New SGA leadership Students elect new president, vice president, senators, and re-elect student trustee
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THE UMASS LOWELL
Serving the Student Body Since 1976
Summer 2017
UMass Lowell’s 2017 commencement
In This Issue
Record-breaking number of graduates
Ed Sheeran ‘Divide’ review
The Navigators club helps students on campus
â–ş Page 6 David Ortiz cements legacy â–ş Page 7
Final River Hawk Scores Team
Score
Baseball vs. Maine
L 4-8
Softball vs. UMBC
W 9-4
accomplishments of the class of university. “You have advanced our 2017, and the mark they had left on society and improved the lives of Connector Editors the university. the people you have touched,� said With a record breaking turnout “UMass Lowell gave us the opMoloney. of graduating students, faculty, portunity to do what we love,� said She went on in her speech providfamily, and friends, UMass Lowgraduate Adeja Crearer, who was ed statistics about UMass Lowell, ell’s 2017 Commencement filled the slected to be the student speaker as well as honoring the 2,000 Tsongas Center. in the morning ceremony. “She seniors who were graduating with On Saturday, May 13, UMass went on in her speech to talk about honors and the 93 of them who Lowell graduated 3,970 students, and address the students to think had perfect GPAs. “The world is which is the largest senior class in about ehere they came from and to now in good hands because the its 26-year history. be grateful, highlighting that only world is now in your hands,� said Commencement was split into two parts to properly honor the large number of graduates. The morning ceremony featured the College of Education, Manning School of Business, and the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. The afternoon ceremony included the College of Engineering, College of Health Sciences, and the Kennedy College of Sciences. Alumni and honored students entered first. Followed by the rest of the graduating students and a Courtesy of uml.edu variety of professors from the dif3,970 students graduated from UMass Lowell in 2017. ferent colleges. Bagpipes (Scottish band) proabout 1/3 of Americans have the Moloney. “You have been a gift to vided a warm welcome to UMass opportunity to go to college. us and now you are a gift to the Lowell administrators ending with Chancellor Moloney further world.� Chancellor Jacqueline Moloney reiterated the praise for UMass In addition it was said by several and UMass President Marty Mee- Lowell and the graduateing seniors. speakers that graduates should be han. She thanked everyone for sharing proud of their varied accomplishMany stood to speak about the their stories by being a part of the ments from developing prosthetics Taylor Carito Hannah Manning
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Overall Record 22-26 21-19
WLAX vs. Vermont
W 14-8 7-8
MLAX vs. UMBC
L 6-10
2-9
A cappella group releases EP Kathryn Leeber Connector Editor
Hawkapella, UMass Lowell’s premier allmale a cappella group, recently released their first studio EP. Titled “Hatched,â€? the collection consists of six covers of songs from various genres. The first song and lead single is a cover of Fall Out Boy’s hit “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light ‘Em Up).â€? Hawkapella beautifully captures the various elements of the song all while utilizing only their voices. Christopher Kelleher provides the lead vocals for this track and does a stellar job of mirroring Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump’s vocal style in the original song. The supporting vocals and beats add energy and a distinctive tone to the song. The speed of the track is impressive, with the beats gradually picking up the pace. The next track slows things down with a calm and emotional rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.â€? Gabriel Paradis provides impressive lead vocals and the supporting singers follow the typical a cappella layered style to give the song a classic feel. Panic! At the Disco’s “This is Gospelâ€? features lead vocals from Luis Enrique Diaz and John Kelley. The tone is slow at times, but the â–ş See “Hawkapella,â€? page 6
Sections News.............................3 Campus Life.................. 6 A&E.............................. 4 Sports........................... 7
â–ş See “Commencement,â€? page 3
UMass Lowell wins Hockey East final Hannah Manning Connector Editor
The last minute seemed interminable. TD Garden pulsed with anticipation, raucous cheers of “UML, UML, UML� overpowering and charging up the place with equal parts rapturous joy and crippling fear that a 4-3 lead for the River Hawks would slip through their fingers and the 2017 Hockey East Final might have to be settled in the worst manner of all – overtime. With Boston College skating six, their goaltender Joe Woll vacant from his post in a desperate effort to capitalize on a momentum swing for the Eagles, that very nearly happened. With 47.7 seconds left on the clock a Boston College shot hit the UMass Lowell post. The Eagles came within one late in the third, with a goal coming from Ryan Fitzgerald dredging up the Eagles’ hopes for an extended postseason. The Garden erupted and over 12,000 people were held cap-
tive in the arena as the clock ticked down, as anxiety from both sides shot through the roof and both teams played on. However long that minute may have stretched, and however heavy the tension was in TD Garden, by the end of it as the panic spilled into celebration senior
Men’s hockey holding the Hockey East Championship trophy. â–ş See “America East,â€? page 8
Summer 2017
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OPINIONS & EDITORIALS Trustee Talk: Spring 2017 Board of Trustees recap Lindy Reed Student Trustee
The Board of Trustees has had a very busy year, especially for the UMass Boston and UMass Dartmouth campuses. Below are major activities from the Board’s activity this spring. UMass Boston On April 5, 2017, the Chancellor of UMass Boston, Keith Motley, resigned from his chancellorship position after serving for ten years. Starting July 1, he will be replaced by an interim chancellor, Barry Mills, the former president of Bowdoin College located in Maine. The Boston campus has planned some major campus renovations in
order to address millions of dollars worth of deferred maintenance and infrastructural problems. UMass Boston also began construction on their first residence hall as the result of the UMass System’s first ever P3 (public-private-partnership) with tax-exempt bonds. This $120 million, 260,000 square-foot, 1000-bed building is expected to open to freshman residents in fall 2018. UMass Dartmouth After serving as interim chancellor, Peyton Helm, former president of Becker College in Worcester, will be succeeded by Robert Johnson as the next UMass Dartmouth Chancellor. UMass Lowell
THE UMASS LOWELL
Serving the Student Body Since 1976
UMASS LOWELL CONNECTOR
EDITORIAL BOARD
Our campus has dedicated its College of Health Sciences to alumnus Roy Zuckerberg, being renamed to the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences. Another college has been renamedthe Susan and Alan Solomont School of Nursing. The Pulichino-Tong Business Building was officially opened this spring, with 10 brand new, state-of-the art classrooms. East Meadow Lane apartments are no longer offered as student housing, and the Green Line has been eliminated. UMass Lowell students are eligible to ride the LRTA buses for free. Perry and Pasteur Halls will start their renovations this summer, are scheduled for completion in 2018. Cumnock Hall will also see major renovations with the creation of a marketplace, similar to the one on South Campus in McGauvran, and slated to open fall 2018. Fox Hall elevator renovations are slated for completion and ready for move-in for fall 2017. The Aiken Fields complex is also
scheduled to open for use in fall 2017. The Aiken Fields project has necessitated a $75 increase to the student activity fee, which will be heavily used to fund student employment to staff the fields. Hawk’s Nest at University Suites will also see some changes. Starting construction this summer, it will be expanded and converted into a dining space with grab-and-go food and allyou-can-eat dinner courses, anticipated for completion by January 2018. Finally, UMass Lowell graduated 3,970 students at this year’s Commencement. It marks the 10th consecutive year of increasingly larger graduating classes. That concludes the major activities from the Board this spring, and I’ll continue to post updates as new activities occur throughout the year. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. My Facebook page is facebook.com/TrusteeReed and my email is malinda_reed@ student.uml.
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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
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Summer 2017
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NEWS
Degou, Madigan elected SGA President, Vice-President Andrew Sciascia Connector Editor
“I thought it was a hard-fought election, between two terrific candidates. I knew whichever ticket took over, they were going to lead the student experience to be more positive. It’s the closest election in UML history, the closest I’ve ever seen. Seeing them conduct their campaigns in such a professional manner despite the stakes was incredibly impressive,” said outgoing SGA President, James Christopher. After weeks of campaigning and an official debate, the Student Government Association Elections took place online on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 7 and 8. Along with a host of new Senators, SGA saw the re-election of Lindy Reed as UMass Lowell’s Student Trustee, the election of Kailyn MacNeil as the Senior Class President and a presidential election that came down to the wire. The result; Lisa Degou and Brian Madigan being chosen as president and vice-president for the coming academic year, just nosing out Rob Callahan and Josie Garfield. Polls came to a close with approximately 1500 ballots cast by the student body. This number may seem small, but each and every candidate cited this election as one of the closest ever, with a fantastic turnout from the students. “It’s interesting how close it was… Having never campaigned before, it was interesting to see how many people were unaware of SGA, and how many people were willing to come out and get involved in the election. It was amazing to see what this could mean for SGA and the student body,” said Garfield. The tight presidential race had both candidates thinking long and hard on their platforms. How they reached the student body, and what resonated strongest with them. Degou expressed her thanks to sup-
ports along with an excitement to move forward with the initiatives her campaign had stressed along the way. “I am most excited to work on my mission to work with the Solution Center to ensure that they have a better relationship with students… I want to create accountabiwlity for SGA, inspire and make everyone feel as though they are working towards the same goal,” said Degou, who even expressed a will to work with Callahan, moving forward, on SGA transparency.
however, the only race to see a tight contest. The race for Senior Class President was another close one. With three candidates running MacNeil overtook Tyler Farley by just 45 votes. In the case of Student Trustee the race was a bit more widespread, with incumbent Lindy Reed reclaiming her position with just under 77% of the vote, overtaking transfer student Dylan Lambert. Whom despite being a recent transfer with no prior student government experience brought out a significant voting base.
Courtesy Photo
The Degou-Madigan ticket was elected by a slim margin in March.
Despite the tough, hard-fought loss Callahan’s campaign seemed to, also, resonate incredibly well with the people of UMass Lowell, and he says he intends to move forward with the initiative that seemed the most popular. “Students seemed very receptive to our platform… I’m excited to work through as much as we can in the remainder of my term as a Senator. We can still try to push through and end the SGA Executive Board stipends, to draft an amendment in an attempt to show that that is something we are not looking to continue,” said Callahan. The presidential election was not,
Reed was honored by the support she received, citing her previous record and large presence on social media and around campus as the driving forces in her victory. “With a student body as large and spread as the one at UMass Lowell, it’s all about speaking to as many students as possible; gaining their trust… You have to show them who you are and earn every single person’s vote that you can,” said Reed, whose goals in the coming year center around continuing to pursue, “Fighting for affordability. Increasing communication and transparency. And increasing
student representation.” Alongside voting on Student Government Association’s leadership, the student body was also given the opportunity to vote on a binding campus referendum. Should the non-profit, political advocacy group MASSPIRG be allowed to maintain its chapter on campus, funded by $11 out of each student’s user fees. The referendum passed with outstanding community support. For those students who are still in opposition to the group and its message, the fee will be waivable in the coming semester. With positions filled and decisions made it would seem all is accounted for. However, many of the candidates cited one major problem for next year. The Senate is not filled. There was not enough participation on the ballot for allAll photos courtesy of Jennifer Wall the SGA Senate seats to be filled. Let alone for there to be competition for the seats. It was a widely-accepted mission among the candidates to increase involvement and voting in the years to come. In the coming year SGA is expected to push their Vacancy Packet program. This allows for interested students to fill out the packet and attain a number of signatures, thereby being able to fill an open seat in the Senate; effective immediately. This will likely be coupled with efforts to improve communication between SGA and the student body. “I want to reach out more with media platforms like WUML and the Connector. I want us to keep people informed and involved. It was such a close result, and I hope people take a big look into their government and the impact their votes have on this campus,” said Callahan. Editor’s Note: This piece was chosen due to the relevance of the change in student leadership on campus. Originlly Published: March 14, 2017
UMass Lowell’s largest class yet looks forward to bright future ►Continued from front page for children in developing countries to academic excellence. Keynote speaker for the afternoon ceremony Dr. Freeman Hrabowski commended UMass Lowell as “an institution that reflects the best of America.” He emphasized the importance of unconditional love, using a story about his childhood in Alabama, eating blueberry pie and doing math problems. “Today is that blueberry pie,” said Hrabowski. Steve Kornacki, the morning keynote speaker, similarly spoke about how his experiences led to where he was today. He spoke about having a mentor, or someone to inspire you. For him it was an old professor Lou Barlow. He encouraged everyone to find their Lou Barlow in life, and not to worry about being lost after college. “Everyone finds their way,” said Kornacki. Hrabowski as well as Kornacki, received honorary doctorate degrees in Humane Letters, and urged students to form their identities, use moments of doubt as motivation and ask good questions.
Praises were spread around from the hardworking graduating class, to fac- ulty members and facilities from speakers throughout the afternoon ceremony. Solomon Ugbane, an international student from Nigeria who accepted his masters in mechanical engineering, provided an inspiring and motivating motif for his fellow I cry graduating classmates. In his student commencement address Ugbane told the audience to “think of the letters ‘n’ ‘o’ as your next opportunity.” For Ugbane, the word “end” translates to “effort never dying,” and the word “fail” the “first attempt in learning.” “Please know that this place will always be your home,” said John Feudo, the Vice Chancellor of University Advancement. Both ceremonies concluded with the announcing of all graduates, and a proper recession beginning with administrators and professors. Courtesy of Lowell Sun
Chancellor Malloney and Steve Kornacki stand for the Student Commencement address.
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Summer 2017
Summer 2017
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
‘Resident Evil 7’ puts survival back in horror genre Nick Bramante Connector Staff
Before the launch of “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard,” there was a lot of concern from fans over the direction the series had been following, with recent titles focusing more on over-the-top action as opposed to the series’ staple of survival horror. For those fans, this new entry brings a refreshing return to form, offering horrifying encounters, strange and intricate puzzles to solve, and an item/ inventory management system akin to that of earlier entries in the franchise. While the main campaign of the game may be shorter than some may be used to (usually around 10 hours or so for the first play-through), what is there is an incredibly terrifying and satisfying experience. The game has players in control of Ethan Winters, a relatively ordinary man thrown into very extraordinary circumstances. After Ethan’s wife Mia inexplicably contacts him after being missing for 3 years, Ethan decides to investigate the Baker residence down in Dulvey, Louisiana. As events unfold, Ethan ultimately finds himself in a struggle for survival as he is hunted by biologically altered creatures, working with limited resources while attempting to uncover the secret of the Bakers, Mia, and the dark history of the plantation he finds himself trapped on. Aesthetically, nearly all aspects of “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” are executed masterfully. Detailed and grotesque environments, paranoia-inducing sound design, a spine-chilling original soundtrack and a disturbing narrative come together to give the player a relatively scary and extremely unsettling
experience. It’s safe to say that from the first door the player enters, they’re thrust into an incredibly uncomfortable and anxiety-ridden environment. Each creak in the floorboards or pitch-black corridor observed warrants a freeze in progress, as the player takes a minute to take inventory of each possible exit and detail in case
to another, turning around to take a few pot shots at their pursuer, only to watch wide-eyed as their efforts achieve only in slowing down their imminent doom. When brute force doesn’t do the trick or players simply burn through their limited amount of supplies, players will find themselves slamming
Courtesy of Capcom
“Resident Evil 7” is the 24th game released in the “Resident Evil” franchise since 1996.
they need to run in terror. The first time the player witnesses any abomination to come skulking around the corner, the immediate instinct is always to flee. In terms of gameplay, it’s exceedingly difficult not to compare “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” to some of the earliest installments of the franchise. Though the first person perspective is something entirely new to main installments of the series, the design of the plantation itself, as well as how the player traverses it, clearly takes influence from “Resident Evil 1.” Players will often find themselves sprinting from one end of a corridor
doors and creeping into a dark corner of the room, their only tool left being hoping not to be found. An emphasis on crafting is also introduced (though not obnoxiously relied upon), oftentimes forcing the player to decide whether health items or ammunition are more important to cram into their incredibly limited inventory space. Strange and interesting puzzles also make a return, leaving the player often scratching their head, only to finally come to that satisfying “ah hah” moment when the often outside-the-box solution is arrived at. As the game progresses, the player
is granted more effective tools to use against the horrible abominations they’ll encounter, but said abominations are replaced with tougher and even freakier enemies, so overall it does not dwindle from the often high tension. Last but not least, “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” hosts quite a few boss fights, each interesting and different in their own way. That being said, some shine more than others, with some fights offering a variety of ways to play out and be completed, while others offer a somewhat disappointing conclusion. Despite these miniscule setbacks, “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” nonetheless offers a genuinely terrifying and of course very fun experience. Veterans of the series will find the title to be a refreshing return to form with some interesting twists, while newcomers will find themselves easily able to step into the role of Ethan, relatively unhindered by previous game continuity. Completion of the game unlocks “Madhouse” difficulty, a mode that completely changes how one may play the game, offering a much more unforgiving experience. If one is lucky enough to own a VR set for the Playstation 4, the game does offer complete support for the entire campaign (if you think you can handle it.) All in all, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a must for veterans of the franchise as well as diehard survival horror fans, and most definitely a strong contender for anyone looking to pick up a new and terrifying game. Resident Evil 7 is available for Xbox One, PS4 and PC for $60. Final Grade: A-
►Continued from front page contrasting vocals do a great job of reflecting the pace of the supporting sounds. The vocal percussion elements from Graham Allen are so detailed that it is hard to believe the sounds were all created vocally. Another slower track, a cover of Sam Smith’s “Lay Me Down,” is stylistically similar to “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in terms of the backing elements. It is fairly simple, yet still full of emotion and strength. Almost halfway into the song, some beats and backing vocals are added to bring more energy to the song. “Jessie’s Girl” utilizes the fantastic beats found throughout the EP. Although there is nothing too detailed about
With songs from various generations, Hawkapella does an excellent job of utilizing the talents of all its members, which is evident in the arrangements of the tracks. While the more current songs tend to be a bit stronger, the older ones are just as pleasing. The vocal percussion beats are some of the best features of the EP and the supporting vocals harmonize well with the lead vocalist to create an astounding set of songs.
Courtesy of UML Hawkapella
Hawkapella performs their ICCA quarter-finals set live at Durgin Hall back in Febuary.
this song, it is still a solid example of the group’s skills. A sixth bonus track, a cover
of Dexys Midnight Runner’s “Come on Eileen,” is included on the EP. Again, it is not
the most complex track, but it is still enjoyable and features excellent vocals from Allen.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ‘Doctor Strange’ fails to dissapoint Owen Johnson Connector Staff
The great irony about Marvel’s starting movies is that the ones with the premises and characters that would be most appealing to mainstream audiences are the movies that get played safe while the, pardon the pun, strange and ludicrous ideas are given free range to be as weird as they want. Those latter starter movies tend to be the better ones, and “Doctor Strange” is no exception to this rule. After a car accident leaves his hands permanently damaged, neurosurgeon Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) travels to Kathmandu in an effort to find a healer. Strange discovers that the healer is actually a sorcerer (Tilda Swinton) of the mystic arts who offers to teach him. Strange accepts, and he soon finds himself caught up in a conflict between the sorcerer and one of her former students (Mads Mikkelsen). What is so impressive about “Doctor Strange” is that it feels like it is borrowing so much from other Marvel and Disney owned films, while simultaneously using it to create a unique identity for itself. Several aspects of this movie feel like they were taken straight out of previous Marvel movies. The character of Stephen Strange feels somewhat like Tony Stark, while the opening of the movie feels a little like the first “Iron Man.” There is a part about a mystical object that will present itself to the sorcerer when they
are ready, like Thor’s hammer does in “Thor.” There are also a couple of elements and ideas in the movie that feel like they were taken from the “Star Wars” movies. All of these things are present, but they are given new interpretations, levels of importance in the
ences to the cinematic universe are kept to a minimal. The only reference was a quick mention of the “Avengers” tower in a shot of New York, and a character mentioning an object is an infinity stone at the end of the movie. The end of the movie is not anti-cli-
Courtesy of Disney
Dr Strange first appeared in “Strange Tales #110” back in July 1963.
story, or just better utilized in general, so that “Doctor Strange” is using them as fundamental elements to take shape instead of just ripping the ideas off. “Doctor Strange” does not just manage to feel unique by its ability to take pre-existing ideas and make them different, but by also managing to avoid the awful idiosyncrasies of Marvel films. Doctor Strange’s love interest (Rachel McAdams) is used very sparingly and only appears in the film when necessary. The writers did not feel the need to pointlessly shoehorn her into every scene. The refer-
mactic, and the defeat of the villain is actually creative. The only aspect that suffers as it does in almost every Marvel movie is that the main villain is not very interesting. That is the case with Mikkelsen’s character, but at least he has some amount of a backstory, and a plan that actually makes sense and remains consistent with his motivation. The comedic material of the film is also well handled. With the exception of Strange seemingly trying way too hard to be funny to the librarian Wong (Benedict Wong) and a couple of other times when the jokes just felt forced
and unneeded, the humor is worked in fluently. Even some of the dialogue from characters that it would be considered uncharacteristic for them to be making a joke works. The character’s mystical abilities open the realm of possibilities for what can be done, and that is something the writers put to use. These freedoms allowed for the most diverse settings of any of the Marvel movies, some extremely enjoyable and creative action sequences, and just allowed for the film to be as visually interesting as possible. There was a point when Strange is being introduced to the powers and the entire world basically becomes a stereotypical psychedelic drug trip. The good writing does not just stop at the creativity the writers took advantage of with the film’s premise. Doctor Strange is easily one of the more interesting Marvel protagonists, as he is just an everyday person acting out of desperation whom the audience is continuously getting a new perspective on. The relationship between Cumberbatch’s and McAdam’s characters is not as prominent in the story, but still holds a lot of weight and emotion to it. Even the side characters are fairly well developed. “Doctor Strange” is ultimately what all of the starter Marvel films should have been. It is a fun, well-crafted and intelligently handled super hero movie that feels like something unique instead of an assembly line product.
Ed Sheeran keeps to winning formula with ‘Divide’ Andrew Sciascia Connector Staff
Hawkapella transcends eras with ‘Hatched’
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The red-headed, mid-twenties music icon with the humble, awkward persona and English roots had been dodging the public eye for over a year after taking a social media hiatus. An off blue square with a hap-hazard, painted black symbol at center and a short public statement was all it took. To the joy of an adoring fan-base, Ed Sheeran, the singer-songwriter, guitarist and sometimes rapper, was making his return to the music scene. “Divide” debuted at Number 1 on Billboard 200 charts in the U.S., which is the second of Sheeran’s three full-length studio albums to do so. Sheeran also managed to sell over a half of a million copies in just the U.S. and UK during the first week of sale, outdoing his previous smash-hit album from 2014, “Multiply,” by a shocking total of approximately 164,000 albums. All the way down to another album title sharing its name with a common mathematical function, Sheeran proves once again that his typical formula, a spread of heartwarming ballads, earworm pop tunes and clever rap and guitar stylings, is what sells records; this time around, he added a bit of Celtic flare from his Irish roots for this album. There is a reason Sheeran’s album is still selling thousands of copies weeks out. The twelve song, approximately 46 minute, “Divide” is another fit of brilliance by the English songwriter. The album picks up with a series of hearty and varied tunes. Terrific pacing and strong lyricism kick off the album, and Sheeran’s cleverness and emotion do not seem to fade at any point. The al-
bum flows well and in similar fashion to how Sheeran’s previous albums have, transitioning from quick jams and pop earworms to the slow, soul driven ballads and power-ballads. The energy of the album seems to be a series of peaks and valleys, but the standard level of craftsmanship in the body of work never finds a true low-point. Courtesy of Asylum Records
“Divide” debuted at#1 on the US Billboard 200 at release.
In tunes like “Eraser” and “What Do I Know?” the audience is lead through Sheeran’s struggles with the fame and with the materialism pushed in media and life at present date. Tracks seven, eight and nine seem to flow together as one story, culminating around the flow of emotions surrounding a bad breakup. From the melancholy of seeing the significant other you lost happy with someone else in “Happier” to the resentment and jealousy at the fore in “New Man” the arch is driven and devastat-
ing. Hope comes in to break the sadness and anger in the beautiful and soft form of new love in “Hearts Don’t Break Around Here.” Sheeran’s typically beautiful softer ballads can be found in “How Would You Feel” and “Perfect,” whereas the jam-worthy pop tunes are also sprinkled in with hit single “Shape of You” or “Galway Girl” which mixes rap, rock and Celtic background themes to create an awesome song for play at a party. Yet, these Sheeran staples can very easily be overlooked for two incredibly strong pieces that have not been getting as much radio play: “Dive,” a power-ballad dripping with desperation, and “Castle on a Hill,” the nostalgia riddled glimpse at childhood memories and age-old friends. Throughout the album are themes of love, heartbreak, and hope. Sheeran looks back on a quiet past life of rebellious, awkward youth and the struggles of fame. Each and every one of the 12 songs have a place on the record. They are varied in style, length and story, yet all pull at the heart-strings. The beauty of Sheeran’s music is not only in cleverness and interesting new takes on old stylings. It is Sheeran’s ability to vividly paint the simple moments of everyday life as the emotional epics that they truly are to each and every one of us. Relatability is where Sheeran shines. Also, the four extra songs on the Deluxe Edition are worth the three extra dollars. Ed Sheeran’s “Divide” was no vast turnaround for this captivating singer-songwriter as it was quite the opposite. Sheeran’s hiatus changed nothing; he is still crafting awe-inspiring chart-toppers. Final Grade: A+
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Summer 2017
CAMPUS LIFE
The race for diversity and acceptance on campus their studies or make them feel out of place. They also said that Latino diversity was not something the University promoted well. Both students and faculty said that UMass Mitchell has been here for almost 14 years, and Lowell needs to take more steps to promote racial Kim has been here for six. When applying to diversity and acceptance throughout the camwork here, Kim said having diversity was funpus for both American-born and international damental. Mitchell said he previously worked at students. a university with almost no diversity, and it was The UMass Lowell community includes memimportant to come here and see diverse students. bers from many diverse backgrounds, and some “Even at that time…the University was making said this University has helped them feel acceptgreat inroads into hiring more diverse faculty ed. Yet other students and faculty said that the members and also having a diverse student popucurriculum needs to become more inclusive and lation,” he said. the overall behavior needs to be more accepting Mitchell said he knew then that Lowell was “a in order to improve the experience for them here. “I think there’s a big lack of diversity here,” said hub of immigration” from its beginning, as did Kim, and this was a draw for them. This even junior Jasmine Polanco. “It was very difficult for holds true today, as the University has many me to adjust to the whole campus because…I students under Deferred Action for Childhood had to wait until Wednesdays to go to the [Latin Arrivals (DACA). American Student Association] in order to see “[DACA] makes undocumented students or my culture.” residents somewhat documented for at least Polanco and senior and graduate student Carlos two years,” said Gabriel. “In the rhetoric of our Gabriel said that they felt there was little reprenow-president in regards to repealing DACA and sentation here for Hispanic students, including deporting the 11 million undocumented folks within the faculty. who are here, I felt it was time for me to stand “In this school, I haven’t had a Hispanic proup.” fessor,” said Gabriel. “It’s a different feeling when Gabriel and Polanco said this is important to you can relate to your professor, and you can see them. Along with Kim, they both took part in yourself being that leader.” Faculty members also said they feel diversifying creating the UMass Lowell Sanctuary Campus faculty is important, including English professors Petition, which would benefit DACA students and make UMass Lowell a sanctuary campus, Keith Mitchell and Sue Kim. which is similar to the idea of a sanctuary city. “As a minority faculty member, being the face “What it means specifically…is that administraand being out there is showing people that the tion, including campus police, will not turn over University does have diversity and is working immigration status or information to the federal towards having more diverse faculty and students,” said Mitchell. “It’s important for minority immigration and customs enforcement without a court order,” said Kim. students to see other faculty members or people Kim said it parallels the idea of sanctuary cities, in administration who look like them.” meaning that local law enforcement cannot enPolanco and Gabriel said they came from a force federal immigration policy. diverse community college, so transferring to a “Just at a basic human level, everyone in our university lacking in diversity would complicate Michaela Goss Connector Editor
community should feel welcome and valued and actually be able to be here,” said Kim. Polanco said making the University a sanctuary campus would keep DACA students safe on campus and protect them so they can continue their education. She said education is important to her, and she and Gabriel said they feel the University could help promote diversity more through the curriculum. “I think one of our pillars here is to make more well-rounded students and more worldly students,” said Gabriel. “And I think that the curriculum has to reflect those morals to make well-rounded individuals.” Some faculty members are using their own classes to help improve the curriculum. Mitchell teaches a variety of literature classes and said he tries to make them as diverse as he can. Yet Kim, who is also the co-director of the Asian American Studies Center, said there is room for improvement, especially in regards to Asian-American studies. “We don’t have much in the way of ethnic studies here, but I think that the administration is behind some of these initiatives,” said Kim. “But we have some work to do.” Because Lowell is a diverse city itself, UMass Lowell would do well to follow in the city’s footsteps in order to help all students and faculty to feel accepted. “When I saw brown faces, and people with blue hair, and this vibrant community of students who were all here for the same reason, but looked so different from each other…I’m like: this is where I want to be,” said Mitchell. Editor’s Note: This article was chosen to highlight the influence the city of Lowell has on promoting diversity and acceptance on campus. (Originally Published: February 28, 2017)
The Navigators Club: Helping students in need Taylor Carito Connector Editor
. rom volunteering at the Boys and F Girls Club to creating a food pantry for students who are in need, the Navigators Club is comprised of students and faculty who want to help people. .Nearly six years old, this club has contributed to the campus and the community greatly. They have worked collaboratively to make donations to charities such as the House of Hope and The Boys and Girls Club. According to Erika Nadile, grad . student and former president of the Navigators club, the club started with a few students who had aged out of the foster care system. The club now focuses around helping students who “have followed a less traditional path to college,” said Nadile. This could range from someone who has aged out of foster care, to a veteran, to someone who is having family issues, or anything else. .The Navigators have a subset of the club called The Harbormasters, which is a group of faculty and staff mem-
bers who have gone through a training process to help students who may be in need of additional support that the Navigators cannot provide “Faculty and staff members have . additional resources that students may not have. Like if [students] need help buying a book they can help them or they donate to the food pantry when we need it,” said Nadile. Beyond campus, the Navigators . have also reached out to The Boys and Girls Club, creating a ‘Teen Day’ to help connect with teens and kids and promote going to college. They also co-arranged a backpack drive with the Psi Chi (the honors psychology club), donating filled backpacks to The Boys and Girls Club. .The Navigators club currently has an active Facebook page where they post about active meetings and events. Their biggest event, exclusive to members, the annual dinner, is expected to be in April to honor graduating seniors, active Harbormaster members, and donors who have supported their cause.
The club’s goals for this semes. ter are much more student oriented. They want students to know that they are still around and encourage those in need to come forward. They work with several other clubs, faculty and administration to help every student get their needs met. In addition to this, they encourage anyone who wants to
help to be active and join. .Nadile says, “It’s hard for students to come out and talk about their issues, but I feel like we as a club can do so in a way that doesn’t make them feel pressured or insecure about their needs.”
Courtesy of Navigators Club
Faculty and staff in the Navigators Club have this sign on their doors.
Page 7
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
Summer 2017
SPORTS Men’s hockey continues Hockey East domination with third championship in five years ► Continued from front page
UMass Lowell head coach Norm Bazin broke into a laugh at the very beginning of the postgame press conference. “Wow, that’s what I can say. It is such a relief, the guys bent in the third period but they didn’t break. I am very, very proud of this group. I have two great players sitting besides me now,” said Coach Bazin, referring to junior forward C.J. Smith and senior forward Joe Gambardella. “But there are another 18 guys in the locker room right now that I am very proud of.” As is the Lowell way, there was a lot of emphasis on the unit, as Gambardella credited the trainers and coaching staff for preparing the River Hawks for the championship. Gambardella’s praise extended to his linemates Smith and junior forward John Edwardh. “I’m very fortunate and very proud and ecstatic that I’ve had the opportunity to play with two amazing players over the last three years of my career here. We just all compliment each other so well. I think the team camaraderie on and off the ice… our chemistry has been very solid,” said Gambardella. The top line combined for seven points, each of them tallying one of their own goals. Smith and Gambardella were honored as forwards for the All-Tournament Team. Smith went home with MVP honors in hand after a three-point night, following in graduated goaltender Kevin Boyle’s footsteps. Also honored by Hockey East was freshman goaltender Tyler Wall, who faced 41 shots in one of the strongest performances of his young career as a River Hawk. Wall was named to the All-Tournament Team as the goaltender, and his contributions were not lost on Coach Bazin. “[Wall] was outstanding today. I don’t think you win a championship without a great goalie… Wall did an outstanding job. He was there for us…
The River Hawks finished the season with a 14-7-1 record in Hockey East play.
he certainly was huge for us tonight,” said Coach Bazin. Wall made several key stops, many of those coming in the third period where Boston College out-attempted UMass Lowell 34-5. His best came with seven minutes remaining in regulation, making a sprawling save to stifle one of the Eagles’ comeback attempts. Boston College breathed down the River Hawks’ necks during much of the third period, whereas UMass Lowell dominated the first and second periods for the most part. Smith scored the first goal of the game 1:06 into the first period, the shot coming smooth like silver as the Eagles’ Woll raised his blocker in vain. From there, scoring was for the most part back and forth. Just over four minutes later the Eagles clawed their way into the game with a power
Assistant captain Joe Gambardella and captain Michael Kapla pose with the Lou Lamiorello Trophy.
play goal from Austin Cangelosi, his 21st goal of the season. There were near-constant scoring chances for both sides during the first period as action scuttled back and forth. The first twenty minutes had four goals, two apiece coming from UMass Lowell and Boston College. Scoring calmed down after the first period, with the last two of UMass Lowell’s goals coming in the second period and Boston College attempting a late third period comeback with Fitzgerald’s goal. Three of the seven goals scored came from special teams efforts – with Boston College and UMass Lowell each notching a power play goal and Boston College scoring a shorthanded goal late in the first period to tie the game at two. UMass Lowell had a huge penalty kill in the first period as they fought off a 5-on-3 that could have very well have changed the momentum of the entire game. Despite the high level of dramatics that ensued in the third period with Boston College tallying 15 shots on goal compared to UMass Lowell’s two, the Eagles were ultimately ousted by the River Hawks. Bazin, named Hockey East Coach of the Year, emphasized his pride for his dedicated squad. “They’re good, good kids who love to work, and I can’t say enough about them. This year was a testament to the type of kids they are,” said Coach Bazin. “You had to take out Notre Dame and Boston College. Two incredible teams, and you got it done in the end. I’m very, very proud of our school
and I’m happy we can hang another banner,” said Coach Bazin.
Freshman goaltender Tyler Wall made 38 saves in the championship game.
Editor’s note: This was obviously a very important game for hockey that sort of brought the community together, so this would be a stronge story to include.
UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR
Summer 2017
Page 8
SPORTS Men’s soccer wins first America East regular season championBrock Johnson Connector Editor
In his final game as a River Hawk, senior forward Wuilito Fernandes powered the team to a 2-1 win and their first-ever America East regular season championship with his game-winning goal over the Hartford Hawks assisted by redshirt freshman forward Ivan Abramovic Wednesday night at Cushing Field. On a night where Fernandes could have had four goals, he only needed one. Fernandes hit the crossbar on a header as well as rocketing a shot off the right post. The Abramovic-Fernandes one two punch worked like it has all season, as Abramovic assisted Fernandes’ goal and almost put one of his own in off of a Fernandes pass. “I saw a player [Fernandes] who knew he was playing in his last home game, and he knew what this game meant… He’s really taken a leadership role and really wanted to win this game for no one else but his teammates,” said head coach Christian Figueroa. Strong midfield presence was a highlight of this game as the River Hawks controlled the pace of play throughout. Possession was clearly in favor of the home team as they worked the ball from midfield to defense
and back waiting patiently to strike. The Hartford Hawks had their energy dwindled as they chased the ball around the pitch. “The guys have bought into [the system] all year long. Today was no different knowing Hartford would come out hard… We just had to stick what we have been doing and we knew we could win the game,” said Figueroa. Four seniors played in their last game for the River Hawks: Mauricio Escobar, Eric Martin, Carlos Ruiz, and Fernandes. They were the first players to complete four years at the
starting all 15 prior to Wednesday. “The stuff they leave behind on the field is evident, they won the first regular season D-I championship for this school… But what they give you off the field is unmatched right now… We’ll learn from those guys… Thankful for what those guys gave us these four years. They’ve bled for this
U P C OM I N G
River Hawk Games Friday, Oct. 6
7:15 p.m.
MHOC vs. UNH
Friday, Oct. 13
7:15 p.m.
MHOC vs. Omaha
Friday, Oct. 27
7:15 p.m. MHOC vs. Northeastern
Friday, Nov. 3
7:15 p.m.
MHOC vs. Maine
Saturday, Nov. 4
4 p.m.
MHOC vs. Maine
7:15 p.m.
MHOC vs. UConn
Friday, Nov. 11
For more sports information and full game schedules visit goriverhawks.com
River Hawk players hoist the trophy after winning the deciding game.
Division I level for UMass Lowell. The team had great contributions from the seniors, with Ruiz starting 14 out of 15 games and Martin
program and worked hard for it,” said Figueroa. The River Hawks capped off an impressive season with a 13-1-2 overall
record and a 5-1-1 mark in America East play. Unfortunately, they will be unable to compete in conference and NCAA postseason play this season, due to their four-year transition period to Division I which concludes this academic year. “You’d like to see what this group could do in postseason play… I feel confident in saying we would have a very good chance in making it into the NCAA tournament this year if we were eligible, but it’s not in the cards. We understand that, we bought into it, but you can’t help but think what this team could accomplish,” said Figueroa. Editor’s note: This was a huge game for men’s soccer so I think this would definitely be an important story for the issue.
Men’s basketball turns a corner: 2016-2017 season recap Alex Salucco Connector Contributor
For most teams, injuries are something that sets a program back – but for a team that is not eligible for postseason play until next season, injuries can give a little extra time. Finishing with an overall record of 11-20 and conference record of 5-11, the team ended up in sixth place in the America East Conference. Despite winning the least amount of conference games since the program transitioned into Division I three years ago, the future is bright for the men in the spindle city. It is never a good thing to see an athlete go down due to injury, but the UMass Lowell men’s basketball team’s future could benefit from a couple of key injuries: those of redshirt sophomore guard/ forward Josh Gantz and sophomore guard Isaac White. These injuries gave the River Hawks’ young players valuable minutes for development and, more importantly, another year of White in the Division I era. White was redshirted by the team after suffering an injury 10 games into the season. The absence of White gave freshman guard Rinardo Perry an unexpectedly high amount of minutes while Gantz’ injury opened up some time for freshmen forwards Stefan Borovac and Cameron Wolter. Ryan Jones’ development was perhaps the biggest beneficiary of the early season injuries. Before White went down, Jones was averaging 8.7 points per game while shooting 42 percent from the field
and 32 percent from beyond the arc. After the injury, Jones averaged 15.4 points per game, shot 48 percent from the field and 44 percent from beyond the three-point line. He ended the season by hitting 31 of his last 61 attempts from long distance. Jones plans on improving his game even more this offseason. “All around I can [be] better in pretty much every aspect,” he said. “I think the biggest thing is locking down defensively,” said Jones. Although the youth of the team benefited greatly this year, the team was young and struggled on the road, and because of that they finished with a 2-14 record. With the only senior on the team being forward Tyler Livingston, the brunt of the leadership role fell on his shoulders. “At times I think leadership comes where it is needed,” said Livingston, “I kind of just try to feel out when I need to say something or step in, but for the most part Jahad [Thomas] and I together have done a good job.” In the locker room and on the court, Livingston and Thomas led the River Hawks to the best offensive season in the program’s four seasons at the Division I level. The team set Division I program records in points per game, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage and assists per game. An America East Conference Player of the Year candidate, Thomas, set career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals and field goal percentage. Livingston also posted career-highs in several categories including 3-point percentage as he shot 46 percent from that range.
Isaac White and Jahad Thomas have been the faces of UMass Lowell basketball.
As the Division I transition ends, the young River Hawks squad need to improve on a few things – defense is a prime example. UMass Lowell posted the worst points allowed per game in the conference letting their opponents average 81.2 points per game. A lot of that has to do with the absence of two key defensive players, White and Gantz. The injuries were something that the River Hawks could not control, and coach Pat Duquette is notorious for preaching to control the things they can control. Being a perfect fit for a job, the River Hawk faithfuls have a lot to look forward to in the seasons to come. Editor’s note: I thought this was a great feature that brought some attention to men’s basketball, which can be overshadowed by hockey.