The Connector - January 29, 2019

The Connector debuts a new comic: “Student Groansâ€? â–ş Page 2

THE UMASS LOWELL

Serving the Student Body Since 1976

January 29, 2019

Connector gets exclusive interview with dining hall napkin activist

In This Issue Student responses to government shut down

â–ş Page 3

Brigid Archibald

Oscars 2019 preview

Connector Editor

â–ş Online

Balancing parenthood and school

â–ş Page 6

Final River Hawk Scores Team

Score

W. Basketball vs. Binghamton

L 70-50 6-14

M. Basketball at Binghamton

W 85-79

M. Hockey at BC

W 3-1 14-8-1

M. Hockey vs. BC

T 4-4

Overall Record

There are many things that students might expect to read on the comment and question cards that are attached to napkin holders, but the phrase “Does it look like anybody here cares?� is probably not one of them.

However, in the weeks

leading up to winter break that is precisely what a few eagle-eyed students noticed in McGauvran Center. It appeared that someone had replaced the cards on a few napkin holders with almost identical copies that informed them the staff did not care, called buying a meal plan a mistake and told students

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they would have to live with that mistake.

The cards were made by a fourth-year business student who has asked to remain anonymous and to be referred to by they/ them/their pronouns.

The student has provided The Connector with proof of their having created the fake cards.

The student explained Brigid Archibald/Connector

14-8-2

Dining hall makes some big changes Brigid Archibald Connector Editor

Last semester many students left campus disgruntled and discouraged by the service they had received at the dining halls around campus. After what students describe as years of slipping service few students were not hopeful for change.

However, as students returned to campus this week, they were greeted to new posters and banners around campus advertising dining hall reform. The tag line: We hear you, we care. This reform was a direct result of Criminal justice major, Andrew Finerty’s, petition that circulated last semester and took aim at the quality of food and service in the dining halls.

Students are pleased to see the improvements that were made over break. These changes included condiments at every table, $20,000 of new dinnerware, ingredient and nutritional facts for every meal made available through binders located at each counter, further training for staff, and if a problem does arise, managers are now easily identifiable by blue guest services hats. Additionally, dining halls are now committed to keeping stations stocked 15 minutes after doors close and to provide a variety of food options including

The Connector received the original file that went into the napkin dispensers.

â–ş See “Napkin prank,â€? page 6

Men’s hockey battles BC to 4-4 tie Hannah Manning Connector Editor

The Tsongas Center became a warzone as the Saturday night matchup against the struggling Boston College Eagles and the UMass Lowell River Hawks unfolded. Sophomore forward Char-

lie Levesque was handed a game misconduct early in the first period and a heated tussle midway through the third period resulted in four two-minute sentences for roughing.

The intensity resulted in a hardfought tied game and heightened emotions on each side of the ice.

â–ş See “Dining hall,â€? page 3

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

that while dining services may not come out and say [the dining services] do not care, their actions are enough to prove that they do not.

In the student’s four years at UMass Lowell, they have watched the dining halls’ steady decline and have grown frustrated with their customer service. The student explained that they have tried in the past to reach out through the email provided and were meet with lackluster responses and dismissive excuses. “It felt like they didn’t care,� the student said.

The student felt the university had further enforced this feeling when the questions and comment cards where pulled from the dispensers near the end of the fall semester. Ads for

Matt Dwyer/Connector

UMass Lowell debuted new third jerseys paying homage to the city of Lowell.

UMass Lowell’s character shined as it clawed its way back from a two-goal deficit at two points in the game. “They showed real heart. I liked our resolve tonight, and I thought if the game would have lasted one more minute I thought we would have scored the game-winner,� said head coach Norm Bazin.

Senior forward Ryan Dmowski in particular showed heart in his inspired performance on the ice, leading all skaters with three points in the game. Dmowski tallied two goals, both in the third period. He had the game-tying tally at 17:59 that had fans roaring in the stands of the Tsongas.

Dmowski was named the first star of the game for his efforts and elevated his season goal total to 10. “I think he’s feeling it this year,â€? â–ş See “Hockey,â€? page 7

January 29, 2019

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

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OPINIONS & EDITORIALS A welcome address from an old friend Hannah Manning Connector Editor

Being Editor-in-Chief of the paper is absolutely surreal for me. I’m still having trouble really grasping it.

I’ve been here since the first week of my freshman year back in Fall 2015 (ancient history, I know). I was a nervous kid -- I was running a few minutes late for the first meeting. Didn’t know where to go.

Wandered into Building B almost in tears, trying to figure out where the Club Hub was. God, I was going to miss the whole meeting, wasn’t I? I had already emailed Marlon, the EIC at the time, my interest in becoming assistant sports editor during the summertime. He knew I was committed, so it wouldn’t matter if I was a couple of minutes late, right?

The truth is that the paper had by that point already become my reason d’être. I spent much of my senior year of high school in a depressive episode set off by the departure of my father. It had taken me years to understand that what he was doing to all of us was abuse, and apparently it took me lon-

ger to process after he was kicked out by my very brave mother. I couldn’t just be glad he was across the country, I had to be actively suicidal about it. I am not proud of the mental state that I was in, but I think I needed to struggle through it to get to where I am now.

UMass Lowell was supposed to be my fresh start, where I could have four years to figure out this whole life thing and iron out everything before I was unleashed to the world at large.

I didn’t initiallly want to come here. I’ll admit that. I felt like I was too good for a state school, and the fact that there wasn’t a journalism major here would obviously tank any all all future attempts at a career.

But I figured while I was here I’d join the newspaper. And so I did. I joined, stumbled for a couple of articles until I figured out AP style and worked through the crippling panic attacks I would get before interviewing someone. Seriously -- read my first couple of articles. I’ll admit before anyone they sucked.

But I learned from my copy and figured out how to do this journalism thing, and I absolutely loved

it. I loved the close-knit staff at The Connector, and it wasn’t a coincidence that I joined the editorial staff my second semester as assistant sports editor. I honestly thought I would stay there for much of my collegiate career.

I didn’t. I went from sports to managing editor and now in the top spot as EIC. In three and a half years at UMass Lowell I have found not only a renewed outlook on life, foundation for a journalism career after I graduate but a strong family that I know I can depend on.

I was wrong. This school is everything to me. I know if I had gone anywhere else I wouldn’t have had a single chance to accomplish as much as I have here. In my senior year of college, I’m a Resident Advisor in Fox Hall as well as an active member in Best Buddies and the university’s writing club.

I want to thank everyone at The Connector for their support and hard work. We make a good goddamn paper every week, and it is an honor to serve as their Editor-in-Chief for my final semester as a River Hawk. They have given me the world when I had nothing, and I can only hope to give them as much as they have given me.

“Student Groans� is made by Emmy Misail, our newly-minted comics editor.

THE UMASS LOWELL

Serving the Student Body Since 1976

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MARCOS AGUILAR Sports Editor CONOR DAWSON Campus Life Editor OWEN JOHNSON Arts & Entertainment Editor EMMY MISAIL Comics Editor OPEN Multimedia Director JONATHAN SILVERMAN Advisor

Staff SERENA ARORA PATRICK CONNELL VERNON GIBBS NISA HOLLEY

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BRIGID ARCHIBALD News Editor

TROY LAFOND CHRISTOPHER ROMANO ERIC SMITH DORIAN TAYLOR

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January 29, 2019

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NEWS

Students respond to stopgap end to government shutdown Andrew J Sciascia

Courtesy of CNN

Connector Editor

Following 35 days of uncertainty and bitterness, Washington DC was released from the grips of the longest government shutdown in United States history.

The news broke Friday afternoon when President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement from the White House Rose Garden that the administration and leading congressional officials had finally come to an agreement that would reopen the sizable closed sectors of the federal government.

The nation could breathe a hair more easily – at least for the moment.

The measures agreed upon by key government officials would represent only a stopgap, allowing vast swaths of federal workers to return to their jobs and the payment of their bills, for three short weeks.

“I am very proud to announce today that we have reached a deal to end the shutdown and reopen the federal government,” said President Trump. “I want to thank all of the great federal workers and their incredible families for their devotion in the face of this recent hardship.”

Initially, the historic shutdown began when negotiations on repeated continuing budget resolutions pertaining to sectors of the government including National Security and Border and Customs came to a standstill. Realizing that the Democrats would not have the votes in the 116th Congress to override the presidential veto, the White House resolved to veto any budget bill not containing funding for his most notable campaign promise – the wall.

Despite the tentative nature of the current solution, it represents a key good-faith gesture on behalf of the president.

During the specified three-week timeframe, it is expected that both sides will return to the negotiating table to hash out a final budget resolution that includes increased funding for security features at the US-Mexico Border – and possibly President Trump’s wall – or else.

Should negotiations fall through, however, President Trump did stress a willingness to utilize his

President Trump makes announcement from White House Rose Garden.

oft-mentioned backdoor “nuclear option.”

“If we don’t get a fair deal from Congress, the government will either shut down on February 15 again, or I will use the powers afforded to me under the laws and the Constitution of the United States to address this emergency… We will have great security,” said President Trump.

The official declaration of a State of Emergency would grant the Executive ultimate authority in using the United States Armed Forces, and several billions of dollars, to shore up the border as he sees fit without congressional approval.

Regardless of the controversial and incredibly loaded nature of the solution, it does represent a step in the right direction according to many UMass Lowell’s students and student leaders.

“I think it’s a welcome development. I had said that the standoff showed a bad precedent for leadership, but this is a good precedent. Let the government figure out this situation on their own time without hurting the citizens it aims to protect,” said Vilma Okey-ewurum, Vice President of the UMass Lowell Student Government Association.

Though Okey-ewurum made clear her own personal thoughts that much of the blame for the shutdown should fall, “Squarely on the shoulders of the president,” she expressed that she was, more than anything, disappointed in the highest-ranking elected officials for their disregard for the will and well-being of the people and increased service to their own egos in recent months.

“I honestly am not even sure if this government

shutdown is about the wall anymore. It’s gotten to the point where this is ‘Are we going to give the other side what they want or are we not?’ And that argument is simply not worth the pain it’s putting the citizens through,” said Okey-ewurum, “Both sides just need to get over themselves.”

Okey-ewurum was joined in her lamentation over the increasing partisanship and boorishness within the nation’s leadership on both sides of the aisle by SGA President Andre DiFilippo.

“It’s just a bad reflection on the people we’re trusting to figure these things out. I think there could be concessions on both sides… We can debate the wall.

We’re going to have disagreements, but the pettiness and the back-and-forth is just a bad example,” said DiFilippo.

Even the President of UMass Lowell College Democrats, sophomore Julie Lawton, agreed that concessions would need to be made. Lawton did, however, hold that some matters were simply going to be non-starters.

“A wall is unethical. We don’t want the symbol of immigration in this country to be a concrete wall but things like the Statue of Liberty… Something more immigrant-friendly,” said Lawton.

Despite UMass Lowell’s placement in a liberal stronghold – one which has voted not only in the 2018 midterms but in many recent elections for Democrats alone to serve at the federal level – the student body found agreement not on the policy-related minutiae but on something else: The disappointing and ineffective nature of the petty partisan politics coming out of Washington.

Senior nutritional science student Patrick Sullivan was of the mind that it was a much-needed simplicity and humanity that congressional leadership was leaving out of the process.

“I wish they would just start by meeting once in a while and talking in a civil way. Taking their time to work on things for a day or two, and not walking away from the table – that would be a start. Not constantly fighting would be a start.”

Dining hall reform continues as students return to campus ►Continued from front page

adequate options for students with dietary restrictions.

UMass Lowell Dining Services plans to make more changes as the semester progresses, which include the creation of QR codes for every meal that will enable students to access ingredients and nutritional information from their phones quickly. The QR codes are tentatively set to launch in about a month. Other improvements include a keeping a monthly inventory of dining wear (and subsequent reordering to keep stock up), more training for workers and hiring more staff.

This week Chancellor Jacqueline Moloney and Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs and Engagement, Larry Seigel, will meet with executives from Aramark to discuss the findings of an outside food specialist who spent last week observing the dining halls trying to pinpoint what other changes are needed.

Aaron Bennos, Director of Operations for University Dining, explained that the most helpful thing students can do to ensure an immediate response to issues is to keep Dining Services informed as problems arise. Students

can do so by approaching the managers at the time of the issue, by visiting the new weekly “We Hear You, We Care” tables hosted by managers or by accessing their online voice of the customer tool (www.yourdiningvoice. com) which sends real-time updates to the mangers. Students can also submit comments to UMass Lowell’s dining email or social media pages.

Response time will vary depending on the method of communication, but Bennos says students can expect to hear back within 24 hours.

Bennos urges students not to wait to address an issue saying, “When we don’t hear about something until days later, it’s harder to address and fix the situation. Immediate feedback helps to correct an issue and lessen the chance of others having similar experiences.”

Many students voiced concerns that these changes are temporary and will not last; to help ensure that this is not the case UMass Lowell has begun creating five student lead dining committees. Each dining hall will have its own committee comprised of the students who live in the buildings located near the dining hall.

“We want the people who are the consumers at that place to be on the committee,” said Seigel explaining that they hope to have three to four residents from each building or -in the case of the I.C.C.- a student from each floor. Nothing is set in stone, but Seigel hopes to reach out to the Student Government Association and the Residence Hall Association for volunteers. Additionally, Seigel notes that they would like for there to be one or two Resident Assistants to act as liaisons in keeping the R.A.’s informed as a whole.

Plans also include reaching out to the Athletic Department and Honors council about student volunteers for the Hawks Nest committee at USuites, where athletes often take advantage of late-night dining, and many honors students are housed.

These four committees will funnel into a larger steering committee; the Student Dining Service Advisory Committee, that will address issues found across all four dining halls.

Seigel explains this the two-pronged approach will allow for changes for each individual dining hall and allow them to assess what changes need to

be made across campus. These Committees shall also be responsible for creating a yearly food service survey.

It is not yet determined how often these committees will meet, but Seigel estimates monthly if not more. The conversations will be driven by the students.

Representatives from the dining halls, Residence Life, and Student Affairs will be present to discuss the issues as they arise, but their primary role will be to listen. These representatives will include managers and chefs from each dining hall, Resident Directors -- who often hear about the issues first-- as well as Bennos and Seigel themselves.

James Kohl, the Dean of Student Affairs and Engagement, is committed to participating in all five committees.

“I want the right people who are in the position to do things there,” said Seigel, acknowledging that the issues the petition brought forth were not new and it’s time for Dining services to listen.

Since, at the end of the day, everything done at UMass Lowell is for the students.

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January 29, 2019

January 29, 2019

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ‘Glass’ shatters on impact Owen Johnson Connector Editor

It is kind of hard for a sequel to a film as uninspired as “Unbreakable” and a film that is so unsure of what it is as “Split” to be disappointing, but “Glass” tries its hardest to do so.

19 years after the events of “Unbreakable” and several weeks after the events of “Split,” David Dunn (Bruce Willis), Mr. Glass (Samuel L. Jackson) and the Horde (James McAvoy) are brought to Ravenhill Psychiatric Hospital to be placed under the care of Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson), who specializes in psychological disorders that cause people to believe they are super powered.

It seems rather peculiar that a follow-up to “Unbreakable” and “Split,” which were both serious in their execution, would include such a laughable plot point, but that is what “Glass” does. It may be because “Glass” has the style and feeling of a comic book, but it still feels out of place in this already established world, and even then a scientist focusing on people who believe they are superheroes is quite silly.

The comic book feeling of the movie is present in the visuals and ideas.

There are a lot of scenes that are shot to look like a comic book panel, and the sets are vibrant and aesthetically interesting. This mostly serves

the movie well, but there are some points where this style ends up being detrimental. In one of the early scenes of the movie, Dunn and his son (Spencer Treat Clark) are having a conversation. Their talk is filmed in a singular flat-shot with no cuts or anything, and that along with their placement makes it look like something out of a comedy film.

too ridiculous or too coincidental. It even reaches the point where characters begin to act as if stories and tropes from comic books are actually influencing things and determining the outcome of events, with Mr. Glass even stating that what is happening is, “An origin story.”

While all of these try-hard attempts at being a comic book are going on, the

As of Jan. 27, “Glass” has grossed $167 million at the box office.

characters have nothing to do. The entire second act of the movie is devoted to Dr. Staple trying to convince Dunn, Mr. Glass and the Horde that they are not actually superheroes, which really should not work because her attempts

to rationally explain things they have done either miss key details or are fairly weak explanations, and then them contemplating if they truly are crazy.

Well, all except for Mr. Glass, who is needed to keep the plot going because the premise is at a stand-still. Then there are returning characters from the previous movies, such as the main character from “Split” (Anya Taylor-Joy), Dunn’s son and Mr. Glass’s mother (Charlayne Woodard), who just have random scenes that do nothing to develop their characters or the plot.

In true comic book fashion, all of these plot threads lead up to an end fight between the hero and villain.

This scene is probably the most enjoyable part of “Glass,” but it could also be in the running for worst fight scene in cinema. All of the characters gather on the grounds outside the hospital for this, but most of them just stand around and jump in to help at arbitrary moments. It gets to the point of just standing around where characters would logically be witnesses to some egregious actions taken by other characters, and not a single one does anything or apparently notices anything that happens somehow.

The unexpected awfulness of “Glass” might be the worst Shyamalan twist to date.

Final Grade: D+

‘Bird Box’ is a real turkey Emmy Misail Connector Editor

For those thinking of watching the Netflix movie “Bird Box,” take heed from the movie itself: put on a blindfold and don’t look.

“Bird Box” follows Malorie (Sandra Bullock), a detached woman who learns to love herself and others through her harrowing journey to survive; sound familiar, “Gravity” viewers?

The movie begins with Malorie ushering two wide-eyed children down a river to safety, and in flashbacks, the movie details everything the audience wants to know about how they got there (except the cool monster parts, of course). As Malorie leaves an ultrasound appointment for her unwanted baby, people begin to die, smashing themselves on anything in reach that’s remotely smash-worthy.

One would think “Bird Box” had potential: unspoken fear, pain and the darkness of mental illness punctuate the beginning of this movie. But then,

Courtesy of Netflix

“Bird Box” had the biggest week-long viewership of any Netflix original film.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Oldie Album: Vince Staples’ ‘FM!’ is a radio hit

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

The comic book-esque ideas are the exact opposite of the visual, meaning that they are almost always detrimental. There are a lot of comic book tropes and clichés sprinkled throughout “Glass,” and it all becomes either

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like Malorie’s descent down the river, things get rocky, when for some reason it is concluded that the reason for the suicides are “creatures,” and if you look at them, you die.

What makes “Bird Box” frustrating is not that the audience never sees these creatures, but that they remain a total mystery. From a plot standpoint, the motivation for the “Bird Box” beasties are never shown, and their weaknesses are never explored. As a metaphor for the darkness and mystery of mental illness, the monsters’ connection to the delicate subject of suicide was perhaps meant to be explored by the audience, but feels insensitive and more of a cheap movie explanation rather than a serious metaphor.

As the movie veers off course, an assortment of one-note characters; sweet old lady, nerdy grocery clerk, crotchety old man, etc., hole up in a house with Malorie and clumsily try to test their surroundings, resulting in, of course, death, as they try to protect themselves from the poorly-conceived threat outside.

“Bird Box” is trying to make a statement here about mental illness, but overall it is hard to see past the glaring question this poses: what does this movie mean by “crazy?” Is it those with bipolar disorder? Depression? Anxiety? Attachment disorders, like Bullock’s character Malorie seems to have? Or only those hospitalized? If “Bird Box” is trying to make a statement about mental illness and not just the victim of poor writing, it comes across as blunt stigmatization, even if it was meant to be a statement about living in darkness or seeing pain nobody else can.

Marcos Aguilar Connector Editor

“FM!” is the third studio album from Long Beach, California’s Vince Staples. The eleven-track project features west coast artists including Ty Dolla $ign, Jay Rock, Earl Sweatshirt, Kamaiyah, Tyga, Kehlani and E-40. The album is constructed as an airing of Big Boy’s Neighborhood, a nationally broadcasted FM radio station based in Los Angeles, and possibly the most well-known hip hop radio program in the U.S. Released on Nov. 2, 2018 on all music streaming platforms, FM! is a throwback to summer vibes and is not intended to be a dense music project but does have its dark moments. With the longest song barely passing three minutes, Staples’ intent is clear.

The album starts with legendary hip hop icon and radio host Big Boy introducing the idea of the feeling of summer year-round in California. The opening track, “Feels like Summer,” reiterates this idea with an excellent feature from Ty Dolla $ign.

A smooth chorus is something that fans have grown accustomed to from the melodic artist. Not all things are well in Long Beach during the summer as Staples recounts the dangers of his home town.

Big Boy continues his contribution to the album as he narrates the switch to the second song of the project, “Outside.” Once again, Staples discusses the gang violence in his home town. The chorus questions who in the city, or “neighborhood,” is really about this life style. The third track is a first time collaboration between Staple’s and respected west coast rapper Jay Rock. The theme continues as this song serves as a warning to those to be careful in this violent culture. The following song, “Relay,”

Connector Staff

Wilderness scenes were shot on the Smith River.

Despite its obvious flaws, this movie is not without poignant moments. As Malorie escapes with the children down a river to safety, it mirrors her journey to accept herself as a mother, and while severely heavy-handed, the conclusion is sweet. Bullock’s acting is good, and many scenes, such as when she comes across someone else along the river, are truly chilling.

There is potential in this movie, and an attempt made to make a comment on the depth of human suffering and the way our brains handle tragedy.

However, compared to recent horror thrillers that deftly tackle themes of family, race and mental strife, “Bird Box” feels like an absolute blunder. In the midst of other recent thrillers like “A Quiet Place,” “Get Out” and “Hereditary,” the over-hyped “Bird Box” gets a goose egg.

Final Grade: C-

Courtesy of Def Jam

“FM!” was number 18 on Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Albums of 2018 list.

Tyga is featured. These two snippets really give the album a sense of realistic radio play with two different types of genres in hip hop.

The following three songs after Earl Sweatshirt’s interlude are “Run the Bands,” “Fun,” featuring E-40, and “No Bleeding,” featuring Kamaiyah.

“Run the Bands” goes into depth about the aspects of an armed robbery and again signals warning to listeners. “Fun” is the lead single off the album and is short for not wanting to mess things up.

Staples and his people are here to enjoy the fruits of being young. No one volunteers to puts themselves in these violent living situations growing up.

“No Bleeding” is continuing the theme of gang violence, but from two different perspectives: one Crip and the other Bloods, the two legendary gangs from the Los Angeles area. The title references the mind set of gang members who have lost close friends and are not willing to lose any more.

The penultimate track of the album is a hilarious skit from a call into the radio show. A listener calls in and is asked to name seven famous people whose name begins with the letter V. He only gets one.

The outro and final song of the album, “Tweaking,” featuring Vonnie, Buddy and Kehlani, is the most thoughtful and well written song of the project. Staples discusses the pain of losing close friends due to gang violence. The chorus is beautifully sung with emphasis on losing someone every weekend and the inability to handle those loses.

“FM!” fulfills its objective to almost perfection.

“Tweaking,” with its distinct sound and lyrical superiority, enables the listener to demand even more from the rest of the album. Vince Staples wanted to put out a creative project that contained summer vibes while sticking to his roots and mirroring the dangerous real life scenarios he dealt with growing up in Long Beach, California, and he succeeds. Do not change this station.

Overall Grade A-

Netflix’s ‘You’ is scarily flawed Troy Lafond

Courtesy of Netflix

discusses the difficulty of leaving the projects from different perspectives. The outro of this song has the radio station tell listeners to call in to receive free Kehlani tickets as any radio station would.

At the conclusion of these four songs, the first interlude of the album plays featuring another west coast artist, Earl Sweatshirt. A second snippet comes later as the ninth track in the album, when

On Sep. 9, Lifetime began airing their new show “You,” based on a book with the same title by Caroline Kepnes. It flew mostly under the radar, generating very little attention.

This quickly changed when Netflix purchased exclusive rights to air and continue producing the show from Lifetime, where it debuted on Dec. 26 and became a viral sensation. “You” is a psychological thriller focused on Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), who falls in love and begins stalking a customer at his bookstore, Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail).

The most interesting thing about “You” is the presentation of its lead character, Joe Goldberg. If this show was presented from the first-person perspective of anyone else or in the third person, Joe would come across unambiguously as a terrifying stalker.

However, as a result of his first-person perspective throughout the show, the audience is given insights into the development of his character and his seemingly noble but twisted intentions in him doing what he does. This makes the show come across far more interesting than it would otherwise.

However, this element that makes it interesting also ends up contributing to its biggest downfall. Joe and Beck

is the central relationship that drives this show forward, and viewers see from the very beginning that it is all founded on lies, deceit and even violence. It is a relationship that the audience is supposed to root against but presented in a way that it is supposed to be rooted for. The intent appears to be to signify a dichotomy of the perspective of Joe and potential onlookers to the relationship, but it ended up feeling more generally uncomfortable. This can be perfectly effective in a show that is more sparing in these scenes. However, there were only really two continuing subplots outside

of it, which seemed to ultimately go nowhere. Outside of the focus on their relationship and the stalking, the only major subplots are the relationship between Joe and his kid neighbor Paco (Luca Padovan) and the trials that Beck faces in her career, both of which end up feeling majorly inconsequential throughout the show and especially towards its ending. Regardless of what happened in these subplots, the ending would have gone down essentially the same way, which was very disappointing from a storytelling perspective.

Despite these storytelling flaws,

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television Distribution

The second season will be based off the sequel to “You,” “Hidden Bodies.”

“You” remains mostly entertaining during its short season. Seeing Joe act in the ways that he did and his personal justifications for his actions were constantly invigorating, especially witnessing him being driven to mania as he went in over his head. However, the ending was incredibly disappointing. Shows can succeed with a terrible lead character that the audience is supposed to root against, but by the end of the first season of “You,” there was almost no one left to like.

Every character was either long past the point of redeemability or written off. It is hard to watch a show when there is no one to like. Additionally, while there is a certain suspension of belief that should be applied in storytelling, the actions of Joe throughout the season simply piled up too much to be able to believe that he could not possibly be behind bars.

The central hook of the show being given from the perspective of a stalker is almost enough on its own to keep it consistently entertaining. However, major storytelling flaws hold it back from truly becoming an engaging televisions show, and instead leaves it as yet another mediocre but viral television show that may be worth checking out for a weekend but will mostly be forgotten by Monday morning.

Final Grade: C

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

Page 6

January 29, 2019

CAMPUS LIFE The reality of being a parent at UMass Lowell Jessica Berry Connector Contributor

UMass Lowell has several resources for student parents on campus. There are two Title IX Coordinators that help student parents understand their rights as parents through the ADA, there are “Mothers Rooms” scattered across each campus where mothers can breastfeed and the UML Parents’ club, where parents can unite and discuss future projects and events.

UMass Lowell has resources to help with every step of the process of becoming a parent and parenting, according to administrators.

“Pregnancy is covered under Title IX and the ADA as a temporary disability. They offer lots of protection,” said Annie Ciaraldi, the Dean of Students Compliance and Violence Prevention and also one of the Title IX coordinators at UML. “One of us will meet with a student that is pregnant or who is parenting.

We then figure out what kinds of things they need and then refer out to the appropriate resources,” she said.

“For example, if you’re at Coburn

Hall, getting to the top floor is difficult, it can be debilitating. So can getting around to campus at certain times for certain things.”

Ciaraldi referred to the ADA laws supporting pregnant and parenting students, which indicates that leniency from professors is expected. Any absences related to pregnancy or childbirth must be excused, because according to the ADA, it is a medical necessity.

“We work with every student individually to see what they need. This might mean moving a class if it’s early enough in the semester to do that,” she said. “Sometimes it honestly gets to the point where the student can’t attend class, so we look to get incompletes, so they can complete them once the baby is born. This way you don’t have the burden of classes at that point.”

UML also has “Mothers Rooms” where mothers can go in privacy and breastfeed their babies. There are locations on each campus and many of them have a door with a lock, rocking chairs and an outlet so the mother can

Tabletop tongue-lashing for Campus Dining ►Continued from front page

better restaurants around campus replaced some, but others were not even replaced, leaving a blank space with the words, “place your logo here.” It appeared to them that students no longer have a place to voice their concerns.

The student decided to take the advice of empty slots and used their background in graphic design to create their own cards to replace the missing ones. Their goal was to create a card that at first glance resembled the original card, but upon closer inspection would shine a light on dining services’ true colors.

“I hadn’t foreseen anything changing,” the student said.

They had expected that when everyone returned from the break, the cards would probably still be sitting there unnoticed by staff and most students. “I was upset and felt that this was the most entertaining way to deal with it.”

While the student had been aware of the petition that was circling UMass Lowell at the time, they say that they had been unaware of how big it would be. The student’s real goal with the cards was to make a few people smile and maybe grab the attention of the dining

staff.

Now back on campus, the student says they are shocked but happy to see the changes that petition have helped to create. They say everything is not perfect, noting one example of a self-serve dish sitting for over an hour with no utensils for students to serve themselves with, but they agree that things are looking better than they were last semester, The most important change to them is the apparent change in the University’s attitude has toward its dining service. They have noticed a clear message of, “We hear you” and “We do care” in the new posters and at the tables set up in the dining hall.

“It’s clear that somebody cares and that was my main point,” the student said, adding that they hoped the positive changes would continue.

Interested in covering Campus Life?

comfortably feed her child.

“We do not have any day care at UMass Lowell for faculty staff or students,” said English Professor Jenna Vinson, who works on scholarship about gender. Professor Vinson said that there are still issues facing parents on campus, and that parents have to fight for their own accommodations.

“If there are certain classes and a time of day where you can’t get people in your network to help with watching your baby, then you can bring that up to your professors and see if they would be open to you bringing the baby to class,” she said. “While UML doesn’t offer drop in daycare, it certainly could be on the agenda. We need student parents’ perspectives, inputs and voices so that it’s known that it’s a need.”

Diana Santana, a current graduate assistant for UML’s Multicultural Affairs, started the UML Parents Club two years ago and has two children of her own and recently graduated.

“I made the club because I found at UMass Lowell there was no clubs I could attend within the time frames

QUOTH THE RIVERHAWKS *Drops cup* This is why I’m dropping out. *Student 2 mocking Student 1* Student 1: Do you want to die?

Student 2: I frequently consider it, yes.

– Fox Dining Hall

– UCrossing Club Hub

Student 1: I finally found out your name!

Student 2: You’ve known me for a year?

I’ve been dead! That’s where I’ve been!

– South Campus Dining Hall

– UCrossing

There was a boy upstairs reciting the first part of Lilo and Stitch and honestly it’s probably gonna be the highlight of my week.

– UCrossing

Email Conor_Dawson@ student.uml.edu

I wanted, so it was very hard for me.

I had to go check on my children, or get them from the school bus, or daycare,” Santana said.

“I explained the idea to my professor Susan Thompson. She told me to look into it more, so I went to Student Affairs and receive feedback and advice on how to pursue and go about that. It is the second year of the club, but we still consider ourselves new because the population is not as big as we wish. We have a good online presence but still people feel like it’s too much if they go to an event,” Santana said.

The whole idea of student parents is not advertised much at school, so Santana has found it difficult to gather parents who have the time to plan events, and even do fun things with the children.

“I knew how it important it was to get involved and I needed something.

It was good for me to find more people and find out if they had children or not. I started spreading the word,” Santana said.

Student 1: Get lost in the sauce.

Student 2: I don’t think ketchup’s going to help me.

– South Campus Dining Hall

Hear something wacky on campus? Email it to us at connector@uml.edu

January 29, 2019

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

Page 7

SPORTS River Hawks fight back after early deficit to tie BC, 4-4 ► continued from front page

Bazin said of Dmowski. “I would say he was inconsistent earlier in his career and now he’s reaching a level of consistency and that’s great for us.”

Freshman defenseman Chase Blackmun, who had a big goal early in the third period, was awarded second star.

Bazin remarked that although the game did not start the way he

scored to bring the game to 2-0.

Heading into the second period, the mood was grim. The depressing first period coupled with the knowledge that UMass Lowell’s second period was notoriously shaky made for a potentially scary situation. Especially when one considered that the River Hawks were 0-4-1 when trailing by two goals in the 2018-19 season.

Yet despite the odds the River Hawks came out swinging

UMass Lowell’s Hernberg tallied 22 saves against Boston College.

would have intended, he believed that the River Hawks played better in the second and third periods.

The River Hawks entered the second game in the home-andhome series against Boston College coming off of a hot six-game win streak. Its home record was abysmal compared to previous years, 4-5-1 overall. It seemed as though there would be another loss to tack onto that statistic after the first period.

Freshman forward Oliver Wahlstrom scored his sixth goal of the season at 8:44 in the first period, and a little over eight minutes later junior forward David Cotton

for a rollicking second period in which they controlled the offensive action. Junior forward Kenny Hausinger scored a breakaway snipe three minutes into the second. From there UMass Lowell embarked on a high-powered pursuit, chasing offensive opportunities with passion that spilled over into the stands.

UMass Lowell tallied 15 shots in the second period while holding Boston College to a mere 5.

Despite the great offensive control displayed by the River Hawks, Boston College scored once more to bring their goal total to three.

Senior forward and Eagles captain Christopher Brown scored on the power play to bring the game

to 3-1 heading into the third period.

UMass Lowell fought back.

Dmowski scored his first of two goals 1:15 into the third period and Blackmun followed up with his a little over a minute later.

The game was then tied, and what ensued was a show of playoff-caliber hockey that had players on both teams fired up.

Several skirmishes occurred after the whistles were blown throughout the game, with Eagles and River Hawks alike getting tangled up in each other.

It was a contentious game from puck drop, with some of the drama surely being spillover from the previous night’s 3-1 win by the River Hawks at Conte Forum.

Some, but not all.

Bazin says that much of the passion from the River Hawks came from the significance of the evening. UMass Lowell debuted throwback third jerseys modeled after former University of Lowell threads. There was a touching twist: instead of their own last names players had Lowell neighborhoods scrawled on their nameplates.

The Tsongas Center’s PA announcer said before the game that the Saturday night Hockey East matchup was dedicated to the city of Lowell.

Beyond that, Bazin said that the River Hawks hold a lot of pride in themselves which translated to their impassioned play.

Despite the end result, Bazin could find few things to be upset about.

“This feels like more of a win than a tie,” Bazin said.

The River Hawks will travel to Northeastern on Friday, Feb. 1 for a game at 7 p.m. and will return to Lowell for the final game in the three-game series against Boston College on Friday, Feb. 8. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.

“There was no indication, no talk of anything financial,” [Visvardis] said. “I don’t know if there was much consideration to how not only the current players would be affected and coaching staff but everyone else who has a part in this program.”

UMass Lowell discontinues volleyball. Full story online at umlconnector.com

River Hawks have historic hot streak Marcos Aguilar Connector Editor

The UMass Lowell men’s basketball team improved to 12-9 on the season (4-2 in conference play) as they rallied late to beat the Binghamton Bearcats 85-79 on the road last week. Redshirt junior guard Christian Lutete led the River Hawks with 29 points while senior co-captain Josh Gantz filled up the stat sheet with 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

The River Hawks came into the contest coming off a close game at Hartford where the visitors were able to come out on top. Leading the all time series 11-4, and having not lost to the Bearcats since Feb. 20, 2016, the River Hawks looked to extend their success.

“Credit Binghamton. They came out, kicked us in the mouth, and Sessoms was fantastic in the first half,” said Head Coach Pat Duquette, “I thought he hit some tough shots but I know that we have to get better defensively. So I challenged my team a little bit. I thought they responded in the second half and if we’re going to be a better team moving forward, we got to get better defensively.”

The Bearcats came out fearless shooting over 50% from the field in first half. Led by freshman guard Sam Sessons who had a season high of 32 points, and senior forward Caleb Stewart who packed the stat sheet with 22 points and 16 rebounds. This type of play and poor decision making by the River Hawks enabled the Bearcats to jump out to a 14 point advantage. The visitors were able to tie the game at 31-31 as the hosts went cold from the field and the River Hawks continued to chip away with solid offense.

The River Hawks trailed the Bearcats 44-39 at the halfway point.

“Well I mean that’s [trailing during a game] a great characteristic of the half,” said Duquette. “We don’t give up, we get stronger as the game goes on but the flip side of that is we aren’t going to be able to do that every game.”

Leading the conference in assists, the visitors looked to increase on the 10 assists reached in the first half. With Duquette having the team focus on defense, the offense struggled out the gate.

Settling for threes became a trend for the visitors as the Bearcats stood strong with zone defense. The River Hawks missed their first four shots of the second half and with costly turnovers, enabled the Bearcats to fly out to a ten point lead.

From the point on the River Hawks looked determined to fight back and win the ball game.

Lutete seemed to put the team on his back down the stretch as he cut the Binghamton lead to 68-63 with just over six minutes to go in the game. “[Lutete]’s been like that the last five or six games.

He’s been really consistent offensively and rebounding the basketball,” said Duquette. “I thought defensively, in the second half, especially the last ten minutes, he got better and that’s when we got better.”

A couple of free throws from freshman guard Alex Rivera and Gantz sealed it for the River Hawks as they won their fourth straight Division 1 America East conference game. The first time in UMass Lowell’s Division 1 basketball program history.

“Well it feels good, especially to get a win on the road against what I think is a good Binghamton team that’s still playing really hard,” said Duquette.

“We’ll just get ready for the next game. We have a bye week which is going to be helpful for us. We have a couple injuries and we’re just happy to get a win.”

The River Hawks will return to action next Wednesday, January 30th at 7 p.m.

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

January 29, 2019

Page 8

SPORTS UMass Lowell student advances to Golden Gloves semifinals Aaron Robinson Connector Editor

On Thursday, Jan. 10, the Golden Gloves returned to Lowell for its seventy-third year as one of the most prestigious amateur boxing events in the United States.

The Golden Gloves originated in Chicago, Illinois, in 1928, the brainchild of Chicago Tribune sports editor Arch Ward. The idea for an annual tournament was first brought up in 1923, but the funding was insufficient until a sponsorship from the Chicago Tribune made the dream a reality five years later. The tournament was originally intended for Chicago only, but the Tribune organized a contest between New York’s and Chicago’s best amateur boxers.

Word about the amateur boxing competition spread quickly, and Lowell was one of the first cities to create their own amateur boxing tournaments as a pseudo franchise to Chicago’s. Lowell’s Golden Gloves originated in 1945, and has been a staple of the city since it’s first bout, holding every event in the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

heavyweight champion in 2009 and 2010.

When the National Golden Gloves contest began in 1962, Lowell’s Golden Gloves was further legitimized as one of the most prestigious boxing events in the country. Since its inclusion in the Golden Gloves Association of America (GGAA), Lowell has attracted many competitors from all over New England, instead of only the Greater Lowell area as it had been before.

This year marks the debuts of some amazing fighters and the returns of past competitors.

One such returning competitor is UMass Lowell freshman Tommy Curtis, who has dazzled in the competition so far. Curtis is entering his second straight Golden Gloves in the 114-pound bantamweight division, and held an even 1-1 record as an amateur boxer before his fight last Thursday.

Curtis excelled in the ring, matching opponent Kimhong Chae blow for blow with excellent footwork and hand-eye coordination. In the end, Curtis came out on top with a huge victory by a 3-2 decision in the Novice Division semifinal. Chae was skittish at times, as it was his first career fight.

UMass Lowell freshman Tommy Curtis raises his fists after a victorious bout against Kimhong Chae.

The Lowell Golden Gloves is a series of boxing matches that covers a nine week period, usually between the first week of January to the first or second week of March. Each boxer, age of at least 16, is put into a division based on their weight and fights within that weight class in order to become that divisions champion and qualify for the national championship which is held in a different area each year, and pits boxers from all over the country in another round-robin tournament to crown the national champion of that weight class.

Famous boxers such as Rocky Marciano, Micky Ward, “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali had all competed in the Lowell Golden Gloves over the years. There is even some infant attached as well: Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev was a two-time

“I felt like I had the experience advantage,” said Curtis. “I’m not in the best shape right now so I felt like I got a little gassed at the end.”

Curtis, a business major, was prioritizing his academics during his first semester at UMass Lowell, which meant his training, which he does at Haverhill Downtown Boxing, took a back seat.

Curtis was able to routinely corner Chae, and unleashed a fury of rights and an occasional left, with the left handed hooks connecting at a far more successful rate.

“I noticed keeping him busy with the right jab really set up my left hand and helped me land a bunch,” said Curtis, a natural southpaw.

Chae did mount a strong comeback in the third round which made the decision close, but Curtis

U P C OM I N G

River Hawk Games Wednesday, Jan. 30

7 p.m.

WBB at Maine

Wednesday, Jan. 30

7 p.m.

MBB vs. Maine

Friday, Feb. 1

All day

XCTF at Harvard

Friday, Feb. 1

7 p.m. MHOC at Northeastern

Saturday, Feb. 2

2 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 2

5:30 p.m.

WBB at Vermont MBB vs. Vermont

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

dominated in the first two rounds. With the win, Curtis advanced to the Novice Division final for bantamweights.

Other fights included Ashley Kouyoumjian of Waltham dropping her fight to Jane Annis of Wrentham by a 4-1 majority decision in the Female Novice semifinal at the 178-pound heavyweight division. Dracut’s Gabriel Morales dropped a decision to South Boston’s Anthony Cefalo in a 141-pound junior welterweight Novice semifinal. Chelmsford’s Brandon Higgins lost a 4-1 decision to Christian Otero, of Manchester, N.H., in a 141-pound junior welterweight Open Division bout. Lowell’s Jayson Colon fell in a 3-2 decision to Lynn’s Erick Fonge in a 165-pound light heavyweight Novice preliminary match. Mattaphan’s Jean Fleurissaint lost his match against Lynn’s Adrien Pinheiro by a 3-2 decision in the 201+ pounds super heavyweights Novice preliminary bout. Medford’s Matt Cronin won his fight against Boston’s Eric Savard in the 178-pound heavyweight preliminary fight. Gloucester’s Jason McLaughlin defeated Methuen’s Daniel Richards in a 152-pound welterweight Novice semifinal fight.

James Quealy of Dorchester fell to Ryan Pietrantonio of Everett by a 4-1 decision in a 152-pound welterweight Novice semifinal fight. Yinka Martins of Stoughton beat Rashane Doyle of Boston in a 3-2 decision in an Open semifinal bout in the 165-pound welterweight division. Lastly, Jesse Batanda of Nashua defeated William Karafelis of Boston by RSC in a 178-pound heavyweight Novice preliminary bout.

The boxing contests will continue next Thursday at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium in the fourth week of fights. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and first bout starts at 7:30.

Do you want more Golden Gloves coverage?

Email Aaron_ Robinson1@ student.uml.edu