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Monday, January 25, 2015
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National Weather Service calls UM ‘StormReady’ Officials say win was a collaborative effort
of Massachusetts, the National Weather Service has given it a “StormReady” designation, the first to be awarded to a public university in Massachusetts. By Shelby Ashline According to a UMass press Collegian Staff release, there are several core After reviewing the emer- requirements that a university gency preparedness programs must meet in order to earn a being utilized at the University StormReady designation, which
is valid for three years. The press release states that “a university must establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center; have multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public; create a system that monitors weather conditions locally; promote the
importance of public readiness through seminars; and develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.” Jeff Hescock, director of University Emergency Management and Business Continuity, said he and his col-
Heroes don’t get any bigger
leagues began the application process about a year ago. The initial application included detailing the University’s plans and procedures for monitoring and responding to severe weather. Hescock said it took a couple of months to gather all of the necessee
STORMREADY on page 2
Classes aim for real world prep Students feel ready to enter workforce
ROBERT RIGO /COLLEGIAN
The University Programming Council held a movie night where they showed Ant-Man in the Cape Cod Lounge Sunday night.
they can then utilize in building careers in public leadership after college. Ariel Dickerman, a senior studying political By Ben Keefe science, participated in the Collegian Correspondent program. As college students “I applied to be part approach graduation, of UMass Women into the looming reality of Leadership (UWiL) the real world creeps because it sounded like a closer and closer. One great opportunity for me approach the University of to learn and grow in proMassachusetts has taken fessional environments,” to ensure students are Dickerman said. ready for post-graduate She added that, “As a life is offering career-ori- student coming from a ented classes. low-income background, These courses, special- it’s not as easy to pay for izing in career prepara- business casual clothes, tion, are available in many business cards and head different forms through- shots, or even know that out a variety of programs those are things you at the University. should have.” One example is the Dicker man also Women into Leadership explained that the program program run by the made her realize she needdepartment of political sci- ed to develop certain skillence. The course is geared sets, including confidence towards providing women in networking, wage negowith experience in professional development that see CAREER on page 2
Forum focuses on using Blizzard moves off east coast Officials prepare empty buildings for art for days of cleanup
Area artists met in Northampton Sat. By Rachel Ravelli Collegian Staff
About 50 Pioneer Valley residents gathered on Saturday to learn about how they can work together to transform local forgotten buildings into multi-purpose, mixed-use spaces for artists. Seth Lepore of the Easthampton Co. Lab hosted the event, titled “Giving a S*** About Everything and Everyone,” at Flywheel Arts Collective in Easthampton. Lepore used AS220, a nonprofit community arts center located in Providence, Rhode Island, as a model to demonstrate the methodologies and business practices needed for the Pioneer Valley to advance artist-centric ownership. Located near the Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University, AS220 is comprised of three buildings of space for galleries, studios and music. The area was once deteriorating and useless. After the generation of grants, loans, organization and the right staff, AS220 now hosts around a dozen events each week. “AS220 is a space where artists come first, then managers,” Lepore explained.
Some of the youth resources AS220 offers include shared work studios and private studios, commercial tenants, print shops and labs, performance space and restaurants. “We can create something like this, that people strive to be a part of,” he added. Leore explained that though Providence was once known as “the armpit of New England,” social enterprises that foster engagement and community have allowed the city to become known as the “creative capital of New England,” in the last decade. Lepore emphasized that young, recently-graduated artists can steer their creative energy into the growth of forgotten cities. However, the coupled effect of lack in opportunities in low-income towns and the exorbitant costs of living in artist-driven communities like New York or even Northampton have made the movement difficult. Todd Trebour, program coordinator at the Arts Extension Service at the University of Massachusetts attended Saturday’s meeting. He explained how his team is working to find opportunities for struggling young artists. “We look for internships that match with the specif-
ic skills that our students need,” said Trebour. “These internships need to be paid and that’s hard to do with some of these local spaces who cannot afford to support them.” Throughout the meeting Lepore discussed how artists may communicate, collaborate and create space for one another. “It’s also important to find people you trust,” Lepore added, “Buildings are complicated beasts and you need to select only your best allies.” At one point during the lecture the crowd split off into groups determined by where they live: Northampton, Easthampton, Holyoke and Springfield. Groups discussed the assets, allies, advocates and challenges they believe affect artists in their specific communities. “I’m here because of curiosity and community,” said Gracie Janove, a teacher and writer living in Northampton. The Northampton group, which held a few Amherst residents as well, described high rent, unsupportive landowners and an overall lack of space for their work as challenges in their area. However, they did have see
FORUM on page 2
By Noah Bierman and Matt Hansen
Tribune Washington Bureau
NEW YORK — One of the fiercest blizzards to strike the eastern United States in decades moved offshore Sunday morning, leaving a trail of record snowfalls in major cities and heavy flooding up and down the coast. Now mayors and governors will try to figure out how to remove heavy snow so businesses can reopen, children can go back to school and more loss of life and property can be prevented. “With this much snow on the ground, it’s going to be there in some form or another for two or three weeks, if not more,” said meteorologist Patrick Burke at the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Md. Burke said the storm moved off Cape Cod, Mass., Sunday morning. New York City fell one– tenth of an inch short of setting a new snowfall record in Central Park. Gov. Andrew Cuomo lifted a travel ban. Subway and above– ground transit had largely returned to normal by Sunday morning, but service on some lines — espe-
cially the main rail lines serving Long Island and the city’s northern suburbs — would take longer to restore, officials said, as crews sometimes had to dig the tracks free. New York’s airports slowly returned to life Sunday, though hundreds of flights remained canceled. Thousands were grounded throughout the country over the weekend. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said his state’s main commuter rail service would also resume operation by midday. Christie said all highways in his state were clear and that the number of residents without power, including 18,000 on the Atlantic Coast, was shrinking as crews worked to restore service. State shelters had seen 100 people stay overnight along the coast, he said, a result of the flooding. “The weather is nice, it’s sunny outside, and folks will begin to go out there to clean up,” he said. But sporting events and other activities throughout the East Coast were canceled. Schools, businesses and museums were closed. Residents were urged to stay home and begin shoveling out. “We’ve made a lot of progress,” Cuomo said at a news conference. “We’re not of the woods yet, we’re not done.”
Cuomo said no deaths directly linked to the storm had been reported in New York, but that five people had died while shoveling snow. In Central Park, 26.8 inches of snow fell. Snowfall records were broken in Baltimore (29.2 inches at the airport) and Allentown, Pa. (31.9 inches). Washington Dulles International Airport recorded its second–highest total (29.3 inches), while Philadelphia had its sixth– highest total (22.4 inches). Moderate morning high tides on Sunday were expected to spare coastal communities across Delaware and New Jersey from another round of severe, icy storm surge flooding like that on Saturday. Sussex County, Del., reported that floodwaters topping nine feet hit Lewes on Saturday morning, nearly breaking a record set in 1962, as heavy winds pushed water into the streets. Dunes, which normally soften the blow of tidal floods, couldn’t cope with the floodwaters in some areas. A state highway near the coast was washed out at the height of the storm. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser canceled school for Monday and the city’s rail and bus systems remained closed Sunday.
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BLIZZARD on page 2
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THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN
Monday, January 25, 2015
THE RUNDOWN ON THIS DAY... In 1787, four rebels are killed outside of the Springfield Armory as part of Shay’s Rebeliion.
AROUND THE WORLD
Canada Townspeople gathered at a church in La Loche, Saskatchewan, on Sunday to pay respects to the victims of one deadly school shootings Friday. Four people were killed and seven were injured Friday in the remote rural town by a 17–year–old boy who allegedy opened fire at a high school in the Dene native community of about 3,000 people, authorities said. The incident was “unspeakably horrible” and “unimaginable,” Premier Brad Wall said at a briefing Saturday in Regina, the provincial capital. An investigation is continuing, and the province’s social services department is providing help for those affected, according to Wall, who said he would travel to La Loche on Sunday to help with the response. Flags were lowered across the province out of respect for the victims. Bloomberg News
Haiti The international community called on Haiti’s government and opposition over the weekend to quickly reach an agreement on the political impasse that forced postponement of Sunday’s presidential and legislative elections. The United Nations, European Union and the Organization of American States asked the two sides to resolve their differences and allow the elections to proceed. The EU and OAS observer missions condemned “the acts of violence across the country” that Provisional Electoral Council President Pierre Louis–Opont cited Friday as the reason for postponing Sunday’s election. No new date has been announced. The appeals for a consensus on when elections can take place — and how Haiti should be governed after the departure of President Michel Martelly on Feb. 7 — come as a political crisis, triggered by accusations of widespread voter fraud in recent elections, risks deepening. Opposition leader Assad Volcy said that while the elections’ postponement is a victory, “the demands have now changed. Micheal Martelly cannot be part of the solution. He will leave power.” At a news conference Saturday, government– backed presidential runoff candidate Jovenel Moise criticized the decision to delay the elections. “What I don’t fully understand in the decision of the Provisional Electoral Council is that they postponed the election of the 24th of January just like they postponed the elections of the 27th of December without saying when the elections will take place,” Moise said. Moise accused the opposition of using the democratic process to satisfy their “own personal interests.” Miami Herald
CAREER
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tiation abilities and most importantly, a professional network. “I could not come close to achieving the career path I am interested in without those baseline soft skills. They have guided my behavior in internships, countless networking dinners, emails and more,” she said. “Additionally, I am now connected to a growing network of UMass (alumni) who already have careers in public service and are happy to assist me in whatever career guidance I may need.” The journalism department also runs a career oriented course called Journalism Launchpad. The course is the brainchild of Professor B.J. Roche. Before Roche developed the course, she found herself helping journalism students get internships, so developing a course to reach out to a class full of students seemed like a “natural extension,” she said. Department chair and Associate Journalism Professor Kathy Roberts Forde said career development is key to her department. “In the journalism major, we teach both journalism practice and journalism studies, so part of our curriculum is professionally oriented. That means that our curriculum and our faculty value courses that teach practical career skills in general and the professional practices of journalism in particular.” Forde added,
BLIZZARD Bowser said at a news conference that the city had borrowed 400 plows, snow– removal machines and dump trucks, tripling the size of its snow–clearing fleet. Officials warned that temperatures below freezing would make it more difficult to remove snow from sidewalks and that built–up ice that could lead to more sliding cars and people. Recovery could take many days. “Two feet of snow is a lot to move,” said Chris Geldart, the city’s emergen-
“We are preparing students to be journalists and professional communicators, and we want to help them gain real world experience through media internships.” T he Jour nalism Launchpad course is designed to prepare students who are nearing the end of their academic career to find work while doing so in an encouraging and positive environment. “Our students find jobs very differently from how people, like in the Business Department, find jobs,” Roche explained, adding that often students don’t even know how to go about finding employment. Making matters even more complicated for students, Roche added, is that many old jobs have become obsolete. The digital revolution has created a new working landscape for post graduates, and Launchpad aims to help students face employment challenges with confidence. “It’s sort of a combination of nuts and bolts, moral support and also its just really fun because you’re in this group with all these other people who are all in the same boat, so you don’t feel like you’re so lost because everybody is kind of in it together,” Roche said. Ben Keefe can be reached at benjaminkeef@umass.edu.
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cy director. The capital was also struggling to recruit more volunteers to help elderly and disabled residents shovel their sidewalks. As day broke, many of the city’s streets were quiet. “I think this was as bad as it gets, really in terms of how large the storm was,” said Burke, the meteorologist, noting the span of disruption from Arkansas to Massachusetts. “This will rank up there among the top five storms of recent decades.”
FORUM
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a large list of allies who host events, create cheap space and encourage the growth of artists’ work. These advocates include the Northampton Arts Council, funders of trusts and grants to art projects and local business owners who benefit from artists’ attractions. “Local businesses want art to happen because it brings people here and vice
versa,” said Lepore. Other logistics that Lepore covered included financial restraints as well as where funding can come from. He went into detail about how money can properly be extracted from foundations, nonprofits, for-profits, donors, the arts stock market, community shares and more. Saturday was the first day of a two-part forum
STORMREADY sary information. After the National Weather Service reviewed the application, Hescock and Robert Laford, assistant director of University Emergency Management and Business Continuity, were invited to the National Weather Service office in Taunton for a hands-on tour and to further discuss the University’s application. “It’s a great opportunity to kind of get a full understanding of how their office operates on a day-to-day basis,” Hescock said of the Taunton trip. “What they’re doing is showing you from beginning to end how they monitor the weather, then how they do forecasts, then if it’s going to be a significant storm, how they schedule conference calls.” The third step in the StormReady designation process was to schedule an on-site assessment, which took place Jan. 7 at UMass. Hescock explained that local, state, federal and National Weather Service officials met with various authorities that are involved in emergency preparedness, including representatives from the Office of Emergency Management, Environmental Health and Safety, UMass Police Department and the electrical and computer engineering department. The officials were also shown the University’s outdoor warning sirens, the primary Emergency
and focused on real estate, acquisitions and maintenance of deteriorating industrial buildings. The second day of the forum will also take place at Flywheel Arts Collective on Feb. 21 and will address community engagement as well as more challenges cooperatives face. Rachel Ravelli can be reached at rravelli@umass.edu.
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Operations Center and the radar system and remote sensing lab operated through the Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA) program. Brenda Philips, codirector of the CASA program, said in a phone interview that the program – which is led by the electrical and computer engineering department – allows her and her colleagues to provide reports to the University’s Emergency Management staff that they can use to plan events on campus. By showing when a storm will strike the immediate area, Philips said that CASA increases the campus’ safety. “When you have things like commencement, we’ll make sure that the radar is running and providing coverage around the campus,” added Apoorva Bajaj, CASA’s innovation manager, in a phone interview. “If any severe weather is coming, we’ll be able to relay that information to Emergency Management right away so the University can make decisions about the commencement.” According to the press release, UMass was commended during the onsite assessment for its emergency preparedness program, 24-hour warning point capabilities, the CASA program, and its “ease of transition from severe weather events to all-hazards planning.” Robert Thompson, meteorologist-in-charge
of the National Weather Service office in Taunton, will present UMass officials with the StormReady designation in a formal recognition ceremony. Although the date has yet to be decided, Hescock expects the ceremony to occur within the next two months. UMass is the fifth university in the state to be named StormReady, joining Harvard University, Boston College, Boston University and Tufts University. The designation has also been given to 14 communities, one military site and one commercial enterprise in Massachusetts, according to the press release. Hescock emphasized that the StormReady designation would not be possible without the work of numerous campus departments, who actively get information about severe weather emergencies out to the campus community. “It’s a collaborative approach with Environmental Health and Safety, UMass Police Department, (Residential) Life, Students Affairs – I could go on and on,” Hescock said. “To get the preparedness information out there is one of the big keys to this StormReady recognition.” Shelby Ashline can be reached at sashline@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @Shelby_Ashline.
Is Japan a nation still obsessed with sex? Experts predict large population decline By Albert Siegel McClatchy Foreign Staff TOKYO — Japan is well known for many things, and its obsession with sex is one of them. It has one of the most robust pornographic and adult–toy industries in the world and airs TV commercials for items as banal as candy that feature sexually suggestive themes. It even has an annual fertility festival that parades two 5–foot– tall penis sculptures down a busy street on a Sunday afternoon. And yet nearly half of singles in Japan have no interest in dating — a situation that many experts predict will help lead to a population decline of one– third in the next 45 years. According to a survey of never–married people by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, 27.6 percent of single men and 22.6 percent of single women have no interest in engaging in a relationship with the opposite sex. Researchers cite those statistics to argue that a significant portion of Japanese simply has no interest in sex. They might even have an aversion to it. Says Auumu Ochiai, a
decidedly less now than it used to be. Plus, it’s easier to be single now. “The world is pretty established as single–person–based, so there is not much inconvenience,” said another 30–something Japanese. “I cannot really imagine having people in my life.” That, he says hesitantly, includes potential sex partners. “To be honest, basically, how can I say? Well, I do not want people in MCT DIIRECT my life, so sex is included here.” Perhaps not surprisA sign warns clients that they must be 18 years of age to enter the adultingly, he asked that his themed business in the red light district of Ikebukuro, Tokyo. name not be published. researcher based in Tokyo: ing involved with someone “41.6 percent of males in now would be a burden. Large Japanese cities their 20s have never dated Now his spare time is pret- offer every imaginable conty much his own. anyone.” venience tailored specifi The number of men with “I can devote myself to cally to singles’ needs — no sexual experience drops my hobbies and do what I including physical. Even with age, but it’s still large want,” he explained. lifelike sex dolls are easily at 34: 26.1 percent. For He acknowledges that found for those who want women age 34, it’s some- might not always be his the human touch without what less, but not by much preference, though he feels touching a human. For he has time yet before he many Japanese singles, — 23.8 percent. That’s not to say that must worry about making apparently, there’s no need all of them wish to remain a commitment. His esti- for a live partner. single. Ochiai says his mate: four or five years. Japan’s long economic research indicates that Then, he says, “it’s going to malaise might be another nearly 90 percent of single be the time when you have factor that weighs against people would like eventual- to make a decision.” establishing a long–term ly to marry. The Japanese Helping to drive the lack relationship — especially government gives similar of interest in marriage is for women. One 30–somea change in Japan’s con- thing woman, who asked estimates. Still, it’s easy enough servative social mores. not to be identified because to find Japanese who have Thirty–one percent of sin- of the personal nature of little interest in develop- gle Japanese admit that the topic, said she last had ing a relationship. Yuki relief from family pressure a boyfriend eight years Kobari, who’s in his 30s, is one motivation for pick- ago and that she currently says he used to date several ing a partner. feels no need for a physiyears ago, but that becom- But that pressure is cal relationship. As for a
commitment of other sorts, the economy is the turnoff. “The main reason is, after all, a financial problem,” she said. The lack of interest in sex is not limited to singles. According to a survey by the Japan Family Planning Association conducted last year, 44.6 percent of married couples say they are in a sexless marriage. Some of the main reasons include work fatigue and childbirth. What is surprising, though, is that 10.1 percent of male and 23.8 percent of female respondents say they find sex to be too much work, another 10.1 percent of males and 5.4 percent of females have come to think of their spouse as a blood relative, and 4.5 percent of males and 5.9 percent of females say that they have other activities they find more interesting than sex. A further 16.9 percent of males and 13.0 percent of females listed “other” as their answer. That augurs poorly for Japan’s birthrate, computed as the number of children the average Japanese woman is expected to have in her lifetime. At 1.4, it’s one of the lowest in the world. In 1985, it was 1.8, the same as the United States’ rate then; now the U.S. rate has inched up to 1.9.
THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN
DailyCollegian.com
Monday, January 25, 2015
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Researchers test drought solution, flood almond farm
Results may bring new hope to CA ranchers By Geoffrey Mohan Los Angeles Times
MODESTO, Calif. — The El Nino rainstorm had already turned Nick Blom’s almond orchard into a quagmire. Still, he wheeled open the lid of a massive irrigation pipe. Fifteen minutes later, a gurgling belch heralded a gush of water that surged over the lip of the pipe and spread across five acres of almond trees. Blom is neither crazy nor self– destructive. He’s a volunteer in an experiment run by the University of California, Davis that could offer a partial solution to California’s perennial water shortages, and in the process, challenge some long–standing tenets of flood control and farming in the Central Valley. The first notion that could be washed away is that the abundant rains spawned by the El Nino currents in the Pacific Ocean should be banked behind new or enlarged reservoirs. Instead, researchers believe they should pour that water onto fields and let it replenish groundwater overdrafted by farmers and cities during the state’s five–year drought. That hypothesis, however, runs counter to how many growers care for their trees in winter, how irrigation districts operate, how water rights are managed, and how state and federal authorities have controlled floods for a century. Each will have to expand their notion of how to use water for the greater good so they can smooth out the state’s wild swings between drought and abundance, researchers say. So they started small Tuesday — three 5–acre plots southwest of Modesto, on the 1,300 acres Blom farms with his father, Nick Sr. and brother, Pete. “We can build more reservoirs
and we can raise the dams of reservoirs, but that’s a very costly undertaking,” said UC Davis hydrologist Helen Dahlke. “Basically we’re trying to make use of the system that has been in place 40 or 50 years, when most farmers irrigated their fields using surface water, by just letting water run onto fields, and down a furrow.” Gravity did most of the work Tuesday, as storm runoff flowed down irrigation canals and forced its way up and over the lip of Blom’s pipe. What Blom didn’t use will flow downstream to other farms and eventually back to the Tuolumne River, which joins the San Joaquin River nearby. Hydrologists, plant scientists and others will monitor the fields to see how the water flows through the coarse soil below Blom’s feet, and what effect it will have on the trees and their roots. Water could spur more fungal diseases, for instance. But it also could drown out worms and mites that can damage crops, said Roger Duncan, agricultural extension director for Stanislaus County. Researchers also will check to see if the flood water washes contaminants, such as the nitrogen from fertilizers and naturally occurring salts, into the groundwater. They’ll also compare yields on three fields treated different ways: leaving the trees’ fate to the weather, adding the normally small amount of winter irrigation, and pouring out several extra feet of water. Blom said he seldom irrigates over the winter, and gets about 2,200 pounds of almonds per acre. It took months to orchestrate the conditions that merged on the Blom family ranch, and Tuesday’s downpour was not in those plans. Researchers cut back from the 8 inches they had planned to pour, to compensate for a couple of inches that had fallen since Sunday in a
MCT DIRECT
Rancher Nick Blom looks over almond trees which are beginning to show signs of a new season of growth on Jan. 19 rare weather system that covered the Central Valley. The three 5–acre plots needed to have soils that allow water to percolate through quickly, and a grower willing to risk his trees. Blom had volunteered for other experiments. He also sits on the board of the Modesto Irrigation District, which owns its own reservoir (with a neighboring district) that holds more than 2 million acre–feet of water from the Tuolumne River. Finding willing participants might be more difficult in other areas, where various federal and state agencies control the dams and canals of water projects that sprawl across dozens of irrigation districts and supply distant cities such as
On the eve of peace talks, Syrian forces make gains Military overtook rebel strongholds By Patrick J. McDonnell and Nabih Bulos Los Angeles Times
BEIRUT—Syrian army troops have overrun rebel strongholds in the mountains of western Latakia province, according to government and opposition accounts on Sunday, marking the latest government gains before peace talks slated to begin this week in Geneva. Forces loyal to President Bashar Assad swept through the town of Rabiaa and nearby villages close to the Turkish border, according to the official Syrian media and a pro–opposition monitoring group. The army advanced “after violent clashes against Islamic battalions” including a–Qaida–affiliated Jabat al Nusrah, reported the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a pro– opposition monitor based in Britain. Syrian and Russian warplanes backed the thrust, the observatory said. Since Sept. 30, when Moscow began its aerial combat operations in Syria, Russian warplanes have flown more than 5,600 missions in support of Assad’s government, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The Russian intervention has helped turn the tide of battle on several fronts, including Latakia, boosting the fortunes of Assad’s government as United Nations–peace talks are set to convene in Geneva this week While the Geneva talks were scheduled to begin Monday, officials say a delay of at least a day is likely because of a dispute about who will represent
...officials from the United States and Russia - two principal backers of the Geneva talks - have said they are optimisitc that the negotioations will take place. the opposition delegation. Still, officials from the United States and Russia — two principal backers of the Geneva talks — have said they are optimistic that the negotiations will take place. Washington and Moscow are on opposing sides of the Syrian conflict, but the two nations say a political settlement is needed to end the punishing conflict. “We are confident that with good initiative in the next day or so, those talks can get going,” U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Obama administration has backed away from its longtime insistence that Assad step down from office as part of any U.N.– backed transition in Syria. A Saudi–backed coalition that includes a number of hard–core Islamist groups insists it should be the sole opposition representative in Geneva. The group has threatened not to attend the talks if other opposition factions are invited. But Russia, which backs Assad’s government, has objected to the composition of the Saudi–backed group and has called for a broader opposition delegation. Moscow wants a leading Syrian Kurdish political party invited to Geneva, and also seeks enhanced secular representation among opposition delegates. The U.N. special Syrian envoy, Staffan de Mistura, is expected to provide further details about the status of the talks Monday in Geneva.
The Syrian conflict, raging for nearly five years, has cost more than 200,000 lives and resulted in more than 4 million Syrians having fled their homeland, while millions more have been displaced within Syria. The war has further destabilized the Middle East and contributed to the migrant crisis in Europe. On the battlefront in Syria, government forces have long sought to expel rebels from Latakia, Assad’s home province and a government mainstay. The coastal province also houses the principal airbase used by Russian bombers and fighter jets. Syrian Army engineering units arrived in the newly captured areas in Latakia to dismantle roadside bombs and mines planted by the “terrorists,” reported the official Syrian media, which refers to all armed rebels as terrorists. The fall of Rabiaa, which has been in the hands of Islamist rebels since 2012, is the culmination of a months–long campaign to drive out the opposition from Latakia province. The loss of Rabiaa came less than two weeks after government forces overran the town of Salma, another former rebel bastion in the mountains of Latakia. Opposition fighters fleeing Rabiaa escaped toward nearby Turkey, the government said.
Los Angeles. Those districts and their grower members will be wary of watching their water disappear underground — and potentially flow where it will benefit someone else. The Modesto Irrigation District delivers water to about 58,000 acres of farms, through a lattice of canals between the Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers where they tumble toward the San Joaquin. Its coarse, alluvial soil absorbs water quickly, and most of it can be reached with wells of about 45 feet in depth, Blom said. “It’s a benefit to everybody, because we do sit in a basin of water,” Blom said. “If we can put water into that basin throughout our area it’s going to help everybody’s groundwa-
ter. So, all the wells will be fine.” That would include the city of Modesto, which uses both well water and surface supplies from the irrigation district. Dahlke said about 3.6 million to 5 million acres of agricultural land would have ideal characteristics for similar recharge projects. But she was well aware that such projects may not go smoothly in other districts that operate by strict rules about how and when they can release water. Often, agencies such as the Army Corps of Engineers release water in anticipation of storm events, not during them, Dahlke noted. “If we know when they are making those releases, we can grab some of that water,” Dahlke said.
Opinion Editorial THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN
“There is nothing like a dream to create the future.” - Victor Hugo
Monday, January 25, 2015
Editorial@DailyCollegian.com
Trump’s worst comment yet By Isaac Simon Collegian Staff
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has continued to surge in the polls. While I would mostly agree
Isaac Simon that Trump is perhaps the most exhausted political conversation out there at the moment, my reason for writing about him is legitimate. First, given my original prediction about Trump a matter of months ago, it seems I made a slight miscalculation. I thought Trump would be done by December, and it is now mid-January, but he hasn’t gone away. But that is nothing new; everyone knows that. Trump’s most recent comments in Iowa are definitely worthy of comment. Speaking to a crowd of people, Trump said, “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” The comment
been standing by this statement. He was also quick to deem his opponents soft candidates with little loyalty and support. This comment becomes a testament to their loyalty, a validation that he will stop at nothing for more support. This also confirms the confidence that Trump has when it comes to retaining the supporters he has already garnered. The term politician is now almost always equated with some sort of negative connotation, and though Trump has only strengthened this general distaste for politicians, it goes well beyond this. Trump has proven something no other presidential candidate has ever done. He has proven that you can be both a high profile candidate leading in the polls, and a joke at the same time. I don’t believe anyone thinks Trump will shoot somebody, let alone shoot someone on Fifth Avenue, but the fact that he gets away with whatever he says speaks volumes about the political atmosphere we live in.
“I don’t believe anyone thinks Trump will shoot somebody, but the fact that he gets away with whatever he says speaks volumes about the political atmosphere we live in.” is not only extremely offensive, given this country’s recent outbreak of mass shootings, but it strikes a nerve with many Americans. Interestingly enough, it seems as if the comment says as much, if not more, about Trump supporters than it does about Trump. The comment suggests that the American people are stupid. Perhaps they are, given the cognitive dissonance that has taken over. The vast majority of Americans believe Trump’s policies are ludicrous and unrealistic, and yet his popularity persists. Most Republicans find Trump out of touch and yet Trump has been largely successful in moving other presidential candidates further to the right. But this has made it difficult for many conservatives to explain how the number one candidate, who is out of touch with the American public, is also the number one choice for the nominee. Trump’s comment is careless. It suggests that he comes with a cloak of invisibility. He is a person who answers to no one, while claiming to have a great relationship with everyone. He can’t be bought and is always unfiltered. But this most recent comment suggests that his supporters do not care about his actions. For more than six months, they have validated Trump’s comments. His supporters have essentially given him a blank slate. Based on Trump’s most recent comment, they also don’t care what he does. This time, Trump has threatened violence. Both he and his campaign have
The demise of the two-party system Finally, the beginning of the 2016 presidential primaries is only a week away. Benjamin Clabault
He receives more media attention, along with air time on news and public affairs programs, than any other candidate. Over the past six debates, he has talked more than most of the other candidates onstage. Perhaps this most recent statement is an example of Trump sending us a message. He could be saying that we should all open our eyes and see what’s going on. It might be time to understand that Trump cannot be controlled. Voters like candidates who do not hold back, who are not afraid to be bullies and say unpopular opinions. But weaponized fear is certainly something that sits well with very few members of the electorate. The once invisible blank check that this country has given to Trump is becoming more and more visible. He is no longer making fun of Rand Paul’s poll numbers or trying to give Ted Cruz legal advice. Now, he is talking about what he could do: in this case, end the lives of innocent people and get away with it. He is representing a call to action. He is saying that if nothing happens to him after he says something as disgusting as this, then nothing can stop him. I hope that people understand what Trump is doing. Despite everything he has said so far, his most recent rhetoric matters. But regardless of how his language is being received, it is worth noting that nothing Trump says will make America great again. Isaac Simon is a Collegian columnist and can be reached at isimon@umass.edu.
The race feels like it has gone on for an eternity already. Through all of the dramatic debates, the posturing and the pandering, the arguing and the name-calling, I have found reasons to feel both sad and optimistic. I feel sad because this campaign has shown me sides of America that I naively hoped did not exist. I never would have thought that more than one-third of the members of one of our two major parties could support a candidate who shamelessly calls for banning Muslims from entering the United States and spews racially-charged misinformation on Twitter like Donald Trump. And, even in a society where news outlets seek profit through sensationalism, I never would have expected the media to give such buffoonery so much airtime and credit. The general level of discourse has been appalling. I remember as a kid I always saw the news, full of serious talk and important-looking people, as “television for grownups.” During this campaign, listening to analysts discuss exactly what Donald Trump was insinuating about Megyn Kelly’s body or whether or not he was really mocking a reporter with limited mobility, I cannot help but think that the news has devolved into the type of reality show that, as a kid, I would never have considered “grownup TV.” But I am optimistic as well, encouraged that a candidate like Bernie Sanders can draw huge crowds and challenge an establishment candidate. Socialism, long misrepresented and derided in the United States as the antithesis to our national values, is no longer a dirty word and the influence of money on politics is receiving at least a bit of the attention it deserves. And, perhaps most importantly, this decidedly unique presidential election may repre-
sent the beginning of the end of the absurd two-party system that has gridlocked our political system. President George Washington highlighted the dangers of “the spirit of party” in his farewell address, warning that, “It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration...it agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another.” Over 200 years later, we are witnessing the problems that he predicted. The two main political parties as they currently exist do not just poison the political atmosphere of the country; they make no sense. The battle lines have been drawn and the parties have picked their determined stances on key issues, but those stances are often incongruent to the party’s supposed philosophies. On its website, the Republican Party has compiled a “list of what it means to be a Republican,” based on public feedback. The list includes the idea that “families and communities should be strong and free from government intrusion.” Why then do conservatives con-
third-party candidacy if he is not “treated fairly.” Trump is not playing the party game and people are responding enthusiastically. Sanders decided to seek the nomination as a Democrat, but he has long placed himself outside the two-party system. He is technically an independent in the Senate and only ran as a Democrat for practical reasons, such as not wanting to steal liberal voters and hand the election to “some right-wing Republican.” Sanders’ success within the two-party system demonstrates the public’s frustration with the party establishment and a dynamic that does not seem to be working. Now, former New York City mayor and media mogul Michael Bloomberg is considering a run in the general election as an Independent. Here we have another politician who refuses to connect the dots along partisan lines on major issues. He was a Democrat, then ran for mayor as a Republican, before eventually calling himself an Independent. He presided over an era of increasing inequality in New York, which will draw the ire of progressives, but he also supports gun control and endorsed President Barack Obama in 2012 for his stance on climate change. Bloomberg’s involvement in the race would only further the muddying of the bipartisan pond. So far this race has proven unpredictable and confounding. As serious candidates, we have one man who calls himself a socialist and another who some have labeled a fascist, potentially soon to be joined by an Independent whose values regularly cross party lines. Whatever the results, this election cycle will represent a longoverdue shattering of a nonsensical status quo.
“During this race, the American public seems to be shattering the patchwork, issue-by-issue alliances that have had a hold on our national psyche for far too long.”
tinue to favor the criminalization of marijuana? That sounds to me like the government intruding on the community, imposing values and threatening the liberty of its citizens. Why do they also fight so strongly against abortion, as if, on certain issues, the government really does have every right to interfere? Something does not add up. But during this race, the American public seems to be shattering the patch worked, issueby-issue alliances that have had a hold on our national psyche for far too long. Trump is leading the Republican field despite constant complaints that he is not really even a conservative. His history of donating to Democratic candidates and supporting government healthcare give credence to these Benjamin Clabault is a Collegian columnist and claims. He has also threatened a can be reached at bclabaul@umass.edu.
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Arts Living THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN
Monday, January 25, 2015
“You met me at a very strange time in my life.” - The Narrator, ‘Fight Club’
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FILM REVIEW
‘Tangerine’ a vibrant, kinetic and heartfelt comedy Transgender costars light up the screen By Nate Taskin Collegian Staff
Like all great movies, “Tangerine” feels only ten minutes long. It’s a dose of cinematic adrenaline, filtered through profound affection and humanity. It’s chaotic and kinetic, sweet and propulsive, witty and sad. From the film’s opening moments, when the two lead characters exit a donut shop on Christmas Eve and power-walk down the sun-glazed streets of Santa Monica Boulevard, a tingling sensation began to creep up my spine. A realization dawned on me, even though I couldn’t articulate it at first. Whatever this movie is, it’s something I have not seen before. Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), a transgender prostitute who works the streets of Los Angeles, has just finished a month-long jail stint for drug possession. She meets up with her best friend and co-worker, Alexandra (Mya Taylor). Much to her indignation, Sin-Dee discovers that her boyfriend (who also doubles as her pimp) has been cheating on her with a “fish” (a woman born with a vagina) while she was in prison. She goes off to find this fish and
assert her dominance. The concerned Alexandra wants no part of this business, and just hopes to get enough people to attend her vocal performance at the local drag bar. In a flurry of lightningesque editing, “Tangerine” jumps between the exploits of Sin-Dee and Alexandra and one of their clients, an Armenian cab driver named Razmik (Karren Karagulian), and it all culminates in one of the most memorable, amusing and wistful climaxes in recent memory. The film was shot on an iPhone 5s. To me, that cutesy gimmick sounded like the epitome of the modern, digital indie inclination towards hideous, kitchen sink realism aesthetics. How wonderfully wrong was I. Director Sean Baker uses prime color correction to paint Los Angeles in lush purple hues and electric yellow flashes. His camera weaves in and around buildings and alleyways like a sidewinder. The film’s lovely, saturated widescreen aspect ratio and anamorphic lens allows the frame to move in a way that only a phone could move. Rodriguez and Taylor both deliver fantastic, evocative performances with great comedic and dramatic chemistry. We’re not dealing with an unfortunately familiar situation
in which cisgendered male actors don some makeup to grab an Oscar (raise your hands, Jared Leto and Eddie Redmayne.) Rodriguez and Tyler are the real deal: two trans women of color who worked as sex workers in Los Angeles. Neither of them had ever acted before, yet the natural ease of their movement and words makes them seem better pros than most of the highest paid celebs. These people innately understand their characters because they lived through them their whole lives. If some have attempted to justify the practical invisibility of trans people in Hollywood with claims of a lack of viable trans stars, than their excuses have dried up now. These women are knockouts. Rodriguez is dynamite as a woman whose blood you can practically see boil in the gleam of the sunlight. She portrays Sin-Dee as bouncy and animated, with a flavor of unhinged that feels genuine. Even when she’s cruel and callous, there’s never a moment where we don’t want to see Sin-Dee prevail in her exploits. If Rodriguez drives the film freight train-style with her relentless exuberance, then Mya Taylor grounds “Tangerine” with her soulful longing. Alexandra has dreams of escape from her current environment. She
SEAN BAKER AND RADIUM CHEUNG/MAGNOLIA PICTURES
Mya Taylor (left) and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez (right) each deliver dynamite performances in this immensely funny film. aspires to elevate herself from the bottom rung that society has placed her in, even when a wave of factors work against her. If SinDee’s flaws rest on the fact that she’s too preoccupied with the pettiness of street drama to see the bigger picture, then Alexandra’s tragedy is that she knows of a world beyond her orbit – and because of her intersecting identities, society conspires against her to ensure she never reaches it. Though the film is rife with funny, flowing dialogue and even verges on slapstick
at times, an innate sadness hovers around the heart of “Tangerine.” In the face of hopeless predicaments, the film says that the best you can do is to find a community that welcomes you, and learn to enjoy – or endure – current moments of cheer even when darkness slithers on the horizon. I want more movies like “Tangerine.” I dream of an ideal cinematic world where every movie house could show a gorgeous film shot on a phone next to an equally gorgeous one shot in 70mm film. A world filled
with a crescendo of exemplary, distinctive voices. There needs to be more works of art that spotlight characters like Sin-Dee and Alexandra. Diversity does not exist just as a quota to be fulfilled. We need it because it opens up doorways to a near-infinite range of real experiences, perspectives and unique stories. “Tangerine” shows us all of the humor and sadness that such storytelling can evoke. Nate Taskin can be reached at ntaskin@umass.edu.
FILM REVIEW
Friendship, love resonate ‘Trumbo’ charming biopic in ‘A Borrowed Identity’ about talented screenwriter Bryan Cranston leads all-star cast
By Conor Dennin Collegian Correspondent I went to see “A Borrowed Identity,” an Israeli film directed by Eran Riklis, expecting a deeply political drama fueling an ongoing debate about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I assumed that I would hear heated political rhetoric and see painful images from one of the most contested and heartbreaking geopolitical issues faced by the modern world. I was mistaken. While Riklis cannot ignore the politics of the conflict, especially in telling a story about a young Palestinian man who is selected to attend one of the top Jewish high schools in Israel, the director chooses to capture the intimate personality of his protagonist, Eyad (Tawfeek Barhom), rather than the landscape of his political world. This choice makes “A Borrowed Identity” a refreshing alternative to successful films such as “Paradise Now” or “Omar,” both by Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad. While those two films examine immense personal struggle against political obstacles, Riklis’ film depicts personal struggles against personal obstacles. Riklis achieves this by making the Israeli-Palestinian conflict part of the scenery, but not a part of the plot. None of the major characters express explicit or passionate political opinions, though differing ideologies are evident throughout the film. The juxtaposition of quiet and comfortable Israeli neighborhoods and loud and vibrant Palestinian neighborhoods hints indirectly at a story of two different worlds. The audience sees Hebrew and Arabic graffiti, but hears nothing about the divide between the speakers of the two languages. This is a massive vir-
By Griffin Lyons Collegian Staff
MICHAEL WIESWEG/STRAND RELEASING
Director Eran Riklis emphasizes personal over political conflicts in the film. tue of the film. Despite being a Palestinian Muslim, Eyad attends an allJewish school and falls in love with a Jewish woman, Naomi, (Daniel Kitsis). Through a tutoring program, he befriends Yonatan (Michael Moshonov), an Israeli man with muscular dystrophy who is confined to a wheelchair. Yonatan and Eyad bond over rock music, films and food. Naomi and Eyad navigate the awkward ordeal of young romance together. They kiss, dance, sneak phone-calls to one another and lose their virginity to one another in an awkwardly accurate and truthfully hilarious scene. At risk of spoiling the major dilemma of the film – although the film’s title overtly points to it – in order to maintain his relationship with Naomi, Eyad must grapple with concealing his true identity. Eyad negotiates the complexities of romance and friendship through this challenge. Further, he gains a respect for wisdom, through the character Edna, brilliantly portrayed by Yaël Abecassis. Eyad’s journey is complex. It is deeply personal. It is not grounded in politics. Certainly his world presents him with adversity, but the major obstacles in his life involve his relationships with others. Stories,
especially those told through film, have a wonderful way of subtly confronting political dilemmas by not talking about them at all. There are enough films that surround the ArabIsraeli conflict. There aren’t enough that remind us about the people who are forced to live through it. I saw a bit of myself in Eyad, Yonatan and Naomi. I didn’t see three young people caught up in the terrible and miserable world of conflict. I saw three adolescents struggling with their own personal challenges, on top of the awkward agony of being a teenager. In truth, we need more stories like “A Borrowed Identity.” One of the most effective functions of film is its ability to engender empathy. We need more empathy in this world, especially when talking about controversial topics. Instead of films that perpetuate our hyper-political sensitivity about conflicts, we need to see the people who are living through them. And even more important than just seeing them, we need to see ourselves in them. “A Borrowed Identity” affords us this opportunity. Conor Dennin can be reached at cdennin@umass.edu.
“Trumbo” is at its most interesting when its titular character (played by Bryan Cranston) is pitted against figures with a personality as distinct and proclaimed as his own. Thankfully, the film is replete with these moments. The direction of Jay Roach and gorgeous visuals from cinematographer Jim Denault bolster a compelling script by John McNamara, adapted from the autobiography “Dalton Trumbo” by Bruce Cook, to tell a story about the cost and value of principle in the face of injustice. “Trumbo” follows its protagonist’s life beginning with his conviction for perjury in 1947. Called to testify before the powerful, dubiously constitutional House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) about his outspoken leftist political convictions, the Hollywood screenwriter and nine of his colleagues are convicted of perjury for refusing to cooperate with the hearings and name any of their fellow dissidents. They are all subsequently blacklisted by major Hollywood studios, pressured by figures like the ardently anti-communist Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren). What ensues is a powerful study of the line between bravery and moral vainglory. Cleo (Diane Lane), Trumbo’ wife, and Nikola
In the course of his quest to expose the ridiculousness of the Hollywood blacklist, Trumbo spars with, defies and finds inspiration from a host of characters played with nuance by the film’s wide-ranging cast. (Elle Fanning), their oldest child, are two of the film’s best characters. They serve not merely as foils but as fully realized people in their own right. They meet Trumbo with challenge and defiance as his own sense of importance threatens to engulf and blind him to their needs, especially to those of Nikola, who’s a burgeoning activist following in the footsteps of her father. At a time in which many purportedly biographical films still reduce the women in their casts to a scrim of unconditional support or arbitrary troublesomeness, the fullness of Lane and Fanning’s roles is refreshing. In the course of his quest to expose the ridiculousness of the Hollywood blacklist, Trumbo spars with, defies and is inspired by a host of characters, played richly and impeccably by a wide-ranging cast. Mirren excels as one of Trumbo’s most dogged foes and the very picture of vehemence, lending the film a sense of political scope that keeps its very real historical subject matter from turning into mere decoration for its personal drama. In a standout role, the
comedian Louis C.K. turns in a great performance as screenwriter Arlen Hird, an even more fervent leftist than Trumbo, and an active challenger to the comfort of his conscience. John Goodman provides some of the film’s strongest moments of out-andout comedy as Frank King, the head of a third-rate studio who hires Trumbo and his fellow blacklisted writers to pseudonymously punch up the scripts of B-movie schlock. Similarly, Christian Berkel is notable as the demanding, slightly eccentric Austrian director Otto Preminger, as is Dean O’Gorman as film star Kirk Douglas, who enlists Trumbo as the writer on the screenplay for the film that will be the ultimate test of the blacklist: “Spartacus.” It is these tête-à-têtes with enemies and loved ones alike that keep “Trumbo” from being an award-baiting glory vehicle. They instead turn the film into a well-paced, carefully composed exploration of one of the darkest times in contemporary American history. Griffin Lyons can be reached at gylons@umass.edu.
6 Monday, January 25, 2016
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Jul. 23 - Aug. 22
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THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN
Monday, January 25, 2015
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MILE HIGH LETDOWN
Patriots fall 20-18 to Broncos in AFC Championship game By Kimberly A. Martin Newsday
MCT
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) finished with a QBR of 22 and was sacked four times by the Broncos defense in the loss.
DENVER — It’s not over yet for Peyton Manning. His NFL career may be nearing its end, but the 38-year-old Broncos quarterback refused to be put out to pasture. Instead, it was Manning _ and not Patriots quarterback Tom Brady _ who helped guide his team to a victory in Sunday’s AFC championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. And it is the Denver Broncos _ and not the defending champion Patriots _ who are headed to Super Bowl 50. Manning scrambled when he needed, outplayed Brady just enough and was helped greatly by a masterful defensive performance by the Broncos as they eked out a 20-18 win. But New England made it awfully close. Bill Belichick’s wardrobe change at halftime — in which he ditched his blue pullover for a grey sweatshirt — couldn’t break the
Broncos’ momentum. That is, until 52 seconds left in the game when Brady connected with Rob Gronkowski on a 40-yard throw downfield. Somehow, Brady was able to connect with his tight end again in a crowded end zone on a 4-yard TD pass that made it 20-18. The Patriots’ last-ditch effort was a two-point conversion attempt but Brady’s pass to Julian Edelman was tipped and intercepted by the Broncos. Manning completed 17 of 32 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns as the Broncos won their eighth conference title and the second trip to the Super Bowl in three seasons. It’s true, Father Time has taken his toll on Manning this season. But the Broncos defense had its way with Brady on Sunday. Though the score didn’t reflect it early on, Denver dominated the first half thanks to standout defensive pressure by Derek Wolfe, see
PATRIOTS on page 7
MEN’S BASKETBALL
UMass falls to Saint Louis Same issues come back to 86-75 Saturday afternoon haunt Minutemen in loss Minutemen allow “I thought we made a valiant effort coming 22-2 run in defeat back and scrapping some. And then we didn’t By Anthony Chiusano Collegian Staff
When Trey Davis threw up an off-balanced shot to beat the buzzer from just over half court to close out the first half Saturday afternoon, the relatively quiet Mullins Center crowd came alive and it appeared the Massachusetts men’s basketball team had shifted momentum entering the break. But it was Saint Louis who then came out and went on a 22-2 run starting four minutes into the second half to build an inescapable deficit for the Minutemen, who dropped their fifth straight in a 86-75 loss. UMass (8-10, 3-4 Atlantic 10) held a brief 46-43 lead behind six straight points from Donte Clark to open the second half. But starting at the 16:28 mark, the Minutemen’s offense went
make some basketball plays down the stretch that we talked about.” Derek Kellogg, UMass coach
cold amidst a 22-2 run by SLU that opened up to a 65-48 lead at the midway point in the half. Carried all afternoon by Davis (36 points), UMass countered with a small run of its own to bring the deficit to single digits in the final five minutes of regulation, but the Billikens (8-11, 3-4 A-10) clinched their second straight victory with 8-of-8 free throw shooting in the final minute. “It was kind of a telltale sign of how the second half was going to go. They made a couple plays, we didn’t execute on two quick sets out of the huddle and then we went down quite a bit,” Minutemen coach Derek Kellogg said about SLU’s second half run.
“I thought we made a nice, valiant effort coming back and scrapping some. And then we didn’t make some basketball plays down the stretch that we talked about.” Davis reached 30 points for the third time this season on 10-of-16 shooting, including 6-of-8 from 3-point range. But the Minutemen’s second and third-leading scorers Donte Clark (4-of-11) and Jabarie Hinds (4-of-16) combined to shoot under 30 percent from the field to highlight UMass’ offensive struggles. “Right now obviously (Davis), Jabarie and Donte are giving us most of our points. We are still trying to formulate that fourth or see
BILLIKENS on page 7
Latest loss extends winless streak to 5 By Andrew Cyr Collegian Staff
The 2015-16 season has quickly turned into a catastrophic disaster for the Massachusetts men’s basketball team. After a promising 5-1 start to the year, UMass (8-10, 1-5 Atlantic 10) has taken a harsh nosedive back into reality as the Minutemen dropped their fifth straight game Saturday afternoon falling to Saint Louis 86-75. All five losses have been by double digits. “Listen, we aren’t going to blow anyone out. We have to come out and try to scrap out some wins, that’s the way it is. We have some depth issues, we have some other stuff that’s kind of right there, but we are going to have to find a way to fight and claw our way to some victories,” UMass coach Derek Kellogg said.
“That’s what it is. I’ll be candid and honest, that’s where we’re at. We are going to just keep fighting and clawing.” After a back-and-forth first half and start of the second half, the Billikens (8-11, 3-4 A-10) went on a 22-2 run with 15 minutes, 15 seconds remaining, including a stretch where SLU scored 17 unanswered points to give it a 67-50 lead. The Billikens made three straight 3-pointers during the run after an Antwan Space free throw had tied the game at 48 with 14:32 remaining. During SLU’s run, its bench scored 11 straight with Marcus Bartley drilling back-toback 3s breaking UMass’ press. Bartley had a team-high 17 points as the Billikens bench outscored the Minutemen 46-9, and 40-26 in the paint. “They had guys coming in and out from all over the place. I was trying to figure out who was who pret-
ty quickly there,” Kellogg said. “They were playing a little bit faster and did some things that they haven’t done in years past and I think it’s been effective for them over the last three or four games,” Kellogg added. Entering Saturday’s game, SLU ranked third to last in the A-10 in scoring, averaging just 66.6 points per game, but it has averaged 83 points over its last four games. The lone bright spot for UMass was Trey Davis, who finished with 36 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including 6-of-8 from 3-point range. Davis’ biggest baskets came at the end of the first half, scoring eight points in the final minute including two deep 3-pointers, the second coming from just inside half court to beat the buzzer giving UMass a 40-37 lead heading into the break. Davis had 22 points in the first half. “I’m going to get over it see
ISSUES on page 7
HOCKEY
UM squanders late two-goal lead in 6-4 loss toVermont Minutemen allow 4 goals in third period By Ross Gienieczko Collegian Staff
After a 4-2 lead through the opening two periods brought hope that this might the end of its five-game losing streak for the Massachusetts hockey team, UMass surrendered four goals in the third period, allowing Vermont to rally for a 6-4 victory on Saturday night at Mullins Center. The third period was all too familiar for the
Minutemen (7-14-4, 2-9-4 Hockey East. Ori Abramson scored just two minutes, 33 seconds into the frame to bring the Catamounts (11-142, 5-7-2) within one. Minutes later, on one of their eight power play chances on the night, Jonathan Turk scored the goal of the evening for the Catamounts, rushing down the left wing and beating UMass goaltender Nic Renyard with an unstoppable wrist shot. It was 4-4 and UVM was firmly in control of the game. The game-winning goal came at 10 minutes, 19 seconds of the third period after a long period of
offensive zonetime for the Catamounts. Eventually, the puck took a bad bounce and ended up on the stick of Mario Puskarich right in front of the net, making no mistake with the chance, scoring his seventh goal of the year to give UVM a 5-4 lead. Brendan Bradley added an empty netter in the final minute to seal the deal. After the game, UMass coach Micheletto was irate with the officials for a nocall on a hit on defenseman Callum Fryer that knocked him out of the game in the see
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The Minutemen have now lost six games in a row with just one win in their last 17 contests.
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PATRIOTS
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Von Miller and Demarcus Ware. And in the second half, The Miller Show continued. The pending free agent had 2 sacks and one of Brady’s two interceptions, as the Broncos’ relentless pressure battered Brady and tossed him around like a rag doll. He finished the game 27 of 56 for 310 yards, one TD and two interceptions. It was only the second time in Brady’s career that he’s been picked off twice in the first half of a playoff game _ the last time being the Patriots’ 33-14 loss to the Ravens in 2009. Manning got Denver on the board first, finding Owen Daniels on a 21-yard TD pass to put the Broncos up 7-0 with 7:32 in the first quarter. It was only the second TD Manning had thrown at Mile High this season and, coincidentally, it was Daniels who
caught the first one in Week 4 vs. the Vikings. And the two teamed up again in the second quarter for another score. Brady’s first interception of the game _ courtesy of pending free agent Miller at the 14:35 mark _ gave Denver the ball on the Patriots’ 16. Three plays later, Manning threw a 12-yard TD pass to Daniels to make it 14-6. The last time Manning three two touchdowns in a game? Nov. 8 vs. the Indianapolis Colts. Brandon McManus’ 52-yard field goal made it 17-9 Broncos with 33 seconds left before halftime. The Patriots struggled to generate much on offense, save for a Stephen Jackson 1-yard TD run in the first quarter. But typically surefooted kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed the extra point and the Patriots were
BLOWN LEAD second period. He was also upset that the last six penalties of the game were called against the Minutemen. “Not saying that our game was perfect, but to lose a defenseman halfway through, not get a penalty call, and then have six consecutive calls against you is a tough road to hope, for any team,” Micheletto said. “I don’t know if I need to throw water bottles on the ice to start getting calls, but it’s a shame what happened to our guys tonight.” Overall UMass took eight penalties on the night, and the Catamounts converted two of the ensuing power play chances for goals that would prove crucial in the outcome of the game. In the first period the Minutemen jumped out to a 3-1 lead behind two goals from sophomore forward
only able to pull to within 7-6. It was his first errant PAT attempt since 2006 and according to the CBS broadcast, Gostkowski had made 523 in a row prior to that miss. But Gostkowski later made up for his miscue when he nailed a 46-yard field goal with 7:02 left in the first half. He also connected on a 38-yard field goal in the third and McManus was good on a 31-yard attempt in the fourth. It wouldn’t be a Patriots game, however, if there wasn’t another “gate” controversy. This time, the term “Tabletgate” was quickly termed on social media after CBS reported New England’s league-issued Microsoft Surface tablets malfunctioned temporarily in the first half.
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Dennis Kravchenko and a power play strike from Patrick Lee. But a pair of goals from standout UVM defenseman Alexx Privitera kept the game close, and after his second goal of the night it was 3-2 Minutemen at 10 minutes, 52 seconds of the second period. Austin Plevy scored less than five minutes later to restore a two-goal lead, and the period ended with UMass ahead 4-2. Despite allowing five goals, Renyard played well in net for UMass. He made 40 saves on the night and tracked the puck well. If not for his consistency, the Minutemen most likely would not have been in the game in the third period. On the other end of the ice, UMass struggled offensively after scoring three
goals in the opening period. In the last 40 minutes however, the Minutemen landed just 10 shots on goal. After the first period, the ice was tilted completely in UVM’s favor. In the postgame press conference, coach Kevin Sneddon talked about what the Catamounts did better after the opening 20 minutes. “Really, everything,” Sneddon said. “Our attention to detail was better, we were first to loose pucks in the offensive zone, we pressured their defensemen pretty well. “I like the way we kept our foot on the gas (after the first period),” Sneddon continued. “I thought we played pretty well.” Ross Gienieczko can be reached at rgieniec@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @RossGien.
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fifth scoring option, which hasn’t really formulated itself. I think 36 (points) is probably a little much but (Davis) did it on 10-for-16 (shooting),” Kellogg said. Kellogg added: “When that happens, you’re trying to be the main scorer, you put a little too much pressure on yourself sometimes and I think he can do that and rely on his teammates and some of those guys have to make some plays.” SHANNON BRODERICK/COLLEGIAN On defense, UMass had problems getting back in Junior Seth Berger puts up a shot versus Saint Louis in Saturday’s loss. transition all game, as SLU consistently broke the we’re at that spot yet, so the Minutemen’s current press in an up-tempo pace we ended up playing a little slump have been by double that Billikens coach Jim more half court (defense) digits. UMass will next try Crews said is consistently than I’d like.” to snap its longest losing stressed in practice. The Billikens finished “We want to be in attack with 40 points in the paint streak since the 2009-10 mode… We don’t want to behind their aggressive season Wednesday night at break the press and then attacking style that opened Saint Joseph’s. set up at half court,” Crews up 3-point opportunities in “I’m going to continue to said. “We want a seamless the second half as SLU shot come in here with my hard offense, not two different 4-of-9 from deep out of the hat on. I’m going to have to things, and they did a good break. job of that.” Four SLU players scored get a few more hard hats “They did a good job double digit points and to spread around the team of hitting middle. We took its bench contributed 46 and make sure that everythe press off pretty quickly points compared to UMass’ one has one because we are after, I think they got one nine. going to dig ourselves out layup drive at that point,” Clark finished with Kellogg said. “Those are 12 before fouling out and of this,” Kellogg said. the ones where you’re Hinds had 10 alongside kind of hopeful that maybe Davis’ game-high perfor- Anthony Chiusano can be reached at achiusano@umass.edu and folsomeone makes a big block mance for UMass. or big play. I don’t think All five losses during lowed on Twitter @a_chiusano24.
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and get ready for the next game. That’s all I can say,” Davis said when asked about how disappointing the Minutemen’s loss was. Despite the weeklong layover between its last contest, a 86-74 loss at Davidson last Saturday, Kellogg said that he plans on going back to the drawing board to try and figure out ways to prevent UMass from going on lapses like it did at the start of the second half. During SLU’s major
second half run, the Minutemen went 7:29 between field goals. “I’m just coming to work everyday with a great attitude and trying to push our team. I’m not a lay down guy, as you know. I’ve been around here for a while as a player and coach,” Kellogg said. “Every program and coach can hit a rough patch, obviously we’ve hit one and I think your character gets tested with how
HOCKEY
you respond to it in times like these. I’m not changing who I am as a person or as a coach. I’m going to continue to come in here with my hard hat on. I’m going to have to get a few more hard hats to spread around the team and make sure that everyone has one because we are going to dig ourselves out of this.” Andrew Cyr can be reached at arcyr@ umass.edu, and followed on Twitter @Andrew_Cyr.
Micheletto frustrated with N F L Panthers defeat Cardinals officiating, Fryer leaves game 49-15, will play Denver in SB UMass records six “There should be a lot better feeling going on penalties in a row By Jason Kates Collegian Staff
Three times. That’s how many times Massachusetts hockey coach John Micheletto mentioned the fact that six consecutive penalties were called on the Minutemen in their latest defeat, a 6-4 loss to Vermont in which they were outscored by their opposition 4-0 in the final period. Despite building a 4-2 lead heading into the final 20 minutes of play, things began to tilt in the Catamounts’ (11-14-2, 5-7-2 Hockey East) favor in the second period after a vicious hit on freshman defenseman Callum Fryer resulted in a no-call, and Fryer leaving the game with an undisclosed injury. This led to Micheletto’s first mention of the “six consecutive penalties.” “Not saying that our game was perfect, but to lose a defenseman halfway through and not get a penalty call and then have six consecutive penalties called on you is a very, very tough road to hope for any team, home or away,” a visibly frustrated Micheletto said after the game. “I don’t know if I need to throw water bottles on the ice to start getting calls, but it’s a shame what happened to our guys tonight,” he added. The Minutemen finished with eight penalties on the night, three of which were
in that locker room tonight, those guys deserve better, it’s unfortunate that they don’t have it. ” John Micheletto, UMass coach
assessed on UMass (7-14-4, 2-9-4 HEA) captain Steven Iacobellis. These penalties, combined with the added absence of Fryer, led to the Minutemen having a short bench and exerting a lot of energy that came back to haunt them. Cue the second mention of “six consecutive penalties.” “One of your best penalty killers on the back end gets hurt, your best penalty killer at forward is called for three minor infractions, you’re going invest a lot of time in a very short bench,” Micheletto said. “The impact of, if I haven’t mentioned, six penalties called on us in a row, is difficult for anybody to manage.” Dennis Kravchenko, who scored two goals on the night and found the back of the net for the first time since Oct. 30, discussed how important of a loss it was when Fryer had to exit the game, noting his size and presence on the penalty kill. “(Fryer’s) a great defenseman,” Kravchenko said. “He’s solid on the puck, he gets shots on net, blocks shots, the kid’s just allaround solid and losing a kid like that, that’s a big physical body that you lost. “He’s one of our physi-
cal guys so it really hurt the team, especially with the ice tilting in the second and third period. Losing (Fryer) in the second really hurt us, but we did it to ourselves tonight.” Even in the loss, Micheletto said it was fantastic to see Kravchenko and freshman Austin Plevy getting back on the score sheet, but still lamented the end result. “The shame of it is you don’t get the reward you deserve,” Micheletto said. “There should be a lot better feeling going on in that locker room tonight, those guys deserve better, it’s unfortunate that they don’t have it.” When asked if any positive progress would be taken from Saturday’s loss, Micheletto acknowledged the importance of not just progress, but wins. This led to his final mention of the “six consecutive penalties.” “When you’re in a bad stretch, wins help confidence,” Micheletto said. “When you do a lot of good things and have six penalties in a row called on you, its difficult for your focus to be anywhere but frustrated.” Jason Kates can be reached at jkates@umass.edu and followed @Jason_Kates.
By Jonathan Jones The Charlotte Observer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers have the Halas Trophy, presented to them Sunday as the NFC champions. Now they’ll go after the Lombardi Trophy, which goes to the Super Bowl champion. Carolina beat the Arizona Cardinals 49-15 at Bank of America Stadium, and these Panthers joined the 2003 group as the second in franchise history to advance to the Super Bowl. In Santa Clara, Calif., the Panthers will face the Denver Broncos, 20-18 winners over the New England Patriots in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m.
on Feb. 7. The Panthers led 17-0 before the end of the first quarter. And unlike four times earlier this season, including in an NFC divisional round victory over Seattle a week earlier, Carolina never let Arizona back in. A Cardinals touchdown and two-point conversion with 14:16 to play in the game made it 34-15, but the Panthers drove 84 yards in nine plays for a touchdown pass to Devin Funchess that made it 40-15 with 5:26 to play. A two-point conversion pass to Mike Tolbert made it 42-15. On the Cardinals’ ensuing drive, Luke Kuechly returned Carson Palmer’s interception
for a touchdown to make it 49-15. And it was over. The Panthers never allowed Palmer to complete a pass over the top, although he took a number of shots. Palmer didn’t throw for a touchdown and was intercepted four times and fumbled twice on strip sacks. His longest completion was 16 yards. The game wasn’t totally without cost, however. Outside linebacker and Pro Bowler Thomas Davis injured his right forearm late in the first half and didn’t return. Safety Roman Harper also was out before halftime, with an injury to his right eye. Their status is unclear.