Quidditch more than fictional game â–ş Page 5
THE UMASS LOWELL
Serving the Student Body Since 1976
April 26, 2016
Redefining ‘Refuge’
In This Issue Recap of Chancellor Moloney’s first year
Jessica Kergo Connector Staff
â–ş Page 3
‘Documentary Now!’ review â–ş Page 9 FIFA speaker comes to campus
â–ş Page 11
Final River Hawk Scores Team
Score
Overall Record
Men’s Lacrosse vs. UMBC
L 9-8 3-12
Softball vs. Hartford
W 1-0
Baseball vs. UAlbany
L 4-2 17-19
Baseball vs UAlbany
L 4-12
10-36
1-15
Xirinachs’ first win gives River Hawks split against UAlbany UMass Lowell Athletics
LOWELL, Mass. – Steve Xirinachs (San Diego, Calif.) earned his first career win as a starter, as the UMass Lowell (17-18, 5-9) baseball team split a doubleheader with the UAlbany Great Danes (15-20, 4-7) on Saturday at LeLacheur Park. The visitors took game one, 5-2, and behind Xirinachs’ 5.1 innings of one-run ball the hosts took the final game, 6-1. “Game one was tough to swallow,� said Head Coach Ken Harring. “We just didn’t execute, made some mistakes. We’re a young team, some of the stuff we have to patient with. To come back in game two against a pitcher whose dominated us over the past two years is pretty satisfying. We kept grinding and took care of opportunities when they came and scratched out a win.�
Courtesy of UML Theatre Arts
On Wednesday, April 20, actors and stagehands of the University of Massachusetts Lowell Theatre Arts program held their premiere showcase of the spring semester performance, “Refuge.â€? The play began at 7:30 p.m. and was held in the Comley Lane Theatre at Mahoney Hall. Students and faculty worked especially hard these past few months to launch the production, as it is not a traditionally produced play. “Refugeâ€? is what is known as a devised play; this means that the actors, stagehands and director all collaborated in creating both the dialogue and stage directions for the show. The 90-minute-long performance, directed by David E. Shane, consists of 10 actors who portray the words and personas of authentic individuals who were interviewed during the development of the play in attempts to broaden its audience’s understanding of the term “refuge.â€? â–ş See “Refuge,â€? page 8
UMass Lowell Theatre Arts students portray one of the stories in “Refuge.�
Students wrap up semester with Spring Carnival
Game Two Trailing 1-0 in the fifth inning, the River Hawks scored three runs in the frame to take their first lead of the day. Mark Tumosa (Willington, Conn.) started the rally with a single, followed by infield singles by Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) and Oscar Marchena (Miami, Fla.) to load the bases. Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) tied the game with a single that dropped in front of the left fielder, and Steve Passatempo â–ş See “River Hawks,â€? page 12
Sections News.............................3 Campus Life..................5 A&E.............................. 7 Sports..........................10
Marlon Pitter/Connector
Western Education performs as part of WUML’s Spring Showcase at Spring Carnival on the South Campus quad. The Only Things and Dead Beggars were also included in the muscial festivities. ► See �Spring Carnival,� page 6
Page 2
April 26, 2016
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
OPINIONS & EDITORIALS
Thank you, readers!
Twitter: @UMLConnector
Dear UMass Lowell community, The Connector editoral board and staff would like to thank every student, faculty, staff and community member who has read the paper, visited our website or followed us on social media this year. We welcome and appreciate your input as our constitutents, and we look forward to serving this campus through our reporting next year. Please be sure to enjoy next week’s DisConnector and stay tuned with us on social media over the summer. All the best, The UMass Lowell Connector
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THE UMASS LOWELL
Serving the Student Body Since 1976
UMASS LOWELL CONNECTOR
EDITORIAL BOARD MARLON PITTER Editor-In-Chief REGINA ALONGI Operations Manager OPEN Managing Editor KATRINA DESROSIERS Copy Editor NINA PETROPOULOS Web Manager MICHAELA HYDE ZACHARY ZUBER Social Media Managers JONATHAN SILVERMAN Advisor TAYLOR CARITO HANNAH MANNING Assistant Editors
DAVE RUDDERHAM SAM LINSTEAD-ATKINSON News Editors KYLE GAUDETTE Sports Editor SHANE FOLEY Campus Life Editor JEN DESROSIERS BRENDAN JACQUES Arts & Entertainment Editors ALEXANDER J. SALUCCO Multimedia Director
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Email | Connector@uml.edu Website | www.UMLConnector.com Phone | 978.934.5017 ext. 45017 Address | University Crossing Club Hub Suite #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
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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.
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April 26, 2016
NEWS
Looking back on Chancellor Moloney’s first year Taylor Carito Connector Editor
This was the first year for Chancellor Jacqueline Moloney, a ‘92 and ‘04 graduate of UMass Lowell and a former vice chancellor to Marty Meehan. Moloney has made several contributions over her eight years working for the university, and she continues to strive toward more advancements for years to come. The first female chancellor hit the ground running as soon as she moved into her new office. With a mind set to continue the 2020 plan, she catapulted forward with ideas and campaigns to help improve the university and achieve the goals promoted by the plan. So far in the decade-long 2020 plan 11 buildings have been built, enrollment has increased, and ratings and national ranks of UMass Lowell have improved. Moloney plans to continue this momentum in the upcoming years to complete the 2020 plan. Moloney faced a tough situation earlier this year after experiencing a $2.2 million
budget crisis, resulting in cuts to several projects that were funded prior, and delayed the hiring of professors and other faculty members. However, Moloney was determined to keep student expenses and projects maintained. “Stu-
cellor. In her first 90 days, she announced winners of 2020 grants, attended several ribbon cuttings, and launched the five pillars of excellence. Stemming from former Chancellor Meehan’s projects, Moloney has also continued to
Courtesy of Lowell Sun
Since Moloney became the first woman chancellor, she has worked on many campus projects, most notably the 2020 Strategic Plan.
dents always come first here,” she said. She has always strongly advocated to improve the lives of the students, and would not let a money loss deter from the college experience. Despite this past fall, Moloney was able to accomplish a lot in just one year as chan-
fund the construction of the new Manning School of Business building and the completion and opening of the McGauvran Student Center. This was also a big year for sports as well. All teams that were Division II the prior year have now been promoted to Division I, and it was a
big transition. Moloney has always supported the sports teams at UMass Lowell and told coaches when she became chancellor, “Marty is very competitive, and so am I.” She is excited to see the teams improve in Division I as years go on. Throughout the course of the year, Moloney has attended several ribbon cuttings for new buildings such as the McGauvran Student Center and exhibits such as the Jack Kerouac exhibit. On a more departmental level Moloney has also hired her own team of executives to support her and provide ideas to help improve the university. In addition to this Moloney has also continued to enforce and advocate the 2020 plan for UMass Lowell. She also launched the Our Legacy, Our Place campaign. This campaign is aimed toward alumni and friends of UMass Lowell with a goal of raising $125 million to benefit students and the university. The chancellor will be travelling across the country to speak to other universities and alumni, to reach the campaign’s goals.
Chancellor Moloney has accomplished a lot in just one year as chancellor, and many are excited to see what she will accomplish in years to come. Moloney will be travelling the country to gain support and momentum for UMass Lowell, planning to use the money to improve the university on many levels. She and her team have been coordinating with the City of Lowell with hopes to reconstruct bridges to provide faster, more efficient transportation to and from campus and is also beginning to search and plan on a new location for dorms. “We had to waitlist of 1200 applicants this year,” Moloney said. This says a lot about the appeal of the school in terms of academics and attractiveness, but more dorms would also provide more room to accept eligible applicants. Moloney has big plans for the future and has already accomplished a lot. She has faced several hurdles in her first year as chancellor, but she continues to put forth ideas to improve UMass Lowell immensely by 2020 and beyond.
Steampunk festival to take place in Lowell Mill City Steampunk
lowellministorage.com
*while inventory lasts
LOWELL, Mass. – The First Annual Mill City Steampunk Festival is coming to Lowell the weekend of April 30 - May 1, 2016. Co-sponsored by the Lowell National Historical Park and UMass Lowell, this free festival will celebrate the city’s past, present, and future with a variety of Steampunk-themed activities. Dubbed the “Steampunk Guru” by the Wall Street Journal & the “Steampunk Evangelist” by WIRED Magazine, Bruce Rosenbaum will be the featured presenter at the festival this year with his talk, “Steampunk Design: Reimagining Resilience,” at the Boott Events Center, 115 John St., on Saturday, April 30, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Rosenbaum has described Steampunk as a combining of opposites, a place where past and present, art and science, and man and machine merge. Start your day at the Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, where visitors can have their photo taken with Charles Dickens at a green screen photo booth. Come in costume to participate in a contest for a cash prize. Next, take a free trolley ride and go on tours of the
Suffolk Mill and the Tremont Powerhouse. These tours, available for one weekend only, will take you Behind the Gears for a glimpse into Lowell’s industrial origins. Trolley tours will be available Saturday and Sunday and the photo booth from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. all weekend. The OtherWhere Market will be up and running on Saturday at Mill No. 5 12:00 – 6:00 p.m., followed by an Eventide Social at 7:00 p.m., a grand party to celebrate Steampunk, not to be missed. Lowell Makes is offering From Bicycles to Airplanes and Leather Making workshops on both Saturday and Sunday at 47 Lee St. The Tsongas Industrial History Center will run a “Makers” on the Line workshop for participants of all ages to play with Time in hands-on activities. For more information, visit the festival Facebook and Twitter pages listed below.
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April 26, 2016
NEWS City of Lowell celebrates Earth Month with parade and festival Mary Connell Connector Staff
Lowell celebrated Earth Day with a grand parade and festival on April 23. A number of organizations joined together with music, costumes and crafts. Schools such as Lowell High School and Moody Elementary School created Earth Day themed crafts, such as dreamcatchers with animals woven in or large plant and animal puppets. Numerous bands, such as the Hot Tamale Brass Band, walked with the parade, playing trumpets, trombones and more. Spectators followed the parade or stood aside on the sidewalk, enjoying the music. The parade began at the National Park Visitor Center and took to Merrimack Street and Central Street, finishing at the UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center (ICC). The parade then joined the ongoing festival inside the ICC ballroom. In the ballroom, organizations had set up tables with brochures, free gifts such as honey sticks and pins, free raffles, and a presentation for viewers to interact with. The Mass Audubon even brought eight-month-old snapping turtles that they had kept through the winter. The representative there
All photos courtesy of Emma Hargraves
Bands, including the Hot Tamale Brass Band, accompanied the Earth Day parade as it entered the Inn and Conference Center.
Various tables were set up in the ICC, advertising Earth Day-themed programs, such as Mill City Grows, a non-profit urban farming organization.
explained that these snapping turtles were larger than the average turtles their age, as they had remained active and warm through the winter due to not being in the wild. The ballroom was filled with tables, all contributing to Earth Day in different ways. This includes some UMass Lowell groups, such as the UMass Recreation Center. They had information about the Bike Share and the Kayak Center. The Masspirg table had petitions for people to sign that called for a stop on neonicotinoid pesticides that kill bees. There were also about 10 solar power organizations there, such as Yeloha, a Boston solar sharing business. Mill City Grows, a non-profit urban farming organization, had their own table as well, who not only attended but co-hosted the event. They also had workshops earlier that morning to teach urban gardening skills. There was no short of entertaiment
at the festival. Life Force Rhythms offered a community drum circle and Hoopy Hoops entertained in the ballroom. Johnny Fireseed and the Junkyard Dogs even played using recycled instruments. The dance floor in the center of the ballroom was open for anyone throughout the Festival. This is Lowell’s forty-sixth year celebrating Earth Day and its second year celebrating Earth Month. Throughout the entire month of April there have been opportunities for the Lowell community to get involved in film nights, canal cleanups, and other ways to educate about global warming and energy sustainability. This year’s celebration has been by far the largest, as a new record of organizations have become involved and the festival brought interest to many in the community. This city-wide celebration was a success and hopefully will grow to be a defining part of Lowell in the future.
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April 26, 2016
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
Page 5
CAMPUS LIFE
Insight to athletic prowess of Quidditch players UMass Lowell club team rises to No. 1 in SNEQC Taylor Carito Connector Staff
As one of UMass Lowell’s newest club sports, the Quidditch team has been radically improving on both a local and national level. Starting with just 12 players, the team has grown to almost 20 in just nearly two years, with hopes to continue growing next semester. The Quidditch team is currently coed and enforce the gender rule, which allows students to play as the gender they identify by. Although based off the Harry Potter books, Quidditch is an extremely complex, full-contact sport that requires extreme agility. It consists of seven people per team with a neutral player (the snitch). Because the snitch is neutral it “..is allowed to do whatever they want to you but you can’t do anthing to [it]” according to Treasurer Sabrina Silva. Eli Spicer, the snitch for the team, assured this statement.
Each player’s role incorporates aspects of another sport: beaters use dodgeballs, chasers use basketball tactics to score points, and the seeker chases the snitch in a flag football-like manor. All these roles are imperative to the team scoring by either getting the ball through a hoop or catching the snitch, who is usually a faster player that runs around the field. Team member and founder of the UMass Lowell Quidditch team Katie Muise said “We definitely take it seriously. It’s not the ‘nerds running on brooms’ kind of thing.” Although, for every Harry Potter lover, there is definitely a little nerdiness to it. With growing intensity during practices and in the program as a whole, the team is hopeful to compete in regionals next year. “We’re number one in our
league right now” said Muise. Two players from the UMass Lowell team also play for a national team for US Quidditch (USQ) and in fact made it to the Quidditch World Cup and won. Although not quite the same as Harry Potter, Quidditch has evolved from a fictional sport to an extremely high intensity and full-contact one. UMass Lowell’s Quidditch Team is growing steadily since 2014 and will continue to grow in the future. They currently practice three times a week as a club sport and play approximately seven games and two tournaments per semester, far more than several other clubs. UMass Lowell’s Quidditch team just ended for their spring semester, but are very eager for the next year to come.
“We definitely take it seriously. It’s not the ‘nerds running on brooms’ kind of thing.”
Courtesy of UMass Lowell Quidditch
The UMass Lowell Quidditch team recently performed well at the SNEQC Round Robin, winning every game.
ng happeni What’s us on camp th?! this mon SUNDAY
24
CAMPUS CALENDAR
APRIL/MAY MONDAY
25
TUESDAY
26
Chancellor Forum UCrossing Moloney Hall 4:30-6:30p.m.
1
2 Finals Begin
WEDNESDAY
27
THURSDAY
28
Color Me Beautiful Denim Day South Campus Quad 6:30-9:30p.m.
3
4
FRIDAY
29 Lip Sync Battle Cumnock Hall 7p.m.
5
6
SATURDAY
30 Get Girls Going UCrossing Moloney Hall 11a.m.-3p.m. A Night of A Cappella Durgin Hall 7-9p.m.
7 Last Day of Finals
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UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
Page 6
April 26, 2016
CAMPUS LIFE
2016 Spring Carnival in pictures
Alexandra Wright, Robert Joyce keep their eyes on the target.
All photos by Marlon Pitter/Connector
One of the most innovative additions to this year’s Spring Carnival was a volleyball sandpit behind O’leary.
The Only Things were one of three bands to perform.
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Phi Kappa Sigma raised money for cancer research with their pie-throwing activity.
April 26. 2016
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
Page 7
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT We don’t need more ‘Avatar’ movies Owen Johnson Connector Staff
James Cameron, the director of “Avatar” and “Titanic,” announced earlier this month that there were going to be sequels to his 2009 science fiction blockbuster “Avatar.” Four sequels, to be exact. Unlike a lot of grandiose movie franchise ideas or cinematic universe plans, this is one where I am not going to give a cynical thought to whether or not it can be pulled off. James Camer-
on is not some hack director that just throws everything he has out there and hopes that something works. He is crafty and uses his ingenuity to accomplish what he sets out to do. Cameron definitely has everything planned out and knows how to continue the story and where to take it. From a creative angle, I don’t see any problem with the idea of more “Avatar” movies. The problems arise from elsewhere. The original “Avatar” from 2009 is a
Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
James Cameron on the set of his multi-billion dollar film “Avatar.”
Academic Excellence. Professional Success.
standalone movie, and a fairly formulaic one at that. A more advanced and sophisticated group comes to a place with a more primitive population. The advanced group has an evil agenda, which creates tension between the two groups. Then, the primitive group strikes back and succeeds at driving away the advanced group. It’s an open and shut narrative with no loose ends to cover and a no character arcs left open-ended. Now, Cameron has no problem with making sequels. Two of his movies, “Aliens” and “Terminator 2: Judgement Day,” are considered some of the best sequels ever made. Also, both of those movies were the sequels to movies that could have stood on their own. The difference is that Cameron found tiny bits that could have expanded upon from “Terminator” and “Alien.” At the end of “Terminator,” Skynet is still going to happen. At the end of “Alien,” Ripley is left floating through space. There were still aspects that could be explored. With “Avatar,” everything seems so nicely wrapped up and with nothing left for there to even be the need for any sequels. Another issue is what people loved
about the first “Avatar.” There are definitely people out there who were interested in the story and liked the characters, but that’s not why it was so popular. The special effects and the 3D are what caught most people’s attention when they decided to go see it. At the time, it was the quintessential 3D movie-going experience. The 3D was the primary takeaway from “Avatar;” the story and characters were not. With that in mind, it is logical that if the 3D was the driving force behind so many people seeing the first one, it will most likely bore people when it comes time to see the sequels. A single sequel to “Avatar” is a bad idea, let alone four. With nowhere to take the story to and the tired gimmick of 3D being what made the first one popular, there isn’t anything left to do. I trust that James Cameron is doing this because he has an interest in the world he created, but he should focus on other projects that have potential instead of projects that have no reason to exist.
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April 26, 2016
April 26. 2016
SNL team creates TV show, ‘Documentary Now!’
‘Layers’ by Royce 5’9” stands tall Connector Staff
Ryan Montgomery, better known as Royce 5’9” (formerly Royce da 5’9”), is known for being one of the top lyricists in the hip-hop game. He is a Detroit rapper who got his start in 1997, and this is something he explores in the stand-out track “Tabernacle” on his new album, “Layers.” The album is the veteran MC’s sixth studio album. Royce is known for working with Eminem in the rap duo Bad Meets Evil as well as performing as one-quarter of super-lyricist group, Slaughterhouse. But he is also one of the best rappers in the game in his own right, and has been for nearly two decades. Royce had been dealing with alcoholism throughout the 2000s and he believed that it negatively impacted both his work and his life. The rapper has recently opened up to discussing his issues in both recent interviews, and through his own music. Anyone who is familiar with the style of “Nickle Nine” is aware of his propensity to rap about how good a rapper he is – and he is definitely entitled to do this since his lyricism is always on point – but “Layers” attempts to steer away from this aggressive approach, and Royce instead creates an introspective album. “Layers” is a 17-track album, including skits, and the album begins in a way that could be the most powerful beginning to any rap album ever released. The story which Royce switches between telling and rapping in “Tabernacle” involves the night which he called “the most important day of my life” in an interview with the Breakfast Club. Royce had to battle the emotions of his first son being born, of his beloved grandmother dying in the same hospital after being hit by a drunk driver, and having to
open up a show for a young Usher, all in the same night. Oh, and he also met Eminem that night, the same Eminem who would help propel the MC to stardom. For being dubbed an introspective album, and definitely being Royce’s most personal musical venture yet, the album still has some outstanding production value. A lot of the album’s production is Courtesy of Bad Half Entertainment
“Layers” is the sixth solo album by Royce 5’9”.
handled by Mr. Porter, who is best known as being a member of Detroit supergroup D12. Mr. Porter has handled the production on many of Royce’s past projects, and he delivers great beats that Royce has no problems flowing over, and destroying. Today’s hip-hop/rap is dominated primarily by trap, and lyrics that can barely even be called lyrics, and the only subject matter that is really ever
Page 9
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Henry St. Pierre
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
explored is themes of drugs, sex, violence, drugs and more drugs. Royce 5’9” has always been a lyrics machine, and the way he spits out intelligent bar after bar on this album makes it seem almost effortless. Sitting back and listening to the album in its entirety, it’s amazing to think about how he was even able to come up with all those bars. It’s genius. It’s nice knowing that rap can still be a respectable genre when artists like Royce are still doing their thing and sewing stories together, and crafting actual pieces of art – because a great album should tell a story and speak to the listener in some way. Royce is sending the message of ending his alcoholism, and look how positively it has impacted his life. Hip-hop needs the “fun” side of the genre just as much as it needs lyricism. Some rap lovers listen to trap, or they listen to pop-rap, or they listen to lyrical rap, and some rap lovers listen to all of it. All of these subsidiaries of the genre matter. But in terms of crafting a great album and telling a story, great lyrics and flow and beats are all needed. And this is what “Layers” is; very simply put, it’s a tremendous rap album. The only knock on the album could be that there are too many ideas going on in 64 minutes; he has too much to tell on one album, and Royce has said he is releasing another album soon, when another “layer” of the rapper will be peeled off. Royce 5’9” deserves a lot of praise for all he’s done and is continuing to do for hip-hop, and it would be foolish to not include him in any list of the best rappers in the game - of any era. Normally I’d give a few stand-out tracks, but the whole thing stands out, and Royce 5’9” stands tall while telling all.
Mary Connell Connector Staff
Fred Armisen, Bill Hader and Seth Meyers of “Saturday Night Live” have united for their own show, “Documentary Now!” Armisen and Hader star in the show while Meyers produces it. As documentary enthusiasts, the trio wanted to honor acclaimed films in their own way - by creating a mockumentary. As the name suggests, “Documentary Now!” is a spoof on a collection of variously styled documentaries. The IFC TV show has been a hit and recently appeared on Netflix. To give the show a dramatic flare, Helen Mirren hosts the show, introducing every episode with a small overview. “Documentary Now!” stays true to whatever style the original documentary was filmed in. As a result, each episode is visually appealing in its own way. However, this is quickly overwhelmed by the situational hilarity of the episode’s content. The sense of humor is definitely an acquired taste, as many of the jokes aren’t recognizable if the viewer has not seen the original documentaries. Still, seeing Armisen and Hader star in their own show is priceless. The show is so over the top, it is difficult not to laugh at
their antics. For example, the first episode, titled “Sandy Passage,” is a spoof on “Grey Gardens,” a documentary focusing on a mother and daughter who live in recluse. In “Sandy Passage,” Armisen plays the mother, “Big Vivie,” while Hader plays the daughter, “Little Vivie.” They barely disguise their gender, re-enacting certain scenes from “Grey Gardens” while creating their own. For example, “Grey Gardens” includes a scene with daughter Edie, explaining what she is wearing and why it is practical. Little Vivie does the same thing in “Sandy Passage,” only wearing sweatpants on her head as a head scarf. As the episode continues, the oddities of Big and Little Vivie are revealed, often interacting with the cameramen and creating another dynamic in the episode. Episode two, “DRONEZ: The Hunt for El Chingon,” drastically contrasts “Sandy Passage.” It is a Vice spoof where Armisen and Hader play hipster journalists that travel to Mexico to investigate Mexico’s most wanted drug lord. They play all six journalists, four of whom die in their desperate search. The journalists stumble through Mexico for leads into El Chingon-worshipping bars wearing
Courtesy of AMC Networks
Stars Fred Armisten and Bill Hader dressed up in their Sunday best.
ridiculous curled-toed boots. Journalists Lars Klegg and Denver McIver finally discover El Chingon’s hidden estate, only to join him for a short time in drinking and merry making. Jack Black guests in this episode as Jamison Friend, a character clearly representing Vice’s co-founder, Shane Smith. Sporting his hair slicked back and a wild goatee, Jamison Friend
narrates in a gruff, tough guy voice. Needless to say, “Documentary Now!” is unpredictable. There are seven episodes in season one, all completely different. Plans for season two are already in the works. What will the trio come up with next?
Final Grade: A
Theatre Arts production captures refugees’ plight ►Continued from front page What is incredibly unique about this play is its use of documentary theatre and devised movement theatre. The actors adopt perspectives from those who have sought refuge, those who have offered refuge and those who have witnessed it. Through anecdotal portrayal of the interviewed individuals, the production tells the firsthand accounts of people who have experienced refuge of numerous different meanings. Each person is depicted in
a manner that reveals his or her emotions, feelings and personality. Every aspect of the individual is accounted for in these representations, as the actors of “Refuge” do not just play their characters, but become them. The stage presence of the play contributes greatly to its message. The audience is sat on the stage during the performance, bringing them as close as possible to the people and their stories. The lighting captures the actor at hand as he or she contributes the word-for-word dialogue of anoth-
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All photos courtesy of UML Theatre Arts
With Expanded Course Offerings Online or On Campus “Refuge” is the second play released by the UML Theatre Arts Program this year.
Cast and crew performing one last rehearsal before opening night last Wednesday.
er individual. Also on the stage were suitcases, a window frame and a large collection of sand surrounded by two wooden benches. The props are used throughout the play in various ways, as the actors tell their stories and articulate their respective messages. This play teaches its viewers that refuge is a concept everyone and anyone can relate to. The performance is quite engaging of the audience, which conveys its message even more thoroughly. The viewers are, in a sense, invited into this important conversation with the actors as they reveal their stories.
The audience is left with thoughts of the original people who have felt the emotions so accurately captured on stage. This play accomplishes its goals in providing a more far-reaching understanding of a very relevant topic as it introduces people to a number of individuals and their respective definitions of the loaded term that is “refuge” while simultaneously telling the fascinating stories of such bold individuals.
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April 26, 2016
Page 10
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
Honey Thaljieh promotes the face of a new FIFA
Kobe Bean Bryant: An enigma Connector Editor
Everyone has done it – taken the brown bag that your buffalo chicken pizza from Suppa’s came in, crumpled it up, sized up the trash can and said “Kobe” while you missed terribly. Kobe Bryant is almost an enigma in the sense that he has been characterized as the greatest, most selfish, worst teammate, deadliest scorer, most one-dimensional and most overrated player the game has ever seen. This writer still has not made up his mind. Without looking at the numbers yet, let’s try to remember Kobe as a player. His turn-around jumper was textbook. His athleticism was other-worldly, and he had the ability to score at will. But with that being said, all of that involves scoring. Did Kobe do anything else? Was he ever a dynamic playmaker or a guy who made his teammates better? Nobody has ever accused Mamba of being either of those things, and I have a problem with that. But the Black Mamba is clutch, right? That’s the word on the street – opposing teams do not want the ball in his hands in crunch time. Here is the thing, Kobe is anything but clutch, and for no good reason, he has been labeled as such. The people who call Kobe clutch are the same people that
only remember his last second makes, not his last second misses. From March 2014 to January 2015, Bryant missed 13 straight game-tying/go-ahead field goals in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter and overtime. The reality is that nobody in the history of the NBA has thrown up more bricks over the course of his career than Bryant himself. The same man who is number three in scoring all-time holds the record for most missed field goals. Free agents do not want to go to L.A. to play with him and the ones that do want to leave as soon as they witness “greatness.” Bryant undoubtedly had a hand in the decline of Andrew Bynum, drove Dwight Howard Courtesy Photo out of town and was the biggest rea- Bryant’s 20-year career has been historic, and it may not be over. son Shaquille O’Neal was fed up with ing titles and his place in the record could play another four years in this L.A. It was even reported that Paul books as the all-time leading scorer in league if he accepted a lesser role – but George had no interest in the Lakers Los Angeles Lakers history. that’s not what Kobe does. In his final during free agency because of BryScoring 81 points against the Rap- game wearing the purple and gold – ant’s policing of the locker room. tors, winning three consecutive cham- Kobe did his best Kobe impression. So why is Kobe considered to be pionships and doing more in two dif- Against the Utah Jazz, he dropped a one of the greatest? The guy is syn- ferent jerseys than most players do in smooth 60 points, including outscoronymous with winning, and that is one puts things into perspective – he ing the entire Jazz team in the fourth something that cannot be disputed. was dominant for the better part of quarter 23-21. Along with five rings, he has two NBA 20 years. He has scored more than This is not the end of Mamba, it is Finals MVPs and two Olympic Gold 60 against five different teams and only the beginning. He will undoubtMedals. He was elected to the NBA his lowest career high against a single edly be around the game for the rest All-Defensive First Team nine times, team is 40. Say what you want about of his life, just like Michael. But that’s the All-NBA First Team 11 times and the way he did it, but he did it playing only comparison between the two that holds 18 All-Star selections under his for one organization. this writer is willing to make. belt. Don’t forget his MVP, two scorI stand by the argument that Kobe
River Hawks strong at the George Davis Invitational UMass Lowell Athletics
LOWELL, Mass. – Junior Gilberto Brown (Lowell, Mass.) won the high jump to highlight a strong performance by the UMass Lowell men’s track and field team, Saturday, in front
of the home crowd at the George Davis Invitational at the Cushing Field Complex in Lowell. River Hawk athletes took five first place finishes as UMass Lowell won the team competition. The River Hawks
finished with 246-points. America East rival New Hampshire earned 202-points and a second place finish. Brown was third with 121-points. The event attracted athletes from seven schools and several competitors running unattached.
“Overall we had a good day,” said UMass Lowell Head Coach Gary Gardner. “We got some people back and healthy and running well.” As the season winds toward the end of the year championship
Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics
Junior Gilberto Brown represented UMass Lowell by winning the high jump during the school’s home invitational.
Page 11
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
SPORTS
SPORTS
Alex Salucco
April 26, 2016
meets, UMass Lowell used the meet as part of the process of working toward peak performance when everything is on the line. “We were looking to fine tune some things,” said Gardner, “and we did that.” Brown won the high jump clearing the bar at six-feet, 7 1/2-inches, but was hoping for more. When no one else had matched that height, Brown asked that the bar be raised to seven-feet. He made three attempts at the height, but just missed clearing the bar. “It was good to get some attempts at seven feet,” said Brown. “It was good to experience it; I know I’m going to get there.” The coach was pleased with the performance by Brown who has battled a series of minor injuries. “He’s a good athlete and we need to seem him out there and
jumping for us. We are going to need him at the Conference meet.” Brown was not frustrated by the misses at what would be a personal best. “My approach was really good, my steps were good, my take off was good,” said Brown. “But there are things that I can work on. I need to be more confident, but I know I’m capable of (seven feet.)” Freshman Kevin Saccone (Mattapoisett, Mass.) had a busy and successful day. He won the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 54.84-seconds finishing just four one-hundredths of a second ahead of his nearest challenger. The time was a personal best. That was not his only personal best. He took third in the 110-meter hurdles and that time, 15.08-seconds was also a personal best. Saccone had started his day with a fifth place finish in the
► Continued on page 11
Alexa Hyde Connector Staff
“For the game. For the world,” is FIFA’s current mission statement, which FIFA communication manager, Honey Thaljieh came to discuss at UMass Lowell on Thursday, April 14. Thaljieh, stopped by the University to talk to an Introduction to Politics and Sports class about corruption in soccer, the changing role of gender and inclusivity in FIFA, and how the game’s governing body is changing. Previously criticized for her defense
of FIFA, Thaljieh presented a new stance on the institution, commenting on the lack of gender equality in soccer worldwide, as well as boasting FIFA’s three pillared mission to develop the game, touch the world, and build a better future. Thaljieh presented promotional videos and clips showing soccer in developing nations and of international teams standing against intolerance in their “Say No to Racism” campaign. “Why this beautiful game is influenced with sexism and racism. Why
Courtesy Photo
Amidst turmoil, Honey Thaljieh explored the direction in which she feels FIFA must go.
this beautiful game has a reputation with corruption,” Thaljieh said to start off her presentation of the new FIFA. The first captain of Palestine’s women’s national team, Thaljieh noted FIFA’s lack of equity towards the women’s game. When asked about the recent lawsuit that five American women’s national team members filed against U.S. Soccer, she said, “I think it is a great initiative… it is important that the players have the courage to do that. They should have done it a long time ago.” Thaljieh further talked about how eventually, the individual movements and complaints from women’s programs can create pressure and force changes in soccer federations, confederations, and even FIFA. However, she also quickly remarked that FIFA has already shown support for the women’s game. “We have a lot to do. We have achieved a lot but we still have a lot to do. We are on the right track,” She said about the matter as a whole. A UMass Lowell student brought up the topic of the World Cup and it’s bidding process, inquiring how FIFA can justify giving the prestigious sporting event to host countries that seem
financially unable to handle it. Thaljieh mentioned that under the new reforms, the bidding process is changing, and remarked that the financial implications fall to the host countries who made a choice to bid, and then hold, the World Cup. Thaljieh was asked several times throughout the class about the corruptions in FIFA and the scandalous reputation that the institution now holds. Thaljieh turned to the three pillars and sited the new leadership of FIFA as a way for the governing body to overcome the setbacks of the previous administration. Thaljieh’s presentation, which she will take to a few other universities in the area, is essential for FIFA in this period of turmoil. The institution has lost its authority, and hopes to gain some of it, and respect, back by promoting its new face. Honey Thaljieh, the female Palestinian Christian, working her way up in a man’s world is a great face for the job. While FIFA’s reforms and claims of changes have yet to be seen and criticism of FIFA is still widespread, with help from Thaljieh and other FIFA members, it appears as if FIFA is at least making an effort to change.
River Hawks place top finishers at home invitational ► Continued from page 10
long jump with a leap of 21-feet, 4 3/4-inches. Sophomore Dhahran Velasquez (New Britain, Conn.) led a group of River Hawks to a one-twothree finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Velasquez splashed his way to a personal best nine-minutes, 31.28-seconds to win the event by a significant margin. Freshman Adam Petti (West Bridgewater, Mass.) was second with a time of 9:54.63. Freshman Abdullah Kaba (Cumberland, R.I.) clocked in at 9:58.48 to take third place.
UMass Lowell also tripled up on the 400-meters. Freshman Ryan Fitzgerald (Lowell, Mass.) hit the finish line first with a time of 49.66-seconds. Freshman Sean Munnelly (Litchfield, N.H.) was second, 49.74, and sophomore Marcus Duncan (Dalton, Mass.) took third, 49.97. The 4 x 100-meter relay team also grabbed a firstplace finish. The combination of freshman Ian Allen (Plymouth, Mass.), senior Ian Peuser (Rockland, Mass.), and freshman James O’Brien (Stoneham, Mass.) and Connor Brown (Chelmsford,
Mass.) brought the baton around the track in a time of 42.61-seconds. In addition to the day’s competition UMass Lowell honored members of the 2015 UMass Lowell America East Champion Men’s Cross Country Team. They were presented with championship rings during the opening ceremonies at midday. The squad, which placed five runners in the top 16, became the first UMass Lowell team to win an America East Championship. The opening ceremonies also included the unveiling of a plaque honoring the memory of Thomas Chamberas ‘86 and the Thomas Chamberas Memorial Scholarship. The Chamberas family, friends and track and field alumni helped to create a scholarship endowment to honor the life and legacy of Thomas Chamberas and his contributions to the UMass Lowell athletic community. UMass Lowell returns to action next weekend. Some athletes will compete in the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, but the majority of the team will be at the Pre-Conference Meet at the University of New Hampshire.
April 26, 2016
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
Page 12
SPORTS
River Hawks split against UAlbany ► Continued from front page
(Medford, Mass.) walked on four pitches to push UMass Lowell on top, 2-1. Michael Young (Chester, N.J.) ripped a single to left to score Marchena and extend the gap to 3-1. The River Hawks added three more runs in the sixth behind Consolmagno driving in two and a RBI single from Young. Xirinachs allowed five hits and one earned run on the day, and struck out two batters.Cam Lanzil-
li (Stoneham, Mass.) ended a one-out jam in the sixth, and Brendan Long(Naples, Fla.) closed out the seventh. Chris Sharpe (Burlington, Mass.) ended the game catching a line drive in the left-center gap, and doubling the lead runner off of second. Game One The Great Danes took an early 1-0 lead in the third, and after Oscar Marchena(Miami, Fla.) knotted the score on a RBI ground out in the bottom of
U P C OM I N G
River Hawk Games Tuesday, Apr. 26
3 p.m.
BB at B.C.
Tuesday, Apr. 26
7 p.m.
WLax vs. Harvard
Wednesday, Apr. 27
4 p.m.
SB at Bryant
Wednesday, Apr. 27
6 p.m.
BB vs. Harvard
Thursday, Apr. 28
4 p.m.
SB vs. B.C.
Thursday, Apr. 28
All Day M+WXCTF at Penn Relays
George DeLuca/Connector
For more sports information and full game schedules visit goriverhawks.com
Zack Tower is second on the team with two home runs, and has eight RBI’s on the season for the River Hawks.
the frame, added another run in the fourth to regain their lead at 2-1. Consolmagno tripled to lead off the third and came across to score with the grounder to second from Marchena. Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, Russ Olive (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Zack Tower (Auburn, Mass.) led off the frame with singles, and Olive scored on a grounder by Prada. Consolmagno led the way in game one going 3-for-4, and Olive added a pair. UAlbany added two insurance runs in the ninth to hold on for the win for starter Brendan Ryan. Ryan went six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, and struck out six for his fourth win of the season.
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