Record number of students welcomed at convocation â–ş Page 3
THE UMASS LOWELL
Serving the Student Body Since 1976
September 12, 2017
Huk plays beyond the love of the game
In This Issue
Hannah Manning
‘Emoji’ movie review
Connector Editor
â–ş Page 5
Campus living series: Fox Hall
â–ş Page 6 Field Hockey recap
â–ş Page 8
Final River Hawk Scores Team
Score
Overall Record
Women’s Soccer at St. Bonaventure T 0-0
2-1-3
Field Hockey vs. Georgetown
W 2-1
4-1
Volleyball vs. Houston Baptist
L 3-1 3-4
Men’s Soccer vs. Providence
L 2-1
3-1-0
‘IT’ was good Owen Johnson Connector Editor
“IT� has so much riding against it. It is a film adaptation of a popular novel written by Stephen King; in his novels, typically the main cast is comprised entirely of child actors. In short, it is unbelievable that “IT� was this good. In the small town of Derry, Maine, a group of seven kids set out to defeat the evil that lurks beneath their town, which has plagued the community on and off again for the past 27 years. While many movies suffer from being longer than they need to be due to unneeded material getting stuffed in, “IT� suffers due to being too short, even though it is two hours long. While most of the children are developed enough so that the audience can understand their characters and why they are friends with each other, Ben’s (Jeremy Ray Taylor) reason for being welcomed into the group and Mike’s (Chosen Jacobs) character are unfortunately underwritten. Those issues are easy to overlook, however, thanks to the performance of the child actors. There are a few moments where it seems like they might be unsure about how to act in a scene, but for the most part their acting is believable. They know how to emote without being awkward about it, they manage
Torrie Huk, a field hockey player at UMass Lowell, loves what she does. She loves playing field hockey. She loves being around her teammates. She loves her family, her dogs Phantom and Trooper, the coaching staff at UMass Lowell, and the children she has coached and wants to work with after college. The things she does are heavily rooted in involvement, commitment and love. Her decision to play Division I field hockey at UMass Lowell stemmed from the opportunity to continue her field hockey career and “do something that [she] love[s].� Huk, a junior forward/ midfielder who wears the number 25 for the River Hawks, has 54 points in
Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics Jessica Kergo/Connector
Huk playing against Geargetown University.
43 career games for UMass Lowell. Out of those 43 games, she has started 39 times. A leader both on the field and off, Huk has emerged as one of UMass Lowell’s most formidable players in the new Division I era. But it almost did not happen. When one of her brothers got cancer in
high school, Huk refused to go to school, and she instead wanted to stay with him. Huk’s brother insisted she go to school and was a major factor in her decision to go to college. Her brother later recovered, and his strength and determination continues to inspire her. “I just‌ kind of play
â–ş See “Huk,â€? page 7
River hawk freshmen run strong at Souther Invitational UMass Lowell Athletics
HANOVER, N.H. – UMass Lowell cross country freshmen were put to the test, Saturday, at the Maribel Sanchez Souther Invitational and came through with flying colors on the Hanover Country Club course in the event hosted by Dartmouth College. “This was a successful Saturday morning,� said UMass Lowell
Head Coach Gary Gardner. “We achieved everything we were looking to achieve. We were real pleased.� Gardner and his staff wanted to see the men run an 8k race and wanted the women to put together a high tempo run on the 6k course. For the freshmen the distances were likely the longest races they’ve ever run and the coaching staff wanted both the men and women to get
â–ş See “IT,â€? page 4
Sections News.............................3 Campus Life..................6 A&E.............................. 4 Sports........................... 8
for him now,� Huk said. Huk’s strong bond with her family has shaped her entire life. All three Huk children have played sports at the collegiate level; one of her brothers plays golf and the other plays Division III baseball.
Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics
Paul Hogan at the pre-conference meet prior to the Souther Invitational.
used to the distances. The course itself, in addition to the distances, provided the type of test Gardner was hoping for. “It wasn’t flat, it wasn’t hilly,â€? according to the coach. “It was a good test without going crazy.â€? On the men’s side of the ledger, freshman Daniel Cosgrove (Boxford, Mass.) was the first across the finish line. He clocked in with a time of 25-minutes, 40.7-seconds. The time may be the fastest turned in by a River hawk freshman in their collegiate debut. “We knew that he was good when we recruited him,â€? said Gardner. “He was really solid and ran a smart race. We wanted him to go out easy, hang back, and then track people down and that’s exactly what he did.â€? Cosgrove finished sixth overall and teammate freshman Derek Holmes (Marshfield, Mass.) was tenth. Holmes, like Cosgrove a strong miles in high school, hit the finish line in a time of 26:10.4. Sophomore James Robbins â–ş See “Cross Country,â€? page 8
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September 12, 2017
OPINIONS & EDITORIALS Welcoming address from the Editor-in-Chief Dear students,
Taylor Carito/Connector
My name is Taylor Carito and I am the Editor-in-Chief of The Connector. First off, I would like to welcome back all the upperclassmen students returning from summer vacation, as well as welcome all the new students coming to UMass Lowell for the first time. I can say wholeheartedly that this university was a wise choice for your higher education. I am very excited to serve the student body as the new Editor-in-Chief, and I would like to make you aware of something that you can contribute to and make a difference. Prior to this position I was the news editor, and through that role I, as well as other news writers, investigated problems that were happening both on-campus and off. As someone who is incredibly interested in media and the influence it has on the world, I would like to address you all as you begin or continue your journeys at UMass Lowell and through life. If there is one thing I have learned simply through my college years alone, it is that everyone serves a role in making a difference. This to show you that this section I am writing in is your space. As the Editor-in-Chief, I advocate to make sure that the students are heard, and the ediTHE UMASS LOWELL
The Connector covered the Women’s March in Boston.
tors and I have seen it make a difference firsthand. The Connector has covered hard-hitting stories such as the HESI changes last year, Edge Merrimack, the bee climate change, the travel ban, the election, adjunct faculty member benefits, peace rallies, and countless other things that make a difference and impact us all in some way even if we do not necessarily realize it. It is for this reason I am writing this letter. I want to encourage you all to utilize this section. I leave this section for those who have something to say. Your voice has the opportunity
to be truly heard and I want all of you to take it. Your opinions and your stories matter to us. If there is something you want covered or something you want to see published, I encourage you to reach out. The Connector is your student newspaper. I wish you all a tremendous start to the school year, and I can’t wait to see the differences we will make in both the university and the world. Sincerely, Taylor Carito Editor-in-Chief
Serving the Student Body Since 1976
UMASS LOWELL CONNECTOR
EDITORIAL BOARD OPEN Operations Manager
TAYLOR CARITO Editor-In-Chief
KATRINA DESROSIERS MICHAELA GOSS Copy Editors OPEN Advertising Manager ALEXA HYDE Social Media Manager CHRISTINA LADEROUTE Web Manager MATT DWYER Photo Editor OPEN Graphic Designer
HANNAH MANNING Managing Editor
ANDREW SCIASCIA News Editor KATHRYN LEEBER Sports Editor BROCK JOHNSON Campus Life Editor MARILYN SAHA Asst. Campus Life Editor BRENDAN JACQUES Arts & Entertainment Editor OWEN JOHNSON Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor
Staff NICK BRAMANTE SHANE FOLEY EMMA HARGRAVES ANDREW HAVERTY
JESSICA KERGO JASON OUNSPRASEUTH CHRISTOPHER ROMANO EMILY TOOMEY
Email | Connector@uml.edu Website | www.UMLConnector.com Phone | 978.934.5017 ext. 45017 Address | University Crossing, Room 241 220 Pawtucket St. Lowell, MA 01854 General: The UMass Lowell Connector is a non-profit student public forum serving the University of Massachusetts Lowell community. The paper is published weekly and distributed to the university community every Tuesday. Business hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please be aware that members of the University community are entitled to free newspapers. Please take one! All UMass Lowell students, regardless of major, are invited to join the Connector staff. Interested students should contact an editor or manager listed above, or visit the Connector Office in University Crossing 241. Advertising: The UMass Lowell Connector advertisements reach an estimated 16,000 UMass Lowell students--their friends and families. To tap this group of
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The Connector meets every Monday at 6 p.m. in University Crossing 241 in the Club Hub. All are welcome to join! submitted via campus mail, e-mail, or in person. All letters must bear the author’s name, relationship to the University and student body, and a phone number. The author may request to have any part of this information withheld, if published. Opinions expressed in individual columns, the Opinions Section, advertising, and/or features are those of the author, NOT of the Connector. The Opinions and Editorials section will not be edited in any way, to include spelling/grammar mistakes. Submission: The deadline for all submissions (to include Letters to the Editors and Opinions) is Friday at midnight for the following Tuesday’s publication. Submissions must be e-mailed to Marlon_Pitter@student.uml.edu, attached as a Word document (any version). Accompanying visuals must
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September 12, 2017
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NEWS Convocation emphasizes what being a River Hawk means Hannah Manning Connector Editor
As Chancellor Jacquie Moloney welcomed the largest incoming class in UMass Lowell history, a sea of blue that ran awash over sections 103-109 of the Tsongas Center, she stressed that the diversity of the campus was its greatest strength. At 10:31 a.m. more than 3,200 freshmen and transfer students were officially inducted into UMass Lowell and another chapter of what Chancellor Moloney referred to as “an incredible time in the university’s history” was opened. This year marks a conscious effort on the university’s part to reinforce students’ identities as River Hawks and to tie them closer together as a community. With the athletic department’s #RiseUp campaign to drum up interest in its fully-fledged Division I programs and the expansion of the term “River Hawk” UMass Lowell showed students on Aug. 31 that it is serious about its image. As the university’s enrollment continues to climb to over 18,000 students, administration at Convocation showed an eagerness to promote the image of a River Hawk as not just the imaginary species of the school’s mascot, but a state of being. “You are not just a UMass Lowell student but you’re also a River Hawk,” Associate Vice Chancellor Larry Siegel said. “We are pragmatic, hardworking, innovative… socially responsible, intelligent and altruistic.”
In recent years, UMass Lowell has made strides in both student enrollment and in construction. As Chancellor Moloney said in her welcoming speech, the university has built 13 new buildings in six years which include residence halls, athletic fields and academic buildings. These moves contribute to UMass Lowell’s ranking as the fastest-growing public doctoral institution and the fifth fastest-growing college in the country. With the image of the university in transition, there was a much greater emphasis on grounding those lofty
“We are pragmatic, hardworking, innovative... socially responsible, intelligent and altruistic.” achievements with the promise of a tight community of likeminded students. Commitment and identity were major topics of most of the speeches given at Convocation, and were reinforced more passively as each student was handed a free shirt upon entering the Tsongas Center. With their identical shirts, each person in the Tsongas Center was united in blue with their fellow students. And as the speakers said time and time again throughout the ceremony, the community at UMass Lowell is what they believe is its greatest asset.
Courtesy of UMass Lowell
Convocation speaker Benjamin O’Keefe and Chancellor Moloney welcome the newly inducted class of River Hawks.
“No two people in this room have the same story,” said Student Government Association President Lisa Degou. Although she said in her speech that UMass Lowell was not her first choice college, she said that “it should’ve been.” Those stories, keynote speaker Benjamin O’Keefe said, have a lot of power. O’Keefe, a 23-year-old political activist who has worked with MoveOn. org and MTV, said students should come together and support each other through the highs and lows of college. His speech, detailing his life as a gay, black poor man living in Florida who struggled with and overcame suicidal thoughts and anorexia, elicited a standing ovation from the audience.
The overarching message of the morning was successful; the audience left the ceremony more aware of what it means to be a UMass Lowell student beyond getting a degree. The participatory aspect of convocation had students vote Green Roofs to win a $1,500 grant to build more green spaces on campus, understand that they are not alone in their struggles and even cheer on a hockey game from months ago as though they were there. A mere 59 minutes after being inducted into UMass Lowell, over 3,200 students were released from the Tsongas Center to begin their time as River Hawks and add to their own personal story.
Courtesy of UMass Lowell
An energetic standing ovation is given to Convocation speaker Benjamin O’Keefe by UMass Lowell’s incoming class of 2021.
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September 12, 2017
September 12, 2017
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ‘IT’ is the king of horror movies ►Continued from front page - to do dramatic scenes well and they have wonderful chemistry which makes it easy to believe that they are friends, regardless of the underdevelopment of a few characters. Humor and terror make up most of the two-hour runtime, but not only do both tones work, they end Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
“IT” had been stuck in development since 2009.
up complimenting each other surprisingly well. A lot of the humor comes from the banter between the young friends, but the way it is utilized and the personalities that the characters are given makes the humor work in a way that it does not dissolve any of the suspense or horror that was in a scene, even if the humor comes in right in the middle of a dramatic or scary moment. The way that the horror is executed shows that Andy Muschietti he knows how to properly scare an audience intelligently. The atmosphere of the scenes is built up superbly and the frightening images that the children are seeing make sense for their characters, so it is scary for the audience because they are scared for the characters. There are jump scares in a few places, but they work because they act only to elevate the terror in the scene, not to act as a payoff. The child actors all do a good job in their parts, but a special mention must be given to Bill Skarsgård for his portrayal of Pennywise the Clown. Skarsgård’s role was one that could easily have gone wrong due to overacting or coming off as comical, but he found the right measure of fearsomeness to make the character of Pennywise a truly unsettling
Bill Aghababian
The “Shadowrun’ RPG has long been one of the most popular systems in the tabletop genre. It features a very distinct cyberpunk setting which incorporates traditional fantasy elements such as elves and magic into a more futuristic time. The popularity of the game has led to the setting spreading out into other genres, most notably video games. One such game is “Shadowrun: Dragonfall,” an RPG developed by Hare Brained Studios for PC. Originally created as an expansion for its predecessor, “Shadowrun Returns,” “Dragonfall” has since been released as a standalone game, and is one of the best ways to get introduced to the setting. Gameplay wise, neither “Dragonfall” nor its related titles are particularly unique in their style. Similar to classic RPG’s such as “Fallout,” “Dragonfall” utilizes a 2-D isometric world for the player to interact in. The player is controlled with the mouse, and most objects and people interact by being clicked on. Where the game differs significantly is in the scope of its world. In most RPGs of this nature, there is a large, interconnected map which the player can explore. In “Dragonfall,” however, the player is limited to a single, centralized hub, from which he/she can go out on missions assigned by mysterious employers. These missions are the focal point of the game, with stops in the hub location being a little more than brief interludes to resupply and receive new tasks before heading back out. Because of this, the missions themselves have a bit of adaptability in how they can be completed, and players can choose how to finish a
mission based upon their style. Players can customize their character to fit a variety of different roles, from the combat focused street samurai to the more mechanically inclined rigger. The player also has access to a team of allies, each one with their own skill sets and abilities. This allows the player to have a well-balanced party which can handle anything the player might be unable to handle themselves.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Emily Toomey Connector Staff
“IT” has grossed over $100 million since its release.
on-screen figure. “IT” is the kind of movie that all film incarnations of novels should strive to be like. It does justice to the source material for fans of the novel while acting as a good movie for those unfamiliar with the book. Final Grade: A-
als in the world are perfectly made to showcase the cyberpunk feel of the “Shadowrun” setting. Neon lights contrast with industrial structures to create a world that feels dark and gritty while still managing to look beautiful. This combined with the fantastic soundtrack make for a truly unique and immersive world. The various plotlines in the game are likewise fantastic. The main story has many
Courtesy of Harebrained Schemes
The first edition of the Shadowrun tabletop game premiered in 1989.
Combat is likewise nothing new, with fights taking place using turn based combat in a style similar to “XCOM.” Both the player-character and their team of companions can use their weapons and abilities to eliminate opposition and advance to the next area. The player must maneuver their team in and out of cover and make strategic decisions to succeed. While it may not be anything groundbreaking, it still manages to be entertaining, and even minor fights can be tactically engaging. Where the game truly shines is in its atmosphere and story. The visu-
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‘Atypical’ is anything but typical
‘Shadowrun Dragonfall:’ A different type of RPG Connector Contributor
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
twists and surprises and is perfectly paced to keep the player engaged and coming back for more. Even the minor plotlines introduced in the side missions are interesting, and each one makes the mission it belongs to feel very unique. On top of everything, the game also features a cast of characters, each one with their own style, background and demeanor. They have all sorts of different interactions with the player and are all complex and interesting in their own ways. Some of the best moments in the game can be found through dialogue and interaction with these characters.
“Dragonfall” is far from faultless. Dialogue frequently includes terminology and slang that can sometimes be difficult to understand, especially if the setting is unfamiliar. While some of it can be inferred or inquired about by the player, it can still prove to be a nuisance when trying to become immersed in the world. On the more mechanical side, the chances to hit displayed during combat are often misleading. It is not uncommon for an attack with a 70 percent chance of success to miss about two thirds of the time, which can be incredibly irritating. Finally, the game includes a parallel digital world known as the Matrix, which can be accessed by certain characters in order to give their allies in the main world an advantage. While this is initially interesting, there is not much depth to it and Matrix based segments quickly become tedious. Despite this, “Shadowrun: Dragonfall” remains worthwhile to play. The fantastic atmosphere alone more than outweighs any of the game’s flaws, and even at its worst the game still manages to be immersive and engaging. At a regular price of $15, the average player can expect between 15 and 20 hours of gameplay on their first play through, which is a reasonable value for the price. This combined with the fact that the game has a great deal of inherent replayability means that “Dragonfall” is well worth the purchase. Both experienced RPG connoisseurs and newcomers to the genre will find something to like about the game, and it makes a wonderful addition to any gaming collection. Final Grade: B+
“Atypical” is breaking out into the Netflix world as a more progressive approach to television. This comedy style drama features Keir Gilchrist as an autistic high schooler named Sam, who is navigating his way through his senior year and the harsh world of dating. The show stands out in terms of representing the world of autism. However, the show falls a little short in showing the true struggles of autism. Throughout the show, Sam is bothered by loud noises, too many zippers on his jacket and weird textures. Yet he is able to effectively express his anger and feelings towards these issues. Sam is slowly learning how to navigate the real world on his own which most autistic people struggle with. “Atypical” stands out within its own moments of ups and downs. Through all the madness of high school, Sam is able to provide a more light-hearted perspective. His strange behavior allows him to shine as a character more relatable to the audience. He tries his best to be independent by holding a steady job, for example. He even has a girlfriend named Paige. His struggles allow him to stand out and act as an
inspiration to the audience. But just how realistic is his demeanor? In real life it is much harder for someone with autism to obtain a job, let alone a girlfriend; especially considering Paige does not have au-
that really is his biggest flaw and hardest struggle. Through his struggle with autism the real problem is uncovered: his family is falling apart. His sister struggles with her own
Courtesy of Netflix
Series creator Robia Rashid previously worked on ‘How I Met Your Mother.’
tism. Sure he has his quirks like many others with autism, but he also has a much easier life so to speak. Sam is very honest and tends to blurt out what he is thinking, regardless if it will hurt the person. Oddly enough,
identity of choosing what is right for her versus what is best for Sam. Sam’s mother seems to have a much harder time coping than most. She is very unsure of herself and how to help Sam. She turns to an affair, thinking it will
solve her problems but in fact it only creates a much bigger problem for herself. Sam’s father is very confused. He wants nothing more than a close relationship with Sam, but fails to create one. He is unsure of how to cope with his autism or how to talk to Sam correctly. The dramatic aspect of the show is a way to emphasize the serious effects of autism on a family as a whole while still keeping the audience hooked. Overall, the show puts emphasis on the basic struggles of autism, but fails to dig deeper. The show is funny, but also serious in ways unexpected. The aspect of a failing marriage creates a somber tone to the show instead of a comical sense that the show is trying to achieve. The show is struggling to achieve its intended purpose of representing autism correctly, but the acting and characters throughout are relatable nonetheless. Sam’s characteristics and his desire to do “normal” things are inspirational. Should a second season premiere the show could really stand a chance and shine and better represent the world of autism. Final Grade: B
The emotion is anger for ‘The Emoji Movie’ Owen Johnson Connector Editor
There are a lot of bad movies out there, and “The Emoji Movie” is the worst kind of bad movie. It may be a cavalcade of “How did anyone think this was a good idea?” questions, but it is ultimately lackluster, uninspired and has nothing special about it. Within an app on a kid named Alex’s (Jake T. Austin) smartphone, a “meh” emoji with more than one emotion named Gene (T.J. Miller) screws up when he is selected for a text message by not making a meh face. This results in Gene fleeing from the emoji app to get reprogramed so that he will only have his intended emotion. “The Emoji Movie” is one of the most cliché children’s movies ever made: a social outcast with an idiosyncrasy goes on a mission to change, but instead learns to accept themselves. Toss in an unsupportive parental figure and the lowest of the low attempts at comedy and voila: “The Emoji Movie.” Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of children’s movies will be able to predict the outcome by, at longest, the end of the first act. The movie is not just cliché, but it is extremely lazy. The movie relies on forced and illogical problems in order for there to even be a plot. Gene is able to express a multitude of emotions, but he is also able to do the “meh” emotion, so why can he not just do the “meh” emotion for the two seconds that it is required? The answer is simple: the movie needs to happen and this is the easiest way to get it started. The laziness also shows with the movie’s humor, which is about 20 percent jokes and 80 percent “funny” things that happen. If the pinnacle of a movie’s humor is Sir Patrick Stewart playing the poop emoji
Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
‘The Emoji Movie’ was director Tony Leondis’ passion project due to his love for Pixar’s ‘Toy Story.’
while making a bunch of poop puns, things need to be rethought. A sign that a movie is going to be bad, which “The Emoji Movie” demonstrates continually through its 86 minute runtime, is that the movie has no clue who its target audience is supposed to be. The aesthetics are colorful and animated and the humor is very pedestrian, which points to a younger audience. However, most of the movie’s references and a good number of the jokes are aimed at internet things like Facebook and online trolls, which would point to an older demographic for the movie. The tone of the movie is aimed towards young kids while all of the jokes are aimed at teenagers, thus making this a movie for no one.
“The Emoji Movie” is not the worst movie ever made. It is terrible, but calling it the worst movie ever would imply that the makers tried anything more than taking overused story elements and doing them in the worst way possible. Final Grade: F
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Septemeber 12, 2017
CAMPUS LIFE
Vocailty helps students discover their voice Taylor Carito Connector Editor
.At a school rich in diversity and support for music and arts, Vocality has exemplified just how people can come together and create something truly different and extraordinary with only their voices. This a cappella club is the only co-ed group on-campus that features several performances over the course of the year. .. On Sunday, Sept. 10, the club will be hosting auditions for anyone interested in exploring their talents and improving their singing. This year is particularly big for the a cappella group because there is the potential of an EP on the horizon, which will feature all current members as well as the new ones. .Their EP follows other a cappella groups’ Eps, including the all men’s Hawkappella release that happened last year. That EP saw huge success after hard work and dedication, and Vocality’s is expected to be no different. .Over the course of the semester, Vocality actively works hard to get the UMass Lowell community involved and excited about a cappella music. Through karaoke and a cappella nights, Vocality uses their strengths to engage students in a genre that they are not particularly used to. .“We are always trying to figure out fun ways to get the community involved and singing with us,” says music director Alex Morrow. “We don’t want them to be single group events. Everyone likes to sing.” .Vocality has also teamed up with several other a cappella groups at UMass Lowell to help students discover their passion for singing through both on-campus and off-campus activities.
.Through their weekly rehearsals and concerts, Vocality has created an inclusive community among its members that grows year after year. .“I went [to the audition] and the people there were super cool. From there it kind of just turned into a family of mine. We all became great friends,” says Morrow. “We seriously care about each other.” Unlike many of the other a cappella groups . on-campus, Vocality does not attend competitions. When deciding on the matter at the start of the semester, Morrow, as well as other members, said that recording the EP is worth more than any competition in the long run. “An EP sticks around a bit
longer than a competition,” says Morrow. .Morrow says that the commitment to Vocality includes four to five total hours of rehearsal time a week over the course of two days. This does not include concerts and other events that happen over the course of the semester. .He says that the experience and togetherness that comes from the rehearsals and events creates a welcoming environment for everyone: “By the end of the semester, we are basically joined at the hip.” For more information about Vocality, reach out to Morrow at alex_morrow@student.uml.edu.
Courtesy of Vocality
Vocality performs a concert during each semester of the school year.
Campus Living Series: Is Fox Hall the place to be? Hannah Manning Connector Editor
Since the 2016-2017 school year, Fox Hall has gotten quite the makeover. Construction on two new elevators finished over the summer while the entrances to both the residence and dining halls have also been altered to accommodate the change. As the student population has boomed over the years, more and more students have been placed in Fox Hall. And up until this year, a large majority of these students were freshmen. Last year, UMass Lowell announced several changes to the traditional format of the building. Several LLCs including Advocates of Tomorrow, Hall of Justice, Politikos and Navitas moved into the building, which brought upperclassmen with them. One of these upperclassmen, senior criminal justice major Serena Puleio, is ending her UMass Lowell career with a stay in Fox. Puleio, a resident advisor on the 12th floor, also lived in Fox during her freshman year. “It’s really cool because I did the LLC my freshman year so it was a nice full circle [moment],” Puleio said. Puleio says she feels charmed to be living in Fox for her senior year and to see her residents repeat the same rituals that she did during her freshman year, such as excitedly decorating their rooms. She says that living in Fox has improved since her first stay in the build-
ing with the addition of the new elevators and the renovations of the old ones. “It’s a lot easier now because there’s five elevators. That’s great,” said Puleio. New residents said they are likewise happy having a total of five elevators in their 18-floor building. Nicole Lopez, a freshman psychology major who lives on the ninth floor, says that she is happy that there are so many elevators in the building. But freshman business major Jillian Katinas, who lives on the 13th floor, said she is not as impressed. She says that although there are more elevators, the wait for an elevator is still slow. “Busy times of the days [mean] the elevators are really slow, but there’s nothing you can do about that,” Katinas said. For any student looking for tips on snagging the fastest elevator, Katinas says that the newest elevators are generally the fastest. The older, recently renovated elevators are the slowest, and it is generally rare to see people use the freight elevator. Although waiting for the elevator can be tiresome, Katinas says that it beats taking the stairs: “I took the stairs once and I was like, nope, uhuh, never happening again. I tried, and it was awful.” The location of Fox does not seem to be a big roadblock for many students living there. Ethan Gariepy, a freshman mechanical engineering major living on the 15th floor who says
that he is “digging it” at Fox, notes that it is convenient for him to get to his classes and he appreciates having the dining hall in his building. “The dining halls are really nice; I don’t have to leave the building to eat,” he said. For South Campus majors, however, it can be more cumbersome to get to class. Lopez says that she has the RoadsterRoutes app downloaded on her phone. Lopez said she does not mind the commute or wrangling with the app. “I’m not really sure how to navigate it per se, but it’s been okay so far,” she said. What she says she is more concerned about is fire drills: “I haven’t been here for a fire drill, but from what I’ve heard a lot of people pull it.” Gariepy, on the other hand, said he is nonplussed. “All fire drills are a pain anyway,” he said. With the addition of the two new elevators, the time-honored tradition of the post-alarm stampede back into Fox may be over. There have been two fire alarms sounded thus far, and Katinas said that the scene has been remarkably tame. “It wasn’t like a stampede, there was just a huge crowd… people were just normally walking,” Katinas said. The students said they did not have any major problems with Fox Hall, and would recommend it to other students. “So far it’s been good, and if you’re
Courtesy of UMass Lowell
Fox Hall located on East campus.
looking for the least expensive [option], I’d say pick here because that’s what I did,” said Lopez. The only thing that Katinas says to watch out for when applying to live in Fox is to figure out whether it is more preferable to live on a floor with a kitchen or a laundry room, as the floors in Fox alternate. Katinas says that there is a hidden benefit to living in a building that goes so far up: “For every room, there’s a nice view. No matter where you are, you’re going to get a nice view of the city or the campus.”
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September 12, 2017
SPORTS
Huk shines as field hockey leader ► Continued from front page
“Everything’s a competition, even to this day,” she said. Huk is a person who follows her heart. She initially came to UMass Lowell majoring in business supply team management but switched to psychology, which would allow her to study working with children. Huk says that she was inspired to work with children as either a teacher or coach from being around her mother’s daycare. “I’ve always loved kids. I’ve always been involved with coaching when I was younger. I just kind of always gave back. My mom used to have a daycare and I just loved it,” Huk said. She began to coach when she was 16 when she was in U16 field hockey and coaching U14 teams. The connection was immediate. “It’s an adjustment, but if you’re coaching something you love, it comes naturally,” Huk said. Her choice to play field hockey at the collegiate level was decided in a similar way. In high school, she also played softball competitively up until her sophomore year. Huk says that her love of being in a close team
environment pushed her to specialize in field hockey. “Field hockey is 100% a team sport. You’re either with each other on the field or you’re not… I just love… being involved with the team, stuff like that,” Huk said. It is through her devotion to her teammates and her scoring touch that she has earned a leadership status on the River Hawk squad. And like many other things in her life, she loves it. One of her favorite things about her team is that all of the players are
from different areas and backgrounds and how the sport has brought them together and given them memories they will cherish together. Huk says that this year she and the team are looking forward to UMass Lowell hosting the America East tournament. They are determined to qualify and make it past the first round; Huk says that the home field advantage and support system that her fellow student-athletes give is thrilling. And for anyone wondering whether
Huk struggles with any pressure, the answer is a no. “I usually just play… I don’t really let things get to me at all,” she said. The field hockey team plays with equal parts passion and determination. This year, they are 4-1 with a little over one month to go until the tournament. Following their thrilling victory over Georgetown on Friday Sept. 8, the River Hawks find themselves on a three-game win streak to top it all off. Huk believes that this could be a great year for UMass Lowell field hockey, and also wishes that more people would come to games. The narrative that Huk and her teammates spin on the field makes for an aweinspiring show. “When [people] think of our team, they think of urgency, grit and heart… we obviously weren’t the best team in the nation so we had to grow, we really play with heart. I think this year we’re really starting to prove that.”
Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics Courtesy of UMass Lowell
Huk looks to score against Georgetown.
Men’s soccer contines unbeaten streak in 3-0 victory against Harvard University Kathryn Leeber Connector Editor
The UMass Lowell men’s soccer team beat the Harvard University Crimson Monday night 3-0 to earn their third straight win of the season. All three goals for the River Hawks came in the second half, including one in the last 45 seconds, and contributed to the team’s unbeaten record. “I thought it was a good performance. I don’t think the score necessarily reflects the type of team Harvard is. I thought they had a great game plan,” said UMass Lowell head coach Christian Figueroa. “I think our guys did a great job of being patient today and waiting for the game to open up to create their opportunities and the three goals in the second half prove that.” The scoreless first half started in UMass Lowell’s favor, as the team maintained possession for the first 10 minutes. The River Hawks’ defensemen passed the ball in the back field until they were able to send long-range passes up the field to an open forward. The Crimson defense was able to intercept an occasional pass, but could not push the ball forward. Four minutes into the game, the River Hawks found themselves near the goal, but Harvard goalkeeper Kyle Parks came off his line and stopped any advancement opportunities for UMass Lowell. Harvard had the first shot on goal of the game, despite struggling to keep the ball in their favor. The Crimson were awarded a free kick in the 18th minute and Philip Hausen headed the ball toward the goal, but the shot went to the left of the net. In the 31st minute, UMass Lowell took a free kick and this was their first shot on goal. Ivan Blaskic almost got a foot on the shot as he slid towards the ball, but Parks was there to clear it. Dario Jovanovski gathered the rebound for the River Hawks and got a shot off, but Parks made the save. Harvard maintained their defensive line and was
able to steal the ball, which resulted in Paolo Belloni-Urso taking a shot from the top of the box, but a UMass Lowell defenseman blocked the ball. A minute later, Ivan Abramovic took another free kick for the River Hawks, but his shot narrowly missed the goal and hit off the post. Duran Lee found the rebound and his low shot slid to the right of the net. With six minutes remaining in the half, Richard Mulo had a shot for UMass Lowell, but it was saved by Parks. Harvard followed with an opportunity off a corner kick, but Nathan Goldberg’s header went wide of the goal. The second half started with more back and forth action than the first half, but UMass Lowell was able to score in the fifty-second minute, following a free kick from Jakov Basic. Blaskic received the ball from Basic inside the box and got a shot off, but Parks made the save, although he did not grab the ball. Chase Reichenberg sent the rebound to the back of the net and scored his first goal of the season. 10 minutes later, the River Hawks extended their lead following a Harvard corner kick. UMass Lowell goalkeeper Austin Kroll punched the ball away to the feet of Alejandro Osorio who then passed to Federico Ferre. Ferre ran up the length of the field towards the Crimson goal and sent a pass to Jovanovski. As he got in a position to shoot, Jovanovski sent the ball across the goal to find the right-hand corner of the net. Harvard did not see another chance to score until the 77th minute when Matthew Glass gathered a rebound following a corner kick, but his shot hit the post. The momentum remained in the River Hawks’ favor as they saw a few more chances to extend their lead in the final minutes, but their shots continuously went wide of the net or were cleared
by Harvard’s defense. It was not until the last 45 seconds of the game that UMass Lowell was able to score their third and final goal. Reichenberg sent a long pass to Lee who crossed the ball into Basic. With a powerful shot to the top corner of the net, Basic secured the game at 3-0. “We stress [the team being patient] in the beginning of the game, just trying to see what they’re going to give us and knowing that the first 45 minutes they were giving us a lot of time on the ball. I think the stress is really waiting for the game to open up for us,” said Figueroa. The River Hawks return home Wednesday, Sept. 13 to take on Quinnipiac University at 7 p.m.
Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics
Jovanovski earned his first career goal against Harvard.
September 12, 2017
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
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SPORTS
Field Hockey wins 2-1 against Georgetown in sudden death penalty Brendan Jacques Connector Editor
The UMass Lowell women’s field hockey team faced off against the Georgetown University Hoyas Friday evening and barely captured a 2-1 victory after a long-fought match. With both teams playing neck-and-neck for the majority of the game, not even the added pressure of overtime weakened either side’s defenses, and the match was decided by a sudden death penalty shootout. Freshman midfielder Sophie Gehrels scored the winning shot for the River Hawks. “Sophie putting that ball in to win the game for us was outstanding,” said head coach Shannon Hlebichuk. “She’s a freshman player and we haven’t practiced [penalty shots] that much, so for her to come up big and have that confidence to win the game was awesome to see. I think it speaks to the future of this team and the character of this team that we have some young players we can rely upon in big moments like that.” The River Hawks began the match with an early
lead on the Georgetown Hoyas, with sophomore forward Anouk Lalande scoring a goal by 1:37 of the first period. Georgetown did not take this challenge lying down, however. For the remaining minutes, the Hoyas went on the offensive, maintaining consistent possession, and keeping the ball on the River Hawks’ end of the field. UMass Lowell struggled to form a solid counteroffensive to this strategy but was able to tally five consecutive shot attempts late in the second half. While their defensive line held for most of the match thanks in large part to sophomore goalkeeper Eva Berkhout, Georgetown midfielder Anna Farley scored a goal early into the second half to tie the game 1-1. Berkhout ended the game with 11 saves. “It wasn’t our prettiest hockey game, but we fought and put ourselves in a situation to at least go into overtime,” said Hlebichuk. “Learning through adversity is something that going to be really important to take away from tonight’s game, and I appreciate the fight that the team put in, but
Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics
U P C OM I N G
River Hawk Games Wednesday, Sept. 13
7 p.m.
MSOC vs. Quinnipiac
Thursday, Sept. 14
6 p.m.
WSOC vs. Seton Hall
Friday, Sept. 15
4 p.m.S
FH vs. Fairfield
Saturday, Sept. 16 10 a.m. XCTF at UMass Dartmouth Saturday, Sept. 16
5 p.m.
WVB at Harvard
Saturday, Sept. 16
7 p.m.
MSOC vs Monmouth
For more sports information and full game schedules visit goriverhawks.com
we let it get a little bit out of our hands too early.” By the beginning of overtime, the River Hawks re-focused their efforts, and took much greater control over the ball and being more aggressive in their goal attempts, forcing Georgetown onto the defense. The team out-shot Georgetown with five shots, while the Hoyas had two. However, while there were some close calls during this period, the River Hawks were unable to secure a lead over the Hoyas by the end of the second overtime period. The match went into a penalty shootout, with both teams selecting five members to each go one-on-one against the other team’s goalkeeper in a best-of-five competition. While the River Hawks made a strong showing during this period, with Lalande scoring two of the team’s three total shots, this round ended with a 3-3 tie, and resulted in a sudden death situation. Georgetown’s shot was saved by Berkhout and Gehrels stepped up to take the game-winning shot for the River Hawks.
Anouk Lelande scored the lone regulation goal and ended the game with four shots on goal.
Cross Country places at River Hawks Play to Scoreless Draw Against St. Souther Invitational Bonaventure ► Continued from front page
James Robbins (Franklin, Mass.) and freshman Cody Moran(Weymouth, Mass.) finished 14th and 15th with times of 28:49.2 and 29:36.6 respectively. Freshmen Alexandra Matsis (Milford, N.H.) led a group of five River Hawk women who all finished within two-minutes of one another. Matsis clocked in at 23:49.4 to finish eighth among scoring runners. “They are all talented kids,” according to Gardner. “They may be the most talented class that we’ve brought in in several years.” Freshmen Jenna Solimine (Haverhill, Mass.) and Laura Flagg (Woburn, Mass.) were the next two to complete the course. They hit the finish line five seconds apart. Solimine put up a time of 24:40.3 and Flagg 24:45.3. Freshmen Amanda Baptiste (Taunton, Mass.) and Kaitlyn Tanguay (Manchester, N.H.) rounded out the River Hawk scoring with times of 25:21.9 and 25:50.7. The River Hawks will return to action on Saturday, September 16, at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational in North Dartmouth, Mass.
UMass Lowell Athletics
OLEAN, N.Y. – The UMass Lowell women’s soccer team (2-1-3) played to their third scoreless draw of the season against St. Bonaventure (0-51) on Thursday afternoon. Junior captain Julia Schneider (Bridgewater, Mass.) recorded her fourth shutout of the season in net, stopping five shots. “We were asleep for the first 45, but I felt we were much better in this game overall,” explained Women’s Soccer Head Coach Francesco D’Agostino. “We didn’t finish our chances tonight but we need to learn from this game moving forward and take advantage of the opportunities we are given.” The River Hawks had the first three chances of the game, including one on goal from freshman Kristin Birgisdottir(Mosfellsbaer, Iceland) in the 16th minute that was saved by the Bonnies keeper. Three straight corners in the 31st and 33rd minute for UMass Lowell led to a shot by senior Laura Gagnon that was blocked inside the box, keeping the match scoreless in the first. Scoreless through the first half, the outing marked the River Hawks’ sixth consecutive contest without allowing a goal in the opening 45 minutes of play. In the 47th minute, junior captain Rachel Morrier (Plaistow, N.H.) came out of the half with a rocket on goal, but the Bonnies keeper was there to stop the shot. Although the UMass Lowell took nine shots in the second half and St. Bonaventure took eight, neither team was able to find the back of the net. The matchup would go to double overtime,
where senior Shannon Groffie (Toms River, N.J.) put the only shot on goal for either team, but the Bonnies keeper made her fourth save of the day to keep the game scoreless. The River Hawks outshot the Bonnies 19-12 and held a 7-5 advantage in corners. UMass Lowell held a 3-1 advantage in shots during the extra periods, and the hosts’ goalie Lauren Malcolm recorded four stops, including one in the second overtime. The 19 shots and seven corners were the most in a game this year for the River Hawks.
Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics
Schneider notched her fourth shutout of the season.