Happy Veterans Day Thank you to all who have served
THE UMASS LOWELL
Serving the Student Body Since 1976
November 11, 2014
Youth voting turnout plummeting
In This Issue Pumpkin Beer
Student apathy towards voting becomes clear
Roundup
The best seasonal crafts from local brewers.
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Maureen Stanton “All Flesh is Grass�
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Campus Police Log â–ş Page 10
Final River Hawk Scores Team
Score
M. Soccer vs. Univ. of Hartford
L 0-1 (OT)
8-9-1
W 5-0
6-1-2
W. Soccer vs. Dartmouth
L 1-2 (OT)
5-13-1
Volleyball vs. UNH
L 0-3
2-25
Field Hockey vs. St. Louis University W 1-0 (OT)
6-13
M. Ice Hockey vs. Northeastern
Overall Record
No. 6 River Hawk hockey shuts out Northeastern, 5-0 UMass Lowell Athletics BOSTON – The No. 6 ranked UMass Lowell hockey team shutout Northeastern, 5-0, at Matthews Arena on Saturday evening. With the victory, the River Hawks improve to 6-1-2 overall on the season (4-0-1HEA), which marks the best start for UMass Lowell since the 1995-96 season, while Northeastern falls to 0-7-1 (0-3-1 HEA). Junior forward Michael Fallon (Glenview, Ill.) opened the scoring in the game at 5:45 of the second period, off a Dylan Zink (Madison, Wis.) shot from the right point that hit a Huskies’ defender and Fallon collected the puck to the left of the crease beating Northeastern goaltender Derick Roy blocker side. Freshman C.J. Smith (Des Moines, Iowa) scored his second career goal at 12:52 of the middle frame on almost the exact same play off a rebound from a shot by Zink from the right point. Sophomore defenseman Michael Kapla (Eau Claire, Wis.), who skated in the 50th game of his River Hawk career, recorded assists on the first two goals of the contest. C.J. Smith amassed a game-high and career-high five shots on goal in the victory.
Elise Amendola/AP
The new republican governor elect Charlie Baker with Martha Coalkey before a debate in October.
Dave Rudderham Connector Editor
Almost every media source in the U.S., including Facebook and Twitter, encouraged people to go out and vote on Tuesday, but the calls to action were made in vain. This is not exactly a new trend. According to the U.S. Census Bureau only 38 percent of of the people in the age 18- 24 bracket participated in the 2012 election. The trend has continued down into the 2014 election. America’s young voting population is now close to the
lows hit in the late 90’s. The statistics for Massachusetts voters reflect a downward trend. According to the Secretary of the State of Massachusetts office, in 2014 only about 11 percent of registered voters in Massachusetts are Republican, yet the Republican candidate for governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker was elected.
Leah Buechley conducts workshop Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare review by Brendan Jacques by Jacob Solomon
â–şSee Hockey, Page 11
Sections Op/Ed.......................... 2 A&E.............................. 6 Campus Life................. 3 Calendar ...................... 9 News............................ 4 Sports ......................... 11
â–şSee Politics in America, Page 4
Regina Alongi/Connector
â–şSee Arts & Entertainment, Page 6
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November 11, 2014
OPINIONS & EDITORIALS
It’s our right‌to stay home? Tyler Cote UML Student
The midterm elections brought tons of excitement to political junkies, and although this wasn’t the presidential race, it was rather important to the remainder of this decade. Even with a greater importance to many Americans, this election had one of the worse turnouts to date. The question that came with this year’s midterm elections was why are people not voting. But what if I told you, the answer is that the government doesn’t want us to vote? It has been a part of the United States’ history to not want its entire population to vote. And let’s start with why they don’t want us, college students, to find ourselves in the voting booth. They, being the government, only want the educated to vote, and although we may be the most informed in the problems of today, they don’t want uneducated people voting on educated matters. For example, the guy who failed his “Intro to Economics� class freshman year, the government doesn’t want him to vote on an economic policy. It is also important to note that if the government wanted college students to vote, polls would be set up on campus. Logically, everyone in a college campus is 18years old, meaning they are eligible to register to vote. If the govern-
ment really wanted college students to vote in elections, they would make it far more accessible and available for them. It is said that the only people that are more uninformed than the voters are the ones who aren’t voting normally. The people the government want voting are the people that take the time to go out and vote. If people who don’t want to vote are forced to do so, it leads to trouble. This raises my next argument. Why don’t they put voting online? This is answered by the reasoning above; it allows for the misinformed citizens to come out and vote on policies and laws that they don’t particularly care about. A noble deed is done by the person who knows they are not correctly informed so they don’t go vote. By taking this action, or refraining from for that matter, is one that allows for the informed voters to be heard in the polls. Finally, in close elections, the ones that demand recount after recount, such as the 2000 presidential election, as decided in the courts, not by a representative vote. This proves that the government, in times of close measure, has more confidence in their own judgment to make the final verdict than the public themselves. Although the idea that it is the American’s right and duty to go to the polls on Election Day, that is simply not true. It is our decision to become educated to make an intelligent and informed vote, and then it’s our right to either go to or stay away from the polls on that Tuesday.
Honors Library should be on your mind Henry St. Pierre UML Student
At this very moment, the third floor of O’Leary Library is under a great deal of construction. The construction is for the new Honors Library, which will be a place for Honors students and non-Honors students alike to come and study, research, and learn. I’m an Honors library curator for my work-study employment, along with fellow students David Zhong, Julie Lun and Seamus Pugh, which means I’m under the direct guidance of Dr. James Canning, the Dean of the Honors College. Dr. Canning has been leading the construction of the third floor library, and now he says the floor should finally be completed in a month. “We have enough books but not enough readers.â€? This quote from Dr. Canning essentially summarizes the state of “reading for funâ€? that exists (or better yet, exists in a very diminished state) in the modern day, a day dominated by social media, Netflix and other activities that don’t require prolonged brain function. The third floor of O’Leary shall soon be a place to find and project one’s inner genius. â–şSee Honors, Page 9
THE UMASS LOWELL
Serving the Student Body Since 1976
UMASS LOWELL CONNECTOR
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UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
November 11, 2014
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CAMPUS LIFE
Four stars for Tepthida Khmer European style foods together. This means that their Cambodian dishes are mixed with French flair. Their menu includes traditional Cambodian delicacies such as Loc Lac and Mee Katang, but also includes chicken kabobs and fruit salad. This com-
similarly lukewarm and a tad dry, but still tasted good. The side salad of lettuce, tomato, onion, and cucumber included a hearty helping of tangy dressTepthida Khmer is a moderately priced Camboing. This dressing was extremely strong, and easily dian-French fusion restaurant located in Lowell at overpowered the salad, so it must be poured care115 Chelmsford St., about a half-hour walk from fully and used sparingly. There was both South and East campuses and Photo Courtesy of Lindy Reed a pitcher of apple juice set out on the a quick, ten-minute drive from both table, and the abundance of ice in it areas of UMass Lowell. made the juice taste watered-down The inside of the restaurant is and diluted the apple flavor. clean, modern, and elegant. The The prices are similar to the Ninechairs were straight-back dark ty Nine’s or Chili’s, making the wood, but not uncomfortable. The restaurant higher quality than a Five dishes were white glazed porcelain Guys or a Chipotle, but not as forand spotless. The glasses were clear mal as a Longhorn’s or Outback. and sparkling, and the wooden taMost entrees are about ten to fifteen ble was set with a white linen tadollars, with appetizers about five blecloth. Because it was Halloween dollars. time, there were pumpkins set out as Lowell is home to many Camcenterpieces, and simple yet tastebodian restaurants, but Tepthida ful fall decor adorned the wall art, Khmer is one of the cleanest and contributing to a warm, welcoming most elegant. Its plain and unimambiance. Compared to many of pressive exterior inaccurately rethe other Cambodian restaurants in flects the contemporary, affable Lowell, Tepthida is upscale and perinterior. It definitely has one of the fect for a date. best atmospheres compared to rival The cashier was friendly and spoke A Tepthida Khmer dish featuring rice, chicken, and salad. restaurants, such as Simply Khmer. English. The service was timely, and bination makes Tepthida a great introductory stepHowever, Simply Khmer has amazing authentic the server was attentive and polite. The restaurant owner Elly Hsu, a small Cambodi- ping stone into Cambodian cuisine, especially for cuisine, which more than makes up for its cheap an woman who came to America during the Khmer those that are hesitant to delve directly into purely aesthetic. So, if true Cambodian delicacies straight from the Rouge, was incredibly nice and unbelievably ami- Cambodian food and try catfish soup or squid and kitchens of a Phnom Penh local are what you’re able. She recounted the struggles she faced when octopus with seaweed. The chicken kabobs were warm, not hot, but looking for, then Tepthida Khmer is not for you. she first moved to America, and the difficulties of overcoming the language and culture barrier. She seasoned perfectly and covered in a savory or- Try Simply Khmer down the street. However, if ange-brown glaze. The meat was not as tender as you prefer less foreign food, with familiar tastes and takes great pride in her restaurant. Unlike the numerous other Cambodian restau- it could have been, because it was slightly dry, but ingredients but Cambodian style, then look no furrants in Lowell, Tepthida Khmer blends Asian and the outside was grilled nicely. The white rice was ther than Tepthida Khmer in the heart of Lowell! Lindy Reed
Connector Contribtor
Pumpkin beer roundup
The best seasonal cratfs from local brewers few that have put forth pumpkin varieties that deserve the spotlight. The most popular and most It is the season for beers that warm the belly with widely received include Fisherman’s Pumpkin pumpkin, spices, caramel malts and full-bodied fla- Stout (Gloucester), Harpoon UFO Pumpkin (Bosvors that pair perfectly with crisp autumn nights ton), Great Pumpkin Ale (Cambridge) and Pumple and your best flannel shirt. Fall may be halfway Drumkin (Nantucket). over, but there is still plenty of time to enjoy all of Gloucester’s own Cape Ann Brewing Company the autumnal beer goodness that local breweries produces the tasty Fisherman’s Pumpkin Stout. It is have to offer. a classic stout with its roasted malts and chocolate Of the breweries throughout Massachusetts that flavors, topped off with just a bit of pumpkin and hone in on crafting exceptional beers, there are a spices to make one of the more flavorful “black-olanterns” on the market. It does not overwhelm the palate with sweetness and is a very drinkable heavier beer than the average pumpkin ales. The Great Pumpkin Ale is known to be Cambridge Brewing Company’s most popular seasonal beer, giving off familiar autumnal scents of pumpkin and pumpkin spices whose flavor hits the tongue after an initial taste of sweet caramel malts. It ends with a slight hop tartness to even it all out. Cisco Brewers’ Pumple Drumkin tastes as interesting and fun as the name sounds Photo Courtesy of squirrelfarts.com and the label looks. Unlike its A look inside Cambridge Brewing Company, the makers of Great Pumpkin Ale. sweeter contemporaries, PumAllison Turcotte
Connector Contributor
ple Drumkin drinks more like a brown ale but in a very good way: Hints of pumpkin and spice remain subtle under an earthy, roasted full body that is definitive of a great beer at this time of year. It pairs well with a meal of hearty harvest vegetables and roasted chicken. Both Cambridge Brewing Company and Cisco Brewers use locally grown pumpkins in their pumpkin beers. Their barley, additionally, is among the other local ingredients that go into the creation of their beers. There are two more beers that deserve praise even though they are not New England brewed because they are possibly two of the best pumpkin beers ever created: Southern Tier Imperial Pumking (New York) and Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin (Pennsylvania). Southern Tier crafted a beer akin to the taste of pumpkin pie with spices and sweetness at the forefront, but being a beer with a higher than average alcohol content, the sweetness is countered with warmth and a dry finish. Weyerbacher also has strong notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, and cloves but more modestly so than the Southern Tier. If you prefer a beer with less sweet and a more bitter dryness, this is the one to choose. These four local beers give other New England breweries stiff competition, but the dozens of others ought to be tasted and appreciated in the heart of a New England autumn.
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November 11, 2014
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NEWS
NEWS
UML students cynical about politics in America ► Continued from front page
Professor tells how she learned to mow the lawn Michael Caizzi Connector Staff
Maureen Stanton just wanted to mow her lawn, and in the end she succeeded. How this feat was accomplished was the subject of her essay “All Flesh is Grass,” which she read to an enthusiastic audience as part of the Kerouac Literary Festival’s Writers Series. Lowell’s annual Kerouac Literary Festival is a celebration of Jack Kerouac’s life and work. Every year the festival brings a collection of acclaimed writers, artists, and musicians as a celebration of Lowell and its native son. Members of the organization Lowell Celebrates Kerouac!, which hosts the Kerouac Literary Festival, did not have to look far to find Stanton, who is a professor of creative nonfiction at UMass Lowell. As a part of this year’s Kerouac Writers
Currently over 2.2 million voters in Massachusetts are not enrolled in a major party, making up over 53 percent of registered voters in the state. Students at UMass Lowell have expressed apathy for the 2014 midterm elections and in politics in general. Pete Healey, a first year student and computer science major, said “I’m not even a registered voter.”
“In my country we tell people why they should vote...here, no one made an effort.” Voting in this election was “pointless” to Healey and “the corruption of it all” has made him jaded and cynical about politics. He spoke passionately about how the government is incompetent in dealing with the current debt crisis and how there is no leaders running for office intent on changing the current situation. “It’s been so long since we’ve had our shit together” said Healey. Him and many students are also against the political ads that saturate the media. Healey said, “I feel like it shouldn’t even be a thing,” in reference to television ads. “Not everyone watches television and they’re obviously biased to the people who paid for them.” Miranda Launsby, senior, said “When I see an ad, no matter who it’s for, I’m completely disgusted by it.” She felt that she shouldn’t vote if she doesn’t know the information, of which, she said, “There isn’t enough of it.” To students from outside the country, the lack of information, as well as the apathy in spreading it, does not make sense. Ali Raza, a 20-year-old business major, said “In my country we tell people why they should vote...here, no one made an effort.” Raza is from Pakistan where, according to him, the country is largely dependent on grassroots efforts to obtain political support. His eyes widened when he said “They didn’t care that much.” He was surprised that the voting turnout for young people was so low for this election. There seems to be a large disconnect between young students and political information here that isn’t as prominent in other countries. Brock John-
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November 11, 2014
Series, Stanton joined the likes of Louis Menand, Gish Jen, and Anthony De Sa, all award-winning writers. Stanton’s essay tells the story of her learning to mow the lawn after the death of her boyfriend in her late twenties. Stanton’s essay is filled with humor and odd grass-related facts, but also with emotion for the death of a loved one. The essay takes us through the process of buying the lawnmower, learning to use it, and all the fears and obstacles associated with it while exploring the theme of gender. Stanton wrote the essay for an upcoming anthology “From Curlers to Chainsaws: Women and their Machines.” The anthology is due to come out some time in 2015 through Michigan State University Press. Stanton is also the author of “Killer Stuff and Tons of Money: An Insider’s
Look at the World of Flea Markets, Antiques and Collecting,” which won the 2012 Massachusetts Book Award in nonfiction. In the question and answer portion of the event, Stanton described her initial hesitation in writing the essay. “They invited me to do this and I said no three times. I don’t like to be forced to write about something,” she said. Using humor in addressing the crowd, Stanton said, “I want to write about what I want to write about, even though I force my students into particular topics.” Stanton said she is currently working on a coming-of-age memoir. Having grown up in the culturally explosive time of the 1970’s, Stanton said she’s eager to examine the cultural influences of the time and the influence they had on her.
JANUARY 2-15, 2015
Take Courses Over Winter Break and Accelerate Your Progress Towards a Degree or Certificate! Census graph showing the low voting turnout from the 18-24 group compared to older voters from 1964-2012
son, a first year student and criminal justice major, also didn’t vote in the 2014 mid-term elections.
“When I see an ad, no matter who it’s for, I’m completely disgusted by it.” “It’s boring,” said Johnson about the current political situations. He is not an active voter. “I feel like I should be, but I’m not,” he said. Johnson is not totally cynical about politics as he plans to vote in future elections. He wants better access to information, he said. Johnson also shared a position that many students have about political ads. “It’s hard to trust them...they’re all biased,” said Johnson. Many students, including Johnson, feel that the political ads during election season make
it worse for young students that are at risk of being low-information voters, he said. To someone from another country, the political saturation of the media can provide a view that we’re all way too political. AG, a foreign student from Malaysia, said in his country voting is “a big thing.” However, he also thinks that this country has become too political and divided. “I think you guys vote a little too much,” said AG. For any questions or comments regarding this article, contact the author at David_Rudderham@student. uml.edu
WINTER INTERSESSION Biology 83.101-001 Life Science I Mon.-Sat., 9:00am-12:30pm Gen Ed Code: SCLO
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Courtesy of Secretary of State of Massachusetts
An updated 2014 chart showing voters by county in the state of Massachusetts. Under 11% are registered Republican while over 53% are unenrolled.
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November 11, 2014
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ‘Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare’ in short Brendan Jacques Connector Staff
“Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare” is the kick in the teeth the series has desperately needed. Sledgehammer Games, in their first attempt at the acclaimed series, has succeeded in bringing back the energy that the series has been lacking for years while also improving the formula in novel ways that change the game for the better. The exosuit is the best addition to the series formula in years and the possibilities it brings to the table gameplay-wise are this game’s saving grace. While I can’t say that “Advanced Warfare” will change anyone’s opinions on the series as a whole, it at least attempts to be interesting and well designed, something last year’s abysmal “Call of Duty: Ghosts” was terrified to even consider. The campaign, while still a side attraction compared to the multiplayer, is the best to come from the series since the original “Black Ops.” The story is the usual “Call of Duty” fare, though it is improved somewhat by the appearance of Kevin Spacey, who makes for an incredibly imposing villain. The missions themselves also stick to the usual series locations - desert, mountaintop, city, et cetera - though most levels find unique ways of mixing up the gameplay within their section, with one standout level being an impressively-realized
stealth mission. The campaign is hampered somewhat by the series’ continued insistence on supremely linear mission design and some odd constraints placed on the player’s abilities, though it never became a deal breaker like it did in previous installments. Meanwhile, the new multiplayer suite has also improved considerably since the last installment. The introduction of the exosuits to normal combat, which allows the player to double-jump and quick-dodge enemy fire, gives the game a more frantic and fluid gameplay that makes the moment-to-moment gameplay much more palatable. While I haven’t put enough time in to extensively review the multiplayer, so far I’m impressed. In the end, “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare” is a major improvement for a series that really needed something to shake things up. While the game lacked any real “wow” moments, the gameplay is tight, the campaign is well designed and the Courtesy of Sledgehammer Games multiplayer is more fun than it’s ever been…at least in my opinion. While I doubt this game will bring back anyone who’s become sick of the series, it’s well worth a purchase to anyone interested. “Call of Duty” is back. Final Grade: B
November 11, 2014
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Journey to ‘The Lion King’ The Yik Yak Attack is back Masters of Theater brings in stage manager for the national tour
Henry St. Pierre Connector Staff
Brittany McLeod Connector Contributor
“I never got what I wanted, but I always got something better,” said Matthew Lambert, stage manager of “The Lion King” national tour in regards to his career. Lambert spoke to UMass Lowell students as part of the Masters of Theater workshop. Lambert spoke about how to make it in theater. He said that networking is important. “You don’t want to burn any bridges, and you want to make contacts,” he said. “The only way you’re going to get your jobs is through the people you know and work with.” Students said they were inspired by Lambert’s focus on the personal aspect of his journey, and that much of his advice applies to life beyond the theater. “Getting personal is important, and not everyone talks about their job in a personal way,” said Allison Brennan, a senior English major with a concentration in theater arts. Lambert said his love for the stage began with his first trip to New York City with his family. After traveling to NYC as a young teen and experiencing his first Broadway show, “Big River,” Lambert said he had an epiphany. “I had a conversation with God and he said, ‘This is what you are doing with your life.”’ Lambert said he listened to the “Big River” soundtrack until he broke it; he spent the rest of his young adulthood dedicated to making himself someone in the world of the theater. After volunteering at the Shawnee Playhouse through high school, Lambert got accepted into DePaul University for theater management. “When I got there the theater management program hadn’t been set up yet, I forced them to get the program together,” Lambert said. Lambert has worked on numerous shows including “Song of Singapore,” Courtesy of gotickets.com
Artist-in-residence Leah Buechley conducts workshop
After a couple somber, heartbreaking weeks without Yaks from UMass Lowellians in The Connector, the nationally known “Yik Yak Attack” section is back. A big thank you to all you Yik Yak-ers who post such interesting things that inspired us here at The Connector to write articles dedicated to said posts, which led our university to gain national attention from the folks at USA Today. So, before I list some of the past couple weeks’ best Yaks, keep in mind our friendly disclaimer. I can only include Yaks that aren’t offensive and/or bursting at the seams with explicit language, yet they still have to be entertaining. Every Yak is kept in its original form, except for inappropriate terms that need to be censored because this is a college newspaper and not a pirate ship full of salty sea dogs. “I just matched with a professor on tinder and he asks me ‘Oh you’re at UML too? What do you teach?’ I just turned 20 lol..” “Shout out to the kid who just filled an empty gallon water jug with the milk in the dining hall. You are a power move” “Bookstore just called me. ‘Yeah, that book you ordered 6 weeks ago is never coming in. So come get a refund.’ I mean at least they’re honest……” “When the bus driver looks at you hurrying to the bus, smiles, then drives away<<<<<” “At the end of no shave November we should collect all the facial shavings and form a beautiful Umass Lowell quilt that we hang in the Ucrossing lobby” “I gave this b**** my good pen to use for class and now she’s slobbering all over it and putting her teeth marks in it.” “I left the teacher a link to my mixtape at the bottom of my essay.” “I STEPPED ON A LEAF AND AT THE SAME TIME A KID SCREAMED I THOUGHT IT WAS THE LEAF OMFG” “Kid reading in class mispronounced the country Niger in class and well.. S**t got awkward”
The Lion King stage performance.
All photos Regina Alongi/Connector
Jacob Solomon Connector Contributor
Artist-in-residence readies Leah Buechley a display.
The room filled with curious students as UMass Lowell’s 2014 Artist-In-Residence Leah Buechley prepared her workshop. Designer, engineer, educator and founder of MIT’s High-Low Tech Group, Buechley has worked for years with lesser-known electrically conductive materials in an effort to redefine the tools of today’s engineers. Having developed the Lilypad Arduino and delivered a Ted Talk in 2011 about the practicality of conductive ink, she has made it her mission to innovate. “I didn’t really know until I went to graduate school that there was a community of people who combined art and technology,” says Buechley, having spent much of her young adulthood balancing a double-life of artistic expression and engineering. She began working at the MIT media lab to combine aesthetic design with science. She worked on the basis that a more unified, holistic approach would make engineering more accessible to people of all interests. “We think that expanding the palette of what you can build with technology is an
awesome way to engage lots of different people in making technology for themselves.” On Wednesday, Nov. 5, Buechley brought her Circuit Sticker kit to UMass Lowell for the This Is A Circuit workshop, at which 15 students were provided with the raw materials to “sketch” their own simple circuits on paper. With sprightly energy and gesture, Buechley gave a brief presentation on some of the innovations of the High-Low Tech Group, including a built-from-scratch cellphone, and an interactive LED-lit painting. (For more information, visit www.highlowtech.org) The students then worked in pairs to assemble simple circuits and demonstrate simple concepts of electrical engineering, as Buechley mingled with and challenged them to be creative. Buechley’s artist-in-residence exhibit celebrates the works of the High-Low Tech group and is on display now in Mahoney Hall’s University Gallery on South Campus. The exhibit will be open through December 5: Monday through Wednesday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“The Gin Game,” “Peter Pan”, “The Belle of Amherst,” “Buddy,” “Don’t Stop The Carnival,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “Jesus Christ Super Star.” Lambert said his stage roles vary almost as much as the shows he has worked with. After college he became an assistant company manager, then a house manager, a company manager, assistant stage manager, production stage manager, and on; currently he works as a stage manager. “I have the best job in the industry,” he said. Having many different roles in many different shows, both long- and shortterm, Lambert explains how frequently he found himself out of work. “Shows don’t live forever,” he said. Katie Mulno, a senior at UMass Lowell majoring in liberal arts with theater and music concentrations said she enjoyed his focus on the connections you make in the theater. “Having those connections [is] really important,” she said. Now that he works for the largest national traveling show, Lambert says he enjoys his role as a stage manager and is not looking to take on a role with more responsibilities. “I enjoy my job and I know if I go into that production stage manager job I’ll get burnt out and I’ll leave,” he said. “I’m not in charge and my cell phone isn’t ringing off the hook.” Lambert said one of the highlights of his job is the story “The Lion King” tells. “The phenomenon of the show is the story,” he said. “I believe in truth and I believe in love and that’s what they’re putting on stage; if the love isn’t on the stage, no one cares.” “What’s great about touring is [that] it’s different in every theater,” said Lambert. “I don’t know if I could just sit in New York and just do it over and over again.” Alexa Lambert, Matthew Lambert’s niece, was responsible for bringing her uncle to UMass Lowell. “I was so excited so many people were here,” she said. Lambert says he loves working for Disney. “I truly believe I work for the best company in the world.”
“Every notice that when flys land they rub their s**t eating hands together like they’re hatching some dastardly plot.” “There are never kids in that playground near Olsen…just lonely adults on the swings” “The fastest way to get a girl is to get a dog.”
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ‘Spec Ops: The Line’ retrospective review Brendan Jacques Connector Staff
The vast majority of modern video games are built around murder. From the gritty post-apocalypse of “Gears of War” to the bright, grassy plains of ‘Super Mario Bros,” there’s always some enemy standing in the way of the player’s goal, and more often than not, that enemy isn’t going to last very long. Why would it? The hero has to save the world, and the player needs to guide them there; there is no time to question the morality of killing a program made up of ones and zeroes. That’s how video games work, have always worked and always will work. With this in mind, the existence of a game like “Spec Ops: The Line” seems like a contradiction. It’s a game that builds itself around having the player kill hundreds of enemies while condemning everything it has the player do. It’s a game that despises the likes of “Call of Duty” and “Gears of War” with a burning passion while marketing and designing itself as a rip-off of both of the above. By all accounts, it’s a game that most would expect to be a terrible anti-war propaganda game. Which is why it still blows my mind that it is not only a fantastic game in its own right, but also succeeds in absolutely everything it tries to do. Atmospheric, dark and beautiful in all the wrong ways, “Spec Ops: The Line” is an underappreciated classic that deserved more attention and praise than it ever got. The story centers on Sergeant Walker, a U.S. soldier whose squad is sent on a reconnaissance mission into the city of Dubai, which, prior to the beginning of the game, was hit by a sandstorm the likes of which humankind has never seen before. The city is now almost completely buried, with all civilians and soldiers within the city presumably dead. Recently, however, an American military transmission was discovered broadcasting from the city presumably sent by the 33rd Battalion, a group of U.S. soldiers who deserted in order to save as many civilians as possible. Now, several months later, Walker and his squad have been sent in to rendezvous with the 33rd’s leader, General Konrad, assess the situation within the city and assist in rescuing as many survivors as possible. Naturally, as this is a video game, things really don’t go as planned. Without question, the story of “Spec Ops” stands as its absolute greatest achievement. On the surface, the game seems to be fairly predictable, with the usual breed of over-the-top military machismo, speeches about “fighting for what’s right” and generically evil enemies to fight. In fact, the first few hours of the game could honestly have been ripped straight from the average “Call of Duty” knockoff. The genius of the story, however, is that it’s completely aware of its audiences’ expectations, uses its opening to subtly reinforce those expec-
Don’t miss out on Mill No. 5 Amaris Torres Connector Contributor
Lowell is known for its rich history and roots in the Industrial Revolution. During the 1800s the iconic mills were filled with women as young as 15 years old, typically recruited from farming households. Nowadays, most of the mills in Lowell have been renovated for a number of different purposes. Mill No. 5, located at 250 Jackson Street in downtown Lowell, has recently become a hotspot. The fourth floor of the mill is now home to a handful of businesses, small boutiques and shops. The architecture of the building has stayed true to its mill roots, but has taken on a modernized look in order to appeal to the younger crowds. Mill No. 5 has something to
tations then spends the rest of its runtime tearing them to the ground. While at first all the main characters seem to fall under the usual military character stereotypes, - the valiant leader, the snarky sniper and the black explosives specialist - as the game progresses those pre-defined characteristics slowly fade away. As they make their way further and further down into the ruins of the city and witnessing the atrocities that occurred in its final days, they all start breaking down under the weight of it all. What only pushes them even further to the edge of sanity is the atrocities they themselves are forced to commit in the name of the mission and their own survival. It’s incredibly thought-provoking stuff, bringing to the forefront commentary on American interventionism, what humans are capable of doing when given no other options and the lengths men will foolishly go to do what they think is right. I know that I’m being incredibly vague as to what exactly happens in the game, but trust me when I say that you don’t want it to be spoiled for you. It’s one of the best stories ever told in gaming, in my opinion, and is worth the price of admission alone. Compared to the plot of the story, the gameplay itself is pretty standard fare. The game is a third-person shooter with a heavy emphasis on squad tactics and cover, making it play very similarly to “Gears of War.” Where it distinguishes itself slightly is with the ability to mark targets for your squad-mates, allowing them to assist you Courtesy of Yager Development with covering fire or sniper support, making your teammates far more useful that AI teammates usually are in these types of games. Outside of that, the only other notable feature of the combat is its use of sand, from the consistently blinding sandstorms to the ability to shoot out windows to pour sand onto your enemies, though admittedly this feature is mostly contextual and not hugely interesting outside of a few scenes. Regardless of its lack of originality, the gunplay is consistently solid and never really gets boring, with plenty of well-designed set piece moments sprinkled throughout in order to keep things fresh. Also it could be argued that the gameplay is intentionally uninspired to fit more closely with the game’s narrative, though that’s a theory for another day. “Spec Ops: The Line” is a game that no one saw when it came out and barely has a copy sold to its name, which I see as a travesty. While it’s admittedly fairly short, (clocking in at 7 hours) and isn’t the most tightly balanced game, it has easily the best story I have ever seen in a video game, sticking with me months after I had first finished it. If at least one more person buys this game based on this review, then I’ll be satisfied. There is no excuse this time; if you want to see a real gaming masterpiece, you owe it to yourself to buy this game. “Spec Ops: The Line” is available for Xbox 360 and PS3 for $20 and on PC for $30.
offer every individual. If you enjoy a delicious baked good along with your coffee and tea, stop by Coffee and Cotton. The atmosphere of the shop is very calming and the baristas are always a joy to interact with. The employees want to include that any clubs who would like to host their weekly meetings at Coffee and Cotton are more than welcome to! Vinyl Destination is the place for you if you love collecting records. For those who are environmentally conscious but still enjoy their beauty products, Red Antler Apothecary offers a wide variety of homemade soaps and household cleaning products. The owners are a husband and wife who personally make each and every one of their products, and are happy to answer any questions you have. At the end of the hall lies one of Mill No. 5’s greatest treasures: The
Final Grade: A
Luna Theatre. If you yearn for independent films, live performances and reasonably priced concessions this is the perfect place to go. Aside from the established businesses of Mill No. 5, the weekends offer a large variety of pop-up vendors at the winter market hosted on Sundays. Here you can find fresh produce, live music and numerous business owners looking to spread the word about their products. The first market was on Nov. 2 and the turnout was fantastic. Some of the vendors who set up tables included Mill City Grows, Soluna Garden Farm, edie & fin, Leisure, Urban Kitchen Handmade and Derek SooHoo Studios. The next market is going to be on Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., so don’t miss out on a chance to be a part of Lowell’s growing and diverse community!
November 11, 2014
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UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
ng happeni What’s us on camp th?! this mon SUNDAY
CAMPUS CALENDAR
NOVEMBER MONDAY
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TUESDAY
11 Happy Veterans Day
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Sunday Holy Mass 7:00p.m. Moloney Hall, UC
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23 Sunday Holy Mass 7:00p.m. Moloney Hall, UC
Queer Chat 7:00p.m. UCrossing 158
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WEDNESDAY
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THURSDAY
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Guest Speaker: Dr. Navid Mahooti “Ultrasound Guided Injections” 6:30p.m. Weed Lecture
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Guest Speaker: Gina Gallagher Author of “Shutup About Your Perfect Kid” 3:30p.m. O’Leary Library 222
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Labor Rights Guest Speaker: Robert Shwartz 5:00p.m. Alumni Hall
International Student Club Thanksgiving Dinner 6:00p.m. Cumnock Hall
W. Basketball vs. URI 7:00p.m. Costello Gym
MEISA presents VPAC 8p.m. Fox Common
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M. Basketball vs. Mount Ida 7:00p.m. Costello Gym
W. Basketball vs. Mount Ida 7:00p.m. Costello Gym
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FRIDAY
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SATURDAY
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Volleyball vs. Stony Brook 7:00p.m. Costello Gym
Volleyball vs. Hartford 4:00p.m. Costello Gym
Hockey vs. Penn State 7:15p.m. Tsongas Center
Hockey vs. Penn State 7:00p.m. Tsongas Center
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22 W. Basketball vs. Central Connecticut State University 7:00p.m. Costello Gym
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GRE Prep Workshop w/ Centers for Learning 4:30p.m.-7:0p.m. Olney Hall 218
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
Honors Library should be on your mind ► Continued from Page 2
To shed light and answer some questions about the new library, Dr. Canning was happy to have an interview with me. Here’s how it unfolded, and Dr. Canning gave some in-depth answers to my inquiries. It seems the third floor’s been under construction for quite a while. What will the third floor look like when construction comes to an end? The new Honors Commons in the library will be a space for Honors and non-Honors students to gather, to study, to exchange ideas, to work on research and creative projects and to have small group lunches with faculty and staff. There will be an Honors thesis room which will house all the completed Honors theses as we wish to recognize student work. The space will also become the primary home for the Honors library. Honors staff will have offices there so lots of Honors advising will occur there too. Where do all the books in the library come from? I acquire the books in a variety of ways. They mostly come from community library book sales, but I also get a fair amount from used-book stores, estate sales, and some of them are donated. Who can take books from the library, and how long can the students keep the books? Anybody can take books from the library at any time. There is no official check-out. A student can just browse and select as they see fit. They can take them out as long as they wish. We hope the all come back. We want to encour-
age reading – lots of reading. Going home for the weekend? Winter break? Why not swing by and pick up a book to read? What kind of reading selection is there to choose from? We will have a good mix of books: fiction and non-fiction, poetry, plays, some textbooks. Most students would recognize many of the books. Lots of the books would be considered as “great books” often read in within a liberal arts education, but there will also be books that are often read in middle and high school too. So many great books slip by us as we are growing up. What’s your ultimate goal with the Honors library? To encourage voluntary reading. “Build it and they shall come” is the old saying. There’s no reason why readers won’t come now, especially when there are great reads just sitting and waiting for someone to read them. A great book can have a lasting impact on the reader – I experienced this myself with the Pearl S. Buck novel, “The Good Earth.” Stories that might seem outlandish and abstract at first glance can truly resonate with the reader because of a connection to the human spirit. This connection to one’s own mortality and humanity can be found simply by reading a good book.
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Campus Police Log Date 10/31/2014 - Friday Call and Number 14-38242 Reason: Larcey/Forgery/Fraud Location: University Crossing Narrative: Non-student, went to the Tsongas Center Halloween concern last night is here to report her stolen items from her purse. She stated that upon arrival to the concert, the security working at the Tsongas Center told her that she cannot bring a bag in and if she has no car or place to put it, she should hide it in the woods. She did that and her license, SS card, debit card, etc. was stolen. Date 11/1/2014 - Saturday Call and Number 14-38422 Reason: Hit and Run Location: Low University Ave Narrative: EMT 264 reports his UML vehicle was struck while parked at above location. Officer on site. Side mirror is off at this time Date 11/01/2014 - Saturday Call and Number 14-38460 Reason: Motor Vehicle Stop
Location: Pawtucket Street Narrative: JK Towing has the vehicle. Citation was issued for no registration in possession and unregistered motor vehicle. Date 11/03/2014 – Monday Call and Number 14-38628 Reason: Larceny/Forgery/Fraud Location: Olsen hall Narrative: Lab manager reports past larceny from above location. He reports multiple students had backpacks and textbooks taken. Narrative: #151 reports room door sometimes does not latch properly. Facilities was notified and it was requested to have the issues addressed ASAP due to it being a computer lab. Date 11/05/2014 Call and Number 14-38875 Reason: Larceny/Forgery/Fraud Location: Lydon Starbucks Narrative: Found a counterfeit $20. Report Taken
November 11, 2014
Paid for by LLD Entertainment:
LLD’s prepares to become a major nightclub LLD’s in Tyngsborough is planning to go through major renovations in the coming months, making it the premier club for nightlife in the area. The club will soon be able to boast about having incredible, new hardwood floors, a fully renovated outdoor patio complete with outdoor bars, and a large dance area within a U-shaped stage. This stage will provide live music acts, both local and national a place to showcase their talents to eager crowds. Friday nights are “Country Nights” while Saturdays will be reserved for EDM and rock bands. Thursday nights will be for Salsa music and on certain days, the nightclub will also be host to many parties and tournaments for fun games such as “Flip Cup.” Patrons will also soon be able to enjoy “Karaoke Night,” where people will get to stand on stage and sing their favorite songs with a very talented live band. The nightclub also plans on hiring the best sound designers to install a high-end audio system for the DJ’s and bands to use for all of these shows and parties. Further changes to the club will include VIP sections for private parties and additional televisions for people who wish to watch sports while they’re enjoying food and drinks. Their kitchen will also be renovated and will serve up hungry customers savory food such as burgers and wings. In the future, students with valid IDs will get great offers like half off of appetizers. Students will also be able to use a shuttle provided by the club that will transport students to and from school. With these major changes coming in the near future, LLDs plans on becoming the major hotspot for nightlife.
November 11, 2014
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SPORTS
River Hawks score three in tie Shane Foley
Northeastern had dominated play in the second period. It was the only period where the Huskies out shot the River Hawks (13-10 respectively). The AJ White found the back of the net twice, as the River Hawks tied the North- Huskies scored twice in that period, and earned another goal to begin the third. eastern Huskies in ice hockey with three goals a piece. Both goals in second were scored with a man advantage. While they couldn’t add another tally under the wins bracket, Friday night “I saw two goals off of penalty kill and I saw the foot off the pedal,” said was a good offensive showing for the River Hawks. They played at a high pace, Coach Bazin. and shot the puck at the net 41 times. The loss was salvaged later on in the third Christopher Tran/Connector “Some games you get a few more shots than period by Adam Chapie. Captain Zach Kamothers,” said Head Coach Norm Bazin. rass fired a shot off of the pads of goalie Roy, Both of AJ White’s goals came in the first and Chapie was there to collect the rebound period. The first came off of a face off on and tally the last goal of the game. Northeastern ice. C.J. Smith got a quick shot Both goalies had phenomenal games. Roy off after gaining the puck, which led to a scuffrom Northeastern made a total of 38 saves in fle in front of the net. White picked up the the game. Kevin Boyle, who got the start for rebound and fired it for the first score of the UMass Lowell, only gave up one goal off of game. even strength. If one play from that game were to make it Friday night was Veteran appreciation night on a Sports Center highlight clip, it might be at the Tsongas. “USA was chanted several White’s second goal. He had the puck in open times during the game. UMass Lowell atice when his defender dropped to the floor. tendees got to enjoy the singing of both the White then took a couple steps and managed National Anthem before the game and God to shoot the puck over this defender and then Bless America before the third period. into the top corner of the net behind goalie It may not have been the result the hockey AJ White scored the first two goals for the River Hawks. Derick Roy. team was looking for, but it was a good night “I was gonna try and pass [the puck] across and the puck actually bounced for the student section, which continues to stack the stands with their presence off my stick,” said White. “The guy swung for the pass and I just kinda skated and intensity. down and someone else skated out of the way and I was like ‘alright I’ll keep going’. I just kinda took a shot at the net.” Connector Editor
River Hakws fall on senior night, 1-o to Hartford in OT UMass Lowell Athletics
LOWELL, Mass. – An overtime goal in the 93rd minute put on a damper on Senior Night, as the UMass Lowell men’s soccer team ended its season with a 1-0 loss to the University of Hartford on Wednesday night. Javoni Simms received a pass in the box from Udi Cohen, and slid the ball past the keeper and into the net. The win saw the Hawks (10-5-2, 5-2-0) move into the second seed of the conference tournament. The River Hawks finished the season at 8-9-1 and a third place finish in the America East with a 4-2-1 mark. Before the game tonight, they had a chance to finish with a share of the regular season championship, but UMBC took care of their own business. Head Coach Christian Figueroa was pleased with his team’s effort and success this season, the second of the four-year transition period. “I’d say the future’s bright and the guys see that as well. The season for us was what we expected, believe it or not. We had goals, we wanted to finish top three in the conference and we did. At the end of the day we were one of three teams that were able to talk before the game about having a chance to win a championship. Out of eight teams, we were one of three, and I think that’s a big step for us.” In his final game as a UMass Lowell player, senior Homero Morais (Somerville, Mass.) had the first opportunity of the game. In the 15th minute Morais took a free kick that deflected off the wall and into the hands of the Hawks’ keeper. The next three quality chances came from the visitors, but Austin Kroll (Baltimore, Md.) continued his impressive rookie campaign by stopping all three. In the 34th minute Simms had a chance from about eight yards out and Kroll
shut the door. Rohan Roye had a point-blank chance in the 44th minute but the freshman came out with a slide to deny the shot. Wuilito Fernandes (Praia, Cape Verde) almost gave the River Hawks the lead coming out of the halftime break, but after his shot beat David MacKinnon it rang off the post and stayed out of the net.Hartford had the next opportunity in the 69th minute, but the UMass Lowell defense didn’t break under the pressure. After a deflected ball Cohen let go a shot that beat Kroll, but Augusto Trento (Leominster, Mass.) was on the line to knock the ball away. Trento almost added to his heroics in the 78th minute, but he poked a cross from Federico Ferre (Waltham, Mass.) just wide. Three minutes later Austin Kimball (Exeter, N.H.) sent a rocket from 20-yards leaving MacKinnon to make a leaping save to knock the ball over the cross bar. Kroll made another sliding save in the 90th minute, this time on Cohen, for his final save of the game. The three-time reigning America East Rookie of the Week made five saves in the season finale. UMass Lowell outshot the Hawks 17-12, led by eight from Fernandes and five from Morais. Roye led the visitors with four. MacKinnon made five saves as well. Morais ends his final season with four goals and two assists for 10 points. He will finish his career with 30 goals and 15 assists for 75 points, third best alltime in program history. He also holds the second best career goals mark, and second best single-season goals mark with 13. “I couldn’t be more grateful for a guy like Homero to step foot at UMass Lowell,” added Figueroa. “The character he brings and the talent itself, we’re just very fortunate and we’re for sure going to miss him.”
Five different River Hawks score in shut out at Northeastern ►Continued from front page
Freshman forward Jake Kamrass (Atlanta, Ga.) gave the River Hawks a 3-0 lead in the second period at 16:34, as junior forward Michael Colantone (Cave Creek, Ariz.) came up the left wing and passed it across the slot for Kamrass’ first collegiate tally beating Roy glove side. Sophomore forward Joe Gambardella (Staten Island, N.Y.) made it a 4-0 game on a shorthanded breakaway beating Roy glove side off the backhand at 8:28 of the third period, on a long feed from senior defenseman Jake Suter (Lac du Flambeau, Wis.). Suter put the finishing touch on the win with a slapshot from the right point, off a pass from senior Terrence Wallin (Yardley, Pa.) low in the left faceoff circle with 31 seconds left in the game. With 9:26 left in the second period, UMass Lowell freshman goaltender Jeff Smith (Maple Ridge, B.C.) stopped a penalty shot by freshman forward Ryan Rosenthal, after freshman blueliner Tyler Mueller was called for a tripping
penalty. The teams skated to a scoreless opening period with UMass Lowell outshooting the Huskies, 5 to 3. Gambardella had a solid night in the faceoff dot, winning 11 of 17 faceoffs (64.7%) in the River Hawks’ second road victory of the season. Smith stopped 20 shots in his first career shutout in his third career start, while Roy notched 23 saves in the losing effort. UMass Lowell went 2-for-5 on the power play, marking the third straight game they have recorded two power play goals. The River Hawks are now 6-for-15 (40%) in the last three games on the man advantage. The River Hawks return to action on Friday, November 14th, as they begin a two-game home series with Big Ten foe Penn State. Game time at the Tsongas Center is 7:15 p.m.
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November 11, 2014
SPORTS
Land of the Giants – World Series recap Benjamin St. Pierre Connector Staff
The 2014 World Series was between the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals, two teams for which playoff hopes seemed grim at certain points in the season, never mind making it to the Series itself. The Giants started out hot early in the season, had a forgettable summer, and turned it around later in the season to earn one of two National League wild card spots (the other going to the Pirates). The Royals, meanwhile, played mediocre, at or near .500 ball for much of the season, at times well behind the Tigers in the AL Central, but wrapped the season up with an unprecedented hot streak to scorch into the playoffs after a come-from-behind victory over the Oakland Athletics in the AL Wild Card game. The Giants defeated the Washington Nationals and the Royals defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for each’s Division Series, with the Royals sweeping the Angels. The Giants then went on to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals in five games (4-1) in the NLCS to advance to the World Series; the Royals swept the Baltimore Orioles in four games to become the first team in MLB history to start the playoffs 8-0. Despite both teams entering the World Series as Wild Card berths with similar regular season records (89-73 for KC and 88-74 for SF), the Giants were considered the favorites for many, as they are what can only be billed as a dynasty (now, anyway, after this year’s win), after becoming the 2010, 2012 and (now) 2014 champions. The Royals, conversely, had not made the playoffs prior to this season since 1985, when they last won the Series as well. The Royals were relying on their underdog status, flame-throwing bullpen, timely hitting and overall
hot streak to win it all; the Giants were relying on their experience, poise and collective talent. Game one immediately went in the Giants’ favor, knocking Royals’ ace James “Big Game” Shields off his feet and going on to win 7-1 in a blowout. In Game two, the Royals rebounded nicely and put a seven-spot up themselves, after it being a close game until the later innings, going on to win 7-2. Game three was yet another nail-biter, as the Royals squeaked by on their 3-2 victory. Game four was yet another blowout for the Giants, as Kansas City gave up an early lead in the later innings, with the Giants commandingly winning 11-4. Game five, yet again, was won by the Giants, this time 5-0, as Madison Bumgarner spun a gem. But just to make it interesting, Kansas City yet again rebounded and put up a shutout of their own, pummeling the Giants soundly 10-0 in game 6. Just because it was necessary in a postseason as interesting as this, a game 7 was forced, within which the Giants and Royals were tied 2-2 heading into the fourth inning. The Giants scored one more run in the top of the inning and held onto the one-run lead to win the World Series title, with Bumgarner closing it out in typical, dominant MadBum fashion, but earning an atypical save. Bumgarner was named the World Series MVP for his complete and utter destruction of the Royals’ offense: a 0.25 World Series ERA, and a 1.03 total postseason ERA. And the San Francisco Giants won their third title in five years – the Giants have solidified themselves as baseball’s current dynasty, even if their regular season records are not always the best. At the end of the day – or season, rather – they are the ones usually hoisting up the trophy nowadays.
U P C OM I N G
River Hawk Games Friday, Nov. 14
6 pm
Friday, Nov. 14
7 pm M. Basketball at Ohio State
Friday, Nov. 14
7:15 pm
Ice Hockey vs PSU
Saturday, Nov. 15
4 pm
Volleyball vs Hartford
Saturday, Nov. 15
7 pm
Ice Hockey vs PSU
Sunday, Nov. 16
2 pm
M. Basketball at URI
W. Basketball at ND
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Courtesy of mlb.com
Pitcher Madison Bumgarner won MVP.
Red Sox free agency predictions Benjamin St. Pierre Connector Staff
The Red Sox have three main issues to address this offseason: solidifying the starting rotation, solving the third base dilemma, and managing the outfield overload. For free agent starting pitchers, Jon Lester is the obvious fan favorite, though he would likely command a deal of over six years and perhaps over $150 million. While the Sox have the funds to commit to such a deal, they are hesitant to commit to the years aspect, as the rapid declination of starting pitchers in recent years (chiefly, C.C. Sabathia of the Yankees) is a respectable cause for concern. However, Lester was low-balled during spring training with a four year, $70 million offer from ownership; that tabled extension talks at the time. Now his price is likely double that, as a result of his stellar season. The Red Sox, if they do not open their wallet and pay the man, will likely have to trade top prospects (Blake Swihart, Henry Owens and Deven Marrero) and young, budding, Major League-ready, potential superstars (Mookie Betts in particular) to get Cole Hamels of the Phillies or Johnny Cueto of the Reds, or someone similar. That should not happen, and it may even still happen on top of signing Lester.
The Red Sox are not a poor team, and while being financially cautious and farm system-driven is admirable, at times like these, it is okay to hand out a huge contract if it means signing Lester, or even (not likely) Max Scherzer, to lead the rotation. The Red Sox 2015 (and beyond) rotation, is, bluntly, barren of established talent, besides Joe Kelly, as Clay Buchholz is still quite enigmatic, and the youngsters with MLB experience (Rubby de la Rosa, Allen Webster and Anthony Ranaudo) are largely unproven. James “Big Game” Shields cannot be counted on to lead a (hopefully) playoff-bound team like the Red Sox into the postseason – his career postseason ERA (5.46) is not exactly ace material, but he would be a solid number two starter, behind Lester, if that were financially possible. Scherzer is likely out of the question, as he will demand more money than Lester, and Lester is already at a nearly-unattainable level for the Sox, unless a fair hometown discount can actually be worked out so he can come home. At third base, Brock Holt was a fan favorite super-utility underdog story – he’s a lefty (which the Sox need in their lineup), he’s a dirt dog, he plays passionately and he’s a winner. Except he will likely not start; he nor Garin Cecchini nor Will Middlebrooks. Instead, the Sox may pursue switch-hitting,
slick-fielding Chase Headley, brilliant hitter Pablo Sandoval, slugging Pedro Alvarez (from the Pirates being unable to pay his arbitration) or even young Lonnie Chisenhall of the Indians (who would also be only acquirable through trade). There are even talks of playing Betts at third, though he should remain in the outfield, or at second base, but the team’s heart and soul plays there. Unless a no-doubt starter free agent third baseman is signed relatively quickly (or traded for), the job will be a toss-up until the Opening Day lineups are announced, or at least Spring Training. Now, perhaps the most interesting aspect of the 2015 Red Sox: the absolute glut of outfielders. Yoenis Cespedes, Rusney Castillo, Betts, Daniel Nava, Allen Craig, Jackie Bradley Jr., Shane Victorino, and Holt are all players who could be viable starters, except they cannot all start. There will be no seeking external help for the Sox outfield, unless Marlins superstar Giancarlo Stanton is suddenly made available, or the Sox pursue Cuban Yasmani Tomas. But on Opening Day the outfield should be Cespedes in left field, Castillo in center and Betts in right, with Nava and Craig on the bench, with JBJ in Pawtucket, and Victorino somehow traded. Holt will undoubtedly remain as a valuable super-utility man.