The Connector - February 2, 2016

McGauvran renovation earns student approval â–ş Page 6

THE UMASS LOWELL

Serving the Student Body Since 1976

February 2, 2016

Smith nets hat trick, River Hawks rout Arizona State 8-1

In This Issue Students’ take on 2016 primary elections

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Kyle Gaudette Connector Editor

X-Files revival falls short

On a night where five different players scored for the home team, UMass Lowell took care of business in an 8-1 victory Saturday night at the Tsongas Center.

Led by three goals from

â–ş Page 4 Super Bowl 50 preview â–ş umlconnector.com

C.J. Smith and two from Jake Kamrass, the River Hawks swept the weekend series against first year Division I program Arizona State. UMass Lowell is now 17-5-4 on the season. “I’m very pleased to get two wins this week-

end,� said UMass Lowell head coach Norm Bazin. “They’re a first year program, but they worked extremely hard. They made us earn all of our space here over the weekend. I’m proud of these four points, and we’ll move on to next week.�

Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics

Final River Hawk Scores Team

Score

Overall Record

Hockey vs. Arizona State

W 8-1 17-5-4

Hockey vs. Arizona State

W 4-1

M. Basketball at UAlbany

L 63-75 7-14

W. Basketball vs. UAlbany

L 55-85

16-5-4

3-17

Celtics mid-season report Henry St. Pierre Connector Staff

Before the 2015-2016 season tipped off, I wrote an article predicting the Celtics should be able to win between 44-50 games this season. Through 47 games, a little more than halfway through the season, the Celtics sit at 26-21 and are in sole possession of the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed.

The Celtics have a plus-4 point differential, good for third in the East. Boston also puts up the most points per game in the Eastern Conference, scoring an average of 104.4 points every game.

If it were not for a few unfortunate and downright strange losses to the Lakers and Nets, the Celtics would be sitting pretty with a 29-18 record. Brad Stevens is quietly one of the best coaches in the Association. The roster that he has worked with this season has responded fantastically to him (with the exception of David Lee, who does not mesh with Boston’s fast style-of-play) and many players on the Celtics are having career-best years.

Avery Bradley, who the Celtics have long hoped would be able to produce more points and become a more reliable shooter, has done just that this season. He has scored 15 points per game and has shot a reliable 37 percent on three-pointers. Kelly Olynyk has also been a great three-point shooter; his 44 percent ► See �Celtics,� page 7

Sections News.............................3 Campus Life.................. 6 A&E.............................. 4 Sports........................... 7

Forward Ryan McGrath scored the River Hawks’ game-winning goal in the first period.

The River Hawks simply dominated from start to finish. UMass Lowell fired 57 shots on goal during the contest, while the Arizona State only mustered 12. “I liked the effort tonight,� said Bazin. “I thought our effort was better then last night.

Limiting any opponent to only twelve shots is commendable. It was a good defensive effort, and we were able to create some offense because of it.�

It took the Sun Devils 14 minutes to get a shot on goal, but when it finally happened, they made it count. Anthony Croston beat UMass Lowell goalie Kevin Boyle glove side to give Arizona State the first lead of the game.

It was a lead that ► See �River Hawks,� page 7

Opinion: Pixar on steady decline Owen Johnson

Courtesy Photo

Connector Staff

With the release of “Inside Out� and “The Good Dinosaur� last year and “Finding Dory� slated for release later in 2016, I have to ask if Pixar is dying.

Pixar has been a major player in filmmaking for the past two decades, releasing sixteen movies—most of which did well at the box office, received critical acclaim and or Oscar nominations—and it continues to be to this day. By acknowledging these facts, I am sure there are a number of people reading this and saying to themselves, “If they’re still doing well commercially and critically, how can they be dying?� Well, I believe that the death of Pixar is being forewarned from its clear decline in quality, not from a commercial and critical standpoint.

While it is debatable at what point Pixar began to fall, it is safe to say that they have been slowly going down at the very least since

Located in Emeryville, Calif., Pixar Animation Studios was founded in 1979.

the release of “Toy Story 3� back in 2010. Of “Toy Story 3� and the five other movies Pixar has released over the past five and a half years, three of them have been continuations to older movies, whether they be sequels or a prequel. So, of half their new material, three of them were continuations that no one had really been asking for. This leaves Pixar with only three new original

ideas: “Brave,� “Inside Out,� and “The Good Dinosaur.�

Even though Pixar is still making movies based on original ideas and not just cynical, middle of the road, cash-grabs based on their earlier successes, these have been arguably among Pixar’s worst movies. “Braveâ€? was sloppily written. “Inside Outâ€? â–ş See “Pixar,â€? page 4

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February 2, 2016

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

The Ballad of an Aloof Fan: Why the Patriots’ loss doesn’t upset me Tom Lydon UML Student

And so here we are again. The New England Patriots’ season ended in the Rocky Mountains at the hands of the Denver Broncos. Peyton Manning is on his way to his fourth Super Bowl, hoping to tame the Carolina Panthers and draw even with little brother Eli. Meanwhile, Tom Brady goes into the offseason with the NFL still wrongfully on his tail for the most pointless “controversy� in NFL history.

So, does it make me a bad person if I say I didn’t really care?

Perhaps I should explain. Ever since Deflategate became a thing, no thanks to the tattletales in Indianapolis and Baltimore, it’s become something that many people, present company included, have grown tired of. There were times where the topic went into

hibernation, sure. But when it reared its ugly head, that’s when things started getting unbearable.

First, there was the unveiling of the Ted Wells report, which stated that it was “more probable than not� that Brady was “generally aware� of deflated footballs.

Then, it was Brady being suspended by the NFL for four games, with fines and lost draft picks levied against the entire Patriots organization. Owner Robert Kraft accepted the punishments, but the NFL still upheld its suspension of Brady.

There’s also the legal battle overseen

by Richard Sherman, but we know how that ended.

That’s just the basics of the Deflategate saga so far. So, you may be sitting there and saying to yourself, ‘He’s probably just burnt out on Deflategate

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EDITORIAL BOARD MARLON PITTER Editor-In-Chief REGINA ALONGI Operations Manager KATRINA DESROSIERS Copy Editor NINA PETROPOULOS Web Manager MICHAELA HYDE ZACHARY ZUBER Social Media Managers EVANTHIA TULLY Photo Editor KELLY FREITAS JENNA FREITAS LISETTE PEĂ‘A Graphic Designers OPEN Advertising Manager GRYPHON LAYNE Distribution Manager

DAVE RUDDERHAM SAM LINSTEAD-ATKINSON News Editors KYLE GAUDETTE Sports Editor SHANE FOLEY Campus Life Editor JEN DESROSIERS BRENDAN JACQUES Arts & Entertainment Editors GRYPHON LAYNE Comics Editor MICHAEL PAIGE Multimedia Director

news.’ And you’d be right. At least, you’d be partially right.

From the time the NFL announced its suspension of Brady up until it was overturned by Sherman, the NFL issued several other suspensions for off-field actions. These included a lot of what major sports leagues deal with on the regular. However, if you thought about it, something seemed off. Many of these suspensions were the same length as, or even less than, the punishment that Brady received for his alleged involvement.

The case of Greg Hardy is a good example of this. Originally suspended ten games for domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend, the suspension was cut down to four games following a legal battle. This, for those keeping score at home, is the same amount that Brady received.

Or, if you want to look further back, there’s the initial suspension of Ray Rice two years ago. Rice was suspended two games at the time, while Brady was suspended for twice as long a year later.

And therein lies the big reason why the NFL has angered me so much in the recent months. Inadvertently, the NFL equated Deflategate to offenses like domestic abuse, drug scandals, and illegal ownership of firearms.

In some cases, they’ve alluded to the notion that Deflategate is worse than those. That, in and of itself, flies in the face of all common sense. Deflating footballs is in no way worse than being convicted of domestic abuse. It’s not even remotely close to being that bad.

The point is that I spent so much of the offseason being angry with the

Photo courtesy of The Associated Press

The Deflategate battle between the Patriots and NFL may continue into 2016.

NFL that it essentially diminished my ability to care about the outcomes of games. It’s sad, because I’ve been following the NFL ever since I was a kid. To see it where it is now‌making up scandals while there are real issues damaging its reputation‌is both disappointing and frustrating. And it took a lot out of my love for the NFL. Which brings us all the way back to the Patriots’ recent loss. For what it’s worth, I’m still a Pats fan in the end, regardless of the criticisms and accusations they’ve received. I will continue to regard Tom Brady as the best quarterback to play the game today. And, yes, I sympathize with all of you and feel for the Pats, Stephen Gostkowski in particular. But as disappointing as the loss was, especially with how it ended, I can’t find the emotions to be too upset over it. You can blame the NFL and its ineptitude for that.

As for Super Bowl 50?

Well, let’s just say I’m interested as long as it’s not another case of the Broncos getting blown out like Super Bowl XLVIII was.

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February 2, 2016

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Page 3

NEWS

UMass Lowell students prep for 2016 primaries

Courtesy of Erik Kabik/Media Punch

Courtesy of Robyn Beck/Getty Images

From left to right: Sen. Bernie Sanders and Secretary Hillary Clinton.

From left to right: Sen. Marco Rubio and real-estate mogul Donald Trump.

Shayna Vigliotta Connector Staff

As the 2016 primaries draw closer, UMass Lowell students have been voicing their opinions on the presidential contender. The voting in the Iowan caucases on Monday, have favored certain presidential candidates.

Recently, Republican candidate and real-estate developer Donald Trump visited the Tsongas Arena, which some students were able to experience.

Tom Sullivan, a junior at UML, not only attended the event but also had a great view. “We sat right behind him,”

Sullivan said, “so when you saw on the TV my buddy and I were right beside him, and he used that as his campaign commercial.” Sullivan felt as though the event was surprisingly exciting. “I’ve never gone to a presidential candidate rally before, but it was probably more fun than some of the sporting events I’ve been to,” Sullivan said.

On Jan. 29, Trump decided to skip the GOP debate because of differences he has with Fox journalist Megyn Kelly. Many students disagreed with Trump’s action to boycott. “He should

still go, it’s his job,” said Nick Hung, a sophomore.

Ryan Connolly-Stringer, sophomore, said, “Personally, I think it’s good he didn’t go to the debate. He takes up time that could be spent on other issues, issues that actually matter to the country.”

Students are focusing on their preferred candidate that ideally matches their own beliefs on important issues.

For many students on campus, this election will be their first time voting.

Millennials are beginning to focus on certain issues in hopes that the next

president of the United States could positively change them. When asked his most important issues Connolly-Stringer said, “Troops overseas, health care… and education.”

More and more students are becoming invested in the presidential race to contribute a change to their futures.

Millennials are a significant factor in the election polls, and students are increasingly beginning to engage as the primaries approach.

Accomplished author Steve Almond to speak at UMass Lowell Jacob Boucher

short stories and essays and has published over 10 books in his career as UMass Lowell’s Kerouac Writ- an author. Among his most famous er-in-Residence Steve Almond will be works are the novel “Candyfreak: A Journey through the Chocolate Unhosting a talk and book signing .

The event will be held on South derbelly of America,” the Paterson Campus in O’Leary Library Room Prize-winning story collection “God 222 on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. Bless America,” and his most recent and is open to students and the public essay “Against Football: One Fan’s alike. Copies of Almond’s books will Reluctant Manifesto.” He also cohosts a podcast called “Dear Sugar” be on sale.

Steve Almond is best known for his with the memoirist Cheryl Strayed.

On the subject of why Almond was considered and ultimately chosen for this position, Maureen Stanton, the coordinator of his visit, said, “Steve clearly rose to the top both for his accomplishments in publishing...[and] the quality of his writing and his stature nationally.”

For this semester, Almond was chosen to teach a class here at UMass Lowell, and given the title of Kerouac Writer-in-Residence, named after the famous Lowell native and renowned author Jack Kerouac. The work of Kerouac inspired Almond; in fact, Almond said, “Kerouac broke open language in a way that enthralled me when I was Courtesy photo younger. He also managed to Author of “Candyfreak: A Journey through the convince me that one could be Chocolate,” pictured here.

Connector Staff

incredibly lyric and conversational while also writing an old-fashioned story.”

Almond has been impressed by UMass Lowell’s students and faculty alike and has really enjoyed teaching creative non-fiction so far. “I’ve been blown away by the work the students are producing in class. And their overall intelligence and sensitivity,” he

said.

When asked how he would convince an unwilling student to attend his event, Almond said, “I will pay them one million dollars and give them a ride on Donald Trump’s helicopter.

Oh, also, I’ll read something that will make them laugh, or make them furious for a week. Maybe both.”

Part-time position Duraflow LLC, a local membrane filter manufacturer, is looking to fill a part-time opening for a technician to operate pilot test filtration equipment. The candidate must be available 3-5 days per week (15-20 hours), have some mechanical aptitude and be competent to keep notes on experiments. The schedule can be somewhat flexible to accommodate school schedules. Duraflow operates Monday through Friday 6:00 AM till 6:00 PM. Our website is www.duraflow.biz.

Interested applicants are requested to submit a resume to Nick Lander at: Nicklander@duraflow.biz or call Nick at 978-851-0447 (9:00 to 6:00)

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February 2, 2016

February 2, 2016

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT I want to believe in ‘The X-Files’ again Richard Budd Connector Staff

Almost 14 years after the broadcast of its series finale in 2002, and eight years after feature film sequel ‘I Want to Believe’, The X-Files has returned to television. The show finds former FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) doing about what you would expect: Mulder sequestered away in some obscure corner of the Midwest, the webcam on his laptop taped over, pursuing odds and ends of alien conspiracies; Scully assisting in surgeries at Our Lady of Sorrows Hospital, still in amicable touch with Mulder but otherwise steering clear of his obsessions.

Naturally, the two quickly find themselves drawn back into the alien conspiracy game when ultraright-wing personality Tad O’Malley (Community’s Joel McHale) seeks them out via their old boss at the FBI, Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi), to enlist their help in revealing the sinister conspiracy behind the abduction of a young woman (Annet Mahendru) and a top-secret government technology project.

We are also treated to flashbacks to the experiences of a young doctor at the Roswell crash in the 1940s, whose relevance is revealed late in the episode.

All in all, the premiere turned out to be a classic ‘X-Files’ “mythology” episode (aka an episode that moves the broader arc of the season and series along), and therein lies the problem. There are, in fact, multiple issues at play here, not least that the “mythos” of The X-Files was always its most poorly thought-out and executed element; a delirious gr-

ab-bag of conspiracy theory and alien folklore that never actually cohered into anything satisfying. One could argue that’s largely beside the point, given the sometimes-great stories it enabled, but foregrounding it so thoroughly in the big series revival will leave those without intimate knowledge of the series (like this viewer) somewhat lost at sea.

Courtesy of Fox

Mulder and Scully seen here preparing to brood about aliens for a new generation of viewers.

Additionally, there is the unfortunate loss of most of what made the series aesthetically compelling.

The ‘X-Files’ was always a dark show, literally.

Heavy shadows, suited men having cryptic conversations in dark rooms, cigarette smoke thrown into relief by the light of solitary desk lamps; even broad daylight looked muted. The first episode of the revival, directed as well as written by series creator Chris Carter, has traded all that in for the dull blues of your average Fox procedural, with precious little of the macabre touch of the old series. Carter is not

‘Making a Murderer’ review Jeffrey Cullen Connector Staff

Wisconsin has never really stood out for being a hotbed of injustice, but that all changed in December. For the past month the internet has been in a craze over “Making a Murderer.”

The 10-part Netflix Original documents the story of Steven Avery and his battle with the Wisconsin criminal justice system. The buzz is for good reason. “Making a Murderer” is a perfect storm that seeps drama and twists. But amid its huge success the series has been the subject of various criticisms for its portrayal of the case.

In a lot of ways “Making a Murderer” may as well be perfect. It seems to hold nothing back, showing its viewers the harsh world Steven Avery journeyed through – past and present.

Sometimes heartfelt and cringe-worthy, the viewer can expect to feel fully immersed in every last detail presented. Not only this but viewers can expect to be on the edge of their seats.

The twists and turns taken make the real life case seem like a mystery that could be fiction. The creators really hit a jack pot with this story as it takes so many different directions over its course and having the reactions of those personally involved makes for a rollercoaster of emotions.

The series also has a way of making its viewers feel like they have to figure it out themselves. The details of the case come just in the order that everyone on the screen got them. It gives the feeling like watching live news

with new details constantly streaming in, leaving the audience to process it all for themselves.

Additionally, amidst a story of injustice and pain, the creators are able to show some silver linings. While the audience will be familiar with the “villains” of this tale, they will get to know the people who really look out for Steven Avery and truthfully stand by him. The whole ordeal is very dark but these few people are presented in the perfect light as they break through that and show a much lighter side.

Despite its success, the documentary has been subject to some harsh criticism. It is clear that the documentary has a bias. The filmmakers do not seem to hide that they side with Avery as they not only interview, but come into the lives of his family. While it still seems extremely genuine, one of the biggest accusations has been that certain details were not mentioned.

Apparently details that would be incriminating to Avery were never mentioned in the documentary leading to some critics to question the validity of the work.

Even with these criticisms in mind, “Making a Murderer” is a labor of love that took 10 years to create, and it shows. It is so captivating that the 10 or so hour investment will seem like nothing. Not only this but it creates an interesting dialogue about criminal justice and can be extremely educational as to how the system works.

Overall, this is an investment well worth making.

the greatest director of actors either, with absolutely atrocious line-readings abounding throughout the episode.

Yet perhaps the most pressing issue facing this latest truncated season is why it even exists in the first place, beyond capitalizing on fan nostalgia and a recognizable brand. One is left wondering just what The ‘X-Files’ could possibly have to say in 2016, and the answer is…well, it’s not entirely clear.

Carter attempts to address the contemporary post9/11 landscape of American culture, somewhat ham-handedly, but it doesn’t really work. There’s an admirable attempt to re-orient the series’ mythology solely to the actions of powerful men rather than aliens, and to engage with current late-capitalist turmoil, but half of it gets put in the mouth of rightwing nutjob O’Malley and the rest is obscured in a haze of lingering plot threads.

The original ‘X-Files’ was a paean to a weird America that was already, in 1993, beginning to disappear with advent of the Internet, the margins being pushed back further and further until they disappeared entirely. It used the whole of post-war American conspiracy theory and folklore as a canvas on which to project what was, essentially, an anthology series with a recurring set of protagonists, fueled by pre-millennial anxiety and the dynamite chemistry of Duchovny and Anderson, and looking damn good while it did so. It’s too early to say for sure what this latest rendition of ‘X-Files’ will be, but it’s not likely to be anywhere near as interesting.

Pixar needs to step up ►Continued from front page had serious pacing issues. “The Good Dinosaur” could barely do anything competently. So, at their best, Pixar has been making average franchise continuations and at their worst, what can only be described as messes. To make matters worse is that of the five announced movies Pixar has slated for release between now and 2019, four of them are sequels to their past hits. I am not saying there is anything necessarily wrong with sequels, but I am saying that going with so many sequels is a risk. Sooner or later, people will get tired of seeing the same familiar things over and over again and demand something new. Then, since the new material is actually worse than the sequels, moviegoers will happily take their money and see something else.

The problem is that Pixar has been around for so long and made so many hits that they can survive for an extended period of time based on viewer’s nostalgia. This can work, but it won’t last, as Pixar is not the only major player when it comes to family-oriented animated films. In the early 21st century, Disney had hit a dry spell and Dreamworks wasn’t a major player, leaving Pixar to do whatever it wanted. Now that we’re in 2016, Disney has bounced back to what some are calling their second ‘Disney Renaissance’ peri-

od, Dreamworks has proven that it’s capable of producing quality work, and both have improved when it comes to the animation quality to easily rival Pixar.

I know there are probably still people thinking that Pixar is far from dying because of the commercial success of their movies. It is true that Pixar has managed to gross more than enough money each time to pay off its budget. The problem with that is with its latest movie, “The Good Dinosaur,” it only managed to gross ninety million dollars more than the film’s budget, which is a drastic drop from all of Pixar’s other movies. This could just be an anomaly and people simply weren’t interested in the movie, or it could be a sign that people are starting to get tired of Pixar.

If Pixar keeps going this route, it will crash and burn. It’s inevitable.

If the studio wishes to avoid this, they’ll need to stop relying on nostalgia and the Pixar brand name to keep people coming back and instead go back to making quality film productions that will make people remember why they loved the studio’s creations in the first place.

Pixar is dying, but if the people in charge do what needs to be done, it can be salvaged.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Indie game spotlight: ‘The Witness’ Brendan Jacques Connector Editor

When it comes to creating and releasing a video game, or any other form of entertainment for that matter, there’s a tendency for the creator to build their game around a marketable ‘twist’. That twist can be anything from “It’s a military shooter, but with vehicles” to more complex ideas like “It’s a standard role-playing game, but you don’t have to kill anyone”, but the goal with all of them is the same: to try and make what’s old feel new again by presenting it with a different coat of paint. Admittedly, this is more of a nitpick than an actual problem, as whether the idea behind a game’s creation is good or not has no bearing on whether said game is actually good, but my point is that most works of commercial art are built from the same DNA, with very few, but use twists to hide these roots from the consumer.

It’s refreshing then to find that “The Witness” has absolutely no intentions of hiding what it is and what it is trying to be: a puzzle game. It is a gorgeous, calming, and incredibly well-crafted game about solving maze puzzles.

There is a thin outline of story layered on top to give the world more dimension and mystery, but everything that could potentially distract the player from solving puzzles is absent. The game is a puzzle, the goal is to solve puzzles, and the reward for solving them is more puzzles. If that isn’t the type of game that appeals to you, then

feel free to let this title slip through your fingers without judgment. But for those who are still interested, allow me to tell you why ‘The Witness’ is an absolutely fantastic puzzle game.

As was eluded to earlier, the key to this game’s success is in its inherent simplicity. As the player, you are tasked with finding a way off of a mysterious island, which is seemingly abandoned due to a nebulous and unexplained tragedy that’s left the environment in ruin. Your main method of interacting with said environment is through solving various maze puzzles scattered throughout, with many of the mazes having a very utilitarian design that wouldn’t look out of place on a low-budget iphone game. What keeps them consistently interesting is that the puzzles in each of the game’s many connected zones have their own rules and quirks to them, and those rules are never explicitly told to the player. This means that, in most cases, the challenge of a new zone comes just as much from understanding what makes the mazes in the zone unique as it is actually finding the solutions to those mazes.

Make no mistake, ‘The Witness’ is a hard game, and it has no intentions whatsoever of explaining itself or holding the player’s hand, which will come as frustrating to some. That being said, the game is rarely unfair about its challenges since, outside of some tutorial puzzles and some final challenges at the end, you’re never forced to solve any one puzzle at a

Courtesy of Thekla Inc.

This is the first game made by creator Jonathan Blow since his 2008 hit ‘Braid.’

given time. Most of the island can be explored from the get-go, so if a puzzle’s too hard or includes a mechanic you haven’t come across yet, it’s only a thirty second walk over to a different set of puzzles you might have a better grasp of. And even though it doesn’t directly communicate with the player at any point, the level design is smart enough to teach you the rules of the world intuitively whether through easier mazes that allow for experimentation with new mechanics or through environmental clues.

While we’re on the subject of the environment, it’d be foolish not to bring up how drop-dead gorgeous the world of ‘The Witness’ is. Admittedly the game is low on texture detail and isn’t going to push your computer’s processing power by any means, but what it sacrifices in precise detail it makes up for with swaths of color. The variety of distinctive locations on dis-

play is impressive, to the point where half the fun of finding a new area was getting to add to my collection of potential pictures to go with this article.

I’d also like to give quick props to the sound design which, while somewhat limited because of a surprising lack of background music, fills in the space excellently with fitting background noise which dynamically changed based on where on the island I was at any given time.

‘The Witness’ is one of the most unique puzzle games I’ve ever played, and quite possibly one of the best. It’s simple to understand but hard to master puzzle design and beautiful world had me glued to the screen for the thirty hours it took to complete it. If this game is any indication of what to expect from 2016, this is going to be a great year. ‘The Witness’ is available on the Playstation 4 and PC for $40.

Show of today, ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ Michael Paige Connector Editor

timidation comical and unbelievable.

What the CW does right with Legends of Tomorrow is the abundance of action scenes and their build ups to them. The well-crafted CGI intertwined with well-coordinated stunts and practical effects bring the comics to life with ice and fire fly-

Over the past two weeks, The CW rolled out their latest superhero spectacle, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Riding off the success off of their other two superhero shows, Flash and Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow takes a crack at an ensemble cast with a time traveling premise.

The show, which centers around ex ‘Time Master’ Rip Hunter, features a cast of heroes and villains from the CW’s Flash and Arrow universe and their mission to stop the immortal Vandal Savage throughout different periods in time. The varied cast works well together, though it does feel bloated at times due to the large roster of nine protagonists and two antagonists introduced so far. What Legends of Tomorrow does to remedy this, is break off Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television a small task force for each scenario based on each Hunter’s team prepares for their battle against Savage. character’s skill set.

When looking at the cast itself, each actor or ac- ing across the screen while henchmen get knocked tress feels right for the role and looks believably like out left and right. But sometimes this abundance of their comic counterparts. Actors like Wentworth action doesn’t allow the scenes to breathe causing Miller and Dominic Purcell of Prison Break fame, an overwhelming sensation of confusion.

Another great aspect of the show is its ability to bring the villains turned antiheroes to life with their chilling portrayal of Captain Cold and Heatwave, create well written and likable characters. There is a respectively. On the opposite end of the spectrum, great chemistry created with the cast; each characthe series lead villain, Vandal Savage, is being played ter has their time to shine and each feels important

by Casper Crump. Crump, an under the radar actor, to the audience. With their origins already fleshed fits the bill aesthetically for the immortal evildoer, out in either Flash or Arrow, the characters are albut his high pitched voice makes his attempts at in- lowed to ease in and out of scenes taking jabs at

one another or able to have heartfelt conversations without having to take time away from the show to explain why certain things are important.

The overall plot of the two episode pilot feels a bit clunky, and at times forced, due to having too much happen too quickly. Watching both Flash and Arrow are necessary prerequisites to this show or else character traits and certain plot lines may get lost on a new viewer unaware of certain ways characters deviate from the comics. This is most apparent in both Hawkman and Hawkgirl, whose story is heavily intertwined with Vandal Savage and partially changed from the comics.

The show also suffers from what most other CW shows suffers from, ‘soap opera syndrome’. Though comic books do sometimes delve into the realm of drama in between all the fists flying, CW shows create major plot points off this drama and Legends of Tomorrow is no exception. Rushed romances and unnecessary character plots are created to try and make certain character shine more, but these attempts backfire in confusing displays of forced acting and scenes that come out of nowhere, detracting from the show as a whole.

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

Page 6

February 2, 2016

CAMPUS LIFE South Campus unveils new dining hall to student approval greeted with a display of study rooms, conversing space and Connector Editor a few more options for food.

With the spring semester of On either end of the floor, stu2016 underway, UMass Lowell dents can either enjoy one of has now unveiled their latest commany sandwiches from Subpleted construction project, the way or try out a burrito from McGauvran Student Center. CostFreshii, a Chipotle-like chain ing $34 million to renovate and creating fresh food in front of featuring 52,000 square feet of students. To cap off the floor real estate, the McGauvran Center are the grab and go styled maris the new home to South campus kets that carry everyday essendining as well as a bevy of other tials and luxuries as well as new features. some fresh baked pastries; all The three tiered structure is built features sorely missing from on a foundation of dining. Mirthe old South dining hall. roring its East Campus sister, Fox Moving on up to the third Hall, McGauvran is home to bufMike Paige/Connector floor students have even more fet style meals for breakfast, lunch room to study and relax away and dinner. The 400 seat dining Students on South Campus were pleased to see the construction done with. from the hustle and bustle of the hall contains the classic deli sandOne of South dining’s newest features es in what they eat. wiches from Broadway Deli and oven is the fleshed out gluten free station; When moving up to the second floor floors below them. Encompassing the baked pizza from Aroma along with Choices, allowing students with aller- from either the stairs or the connector balcony walkways are classrooms for the other quintessential food stations. gies or with dietary restrictions choic- via the O’Leary Library, students are new classes, creating a true one.

Mike Paige

The Fox Common makeover: Before and after Shane Foley Connector Editor

East Campus residents may have recently noticed a large change in Fox Hall. Fox Common, a student rec-

reational area located on Fox’s first floor, underwent several renovations.

The makeover brought the place into the 21st century without changing anything with the two food outlets

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presently there: the Roadhouse and the POD. The renovation also, however, may have had some unintended side effects as well.

The project saw an aesthetic switch in the walls of Fox Common which used to simply be red brick. Now, there is a streamlined silver design around the place, similar to the walls in Leitch and Bourgeois Halls. The pool tables have been taken out and replaced in the back of Fox Hall’s lobby.

In its place are now many, many new chairs. For the first few weeks of the semester, the seating in Fox Common was facing the stage as if prepared for the viewing of a performance.

While resulting in having less clutter in the area, Fox Common now also has less people. An area that used to be crowded with students back from late classes and gym sessions has been seeing much less action on its floor.

The pool players now congregate in Fox Lobby, and students are now taking their meals back to their dorms, as opposed to spending time in that area.

Fortunately, Fox Common has added one more delicacy to the renovation. They have put three new tables in place over the last week. Compared to the small tables that were previously in the area, these are huge improvements. The tables are actually large – perhaps large enough to seat eight or ten people. Homework is an activity that frequently takes place in Fox Common, and with tables that do not wobble, it is sure to continue.

After making this singular small change, the climate of Fox Common has been completely revamped. Students are back in the facility and using it to its potential. They are eating there, inviting friends over and transforming the place into the social gathering rendezvous point it once was.

The POD market is open in Fox Common weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. and weekends from 12 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. The Roadhouse next to it is open all week from 5 p.m. to 1:30pm.

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The chairs in Fox Commons are commonly found ready for performance.

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UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

February 2, 2016

Page 7

SPORTS

River Hawks sweep weekend series ► Continued from front page

would not even last two minutes, however. Jake Kamrass won a scrum in front of the net, and snuck the puck past Arizona State goaltender Ryland Pashovitz to tie it. The River Hawks took the lead just 70 seconds later when Ryan McGrath redirected a blue-line blast from Ryan Dmowski past Pashovitz. It was McGrath’s seventh goal of the season.

The River Hawks outshot the Sun Devils 20-3

in the first period.

It was a dominating second period for UMass Lowell. It started when Boyle made two huge stick saves in front of the net on a 5-3 penalty kill to keep UMass Lowell in the lead.

Nick Master put away his fourth goal of the season midway through the second when he beat Pashovitz glove side.

The River Hawks faced another 5-3 disadvantage shortly after the Master goal. Boyle

made another clutch pad save, and Joe Gambardella hit Smith coming out of the box for a break away. Smith originally hit Pashovitz’s pads, but picked up his rebound and put away the short-hander.

Kamrass added on just a minute later when he corralled a loose puck in the offensive zone and fired it stick side for his second goal of the evening.

“Master and (Adam) Chapie have been playCourtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics

Ryan Dmowski had two assists, and Kevin Boyle stopped 11 shots on the evening.

ing real well, and have helped me form into their line,” said Kamrass. “I’ve been in the right spot at the right time, and they’re kind of talking me through it. I’ve just been getting to the front of the net, and getting ‘ready goals’.”

The River Hawks enjoyed a 5-1 lead after two, with the shot on goal discrepancy standing at 38-9 in favor of UMass Lowell.

Arizona State switched goalies for the final period.

Smith scored twice in the third period. The first came on a powerplay when he beat backup goalie David Jacobson. The second was an even strength goal when he decided to go top shelf for his thitd goal of the evening.

“I’m just trying to continue to mature as a player,” said Smith. “I try to come in every day and improve by listen-

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River Hawk Games Wednesday, Feb. 3

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Wednesday, Feb. 3

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Friday, Feb. 5

7 p.m. MICE vs. Northeastern

Saturday, Feb 6

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MBB vs. Stony Brook

Saturday, Feb. 6

2 p.m.

WBB at Stony Brook

Saturday, Feb 6

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ing to what the coaches have to say and what my teammates have to say.”

Smith scored each a short-handed, powerplay, and even strength goal on the night.

When asked what he will do with the puck, Smith said, “I’ll probably give it to my mom.”

Evan Campbell decided to join the party with just three minutes to play when he put home a rebound on another UMass Lowell power-

play for is fourth goal of the season.

After letting in the opening goal, Boyle stopped all eleven shots that came his way.

The River Hawks got the points they needed this weekend, and can now focus on two home games next weekend against Northeastern on Friday at, and New Hampshire on Saturday.

Celtics midseason review: This team is very much dangerous ► Continued from front page

shooting from downtown is sixthbest in the NBA. One player whose game has truly transcended to another level is Jae Crowder. The Celtics received Crowder from the Mavericks in the Rajon Rondo trade, and Crowder has become a key piece on this Celtics team. He is scoring 14.4 points per game with reliable 45 percent shooting, while shooting 36 percent from deep, a shot he has gotten better at throughout the season. On top of his offensive output, his defense has been amongst the best in the NBA.

As I also mentioned in my season preview article, Isaiah Thomas was expected to play a huge role on offense this season. He certainly has, and his excellent play is an enormous reason the Celtics are the East’s current fifth seed.

He is leading the Celtics in scoring with 21.6 points per game, well above his career average of 16.5 points per game, and his almost-seven assists per game also leads the team, both numerically and mentally. Isaiah Thomas was deserving to be an AllStar starter – he is near the top ten in scoring in the league on a 26-21 CeltKelly Olynyk has had the best season of his career for the Celtics this year.

Courtesy of The Associated Press

Isiah Thomas has earned the title of All-Star this season for the Celtics.

ics team - but he was selected as an All-Star reserve.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are leading the surprisingly competitive Eastern Conference, and any team with LeBron as player/coach/general manager/overlord is expected to make it to the Finals. However, the Cavs do face some competition this season.

But do not count out the Celtics – the resiliency, work ethic, and coalescence of talent that has occurred these past few months is indicative of a young, hungry team that really wants to win.

The Celtics sometimes have trouble finishing off games, but their fast offensive pace has led the team to score the fourth-most points in the league.

The Celtics’ in-your-face, physical brand of defense annoys other teams and attempts to wear them out, and it works.

Coach Stevens and his players have done a terrific job so far this season, and the Celtics are almost definitely a lock to make the playoffs. They will try and do everything they can to improve and make a real run to the conference finals, or perhaps even beyond – expect Danny Ainge to possibly make a big trade to put the Celtics over the top.

This Celtics team is already a scary one, and they should improve even more as the season moves forward.

It is safe to say that no team wants to play Boston in the playoffs.