The Connector - November 7, 2017

Women’s basketball season preview ► Page 8

THE UMASS LOWELL

Serving the Student Body Since 1976

November 7, 2017

River Hawks drop final weekend game

In This Issue

Men’s ice hockey falls 6-2 against UMaine

Steve Kornacki to visit UMass Lowell

Hannah Manning

Connector Editor

â–ş Page 3

New Thor movie review â–ş Page 4

Men’s basketball season preview

â–ş Page 8

Final River Hawk Scores Team

Score

Overall Record

Volleyball at Stony Brook

L 3-0

Field Hockey vs. Stanford

L 1-5 9-11

Men’s Ice Hockey vs. Maine

W 3-2 4-5

Men’s Soccer at Hartford

W 2-0

5-18

9-6-1

Open forum to address student dining Andre Ragel Connector Staff

Students gathered on Wednesday in University Crossing’s Moloney Hall to voice their concerns at the annual Student Open Forum on Campus Dining, sponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA).

Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Larry Siegel joined Aramark staff on giving updates about future developments related to campus dining, as well as offering answers to student grievances revolving around campus dining.

After dinner, Siegel opened the forum by shedding light on UMass Lowell’s continued relationship with Aramark as its food service provider for the last 28 years. “Though imperfect, [Aramark] clearly [has] the best balance of all the factors that exist on campus,� said Siegel. He emphasized Aramark’s donation of over $18 million to the university to help fund renovations of the dining halls in Fox Hall, the Inn and Conference Center and the Hawk’s Nest at University Suites.

Siegel then gave updates on the university’s ongoing capital projects of renovating Cumnock Hall and the Hawk’s Nest at University Suites.

The million-dollar renovation of the Hawk’s Nest at University Suites is on â–ş See “Forum,â€? page 3

Sections

News.............................3 Campus Life..................6 A&E.............................. 4 Sports........................... 8

Despite scoring two goals in the final three minutes of regulation, the UMass Lowell men’s hockey team could not play a full 60 minutes and fell 6-2 to the University of Maine Black Bears.

The River Hawks started and ended strong but finished the weekend with a split series, bringing their overall record to 4-6.

Junior forward Ryan Dmowski and senior forward John Edwardh scored the two goals for the River Hawks, but their efforts came too late. “Well, that was a good old-fashioned butt-kicking,� said UMass Lowell head coach Norm Bazin.

The troubles for the River Hawks started late

Matt Dwyer/Connector

John Edwardh scored the River Hawks second and final goal of the night.

in the first period, where strong and confident play gave way to passing mistakes that led to turnovers

the University of Maine capitalized on. By the end of the first 20 minutes, the River Hawks were

down 2-0 but it seemed that the deficit was more â–ş See “Hockey,â€? page 7

‘Stranger Things’ second season

Not as strange, but worth the watch Brendan Jacques Connector Editor

The first season of Netflix’s “Stranger Things� was one of the best TV shows to premiere last year. With an intriguing mystery, an eclectic and immediately

endearing cast of characters, and an ‘80s sensibility that harkened back to the works of Spielberg and Carpenter, the series quickly proved itself to be one of the best pieces of media to come out of pop culture’s current fascination with the age of

Courtesy of The Verge

Stranger Things takes place in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.

Schwarzenegger and synth.

After its immense success, a second season was practically guaranteed, and now one year later it is finally out. But with the series’ main mystery practically solved by the end of last season, and with most of the series’ leads having completed their character arcs already, can this new season push the story forward in meaningful ways or is it just a sequel for its own sake? “Stranger Things� is an ‘80s-themed science fiction thriller that follows the residents of the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana as they try their best to live normal lives while fighting off supernatural attacks on their community.

The first season focused on the friends and family of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), a 12-year-old boy who went missing under mysterious circumstances, as they â–ş See “Stranger Things,â€? Page 5

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November 7, 2017

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NEWS

MSNBC journalist Steve Kornacki to break down America’s first year with Trump at UMass Lowell Christopher Romano Connector Staff

In the Donald Trump era of American history, have the rules of American politics as Americans thought they knew them changed? This is what MSNBC political correspondent and recent UMass Lowell honorary degree recipient Steve Kornacki will be addressing during his event, Steve Kornacki: One Year Since Election 2016.

The College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (FAHSS) is sponsoring the event which will be held on Nov. 17 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in University Crossing’s Moloney Hall.

At this year’s event, Kornacki will dive into the past year with the Trump administration, future elections and the state of the American political climate one year after the 2016 election. “So much of the polarization, so many of the divisions that kind of defined the campaign, really feel the same about a year later,” Kormacki said.

“Last year I was trying to just dissect what exactly had happened on election day,” said Kornacki. Because the results of the election were so shocking, he said pollsters and pundits found themselves wondering how their predictions were so wrong.

“A lot of the instruments that we rely on to understand American politics ended up being wrong on elec-

tion day,” Kornacki said. “In using those same instruments, it is apparent that Trump’s presidency is in rough shape.”

However, Kornacki said he wonders if these indicators will be wrong again as they were on election day. He speaks and writes about elections for a living. He said he tries to understand what they say about who Americans are and about what kind of country we live in. At the event, Kornacki said he will be discussing the upcoming 2018 midterm elections and the presidential election in 2020 as well.

“To decide between topics other than elections to discuss at the event when news of Trump doing something controversial seems to break every hour,” Kornacki said, “I think the challenge is to look for the patterns.”

He said to focus less on the individual moments with Trump, but to look at who his actions provoke to react.

Francis Talty, assistant dean of the College of FAHSS and co-director for the Center for Public Opinion, said the event is open to the public, but a number of seats will be reserved for students.

Talty and Kornacki became connected when on his show, Kornacki discussed a poll by the Center for Public Opinion which found that 23 percent of millennials would prefer a giant meteor to hit the earth instead of

a Clinton or Trump presidency. After reaching out to Kornacki on Twitter, the two set up the event.

At UMass Lowell, Talty is not alone in his interest in having Kornacki back on campus. David Todisco, the president of the UMass Lowell College Democrats, said he remembers meeting Kornacki on several occasions. He said Kornacki is “such a local guy for someone who is on national television.”

At the Democratic National Convention, Todisco worked for MSNBC and NBC. He said that Kornacki was helpful to the students working the convention and was “very down to

Earth.”

Kornacki also took classes at the university in the spring of 1997 as part of a dual enrollment program at his high school in Groton, Mass. He said he was amazed at the growth he had seen when he visited UMass Lowell last year for his analysis of the 2016 election.

Though Kornacki only studied at UMass Lowell for one semester, he may become a regular here. While discussing the possibility of a yearly visit to UMass Lowell from Kornacki, Talty said, “He’s always welcome.”

Courtesy of NBC

Kornacki is a correspondant for NBC News, and has also contributed to such media agencies as Salon, The Boston Globe and The Wall Street Journal.

Students voice concerns with Aramark at open forum ►Continued from front page

track to be finished by January 2018 and, modeled after the dining hall at the Inn and Conference Center, it will offer a full-service dining experience to students at a smaller scale compared to Fox Dining Commons. University officials decided to convert Hawk’s Nest after realizing that the dining hall at Fox is not big enough to accommodate the additional 750 students living on campus with the opening of the River Hawk Village complex. It is the hope of many university officials that Hawk’s Nest will be the answer to students’ requests of expanded dining hours for student athletes and students with late classes.

Another capital project, slated to be complet-

ed in September 2018, is the renovation of Cumnock Hall. Dubbed as the “North Campus Living Room,” Cumnock is envisioned to serve as a new place for students to hang out in between classes.

Modeled after South Campus’ McGauvran Center, Cumnock Dining increases seating, especially for commuter students, and compensates for the lack of green space on North Campus as compared to South Campus.

When Cumnock Dining opens next fall, Siegel said that students will be able to use a meal swipe instead of their River Hawk dollars. This development was welcomed by the majority of students around the room who voiced concerns about their River Hawk dollars quickly “burning out.”

Courtesy of UMass Lowell

Several students concerns revolved around Fox Dining Commons, mice in the dining halls and uncleanliness.

After the presentation, the floor was opened to students. Some of the biggest concerns students said they had centered on the dining hall’s hours and the cleanliness of the dining halls.

Informal polling conducted by Siegel among the students in the room revealed that the majority of students at one point or another have gone to the dining hall with less than optimal offerings, especially in-between meal periods and on weekends. Others mentioned the constant lack of utensils during peak meal periods, and how often small utensils are not washed properly. In addition, many students reported multiple sightings of mice running all over the dining halls.

“The carpentry department is aware that this is a huge problem. They’ve been actively laying down baits and traps,” said Siegel. According to Siegel, many of the rodents have come from active construction around the campus that has stirred the ground.

A few students mentioned the dirtiness of the floor, especially around the Sizzle station, where fries are constantly found all over the floor in the Fox Dining Commons. Siegel said that last year’s policy change which lead to the union prohibiting workers behind the counter from doing tasks in front of the counter.

By the end of the forum, students who still had concerns were encouraged to complete the surveys seen at the dining halls and to reach out to University Dining leadership team wearing white chef coats.

“Perfection is not a realistic goal for us,” said Siegel. “But we will never stop tweaking the dining program, because it’s always evolving... We’ll do whatever we have to do to make the best.”

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November 7, 2017

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ‘Stranger Things’ is no longer strange

►Continued from front page attempt to both rescue him and uncover the mystery surrounding a girl named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), who appeared in town shortly after Will’s disappearance and has an assortment of psychic powers. Season two picks up a year after this, with Will home, Eleven missing and presumed dead, and the town at large trying their best to put the traumatic events of the previous year out of mind. This relative peace is quickly dashed however when Will begins having mysterious visions of a new, otherworldly threat that, if unchallenged, has the potential to destroy Hawkins and the entire world as they know it.

Unfortunately, the story of season two is not quite as strong as the first. While the show remains tense, has some cool twists and turns, and feels like the next logical step for the story and the world to take, a lot of the suspense that made the first season so binge-able is absent this time around because there is very little new to learn about the threat the characters are facing. The main mystery also takes much longer to get moving, leading to stretches in the beginning where it feels like the characters are just biding their time in weaker subplots until the story finally kicks in. That is not to say the overall story of this season is bad, just that it is lacking some of the magic that made the first season as magnetic as it was.

That being said, the show’s supernatural aspect was never the main draw. That honor is unquestionably the character writing. While every member of the main cast can vaguely be fit into one or more

of the classic ‘80s stereotypes (bad boy with a heart of gold, overprotective mother, etc.), very rarely are they defined solely by them. Rather, the characters are elevated beyond their stock archetypes through both clever subversion of their traditional roles in the story and a script that treats them as people first and plot devices second. To use an example from Courtesy of Netflix

“Stranger Things” was nominated for 18 awards during 2016’s Primetime Emmy Awards.

the first season, Will’s mother Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) perfectly fits the stereotypical overprotective/hyperactive mother role that would normally be a hindrance keeping the characters from saving her son or the cause of the problem in the first place.

But here, the show subverts the trope by making Joyce surprisingly capable and characterizing her as a single mother trying to do her best in a messed-up situation, leaving her incredibly sympathetic.

Owen Johnson Connector Editor

“Thor: Ragnarok” is the 17th movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it is easily the most middle of the road and generic Marvel film of them all.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) finds himself stranded on an alien planet and forced to fight in a gladiator ring while a powerful villainess (Cate Blanchett) seizes control of Asgard. In an effort to escape the planet and return to Asgard, Thor must rely on old and new allies in order to make his escape and save his home.

As stated above, “Thor: Ragnarok” is middle of the road and generic Marvel. There is nothing standout, good or bad, about it. It is just a bright, colorful, superhero movie. It has all of the usual tropes down to the extreme, leaving very little room for the movie to have any sort of uniqueness.

The lack of uniqueness comes from the fact that it feels like “Thor: Ragnarok” is trying to be a “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie instead of another “Thor” movie. All of the stuff on the gladiator fighting planet feels like it could be a plot line from the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies, the overly comedic tone is similar and there is even the usage of older rock songs in the soundtrack, in this case Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song.”

In terms of typical Marvel tropes, there are a lot present in this one. The writing is way more comedic, even in scenes where it should not be funny, the villain is very generic and lacks an interesting character or motivation, and the references to other Marvel properties that need to be included for no reason other than to remind the audience that those properties exist. Not only does “Thor: Ragnarok” use these ►See “Thor,” page 5

Courtesy of Disney

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Page 5

The problem in ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ is not Ragnarok

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

This strong writing holds true this season as well.

While it is true that many of the characters completed their arcs last time around and do not have much new to do, the show sidesteps this by pushing those characters into a supporting role to give previously under-utilized characters such as Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Steve (Joe Keery) more room to develop on top of introducing new members to add some new perspectives to the main group (Sadine Sink’s portrayal of Maxine Mayfield is a particular highlight). This works well for the most part, even if some of the new cast members do not work quite as well as intended.

The returning cast remains just as stellar here as they were last time around. Harbour and Ryder continue to be the series MVPs, but there is not a weak link in the returning cast. Special mention must be given though to Schnapp’s portrayal of Will, a character that for all his importance to the DNA of the series has not really gotten the chance to shine up until now. Without getting into spoilers, Will’s character goes psychologically dark this season, and Schnapp does not miss a step on the way there.

All in all, season two of “Stranger Things” is a solid follow-up to an electrifying original. Some of that new-show magic is gone, and the story as a whole is not quite as tightly constructed as it was the first time around, but everything that made season one worth watching is still there. If the series wants to continue into a third season, hopefully it can find a story that feels more consequential next time around, but for the time being this works too.

Final Grade: B

‘Thor’ is a bore

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jor issue. Ragnarok is the biggest and immediately. The comedy is a big fac►Continued from page 4 tropes, they use them to some of the most dangerous disaster that Thor has tor of this, but the giddiness of the stuworst extents that there have been in had to face so far in the five movies he dio and the predictability of the script these movies. Take the pointless ref- has been in, yet the movie plays like are also big factors of this. Two of the erences of other Marvel properties in a comedy where every scene needs to most important scenes in the movie this one. Dr. Strange (Benedict Cum- end with a punchline, every character are in the trailers, which robs them berbatch) shows up briefly at the beCourtesy of Disney ginning to help Thor in a five-minute sequence that could have easily been written around and left out.

Serious pacing issues plague “Thor: Ragnarok” from the get-go. The first act is dedicated to cramming in a bunch of plot details and tying off loose ends of characters and plot points set up from “Thor: The Dark World” in rapid succession. The second act is spent on the gladiator world with Thor while brief clips of Asgard are shown. This act is dedicated to the progression of the plot and characters, but all of the plot and charac- As of Nov 7, “Thor: Ragnarok” has grossed over $400 million worldwide. ter progression just happen at points that seem arbitrarily picked out by the is the comedic relief and even the se- of any impact, especially the build up screenwriter instead of in a manner rious moments lose their dramatic im- to the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), because that would help the movie flow better, pact thanks to a slapstick comic relief those who watched the trailer before they saw the movie will know what is and thus it feels rather slow. The third moment.

If “Thor: Ragnarok” excels at any- coming. The predictability does this act is dedicated to Thor fighting to thing, it is managing to dissipate the as well because the audience can tell free Asgard, and it feels really rushed. tension and drama of a scene almost what is going to happen way before it The tone of the movie is also a ma-

happens, and thus any tension or surprise from the scene where the expected thing happens loses anything it has going for it.

The best part of the movie by far is the cast, despite the lack of actual characters that exists in this film.

Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston are likable on screen as always and have good chemistry with one another.

Blanchett, Idris Elba, Karl Urban and Anthony Hopkins are nice to have around and play their parts as best they can, as they always do. Tessa Thompson is a nice new addition to the cast and has good chemistry with everyone. While the character of Banner is given an ill-fitting, somewhat comedic personality this time around, Ruffalo does a good job of playing it.

The best part of the movie by far is Jeff Goldblum, who is entertaining to watch and seems to be having a blast with playing his eccentric character.

“Thor: Ragnarok” sits on the middle road when it comes to Marvel. It is not terrible, but it is not offering much other than a good cast and a wickedly entertaining Goldblum.

Final grade: C

‘The Carmilla Movie:’ bigger but not better Brigid Archibald Connector Staff

“Carmilla,” a YouTube based web series, launched its first feature length movie on Oct. 26. The series ended last October, and followed Laura Hollis (Elise Bauman), a college freshman, and her friends as they tried to save the world, from the Sumerian vampire cult that controlled their Austrian-based college. At the same time, Laura fell for her new vampire roommate Carmilla (Natasha Negovanlis).

Suffice it to say, it strays a bit from the original source material: Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s 19th century gothic novel of the same name that had warned of the dangers of female sexuality.

Despite the limitations of a low budget, the series nuzzled its way into the hearts of millions of viewers with its unmatched LGBT representation, amazing writing and some of the best acting found on YouTube. At the end of the third and final season, the creators announced a fan funded film was underway.

Some were excited for the change of direction, and others thought the series should end gracefully on a high note.

The movie picks up five years after the events of the web series. The gang is faced with a new challenge. Carmil-

la, having been granted mortality at the end of the third season, begins to turn back into a vampire, and Laura starts having dreams about events and people from Carmilla’s past. Carmilla thinks that the dreams are messages from her past victims and

things simple, and avoids over explaining. The writers went to great lengths to make the movie accessible to new viewers without boring the previous fans with facts they already now.

In the simplest terms, the movie is a lot like “Scoo-

anced movie.

Another factor in this are the actors’ delivery. Most of the cast have played these characters for four years now.

They know the roles well, and it shows now more than ever.

Good writing can only go so far, and it is their delivery

Courtesy of Smokebomb Entertainment

“Carmilla” the webseries is hosted on YouTube by KindaTV, and has three seasons in total.

scorned lover. Laura and the rest of her friends from the series, including crazed scientist LaFontaine (Kaitlyn Alexander), designated mom friend Lola Perry (Annie Briggs) and reformed frat boy Kirsch (Matt O’Connor), return to Styria to find the cause of the dreams and “revamping.”

The movie does a great job to naturally present information from the series without feeling forced. It provides background in a light-hearted, joking manner, keeping

by-Doo,” but more mature.

The series had always been a bit campy, and that certainly has not changed in the new movie. The movie does not take itself too seriously, instead choosing to poke fun at common tropes of the horror and mystery genres. It is not afraid to be weird and cheesy, but only if it is to drive the plot forward. The writers for the most part know when to keep things funny and when to get serious. This created a genuinely enjoyable, well-bal-

that often makes or breaks the movie. They make the ridiculous story believable.

For all the things the movie does right, there are a few things it got wrong. The pacing of the movie is off. It drags near the middle because it is slow to develop any plot points. There are a few scenes in the middle that serve no purpose but to appease preexisting fans, contributing little to nothing to character or plot development.

These scenes could have

been easily forgiven if it was not so clear that the movie needed the wasted time to develop the ending, which was rushed and largely unsatisfactory. However funny and ironic the ending may have been, it failed to dig deeper.

There was no closure for the antagonist, and there really should have been considering the character had been such an important part of the series’ lore.

In fact, it seemed that the writers were too afraid to truly dive too deep into the themes of the movie. Instead of seriously exploring the ideas of revenge and guilt, the movie skimmed the surface and used comedy to deflect, or found convenient solutions to avoid any real development. This is frustrating to see from a series that had previously been so successful at expressing complex ideas in creative and engaging ways.

Overall, “Carmilla” is a fun and enjoyable movie, but it does not seem to want to be much more than that. While the pacing could use improvement, and the movie could have been so much more, the story is still funny and charming, and the characters are every bit as lively as before.

Final Grade: B

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November 7, 2017

CAMPUS LIFE

DECA: Learning through competition Kelly Skelton Connector Staff

A new club with a passion for competition and team-building has launched on campus this fall. DECA, which stands for the Distributive Education Club for America, now has a UMass Lowell chapter.

The organization is common among high schools, allowing for students to engage in business competitions. The idea was brought forward by Hanifah Nankinga, a senior in the Manning School of Business (MSB) with concentrations in finance and management. .DECA provides a unique, cross-functional purpose of combining business minds with other majors to facilitate organized projects. The organization features five pillars for engagement and competition including Business Management/Administration, Finance/Accounting, Marketing/Communications, Entrepreneurship and Hospitality/Tourism.

Nankinga looked to implement a . new opportunity into the MSB with the DECA organization. “I brought DECA to the Manning School of Business because it gives students a great way to test-run their major, travel to different states and develop a competitive edge,” said Nankinga.

The response was successful, recruiting 30 registered members and 60 on the mailing list. The organization is looking to grow even further after their quick start. .Nankinga combined her knowledge

with DECA Vice President Drew Lambert’s past experiences. Lambert had an active role in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club in his high school. When Nankinga presented the idea of DECA last spring, Lambert was immediately interested.

“One of the best things about DECA is that we are the one organization that says we are not content with just learning for a test or class, we want to actually use these skills and gain from them through competition and teamwork,” said Lambert.

The organization has two aspects . that students are encouraged to become a part of. First, there are general body members. These members are provided with the opportunity to attend a series of business speakers, workshops and meetings. Secondly, there is the competitive team. This element of DECA requires a higher level of commitment, but yields much more hands on engagement.

DECA’s short-term goals are fo.

cused on piecing together their competitive team of roughly 20 members.

Once established, the team will compete in districtwide and statewide competitions with the possibility of national outcomes. Their first test will be a scrimmage at Endicott College in December.

DECA was recently approached to assist the UMass Lowell Racing Club with their grand-scale car show this spring. The group was enlisted to provide solutions for efficiency gaps and create a bridge between the colleges of engineering and business. DECA will be providing supply chain support for the event. .DECA’s current member-base consists of mostly upperclassman with most of the e-board being senior level students, with the exception of group secretary Tyler Murphy, a junior in the Manning School of Business.

Nankinga said she is aware and motivated to create a long-lasting stay for the DECA program.

“My hope for the future of DECA

is continuous growth, giving more students the same opportunities as today, in 30 years from now,” said Nankinga.

Freshmen and sophomore students are of high interest to join as they will be the next generation of the DECA program.

DECA meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in Southwick 240.

To join the general body experience of DECA, students may visit the Engage portal at UMass Lowell or email the organization directly at manningdeca@gmail.com. To apply for the DECA competitive team, students must submit a resume and category of interest (from the five pillars listed previously) to manningdeca@gmail. com by Nov. 5. The team will be announced on Nov. 6.

To stay connected with all of DECA’s events and developments, the group encourages social media engagement via the following channels: Facebook: ManningDECA, Twitter and Instagram: @Manning_DECA.

Courtesy of DECA at UMass Lowell

DECA at UMass Lowell enters academic competitions at the statewide level.

Gambling After Dark: Bigger staff, bigger space, bigger event Shane Foley Connector Staff

Gambling After Dark, an annual event that has grown into tradition at UMass Lowell, has expanded this year to present possibly the largest event in its history.

Although it has had several makeovers over the years, Gambling After Dark has maintained the identity of being an event that is fun as well as educational. On Monday, Nov. 27 in Moloney Hall, this event comprises of a multitude of casino style games such as poker and blackjack. Instead of using money, however, these games utilize condoms and other items that promote safe sex.

Justin Killgoar has helped plan this program for two years now. “I would say that given the nature of this event, where it comes off as a casino gambling type program, a lot of people that wouldn’t naturally attend sex education programs are much more willing to attend this one,” said Killgoar.

Gambling After Dark is not only attracting more attendees, but more workers as well. After attending the event last year, Jackie Nee joined the large group of students volunteering

their time, along with many other new faces.

“I knew there was a lot of work that went into [Gambling After Dark], but I didn’t know how much work went into it,” said Nee. Not only is there a large staff for the evening, but Gambling After Dark is also partnering with many popular groups on campus including LASA, Pride and Healthy Hawks.

In years past, Gambling After Dark has been held entirely in Moloney Hall at University Crossing. This year, however, they have booked the lounge outside of the room as well. Attendees will be able to leave the venue and relax in the lounge throughout the night.

This new area may serve great benefit to some students who, in the past, may feel uncomfortable talking about sexual health in a public setting. One great service this event provides is offering a forum where people can freely discuss their sexual health.

“Part of the reason why a lot of people aren’t as knowledgeable about sexual health and stuff along those lines is because they are either afraid to talk about it or they feel the material isn’t as like digestible,” said Nee.

“For some people, this topic is a huge, giant taboo. You don’t talk about it with family, you don’t talk about it with friends.”

In addition to more seating, some casino games will be added outside the room as well. Due to the programs growing popularity, Moloney Hall has had difficulty holding all of the attendees, especially last year.

“The issue with last year was that

we had a lot of high volume tables located right next to each other, so this year we spaced them out so that way the crowd should be thinned across the plane,” said Killgoar.

“I think that without having access to this program, for some people, it would be detrimental,” said Nee. Instagram: UML Gambling After Dark Courtesy of UMass Lowell

Gambling After Dark will offer a night of fun and sexual education.

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

Page 7

November 7, 2017

SPORTS

Hockey woes continue as River Hawks falls to Maine 6-2 ► Continued from front page

was more demoralizing than would appear at first glance.

UMass Lowell went on the power play seven times in the game with four of the chances coming in the third period. However, the River Hawks could only score on one of these: Dmowski’s goal which prevented a shutout at 17:36 in the third period.

On a power play late in the second period, the puck was cleared four times out of the River Hawks’ defensive zone.

Ending the first period down 2-0 was hardly indicative of the play at the time. UMass Lowell had several close scoring chances, but Black Bears goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman made a powerful case for himself to be considered Maine’s starter with his performance.

UMass Lowell led Maine in shots on goal for a majority of the game, eventually eclipsing them 3026 by game’s end.

“We had some good looks... [but] missed two or three open nets. On the first shift of the game, I think we had our best opportunity,” said Bazin.

Sophomore goalkeeper Tyler Wall was given the start for the River Hawks but was pulled in the second period after letting in a total of four goals.

He was given the loss, bringing his record this season down to 0-5. Junior goalkeeper Christoffer Hernberg arrived in relief of Wall, and allowed two goals on 16 shots.

“We have two very good goalies, but the chances we gave up were monster chances,” said Bazin.

The Saturday matinee was exemplary of the problems which have plagued the River Hawks of late. The Black Bears got under the skin of UMass Lowell through aggressive pokechecking and general play — and it showed in the penalty summary.

Maine was down a player eight times, and Lowell went on the penalty kill a total of five times.

UMass Lowell had offensive and defensive problems throughout the night, most flagrantly

on display during a 5-on-3 power play midway through the first period. The River Hawks shot the puck around too often, leading the Black Bears to accurately guess who would be attempting a goal.

Dmowski had a legitimate chance when it was 5-on4 play, but in the end a chance was all it was.

Tension was evident on the River Hawks’ side.

UMass Lowell’s penalties in the third period were for slashing, roughing, cross-checking and elbowing.

“We got a lot of kids in that locker room that are searching for answers. But the answers are within the locker room,” said Bazin.

Bazin said that the weekend was not a total loss on account of the fact that the River Hawks were able to acquire two points from Friday night’s win.

But beyond that, it was difficult to find the good amongst the very bad.

“If you count the first two to three minutes of play and the last five minutes of play maybe you could find a positive there. But I’m not there yet,” said Bazin.

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November 7, 2017

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

Page 8

SPORTS

Men’s basketball ready for upcoming season after pre-season exhibition games Jason Ounpraseuth Connector Staff

The UMass Lowell men’s basketball team are prepared for their first season of Division I eligibility.

The team believes this is due in large part to the 10day Italy trip back in August where everyone on the team got to improve and bond together before the season begins Nov. 10. The program will now be able to compete in the America East Basketball tournament and have a chance at competing in the NCAA tournament.

“It hasn’t changed our approach [to the season].

Year five is an arbitrary number set by the NCAA. Year five is [going to] come, and year five is [going to] go,” said head coach Pat Duquette. “My approach all along has been, ‘well we’re not trying to be good in year five. We’re trying to be good every year and build this thing and sustain it.’ So yes, there’s an added excitement because we’re eligible to play in the tournament, but it really hasn’t changed our approach in being successful on a day to day basis and building this thing beyond year five as well.”

Guard Matt Harris is taking his senior year with patience and excitement over the possibilities the season has with postseason eligibility and the development of the team.

“We don’t know when our season is going to end,” Harris said. “Before, [we knew] what day we were ending [the season on], but now after our regular season ends, we’re not going to go home from there.”

Junior guard Ryan Jones is coming off a breakout season and spoke on the mentality the team has had with postseason eligibility becoming a reality and the mentality he has going into this season.

“Now that we’re eligible, there’s more energy in

practice, a little more fire,” said Jones. “As long as I can conquer myself, which I think I’m learning to do, I don’t think anyone can stop me.”

Coach Duquette and senior guard Jahad Thomas believe the team has plenty of room to grow and improve. Specifically, they spoke about sophomore guard Rinardo Perry who has grown into one of the key players on the team. Duquette and Thomas believe Perry can grow even more as a player to help the team achieve its goals this upcoming season.

Even with all the praise, Perry said, “I just want to be the best player that I can be.”

The players and coaches went on the first overseas trip in program history this past summer, playing in three games against professional teams. The trip to Italy was described as a bonding experience for the team by Duquette.

“I’d be surprised if it doesn’t serve this group really well this year,” Duquette said. “[It helped] speed up our development as a team.”

Duquette said that the players feel more prepared mentally for this season than in years past and plan on working out the little details before the season opener against UMass Amherst on Nov. 10.

The River Hawks are welcoming in four new players this season: two freshmen guards Joey Naccarato and Obadiah Noel and two transfer guards Shawn Jones and Christian Lutete.

“Everyday they’ve got a chance to prove themselves,” Duquette said. “They [have to] earn it.

We’ve got to see it in games, but I’m happy with what they’ve done now. They’re at a good stage in their development. They’re probably ahead of where most of our news guys have been because of the Italy trip.”

Thomas is taking his role as a leader on this team

U P C OM I N G

River Hawk Games Wednesday, Nov. 8

7 p.m. MSOC vs AE Semifinals

Friday, Nov. 10

5 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 10

7 p.m.S

Friday, Nov. 10

7 p.m. MBB at Massachusetts

Friday, Nov. 10

7 p.m.

WVB vs UMBC

Saturday, Nov. 11

7 p.m.

MICE vs Northeastern

WBB at Rhode Island MICE at UNH

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

in stride as he prepares for his final year at UMass Lowell.

“My main focus is take it one game at a time. I want to do something big here,” said Thomas. “I’m just trying to go out there and lead this group where I can to make that happen.”

Josh Gantz received the most praise from Duquette and his teammates. They all believe that he can have a big impact on this team with his defense and his ability to space the floor on offense.

Gantz is coming off a season-ending leg injury, and he said that the Italy trip helped him mentally as he had the opportunity to get game reps in.

“Our vibe is with a chip on our shoulder. Everything has come up to this point,” Gantz said. “We’re finally eligible this year. I think we’re all just ready to attack this season and ready to go as hard as we can the entire season for as long as we can.”

A most promising season: Women’s basketball season preview Monique Reyes Connector Contributor

The road to recovery seems to be the theme this year for the UMass Lowell women’s basketball team. With hopeful spirits, they are looking forward to increasing their 3-25 record from last season. The most anticipated change of this upcoming season is seeing how having a larger, talented roster will aid the team.

Previously injured players and eight new recruits will be making their way to the court this season and adding more versatility into each position.

Redshirt junior guard Brianna Rudolph experienced an injury that prevented her from fully participating throughout the season last winter, but will be back on the court this season. Sophomore guard Megan Hendrick was injured at the end of the season, and it prevented her from participating in scrimmages during the postseason. But she will be back on the court this season as well. In addition, redshirt sophomore guard Nazarae Butler has had surgery and is expected to be back on the court halfway through the season.

Having a larger roster is one of the biggest changes to keep an eye on.

“The biggest benefit to having more players is that it provides the team with more depth in each position and allows for more players to be able to come up from the bench in order to contribute their skill sets,” said head coach Jenerrie Harris.

One of the eight new recruits is sophomore Angel Agoth from Rochester, Minnesota. She is a political science major concentrating on legal studies, and on the court, she is a power forward. As an out of state transfer, Agoth is still getting used to life here

at UMass Lowell.

“When I first came to UML on a visit there was nothing that I did not like about it. I fell in love with it instantly,” she said. “I built a pretty good relationship with the coaches, and the team was nice, and everyone on campus was really nice. Just being able to be a part of this team that is transitioning is exciting, and I did not want to miss out on the opportunity.”

Hendrick from Alexandria, Virginia joined the River Hawk team as a freshman and is now starting her second season as a guard. She is an exercise physiology major. Hendrick also said she felt the instant family connection.

“When I was looking at schools and choosing, I took into consideration how the coaches and the players treated me. They were very welcoming and excited for me to be on campus and it felt like a family,” Hendrick said.

Both Agoth and Hendrick said that being able to join a team that is going to become fully Division I was an opportunity that they could not pass up.

A full transition to Division I means that the team can play against more competitive teams that will force them to increase their intensity and further foster their growth as a team.

“I think that it is cool that we finally get to compete in the postseason, and I know that last year we weren’t able to compete in the postseason,” Hendrick said.

Agoth expressed the same sentiment and said, “I would also say that it is a level playing field, just knowing that we can compete for our conference, we can win our conference, [and] just playing postseason and stuff is exciting.”

The team will be able to compete in conference tournaments and NCAA games after their regular season ends. This will mean more intense practices, which the team is already experiencing.

“I think that we have stepped up our intensity especially since our season just started. We have buckled down on the court and weight room since it is strictly business now,” Hendrick said.

Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics

Megan Hendrick will return to the court this season.