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The Spectrum
h t t p : / / w w w . u b s p e c t r u m . c o m
Friday, January 15, 2010
Volume 59 Issue 41
An independent student publication of the University at Buffalo
“Sometimes, the beauty of the world takes my breath away. I never know why, I just feel it.” - Nicholas Orrange, 1/12/10
Saying goodbye to Nick
By CHELSIE HINCKLEY Asst. City Editor
Courtesy of Samantha Jo Orrange-Beamer
Nicholas Orrange died Thursday morning after a car accident on Sheridan Drive in Amherst.
Student Association Special Interest Service and Hobbies Coordinator Nicholas Orrange was killed in a one-car crash on Thursday. He was 22 years old. Orrange was driving a 1998 Pontiac north on Harlem Road at about 1:32 a.m. when he struck a retaining wall in front of a bridge abutment on Sheridan Drive, said Amherst Police Capt. Patrick McKenna, commander of the Accident Investigation Unit. He was pronounced dead on the scene. The cause of the crash is still being investigated. Orrange’s death has shocked the campus. A prominent member of the UB community, with his involvement in SA, College Democrats, and many other clubs on campus, he loved his position within the campus community and made it his personal goal to become a member of every club he oversaw as SISH coordinator. His dedication and enthusiasm for life was contagious to all who knew him,which
was made evident by the response his death has had on campus. SA President Ernesto Alvarado, who worked closely with Orrange, was devastated to hear the news. “When people die, the initial response is, ‘Oh, what a shame, he was such a good guy,’ but with Nick it was so . . . different because he was so unique. I am in shock right now.” Alvarado remembered Orrange for his ability to lift everyone’s day. “He was the type of guy that, if you were having a bad day and you saw him, you just couldn’t continue to have a bad day,” Alvarado said. “He was that person in our staff.” SA Vice President Greg Robbins also expressed his sadness over Nick’s untimely death. “He was a great coordinator with all of his clubs. He had so many great ideas for this year and it really is a loss for SA,” Robbins said. “He is someone who is going to be severely missed and brought
a personable sense to SA that we envied.” Alvarado believes that people like Orrange are one in a million. “I wish I had met more people like Nick in my time at UB and I hope everyone has a chance to meet someone like him in their time here,” Alvarado said. Within minutes of hearing the news, Orrange’s Facebook wall exploded with messages from friends, acquaintances and UB students expressing their sadness over his passing. A bike ride was held at Delaware Park late Thursday evening in Orrange’s memory. Orrange has left a mark on many people in the UB community, but even more so on his family. He was a proud uncle of Justin and Grace, beloved by his sister Kelly, his stepfather Roger and mother Cheryl. He idolized his grandfather and was very close to his grandparents. “I will always love my brother and he see GOODBYE page 4
HAITIAN DISASTER : AFFECTING THOSE BOTH HOME AND ABROAD
Haiti ill prepared for disaster relief
Devastation hits close to home By JENNIFER GOOD City Editor
By CAITLIN TREMBLAY and BRENDON BOCHACKI
whom are subsistence farmers. Such a lifestyle provides them with little to no protection from the frequent natural disasters, like the
The people of Port-au-Prince, Haiti were left shocked and grief stricken, injured and sleeping on dust-swept streets after a disastrous 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean capital on Tuesday. An immense shortage of doctors, funds and medical supplies, combined with overwhelmingly high death tolls and the destruction of hospitals, homes, roads and more has caused panic across the already poverty-stricken nation. Pierre Fouche, a graduate student studying earthquake engineering and native to Haiti, was distraught, yet unsurprised by the destruction caused by the earthquake. “The reason I say [the earthquake] was going to happen is because the area is earthquake prone,” Fouche said. “The buildings were not designed to withstand these earthquakes.” Fouche explained that at some point during the ’70s and ’80s, there was talk among the Haitian government about applying guidelines
see RECOVERY page 2
see QUAKE page 8
Campus Editor and Asst. Campus Editor
When a disaster like the earthquake in Haiti hits, there is no perfect situation. “Every emergency is a bad situation to start with,” said Ernest Sternberg, UB Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning. “A well resourced country like America would be well-organized, but a country like Haiti doesn’t have those resources.” With a gross domestic product of only $7.018 billion in 2009, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. Haiti’s economic growth has always been disturbingly low, and even turned negative earlier this decade. Nearly 40 percent of Haiti’s national budget is made up of foreign aid, the majority of which is provided by the U.S. Due in part to a long history of corruption in government, Haiti has had a sizeable external debt for almost the entirety of its existence. When this debt peaked at $1.4 billion in 2009,
Carol Guzy/ The Washington Post
At the Ecole St. Gerard in Port-au-Prince, a Haitian man tries to rescue a teacher trapped amid the rubble of the earthquake as he crawls past a schoolgirl who died.
Haiti was added to the international highly indebted poor country initiative (HIPC) and qualified to have its external debt canceled. Nearly 70 percent of all Haitians depend on agriculture for their survival, many of
International symbol of hope By RACHEL LAMB Life Editor
Daffodils are the international symbol of hope. The American Cancer Society of Western New York is reaching out to a few thousand businesses and organizations in the area to promote Daffodil Days as a way to spread hope and love to cancer patients. The Society uses Daffodil Days to work with Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo and Roswell Cancer Institute and sends daffodils to both
Inside: Arts and Life ........... 5 Classifieds ........... 10 Opinion .................... 3 Sports ................... 12 This Weekend ........ 5
Fear and forgiveness By SHANE FALLON Life Editor
pediatric and adult patients who are survivors of cancer or currently going through treatment. The flowers, which are sent to either an anonymous patient or to a specific person, can be sent in the form of a potted plant or a fresh cut 10-flower bouquet. Donors also have the option of sending “a bear and a bunch,” – a stuffed bear and 10 flowers – if the recipient is 15 years old or younger. “This program is all about Courtesy of Kida625
see CANCER page 2
Many are bringing hope to cancer patients through flowers and teddy bears.
IN THE MIDDLE Peter Jackson makes Alice Sebold’s novel come to life in his latest film. See Page 5
One woman’s story of the power of hope and faith will be gracing the stage at UB this spring when the play “Miracle in Rwanda” arrives on campus. The production, a oneperson show starring Leslie Lewis Sword, tells the story of Immaculée Ilibagiza, a Tutsi woman who along with several others, hid in a bathroom for 91 days during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Ilibagiza lost her entire family in the massacre and was forced to survive purely by
BIRDS AND BULLS Women’s basketball faced the Bowling Green Falcons. See Page 12
her wits before a local pastor led her to a hiding place in his home. For the duration of her confinement, Ilibagiza lived in constant fear of being found and murdered. Eventually, her religious faith and ability to forgive her tormentors helped her survive. Ilibagiza, author of the New York Times bestseller “Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust”, has become a renowned motivational speaker and was a recipient of the Mahatma see RWANDA page 4
Weather: Fri: 38° high / 28° low Sat: 39° high / 31° low Sun: 42° high / 26° low
The Spectrum
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‘A lack of understanding’ RECOVERY from page 1 one experienced on Tuesday. Sternberg feels that the Haitian government isn’t doing what is necessary to assist those affected by the earthquake, largely because of the problems within the government and the country’s lack of domestic wealth. “One of the most tragic parts of the situation is that the Haitian government isn’t coordinating [with the countries who have already arrived to assist],” Sternberg said. China, the U.S. and Brazil have already arrived by ship and by plane, either into Haiti or into the neighboring Dominican Republic to assist in relief efforts. “What needs to be done is that someone needs to take charge and decide who is going to oversee the relief in which area,” Sternberg said. “It needs to be broken down into manageable sections and I don’t think any of that is happening.”
Sternberg also notes that while immediate relief efforts in sending money, food and supplies are necessary. He also urges students and the general public to look at the bigger picture. “In order to truly help Haiti recover, we need to look in the long run,” Sternberg said. “Students should learn the Haitian language and the culture in order to better assist Haiti in rebuilding.” Sternberg also notes that a good way to help Haitians recover from the disaster would be to hire them to work the relief effort because, after all, Haitians know their country better than anyone else. “There’s no lack of supplies or money for the relief effort, but there is a lack of understanding, which is an important tool in helping to overcome any disaster in a foreign country,” Sternberg said. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
January 15, 2010
‘What we’re doing is sending hope’ CANCER from page 1 brightening someone’s day,” said JoAnn Harig, Director, Special Events of the Western region of the ACS. “Who doesn’t want to receive flowers or a bear from their loved ones? It’s especially moving if someone finds out that his or her gift is from an anonymous source. It just shows that people are thinking of them.” Anonymous donations, or Gifts of Hope, are sent to an adult or child who is currently undergoing treatment in various cancer treatment centers nearby. “Bears and bunches,” for 15-yearold and younger patients, are sent to children’s hospitals and the Camp Good Days and Special Times, which is a non-profit organization that helps children and families that are affected by cancer. These can also be sent anonymously. “The ACS is a 100 percent nonprofit organization, so all of the money that we raise is going towards
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cancer research,” Harig said. According to Harig, the ACS is the second largest funder of cancer research. The first, the government, gives money to well-established physicians studying cancer. When a doctor is recognized, they are given grant money to continue their research. The Society, however, gives its money to doctors that are just starting out or not-yet-established, and do not have government funding. According to Harig, the ACS chooses their recipient doctors from a panel of peer physicians to determine who to give the money to. “There is a ‘definite’ pile and a ‘what-if-we-have-more-money’ pile,” Harig said. So far, 44 of the doctors funded by the ACS have been given Nobel Prizes. The ACS was established in Western New York after they borrowed the concept from the Canadian Cancer Society almost 40 years ago. According to Harig, the ACS was actually founded in Western New York. In addition to funding researchers, the ACS also provides family and patient services, which include transportation to and from treatment, wigs for patients who lost their hair during chemotherapy, and patient navigators. “Patient navigators are volunteers
who help newly diagnosed people find their way through the system,” Harig said. “It can be very overwhelming to new cancer patients.” Daffodil Days will continue through March 15, but the Society is in need of volunteers to help wrap and deliver the flowers. “FedEx Express delivers all of our flowers, and all of the drivers volunteer their time, so we really appreciate that,” Harig said. “There are also over 200 people that work in the Western region office that help us with deliveries.” According to Harig, as the fresh-cut flowers are delivered from Washington, the Society is looking for around 200 volunteers to help wrap the flowers in the FedEx warehouse on Saturday, March 13. “If any sororities or fraternities are looking to fulfill their community service requirements, we would be so grateful if they would volunteer,” Harig said. More information about the ACS or Daffodil Days, including ordering forms, can be found on the Society’s Web site, www.cancer.org. “What we’re doing is sending hope,” Harig said. “We’re hoping for a world with less cancer and more birthdays.” E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
The Spectrum
January 15 , 2010
O P I N I ON
Editorial Board Editor in Chief Stephen Marth Managing Editors David Sanchirico Jennifer Lombardo Matt Mosher, asst.
Haitian terror Earthquake lays waste to island nation
Editorial Editor Jacob Shillman
When disaster strikes, the first reaction from many people is a desire to help. The world is weeping for Haiti.
Campus Editors Caitlin Tremblay Brendon Bochacki, asst. Amanda Woods, asst.
The capital, Port-au-Prince, was struck by a ruinous earthquake on Tuesday. The quake registered an astonishing 7.0 on the Richter magnitude scale. According to the scale, this qualifies as a major earthquake, which is described as causing serious damage over large areas.
City Editors Jennifer Good Chelsie Hinckley, asst. Lauren Nostro, asst. Arts Editors Christopher DiMatteo, senior Eric Hilliker Jameson Butler, asst. Vanessa Frith, asst. James Twigg, asst. Life Editors Adrian Finch, senior Shane Fallon Rachel Lamb Jessica Brant, asst. Jessica DiGennaro, asst. Sports Editors Andrew Wiktor, senior Matt Parrino Joe Paterno Luke Hammill, asst. Christy Suhr, asst. Photo Editors Katie Carlett, senior Samantha Hicks Clinton Hodnett Copy Editor Meghan Farrell Graphics Designer Rafael Kobayashi
Professional Staff Business Manager Debbie Smith Administrative Assistant Helene Polley Advertising Manager David Vogt Advertising Designer Christopher Lonzi Web Editor Andrew Muraco Creative Directors Christopher Caporlingua Daniel Tcharnyi, asst. The views expressed — both written and graphic — in the Feedback, Opinion, and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or spectrum-editorial@buffalo.edu. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style or length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it clearly as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number and e-mail address.
The images flowing out of the country are of crushed slums, schools and hospitals. Even the Presidential Palace has been laid to waste. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. It needs aid and help. But it needs so much more besides. The task of finding survivors and providing them shelter isn’t a small feat. The inhabitants who had little to begin with now have zilch. The international aid mustn’t fall short, but rather must make a long-term vow to move Haitians past the devastating poverty, hopeless and dysfunction that has kept the country weak. There’s a unique opportunity presented with this desolation: the world can really improve the lives of the Haitian people. It can be accomplished. President Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton have promised assistance from the United States, through various military and aid agencies as well as nongovernmental organizations. This is encouraging to hear, but without turning that goodwill into a sustained action, many Americans will begin to forget to care. There is such chaos and devastation that the mantra should be “Rescue, then rebuild.” Everyday Americans can help speed up the process by making donations to organizations
that are ready and willing to help. Imagine if every student here at the University of Buffalo gave just a single dollar for the effort. That money could pay for medical supplies or shelter for surviving victims of the earthquake. The disheartening prospect of the aid effort is that the United Nations’ mission in Haiti was dealt significant blows in the wake of wreckage. Its headquarters in Portau-Prince was destroyed, but its chief and dozens of workers remain missing. For the rebuilding effort, the UN must bounce back. Haiti is lucky to have some very persuasive people advocating for it. For instance, former President Bill Clinton is the United Nations Special Envoy to Haiti. He must live up to the position and make himself useful. There is also an opportunity for the United States to not only help an ally, but it also provides President Obama an opportunity to show the world how this country treats its friends, which might help to mobilize other nations to pitch in.
Guess I never got the memo If I ever meet Ke$ha, I’m going to ask her what it means to “wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy.” I mean I’ve had my fair share of “college experiences,” but I still don’t get the reference. Do you wake up in a Sean Jean sweatsuit, only to glance over at your Rolex and see that you’re late for a taping of Making the Band? That sounds kind of boring, unless she Caitlin Tremblay meant old Diddy/ Campus Editor Puffy, which is really just a vintage version of current Kanye. If that’s the case, then she meant she woke up with a terrible hangover and an empty bottle of Hennessy. Ke$ha, I’m really happy for your commercial success and I’ma let you finish, but … what are you even talking about?
As a first step, the United States decided to halt deporting around 30,000 Haitians who have entered the country without the permission of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The idea behind this would be to allow these people to continue to work and send the much-needed money back to their surviving relatives.
I think too deeply about things that don’t matter and this is why I don’t get the full enjoyment out of the things that my peers seem to. Blame the English major, blame my love of Walt Whitman, blame years of watching ’90s teen dramas featuring overly verbose teenagers with a large vocabulary (I mean you, Dawson’s Creek!), but I think way too much.
An earthquake of that magnitude would have caused immense damage in any country, but it is significantly worse in a third-world country such as Haiti. Haitians don’t need sympathy, but rather the necessary tools to pick themselves up.
I can’t go out with friends, hear a new song and just ‘like’ it. I have to think about it. Endlessly. Painstakingly. Eternally. It’s a buzzkill.
The United States policy toward Haiti is to encourage democracy, alleviate poverty and illiteracy. It would be nice to actually follow through for once.
Case in point: When I first heard “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus, I couldn’t enjoy the infectious beat or catchy hook. No, I had to point out that despite what Miley tells us, you cannot “hop off a plane at LAX” and “look to your right and see the Hollywood sign.” They are nowhere near each other. Guess Disney agents don’t hook her up with geography tutors.
Google rocks China
I also don’t understand how a “Britney song” rectifies her fashion faux pas of choosing “kicks” over stilettos, and alas, I probably never will.
American company draws line against censorship
I remember the day my over-analyzing of pop music all started.
With its announcement to cease censoring its search results on Google’s Chinese servers, the California-based search engine giant Google drew a line in the sand against China.
foreign embassies, foreign ministries and even the Dalai Lama’s computer. Computers in more than 100 countries have been hacked and it is believed that the Chinese government organized the cyber attacks.
It was back in 2000; I was riding the bus home from another long and trying day of seventh grade when “E.I.” by Nelly came on the radio. It was the hot new song of the moment and within the first 45 seconds it was already ruined for me.
During the push to the 2008 Summer Olympics, China lifted longstanding blocks on certain Web sites to present to the world a more open image. Given the recent unrest, the government shut down social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
“I’m a sucker for cornrows and manicured toes,” raps Nelly.
Now Google has taken the risky step of public resistance and will almost certainly be asked to leave the Forbidden City. Google was losing the search-market battle inside China to the domestic brand Baidu, but Google.cn still attracts tens of millions of Chinese Internet users.
I’m pretty sure my seatmate rolled his eyes and told me to shut up, just like one of my co-workers at my summer internship did when I explained that in Taylor Swift’s “Our Song,” Swift shouldn’t be talking “real slow” if she doesn’t want to wake up her mother – she should be whispering.
Talk about showing some spine. It is almost certain that Google’s Chinese operations will be shut down without the protection of the Chinese government. The reason for the tension stems from an incident in mid-December, when Google detected a “highly sophisticated and targeted attack” on its corporate computer systems. It found that at least 20 other large companies from various industries had also been attacked. A primary goal of the hacking of Google appeared to be to gain access to the e-mail of Chinese human rights activists who use Google’s “Gmail” service. The hackers succeeded in partially piercing two accounts. But Google should be applauded for putting principles first. For the world’s biggest search engine to stand up to one of the world’s most censorious regimes is something that democracies everywhere should have no reservations about supporting.
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The fuss has actually given the world greater insight into China. It has been found that Beijing is allocating tons of resources to its cyber warfare programs. It allows for China to counteract American supremacy in traditional military capabilities.
FRIDAY JANUARY 15, 2010 VOLUME 59 NUMBER 41 CIRCULATION: 10,000
If China and the United States were to ever draw down on one another, instead of striking America with traditional weapons, it is likely the Chinese would hack into and shut down power grids and disrupt communications.
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This shows that China’s leaders are willing to use their cyber arsenal very aggressively. Separate incidents traced to Chinese hackers have involved the hacking of
In China, however, the government’s elite are scared that Google’s very public stand against censorship will be celebrated by the Chinese people. Even Chinese news accounts of the company’s verdict provided no reason for Google’s actions. Still, the economics of Google’s stance are interesting. Although it isn’t the market leader in China, it is still leaving potential revenue opportunities. The Chinese market is briskly expanding. In the end, it is hard to contest Google’s assertion that it is putting its principles ahead of commercial interest. There’s an old saying that “it’s tough to put the horse back into the barn.” Once the combination of technology and information starts to slowly infiltrate China’s closed-off masses, it is unlikely the Chinese people will want to go back to the way things were. Does anyone want to bet against the Internet king?
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And there I was, a starry-eyed 12-year-old who turned to the person sharing her seat and said, “You don’t manicure toes. You pedicure them. ‘Ped’ is the root for foot.”
I think too much. And while it’s kept me out of most forms of trouble, it’s annoying. Why is it so hard for me just to enjoy things for what they are? It’s not like I can just stop, either. It’s a hard impulse to control and these songs keep being released and played on the radio. I’m trapped and there’s no escape! What am I supposed to do? Turn off Chelsey Lately, close the newspaper, keep my head perpetually stuck in Pride and Prejudice and end up like a Charles Dickens Miss Havisham-type character? While I do enjoy wedding cake, that’s no way to live your life. It’s a curse. I’m going to have to spend the rest of my life being more like a sarcastic and nerdy VH1 nostalgia show commentator than I’m comfortable with. It’s not cool. Maybe one day I’ll get the memo explaining the method behind these pop songs. If you’ve already received it, would you forward it to me?
E-mail: caitlin.tremblay@ubspectrum.com
The Spectrum
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January 15, 2010
Friends and family remember Orrange’s life GOODBYE from page 1
to change the whole world. He wanted to have an alligator farm. I used to laugh, but Nick, he was serious. He wanted to die at 100 with a million grandkids while asleep,” OrrangeBeamer said. “He was my brother, and I loved him. And now he’s sitting there mixing Jell-O pudding and milk…watching over us all. I know he is.” Orrange’s aunt Ivy Mol expressed how much she would miss her nephew. “Nick … was hilarious – he could always take a somber moment and find some humor or way to lighten the mood,” Mol said. “We would not see each other for months or years
will always be in my thoughts and prayers. He was supposed to walk me down the aisle,” said Samantha Jo Orrange-Beamer, Orrange’s sister. She recalls instances in which she and Orrange spent time together. “We were a team. I just keep flashing between random memories, like when we dressed up as vampires with the laugh track and did monster jokes at the talent show,” she said. Orrange-Beamer envied her brother’s ambition. “He always wanted so much. He loved political campaigns, and wanted
Courtesy of Samantha Jo Orrange-Beamer
Nick Orrange (first right), an avid environmentalist, poses with his fellow UB Green members.
and still ‘know’ Nick because he was as genuine and kind as he has been since the day he was born.” She commented on how significant the loss of Orrange’s life is. “His death will affect people, [both] locally and around the country, because he was someone who actually cared enough to do something that would make a difference, and just knowing him – he did just that,” Mol said. “He would be humbled and a little embarrassed to know how we all felt about him.” An open viewing will be held on Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Amigone Funeral Home on Sheridan Drive. The funeral will be held on Monday at 9:15 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church on Victoria Street in Kenmore, with an 8:15 a.m. procession starting at Amigone that all are welcome to join. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a scholarship fund at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, where he graduated from in 2005. Grief counselors will be available in 360 Student Union at the SA office for those in need. SA officials are currently planning a memorial in honor of Orrange.
Katie Carlett / The Spectrum
Students met late Thursday night in Allentown to drink and ride their bicycles in remembrance of Nicholas Orrange.
E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
nick’s friends remember: Casey Houlihan, roommate: “Nicholas Orrange was one of the most kind decent, loving, generous, good-hearted, noble, likeable, friendly, intelligent, and trustworthy people I’ve ever had the great privilege of knowing. You are loved, brother, and will be missed.”
The UB Music Department presents the first three concerts of the Slee/Beethoven String Quartet Cycle
Brentano String Quartet Friday, Jan 22nd
Daedalus Quartet
Bobby Matthews, friend: “Nick, you were one of the best friends I have ever had. Words can’t describe how painful it was for me to hear that you were gone. I’ll never forget our fierce political debates.” Jeffrey Poulin, friend: “You were a great friend to me … Nothing will be the same without you.”
Monday, Jan 25th
Borromeo String Quartet Tuesday, Jan 26TH
Adam Hahn, friend: “RIP, Nick, you will always be one of the few hilarious characters from the UB Commuters lounge of old. Glad to have known you.”
Sergio Tupac Uzurzin, friend: “There’s no way … Nick, this better be some elaborate practical joke of yours … ’cause if it isn’t … You were like me in so many ways.”
all concerts: 7:30pm in lippes concert hall on UB’S Amherst Campus
www.slee.buffalo.edu
sponsored by:
THE
riginal
Andy Rupp, classmate: “We had great times in high school and you will be missed, buddy.” Tom Bornholdt, friend: “I can’t believe you’re gone, dude. I miss you a whole heap! I’ll never forget how you have changed my life, simply with your friendship.” Tiffany Andolino, friend: “Nick, you were such a good and genuine person. You had a way of making people feel special. I feel privileged to have known you.” Greg Nowak, friend: “I run into you at a party five days ago, haven’t seen you since high school. It was good to remember all the good times we had at Joe’s. I wish I would have stayed a little longer and talked a little more at the party with you. It’s a shame you had to go, man. You were a great person and a good friend all throughout high school. I hope wherever you are now, you are living like you did here.”
Juan Pereyra, friend, LGBTA Vice President: “You were the best SISH coordinator I have ever worked with and will always be remembered in my heart for the great friend and supporter you are. Many hearts are broken today, but heaven is blessed to have you up there.” Kinsey Davidson, friend, UB College Democrats President: “I first met Nick through the College Democrats. He was a great president and SISH Council Coordinator, but more importantly, a great friend. He was charismatic and passionate. Nick will be remembered as a leader, an organizer, and man who could always make you smile. He is greatly missed by all the lives he has touched, mine included.” Cheryl Mohabir, friend, SA coordinator: “He was an undiscovered gem of SA. He always had a way of brightening your day. The way he carried himself just made you happy. On behalf of the coordinators, this office will never be the same again.”
Message of forgiveness
in slee hall
tickets/info: (716)645-2921,
Kaylynn Crumb, co-worker: “I miss you so much, Nick. We were supposed to get our first tattoos together and take our breaks together.”
RWANDA from page 1 Gandhi Reconciliation and Peace Award. Sword plays a variety of characters throughout the play, channeling the emotions of fear, hatred, and ultimately hope which f uel Ilibagiza’s story. The actress f irst heard of
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Ilibagiza’s tale when she spoke while on a tour with PBS icon and author Wayne Dyer. “[Ilibagiza] realized her mind would kill her before the killers ever would,” Sword said. “[So] she said the rosary all day long in order to stay sane, and that helped her to get through, [and along the way], it transformed her heart. I heard that and thought, ‘I want to play her.’” The overarching theme of “Miracle in Rwanda” is one of forgiveness and finding inner peace, a message both women of the play agree with. “I appreciate [this play] because [Ilibagiza] let the world know what was happening in Rwanda during the OJ Simpson trial,” Sword said. “After this part, I call myself an advocate and great friend of Rwanda.” Sword travelled to Rwanda with Ilibagiza for the first return trip to her country since the genocide. The visit was the subject of a “60 Minutes” feature that brought global recognition to the play. In her portrayal of Imaculée Ilibagiza, Sword has become truly committed to the future of Rwanda, especially its children. She was educated at Harvard
University and the University of California, Los Angeles, where she received both the Streisand/Sony Fellowship and the Theatre Faculty Memorial Award. Sword has also starred as Dorothy Dandridge in Jamal William’s onewoman show, “Yesterday Came Too Soon,” as well as her own single woman revue “Leslieland,” both off-Broadway in 2005 and 2006. Her current show is undergoing its first world tour and has been performed on five continents, most recently in India. “Miracle in Rwanda” is relevant and uniquely important to UB, as it will be presented in memorial of Alison Des Forges, a Buffalo resident, activist and author who attempted to bring Rwanda to the attention of the international community before her death in the crash of Continental Airlines Flight 3407 last February. For more informat ion on “Miracle in Rwanda,” set to perform from Feb. 11 to Feb. 13 in the Student Union Theatre, visit www.miracleinrwanada.com. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
The Spectrum
January 15 , 2010
5
AR T S & LI F E Special effects aren’t everything By JAMESON BUTLER Asst. Arts Editor
Matt Mosher Asst. Managing Editor
Life of a gamer As the January snowfall seems to never end and reality TV shows get far worse and thinner in plot, I find myself playing more and more video games. I’ve always loved gaming and can still recall my first days of playing Duck Hunt on Nintendo. A couple years of blasting ducks with an orange plastic shotgun passed and my brother and I found that Santa had brought us a Super Nintendo for Christmas one chilly and glorious morning. The addiction started then. My brother and I spent many days, which turned to months, of taking one-hour turns playing our favorite games. My brother liked Madden ’94 - yes, the popular EA Sports franchise dates that far back. My hour was mostly spent playing Super Mario. And what youngster didn’t spend countless hours playing NBA Jams, a game allowing players to star as popular ’93 era basketball stars spinning, flipping and performing other outrageous dunks to the tune of an ecstatic announcer screaming, “He’s on fire!” Just as we started to get sick of Donkey Kong, a new bulky and ugly grey box was released. The first PlayStation hit the market, launching with it a new series of amazing games and wasted days. So you might be thinking to yourself by now that I’m a pretty big nerd for writing about this. Well, I sort of am, but not really. People waste time in different ways. Some tune into sports, others choose reality shows. People like to instant message, check Facebook every 20 minutes and watch an endless amount of YouTube videos; other folks like to read novels. I love my video games. I’m not the kind of person to stay up for days at a time, leaving only to get a new energy drink and take an occasional bathroom break. I play after work, when my girlfriend isn’t over or if I have a couple hours to kill. It’s tempting even now to give up writing for the night and turn on The Saboteur or Modern Warfare 2. Instead, I gave my entertainment system the finger. Deadlines are creeping up with every passing cycle of my electric heater and my focus is managing to stay fixed on the screen of my laptop instead of my television’s crystal clear see MOSHER page 7
Weekend in Buffalo Who: Eric Hilliker What: Curious George Live When: Sunday 1 p.m. Where: Shea’s Performing Arts Center Why: The world of theater is about to face a reckoning. Will his curious obsessions lead to George’s down fall? Who: Chris Di Matteo What: Bandits home opener vs. the Rochester Knighthawks When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday Where: HSBC Arena Why: They are a Buffalo team with a chance at winning a championship …Need I say more? Who: James Twigg What: Omarion with Kenny James and DJ GI When: Saturday 11 p.m. Where: Town ballroom Why: What? A white boy like me can’t get down?
The Lovely Bones
B
Magic mushrooms, LSD, salvia: these are just some of the psychedelics that you might need to ingest to even come close to comprehending the newest Peter Jackson endeavor. In his first directing gig since the epic failure King Kong, Jackson returns to the silver screen with his adaption of The Lovely Bones. Based on the 2002 Alice Sebold bestseller of the same name, The Lovely Bones provides a story that is both emotionally and visually provocative. Jackson, who has come into fame by directing monstrous blockbusters, slightly toned back the special effects in The Lovely Bones. Although the movie is
Blue skies for OK Go By JOHN HUGAR Staff Reporter
OK Go first entered the public consciousness by dancing on treadmills; now they’re out to remind the world that they have the voice to go with their moves. With Of the Blue Colour of the Sky, OK Go sheds their bubblegum-pop tendencies for a more mature, psychedelic sound. Far darker than the band’s previous two CDs, OK Go’s new effort could be considered to be one of the band’s best albums. The ceremonies are kicked off
Courtesy of WingNut Films
Peter Jackson’s latest sends the audience on a whirlwind journey through the afterlife.
filled with beautiful shots of the time between life and death, it looks as though it might as well be a Kevin Smith movie when compared to Return of the King. The Lovely Bones follows the story of the Salmon family as
they cope with the loss of their daughter, Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan, City of Ember). As the pain sets in on the Salmon family, the audience cannot help but feel as though they have lost someone close as
well. This is in large part because of the great actors that make up Susie’s family. Mark Wahlberg (Max Payne) portrays the anger and hurt that grieving father Jack Salmon would feel better than most people show their real emotions. The ache pours out of Wahlberg, and it shows that he took great pride in this role. Abigail Salmon (Rachel Weisz, Definitely, Maybe) loses strength as she sits there and watches her husband combust internally. However, Abigail’s mother is what brings this family together. Grandma Lynn (Susan Sarandon, Speed Racer) brings some comical relief into this very dark fantasy. But the best performance in the film is Stanley Tucci (Julie & Julia), who plays George Harvey. The dark and strange man sends shivers down the spines of many as soon as his small figure is see BONES page 7
OK Go Of The Blue Colour of the Sky
Capitol Jan. 12
B+ Courtesy of OK Go
with lead single “WTF” – aptly titled, for a song that sounds nothing like anything they’ve done before. The lyrics alone will have the listener scratching his or her head: “So maybe you can help me clear this up/ cause me myself I just can’t tell/Are you some kind of dark sorcerer/ Am I under some kind of spell?” front man Damian Kulash sings. When bands drastically change
OK Go heads in a bold, new direction with their latest release, Of the Colour of the Blue Sky.
their sound, it sometimes blows up in their faces. However, OK Go pulls it off quite remarkably. Kulash’s voice matches perfectly with the band’s new, synth heavy sound. As the album progresses, the listener is continually exposed to infectious beats and soothing vocals. Perfect examples include
“This Too Shall Pass” and “All is Not Lost.” The band shows its sentimental tendencies here, with lyrics that are reminiscent of George Harrison. The message is unabashedly optimistic, and it’s clear the band had a great time exploring new see OK page 8
A walk for hope By JESSICA BRANT Asst. Life Editor
In 2006, Melissa Reed Chudy, development director for the Amherst Youth Foundation, had a vision of opening an Amherst coffeehouse where local youth could come together in a safe, fun and friendly environment. In March of that year, Chudy made that vision a reality. “Melissa dedicated her life to youth,” said Molly Dever of AmeriCorps Vista for the Amherst Youth Foundation. “She helped acquire the Old Hutchinson House Company building in Williamsville, and she took part of the building and worked with Starbucks and a group of teens to start a coffeehouse.” Shortly after opening the coffeehouse, Chudy lost her 18-month battle with breast cancer. Although her physical presence is gone, her drive, enthusiasm and vivacious spirit live on through the coffeehouse and the community that she served. As a testament to the tireless
Courtesy of EA Games
Two against hundreds: the odds are against you in the new action game, Army of Two: the 40th Day
Never fight alone Melissa Reed Chudy hours the director devoted to local youth, the Amherst Youth Board decided to rename the coffeehouse in Melissa’s honor. “This is kind of like Melissa’s baby,” Dever said. “She had a lot of energy and dedication towards [this project].” To encourage the memory of Chudy and awareness for breast see HOPE page 9
By NICOLAS PINO Staff Reporter
EA Montreal’s newest release, Army of Two: The 40th Day, can really make a gamer rethink a journey to the Far East. The game picks up right where its predecessor left off: protagonists Rios and Salem have founded their own PMC (private military company) and have been doing quite well. That is, until a routine mission to Shanghai turns into the firefight of a lifetime.
The opening cut-scene of the game shows the real graphics overhaul the team has made. But for every two steps forward EA Montreal makes, it takes one step back. This is exemplified by the horribly rendered explosions and special effects littered throughout the game. The main problem with this game is its lack of plot. The game rarely explains what is happening with our heroes, and when it see ARMY page 9
The Spectrum
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January 15, 2010
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January 15 , 2010
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Movie is mesmerizing BONES from page 5 shown on screen. Tucci does such a strong job of portraying the role of a creepy child molester that it is easy to imagine someone calling the police on him. Even with such high caliber acting, the story fell by the wayside. Jackson could not completely abandon his roots, as the cinematography was more than spectacular. As the movie progresses, the special effects become more and more a part of the film. The world that Jackson creates is breathtakingly beautiful and knows no limit. The way Jackson moves from the bright, well-lit fantasy world where Susie is to the dark and gritty shots of real life is mesmerizing. The world that Susie explores throughout the movie looks like something that would come straight out of an acid burnout’s head – it’s vibrant, bright, and gravity defiant.
But that might be where the problem lies. As the special effects become more and more brilliant, the story gets harder to follow. It gets to the point where people do not know what they are watching on the screen. The end of the movie is very anticlimatic. All these things get set into motion that leads the audience to suspect an epic conclusion, only to be disappointed as the end puts the audience back exactly where they were in the beginning of the movie. Jackson shows his love for special effects in The Lovely Bones, and as a result, the story took a terrible hit to the point where even Marky Mark could not save it. Although the hardcore Peter Jackson fans will flock to theaters to see his next film, most people shouldn’t be in any rush to see this mediocre fantasy flick. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
Just fine with that MOSHER from page 5 picture of my PlayStation 3. Incidentally, PlayStation 3 is a system that I firmly believe is superior to the Xbox 360. Along with free online membership, a Blu-Ray player and free Wi-Fi, the video game titles are flat out better. Before you think I’m biased toward PlayStation, let me say that I have owned each system. I gave up my favorite PS2 games and swapped to the oversized controller of the first Xbox. I also had a 360, but lost interest after beating Halo 3. I went back to my PlayStation roots and favorite game titles. Console wars aside, it amazes me how far along gaming has come. Just 15 years ago, I watched my brother’s TV as pixilated figures of Madden characters were able to run circles around the field and
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not get tackled due to some crazy glitch. I played as an Italian plumber lost in a wildly fictitious world of mushroom-chased, dragon-riding, princess-saving characters. Now we see every droplet of sweat, every facial expression every bit of debris from an explosion, and perfectly constructed models of almost every professional sports team’s actual stadium – with home colors and fans to match. I can’t wait to see what the next decade brings to the gaming world; there are quite a few things I would like to see. But as of now, my deadline has been met, so I’m off to kill some time and some terrorists in the high definition, simulated battlefield that is Call of Duty. If this is my addiction, I’m just fine with that.
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E-mail: matt.mosher@ubspectrum.com
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January 15, 2010
‘All the memories I have from there are now lost’ QUAKE from page 1 as to how to safely build structures in the country. These guidelines were never enforced and, as a result, were abandoned completely. “There is no reference or codes saying you have to build a structure a certain way [in Haiti],” Fouche said. “If you want to build a 10-story building there, however you felt like, you can. Therefore, [the buildings] were not designed to withstand an earthquake.” Many of the structures in the heart of the disaster area were built from concrete, which is a material that easily crumbles in an earthquake. Also, as a result of a high population in the area, the buildings are all very close together, causing a domino effect of destruction when the earthquake hit, according to Fouche. Luckily, Fouche’s family was unaffected by the incident, but some UB students weren’t as fortunate. Anselme Payen, a junior mechanical engineering student, is one of the many Haitian students at UB who are directly feeling the effects of the catastrophe. His parents, who are currently living in Haiti, were both injured during Tuesday’s earthquake. According to Payen, his mother and father were at their separate places of employment when both buildings collapsed. His father escaped with only a light leg injury and his mother had to be rescued from a pile of rubble, but did not suffer any significant injuries. Due to most communication being down in the Port-au-Prince area, Payen has not been in contact with
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his parents at all and is obtaining all of his information from other family members through Facebook and other social networking outlets. “I basically grew up there, so all the memories I have from there are now lost. It’s tough to know much of that is gone,” Payen said. “My home is safe, but apparently my old school has collapsed. There’s nothing I can do … things happen.” Payen has a positive attitude toward the situation, advising his fellow Haitian students at UB to “just hang in there.” “We all have to deal with this and I pray everyone is fine,” he said. The tragedy touches the city of Buffalo in more ways than just via the Haitian student population at UB. Fourteen missionaries from the First Trinity Lutheran Church in the Town of Tonawanda arrived in Port-au-Prince Monday afternoon for their annual visit to Les Cayes, a Haitian city approximately 100 miles Southwest of Port-au-Prince. The volunteers from First Trinity were traveling to Haiti to make repairs to the orphanage and assist in the care of its children. According to Jason Christ, director of student ministries at the church, the group has safely made it to Les Cayes and is in contact with loved ones back home. “We’ve been in touch with them via text, phone, Twitter and Facebook,” Christ said. “Everyone is in good spirits and no one from the team is hurt. They were planning on coming back this coming Monday, but we’re now unsure if that will be able to
happen or not due to the airports being closed to all except the military and relief organizations.” The church’s staff has consistently been updating their Web site, blogs, Twitter and Facebook accounts with any information they receive from or about the missionaries. “We are headed to the hospital to pray with wounded. Please Pray,” and “Many hurting people at hospital. Some from PAP, some from Marigone,” are just some of the updates one of 14 volunteers in Haiti has posted on Twitter. The church staff will continue stay in contact with each other as best they can until the volunteers return home safely. Fouche, whose main focus in the situation is protecting the area from similar incidents in the future, sees a glimpse of good among all the tragedy. “I know it is a very difficult time right now, but in the end it may be a good thing,” Fouche explained. “They may start using [building] codes. They may look at and use other countries as examples of how to build properly against earthquakes. That’s the first step: to make things safer and to teach engineers how to design safely.” Relief efforts have already begun across the UB campus. The Student Association and University will be accepting donations, canned foods, and other needed items for the victims in Haiti. For more information of how to help at UB, contact Hip Hop SA and Caribbean SA, or watch for campus-wide e-mails regarding the SA relief effort. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
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drag along, delivering much of the same rhythm to accompany Kulash’s monotonic voice. Luckily, the album regains steam toward the end; “Last Leaf” is one of the best songs on the album. This beautiful, plaintive ballad proves that OK Go is far from incapable of
showing emotion. Although Of the Blue Colour of the Sky is not nearly as catchy or upbeat as OK Go’s two previous albums, it is a great step for a band that continues to evolve. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
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January 15 , 2010
Bobcats are
underachieving
Students need to make a statement
WBBALL from page 12
SANCHIRICO from page 12
action in a month’s time. The Bulls look ahead to a home matchup with the Ohio Bobcats (4-12, 0-3 MAC) on Saturday. Like the Bulls, the Bobcats are underachieving this season and are currently on a three-game losing streak against MAC opponents. One of these teams will be getting its first conference victory on Saturday. Saturday’s matchup with Ohio will be held at Alumni Arena and is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
out so pumped that their chant, which rhymed with “Fudge Ohio,” was clearly heard on the television broadcast of the game. Both groups need to enter this game with the same anticipation level. Akron enters the Sunday contest 12-4 with thoughts of a second MAC Championship trophy floating in its dreams. Both Buffalo and True Blue need to step their games up to provide bittersweet endings to those Akron dreams-hopefully-turned-nightmares. The Bulls need to remember
E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
9
how they felt when they exited Quicken Loans Arena into the cold Cleveland surroundings after the demoralizing loss. And the students need to make a statement. They need to support their team more than ever now, with the biggest game on the schedule just two days away. Maybe then, after a win, Witherspoon can accept Dambrot’s friend request.
E-mail: david.sanchirico@ubspectrum.com
Proceeds to benefit breast cancer HOPE from page 5 cancer, the Amherst Youth Foundation, in partnership with the Breast Cancer Network of Western New York, is holding its first Walk for Melissa Fundraiser on Sunday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Boulevard Mall. Half of the proceeds will go to Melissa’s Coffeehouse and half will be donated to the Breast Cancer Network of Western New York in Melissa’s name. “The BCWNY is a really awesome organization. All the money donated will stay local, so it’s not a big chain or anything,” Dever said. “[The organization] provides a lot of resources and there’s a lot of support groups and activities that the women can participate in.” Facilities that The Amherst Youth Foundation provides benefit both parents and teens, Dever said. “[The youth center and the coffeehouse] are great ways for them to socialize with friends outside of
school, and it’s free for them,” Dever said. “[The facilities] are also great for the parents, too, because they can drop their kids off for three hours and know where they are and what they are doing … so there’s also that safety aspect.” The coffeehouse serves as a safe haven for youths who are looking to make new friends, sing karaoke, make arts and crafts, and showcase their musical talent during events like band and middle school nights. Although Dever did not know Chudy personally, she identifies with her unrelenting need to give back and her passion for serving others and continually works to keep Chudy’s vision alive and well. “I didn’t personally know her, but I’ve taken every opportunity to learn more about Melissa,” Dever said. “She had this really vibrant personality and was really a hard worker.” Roseanne McCarthy, a staff member of The Amherst Youth Board, was a friend and co-worker of Chudy,
Create your own weapons ARMY from page 5 does, it’s very convoluted and poorly developed. In short, there’s a rival PMC and they’re rather upset. Other than that key fact, players will be left in the dark until the strange and anti-climatic end. The game unfolds in a linear fashion, until Rios and Salem are faced with moral dilemmas that will ultimately shape the way the game is played. EA Montreal boasts that each decision that the player encounters affects the characters, plot elements, and weapon drops. Whether or not it’s a substantial difference is disputable. Morality aside, Army of Two is a grand improvement on the original formula of a partner-based, cooperative shooter. First and foremost, the game feels more realistic, enemies are downed quicker, weapons like the R 870 Shotgun actually have a set range, and enemies react quicker to the Aggro system. Unfortunately, this comes with a few disadvantages in terms of difficulty. Enemies can down Rios or his partner in just a few shots. Enemy grunts can even revive one another, making the eight- to nine-hour story line feel like an eternity. The friendly AI has also improved significantly, but of course that would only be noticed if the game was being played in the solo campaign mode. Inventive gameplay additions like mock-surrender and timercontrolled footlockers add a certain nuance to the game, but aren’t real game-changers. The original did, however, provide incredible backto-back shooting sequences that are sorely missed. The most confusing, but relatively
helpful, addition to the game is setting two different difficulties in co-op campaign. As strange as this concept sounds, it tends to work out well, save for the fact that the veteran player will need a lot of revives to keep the game moving. The best thing about this feature is that newcomers to the franchise feel like they’re a force to be reckoned with. The game does a great job as far as weapon customization is concerned. With tons of add-ons, different scopes, silencers, and various paint jobs, no two weapons look alike. Also, ‘home-brew’ weapons can be created using parts found throughout the campaign. Online multiplayer is standard affair for a shooter game. As the title suggests, it pairs the two gamers up on a team and pits teams against one another. Co-operative death match is incredibly fun, but at this point in the franchise, competition is rather limited. Also, EA is forcing gamers to have an EA account to play this game online. The account is free and simple to set up, but this ploy seems like a sly way to solicit information from the gaming populace. The shelf-life of this title is fair, providing a tough difficulty setting and different morality choices on every play through. It can easily be left in the console for the next few weeks. This is a good, but not great, shooter game. It just doesn’t bring any new features to the industry or revolutionize the shooting genre. It’s a vast betterment from the original, but still leaves a few tweaks to be desired. Combat is fluid, controls are tight, but sadly, Army of Two isn’t quite worth the $60 price tag. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
and continues to admire her unique ability to inspire those around her. “Melissa was a whirlwind of energy and activity,” McCarthy said. “There are not a lot of people who have that charisma to get people excited about something you are passionate about, and that passion still lives on.” Despite Chudy’s unfortunate circumstances, McCarthy never felt despair. Chudy remained optimistic for the future, and it is for this reason that The Amherst Youth Board has adopted her motto as words to live by. “She always said, ‘If you can visualize it, dream it, and see it, then you can achieve it,’” McCarthy said. “[Melissa] never did a whole lot of complaining. She knew there was always going to be a better tomorrow.”
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CLASSIFIED ads may be placed at The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union, Amherst Campus. Office hours are from 9:00 - 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Deadlines are Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 12:00 for display and 2:00 p.m. for classifieds for the next edition. Weekly rates are $10.00 for the first ten words and 75¢ for each additional word. All ads must be paid in advance. The ad must be placed in person or send a legible copy of the ad with a check or money order for full payment. No ads will be taken over the phone. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit any copy. No refunds will be given on classified ads. Please make sure copy is legible. The Spectrum does not assume responsibility for any errors except to reproduce any ad (or equivalent), free of charge, that is rendered valueless due to typographical errors. Please call 645-2152 for any additional information.
$500/ mo. includes heat, water & garbage. Spacious with many updates. Call Matt now at 716-438-7720 these won’t last!! 3 & 4 BEDROOMS. Newly renovated near UB South & North, 510-5517, 884-1727. HOUSE FOR RENT RonYoung.com. HOUSES, apartments, pictures, room sizes. Ron1812@aol.com, 833-6322. 1,3,4,5,6,7 & 8 BEDROOM homes available. Go to daveburnette.net or call Dave @ 716-445-2514. C H E S T N U T R I D G E Ro a d (Amherst). Awesome 5, 6 & 8 BR houses. Large bedrooms with great closet space. Modern bathrooms and kitchens. Large LR & or rec. rooms. Offstreet parking. Huge yards. Real living, not dorm living. Available June 1. 634-0710, www.ubstudentrentals.com. PRIME LOCATIONS: Winspear, Northrup, Merrimac, Tyler, Englewood & more! For 2 to 10 people. Many in excellent condition! Experienced landlord lives in the neighborhood. Call Jeremy Dunn (585) 261-6609 or jgdunn2@msn.com. SOUTH CAMPUS 2-6 b e d r o o m s , r a t e s v a r y. $196 - $345/ room, Nick @ 716-446-1213. 5-BDRM/ 2-BATH, 15 Heath St. All private parking, all appliances, security available June 1, 2010. $320 shared utilities. 716-432-7125. Great, great house!!!!!!!
EVERYTHING YOU NEED for the 2010 academic year. Great 1 to 8 bedroom houses & apartments. Near south campus. Off-street parking, laundry, dishwashers & much more! Please call: Andy to schedule a showing, 716-308-4881. HEATH, ENGLEWOOD & Minnesota steps from Main St. 3,4,5 & 6, master bdrms, 2 full baths, free stove & fridge, washer & dryer, off-street parking, $225 - $275. Available June 1st. Hurry, the good ones go fast! 716-570-6062.
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The Spectrum
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The Spectrum
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January 15, 2010
SP O R T S Down with the sickness By DAVID SANCHIRICO Managing Editor
David Sanchirico Managing Editor
Hammering
Akron
On two occasions last season, Keith Dambrot, head coach of the Akron men’s basketball team, referred to Buffalo head coach Reggie Witherspoon as “his guy.” He labeled Witherspoon after Akron came into Buffalo in late February and defeated the Bulls 62-57 to knock Buffalo out of first place in the MAC East. The second reference occurred less than a month later, after Dambrot’s Zips sent the Bulls out of Quicken Loans Arena in tears after Akron’s 65-53 win in the MAC Championship. As a result, Akron went to the NCAA Tournament. Buffalo, for the umpteenth time, did not. I don’t know what Dambrot’s relationship with Witherspoon is, but I doubt, especially after Akron’s defense stunted Buffalo’s offense in the biggest game of the Bulls’ season, that the two coaches frequent Chef’s and reminisce on the games their teams have played. Something tells me that Akron’s 3-8 record against Buffalo since Dambrot’s arrival has something to do with this platonic relationship – at least in Dambrot’s eyes. The coach that mentored LeBron James in high school may appreciate Witherspoon’s company, but he has no fear when the name “Buffalo” is next on the schedule. But seven of those Buffalo losses are not going to be the focus as the growing rivalry renews on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Arena. It’s time for this Buffalo team – one on a hot streak, one with aspirations to get to the NCAA Tournament – to rise up and make up for last year’s shortcomings. Four years ago, Buffalo played Ohio in what was a rematch of the 2004-05 MAC Championship. In that championship game, now viewed as a MAC classic, Ohio whittled a 19-point second half lead and eventually beat Buffalo on a game-winning tip-in with no time left to remind Buffalo fans of “No Goal” and “Wide Right.” Buffalo waited patiently for its rematch with the Bobcats, got out to a huge lead, and did not let go. In front of a packed house near 6,000 Bulls fans wanting revenge, the Bulls delivered and dominated during a 70-51 win. Buffalo shot 66.7 percent of its shots, a number the Bulls have not come close to since. The 19-point win alleviated some of the pain that flared up from the 2004-05 MAC Championship game. Buffalo came out salivating over the possibility of defeating Ohio, and the students came see SANCHIRICO page 9
Spectrum File Photo
Calvin Betts had eight points and grabbed five rebounds in Buffalo’s 68-65 victory over Bowling Green on Thursday night.
Coming into Thursday’s road game at Bowling Green, the men’s basketball team had only won one game at Anderson Arena. Senior guard Sean Smiley made sure his team, with many players ailing from sickness, left Bowling Green with a hard-fought MAC road victory to help ease the aching. With the game tied at 65 apiece and the clock winding down, Smiley, who finished 4-for-8 from 3-point range, sank a high arching 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds left to give the Bulls the lead. Bowling Green (7-6, 0-2 MidAmerican Conference) was unable to answer, securing a Buffalo (9-4, 2-0 MAC) win, 68-65. “[Rodney Pierce] kept saying to Smiley to be ready to shoot, so we put Rod at the point and he drew defenders to him,“ said head coach Reggie Witherspoon. “It was something we’ve looked at before, and it worked out this time.” Buffalo is now 2-0 in MAC play for the first time since the 2001-02 season. The team is riding a hot streak and has now won six of its last seven contests. The Bulls came into the game with numerous players hindered by a winter sickness. This included senior guard Rodney Pierce, who did not let his clogged nasal passages disrupt his hot streak. Pierce topped the 20-point mark for the seventh-straight game, finishing with 21 points. He also added six assists and three steals. “[Rodney] was a little under the weather tonight,” Witherspoon said “He was really big tonight. This was
one of his better games because he did so many things.” Smiley came off the bench to score 14 points in 17 minutes. Senior forward Calvin Betts mustered eight points, five rebounds – all offensive boards – and three assists. Senior guard John Boyer chipped in nine points, all coming in the opening minutes of the game, as well as seven rebounds and six assists. Forward Scott Thomas led Bowling Green with a career-high 21 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Dee Brown added 13 points for the Falcons. The Bulls are now 2-9 all-time at Anderson Arena. It was the team’s first win in the arena since the 2005-06 season. “Wins [at Anderson Arena] are hard to come by, and usually games here come down to the wire,” Witherspoon said. “This is not a very easy place to play.” But Buffalo captured another victory and now moves into its highlyanticipated contest with Akron with confidence. The Bulls return home for a Sunday match-up with the Zips, the defending MAC Champions who knocked off Buffalo 65-53 in the MAC Championship in Cleveland last March. Akron comes into the match-up on top of the MAC standings. It has the same 2-0 conference record as the Bulls, but is 12-4 overall this season and has won eight of its last nine games. “They do not get any easier,” Witherspoon said. “We can turn our attention to [the Zips] and strap up the chin straps.” The MAC Championship rematch is slated for a 2:00 start on Sunday at Alumni Arena. E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
Bulls fail to fly with Falcons By LUKE HAMMILL Asst. Sports Editor
The last thing the women’s basketball team needed after suffering consecutive losses was a road matchup against a team that has won all of its games this entire decade. Despite leading for much of the first half, the Bulls (4-12, 0-3 Mid-American Conference) could not keep their early pace going against the Bowling Green Falcons (13-4, 3-0 MAC) on Wednesday night at Anderson Arena. Bowling Green defeated Buffalo, 78-60. The Fa lcon s rema i n unbeaten in 2010 and at the top of the MAC standings. Buffalo started the game on a fast start. Sophomore guard Brittany Hedderson contributed at key moments in the first half, capping off an early 9-2 Bulls run with a put-back. She also scored a layup to give Buffalo its biggest lead at 25-20 with 5:24 remaining before the break. In the half’s final minutes ,however, Bowling Green stole away Buffalo’s momentum and never gave it back. The Falcons ended the opening frame on a 15-3 run, which included nine unanswered points in a mere 47 seconds. During the 9-0 Falcons eruption, the Bulls turned the ball over on three consecutive plays, and Bowling Green junior guard Tracy Pontius recorded five points, two steals, and one assist.
Pontius led Bowling Green’s balanced scoring effort with a total of 16 points. She was one of four Falcons who scored in double-digits. The second half began the same way that the first half ended. The Falcons came out from the intermission and outscored Buffalo 18-7 to build up an 18-point cushion with 12:04 remaining in the contest. The huge lead remained intact for the rest of the game. Bowling Green’s lead peaked at 21 points before a threepoint basket by Bulls freshman guard Abby Dowd with two seconds left made the final score 78-60. As usual, junior forward Kourtney Brown provided Buffalo with an individual bright spot during a mostly forgettable team performance. She recorded 20 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocked shots for her sixth-straight double-double and secondstraight game with at least 20 points and five blocks. Ten of Brown’s 13 rebounds came on the offensive glass. She is currently leading the MAC in rebounding. Junior forward Jessica Fortman scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds, while freshman guard Chrissy Cooper contributed eight points and three rebounds for the Bulls. Hedderson finished with eight points after seeing her first see WBBALL page 9
THE BLITZ
• Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch has found himself in trouble yet again. The third-year pro has been accused of stealing $20 from a woman at a TGI Friday’s restaurant in Orchard Park last month. Molly Crawford, the wife of Buffalo Detective Sgt. William Crawford, filed a complaint with Hamburg police on Dec. 8, a day after the incident. Crawford did not give a statement to detectives until January because she wanted to wait until the Bills season had concluded and Lynch left town. Now, Hamburg Police say that Crawford does not want to pursue criminal charges against Lynch. “There’s a fine line between a guy doing something criminal and acting like a jerk, and that is what we are dealing with here,” Hamburg Detective Sgt. Thomas Best Jr. told The Buffalo News. It was also reported that the Ontario woman struck by Lynch’s SUV in June 2008 has sued the running back for the injuries she suffered. The suit alleges that Lynch was drunk at the time of the incident. • After setting an NFL mark for single-season yards from scrimmage (2,509), Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson has been named the Associated Press 2009 NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Johnson became just the sixth player in NFL history to top the 2,000-yard rushing milestone in a season. He is also the first player to finish with at least 2,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards. • The Kansas City Chiefs announced Thursday morning that former Browns head coach and Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel has joined the Chiefs as defensive coordinator. Crennel reunites with former Patriots offensive coordinator, Charlie Weis, who signed with the Chiefs last week. • According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, former Buffalo Bills interim head coach and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has accepted the defensive coordinator position with the New York Giants. Fewell interviewed for the Bills’ permanent head coaching job but was considered a long shot. He was also linked to being the favorite candidate for the defensive coordinator position in Chicago.
Spectrum File Photo
Jessica Fortman’s 13 points and six rebounds weren’t enough for the Bulls to beat Bowling Green.
• The highly anticipated debut of the NBA’s No. 1 overall pick is going to have to wait until next year. Blake Griffin’s season with the Los Angeles Clippers ended before it even started after the team announced on Wednesday that Griffin will undergo surgery on his broken left kneecap that will shelve him for at least four more months. Griffin suffered the injury in the team’s final preseason game on Oct. 23 as he landed after a dunk.