https://dailycollegian.com/2025/03/you-should-be-scared-at-the-positive-reaction-to-luigi-mangione/
CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, was assassinated by Luigi Mangione in a politically-motivated attack. Many people praised the killing, viewing it as a justified response to the hated health insurance system. The main danger of political violence is that it’s unpredictable. There’s no system to control who gets targeted, and it’s easy for someone to cause harm once they have a lot of built up anger inside them. Democracies were created to prevent this kind of chaos. The method and reasoning behind Thompson’s assassination are similar to past political killings, such as JFK and MLK, aside from how people perceive the justifications. Political violence is unpredictable and brutal. It’s often used to control a population, like Putin poisoning his rivals or the KKK intimidating voters. The positive responses to Thompson’s death are alarming because we are close to a time when political violence could increasingly become more common. With political divisions growing, particularly after the January 6th insurrection and Trump’s actions, it’s clear that we are at risk. We should be cautious and condemn any form of political violence, even when it seems justified. Peaceful actions like protesting, writing letters, and voting are still our best options for change. If political violence is normalized, it could lead to even more dangerous actions, like using military force to suppress dissent. The celebration of Thompson’s assassination is a warning sign that we should all take seriously.
https://dailycollegian.com/2025/04/umass-baseball-prepares-for-weekend-series-against-dayton/
After a tough Beanpot loss to Harvard, the UMass baseball team is focused on bouncing back against the Dayton Flyers. UMass (9-13-1, 3-6 Atlantic 10) has struggled recently, losing three straight games, but there have been positive signs. They’ve shown resilience by rallying late in games, such as scoring five runs late against Rhode Island and fighting back in the Harvard game after being down 9-1. Now, UMass faces Dayton (14-17, 4-5 A-10), who have been on a roll, winning three out of their last four games. While Dayton lacks standout pitchers like UMass’s Robbie O’Connor and Callen Powers, their offense is potent. Dyrenson Wouters leads the Flyers with a .474 batting average in conference play, and teammates Michael Dimartini and Ryan Lujo are also top hitters in the A-10. UMass will rely on players like Marc Willi, who has been strong offensively, and Jack Beverly, who leads the team in home runs, to challenge Dayton’s pitching. The Flyers’ pitchers have struggled, ranking low in earned run average and opponent batting average, making them vulnerable to UMass’s hitters. On the mound, UMass’s O’Connor and Powers will play key roles, with O’Connor recently pitching seven scoreless innings in a win. The series against Dayton starts on April 4th, at 12 p.m. in Amherst and will be streamed on ESPN+.
