The Connector - February 14, 2014

Navigators help students find their way through college â–ş Page 6

THE UMASS LOWELL

Serving the Student Body Since 1976

February 14, 2017

University administrators react to travel ban

In This Issue

Taylor Carito

Students talk about witnessing inauguration

Connector Editor

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‘Resident Evil 7’ revives series

► Page 4 Men’s lacrosse drops home opener to BU

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Final River Hawk Scores Team

Score

Overall Record

Men’s Lacrosse vs. Boston University L 18-8

0-1

Softball vs. Arkansas

L 10-1

Hockey vs. 3 Boston University

W 3-2 18-9-3

Men’s Basketball vs. Maine

W 100-68

0-1

11-16

Climate Change Coalition more important than ever Alex Salucco Connector Editor

When looking for clubs to join, students first need to ask themselves what impact they want to have. Are they joining something for self-pleasure or are they joining something to help a cause? When it comes to the Climate Change Coalition, both reasons fuel President Sabrina Pederson’s passion. “From five years old up until high school when I started working in this field, I knew that when I came to college I wanted to start fighting for Climate Change,� Pederson says.

Formerly known as the Student Environmental Alliance, the Climate Change Coalition works to bring communities together to “promote sustainable practices and educate others on the importance of environmental issues – particularly those related to the consequences of climate change,� according to their mission statement. “We have been getting involved with activists on campus and solidarity groups in Lowell,� says Vicki Kurker, the clubs vice president.

Some of these groups include the local 350 chapter and Better Future Projects out of Cambridge, Mass. The club plans on making their way to the Science March in Washington D.C. on April 22. “There is a group of students and faculty

Just hours after President Trump signed his executive order to ban citizens of seven countries from entering the United States, Chancellor Jacquie Moloney and President Marty Meehan released statements on social media standing up for their international students, reassuring that they will ensure that all students have a place to stay to continue their education.

According to Dr. Scott Latham, the Vice Provost for Innovation and Work Force Development, UMass Lowell has approximately 1,000 international students, just under 100 of which are from the countries effected by the travel ban.

Chancellor Moloney’s statement is backed by

Courtesy of UMass Lowell

Administrators sought to support the community affected by the recent travel ban.

her administration, who are supporting her initiatives and working tirelessly to make sure the international students who cannot go home, out of fear that they will be unable to return, have a place to stay.

The chancellor was unable to make a comment on her statement due to

travel, but members of her administration have expressed full support. “One of the things that Chancellor Moloney does and why people are so loyal to her is she is an incredible team leader. She is very collaborative. So she, throughout this process, has pulled in a lot of people: my-

â–ş See “Travel ban,â€? page 3

No. 9 River Hawks take down No. 3 Boston University Brock Johnson Connector Editor

UMass Lowell looked to maintain momentum on their twogame winning streak coming into the game against Boston University at the Tsongas Center on Friday, Feb, 10.

The River Hawks extended their winning streak to three games with a come from behind 3-2 victory.

Their record stands as 18-9-3 overall, with a 10-7-1 conference record.

Freshman forward Kenny Hausinger had the game winning goal, scoring his seventh of the season at 8:53 of the third period with assists going to CJ Smith and Michael Kapla. The River Hawks held the puck in the offensive zone, tiring out the Terriers penalty kill.

â–ş See “Climate change,â€? page 6

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

self, Patty McCafferty, the Provost, and Maria Conely. She has been in constant communication with the president’s office as well,� said Latham. “I was part of it and I support her statement fully.�

International students from the impacted countries are being

Matt Dwyer/Connector

Kenny Hausinger scored the game-winning goal for UMass Lowell over BU.

Following a fortunate rebound, Hausinger found the puck in front and put it past Oettinger.

Special teams played a large factor in the game, with the River Hawks going 1-6 on the power play and the Terriers going 0-5. “It was a game of ebbs and flows‌ So many penalties, so we had to kill a lot and then try to score on our own power play‌ Fortunately for us we scored on our power play in the third period,â€? said UMass Lowell head coach Norm Bazin.

The penalty kill came up huge for UMass Lowell, and the power play would have done better than 1-6 if it weren’t for BU’s freshman goaltender Jake Oettinger.

Oettinger finished the night with 23 saves in net, including a few robberies of the River Hawks.

Freshman Tyler Wall played a strong game for the River Hawks as well, racking up 21 saves. “I thought the goaltending was good on both sides, but Tyler had â–ş See “Hockey,â€? page 8

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

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February 14, 2017

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS The importance of going to class William Hanna UML Student

Skipping class. We have all done, at least once. Next time we go, we take a second. Pause. We never cover that much material! The one (maybe more*) class we skip, the harder it is to recover. Inevitably, it is the one class the professor offered extra credit or went over that one problem we have been struggling with.

It feels good to take our time back from our professors and fellow students. The good feeling of reclaiming our time. What do we do with it?

Watch Netflix, hang out with our significant other, do homework for another class or study for an upcoming exam? Does not really matter. Taking time from ourselves that we are paying, usually over $100 per class period, for is silly. We struggle to make up the material.

We are set into panic when we realize just how far behind skipping a class gets us. It’s not just the period we missed, but the homework, and the review of the last assignment. All-inall a 75 minute class takes up to 225 minutes to make up. Falling behind is

easy, going to class is hard.

What going to class gives us: A sense of pride. We all know more than a few people who have skipped classes, there are fewer still to make it to every class. Our teachers and professors were not kidding when they said attending class is practice for the real world. We will have to get some type of job and even McDonald’s expects its’ employees to show up. Its better to prepare ourselves as we can. By going to class, taking the extra minute

to wait to pack up after the professor is done speaking, and congratulating ourselves for being good students because that is what will pay off.

I started at Penn State in 2012. I did not go to class. I managed to get through a couple years there, but it eventually caught up to me. I have thousands of dollars in federal loan debt, some disappointed family members, and am two years behind my previous peers. The cost is truly immeasurable. Now, I have rebuilt my

academic career. I have a full-time offer of employment after graduation above the median household income and I attribute this entirely to going to class.

Far easier to accept the responsibility of an undergraduate degree and buckle down. The time spend listening to a professor, even if they are long winded or difficult to understand, is not time wasted. We are all hear for a purpose and it that purpose should be the same; to get a degree.

Courtesy of UMass Lowell

Business professor Ashwin Mehta lectures a group of students at UMass Lowell.

THE UMASS LOWELL

Serving the Student Body Since 1976

UMASS LOWELL CONNECTOR

EDITORIAL BOARD OPEN Operations Manager

MARLON PITTER Editor-In-Chief

KATRINA DESROSIERS MICHAELA GOSS Copy Editors ELIZABETH WING Advertising Manager ALEXA HYDE DAN RAFFERTY Social Media Managers CHRISTINA LADEROUTE Web Manager MATT DWYER Photo Editor OPEN Graphic Designer

ALEX SALUCCO Managing Editor

TAYLOR CARITO News Editor HANNAH MANNING KATHRYN LEEBER ANDREW SCIASCIA Sports Editors BROCK JOHNSON MARILYN SAHA Campus Life Editor BRENDAN JACQUES Arts & Entertainment Editor OPEN Multimedia Director JONATHAN SILVERMAN DAVID MCGRAW Advisers

Staff NICK BRAMANTE MARY CONNELL ANDREW HAVERTY OWEN JOHNSON

BROOKE KEATING JESSICA KERGO CHRISTOPHER ROMANO

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UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

February 14, 2017

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NEWS UMass Lowell students recount their D.C. experience Andrew Sciascia Connector Contributor

“It was almost unreal… It was just a weird feeling. The air was just full of contempt and uncertainty,” said sophomore Political Science major David Todisco.

Introduced by Professor Francis Talty, the UMass Lowell liaison to the Washington Center, on Jan. 10 four

students presented on their experiences in Washington D.C. at, and leading up to, the Inauguration of 45th President Donald Trump.

In a one hour presentation, complete with a video summary, the students laid out their two-week trip; detailing their guest speaker series, monument visits, and firsthand accounts of Inaugura-

tion Day for a collection of peers and faculty.

“We get up, we had to get dressed up. We had guest speakers every day, and time to visit various museums and monuments,” said Todisco in summarizing the daily schedule.

In their travels, each morning, the group had the privilege of hearing panels from

various political experts such as journalist Barbara Slavin and C-SPAN’s Bob Dean.

Members of the group did imply that the speakers tended, for the most part, to have a mild progressive lean.

Todisco had this to say, “We all kind of agreed that all the speakers had sort of a left lean. We were wondering if maybe in planning, they ex-

CourtesyCourtesy of UMassofLowell UMass Lowell

Five UMass Lowell Students attend Donald Trump’s Inauguration in Washington D.C.

Travel ban at UMass Lowell ►Continued from front page

encouraged to stay at the university, which has brought on a huge emotional effect among these students. Even students from other countries are experiencing negative effects from the travel ban.

“UMass Lowell is a welcoming community that is enriched by our diversity.”

“I was in India a few weeks ago and I talked to a lot of students, and their number one question was ‘how is the trump administration going to affect me coming to the United States for a degree?’” Said Latham, “And I looked at them at the time and I said ‘well, I know there’s been a lot of publicity but I think

the impact would be minimal.’ And in fact it hasn’t been. It really has been disruptive to all the students of our international community.”

Those students of the affected countries are facing enormous pressure to stay in the United States at the university. If they leave with the current ban in place, they run the risk of being unable to return. Latham and the Internation al Student Service Office (ISSO) have been reaching out to these students to ensure their safety and ability to complete their education.

However, many of these students are unable to see their families or receive support. “We have one student from Iran, a doctoral student, who is currently stuck outside the country,” said Latham. “Now I don’t know how Saturday’s [Feb 4] ruling affects her but hopefully she’ll be able to get back. We’re advising anyone from the impacted countries that are here legally not to leave. Because once you leave, and go back, then it’s out of our control.”

The ISSO has been working with the international students and is collaborating with other administrations to monitor the situation.

According to the executive director, Maria Conely, all the students have the same benefits on their existing visa. The ban solely affects returning to the United States.

“It’s important to note that we continue to accept international students and issue visa documents to students of all countries, including those from the seven countries covered by the ban,” says Conely. “UMass Lowell is a welcoming community that is enriched by our diversity.”

pected a Clinton win.”

As the polls showed, most Americans had expected a victory for Hillary Clinton in Nov. In fact, several students along for the trip were inclined, shortly after Trump’s election, to opt out of attendance; incredibly discontented to see this result.

“I emailed Professor Talty the morning of the result and told him, ‘I’m not going!’ But, I’m glad I did,” said Todisco.

When the initial resentment for the result died down, and after the experience was over, the students seemed pleased, overall, with their trip.

The two weeks were not only enjoyable, but also emotional and eye-opening.

“It sounds fun, but it really put into perspective how much you need to know to vote on something [in Congress]. It was sort of scary. Are they putting as much time into this as they should be?” Said junior Political Science major Pamela Martinez. Martinez is involved in a Concord Coalition activity in which all the student representatives from across the country were put in the position of acting as Congress.

In the weeks leading up to Inauguration Day the students were able to visit

countless monuments and museums. The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial and the Smithsonian Museums; to name a few.

Locations such as the Vietnam War Memorial, Holocaust Museum and National Museum of African American History and Culture all earned a similar, profound response.

“Simply, so, so humbling,” said senior English major Adeja Crearer.

As the date of Trump’s Inauguration grew nearer, several students one again felt unsure whether they were comfortable in attendance.

All citing general uneasiness.

Yet, each member of the group found themselves in attendance on Jan 20th, and each opened up to provide their honest feelings of the event. However, with no Trump supporters in their party, there was no shortage of discontent among the students toward the president and supporters.

“The things that I heard about [Trump Supporters] and how they act before…

They proved me right. I was hoping to see something different, but they were like that!” Said Crearer, “It was really backward.”

She went on to describe the chanting of, “Make America Great Again!” as “cult-like.”

Whether it was the Inauguration of Trump itself, or atmosphere and crowd, Todisco went on to say that, “It was just a weird feeling. The air was just full of contempt and uncertainty… There was fear in the air.”

However, the group did not leave the Washington Center hopeless. Members of the group cited the trip as an “eye-opening”, “humbling” learning experience. They went on to discuss the importance of witnessing the peaceful, democratic turnover of power in the US. Crearer and Todisco, who managed to elongate their trip a few hours to encompass the Women’s March on Washington cited their shift in feelings from hopeless and afraid one day to empowered the next.

“To think we almost didn’t go…” said Crearer.

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Febuary 14, 2017

Febuary 14, 2017

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ‘The Lego Batman Movie’ constructs its own success Owen Johnson Connector Staff

Like “The LEGO Movie” from three years ago, “The LEGO Batman” movie is a celebration of the usage of LEGOs, in addition this time around to also being a celebration of the Batman mythos.

Batman (Will Arnett) ends up in a situation where he must not only stop the Joker (Zach Galifinakis) and his army of villains, but he must also raise and train Dick Grayson/Robin (Michael Cera) after accidentally adopting him.

Since it is a movie based completely around LEGOs, the entire plot is something out of a child’s imagination while they are playing. It’s not enough that Batman fights the Joker, he has to fight all of his greatest enemies in one big all out brawl. If that’s not enough, he also has to fight villains from other movie franchises and LEGO properties.

The film also has an expansive knowledge of the Batman mythos and goes full out with its comedic references to the universe. A number of the jokes made are in reference to the more well-known aspects like the movies, but there are some jokes aimed at the more obscure areas of the

mythos. For example, when the Joker is listing off all of Batman’s rogue gallery criminals that are running amok in the city, he ends with the obscure and lame villains like Polka Dot Man and the Condiment King.

The movie also takes comedic jabs at other parts of the DC franchise as well. It pokes fun at “Suicide Squad” for its ridiculous premise, making jokes about Batman’s age because he’s been around cinematically for over fifty years, and spoofing the kind of soundtracks super hero movies do nowadays by placing in a number of pop songs like (I Just) Died in Your Arms by Cutting Crew and One by Harry Nilsson.

While there is a high focus on comedy in the movie, it would be unfair to the movie to suggest that was the only thing to it. All of the comedy is based around a sincere story with fully developed characters about Batman learning to let people into his life.

On top of that, the movie manages to succeed when it come to two very big hurtles it needs to get over right out of the gate: being a sequel and a spinoff to a beloved movie. As a sequel, it is completely unique from “The LEGO Movie,” only reusing characters that would make sense, avoiding having

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Underrated classics: ‘Kung-Fu Hustle’ Connor Kennedy Connector Staff

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

“Lego Batman Movie” director Chris Mckay is best known for directing three seasons of the Adult Swim parody show “Robot Chicken.”

the same plot, and including multiple details that were established in the first movie as a way of building on the created world. As a spinoff, it focuses on a character that a spinoff would actually work for, and has a story worth telling with that character.

The only real problems with the movie are some technical details and with some of the humor. There are a few instances when it becomes hard to understand some lines of dialogue: this is evident when Alfred (Ralph Fiennes) occasionally speaks. The problem with the humor is that the writers

throw everything they have at the wall to see what sticks, and it sticks about ninety percent of the time. The big issue with the ten percent that doesn’t stick is that they are mostly unfunny musical numbers that just take up time in scenes.

“The LEGO Batman Movie” is a fine addition to the LEGO film series, and shows that the people in charge of this cinematic universe have a handle on what they are doing.

Final Grade: A

When it comes to action and comedy, in most movies the two are kept relatively separate. There may be a scene where some snappy dialogue happens between a few characters and then there’s a scene with the heroes duking it out against the villains.

Even if they are in the same scene, it’s usually just in the form of quips being told in between the punches. Some films however take the physicality of the action and make it humorous in itself, and few works do this quite as excellently as Kung Fu Hustle.

Released in 2004, Kung Fu Hustle was directed, co-written by and

starred Stephen Chow. Set in 1940s China, our hero Sing is a shameless coward who wants to join the notorious “Axe Gang” so that he can get the respect and wealth that he has always wanted. He inadvertently brings them into conflict with an extremely poor district, Pig’s Sty Alley, where it turns out a number of highly skilled martial artists have taken residence. Thus begins an escalating fight between the martial artists defending their home and the Axe Gang who refuse to be made fools of.

The action in the movie, in many ways, takes after classic kung-fu movies. The fight choreography is topnotch with rapid fire motions that

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

‘Resident Evil 7’ puts survival back in horror genre Nick Bramante Connector Staff

Before the launch of “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard,” there was a lot of concern from fans over the direction the series had been following, with recent titles focusing more on over-the-top action as opposed to the series’ staple of survival horror. For those fans, this new entry brings a refreshing return to form, offering horrifying encounters, strange and intricate puzzles to solve, and an item/inventory management system akin to that of earlier entries in the franchise. While the main campaign of the game may be shorter than some may be used to (usually around 10 hours or so for the first playthrough), what is there is an incredibly terrifying and satisfying experience.

The game has players in control of Ethan Winters, a relatively ordinary man thrown into very extraordinary circumstances. After Ethan’s wife Mia inexplicably contacts him after being missing for 3 years, Ethan decides to investigate the Baker residence down in Dulvey, Louisiana. As events unfold, Ethan ultimately finds himself in a struggle for survival as he is hunted by biologically altered creatures, working with limited resources while attempting to uncover the secret of the Bakers, Mia, and the dark history of the plantation he finds himself trapped on.

Aesthetically, nearly all aspects of “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” are executed masterfully. Detailed and grotesque environments, paranoia-inducing sound design, a spine-chilling original soundtrack and a disturbing narrative come together to give the player a relatively scary and extremely unsettling experience. It’s safe to say that from the first door the player enters, they’re thrust into an incredibly uncomfortable and anxiety-ridden environment. Each creak in the floorboards or pitch-black corridor observed warrants a freeze in progress, as the player

takes a minute to take inventory of each possible exit and detail in case they need to run in terror.

The first time the player witnesses any abomination to come skulking around the corner, the immediate instinct is always to flee.

In terms of gameplay, it’s exceedingly difficult not to compare “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” to some of the earliest installments of the franchise. Though the first person perspective is something entirely new to main installments of the series, the design of the plantation itself, as well as how the player traverses it, clearly takes influence from “Resident Evil 1.” Players will often find themselves sprintCourtesy of Capcom

“Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” is the 24th game released in the “Resident Evil” franchise since 1996.

ing from one end of a corridor to another, turning around to take a few pot shots at their pursuer, only to watch wide-eyed as their efforts achieve only in slowing down their imminent doom. When brute force doesn’t do the trick or players simply burn through their limited amount of supplies, players will find themselves slamming doors and creeping into a dark corner of the room, their only tool left being hoping not to be found.

An emphasis on crafting is also introduced (though not obnoxiously relied upon), oftentimes forcing the player to decide whether health items or ammunition are more important to cram into their

incredibly limited inventory space. Strange and interesting puzzles also make a return, leaving the player often scratching their head, only to finally come to that satisfying “ah hah” moment when the often outside-the-box solution is arrived at.

As the game progresses, the player is granted more effective tools to use against the horrible abominations they’ll encounter, but said abominations are replaced with tougher and even freakier enemies, so overall it does not dwindle from the often high tension. Last but not least, “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” hosts quite a few boss fights, each interesting and different in their own way. That being said, some shine more than others, with some fights offering a variety of ways to play out and be completed, while others offer a somewhat disappointing conclusion.

Despite these miniscule setbacks, “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” nonetheless offers a genuinely terrifying and of course very fun experience. Veterans of the series will find the title to be a refreshing return to form with some interesting twists, while newcomers will find themselves easily able to step into the role of Ethan, relatively unhindered by previous game continuity. Completion of the game unlocks “Madhouse” difficulty, a mode that completely changes how one may play the game, offering a much more unforgiving experience. If one is lucky enough to own a VR set for the Playstation 4, the game does offer complete support for the entire campaign (if you think you can handle it.) All in all, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a must for veterans of the franchise as well as diehard survival horror fans, and most definitely a strong contender for anyone looking to pick up a new and terrifying game.

Resident Evil 7 is available for Xbox One, PS4 and PC for $60.

Final Grade: A-

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“Kung Fu Hustle” was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2005 for “Best Foreign Language Film,” but lost to “Paradise Now.”

never become too disorienting. As the movie progresses though the fights take on a fantastical nature with the aid of more modern special effects.

Characters leap impossible distances around the battlefield as they meet each other in intense mid-air exchanges. Combatants send shockwaves through the ground rending it into pieces with a single stomp. One particularly memorable scene involves a pair of musicians who fight using a stringed instrument whose notes literally cut through their opponents.

This may seem like it can get goofy at times, but that is entirely by design.

The movie uses its special effects to not only exaggerate the action of its scenes but also its comedy. The motions of characters can be downright “Looney Tunes-esque”at times. For example, at one point there is a chase scene between the landlady of Pig Sty Alley and the protagonist Sing where their legs literally become blurs as they zoom along the street like roadrunners. The exaggeration never becomes too silly though because the characters are always playing it straight; Nobody ever points out the absurdity of what people are doing during fights, so the illusion is never broken. The combination of high flying action and goofy slapstick creates something akin to a Buster Keaton film mixed with a high quality martial arts movie. Even during some of the most intense fights

of the movie there are still funny moments peppered throughout. It is unfortunately very difficult to describe the comedy of the movie because it is so very physically focused, it really needs to be seen to be understood.

While the movie’s action and comedy is top notch there isn’t terribly much in the way of complexity to the movie’s plot. The bad guys are bad, the good guys are good, and the hero eventually finds the path to righteousness over evil. It’s nothing particularly new but the characters really bring life to an overall bland plot structure.

Nobody is just, “the wise old sage who does nothing but martial arts.”

The heroes are people who have to deal with mundane issues, like paying bills, dealing with neighbors, and getting dinner. They are presented with very human lives and this is critically done before they are ever seen fighting. They are people first and martial artists second.

When it comes to the action-comedy genre, there are few that can do it quite as well as Kung Fu Hustle.

It’s exaggeration of kung-fu action is at once a loving parody as well as a respectful homage to a genre with decades of history. It’s an exciting, clever, and very funny to romp to anybody with a passing interest in seeing some absurd action.

Final Grade: A-

“The Devil Don’t Sleep” is Brantley Gilbert at his best Andrew Sciascia Connector Staff

It has been just under 3 years since Brantley Gilbert’s last album, “Just As I Am”, hit the country music scene, and one listen through “The Devil Don’t Sleep” will leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Southern country/rock-and-roll star hasn’t been sleeping much either.

While out on his last three tours, Gilbert has cooked up a 16-song hit that came in at “Billboard 200’s” number 2 in its opening week. Anyone who was hoping this album would be Gilbert’s escape from the modern “Bro-Country” climate is sorely mistaken. “The Devil Don’t Sleep” is the same machismo, grit-filled, incredibly cliché music you’ve come to expect.

Taken for what it is, however, Brantley Gilbert’s fourth studio album can be a fun, exciting listen for his fans and casual country music fans alike. Diehard, old-fashioned country fans? This one probably just isn’t be for you.

If the fact that this album is Brantley Gilbert’s rock-and-roll brand of Bro-Country dialed up to 100 wasn’t the kill for you already, it may be best to concede one more point. Despite its length, the album has no clear structure or narrative.

Across sixteen songs, the album shifts from all out rock and roll, to heartfelt love song, to songs about matters of faith with little to no warning. This isn’t a Miranda Lambert or Carrie Underwood album; finely constructed with overarching themes. It’s a bunch of solid individual songs tossed together in a pot.

If you can get over these two problems, the album

is honestly pretty well done; with the exception of two songs. “Bro Code”. Just skip it. It’s generic and may just be the most cliché Bro Country song of all time.

The rest of the album is Brantley Gilbert’s core put on display. The strong riffs and contrasting musical styles. The gritty stories and nasty love songs.

The deep inner-struggles with matters of faith and family. It’s all there, interwoven with some serious heart.

Excluding “Bro Code”, there are a handful of solid songs that deal with matters friendship and loyalty; “The Ones That Like Me” being the best example. Despite a slow pace, a strong underlying guitar carries this song about being true to one’s self and one’s true friends.

Every couple of songs one tends to open with an intense lead, the crash of drums and a tight riff.

From “It’s About to Get Dirty” to “Bullet in a Bonfire” There’s no shortage of hardcore Southern rock at the core of “The Devil Don’t Sleep” either. A solid fourth of the album is made up of the angry, machismo style that made Gilbert famous in country music.

There are two fabulous country ballads. “In My Head” and “Baby Be Crazy”. These more laid back, emotional songs are easy to relate to. They’re earworms, and surprisingly they’re two of the songs I’ve kept coming back to.

And those wondering where the raunchy, gritty love songs synonymous with Brantley Gilbert are need look no further than “Smokin’ Gun” and “You Could Be That Girl”. Both of which are strongly reminiscent of rebellious love songs like “My Ba-

by’s Guns and Roses,” from his last album.

The final tracks are the best without question.

Leading into the finale with the title track “The Devil Don’t Sleep” and closing the album out with “Three Feet of Water” was brilliant. They portray everything Gilbert has to offer. Despite being a bit more relaxed, these tunes best showcase his personal struggles with alcoholism and authority. They outline his darkest days, bring you along through his battles with his inner-most demons and closing with his being born-again in his faith in God. Gilbert also managed to produce a Deluxe Edition with ten bonus tracks. If you aren’t a fan you probably aren’t interested in the extra cash for a dozen demo tracks and live recording of old hits.

But the demos may actually be worth the price.

In fact, the demos probably could have replaced a couple of the album’s weaker tracks. If Gilbert had wanted to silence his haters and show a more reserved, thoughtful, classic country side, then those demo tracks making the final cut may have done the trick. They’re laid back, old-fashioned country, just how a lot of originalists like it.

All in all, I would say “The Devil Don’t Sleep” is Gilbert’s best yet. But, depending on how you feel about Gilbert now, you may have to take him or leave him. He doesn’t appear to be looking to change up what got him where he is today. It’s the same formula with improved parts.

For Gilbert’s hardcore fans, it’s a must. For those who can’t stand him, it isn’t changing anything.

For those with an open mind and ear, this may just hook you.

Final Score: A-

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CAMPUS LIFE

Women’s Empowerment Evening Hannah Manning Connector Editor

At Moloney Hall on Feb. 7, women and men alike came together to celebrate women’s empowerment through musical performances.

The Women’s Empowerment .

Evening, presented by UMass Lowell all-female acapella group The Hawkettes, was meant to bring students together and show what the campus and organizations sponsoring the event could do for women of all backgrounds.

Other groups involved in . the event included F.R.E.E., S.I.S.T.E.R.S., Alpha Sigma Tau, WUML and Kappa Delta Phi NAS. Papers on tables around the . room asked questions about feminism, inviting guests to write answers. The Evening asked guests to share which woman empowered them, what feminism meant to them, what they did to empower women and what kind of future they saw for women. .Answers showed a population of students eager to see a future where women were free to be accepted for their body shape, race and sexual orientation. They wished for a woman president, gender equality in Congress and equal pay.

They were inspired by wom. en such as actress Gina Rodriguez, former First Lady Michelle Obama, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson.

The attendees also concluded . that feminism meant standing up

for women and giving girls the choice to live as they pleased. .The night reinforced those principles and desires through guest involvement and rousing covers of empowering songs sung by iconic women artists across several eras. .Hawkettes member and manager Lauren Azevedo said that the Hawkettes hope that the event becomes an annual affair and offered a suggestion jar for future performances. .The event featured performances from the Hawkettes, fellow acapella group Fermata Nowhere,

“...music is a form of survival for a lot uf us; it’s a form of resistance for a lot of us.” local musician Megan Kelly, Camille Gagnon-Fors and Ben Silverstein.

The Grammy Award-winning . host Mary Lambert provided introductions to the musical numbers as well as an emotional performance of her own at the end of the event. .A theme that prevailed throughout the evening was strength and empowerment from music, and Lambert said that she considered

music to be a uniting power. .“I think right now we have to remember that music is a form of survival for a lot of us; it’s a form of resistance for a lot of us,” said Lambert in her introduction. .The musical groups sang songs from inspiring female artists such as Janelle Monáe, Gloria Gaynor and Aretha Franklin that centered around independence, survival, and strength.

Lambert provided the closing . performance, just under 45 minutes that spoke about body image, mental illness and sexuality, issues tantamount to intersectional feminism today. .In a mix of spoken word performance and song, Lambert moved the audience to laughter and tears, sometimes accomplishing both at the same time.

In her introduction, Lambert . called herself a “walking trigger warning,” explaining that she talks about emotionally difficult topics “because they’re hard to talk about.”

Lambert felt that the night . worked as a tool to foster community togetherness and empowerment. “Everyone feels so connected,” she said. .She then invited the audience to join her in singing her hit song “Secrets,” using her warmth and natural charisma to whirl the crowd into giddy camaraderie. .The final words of the evening were sung by Lambert and the crowd, chanting “love is patient, love is kind” through smiles and some streaming eyes.

February 14, 2017

Climate Change Coalition

►Continued from front page

trying to get UMass Lowell to arrange a bus to the March,” said Kurker. .A lot of what the Climate Change Coalition is locally based, but they are trying to branch out and help on a more global scale. “It is great to focus on local campaigns but I think we are really trying to show support for the national campaigns as well,” says Kurker. The CCC brought students to the Dakota Access Pipeline rally over the winter. .But the Climate Change Coalition is still focused on the effects locally as well as making sure the UMass Lowell community is informed.

World Climate, a simulation game, is some. thing the Climate Change Coalition values heavily.

Much like Model United Nations, each group is representing a different country. The only difference is “that it is completely climate policy based,” says Kurker. .“From that you learn the intricacies of how much effort it takes on a global scheme to address climate change, she says.

The club’s adviser Juliette Rooney-Varga has worked closely with Climate Interactive, a non profit organization based in Washington D.C., to lead their own game. .The club has reached out to students who are both members and non-members of the club to participate in this game. .“We plan to have a World Climate game of our own by the end of this semester,” says Pederson. .The Climate Change Coalition is more than just a club to Pederson and Kurker, “it is an opportunity,” they say. “If we have a country that is divided as much as it is then we have the opportunity to take advantage of democracy and to speak,” Pederson says. .The folks at the CCC believe climate issues are not just climate issues, they are social justice issues.

Climate change effects an astronomical amount of people around the world and the work of a small club in a growing college is helping more than they realize.

The Navigators Club: Helping students in need Taylor Carito Connector Editor

. rom volunteering at the Boys and F Girls Club to creating a food pantry for students who are in need, the Navigators Club is comprised of students and faculty who want to help people. .Nearly six years old, this club has contributed to the campus and the community greatly. They have worked collaboratively to make donations to charities such as the House of Hope and The Boys and Girls Club.

According to Erika Nadile, grad . student and former president of the Navigators club, the club started with a few students who had aged out of the foster care system. The club now focuses around helping students who “have followed a less traditional path to college,” said Nadile. This could range from someone who has aged out of foster care, to a veteran, to someone who is having family issues, or anything else. .The Navigators have a subset of the club called The Harbormasters, which is a group of faculty and staff mem-

bers who have gone through a training process to help students who may be in need of additional support that the Navigators cannot provide “Faculty and staff members have . additional resources that students may not have. Like if [students] need help buying a book they can help them or they donate to the food pantry when we need it,” said Nadile.

Beyond campus, the Navigators . have also reached out to The Boys and Girls Club, creating a ‘Teen Day’ to help connect with teens and kids and promote going to college. They also co-arranged a backpack drive with the Psi Chi (the honors psychology club), donating filled backpacks to The Boys and Girls Club. .The Navigators club currently has an active Facebook page where they post about active meetings and events.

Their biggest event, exclusive to members, the annual dinner, is expected to be in April to honor graduating seniors, active Harbormaster members, and donors who have supported their cause.

The club’s goals for this semes. ter are much more student oriented.

They want students to know that they are still around and encourage those in need to come forward. They work with several other clubs, faculty and administration to help every student get their needs met. In addition to this, they encourage anyone who wants to

help to be active and join. .Nadile says, “It’s hard for students to come out and talk about their issues, but I feel like we as a club can do so in a way that doesn’t make them feel pressured or insecure about their needs.”

Courtesy of Navigators Club

Faculty and staff in the Navigators Club have this sign on their doors.

SPORTS

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February 14, 2017

SPORTS River Hawks suffer blowout loss against Boston University 18-8 Hannah Manning Connector Editor

The UMass Lowell men’s lacrosse team opened up their third Division I season with a 18-8 loss in a nonconference game against Boston University.

Boston University scored eight goals in the second quarter to build up their 4-2 lead from the first quarter, and the River Hawks were unable to overcome the large deficit as the game went on.

The River Hawks managed to score only one in that span of time, heading into the second half down nine goals.

“I was disappointed in our guys. I don’t think we had a good week of practice [before the game]… This certainly wasn’t our best effort,” said UMass Lowell head coach Ed Stephenson.

Boston University attack James Burr scored a hat trick before the end of the first half, scoring one goal in the first quarter and two in the second quarter.

Junior midfield Cory Highfield scored two goals for the River Hawks.

Junior attack/midfielder and co-captain Sean Tyrell scored the second-highest amount of points for players on both teams. He scored one goal himself, and had three assists.

Boston University won 12 out of 17 faceoffs in the first half, and tallied 25

shots to UMass Lowell’s 19. By the end of the game, Boston University won 20 out of 29 faceoffs.

UMass Lowell tallied 47 shots to Boston University’s 36.

Sophomore goaltender Grant Lardieri made 3 saves in two quarters, and was replaced by freshman Tyler Canto for the second half. Canto made 2 saves.

Boston University employed three goaltenders for the game. Christian Carson-Banister made 14 saves, with replacements Joe McSorley and Colin MacDougall making eight and two saves respectively.

The River Hawks scored two goals in thirteen seconds to cut an imposing four-goal lead by Boston University in half during the waning minutes of the first quarter.

Junior mid Jon Phillips sniped a top shelf goal from the slot on a pass from Tyrell to put the River Hawks on the board.

Highfield tallied UMass Lowell’s second goal with an unassisted effort.

Tyrell scored UMass Lowell’s third goal with 3:17 remaining in the second quarter with an assist coming from sophomore midfielder Blaine McMahon.

Going into the third period, the River Hawks replaced Lardieri with

U P C OM I N G

River Hawk Games

Canto.

Wednesday, Feb. 15 7 p.m.

WBB at Vermont A UMass Lowell shot in the first twenWednesday, Feb. 15 7 p.m.

MBB vs. Vermont ty seconds of the third quarter led to a turnSaturday, Feb. 17 11:45 a.m.S MLAX vs. Harvard over for Boston University, where they 1 p.m.

WBB vs. UMBC Saturday, Feb. 17 promptly capitalized on that opportunity Saturday, Feb. 17 2:30 p.m. WLAX vs. Dartmouth with a goal.

Freshman attack/ 7 p.m.

MHOC at UMass Saturday, Feb. 17 midfielder Isaac Bot and junior defenseman For more sports information and full game schedules visit goriverhawks.com and co-captain Will Puduski scored goals for UMass Lowell in a said Coach Stephenson. span of nine seconds.

The River Hawks scored two goals Despite having a small offensive in the fourth quarter to bring their comeback in the third quarter, scoring goal total to eight, but the damage three goals, Boston University’s lead had been done in the second quarter. stayed constant. The River Hawks By the game’s end, they had fallen to headed into the final quarter down Boston University 18-8.

15-6.

“I didn’t see panic, and thank God. Senior goaltender Giles Ober Over the last two years I think our started the fourth quarter for the River team would’ve panicked because Hawks, making no saves and allowing we’re so young. So I didn’t see panic a goal. today, but we did press a little and UMass Lowell turned up the offen- we need to learn not to do that,” said sive pressure throughout the game and Coach Stephenson. especially after the second quarter, The River Hawks will continue their and fought hard to stay in the game. four-game nonconference homestand “I thought at times we were confi- on Saturday, Feb. 18 against Harvard dent enough to stick to our guns. And University at 11:45 a.m.

I don’t think we ever panicked today,”

Men’s hockey fights for third straight win in 3-2 contest against Boston University ► Continued from front page

an excellent game today… When you play good teams like this at the end of the year you’re going to need good goaltending,” said Bazin.

The River Hawks found themselves on top early in the first period after an unassisted goal by senior forward and assistant captain Joe Gambardella.

The seasoned veteran of UMass Lowell took advantage of a Terriers turnover in the neutral zone and attacked on a two-on-one. Gambardella elected not to pass and put a wrist shot top shelf on Oettinger’s goal side at 1:35 of the first.

Boston University did not wait long to answer, scoring under two minutes later at 3:22 on their first shot of the game. A bad turnover by UMass Lowell resulted in a great scoring chance and goal for fresh-

In Friday’s very physical contest, tempers flared between Connor Wilson and Charlie McAvoy.

A Boston University forward eyes Nick Master as he dumps the puck into the River Hawk offensive zone.

man Patrick Harper of BU. The River Hawks dug themselves a hole late in the first period by compounding penalties from juniors Ryan Collins and Tyler Mueller. UMass Lowell successfully fought off the ensuing five-on-three opportunity for the Terriers.

Special teams were the story of the second period especially, with UMass Lowell getting two five-onthree power plays that they could not take advantage of.

“You can’t take four penalties against these guys in one period, it really puts you on your heels,” said Boston University head coach David Quinn.

But BU did turn one of their penalty kills into a goal.

With one second left on UMass Lowell’s fiveon-three power play, sophomore Bobo Carpenter scored a shorthanded goal. The goal gave BU a tie

Kenny Hausinger celebrates after scoring the game winning goal for the River Hawks in the third period.

for the national lead in shorthanded goals scored.

“They scored a [shorthanded goal], which was unfortunate for us but the guys did a very good job of putting it behind them and looking forward,” said Bazin.

Freshman forward Ryan Lohin finally beat BU’s Oettinger at 11:05 of the second period. Junior forward Ryan Collins and sophomore defenseman Niklas Folin found themselves on the stat sheet with assists on the Lohin goal.

As a penalty on senior Evan Campbell was killed off, sophomore Jordan Greenway of BU went to the box for tripping at 7:21 of the third, leading to the game-winning goal by Hausinger.

Despite a late flurry by the Terriers where they tallied 13 shots in the last 10 minutes, the River Hawks took home the win with a score of 3-2.