Men’s and women’s basketball victories over Hartford ► Page 10
THE UMASS LOWELL
Serving the Student Body Since 1976
February 17, 2015
Pierce the Veil, Sleeping with Sirens bring their ‘World Tour’ to the Tsongas
In This Issue Jon Stewart’s departure ► Page 2
Jen Desrosiers Connector Editor
Too much snow
Professors look for ways to make up for lost time
â–ş Page 5
Grammys Recap â–ş Page 6
Final River Hawk Scores Team
Score
Overall Record
M. Basketball vs. Hartfprd
W 69-63
11-15
W. Basketball vs. Hartford
W 65-62
11-14
M. Ice Hockey vs. UMASS
W 7-1
M. Lacrosse vs. Yale
L 4-19
0-1
L 4-18
0-1
W. Lacrosse vs. UMASS Softball vs. Liberty University
L 0-2
17-10- 4
4-6
White House recognizes UML professor as one of eight “Champions of Change� Sam Linstead-Atkinson Connector Editor
David Lustick, one of eight “Champions of Change,â€? was recently honored at the White House in recognition of his collaborative projects, Cool Science and ScienceToGo.org. The White House commended individuals that represented innovative and prodigious achievement in climate change education and literacy in an official ceremony on Monday, Feb. 9. Lustick, associate prof. of science and mathematics education at UMass Lowell, was venerated for his work as principal investigator of two interdisciplinary teams, Cool Science and ScienceToGo.org. Cool Science and ScienceToGo.org “utilize out-of-home media. [These are] the placards and posters that we see when we ride mass transit; they’re above the seats in the bus or the train; they’re in the stations where we wait,â€? Lustick said. â–şSee Lustick, Page 5
Sections Op/Ed ......................... 2 A&E.............................. 6 Campus Life.................. 3 Calendar....................... 8 News .............................4 Sports........................... 9
Last Friday, the Tsongas Center was a scene of shrieking fans as headlining bands Sleeping with Sirens and Pierce the Veil took over the arena for the Massachusetts stop of their world tour. Also on this tour were supporting acts Mallory Knox, based out of the U.K. and Lowell natives PVRIS (pronounced “Parisâ€?). Fans started arriving early; the line wrapped around the side of the Tsongas Center and stretched down to the Riverwalk. This, of course, was no surprise because not only do their fan bases overlap, but Pierce the Veil and Sleeping with Sirens are currently the two biggest names in post-hardcore and have Jen Desrosiers/Connector been for the past several years. As it got closer to show time, Jaime Preciado of Pierce the Veil performing in the Tsongas Center on Firday night. the floor in front of the stage the stands for the show to begin. As Mallory Knox, took the stage. quickly filled, the crowd was noticeably underage. Parents tot- the lights were finally dimmed, the ing plastic cups filled with beer arena was filled with screams as â–şSee Pierce the Veil, Page 3 could be seen patiently waiting in the first act, alternative rock band
River Hawks defeat UMass Amherst 7-1 Shane Foley Connector Editor
After a loss and tie to rival UMass Amherst, the UMass Lowell River Hawk hockey team responded on Valentine’s Day with a 7-1 victory. The River Hawks were able to get the puck in the net early and often on Saturday. They scored five times in the first period alone. Five different River Hawks scored, including freshman John Edwardh, who earned a hat trick in Saturday’s action. “Comin in the game, you’re just trying to contribute how you can, but I owe a lot to the linemates I was play-
ing with,â€? said Edwardh. “When you’re playing with them, just trying to get open and luckily a few bounces went my way tonight.â€? TheRiver Hawks came out all guns blazing to open the game. They dumped pucks, and out raced UMass Amherst to the forecheck. The puck spent a lot of time in the Amherst zone, and UMass Lowell won the shots on goal category by a score of 17-7. UMass Lowell’s hard work in the offensive end started paying dividends five minutes into the game. â–şSee Hockey, Page 9
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February 17, 2015
The end of our era Dave Rudderham Connector Editor
I guess it’s easy to understand why the millennials have become sentimental over the news that Jon Stewart will be leaving the Daily Show after 16 years. For as long as I have read about politics or even cared about the news he’s always been there to put a comedic spin on dark stories. He was there for us when September 11th happened, he was on our TV sets after the London Bombings in 2005, he has spoken eloquently and with precision about countless tragedies like Hurricane Katrina, and he was there for us when we sobered on the idea that a single president could save America from itself. For four nights a week, on most weeks, millennials had the option to turn to Comedy Central and see Jon Stewart delivering one of his famous monologues
and soon we won’t have that option anymore. The news follows another tragedy for Comedy Central which was the departure of Stephen Colbert to take David Letterman’s job at CBS. Now there is a void to be filled. If you’re into political humour and commentary we do have other options but the two largest choices are only available on a channel we have to pay extra for. John Oliver, another ex Daily Show correspondent like Colbert, and Bill Maher, who has technically been in the political comedy game longer than Stewart can both be seen on HBO. But it’s just not the same. Bill Maher will soon be the most established political comedian left on television, and the truth is, I’m a huge fan of his. But his comedic style is like a shot of 100 proof whiskey, straight with no chaser. He’s cynical,
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learned from Jon Stewart, it’s that just because we’re growing up doesn’t mean that the world is any less silly. It’s another harsh truth that while political humor will never run out, no one can replace Jon Stewart. Our generation will miss him the same way we’ll miss our friends and family should we ever have to move far away. He’s familiar and he knows us well. He’s the smart friend that’s not afraid to pick up a book and talk to you about it afterwards. I’m saying that losing Stewart marks the end of our era because it really was our era. For a long time we were really young and we have always been the center of attention. We’ve helped make the success of The Daily Show and armed with our sense of humors we have already begun to change the world. But it’s not enough and we’re a lot more grown up than we were in 1999 when Jon Stewart took over light night television for those who just wanted to think a little bit more. I was eight years old when he took over from Craig Kilborn. Now that we’re older we’ve accepted the fact that there really is a war out there and we’re being sent to fight in it. And for some members of our generation that last statement can be taken literally and less metaphorically. When that happens we’re really going to need jokes. And in a country where we could very well see another Clinton vs. Bush in 2016 for the highest office, I’m left wondering: Who will make us laugh now?
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Staff BENJAMIN ST. PIERRE HENRY ST. PIERRE BRENDAN JACQUES PATRICK RAISTRICK JOSH BEVERAGE EMILY TOOMEY AYAH AWADALLAH AMANDA DYSART ANDREW HAVERTY
dark, and it hurts when he is right. But Stewart is like drinking a Mai Tai seven times over. You can get just as drunk as the guy drinking straight whiskey but the whole experience is a lot smoother and easier. In the end our generation cheers for Stewart to be right. He’s more of a traditional hero in a story in that sense. But I guess this void in political commentary was destined to happen eventually. Millenials losing Stewart and Colbert is far worse than when the baby boomers lost Johnny Carson from late night television. Stewart helped cultivate our generation and he talked to us about the world in ways that our parents never could because they had other things to worry about. Now that our generation is getting older and that we’re slowly progressing the nation into social liberalism with ideas of supporting gay rights and legalizing marijuana state by state it sort of feels like we’re awaiting our next orders. With what has happened in America in the last 16 years you could say that Stewart’s job is done, but I won’t make that argument. It’s a harsh truth that the generation Stewart speaks to still doesn’t vote. We’re still cynical and we’ll still do anything to get out of jury duty. It’s true that the kid gloves have to come off. We can’t worship someone who is profound in his voice, and still resist using our own. I know it’s tough, it’s not nearly as fun, and it feels like we’re growing up but if there is anything I hope that millennials have
TYLER COTE JOE MCDONOUGH GREG ALEXANDROPOULOS LINDY REED NICHOLLES KLEVISHA MICHAEL CAIZZI AMARIS TORRES JACOB SOLOMON NICK CROWLEY
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February 17, 2015
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
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CAMPUS LIFE Student Environmental Alliance set to raise climate change awareness Marlon Pitter Connector Editor
The Student Environmental Alliance (SEA), partnered with the Climate Change Initiative (CCI), is set to spread awareness of climate change with the “Make a Change for Us” event Wednesday night in University Crossing. The event is designed to make students more aware of the dangerous side effects of climate change and get students interested in taking steps to reduce it, according to SEA President Peter Boretos. The alliance plans to help carry out the university’s Climate Action Plan, designed to make UMass Lowell a “completely green campus” by 2050, which the group will present at Wednesday night’s event. Boretos said the club will use a carbon budget simulator, a real-time graph that displays fossil fuels emitted and their current ramifications on the planet, to show “the seriousness of the situation.” He said similar technology is also used by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United Nations for large-scale environmental decisions. At the same time, he plans to explain in “universal language” that there is “drastic climate change right now” and how students can take steps to reduce it. While the Climate Change Initiative is a facul-
ty-run organization that works to combat climate change, Boretos said he wanted to revive the Student Environmental Alliance and open it to more undergraduate students.
UMass Lowell Student Environmental Alliance/Facebook
The SEA plans to help reduce climate change at UML.
After meeting with CCI Director Juliette Rooney-Varga, Boretos was able to resurrect the student group, which now has five members, including Vice President Jared Nease. “I’m excited to get the club started, and I’m happy to see people invested,” he said. Still, Boretos said the club will need more mem-
bers and more awareness in order to make the most positive impact on the planet. He said he wants the group’s influence to spread from the university level to, hopefully, a national and global level. “Raising awareness is the best chance we have at defeating this never-ending downfall,” said the sophomore biology and psychology double major. In order to do so, Boretos said he wants to make more resources available on campus for students to learn about climate change, including more environmental science classes. Time is of the essence, according to Boretos, as he calls climate change something “we are going to experience in our lifetime.” “Huge changes will have to be made if we don’t take small steps [to fight climate change] now,” he said. Boretos said these small steps the club and the university will take “will define the future,” and he wants to “create leaders ready for the modern world.” “I think UMass Lowell is ready to take small steps to fight against climate change,” said Boretos. The “Make a Change for Us” event will take place Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. in University Crossing 158. For any questions about the event or the Student Environmental Alliance, please contact Peter_Boretos@student. uml.edu.
Events on campus this week Tuesday, Feb. 17 Cambodian American Student Association Eggroll Sale: Casa’s Eggroll Sale! Casa will be selling egg-rolls and crab rangoons to the public at the University. Please stop by and show some support. Time: 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. Location: University Crossing Table 2 Organization: Cambodian American Student Association Society of Women Engineers Prospective Students Meeting: The dean and the chairs of the department have requested that SWE host a social event for prospective female students deciding whether or not to attend UML. The event should be a social event in which the ladies get to meet the SWE girls and see the school in a laid back fashion. They’re will be plenty of opportunities for the ladies to get to ask questions, see the school, meet each other and make friends! Dinner will be provided. Social Events include fun ice-breakers a fun engineering activity and ice-cream. Time: 4:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Location: Cumnock Hall Auditorium Organization: Society of Women Engineers
Wednesday, Feb. 18 Latin American Student Association General Meetings: Weekly Meetings that help spread the Latin American culture. Time 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Location: Fox Hall Commons Organization: Latin American Student Association CASA Meetings: CASA will hold their first spring general meeting Weds. Stop by and learn about Khmer culture and enjoy free snacks provided by
the club. We discuss culturally relevant topics as well as current events around the world and in school! We are here to share, learn, and have a good time. Many events more to come! Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Location: Coburn Hall 205 Organization: Cambodian American Student Association Disable the Label General Body Meeting: This is our general body meeting where we discuss and plan upcoming events, discuss about disabilties and other issues regarding the topic, fundraising and more. Time: 9 p.m. - 10 p.m. Location: University Crossing 248 Organization: Disable The Label
Thursday, Feb. 19 Vietnamese Student Association General Meetings Spring 2015: General meetings for VSA where we share culture and promote unity among the community. Social and cultural activities will take place during this time. Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Location: Fox Hall Commons Organization: Vietnamese Student Association Anime Club: Club Meetings: Our general meetings are every Thursday from 7-9 PM on South Campus. Meetings are mainly split up into an Activity and a Screening component. Our activities can range from a half hour to the length of an entire meeting. Time: 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Location: Weed Lecture Hall 1 Organization: Anime Club
Friday, Feb. 20 GVSA Vietnam Tet (Lunar New Year) Celebration: Tet holiday is a special time of the year for all Vietnamese families to reunite and celebrate. Even though we are not always in our home country, following all the tradition is always happy and extraordinary experience. Tet holiday is also a great opportunity to introduce our culture to all our international friends in America. It will be the time we, GVSA, are showing that you and me are a big family, beyond the border of nationality Time: 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Location: Cumnock Hall Auditorium Organization: Graduate Vietamese Student Association
Monday, Feb. 23 Student Veterans’ Organization General Meetings: General Meetings of the SVO for the Spring 2015 semester Time: 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Location: Southwick Hall 240 Organization: Student Veterans’ Organization M.A.L.E.S. General Meetings: The General Body Meetings for spring semester Time: 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Location: University Crossing 490 Organization: M.A.L.E.S. All events appear courtesy of the University of Massachusetts Lowell online calendar. For more events, visit uml.edu/calendar. Follow the Connector on Instagram @umlconnector.
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February 17, 2015
NEWS White House recognizes UMass Lowell professor ►Continued from front page
Cool Science is a program that accepts submissions of artwork from grades K-12 and implements the most galvanizing pieces in an awareness campaign throughout the Lowell local transit authority. “These are coveted spaces for advertisers. And our idea was, why not take these spaces and instead of trying to sell products and services, why don’t we use them to engage the rider in something really interesting and thought provoking?” Lustick said. Lustick and his team sort through submissions and “select the best of that artwork and put it on the buses...so that the whole community can see what the children think and understand about climate change. In a couple weeks the six [winning entries] are all going to be put up in the fifty buses around Lowell...and that’s really exciting for us,” he said. While submissions are usually abundant, averaging about 500 a year, the funding has not always come so easily, said Lustick. “We ran out of funding for Cool Science last year…This year we were so proud that United Parcel Service sponsored us. [The funding] made this year’s competition possible,” he said. Similarly, the ScienceToGo.org project engages riders of the Boston T. Instead of student artwork, this project uses a professionally developed learning campaign starring “Ozzie the Ostrich,” who is used to teach riders “climate change science,” said Lustick. Lustick said the idea for “Ozzie” “emerged from a very intensive process; it was one of the ideas presented and it resonated with the whole team. [It was] a give-and-take between the creative folk and the scientists and educators.” The varying depictions of “Ozzie the Ostrich” are each overlain with a potent message, developed using creative and stimulating motifs. One such dramatization displayed “‘Ozzie the Ostrich’ and his friends” covered in mosquitoes. “People don’t necessarily think climate change will impact insect populations, but [it has been] documented [by a Boston entomologist] how not only the number of mosquitoes but the number of species of mosquitoes are increasing in our area because of the changes in the climate,” said Lustick. Lustick went on, “This comical way of presenting it was intended to engage, entertain and educate the riders.” He described another portrayal in which “Ozzie the Ostrich” is up to his chin in water, alluding to “rising storm surges.” “Projects like ours go outside formal and informal settings to take learning opportunities about climate change to where people are in their daily lives. We want this model of out-of-home media as a science learning opportunity to be used across the country,” he said. Lustick explained that being honored at the White House was a humbling, emotional experience. “It was something I never anticipated happening in my lifetime. I was energized. It was a joyous
Samuel-Linstead Atkinson/Connector
Professor David Lustick holds a poster from ScienceToGo.org promoting knowledge of climate science
occasion.” He said, “I thought about my grandparents who immigrated here and were illiterate when they arrived...they worked hard and raised families, and my parents’ generation raised us. And only in the United States could a person come to the country, get an education, think about problems in creative ways, try out those solutions and be recognized by the highest office in the land. I don’t know of another country in the world where that can take place.” Lustick acknowledged his team members as an essential component of the projects. “I just want to be really careful [in that] it’s not my work.” Lustick said. “I work as part of a team.” Team members in-clude UMass Lowell associate prof. of psychology and research methods Jill Lohmeier, David Rabkin of the Boston Museum of Science, Oceanographer Bob Chen and Rick Wilson from Texas State Uni-versity. Lustick also mentioned Rob Gould of Brodeur Partners and Tom Bowman of Bowman
Global Change as crucial contributors to the success of ScienceToGo.org. Lustick stressed not only the pertinence of these programs but also that of the public awareness of the climate problem. “Climate change is the most important issue of our generation,” he said. “We all love this earth. We all want to hand down a place to live for our children that is as good if not better than the one we inherited from our parents, and I think it’s the duty of every citizen of the planet to become aware of and knowledgeable about how the earth is changing and how our role is changing in it.” David Lustick is an associate professor of science and mathematics education and is principal investigator of Cool Science and ScienceToGo.org. For more information on this article, contact samuel_linsteadatkinson@ student.uml.edu.
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February 17, 2015
Page 5
NEWS Snow causes professors to explore alternatives
Michael Caizzi Connector Staff
English Prof. Marlowe Miller is not letting any amount of snow stop her from holding class. “Snow, no snow. We will always meet, if not in the classroom then online through Blackboard,”she said. Many professors are simply referring to this semester as, “The semester that never was.” With so little time being spent in class, many professors are exploring alternatives to make up for lost time. With the university’s inability to extend the semester or take away spring break, some nontraditional options are being explored as a way to maximize the time left. James Canning, dean of the Honors College, said that Saturday classes are one alternative many professors are considering. The university has
identified four separate Saturdays, that would run on either a Monday or Tuesday schedule, so that professors could choose to hold classes. “Whether or not these will be mandatory meetings, or even if a Saturday class is held is at the professor’s discretion,” said Canning. Some, such as chemical engineering lecturer Glenn Dissinger, have simply decided to cut material from the course. Dissinger, who has had nearly all of his Monday classes canceled, said, “A lot of what it comes down to is cutting material that’s just not as relevant as it was 15 years ago, and focusing on what the students will actually need in the future.” Rebecca Markovits, psychology department lecturer, stated she is relying heavily on Blackboard for assignments that would normally be due in class.
Campus Police Log 2/11 B&E MOTOR VEHICLE Report Taken 1 Location: [UML] FOX LOT Narrative: RP reports parking MV in lot at approximately 08:00 hours this morning. Returned to vehicle this afternoon to discover vehicle was broken into. Narrative: Report taken for B&E to MV and Larceny under $250. MOTOR VEHICLE STOP Citation/Warning Issued 3 Location: [LOW] BROADWAY ST/COBURN HALL Narrative: Citation issued for equipment violation. Verbal warning for expired license and for not updating his address on his MA Drivers license. Party was advised to leave his vehicle parked in the S/C Garage, if he moves the vehicle per unit Unit 139 he will be summoned to court. 2/12 LARCENY /FORGERY/ FRAUD Report Taken 2 Location: UNIVERSITY CROSSINGS Party wishing to file a report for his laptop from the computer lab in Pasteur.
She has also been forced to combine material that would normally have been taught separately, and also had to cut some material. “When it comes to cutting material, it’s really just a matter of what is unrelated to the core objectives of the course,” said Markovits. English Assoc. Prof. Keith Mitchell has been trying to focus on material that’s a combination of what the students need, and what is important to the core of the course. Mitchell said he has not been forced to cut material or rely on online resources yet, but creatively rearranging the material is the key. “I make sure students know exactly what the plan is for moving forward. The snow hasn’t caused a lot of problems yet, but eventually it’s going to be crunch time.”
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February 17, 2015
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Pierce the Veil, Sleeping with Sirens take over the Tsongas Jen Desrosiers Connector Editor
> Continued from front page Mallory Knox, although their fan following is not as strong here as it is in the U.K. Front man Mikey Chapman, in his charming accent, mentioned that this was their first U.S. tour owned the stage. Their songs became a hit with the crowd, including “Ghost in the Mirror” off of their second album “Asymmetry.” During their short time on stage, the band made a lasting impression on the crowd, getting everyone moving and earning cheers and screams by the end of the last song of their set. Female-fronted PVRIS were up next and received a hometown welcome from the crowd. Lead singer Lyndsey Gunnulfsen, also known as Lynn Gunn, announced to the crowd that it was not too long ago that her and fellow band mates were standing where the crowd was standing because they all attended shows at the Tsongas before being discovered. They weren’t rookies when it came to big crowds after having experience playing on the Vans Warped Tour. It’s hard not to compare PVRIS to Paramore, as seeing Paramore live in the seventh grade inspired Gunnulfsen to form her own band, but halfway through their set it was clear that PVRIS is very different. Their pop rock sound is well complimented by dreamy synthesizers and combined with Gunnulfson’s vocals which went from singing softly about heartbreak to a shouting chorus, which managed to quickly get the entire
“Roger Rabbit,” a cover of the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” and their popular song“If I’m James Dean, Then You’re Audrey Hepburn.” During the climax of their last song, “If You Can’t Hang,” off of their 2011 sophomore album, “Let’s Cheers to This,” Quinn asked the band to jump up and down while using as little energy as possible in order for the crowd to save everything that they had for the last act, Pierce the Veil.
Jen Desrosiers/Connector
Bassist Justin Hills of Sleeping with Sirens looks out into the sea of fans
Jen Desrosiers/Connector
Front woman Lynn Gunn of the Lowell-based band PVRIS takes the stage
room off their feet with hits “My House” and “St. Patrick,” both off of their latest album, “White Noise.” In between songs, Gunnulfson continuously asked the crowd to stop fighting and pushing each other as the crowd got more and more energized. It was clear that if the fans did not like PVRIS before, everyone had fallen in love with them by then. By the end of their set, the anticipation could be felt by everyone as it became time for Sleeping with Sirens to go on. After PVRIS ended their set, the room became a buzzing hive, filled with the chatter of the crowd as the stage crew started setting up the stage for Sleeping with Sirens. The stage seemed to get bigger as video screens were brought out and the drums were placed on risers. The sound check bought on cheers as fan recognized the instruments being brought out, knowing that in less than 20 minutes it would played by their favorite band members. Sleeping with Siren’s started their set with a rather comical intro video created especially for the tour, featuring each of the band members. As each of the band members ran out on stage, the screams became louder, until amount of noise in the Tsongas Center was deafening as frontman Kellin Quinn took the mic. The band opened with their newly released song “Kick Me,” an anthem to the teenage underdogs in front a huge “kick me” banner that hung at the back of the stage as the crowd went into hysterics. The crowd sang along as the band ran around, climbed on top of speakers and jumped off, keeping the energy high for the entire set while they played fan favorites such as
By this point, the crowd had started to cheer “Pierce the Veil! Pierce the Veil!” for a good five minutes as the band’s crew began to set up the stage for the final act of the night. The crowd began pushing more violently as a white banner was hung up in front of the stage, adorned with the silhouette female figure from the cover the band’s most recent album, “Collide with the Sky.” One girl had to be pulled from the crowd due to the fact that she was crying uncontrollably as it got closer and closer to 10 p.m., when Pierce the Veil was set to come out. The room had gotten eerily quiet like the calm before the storm, only to have the crowding screaming as the lights went out, revealing the silhouettes of the band members through the banner as the intro to “Hell Above” began to play. By the time the banner dropped and the confetti cannon blasted, the crowd was singing along louder than the band itself. Lead singer Vic Fuentes led the crowd in singing of some of Pierce the Veil’s most popular songs such as “A Match Into Water,” an acoustic rendition of “I’m Low on Gas and You Need a Jacket” and “Bulls in the Bronx,” whose Flamenco-influenced bridge is inspired by the band’s Mexican roots. Fuentes repeatedly thanked the crowd for their response, saying that this was the second time that the band had played such a big arena show (the first being their “Spring Fever Tour” with All Time Low also at the Tsongas Center back in 2013). For their final song, “Bulletproof Love,” the band pulled a lucky fan onstage and ended their set with as much energy as they had started it with, leaving the crowd cheering for an encore. Never failing to please, the stage lights came back on and the band returned for an encore, performing their popular song “King for a Day,” enlisting the help of Kellin Quinn from Sleeping with Sirens, who is also featured on the song. Though it was clear from Quinn and Fuentes’s tag-teaming on vocals to see why this song is oftentimes considered to be the best from “Collide with the Sky,” it was really drummer Mike Fuentes who stole the show during this final performance. With a final blast of confetti, to end the song, and picks and drumsticks thrown into the crowd, fans were left with smiles on their faces, the crowd disbanding as everyone went off to find their now exhausted parents. From beginning to end, the concert was full of energy and it was clear why Rockstar Energy chose to pair up these two bands to co-headline the tour and fans were clearly given more than what they paid for. The second leg of “The World Tour” has another month left in the U.S. before the bands head over to Europe for three weeks where they will visit German, Sweden, En-
Recap: 2015 Grammys winners Album of the Year - “Morning Phase,” Beck Record of the Year - “Stay With Me (Darkchild Version),” Sam Smith Song of the Year - “Stay With Me (Darkchild Version),” James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith (Sam Smith) New Artist - Sam Smith Traditional Pop Vocal Album - “Cheek to Cheek,” Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga Pop Vocal Album - “In the Lonely Hour,” Sam Smith Dance/Electronic Album - “Syro,” Aphex Twin Metal Performance - “The Last in Line,” Tenacious D Rock Album - “Morning Phase,” Beck Alternative Music Album - “St. Vincent,” St. Vincent R&B Album - “Love, Marriage & Divorce,” Toni Braxton & Babyface Rap Album - “The Marshall Mathers LP2,” Eminem Country Album - “Platinum,” Miranda Lambert Jazz Instrumental Album -”Trilogy,” Chick Corea Trio
Jazz Vocal Album - “Beautiful Life,” Dianne Reeves Gospel Album - “Help,” Erica Campbell Contemporary Christian Music Album - “Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.” For King & Country Latin Pop Album - “Tangos,” Rubén Blades Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album - “Multiviral,” Calle 13 Americana Album - “The River & The Thread,” Rosanne Cash Blues Album - “Step Back,” Johnny Winter Folk Album - “Remedy,” Old Crow Medicine Show Reggae Album – “Fly Rasta,” Ziggy Marley Comedy Album - “Mandatory Fun,” “Weird Al” Yankovic Musical Theater Album - “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” Instrumental Composition - “The Book Thief,” John Williams (John Williams) Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella - “Daft Punk,” Ben Bram, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan, Kirstie Maldonado & Kevin Olusola (Pentatonix) For complete list see www.umlconnector.com
February 17, 2015
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
‘Black Mirror’ television review Brendan Jacques Connector Staff
Since the genre was first conceived, science fiction stories have showed a fascination with the prospect of technology going horribly wrong. The power of the devices we take for granted in our everyday lives and the infrastructure that holds it together has evolved so drastically and quickly in the past few decades that it’s easy to see a future where we take that innovation down a path we should never have considered. Some of the greatest science fiction stories have been born from this fear, from the rise of the machine master race in the “Terminator” films, to the lifeless mass-consumer culture found in “Fahrenheit 451,” and “Black Mirror” very clearly takes its inspirations from said stories. What makes the show special compared to its contemporaries however is a difference in interest: while those stories explore what happens when humans change machines, “Black Mirror” is concerned with how machines can change humans. Created by acclaimed British satirist Charlie Brooker, “Black Mirror” is a science-fiction anthology series whose structure is reminiscent of the classic television series, “The Twilight Zone.” Each of the show’s six episodes is a self-contained story starring a completely different cast of characters taking place in a separate world from the others (or do they?). These stories can range from a modern look on how social media can have a direct and potentially negative effect on world events to a look at a dystopian future seemingly born straight from the nightmares of Steve Jobs. However, unlike its spiritual predecessor, all of the worlds depicted in the stories remain incredibly similar to our own, with even the most outlandish settings being plausible futures our society could move towards. Also linking all of the episodes together is a consistent commentary on technology’s effect on human empathy. Every lead in the series is, at their core, a broken character, forced to futilely fight back against a world that seems so enraptured by their technology and the righteousness of their hatred that they will do despicable acts to people simply for the spectacle of it all. Heck, at times the reactions of the general populace almost borderline on cultist ritual, as if the only way to be accepted into the pack is to drink the Kool-Aid and learn to love a good lynching (both metaphorically and literally). The point is driven even further home when this mob-like behavior is attributed in certain episodes to social media and political commentators, seemingly suggesting the violent actions we’re seeing are a next evolution of snarky internet personalities, hate-filled message boards and political commentators. Before anyone gets worked up though, it should be noted that the show is meant to be a dark satire, so it is not meant to be taken at face value, but more for its symbolic meaning, as most of the show’s crazier moments are. From a production standpoint, “Black Mirror”’ is fairly impressive overall. The series has a very clean visual style reminiscent of the Netflix series “House of Cards,” complete with blue camera filters and plenty of long, tracking shots. The show has some really excellent set design that consistently fits the themes of the episode at hand, though at times it does struggle against the constraints of its budget, particularly when computer effects are involved. Despite swapping to completely different casts with each
episode, all of the actors play their roles well, with all the leads having at least one scene-stealing moment to remember them by, though special mention has to be given to Daniel Kuluuya for his role as…well, you’ll see. Unfortunately, if the series has any real weak spot, it is that the tone and intensity of the episodes are inconsistent. While every episode of the series is written by Charlie Brooker (with the exception of the third), the director is swapped out for each one, meaning that the tone and pacing of one part of the series could be wildly differ-
Courtesy of Zeppotron
ent from the next part. This isn’t a major problem as all of the episodes are competently made regardless of the director at the helm, but the constant changes do make binge-watching the series less than ideal. Also, I’m not completely on board with the episode the developers chose to start the series with, “The National Anthem.” Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great episode with some really interesting ideas that are in keeping with the theme of the show, but it’s also the only episode that eschews the more contemplative tone of the other short films and replaces it with a set-up straight out of a horror thriller with an intensity that doesn’t jive with the rest of the series. I still think you should watch it, but I’d suggest watching the second episode first to get a better idea of how the show usually is. I’ve been struggling to write this review for the better part of a month, not because the series wasn’t deserving but because I didn’t think I could do the series justice. “Black Mirror” is a gruesome, thought-provoking, and quietly terrifying series that hooked me all over again with every new episode. It was scarier than most horror movies, more heart-wrenching than most dramas, and it never backs down from speaking its mind, even when it holds its own audience with great contempt. It’s “The Twilight Zone” for the hashtag generation and it cannot be missed. “Black Mirror” is currently available for legal streaming exclusively on Netflix.com. The series is also poised to receive an American remake to be released in 2016.
Feed Me descends on music scene with new EP Nick Crowley Connector Contributor
Whenever a seasoned artist puts out a new release, it is often put under close scrutiny of the artist’s biggest fans, whom either criticize the release for straying too far from the artist’s traditional sound or for the artist staying too true to their signature sound. Jon Gooch, also known under his alias Feed Me, is one of these established artists who are often criticized for staying too close to his signature sound, which is a very distinguishable form of distorted, glitch-y electro house and dubstep. However, with his latest release, “A Giant Warrior Descends on Tokyo,” Gooch has slowly started to change his sound, but not without keeping some very noticeable elements that his fans know him well for. “A Giant Warrior Descends on Tokyo” starts off with the track “A Different World,” which begins with a more toned-down version of Feed Me’s usually heavy electro style, this time focusing more on percussion and the repeating vocal sample, “You live in a different world.” This track sets the tone for the rest of the EP, showing that Gooch has somewhat changed his style, but still has recurring elements of the sound his fans know him for, thereby easing the listener into this stylistic exploration Feed Me is embarking on. The next track, and previously released single from the EP, “Wuzzle,” is quite different from previous releases. Although the track does contain the very energetic, glitch-y flair that Feed Me is known for, the song is exceptionally percussion-heavy, focusing less on the synths that seem to have a bit of a neurofunk influence, possibly stemming from Gooch’s return as Spor, his heavy drum and bass alias, this year. The third track from the release, “Spilt Milk,” continues to show the evolution of Feed Me’s sound, devolving into a sort of an electro and deep house hybrid that sounds akin to the productions of Tchami, a French electro and deep house producer. This song strays the farthest from Feed Me’s trademark sound than any other song on the release, with the title of the track possibly hinting that fans shouldn’t be upset over his artistic exploration. The last track on the EP, “High Noon,” is aptly named for its old western-style
string section, once again showing us the versatility of Feed Me’s sound. This track, like the majority of the other tracks on this release, is very drum-centered, focusing on the percussion and the bass synth to give the listener a sense of chaos and disorder when paired with the string section, wrapping up the EP nicely. Overall, Feed Me’s new EP is a lot less aggressive than previous releases, focusing on the feel of the entire track rather than pouring all of the energy of the tracks into the “drops,” or the choruses, of each track. However, each track does have its moment of high energy that Feed Me is known for, showing the listener that even though his sound is slowly evolving, his sound will never completely change. Rating: 4.5/5
Courtesy of Jon Gooch
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ng happeni What’s us on camp th?! this mon
SUNDAY
15
MONDAY
16 Presidents Day
February 17, 2015
CAMPUS CALENDAR
FEB./MAR.
TUESDAY
17 Monday Class Schedule
WEDNESDAY
18
THURSDAY
19
FRIDAY
20
23
Sunday Holy Mass 7:00p.m.-8:00p.m. Moloney Hall, UCrossing
1 Sunday Holy Mass 7:00p.m.-8:00p.m. Moloney Hall, UCrossing
24 Guest SpeakerASCE 4:00p.m.-6:00p.m. Southwick 240
2 Resume Workshop Career Services 11:00a.m.-12:00a.m. Southwick 240
3 Guest Speakers“The Refugees of Shangri-La” 5:00p.m.-7:00p.m. O’Leary Library 222
25 Iron Man 3 showing by CAPA 9:30p.m.-11:30p.m. Moloney Hall, UCrossing
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21 Men’s Lacrosse vs. Siena College 1:00p.m. Cushing Field Women’s Basketball vs. UNH, 2:00p.m. Tsongas Center
Women’s Lacrosse vs. BC 4:00p.m. Cushing Field Men’s Basketball vs. Maine 7:00p.m. Costello Gym
22
SATURDAY
Men’s Basketball vs. UNH Faith & Family Day 4:00p.m. Tsongas Center
26 Magician Dennis Watkins presented by Class of 2015 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m. Moloney Hall, UCrossing
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27 Men’s Ice Hockey vs. UVM 7:15p.m. Tsongas Center
28 Men’s Lacrosse vs. Wagner College 1:00p.m. Cushing Field Men’s Ice Hockey vs. UVM Star Wars Night 7:00p.m. Tsongas Center
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Job Interviewing Workshop Career Services 5:00p.m.-6:00p.m. UCrossing 490
Women’s Basketball vs. NJIT Senior NIght 7:00p.m. Costello Athletic
Calendar listings are FREE when space is available. To better ensure your listings placement, get your information in two weeks in advance by e-mailing Christopher_Tran@student.uml.edu
7 Guest Speakers“Helping the Orphans” Muslim Students Association 4:00p.m.-11:00p.m. Moloney Hall, UCrossing
February 17, 2015
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SPORTS No. 15 River Hawks pull out 3-3 tie at UMass UMass Lowell Athletics
goals by Brandon Montour (1:47) and Shane Walsh (16:31), along with one in the third by Steven Iacobellis. Sophomore forward Evan Cambell (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) cut the River Hawks’ deficit to one goal with
AMHERST, Mass. -- The No. 15 UMass Lowell hockey team earned a come from behind 3-3 tie at Massachusetts on Friday night at the Mullins Center in non-conference action. With the tie, the River Hawks move to 16-10-4 overall, while the Minutemen are now 9-18-2. Junior forward McGrath (O’Fallon, Mo.) notched his second goal of the year with a wrist shot from the high slot that beat UMass goalie Steve Mastalerz high glove side to give the River Hawks a 1-0 lead at 8:49 of the first period. Terrence Wallin (Yardley, Pa.) and Tyler Mueller (Regina, Sask.) assisted on the game’s opening goal. UMass Lowell went to the locker room with an 11-6 shot advantage in the opening period. The Minutemen scored Christopher Tran/Connector two in the second with
a shorthanded goal on a wrist shot from the top of the left faceoff cirle with 8:53 remaining in the game for his eighth of the season. Sophomore blueliner Michael Kapla (Eau Claire, Wis.) tied the game with just 2:15 re-
maining on a slapshot from the right point that beat Mastalerz five-hole for his fifth tally of the season. Freshman goaltender Jeff Smith (Maple Ridge, B.C.) made 11 stops in his seventh start of his career in the first 37:08 of action, while junior netminder Kevin Boyle (Manalapan, N.J.) played the final 18:49 and made 18 saves, allowing just one goal. Mastalerz recorded 29 saves in the tie for the Minutemen. Both teams finished with 32 shots apiece in the game. UMass Lowell’s penalty kill went a perfect 4-for-4 on the night. McGrath ended the night with a team-high five shots on goal for the River Hawks.
Men’s ice hockey defeat UMass Amherst at the Tsongas Center Friday night ► Continued from front page
Edwardh had registered the first of his three goals 5:21 after puck drop. Captain Zach Kamrass fired off a shot, and Edwardh skated to the net to put in the rebound. “Something I’ve learned so far this year is that you have to go to (the front of the net) to score goals, and luckily (my teammates) made good plays to the net and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” said Edwardh. Less than a minute later, Terrence Wallin got the second goal of the day. Working deep in the UMass Amherst zone, he stole a routine pass and fit a wrist shot behind the goalie. UMass Amherst also spent a lot of the game in the penalty box. The River Hawks briefly had a 5-3 during the first period. Kamrass was able to capitalize on the man advantage, taking an Adam Chapie pass and scoring on a slapshot. It only took one more goal by Joe Gambardella for UMass Amherst to change goalies. Henry Dill relieved
Steve Mastalerz at 13:59 into the first period. The fifth goal came from Edwardh. Joe Gambardella took the puck behind the net and dumped it off to C.J. Smith for a shot. Again, Edwardh in
on. “He’s capable of a lot of things offensively,” said Coach Bazin. “He just needs to continue to learn the game away from the puck, and when he does, he is going to have a lot of success in the future.” Evan Campbell earned the final goal for the River Hawks. On another 5-3 advantage, he skated through the defense and popped a shot in the high corner. Kevin Boyle, coming off the tie last Friday to Amherst, had a phenomenal game. He made 28 saves and only gave up one goal. “I thought (Boyle) did excellent yesterday, I thought he was sharp today,” said Coach. “He’s been working Christopher Tran/Connector hard, and I like where he’s at right now.” front of the net had took the rebound The recent loss puts UMass Lowell at from that shot and stuffed it in the net. a record of 17-10-4. Next Friday, they Edwardh capped of his hat trick with will be in Boston to face the Boston 7:42 elapsed in the second period. College Eagles who have advanced to Smith got another assist after a breaksecond in Hockey East. away that Edwardh was able to score
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February 17, 2015
SPORTS Men’s and women’s basketball earn major victories Shane Foley Connector Editor
Valentine’s Day turned out to be a big day for UMass Lowell basketball. Both women’s and men’s teams added win’s to their records. Freshman Jontay Walton sunk two clutch free throws to ice the game at 65-62 at Hartford for the women’s team. Back at Costello, both Kerry Weldon and Matt Harris scored in double figures in a 69-63 victory over Hartford as well. Walton’s free throws closed out a critical sequence of events in the last few minutes of Saturday’s game. With 1:05 to go in the game, Lindsay Doucette stole the ball from Hartford’s Cherelle Morre with the score at 63-62. UMass Lowell drove the ball down the floor to put the game out of reach, but freshman Kayla Gibbs missed a layup which was rebounded by Hartford’s Morgan Lumb. At the other end, Moore missed a layup attempt for the lead with 18 seconds left on the clock. Walton cor-
ralled the rebound and was immediately fouled by Lumb. Walton then hit both free throw shots, leaving 16 seconds on the clock. Moore attempted one last three pointer for the win, and her missed shot clinched the win for the River Hawks. The River Hawks shot well from the field. Doucette, Shannon Samuels, and Jasmine Mcroy all scored in double figures. Mcroy lead the scoring with 16 points and two three pointers in the game. Things looked scary in the first half when Hartford pulled ahead 27-18. The River Hawks were able to go on a 17 point run after that point, in which Mcroy hit both of her three point shots. The men’s basketball team had an easier time with Hartford at Costello Gym. The River Hawks got off to an early lead and never relinquished it. The team shot a flat 50 percent from the field. Defensively, the River Hawks also were able to chase Hartford off the
U P C OM I N G
River Hawk Games
three point line. As one Wednesday, Feb. 18 4 pm Women’s Lax vs. BC of the best three point shooting teams in the Wednesday, Feb. 18 7 pm Men’s Basketball vs. Maine conference, UMass Lowell held them to Wednesday, Feb. 18 7 pm W. Bball at Stony Brook only 6-25. “We played exactly Friday, Feb. 20 7:30 pm MensMHockey at BC how we needed to play to win against a good Saturday, Feb. 21 1 pm Men’s Lax vs. Sienna Hartford team. We knew that they’re a very Saturday, Feb. 21 4 pm Men’s Basketball vs. UNH good three-point shootFor more sports information and full game schedules visit goriverhawks.com ing team and we talked a lot about defending that,” said Coach scoring distribution, which is importDuquette. ant for us,” said Coach Duquette. The victory was uplifting for a “We’ve been through a lot of injuries UMass Lowell squad who was very this year and I’m happy that this team close to having huge injury problems. has decided that they’re going to conAside from Jahad Thomas’ injury, tinue to play really hard the last two Harris had complained about a hurt weeks of the season.” foot. He was able to contribute 18 minutes on Saturday, and scored 13 points in that time span. Weldon lead the scoring with 15. “I thought offensively, we really shared the ball and got a balanced
Men’s lacrosse drops Division I opener to Yale 19-4 UMass Lowell Athletics
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Freshman Cory Highfield (Georgetown, Ontario) netted the first two goals of the Division I era as the UMass Lowell men’s lacrosse team (0-1) fell, 19-4, at Yale University (1-0) in their season opener Saturday afternoon in New Haven. “It was great to come out and play a quality team like Yale,” said Head Coach Ed Stephenson. “They are a top-ten quality team and that’s where we hope to be in three years.” The River Hawks got off to a dream start in the opening minute as Highfield scored the team’s first ever Division I goal. After controlling the opening faceoff, Highfield made a run in the offensive end on the left side and fired a shot past Eric Natale for an early River Hawk lead. Yale responded less than two minutes later to tie the game courtesy of a Ben Reeves shot that beat Giles Ober (Southborough, Mass). The Bulldogs went on to score 12 unanswered goals to end the first half, and went into the locker room leading 12-1. Ober tallied ten saves in the open-
ing half, as the Bulldogs took 31 in total during the first 20 minutes. For the game, the River Hawks netminder stopped 14 shots. “I thought Giles really stood on his head today,” said Stephenson. “Against a team like Yale, to make 14 saves from high-percentage areas is impressive and he needs to be credited. We have to do a better job in the clearing game, but in the cage he was tremendous.” Just like the first half, Highfield opened the second half with a goal at the 14:05 mark of the third quarter to double his and the team’s tally. Matthew Balter (Sand Lake, N.Y.) picked up the assist on the score. Sean Tyrrell (Calgary, Alberta) became the second River Hawk to find the back of the net with 13:23 to go in the 4th quarter on a pass from Jon Phillips (Delta, B.C.). Sam Klingsporn (Aloha, Ore.) scoresd the team’s fourth and final goal with 11:05 left on the clock as he beat Phil Huffard with a shot in the bottom left corner. Courtesy of goriverhawks.com UMass Lowell continues its season with their home opener on Courtesy of goriverhawks.com February 21 against Siena at 1 p.m. UMass Lowell’s Andrew Zinck defends Yale’s Sean Shakespeare in Saturday’s loss. from Cushing Field Complex.