The Connector - November 21, 2017

All Hands volunteers help victims of natural disasters â–ş Page 8

THE UMASS LOWELL

Serving the Student Body Since 1976

November 21, 2017

Huskies are no match for River Hawks

In This Issue

Starting off series with a 5-2 win over UConn

Steve Kornacki visits UMass Lowell

â–ş Page 4

Andrew Sciascia Connector Editor

Grad school panel highlights benefits and burdens of getting a masters â–ş Page 9

Men’s Basketball game

â–ş Page 11

Final River Hawk Scores Team

Score

Overall Record

Men’s Ice Hockey vs. UConn

W 5-2

8-6-0

Women’s Basketball at Longwood

L 82-84 1-3

Men’s Ice Hockey at UConn

W 1-0 8-6-0

Men’s Basketball vs. Marist

W 76-73

2-1

That’s a wrap: My final fall semester Veronica Cashman Connector Staff

Any college student is all too familiar with the feeling. The feeling of returning to campus after working your butt off all summer, reuniting with friends you haven’t seen since May and getting ready to conquer the new school year. The first day of fall semester was one that I anxiously looked forward to every year, only this time it was different, because I knew it would be my last.

However, I entered the new school year like I always have in the past, nervous, yet excited and determined, but I will admit I did so with that bittersweet symphony playing in the back of my mind. I knew that this was my last chance to embrace the college experience, yet at the same time prepare myself for reality that is to come after graduation. “Nine months,� I told myself, only nine months until the best four years of my life are over.

It is now November, and right before my very eyes, I’ve watched that nine abruptly turn into eight, then seven and now only six.

Just like the past three years, the fall semester came and went, but I have not let myself take a single moment for granted. Yet I keep reminding myself that winter break is only a month away, and I sigh a slight sound of relief and I think about a long-awaited break from the stresses of senior year. Homework, essays, â–ş See “Fall semester,â€? page 3

Sections

News.............................4 Campus Life..................8 A&E.............................. 6 Sports..........................12

Following a perfect weekend of Hockey East conference play, a confident UMass Lowell men’s ice hockey team took to the Tsongas Center ice surface Friday night with each unit firing on all cylinders. The River Hawks overtook the University of Connecticut (UConn) to the tune of 5-2 in the first match of their homeand-home weekend with the Huskies. “I think Lowell outplayed us in all facets of the game tonight. They jumped us early. They won the special teams game‌ They outcoached us. My hat is off to Lowell. I thought they played the better game tonight,â€? said UConn head coach Mike Cavanaugh.

The River Hawks came out of the gate early Friday night, scoring two back-to-back goals in the

man Christ Forney and senior defenseman Tommy Panico.

Just 32 seconds lat-

Matt Dwyer/Connector

Junior forward Ryan Dmowski celebrates with fans.

opening minutes.

The first goal came on the power play by way of senior forward John Edwardh, whose goal was set up by senior defense-

er, a similar play resulted in an even strength goal for UMass Lowell freshman forward Charlie Levesque, assisted by junior forward Ryan

Dmowski and senior captain defenseman Tyler Mueller.

The energy surrounding these early goals not only carried the team, but seemed to encourage production from around the locker room Friday. “When you have a little bit of success, I think the guys start to feel good about themselves. You have a number of guys shooting the puck, and that is always a key factor,� said UMass Lowell head coach Norm Bazin.

Edwardh returned to the scoresheet in the second period of play for an unassisted goal stemming from a poke check by Edwardh at the point in the defensive zone.

The only players to â–ş See “Hockey,â€? page 11

‘Justice League’ movie does not do the league justice Owen Johnson Connector Editor

What do Joel Schumacher’s “Batman & Robin� and Halle Berry’s “Catwoman� have in common? There are two answers to this. One: they are considered to be two of the worst superhero movies, and two of the worst movies, ever made. Two: They are both better than “Justice League.�

Following the death of Superman in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,â€? an other-worldly being known as Steppenwolf (CiarĂĄn Hinds) arrives on Earth to collect objects known as the Mother Boxes, which can cause apocalyptic destruction. To face the threat, Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) recruit other heroes to form a team to combat Steppenwolf.

If “Justice League� manages to do even a single thing right, it is

that it confirms without a shadow of a doubt that the DC Cinematic Universe is a broken mess, and movie goers should expect more disasters like “Batman v Superman� or “Suicide Squad� as opposed to competent movies like “Wonder Woman� from DC. The story is pretty straight forward: a bad guy is hard to

defeat, so a bunch of heroes have to team up to stop the bad guy. It should have been as simple as that, but every story beat that should be in a movie like this is either nonexistent or is handled badly. For example, there is no inner turmoil amongst the team, other than a quick shoving match between Batman and Wonder Woman. â–ş See “Justice League,â€? page 5

Courtesy of The Verge

Courtesy of justiceleaguemovie.com

The “Justice League� movie premiered on Nov. 17

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November 21, 2017

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OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

Keep calm and march on: Why UMass Lowell’s Marching Band draws such a large crowd Colin Blackmer Connector Contributor

For most, the UMass Lowell is known, primarily, for its engineering discipline and hockey team; there is, however, something else that is arguably just as important to the identity of UMass Lowell.

It is the UMass Lowell Marching Band.

With over 120 current members, it’s one of the largest student groups and, if you have lived on South Campus during the fall semester, it’s not hard to see, and hear, why. The music selections performed by the marching band are, to put it simply, “unconventional.” In the years that I have been at UMass Lowell, the marching band has done arrangements of Queen, Led Zeppelin and is currently performing the music of Chase. The music choice is not the only thing that catches people’s attention; one needs only to watch the rehearsals that take place every other evening to see the grand spectacle of putting that music into motion with feats of coordination that, when executed as intended, create some astonishing displays.

You’re probably wondering, “Good musical performances are great, fantastic even, but what makes this one group that is probably comprised mostly of music majors and does most of its work on South

Campus, so important to UMass Lowell?” That is a good question, hypothetical reader, and the answer lies not only within what it does primarily, but what it does for its students and the university.

Debra-Nicole “Deb”)Huber, the associate director of University Bands, explains, “It’s a microcosm of the university,” in reference to the level of diversity and tolerance shared amongst its members as a reflection of UMass Lowell. Deb describes the marching band as a community that promotes growth amongst its members through teaching discipline and commitment towards an intangible goal of success that generates “unique and lasting impressions” upon those who pursue it. The students who are a part of the band are proof of that dedication as they are comprised of freshmen all the way to graduates as opposed to the norm of most college marching bands having only freshman and sophomore students.

People stick with the marching band because it challenges them, pushes them; it demands respect from those who participate and, by the end of the season, that respect is returned in kind. It is one of those experiences where you can look back upon and see the growth that took place.

Dan Lutz, the director of the marching band, figures that people are drawn to the marching band

The UMass Lowell Marching Band performed at the 2016 Freshman Convocation.

Courtesy of The Lowell Sun

because, “music touches almost everybody’s soul.”

Dan elaborates, “Most activities, sports for example, are discriminatory based on talent level or physical prowess as is true of the purely musical aspects of musical ensembles. However, with a marching band there are more factors at play that there will be a place for everybody.” Nearly half of the band members are non-music majors, myself included.

While music may be the hook for most, the other qualities of the individual also matter more.

“I appreciate how many facets of marching band there are,” says Michael Powderly, one of the field conductors for the marching band, “there’s no lack of work, there’s always something to be done.” He explains that this helps to develop a sense of determination and hard work within the people who work in, with and around the band.

This level of accessibility is truly something to be commended and what the band does for its students is admirable, but the marching band also does its part to represent the university across Massachusetts and beyond. The band serves a variety of purposes for UMass Lowell through numerous parades, exhibitions and events as a means of drawing positive attention to the university. When the marching band performs, it acts as an ambassador of the university as well as a recruitment tool; if an individual’s first impression of a place is a group of dedicated, professional performers that are synchronized in their movements and actions all the while playing some great music then that is more than a good impression, it’s a lasting one.

I have been with the band since 2015 and I can say, sincerely, that it is practically life changing.

Some of the strongest friendships I have made here at UMass Lowell are thanks to the marching band.

The marching band also helped me through some rough patches here as well by providing a place for me to do something I enjoy, focus on other things and get support from others who have been through or are feeling the same way. It gave me the ineffable sensation of satisfaction that only the thunderous applause of a crowd can achieve that I would recommend to anybody. I grew as an individual in both maturity and character through the marching band and I will always be grateful for these changes in my life.

Why is the marching band so important to the university? In the words of dearly departed friend of Dan Lutz, “Marching band is one of the best things you can do.” Looking back now, I could not agree more.

Growing up is hard: Transitioning out of college ►Continued from front page

skipping class to study for an exam in another class has been the foundation of fall semester thus far, and if I’m being honest, my entire college career. Yet in some ways, this semester has been much different from the rest, in the best way possible.

Although I no longer reside on campus, I’ve gained the experience of being able to live with three of my very best friends, one of whom I didn’t even know this time last year. Is it not crazy how life works? With it being our first and last year in our off-campus apartment, together we’ve laughed, we’ve cried but we’ve also made memories

that will last a lifetime. We encourage each other to work hard and shoot for

“Growing up is hard, but it’s a challenge we all must face, because it’s a bittersweet symphony this life.”

the stars as we embrace the beginning of the end.

From meeting with my advisor one last time, enrolling in my final courses for spring semester to handing in my DIG form last minute, it brought me a simultaneous feeling of sadness and accomplishment, a sensation I had only felt once before, about four years ago at my high school graduation. It wasn’t until that moment, or maybe the moment when I got my first student loan repayment notice, that it finally hit me: I was almost done with college.

My fall semester has been nothing short of amazing, which can also be said for my entire college experience

so far. I came to UMass Lowell with a purpose to gain the skills and knowledge to become successful, but I will be leaving with much more: lifelong friends, a passion for writing and a non-extinguishable fire in my belly for learning. Growing up is hard, but it’s a challenge we all must face, because it’s a bittersweet symphony this life.

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November 21, 2017

NEWS

MSNBC Correspondent Steve Kornacki addresses the state of the Trump administraton Morgyn Joubert Connector Staff

It has been a year since the 2016 presidential election and citizens are now looking back to what the current Trump administration has, or has not, accomplished while in office.

At UMass Lowell this past week, MSNBC’s Political Correspondent Steve Kornacki offered a perspective on the Trump Presidency, and what the United States has gone through in the last year. In his event Friday, he addressed the 2016 election and a theory on the upcoming 2018 mid-term elections.

The event, which received a full house, was held at University Crossing, where doors opened at 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.

“Last year it was: How did this happen? Now we have realized it happened and we dealt with it for a year, but what does this mean going forward?” Kornacki said.

The talk was titled “The Trump Election One Year On: Did it Change Everything?” It directly followed up on Kornacki’s last visit to the university over a year ago, where he dealt with a similar topic, in regards to why the 2016 presidential election ended the way it did.

“Do we as a nation measure this administration by its predecessors, or do we consider this as a unique kind of administration?” Kornacki said, “I think it’s a possibility by this point to understand that this administration does not add up to any past presidency.”

During the event, Kornacki explained that he be-

lieves this presidency has completely broken any long-standing “rules” that previous administrations have laid out in politics. Kornacki also addressed whether or not these new changes have drastically altered how this country views politics, and if the mid-term election results next year can even be predicted.

“We’re in a situation now where almost every indicator we have is saying that the mid-term elections next year will not be good for the Republican party,” Kornacki said.

“But we were very mislead by the results last year.

So the question is, are we going to be mislead again?

I believe that’s one thing to keep in mind going into next year’s elections.”

Abby Crossley, a senior English major at UMass Lowell who attended and enjoyed the event, believes Kornacki is being too optimistic for next year’s elections.

“Most of the people I know that voted for Trump last year voted for cultural reasons, not legislative.

I appreciate all of the data that Kornacki provides from this event supporting Democratic votes, but I believe the energy and support for both parties is growing. I’m simply not as optimistic of the results next year,” Crossley said.

Kornacki said throughout the event that Trump won last year’s election because he focused on topics of culture and not legislative problems facing this country. He even went so far as to call this administration a “cultural presidency,” not a legislative one.

Emily Yormak, a freshmen political science major, agrees with the major points Kornacki ad-

dressed during his talk especially upon the Trump campaign’s strategy last election season. But she does not necessarily think it is a bad idea when trying to win votes.

“I believe Democrats will win more votes if they take a cultural approach instead of a legislative one.

I mean, it worked for Trump in last year’s election.

I don’t see it not working for the mid-terms if Democrats decide to use that strategy,” Yormak said.

“Politics as we know it has completely changed.”

Courtesy of UMass Lowell

Friday’s speaking engagement was one of many the NBC correspondent has done at UMass Lowell.

UMass Lowell to host Garret Felber for lecture on Malcolm X and police brutality Morgyn Joubert Connector Staff

With the growing number of cases involving police brutality, the History Department, along-side the Working Class on Race and Ethnicity at UMass Lowell, has decided to invite speaker Garret Felber to discuss what is goCourtesy of Random House Publishing

‘The Portable Malcolm X Reader’ is Felber’s first book, with several more in the works.

ing on across the country and how it relates to the Civil Rights Era back of the late 1960s.

On Nov. 30 in O’Leary Library Room 222, between 2 and 3 p.m., there will be a speaking event titled “You’re Brutalized Because You’re Black” which will explain the research behind Malcolm X and the topic of police brutality.

“I will be discussing efforts by Malcolm X, the Nation of Islam and other black nationalists to build a black united front against police brutality in the early 1960s leading up to the March on Washington in 1963,” Felber said.

Felber will be discussing his newest book, “The Portable Malcolm X Reader,” along with his works with Manning Marable, a professor at Columbia University.

“The Portable Reader is a collection of primary sources relating to Malcolm X, organizing along a chronology of major events in his life,” Felber said.

The event is co-sponsored by the History Department, the Working-Class Group on Race and Ethnicity, and the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences office.

Chad Montrie, a professor of His-

tory at UMass Lowell, decided to organize this event around his newest course, “Malcolm X,” which was offered for the first time at the start of the fall semester.

“I’ve dealt with police harassment a few times in the past where they’ve followed me around the mall or when I got pulled over for texting and driving and didn’t have my phone.”

“Malcolm X is very over-looked when deciding on teaching about him in history course. He’s either not talked about or he’s a side topic mentioned only a little,” Montrie said.

The speech will be 30-40 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer section that will enable the students to participate in the discussion.

“I hope students come. It will be a

chance to learn about the history you think you know, but may not, and to consider our current moment of organizing against prisons and policing in light of that history,” Felber said.

Students have already come forth expressing their concerns and interests involving the spoken event. Damon Best, a student majoring in business marketing and management, has provided his thoughts on the importance of talking about Malcolm X and police brutality.

“We should know Malcolm X just as much as we known Martin Luther King Jr. There are different sides to the Civil Rights Era. It’s not right to only focus on one side of a historical mo-ment,” Best said.

Within the last few years, there has been a light shown on the effects of police brutality and how it can change a community. Best also provided his experience with the topic.

“I’ve dealt with police harassment a few times in the past where they’ve followed me around the mall or when I got pulled over for texting and driving and didn’t have my phone in the car. I was driving back to my house because I forgot it,” Best said.

November 21, 2017

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The biggest hero in ‘Justice League’ is the end credits ►Continued from front page They all get along with each other without any fuss, and then they all work together perfectly whenever they have to fight side-by-side.

This lack of conflict between the team members could have been made up for if the characters were any good, but they are not. The movie pretends like each character has a bit of personal conflict in order for it to pretend like the characters have made some progress or that they have learned something. But these arcs are all things that basically get put out by the script in bad exposition or through character actions that exist in one scene and are then solved. If the characters’ problems are non-existent or are settled within the scene that they are brought up, then what is there to care about or get invested in?

While the way the characters are written is definitely detrimental, the actors do not help either. Every performance across the board, except for J.K. Simmons and Jeremy Irons, is bad. Other than Gadot and Affleck, none of the other members of the League have any sort of chemistry with one another, so every scene where they interact is flat and awk-

ward. It is not just the superheroes’ whose actors are not doing well in this movie. There is a scene between Lois Lane (Amy Adams) and Super-

in the movie, involving Batman fighting a criminal and Wonder Woman saving a group of people, are decent for the most part, though there are

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Director Zach Snyder stepped away from the movie in May 2017, following the death of his daughter. Joss Whedon took over to finish the film.

man’s mom (Diane Lane) where they are talking about Superman being gone, and they just stare blankly at each other and talk in neutral tones for the entire scene, and it is terrible.

Most of these actors are talented, but they were given bad direction and bad characters to work with.

With these uninteresting characters come boring and uninteresting fight scenes. The first two action set pieces

some glaringly bad parts to them, but the other action scenes are terrible. It is always either the uninteresting and generic villain fighting cannon-fodder characters to get something he needs to propel the plot, or it is the superheroes who are not interesting fighting the villain who is not interesting.

When it all comes down to it, “Justice League” is essentially just a movie trying to answer all of the complaints

about previous movies, but answering them in ways that are actually worse than the original problems they were trying to solve. For example, “Man of Steel” and “Batman v Superman” were too dark and brooding, so now the tone is more lighthearted and the characters, including Batman, are all cracking jokes. It is more fitting, but it contrasts so heavily with what has already been established that it feels strange.

A problem with “Man of Steel” was that Superman seemingly destroyed a city and killed thousands of civilians, so now all of the cities and areas where fighting occurs are vacant, except for one family that is in the middle of everything that the film cuts back to in an attempt to make the audience care.

Spoiler alert: it does not work, and the overuse of the family ends up making them uninteresting and not worth caring about.

To put it simply, “Justice League” is a movie that has basically everything going wrong in it. Everything from the story to the characters to the cover version of Leonard Cohen’s song “Everybody Knows” that was used in the opening credits is wrong.

Final Grade: F

Angel Olsen encompasses her musical oeuvre in ‘Phases’ Patrick Connell Conector Staff

Last autumn, indie-folk rocker Angel Olsen released her sophomore album “My Woman” to widespread critical acclaim, and as a result, she garnered a much wider fan base. Though it has been considered very good, the album had a markedly different tone than the rest of her body of work.

This month, she just released “Phases,” a compilation album of demos, covers and unheard material as a way to show new fans what she is about while still releasing some new stuff.

The first two tracks were scraps of “My Woman.” The most recently recorded one is the album opener, “Fly on Your Wall,” which was originally released earlier this year on a collection of songs, “Our First 100 Days,” by artists against the presidency of Donald Trump. The song’s beginning harmony sequence and rhythm pattern evokes a sense of darkness then march to triumph, which is fitting to the context it was originally released under.

Also cut from “My Woman” is the steadily building song “Special.” “Special” starts the first minute with a distant, crunchy, reverberated guitar with only Olsen’s crooning voice accompanying it, and then layered vocals, thick basses, distorted guitars and a faint organ at the end slowly pop up to add to the mix. This culminates a long, energy-driven song with subtlety.

The next few songs have such a notable shift in ambient sound that it can easily be distinguished that they were not recorded in the same setting as the first two; however, they still possess the similar style of the jangly guitar being quieter than the rest of the major sounds and the bass shoved to the forefront. “Only With You” and “All Right Now” also both showcase pleasant, ethereal vocals from Olsen near their endings.

A standout towards the middle of the album is “Sans.” With just the pulsing twang of her guitar chords complementing her crying voice, Olsen produced a song that would seem to be an outtake for Courtesy of Jag jaguar

“Phases” is Angel Olsen’s first compilation album as a solo artist.

Bruce Springsteen’s “Nebraska” instead of her own work.

The aforementioned sensation that these songs were not all recorded at the same time comes back jarringly in the transition between “Sans” and “Sweet Dreams,” her very first single. While the bulk of her songs have guitar at a hushed volume, the chords starting this one are loudly up front.

Combined with Olsen wailing like she is doing the theme of a James Bond movie, the tune feels somewhat out of place here.

“California” has a muffled snare drum filling its percussion, and the quivering voice and acoustic

jazz chords Olsen adds make it seem like it could have been one of the softer songs on Joni Mitchell’s “Court and Spark.”

Although she recorded her own song that could fit on a Springsteen album, she actually did a cover of one of his songs that wound up on “Phases” called “Tougher Than the Rest.” This cover may be the softest song on the album. It has the same production style as “Sans,” but it lacks the energy that “Sans” had that made it noteworthy. Plus, the exceptionally low fidelity strips away more character to the song than it adds, or it at least masks what would have been a flare-less song otherwise.

The last few tracks are just filled by short, simple songs that clearly did not get far off the drawing board, aside from the shortest song of them all, “For You.” The up-tempo harmony and bouncing melody hint at something that could have been fleshed out into a fully worked song, but only this demo is heard (which is still a nice, warm piece).

The only way to experience listening to “Phases” and get a sense of fulfillment is to recognize it for what it is: a compilation. Olsen did not sit down in a studio to hash these out in a couple weeks; they were written and recorded over the entirety of her career. There are some obvious flow troubles and overt sonic differences which affirm that sentiment.

It is best heard as an artist study: an amalgamation of all they have done presented in a reverse chronology. “Phases” is best suited for the lover of lo-fi bedroom recordings with a soft spot for indie rock.

Final Grade: B-

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November 21, 2017

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Indie game spotlight: Welcome to Va-11 Hall-A Vernon Gibbs Connector Staff

“Va-11 Hall-A” captures audience’s hearts and refuses to let go. Released on Steam back in June 2016, “Va-11 Hall-A” is a visual novel/simulator where the player gets to play as a bartender. The story is set in Glitch City, a future cyberpunk dystopia whose problems range from political corruption, AI rights, to paying the bills. As the player clocks in for their nightly shifts, they interact with the various customers, all with a story to tell, as the world rages on around them.

The actual gameplay of “Va-11 Hall-A” is engaging, yet simplistic.

As each customer arrives, the player is tasked with mixing drinks of varying complexity for each of the guests and given directions on how to make them. Choosing and mixing drinks is never a difficult task - the player can always consult the in-game instructions for each drink, as well as check which drinks fill certain criteria. Simple or convoluted, each drink is just enough to keep the player’s hand moving, which is a welcome feature in a game that could otherwise lull people into boredom.

Despite its small-scale production, “Va-11 Hall-A” manages to nail its aesthetics. The entire game is filled with visual quirks and designs that really help in selling its cyberpunk setting, from the pixelated heads-up display to the character designs. In both the seedy lighting of a bar and the confined comfort of an apartment, nothing stands out as noticeably out-

side the grip of reality. The soundtrack also greatly services the setting with multiple unique tracks on hand for any given mood the player might be feeling without being intrusive, which fits the definition of “background music.” Between the convincing design

versations with their customers while mixing another drink every now and then.

In a market filled with disappointing, one-dimensional characters, “Va11 Hall-A” is solely focused on giving its characters as much development as

Courtesy of Sukeban Games

“Va-11 Hall-A” is the first game developed by Sukeban Games.

and immersing soundtrack, “Va-11 Hall-A” succeeds at inviting the player into its world.

However, the main draw of “Va-11 Hall-A” is most certainly its characters. A diverse cast of characters regularly visit the Va-11 Hall-A dive club, ranging from old friends to cyborg bounty hunters and even a talking dog.

Each encounter is different from the last, with each customer either talking about what is going on in their lives or chatting with whoever is next to them.

During all of this, the player acts as a spectator on top of working their job at the bar. The player character is not a silent one, and regularly holds con-

possible - and it does so splendidly. All character development is given organically, as it comes up in discussion or as an answer to the player’s prying questions. A common pitfall with dialogue is for the character to talk as if they were writing - a mistake that is shockingly absent from this dialogue-only story. Every character comes off like a real person, down to their various mannerisms and sense of humor. Major credit has to be given to the writer for the effort put into this.

The backstory of each character is just detailed enough for one to think they are real, but leave enough things left undiscussed that the characters

are not all part of a contrived web.

They are all living their own lives, and just so happen to bump into each other during the shift and give the player a peek into their lives. It is a pleasant surprise to have a wide cast of three-dimensional characters, and its easily “Va-11 Hall-A’s” greatest achievement.

Naturally, this game may not cater to all audiences. Between its lighthearted moments, the story likes to take more serious turns in its tone, exploring how the two can sometimes be connected to each other. The sudden shifts occasionally come out of left field though, and may run the risk of disengaging the player from whatever is happening. One also needs to understand that, despite the small minigame of mixing drinks, “Va-11 Hall-A” is still a visual novel. Most of the enjoyment of the game comes from developing an understanding and appreciation of the story and its characters, with the job of bartending as a simple way to keep your hands busy. This game is not for those who prefer gameplay over story.

With everything said, “Va-11 Hall-A” is a heartwarming and relaxing experience for anyone who tries it.

The whole story can last 10-12 hours on a normal playthrough, and the experience it provides is both worthwhile and affordable. If anyone is looking for a good story to sink into, “Va-11 Hall-A” delivers.

Final Grade: A-

Hail The Sun’s ‘Secret Wars’ should not be a secret Emily Toomey Connector Staff

Hail The Sun just released a surprise five track EP titled “Secret Wars,” and it is no surprise that the best things in life are kept a secret. Their latest release is definitely their best to date, as they really have refined their sound. Each track features their familiar progressive style riffs while still managing to add a nice flare to their musical style. This record certainly shows a slightly softer side to the band the listener does not normally see, which is why it succeeded so well. Vocalist Donovan Melero toned down his harsh vocals to better showcase his incredible vocal range.

The first single to be released, “1109,” is one of the more diverse tracks on the EP. The lyrical aspect to the track provides a more emotional connection for the listener. The lyrics focus on the sentiment of a certain house. The beginning starts off with Melero softly singing, “I lived in a porch whose house collected cigarettes. And every one I’d smoke held conversations from the night before.”

His voice then is able to pick up drastically by the chorus. When he sings, “Now we’re all gone,” in the chorus highlights, he is demonstrating his ability to scream. His voice becomes intense, but only for a few seconds as he then tones right back down.

The rest of the chorus remains slower to showcase the vocal range he has. The ending bridge takes the track to new heights. The riffs pick up drastically but his voice remains calm, ending the song with, “But

I do here in the dry wall.”

The track “Bound” is definitely the best track on the EP. Melero’s voice remains calm throughout the track to match the softer tempo. He starts off singCourtesy of Equal Vision Records

Hail the Sun first formed in 2009.

ing quietly, “Love won’t call like it used to.” There is something so raw and vulnerable about the softness to his voice. The second verse picks up slightly in his vocals when he sings, “Years don’t stall with the aftershock. Time feels rough, never meant to go this long.” The instrumentals in the last half of the track deliver something so satisfying to the listener as the tempo is able to pick up to something much catchier. The transition from slow to fast on this track sends the listener on an emotional, but wonderful, rollercoaster. The track ends when he sings, “Impatient youth,” over the faint but beautiful riffs. His

voice almost sounds as though he is fading into the distance.

The middle track “Spite” is definitely a crowd pleaser. The track does not stray too much from Hail the Sun’s familiar roots, but ultimately provides something unique to the record. The chorus is where the track stands out the most. He starts off in a faint voice, singing, “Send all my memories back,” but then drastically changes his tempo to finish up the line with the lyrics, “With all the things I deserve.” The last minute of the track includes a 10 second break down of perfectly executed riffs that then follow with him singing, “I felt free.”

The lyrics perfectly aligned with the tempo of the riff and really portrayed the emotional connection beautifully. The instrumentals throughout the track have an intense vibe to match the angst in Melero’s voice throughout the lyrics. His voice on this track is both heavy but delicate, in a way that is unlike any other. His vocal range on the track is able to mesmerize the listener intensely.

Overall, the five tracks on this EP each have a different flair to the band’s familiar sound. Melero’s vocal range itself is on a rollercoaster of highs and lows to show the true talent he possesses. Each riff sounds different from the last to provide the five tracks a sense of the diversity among each other.

The softness of the vocals and the harshness of the instrumentals allow the record to stand out as something so beautiful.

Grade: A

November 21, 2017

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Super Mario 64’ is still a shining star Shane Foley Connector Staff

If a person were to search “Super Mario Speedrun” on their YouTube browser, the first result will be a 120 star speedrun by gamer Siglemic. The second result is an any-percentage speedrun done in close to six minutes, so the fact that the 120 star speedrun is more popular says something. The twitch video shows many people watching and donating, and as they do, they left messages saying how much they were excited to watch this game being played. Perhaps, there is no greater testament to this game’s legacy; even speedrun fans want to see the entire game.

“Super Mario 64” was a milestone in video game history in that it set the bar for how 3-D platformers were meant to be designed As the launch title for the Nintendo 64, the game had a quick rise to fame. In terms of plot, “Super Mario 64” does not stray far

Courtesy of Nintendo

“Super Mario 64” was first released in the US on Sept.

29, 1996.

from precedent: Bowser captured Peach again, she is in a castle, and the player gets to rescue her. The catch is that there is only one castle which Mario enters upon the start of the game. From there, the player is tasked with earning enough stars to reach Bowser by fulfilling various objectives at other levels you travel to by jumping into paintings.

Due to this mechanic, the developers got a rather large amount of freedom with level design. The game has 15 stages which include a snowy mountain, a snow-less mountain, a haunted house and even a clock tower. Each stage has seven stars to collect, which means you get to revisit these areas often. Each level is dynamic and memorable, and outside of the typical red coin hunt, players never do the same mission in two levels. Mario does everything from race a giant penguin down the most epic slide in existence to using a winged cap to fly around multiple levels and catch a star on a Lapras-looking marine giant.

Among the other great qualities of this immaculate title is its level of difficulty. Often times, playthroughs will involve repeating levels over and over again. Of course, this is typically a bad quality for a game to have, but it works here because of the tremendous amount of replay value each level has.

People who previously have played the game sometimes talk about that one area or one level they enjoyed replaying over and over.

Aside from the levels, the game’s replay value is further bolstered thanks to the treasure trove of hidden goodies the developers hid in the game. To beat

Courtesy of Nintendo

The game has sold over 11 million copies since its release.

the game, all the player has to do is defeat Bowser on the final level. However, only 70 stars are required to reach that final level out of a total of 120. Therefore, a player can beat the game and still have more content they never played. Even if they get all 120 stars, did they find the box that gives the player the Metal Mario cap? Did they discover the secret room in the castle with the slide mini game? This game is flooded with content that is intuitively enjoyable.

This game’s influence echoes so far in future titles that people are talking about it even now that “Super Mario Odyssey” has been released from the looks of it, “Super Mario Odyssey” will boast many vibrant areas full of secrets to be uncovered. They will be praised for innovation, as well they should, but maybe they had their eye on “Super Mario 64” when they thought of the impact they wanted to have on the gaming world.

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November 21, 2017

CAMPUS LIFE

David Campbell’s All Hands non-profit provides disaster relief Kelly Skelton Connector Editor

David Campbell had a decorated business profile of over 40 years. That is, before he founded All Hands Volunteers. On Nov. 15, Campbell spoke in front of a crowd of students and faculty regarding the opportunities and mission behind All Hands Volunteers.

Life changed for Campbell in 2004 when he was drawn to help natural disaster aid in Thailand following a massive tsunami. Initially, Campbell sought out to provide short-term relief. Soon after, he found himself launching his non-profit organization All Hands Volunteer to help in the recovery of natural disasters.

The efforts of this organization have lasted far beyond Thailand as Campbell quickly found himself helping victims of Hurricane Katrina. In an article with ABC News, Campbell cited recovery efforts as being “underserved.” To counteract this discovery, Campbell deploys a new philosophy in his organization of “coming in early and staying late.”

The organization has impacted the lives of over 500,000 people in a number of countries including the United States, Philippines, Nepal, Japan and Ecuador. Campbell added that the SUV’s, or spontaneous unaffiliated volunteers, are vital to All Hands’ success.

“The organization serves as a platform for people to show up and be productive. The work can be difficult, but very engaging,” said Campbell.

In addition to the repairs and recovery, All Hands is committed to the

volunteer’s experience. “[The] impact on volunteers is the most important thing, seeing new places, new perspectives and witnessing individuals driven by purpose,” said Campbell.

The effects of All Hands are remarkable. Campbell recalled some of the responses received from disaster vic-

All Hands certainly has a tough mission ahead, as natural disasters have been more common than ever recently. “The amount of natural disasters has doubled in the past 30 years. We will see increased amounts of flooding in the United States, [so] improving our services is key,” said Campbell. In

Courtesy of All Hands Volunteers

All Hands Volunteers has had over 40,000 volunteers who have impacted 500,000 lives.

tims. “Clearly this is a school that is built with love,” Campbell said about a specific encounter. While building schools is the specialty, All Hands also builds houses and works with local staff for sustainability.

relation to fundraising, Campbell acknowledged that corporate sponsors and individual donations allow the organization to commit to providing long-term recovery efforts.

With All Hands roster comprising

of a 5:1 ratio for volunteers-to-staff, Campbell was not shy about the organization’s success drivers. “We [All Hands staff] are not the solution to the problem. We are a vehicle for our volunteers to help us solve a small portion of the problem. We are the platform” said Campbell. In total, All Hands has been made possible by over 40,000 volunteers.

Several students from the UMass Lowell Management Society that attended an All Hands trip last year returned to thank Campbell for his efforts. Event organizer and business professor, Olga Tines called All Hands a “totally organic organization” and encouraged all students to attend a trip for the life-changing experience it unfolds.

On November 13, All Hands announced a merger with Happy Hearts, another natural disaster recovery organization that was founded by supermodel Petra Nemcova. The organizations cited that a shared purpose and complimenting resources contributed to the merge.

All Hands is currently providing help in Houston and Puerto Rico from the recent effects of Hurricane Harvey and Irma, as well as several other locations globally. There are many trips being organized for the winter and spring breaks.

To learn more about All Hands’ projects and opportunities, visit www. hands.org. UMass Lowell students interested in volunteering can contact linda_barrington@uml.edu from engineering or olga_tines@uml.edu from the business school.

November 21, 2017

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

CAMPUS LIFE

The English Department gets real about graduate school Hannah Manning Connector Editor

When Dr. Michael Black, a professor in the English department at UMass Lowell, was first thinking about going to graduate school the first response he got from other people was “no.”

But Black pushed forward through a master’s and a Ph.D. program, and considers himself lucky that he did not listen to those who told him to stay away.

Associate chair of the English department Dr. Jonathan Silverman held an informational panel on graduate school in O’Leary room 478 on Wednesday, Nov. 15. The panel featured several English department professors as well as Anne Apigian from Career Services and Dr. John Brown from the Graduate School of Education. Silverman said that the panel was meant to clear up misconceptions about graduate school, the biggest one including why students should go.

The panelists maintained that graduate school is both an opportunity to continue one’s education, but also for a student to professionalize themselves and hone their respective crafts. Some students, however, have different priorities.

“I went to grad school because I didn’t want to wear pantyhose,” said Margaret Dietz, an associate professor in the English department.

Dietz said that she found herself stuck between going to law school and pursuing a master’s in poetry. After some soul-searching and realizing how strenuous law school would have been, she ultimately decided on the latter.

“If you can easily get talked out of grad school, you’re not ready,” said Brown.

The reason that students should go into graduate school must come from “more from hunger than ambition,” as Dietz put it.

The experience, Dietz said, is far more important

than a piece of paper at the end of the day.

In presenting their own experiences in higher education, the professors on the panel offered several nuggets of advice for students interested in continuing their studies after obtaining their bachelor’s degrees.

Dr. Keith Mitchell recommends that students reach out to their professors for help in applying to schools. He said that he will personally do research into a school’s program and determine if the student is a good fit for it. From there, Mitchell said, he will fine tune the letter of recommendation to more helpfully serve the student.

But once in grad school, Mitchell advised students to build community. As a graduate student studying comparative literature at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he found he was one of two African American students in the program. Mitchell said there was hardly any support for him and the other student, and that he needed to scrounge around the literature and French department for resources.

“If you’re a minority,” Mitchell said, “you have to find support.”

Students may find support in their undergraduate professors and in Career Services. Dr. Nancy Selleck, who received her master’s at Columbia University and her Ph.D. at Princeton, said that she is currently helping a UMass Lowell alum who is pursuing her master’s at Boston University.

Selleck said that students should not feel nervous or hesitant to ask for help from their professors, even if they do not attend the university anymore.

They are happy to help, and getting another set of opinions can make a difference. “Get lots of advice along the way,” Selleck said.

If a student does choose to look into graduate school, the panelists advised that they visit Career Services. Apigian said that the offices, located in

Connector Contributor

The English Department will be hosting this year’s Writers on Campus event on Nov. 28 at O’Leary Library Room 222 at 5:00 p.m. For this year, the event will have writers and poets David Rivard and Rebecca Morgan Frank reading their own work and will meet with students after discussing their work for a Q&A-like session.

When the Writers on Campus event first started in 2011, it opened a window of opportunity for emerging writers and poets to read aloud to an unfamiliar crowd as Sandra Lim, one of the organizers of the event, mentioned about its purpose. This is not just limited to UMass Lowell students as it is open to the public to read and listen to the guest readers invited to the event. .The program, sponsored by the English Department and organized by professors Lim and Maggie Dietz, has been very successful since it was first conceived five years ago after a string of successful poetry readings in the spring of 2011. .“In the beginning, the event had much energy as it was something new,” said Lim. “Now it’s a known thing as it gains interest each year.” .For emerging writers, it is a welcoming chance to emerge into the public eye and express themselves to others they have never met as well as meeting featured guests readers. The program enjoyed the

presence of past readers such as poets Robert Pinsky, Claudia Rankine, Marilyn Chin and Tyehimba Jess. .“I am looking forward to meeting and talking to all of the student writers in the program,” said Frank. “It will be such a wonderful opportunity to inspire students pursuing in this field.” Frank is also looking forward to reading alongside with Rivard Courtesy of The Writers Place

room 105 of O’Leary Library and the fourth floor of University Crossing, will look at students’ essays and ask them questions in order to gauge if the student is actually easy for the responsibility.

As every professor on the panel attested, graduate- and Ph.D.-level schooling was a rewarding but grueling experience.

While graduate school lends opportunities for students to raise themselves in their preferred career fields, the panelists were in consensus that a student should only attend if they truly want to, and if further education will help them in their field. Along that vein of thought, graduate school is more for students who wish to become teachers than those who would like to be journalists.

Graduate school is not an option for those who are not serious about education, and some of the professors spoke about experiences that were not rewarding for them. Selleck told students about the intensity of the graduate program at Columbia, where a professor asked students to look at the person to each side of them. Out of those three people, only one of them would remain in the graduate program by year’s end. Besides that, Selleck found that she did not have the support that she wanted.

She left for Princeton, and said that she found the experience to be much different than the one she had at Columbia.

Like Selleck, Black also went to two schools for his graduate education. He received his master’s from Temple University in 2008 and his Ph.D. at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2014. The experience was often difficult. Black mentioned that he often lived off of rice and tuna for dinner, and had struggles with Temple’s graduate program about his area of study.

It was six long years of work for him.

“But here I am,” Black said. “I survived.”

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UMass Lowell English Department hosting Writers on Campus event Gabriel DeBettencourt

Page 9

whose work she has long admired as well as published work in her literary magazine, Memorious. org. .For more information about the Writers on Campus event, both professors Dietz and Lim can be reached by email: Sandra_Lim@uml.edu and Maggie_Dietz@uml.edu.

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American poets Rebecca Morgan Frank (left) and David Rivard (right) will read some of their own work and answer questions.

UMass Lowell: 7.63x5”

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

Page 10

November 21, 2017

November 21, 2017

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

SPORTS

River Hawks gaining steam with 5-2 triumph over University of Connecticut Huskies ► Continued from front page

gather

more

points

than

Edwardh Friday night were Dmowski and Mueller.

Dmowski went on to score two goals in the third period to close out the night with three points. Mueller finished with three points, assisting both of Dmowki’s third period goals.

The offensive production was not, however, the only piece to the puzzle in Friday night’s triumph. Despite several minor lulls in performance, UMass Lowell put on a clinic in each facet of the game.

“We had a number of positives throughout the game,” said Bazin. “I thought we got contributions from every line… Our guys had good commitment to playing offense and defense. I think we’ve done a better job of being connected, and that has been a big part of it.”

Special teams were stellar for the River Hawks. Going perfect on all five penalty kills, UMass Lowell did a spectacular job of keeping UConn to the outside by turning away shots and breaking up passes.

Another phenomenal performance by sophomore goaltender Christoffer Hernberg was also a key factor.

Hernberg had 23 saves on the night, including one terrific pad save on a second period penalty shot for UConn.

“Hernberg has been huge for us all year. He showed some great poise [on the penalty shot], and didn’t bite on the deke. It was a big momentum shift for us,” said Edwardh.

UMass Lowell’s Friday night victory secured the team’s first win over the Huskies since their 2014-15 campaign. The River Hawks go on the road Saturday, where they will take on the

University of Connecticut once more on their home ice at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn.

It is a quick turnover for the River Hawks, but Bazin

says this will be a big test of his squad’s ability to revert to basics.

“I think it’s very healthy to have those types of quick turnarounds, because you find

out who you really have in that locker room,” Bazin said.

“The simple plays are even more important in that quick turnaround... It’s going to be a good test for our team.”

Matt Dwyer/Connector

Junior forward Ryan Dmowski celebrates following a River Hawk goal.

SPORTS Men’s basketball grinds out quality 76-73 win over Marist Kelly Skelton Connector Staff

The UMass Lowell men’s basketball team edged out a 76-73 victory over the Marist College Red Foxes Wednesday night at the Costello Athletic Center.

Senior guard Matt Harris led the River Hawks with 23 points. As a result, UMass Lowell improved to 2-1, while Marist dropped to 0-2.

“We were led by our two seniors tonight, no question about it,” said UMass Lowell head coach Pat Duquette.

UMass Lowell found themselves clinging to a single-digit lead for most of the first half. Entering the locker room for halftime, the River Hawks led 48-43 behind senior forward Jahad Thomas’ 15 points. Beyond the arc, Harris connected on four 3-pointers in the first half and scored 12 points.

Leading the way for Marist in the first 20 minutes of action was junior guard Brian Parker, who led all scorers with 16 points and finished with 22. Meanwhile, junior forward David Knudsen chipped in 11 points and

went on to complete the game with 18 in total.

The second half saw a similar stream of competition with the River Hawks’ lead dwindling and extending at different lengths. The defensive intensity of both teams increased significantly as time went on.

With 4:24 left in the second half, the River Hawks began to pull away following Harris’ seventh 3-pointer of the contest and a key lay-up by Thomas. From there on out, the teams exchanged scores until 2.9 seconds remained with UMass Lowell leading Marist by one possession. Harris was able to evade defenders off of the inbound pass to secure the victory.

The final score of 76-73 awarded UMass Lowell with the victory.

Harris finished the game with 23 points and Thomas added 21 of his own to compliment 17 rebounds and eight assists. Junior forward Josh Gantz provided 11 points, including a critical 3-pointer down the stretch.

UMass Lowell forced a total of 19 turnovers in the contest and after seeing Marist’s scoring shaved to 30

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points in the second half following their first half performance of 43 total points, Duquette was pleased. “[It was a] good win. I thought we were a little better defensively,” said Duquette. “I think we can go deeper in our roster and I believe that is how we’re going to get better this season.”

UP CO MI N G

River Hawk Games Wednesday, Nov. 22

3 p.m.

MBB vs LIU Brooklyn

Wednesday, Nov. 22

4 p.m.

WBB at Texas Tech

Sunday, Nov. 26

2 p.m.S

Monday, Nov. 27

7 p.m. WBB vs Fisher College

Tuesday, Nov. 28

7 p.m.

MICE vs Bentley

Wednesday, Nov. 29

7 p.m.

MBB vs Sacred Heart

MBB vs Loyola (Md.)

For more sports information and full game schedules visit goriverhawks.com

Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics

Senior forward Jahad Thomas had a double-double with 21 points and 17 rebounds.

A tough start, strong finish for River Hawks’ Paul Hogan UMass Lowell Athletics

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – UMass Lowell senior distance runner Paul Hogan (Burlington, Mass.) struggled at the start, but turned in a strong finish on the Tom Sawyer Park 10k course at the NCAA Cross Country National Championship Meet, Saturday morning, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Hogan ran through rain and wind to finish 80th in a field of more than 250 runners. He completed the course in a time of 30-minutes and 30.4-seconds. Hogan was a minute and a half behind the first finisher.

Justyn Knight of Syracuse won the individual title. Northern Arizona won it’s second consecutive National Championship. Portland was second, BYU finished third. Iona was the top scoring team from the Northeast region; the Gaels finished 12th.

“It was a good solid

run,” said Head Coach Gary Gardner. “We’re not ecstatic, but we’re not unhappy. Paul ran very tough.”

Hogan, who likes to push matters at the start, found himself in a tough position just moments after the gun. A runner in front of him fell to the ground and by the time Hogan had untangled himself from the traffic jam he’d run only 400-meters and he was 238th.

“That’s a tough field to dig yourself out of a hole against,” according to Gardner. “You’ve got the best distance and middle distance runners in the country there at this one event.”

Difficult or not, Hogan stepped it up passing some 150 runners before reaching the finish line.

“Paul showed his mental toughness,” said Gardner. “He fought and fought and fought and ran an incredible race, but it was just too big a hole to dig out of.

We were very pleased with the effort.”

Hogan was understandably disappointed, but the race appeared to help build his confidence. He was already talking with his coaches about next year and how to approach things differently. Despite being a senior, Hogan does have one more season of cross country eligibility.

“This was a great learning experience for Paul,” according to Gardner. “It was the first time that he was on a stage like this and had to deal with these circumstances.

He’s aiming for the top 25 to 30 next year and you can see that he’s gained confidence from the experience.”

The NCAA Championships bring the cross country season to a close. There is not a great deal of time off.

The indoor track and field season gets started December 3rd as UMass Lowell will send a team to the Alden Invitational at Brown University.

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

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November 21, 2017

SPORTS

River Hawks finish four-point weekend with 1-0 road shutout at UConn UMass Lowell Athletics

HARTFORD, Conn. – The UMass Lowell Hockey team earned a 1-0 road shutout at UConn on Saturday afternoon at the XL Center in Hockey East action.

The River Hawks improve to 8-6-0 overall (5-5-0 HEA) with their fourth consecutive victory, while UConn drops to 3-10-2 overall (2-6-1 HEA) with the losing effort.

Junior forward Connor Wilson (Calgary, Alta.) got the River Hawks on the scoreboard first just 4:45 into the second period for his third tally of the season, which beat UConn goalie Adam Huska high blocker side off a wrist shot from the slot.

Sophomore forward Kenny Hausinger (Anchorage, Alaska) assisted on the goal with a rush up the right half wall off of a UConn turnover.

The teams skated to a scoreless opening period with UMass Lowell holding a 7-6 shot advantage.

Junior goaltender Christoffer Hernberg (Espoo, Finland) totaled 33 stops in his fourth straight start for the River Hawks, including 15 saves in the middle stanza. Hernberg earned his second career shutout in his eighth win of the season. UConn’s Adam Huska notched 14 saves in the losing effort.

UMass Lowell returns to action on Tuesday, November 28th against Bentley in non-conference play. Game time from the Tsongas Center is 7 p.m.

Matt Dwyer/Connector

Senior defenseman Chris Forney skates past UConn freshman forward Zac Robins.

BEDFORD • LOWELL

Take a Class & Earn Credits During Winter Break During the normal break between fall and spring semesters, Middlesex is offering a selection of Wintersession classes in a condensed, 3-week format: Jan. 2 - 19, 2018.

Wintersession courses are a great way to: ❆ Complete degree requirements ❆ Keep on track toward graduation ❆ Reduce your credit load during spring semester ❆ Study a subject intensively, for a short period of time ❆ C omplete a course that won’t fit your fall or spring schedule

To register for Wintersession, visit

www.middlesex.mass.edu/wintersession or call 1-800-818-3434

Registration Now Open!