Resident advisor responds to hate speech â–ş Page 3
THE UMASS LOWELL
Serving the Student Body Since 1976
February 7, 2017
Diversity display vandalized with hate speech
In This Issue
Brock Johnson
Revisiting ‘V for Vendetta’
Connector Editor
â–ş Page 4
Best food in Lowell ► Page 6 Women’s soccer finds new head coach
â–ş Page 8
Final River Hawk Scores Team
Score
Overall Record
Hockey vs. New Hampshire
W 8-2
17-9-3
Men’s Basketball vs. Binghamton
W 60-59
10-15
Women’s Basketball at Binghamton L 69-54 3-20 Hockey at Northeastern
W 6-4
16-9-3
A ‘series’ of unfortunate episodes Kathryn Leeber Connector Editor
How many versions of the same storyline is too many? “A Series of Unfortunate Events� is based off of the books by Lemony Snicket, the pen name of author Daniel Handler. Back in 2004, a movie also based on the books was created with a very similar style and tone, which begs the question: is this Netflix original series even necessary? While the movie only covers the first three books, this season of the show covers the first four books and subsequent seasons will supposedly deal with the remaining nine books. The series stays true to the dark tone of the novels, with Lemony Snicket himself (Patrick Warburton) playing the narrator and explaining just how melancholy and tragic the story is and that the viewer should be warned there is no happy ending. Snicket continues to appear during various parts of each episode to provide commentary on the situation that is unfolding. Warburton does an excellent job of portraying this somber, yet experienced and omniscient character; one that is able to provide the viewer with an idea of what is to come. Despite the moments of relief from Snicket,
In response to the currently divided feeling around the nation, David Aguiar, a resident advisor at Riverview Suites, wanted to proudly display the floor’s diversity. On Friday, Jan. 20, however, Aguiar and a team of RAs found a floor’s bulletin board designed to promote diversity vandalized with hate speech. They had decided to “create a tea cup and call it the ‘DiversiTEA Cup’ in which residents would have the opportunity to proudly display their identities on a tea bag,� Aguiar said. It was not long before Aguiar returned to the newly designed bulletin board and found an anti-LGBTQ+ slur word written on one of the tea
Courtesy of UMass Lowell
The vandalized bulletin board was found on the fourth floor of Riverview Suites.
bags. After the incident, students living in Riverview received e-mails from the Residence Life staff condemning the hate speech. “We will not tolerate acts of bias or discrimination on campus or within the residence halls. We strive to create a community that is inclusive and
welcoming to everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic status, and any other social identity,� Riverview Suites Complex Director Lindsay Ferguson wrote in an email to residents. Some residents of the
â–ş See “Hate speech,â€? page 3
No. 10 River Hawks take out New Hampshire 8-2 UMass Lowell Athletics
LOWELL, Mass.- A five-goal third period surged the UMass Lowell men’s hockey team to an 8-2 victory against Hockey East rival New Hampshire on Saturday evening in front of 6,477 fans at the Tsongas Center in Hockey East play. UMass Lowell contributed five
different goal scorers in a five-goal final frame, setting season highs for goals in a single period (5) and most goals in a game (8). With the win, the River Hawks improve to 17-9-3 overall and 9-71 in conference play, while the Wildcats fall to 11-13-6 overall and 6-7-3. “We played a vastly different game than we played last night,�
â–ş See “Unfortunate,â€? page 5
Sections News.............................3 Campus Life..................6 A&E.............................. 4 Sports........................... 8
floor had not seen the vandalism but learned about it through the e-mail and reacted. “I was definitely surprised‌ I didn’t think that was even in peoples’ mindsets to do,â€? said transfer student Cheyenne Fraites. Some students were not
Christina Laderoute/Connector
Sophomore forward Nick Master takes a faceoff against the Wildcats.
said Head Coach Norm Bazin. “Last night we fought through some adversity and tonight we were the benefits of puck luck and a good third period. Both of those things came through for us and we were able to get a few goals and that is something that feels good in the locker room right now.â€? Freshman classmates Nick Marin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and Mattias Goransson (Slottsborn, Sweden) notched a game-high three points (1g, 2a) apiece in the outing. Marin’s three points where the first of his career, netting his first career goal in the third period. Additionally, freshman goaltender Tyler Wall (Leamington, Ont.) picked up 21 saves en route to his 16th career win. The Wildcats struck first with a power play goal at 8:01 in the first period, following a pair of miscues by the home team. Forward Michael McNicholas made the best of the team’s five-on-threeopportunity, as he poked one past â–ş See “Hockey,â€? page 8
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
Page 2
February 7, 2017
OPINIONS & EDITORIALS Help adjunct faculty at UMass Lowell Chris Romano Connector Staff
I am writing to show support for UMass Lowell adjunct faculty in their campaign to receive the same benefits that the rest of the UMass schools provide to their adjunct faculty. At UMass Lowell, the adjunct professors teach a majority of the freshmen and sophomore classes and should have access to the same types of benefits their other UMass adjunct colleagues receive. As a student who has taken several classes with adjunct faculty, I’ve seen the extra effort the adjuncts put in to make sure students succeed inside and outside the classroom. Adjuncts are not required by UMass Lowell to hold office hours, serve on committees, or mentor students outside of class as the other UMass adjuncts are required to. However, UMass Lowell adjuncts still take on these roles after class even though they are paid less per course than the adjuncts at other UMass schools. At UMass Amherst, the minimum amount an adjunct is paid per course is $6,500. The adjuncts in Boston
make at least $5,000 per course. At UMass Lowell, adjuncts make a minimum of $4,400 per course. If the pay difference is not enough evidence, it’s worth noting that Lowell adjuncts do not receive health benefits or a pension. Adjuncts must pay out of pocket for health insurance, unlike their colleagues throughout the rest of the UMass system. The Lowell administration offered a 2.5 percent pay increase per year, however this did not meet the adjuncts’ needs. The administration
failed to offer health insurance or pension. Lowell is the only UMass that does not offer these benefits to their adjunct faculty. Students, why should we care? Many of our first experiences with college educators are adjuncts. They help new students transition from high schoolers to college learners. They are the first to tell us to shape up our study habits for college. In many ways, our freshmen professors, adjunct or full time, help mold us into the students we become.
“We’re getting screwed, royally screwed,� UMass Lowell adjunct professor Debbie White told the Boston Globe in December 2016.
As UMass Lowell students, we should care about our educators. The adjunct faculty go far beyond what they are required to do in the classroom. When adjunct faculty offer office hours, we should be thankful. They are not being paid to provide this service to us students. The adjunct faculty at other UMass schools are paid for the out of class assistance. Though it is uncommon at UMass Lowell for a professor not to hold office hours, students, along with the university administration, must acknowledge the unpaid effort the adjuncts put in to their work. On campus, there are almost as many adjunct faculty as there are full time faculty. Chances are, you’ve had multiple classes taught by an adjunct. These educators take the time that they are not required to, or paid to, so that we may become successful learners. I urge students to take the time to ask their adjunct educators how they can get involved in helping them achieve equal compensation for their work. They’ve already gone the extra mile; now it’s our turn.
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
Email | Connector@uml.edu Website | www.UMLConnector.com Phone | 978.934.5017 ext. 45017 Address | University Crossing, Room 241 220 Pawtucket St. Lowell, MA 01854 General: The UMass Lowell Connector is a non-profit student public forum serving the University of Massachusetts Lowell community. The paper is published weekly and distributed to the university community every Tuesday. Business hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please be aware that members of the University community are entitled to free newspapers. Please take one! All UMass Lowell students, regardless of major, are invited to join the Connector staff. Interested students should contact an editor or manager listed above, or visit the Connector Office in University Crossing 241. Advertising: The UMass Lowell Connector advertisements reach an estimated 16,000 UMass Lowell students--their friends and families. To tap this group of
future high-income earners, contact our Advertising Manager at 934-5017. DEADLINE for ALL advertising (TO INCLUDE STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS and ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES OF THE UNIVERSITY) is Thursday, 12 p.m. for the following Tuesday’s publication. No exceptions will be made. Late submissions WILL NOT be accepted. Classified advertisements are free for students. The UMass Lowell Connector does not endorse, promote or encourage the purchase or sale of any product or service advertised in this publication. Advertisements are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. The UMass Lowell Connector disclaims all liability for any damage suffered as the result of any advertisement in this newspaper. The UMass Lowell Connector reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Editorial: Letters to the editor must be less than 500 words in length and may be
Twitter: @UMLConnector Instagram: @UMLConnector Facebook.com/UMLConnector www.UMLConnector.com
The Connector meets every Monday at 6 p.m. in University Crossing 241 in the Club Hub. All are welcome to join! submitted via campus mail, e-mail, or in person. All letters must bear the author’s name, relationship to the University and student body, and a phone number. The author may request to have any part of this information withheld, if published. Opinions expressed in individual columns, the Opinions Section, advertising, and/or features are those of the author, NOT of the Connector. The Opinions and Editorials section will not be edited in any way, to include spelling/grammar mistakes. Submission: The deadline for all submissions (to include Letters to the Editors and Opinions) is Friday at midnight for the following Tuesday’s publication. Submissions must be e-mailed to Marlon_Pitter@student.uml.edu, attached as a Word document (any version). Accompanying visuals must
be submitted separately; do NOT include graphics in Word file. All press releases, articles, advertisements, and photographs submitted become the property of The UMass Lowell Connector and will not be returned. The Connector reserves the right to edit or refuse all submissions for copy, content, and length. The Connector will make every effort to prevent inaccuracy, but assumes no responsibility for errors in advertisements or opinion letters. The Connector will reprint without charge any advertisement which is incorrect. Credit for errors are made only for first insertion.
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
February 7, 2017
Page 3
NEWS UMass Lowell WAVES event eliminates STEM bias Jessica Kergo Connector Staff
Dr. Pamela Conrad, deputy private investigator and investigative scientist for sample analysis at Mars on the Mars Science Laboratory mission was the keynote speaker on Feb. 2 at the Making WAVES, or Women Academics Valued and Engaged in STEM kickoff event. Dr. Conrad drew a profound link between scientific exploration and the critical need for diversified STEM fields in her address “Wanted: 21st Century Explorers.” Dr. Conrad contributed to the cause as a highly successful NASA astro-
biologist by offering her perspective through personal experience as a female investigative scientist so often surrounded by men. She said that older perceptions of women and minorities need to be left in the past because “we need diversity in our ecosystem.” She said that “every time we other someone, we are diminishing our system.” Understanding other people is vital when working in a team of scientists controlling the actions of the Mars Rover said Dr. Conrad. “Justice is expensive, but injustice is going to be much more expensive.” The Making WAVES kickoff was
Jessica Kergo/Connector
Dr. Pamela Conrad from NASA speaking about diversifying STEM careers.
Hate speech ►Continued from front page
surprised to hear about the incident. Joe Mellish said, “I’m not really surprised that it happened, I am ashamed that it did… People do stupid things.” Although some students said that they had never seen overt discrimination on campus, others had seen vandalism of similar nature. Hannah Mckenzie said, “I’m not surprised… When I lived in Fox [Hall] I saw similar, and same when I lived in Bourgeois.” Aguiar, along with some of his residents, feel that the incident was not reflective of UMass Lowell.
“...hate speech is not acceptable...Words are harmful.” “It’s a very diverse student body… everyone seems very accepting,” said student Brian Leblanc. “I believe that the university does an excellent job in trying to embrace diversity on campus. The resources available, such as the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Student Activities, Residence Life, the Wellness Center and Student Government Association are all perfect examples… but the job is not done,” said Aguiar. “We need to continue educating ourselves more about the people we interact with every day. We need to recognize that derogatory hate speech is not acceptable… Words are harmful.” If students come across any instances of bias or discrimination, Residence Life urges them to speak with a staff member or report the incident electronically at www.uml.edu/diversity/reporting.aspx.
Connector staff writer Nick Bramante contributed to this article.
the first of four spring 2017 events for the recent UMass Lowell Center for Women and Work initiative. The center has recently received a five year $3.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to implement their effort to increase diversity and inclusion in STEM fields and foster a supportive and institutional culture for all. When addressing the crowd of students and faculty members gathered in Alumni Hall, Chancellor Jacquie Moloney said, “There is a direct need to diversify the field of science and engineering,” and that this recent grant would enable them to achieve that goal. The effort plans to address what it refers to as subtle biases within the STEM fields that discourage woman and minority groups from perusing an education or career in one of these male dominated fields. Freshman math major Lillian Kuehl expressed her take on what it was like to start her college career in a male dominated field. “When I went to orientation, it was kind of intimidating being surrounded only by guys, but it never made me doubt myself,” said Kuehl. Lindsey Schulman, a graduate student studying biopsychology, had sim-
ilar opinions and said how important efforts like these are “because they show how women can contribute despite being in a male dominated field.” The effort involves a three-part intervention program for what is being referred to as an institutional transformation that includes disruption of subtle biases, providing alternative support mechanisms, and promoting equity and accountability. Before the event began, biotechnology graduate student, Rachel Master, said how significant efforts like these are. “People, especially in my culture, don’t necessarily see women in this field, so seeing this is really helpful and encouraging,” she said. Chancellor Moloney’s hope that the entire community would join the effort was well received as members from various departments across the University were of attendance at the kickoff event. Among them was Dean of Education Anita Greenwood. “We always have a duty to our students to help them learn how to stand up for themselves,” she said. The initiative will continue this semester with a 50/50 Lecture Series and a Provost’s Speaker Series, all surrounding the topic of eliminating bias with STEM fields.
David Aguiar: RA advocating for acceptance Brock Johnson Connector Editor
David Aguiar, a resident advisor in the Riverview Suites, wanted to focus on promoting diversity on his floor’s bulletin board due to the recent divisive election, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History month. To his astonishment on Friday, Jan 20, Aguiar discovered vandalism in the form of hate speech on his resident advisor team’s initiative. Aguiar and his team of RA’s wanted to proudly display their floor’s diversity and decided to “create a tea cup, and call it the DiversiTEA Cup in which residents would have the opportunity to write their identities on a tea bag,” Aguiar said. It was not long before Aguiar returned to the newly designed bulle-
“Regardless of your sexual orientation, gender, race, religious beliefs, class, and disability, you are valued and loved. You are wanted.” tin board and found an anti-LGBTQ+ slur written on one of the tea bags. Specifically, the slur targeted the gay community, and Aguiar said, “This did make me extremely upset, because I, myself, identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and for a resident to write that really struck a chord with me.” Aguiar responded to the vandalism with a power-
ful Facebook post by saying “If you think [the hate speech] is going to tear me or others down, you have another thing coming… There is nothing wrong with me. I will never stop being who I am.” Aguiar is now promoting the student body to be more open and accepting to everyone at the university. His hope is that students, faculty, and staff take a stand for unjustice and realize words can hurt. The response to Aguiar’s Facebook post was positive and healing for him, he said “I received tremendous support from much of my friends on campus via Facebook, text messages and in person. I also received support from my own residents living on floor four in Riverview.” Aguiar said he wants students to know that the support was representative of his experience here at UMass Lowell. He says that he has had a great support system through several administrations at the university and through student clubs as well. Despite this incident, he still actively believes the university is a diverse and accepting place. But, Aguiar knows that the job is not done. Aguiar is working with the Office of Multicultural Affairs to create an LGBTQ+ Resources Office to serve members of the student body that identify with the LGBTQ+ community. Aguiar said, “The staff [at Office of Multicultural Affairs] have been super supportive in trying to make this happen… I’ve been lucky enough to attend a university where these positives are out weighing the negatives.” Aguiar wants to address the student body by saying “Regardless of your sexual orientation, gender, race, religious beliefs, class, and disability, you are valued and loved. You are wanted. ‘Stay Fearless.’ – Joe Di Mauro, Mr. Gay Rhode Island.”
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
Page 4
Febuary 7, 2017
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Underrated classics: ‘V for Vendetta’ Owen Johnson Connector Staff
In memory of John Hurt, 1940 2017. Set in dystopian England in the late 2020s, the Norsefire party has turned the United Kingdom into a fascist police state. The party, currently presided over by High Chancellor Adam Sutler (John Hurt), comes under attack by a masked vigilante known only by his alias of V (Hugo Weaving). The ongoing theme of the film is that while people will change and die, an idea will live on. This is displayed most through the title character of V. Other than a mild amount of backstory and giving the audience a sense of his intelligent and personality, there is not much else that is said about who he is. No name, no information about who he was before the rise of the Norsefire party, not even his face is ever shown. This is alright and this is good, because V is supposed to represent an idea, so the less that is known about him the better. All of the elements dealing with the fascist government were well executed, and most of the credit for that goes to screenwriters Lilly and Lana Wachowski. There is a lot of information spread out about the world the
film is set in and why things are the way they are. It would have been very easy for these details to just get forgotten about while writing, but all of it gets incorporated. All of the dialogue
plicated or simplified. When High Chancellor Sulter speaks to his council, it is a scenario that is completely believable and has probably happened in government systems like that of the
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
“V for Vendetta” graphic novelist Alan Moore denounced the film upon its release for its radical changes to the source material.
from the scenes featuring members of the Norsefire party is very organic and believable without being overly com-
Norsefire party. The only major faults with the story are a number of coincidences
Connector Contributor
Internet culture moves very quickly. Jokes and people that were huge one year can fade into total obscurity by the next, but there are some who maintain relevance long after their initial debut. Neil Cicierega is one such person, most well-known for his creation of the “Potter Puppet Pals” series nine years ago. They are still his most popular works by far, but he has remained active ever since with videos like the infamous “BRODYQUEST.” Over the past two years though, he has developed in a more musical direction with his “Mouth” trilogy of mashup albums. “Mouth Moods” is Cicierega’s third mashup album after “Mouth Silence” and “Mouth Sounds.” It starts off with the explosive track “The Starting Line,” featuring samples from no less than 16 different songs. It is not hard to find songs online that mix two tracks, usually taking the vocals of one and the instruments of the other, but “The Starting Line” has much more ambitious goals. To do this, it draws on a pool of common music that just about everybody knows, from tracks like “One Week” by Barenaked Ladies to Cake’s “The Distance” and many more. Not everyone will know every track, but everyone should know at least a couple. The song achieves some great hu-
mor because it takes songs common and familiar and places them in a bizarre mismatched collage with each other. Vocals from Foo Fighters, Montell Jordan, Smash Mouth and more get laid over each other in a way that creates something strangely new from music that is well-known. The choice of such ubiquitous tracks is essential to the song. Had less popular tracks been picked, then the song would have come out as a totally incomprehensible hodge podge. Not only are popular tracks used, but the most iconic moments from them are taken to make them easily recognizable from the overall mixture. Also, the song is expertly mixed together. There are never too many vocals being combined that cannot be understood, and less dense moments punctuate the song to prevent the listener from being overwhelmed. Mixing in a way that does not sound discordant or messy is a quite difficult task and doing it on the level of “The Starting Line” is truly impressive. It is not hard to find mashups online of just two songs that do not sound quite right because of a lack of attention to subtle details. Slight changes in pitch, small shifts in tempo, equalizing of the audio, all of this is necessary to a good mashup and it is all on display throughout the album as a whole, but especially in the opening track. After this strong opening, the album shifts into less ambitious, although still quite well made, territory. “Floor
Corn,” “AC/VC,” “Revolution #5” and “Dear Dinosaur” all rely on simple but extreme examples of juxtaposition using a couple of well-known pieces. “300 MB” uses a particularly strange mix of a woefully outdated advertisement for the “massive” storage space of a 300 MB hard drive with The Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).” The majority of the album uses a straightforward formula of taking a couple songs with very different tonal feelings for comedy, but with enough similarity in musical structure that the mix actually sounds good. “T.I.M.E.” is an excellent example of this, taking Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” and mixing it with Hanz Zimmer’s “Time.” The vocals of “Y.M.C.A.” have never sounded so dramatic and grandiose as they do in Cicirega’s work. There are some tracks though which seek humor through other means, such as “Bustin” and “Tiger.” They swap the lyrics around within a single song to create an absurd albeit still somewhat coherent narrative, much the same way as the popular remix “Mom’s Spaghetti” does. Then there is “Annoyed Grunt.” “Annoyed Grunt” takes after “The Starting Line,” but goes in an even stranger direction. Rather than a focus on popular lines and words, it focuses on popular “noises” instead. It has the infamous “oh wa ah ah ah” from Disturbed’s “Down With the Sickness,” “mmms” of Mungo Jerry’s “In The
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
Page 5
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ‘Unfortunate Events:’ Despair told in a refreshing style
throughout the movie. They are certainly for thematic reasons as opposed to needing to propel the story along. A number of backstory elements that seem coincidental turn out to be part of a connected agenda, thus making the coincidences unimportant and not detrimental in the grand scheme of the story. While the movie is very well written and has a lot of well executed ideas going around, the incredible acting jobs by most of the performers helps elevate the film. While Weaving is very convincing as the intelligent and rebellious V, Hurt also does a marvelous job. Performers who are also worth noting are Stephen Fry as Gordon Deitrich, a comedian talk show host, and Stephen Rea, the head police investigator of the Norsefire party. The only person who is bad in her role is Natalie Portman, whose acting is completely unconvincing and actually hurts the scenes she is in. “V for Vendetta” is another film about a dystopian future where people revolt against their malevolent system, though it makes up for its unoriginal and overused genre with ease and feels like an original take. Final Grade: A
Neil Cicierega brings comedy with ‘Mouth Moods’ Connor Kennedy
Febuary 7, 2017
Summertime,” and more all bound together overall by the Tim Allen “aeuughs!” from Home Improvement. It really makes one aware of the little, sometimes silly seeming parts of a song that really stick with people. This almost universal knowledge of the strangest little bits of songs makes them a valuable common source for jokes ranging from terrible puns to preposterous remixes like this one. The album overall does suffer from the limitations of being based wholly on remixing the work of others. It depends on the listener’s familiarity with the material being used in order to really drive home the absurdity of its combinations. Its greatest strength is the power of this commonly shared pool of music, so deeply ingrained in American culture, but may also be one of its greatest weaknesses. It is like a great topical comedy routine: hilarious in its own right, but unlikely to ever become a classic. The music also relies heavily on the element of surprise as much humor, and thus it will likely become stale after a few listens. Some may dismiss it as nothing more than a piece of goofy nonsense, and that may be true, but it is a remarkably well crafted piece of goofy nonsense. This music has the power to unite people, at least for a moment, not through a common code or creed, but through a shared knowledge of top 40s hit songs that have been played incessantly on the road for years.
►Continued from front page the episodes feel entirely too long. Each book accounts for two episodes split into parts one and two. At times, it feels as though the story of each book could be told in one episode, but the length does allow the viewer to better understand the characters. The Baudelaire children, Violet (Malina Weissman), Klaus (Louis Hynes) and their baby sister Sunny (Presley Smith), find themselves orphaned after their parents supposedly die in a house fire. The story revolves around their lives after they are placed into the care of Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris), who is only after the Baudelaire family fortune. The trouble for Count Olaf is that the fortune can only be inherited when Violet “comes of age” at age 18, which is not for many years. This leads Olaf to his attempts to work around the system. Neil Patrick Harris’ portrayal of Olaf is one of the best aspects of the series. Olaf himself is an actor and as he tries to get the children back on multiple occasions, he assumes various costumes and voic-
es, which Harris depicts wonderfully. Other wellknown actors make small appearances, including Colbie Smulders and Will Arnett as the children’s parents. Courtesy of Netflix
“A Series of Unfortunate Events” is based on the 13book long series of the same name.
Joan Cusack portrays Justice Strauss, Count Olaf ’s neighbor, who cares about Violet and Klaus and despite wanting to help them, ends up uninten-
tionally hindering their plans. Aasif Mandvi shines as Montgomery Montgomery (yes, that is his real name), another guardian of the children who also shows a deep affection for them. Overall, the fantasy imagery paired with the distinct style choices for each house contribute nicely to the uniqueness of the storyline. It brings some joy to an otherwise depressing plot. Each book finds the children staying with a different guardian, and the color and tone of each household perfectly match each respective person with whom the Baudelaire’s are staying. Although a new series might seem a bit unnecessary, “A Series of Unfortunate Events” is put together very well and the acting is superb. One major downside is that the episodes feel superfluously long, but perhaps that is just to accurately convey all parts of the books. There are plans for more seasons, which will provide a fresh take on the remaining books in a way that has not been visually created before.
Thirsty First Grill hosting refugee charity drive With all the political and social conflict surrounding refugees entering the United States, it can be difficult to know how just one person can help. On Feb. 10, Thirsty First Tavern & Grill is giving you the chance to harness people power. Featuring local talents The Party Band, The Only Things, Don’t Blow It, and Sechion, come and eat, drink, dance, and contribute to a donation which will purchase grocery store gift cards for the International Institute in Lowell. The International Institute works to resettle refugees and offers services such as language classes, residential placement, and financial and food aid. Thirsty First will be donating 10 percent of all revenue made after 8 p.m. toward the purchase of grocery store gift cards. This is important because emergency food stamps and regular food stamp services offered to refugees can often fall short of providing needed supplies to needy families. These donations play an important part in the
food security of refugees escaping precarious situations around the world. Donations will also be accepted on site. Cash and credit accepted. Follow the Twitter hashtag #peoplepower for links to a GoFundMe page which will be live during the whole set. There is no cover charge, just bring yourself, friends, and heart to be part of a solution to the often difficult reality of being a refugee in the United States. For more information on the International Institute, visit their website at https://iine.org/community-page/2016/5/29/lowell . WHERE: Thirsty First Tavern & Grill 280 Central Street Lowell, Massachusetts WHEN: February 10 - 8 p.m. to close WHO: The Party Band, The Only Things, Don’t Blow It, Sechion For more information on the event, or to get involved, contact Al Gentile at alex.gentile422@gmail.com.
Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons - DFID: UK Department for International Development
The Syrian Refugee Crisis, along with several other refugee situations around the world, have displaced millions of people.
‘Voyager:’ A beautiful journey into self-introspection Hannah Manning Connector Editor
It only took Fleece until their second studio album to branch out and get ambitious, and the result was dazzling. “Voyager,” released on Jan. 19, is a concept album that addresses a question that haunts many: if you could go back in time to speak to your younger self, what would you say? “Voyager” follows the journey of frontman and lead vocalist Matthew Rogers speaking to his closeted younger self. The album confronts the often-crippling feelings of alienation and uncertainty that come with being a young and unsure gay person. It is certainly a departure for the Montreal-based group, which first attracted popular attention with their video “How to Make an Alt-J Song,” a light and casual parody that poked fun at indie rock titans Alt-J. Marrying indie rock with psychedelia and jazz, Fleece bring a refreshing perspective to the indie
genre. For “Voyager,” the group leans harder towards the psychedelic sides, as showcased in the terrific percussion at the beginning of “What You’ve Done.” The 10-track album features two instrumentals, including the dazzling “Voyager,” which is just over two minutes of synth-laden ecstasy. The second instrumental track, “Voyager (By the Sea)” is a delicately arranged and soothing piece of music. Rogers’s vocals sail over the music, provided by his own keyboard, Ethan Soil’s drumwork and Gabe Miller’s bass guitar. Their approach to the subject matter creates moments of dazzle, especially in the climax to “Under the Light.” “Under the Light” stands as one of the strongest tracks and is a powerful opening to a strong album. Another highlight song is “Fried Eggs,” the first single from the album, which is upbeat and steady that showcases Soil’s percussion and Rogers’s vocals. Fleece does well with sticking to a theme for an
album and are able to dovetail their unique sound into the deeply personal concept. While “Voyager” is written about Rogers’ experience as a gay man, the themes presented in the music resonate deeply with listeners and serves as a cathartic listening experience. “Why this sudden wave upon the night / I should be alright / But seven years I wondered / Wondered how I could change my ways,” a set of lyrics from the beautiful “Riverside,” can speak to anyone who has grappled with deep uncertainty and dysphoria. But it also resonates with anyone who has struggled with Rogers’s specific feelings. This strong sophomore release makes one curious to see where the group will go next musically, and one can also hope that their already high level of artistry will continue to rise. “Voyager” can be found on Apple Music, Fleece’s Bandcamp and Spotify. Final grade: A
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
Page 6
February 7, 2017
CAMPUS LIFE
Be ‘World Ready’ by studying language Katrina Desrosiers Connector Editor
In a diverse world, learning a language and gaining an understanding of a new culture is essential for obtaining a well-rounded education at UMass Lowell. The Department of World Languages and Cultures provides plenty of study abroad opportunities for students, and within the department a community of foreign language blossoms. Department Chair and Associate Professor Dr. Carole Salmon said students at UMass Lowell can declare an additional major or minor in a language as late as their junior year. For students who are interested in majoring in a language, the department has four options. Students can choose between French, Spanish, a combination of French and Spanish or a combination of Spanish and Italian. With any of these tracks, students will receive a Bachelors of Arts in World Languages and Cultures, said Dr. Salmon. “So if you major in just French or Spanish, it’s 36 credits within the same language. If you do an Italian/ Spanish or French/Spanish [major] you [take] 18 credits for each language. So it’s basically as if you were going to have two minors,” she said. In all, UMass Lowell offers courses in eight languages: Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, she said. Students can also complete
their language requirement by taking a 3000 level seminar in Latin taught only in the fall semester. “It’s hard to think of reasons why students shouldn’t [study a language] because I think everyone should,” said instructor of French studies Danielle Boutwell. “[Studying] a language gives students a well-rounded education because they are exposed to new cultures, different ideas, ways of thinking, different political systems and everything new they haven’t yet discovered.” French and Spanish remain to be the most popular languages, said Dr. Salmon, but since the introduction of the Italian minor and the Italian/ Spanish major option, the number of students has grown. Dr. Guilia Po DeLisle, lecturer in Italian studies, said an end goal is for Italian studies to be its own major. “It’s a good thing that students are able to learn both languages. We had students in the past that were majoring in Italian/Spanish or just minoring that were involved in study abroad and had the possibility to learn both languages very well,” said Dr. Po DeLisle. Some students may be intimidated by studying a language at a collegiate level because of the speaking component in upper level classes, said Boutwell. Matthew Tallent, junior political science and French major, said a solution to this can be found by studying abroad.
“Going to a foreign country and immersing yourself in the language you want to learn is unlike any other experience,” he said. “Not only did my grasp of the French language grow, but so did my confidence in using it.” When students study abroad, they also have the chance to receive credits. Dr. Salmon was the first in her family to live and study abroad, and she says that it is essential for language majors and minors to really learn and understand the language and culture. Within the department, study abroad opportunities are plentiful. Students can spend part of their summer, one semester or a full year abroad, said Dr. Salmon. Over the summer, the department holds at least two faculty-led programs in an international country. This coming summer, one of the faculty-led study abroad programs will be held in Cadiz, Spain under leadership of Dr. Maria Matz, associate professor of Latin American studies and culture. Participating students can take three to 15 credits towards their Spanish major or minor. “The University has come together to develop the study abroad experience and it’s been a really nice collaboration between our department, the college and the University,” said Dr. Salmon. For example, in summer 2016 the art history program collaborated with the French program to study abroad in Paris; students who studied abroad
took both art history and French language classes at a university in France. Isabel-Baez and Tallent earned six credits toward their French majors in Paris under leadership of Dr. Salmon and Professor Cadero-Gillete. “If I could make it the whole time speaking French to everyone, then the classroom becomes nothing more than practice: practice for real life and the way I’d like to use French in the future,” said Tallent. The future for students who study a language is bright, said Dr. Salmon, and many industries are inclined to hire possible candidates who speak more than one language. Options for bilingual students include teaching, working for the federal government, non-profit organizations, health professions, translating, working for an airline and more; the list is endless, said Dr. Matz. “Working while speaking another language is going to give you an edge that [will] increase your marketability,” she said. Students need to dream bigger, said Tallent, and they need to be prepared for anything after college. “Don’t limit yourself or your career to the Anglophone world. Be the employee who can conduct business in China, or the researcher who can collaborate with France, or the politician who can act as an ambassador to Germany. But above all, do it for yourself.”
Ten student favorite spots to eat in Lowell Marilyn Saha Connector Staff
Sick of dining hall food? Want to try something new? Just hungry right now? These are ten favorite spots to eat as told by the students here at UMass Lowell. Finding amazing food places in Lowell, Mass. sometimes feels like looking for a needle in a haystack comprised fully of needles. There are so many options; where does one begin? Social media allowed for UMass Lowell students to share what their favorite place to eat was. For coffee lovers, there is the Brew’d Awakening Coffeehaus located in downtown Lowell. A large freshly brewed coffee only costs $2.05. Their menu also includes iced drinks, smoothies, salads, breakfast, bagels and pressed sandwiches, as well as delicious pastries. When asked why this coffee house was his favorite, Matthew Clancy simply said, “Chocolate covered strawberry smoothie.” Another notable coffee shop is the Coffee Mill Emporium. Tyler Sherer said, “The Coffee Mill in downtown is the best and cheapest coffee in Lowell.” A large freshly brewed coffee goes for around $1.50 while a cup of chowder goes for $3.75. Those are tough prices to beat. With every great coffee, one needs an even better doughnut. Yes, there is a Dunkin Donuts on practically every corner, but just a short 10-minute walk from Fox Hall, Top Donut offers everything students’ sugar lusting minds can imagine. They even sell giant doughnuts. Particularly tasty are the apple
fritters, highly recommended by fellow student Gal Bejerano. Tori Pimm recommends Espressos, which is conveniently located by the UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center. According to Pimm, they have “really good pizza for pretty cheap.” She also suggests Suppas for the best food after a night out. “They put fries and mozzarella sticks and a bunch of other stuff on their subs.” For the sushi lovers out there, student Alison Coye highly recommends Blue Taleh. Why? “Because I’m a sushi addict, and it’s a convenient four minute drive from Fox Hall,” she said. Another Asian cuisine place recommended was Viet Thai, but when his wallet is feeling a little light, student Ben Schwartzberg recommends Simply Khmer because he said it is “really good and pretty
cheap.” The Eggroll Cafe, located right on North Campus, is also a student favorite. This trendy cafe offers lattes, tea, gourmet coffees, bento meals and of course, signature eggrolls. Student Claire O’Connor recommends the Green Apple Slush Bubble tea from this spot. Last but certainly not least, student Kyle Joaquim recommends the 1981 Ramen Bar located on Merrimack Street, and said, “If you’re going to promote the ramen-eating college student stereotype, you should at least treat yourself to some really good ramen.” Those are .10 potentially new places to try. The 1981 Ramen Bar should beat self made ramen any day.
Courtesy of Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau
Top Donut, located at 700 Aiken Street, Lowell, Mass.
SPORTS
February 7, 2017
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
Page 8
SPORTS Hockey routs New Hampshire ► Continued from front page
one past Wall for the 1-0 score. UMass Lowell soon tallied the equalizer less than 60 seconds later. Senior defenseman Dylan Zink (Madison, Wis.) led the charge down ice after forcing a
Christina Laderoute/Connector
Joe Gambardella scored a power play goal on Saturday night.
Wildcat turnover and dishing it off to junior forward Jake Kamrass (Atlanta, Ga.) who netted the equalizer, 1-1. The remainder of the period favored the River Hawks as they found the back of the net once more at 15:33. Goransson and the power play unit shined to give the team its first lead of the night, 2-1, while marking his fifth score of the season. The two squads traded goals in the second period as the tilt remained a close one score game entering the final period. The River Hawks first added to their lead, 3-1, with a special team’s point by senior forward Joe Gambardella (Staten Island, N.Y.) at 8:53, before New Hampshire’s Matias Cleland made it a 3-2 contest at 18:41 before the final intermission. The River Hawks produced their best offensive period of the
year with five goals in the third period, including three goals in a five-minute span. Junior forward C.J. Smith (Des Moines, Iowa) kicked things off with a tally at 2:36, followed by a pair of goals from forwards Ryan Lohin (Chadds Ford, Pa.) and Nick Master (Broomall, Pa.) at 3:44 and 7:11, respectively, to make it a 6-2 contest. Marin and Kamrass rounded out the scoring in the final two minutes as the River Hawks rolled to a final 8-2 score. The River Hawks return to action with a two-game home slate next weekend at the Tsongas Center. UMass Lowell will host Hockey East foe Boston University on Friday, February 10 at 7:15 p.m. before entertaining Massachusetts on Saturday, Feb. 11 in a 7 p.m. tilt.
River Hawks snap losing streak with 6-4 win over Northeastern Brock Johnson Connector Editor
The UMass Lowell men’s hockey team broke their four-game losing streak on Feb. 3 with a 6-4 win at the Matthews Arena in Boston. The win earned the River Hawks a season split with the Northeastern University Huskies. “It’s nice to be on the winning end for a change here. Our guys have worked hard; they’ve worked probably well enough to earn a few points last weekend but it didn’t happen. To get a few points tonight is a relief,” said UMass Lowell head coach Norm Bazin. Sophomore forward Ryan Dmowski scored the game-winning goal at 14:11 in the third period to put the River Hawks back on top with a score of 5-4. Junior defenseman Tommy Panico’s tape-totape pass found Dmowski wide open in the slot, who then capitalized on the great shooting position. The game was back and forth, with UMass Lowell outshooting Northeastern 26-24. Special teams were a large factor as the River Hawks went 1-2 and the Huskies went 2-3 on the power play. “I didn’t think we played that poorly in the first. We just didn’t get anything to the net. In the second it starting developing,” said coach Bazin. The River Hawks’ senior forward Evan Campbell hit Tanner Pond of Northeastern with some force, resulting in a two minute roughing penalty at 8:14 in the first period. Northeastern’s power play overwhelmed the UMass Lowell defense, resulting in a Northeastern goal for Adam Gaudette at 9:27 to make it 1-0, Huskies. The second goal for Northeastern came at even strength. Tired UMass Lowell defensemen allowed for Northeastern to capitalize, as Matt Filipe scored from the doorstep to make it 2-0 at 11:57. The River Hawks finally found a spot on the scoreboard after killing off a penalty. With some nice puck movement, senior defenseman and captain Michael Kapla found fellow senior defenseman Dylan Zink wide open on the weak side coming on an odd-man rush. Zink might not get to score an easier goal this season.
The River Hawks entered the second period facing 1:38 left on the penalty kill after a first period interference call on Kapla. They were not successful, as Gaudette scored his second goal of the game. After giving up the power play goal, the River Hawks seemed to play with a different attitude. Better passing allowed for the River Hawks to have extended offensive zone possessions and reduced turnovers. Their forecheck began to show good returns as a few ensuing goals came off turnovers. After a penalty on Sam Kurker of Northeastern for slashing, junior forward C.J. Smith scored a power play goal at 2:30 of the second to make it 3-2 Northeastern. It was Smith’s 15th goal of the season. Late in the second period, junior forward Jake Kamrass received a pass in front of the net from junior forward John Edwardh and scored on the backhand. Kamrass’s 10th goal of the season came at 18:05 of the second period, and it was crucial. The goal tied the game at 3-3 as the teams went into the locker room for the second intermission. “That third goal for them was a big goal. If we could have come out of that period 3-2 to start the third, it’s a different situation,” said Northeastern head coach Jim Madigan. While Northeastern won the first period and UMass Lowell the second, the third period was tightly contested. Each team found offensive opportunities and seemed to split zone time evenly. But UMass Lowell scored first at 8:49 of the third. Sophomore forward Connor Wilson put himself on the scoresheet with assists from coming from freshman defenseman Mattias Göransson and junior defenseman Tyler Mueller. Northeastern quickly answered at 10:30 of the third, with Matt Filipe scoring his second goal of the game. “It was an emotional contest… it was a back and forth game. I thought there was a lot of plays made,” said Bazin. But Northeastern’s tally was not enough as Ryan Dmowski answered later on to win the game. An empty netter for freshman forward Kenny Hausinger put the game out of reach for the Huskies.
U P C OM I N G
River Hawk Games Thursday, Feb. 9
7 p.m.
MBB vs. Maine
Thursday, Feb. 9
7 p.m.
WBB at Maine
Friday, Feb. 10
7:15 p.m.S
MHOC vs. BU
Saturday, Feb. 11
1 p.m.
MLAX vs. BU
Saturday, Feb. 11
7 p.m.
MHOC vs. UMass
Sunday, Feb. 12
2 p.m.
WBB vs. Hartford
For more sports information and full game schedules visit goriverhawks.com
Women’s soccer finds new head coach UMass Lowell Athletics
LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Senior Associate Athletic Director Sandra Niedergall announced the appointment of Francesco D’Agostino as the new head coach of the River Hawks’ women’s soccer program on Wednesday, becoming the sixth coach in program history. “Coach D’Agostino’s passion for the players and the sport itself along with his successful record on the field proved to the committee that he was the coach for this position,” explained Senior Associate Athletic Director Sandra Niedergall. “We look forward to the growth and success this program will have under his leadership.” D’Agostino recently concluded his third season as the head coach for the Boston Breakers Reserve Team of the Women’s Professional Soccer League. In his tenure as head coach, the squad has produced three consecutive undefeated regular seasons, 2014-2016, and is coming off an undefeated National Championship Season. The Boston Breakers finished as National Semifinalists in 2015 and were crowned Regional Champions for the first time in D’Agostino’s reign. In addition to his three consecutive New England Championship seasons, D’Agostino has coached 20 WPSL All-Star selections and has seen 12 players sign professional contracts around the world, including five in the National Women’s Soccer League. “I am very excited for this opportunity and I can’t wait to get started,” said D’Agostino. “This has been something I have wanted for a while, to be a collegiate Head Coach and start something with some of the people I have always talked about beginning a program with. I have to thank Christian (Figueroa) and Bob (Thompson) for the experience and success we had in the men’s program that got me to this point. I would also like to thank the hiring committee, as they were very clear with what they expected and provided me with an opportunity to showcase what I can do. I am excited to get it going.” The Longmeadow, Mass. native first joined the UMass Lowell staff in 2014 as the assistant soccer coach and head recruiter for the men’s soccer team. This past season, D’Agostino helped guide The River Hawks to their best finish in program history with a 13-1-2 clip. Additionally, the squad finished the season ranked No. 11 in the NCAA Poll and #3 in the RPI after winning the university’s first America East Regular Season Championship. Following the successful campaign, he and his fellow coaches were named the America East Coaching Staff of the Year.