First paid professional women’s hockey league comes to Northeast ► Page 7
THE UMASS LOWELL
Serving the Student Body Since 1976
October 20, 2015
River Hawks bring the brooms in weekend sweep of Colorado College
In This Issue Market Basket documentary
â–ş Page 3
Kyle Gaudette Connector Editor
Wavves ‘V’ album review
â–ş Page 5 Celtics season preview
â–ş Page 6
Final River Hawk Scores Team
Score
Overall Record
M. Soccer at UAlbany
L 1-2
7-6-0
Hockey vs. Colorado College
W 2-1
3-0-0
Volleyball at Binghamton
L 2-3 4-17
Field Hockey vs. 10 UAlbany
L 1-3
A broom is not a usable tool in the game Minecraft, but it is what the River Hawks decided to break out this weekend. While the crowd at the Tsongas Center celebrated Minecraft night, the team on the ice crafted a 2-1 victory to improve their season record to an undefeated 3-0. The River Hawks won Friday night’s contest with finesse, and they were victorious in Saturday’s match-up thanks to their physical-
ity, and stellar goal tending. Kevin Boyle earned first-star honors with his 23-save performance. The senior has only allowed three goals in the first three games, and has shown growing confidence in net. Directly after Colorado’s lone goal, Boyle turned away a hard slap shot from the corner through traffic; showing the student section that the goal did not affect his mentality. “I just try to focus on my game,� said Boyle. It was clear that the River Hawks were fatigued in the first period. AfGeorge DeLuca/Connector
5-9
Jack Kerouac exhibit goes on display Taylor Carito Connector Staff
The Jack Kerouac Exhibit opened Thursday, Oct. 8, and it was no small event. The room, just to the left of the entrance with an enriching blue color, brightens and accentuates the many pieces of history that came all the way from St. Petersburg, Fla., the final home of Jack Kerouac. The items carefully mimic their original positions; even a section of the floor was thoughtfully designed to match that of the original house. The lay out of the exhibit itself was specifically intended to match not only Kerouac’s final home where his belongings were retrieved from, but also his personality as a whole. Chris Danemayer, the principal exhibit design consultant from Porunn and one of the many people involved in the design of the exhibit, stated that the color pallet itself was carefully planned. He said that Paul Marion, the director of communications for UMass Lowell, suggested it be bold and bright, to showcase Jack Kerouac’s personality in a subtle way. Hence the bright and bold blue color that makes everything in the room stand out. Years prior to the exhibit opening, Dr. Michael Millner, the director of The Jack and Stella Kerouac Center for the Public â–ş See “Kerouac,â€? page 4
Sections News.............................3 Campus Life.................. 4 A&E.............................. 5 Sports........................... 6
River Hawk teammates celebrate Adam Chapie’s goal late in the first period.
ter Friday night’s 55-shot outburst, UML faced a tall task trying to match that offensive explosiveness. Adam Chapie continued the hot start to his season by netting his second goal with 4:55 remaining in the first period. Chapie was originally denied on his first shot, but stuck with the rebound and lifted the puck past Colorado College goaltender Tyler Marble. “We always want to drive hard to the net,â€? said Chapie. “I went to the net and I got a great pass from [Niklas] Folin, and good things happened.â€? It was questionable who was going to be in net for the Tigers before the game. Jacob Mehama made 52 saves in Friday’s contest, but coach Mike Haviland decided on this night to go with Marble. The goal got the crowd going, and seemed to rejuvenate UML to finish the first period strong. The River Hawks continued their great defensive play in the first frame, as the Tigers only mustered four shots on goal. Ryan McGrath got his name on the stat sheet yet again. After Friday’s game winning goal, McGrath tallied his second of the season when he beat Marble top shelf. â–ş See “River Hawks,â€? page 8
The ups and downs of Riverview Suites George DeLuca Connector Staff
Riverview Suites is the new dorm down by the river at UMass Lowell’s South Campus. The ribbon cutting ceremony on Oct. 1 brought a sense of relief to many in attendance. After all, it took over nine years to complete a project that stalled for three years during a controversial protest of the Request For Proposals process. It then faced financial hurdles brought on by a staggering economy. Eventually, the City’s State delegation led by Rep. Tom Golden and Rep. Kevin Murphy came to the aid of developer Jim McClutchy, who also had help from former City Manager John Cox and Attorney John McCullough. As Master of Ceremonies, Chancellor Jacqueline Moloney provided a spirit of eloquence to the proceedings by first extolling the project. “We thought this day would never come. But for the determination of several people who are here today it did get done, and it’s absolutely one of the most mag-
nificent projects to open at UMass Lowell.� The chancellor praised the stalwart McClutchy for guiding the development through a series of tempests that would have permanently derailed the efforts of larger companies.
George DeLuca/Connector
Chancellor Jacquie Moloney cuts the ribbon during the Riverview Suites grand opening ceremony. â–ş See “Riverview,â€? page 3
October 20, 2015
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OPINIONS & EDITORIALS The Degradation of Humans through Terminology Aaron M. Wilson UML Student
The English language is a very interesting one to say the least; it has approximately 1,025,109 words according to the Global Language Monitor. Many of these words have a purpose, while others are ones that we coined over the last several decades. Naturally, some of these words or phrases that most of the American populous have coined are slang. And yet, one of the most infamous of these words that have been coined is one that is thrown around daily like a baseball—the abbreviated form of the “n� word. Now let’s define the word “nigger.� According to Dictionary.com, it is “a contemptuous term used to refer to a black person.� This word was originally derived from both the French
and Spanish languages from circa 1640-50. It continued to be used even during slavery time to degrade the black people, who were brought to America via slave ships. These same black people were forced to tend to fields and amongst other things that the white slave owners forced them to do; and if they refused, possible outcomes would consist of being whipped, branded, or even killed. Therefore, this is that this word is not one that should be just tossed around like it is here on campus. Granted, I have heard this word used more than once since school has started and I have also heard it used even off of campus. I have grown up hearing this word and I find it to be sickening that people do not know the true history behind it.
Some have claimed that they know the history of the word, but say that the abbreviated version of the word to “nigga� is acceptable to say the least and it is used to refer to a person that is a friend of theirs, which in my opinion, amongst those of an older generation, is ignorant to say the least. Ask yourselves a question—do you ever hear anyone of other ethnicities using derogatory words about their own ethnicities to describe themselves? The “n� word may be harmless to some, like they say piracy is a victimless crime, however it actually is not. As stated earlier, behind both versions of that word are the historical horrors that not many within this generation are aware of. The fact of the matter is that the majority of this generation has received little or no education on
this word. Now do not get me wrong, people are free to say what they please, however when saying a certain word or phrase, people should really ask themselves—am I using this word in the right context? In previous generations, it was considered horrendous to call someone the n-word, and now it seems to be fine and dandy to call someone that word. I learned at a very young age that word is not acceptable, having been called both versions of the “n� word growing up. If the people within this generation took the time to understand the context of the “n� word, then maybe they will think twice about using it the next time they are conversing with others.
THE UMASS LOWELL
Serving the Student Body Since 1976
UMASS LOWELL CONNECTOR
EDITORIAL BOARD MARLON PITTER Editor-In-Chief REGINA ALONGI Operations Manager KATRINA DESROSIERS Copy Editor NINA PETROPOULOS Web Manager MICHAELA HYDE ZACHARY ZUBER Social Media Managers EVANTHIA TULLY Photo Editor KELLY FREITAS JENNA FREITAS LISETTE PEĂ‘A Graphic Designers OPEN Advertising Manager JESSIE PASKIEWICZ SUSAN LAM Distribution Manager
DAVE RUDDERHAM SAM LINSTEAD-ATKINSON News Editors KYLE GAUDETTE Sports Editor SHANE FOLEY Campus Life Editor
For more info, read “Tuition, fees and the end of the price freeze� by news editor Dave Rudderham published on September 29, 2015 on umlconnector.com.
JEN DESROSIERS BRENDAN JACQUES Arts & Entertainment Editors
Twitter: @UMLConnector
GRYPHON LAYNE Comics Editor NICHOLLES KLEVISHA Multimedia Director JONATHAN SILVERMAN Advisor
Staff CHANDLER CAMERATO TAYLOR CARITO GEORGE DELUCA COLE FITZGERALD HANNAH MANNING
MICHAEL PAIGE EMILY TOOMEY HENRY ST. PIERRE BENJAMIN ST. PIERRE
Email | Connector@uml.edu Website | www.UMLConnector.com Phone | 978.934.5017 ext. 45017 Address | University Crossing Club Hub Suite #241 220 Pawtucket St. Lowell, MA 01854 General: The UMass Lowell Connector is a non-profit student public forum serving the University of Massachusetts Lowell community. The paper is published weekly and distributed to the university community every Tuesday. Business hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please be aware that members of the University community are entitled to free newspapers. Please take one! All UMass Lowell students, regardless of major, are invited to join the Connector staff. Interested students should contact an editor or manager listed above, or visit the Connector Office in University Crossing 241. Advertising: The UMass Lowell Connector advertisements reach an estimated 16,000 UMass Lowell students--their friends and families. To tap this group of
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Instagram: @UMLConnector Facebook.com/UMLConnector www.UMLConnector.com The Connector meets every Monday at 6 p.m. in University Crossing room 241 in the Club Hub. All are welcome to join! submitted via campus mail, e-mail, or in person. All letters must bear the author’s name, relationship to the University and student body, and a phone number. The author may request to have any part of this information withheld, if published. Opinions expressed in individual columns, the Opinions Section, advertising, and/or features are those of the author, NOT of the Connector. The Opinions and Editorials section will not be edited in any way, to include spelling/grammar mistakes. Submission: The deadline for all submissions (to include Letters to the Editors and Opinions) is Friday at midnight for the following Tuesday’s publication. Submissions must be e-mailed to Marlon_Pitter@student.uml.edu, attached as a Word document (any version). Accompanying visuals must
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October 20, 2015
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NEWS
Riverview Suites: First public, private residence in Mass. for envisioning foreboding political situations that provided the inThe project originated in 2006, sight needed to forge on when rewhen McClutchy hired a project sistance began forming. As storm manager to turn around a strugwaters rose, he aligned himself gling project, then asked him to with Lowell’s political machine to brainstorm ideas for the “Marginal ensure the project’s survival. Street” site. Ready to build on the The development team managed success of a series of consecutive to tread water through the onprojects, McClutchy and a team of slaught, and the strategy paid off investors purchased development in the end, because of the viability rights to the property. of the vision. A master of recognizing and Riverview Suites is precedent navigating ominous circumstancsetting as a public/private partes, he sensed that Lowell would nership, one that is rarely found not support another large condoin the country let alone in Masminium project in a location that sachusetts. But it is also the type posed difficult highway access and of achievement that involved the rush hour traffic clogs. Marketing George DeLuca/Connector courage and fortitude of those a large condominium in that loca- From left to right: Kelly Bowes, Tom Golden, Chancellor Moloney, and Mayor Rodney Elliott. who “went all in” to see it through tion was foreboding and surface to completion. parking limitations added to the So the project manager recommend- number crunching that led to pitching Riverview Suites will serve as a challenges of the site. ed that he contact officials at UMass the project to University officials and model for other developers and instiMcClutchy’s project manager had Lowell about the possibility of build- the subsequent pursuit of financing. tutions to emulate for many years to been following UMass Lowell’s plan- ing a project that would serve the UniRiverview Suites was named after come. As Moloney stated, “This is the ning efforts and attending meetings versity in some way. the spectacular view seen from the first and only public/private residence The beauty of such a plan was that roof of the old Sullivan Printing Com- hall in the State of Massachusetts. the front of the property could face pany, which it replaced. McClutchy’s And we’re happy to lead the way on South Campus. UMass Lowell would design team imagined that students this kind of innovative development benefit because there would be no would see and appreciate this view which demonstrates the entrepreneurland purchase or capital project that from the upper floors of the facili- ial initiative that we as a university would fall under State auspices. ty, especially during the autumn and take every day in running this instituMcClutchy said that he thought winter months when the leaves turned tion.” it was a good idea, but felt it would then disappeared. never happen because the political obDuring her speech at the ribbon For the rest of this article and more stacles might be too difficult to over- cutting ceremony, Moloney praised photos, please go to umlconnector.com come. Several days later, McClutchy the foresight of the project and said, where university officials felt hindered approached his project manager and “Thanks to Jim for his vision, right This is the first article in a series about by the lack of land needed to expand. said that he contacted UMass Low- at the beginning. He knew this was a major capital projects undertaken by McClutchy said he was intent on de- ell officials, and they were indeed great idea and he saw it through to the UMass Lowell. veloping the property and not interest- interested in the project. Thus began end.” ed in selling the development rights. the complex process of research and But it was McClutchy’s penchant ►Continued from front page
“We need to emulate this type of cooperation throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
Lunchtime lecture with the authors of ‘We are Market Basket’ Taylor Carito Connector Staff
The summer of 2014 marked the beginning of an unusual but revolutionary response to save a corporation. Employees, customers and even vendors lined the streets to hear the verdict at the Wyndham Hotel in Andover, Mass. All anxiously awaited to hear the fate of Arthur “Artie” T. Demoulas, Market Basket CEO. The book, “We Are Market Basket: The Story of the Unlikely Grassroots Movement that Saved a Beloved Business” by Grant Welker and Daniel Korschun, shares personal accounts and facts of thousands of employees who protested to keep their CEO and won. In a lunchtime lecture on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, Welker and Korschun shared how they began their research and witnessed the boycotts. “It was the underdog story,” said Dr. Scott Latham, Dean of the Manning School of Business, in the opening remarks of the lecture. “No one thought they were going to win.” Joined by many former employees and customers of the beloved grocery
store chain, the two authors discussed how they teamed up to research and write about the protests and the uniqueness of the Market Basket uprising. It all began in the summer of 2013, when Demoulas lost the majority of shares in the company. As a result, one year later in July, he was fired. Welker, who is also a reporter for The Lowell Sun, was there the day Demoulas was dismissed. Welker mentioned in the lecture
“Very few did not start by pushing carts or bagging food.” how thousands of employees were at the hotel in Andover, where the meeting was taking place, anxiously awaiting the decision, ready to risk their jobs if the outcome was not in their favor. At this time, after exploring the many unique and intriguing stories of the Market Basket uprising, Korschun, a business professor at Drex-
el University, wanted to learn more about this grocery store chain. The stories he read by Welker inspired him to reach out and collaborate with the reporter to explore deeper into the roots of this unusual and one-of-a-kind phenomenon where employees risked everything to save their CEO. They both spoke about how Market Basket differed from other grocery stores. For example, there are no self-check outs, so there is more human-to-human interaction, and they do not have a website like other corporations. “Very few did not start by pushing carts or bagging food,” said Korschunin regards to the unconventionality of the corporation. “Even decades after they changed the Demoulas stores, people still call it Demoulas,” Welker said. But why is that? Most employees feel like family toward each other, according to Korschun, and they extend that family to loyal customers as well. They both stated very clearly that the protests would not have been successful without the major support
from the customers, who would stand and protest with employees or refuse to shop at Market Basket until Demoulas was back in charge. In the summer of 2014, after Demoulas was replaced, most of the 25,000 employees at the 70 stores arranged a successful walkout and ignited a customer boycott in efforts to reinstate their former CEO. They were not unionized, which put them at extreme risk to lose their jobs, but they pursued anyways to keep Market Basket in the hands of whom they thought the company belonged. At the end of the event, Welker and Korschun took questions from the audience members, one of whom was a former employee at Market Basket who began his career there in 1951. The grocery store chain first opened its doors in 1917, on Dummer Street in Lowell, Mass. Although the original store is no longer a Market Basket, one of the oldest ones in operation is still located on Fletcher Street in Lowell.
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October 20, 2015
CAMPUS LIFE
Kerouac is back; New exhibit at Allen House ►continued from front page
Humanities, and Dr. Todd Tietchen, Kerouac scholar and editor of several of his works, traveled to St. Petersburg to visit the Kerouac home and were able to retrieve the belongings in the exhibit by the discretion of John Sampas, the executor of Jack and Stella Kerouac’s estate, and Stella’s brother, who accompanied them on the trip. Although Sampas was unable to attend the event, Millner and Tietchen were joined by the Dean of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr. Luis Falcón; Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs, Dr. Julie Nash; Vice Chancellor Joanne Yestramski and Chancellor Jacquie Moloney. They all participated in the ceremonial ribbon cutting, officially opening the exhibit to the public. Once the ceremony officially began, everyone hustled into the next room to hear speeches from Moloney and Millner, two extreme contributors to the exhibit. “This exhibit contributes to our understanding of Jack Kerouac by allowing us to glimpse into his domestic space, and the objects that remained important to him,
in spite of the unsettled nature of his life,” said Moloney in her speech. Throughout her speech, the chancellor thanked many of the contributors who made the exhibit possible. These people included Celeste Bernardo, the Superintendent for Lowell National Parks; Dr. Tony Szczesiul, Chair of the En-
he walked through the “neatly kept ranch house.” He claimed the inside was neat and orderly, commenting that Kerouac’s desk was neater than his own. He later moves on to talk about the discovery of the cat carriers; Kerouac loved his cats very dearly. According to Millner, he had a certain awareness about him
Courtesy of Michael Calamonici
Among items retrieved were a typewriter of Kerouac’s.
glish Department; Falcón; Millner; Tietchen; Nash; and V Yestramski, who strongly advocated for more exhibits to be put on display, according to the chancellor’s speech. Following Moloney, Millner spoke of his personal accounts in Kerouac’s old house. He described in great detail everything he saw as
as he carried the cat carriers from the garage. He said, “I carried them as carefully and gently as I possibly could. I realized something in that moment carrying those cat carriers from the garage to the living room. Part of it was that Jack had carried these cat carriers in his own hands, the same way
I was carrying them now, and certainly he was taking the same steps I was taking now.” Following the grand opening was a panel discussion called “Race, Ethnicity and the American Hipster.” Moderated by Prof. Keith Mitchell, the panel discussed works of authors from the Beat Generation and shed light on Kerouac’s background. The event attracted a diverse group of people, ranging from faculty members to students to community members, all curious and excited to view belongings of a man who came from Lowell himself. Through the tremendous efforts of so many departments and people, this exhibit is here to stay. Thanks is owed to the English Department and the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, who sponsored the event. Others who made it possible include Chris Danemayer, Barbara Gilbert and student interns who lead the design and arrangement of the exhibit, Moloney, Yestremski, Falcón, and several others who dedicated so much time and pride into making the exhibit what it is. A special thanks is due to Sampas, Tietchen and
Milk, coffee, culture and poetry Shane Foley Connector Editor
The Latin American Student Association, known as LASA, sponsored a program called Café Con Leche, a celebration of Latin culture, in University Crossing’s Moloney Hall. There were many Latin performers, food, dancing, and even Latino languages spoken at the event. It was not a requirement, however, to be Latin to attend or enjoy the evening. Moloney Hall ended up being packed to the brim that night with attendees of all different backgrounds. “The turnout was amazing. It was what we [sic] hoped for, but of course there’s always room for more,” said Lindsay Barrios, member of LASA’s executive board. Most of the night was centered around performances by non-students and audience members alike. Two singers had begun the evening’s entertainment, after which a brief period followed where audience members were asked to perform. Several crowd members took advantage of the oportunity, including another singer, someone who demonstrated how to correctly dance Bachata, and poet Gerard
Colome, who performed his new poem “Let’s Kick It.” After the performances from the audience, an acoustic artist only introduced by the name “Jasper” took the stage. He performed an original piece, for which he actually did his own percussion while playing acoustic guitar. The song he sang was in free verse format and was performed in a very stream-of-consciousness fashion that left the crowd in awe. After Jasper’s performance, the food area was open. LASA was able to provide many Latin foods served with actual “café con leche” (Spanish for “coffee and milk”). Some of the popular dishes there were guava with cheese and pastelitos, which are beef and cheese wrapped in an empanada-like bun. Other non-traditional dishes were served as well, like brownies and waffers. After the dining portion of the evening, three performances remained. A poet under the name “Febo” told three poems that seemed to engross the crowd. In addition to his provoking prose was an electrifying delivery that earned him long applauses. Another poet followed who told a poem
in a similar fashion and garnered a similar response. While all of the performances were well received, perhaps none earned a larger ovation than the last one. UMass Lowell alumni, Sophia Laura, took the mic and closed the evening with two songs. The first was an original that she wrote specifically for the event; she even admitted that she did not have time to rehearse it much since it was so new. Her last song, and the last of the night, was a cover of Jason Mraz’s hit “I’m Yours,” sung in both English and Portuguese. “Many of our performers are returners from past events as well as students from UML,” said Barrios. “They are always willing to support LASA in any way and we’re so grateful for their participation.” While Barrios was pleased with the event, there are still things she would like to improve for the next installment. “If there were anything we would change about Café con Leche, it would most likely be making it longer,” said Barrios. “It’s such a great event and an awesome opportunity for students to come out and show us their talent.”
Millner who made the exhibit possible. “They [Tietchen and Millner] definitely were the ones, I think, that helped us to convince John [Sampas] that we were serious, especially when we had scholars who were focused on Kerouac. “I think that’s what gave John Sampas the confidence that this university was committed in the long-term to make sure that the heritage of Jack Kerouac was kept alive, especially through the next generation of scholars,” said Moloney in an afterwards discussion about the involvement in convincing Sampas that UMass Lowell was the right place for the exhibit. Students are welcome to get involved in the exhibit through The Jack and Stella Kerouac Center for the Public Humanities. Contact Michael Millner at Michael_ Millner@uml.edu for more information. The exhibit is now open to the public on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The signs for midterms Michaela Hyde Connector Editor
Aries: Argues every essay question with the professor for extra points. The answer was open to interpretation, okay? Taurus: Stress eating. More ice cream equals higher grades, right? Right. Gemini: Cheated off the kid next to them…. and did better on the exam… Cancer: Breaks down every single time Blackboard freezes. Every. Single. Time. Leo: Do midterms really even matter when your hair looks that good? Virgo: Started preparing for midterms during syllabus week and still goes to the professor’s office hours with exam questions #overachiever. Libra: Has a 50/50 success rate of sweet talking professors into paper extensions. Scorpio: Stop winking at your professor. It is not going to make them grade you easier and is creepy. Sagittarius: How is someone still this peppy during midterms? Please put down the double espresso shot, it is starting to scare the rest of us. Capricorn: It is really not possible to plan each midterm out to the minute, so please give it up. Aquarius: Do you even care how you are doing on these exams? Pisces: Has to schedule naps to get through that all night study session and still manages to sleep through at least two exams.
October 20, 2015
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Wavves release new album ‘V’
ercoaster. The lyrics such as, “My head hurts and without you it’s worse,” gives the listener a sense of
Emily Toomey Connector Staff
Wavves’s fifth studio album, “V”, is a far shot from disappointment. Though the album was released only about a week ago, it has received praise from fans all over. Taking influences from other staples in the scene such as Cloud Nothings, this album creates a familiar but different vibe. The lyrics, which are inspired by break-ups and bad habits, gives the album a very angsty feel, making it so one can’t help but to indulge in the songs. The first track off the record, “Heavy Metal Detox,” shines light on the band’s talent. With a beat reminiscent of pop and lyrics such as, “Have I lived too long? Why does this hurt?” this track makes the listener question their musical style: it clearly shows that Wavves cannot be categorized into one genre. The upbeat melodies and careless attitude this track has creates a perfect vibe for the album as a whole. It gives the listener a craving for more and sets the overall mood. One of the stronger tracks off the album, “My Head Hurts,” takes the listener on an emotional roll-
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records
This is the band’s fifth album since their debut in 2008.
comfort knowing how relatable this track is. Raspy vocals mixed with exciting guitar riffs make this
track sound so effortless. Lead vocalist Nathan Williams has an ease about him that allows the track to flow smoothly. Very reminiscent of their EP “Life Sux,” this track gives the listener a wave of nostalgia. The tension throughout the song is presented in a more upbeat way, which creates the perfect recipe for success. Last but certainly not least is “Cry Baby,” which takes a lyrically sad song and turns it into something happier. The beginning instrumental is incredible, creating a calm melody that translates into pure angst. The lyrics, “There’s no reason you and I aren’t friends,” exaggerate the animosity and abrasive tone. Williams is singing with such angst, but in the most calming way; you cannot help but fall in love with his voice. “V” is certainly a good album to listen to on a road trip. The listener is presented with an album full of flavors and it’s clear that Wavves went back to their roots. Wavves never fails to create a fan-pleasing record and “V” is certainly no exception. Support the music scene and pick up a copy today; it is well worth the listen.
Indie Game Spotlight: ‘Freedom Planet’ review Thomas Lydon Connector Contributor
Fan-made games usually do not amount to much in the long run. Sure, they may present cool new ideas and could be fun to play, but usually, with one or two exceptions, these sorts of games amount to nothing more than a flash in the pan. Fortunately, “Freedom Planet” is not one of those games. Once one of many fan-games based off the “Sonic the Hedgehog” series, the game was retooled by creator Stephen DiDuro to become its own entity. The end result is developer GalaxyTrail’s love letter to the action titles of yesteryear, blending elements of “Sonic the Hedgehog,” “Mega Man X” and “Gunstar Heroes” to create something amazing. “Freedom Planet” might look like another dimea-dozen “Sonic” clone, but there is much more to it than a passing resemblance. The story of “Freedom Planet” takes place on the planet Avalice, where war is on the rise. The kingdoms of Shang Mu, Shang Tu and Shuigang are warring over the Kingdom Stone, a life-giving relic that powers the entire planet. However, nobody realizes the war is being orchestrated by an intergalactic warlord named Arktivus Brevon, who seeks to steal the Kingdom Stone to power his army. He goes
so far as to behead Shuigang’s king and brainwash its prince, Dail, in the opening cutscene to set things in motion. Now, the fate of Avalice is in the hands of a dragon named Sash Lilac and her best friend, a wildcat named Carol Tea. Along with an alien named Torque and a young pup named Milla Basset, they must race against the odds to stop Brevon’s plans. While the story is by no means terrible, it is easily the weakest link in “Freedom Planet.” Part of the reason is because the cutscene strings in between levels tend to last far longer than they ought to. They last twice as long as a gameplay sequence and sometimes raise more questions than provide answers. Additionally, the tone swings between playful and serious so often it makes the story feel tonally choppy. That being said, the story is still sound for what it is and the main heroes are both adorable and endearing. “Freedom Planet” will not be winning any awards for its narrative, but it is worth checking out at least once or twice. If not, GalaxyTrail included a Classic Mode that trims the fat and allows for more traditional level progression. Thankfully, everything else in “Freedom Planet” shines and gameplay leads the charge in that regard. “Sonic” DNA runs deep within this Courtesy of GalaxyTrail
GalaxyTrail first began development on “Freedom Planet” in 2011.
game, as the player will still be racing through shuttle loops and corkscrews galore. Fortunately, GalaxyTrail made tweaks in all the right places to make the game a whole new experience. There are small additions, like a traditional health system and dedicated attack button, but the real differences come when you look at the larger picture. The levels themselves are more expansive than a typical “Sonic” level, which makes them rife for exploration. The core of the game also blends gameplay elements like precision platforming, melee combat and even light puzzle-solving sequences. On top of that, every level has different elements that ensure you never do the same thing twice. One minute you are hunting down keys to open the path ahead, and the next you are launching yourself through the air from a trapeze. And to top each level off, you are faced with a larger-thanlife boss battle that tests your mettle. With the exception of a few difficulty spikes, particularly when it comes to the bosses, the overall challenge of the game is well-balanced: no level feels overly-brutal, but they do not hold your hand at the same time. The cherry on top of the gameplay comes with the playable characters. When you start up the game, you can pick between playing as either Lilac or Carol. Lilac is the more combat-focused of the bunch, with a hair-whipping double jump and ability to rocket through the air with a multidirectional dash attack. Meanwhile, Carol is all about mobility, with the ability to hop up walls and speed along on a motorcycle. Early into the adventure, players will unlock Milla, who utilizes a “Yoshi’s Island”-style flutter jump as well as shields and throwing blocks. All three characters feel vastly different and each one has their own unique levels to go through, giving “Freedom Planet” great replay value. Also worth
mentioning, GalaxyTrail has confirmed that two more playable characters will be added through a free downloadable update later this year. I would be remiss if I did not mention this game’s presentation because the look and sound is top-class. “Freedom Planet” channels the spirit of the Sega Genesis and looks fantastic as a result. This game exudes personality, from its breathtaking backdrops to wonderfully-detailed character sprites. And it moves along at a smooth 60 frames per second at all times. Not to be outdone, the soundtrack also shines with tunes that are guaranteed to get stuck in your head for hours; there are honestly very few duds in the game’s soundtrack. Finally, the voice work is solid and one of Adventure Mode’s high points. As campy and heavy-handed as the narrative can get, you never feel like the voice cast is phoning it in. Of particular note, Dawn Michelle Bennett, Patrick Seymour and Alejandro Saab provide memorable performances as Lilac, Torque and Mayor Zao, respectively. Overall, “Freedom Planet” is a game that deserves to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with “Shovel Knight” as one of the best retro indie experiences available. Between its deep gameplay, amazing pixel art and excellent soundtrack, it transcends its former fan-game status to present something unique yet familiar, but overall great. Aside from its spotty story and sudden difficulty spikes, there is very little to say about “Freedom Planet” that is negative. This game is absolutely worth its $14.99 price tag, whether it is on Steam or the Nintendo Wii U’s eShop. If recent “Sonic the Hedgehog” titles have not been doing the trick for you, give “Freedom Planet” a try; your inner child will thank you later.
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October 20, 2015
SPORTS
Balanced Celtics team looks to start 2015 season strong Henry St. Pierre Connector Staff
The Boston Celtics finished the 2014-2015 season with 40 wins, enough to make it into the playoffs as the seventh-seed only to get ousted by Cleveland in the first round. During the second half of last season, Boston had the third-best record in the league. Heading into this season, there is a lot to be excited about. Over the past few years, the NBA’s Eastern Conference has been weak. There have only been a few teams that have a had a shot at con-
tending for the title, including Cleveland and Atlanta last season. A few more teams will be in the mix this year, such as Milwaukee, Miami, Toronto and Washington, but there is no reason the Celtics should not be able to make the playoffs. The Celtics have looked very strong in preseason games thus far, even though preseason performances should be taken with a grain of salt. However, there is no denying that Boston’s sophomore point guard, Marcus Smart, and big man Kelly Olynyk have been turning Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images
Isiah Thomas is slated to have a huge breakout season.
heads with their improved allaround game. Rookie shooting guard, R.J. Hunter, has looked like a tremendous,pinpoint shooter so far and he could prove to be a valuable scorer, something the Celtics have needed to address ever since Paul Pierce was shipped out of town. Speaking of scoring, the Celtics have perhaps the upcoming sixth-man of the year in Isaiah Thomas. The hyper-aggressive 5’9” point guard came off the bench last season and had great outbursts of scoring and playmaking, which was a huge reason for the team’s second-half surge. Celtics fans should expect Thomas to play a large role on offense again this season. Well-respected head coach Brad Stevens prefers to use Thomas off the bench because his defense (i.e., his height) is a liability and Marcus Smart is a lockdown defender. Thomas provides a much needed spark when he is on the floor leading the bench unit and his
presence on the young squad is incredibly valuable. Two big-men acquisitions were made over the summer. Power forwards David Lee, acquired via trade with the Golden State Warriors, and Amir Johnson, signed as a free agent, are reliable veterans who will probably play equal minutes and provide steady production. They have both looked spectacular in preseason games so far and could be expected to average around a 10 point and 10 rebound line. An imperative issue the Celtics needed to address in the offseason was rebounding, and these two veteran big men are primetime rebounders in addition to being efficient scorers. Perhaps the greatest strength of the Celtics is their depth. Scanning through the roster, every player on the Celtics roster can be a playmaker, scorer, or contribute in some way to help the team win. Players like Tyler Zeller proved how important consistency and efficiency are last
season. The modern NBA is all about position malleability; players are expected to play multiple positions. Many players on the Celtics thrive at this. Evan Turner is a valuable swingman who can be the floor general and also score when needed. Jae Crowder is an underrated player in the league, as his athleticism, scoring and defense allow him to be effective at shooting guard and possibly both forward spots. Jonas Jerebko is a great stretch-four off the bench who can also play some small forward. The Celtics can play both small-ball and bigger lineups because of their rotation of malleable players. Sports website FiveThirtyEight.com predicts the Celtics to win 48 games this season. Optimism seems to be abound. A finish under .500 would be a failure, and there is no reason why the Celtics could not finish with 44-50 wins. Beating Cleveland in the playoffs, however, is a different story.
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October 20, 2015
Page 7
SPORTS River Hawks improve to 3-0 ► continued from front page
“He’s contributed both games and ended up getting both game winners,” said coach Norm Bazin on McGrath. “He provided energy, and I like that. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come. Some guys have huge senior seasons and hopefully that’s the case with him.” The River Hawks did not enjoy the two-goal cushion for too long, however, thanks to Colorado’s Trey Bradley. The freshman forward has already tallied three goals on the young season for the Tigers and
George DeLuca/Connector
Kevin Boyle has been steady in net thus far.
cut the lead to just one point when he slid the puck just past the pad of goalie Kevin Boyle. Bradley’s goal sent a surge down the Tiger’s bench. Colorado College played the last nine minutes of the second frame with vigor and speed which generated penalties on the River Hawks. The Tigers went on the power twice during these minutes, but UML stood strong down a man. The River Hawks were three-for-three on the penalty kill this game, bringing their season total to a perfect 12-for-12. The third period brought an exciting 20 minutes of up and down hockey. A.J. While found himself on a breakaway with eight minutes left, but shot wide as a Colorado defender was bearing down on him. Just three minutes later, Adam Chapie nearly put away his second goal of the night. Chapie fired a devastating wrister that rocketed off the left post and into the corner boards, only to be played away by the Tigers. The River Hawks provided the energy they needed both nights and showed that, as a team, they are adaptable to multiple play styles. This weekend kicks off a home-and-home series against Merrimack College, and marks UMass Lowell’s Home-
UP CO MI N G
River Hawk Games Thursday, Oct. 22
7 pm
WSOC at Albany
Friday, Oct. 23
3:30 pm Field Hockey vs. Liberty
Friday, Oct. 23
7 pm Hockey at Merrimack
Friday, Oct 23
2 pm
XCTF at Conn. St.
Saturday, Oct. 24
1 pm
MSOC at Vermont
Saturday, Oct. 24
7 pm
Hockey vs. Merrimack
For more sports information and full game schedules visit goriverhawks.com Bradel
coming Weekend. “It’s going to be exciting. It’s exciting whomever you play,” said Bazin. “It’s going to be an interesting game in that little rink. There is nowhere to hide, and it will be good for us.”
Women’s hockey is now professional River Hawks face 2-1 setback at Albany Alexa Hyde
Connecotr Contributor
Have you ever dreamt of playing a professional sport? For female hockey players, this dream is finally becoming a reality. This past weekend saw a notable day for both hockey and for female athletes with the inaugural games of the NWHL, the National Women’s Hockey League. Four teams currently make up the NWHL, all based in the Northeast. Connecticut is home to the Whale, New York has two teams, the Buffalo Beauts and the New York Riveters, and Massachusetts is home to the Boston Pride. What is it that makes this particular league impressive? These players are actually paid. Paid women’s hockey has long been a dream for players, but it has remained just that. The CWHL, Canadian Women’s Hockey League, was established in 2007, has teams in Canada and the United States, and has been the one of the main proponents of growing the game. However, the players are not paid. Olympians and national team members, silver and gold medalists at the international stage, receive no compensation for their participation in the CWHL. The NWHL saw to fix that problem. For female players, the NWHL is the future. Finally these athletes can be paid to play what they love. Before the NWHL, players were only paid if they achieved national team status. If not, they were left with years of high intensity hockey experience and nowhere or way to use it. The CWHL is an option, but not one with longevity as players pay for their own gear and forfeit their time for no salary. The NWHL allows female hockey players to be professional hockey players. National team members and fresh college graduates alike can finally get paid for their play. So how can the NWHL be paid whereas other women’s leagues could not be? The NWHL, founded by current commissioner of the league Dani Ryland, is set up like a business and is designed to bring in money and fund its staff, including the players. Of course, some revenue
will be generated from fan apparel sold, especially the jerseys which directly fund players and ticket sales, but the biggest component is the NWHL Foundation. The NWHL Foundation accepts donations which then go towards players salaries and growing female hockey programs. The league already has some well-known names on it too. The United States Women’s National Team captain, Meghan Duggan, plays for the Buffalo Beauts. Two-time Olympic silver medalist Hilary Knight plays for the Boston Pride. Fourteen current national team players can be found throughout the league, and that’s just from the United States. A few Canadian national team members have joined the league so far, though many other Canadian players have opted to remain in the already established CWHL while the NWHL is still growing. This past weekend was a weekend of firsts for the league. It was the home opener for the Beauts, who squared off against the Pride, and for the Whale, who faced off against the Riveters in the first regular season game. First franchise wins went to the Connecticut Whale and the Boston Pride, with Jessica Koizumi of the Connecticut Whale scoring the first goal in the history of the league, and Boston’s own Hilary Knight achieved the first multi-goal game. And the players have received paychecks for their play Women’s sports, especially at the professional level, are growing across the U.S. The professional women’s soccer league is on its third year, and female fighters like Ronda Rousey are making headlines and headway in their sport. Women’s hockey is another step for women’s sports. The best way to keep this momentum going is to get involved in the league by checking out your local NWHL team, getting to a game, buying a jersey, and turning to social media. Spread the word and grow the game.
UML Athletics
ALBANY, N.Y. – A late second half surge was not enough as the UMass Lowell men’s soccer team (7-6-0, 2-2-0) fell to Albany (7-6-1, 2-2-0), 2-1, on Saturday night. “We can’t put ourselves in a hole early on, especially on the road,” said Head Coach Christian Figueroa.” I thought we made on mistake in the opening minutes that cost us a goal and really gave Albany a lot of momentum. We battled to get one back, but we simply can’t go on the road, give up two goals and expect to win.” The Great Danes took the early lead in the third minute off of Philip Persson’s one-touch goal after receiving a pass from Moosah Khanat. Albany doubled their lead in the 60th minute when Jake Barros sent a shot inside the six-yard box past Austin Kroll (Baltimore, Md.). Guilherme Rodrigues (Lowell, Mass.) cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 62nd minute off a loose ball scramble. In the last 15 minutes, UMass Lowell was able to apply pressure and produce quality chances but the Great Dane backline and Eric Orologio were able to stay strong. Kroll made one save in the effort, while his counterpart made three. Rodrigues had a game-high four shots with two on goal. Persson had a team-high three shots for the hosts in the win. The River Hawks are back in action on October 24, on the road against Vermont at 1 p.m.
George DeLuca/Connector
River Hawks look to get back to winning on Saturday.
JOIN US FOR RIVER HAWK HOMECOMING UMass Lowell’s biggest, bluest celebration. It’s an event-packed weekend filled with entertainment, family fun and opportunities to reunite with friends and classmates. Alumni, students, parents, faculty and staff, friends and the community are all invited.
OCTOBER 23-24 HOMECOMING FEATURES \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Hawkey Way Homecoming Festival ✶ Division I Hockey Reunions ✶ Athletic alumni games ✶ Live music ✶ Annual Jennifer’s 5K Run/Walk ✶ Campus tours www.uml.edu/homecoming