attempted suicide.” In terms of his research method, Alvarez said his “work transgressed many different disciplines.” “I don’t rely on one method,” he said. “At UMass, my work is two things: One is looking at online memorials created by parents of those who have committed suicide and analyzing the posts and comments on the sites; the second is that I’m also analyzing the depiction of suicide through film.” “I’m trying to bring to light the subject of suicide, which is something people really don’t touch,” Alvarez said. “There is see
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