Volume 30 Issue 3 by Generation Magazine

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2 1 0 2 e n i z a g a Generation M

CONTENTS

EIC Letter 5 A Letter from the Editor Agenda, Hit/BS 7 Presidential Debate Spice Up Your Life 8 “Wanna be” A Fair Full of Opportunity 9 Electoral College 10 Flunking Out Crazy Politicians 11 How bad it could have been Beyond Hermione 13 Emma Watson Post-Potter He Said/She Said 15 Zone Edition Necessary Conversation 16 A look at Hip-Hop culture Hertel Restaurants 18 A trip for fantastic food National Coming Out Week 19 Upcoming Concerts 19 What’s happening Poetry 20 Study Cube Graffiti 21 “What is the meaning of life?” Parting Shots 22 Caffeine Calamity Achievement Unlocked

Cover designed by Emily Butler Melissa Osterweil, photo source from http://willblogforfood.typepad.com/, all credits goes to respective photographer. Generation Magazine is owned by Sub-Board I, Inc., the student service corporation at the State University of New York at Buffalo. The Sub-Board I, Inc. Board of Directors grants editorial autonomy to the editorial board of Generation. Sub-Board I, Inc. (the publisher) provides funding through mandatory student activity fees and is in no way responsible for the editorial content, editorial structure or editorial policy of the magazine. Editorial and business offices for Generation are located in Suite 315 in the Student Union on North Campus. The telephone numbers are (716) 645-6131 or (716) 645-2674 (FAX). Address mail c/o Room 315 Student Union University at Buffalo, Amherst, NY 14260. Submissions to Generation Magazine should be e-mailed to ubgeneration@gmail.com by 1p.m. Tuesday, a week before each issue’s publication. This publication and its contents are the property of the students of the State University of New York at Buffalo 2011 by Generation Magazine, all rights reserved. The first 10 copies of Generation Magazine are free. Each additional copy must be approved by the editor in chief. Requests for reprints should be directed to the editor in chief. Generation Magazine neither endorses nor takes responsibility for any claims made by our advertisers. Press run 5,000. ≠≠≠

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A Letter From the Editor

o quote a meme: brace yourselves, fall is starting. What does that mean exactly? Fall is a time of constantly changing weather, political mudslinging, crazed decorators and mounds of homework. Basically, fall is the time of year when everything we thought we knew goes out the window and we must yet again learn to adapt. Personally, I love the fall. Hot apple cider, picking pumpkins, and bonfires make it my favorite season of the year. Throw in the fact that I can throw on a hoodie with a pair of jeans, and it can’t really get any better in my book. But as much as I love my fall clothing, I have to admit there is one trend I’d love to see disappear: leggings as pants. It started out as an innocent trend years ago, but it has grown to a full-fledged problem in recent years. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard girls complain about being cold as they stand there wearing what amounts to very thin, tight-like fabric on their legs. Newsflash ladies, in Buffalo our fall gets cold fast, which means leggings won’t cut it past September. Fall also means political campaigns will be kicking into high gear. While a majority of campaigns tend to fade into the background, this year we get to watch the last leg of the presidential race play out. October brings us three debates between Obama and Romney, along with a debate between Papa Biden and Youngin’ Ryan. Anyone who hails from a battleground state is probably sick of hearing about the election, but with New York being solidly blue, this is our chance to finally see some action. The campaigns will continue focusing on battlegrounds until election night, but they are also starting to acknowledge the rest of the country finally. After the Republicans saw states that were typically red go blue back in 2008, both parties realized that even the most partisan state deserves a little attention leading up to the election. Lawn signs saying, “Vote for (insert candidate here)” are already making appearances on front lawns across Buffalo, but they are not alone. Fall lawn decorations also include extravagant setups for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and even Christmas. Thankfully I have yet to see a blowup Santa Claus outside someone’s house so far this year, but I’m willing to bet that will change in the next week or so. Maybe it’s the neighborhood where I grew up (good old Willow Ridge where many grad students also live),

but for me it doesn’t quite feel like a fall or winter holiday is coming until I see a lawn decorated for it. Sadly, fall also means classes and schoolwork galore. The further into the fantastic season we get, the worse the workload seems to be. October offers no days off, despite the fact that we could really use them after midterms are finally done. Suddenly everyone goes from finding time to go out on weekends to holing up in Capen for hours with Starbucks and copious amounts of junk food. Perhaps the most definitive thing about October is the caffeine-induced haze everyone seems to be walking around in. The fact that classes started a month ago hit me like a brick when I woke up this morning. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of panic and frustration when I looked at my to do list and realized it was no longer getting shorter. For me, it doesn’t quite feel like the school year is in full swing until fall hits. There is something about the crispness of the air, the smell of pumpkins, and the taste of hot apple cider that just helps me buckle down and focus. Perhaps it has to do with all those years of school starting after Labor Day. I remember most of my first days of school being too cold to wear shorts, unlike college. Never-the-less, fall has arrived and it has brought the season’s traditions with it. So as you embark on the marathon that is fall semester, be sure to take some time and enjoy the little things that can only be experienced this time of year. After all, this is Buffalo, before you know it the snow will be here and it’ll feel like winter. Don’t fall down.

STAFF Editor in Chief Ally Balcerzak Managing Editor Keighley Farrell Creative Director Melissa Osterweil Assistant Creative Director Emily Butler Photo Editor Dinorah Santos Web Editor Gabrielle Gosset Copy Editor Lee Auslander Associate Editors Laura Borschel Carlton Brock Paul Stephan Circulation Director Dan Warne Business Manager Brian Kalish

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HIT

T I H LLS

Creative Picket Signs

A contract dispute between the Chicago Teacher’s Union and Mayor Rahm Emanuel sparked a strike. One protester displayed a sign reading, “Rahm Emanuel likes Nickelback.” A spokesperson for the Mayor denied the allegation.

Laura Bush: Wednesday, October 10, 8:00 Ensuring Empty Seats Alumni Arena During the Bulls’ loss to Kent State, stadium workers insisted on funneling late-arriving Former First Lady Laura Bush will speak at UB as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series. Outside of her husband’s work, Bush has been active in education, malaria, and AIDS awareness. Free tickets are available to undergrads in the SA office, 350 Student Union.

students away from the student section and into the nosebleeds, even as students in the lower section left. The result: large parts of the student section were empty for much of a televised game. Way to go.

HIT

The Internet Gaining Consciousness

There are already more computers on the planet than there are synapses in the human brain, and neuroscientist Christof Koch claims that the Internet may soon become aware of its own existence. Let’s just hope it makes nice with mankind.

Apple iOS 6 Maps Ben Folds Five: Friday, October 5, 7 PM Kleinhans Music Hall

After a series of breakups, Ben Folds Five is back on tour. Appearing at Kleinhans on October 5, the guitarless trio will be playing through both old hits and tracks off its very new album The Sound of the Life of the Mind.

Apple recently unrolled its new mobile operating system, iOS 6. Unfortunately, there were some bugs left to be worked out in their maps. Users reported problems ranging from inaccurate destinations to roads that appear vertical. We miss you already, Steve.

HIT

The Return of TV

Fall may mean the start of classes but it also means the return of some of our favorite shows. Mid-September through early October is full of season and series premieres. Gone are the days of watching reruns from last season, we’re finally able to put out DVRs back to work recording the epicness that is fall TV. Over at Generation there is some debate over what is worth recording (there are votes for Glee, Jersey Shore, Monday night football, Big Bang Theory and a few others), but none-the-less we all enjoy indulging in a little weekly distraction now and then. The old favorites are near and dear to hearts, but the jury is still out on the slew of new shows that have appeared (queue a debate on whether or not Go On, Elementary or Guys with Kids are worth watching). Only time will tell what shows will continue to earn a spot on the DVR, but then again, that’s half the excitement of the new TV season.

School on Columbus Day Presidential Debate: October 3rd at 9 p.m. On October 3rd at 9 p.m. we finally get to see Obama and Romney go head to head in the first Presidential Debate of this election. Tune in to hear them discuss their views on domestic policy, and just to see who makes the biggest political gaffe. On October 11th at 9 p.m. we get to see Biden taken on Ryan for the only Vice Presidential Debate of the season. Since this is their only chance to debate and with their drastically different political views, it is sure to be an event to watch.

Why is it we go to a state school, get off for the two major Jewish holidays in September, but can’t get a national holiday like Columbus Day off? As college students, it is key for our studies that we receive at least one day off per month, yet October is severely lacking. If UB will ignore the whole separation of church and state thing to give us religious holidays off, they should at least respect the country and give us off for those holidays too. After all, we are a state school, if public schools on the K-12 level are going to close, we should too. It’s only fair. Perhaps we should boycott classes that day to prove a point. Who’s with us?

Re-Spice Your Life

Article By: By: Ally Balcerzak

rowing up in the nineties, you were exposed to a very specific type of music. Aside from Nirvana and Alanis Morrisette, the nineties were the era of boy bands, girl bands, and the original pop stars. While we could sit here and debate NSYNC vs. Backstreet Boys and Britney vs. Christina for days, it’s fairly safe to say that the ultimate girl band of the nineties was the Spice Girls. Love them or hate them (and let’s face it, you love them), those girls from England came out of nowhere and found a permanent place in our hearts. Their first two albums came out in 1996 and 1997, respectively, giving us hits such as “Wannabe”, “Say You’ll be There”, and “Stop”. Young girls everywhere ran around arguing with their friends over who was which Spice Girl, and the band’s merchandise was a hot commodity for holiday and birthday gifts. Everywhere you turned, the Spice Girls were there. They had their own line of dolls, posters, and even pillows. Any appearance they made in the U.S. was accompanied by throngs of screaming girls and their parental chaperones, and even teenage boys would line up to see the band in their often revealing outfits. The Spice Girls were the girl band, and no one came close to dethroning them. Sadly, the band’s third album flopped, effectively ending the Spice Era. But alas, our love affair with them never fully ended. As we moved from cassettes and CDs to iPods, the Spice Girls snuck onto playlists and would randomly pop back into our lives a few minutes at a time. Radio stations can still be heard playing “Wannabe” during the day, leading to stereos getting cranked and driving dance sessions. Despite the girls leaving us abruptly, our generation never truly gave up on them. As it turns out, our allegiance has paid off. With the dawn of 2012 came a resurgence of “girl power” and the queens of the phrase. It was announced this past spring that musical geniuses Judy Craymer and Jennifer Saunders were creating a musical called Viva Forever!, based on songs from the Spice Girls. The idea of taking a band’s music and using is to create a musical or move is not new. It’s been done using music by The Beatles in Across the Universe, Abba’s was used for Mamma Mia, and recently Queen’s music was taken to create We Will Rock You. The fact that the Spice Girls are all still young, living, and considering getting back together but are already becoming a musical is a testament to how much of an influence they’ve had on the world. The pop band’s songs are full of catchy beats that make listeners want to dance, and their lyrics are (mostly) family friendly, allowing for the creation of a show that can appeal to all ages. When the musical was first announced it became top news for a few days. Gossip magazines made it headlines and college students praised the news on Facebook. The musical won’t be premiering until November 27th, 2012 in London, and is still the talk of theatre buffs. -8-

As if the excitement of a Spice Girls musical wasn’t enough, the world was able to watch the girls reunite on the Olympic stage. With the games being held in London this year, England’s musical history was sure to be on display. The closing ceremonies were full of numerous musical acts that have hailed from the country, but the Spice Girls stole the show hands down. The cheers that filled Olympic Stadium as the girls drove up on top of custom designed Mini Coopers, were deafening. It was the first time most of the world had seen the five girls on stage together since the nineties, and the performance had been hyped up heavily in the days leading up to it. They did not disappoint as they broke out in a medley of their hits and danced around the stadium in their classic Spice-type costumes. Positioned towards the middle of the show, the Spice Girls got the crowd pumped up and back into the festivities at the perfect moment. The music landscape is changing these days, much like it did in the mid-nineties. Pop acts are starting to make a resurgence as our generation becomes nostalgic for the music of our youth. If ever there was a time for the Spice Girls to reunite and give us another album, it’s now. Personally, I would line up overnight for a chance to see them perform new songs live. Girl power!

A Fair Full of Opportunity Article By: Angelina Bruno

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Fair

he Undergraduate Research Opportunities Fair took place Friday, September 14th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Undergraduate Silverman Library in Capen Hall. The purpose of the fair was to help undergraduate students find out how to get involved in undergraduate research. Honestly, when I first heard about the fair I didn’t think attending would benefit me all that much. I constantly receive emails and see fliers posted around campus advertising all the information I thought I could possibly want about research opportunities. I also thought as an intended English major there would be little opportunities for me as compared to students majoring in the STEM disciplines. I had written off attending the event until I was asked to cover it for Generation. When I first arrived at the fair a woman working at the registration table asked me what areas of study I am interested in. I told her my major and asked if there were any tables set up for English opportunities and she enthusiastically pointed to a table around the corner. Unfortunately the table was empty, as the English representative had gone to class or lunch or some other previous engagement. A little dismayed, I circled the fair hoping to find another table. I didn’t find any other academic tables that fit my interests so I stopped by the Honors College table where I spoke with Elizabeth Colucci about the fair. She told me about how different organizations on campus work together to make research opportunities and funding as accessible as possible through many programs. They call themselves the Undergraduate Research Team made up of CADS, CURCA, SEAS, Undergraduate Academies, UB Honors College and UB. I learned a bit more about a couple of the programs run by the team including The Mc-

Friday, September 14th: 11:00a.m.-3:00p.m.

Undergraduate Silverman Library: Capen Hall

Nair Scholars program. The program is “designed are keys to success but showed how to use them in to provide encouragement and services an interesting and new way. For example, she emto low-income and first generation col- phasized the key value adding skills and traits that companies are looking for including, active learning, lege students, and increase participation critical thinking, reading comprehension, problem from underrepresented groups in pursu- solving, communication, social skills and diagnostic ing doctoral study.” analysis-basic skills for success. The new methCURCA, the Center for Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities, is also a great resource UB provides. Through their office and website students can explore lists of current on campus research opportunities in all disciplines (a resource I explored myself and found several English postings), information on how to apply for $500 grants for student run faculty mentored research projects, learn about national and international funding and research scholarships, summer research programs, the opportunity to learn about other students work and the chance to present research at the Celebration of Student Academic Excellence undergraduate poster fair along with updates on workshops to help students learn skills to successfully find, apply for, and navigate undergraduate research experiences. The Research Fair offered three workshops including, Workforce 2020: Career Skills for the New Economy, Finding a Research Opportunity through CURCA Research Leads to Fellowships and Scholarships and Faculty Perspectives on Undergraduate Research. I attended the first workshop, Workforce 2020, and although initially I wasn’t sure I would get anything out of it, I am very glad I went.

od she made clear is that we need to honestly assess our skills and be aware of the fact that we all will compete with people who might have the same skill sets or better, but presenting yourself in a way that shows how and why you possess skills is what really counts. The point of your undergraduate career is to build a compelling narrative about yourself so that you can show what a valuable asset you will be to future employers or Ph.D. programs. Instead of writing “I worked/I did” on your resume write “I am a problem solver because…” This method allows you to talk up your experiences. Even if you had a low entry level research position, be positive and learn as much as possible about the whole project so you can show your enthusiasm and passion for your work to potential employers.

My favorite point she made was that the more you talk up what you do, the more you realize you have become that person with knowledge and skills to share with others. There are so many opportunities available on campus, and people in offices paid to Dr. Mara B. Huber assistant Vice Provost for Under- help you take advantage of them, so there is no exgraduate Education led the session. Her main goal cuse not to. The workshop reminded me that I have was to emphasize the idea of leveraging experiences the opportunity to develop the skillsets I need to for maximal professional success. Her presentation be successful and I can have an opinion on how to brought up a lot of ideas I had already been told shape the world.

For more information on the McNair Scholars program or CURCA check out these websites: http://cads.buffalo.edu/mcnair/index.php http://curca.buffalo.edu/about/index.php

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PULSE

Flunking Out of the Electoral College Article By: Eric Carlson

uestion! How many of you tried to apply to the Electoral College? Well, the Electoral College isn’t a college in the sense of a university. Rather, it is the body of electors that selects the president every four years. It also happens to be archaic, undemocratic, and unfair to our modern electoral process.

by the smallest of margins. Under the winner-take-all format, Obama would receive all 29 electoral votes for New York. He fact that virtually half of the voters voted for Romney is meaningless, he receives no electoral votes from New York. To put it simply, 49.9% of the state’s voters’ votes don’t matter. That is utterly undemocratic.

Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 of the Constitution established the college, which is comprised of 538 electors. They represent all 438 congressional districts plus the 100 senate seats. Each state has a certain number of electoral votes based on its population plus two for its senate seats. In other words, the more people in your state, the more electoral votes you have. Follow me? In order for a candidate to win the presidency, he or she must obtain 270 electoral votes. This seems logical enough, but let me take you through the history of this madness. These electors are actually just people. Under the original intent, these people were society’s educated citizens who would be appointed by popular vote, and they would select the president. The idea was, smart people could be independent of politics. I know, I thought it was a good joke too. Fast forward to modern times and we do things a little different. Now, these electors declare, before we the people appoint them, which candidate they will vote for. So, when you vote for Obama or Romney, you’re actually voting for some elector who has declared they will vote for that candidate. The effect of this is a de facto direct election. So, what is the problem you ask? The problem is the winner-takes-all counting scheme of the Electoral College. Let me illustrate by example. New York will have 29 electoral votes in the November election. Let’s say that Barack Obama earns 50.1 % of the vote, and Mitt Romney earns 49.9 %. In this case Obama will win

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are relatively even in terms of electoral votes, with a slight edge to the democrats. That leaves the infamous 12 swing states. These are the states that all of the campaigns and campaign money is concentrated on. Populous powerhouses like Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio collectively hold 57 electoral votes. So in every presidential election only the swing states have a real say in who wins. I don’t know about you, but the idea that people in only 12 states, New York not being one, deciding the most important election in our country is ridiculous. So what’s the solution? A system referred to as “proportional representation.” Take the earlier example: Obama gets 50.1% of the vote, so he would get 15/29 electoral votes in New York and Romney would get 14/29. If you do this across the country, you have a fairer election! That means that no matter what state you live in, your vote actually counts! Of course the only way to legally implement this system is via constitutional amendments, which are by design, almost impossible to pass.

Take New York. The political leanings of downstate are liberal/Democrat, however the leanings of upstate are conservative/Republican. Obviously, more people live downstate than upstate, so the more politically conservative upstate voters have absolutely no real say in a winner-take-all election. The macro effect of this calamity is states become “strongholds” for each party. For example, New York, California, and Massachusetts always go Democrat, while Texas, and the Deep South goes Republican. Once all of the “stronghold” states are accounted for, both parties

The real impediment is the politicians. A fair election where the parties are unable to “rely” on certain states would shake the establishment, too much so for self-serving politicians who only care about themselves. Unfortunately, we will probably never see a truly fair presidential election in this country. Instead every four years we get to see the candidates only campaigning in swing states and people complaining their vote doesn’t matter. All of these things aside, when your system has structural unfairness, you know that everything else is screwed too. I don’t care what your political ideology is. We all should be outraged this is the system our forefathers have given us. The greatest weapon the common people have against their government is their vote, and our system essentially takes it away. So much for freedom…

PULSE

It Could Have Been Worse. Article by: Paul Stephan

e know, we know: Both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama are liars, they’re out of touch, blah blah blah. But look on the bright side. At least they’re not totally nuts. Here’s a look back at some past politicians and candidates to remind you of how bad things could have been.

Rick Santorum (R), 2012 Presidential Candidate

Howard Dean (D), 2004 Presidential Candidate

This man was once my member of Congress in my home state of Pennsylvania. I’m so sorry.

Howard Dean was it. He was gonna be the guy. He would win the Democratic Primary and take on George W. Bush. Dean had great online fundraising, important endorsements, and an excited base. This man was going to be president.

I don’t know where to start with Rick Santorum. He’s best known for virulently opposing gay rights, which has made “santorum” a household name (Just Google it). He beat everyone’s expectations in this year’s Republican primary, coming in second to Romney. During the campaign he claimed that seven University of California schools don’t require American history (totally false). He also admitted that, “We will never have the elite, smart people on our side” (shockingly true). Mr. Santorum, you are now gone, but the froth still lives on.

And then he wasn’t. He came in a disappointing third place in the all-important Iowa caucuses. Trying to rally his supporters that night, he got a little excited. “We’re not just going to New Hampshire, Tom Harkin…”, followed by his infamous scream. Thus ended the candidacy of Howard Dean. In his place, the Democrats picked a flip-flopping rich guy from Massachusetts to try to unseat an incumbent president. What a mistake.

Michele Bachmann (R), 2012 Presidential Candidate For Michele Bachmann, everything was an epic struggle between freedom and oppression. Cap and trade represented “the tyranny of the government”. Mandatory HPV shots were “a violation of a liberty interest.” She accused Barack Obama of running a “gangster government” and called her opponents anti-American. With all this extreme talk, maybe she thinks it’s still 1776, but then again, Bachmann routinely screws up historical facts. Lexington and Concord was in Massachusetts, not New Hampshire. John Adams was a founding father, not his son John Quincy Adams. With the intellectual depth and historical knowledge of a seventh grader, Michelle Bachmann stands as one of the most embarrassing presidential candidates in 2012.

Herman Cain (R), 2012 Presidential Candidate The pizza executive-turned-presidential candidate blew out of the national spotlight as quickly as he had entered it. On the debate stage, he was easy to spot as the only Republican in sight who wore glasses. (You thought I was going to say something else, didn’t you?) Early on, Cain told voters he would veto any bill longer than three pages. Later, he prefaced comments about Occupy Wall Street with, “I don’t have the facts to back this up.” His 9-9-9 tax plan was popular for a while (9% corporate tax, 9% income tax, 9 kicks in the gut to poor people), but his whole campaign was eventually brought down by a sex scandal. Herman, we feel like we hardly knew you.

Jimmy McMillan (Ri2DH), Karate Expert In one of New York’s proudest moments, for a while the entire country seemed to focus on the state’s 2010 gubernatorial election. That was thanks to this man. Representing the Rent is Too Damn High Party, perennial candidate Jimmy McMillan talked about the rent being too damn high. And in a declaration that was progressive even by New York standards, he expressed support for shoe marriage. To my sneakers that have yet to come out of the closet, you know who to thank.

James K. Polk (D), President, 1845-49 The world’s most famous J.K. until Rowling, Polk was the kind of bold politician that our country desperately needs today. Way back in the 1840s, he threatened to invade what is now Canada. I can see Canada from my apartment, and based on that extensive foreign policy experience, Polk’s proposition sounds like a great idea even in 2012. Just think about it: Buffalo would be a sunny paradise compared to Saskatchewan, you wouldn’t need a passport to visit the Niagara Falls Wax Museum, and Labatt would be a domestic beer. Unfortunately, Polk never did invade, peacefully settling the matter with the British. Kind of disappointing, eh?

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Beyond Hermione Article By: Paul Stephan

Emma Watson Post-Potter

n case you haven’t heard the news, Harry Potter was awesome. The book series turned movie series was remarkably successful, and it’s cemented three young actors in film history: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson.

The problem with cement, though, is that it tends to hold things in place. Emma Watson played the character of Hermione Granger for half of her life. Can she now keep from being stuck to it? Many once-adored child and teenage stars grew up to be no-name wash-ups. Remember Macaulay Culkin from Home Alone? Haley Joel Osment? Frankie Muniz? Did you know that Shirley Temple is still alive? So how can Emma Watson escape this fate? And how many question marks can I fit into this article before you get tired of the upward inflection? She can start by avoiding typecasting. To be fair, some actors have become quite successful appearing as the same kind of character over and over again. Sylvester Stallone makes a really good brute. Michael Cera is really good at playing me. The problem with typecasting is that no one ever sees your potential outside of the type you’ve established. Soon enough, the only serious offers you ever get are for a very narrow band of roles. Stallone will never play a sensitive opera singer, because no one would take him seriously. Michael Cera is never going to play a charismatic business executive, because I’ll keep wondering why Paulie Bleeker is wearing a suit. So far, Watson has tried to diversify her portfolio. She has taken up a surprising number of roles given the short time she’s been away from the Potter series, playing disparate characters in each. In Ballet Shoes she played an aspiring actress who becomes egotistical after finding success. In contrast, she voiced the character of Princess Pea, a damsel-in-distress in The Tale of Despereaux. She adopts a girl-next-door persona in both My Weekend With Marilyn and The Perks of Being a Wallflower, though those two roles are quite different from each other. In the first, she is a side character passed up for Marilyn Monroe, whereas in the second she is a role-model-crush of the main character. Watson hasn’t limited herself to a particular genre either. In contrast to the fantastic world of Harry Potter, she will soon be starring as a domineering leader of a crime ring in the realistic The Bling Ring. She’s set to appear in Noah, a 2014 religious epic based on the Biblical flood story (Spoiler alert: All the dinosaurs die). Dabbling into comedy, Watson will appear as herself in the upcoming End of the World. Despite the diversity of the roles she’s played, Emma Watson also seems to be finding a sort of niche in the acting world. Though the movies I’ve just mentioned seem quite different from one another, there are also a few recurring themes. With the exception of End of the World, every film in which she has appeared has been based on either a book or a true story. As someone who has learned everything he knows about Emma Watson from a screen, I can only speculate why this might be the case. My best guess is that books and real-life events provide supplemental material to the screenplay, and that material can be helpful in more deeply understanding a character. Maybe that’s something she feels she needs, or at least something which is comfortable to her. And Watson’s characters, though different, do share similarities. In several films, we find a character with incredible talent that breeds conceit (Think Hermione Granger). In movies where she doesn’t have the lead role, Watson often serves as the practical and emotional sidekick to a troubled main character (Again, think Hermione Granger). It’s much too soon to say how this will pan out for Emma Watson in the long run. While typecasting can spell doom, finding a niche can be useful. Maybe Watson could learn from the Beatles; they reinvented themselves constantly, but their music also contained a certain identity that united their varied works. Of course, the Beatles were also really really good. Taking on a variety of roles will only work if those roles are celebrated. So far, Watson has not been nominated for any awards since Harry Potter, and that will have to change if she wants to move beyond the series. The Perks of Being a Wallflower came out in theaters very recently, though it’s not showing anywhere near Buffalo. The film, based on the book of the same name, is largely about discovering oneself in an often complicated and unforgiving world. That’s not far from where Watson finds herself now, as she strives to establish her identity outside the halls of Hogwarts.

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HE SAID Z O NE EDITION

When I’m in the “O-Zone”, how do I know if my girlfriend is faking it? H: Well, girls often have holes in their “O-Zone” layers. To fix this, I recommend reading the sex column in a local publication. They are an expert on straight women’s sexuality. S: So when you launch your pleasure vessel into her salty sea, make sure the waters aren’t too rough. Just make sure you have a lot of seamen on the poop deck. I was just put into the “friend zone”. What’s a guy to do? H: Disregard females. Acquire currency. S: Did you know that before, during, or after mating, female praying mantises bite the heads off of their male counterparts and eat them? Avoid sex at all costs; you may get eaten alive. How do I get “in the zone” for studying? H: Meet me outside Clemens Hall at 10 PM Tuesday night. I’ll be wearing a black leather jacket and sweet sunglasses. No questions asked. I’ll have study tips with me. S: So, I visited this guy outside of Clemens one night last month, and he said he would have study material for me. Instead of giving me detailed notes on a class I skipped, he offered me a red pill or a blue pill, but I chose an orange one instead. Surprisingly, I was able focus for twelve

SHE SAID

Article By: Laura Borschel and Paul Stephan

hours straight and passed my test. Thanks Morpheus!

That will get him real hot and bothered.

I got lost in Governor’s and I haven’t been able to find my way out for weeks. I feel like I am in The Twilight Zone. H:First of all, that’s not even a question. I heard that Native Americans go out in the wilderness and smoke mad bluts until they find their spirit animal. Once you find your spirit animal, it will guide you to safety. S: First of all, you should know that your spirit animal is Bella Swan since you can’t find your way out of a cardboard box. All you need to do is wait for Edward Cullen to smell your delectable cheese burger-esque blood and he will find you and save you.

So I’ve been trying to catch a Scyther in Pokemon Blue in the “Safari Zone”, but it’s been hours. How do I catch one? H: If you didn’t start the game with a Squirtle, you should just give up now. Also, why does my rival always show up at the most inconvenient times? And how does he do that weird hairshifty walk? That guy can kiss my Abra. S: First off, you should know the Scyther catch percentage rate in Blue is 1%, so you should just give up now. Pokemon are like STDs. You really just want to catch them all. So I suggest starting with Caterpie or Rattata. Then you can get to the big game like Scyther.

I was reading Cosmo and they were talking about “erogenous zones”. What are these? H: Isn’t the erogenous zone the border between North Korea and South Korea? You know, the place where the soldiers stare at each other all day? On second thought, I think Thomas Jefferson bought the erogenous zone from Napoleon back in 1803. S: I read Cosmo all the time, it’s great for figuring out what female sexuality is. Basically an erogenous zone is anywhere that gets your man all worked up and sexy. As a tip, you may want to carve “666” into his chest whilst performing Pagan Satanic rituals.

example, Apple is well known for their human rights work. In order to prevent suicides from short frivolous (72-hour) work weeks, Apple put up a human safety net so they could save the lives of their hardworking employees. Hey bro, how do I get into the “endzone” with my girlfriend? Cause we’ve been dating for three weeks now. H: Call a tight end post pattern. If that doesn’t work, you can sneak up on her and enter in the back. Always go for two, man. S: Well you at least wait four weeks and then make your play. What you want to do is deck past the offense, and then make a free throw for the game point. If you miss, you’ll have hell to pay, and the rest of the players on your team will be pissed off.

My World Civ class is studying free trade zones, and I haven’t gone to class since August. Help a brother out. H: My middle school lunch class was a free trade zone. Like, if you had Lunchables, and your friend had a bologna sandwich, you could trade. One time I stomped on a milk carton to make it pop in 7th grade and then cried myself out of getting a detention. True story. S: Ok, I actually think there was a miscommunication here. Free trade zones are actually really common and widespread throughout China. For -15-

Necessary Conversation: A Look at Hip-Hop Culture Article By: Carlton Brock

“Bitch Bad, Woman Good, Lady Better.”

Those words, the refrain of Lupe Fiasco’s new single “Bitch Bad” from his new album Food and Liquor 2 have sparked a massive reaction in the hip-hop community. It’s an ignored truth that hip-hop is often guilty of objectifying people. Everybody in the genre has something to say about Fiasco’s new song from independent rappers and producers all the way up to top acts. But why is there such a response to the idea that calling our women “bitches” is affecting our society or calling women “bitches” is bad? Profanity has become a standard in most mainstream hip-hop, with sales of the uncensored songs generally outweighing their censored counterparts. Profanity is part of the art; it’s part of the everyday life of society. People were cursing in everyday life long before the music started. Though it should be noted that while talking about profane subjects is not a strange idea to music, the use of certain words has always drawn the ire of many in public. And while many genres take advantage of curse words, the rap culture has been criticized for not only curse words but also any negative insults becoming standard. It would seem that the more popular the artist is in the hip-hop genre the more prominently these words are said. And while those ignorant to the music or intolerant of hip-hop itself see the use of words we assign letters of the alphabet to as a reason not to listen to it, those in the genre would often say they have given the words new meaning. But this new meaning does not change the original sense of the words at all. These words are still seen in large society as a negative tone. They are censored on television and in radio stations because as a society we have determined that they are unfit for children who might hear it and repeat it. In any other form of communication referring to any person, male or female, black or white, gay or straight, as the n-word, b-word, or f-word would have serious -16-

ramifications. People get reprimanded in schools, fired from jobs, or more serious consequences. Yet in music, hip-hop especially, it has become excusable. But it’s more than just lyrical content. Another major issue with a lot of mainstream hip-hop is the way it is presented. While songs about sex and drugs are not uncommon in other genres they are treated as just that, songs. Hip-hop art imitates life, which imitates art. It’s a never-ending cycle. And so we now have a generation of people that grew up in hip-hop and have children. The standard for many in this category is to refer to their contemporaries as the n-word, weak people as the f-word, and women as the b-word. But there is a difference in many uses of the b-word. In hip-hop a “bad bitch” is not merely a woman. These are the women that are seen dancing in the videos. They are held up on a pedestal of testosteronefueled desire. But the desire is not only on the side of the men in the genre. A generation later young women and girls aspire to be this. And while the men want to have a “bad bitch” of their own, women are aspiring to be one. Lupe Fiasco presents us with a possibility of a reality that could happen in his “Bitch Bad” song. Here he shows a little boy that grew up seeing his mom emulate this behavior, so he grows up and treats women as nothing more than objects. To counteract the use of a little boy, he also utilizes the life of an imaginary group of little girls and shows how they might interpret the image of a “Bad Bitch.” “Now let’s say that they less concerned with him and more with the video girl acquiescent to his whims,” Fiasco says in his song regarding the way that these little girls see the women in the videos. Lupe also makes a point to stress that they don’t realize the women they’re watching are an actresses. By the end of the song the two children grow up, he as a man who objectifies and she as an object, and continue the cycle of treating women and their own community with no respect. It should be noted that while the song portrays this cycle negatively, he never expressly says it is wrong. He only presents the conversation, going so far as to note: “Disclaimer: This rhymer, Lupe’s not usin’ b**** as a lesson But as a psychological weapon To set in your mind and really mess with your conceptions”

And the hip-hop community has been thinking. Over the last two months since the song’s release, people of every level have responded. Kanye West put out a series of tweets on September 2nd asking his millions of followers about the use of the b-word. “Correction,” West tweeted, “Here’s the age old question, would we refer to our mothers as b*****s? Would we call our fathers n****rs or better yet N***AS?” which drew a myriad of responses from his followers. Every opinion was different with some agreeing with the idea and some staunchly disagreeing. West, whose lyrics have often been criticized for the same language he was questioning went on to say, “I will admit that I sometimes go back an omit cursing from my records. I like to use profanity as a tool and not a crutch.” This statement seems to ring true for others in the industry. James Davis, owner of California Based, JD2 Pictures has shot music videos at all levels of the industry in his young career ranging from upstarts, Quinton Brock, Chae Hawk and Stephon Brigante to hip-hop mega stars, Rick Ross, E40, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, and Wiz Khalifa. In between sets he found the time to give Generation his opinion on the issue of hip-hop and its use of women as objects. “It honestly brings more views and ratings when a women is shaking it in front of a camera or doing something seductive. It’s normal these days and it’s almost a standard in today’s music video world.” Davis said when asked about what he thought about the subject of objectification of women, “I personally think it’s degrading, but like I said, it’s almost a standard to have women doing things of that nature in videos.” When asked the same question local rappers Quinton Brock and EJ Allen, who just performed on September 15th at Buffalo’s Music Is Art Festival, had different ideas about the use of certain words in lyrics. “I thought it was pretty good, it honestly got to the point of modern male and female stereotypes fast and how kids that are going to be influenced by them and will most likely grow up with that mindset that is right [to objectify people] unless something doesn’t change.” Allen said when asked about the ideas behind “Bitch Bad” were effective.

the ideas of the song and questioned the fact that this were even a conversation about this in 2012 were nearly as scathing as the piece itself. #BoycottSpinMagazine was a trending topic for days after it was published. A lot of the commentary was about the way it was written, insulting Lupe and the fans not questioning the song. Florida rapper Jon The Baptist offered an opinion that lyrics themselves were the root of the explanation. Growing up in the age of these lyrics gave Jon The Baptist, who was born Jon Reed, an interesting perspective. “I just feel like its all about how you use it. If you are degrading women, then I’m not really with it. If you’re calling someone a n**** to degrade them. I’m not with it. It’s really all about intentions for me.” Objectifying women and other explicit material wasn’t always commonplace in hip-hop lyrics. Pittsburgh rapper Da Lyrical has been involved with the music industry since 1989 and has seen every major rise and fall in the business since. When asked what he thought about the ideas presented in “Bitch Bad,” he offered a bit of this history. “The language of today’s hip hop is totally unrestricted, as well as the content, it went from songs like ‘I need love’ to songs like ‘I beat da p***y up’ and it’s not really the artist fault, because this is what the industry wants and promotes, it’s all about money, drugs, sex and murder, and the dirtier the better. Today, the content has more value than the art of rapping. Meaning, the rapper doesn’t have to be as good at putting words together nowadays to make it big, if his/her content is what the record company is looking for.” The art of hip-hop like any music is all about expression of ones thoughts, beliefs, and experiences. And while it can be condemned for its treatments of people it is not all as grim as one may think. The fact that the conversation is happening within the community for once and not by groups of people outside of it shows that change is possible. And that is all Lupe really wants, change, for the better or worse of a genre that honestly needs it.

Countering Allen’s opinion, Quinton said, “Lupe Fiasco is actually holding back the effect he’s trying to do. So it gets people talking but won’t really get people to do anything. We’re gonna talk but that’s it. Don’t get me wrong, Lupe is one of my favorite rappers but I don’t think this will do much.” It seemed like the only thing that all of the people interviewed, as well as acts like the aforementioned Kanye West, could offer was that the objectification was equally to blame between people and the music. Artists like Brother Ali have come out in support of Lupe, drawing a comparison between the use of the word b**** and f****t in his own rhymes over a decade ago. He has gone on the record apologizing for the use of his language in the song “Dorian” ten years ago. Not all people involved with the music industry have embraced the idea that the way the industry treats people is wrong. Brandon Sonderberg of Spin Magazine recently came out against Fiasco saying in his article, “Lupe Fiasco Mansplains Some More in the Video for ‘Bitch Bad’”, “Bitch Bad” is, to play Lupe’s game and get histrionic, how you “debase” a “culture.” You twist a rap song into poorly thought-out grab for attention, and give it a muddled video, all under the guise of “starting a conversation,” which implicitly suggests that rap music isn’t having these conversations already.” The reactions to this article, which insulted -17-

Jumping the Hertel: Take the trip for some fantastic food! Article By: Keighley Farrell

eing an incredibly busy college student, who also happens to be on a meal plan, getting out in to the world to get real food can become a daunting and rare activity. Sometimes it doesn’t seem worth it to trek out in to the world when I can just get an overpriced grilled cheese sandwich at the 24 hour Sizzles grill. (After waiting in line for three hours, and waiting three more for my number to be called.) However, consuming only food court “delicatessen” day in and day out can drive one to certain madness. (And no, The Tiffin Room does not count as real food.) It’s important, nay, essential to step out in to the real world from time to time, and get some actual nutrition, instead of the same tired 4 meals we cycle through during our tightly packed weeks. Elmwood Avenue is usually Buffalo’s go-to spot for a fun, flavorful dining experience. However Elmwood often overshadows its neighbor, Hertel Avenue, which I stumbled upon by accident after running a particularly annoying set of textbook-related errands on Main Street. I was pleased to find that Hertel had quite a diverse array of fine eateries and casual dining places alike, and was eager to add a new restaurant to my repertoire. I recently decided I would try Taste of Thai, a smaller establishment across from Grandma Mora’s. While it seemed a bit cramped and outdated on the inside, I gave it the benefit of the doubt and stuck around for lunch. While I wouldn’t consider myself a Thai food aficionado, I definitely have my staples. I started with a Thai Iced Tea, a creamy concoction of condensed milk and spiced tea, similar in spice to a very strong chai. Their tea was on point, the perfect mix of sweet and spicy, and was a great way to start my meal. I was a little stuck as to what I wanted to order, so the server suggested the Pad Thai, a flavorful noodle dish with egg, red chili pepper, coriander, lime, and peanuts, along with a meat of your choice. I got it with chicken, and it was absolutely delicious. It had the perfect amount of spice, the perfect balance of tart and savory. But more importantly, the portion was enormous. I’m talking lunch for three days enormous. (And for someone on a 14 meal plan, that’s a blessing; no skipping breakfast this week!) I was stuffed about a third of the way through, but I knew I wanted to try their Tom Kha Kai, a spicy chicken and coconut soup that my dad had been making for us since I was a kid. I tried to be as critical as possible, but it was absolutely perfect. The sweet of the coconut and the spice of the galangal complimented each other masterfully, and I was left perfectly satiated and satisfied. I was so glad I ventured away from the usual Buffalo staples, like Jim’s SteakOut, Duffs, and my personal guilty pleasure, Zonies, to try something more exciting and fun! It was an adventure to explore a new street, seeing as I had spent most of my college career so far trekking around Main Street and Elmwood Ave, usually very lost and confused. It definitely beat hiding in my dorm room and ordering take-out; I find that this has dulled our dining wonder down, made it more about just cramming fuel than having an actual experience. So next time you’re on Main for a rowdy frat party, or on Elmwood living the hipster life, do yourself a favor and check out Hertel, try something new, and have a food adventure!

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BuffaLove

Upcoming Concerts

Ben Folds Five

The super popular alt rock group Ben Folds Five is coming to Kleinhans Music Hall Friday, October 5. Tickets are a bit on the expensive side (forty dollars a pop for reserved seating), but knowing the quality of Ben Folds and his band members will definitely prove to be worth it. Ticket Price: $40 Address: 3 Symphony Circle Buffalo, NY 14201 Doors Open: 7 pm

Fiona Apple Award winning indie artist Fiona Apple is performing at Kleinhans Music Hall Tuesday October 9. Again, this concert is more on the pricier side, so make sure to reserve your tickets soon. Ticket Price: $40 Address: 3 Symphony Circle Buffalo, NY 14201 Doors Open: 7 pm

Circa Survive

Hatebreed

The immensely popular group Circa Survive is playing at the Town Ballroom Thursday, October 25. Other acts include Touche Amore, Balance and Composure, and O’Brother. Ticket Price: $20 in advance, $24 at the door Address: 681 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14023 Doors Open: 6 pm

The influential metal band Hatebreed is coming to the Town Ballroom Monday, September 17. Supporting acts include: Whitechapel, All Shall Perish, and Deez Nutz. Ticket Price: $19 in advance, $23 at the door Address: 681 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14023 Doors Open: 6:30 pm

Matt & Kim

Propaghandi

Acclaimed indie band Matt & Kim are playing at the Town Ballroom Saturday, October 9 with the band Oberhofer opening. Ticket Price: 18$ in advance Address: 681 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14023 Doors Open: 7 pm

The Canadian punk band Propaghandi is playing live at the Town Ballroom Thursday, October 11 along side Comeback Kid. Ticket Price: $17 in advance, $19 day of show Address: 681 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14023 Doors Open: 7 pm

Article by: Laura Borschel

g n i m o C ut O O ctober 11th. It is a national holiday that has people of all ages and demographics coming together like a big old bag of Skittles and bowing down to Mother Monster, shouting, “baby, I was born this way”. In actuality, National Coming Out Day isn’t as sugar coated and filled with real life deities who guide their flock to the promise land. Coming out day is an international day dedicated to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) persons and their public identification with their sexual and/ or gender identity. Contrary to what some conspiracy theorists would have you believe, National Coming Out Day is not a part of the secret gay agenda to take over the world one closet or fashion disaster at a time. In truth, the holiday functions more as a symbol that reflects the cultural rite of passage that LGBT people take when they come out to their family, friends, and the general public. National Coming Out Week functions not only to celebrate coming out, but also to raise awareness for the LGBT community and the many civil rights that they are currently fighting for. All over the country, people within the gay community honor the day by holding various activities including but not limited to: fantastic rainbow themed choreographed flash mobs, public information tables, rallies, and bake sales.

Article by: Laura Borschel

Other than providing individuals with the most damn fine rainbow funfetti themed cupcakes they have ever experienced, National Coming Out Day is without a doubt an extremely magical time for the gay community. Valuable information is provided for people who are struggling with their gender identity or sexuality and those who are not informed about LGBT issues. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), for example, sponsors programs for the holiday under their National Coming Out Project. It offers several recourse options to LGBT persons including couples, parents and children, friends and extended family. These types of programs are extremely helpful and can aid in understanding LGBT people as a whole. Overall, October 11th is an extremely important day to believe in and give the green light to the gay community and its future as the movement propels forward. And for those of you out there that may harbor some doubt over the gay rights movement and see this as an unimportant issue, I propose you to think about your life. The next you find your homophobic ass in bed watching Bert and Earnie on Sesame Street whilst shoving double stuffed Oreos into your mouth, you should ask yourselves, what what what are you doing?

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LITERARY This weeks submissions come from Senior English Major, Cassie Rivais If you’d like to submit please email ubgeneration@gmail.com

Chapter 4: Trust

Chapter 5: Fear

old man letting Girl Scout walk him across the road and knowing your friend will pay back the $2 lunch money just giving your brother your car keys for night sending a picture to a guy you sort-of-know in hopes he will call you back backward your soulmate going to movies with some slut and knowing he won’t walk away with an STD and knowing who to believe and when and why because words are just words print on a space can you believe them or images can we have faith?

when lights go out and you can’t find your bed that feeling in your stomach up your spine and when your heart hits the floor or when your car stops, frantic and you don’t know why getting to the top of Superman looking down in the rain, only to be stuck a creepy face scarred and painted that haunts your dreams or at least you pray that it’s in your head the impulse to keep praying sitting alone in the McDonalds parking lost at 3am because you wanted a milkshake only to see a black van screaming RAPE pullup behind you

is knowing without fear and thing is I don’t know so how can I trust?

that sudden grip and you were on top and I couldn’t scream I lost control I felt the slip

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LITERARY

Study Cube Graffiti

ike many other UB students, when I need to study, I choose to go to one of those silent study cubbies in Lockwood. Study cube. Study prison. Box. Whatever you want to call it, it’s that big wooden cubicle with a bench that people have grown to love studying in. Or not. I’ve seen people playing World of Warcraft, sleeping, or watching Sherlock in those things. While I commend those who love watching Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman solving crimes with their delicious British accents, isn’t there a better place for you to do that? Why watch a great show in the prison in which you must study? Which brings me to my point. The study cubbies are made for studying, but they still provide the greatest entertainment ever. How? Graffiti. As a senior, I have had the privilege to experience three years’ worth of cube studying. The décor varies with the cubbies, of course, but I have found that certain ones have better inscriptions than others. It’s like exploring northern Europe for Paleolithic cave paintings or going on a scavenger hunt. One of my most favorite finds has been in the 5th floor of Lockwood. The bench is nearly falling apart and I can imagine someone sitting on it and falling in. Anyway, on the wall of the cubicle someone drew a chart. At the top the chart asks, “Obama?” and separates the chart into three columns. The first says, “like him,” while the next column says “hate him” and the third just has a neutral “eh” as an opinion. The author was clearly attempting a serious research project for his political science class. He did a splendid job, because tally marks have filled each column. Well, most of them. The “eh” category has one measly little tally mark, but each of the other ones have different marks with different inks, showing that different people have contributed. Either that or one guy has plenty of time and decided to cast tally marks with different colored pens on purpose. Someone was so opinionated that they carved a tally mark into the wood under the “like him” rather than just write it. Must be the Obama Girl. And of course, as always, there is a Ron Paul fan around to promote. Above the ‘survey’ someone scrawled “Ron Paul ’12.”

Article By: LeeAuslander

Political statements are not the only treasures that I found. Lockwood also provides an assortment of debates via wood wall. My favorite was the religious debate in which one person scrawled the questions, “What is the meaning of life?” As well as, “Do you believe in Jesus?” And then received responses varying from, “JESUS LOVES YOU. JESUS LOVES US ALL,” to the very philosophical, “nah.” The writing covers the wall. It kind of looks like new, trendy wallpaper. It’s a wonder whether or not I would fall asleep trying to decipher the sloppy handwriting or with my face in my GRE review book. You would think these provide the ultimate procrastinating experience. In that aspect, I do prefer Sherlock episodes, but these aren’t a bad alternative. As Lockwood is a college library, it is no wonder that there is a various assortment of sexual etchings and suggestions that could rival the erotic art on the walls of the brothel in the Pompeii ruins. There are diverse interpretations of the female body, some which include breasts so large they look like extra heads on a stick figure. However, there is less variation of the male form. Students who enjoy drawing male anatomy tend to forget that the penis is actually connected to a body. Nevertheless, there is an exceptional detail to the drawings. Some are very realistic and while others aren’t, there is no question of what is drawn. There are also requests for different sexual acts; anal sex being a frequent topic. There is even some sex advice. I have yet to find a sex survey on one of the study cubbies but I guess I just haven’t been looking hard enough. I’m surprised that people aren’t putting up personal ads on these wooden walls. It would mean a giant influx of phone calls and dates if this many people are paying attention! Other than a vital procrastinating resource, the graffiti also reflects the opinions of the student body. SA should consider polling through these walls. I found that someone scrawled, “The Fray sucks” on one of the walls. As a stunning review of last year’s Fall Fest, SA should really pay attention to some of the things students write on these study cubbies. The graffiti adds character to Lockwood… or at least to my procrastinating.

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Parting Shots Caffeine Calamity R

Article By: Keighley Farrell

ecently it dawned on me. Amp. Amp EVERYWHERE.

that they have the energy to limp to their next task.

I had become numb to the spectrum of cans in the vending machines scattered liberally around campus, considered them part of the passing blur in between my classes. But the other day I stopped to grab something to drink, and realized to my horror what I should have known all along. UB is giving all of us, all 30,000 of us, an incurable caffeine ADDICTION.

And I am not an exception. When I was still awake at four in the morning, on a THURSDAY, I thought to myself, “Wait a minute, why the hell am I awake right now?” It was like I’d had a caffeine blackout, like I’d accidentally blocked out just how many times I purchased some kind of caffeinated drink throughout the day, which, judging from my recent sleep schedule, must be something like a MILLION times a day.

Coffee at every dining location, Amp, Starbucks and Pepsi in every vending machine, Mountain Dew on tap, dear God, ON TAP…it’s an epidemic. It’s like 28 Days Later. The caffeine zombies wake up every morning, moaning and groaning for their drug of choice, and then drag themselves to the nearest available fix so

But why are we allowing this most catastrophic drug control our every move, our every emotion, our every dining dollar? No more should we as a student body stand for this tyranny, this convoluted plot to hardwire our brains to crave an IV drip of espresso. NO MORE should we allow the hand of “the man” to hold our

Achievement Unlocked: Gratification I

’m working my part-time customer service job, standing behind the register. My name tag proudly displays my name in cursive, since I got to write it in myself. It could be any shift, any day, at any store, there’s still one typical scenario that plays out. A customer walks in, takes one look at me, and there eyebrows scrunch up in confusion. A girl...working at GameStop?

Article By: Gabrielle Gosset

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That isn’t to say that every customer does this. Sometimes the look only lasts for an instant and then it changes to the ohcool-a-girl-that-plays-games look. I know there are those of you out there in the gaming world that realize that, contrary to popular belief, there are girls on the Internet and on XBOX Live. Here’s the thing though: for every open-minded, reasonable gamer out there, there’s many more customers that come in with that look and boy, do I know it well. Let’s be honest, not everyone that comes into GameStop is a gamer or someone that’s involved with playing online

multiplayer, so they might not be paying attention to how more girls are picking up a controller (or a mouse). Some are parents, friends, significant others, etc. coming in to buy a gift. Some are just wasting time as they walk through the plaza or mall where there just happens to be a GameStop. So you might be thinking, you’re just imagining it, people don’t actually care that you’re a girl working at GameStop. Really? Then how come sometimes when I mention Halo or Call of Duty to someone they ask me, “How would you know, you don’t play it” when they have no idea if I do? How come sometimes when I ask someone if they need help with anything, they tell me, “Oh, I’m waiting to ask him,” pointing to a male coworker? How come people have actually tried to quiz me on a game so I could “prove” that I’ve played it? I used to get mad about this, furious even. I’ve talked with my male coworkers

mouths agape while funneling in gallon upon gallon of Monster and Rockstar. No more will we spend sleepless nights in the library, strung out and overworked simply because there’s no point in even TRYING to sleep. We must break the chains of our caffeine addictions, and stand in solidarity with our new drug of choice; FREEDOM. Also crystal meth.

before and they’ve told me they’ve never been asked trivia questions to prove their expertise. I’ve never seen someone assume they didn’t play a game they mention. In fact, it’s usually the opposite. People usually assume that whatever game they’re talking about is something they have played and know well. Pro tip: it’s not always the case, as we can’t play every game in the store, even if we do work there. I could have rage-quit my job, but instead I now find it satisfying to just be myself. If I get to prove someone wrong or open their eyes in the process, then great. If they decide to stay in denial, so be it. Now I just sigh every time I see that look because I know what’s coming. But nothing beats the moment when someone waits to ask the guy that’s working their question only to have them say, “Actually, Gabi knows a lot more about that than me, maybe you should ask her.” Headshot: reality, right to the brain.

y a D d r oa

B b u S

WRUB Clinical Lab Generation Student Medical Insurance Off-Campus Housing Ticket Office

Nov. 7th SU Lobby

Health Education Pharmacy Legal Assistance

sbi.buffalo.edu

2012 APPLY TO BE KING/QUEEN Applications available at 350SU due on Wednesday,October10by5pm

THURSDAY: 5:00, 7:30, 9:50 FRIDAY: 5:00, 7:30, 9:50, 12 AM

NOTE: CHECK THE SA WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK FOR FULL SCHEDULE

BILLS TICKET SALE

STARTING 10/15/12 300 Tickets will be available FORTHE 11/15 GAME at the SBI Ticket Office PRICE:$25 ONLY UNDERGRADS CAN PURCHASE TICKETS

The Student Association and the Distinguish Speaker Series will be hosting a “Show Off Your Bookmark” contest in support of Laura Bush and her activism with literacy. ***Take a picture of your bookmark inside your favorite book and upload the picture to the event page and the top three creative uploads will receive a $25 gift card to the Campus Bookstore. ***

FORUM ROUND ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 URL: http://www.sa.buffalo.edu/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ub_sa

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ UBStudentAssociation