The Connector - Homecoming Issue

Alumni Spotlight: Chancellor Jacquie Moloney â–ş Page 3

THE UMASS LOWELL

Serving the Student Body Since 1976

Homecoming 2018

Coach Norm Bazin strives to give back to a school that gave him everything

In This Issue Oprah is coming to UMass Lowell

â–ş Page 3

Andrew Sciascia

Alumni Spotlight

â–ş Page 6 Things to do during homecoming week

Courtesy of Hockey East

Connector Editor

â–ş Page 10

Final River Hawk Scores Team

Score

Overall Record

W. Soccer at Hartford

L 4-2 2-6-3

M. Soccer at Stony Brook

L 4-0

Field Hockey at Vermont

L 1-0 5-4

Volleyball vs Stony Brook

L 3-0

6-3-2

1-14

Salem Brahimi brings ‘Abd El-Kader’ to campus Hannah Manning Connector Editor

Emir Abdelkader, the first leader of the Algerian state, was a man composed of many parts; he was not only man but religious leader, military strategist and son of a muqaddam.

At times, he seemed to defy humanity itself.

During a five-year captivity in France, Abdelkader never once became angry towards his captors; after all, the emir had revolutionized warfare by protecting French prisoners of war during the many skirmishes that France and Algeria embroiled themselves in.

But despite the awards he won for his humanitarianism and the fact that he fought so hard for an Algerian state in a world that was determined to reject it, film director Salem Brahimi noticed a troubling fact: many in today’s Algeria do not know who the emir is.

With the backing of the Algerian government and a dedicated film crew, Brahimi set out to change that with his 2014 film “Abd El-Kader.� “I feel very strongly connected to this film,� said Brahimi, who was born in London to an Algerian father.

On Tuesday, Sept. 25, UMass Lowell students were treated to a screening of the film â–ş See “Salem Brahimi,â€? page 5

Sections News.............................3 Campus Life.................. 9 A&E.............................. 5 Sports.......................... 11

In his seven-year tenure as head coach, Norm Bazin has ushered in an era of record prosperity for the UMass Lowell men’s hockey team.

Rarely appearing anything but cold and calculated from the Tsongas Arena to the far-reaching corners of Hockey East, it is oft-noted that Bazin is not quick to show emotion. He is a man rarely photographed wearing a smile on the bench and has never been known to lose his composure when faced with tough in-game scenarios.

It’s no wonder that, with his unique mannerisms and outstanding track record, the student body has developed not only a fondness for and interest in Coach Bazin, but an entire mythos surrounding him. On social media and in everyday conversation students refer to him as a strong, calculated leader: The Coach That Never Smiles.

For Coach Bazin, it just is not that simple. “If I appear [calm and calculated] most times, it might be kind of like a duck. What’s going on underneath the water might just be a good bit more active than what’s going on above,� said Bazin.

There are layers with Coach Norm Bazin, and what you see on

Norm Bazin has been a River Hawk for over two decades.

the outside does not always reflect the cogs churning within. This may just be the strongest tool in his arsenal. Composure is key. Bazin’s composure allows him to refocus his energy and emotions to make logical in-game decisions in the fastest game on earth. “I just believe you have to act a certain way in order for your players to be calm‌ Nothing good ever happens from being irrational.

When people are clear headed, they’re breathing, they can think.

They can think and react quickly,� said Bazin.

And the results Coach Bazin sees reflect this assertion.

Taking the helm in the aftermath of an abysmal (5-24-4) 2010-11 season, the worst performance by

the River Hawks since their 1984 Division 1 transition, Bazin’s leadership resulted in not only an immediate by-the-numbers turnaround for the team, but a cultural paradigm shift.

In their first year under Coach Bazin, the River Hawks finished tied for 2nd place in Hockey East and appeared in the NCAA Regional Finals. In the years to come Bazin’s River Hawks would see unparalleled success: five consecutive Hockey East Championship bouts, three of them resulting in victory, two Hockey East regular-season titles, the list goes on.

Bazin would go on to receive three Bob Kullen Hockey East Coach of the Year Awards and a Spencer Penrose Division 1 Coach

â–ş See “Bazin,â€? page 11

Ruben Sanca: River Hawk and olympian Hannah Manning Connector Editor

In the last ten years, Ruben Sanca has become synonymous with UMass Lowell not only for working there since attending undergraduate school but also in his exemplification of the traits that the university holds close.

Sanca, an Olympian marathon runner who is currently training for the 2020 Olympics, considers himself a full-time staff member at UMass Lowell first, and a runner second. His love for the school runs deep, in part

Courtesy of UMass Lowell

Ruben Sanca ran in the 2012 Olympics.

because it has given him so much.

After all, he liked the

school so much that he graduated from it twice.

Sanca says that he derives more value from the people he has met and the overarching lessons he has learned than from strictly the classroom component. “As a double River Hawk, I’ve connected with so many people here on campus and even off campus because they graduated from UMass Lowell,� said Sanca. “I feel like that connection really brings about what I am as a person.�

He admires the student

body, and sees himself reflected in the myriad students who cycle through and get their degrees after years of hard work. Sanca brings up that several of the students at the university are first-generation college students, often immigrants or the children of immigrants.

Much like himself. “They are the hardworking blue collar type of student and I think that’s what I really carry with me,� Sanca said.

His admiration for the student body, as well as the rewarding aspect of â–ş See “Sanca,â€? page 10

Homecoming 2018

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OPINIONS & EDITORIALS A River Hawk could be anyone pectation that a strong number of students would be admitted to Harvard and other Ivy League schools; if enough students did not go Ivy, it was a bad year.

I never wanted to be a River Hawk.

My graduating class sent the most students to On paper, where it could be noticed by anyone Harvard in more than a decade. In looking around, here at UMass Lowell from friends to faculty and I am now embarrassed to say, I felt ashamed I would staff whom I have grown close with in my time not be following my classmates to similar “namehere, it is probably the most sacrilegious thing I brand� universities. could possibly say.

The stress my hometown and high school comThe college admissions and selection process is an munity placed on where you went to college made abhorrent and stressful mess for the vast majority of me feel small. And I gave in to that pressure and adolescent American students. For me, it was hon- internal shame. estly a nightmare.

Entering my freshman year at UMass Lowell in Coming from a small, wealthy suburb and a school the Fall of 2016, I was angry and felt out of place. system that stressed the importance of attending a I did not give UMass Lowell a chance. I hated it. It big-name university was in conflict with my coming made me miserable, and despite the fact that they from a single-parent home. As I sent out my near- would never admit it, my passive aggressive, chiply ten applications, ranging from universities like on-the-shoulder attitude in the coming year probaBoston College and University of Vermont to state bly made my friends miserable too. schools like UMass Lowell and UMass Amherst, I Given my indignance and reluctance at the knew deep down where I was going to end up. thought of ever attending UMass Lowell in the first In the place that was the most affordable. No mat- place, to ever being a River Hawk, there is an eleter where I was accepted, no matter the scholarships ment of serendipity in the fact that I am, more than I was granted, I was going to end up at UMass Low- likely, one of the proudest River Hawks you will ell. The option would provide me, the first student ever encounter. in my direct family expected to finish a four-year In a whirlwind freshman year, I received unpardegree, a bachelors degree from an accredited uni- alleled personalized support in all fields of my life. versity and accrue minimal debt in my name.

In the semesters at UMass Lowell that followed my But as I looked around at my high school gradu- first, this university and community opened up to ation, I saw my classmates preparing to move on to me in a way I would never have expected. some of the most esteemed universities in the counIn the fields of academic success, work experitry. At Winchester High School, there was an ex- ence, social growth and mental health the university community, from faculty and staff to student organizations and uniTHE UMASS LOWELL versity services, provided me with a chance to improve my outlook on life and better myself in unforeseen ways.

Serving the Student Body Since 1976 I was welcomed with open UMASS LOWELL CONNECTOR arms into the Residence Life EDITORIAL BOARD community as an RA. I have Andrew Sciascia Connector Editor

TAYLOR CARITO Editor-In-Chief

HANNAH MANNING Editor-In-Chief

Twitter: @UMLConnector

ANDREW SCIASCIA Managing Editor AARON ROBINSON Copy Editors OPEN Web Manager OPEN Social Media Managers MATT DWYER Photo Editor ALECIA CONNELLY Graphic Designer OPEN Advertising Manager OPEN Distribution Manager

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JASON OUNPRASEUTH Sports Editor CONOR DAWSON Campus Life Editor

The Connector meets every Monday at 6 p.m. in University Crossing room 241

OWEN JOHNSON Arts & Entertainment Editor OPEN Comics Editor OPEN Multimedia Director JONATHAN SILVERMAN Advisor

Staff MARCOS AGUILAR BRIGID ARCHIBALD PATRICK CONNELL VERNON GIBBS NISA HOLLEY

studied under amazing adjunct and tenured professors. I was afforded an opportunity to intern at the Walt Disney Co. in Orlando, FL for college credit.

I was welcomed as a friend and editor on the publication you now read.

When all was said and done, I never wanted to be a River Hawk. I hated being a student at UMass Lowell, and I hesitated to accept this place into my life.

Yet, regardless of my reluctance, this university and this community afforded me with life changing opportunity to grow and be welcomed. And I am incredibly thankful that I came here.

I love being a River Hawk. I am proud to be a River Hawk.

Each day I walk around campus, looking around to see that thousands of other students walk the same paths and sit in the same classes each day with similar and different stories to mine.

It puts a smile on my face to see that we all come to this university with a different story, and we are welcomed with open arms, provided the resources and community we need to succeed and asked to Unite in our common goals and drives as River Hawks.

Unlike being a BU Bulldog or a BC Eagles, you do not need money or a willingness to accrue mass amounts of debt to be a River Hawk. Just work ethic, passion and willingness to “Unite in Blue.�

So long as one is hard-working and open to the life experiences UMass Lowell provides, anyone can be a River Hawk. You could ask every student what being a River Hawk means and why they take pride in being one, and every one of them would give you a different answer: that is the beauty of it.

A River Hawk can be anyone.

Anyone who comes to this place on the edge of the Merrimack River, carrying with them their individual wants, needs, desires and values, and unites with their fellow students around their shared experience here.

TROY LAFOND JESSICA KERGO CHRISTOPHER ROMANO ERIC SMITH DORIAN TAYLOR

Email | Connector@uml.edu Website | www.UMLConnector.com Phone | 978.934.5017 ext. 45017

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Homecoming 2018

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NEWS

Alumni Spotlight: Chancellor Jacquie Moloney Taylor Carito Connector Editor

“Girls like you don’t go to college.”

Those were the words of UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacqueline Moloney’s high school guidance counselor when she asked to be enrolled in college-level courses. One of eight children, Moloney grew up being told that college was something off the radar for her. “College really wasn’t encouraged or thought of for most working families,” she said.

Little did that counselor know that what he did was ignite a passion, a determination to prove him wrong. After sneaking into those courses until, with the help of a teacher, she could take them for real, and at the end of high school she was enrolled at Lowell State College (LSC). “So obviously, he said that to the wrong girl,” said Moloney.

Moloney entered college with dreams of becoming a teacher; however, the year she enrolled was also the year they removed the teacher education program. That did not deter her from her college dream. She majored in sociology with the mindset of becoming a social worker post-graduation.

A member of committees and student government during the merging years between LSC and Lowell Technical Institute (LTI), Moloney saw a campus that was divided but was coming together. With a connected campus, brought new horizons, but at the time Moloney had no idea just how influential she would be in this emerging school.

Although she never did become a social worker, that major played a major role in Moloney’s development as

a leader. “It was a great major for me,” Moloney said, “It laid the ground work for me and my future and really learn hoe to think like a scholar [and] thinking about social systems, which

getting her opportunity to teach as a professor and eventually worked in administration in a university quickly evolving into a research one.

She worked closely with Bill Hogan,

Courtesy of UMass Lowell

Moloney is the first woman to serve as chancellor in the university’s history.

was a passion of mine.”

Moloney worked with non-profits after graduation, quickly rising to leadership positions wherever she went. After a few years of this and spending time with her family, Moloney returned to UMass Lowell, finally

the chancellor at the time, who she said was like a mentor to her and saw something in her even then. Moloney worked hard on efforts to diversify the new, connected university and let students know they had resources and were part of a community where they

would be accepted.

Moloney came back and stayed at UMass Lowell, but the reason she has never left is because of the constant changes and improvements that are always made. “It was always interesting,” said Moloney about the University of Lowell, which is what it was called back when she worked with Hogan. “It was always the next big challenge.”

Moloney has been with UMass Lowell since its beginnings and has helped the university grow immensely in all the administrative she has held throughout her career, and she has continued to add onto those changes since she became chancellor in 2015.

A River Hawk since the beginning of UMass Lowell, Moloney understands exactly what that means and how everyone – students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community membersencompasses what it means to be a river hawk both at UMass Lowell and beyond.

Moloney said all River Hawks share a special bond that all can sense and embody in everything they do both on campus and in individual communities.

“I have always felt that we are bound together as River Hawks in our commitment to each other. I think as River Hawks we are very compassionate people and that we take care of each other, and we also have a strong lead and passion to contribute to our communities,” said Moloney.

Write for the Connector!

Chancellor’s Speaker Series brings special guest to campus Conor Dawson and Christina Laderoute Connector Staff

On November 15th, Oprah Winfrey will become the third person to headline the Chancellor’s Speaker Series, following Stephen King and Meryl Streep.

Winfrey is an accomplished talk show host, television producer, actress, producer, and philanthropist.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. This university feels so honored that Oprah Winfrey would choose us,” Chancellor Jaqueline Moloney said. “It

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Chancellor Jacquie Moloney teased Winfrey’s appearance on her official Facebook page.

is very gratifying that she and her team would look at us as a university and that we were the ones they would select.”

On January 29, 1954, in the rural town of Kosciusko, Mississippi, Oprah Winfrey was born. Unbeknownst to her parents, she would become one of the world’s richest and most successful women.

In 1976, Winfrey moved to Baltimore to start her hit television show, “People Are Talking.” She was picked up by a Chicago TV station and became the host of her own morning show, “A.M. Chicago.”

This in turn led to the creation of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which aired from 1986 to 2011, totaling 25 seasons. Winfrey then launched her own television network, the “Oprah Winfrey Network,” otherwise known as OWN. Winfrey played a role in Steven Spielberg’s, “The Color Purple”, in 1985 and was nominated for an Academy Award. She started a new production company, Harpo Productions, which worked with the popular TV miniseries, “The Women of Brewster Place.”

Winfrey then broke her way into the publishing world by launching the popular, “Oprah’s Book Club” on her talk show. One of the books that Winfrey debuted in her book club was “House of Sand and Fog” by Andre Dubus III, a professor in the English department at UMass Lowell. She began

her book club on September 17, 1996 and added Dubus’ book to her list on November 16, 2000. Due to his connections with Winfrey, Dubus was able to secure her appearance at the university.

Winfrey is graciously donating her time to the university and will be speaking pro bono, so all proceeds raised from this event will be going straight into the scholarship fund. Chancellor Moloney confidently states that she hopes to raise over $1 million in student scholarships from this event alone. These scholarships will be handed out based on a formula to be agreed upon between Winfrey’s staff and UMass Lowell’s administration.

Chancellor Moloney also mentions that “Oprah Winfrey has stated a couple of times that she is very careful in doing work that in her mind helps to elevate the world and to make the world a better place. And so again when I read that and think that we were chosen I feel that hoping that she sees the mission of UMass Lowell is so closely tied to that and making the world a better place and that’s what helped her make the decision to come here.”

Of the many offers Winfrey receives to speak every month, only a few are chosen.

For UMass Lowell to be on this list proves that the university does work that enhances the world.

Student tickets are available now, and no one should miss this amazing opportunity.

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Homecoming 2018

NEWS Office of Sustainability makes strides to a greener campus Jessica Kergo Connector Staff

The Office of Sustainability has been making considerable strides through programs and initiatives with a range of focusses to achieve notable success towards an environmentally friendly campus. In fact this summer, UMass Lowell rose to number 22 in Sierra Club Magazine’s “cool school” ranking, scoring more than 100 spots higher than the school’s 2017 ranking of 124.

According to program coordinator Tyler Arrigo, UMass Lowell’s Office of Sustainability exists “to provide centralized services for the university around the broad range of sustainability programs focusing on operations and making the campus more environmentally, fiscally, and socially friendly.”

Being environmentally conscious in an urban setting is a challenge that the office welcomes optimistically. “We’re in Lowell and we like that and we want to celebrate that” Arrigo said. “There’s a ton of value to having such a vibrant city around us.”

One of Sustainability’s newest programs is UMass Lowell’s Community Supported Agriculture program, an initiative designed to help grow and provide produce in an urban setting. The university collaborated with Mill City Grows, a Lowell nonprofit that provides urban communities with fresh produce to create the Urban Agriculture Greenhouse. With a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, UMass Lowell was able to create an 1,800 square foot agriculture site on East campus.

“It’s a small, practical facility where we can grow food 365 days a year,” said Arrigo. “It provides a real world, hands on site for us to create a model for urban farming.”

Sustainable campus initiatives have also been implemented to help students. In the past couple years, the Office of Residence Life, in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability, began what is known as the Move Out Donation program, where leftover and donated items from move out at the end of each semester are redistributed to students in need.

“For most students, moving into on-campus housing or an apartment it is typically an exciting time,” said Associate Dean of Compliance & Vio-

Courtesy of University Relations

A volunteer with the Office of Sustainability goes through donations during spring move-out.

lence Prevention, Annie Ciraldi. “But for someone moving here with little to no room items, it can be embarrassing, lonely, and can make a student feel as though they are not like other students.”

According to Ciaraldi, the program provides starter kits to students that include sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels, clothes, hangers and other room items depending on what is available.

The program helps low income students, students who came to the university homeless, and international students. “Literally thousands of pounds of throw away items for some have become very useful for others,” said Ciaraldi.

In response to growing concerns over a lack of outdoor trash receptacles, the office also placed new trash and recycling barrels at various bus stops throughout campus.

“We heard folks’ feedback and listened, and we wanted to provide what was needed,” said environmental and sustainability waste management coordinator, Pamela Beckwith.

There are also new electronic collection boxes located on all campuses where people are encouraged to dispose of any non-university owned electronics like computer mice, cell phones, and tablets so they can be responsibly recycled instead of possibly ending up in a landfill.

The University plans to focus the operations of its sustainability programs in order to save money while being more environmentally friendly. Future efforts include educational programs around waste, recycling, and energy for the campus community as well as an assessment of all UMass Lowell residence halls’ recycling and trash infrastructure. The Office of Sustainability plans to work with students, operations, housekeeping, and residence life staff to increase non-contaminated recycling streams.

Both Arrigo and Beckwith note the immense support from all members of the UMass Lowell community including students, faculty, Chancellor Jacquie Maloney and UMass President Marty Meehan.

“I think what’s so fulfilling for me and why I love my job so much is that there’s so much support for sustainable initiatives,” said Beckwith.

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Courtesy of University Relations

The Office of Sustainability joined with the Office of Residence Life to begin the Move Out Donation program.

Email taylor_carito@student.uml.edu

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Academy-award winning filmmaker Salem Brahimi brings ‘Abd El-Kader’ to campus ►Continued from front page which featured a question and answer session with the director. The UMass Lowell digital media department joined together with the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences to invite Brahimi, who was in the area to promote a film.

Students in Lydon Library 110 settled down for two and a half hours for an enthralling film which covered the sprawling life of the emir. The students watched his humble beginnings as the educated son of a religious leader, the military victories which he twisted into the foundation of Algeria and his shameful exile to France.

The film blends animation and strong interviews from historians, religious scholars and authors to tell the story and demystify the legacy of the man who dedicated his life to Algeria. The wealth of different perspectives offered in the film do a good enough job of depicting the emir was a real man instead of an inaccessible historical figure, which Brahimi said was his main goal in directing the film.

The run time, which is a little over 90 minutes, works very hard to cover 70 years while also giving the appropriate amount of attention to not only the significance of the emir’s accomplishments but the impact that he had upon the world. While it is slow to start and certainly feels longer than 90 minutes, “Abd El-Kader” does not necessarily drag.

While some tangents that the film makes can be

tedious, it is important to show the audience that the emir’s legacy as a humanitarian and political icon transcended the oft-destroyed borders of Algeria. A town in Iowa proudly boasts his name and there is a scholarship which honors his leadership Courtesy of Hannah Manning/Connector

Brahimi speaking with students in Lydon Library.

of Algeria.

Students were allowed to further digest what they had watched through an invigorating question and answer session with Brahimi. Beyond discussing stylistic choices that he made in the film, Brahimi enlightened the audience on current relations between France and Algeria, Islam, the issues of depicting a historical figure and the cultural impact that the film has had since its release.

Brahimi stressed the topics of colonialism and the effects of globalization on already-tense international relations in his address to the students and professors gathered at the event. Although the emir fought for Algeria’s right to exist nearly two hundred years ago, the issues that ran throughout his life are still prevalent in today’s society.

Human conflict is not new, and the underlying causes of it have not changed over the past few millennia: colonization, the thirst for power and differences in religious belief stir the rumblings in international relations even now. Brahimi urged his audience to look for parallels to their own lives in watching the emir’s.

“The point is that now more than ever... we are all in the same boat. Basically having the same problem... you’ll hear about colonialism, you’ll hear about Islam, you’ll hear about how we’ve managed that and how we actually make the different cultures colliding... we need to shake hands and sometimes collide,” said Brahimi.

Despite the subject material of the film being antique and often left untaught in Algerian schools, Brahimi feels that it is significant in today’s often-tremulous political atmosphere.

“If you’re not interested in the past but you’re interested in what’s gonna happen on our doorstep, on our shared doorstep... that’s the way you should look at this film,” said Brahimi.

Homecoming weekend at the Luna Theater Owen Johnson Connector Editor

Over the course of homecoming weekend, the films “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Casper” and “An American Werewolf in London.” The Luna Theater is located at 250 Jackson Street at Mill No. 5.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a cult classic in which a newly engaged couple (Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick) suffer a flat tire in the middle of nowhere and end up under the hospitality of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry).

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is one of the most bizarre, engaging and downright entertaining films to exist. At least, it is like that for the first twenty minutes. Once Dr. FrankN-Furter reveals himself and has his introduction song, the movie has given everything it has to offer.

Another big takeaway from the movie is that the characters are inconsistent and sometimes just disappear entirely. Sarandon and Bostwick should be the main focuses of the film, as they are the relatable individuals that are stuck in Frank-N-Furter’s wacky hijinks, yet they get pushed to the wayside on numerous occasions so that Tim Curry can have the show to himself. Granted, Tim Curry is the apex of entertainment in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” but it leaves no one to follow and connect with.

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” will be playing at the Luna Theater Oct. 12 and 13.

Final Grade: C+ An American Werewolf in London In “An American Werewolf in London,” American college students David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne) are attacked by a werewolf while backpacking through England.

In the attack, Jack is killed and David is left comatose for three weeks.

When David reawakens, the ghost of his dead friend informs him of what has happened and that David himself will turn into a werewolf at the next full moon.

The upsetting thing about “An American Werewolf in London” is that there are glimpses of good ideas and character moments that could be really impactful if the movie were done better, but these moments become casualties to its lackluster writing.

The movie is a void of nothingness.

The characters are blank and uninteresting. The relationship between David and another character (Jenny Agutter) comes out of nowhere and has no reason to exist. There is zero buildup or increase in stakes at any point. It is just a movie where nothing really happens and the things that do happen have little reason for them to happen.

Things finally start happening at the last act of the movie, but it is all

rushed and uninteresting. It is rushed in the sense that the climax of the movie is just one big fiasco that occurs over the course of about twenty-five seconds, and it is uninteresting because the movie has given no reason to care about anything.

“An American Werewolf in London” will be playing at the Luna Theater Oct. 14.

Final Grade: CCasper In “Casper,” a ghost psychologist (Bill Pullman) and his daughter Kat (Christina Ricci) move into a haunted mansion at the behest of the newly named property owner (Cathy Moriarty). During their stay, Kat befriends Casper (Malachi Pearson), one of the ghosts that haunts the home.

Short-sightedness and inconsistencies befall the film. There are potential story and character arcs scattered throughout the film, and all of them feel under developed and not thought out.

In terms of short-sightedness, there is no idea of who the villains of the movie are. It is supposed to be the property owner and her lawyer (Eric Idle), but compared to other characters, they are the least evil and awful bad guys that the film has. At least until the end when they suddenly become murderers.

In terms of inconsistencies, there is a subplot about Kat’s classmates trying to prank and torment her. This

subplot gets two scenes devoted to it, in the first scene one classmate expresses discomfort with their plan, but in the next scene of this subplot forty-five minutes later he is going along with it.

Outside of Bill Pullman who gives a good performance that is wasted on such a bad film, the movie has no other stand out qualities to it.

“Casper” will be playing at the Luna Theater Oct. 13 and 14.

Final Grade: DCourtesy of 20th Century Fox

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is based on a stage play of the same name.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Enter The Wu-Tang: “36 Chambers” 25th Anniversary Tour Jessica Berry Connector Contributor

The Wu-Tang Clan are a large group that have made a huge impact in the hip-hop community across several decades. Their debut album “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers),” was released in 1993 and is considered to be one of the best albums in hip-hop history. The Wu-Tang Clan has released seven gold and platinum studio albums and have collaborated with other hip-hop legends such as The Notorious B.I.G, Nas, Mobb Deep, Redman, Busta Rhymes, DJ Muggs and many others.

The Wu-Tang Clan will be coming to UMass Lowell, with all of its original members besides the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, on Friday November 2, 2018 at the Tsongas Center. The event is at 8 p.m. and the tickets range from $49 to $99.

Some of their most wellknown songs from “Enter the WuTang” include hits like “C.R.E.A.M,” “Protect Ya Neck” and “Bring Da Ruckus.” Their lyrics are heavily influenced by martial arts and the pros and cons of being an African-American male in 1990’s New York.

The Wu-Tang Clan has nine official members, including RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Mas-

than later because it is going to be a popular show,” Jessie Santer, the marketing manager for the Tsongas Center, said.

Courtesy of Medium

Martin Shkreli bought the only copy of their album “Paddle8” for two million dollars.

ta Killia and Cappadonna. It’s a rare occasion when all of the band members actually make it to a show to perform as the original group, so November 2nd is going to be a special event.

“There is availability left. Every day we’re selling more and more so you want to get your tickets sooner rather

The “36 Chambers” 25th anniversary show is sure to have a large age demographic, seeing as the album debuted in the early 90’s, and WuTang still holds their popularity with a younger generation that have an appreciation for all hip-hop.

“I don’t have a lot of friends I can

talk about Wu-Tang with. I try to put my friends on to Wu-Tang all the time,” UMass Lowell student Joshua Greely, who is attending the show, said. “But personally, I find a connection with Wu-Tang because hip-hop today doesn’t really hit the raw storytelling and voice inflections that WuTang does. I grew up watching the music videos of the whole clan performing ‘36 Chambers.’ It’ll definitely be different from concerts I’m usually seeing regarding hip-hop nowadays.”

Many of the members have had their own solo careers, including founding members Ol’ Dirty Bastard, who passed away in 2004 of a drug overdose. ODB collaborated with artists ranging from Mariah Carey to Insane Clown Posse. Many of the current members have also gone on to work with modern hip-hop artists.

“I identify with RZA a lot and I like some of the beats he produces and work he does with other artists,” Greely said. “I’m curious to see who plays and what they play at the show, seeing as it’s the anniversary of ‘36 Chambers.’ I wonder how many people who are attending this concert, especially UMass Lowell kids, will identify with that.”

‘Young Sinatra IV’ is good and 6ix’s production is even better Marcos Aguilar Connector Staff

“Young Sinatra IV” is the fourth and final addition to the Young Sinatra series by Maryland rapper Logic. With names such as Lucy Rose, Ryan Tedder, Wale, Jaden Smith, Big Lenbo and the entire living Wu-Tang Clan members listed on the soundtrack, fans have reason for excitement.

Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, better known by his fans as Logic, has decided to continue his tradition of releasing a full studio project every year for the last five years. Logic has been producing some type of mixtape for the past 10. The man is one of the hardest working musicians in the genre of hip-hop.

With his constant lyrics discussing previous artists of hip-hop, and showcasing his influence, he is clearly a student of the music.

The album was teased with three singles coming before the release of the album, including “One Day,” featuring genre artist Ryan Tedder. “Return” and “Everybody Dies” were also put out before the midnight release this past Friday.

Logic has been venturing into different types of sounds as well, and extending his vocal range with the newest project is no different. Beginning with a unique intro song labeled “Thank You” featuring Lucy Rose, he uses the first song to thank his supporters from any aspect.

What continues for the next three out of four songs in the album are what could be considered radio friendly singles. These three would be including the early released singles before the whole album release. Logic is rhyming per usual on lively beats produced mostly by 6ix, and he covers the usual topics of right versus wrong while telling his audience to live their best lives. “The Return” is the full acknowledgment of the Young Sinatra persona by Logic being resurrected while “One Day” confesses the rapper’s determination about succeeding in his

dreams down the road. But by the sixth song, the listener gets the gem of the album.

On the sixth song, Logic is able to bring the whole remaining iconic rap cast of the Wu-Tang Clan on “Wu-Tang Forever.” It has a boom trap beat reminiscing of the group’s golden years in the late 90’s.

Members discuss how they still go head to head with any MC nowadays and that the rap these days has weakened. Member of the Wu-Tang Clan and Logic discuss mumble rap and how it has ruined the lyrical ability of the art. It is easily the best song on the album.

Courtesy of Visionary and Def Jam

The album artwork is reminiscent of an actual mugshot taken of Frank Sinatra.

Wale and John Lindahl also make a contribution on the next song, “100 Miles and Running.” A reference to Wale’s 2007 project, the song consists of a very up tempo beat displaying the known skills of the duo. But with not much content, the song fails to fulfill the potential of its production.

“Ordinary Day” and “YSIV” both follow very successfully in their own way. The first of which displays the diverse talents of Logic with smooth vocals and the usual rhymes his fans are accustomed to. The latter is an absolute throwback to the rapper’s old mixtape days with great content, rhymes that last forever and a tribute to the late rapper Mac Miller in the intro and outro of the song. Once again, Logic is showing his appreciation for those who have contributed to the art.

The album ends with songs that are full of content, something he should have done more in the beginning of the tape instead of just energizing the listeners. “Street Dreams II” is an absolute rollercoaster with the rapper describing a very vivid dream where he is gangbanging with his producer.

6ix, his producer, is fatally shot and Logic describes guilt because he is the cause for his friend’s death.

“The Adventures of Stoney Bob” is a well-produced song about relaxing with friends while smoking weed.

The final three songs include “Legacy,” where Logic takes the perspective of himself, his hypothetical son and wife, where the important things in life can be misinterpreted and materialistic views can command. Jaden Smith comes up for a feature on a very upbeat and energizing song called “Iconic.”

The album finishes with the song “Last Call.” Paying homage to one of his biggest influencers, Kanye West’s “The College Dropout,” where the rapper discusses his road to success by word play.

In total, many fans will enjoy “Young Sinatra IV”

by Logic, but it leaves a wanting for more content with more messages and better story telling. Logic is clearly able to satisfy on one or two songs, but it still seems to escape him when creating a full scale album.

Overall grade: B+

Homecoming 2018

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Alumni spotlight: Lucas DeLisle Christina Laderoute Connector Staff

At the age of four, Lucas DeLisle’s parents signed him up for piano lessons. Little did they know it would play an important role in shaping his future.

Born in Lowell but having moved to Leominster at the age of one, the now 21-year-old DeLisle has come full circle and is back in Lowell for college as a Sound Recording Technology student.

If you had asked him when he was a child, being in the music industry was not part of his future. In fact, it was not until his sophomore year of being an SRT major that he seriously started considering it.

“There’s always something new in terms of music. I don’t want to stay too still for a long time”.

DeLisle recently put out his newest extended play, “FOMO”, under the name l.ucas (pronounced Lucas). FOMO stands for ‘fear of missing out.’ He equates the title inspiration to his family. “It’s a term that we use to describe my family and how everyone gets guilt tripped if we miss a family party or event.”

He began working on the EP right after he released his first one, “Go Out,” in the spring of 2018.

“FOMO” was not finished until the week before its release. In comparison to “Go Out,” “FOMO” took significantly longer to create because he wanted to shape it into more of a collective project, therefore spending more time and putting more thought into the product.

Regarding the inspiration behind “FOMO,” DeLisle says that it is more and more common now to see people with their faces buried deep into their technology, “Whether it be an attempt to socialize or to get away.” He notes that when he disappears into his computer, he finds himself making music.

As reflected in the EP artwork, he sits alone in a field immersed in his laptop. Although he finds it satisfying to create something from nothing, he can not help but feel that he has missed out on an important opportunity when he takes a step back from the screen.

Although this was an individual project, DeLisle mentions that he had some help from friends in the form of criticism. “I always try to collaborate in ways below the radar. I ask my friends for opinions and get people to sit in my room and [listen to] my songs. I want to hear what they hate about it, so I can fix it. If someone comes and says something is really good and they leave, it doesn’t help me. I always want critiques and feedback.”

When it comes to collaborating, he says that his next album will consist only of collaborations.

He wants to gather different people to work with, whether they be instrumentalists, vocalists or producers. Realizing that not everyone has the skill or means to make music in their room, DeLisle wants to give other artists the opportunity to see their visions and ideas come to life under his hand.

An exciting project to look out for is the collaboration of l.ucas and Phil Cambra. The two UMass Lowell students are teaming up to remix Cambra’s song, “Fixation.”

“Fixation” was released a couple of months ago and Cambra is now interested in creating a more Courtesy of Michael Nuzzo and Andréa DeLisle

The album artwork for Lucas DeLisle’s “FOMO.”

pop version of it. While asking around for recommendations on who to work with, DeLisle was mentioned and thus began their partnership. Camba notes that while the project is at a standstill, it should be out sometime soon. DeLisle also has a new song coming out soon with rapper Timmy O., called “She Down.” The song is taking a more mainstream approach but will be easily identifiable as his work.

While listening to the six-track EP, it quickly becomes clear that the vocals have been manipulated.

The thought behind this, as described by DeLisle, is that we all have personalities that we live with that we hopefully are true to, but on the other hand, we are also hiding inside of our phones. It is not un-

common to present a different side of oneself online, like a second personality, or even a different person if it goes too far. He says that using a different voice in the tracks symbolizes, “Another side of me, or if there is another side of me, that’s what it would sound like.”

In addition to being a producer, DeLisle is also the keyboardist in a local band called Daisybones.

In terms of music style, Daisybones is more of an indie rock band, whereas l.ucas is focused more around electronic dance music. DeLisle says that his individual work is more representative of his style because of the music he listened to when he was younger.

“I grew up listening to rap, EDM, kind of a little more experimental type stuff. Rock music was a part of my life, but not a big enough part that that’s where my real influences lie.” Delisle states that his influences really started with rap, dance music, hip hop and r&b, and that he enjoys the different ways you can go with those styles and how you can add to each of the genres. DeLisle likes that he can mix each thing in on his own because, “It’s really hard to be an indie rock band by yourself.”

Like other artists, DeLisle says that his goal is to be able to make money from making music, and he credits UMass Lowell for putting him in the right direction for achieving this. “The program here for [Sound Recording Technology] is extremely good.

There are very, very influential and professional people teaching these classes and have a lot to say.

I pull away a lot of the techniques they teach us.”

Being here, he says, has put him in the middle of a lot of talented people that he can pull inspiration from as well as work with.

As for advice for other aspiring producers, DeLisle says, “For people thinking about sound recording technology, a lot of freshman come in and expect to be making beats and producing music, but that’s not what we do. If that’s what you like to do and are into music, there is so much you can learn and bring into that field. You can study things on the side and don’t have to do it all in school. Learn music and how to record and mix and learn music and put that together with your outside life. That’s a tip I try to hold pretty close to myself. By the time I die, I want to have done everything.”

To keep up to date with Lucas DeLisle and his work, he can be found on Spotify (l.ucas), Instagram (@thatproducerl.ucas) and Facebook (l.ucas).

‘The Haunted Life’ stage reading at Mahoney Hall Owen Johnson Connector Editor

On Saturday, Sept. 29, the Merrimack Reparatory Theatre showcased the developmental workshop of Jack Kerouac’s “The Haunted Life” at the Comley-Lane Theatre in Mahoney Hall on UMass Lowell South Campus. The stage reading was presented in partnership with the UMass Lowell theatre arts program and the UMass Lowell English department.

Marketed as ‘a new play from Lowell’s native son Jack Kerouac,’ “The Haunted Life” is based off of a manuscript that Kerouac was believed to have lost in a taxi cab in New York City in the 1940’s. According to Professor Nancy Sellek, the manuscript was discovered by a Columbia University janitor, and turned up at an

auction in 2003.

The play will be directed by Sean Daniels, the director of the Merrimack Reparatory Theatre, who previously directed the play “The White Chip,” which ran at the theatre during their 2015-2016 season, and Christopher Oscar Peña, and will be produced in collaboration with the Estate of Jack Kerouac.

“The Haunted Life” is a family drama and coming of age story, set with the backdrop of the early 1940’s just as America enters into World War II, and follows college student Peter Martin as he struggles with his identity and relationships, especially with that of his conservative father.

The stage reading that was shown to the public on Sept. 29 in the Comley-Lane theatre was the first time that

the play was being shown in any form to the general public. Performing the script and the roles during the reading were eight students from UMass Lowell, under the direction of Daniels and Peña. The reading of the play, which is still in development, was around two hours long with a ten-minute intermission between the two acts.

When the stage reading was finished and director Sean Daniels was asked how he believed it went, he said, “I think it went great. I think it’s our first time ever doing it in front of an audience, so you learn so much in terms of where people respond, where they laugh, where they shift in their seats, where they get teary, but the one thing I will say is that all of the [UMass Lowell] students really stepped it up. They were really phenomenal

throughout the week, and really put on great performances this evening.”

“The Haunted Life” will run at the Merrimack Reparatory Theater from Mar. 20 to Apr. 14 of 2019. Audience events will include a cookie matinee on Mar. 27, an ask the artists event on Mar. 28 and Apr. 4 and ladies night also on Apr. 4. Tickets and information are available at the Merrimack Reparatory Theatre’s website.

Listen to the UMass Lowell radio: WUML 91.5

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Homecoming 2018

A RTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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SUN OCT 7 vs acadia

MEN’S HOCKEY 2018 HOME GAMES

FRI OCT 12 vs rit SAT OCT 13 vs rit FRI OCT 26 vs northeastern FRI NOV 9 vs new hampshire SAT NOV 17 vs uconn FRI NOV 23 vs rensselaer SAT DEC 8 vs boston university SAT DEC 29 vs denver FRI JAN 18 vs vermont SAT JAN 19 vs vermont SAT JAN 26 vs boston college FRI FEB 8 vs boston college SAT FEB 9 vs umass FRI FEB 15 vs providence FRI FEB 22 VS MERRIMACK SAT MAR 2 VS NEW HAMPSHIRE

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Homecoming 2018

CAMPUS LIFE Homecoming week events at UMass Lowell Troy Lafond Connector Staff

UMass Lowell’s annual homecoming festival runs from October 12-14 this year. The homecoming festival comprises of a wide variety of different events for all kinds of students, alumni and families to enjoy.

The highlights of homecoming, . to many students, are the countless sporting events. The centerpiece of the homecoming experience is almost certain to be the ice hockey home opener against the RIT Tigers, on October 12 starting at 7:15 p.m. at the Courtesy of UMass Lowell Tsongas Center, as well as a second game against RIT the next night start- Rowdy River Hawk and students cheer on the hockey team ing at 7:00 p.m. and are bound to be a great time! Addi- should go to the Talon Club after the However, there are other events for tionally, for those who aren’t involved conclusion of the game to participate. those who aren’t in love with hockey. in sports but want to stay active, there October 13 at 3pm there will be The Women’s volleyball team will be is a 5k run and walk on October 13 a pre-hockey game festival outside playing the Albany Great Danes on from 11 am to 1 pm. the Tsongas Center, with tons of fun October 12th at 7 p.m., as well as the .For those students who don’t enjoy fair activities including food, live enSiena Saints on October 14th at 1 p.m. sports as much, there’s still quite a few tertainment, pony rides, crafts, face The men’s soccer team will be playing fun activities to participate in. Before painting, and more fun fair activithe Binghamton Bearcats on October the hockey home opener on October ties. In the Durgin Hall Concert Hall 13th at 4 p.m., and the softball team 12, there will be the River Hawk Rally at 7:30, folk singer-songwriter Arlo will be playing the Southern New at the East Campus Recreation center Guthrie will be having a concert, with Hampshire Penman on October 14th starting at 4 pm, with free food, lawn ticket prices ranging from $39-$99. at noon, and the field hockey team games, and more fun activities. Direct- On October 14 from 11:30 am to 3:30 will be playing the Vermont Cata- ly after the hockey game, around 9:30 pm, there will be apple and pumpkin mounts on October 14th at 2 p.m. pm, there will be a late-night free skate picking at Parlee Farms, with free All these events are free for students for students. Any interested students bus transportation for the first 100

attendees registered. .For the alumni returning to campus for homecoming, there are countless events dedicated to them. On October 13, there will be the intermural champions cup at 9:30 am, the lacrosse alumni game and gathering at 11 am, the softball alumni game and gathering at noon, the ice hockey alumni game and family skate at 3 pm, the soccer alumni gathering at 3 pm, the general alumni reunion tent at 3 pm, and the Riley reunion at 9:30 pm. On October 14, the field hockey alumni game will occur at 11:30 am, and the field hockey alumni gathering will occur shortly after at 1 pm. .Although the majority of the homecoming events are centered around students and alumni, there’s still quite a bit for visiting families to do during the festivities. There will be a kids soccer clinic for kids aged 7-12 at 1:30 pm on October 13, and there will be a parents and family reception on October 13 starting at 6 pm. Additionally, all of the sporting events, as well as the October 13 pre-game festival, the Arlo Guthrie concert, and the apple and pumpkin picking are all open for families to attend.

Ruben Sanca has River Hawk pride in everything he does ►Continued from front page

his work, entices him to stay at UMass Lowell -even after so many years. To leave now would almost be akin to leaving home.

Sanca has always been involved with UMass Lowell in some capacity, even while he took undergraduate courses. As an undergrad student, Sanca took initiative and joined the Student Government Association, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and worked in various offices around campus.

After he graduated, Sanca continued to serve the school in administrative affairs. It is difficult to find an office on campus that has not been affected by Sanca’s work in one way; it speaks to not only his reach but his matchless commitment to his alma mater.

“I worked in Athletics, I worked in Student Affairs, I worked over even at M2D2 when it first started,” said Sanca.

The university has given him not only extended opportunities to develop as a person and as a professional, but it has given him a lot of room in training for marathons. Sanca says that in return for UMass Lowell’s understanding, he ranks his work for them at the top of his list.

“I’ll do a lot of travel and the school has been very supportive of that,” Sanca said.

He does his best to schedule marathons with the sick and vacation days that he is given, and tailors his training schedule around his job in the Office of Student Affairs. While the full-time runners he competes against in marathons have the full day to schedule their training runs, Sanca has to brave the slush and cold that comes with wintery mornings and evenings.

While it is not easy for him to train in this way, he accepts this as a reality in pursuing his ultimate goal: another chance at the Olympics.

Sanca previously competed for Cape Verde in the 2012 Olympics, but had to deal with a tumor on his

Courtesy of www.boston.com Ruben Sanca was 21st amont male runners in the 2015

leg during the whole ordeal. Now six years older and without his uninvited friend, Sanca hopes that he can do even better at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.

He says that he will find out the standard qualifying time in November, as most of the students he mentors will feel the impending pressure of finals. While they may feel panic, Sanca feels a calm brought about by many years of balancing his two passions: running and his work.

“My next race will be in Dubai, on Jan. 25, 2019, so on that weekend I can probably know whether I will be in Tokyo or not,” Sanca said.

He is hardly bothered by how close to now that is.

“It’s soon, but it will be great to be able to get that out of the way,” Sanca said. “Obviously I have probably about 18 months to achieve that standard, so I’ll probably be able to do around five marathons.

That’s about five shots that I get to take at it.”

The training has been going well, too. Sanca says that at the Berlin Marathon he was on pace to break the national record for the marathon until the last four or five miles of the race. While he was unable to achieve that particular goal, it was a strong indicator for Sanca that Tokyo is well within his grasp.

Sanca tends to take a positive outlook on life and on running. Working at UMass Lowell, with the support it has given one of its favorite sons, has helped Sanca keep at training.

“It feels great to have the support [at UMass Lowell]. Getting emails from staff and coworkers, friends and even some of the students here - it’s always nice,” Sanca said. “Being able to use some of the facilities on campus and the university being open to me using those facilities is a nice thing to have available.”

That support he receives is given back a hundredfold through his own service to the school. He intends to continue serving it for the foreseeable future, in gratitude for all it has given him.

“It’s just nice to be involved with the name UMass Lowell,” said Sanca. “I think people even out of this region [have] started to correlate UMass Lowell with success stories.”

Even despite all of his achievements, Sanca does not consider himself one of those success stories.

He says that he views himself merely as someone who was able to accomplish a lot thanks to a strong support system.

“I’m really thankful to be here and one of my goals is to make it to Tokyo, not just for myself but for my family and all of the people who have supported me here,” he said.

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Homecoming 2018

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CAMPUS LIFE

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Homecoming 2018

SPORTS

Alumni Spotlight: Different worlds above and beneath the surface in Coach Norm Bazin ► continued from front page

In fact, it seems that heading the UMass Lowell mented his legacy and seen records broken and wins of the Year award. Yet, for all this, Bazin remains men’s hockey team provides Bazin with a sense of pour in, but he has had the opportunity to make purpose. an impact. In his seven years, he has coached six humble as ever.

“I’m just not certain I deem myself successful…

Courtesy of WBUR yet,” said Bazin.

Having quickly accumulated so many career decorations, it is hard to believe Bazin himself is so hesitant to deem himself a “success.” But this forward-looking attitude and contention with complacence may just be what makes Bazin appealing to professional franchises.

So appealing, in fact, that following the 2016-17 Hockey East Championship run the Vancouver Canucks offered Bazin a role as head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets.

Still, despite the immense career mobility being offered Bazin, he has been reluctant to pursue such offers. Perhaps this is a result of Bazin’s strong ties to UMass Lowell.

As a member of the Class of 1994, Norm Bazin was given the opportunity to play the sport he loved at a Division 1 level. In his final year with the team, Bazin was second on the team in goals with 20, closing out the season 35 points in 39 games Bazin and his team look to rebound from disappointing year played.

“I was offered an excellent opportunity to study “I really enjoy coming to UMass Lowell to make players that would move on to the National Hockey at UMass Lowell and play hockey here, and I had a nice four years here,” said Bazin. “This is a special the small difference. We’re all spokes in the wheel… League and has had a profound impact on a vast place… when you circle back around from a player and I think leaving my small legacy on a great number of student athletes.

“People love to talk about the winning and losing, to an assistant to a head coach, obviously you devel- school is what gets me out of bed: Having that imbut you know what? Those are results,” said Bazin, op a lot of relationships and friendships… I’m just pact,” said Bazin.

UMass Lowell seems to have provided Coach Ba- “It’s seeing the growth in every single kid in their happy in this area.”

It appears, however, there is far more to Norm Ba- zin with just what he was looking for: A platform years here. Seeing them from one year to the next. zin’s desire to stick with UMass Lowell than just the from which he can impact others and make a dif- That’s easily the most gratifying part.” alumni’s love of the university that he represented ference.

In his time with the team, not only has Bazin ceas a player years ago,

Volleyball lose to Stony Brook in America East home opener Jason Ounpraseuth Connector Editor

The UMass Lowell volleyball team (1-14, 0-2) lost 3-0 in their America East home opener against the Stony Brook Seawolves (8-8, 2-0) Friday, Sep. 28 at the Costello Athletic Center. The River Hawks played their first home match for the first time after 14 straight road matches to open the season.

“We really have to work on our defense that was a big factor today. Stony Brook is a great offensive team. They always hit high percentages, but we didn’t make adjustments defensively,” said UMass Lowell head coach Resa Provanzano.

Senior libero Lindsey Visvardis amassed 11 digs in the match. Junior outside hitter Madi Bell led the River Hawks with seven kills. Redshirt sophomore setter Malia Randolph and junior setter McKenna Bova combined for a total of 22 assists in the match.

Stony Brook took a 14-5 lead early in the first set to open the match.

Coach Provanzano tried to control the tempo of the match calling two timeouts to keep her team composed and focused.

The Seawolves did not give up their lead in the first set. Sophomore middle blocker Jessica Jubb led the River Hawks attack with three kills. Vis-

vardis recorded four digs for the River “In that third set, [junior outside hitHawks. However, the River Hawks ter] Kathrine Claybaugh really turned committed seven errors in the first set. it on for us. [Senior middle blocker] Stony Brook won the first set 25-10.

Lade [Adeniyi] came back out there The second set was a back-and-forth and finished strong, and it was good affair between both teams. Freshman libero Sabrina Patriciello led Stony Brook on a rally that gave the Seawolves a 16-8 advantage. Stony Brook kept their lead and won the second set 25-11.

Visvardis led UMass Lowell’s defense in the second set with four digs, but nine errors for the River Hawks hurt their chances to come back in the second set.

The River Hawks Madi Bell led the UMass Lowell offense with seven kills went off to a poor start in the third set to see the leaders come in and step up starting out 8-0 down. UMass Lowell a little bit,” said Coach Provanzano. fought their way back with their best UMass Lowell fought until the end offensive performance of the night. but lost the third and final set 25-17.

Junior outside hitter and sophomore The River Hawks had 13 kills in the middle blocker Grace Burkett led the set but also had 10 errors in the set. way hitting four kills each. Randolph Coach Provanzano credited the contributed on both ends providing team’s change in mentality that led to six assists and amassing five digs. a better offensive performance in the

third set.

“The whole match we were playing tentative and safe which resulted in errors. Once they took the pressure off themselves and played relaxed it got a Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics

little better,” said Coach Provanzano.

The River Hawks will return to action at home against Hartford at Sunday 1 p.m. They will then go on a twogame road trip against Binghamton and UMBC and come back home for homecoming/alumni night against the University of Albany.

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River Hawks men’s hockey team appears primed for 2018-19 season Connector Editor

When crispness enters the air in the Merrimack River Valley, and the foliage begins to don its colorful fall attire, the students of UMass Lowell know one thing is certain.

River Hawk Homecoming is just around the corner and fast arriving are the Friday afternoon lines that inevitably cover the steps of the Tsongas Arena bringing in the start of Division 1 men’s hockey season.

The stakes are high for the River Hawks in the 2018-19 season. The 2017-18 season saw the River Hawks struggling defensively. This struggle was made more difficult when the coaching staff was forced to switch starting goaltenders early in the year as a result of what many considered to be a sophomore slump for Tyler Wall.

Difficulties on the back end were only magnified by the River Hawks’ need to find new go-to goal-scorers. The 2016-17 River Hawks saw stellar performances by Hockey East Championship MVP forward C.J. Smith and defenseman Joe Gambardella both of whom were considered for the most prestigious award in college hockey, the Hobey Baker Award. As a result of such spectacular performances, Gambardella and Smith were both called on to play in the National Hockey League.

Defensive struggles coupled with the loss of the 2016-17 team’s leading scorers resulted in what many referred to early in the 2017-18 year as a “championship hangover.” This hangover was eventually snapped, but still brought the River Hawks to a 17-19-0 finish; UMass Lowell’s first season under .500 since the Bazin Era began seven years prior.

The team still made the Hockey East Tournament

but was ousted in the first round by Merrimack College. A losing season is uncharacteristic of Bazin’s River Hawks, and most negative fan sentiment can likely be chalked up to the expectations surrounding the team being incredibly high.

Head Coach Norm Bazin indicated that looking at the 2017-18 season by the numbers alone can be incredibly deceiving. For the 2018-19 season to be a success, expectations from multiple consecutive winning seasons and unfair criticisms of the 2017-18 River Hawks’ mostly minor struggles must be set aside.

“I thought last year was a pretty good year, believe it or not. In fact, we had the same number of wins by January 27th as we did the previous year when we won the championship; which shows you how deceptive the numbers can be,” said Bazin. “You can’t judge everything by wins and losses.

Some of the younger guys got a whole lot better…

Last year, we learned we need to behave a certain way and execute a certain way in crucial games.”

In the 2017-18 season, the team lost key players from their previous championship run, as well as taking on six freshmen. UMass Lowell’s squad was made up largely of sophomores, and the team developed strong stat participation from all its lines.

The River Hawks are currently unranked in the USCHO Pre-Season polls; however, the team appears to have a strong core. A strong goaltending core is present for the 2017-18 season in senior Christoffer Hernberg, who stepped up in a large way last season, and Tyler Wall, should he be able to move forward from his sophomore slump. The River Hawks have also retained leading scorers, Ryan Dmowski, Kenny Hausinger and Ryan Lohin, wall of whom tallied equally in the 2017-18 season.

U P C OM I N G

River Hawk Games Thursday, Oct. 11

7 pm

WSOC vs. Maine

Friday, Oct. 12

7 pm

WVB vs. UAlbany

Friday, Oct. 12

7:15 pm

Hockey vs. RIT

Saturday, Oct 13

4 pm

MSOC vs. Binghamton

Saturday, Oct. 13

7 pm

Hockey vs. RIT

Sunday, Oct. 14

2 pm Field Hockey vs. Vermont

For more sports information and full game schedules visit goriverhawks.com Bradel

Not to mention, the team’s massive core of 12 freshman will have tried and true River Hawks Connor Wilson and Lohin to look to for leadership as the team’s captains.

The River Hawks look poised and matured coming into the 2018-19 season and, should things come together, they may just shock the league with just how far they can carry themselves.

Coach Bazin has a simple request for his players.

“Follow the process. Trust the process and good things will happen by the end of the year,” said Bazin. “You have to let go and trust your teammates.

Trust that good things are going to happen.”

UMass Lowell students can first see their River Hawk men’s hockey team take the ice at the Tsongas Arena on Sunday, October 7th in Exhibition against Acadia University, or in their Homecoming home opener weekend October 12th and 13th as they take on the Rochester Institute of Technology.

No. 16 UMass Lowell men’s soccer falls to Holy Cross 2-1 Marcos Aguilar Connector Staff

The No. 16 UMass Lowell men’s soccer team (6-1-2) lost to the Holy Cross Crusaders (2-3-3) 2-1 at Cushing Field on a very cold and rainy night.

“Terrible, terrible game,” said UMass Lowell head coach Christian Figueroa.

Coach Figueroa didn’t have many words to say after very close loss to an out of conference team. The River Hawks came into the game coming off terrific Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics

The River Hawks will now take their focus to their America East schedule

performance against America East rivals Vermont beating them 2-0. The River Hawks looked to perform another solid defensive showing as they have all the season after a few changes to the lineup.

The River Hawks had seven shots in the first half marking a favorable start to the game. Junior midfielder Roko Prsa had a total of five shots for the game.

Freshman forward Renato Kauzlaric and senior forward Ivan Abramovic both chipped in two shots as well.

The Crusaders could not find the net in the first half going without a shot on

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

Homecoming 2018

SPORTS

SPORTS

Andrew J Sciascia

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target. Senior goalkeeper Zach Rowell stood firm with redshirt junior back Chas Reichenberg playing ahead leading the backline.

Holy Cross goalkeeper Henry Stutz had a solid performance while being out shot by the River Hawks 13-9 for the game. Stutz was called into action in the first half producing two saves from junior forward Alejandro Osorio and senior forward Jakov Basic.

The River Hawks came out with a more aggressive approach to the second half with the team pressing the Crusaders defense. The River Hawks went up 1-0 ten minutes into the second half. On a quick break, Prsa gave a through ball to Kauzlaric who scored beating Stutz. Kauzlaric now has two goals in as many games.

Both teams had four corner kicks and created chances with each opportunity. Kauzlaric had a chance to put the River Hawks up 2-0, but his shot went wide.

One of Crusaders’ corner kicks ended up hitting one of the River Hawks defenders on forearm. The referee proceeded to call a penalty. Crusader midfielder Max Krause stepped up and scored the equalizer. UMass Lowell goalkeeper Zach Rowell dove the right way and made contact with the ball but could not stop the penalty shot.

The River Hawks looked for the winning goal with time running out. A lost possession in the midfield resulted in a quick counter attack for the Crusaders. Holy Cross drew a foul from the UMass Lowell midfielders from 25 yards out with five minutes to go.

The UMass Lowell wall made contact with Krause’s free kick and caused the ball to deflect to the other end of the net in the left corner from where Rowell was diving. Holy Cross scored off another set piece and went up 2-1 over UMass Lowell.

The River Hawks did not have enough to time to find an equalizer and lost to Holy Cross 2-1. The loss marks the team’s first home defeat of the season.

UMass Lowell’s non-conference schedule concludes and the River Hawks will move on to a key America East matchup this Friday night against Stony Brook at 7 p.m in Long Island.

Alumni Spotlight: Former Connector Editor-in-Chief Patronick finds paradise on the ice Hannah Manning Connector Editor

The trajectory of Krista Patronick’s life would be wildly different had she not decided to attend UMass Lowell. If Patronick had never spent four formative years at UMass Lowell, the newly-minted director of women’s hockey operations at Dartmouth College most likely would never have gone into a career in hockey.

Patronick initially declared as a music major. She worked her way up to the position of Editor-in-Chief at The Connector after switching her major to English. She arrived as a comparatively listless soul saying that English was the only other thing she “didn’t hate at the time.”

Somewhere in those four years, covering men’s hockey at the Tsongas Center for The Connector, Patronick found something beautiful in the chill of the rink.

She looks back now, after several years’ worth of experience working in some capacity in women’s hockey, with a sense of gratitude that she found her purpose in Lowell.

“From the moment I stepped on campus, UMass Lowell felt like home to me,” Patronick said. “It opened my eyes to a lot of things... And of course, I fell in love with hockey at UMass Lowell, so it introduced me to something that is very important to me.”

Although her career trajectory has been far from linear after graduating from UMass Lowell, she says that it guided her to where she eventually ended up.

Patronick says that her time on The Connector proved integral to her personal and professional development. As Editor-in-Chief, Patronick says that she learned the management skills which would aid her in her career.

Although all the people on her staff were different in their working styles, she

needed to bring Courtesy of Michelle Jay them together towards a common goal: publishing a weekly paper for the UMass Lowell community.

“Everyone had various motivations, productivity levels and focus levels, and I had to learn to respect that,” Patronick said. “However, the important part was that I learned from my management mistakes and I’ve always carried that with me.”

Patronick carried those missteps from the Connector to free- Patronick has built her career from her past experiences and looks to achieve so much more beyond lance journalism tegral role in the develop- new and challenge myself,” Patronick. jobs and then eventually ment of the Boston Blades, Patronick said. “College She knows she likes colto The Hockey Academy, a franchise of the Canadian hockey is where I fell in lege hockey though, and where she says that she Women’s Hockey League. love with the game so it the sport should consider worked for several junior She served as general man- was a dream to work for a itself lucky to have her. The hockey teams’ social me- ager from 2015-2017 and college team.” person she is today, with dia, websites and video delighted in managing day Last season, Patronick all that hockey experience production. The change to day operations of the helped lead Colgate to their under her belt, is decidedly to working directly with team as well as the oppor- first Frozen Four appear- different than the frustrated hockey teams invigorated tunity to interact with some ance. The Raiders finished music major that enrolled not only her interest in the of women’s hockey’s most with a 34-6-1 overall record in UMass Lowell for the sport but in staying around storied players. and lost the NCAA Cham- 2005 school year. it in a professional context.

When Natalie Spooner, pionship game to Clarkson Even through the differ“It made me realize that Olympic gold medalist and in a 2-1 overtime loss. Al- ent career adjustments that being on a team is some- player for the Toronto Fu- though it was a heartbreak- she has made, hockey rinks thing special. But it’s also ries, entrusted Patronick ing loss for both Patronick have always inspired her, more than that - the person with the care and keeping and the team, she learned and UMass Lowell will you work with every day of her skates, Patronick more about the position always be the place that at the rink or the person says that she had to restrain and looks to accomplish sparked it. sitting next to you in the herself from having what even greater feats at Dart“I knew I was always my locker room - that is your she called a “fangirl mo- mouth. absolute happiest when I family,” she said. ment.”

“I have a lot of goals for was at the rink,” she said.

Being involved with “When I brought it there what I’d like to bring to “When I started to get teams behind the scenes in to get it fixed, the whole Dartmouth, improving the burned out while working a media context inspired time I was thinking... ‘Do team’s social media, video as a journalist in the first her to take her love of they even know whose [etc.] I have a bunch of cre- few years out of college, hockey even further. After skate they’re touching?’” ative initiatives I’d like to the rink was always where graduating from her sports she said. take on,” said Patronick.

I turned. Whether I was management graduate proThose two years spent at Beyond next season, covering hockey, watching, gram at Southern New the helm of a professional however, Patronick does or playing, I loved every Hampshire University, she women’s hockey franchise not count out any other ca- minute of it. When my palooked for opportunities in were essential to Patron- reer opportunities. All she tience for journalism starthockey operations. ick’s career development, knows is that she hopes to ed waning, I thought about “Day in and day out, on but she could not resist a stay in a team environment how I could match my talroad trips or extremely long call to work for a college and produce a winning at- ents with my passion for work days, nobody under- hockey team. When Col- mosphere, enjoying the vic- hockey.” stands what you’re going gate University reached out tories and hardships along Patronick says that dethrough like your team- to Patronick offering her the way. spite working for another mates or hockey co-work- a position as director of “I’m not too sure where Division I institution, she ers,” Patronick said. “I hockey operations for their my career will take me, but will always root for UMawanted that, and I wanted women’s team, Patronick I hope wherever I am that ss Lowell. “It’s embedded to be an important part of leapt at the chance.

I can be an important fiber in who I am. Go River that family.”

“I jumped at it because I of a team and make a pos- Hawks, forever!”

Patronick played an in- wanted to learn something itive impact on them,” said

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UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

Homecoming 2018

One Celebration. Every Generation.

From our hockey home opener, to our Hawkey Way Pre-Game Festival filled with music, games and fun, Homecoming packs a lot of River Hawk excitement into one weekend. Gather your family and friends for a weekend of UML pride!

OCT. 12-14 ★ uml.edu/homecoming River Hawk Rally ✶ Late Night Skate for Students Hawkey Way Homecoming Festival ✶ Jennifer’s 5k Run/Walk Live Music ✶ Parent & Family Reception ✶ Apple & Pumpkin Picking UML Hockey vs. Rochester Institute of Technology