The Connector - March 7, 2017

Coffee and Cotton adds satisfaction to studying â–ş Page 6

THE UMASS LOWELL

Serving the Student Body Since 1976

March 7, 2017

SGA presidential, trustee candidates take on hard questions at debate

In This Issue Steven Koltai talks peace and entrepreneurship

Andrew Sciascia

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Connector Editor

‘Logan’ brings critical acclaim

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Gambardella named Hobey Baker finalist â–ş Page 8

Final River Hawk Scores Team

Score

Overall Record

Men’s Lacrosse at Monmouth

L 7-6

1-4

Baseball vs. Notre Dame

W 8-0

4-5

Baseball vs. Dayton

L 13-8 3-5

Men’s Lacrosse vs. Fairfield

L 8-7

1-3

River Hawks power through early-season stumbles Ryan Delaney Connector Contributor

For the River Hawks, the 2016-2017 hockey season was the ultimate tale of two halves. It began with a two game home series against the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs and a chance to earn some national recognition, but UMass Lowell ended up coming away with two ties.

This started what would become a very rocky first half of the season, one in which they were unable to string some wins together and had trouble beating the teams they should have beaten.

After a win against Omaha in Nebraska, the River Hawks looked like they had finally found their stride, but this was quickly turned around by a loss to Notre Dame on the backend of a two game series. The following series against the University of Connecticut Huskies similarly ended with a tie and a loss.

At this point, however, the entire season began to shift. Led by the outstanding play of Tyler Wall in net, the River Hawks would only lose four more games for the rest of the season.

Adversity in sports has the ability to improve a team, and that was exactly the case with UMass Lowell.

Along with the great play of Wall, the offense also started to click. On Dec. 9, in the first game of a series against Merrimack, the

With Student Government Association’s election season coming to its close this week, the candidates for president, vice president and student trustee have been all over campus establishing a dialogue with students and doing everything they can to promote their platform before elections on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 7 and 8.

In their final push, the candidates took on questions from the student body, peers and faculty in a formal debate Monday, Feb. 28. “It makes sure that we have a transparent process,� said outgoing SGA President James Christopher, citing the impor-

Matt Dwyer/Connector

SGA presidential candidates Rob Callahan and Lisa Degou discuss campaign topics.

tance of an open debate in the SGA election process at UMass Lowell.

The debate was hosted by Student Activities and SGA and moderated

by Professor Francis Talty, assistant dean of the

College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and former student trustee at UMass Lowell.

The debate began with presidential candidates Rob Callahan and Lisa Degou, whose running

â–ş See “Debate,â€? page 3

‘Drop Dead!’ blends comedy with metatheatre Jason Ounpraseuth Connector Contributor

A sold-out crowd was perplexed and left with laughs after watching the murder-mystery comedy “Drop Dead!� put on by the OffBroadway Players Friday night at UMass Lowell’s Comley-Lane Theater. “Drop Dead!� was written by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore

and directed by JT Turner.

The main concept of the play is that, while on the surface the story follows the wealthy Barrington family who are attempting to solve the murder of their late father, the plot is actually focused on a fictional group of actors who are attempting to perform their own rendition of the fictional play “Drop Dead!� while also trying to

â–ş See “Hockey,â€? page 7

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

mates are Josie Garfield and Brian Madigan, respectively.

The presidential candidates were both given time for opening and closing statements, along

Courtesy of Jason Ounpraseuth

Actors from “Drop Dead!� depict a scene from the comedy play.

solve a series of bizarre murders that are occurring both during rehearsal as well as opening night of the show itself.

The whole scope of the play throughout the two acts felt so much bigger than what was presented thanks to the little nuances in dialogue, in the actors and in ambience.

The characters may be inept actors, but the actual cast was far from it. Each actor played their respective character within the show as well as that character’s role in the show-within-a-show very seamlessly. There were little nuances in the dialogue and in the actor’s performances making the whole scope of the play feel so much bigger then it normally would have been.

The show also has a lot of fun playing with the concept of a fictional play going horribly wrong. To give an example, Brent Reynolds/Alexander Barrington in the play’s play would have a â–ş See “Drop Dead,â€? page 4

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Page 2

March 7, 2017

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS Know Your History and Shape the Future Alex DePalma UMass Lowell Student

Dear editor, I write to remind my fellow students of our obligation to express dissent against the xenophobia, militarism, and economic elitism of the Trump administration. Within a few weeks, the president has confirmed his loyalty to corporate interests by appointing an oil industry insider to head the EPA, an editor of a white nationalist web publication to the National Security council, and a billionaire proponent of education privatization to lead our public schools. Trump intends to cut funding to public programs helping the poorest among us while lowering taxes on the wealthiest. He has clearly stated his support for increased military spending, which can only indicate another expensive invasion over-

seas. He willfully ignores the threat of global warming for the benefit of the fossil fuel industry and sends us closer to ecological disaster.

All these decisions are rooted in a horrifically skewed view of our history that considers the poor the authors of their own misfortunes, blames the oppressed for their murder by the police, and sees no contradiction in overthrowing foreign governments for the cause of liberty. A man like Trump has no notion of historical cause and effect, he sees only the seductive fantasy of the American dream that spares him the responsibility of knowing.

Our vision of America must be rooted in real history, especially in the struggle of ordinary people to achieve safety and prosperity against the will of those in power. We must remember that it was the strength of labor unions

and strikes that forced government to concede the eighthour working day, workplace safety standards, and the minimum wage. We must acknowledge that America has always been divided by wealth, whether it was in the form of plantation slavery, industrial production, or banking institutions. We must admit the violations our government has inflicted abroad upon the people of Guatemala, Iran, Vietnam, and countless others by overthrowing governments to suit the needs of American business. Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States� offers a comprehensive overview of our history from the perspective of activist movements.

We cannot blind ourselves to the injustices of our society. The fight will come to us directly, whether it is in the form of stagnant wages, revoked visas, rising sea levels,

or state-sanctioned violence.

The only group who stands to benefit from Trump’s policies is the ultra-wealthy, who make up less than 1% of our population. We can generate widespread opposition to Trump and put pressure on our representatives to do the same.

The first step to organization is talking to a friend and

agreeing to take action together, whether that be by contacting your legislator, organizing a rally, or distributing pamphlets. We don’t have to do this alone, and we don’t have to start from scratch. The Indivisible Guide at www. indivisibleguide.com offers a practical introduction to forming a group and influencing federal government.

AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

President Donald Trump addresses a crowd.

THE UMASS LOWELL

Serving the Student Body Since 1976

UMASS LOWELL CONNECTOR

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

Staff NICK BRAMANTE OWEN JOHNSON CONNOR KENNEDY JESSICA KERGO CHRISTOPHER ROMANO

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March 7, 2017

Page 3

NEWS

Former Hillary Clinton adviser speaks about peace Jessica Kergo Connector Staff

Today, many developing countries are struggling to combat issues like unemployment and crime. UMass Lowell’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, are doing their part to empower students with the tools and skills to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to serious issues that concern both the UMass Lowell community and the entire world.

On Thursday, March 2, business students crowded in Alumni Hall to hear former Senior Advisor for Entrepreneurship in Secretary Clinton’s State Department Steven R. Koltai’s presentation of “Peace Through Entrepreneurship.” The discussion promoted the concept of investing in startup culture to create security and development in other countries.

Koltai, who spent most of his career working in the media and entertainment industry with Warner Brothers Studios, explained how his parents’ history contributed to his interest in entrepreneurship. He said, “I was born in Budapest and both my parents spent time in concentration camps, so I spent most of my life thinking, ‘What happens when things go really wrong?’”

He went on to explain how economic issues and joblessness are a driving factor in most domestic and foreign policy and that the best way to create jobs is through entrepreneurship.

While at the State Department, Koltai created and ran the Global Entrepreneurship Program, a significant factor in former President Obama’s strategy for bettering the relationship between the United States and Muslim communities. “There is a direct connection between joblessness and violence,” said Koltai.

Koltai referred to entrepreneurs as a “bridge class society.”

“They give a chance to those not born to privilege,” said Koltai. “It’s also the way you create the greatest wealth whether it be personally or nationally.”

Koltai outlined his three-step treatment process for entrepreneurship in developing countries: diagnosing, designing a strategy and implementing the strategy. He also touched on four basic ways to solve the problem from within the United States. He says the United States should spend its economic development money in a smarter way by redirecting existing funds to entrepreneurship promotion motion programs, consolidate entrepreneurship development effort under a single office or agency, and reform

its policies.

Sophomore political science major and business minor David Todisco said he was thoroughly intrigued at the successful repeat entrepreneur’s speech. “I found the way he presented entrepreneurship as such a vital and crucial aspect to any society that wants to thrive very inspiring,” said Todisco.

In his talk, Koltai explained how important he saw it for governments of underdeveloped countries to fund entrepreneurs as a way to create jobs.

“It was an idea I had never considered before,” said Todisco.

Koltai is currently the managing director of Koltai & Co. LLC and a guest scholar at the Brookings Institution. Just last year, he published his book “Peace Through Entrepreneurship: Investing in a startup Culture for Security and Development,” which was available to students for signatures at the event.

Management Professor Ashwin Mehta explained the relationship between Koltai’s words and the UMass Lowell Manning School of Business’ Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation program; a two-week, multidisciplinary exchange program in entrepreneurship and innovation during which students can earn up to six credits immersed in workshops, team

projects, visits to technology companies and networking with local entrepreneurs in other countries.

According to Mehta, the Manning School of Business has partnerships with four universities for this program in India, China, Thailand and Guyana. The exchange started in 2014 when a group of UMass Lowell students were brought to India. By the end of this summer, 600 students will have participated in the exchange.

Former program participant and senior international business major Sophia Dearaujo reflected on her experience with the program. “We just went to India this past winter and we got to learn all about how to make it a better place,” she said.

Since her return, Deataujo has begun a research internship with Wall ProAll photos courtesy of Jennifer fessor Mehta. “We are trying to raise awareness in the business field that you can help make the world a better place and still make a profit,” said Deataujjo.

The college has upcoming exchanges to and from China this summer, and to and from India this coming winter. Students interested in the program are encouraged to contact Professor Mehta.

SGA presidential and trustee debate challenges candidates ►Continued from front page

with answering various questions from the student body, Talty and one another.

Each candidate was faced with tough questions regarding Aramark, UMass Lowell’s foodservice provider, SGA e-board stipends, their track records in student government and even whether UMass Lowell should be willing to adopt the title of sanctuary campus.

“Holding our members accountable, SGA is here to support our student body and work for you. I want to designate club liaisons so there is communication between clubs and SGA, and eliminate stipends to SGA executive board to redirect those funds back to the clubs on our campus,” said Callahan, junior political science and criminal justice major and chair of the SGA Academic Affairs Committee.

Callahan went on to establish himself as a candidate with a proven track-record, having successfully advocated for increased safety measures on crosswalks around campus and taking initiative on complaints and suggestions filed in a survey he sent out to the

student body.

Despite finding common ground with Callahan on issues such as UMass Lowell becoming a sanctuary campus or increased safety measures on campus, Degou set herself apart by advocating for SGA E-board stipends to remain as incentive for SGA’s board to keep their jobs representing the student body as their main priority.

Degou went on to establish her platform as centered around, “maximizing student success… I want to ad-

dress student relations with the Solutions Center… We want to expand the Co-Op Program… and provide a 24hour study space on campus.”

Next came the trustee debate between incumbent Lindy Reed and Dylan Lambert, a transfer student running with no past experience as an SGA Senate member.

“I have dedicated my entire career here at UMass Lowell to the student body… I think it is [an] advantage that I know how the Board of Trustees works. I can improve upon

initiatives that I have already begun… I am always available, I am open to any issues or comments,” said Reed.

She often cited her lengthy record, not only of being the voting member of the student trustees for the entire UMass system last year and working to keep tuition and fees low, but also of her initiatives to increase transparency between her position and the student body. She mentioned her “Trustee Talks,” which addressed the state of all affairs related to her position

Matt Dwyer/Connector

Presidential candidates Rob Callahan and Lisa Degou debating important topics.

via Facebook on a monthly basis, where the student body could readily access them.

On the other hand, her op-

“SGA is here to support our student body.” ponent cited his lack of experience specific to the position as a positive, believing firmly that his skills as a communicator and loyalty to his peers at UMass Lowell would allow him to achieve transparency and success on behalf of the student body.

“I owe a lot to the university. I feel that I could do a great job representing everyone here… No matter what the obstacle or circumstance, I must vote for the students.

Even if it means voting against the broad interests of university higher-ups,” said Lambert.

Elections occur online on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 7 and 8 at uml.edu/ elections.

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March 7, 2017

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Connector Staff

When it comes to the X-Men movies, the formula seems to be that of every trilogy they do, there is one good one and two not as good ones. In the first trilogy that movie was “X2,” in the prequel trilogy it was “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” and with the Wolverine centric movies, “Logan” is that movie.

Set several decades after the last time Logan (Hugh Jackman) has been seen, mutants have all but vanished.

Logan and Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) find themselves as guardians for a young mutant girl named Laura (Dafne Keen), whom they must help reach a potential safe haven for mutants.

Starting off, the progression of everything is handled very well. There is

no exposition dump where all of the details about what has been happening in between this movie and the last movie, but enough details are given where the audience would be able to figure out what happened. On top of that, both Logan and Xavier’s characters have aged believably, and it is not stretch to see these guys as older version of the characters from previous films.

With the exception of the villains who are a bit underdeveloped, every other major character is well written, and all of the characters are well portrayed by their actors. Jackman and Stewart give their best performances of the X-Men franchise in this movie, and Keen does a good portrayal of her character Laura.

The movie fluctuates with who it wants the villain to be. At the begin-

ning, the villain that is established named Donald Pierce (Boyd Holbrook) seems like he is the main antagonist, until it is revealed he is just a henchman for a man named Zander Rice (Richard E. Grant). Rice comes out of nowhere half way through the movie, and due to that it feels like there is never a consistent villain for the heroes to worry about.

The R rating of the movie definitely fits with the kind of character Wolverine is and works with the established tone of the movie, though it does feel like it is going overboard at some points. For the most part, the blood, gore, and cursing that earned the movie its R rating all fits. There are a few cases where it feels like the amount of gore becomes superfluous in order to just have it because an R rated movie can.

That being said, the action that is in the movie is probably the best that there has been in the whole series. It feels very raw and real, it is well choreographed, and the characters’ age and power is shown through their fighting.

The movie is very slow but in a good way. It is slow moving as it is less of a typical super hero action movie like all of the other X-Men movies have been, and there is more of a focus on Logan’s character. There is constant story and character progression so that it never feels boring, and when the action scenes do come around they feel well deserved.

“Logan” is far from perfect, but when it comes to ending a long running series, it does its best and its successes greatly outweigh its flaws.

Final Grade: B+

bama Miller, and the dimmer lights would indicate that the

Courtesy of Jason Ounpraseuth

The Off-Broadway Players previously hosted a performance of “Dog Sees God” last December.

The heavy lighting would indicate that actor characters

ducer P.G. “Piggy” Banks, and original Playwright Ala-

play within the play is going on. However, as it continues

to take victims and the body count begins to exceed those of the characters in the fictional play, the lighting shifts prove to be mute as the line between the fictional play and the actors performing it slowly fades, much to the terror of the characters.

“Drop Dead!” delivered on its premise of a murder-mystery comedy and surpassed those expectations. There were many great laughs and visual gags, and the play brought an interesting mystery that paid off and did not leave anything out for the audience’s enjoyment.

Final Grade: A Screen:

were interreacting with Director Victor Le Pewe, Pro-

Early Music Concert offers window into medieval culture Proofreader:

of a young woman waiting on the shores of Vigo, a port town on the coast of Spain, to await her lover.

The ensemble utilized a banjo, double bass, ukelele, guitar and numerous percussive intruments to evoke a medieval feel, as well as compliment the two singers, Tošic and soprano Cristi Catt. Takaaki Masuko was masterful on percussion, and the musical stylings of Richie Sterns on banjo and Corey DiMario on the double bass worked quite well together. The strongest points of the night were often moments in which Masuko, Sterns and DiMario were given space to play and construct the atmosphere of a Portugal from long ago.

The TellTale Crossing Ensemble will be touring universities around the region, sharing their archeological work with students. “I think it’s great to listen to music you haven’t listened to before, and I dare say that until today the students who were in the recital [Thursday afternoon] had never heard Medieval Portuguese music before,” said Sousa.

IO#: 25917-25917b

Using modern instruments, the TellTale Crossing Ensemble gave UMass Lowell students as well as the general public a chance to be transported into Medieval Portugal with their arrangements of troubadour love songs.

Held in Durgin Concert Hall on Thursday, March 2 at 8 p.m., the concert featured renditions of 12 love songs delivered by the five-piece ensemble. The event has hosted by the Saab-Pendroso Center for Portuguese Culture & Research, Music and World Languages & Cultures Departments and the Medieval & Renaissance Studies Program in conjuction with the BPF/Consulate General of Portugal in Boston. Mezzo-soprano Daniela Tošic referred to the songs as the group’s “archeological work,” using modern intruments to portray old melodies, to dust them up and bring them to life for audiences to enjoy.

The night also featured a theme of multiculturalism, with some Sephardic and Galician love songs

played as well. The ensemble’s rendition of “Et Dodim,” often heard at Jewish weddings, was joyous and one of the night’s highlights.

Dr. Frank Sousa, a Portuguese professor and director of the Saab-Pendroso Center, was instrumental in arranging the event and bringing TellTale Crossing Ensemble to Lowell. He was thrilled about the opportunity to present medieval Portuguese music to the University for the first time. While he says that the University has arranged concerts for contemporary Portuguese music in the past, this is the first occasion in which medieval music has been represented. “It always enriches you when you learn something you didn’t before. So that is really what motivated us to do this… it’s not very often you hear medieval Portugese music anywhere in this country,” said Sousa.

The concert was comprised of two sets, the first featuring numerous songs celebrating love of all kinds from religious love to pining for a love from long ago. The final set of the show featured the group’s rendition of the Cantigas de Amigo, a tale

Size: 10.25˝ x 8˝

Connector Editor

Publication: Media Mate Job# 25917 Mechanical: JB

Hannah Manning

Benjamin St. Pierre Connector Staff

Nayvadius Wilburn, better known as Future, is an Atlanta, Ga. rapper, trap star, auto-tune crooner and polarizing figure - not only in modern rap, but also, in modern music. Some people love him; some others say he is only as good as his beats. Some people say he cannot rap at all, while others say there is more to rapping well than rapping quickly or technically.

Future released two albums in the short time frame of two weeks; on Feb. 17 he released “FUTURE” and on Feb. 24 he released “HNDRXX.” Many may have made the assumption that there would be Future flames to bump in the spring and summertime, especially since there are two albums worth of music.

But, the unexpected happened: both albums are full of fill-in songs and especially in the case of “HNDRXX.” “FUTURE” carries a typical Future sound. It is formulaic trap and some of the beats are pretty good, but here is the main problem – it is essentially 17 tracks and over an hour of the same song. Of course, the beats change up a bit, but there is simply not enough variation between each song to warrant an hour of music. Even cutting

it down to 12 or 13 tracks would still make the entire thing sound the same; there is no experimentation. And even the production and mixing sounds rushed or cheap in some spots.

And “HNDRXX” is another 17 tracks, and an R&B album – an album that Future likely wanted to be the goto spring and summer album, except,

album that is clearly an experiment, if he is trying to do something different sonically, then he has to follow suit lyrically too. Over sparser beats, it would make sense to write better lyrics – if more of the spotlight is on your vocals, it would make sense to make your lyrics and vocals worthy of the spotlight. But Future falls flat.

Courtesy of A1 Recordings

Future has released six studio albums since he began his musical career back in 2012.

well, it is not good. It is very bad. The beats are bad. The singing and vocal deliveries are bad. The lyrics are forgettable, or just bad. It is an experiment gone horribly awry.

Nobody listens to a Future song expecting hard-hitting lyrics, but in an

I do not mind that he is trying to go in a different direction for at least one project (“HNDRXX”), but this direction is clearly not one that suits his strengths. Future’s rapping voice is addictive and deep – it complements gritty beats and gritty lyrics. He is at

his best when he is riding the beat and his voice acts as another instrument; not when the beat is sparse and his bad lyrics take center-stage.

Although he finally left his comfort zone on “HNDRXX,” especially after “FUTURE” (and their sequence was undoubtedly planned out, as he probably wanted to release his “normal” album followed by an “experimental” one), his comfort zone is exactly what makes him such a successful artist. Making boring R&B-rip-offs is not boundary-pushing; it is boring.

It is not good. When Future is at his best, his flow is smooth and his beats are hard-hitting bangers. At his best, his music speaks for itself; the trap comes alive through the darkness that pervades, even if a lot of his songs masquerade as party anthems as well.

That Future is entertaining one.

Future came from a dark place, and his rise to dominance in the Atlanta trap and rap scene is proof of his hard work. If he feels like he has reached his peak and has done all he can do within the norms of trap, then maybe that is why “HNDRXX” is as it is.

But it is not good, and neither is “FUTURE.” Final Grade: D

Getting Ahead

///////////// /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Notes: grsc

also to subvert those expectations as the story progressed.

Page 5

Future, please don’t do this again

‘Drop Dead!’ doesn’t fail to impress ►Continued from front page snow and how horrid it was to him. There is no explanation to why snow has this effect on the character and is never brought up by any of the others, but the fact that there is no explanation is why it is so humorous. In fact, even in the context of the play there is no explanation, as the fictional screenwriter has removed all the scenes that could possibly give context to Alexander’s rants, leaving the audience with an actor screaming in terror over something as simple as snow.

Another highlight of the play was the use of lighting, not only to accentuate what was “real” and “fictional” in the context of the story, but

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Logan’ exits out the ‘X-Men’ series sublimely Owen Johnson

March 7, 2017

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Page 6

March 7, 2017

CAMPUS LIFE

‘Don Jon’ at the center of faculty-led ethics discussion Marilyn Saha Connector Staff

teresting when you watch it and focus on the ethical parts of the plot,” said UMass Lowell freshman Katie An. An attended the film with her friends. When asked what her favorite scene was, she said, “My favorite scenes from ‘Don Jon’ were the church scenes. They were super funny and kind of summed up his feelings about his relationships with each of the women and how his life slowly changed with each one.”

As Hay had hoped, the film turned out to be thought provoking and engaging.

“It made me think about the ethical approach of the movie that I would

not have thought of otherwise if I did not go to the film,” said freshman Jack Favazza.

“I found the movie to be funny but delivered a powerful message about sexuality and friendship,” said freshman Noel Shay, another attendee of the film series.

The philosophical conversations and debates that followed the film were what Professor Heidi Furey hoped for when she created the event.

“I started the philosophy and film series for a couple of reasons. The first was to give students and Lowell community members the chance to engage in philosophy outside of the

As the second showing of the UMass Lowell Philosophy Department’s four-part film series at the Luna Theater, “Don Jon” was shown to a packed house of both UMass Lowell students and Lowell residents.

Following each film in the series, discussions surrounding a philosophical subject were led by various faculty members that chose a film. “Don Jon” turned out to be a laugh inducing and, at times, awkward spectacle.

The film revolves around Jon, a family man and active churchgoer, who is addicted to porn. To him, porn was better than the real deal. His girlfriend broke up with him when she found out about this disturbing fact.

Scenes that displayed Jon’s battle with his addiction would always be followed by a scene of Jon confessing his sins at church while the priest would tell him how many Lord’s Prayers and Hail Marys to recite. He would recite them at the gym. Eventually, after he found the right woman, his addiction to porn lessened.

Dr. Carol Hay lead a discussion on the ethical aspects as well as physical implications surrounding the issue of pornography, as well as analyzed Jon’s character developments.

“I thought the movie was kind of a light and funny way of seeing how people’s morals and values affect the way they go about their life. I know these screenings are for an ethics class, so I can definitely see why it’s so in- Luna Theater located in Mill No. 5 where the philosophy and film series takes place.

classroom,” said Furey.

“A lot of people think of philosophy as an esoteric subject that gets done by the elite in an ivory tower, but it’s actually not. Philosophy is the sort of thing that anyone can and should be involved in and it can be done just as well in the theater as it can in the classroom,” Furey said.

Students agreed that making the trek down town to the Luna Theater was worth it and expressed interest in being there for the next film in the series, “Pulp Fiction,” at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 27.

Courtesy of Luna Theater

Coffee and Cotton: Hidden gem in Mill No. 5 Chrissy Conley Connector Contributor

Students who are looking for an alternative study spot to the libraries on campus can look to a hidden gem within Mill No. 5 known as Coffee and Cotton. This coffee shop has become a library for students because of its quiet nature and the seclusion from the chaos of the university.

“Coffee and Cotton offers a tight knit and artistic atmosphere to provide a quiet vibe for students to go about their studies and daily activities. We also pride ourselves with high quality food and drink for them to enjoy,” said Annabelle Souza, manager of the quaint coffee shop.

The atmosphere that Souza said she looks to provide is noticed by students who visit Coffee and Cotton.

“Coffee and Cotton is a very pleasant place. It’s always calm and the people there are extremely friendly. It’s a great place to get homework done, [go on] a date, [have] a hangout, or just to relax,” said sophomore Carter Hochman.

“I like going to Coffee and Cotton to study because within the time I am there, I see such a unique group of people that filter in and out. From kids, to college students, to older people and sometimes even dogs. It creates a fun and unique environment that puts the libraries to shame,” said junior Sinead O’Callaghan.

O’Callaghan talks about why she prefers Coffee and Cotton over the libraries at UMass Lowell.

“It is a getaway from everyday college routines through a comfortable cup of coffee and art. They also offer exceptional food and coffee options for

the students to enjoy while they diligently complete their work. It’s a great escape from dining hall food,” she said.

Students said they take advantage of the proximity of Coffee and Cotton to the Inn and Conference Center and have become regular customers because they want to explore their college town and what it has to offer.

The ambience that resonates there through the mesmerizing strung up lights, the intricate wooden tables and the inviting fireplace contributes to the shop and its uniqueness. They also have journals that circulate the coffee shop with poems and draw-

ings illustrated by the customers.

In addition, they have a book borrow program in which customers are encouraged to take books from the shelves of the library and then return them when they are done.

Any student looking to explore Lowell and study in a new environment can find enjoyment Coffee and Cotton. It is located at 250 Jackson St. on the fourth floor of Mill No. 5. The hours that the shop operates are Sunday to Wednesday from 7 a.m.-8 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday from 7 a.m10 p.m.

Courtesy of TripAdvisor Coffee and Cotton located in Mill No. 5 has adequate seating for students’ studying needs.

March 7, 2017

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

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SPORTS

Men’s hockey wraps up 2016-17 regular season ► Continued from front page

River Hawks garnered their first of seven consecutive wins, which was the longest active streak in the nation at the time.

The team then hit a bit of a hiccup: being swept by Providence in two hard fought games, followed by losses to both Northeastern and Boston University the following weekend.

“You try not to get too low or too high, and there were a lot of positives to take away from that weekend,” said UMass Lowell assistant coach Cam Ellsworth. “We tried not to let negativity take over and really have a positive outlook on the team and continued to get better.”

Once again, the River Hawks responded to this and began their late season push. In the grittiest and arguably most important win of the season, the River Hawks battled from behind on the road to beat Northeastern University, and they have not lost since.

After beating Boston College in their final regular season game, the River Hawks were in a position to have a share of the Hockey East regular season championship, which was confirmed with a Boston University win over Notre Dame on Saturday night.

UMass Lowell, Boston College and Boston University all split the regular season crown, with the River Hawks receiving the number one seed for the upcoming Hockey East tournament, as they had the most conference wins out of group.

The team relied heavily on their Hobey Baker award candidates: senior forward Joe Garbardella and junior forward C.J. Smith. But since the beginning of the second half, these players have spread the wealth much more in terms of scoring.

Freshman foward Ryan Lohin and junior forwards Jake Kamrass and John Edwardh have been extremely vital to the team’s success.

The River Hawks are not a team that is filled with draft picks or National Hockey League (NHL) prospects that will leave the university after a year or two. This team is made up of players who have may not have been recruited by as many schools as other players around the country, but now have a chip on their shoulder and want to win.

It is comparable to when a 14 or 15 seed will knock off one of the best teams in the nation during March Madness because they are made up of guys who have been there for multiple seasons and are able to take advantage

Christina Laderoute/Connector

The River Hawks finished with a 22-9-3 overall record.

of another team’s inexperience. The difference is the River Hawks have that aspect, but they also have a lot of skill.

Ellsworth also spoke about his thoughts on the season overall. He mentioned that while it is always something to celebrate when the team can win a championship, they know that they are not finished.

Ellsworth went on to discuss how this team compares to some of the oth-

er River Hawk teams he has coached in the past six years that he has been on the staff.

“There’s a lot of good things about this group,” he said. “We have some different things than we’ve had in the past; we have some higher scoring guys and some older defensemen leading us, but at the same time, we pride ourselves on the group that we have and we try to make that stronger every day.”

March 7, 2017

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

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SPORTS

River Hawks’ Joe Gambardella honored as Hobey Baker finalist Andrew Sciascia Connector Editor

In the 2016-17 season the River Hawks not only managed to come out with a share in the Hockey East Regular Season Championship title, alongside Boston College and Boston University, but the River Hawk roster was also given looks for the most prestigious award in college ice hockey: the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.

The award has been granted annually since 1981 to the top NCAA ice hockey player for the strength with which they display the values of “Teamwork. Dedication. Integrity.

Exceptional play. Humility. And, above all, character,” on and off the

ice.

This season not one, but two River Hawks were initially nominated for the award: junior forward C.J. Smith and senior forward Joe Gambardella.

“It’s pretty awesome… How many players are playing college hockey right now, and being one of them it’s obviously a huge honor. You get a lot of thanks and a lot of respect from your parents and family. It’s pretty cool,” said Smith about being named a semifinalist.

With the NCAA thinning the pool just this last week, Gambardella has gone on to become a finalist for the award, which will be presented to its recipient at the close of the NCAA Tournament.

“I think it’s a tremendous honor.

Matt Dwyer/Connector

Senior forward Joe Gambardella put up 45 points in the regular season.

U P C OM I N G

River Hawk Games

But also, I wouldn’t be there without the Wednesday, March 8 3 p.m. WLAX at Army West amazing players that I’ve had the privilege Friday, March 10 9 a.m. SB vs Robert Morris of playing with and the opportunity that Friday, March 10 7:15 p.m.S MHOC vs. TBA I’ve had to play with certain players over the 12 p.m. BB at Fordham (DH) Saturday, March 11 years,” said alternate captain Gambardella.

Saturday, March 11 1 p.m.

MLAX at Manhattan Smith and Gambardella expressed their 7 p.m.

MHOC vs. TBA Saturday, March 11 humblest thanks and thoughts knowing they For more sports information and full game schedules visit goriverhawks.com had both been in the running for an honor received by Nationto this spot without my teammates, al Hockey League (NHL) stars like my coaches and everyone [that] has Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary pushed me over the years.”

Flames or Olympians and hall of famDespite nominations of River ers like Scott Fusco.

Hawks in past years, Gambardella Smith expressed best wishes for his would be the first to ever bring a line mate’s success going forward in Hobey Baker Memorial Award to the running. “I know I’ve got anoth- UMass Lowell. er teammate in the locker room that’s However, Gambardella was intent more deserving of it. I truly hope that on making one thing clear: the nomihe’s the one up there as a finalist,” nation simply is not on his mind. said Smith.

For the time being, with the byePresented with the immense honor week and a the Hockey East Tournaof being nominated as a finalist for ment just around the bend, his one the award, Gambardella remained focus would be on doing everything focused on what has been at the he can to help bring his team to the core of UMass Lowell’s success this Championship and the NCAA Tourseason: the team and preparation for nament. the next matchup.

“I’m not looking at that right now.

Initially, he was unaware of the Honestly, I’m just focusing on what nomination in general, saying, “My the team has coming up. It’s just a family had called and told me con- team thing. You don’t get to where gratulations, and I kind of just said, you are without the players around ‘What are you guys talking about?’ you… I’m not thinking about the They showed it to me and I was really nomination, I’m only thinking about surprised. I never thought it could even the playoffs we have coming up here,” be a possibility again. And I don’t get he said.

River Hawks edged by Monmouth, 7-6, on road UMass Lowell Athletics

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. -- The UMass Lowell Men’s Lacrosse team took a 7-6 loss at Monmouth in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon at Monmouth Stadium.

With the loss, the River Hawks drop to 1-4 overall, while Monmouth improves to 3-2 overall on the season.

Junior Jon Phillips (Delta, B.C.) opened the scoring just 1:45 into the game for the River Hawks with his ninth goal of the season, but Monmouth struck back with two quick goals just 50 seconds apart by Tyler Keen and Chris Daly. Keenan Koswin (Win-

Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics

The River Hawks are 1-4 so far in the regular season.

nipeg, Man.) tied the game at 2-2 with 6:53 left in the opening quarter.

Chandler Vanderbeek gave the Hawks a 3-2 lead just 11 seconds into the second quarter, but UMass Lowell came right back with three straight goals

by Dylan Rhatigan (Holbrook, N.Y.), Austin Lane (Aurora, Ont.) and Isaac Bot (Calgary, Alta.). UMass Lowell owned a 5-3 lead at halftime.

Junior midfielder Cory Highfield (Georgetown, Ont.) added the lone goal in the second half for the River Hawks.

Junior attackman Sean Tyrrell (Calgary, Alta.) had a game-high two points for the River Hawks, both coming by way of assists. Freshman faceoff midfielder Brett Dattilo (Derry, N.H.) won 8-of-17 faceoffs in the contest. Junior midfielder Will Puduski (Westford, Mass.) chipped in with a gamehigh seven groundballs.

UMass Lowell sophomore goalie Grant Lardieri (Ada, Mich.) made nine saves in the loss, while Nick Hreshko totaled 11 stops for Monmouth.

The River Hawks return to action on Saturday, March 11th with a 1 p.m. game at Manhattan.

Junior midfielder Jon Phillips had one goal in Saturday afternoon’s game. He has had two hat tricks this season, against Harvard University and Siena College.