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Committee working quickly to replace CaretBy Anthony Rentsch

Collegian Staff

The University of Massachusetts kicked off its search for a new presi-dent of the five-campus system fol-lowing current President Robert Caret’s announcement that he will step down to become chancellor of the University System of Maryland. On Feb. 6, the Board of Trustees formed a 21-member search com-mittee that encompassed “diversity of all respects,” UMass spokesper-son Robert Connolly said. The com-mittee consists of students, faculty, administrators, trustees and alum-ni recommended through various student and faculty governing orga-nizations on the five UMass cam-puses. The committee will recommend candidates to the Board, which will select UMass’ 27th president. According to Connolly, the Board emphasized that it wanted to appoint the system’s next president by July 1, as Caret will be leaving

office at the end of June. “It’s an ambitious timetable. Old (searches) have run six months to a year,” Connolly said, adding that the search committee took about 10 months when it recommended Caret to the Board in 2011. “The Board of Trustees wants to do it as expeditiously as possible – they don’t want an interim president if possible.” There have been seven interim or acting presidents since 1864, when UMass was known as Massachusetts Agricultural College. In an effort to get the process started on the right foot, Robert Manning, chair of the committee, has already begun to interview pos-sible outside consultants, a step that Connolly said doesn’t usually occur until the first committee meeting. Connolly anticipates that the com-mittee would meet for the first time toward the end of February, at which point it will select a consult-ing firm and begin to build a candi-

date pool. “It’s another way to expedite the process,” Connolly said. “They want a consultant there on day one.” While the Board would like a timely presidential transition, Connolly said members understand that the search must be conducted correctly, something that may be difficult to do in four and a half months. “Finding the best person trumps the idea of the timetable,” he said. “They want to streamline the pro-cess without compromising it.” Just what that right person looks like remains to be seen. However, Connolly said the Board put for-ward a general description of whom they would like to see at the helm of the UMass system. “They want a president who can continue the work of being a good spokesperson for UMass and gar-nering public support and support from the state legislature,” he said.

“They want a strong advocate for UMass in every respect and some-one who can do everything.” UMass Amherst is represented in the search committee by student trustee Sarah Freudson, Isenberg School of Management Dean Mark

Fuller and Yemisi Jimoh, profes-sor of Afro-American studies in the W.E.B. Du Bois department.

Anthony Rentsch can be reached at arentsch@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @Anthony_Rentsch.

COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO

Robert L. Caret speaks about the importance of athletics during a 2011 press conference. The board hopes to appoint his replacement and the system’s next president by July 1.

KRISTEN RICHARD/COLLEGIAN

Vincent Michelot spoke of the current state of France following the Charlie Hebdo attacks that occurred on Jan.7.

‘Freedom was directly attacked’

Groups team up to honor Black History Month

By Anthony RentschCollegian Staff

A slew of University of Massachusetts organiza-tions have come togeth-er to host and promote a series of upcoming events dedicated to the spirit and celebration of Black History Month. At the helm of all of this activity is the Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success (CMASS), which has taken the liberty not only to sponsor a pair of Black History Month events, but also to help promote the events being put on by other groups and academic depart-ments. “It is important because it is an opportunity for students in the sciences and other areas for expo-sure to other aspects

of history,” said Joyce Vincent, associate direc-tor for cultural enrich-ment at CMASS. “It is an opportunity to expand in a fun and relax-ing way and to gain cross-cultural competency,” Vincent said. She added that this series is crucial for modern careers but is not focused on enough nationally. While the CMASS-advertised events, which began Jan. 27 and end March 30, have no explic-it theme, Vincent said there has been a running theme for everything that CMASS has been doing this year: “Sharing our stories across the diaspo-ras.” Vincent stressed that these events aim to address issues that stu-

By RAchel RAvelliCollegian Correspondent

Vincent Michelot, direc-tor of science at Politique-Lyon, an elite school in France, offered during a lecture Tuesday morn-ing in Machmer Hall his criticism on the social and political limitations of religion, class and race in France and how this has caused a recent outbreak in terrorism. In the midst of the recent Copenhagen shoot-ings located at both a free-speech event and Danish synagogue, Michelot, who formerly taught at Amherst College, revis-ited the recent Charlie Hebdo attack to question the French republican model’s influence on terror motives. On Jan. 7, journalists worldwide were shocked by an attack in Paris which left 12 dead and 20 injured. Charlie Hebdo, a French

political satire magazine, notoriously runs cartoons teasing ethnic and reli-gious backgrounds. In a video of the attack, one gunman yells, “Allahu Akbar!” meaning, “God is great!” The French govern-ment immediately declared the incident an act of ter-rorism. Parisians began defend-ing their rights for free speech and their national motto of “liberty, equal-ity and fraternity” by dem-onstrating on Place de la Rèpublique that night. “Freedom was direct-ly attacked and deeply wounded that day. I felt betrayed that some people could decide to murder a journalist for doing his job, my job,” said Juliane Scowcroft, a 28-year-old journalism student at Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme (ESJ) Paris, who partici-pated in the Jan. 11 demon-stration. M i ch e l o t b e g a n

Tuesday’s lecture by dis-cussing the demonstra-tions. “I had never seen such energy, passion and quiet in the French and it reminded me of reactions to 9/11,” he said. Michelot then explained, “The New York Times and Washington Post hastily wrote that Charlie Hebdo got what it caused.” Throughout the follow-ing hour, Michelot expand-ed upon this by illuminat-ing the long-term identity struggle of Muslims and other minorities in France. Although several paral-lels can be drawn between the Charlie Hebdo attack and the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Michelot argued that there is a cross-cultural divide on free-speech, con-stitutional rights and reli-gious popularity and regu-lations. Michelot pointed out that France has not effec-tively assisted communi-

ties of religion and race who feel victimized by the free state rules. Within a model that claims it cannot recognize differences, both schools and employment remain deeply inflicted by discrimination. Michelot explained that during the 1960s and 70s, accelerated secularization limited those who sup-ported the role of church-es, forming a society that views church as a “taboo” subject and leaving no room for the traditions within conservative reli-gions such as Islam. The French state has been “putting Euros in pri-ority impoverished areas” but has yet to recognize language and cultural bar-riers keeping minorities from succeeding. Much of French courts and public policy focus on primarily individual cases instead of minorities as a

By colBy seARsCollegian Correspondent

Campus and local police will no longer be the only ones patrolling Amherst streets after dark on week-ends. The University of Massachusetts is in the pro-cess of hiring a neighbor-hood liaison that will moni-tor off-campus housing and encourage proactive student behavior. “The goal is to have a staff member who is not law enforcement and is not from the Dean of Students Office, who is walking in the neigh-borhoods adjacent to the campus and kind of serving

to help both the students and the residents,” said Nancy Buffone, executive director of external relations and university events at UMass. The liaison will work with both local and cam-pus public safety officials, responding to incidents in which student behavior gets out of control. Although the weekend watchman will be responsible for monitoring multiple off-campus neigh-borhoods, areas around Fearing Street and parts of North Amherst are a pri-mary concern. “When he or she sees large numbers of students going to one particular resi-dence, they can knock on the door and keep an eye on what’s going on … if the per

Monitor to patrol off-campus areasLiaison will help town and students

see HISTORY on page 2

see MONITOR on page 2

see FRANCE on page 2

Director of French school speaks to UMass about Charlie Hebdo attack

dents are concerned with, including racial disparity and mass incarceration, in addition to touching on historical topics. The March 5 event, “Dying While Black and Brown,” performed by the San Francisco-based Zaccho Dance Theater and sponsored by the Five Colleges Multicultural Theater Committee, fits perfectly in line with Vincent’s description. Professor Kim Euell of the theater department is responsible for bring-ing the performance to the University. A teach-in held by the English department last semester after racist messages were left on several UMass stu-dents’ door room doors left her wondering what she could do to add to the conversation. Euell said that “Dying While Black and Brown” is a highly acclaimed movement-based perfor-mance, exploring themes related to “the mass incar-ceration of black people and the disproportionate representation of blacks on death row.” After the performance, Euell said there will be a panel discussion to “raise public consciousness of the issues” above and beyond just experiencing the performance. Although the events feature many prominent scholars, performers and political figures, includ-ing Josefina Baez and Angela Davis, there is a real focus on allowing students to connect with and engage in the top-ics at hand. The African Student Association is hosting a “Mr. Africa Cultural Night” on Feb. 27 and many of the other events have Q&A or panel discussion components. “It’s a chance to engage in U.S. and world histo-ry and to get us to think about social justice on different levels and plat-

forms,” Vincent said. Other groups hosting events include the Malcolm X Cultural Center; W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies; W. E. B. Du Bois Library, Students of Caribbean

Ancestry, Commonwealth Honors College; Students of Caribbean Ancestry and the African Student Association.

Anthony Rentsch can be reached at arentsch@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @Anthony_Rentsch.

THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN2 Wednesday, February 18, 2015 DailyCollegian.com

T H E R U N D OW N

ON THIS DAY...In 1983, thirteen people are killed in the Wah Mee massacre in Seattle, Washington, making it the largest robbery-motivated mass murder in this country’s history.

Haiti PORT-AU-PRINCE —Carnival festivities through-out Haiti were canceled Tuesday after at least 16 people were killed in an accident earlier in the day on the Champ de Mars near downtown Port-au-Prince.Prime Minister Evans Paul declared a national period of mourning beginning Wednesday until Saturday when funerals will be held.The tragedy occurred after a carnival float, transport-ing fans and members of Barikad Crew, passed underneath a low-hanging power line along a narrow packed street.

Miami Herald

Ukraine KIEV — Ukrainian troops and separatists battled for control of the strategic rail-way junction of Debaltseve on Tuesday, with each side blaming the other for vio-lating a weekend cease-fire meant to end 10 months of combat in eastern Ukraine.At day’s end, pro-Russia separatists claimed to con-trol about 80 percent of the city, including the railway station and police precinct. Their assertion could not readily be confirmed.

Los Angeles Times

Afghanistan JALALABAD, Afghanistan — At least 22 people were killed Tuesday when a team of Taliban suicide bombers attacked a police station in eastern Afghanistan, officials said.The complex raid began when two insurgents dressed as police officers detonated explosives at the entrance to the police head-quarters in Pul-i-Alam, the capital of Logar province, and at a security checkpoint inside the compound, said Din Mohammad Darwesh, the provincial governor’s spokesman.Other bombers then stormed a canteen where police officers were eat-ing lunch. Twenty police officers and two civilian employees were killed, Darwesh said. Another seven police officers were wounded.

Los Angeles Times

Distributed by MCT Information Services

A RO U N D T H E W O R L D

HISTORY continued from page 1

son is in a situation where he or she feels like they need additional backup, they’ll call the police,” Buffone said. Not only will the liai-son mediate off-campus issues from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, he or she will also work on campus during business hours two days per week. These hours will include working closely with the UMass Police Department, the Dean of Students Office and the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Life. The liaison will take the informa-tion he or she learned on the streets and use it to think

about ways to mitigate any negative student behavior in off-campus neighbor-hoods. Buffone is part of the committee that is hiring for the position, which is still in the early stages of its search. She said they are starting to review applicants’ materials from a “large pool of candi-dates.” “I think what is key is to find someone who fits this position, who has the right personality, can mediate in different situations, can be respectful to both students and neighbors and has a sense of humor,” she said. The job is not an easy

one to fill, however. A bach-elor’s degree with at least seven years of applicable experience, preferably in law enforcement or conflict resolution, is required, with a preferred master’s degree. Candidates must also dem-onstrate negotiation skills and be able to rapidly exer-cise judgment and problem solving techniques among other listed responsibilities. Depending on a candi-date’s qualifications, the hir-

ing salary for the position can range anywhere from $45,400 to $62,500. According to Buffone, there is currently funding for only one position. If the program is successful or if the University feels more staff is needed, they may consider expanding it. Liaison programs like this one have proved extremely effective at Boston College and Georgetown University in the past. The search com-

mittee has worked with indi-viduals from both schools to develop something simi-lar for UMass, an idea that Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and former Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis have both sup-ported. “The person in this role will have a real sense of where UMass students are living in the neighborhood,” Buffone said. “They will be looking out for the students and residents and helping to improve the quality of life on the weekends”.

Colby Sears can be reached at csears@umass.edu.

MONITOR continued from page 1

The job is not an easy one to fill. A bachelor’s degree with at least seven years of

applicable experience is required.

FRANCE continued from page 1

KRISTEN RICHARD/COLLEGIAN

Vincent Michelot is the director of science at Politique-Lyon in France.

struggling group, he said. Although French higher education institutions have made recent strides to circumvent race, the effects are still generally rigid. “When I look at my 300 students in their fourth year, I only see white faces,” Michelot said. The consideration for French rights to free speech address the con-cept of blasphemy in the public sphere. While the American constitution permits otherwise, the French parliament claims it as a violation to deny historical facts such as the Holocaust and profess hate speech. Therefore, France uses humor as an outlet of free speech and such is the role of Charlie Hebdo.

“Due to their limitation in expressing opinions on the minority groups and religions, they use humor explicitly as an outlet for expression,” Michelot said. The Muslim identity is similarly limited in its rights to free speech and cultural expression. Certain Muslim individu-als in France used vio-lence as a means of con-trolling their own identi-ties and circumstances. “Religion does not solve social problems,” Michelot said to close his lecture. “I don’t see a sig-nificant increase in racial and religious acceptance in the next five to 10 years.”

Rachel Ravelli can be reached at rravelli@umass.edu.

MCT

Thousands of people gather during a demonstration in France on Jan. 10, 2015, in support of the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attack.

THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN Wednesday, February 18, 2015 3DailyCollegian.com

Immigration Q&A: What will happen now?

By DaviD LauterTribune Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — The court fight over President Barack Obama’s plan to shield as many as 5 million immigrants from deportation involves a number of complex legal issues. U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen in Texas issued an order late Monday at least temporarily blocking the program from going forward. Here are answers to some fre-quently asked questions about the case and the ruling. – What would the administra-tion’s program do? The program would “defer action” for a large class of immi-grants currently in the coun-try without legal authorization. They would not receive citizen-ship or legal status, but would not be at risk of deportation so long as the deferred action remained in effect. Under rules that have been in place for many years, immigrants with deferred-action status are also allowed to work legally in the U.S. – What legal authority does Obama claim for deferred action? The government has had some form of deferred action since at

least the 1960s. Executive branch officials have argued – and courts have agreed – that the president and the executive branch agen-cies that work under him have significant discretion over which immigrants to deport. The legal justification is that the govern-ment has limited resources and that federal agencies can set pri-orities. “The decision to prosecute or not prosecute an individual is, with narrow exceptions, a deci-sion that is left to the execu-tive branch’s discretion,” Hanen agreed in his opinion Monday. – What’s the legal argument on the other side? Discretion isn’t unlimited. The government can’t completely rewrite the law under the guise of setting priorities. The legal issue is whether Obama’s pro-gram is so big and far-reaching that it goes beyond what can be justified as executive discre-tion. The plaintiffs in the case before Hanen, 26 Republican-led states, have a strong case that the administration did go too far, the judge ruled. The administration can-not “establish a blanket policy of non-enforcement that also awards legal presence and ben-efits to otherwise removable aliens,” the judge wrote. The executive branch has “discretion

in the manner in which it choos-es to fulfill the expressed will of Congress” but cannot set up a program that “actively acts to thwart” what Congress intended, he wrote. – The Obama administration says the 26 states have no legal right to sue in this case. Why? Federal courts only allow cases to proceed when the person or group bringing the case meets the legal standards for what is known as standing. To have standing, people or groups need to show several things, including that the action they want to chal-lenge will have a direct, provable impact on them. That rule is designed to pre-vent litigants from dragging courts into abstract disputes rather than what the Constitution limits them to considering, an actual “case or controversy.” The administration argues that although Republican officials disapprove of Obama’s decision, the states themselves will not suffer any actual injury. – What did the judge say? Hanen ruled that the states would suffer an actual injury because the deferred-action pro-gram would cost them money. For example, states would prob-ably be required to issue driv-er’s licenses to immigrants with deferred-action status, he wrote.

Because of that, the states have standing, the judge ruled. – Did the judge make a final ruling on the case? No. Monday night’s ruling said that the states could take their claim to a full trial, which might not take place for months. In the meantime, the judge issued an injunction blocking the admin-istration from starting the new deferred-action programs. “There will be no effective way of putting the toothpaste back in the tube” if the govern-ment starts granting immigrants deferred status, the judge wrote. – What happens now? The government has said it will appeal. The case would go to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which could decide to leave Hanen’s preliminary injunction in place until the judges of that court can hold a hearing on the matter. The appeals court could also dissolve the injunction. – The judge said the adminis-tration may have failed to follow proper procedures in drawing up the new program. What’s that about? The federal government has a law, known as the Administrative Procedures Act, which lays out the steps that agencies must take when they issue new rules. Those typically include notice

and an extended period for pub-lic comment, often between 18 months and two years. The states argue that the Department of Homeland Security should have been required to follow those procedures in setting up the deferred-action program. The administration says this is not the kind of program that is cov-ered by those procedural require-ments. Although the judge did not make a final ruling on that question, he clearly sympathized with the states’ argument. contact 312-222-4194) : Immigration lawsuit

Obama plan could stop 5 million deportations

By ChuCk LinDeLLAustin American-Statesman

AUSTIN, Texas — Travis County Probate Judge Guy Herman ruled Tuesday that the Texas ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitu-tional, but the county will not issue marriage licenses to gay couples, at least for now. Herman ruled as part of an estate fight in which Austin resident Sonemaly Phrasavath sought to have her eight-year relationship to Stella Powell deemed to have been a common-law marriage. Powell died last summer of colon cancer. Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir said she will be conferring with Herman and county lawyers to determine the impact of the ruling. “I am scrambling, trying to find out if there is any-thing I can do. Right now, I think it’s no, but we are checking,” said DeBeauvoir, who in the past has said that she is ready to begin distrib-uting marriage licenses to same-sex couples as soon as allowed by the courts.

The lawyer for the siblings who opposed Phrasavath’s claim said no decision has been made on whether to appeal. Attorney General Ken Paxton declined an offer to be party to the case and thus is not in a position to appeal. Herman’s ruling came after an hourlong hear-ing in the Travis County Courthouse. Phrasavath challenged the constitu-tionality of the prohibition on gay marriage as a first step toward establishing her relationship as a common-law marriage. Phrasavath and Powell began living together in Austin shortly after Phrasavath proposed in 2007, leading to a marriage ceremony that, though not recognized under Texas law, was performed one year later by a Zen priest in Driftwood southwest of Austin. Travis County courts became involved after Powell died without a valid will in June, eight months after she was diagnosed with colon cancer, lead-ing to a legal fight over her estate between Phrasavath and two of Powell’s siblings.

Same-sex marriage ruled legal in TexasCouples still will not receive licensesBy traCy WiLkinson

Los Angeles Times

HAVANA — The man expected to run Cuba after Raul Castro steps down is nearly 30 years the presi-dent’s junior and is regu-larly on Facebook in this Internet-starved country. He is considered person-able, but has been careful to keep a low political pro-file. Miguel Diaz-Canel’s appointment as first vice president is the most con-crete signal that a gener-ational change of leader-ship may be in the works in Cuba, matching a demo-graphic shift that makes the island’s population one of the youngest in the hemisphere. Castro, 83, plucked Diaz-Canel from relative obscu-rity and appointed him to his new position in 2013 as he announced that he planned to leave office in 2018. That set Diaz-Canel up as heir apparent, espe-cially after other possible candidates were dumped when they were secretly recorded talking about their ambitions. That is still a no-no, and Diaz-Canel has taken pains not to steal the limelight from Castro or the presi-dent’s 88-year-old brother, Fidel, the legendary revo-lutionary commander and former president who has not been seen in public in months. The circumstances mean Diaz-Canel has yet to make much of a mark. On an island where about 80 percent of the population has never known a presi-dent who wasn’t named Castro, many Cubans are struggling to figure out who he is. Many among Cuba’s younger generation agree that whoever comes next has a herculean task to court the powerful mili-tary, restructure the econ-omy and guide the nor-malization process with the United States that was announced in December. “We’ve lived many years with a dynasty,” said Katrina Morejon, a health worker in her 20s from Havana. “People are tired of what’s happening.”

Leaders of the army, of which Raul Castro is still the supreme commander, control several segments of the economy and will have to be carefully cultivated if Diaz-Canel is to work well with them. Diaz-Canel was born more than a year after the Cuban Revolution led by the Castro brothers ousted dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959. Raul Castro is expected in the final years of his government to continue with slow but important reforms in the economy, allowing a measure of free enterprise and lifting some restrictions on trade and travel. Whether it is enough as relations with the United States change will be the big test. The goals stated by Cuba and the U.S. after decades of animosity include ele-vating diplomatic represen-tations in both countries to full embassies rather than the limited “interests sec-tions.” Handling the new rela-tionship will put pressure on whoever is president of Cuba. Castro has made it clear that better diplo-matic ties with Washington should not change Cuba’s domestic, political or eco-nomic system, nor its intol-erance of dissent. At 54, Diaz-Canel, is the freshest face in the highest echelons of Cuban power. He recognizes the impor-tance of Cuba joining the Internet age, somewhat against the official grain, people who know him say. A 1982 graduate of the Marta Abreu University of Las Villas with an elec-trical engineering degree, Diaz-Canel essentially paid his dues, putting hard, careful work ahead of the overt ambition that has felled many an up-and-comer on the Cuban politi-cal landscape. His work on behalf of the state has included teaching at the university level, run-ning local governments, serving as a minister of education and holding regional Communist Party leadership posts. He was assigned management of what Cuban officials con-sider major areas of accom-plishment by the revolu-tion: education, sports and biotechnology. He also did a stint in Nicaragua, rep-resenting the Communist Party before like-minded

Sandinista leaders. Much of his personal life has been kept private. He is thought to be mar-ried with children. He is well-liked by Cubans in the provinces, many of whom see him as down-to-earth and accessible. It appears the Cuban leadership is grad-ually, gingerly trying to elevate his profile. He has been sent abroad repre-senting Castro, especially to friendly nations like Venezuela and Laos. It’s always a delicate balancing act, however. In a speech in Mexico in December, he managed to mention both Castros in the first three paragraphs of his comments, then quote Raul twice more. Communist-controlled press on the island has started to run fairly regu-lar articles about Diaz-Canel’s activities: his trip to Santiago de Cuba, his visit with workers in Santa Clara. But there are no big billboards promoting Diaz-Canel; most such public advertising is still limited to a Castro or, especially, the five Cuban intelligence agents who were recently released from jail in the U.S., two because they fin-ished their sentences and three as part of the deal to jump-start detente with the U.S. They are regarded as heroes in Cuba. Diaz-Canel is nowhere to be seen. “He is too much in the shadows of Raul,” said Arturo Lopez Levy, a for-mer Cuban intelligence analyst who knew Diaz-Canel in their hometown of Santa Clara and who now teaches in New York. “A good signal to send to the world now that things

are changing would be to give him a more prominent role.” If he were the son of a corporate boss brought into the firm, Diaz-Canel would fit the bill, having been assigned to Communist Party leadership posts in important provinces like Holguin and Villa Clara. There, people who know him say he cultivated good relationships with local military officials, some of whom have recently been promoted to leadership posts. His real distinction, peo-ple say, has been in social media and computer tech-nology, an area where Cuba lags notoriously behind the rest of the world. Few Cubans have open access to the Internet, but Diaz-Canel knows its impor-tance to any future growth in business, trade, tourism and education, analysts say. “The development of information technology is essential to the search for new solutions to develop-ment problems” in Latin America, Diaz-Canel said in the Mexico speech. “But the digital gap is also a real-ity among our countries, and between our countries and other countries, which we must overcome if we want to eliminate social and economic inequali-ties.” Diaz-Canel is also often praised as a hands-on prob-lem solver, someone who could get things done at the grass-roots level and who understands the poli-tics of persuasion. He once defended a gay theater group against local offi-cials who wanted to shut it down, earning respect among some of Cuba’s most marginalized citizens.

Diaz-Canel named first VP of Cuba

Castro successor alert, but covert

MCT

Ceremonies are held in Havana on the birth date of Jose Marti. Absent from the public is Miguel Diaz-Canel, likely successor to Raul Castro.

Opinion EditorialEditorial@DailyCollegiancomWednesday, February 18, 2015

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The Amherst Police Department began implementing the “Cops in Shops” pro-gram in which Amherst police officers

operate undercover as liquor store patrons or cashiers. The program is funded by a $10,000 grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety, and aims to reduce underage drinking, public intoxication and binge drinking. Officers in a store will ask to see the identification of customers who are buy-ing alcohol. If these customers appear to be buying a lot, the officers will then ask whether or not they are purchas-ing the alcohol for anybody else. Capt. Jennifer Gunderson of the APD stated that another primary objective of the program is to reduce the amount of time-consuming pro-tective custody cases, in which a per-son who has drank alcohol to the point of self-endangerment, has to be taken into custody for his or her own safety. While the efforts of the APD are noble, I highly doubt that they will yield sig-nificant results. Even if an Amherst police officer finds that a person is buying enough liquor for three people, how can the officer prove whether or not the pur-chases are intended for underage people? Unless the underage student is outside waiting in his car, then the customer can say whatever he wants: it’s for his legal friends; he’s throwing a party; he has a problem. I’m just not sure what approach-ing a customer and saying, “Wow, that’s a lot of liquor, who’s it for?” will accom-

plish. Gunderson also said she hopes such an initiative will deter students from using fake IDs to buy liquor, but that tactic will also most likely be ineffective. In every liquor store that I have been to, my ID was put through a scanner to ensure its legitimacy, so I’m not sure what these plainclothes police officers will be able to do with the IDs that the liquor store clerks cannot. Furthermore, students tend to use fake IDs to get into places where the bouncer simply looks at it casually or in order to purchase alcohol in restaurants where

the waiter or waitress won’t put the ID through a scanner. Placing police officers in liquor stores won’t do much to deter students from using fake IDs because most students already know that’s a dan-gerous place to use it. The main problem I have with this pro-gram isn’t its efforts to diminish the use of fake IDs or the supplying of minors with alcohol, it’s with the program’s stated objective to reduce the amount of protec-tive custody cases and underage drinking in general. If I’ve learned anything in my three years at college, it’s this: students are going to drink. Despite the measures the administration and police departments

take to stop this, students will still get alcohol, they will still get drunk and they will still walk down the street with an open container and get reported to their dean. They will pay the fine, go through BASICS and still, they will drink. Even if “Cops in Shops” does somehow reduce the overall amount of underage drinking, there is no chance that it will lead to a decrease in protective custody cases because those cases are much more often a product of stupidity than due to access to alcohol. Every weekend night at UMass, hun-dreds, if not thousands, of underage

students drink and don’t get caught. They’re smart about it. The kids who end up in the drunk tank are the ones who don’t know their limit, who just keep on drinking and drink-ing and drinking until they are placed into protective custody,

which most likely serves as a wakeup call. Staking out liquor stores where the majority of customers are legal and prob-ably know how to drink responsibly will do nothing to cure inexperience and reck-lessness. I respect the sentiment and the effort of the new program but “Cops and Shops” vastly underestimates the lengths to which underage students will go in order to get drunk. It’s going to take more than a cop in a baseball cap to reduce the culture of drinking that is so deeply entrenched in the college lifestyle.

Steven Gillard is a Collegian columnist and can be reached at sgillard@umass.edu.

I have a long and sto-ried history with goofy television shows. Raised from an early

age by my dad on such science fiction staples as “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and the vari-ous “Stargate” spinoffs, I have an intense appre-ciation for the genre in all its forms. I tend to regard tropes, plot twists and punny one-liners with fondness, but I hold in the highest regard by far the show that doesn’t take itself too seriously – for me, the best episodes of “Doctor Who” are the ones with the lamest spe-cial effects while I find “Sharknado’s” unapolo-getic commitment to the absurdity of its premise to be the movie’s biggest strength. It should come as no surprise then that I am an avid fan of the CW’s Justice League themed duo of superhero shows, “The Flash” and “Arrow.” Surprisingly however,

perhaps my favorite new show on the channel’s lineup is the gloriously over-the-top “Jane the Virgin.” Through a com-bination of self-aware genre tropes, relevant social issues and sharp, clever writing, “Jane the Virgin” went from being the type of show I would love to hate to the type of show I hate to miss. When my girlfriend first suggested that I give the show a try, I was incredibly skeptical. I had casually observed her watching other CW shows, such as the vam-pire teen romance drama “The Vampire Diaries” and the wildly histori-cally inaccurate “Reign,” and had seen enough to know that they were defi-nitely not in my wheel-house. Indeed, I only consented to watching “Arrow” after hearing about its creative use of minor characters from the source material (I was much less reluc-tant with “The Flash”). However, after giving it a try, I have to say that even I am completely hooked. “Jane the Virgin’s” basic formula is built upon the tropes and generic features of Latin American soap operas, known as telenovelas, in order to tell the story of a chaste young woman who is accidentally artificial-ly inseminated during a

visit to the gynecologist. Of course, in typical telenovela fashion, it only gets more complicat-ed from there with love triangles, murder plots, faceless drug lords and long lost parents abound, all punctuated by the dul-cet tones of the show’s narrator. In fact, Jane’s unintended pregnancy is only one of several story lines that run throughout the show’s ongoing first season and frequently serves more of a moti-vating background force than a direct plot consid-eration. “Jane the Virgin’s” biggest strength as a show is it recognizes at once both the absurdity of its premise along-side the significance of an issue like unplanned pregnancy. The outstand-ing melodrama of tele-novelas as a genre allows the show to bring a light-hearted yet respectfully thoughtful focus to some of the most relevant top-ics in our society today, from religion to interac-tions of wealth and class,

and it does so in a way that is neither preachy nor irreverent. Gina Rodriguez’s incredible performance as Jane is the emotional and comedic core of the show, with her single mother and single grand-mother occupying criti-cal and memorable orbits around her. The women of “Jane the Virgin” are real, believable and relat-able – as are the show’s men, whose aforemen-tioned love triangle with Jane is honestly the first example in modern media in which there isn’t a clear-cut “best option” between the two. While I came to the CW because of shows like “The Flash” and “Arrow,” I undoubt-edly stay for “Jane the Virgin.” In many ways, the shows do very simi-lar things: take a prem-ise and a genre that may seem ridiculous to some and turn it into a product that everyone can enjoy. After all, comic book superheroes were once just as much of a cultural niche as telenovelas in the eyes of the general public. One can only hope that “Jane the Virgin” can do the same thing they have, not only for its genre, but for women and diversity as well.

Johnny McCabe is a Collegian columnist and can be reached at rjmccabe@umass.edu.

“I’m just not sure what approaching a customer and saying, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of

liquor, who’s it for?’ will accomplish.”

“...“Jane the Virgin” went from being the type of show I would love to hate to the type of show I now hate to

miss.”

How CW’shottest new show

won me over

Johnny McCabe

Steven Gillard

On Oct. 16, 2014, the University of Massachusetts community united in the

Student Union Ballroom for the first Diversity Strategic Planning Steering Committee Town Hall Meeting. Outraged students occupied the room wearing black t-shirts bear-ing the phrase “UMass stands against racism” and demand-ing change. The meeting was held in regard to recent hate crimes and death threats on campus targeted at Black and Latino/a students. Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy called on the committee to create a plan of action by the end of fall semester, congruent with Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life Enku Gelaye’s words, “Hate speech and intolerance is unaccept-able in our community.” UMass failed to meet Gelaye’s pledge as the University is no longer admit-ting Iranian nationals into certain programs in the Colleges of Engineering and Natural Sciences. During the October town hall meeting, gradu-ate student Durryle Brooks expressed how “campus lead-ership must be accountable in its response to racism on our campus.” Now campus lead-ership is responsible for racial discrimination, and has left it to the victims to hold them accountable. A UMass news release acknowledged that the new policy forcing “the exclusion of a class of students from

admission” conflicts with “institutional values and principles.” Without previously inform-ing the Iranian community of its decision, UMass managed to “recognize that these deci-sions create difficulties for our students from Iran,” and described the policy as “unfor-

tunate.” The University’s attempt to avoid violating U.S. sanctions against Iran is “rare if not unique among U.S. uni-versities,” and succeeded in “(catching) the U.S. State Department by surprise,” according to the Boston Globe. The Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 declares Iranian citi-zens ineligible for U.S. visas to seek higher education in energy-related fields, clinging to the fear and assumption that every Iranian science student dreams of building a nuclear bomb. Yet, “U.S. law does not prohibit quali-fied Iranian nationals coming to the United States for edu-cation in science and engi-neering,” according to a U.S. State Department official in an interview with the Globe, because “each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.” The State Department itself is confused as to why UMass has barred Iranian students from continuing their educations despite there

being no such changes in fed-eral policy. Administrators in Whitmore have overzealously portrayed legal compliance to the federal government and opposition to the policy toward their marginalized students. As an Iranian-American student at UMass, the recent

policy changes don’t sur-prise me, just as the admin-istration’s inaction on racist death threats didn’t surprise Durryle Brooks last semes-ter when he said, “The recent hate crimes on campus are evidence of an epidemic pres-ent in our communities and our nation as a whole, which if ignored will continue to destroy us all. These heinous acts are but symptoms of an illness that circulates through the veins of our society.” Americans connote the Middle East with terrorism. “Muslim,” “Middle Eastern” and “threat” have become interchangeable, represented by brown skin, thick eye-brows, large beards or hijabs. National arrogance and racially motivated moral supe-riority were brutally exposed on Feb. 10, when Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, Yusor Abu-Salha, 21, and Razan Abu-Salha, 19, were shot to death near the University of North Carolina campus. Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, allegedly murdered the three Muslim students in

cold blood over “an ongoing neighbor dispute over park-ing,” according to Lt. Joshua Mecimore. The failure to label Hicks a terrorist and his acts a hate crime are the result of a societal epidemic. American’s religious arro-gance separates Islam as the exception – other religions aren’t automatically viewed as violent or fundamentalist. It is this bigotry that scru-tinizes Yusor and Razan for wearing hijabs, portraying a “Muslim,” but immediately perceived as a “threat.” It is this bigotry that excludes people from higher education, and sends Iranian students home. The UMass news release states the “University is also obliged to respect laws passed by Congress that restrict the definition of admissible stu-dents,” but their adherence to the law is not an obligation. The University has gone above and beyond to wrong-fully appease federal law while already under federal investigation for mishandling sexual assault cases and non-compliance with Title IX. Instead of protecting their students, an administration that held a town meeting on diversity, equity and inclusion just last semester was more concerned with protecting the University on its brochures. UMass has fallen victim to national bigotry toward the Middle East and possibly set a precedent for other universi-ties to follow. I’ll see everyone at the next town hall meeting.

Alisina Saee-Nazari is a Collegian contributor and can be reached at asaeenazari@umass.edu.

Alisana Saee-Nazari

‘Cops in Shops’ is a waste of effort

UMass not working in good faith on diversity plan with Iranian policy

“UMass has fallen victim to national bigotry toward the Middle East and possibly

set a precedent for other universities to follow.”

“I’m a walking, talking enigma. We’re a dying breed.” - Larry DavidArts Living

Arts@DailyCollegian.comWednesday, February 18, 2015

THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN

By Kelsey HeBertCollegian Correspondent

Whatever your academic year, there has probably come a point in your college life when you were faced with the question about whether it’s wise to use a credit card. Typically regarded as taboo for students, the positives of owning one may outweigh the negatives. Owning a credit card can help students build a healthy credit history while they are in college, which will ultimately prove beneficial upon graduation. Purchasing items and making on-time payments is an easy way to boost one’s credit score. Using a card can bolster a score determined by student loans or can be used as a type of borrowing ser-vice for students who do not have loans. As long as stu-dents are making payments on time, their credit score will rise rather than be hurt. A healthy credit score can help with getting an apartment during or after graduation or applying for loans later in life. Conversely, late payments may negatively affect your credit score. Those who have trouble keeping to deadlines should be wary of this when making payments. Students who prefer to use cash for purchases may have an adjustment to make with credit cards. While cash is always a safer option to pur-chase goods on and off cam-pus, having a credit card on hand may be helpful and con-venient. Even so, one must beware of mindlessly pur-chasing items with a credit card. If you do not trust your-self with purchasing power, try setting a spending limit on the card. Having a credit card for emergency situations is also a good idea for young students who may not have enough money on their debit cards or in cash to pay. Credit

cards can come in handy dur-ing instances like hospital trips, car accidents or other catastrophes that need large amounts of fast cash if unable to be billed to your parents. Some students may look into obtaining a credit card solely for usage in emergency situa-tions. When it comes to online purchasing, having a credit card may be a safer way than paying with a debit card. The rise of technology has led to much more cyber theft than ever before. A credit card is not tied to a bank account like a debit card is; if the credit card number is stolen it is less devastating and inconvenient than if your bank account is depleted. Since many college stu-dents purchase their text-books online, having a credit card for this purpose may be helpful in avoiding cyber theft. Although owning credit cards has its advantages while on a college campus, students should evaluate themselves about whether or not they are ready to handle the responsi-bility of having one. If you think you are an impulsive person or perhaps a compulsive shopper, having a credit card may be more of a bane than a benefit. It’s important as a student to pay off your bills on time and, whenever possible, in full. Keeping a balance on a credit card can have extreme finan-cial consequences if the bal-ance and interest rates are high. It is important to pay off more than just the monthly interest, as this will increase as your balance increases. Don’t get a credit card sim-ply because you don’t have the money to pay for products that are not essential. Even though they allow you to pur-chase these items, a bill at the end of the month and accrued interest without payment can get you in trouble with a bad credit score in the long run.

Kelsey Hebert can be reached at klhebert@umass.edu.

Risks of studentsusing credit cardsHelpful tips on how to manage finances

C U LT U R E

Evolve: Masterpiece or overpriced?

By AlessAndro ArenA-derosACollegian Staff

Last week, Turtle Rock Studios released Evolve, the latest game in the Co-Op-focused first-per-son shooter genre from the same masterminds who worked on Left 4 Dead and its subsequent download-able content. The game pits a team of four human players against a single gargan-tuan monster controlled by a fifth player. Both sides clash in a short-lived yet desperate attempt to either save or eradicate a human colony on the exotic and lively planet of Shear. Unfortunately, that’s about as far as the story goes. While its diverse and immense landscapes are beautiful and its gameplay is revolutionary in its sim-plicity, Evolve may not be worth the costly $60 price tag. Perhaps the biggest drawback to the game is its titular monsters and their struggle to survive, evolve and hunt down the merce-naries sent to exterminate them. The player control-ling the monster traverses Shear’s landscape, rang-ing from massive atriums to murky swamps, and encounters wildlife to feed on in order to evolve. The Marsh Striders and the Titanic Tyrants are com-ponents of the wildlife that set Evolve apart from most other games I’ve played The monsters in the game hop around the landscape throwing titan-ic punches and breath-ing fire. The land-bound Goliath, is a well-balanced character that is interest-ing to play with in com-parison to the more pow-erful and airborne Kraken and Wraith. All present an equally unique experience and a more advanced set of challenges for the hunt-

ers to face. As opposed to the mon-sters, the team of hunt-ers struggle to navigate the treacherous environ-ment of Shear, completing objectives of the game like civilian rescues and mon-ster nest destructions. A player most com-monly finds himself hunt-ing down the monster before its power swells to such an extent that the hunters will have a sig-nificant disadvantage in the fight. To do this, each player is assigned to one of four classes: the heavy-hitting Assault, the heal-ing Medic, the cunning Trapper and the defending Support. Each class comes with a cast of three char-acters who vary in their quick playing style, visual design and quirky person-ality, diversifying an oth-erwise rigid team model. Unfortunately, the full cast of hunters and mon-sters is unavailable when the player begins the game. The game instead only provides the Goliath and one hunter from each class at the start. The rest must be unlocked through a cumbersome progression

system that demands a certain amount of damage with all three of a hunt-ers’ weapons or all four of a monsters’ moves. This especially hinders class progression since each character has a refresh-ingly different play style. The combat in Evolve relies on its reflex-heavy play and is strategically driven. Jetpacks give the hunters a tactical edge by adding a lateral element to the battlefield. Players can more tactically fly up to a monster’s head then dart around the massive cliffs of Shear in a quicker fashion. Evolve focuses solely on two kinds of match-es: Skirmishes and Evacuations. Both can be played in single play-er mode, Co-Op or prop-er player vs. player, as it was meant to be done. All matches feature the sig-nature four vs. one com-bat and the same pool of 12 maps and four game modes. Evacuation mode plays out as a series of five Skirmishes, with each skirmish having lasting effects on the rest of the

“campaign.” However, Evolve lacks a true single player campaign and fluid story. Unlike Left 4 Dead, the Evacuation mission sets play more like a ran-domized adapting match playlist rather than a real story. The most surprising feature of Evolve is how easy it was to pick up. Each class and monster only has four abilities that are relatively straightfor-ward and easy to use. Gun aiming is forgiving due to the monsters’ titanic size and much of the game’s overall requirement of skill stems from a player’s instincts, quick thinking and tactical teamwork. Evolve will inevitably come on sale or perhaps they’ll release it packaged with all the DLC for a low price. When that happens, I implore you to give it a try and immerse yourself in the savage planet of Shear. Until then, this master-piece of multiplayer play lacks the complexity to warrant its initial price tag.

Alessandro Arena-DeRosa can be reached at aarenaderosa@umass.edu.

Latest in 1st person shooter game genre

G A M E R E V I E W

By lorrAine MirABellAThe Baltimore Sun

B A LT I M O R E — U n d e r Armour Inc. is acquir-ing two fitness app com-panies for $560 million as the Baltimore-based sports apparel brand continues to build its technology busi-ness and create what it calls the largest online fit-ness community. After making significant moves in connected fit-ness arena last year, Under Armour announced the two new deals Wednesday as it released fourth quar-ter results showing soaring sales and profits. The fast-growing fitness company said it is buy-ing San Francisco-based MyFitnessPal for $475 mil-lion and that it already acquired Endomondo, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, for $85 million last month. Coupled with the fit-ness co mmunity it pur-chased last year with its MapMyFitness acquisition,

Under Armour now says it will create the world’s largest online fitness com-munity with more than 120 million global users. Endomondo has about 20 million registered users mostly in Europe, while MyFitnessPal has more than 80 million users and resources such as a calorie counter and nutrition and exercise tracker. That deal will close in the first quar-ter. Last month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Under Armour released its own fitness app called UA Record, which is designed to aggregates users data from a variety of fitness tracking devices and cre-ate an online community in which users can follow, encourage and challenge each other. Under Armour first got into fitness tracking with its Armour39 biomet-ric device in 2011, then acquired MapMyFitness in December 2013, which includes websites that now have 31 million registered users. “Today, we have taken defining steps by announc-

ing the acquisitions of two powerful digital busi-nesses that help create the world’s largest digital health and fitness commu-nity,” said Kevin Plank, Under Armour’s founder and CEO, in the announce-ment. “We are developing a digital ecosystem that pro-vides us with unparalleled data and insight into mak-ing every athlete better... “We are now extremely well-positioned to create an unrivaled experience for our consumer and a multi-tude of new opportunities

to drive our core business.” The announcement of the acquisitions came as Under Armour released its results for the fourth quar-ter. Its profit soared 37 per-cent to $88 million in the quarter ended Dec. 31, up from $64 million a year ear-lier. Earnings per share hit 40 cents, up from 30 cents. Sales jumped to $895 million in the October-to-December period, up 31 percent from $683 million in 2013’s fourth quarter. Under Armour saw sales growth across its catego-

ries with apparel revenue up 30 percent to $708 mil-lion, driven by new offer-ings in the training, hunt-ing and studio lines, and footwear sales up 55 per-cent to $86 million, led by new running and basket-ball shoes. It was the company’s 19th consecutive quarter of sales growth of 20 percent or more, “demonstrating the unending opportunity we see across our five key growth drivers,” Plank said. The results also topped the estimates of Wall Street analysts who projected Under Armour would earn 39 cents per share on $849 million in sales during the fourth quarter. Before the announce-ment, shares of Under Armour rose 1 percent Wednesday to close at $73.57 on the New York Stock Exchange. In a report Tuesday, Canaccord Genuity ana-lyst Camilo Lyon reiterat-ed a buy rating for Under Armour’s stock amid expectations of a “solid” fourth quarter. He said strong sales of full-price merchandise during the

holidays boosted the end of year performance and should lead to a strong start to the year. Under Armour “is on its way to becoming the No. 2 global athletic brand with an opportunity to reach $10 (billion) in sales by 2019, driven by international expansion ... and footwear,” as well as by sales through the company’s own stores and ecommerce sites, Lyon said. Though sluggish growth is expected this year in the apparel sector, Under Armour finds itself unique-ly positioned, with room to grow, UBS analyst Michael Binetti said in a report pre-viewing the quarter. The company expects its global sales, now 10 percent of the business, to account for half its sales in the long term. Women’s business, now at $500 million and less than half the size of men’s, is projected to grow as big if not bigger than men’s in the long term, while foot-wear, which accounts for 15 percent of sales, could equal or outpace apparel sales.

Company seeking 120 million users

T E C H N O L O G Y

KNITSPIRIT/FLICKR

Under Armour recently bought the fitness app, Endomondo, based in Copenhagen.

MCT

Human players engaged in combat with a monster on the exotic Shear terrain.

Under Armour building ‘largest online fitness community’

THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN6 Wednesday, February 18, 2015 DailyCollegian.com

Jobby job job hiring money job job employment newspapers job!

YOU! YES, YOU RIGHT THERE!Put your editing in front of thousands of readers.

COME AND BE THE COMICS EDITOR BECAUSE IT’S THE BEST JOB EVER!E–mail Tracy at comics@dailycollegian.com for the job offer of a lifetime.

ComicsWhy don’t ear muffs come in the blueberry variety?

Don’t you feel old when your cousins start having kids, and then your kids start having kids and you don’t even have kids yet?

H O R O S C O P E S aquarius Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

When your gmail says it’s logged into “mobile,” be afraid. That really means someone in Alabama has all of your info.

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Release me from my turmoil and apply for comics editor already!

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If you really want to diet, might I suggest brushing your teeth before every meal, and at every meal you only eat tuna salad?

taurus apr. 20 - May. 20

Terms and Services agreement for reading this page means I own your pupils and can use them sans copyright for material.

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It deeply saddens me when I realize how inexplicably jovial seeing sunshine at 5 p.m. makes me.

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What is salami if not only a more highly accepted boloney?

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On a scale of one to giving up your hopes and dreams, you’re about at the level of “hey, let me microwave this leftover sandwich.”

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There’s a good reason why no one ever just snacks on a slice of swiss cheese.

Poorly Drawn lines By reza FarazmanD

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THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN 7DailyCollegian.com

Minutewomen seek momentum

By AdAm AucoinCollegian Staff

As the regular sea-son winds down and the Atlantic 10 tournament nears, the Massachusetts women’s basketball team looks to regain some of the momentum it achieved early in the season when it was sitting at .500 with a record of 8-8. Despite this respectable start to the season, confer-ence play has brought back the same nightmares the Minutewomen experienced in their previous two sub-par seasons. UMass, however, has a winnable opportunity in Wednesday against Davidson, which is the only team looking up at the Minutewomen at the bot-tom of the A-10 standings.Wednesday will be the first ever meeting between the two schools as Davidson is in its first year in the A-10 after spending almost all of its program’s history in the Southern Conference. The Wildcats (5-20, 1-11 A-10) have struggled with its transition into its new conference and have experi-

enced similar growing pains that the Minutewomen have endured in past years with freshmen who are trying to work out the kinks and grow for the future. Despite its poor record, UMass’ (9-15, 3-9 A-10) mind-set has remained the same: stay focused and humble. “Davidson is very big and they play a pack mentality man to man,” Minutewomen coach Sharon Dawley said. “We need to work on some of our sets so we can perfect them against their pack.” Davidson runs a trian-gle offense, which Dawley made sure she had her play-ers review and defend dur-ing this week’s practices. Leading the Wildcats’ attack is junior forward Hannah Early, who averages 14.2 points per game. Other key contributors on the team include freshman forward Mackenzie Latt (11.3 points per game) and junior for-ward Dakota Dukes (9.5). Dawley said she doesn’t have a specific player in mind that she wants her team to focus on; she pre-pares to key in on all of them and the team as whole. “We’ve been focusing a lot on the five starters and zeroing in on their tenden-cies,” Dawley said. “In par-ticular we have paid atten-

tion (Early) and (Latt) as well as the starting point guard who is pretty crafty, but I think that all of their players demand our respect.”Making strides The Minutewomen have certainly struggle over the past month – UMass has lost seven of its last eight games – but that hasn’t taken away from the improvement the team has made over last year and the growth they continue to see. Dawley attributed many different factors to the team’s turnaround. One major point she empha-sized was the addition of quality freshmen who have made an impact, including

guards Leah McDerment and Cierra Dillard. “Leah’s game has got-ten better and better by the week. She’s a really good basketball player right now and her confidence has grown a lot,” Dawley said. “Cierra has also come on strong for us the last couple games.” Dawley also pointed to the maturity and confi-dence of her players this year and their better con-ditioning as reasons for the team’s record improving. Tip-off against the Wildcats is set for 7 p.m. at Mullins Center.

Adam Aucoin can be reached at aaucoin@umass.edu.

Davidson comes to Mullins Center

W O M E N ’ S BA S K E T BA L L

CADE BELISLE/COLLEGIAN

Cierra Dillard attempts a shot against Duquesne Feb. 14.

By Tyler FiedlerCollegian Staff

The Massachusetts men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are looking to collect some new hardware with Atlantic 10 champion-ships set to begin. The men’s team had another strong season, win-ning four meets and placing second out of five teams in the Terrier Invitational in November. The depth of the Minutemen has been evident this year with a wide variety of upperclassmen and under-classmen contributing to its success this season. “I’m excited to watch my boys swim,” UMass coach Russ Yarworth said. “They have followed the pro-cess, worked hard and they deserve the chance to com-pete for a championship.” Senior Michael Glenn and freshman Owen Wright have been at the brunt of the Minutemen’s success with strong performances throughout the season in a number of different events. Wright was recently awarded A-10 Rookie of the Week with victories in three freestyle events – 50-yard, 100-yard and 200-yard – in a UMass win over Fordham Jan. 31. Glenn earned his second A-10 Performer of the Week honor three weeks ago with his outstanding performance at the Dartmouth Invitational in which he finished first in two breaststroke events and second in the 400-yard indi-vidual medley. The Minutemen are going to need these two swim-mers as well as a consistent effort from the rest of the roster to dethrone two-time defending A-10 champion St. Bonaventure, which returns 18 swimmers from last year’s championship team. The Bonnies had another strong season, winning five meets. UMass will need to per-form at its highest level if

it wants to return to cham-pionship level following a two-year drought. Of the last 14 A-10 championships, the Minutemen have captured 11 titles while the Bonnies took home the championship the other three times. “The goal is to win and that is always the goal,” Yarworth said. “My expecta-tion for them is to work as hard as they can to win the championship.” Aside from the Bonnies, the Minutemen will face tough competition from La Salle and Saint Louis. “We need the individual performers to step up,” Yarworth said. “Everyone has to score, work hard and believe in what we can do.”

Women look to regain glory

It has been 14 years since the UMass women’s swim-ming and diving team cap-tured its last A-10 champion-ship. Since the Minutewomen’s last title in 2001, Richmond has formed a dynasty, winning all ensuing championships with the exception of the 2009-2010 season in which Fordham prevailed. The Spiders head to Ohio with another deep, strong team looking to repeat for a fifth consecutive time. But UMass comes into the A-10 championships with hopes of pulling an upset behind a slew of out-standing individual perfor-mances this season. Meriza Werenski had an exceptional season, lead-ing UMass in the 200-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard and 400-yard individ-ual medley. Seniors Katie Arnott and Zoe Judd also had strong performances in their respective final sea-sons.

Tyler Fiedler can be reached at tfiedler@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @Tyler_Fiedler.

UM ready to make splash at A-10s

S W I M M I N G A N D D I V I N G

come as the stakes are as high as they’ve ever been. “I think everybody under-stands it’s a big game,” UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. “This will be a good, hard-fought game with a crowd that’ll be really into it.” The Minutemen will contend with a Rams team that has secondary pieces emerging around star guard E.C. Matthews, who is aver-aging 16.3 points per game. URI forward Hassan Martin is averaging 3.1 blocks per game – he’s also averaging 12 points and 7.6 rebounds per con-test – and freshman guard Jared Terrell is averaging 11 points per game since the loss to UMass a month ago. Kellogg noted before his team’s practice Tuesday

that both Martin and Terrell could be deemed as “X-factors.” “I think (Hassan Martin) and Terrell have really stepped their games up,” Kellogg said. “I think our game vs. them helped Terrell’s confidence. Especially early, he made some big plays and he’s built on that.” URI isn’t a team that typi-cally wilts at home, either. “We’ve played well on the road, but this is two teams that are tied for first,” Kellogg said. “Playing tougher teams on the road is a challenge. Rhode Island’s record at home in confer-ence play is 5-1, so they obvi-ously play well.” The Minutemen are expecting a stiff challenge, but Lalanne stopped short

of calling it a rivalry game. At least from UMass’ per-spective, that is. “I guess (there’s an edge) because they feel like it’s a rivalry game,” he said. “And I guess, to them it is a rival-

ry game. To us, I don’t really know if it’s really a rivalry game.”

Mark Chiarelli can be reached at mchiarel@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @Mark_Chiarelli.

FIRST PLACE continued from page 8

“Honestly, it makes it so much easier for me when I have guys on my line mov-ing the puck and burying plays when I get them the puck,” he said. “It’s a solid year on the point sheet, but having the guys help me out and just making the right plays is a great feel-ing. “I attribute all of that to them because I wouldn’t be here and in half the posi-tions I’m in without them.” Micheletto said he thinks Kravchenko has been able to develop a more complete game compared to where he was at the

beginning of the season. “I think anytime when you’re bringing in guys with high-end offensive skills, they’ve not always been held accountable to do things on both sides of the puck,” Micheletto said. “I think (Dennis) has certain-ly been willing, but incor-porating defensive details in his game on a day-in and day-out basis has gotten much better in the second half than it was in the first half.”

Jason Kates can be reached at jkates@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @Jason_Kates.

UConn goalkeeper Shannon Nee allowed 15 goals and recorded seven saves against the Dukes in the season-opener. However, the numbers do not do justice in telling how talented Nee really is. Nee started every game in cage for the Huskies in 2014 and was named to the All-Big East first team after posting a goal against aver-age of 10.34. After a sub-par shooting performance in the Minutewomen’s season opener against UMass Lowell (18-for-40), McMahon said that was going to be one of the key factors to get the win on

Wednesday. UMass spent extra time over the past few days working on its shoot-ing drills and working to get higher-quality looks to prevent another poor shooting percentage like it had against the River Hawks. After 11 different players scored for the Minutewomen in their first game, McMahon said she knows her team’s best chance to win is if every-one is getting open looks and not just relying on a couple of players to make plays. “We have so many differ-

ent weapons on offense,” McMahon said. “Even some of the younger play-ers are really showing off a lot of their skills in prac-tice. It doesn’t matter what age you are, we are going to play the best players.” After causing 24 turn-overs against UMass Lowell, UMass used its defensive rides to its advantage, making it dif-ficult for the River Hawks to have successful clears. Wednesday’s game will start at 3 p.m.

Andrew Cyr can be reached at arcyr@umass.edu and can be followed on Twitter @Andrew_Cyr.

POINTS continued from page 8

UCONN continued from page 8

FREE THROWS continued from page 8going.” Earlier this season, Davis sought ways to get his rhythm going on a more consistent basis. He knew he needed to turn up his aggres-siveness and after evaluating his play, Davis made a con-scious effort to focus more on getting to the charity stripe. “I was looking for ways to affect the game,” Davis said. “That’s something I’m always doing. I looked at my stats and stuff and I hadn’t been getting to the free throw line. The coaches said I had to get to the basket

more and draw some contact and get us into the bonus.” Davis’ propensity to earn free points has vaulted his scoring numbers up. He’s now the team’s leading scorer (11.9 points per game) and finished with 26 points against both Fordham and Duquesne. He’s not without his own quirks – something which is expected from exceptional shooters. He doesn’t turn and look at the bench or into the crowd during foul shots for bad luck, and tries to refrain from bending his knees and using his legs in

his free throw stroke. Nonetheless, he’s turned into UMass’ most reliable option at the free throw line and is close to breaking two program records. But when asked if he knew what the record was, Davis smiled, shook his head and said he had no intention of finding out. After all, that would be bad luck. “I don’t,” Davis said with a grin. “I don’t want to know right now.”

Mark Chiarelli can be reached at mchi-arel@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @Mark_Chiarelli.

CADE BELISLE/COLLEGIAN

Donte Clark dribbles past a defender against La Salle.

see UCONN on page 2

see FIRST PLACE on page 7 see FREE THROWS on page 7 see POINTS on page 7

“It was great situation to go into to help build something and that’s what I feel like I did. I started the process of building something.”

Angela McMahon,UMass coach

@MDC_SPORTS Sports@DailyCollegian.comWednesday, February 18, 2015

THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN

M E N ’ S BA S K E T BA L L

RHODE TO GLORY

ALEC ZABRECKY/COLLEGIAN

Trey Davis has made 32 consecutive free throws dating back to Jan. 17 against URI at Mullins Center.

By Mark ChiarelliCollegian Staff

At this point, there aren’t many secrets between the Massachusetts men’s basketball team and Rhode Island, which square off Wednesday night at the Ryan Center. The meeting will be the fifth between the two teams in a little more than a year and comes as both teams are tied for first place in the Atlantic 10. If matchups between the Minutemen and Rams followed the same type of formula, it’d look like this: Strong defensive showings coupled with crucial individual performances in crunch time, mul-tiplied by a penchant for down-to-the-wire finishes. Recently, the formula contin-ues to compute to one constant: A UMass victory. “It’s just one of those games where it’s a tough battle of a game,” Minutemen center Cady Lalanne said. “They try to grind you out until the end to see who is going to win and usually pull through that.” UMass (16-9, 9-3 A-10) has won seven straight games against URI, with its last loss coming in the 2011-12 season. Nearly every game, especially the last four – all decided by single digits – have been tight-

ly contested affairs, with the best representation coming earlier this year. The Minutemen downed the Rams (17-6, 9-3 A-10) 60-56 at home on Jan. 17. Unlike last season, when UMass was the clear favor-ite in all three wins over URI, the momentum was expected to swing more toward the Rams, who con-tinue to improve. URI led by as many as six points with six minutes remaining, but the Minutemen closed on a 13-3 run, received an unlikely scoring outburst from reserve forward Zach Coleman and escaped victori-ous. According to Lalanne, this isn’t something either team will forget about on Wednesday. “You don’t throw it out because they remember they haven’t beat us in a couple years,” Lalanne said. “So they’re going to keep that in the back of their mind as some-thing that’s going to boost them up a little bit. And for us, we don’t want to lose to them neither. We’re trying to win first place the same way they’re trying to win first place.” When the two teams take to the Ryan Center floor in Kingston, Rhode Island, Wednesday, it’ll

Minutemen ready for test vs. Rams on Wed.

Davis approaching UMass FT record

By Mark ChiarelliCollegian Staff

Trey Davis wasn’t making free throws at a customary rate, and his mother let him know about. The Massachusetts men’s bas-ketball point guard wasn’t getting to the free throw line often to begin this season, and when he did, he let opportunities slip away. Davis missed at least one free throw in the first three games of the year and endured a stretch of play in December where he attempted just one free throw in four games. When his mother Melissa vis-ited campus earlier this season, she asked why. “After a game, she was like, ‘You used to be really good at those, I don’t know what you’re doing,’” Davis said. “I think she was kind of joking a little bit, but at the same time she was kind of serious. And I kind of got upset. So I really wanted to make all my free throws now.” Whether it was the tough love from his mother, or his daily routine of attempting 50 free throws before, during and after practice, he’s now seeing the results. Davis has made 32 straight free throws. His last miss coincidentally came against Rhode Island, which UMass will face Wednesday. Since

then he’s been perfect – even when the stakes were high. The Minutemen have won six games in a row and on two sepa-rate occasions during that streak – wins over Fordham and Duquesne – Davis made crucial free throws in the final two minutes of the game to preserve victories. He was a com-bined 20-for-20 in those games alone, and has become UMass’ go-to option when it needs to ice the opposition. It’s a role that Davis cherishes. “Yeah, I go get the ball,” Davis said. “That’s my mindset – go get the ball and make them foul, because I really think I’m going to knock them down.” He’s even knocking them down at a rate which could break UMass records. Davis is one free throw shy of former Minutemen guard Chaz Williams’ record of 33 straight free throws against Atlantic 10 opponents. The program’s all-time record for consecutive made free throws is 40, held by Donta Bright. Davis chalked up his hot stroke to stronger concentration. “I’ve been looking at the rim a little differently and the back of the rim,” Davis said. “Now that I’ve made a couple, I shoot a lot before the game so I can get my rhythm

By andrew CyrCollegian Staff

Massachusetts women’s lacrosse coach Angela McMahon couldn’t help but smile when she began to talk about her experiences with her former school. It wasn’t until she arrived in Amherst that she could appreciate the work that she had done to help rebuild a program. Prior to her tenure at UMass, McMahon was the head coach at

Connecticut from 2009-2010. After her first year at the helm finished with a 3-13 record, a year of adjust-ments and recruitment led to an improved Huskies team that went 9-8, their best record since 2007. With the Minutewomen hosting UConn Wednesday afternoon at McGuirk Stadium, this game has a deeper personal meaning to the fifth-year UMass coach. McMahon spoke highly of her former program and said she was happy she was the one who changed the culture for the Huskies. She added that it helped her improve as a coach.

“It was a great experience for me,” McMahon said. “I had been a head coach before, but I think being thrown into a situation where the year before for them couldn’t have been worse, it was a really tough situation and for me it was a great situation to go into to help build something and that’s what I feel

like I did. I started the process of building something.” However, this isn’t the first time McMahon’s matched up against her old team as the Minutewomen defeated UConn in Storrs, Connecticut, last season in a 7-5 win. Despite a five-goal performance

from midfielder Emily Anderson on Sunday, the Huskies dropped their first game of 2015 against James Madison, 15-11. Although the Huskies allowed 15 goals, McMahon doesn’t believe that the first game is a real indicator of how talented the team really is. “It’s still early in the season, teams are going through differ-ent defensive lineups and mixing around different players,” she said. “They have a great goalkeeper and we are going to have to do the little things right if we want to win.”

W O M E N ’ S L AC R O S S E

McMahon ready to face her former team

Freshman nearing milestone

By Jason katesCollegian Staff

With just three games remain-ing in the regular season before postseason play, Massachusetts hockey forward Dennis Kravchenko has the chance to achieve a milestone only four other Minutemen have accom-plished in program history. Sitting with a team-high 28 points, Kravchenko can become the fifth Minuteman to record 30-plus points as a freshman, join-ing a group that includes former UMass stars Casey Wellman, James Marcou, Stephen Werner and Matt Anderson. The last player to achieve this feat was Wellman, who finished the 2008-09 season with 33 points. Werner holds the freshman record with 38 points in the 2002-2003 sea-son.Kravchenko said it’s an honor to be mentioned in the same cat-egory as the four previous players to reach the 30-point plateau. “Those older guys are incredi-ble hockey players, to even be near those guys or in the same category is a great feeling,” he said. In 30 games played, the fresh-man has tallied 10 goals and 18 assists. UMass coach John Micheletto said the impact Kravchenko has made this year has been extremely positive. “You look at his splits, he’s been as equally effective at home as he’s been on the road which is difficult to do, especially as a freshman,” Micheletto said. “Five-on-five, man-up, man-down, he’s always a threat to hunt down pucks and then get things going to the net. Added Micheletto: “We’ve been really, really happy with his devel-opment so far this year and how can you not be when he’s second in the league in freshmen scor-ing.” In a Hockey East conference that includes Boston University freshman and future top-five NHL pick Jack Eichel, Micheletto believes that while Kravchenko may not have the same notoriety as the Terriers’ forward, he has made a name for himself. “I think Dennis has certainly gotten the respect of the teams that we’ve played around the league already and I’m sure guys that have watched us on video that we haven’t played so far,” Micheletto said. “That’s the important thing I think because the ultimate respect is when your opponents are notic-ing when you’re out there and making sure that they’re trying to get a better matchup when you are.” Currently in the midst of a sev-en-game point streak, Kravchenko emphasized the importance of the players around him as the reasons for his recent success.

H O C K E Y

UM to host Huskies at McGuirk Stadium