Courtesy of the Department of American Studies
Native American Leader at UB Passes Away
The Independent Student Publication of the University at Buffalo THE ISSUE THAT WASN’T v February 2, 2011 Vol. 60 No. 47 v ubspectrum.com
LAUREN NOSTROSenior News Editor Barry White, a lecturer in the Department of American Studies and UB alumnus, passed away last Thursday. White, a member of the Seneca Nation of Indians, has focused his work in cultural diversity training on agencies involved in implementing the Indian Child Welfare Act and has held countless seminars and distance learning conferences for educators of the Seneca community. White graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in American Studies in 1972 and received his master’s in 1977 in American Studies. He joined the Buffalo Board of Education as a teacher of social studies for grades seven through 12 over an 11-year period. White designed and implemented a complete secondary-level curriculum in Native American History while working for the Board of Education and concentrated on working with special education and physically challenged students. Courtesy of Folarin Erogbogbo
(From left to right) Honorable Abike Dabiri, a member of the federal House of Representatives and Chairwoman of the house committee on Diaspora Affairs, Prof. Cheidu Mafiana, Director of the National Universities Commission (NUC) of Nigeria, Prof. Paras Prasad, SUNY Distinguished Professor of chemistry, physics, electrical engineering, and medicine and executive director of the Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics (ILPB), Dr. Aboki Samu, Liaison Office Manager Nigerian Universities Office Embassy of Nigeria Washington D.C., and Dr. Folarin Erogbogbo, research assistant professor for the ILPB, at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.
UB and Nigeria Partner to Further Nanomedicine Research
The ILPB, established in 1999, integrates the research resources from engineering, chemistry, physics, biology and medicine. It is internationally recognized for its research in nanophotonics, biophotonics, and nanomedicine. It boasts over $30 million in facilities and grants and receives constant funding from the National Science Foundation of the United States (NSF), National Institute of Health, National Cancer Institute, and U.S. Air Force.
“He was instrumental in the creation of the Department of American Studies and Native American Studies,” Grinde said. “I’ve known him for almost 40 years and we were both active in Native American politics and issues. He was a member of the Seneca Nation of Indians and had a really strong commitment to service and to making the university more accessible to Native Americans and also to making Native American culture and ideas more accessible to non-native students at UB.” Additionally, upon his graduation in 1977, White began lecturing in American Studies and Native American Studies at UB. He taught a number of courses, including Introduction to Native American History, Contemporary Problems of the American Indian, American Indian Identity Crisis, Indian Images on Film, and graduate courses in Supervision in Reading, Research, Fieldwork, and Teaching in American Studies.
JENNIFER HARBSenior Life Editor This past Friday, the Institute for Lasers, Photonics, and Biophotonics (ILPB) at the University at Buffalo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Universities Commission (NUC) of Abuja, Nigeria. The MOU called for the development of an international joint research center for nanomedicine at Nigerian universities.
White was a student activist during his undergraduate and master’s career at UB in the 1960s, according to Donald A. Grinde, Jr., professor and chair of the Department of American Studies.
The organizations hope to establish long-term collaboration efforts to address the industrial, scientific, social and cultural interests and needs of the participating countries. Prasad has collaborated with a number of various countries, such as Brazil, China, Sweden, Korea and Poland in the past. Last year, a joint research center similar to the one planned for Nigeria was created in Chang Chun, located in northern China.
Beginning in 1983, White also began working as the training activities coordinator and cultural diversity trainer at the Center for Development of Human Services at Buffalo State College. White continued this commitment to his culture from the time he was a student activist until his death, according to Grinde. “He was always a humorous and easygoing person,” Grinde said. “I learned a lot from him about
“Our research is in the area that involves nanotechnology with photonics,” Prasad said. “The two major application areas are alternate energy and health care. We are applying this merge of photonics, of light wave energy, for application in the area of medicine called nanomedicine. The other, alternative energy, focuses primarily on solar energy harvesting.”
PHOTO of
ARTS & LIFE :: 4–5 CLASSIFIEDS :: 6 DAILY DELIGHTS :: 6 SPORTS :: 8–7
WED THURS
OPINION :: 3
FRI
NEWS :: 2
WEATHER
k k c
100%
30%
H: 26 L: 12 H: 22 L: 11 H: 20 L: 20
6
e-mail ajwiktor@buffalo.edu
RUN FOR EDITOR IN CHIEF OF THE SPECTRUM
As a contributor to countless publications and scholarly talks, White was also active in community service. He was Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan of the Seneca Longhouse of the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation of the Haudenosaunee, where he was responsible for maintaining the customs and traditions of his people. Additionally, he was a board member on the Native American Family Services Commission in Buffalo and a Seneca Nation of Indians Inc. Delegate to the SUNY Native American Western Consortium at SUNY Fredonia, among other memberships to community groups and councils. “As a fellow Native colleague, I first met Barry when I joined the Department of American Studies in 2007,” said Theresa McCarthy, assistant professor of American Studies. “Barry embodied so many of the qualities that are highly valued in our Haudenosaunee culture [that are] reflected in the depth of his caring and love for our people, his compassion for others, his humility, his generosity with his time and energy, and his overall ‘good mind.’” White was tirelessly committed to promoting the continuity of Haudenosaunee languages and traditions and was especially dedicated to supporting the well-being of Native students, according to McCarthy. “He never hesitated to provide assistance whenever called upon to do so, whether it be committee work, speaking engagements, student recruitment or educational outreach,” McCarthy said. “He worked exceedingly hard in the service of both our department and the surrounding community. Barry has taught, counseled, mentored and inspired countless Native students at UB and across the Western New York region for several decades. “As a longtime advocate for the educational successes of Native people, he was nevertheless adamant that respecting the value of our own indigenous knowledge and of who we are as Haudenosaunee peoples always remains central to meeting these goals.” g
E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
UB Closes in Anticipation of Severe Snowstorm AMANDA WOODSManaging Editor
ALEX MCCROSSEN /// The Spectrum ANBERLIN CONCERT
In Nigeria, the primary focus will be The NUC appointed UB Professor Pa- on nanomedicine, which could be apras N. Prasad, a SUNY Distinguished plied to disease diagnosis, treatment, Professor of chemistry, physics, elec- and delivery, according to Folarin trical engineering, and medicine and Erogbogbo, the group leader and rethe executive director of the ILPB, as search assistant professor in cancer the head of the joint research center. nanotechnology under Prasad. Prasad was named one of the top 50 scientists by Scientific American in “Over here [at UB], we’ve done some 2005 and has published more than work that could be beneficial for the 600 scientific papers. He is consid- early detection of cancer. However, ered the father of nanophotonics nanomedicine doesn’t end there,” Erogand biophotonics because of his out- bogbo said. “It could be used in other standing contributions in promoting areas like malaria and AIDS research the technology and its biomedical ap- and so on; obesity issues, as well.” g plications. Continued on Page 7
INSIDE
[the] Seneca and Iroquois cultures, and we had a longstanding friendship that we maintained – in part, because of our interest in Native American studies and also just because he was such a warm and vibrant and caring person.”
The University at Buffalo announced that all day and evening classes are cancelled Wenesday, due to the impending snowstorm. Essential employees must still report to work. This is the first time that UB has closed due to adverse weather conditions since the 2006 October storm ravaged Buffalo, causing power outages on South Campus and throughout the region. It may come as an alarm to students that UB would announce this closure before the storm’s first flakes dusted the ground, but university officials believe this was a necessary measure. “The decision was made out of caution based on the weather reports,” said John Della Contrada, the assistant vice president for media relations.
ARTS BAND WARS PAGE 5
Paul Vecchio, the senior associate athletic director, also reported that tomorrow’s National Signing Day Event and men’s basketball game versus Toledo are being rescheduled. This storm is expected to be the most widespread of the season, with heavy accumulation in Western New York and across the state, David Zaff, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service out of Buffalo told Channel 7. “As far as snow totals go, we are looking for anywhere from 8 and 16 inches Buffalo to Rochester and north, and much less further to the south,” Zaff said. Areas south of Buffalo won’t be seeing as much snow, Zaff reported, but they could face a mix of snow and freezing rain. g
NEWS
Helping Teens With ADHD Become Better Drivers MADELEINE BURNSStaff Writer
Police Blotter ONLINE NOW
New Online Self-Assessment For Majors And Careers UB Career Services offers MyPlan Program to students DAVID WEIDENBORNERNews Editor The UB Career Services website has launched an undergraduate major and career exploration program, MyPlan. The web-based assessment tool is designed to help students decide what areas of study truly suit them and what occupations are available after graduation. MyPlan offers a Career Interest Profiler, Career Skills Profiler, and Career Values Assessment, as well as other tools. The program’s interface is student-friendly and includes job description videos, various top-ten-career lists, and even a salary calculator. In the “Majors” section, students can research more than 1,200 possible degree options and what career each may lead to. “[MyPlan] assesses students’ interests, skills, and values,” said Arlene Kaukus, director of Career Services. “These are three very different but important factors that guide major and career choices.” After registering for the program users, can create their own personalized portfolios with any major or career findings. MyPlan replaces UB’s previous free self-assessment tool, FOCUS. “MyPlan allows students to look up different industries and the specific occupations within each one,” Kaukus said. “The old FOCUS program lacked this tool.” The same fee-based self-assessments – including MBTI®, the Strong Interest Inventory®, and StrengthsQuest™ – are still being offered by Career Services. Students can access MyPlan through the Career Services website, where they will need to set up a free account. A license code is provided by Career Services that enables students to take the assessments. More registration information is available at: ub-careers.buffalo.edu/myplantips. Students interested in using MyPlan or any of the self-assessments are encouraged to make an appointment with a career counselor before taking any test and also to have a follow-up meeting where their assessment can be evaluated further. To schedule an appointment, students should contact UB Career Services at 259 Capen Hall or call 716645-2231. g
A UB researcher has developed a behavioral treatment that will help teenagers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) become better drivers. Dr. Gregory A. Fabiano, an associate professor in the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology in the Graduate School of Education, has partnered with professors in the Department of Engineering to assist families as their teens learn to drive. The Graduate School of Education was notified in May 2010 that it would receive a $2.8 million grant from the National Institute of Health to fund research on the effects of parent-teen communication on driving habits among teens with ADHD, who are considered to be the most dangerous drivers on the road. “Teens in the study come in and get some social skills and communications training,” said Fabiano about what will be a five-year investigation. “They have joint sessions with their parents where they learn how to come to agreements related to rules and restrictions.” In addition to providing behavioral and psychosocial treatment over the course of the eight-step intervention program, investigators make use of the efficient technology available at UB. Professors Kevin Hulme and Temper Lewis (from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences), who also work at the New York State Center for Industrial Design and Innovation (NYSCEDII), have provided a state-of-the-art driving simulator. The simulator has been funded both internally and by annual monies allotted by New York State and by the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). The driving simulator functions as a real vehicle: it sits atop a motion platform and has a steering wheel and brakes that are hooked up to a supercomputer, which processes the driver’s reactions to a course provided on a visualization screen. The combination of the platform, visuals, and audio, which includes the sound of tires screech-
Courtesy of Peter Suneson
ing, gives teens a way to exercise their brains and operate a vehicle without risk of injury, according to Hulme.
have very poor insight into their own behavior, so they’re not very good selfevaluators,” Fabiano said.
“It’s a powerful research tool for people in a variety of departments interested in vehicle safety,” Hulme said, noting the extraordinary interdisciplinary value of the machine in the UB academic community as well as Western New York’s industrial base.
This device, in combination with the simulator, helps license-bound teens become more aware of their driving habits. In addition, several sessions with the simulator allow teens to experience firsthand the dangerous effects of alcohol and texting on the ability to focus behind the wheel.
“What we like about the simulator is that we can provide concrete behavioral feedback to a teen,” Fabiano said. The simulator’s value in the study is two-fold. As the teen practices driving in a controlled setting, parents can sit in the passenger’s seat and practice their parenting. Parents of new drivers often focus on the mistakes their teens make, but in the simulator, they can practice catching their teen doing the right thing, according to Fabiano. This, in turn, can lead to a reduction in stress and a closer relationship between the parent and teen. “The most influential components of the intervention are teaching parents to establish clear expectations and consequences related to teen driving behavior,” said Meaghan Pariseau, a doctorate student in psychology. Pariseau works as a clinician on the STEER (Supporting a Teen’s Effective Entry to the Roadway) driving study. She also touts the effectiveness of technology in easing the teens’ transitions to independent driving. In addition to the simulator, Fabiano and his team set up teens’ cars with a special device that beeps every time the driver’s action, such as slamming on the breaks, swerving, or accelerating too rapidly – registers as risky. When hooked up to a computer, the device provides parents with a visual representation of the drive; it subsequently provides opportunities for both praise and constructive criticism.
Although Fabiano’s method of treatment is multi-faceted, it steers away from pharmacological drugs used to treat ADHD due to the limitations of medication. According to Fabiano, teens often stop taking their medicine, and even when they do take the drugs correctly, they typically use them as preparation for the school day, not when they are on the road. He considers the devices and practices employed in the study to represent a “viable alternative treatment” that can be further developed. Fabiano hopes the intervention reduces risky behaviors in all drivers who come through the study. Stuart Linke, a graduate student in psychology, worked with Fabiano for two years on this and other studies. He said that beyond helping the teens become better drivers, the researchers hope that the study’s crash course in communication helps “improve the long term outcomes for the families.” When the study concludes, Fabiano and his team will have worked with at least 200 teenagers with ADHD. Although the study currently is open only to those with the disorder, Fabiano added that the project would lead to an “interesting future avenue of research to work with typically developing teens as well.” g
E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
T:4.5” “If somebody has ADHD, they typically
E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
SCREEN GEMS PRESENTS A VERTIGO ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION “THE ROOMMATE” LEIGHTON MEESTER MINKA KELLY CAM GIGANDET ALY MICHALKA DANNEEL HARRIS FRANCES FISHER AND BILLY ZANE SUPERVISIONMUSICBY MICHAEL FRIEDMAN MUSICBY JOHN FRIZZELL PRODUCED EXECUTIVE WRITTEN BY DOUG DAVISON AND ROY LEE PRODUCERS BEAU MARKS SONNY MALLHI BY SONNY MALLHI DIRECTED BY CHRISTIAN E. CHRISTIANSEN
2
NEWS wednesday, FEBRuary 2, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM
OPINION Editorial Board
Florida Health Care Ruling Purely Political
Editor in Chief
Repeal a veiled rebuke of Obama
Managing Editors
For the past two years, health care has been one of the most volatile subjects in this country. As the Tea Party movement rose to prominence in 2009, many angry town hall meetings were held about the subject, during which shouting was the order of the day.
When the Republicans took control of the House of Representatives, one of their first promises was to repeal the bill. It was purely symbolic, however, because the Senate was still controlled by the Democrats, and Obama would easily have been able to veto any repeal.
Then, when the health care reform bill – known by conservatives as “ObamaCare” – was passed in March of 2010, it continued to be a lightning rod for political debate. Liberals believed the bill wasn’t strong enough, while conservatives wanted to see it repealed as soon as possible.
What a federal judge in Florida recently did, however, may have more serious ramifications. Judge Roger Vinson recently ruled the health care bill unconstitutional, repealing the bill in the state.
Andrew Wiktor
Luke Hammill, senior Amanda Woods Editorial Editor
John Hugar
News Editors
Lauren Nostro, senior David Weidenborner Dannielle O’Toole, asst. Investigative Reporter
Amanda Jonas Arts Editors
James Twigg, senior Jameson Butler Vanessa Frith, asst. Life Editors
Jennifer Harb, senior Mike Tyson, asst.
From there, this decision will be taken to a Federal Appeals Court, and, more than likely, the U.S. Supreme Court,
where moderate Justice Anthony Kennedy will once again be the swing vote. At The Spectrum, we believe this decision is nothing more than a rebuke of President Obama, and that the debate here is not over constitutional law, but merely one of political ideology. Quite simply, liberal judges will be against this ruling and conservative judges will be for it. It will be the same old discussion we’ve been having for years now. What makes it so important, however, is the effect it will have. America is split down the middle politically
Americans Need to Lighten Up AMANDA JONAS Investigative Reporter
right now, and that applies to the court system as well. The odds of the Supreme Court upholding this decision are at least reasonable.
Americans are eating themselves to death, and cable television is inviting us to watch.
Republicans have been looking for a way to derail health care reform for a while now, and they may have found it. Trying to repeal through Congress wouldn’t work for at least another two years.
My roommate and I have about five shows that we regularly record on DVR. Besides The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Storage Wars, each week we tune in to A&E’s Heavy, MTV’s I Used To Be Fat, TLC specials on The World’s Heaviest Man, and True Life: I’m Happy I’m Fat.
It is unknown how the courts will rule on this, but this makes the right wing’s distaste for Obama and his ideas clear. They will do anything to take him down, and in this case, it may work. g
Sports Editors
Not that I am complaining.
I’m not sure exactly why I tune in to so many TV shows about obesity. Maybe because I feel like I could lose a pound or two, or maybe the obesity epidemic in America is so tragic that it is something I can’t help but watch. We are the first generation of Americans whose life expectancy is estimated to be shorter than our parents’; one of the main reasons for this alarming statistic is obesity.
Photo Editors
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the number one cause of death in America is heart disease, followed by strokes at number three and diabetes at number seven.
WEB Editor
All three of these diseases are linked very closely to obesity, and with 66 percent of Americans either overweight or obese, it seems that the clock is ticking for many of us.
Matt Parrino, senior Carey Beyer Brian Josephs, asst. Clinton Hodnett, senior Megan Kinsley Alex McCrossen Adam Cole
PROFESSIONAL STAFF Business Manager
Debbie Smith
Administrative Assistant
Helene Polley
Courtesy of MTV
MTV Series Crosses the Line
Advertising Manager
Skins takes teen sex too far
CREATIVE DIRECTOr
MTV has never been a haven of moral high ground. From Johnny Knoxville’s painful antics on Jackass to the juiceheads of Jersey Shore, the network has a long history of glorifying behavior that would not be advised in real life.
Marissa Giarraputo Jeannette Wiley
Advertising Designer
Aline Kobayashi
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 Spectrum is provided free in part by the Undergraduate Mandatory Activity Fee
FEBRuary 2 , 2011 VOLUME 60 NUMBER 47 CIRCULATION: 7,000
The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by both Alloy Media and Marketing, and MediaMate For information on advertising with the Spectrum visit www.ubspectrum.com/ads or call us directly. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100 Telephone: (716) 645-2468 Fax: (716) 645-2766
In spite of this, MTV never did anything that crossed the line of human decency. As ridiculous, and sometimes unwatchable, as its shows may have been, generally speaking, it was in all in good fun. This time, however, the network has gone too far. In recent weeks, MTV has come under fire for its series Skins, a scripted show about teenagers who engage in sexual intercourse on a regular basis. Usually, this wouldn’t be out of the ordinary. After all, many of MTV’s programs feature a great deal of sexual content.
In this case, however, the problem isn’t with the sex, but rather with the actors. Many of the performers on the series are under the age of 18, which has led to accusations that MTV is in violation of child pornography laws. While there is obviously no actual intercourse occurring, since it’s a basic cable show, the show does feature many sexually explicit scenes that have been considered problematic due to the young age of the actors. We agree with this sentiment. While plenty of MTV’s programs have pushed the envelope with regards to sexual content, none of them have featured performers who are so young. Jersey Shore may be just as sexually charged as Skins, but all the actors are of legal age. Two of MTV’s other juggernaut programs are 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom, both of which focus on the lives of teenage moth-
ers. Many have argued that what occurs on Skins is no worse than what takes place on these shows, since both present teen sex in a manner that could be characterized as glorification. The Spectrum disagrees with this sentiment, however. For one, neither of these shows feature the explicit sex scenes that Skins does. Additionally, it can be argued that those shows discuss the dangers of teen pregnancy, while Skins does nothing more than portray underage sex in a glamorous light. MTV has recently stated that it plans to decrease the amount of sexual content on Skins in order to fight the child pornography accusations. While we have no problem with the issue of teen sex being explored on TV, when the scenes are this explicit, and the actors are underage, that is simply going too far. g
The word around campus
Copyright 2010 Buffalo, N.Y.
Although not quite as raunchy as Generation’s personals once were, these are the voices of UB’s students who have something to say. If you want to be heard, too, write us a blurb online at ubspectrum.com. Some of the wittiest remarks will appear in the paper in no particular order.
The Spectrum is printed by The Buffalo News 1 News Plaza Buffalo, NY 14240
CONTESTS Poetry Contest: Submit your love-themed poem for our Valentine’s issue. contest ends 2/9
Illustrations! Love to draw? Calling for all doodlers and serious artists to enter their creations. Your artwork could make the front page! contest ends 1/31
OSCARS PREDICTIONS Tweet your prediction for Best Picture and get printed! | contest ends 2/25
e-mail any submissions to info@ubspectrum.com
Sweet new look. It’s about time. What’s with all the color pages in this new Spectrum? Are they meant to make up for the lack of content the paper has suffered from for the past couple of years? I love the new Spectrum, especially how big the logo is! Keep up the good work; the design is awesome! One word on the redesign: fugly. Although you’ve got a few kinks to work out on the new web layout, it’s refreshing. And the new print is amazing. Keep it up. I respectfully disagree with Mr. Goodnough. Students need to accept responsibility for their actions as adults. We all know that cheating is not permitted at the university because it hasn’t been permitted since starting in school at kindergarten. Like your article pointed out, more cheating leads to security, which leads to higher costs. Why should I pay for another person’s stupidity? I saw you stumble off the Creekside Hill that leads to the road. It wasn’t even funny – I’m sorry! Because it’s happened to me before. I wish UB Apartments would put up a pavement so we don’t have to hike in snow. :(
According to the CDC, 20 years ago in New York State, less than 10 percent of New Yorkers were obese. Ten years later, that statistic rose to 20 percent, and today, 25.8 percent of New Yorkers are obese or morbidly obese. Obesity is not just a problem for New York State. In 1990, the CDC found that in 10 states, obesity rates were still under 10 percent, and no states had a higher prevalence of obesity than 15 percent. Almost a decade later, no state had obesity rates under 10 percent, and 18 states had a prevalence of obesity up to 24 percent. Today, only Colorado and Washington, D.C. have obesity rates of less than 20 percent, and in 30 states, 25 percent of the population is obese, with nine states reporting more than 30 percent of their residents being obese or morbidly obese. For anyone who watches the news or reads the paper, it is not uncommon to be bombarded with all the negative press that obesity receives and rightly deserves. This could be why shows like I Used To Be Fat and Heavy are so important. Maybe what America needs instead of a pencil-thin celebrity trying to sell us a weight loss drug or another svelte doctor warning us that our fast food addictions are deadly, we need to see real people overcoming what many think is an insurmountable obstacle. I’ve heard people say that MTV’s I Used to Be Fat, which sets an obese teenagers up with personal trainers and helps them change their bodies in one summer, is insensitive to the feelings of overweight teens. I personally think that we could stand to sacrifice a little political correctness to save the lives of teens who are inspired to lose weight just like the young adults they see on TV. BBC’s hit show, You Are What You Eat, is possibly the most insensitive show on TV to tackle obesity. The hosts and nutritionalists have no problem calling the participants fat, pointing out what horrible food and activity choices they make, while at the same time helping them drop tremendous amounts of weight. We can’t tiptoe around a problem that is killing more people than cancer with each passing year. On the show Heavy, viewers meet two morbidly obese people who have 180 days to completely change their lives. Through intense and seemingly endless workouts, dieting, and complete lifestyle changes, these individuals make dramatic strides toward fitness. We need to see more shows like this. We need to see how well sweat equity and determination lead to weight loss, not a pill or an online program. g
E-mail: amanda.jonas@ubspectrum.com OPINION wednesday, FEBRuary 2, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM
3
Silverstein Screams for Buffalo
ARTS & LIFE
MAX SOEUN KIMStaff Writer
One Person’s Trash is Another Person’s Fashion Show
What would a band whose name was inspired by a famous children’s book author sound like? Turns out, nothing like the whimsical and gentle poetry by Shel Silverstein.
MICHAEL TYSONAsst. Life Editor How many students have looked at a pile of recyclables and thought of the many different outfits they could make with those bags, papers, and bottles? On Wednesday, Feb. 9, the Student Association will be holding a fashion show with a twist. All of the outfits worn must be made of reused, reusable and recyclable items. This leaves students free to run with their imaginations so long as the outfit is clean and safe, free of jagged edges, and also covering all private areas. “We thought that a fashion show featuring outfits made out of recyclable items, as well as outfits from reused clothing stores such as Plato's Closet, would be a fun way to encourage people to recycle their trash,” said Emily Gibson, a junior communication major and the student representative in the communication and outreach subcommittee of the environmental stewardship committee. The Passion for Eco-Fashion is not just an excuse to get dolled up in old beer cases and ducttape; it is also a competition among SA clubs with cash prizes for the top three entries. ”A recycled fashion show is a nice kick off to Recylcemania, the competition amongst colleges and universities to see who can recycle the most,” Gibson said, “We hope that students will learn what is recyclable, that they will start thinking about recycling when they are disposing their trash.” The fashion show is on Feb. 9 from 11 a.m. until around 2 p.m. in the Student Union lobby. The sign-up period is ending soon, so any clubs interested can e-mail Gibson at egibson@buffalo. edu by Friday Students not participating are encouraged to come and see the wacky, creative and daring outfits that the participating clubs have put together. “We hope to convey not only the importance of acting in an environmentally responsible way, but also that it can be easy and fun,” Gibson said “Creating and seeing crazy outfits made out of recyclables at a fashion show is a great way of demonstrating this message.” Whether students want to cheer on their friends, strut their stuff on the runway, or simply enjoy the free food that will be provided, everyone is welcome to come by and witness the SUNY BUFFALO SPECTRUM PER Passion for Eco-Fashion. g CH038252B MAADAMS
10.625 x 9.56”
E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com kmc/gl
2
Five-piece post-hardcore/screamo outfit Silverstein has steadily been gaining popularity over the last decade. They’ve gained a foothold in the scene with riffs vaguely reminiscent of NOFX – embellished with heavy drop-D power chords and a generic mixture of screaming and plaintive wailing. It wasn’t Silverstein’s first time at local music venue and indoor skate-park Xtreme Wheels, but Buffalo warmly welcomed them again on Saturday evening. The band was greeted with flailing fists, outstretched “devil horns,” and a maelstrom of adrenalized young skateboarders and teenage scenesters donned in monochromatic attire, stretched ears, and black-ink tattoos. Silverstein kicked off the show with “I Am the Arsonist” from their 2009 album, A Shipwreck in the Sand. The band then followed up with a more recent song, “Sacrifice,” from its newest production, an EP entitled Transitions. In spite of a less-than-stellar sound system and an initial sound problem, the roughly 200-person crowd was fraught with visible excitement, and by the time Silverstein stepped up, the park was already dotted with young fans frantically looking for shoes they had lost while crowd surfing. Though the crowd was predominantly teen, older fans were not absent from the throng. More mature concertgoers could be seen rubbing shoulders and rocking out with their younger counterparts throughout the set. Silverstein is one of the few bands out there capable of tearing down the generation barrier.
Alex McCrossen /// The Spectrum
only one with a rowdy concert persona during the show, as was proven by the crowd’s lively moshing and crowd surfing. Throughout the night, the crowd became a sea of violently swinging appendages, managing to keep only a lucky few afloat. “I got punched in the face in the mosh pit,” said Nick Elmer, 16, of Buffalo. Before Silverstein took to the stage, the crowd was warmed up by A Bullet For Pretty Boy, The Chariot, and Miss May I, all of whom played energetic half-hour sets. Each of the opening acts was able to move the crowd in an expert fashion thanks to power chord-driven rhythms and brutal vocals. The Chariot especially gave a hyped-up performance that transitioned well into the crowd’s reception. From guitarist Brandon Henderson constantly flailing about to lead singer Josh Cogin’s stage diving antics, The Chariot refused to allow even a single dull second during their set. The band covered a wide variety of songs from its ever-growing discography. “Before There Was Atlanta, There Was Douglasville,” off the band’s debut studio album Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding, as well as “Teach,” from Wars and Rumors of Wars, both received a vibrant and over-the-top reaction from all fans in attendance. However, metalcore group Miss May I was able to give The Chariot a run for their money. With hit songs like “Relentless Chaos” and “Our Kings,” the group was able to keep the crowd moving in time with the music while simultaneously belting back the lyrics in perfect unison.
It’s not often that a show capable of shaking a venue quite the way these artists did Saturday night “They’re awesome. My son comes to Buffalo. If you missed showed me [the band] on You- it, there’s no need to worry. It’s 2/2/2011 Tube, so I decided to come along,” only a matter of time before Silverstein ends up back in town yet said Robert Webb, District an amateur Manager Trainee again. g metal guitarist from Rochester. ALDI000016
Vocalist Shane Told was not the
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
get the control that a leader deserves. Your employees. Your customers. Your entire district. You’re the one they all depend on. At ALDI, we instill our District Managers with real leadership power. The kind that influences lives, engages action and impacts the bottom-line. It’s a level of trust that’s guaranteed at the very beginning of your career – all because you’ve earned it. The responsibility. The success. And the rewards. Welcome to More.
District Manager Trainees Visit us at the Career Fest on Friday, March 4th. Contact your career office for resume submittal requirements for Spring recruiting. Discover more at
ALDI.us /careers
Executive Power 4
ARTS & LIFE wednesday, FEBRuary 2, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM
ALDI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
EGYPTIAN-THEMED PLAYLIST
online now at UBspectrum.com/arts
A Battle Over More Than Music VANESSA FRITHAsst. Arts Editor As signed bands argue with record companies, unsigned bands engage in an equally difficult battle with promoters. Saturday night’s Supernova Band Wars at the Tralf was no exception. Alex McCrossen /// The Spectrum
Even Anthony Green wanted to a piece of the pit Friday night.
A Triumphant Return JAMESON BUTLERArts Editor Friday night showcased the necessity for a frontman that knows how to put on a live show, which is more rarer now than one might think. One of the most diverse tours of the winter stopped at Water Street Music Hall in Rochester and left with the patrons begging for more. Anberlin, Circa Survive, and Foxy Shazam all brought their high-octane live shows, but only two of the bands were able to warm up the crowd and get it participating. Foxy Shazam is known around the underground as possessing one of the highest-energy and choreographed live shows in the industry, and it’s true. Foxy’s live show is Cirque du Soleil meets mosh pit. From eating cigarettes to jumping onto the guitarist’s shoulders mid-song, lead singer Eric Nally did his best to entertain the crowd, but to no avail. The pretentious underage crowd wanted no part of what Foxy presented. The crowd stood arms-crossed and idle for the entirety of Foxy’s set, and the band seemed to be quite offset by the audience. In response to this, Foxy informed the crowd that it was getting the boring ending instead of the acrobatic conclusion the band is famous for. When Anthony Green and the rest of Circa Survive emerged from the dimly lit backstage, Water Street Music Hall exploded. The band’s devoted fanbase had waited long enough; it was time to jam out with the beloved Circa Survive. It had been nearly two-and-a-half years since Circa Survive had made a stop in Western New York. The select few fans who got a chance to see this sold-out show experienced one of the best live shows in the scene today. The band seemed to be taken aback by the love Rochester radiated as it began to perform. By the time Circa started to perform their second song, they had begun to use that energy to present a more enjoyable stage show. Green, the lead singer, came on stage to the roar of the crowd, more so than any other member of the band. From the moment he took the stage, Green had the crowd eating from his hand.
Green is known around the pop-punk world as one of the most dynamic musicians. From starting Saosin, to Circa Survive, to his successful solo career, Green understands what it takes to control the crowd. The singer’s voice was nearly spot-on during the entire show. He was able to hit his signature high notes while also adding a raspy touch, which went well with how heavy the instrumentals were. His voice is eerily reminiscent of Matt Pryor, lead singer of the influential emo group, the Get Up Kids. While Green perfected the vocals, his supporting cast provided the instrumentals that have become just as prominent as Green’s vocal capabilities. Along with the instrumentals, the light show that Circa Survive provided was one to entertain everyone, even those who weren’t on drugs. It would be hard for any band to follow such a high-energy show, but that’s exactly what Anberlin did. These Florida rockers are no strangers to Western New York. Not only does the band tour relentlessly, Anberlin was one of the opening bands for Spring Fest 2010. Unlike the show at UB, Anberlin had plenty of fans there and were greeted warmly as they took the stage. This is a dramatic change from even just a few years ago, when they were the unknown opener that slowly won people over. The years that Anberlin have put in to their career are on display during their live shows. Nearly every song was played perfectly, if it did not exceed its recorded counterpart. Performing material from all five of their albums, Anberlin made sure that their setlist was diverse. Because of this, the band was able to appeal to the fans that had been there all along while also catering to its new fans.
Although the only battle intended for the night was a friendly competition between local bands, more unfolded than originally intended. With Wellness Exchange and Breckenwood emerging head and shoulders above the rest in terms of talent, winning first and second places respectively, it proves that Buffalo is not lacking in talent, just lacking in helpful promoters and chances to perform. Listed by the Tralf to have a start time of 6 p.m., the show actually kicked off an hour earlier, at 5 p.m. Unfortunately for the bands slated for the 5 and 5:30 spots, the turnout may have appeared less than desirable. With roughly 30-minute slots, including setup, 15 bands proceeded to take the stage, playing music from genres as diverse as pop punk, hip-hop, and metal. With no compensation for the time poured into the competition, the bands battled to get the most out of their efforts by fighting for first- and second-place prizes. For the group deemed most talented by the judges, first place held the opportunity to have two shows booked by Supernova in the city of the band’s choice. Second place furnished the group with a $199.99 voucher for eMixengine.com, which can professionally mix and master music. According to Mike Wallace, UB alumnus and supervisor of the night’s event, to participate, bands had to “sign up with Supernova, a promotion company based out of Toronto, sell their own tickets, promote the show, and get people [to the show]. “ Although age doesn’t always carry the connotation of success in music, the bands that performed the best were those that had members around the age of 20 and above, as shown by the winners. Wellness Exchange was the only band that did not have its home base in Buffalo, although two of the members have their
roots here. Rather, they call New York City home for the moment, and they made the trek to the Queen City just for the competition. As far as the crowd was concerned, Wellness Exchange was the clear winner. Bringing a fresh wave of energy to the stage, the group had a presence that was unmatched during the night. With fast-paced hip-hop backed with mellow rock, Wellness Exchange had viewers on their feet and jumping. Led by 28-year-old Why-G?, the quintet also consists of Natty Leach on guitar/vocals, Bill Musso on drums, Jack Rich on bass/vocals, and Dave Seaward on keys/vocals. Luckily, first prize can book shows in any city of their choice, meaning Wellness Exchange can use their prize in their hometown. Breckenwood pulled in a solid second, led by the vocals and guitar of Garrett Shea. With Will Folckemer providing bass, Cameron Kukla on drums, and Lambros Markousis on guitar, Shea was free to switch to acoustic for songs like “Loser of the Year,” and piano for “Dear Abby.” However, not all bands had such smooth sets as Breckenwood and Wellness Exchange. While Breckenwood suffered feedback problems from the house amps, Broken By Dawn found themselves set back by the use of the house-provided drums. “It was an amateur-level drum kit, which automatically changed our sound,” said Derek Bajdas, vocalist for the metal group. “Halfway through the second song, the foot pedal spring shot off and we had to stop and wait 10 minutes for [the Tralf] to fix it. During the next song we were told the kids weren’t allowed to mosh, which doesn’t allow the kids to get into the show.” According to guitarist Nick Newcomer, the band was not allowed to make up the time used to fix the drums and the promoter turned the bass off remotely and forced them to leave the stage. “The biggest problem was that it was a form of censorship on music,” Newcomer said. Although the winners walked away with prizes, there was no compensation given to any of the bands for selling tickets and promoting the show, and, in the case of Broken by Dawn, fans paid $15 a piece just to see their band get kicked out. Corina Newby of Public Relations for Supernova could not be reached for comment on the issue. g
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
As these seasoned veterans performed, the intensity of the crowd died down. While Anberlin’s hardcore fans kept up their energy, it became apparent that most people were there to see Circa Survive. By the end of the night, there wasn’t a single person that didn’t have at least a little precipitation on him. Everyone in attendance understood that these three bands are a dying breed, and music isn’t made like this anymore. g
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
Interested in studying abroad? Come to a general info session!
Group Advising Session with
Olga Crombie, Study Abroad Advisor
Wednesday, February 2nd 212 Talbert Hall 3:00-4:00pm UB Study Abroad 210 Talbert Hall 645-3912 studyabroad@buffalo.edu www.buffalo.edu/studyabroad ARTS & LIFE wednesday, FEBRuary 2, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM
5
CLASSIFIEDS
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.
HELP WANTED
campus/ bus, appliances, laundry, security, parking. June 1st, (716) 568-1600.
DELIVERY PERSON, $12-15 per hour. Flexible hours. Must know the Buffalo area near Campus. Students/ teacher’s welcome. 585-721-7530. Available immediately!
4-BDRM, WALK to south campus/ bus. Large rooms, new carpet, appliances, laundry, security, parking. June 1st, (716) 568-1600.
RETAIL SALES position. $10-14 hour. Flexible hours. Near campus. Student/ teacher’s welcome. Available immediately! 585-721-7530. LASERTRON INTERACTIVE Entertainment Center has immediate part-time openings. Candidates should be able to work at a fast; detail oriented pace and have excellent customer service skills. Starting at approximately $10.25/ hr., must be available weekends. Stop in and complete at application at LASERTRON, 5101 North Bailey Avenue, Amherst, NY. PART-TIME BABYSITTER needed! Needed Wed, Thurs and Fri from 2pm-6pm for 3 girls ages 11,10 & 5. Reliable car required. Location is Williamsville. Pay is $12/ hr. Contact Miranda at mirandag@mueller-inc. com or 691-4344 x228. FLOWER SHOP HELPER part-time, fun job, Amherst, 8hrs – 12hrs, 400-4891.
APARTMENT FOR RENT EVERYTHING YOU NEED for the 2011 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.
3-BDRM, WALK to south campus/ bus, appliances, laundry, security, parking. June 1st, (716) 568-1600. LISBON/ BAILEY: 2-3 bedroom upper. Newer carpeting, living room, dining room, kitchen, appliances, laundry, off-street parking, furnished, $180+, 440-5133 or 636-1656. Available June 1st.
HOUSE FOR RENT EVERYTHING YOU NEED for the 2011 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. SOUTH CAMPUS housing 14 properties to choose from. 1,3,4,5,6,7 & 8 bedroom homes. Available June 1st 2011. Call Dave 716-445-2514 or go to daveburnette.net to view all properties. HEATH, WINSPEAR 3,4,5,6,8 bedroom houses and apartments $275/ pp, ubrentals@hotmail.com. “OUR NICEST HOMES rent now! Newly remodeled 3-8 person homes on W. Winspear, Englewood, Tyler, Heath & Merrimac. Amenities include O/S parking,
IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCY 3 & 4 bedroom semifurnished apts. at reduced rentals. June 1st rentals available, 691-5710. COME FIND YOUR shadow! www.luxuryaptswny.
com/UB.
Why rent when you can own.
3-BDRM MAIN ST. South Campus. Appliances, carpet $575 month + utilities & security deposit. Call 884-7900.
4,5,6 & 8 BEDROOM REMODELED apartments to choose from. Located at University at Buffalo Main Street Campus off Englewood. Beginning June 2011. 32 apts. to choose from $275/ bed plus utilities. Washers & dryers included. Contact Bradengel37@ gmail.com 301-785-3773, or Shawn 716-9847813. Check out our web-site: www.bufapt.com.
MERRIMAC 3 & 4 BEDROOM updated kitchen, bath, dishwasher, laundry & off-street parking, $275 per person. Available June 1st, 716-308-5215.
FANTASTIC LOCATION across the street from UB south at Main & NF Blvd. Rent for completely furnished room starts at $325.00/ mo including all utilities and Internet. 630-300-4228. Immediate occupancy.
2 BEDROOMS AVAIL in 5 bedroom house – June 1, 2011. Main/ Heath, 716-432-7125.
SERVICES CITY A1 drivingschool.com. Beginners & brush-up driving lessons. 5 hr. class $30.00, 716-875-4662.
UNCLASSIFIED (misc.) MALE EXOTIC DANCER available for ladies. Low rates. Call Mr. Brodie @ 716-445-6852.
www.QualityThingsForLess.com, save 10%. Enter code: UB11.
shuttles to campus
www.CVwny.com 716-833-3700
Contact Alicia Morrison Licensed Real Estate Agent
(716) 445 - 2975
DAILY
Sudoku – Difficulty 3 of 5
Crossword
DOWN 1 West Coast hrs. 2 I knew it! 3 Hood’s weapon 4 Impervious to light 5 Express doubts 6 Three oceans touch it 7 Zany — Raye 8 Monklike 9 Forbidding 10 Singer Flack 11 Poe’s middle name 12 Enlists again (hyph.) 13 Discharge
student apartments
SPONSORED BY The Undergraduate Student Association
Visit ubspectrum.com/games for our online game of the day - Bloons Also see the completed crossword and sudoku from last issue
CLASSIFIEDS wednesday, FEBRuary 2, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM
ROOM FOR RENT
AMHERST – SOUTH CAMPUS/ safe side of Main. Quiet Junior Architect students looking for serious male roommate. Excellent condition, private bedrooms, big closets, laundry, parking & dishwasher. Available now & May. 5 minute walk to Crosby Hall. $295.00+ share of utilities. 716-400-9663.
Shuttles to 7 Campuses, Shopping, Entertainment and More!
DELIGHTS
6
7, 8, 9 BEDROOM houses. Walk to south campus/ bus, appliances, laundry, security, parking. June 1st, (716) 568-1600.
2-BDRM TONAWANDA NY. $400/ month w/ deposit. Free heat. DSL & cable. email: davidbel@buffalo.edu, 716-799-9211.
Sunday February 6th 1-3pm
155 Charter Oaks #2
Crossword
48 Dark yellow 51 Winter Games org. 52 Flower, to Yvette 53 Sentry’s challenge (3 wds.) 56 Butterbean 57 Powdery residue 58 Blended together 62 Level 63 Prompter’s hint 64 Shooting star 65 Dry run 66 That girl 67 Judge
5-6 BEDROOMS – Big and beautiful, free laundry, energy star windows, furnace and water heater, updated kitchen & bath, stainless steel appliances, internet & cable connection in every room, off-street parking, huge yard, 3 ½ blocks to UB, Minnesota Ave., $200 - $220/ per, (716) 446-1213.
ROOMMATE WANTED
To see where else our shuttle will take you, visit
5-BDRM, 2 LEVEL upper apartment! Walk to south
29 Mexican Mrs. 30 Come to the plate 31 — kwon do 32 Paramedic’s skill 33 Bar sing-along 37 NASA counterpart 38 Latin trio 39 Monsieur’s wine 40 Koan discipline 41 Notices 43 Overhead railways 44 Mare’s tidbit 45 Film director Spike 46 Alps, for short 47 Murray or Baxter
2 TO 8 BEDROOM APARTMENTS and houses now showing for next academic year. Northrup, Winspear, Merrimac, Englewood, Tyler, Highgate and more! Hardwood floors, laundry, off-street parking, so much more! Call, Text, or email Jeremy Dunn to take a tour. (585) 261-6609, jgdunn2@msn.com.
Open House
2 TO 8 BEDROOM APARTMENTS and houses now showing for next academic year. Northrup, Winspear, Merrimac, Englewood, Tyler, Highgate and more! Hardwood floors, laundry, off-street parking, so much more! Call, Text, or email Jeremy Dunn to take a tour. (585) 261-6609, jgdunn2@msn.com.
ACROSS 1 Chinese temple 7 Sticker stat 10 Uncommon 14 Gives form to 15 Melody 16 Designer Cassini 17 Straw mat 18 Vive le —! 19 Eye shade 20 Abrupt changes (2 wds.) 23 Happen 26 Sighs of distress 27 Physicist Mach 28 Big name in soccer
15 HEATH STREET!!!!! 5 wonderful bedroom house – avail June 1, $320/ shared reasonable utilities, call 716-432-7125.
2 ROOMS AVAILABLE right across from UB south campus entrance at 257 Winspear. Half furnished, male roommates preferred. Prices start at $210/ room/ month. Call Kamal at 716-863-9990.
A first floor one bedroom garden view unit which includes stove, refrigerator and dishwasher. Private storage in basement. Condo/Homeowners Association fees include cable, water, pool, tennis court, and clubhouse. Small pets allowed.
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS. 3-4 bedroom apartments available. $645 - $800 a month. Call 716-884-8213 Today!
2-BDRM NEWLY remodeled minutes from UB/ North. Includes: Heat, water, appliances, balcony, new carpet, off-street parking, dumpster pick-up. Laundry in basement, $795, 716-691-7600.
whirlpool Jacuzzi bathtubs. W/W carpeting, new SS appliances, free laundry. Live the Sweethome life on south! Visit www.ubrents.com or call 716-208-4308.”
21 Martial-arts star 22 Finds out 23 Decided on 24 — and desist 25 Football shoe part 29 Ill-will 30 Quits, so to speak 32 Roman orator 33 Gripe 34 UV blocker 35 Reeves of “Speed” 36 Put in a log 42 Chic 46 Nurture 47 Warnings 48 Young hooter
49 Spud garnish 50 Dens or burrows 51 Campaign topic 52 Unobstructs 54 Every 55 Jane Austen novel 59 Right, to Dobbin 60 Dawn goddess 61 AMA members
UB and Nigeria Partner to Further Nanomedicine Research Continued from Page 1 Erogbogbo was one of the primary promoters of this Nigerian collaboration. He saw Prasad’s propensity to work with international researchers and noticed that UB did not have a strong academic presence in Africa. Nigeria put part of its oil revenue into the Educational Trust Fund with the objective to further enhance its scientific and technological infrastructure. “[The joint research institution] would [incite] a lot of change in Nigeria… we’re bringing cutting edge technology to Nigeria,” Erogbogbo said. “Sometimes they lack the resources to be able to further themselves. There will be an opportunity to learn things that they did not have an opportunity to learn as part of their program or curriculum there. It boosts the quality of their home institutions… when it comes to nanotechnology.” The first phase in this initiative is to implement the program at NUC-selected universities. The cooperation model will be further refined and a research staff appointed. The NUC will sponsor the grand opening in Nigeria and an introduction to worldwide press and scientific audiences in South Africa in May. Various published article requirements must additionally be met. The second phase will bring accepted Nigerian researchers to train at ILPB. Simultaneously, Nigerian facilities will be prepared and equipment will be distributed to Nigerian universities. By this time, there should be “global impact of research with widespread implementation of quantum dots and other nanoparticles in the fields of medical diagnosis and treatment,” according to the MOU. “[We want to bring] these students and researchers over here for further training… to learn new methodology and engage in research while we set up the facilities over there for them to go back and continue their training,” Prasad said. “It will be an ongoing process… we’ll publish jointly, seek funds through other foundations such as the MacAurther Foundation, which is active over there.” The third stage, meant to take place five to 10 years from now, will be defined by major research focuses, sufficient funding, and effective personnel training. It should become a first-class research center not only in Nigeria, but in the world. Currently, the plan is receiving funding from NUC, and the joint research center will apply for additional funds from their respective governments. Other private funding will also be pursued. “I think this is a great opportunity for UB to add to our international reputation as a very proactive institute in these international exchanges and partnerships,” Prasad said. “[UB has] a strong emphasis on diversity in our training programs...we see Nigeria as a very ripe country to take this bold step. They have a vision, they really want to move forward, they want to be in a position of leadership in Africa.” g
Source: nfl.com
An All-Star Act of Futility CAREY BEYER Sports Editor What could be more entertaining than watching the best players in the world team up in an all-star game? Anything. Every year, professional sports leagues hold all-star games to entertain the fans with what should be the best competition possible. What the fans actually get is the opportunity to watch the leagues pat themselves on the back and the players play sloweddown and boring versions of the sports they dominate. The problem with these games is that they don’t matter. It is not the league’s fault, however, because by the nature of the games, they can’t matter, and, as such, the effort is never high enough to warrant interest from the fans. The point of sports is competition. If that is absent, then why should anyone care?
This is close to a solution, but it is still pretty weak seeing as no World Series has gone to a game seven since the rule was introduced. So, the games are probably a lost cause. That does not mean that there isn’t a way to keep fans interested in all-star competition. The solution is skills competitions.
While dunking is not an essential skill to play basketball, it is one of the most impressive to watch. As a player, these
YOUR NEIGHBOR
JUST ORDERED
$ 89!!!
Northtown Plaza - 3071 Sheridan Dr., Amherst 832-7628 3329 Bailey Ave. (near Minnesota) 833-1040 446 Main St. (Lafayette Sq) – 848-2980
WHY DON’T
**Call 832-7268 for more locations**
YOU!
UB STAFF AND FACULTY SAVE $25 ON TAX PREPARATION!! Present Coupon at time of tax preparation. Good only at participating locations and may not be combined with any other offer. Restrictions apply. Not valid on fees associated with bank products or loans. Most offices are independently owned and operated. Expires 4/30/11 Student Coupon Code RGMFD; UB Staff Discount coupon code GWC4F
Two and three bedroom apartments. Wall to wall carpeting, appliance, central air, laundry facilities, and free parking. 1.5 miles from UB NorthCampus. Free heat and water.
Major League Baseball made a change to its rules in 2003 that stated that the winning league would have homefield advantage in the World Series, meaning that if the championship series went to the seventh and final game, the home team would be the representative of the winning league.
Putting forth a full effort runs the risk of an injury that may harm one’s future career. No player would gamble
Show your student ID at participating Jackson Hewitt Tax Service locations, and receive a discounted price for your individual tax return – pay only
Forest Village
It is also difficult to implement rewards for the winners. How can you reward a team that is made up of members of multiple teams?
Every league, except for the NFL, holds some sort of skills competition at the time of its all-star game. The MLB has the home-run derby, the NBA has, among a few less interesting events, the dunk competition, and the NHL holds a variety of different events the night before its game. These events showcase some of the more entertaining skills that professional players possess and fans love to see.
STUDENT DISCOUNT!
Two bedrooms one bath apartments. 5 miles from UB North campus. Wall to wall carpet, appliances, central air, laundry facilities, and free parking. Free heat, water &Cable TV. One year leases.
The leagues understand this problem but they are mostly powerless to stop it. They can’t force the players to play harder, nor would they want to. If the star players get hurt, the league will suffer as well.
You also can’t blame the players for this. When they compete in all-star contests, there is no real incentive to win. They may receive a larger paycheck if their random grouping of teammates has a higher score than their opponents at the end of the game, but these are the best of the best; they already make more money than we can comprehend.
E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
Fairway Apartments
on his health in an irrelevant game.
10% DISCOUNT WITH UB STUDENT ID
competitions provide an opportunity to showcase some of one’s more stylized skills. As a fan, it is great to see the best players in the league having fun and doing things that they would not normally be able to do in a game. This year, the NHL decided to try something entirely unique. Instead of the normal conference versus conference game, the league brought together the best players it possesses, neglecting what conference they were from, and staged a good oldfashioned pickup game in the middle of Raleigh, N.C.’s RBC Center. The players selected to the game voted on two captains, the Carolina Hurricanes’ Eric Staal and the Detroit Red Wings’ Nicklas Lidstrom, and the two then chose their teams out of the player pool. The idea behind this change was to boost interest by appealing to hockey fans’ schoolyard nostalgia. The game even opened with children skating to center ice and picking sticks. While this innovation helped to increase interest in the game during the week leading up to it, once the puck dropped, it was the same boring contest that it always is. There isn’t really anything that the leagues can do to fix the problems with all-star competition. The games will always be over-hyped and boring. My suggestion is to tune in and make your own fun. Every time you reach for the remote to change the channel to something more interesting, grab a shot instead. It will make the whole experience far less painful. g
E-mail: carey.beyer@ubspectrum.com
DO YOU HAVE FACE PAIN? UB School of Dental Medicine is seeking adults ages 18-44 who have facial pain to participate in a research study. Participants who qualify will be compensated for their time and travel.
Do You Qualify? Contact 716-829-2984
University Plaza
Triad Apartments Large two bedroom two bath apartments available. Located directly outside UB Norht Flint entrance. Secure building with appliances, wall to wall carpet, air conditioning, laundry facilities, and free parking. Leases include heat, water, & cable TV.
Williamsville Commons 3 bedrooms 1 1/2 bath town houses. Located 3 miles from UB North Campus. Hardwood floors, wall to wall carpeting, appliances, central air, garages and free parking & free water.
University Court One bedroom & studio apartments available. Secure building with Hardwood floors, carpeting, appliances, laundry facilities and free parking. Located directly across from UB South Campus. Free heat, water & electric. One year leases.
SPORTS wednesday, FEBRuary 2, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM
7
SPORTS
Filzen Makes Bulls Fans Believe BRIAN JOSEPHSAsst. Sports Editor
The intense passion that Filzen now has for basketball was first sparked by a comment from his middle school coach.
knows how to teach the game and treat his players well… which is something I want; and exactly what the team needs.”
“My eighth grade coach told a high school coach that there was another player on the team who was better than me,” Filzen said. “That [bothered me] and it [inspired me] to work really hard.”
Filzen is constantly working to improve his game because he knows how important he is to the Bulls’ success. Anything close to average is frustrating to the shooting guard.
After former men’s basketball standout Rodney Pierce graduated, many questioned where the offense would come from. As it turns out, the answer came from a small town in Minnesota.
Filzen gradually improved throughout his high school career. By the end of his four years, he was a three-year letterwinner, a two-time team Most Valuable Player, and a nominee for the McDonald’s All-American high school basketball team.
Junior guard Zach Filzen is the Bulls’ deadliest weapon from 3-point range and currently leads the team in scoring with 15.1 points per game. He is valuable to the team not only because of his on-the-court performances, but also because of his intensity and commitment to success.
While most athletes would be satisfied by these achievements, Filzen felt like he could’ve done better. He is proud of his individual honors, but he considers team success just as important. Although his team did well during his time at Northfield High School, Filzen is disappointed that it couldn’t go farther.
“He is very quietly competitive,” said head coach Reggie Witherspoon. “He really has an innate desire to do really well… he wants to be at his best at all times.”
“I felt like I had a pretty good career, but I would’ve liked for my team to do better,” Filzen said. “We didn’t [connect] like I would’ve hoped. It was disappointing, but I just had to learn from it and apply it to this year’s team.”
The Bulls’ sharpshooter grew up in Northfield, Minn. with his parents, David and Tammy. His mother coached women’s basketball at Temple University and at the University of Minnesota under current Bulls head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. It was his mother’s love of the game and her in-depth understanding of the sport that sparked Filzen’s interest in basketball at the tender age of five years old.
“Sometimes, he can be a little hard on himself,” Witherspoon said. “He wants to be at his best at all times… [When he’s not], he gets upset, and he’s working his way through that.” Filzen wants to fully realize his potential and believes that his career will be a waste if he doesn’t. He attributes this to his strong Christian beliefs, as well as his competitive back-
ground. Off the court, Filzen is involved with Christian activities like Athletes in Action, an evangelical sports ministry that uses college basketball as its main platform. His caring and charitable demeanor does not stop him from being a fierce competitor on the court. “I just want to win,” Filzen said. “I want to maximize the abilities and gifts that God has blessed me with and for this team to become as good as it can be.” How good can the team be, though? Only God knows. g
E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
Filzen had an interesting journey to Buffalo. He played his freshman year at Northern Arizona University, and, fortunately for the Bulls, the match was not meant to be. Filzen disliked the Lumberjacks’ style of play and transferred to Buffalo because he believed the Bulls had a better coaching staff. He also appreciated Witherspoon’s competiveness and amiability. “[Reggie’s] a great guy,” Filzen said. “He
ALL FILZEN PHOTOS: Clinton Hodnett /// The Spectrum
Bulls’ shooting guard Zach Flizen (5) sat down with The Spectrum to talk about life and basketball.
Bulls Fall Short in MAC Opener BRIAN JOSEPHSAsst. Sports Editor In its last meet, the wrestling team rested its top athletes in preparation for conference play. That decision did not help the team as much as the coaches had hoped. The Bulls (7-6, 0-1 Mid-American Conference) hoped to open up conference play on the right foot against the Ohio Bobcats (7-3, 2-0 MAC) over the weekend. In the end, Buffalo failed to avenge last season’s loss and fell in a heartbreaking 16-15 decision. Assistant coach Frank Beasley felt that the Bulls should have been able to earn a win because of how well-prepared they were going into the meet. “We felt that we outwrestled them,” Beasley said. “We thought we were in better shape and were the better team. We just didn’t pick up the points where we needed to.” The meet started with freshman Sean Walton dropping a close 10-9 decision to Ohio’s Gabe Ramos. The rest of the evening saw both of the teams in close competition. Ohio and Buffalo each earned five wins down the stretch to bring the contest to a stalemate. The difference ended up being in the 141-pound match. Ohio’s Germane Lindsey defeated sophomore Chris Conti in a 15-5 major decision victory. The bonus points Ohio gained from the match gave them the onepoint edge in the team’s victory. Beasley did not lay the blame on that match alone. He thought that the point that would’ve given the Bulls a win could’ve come from any one of the 10 matches. Brandon Freeland /// The Spectrum
“I felt that four of the matches we lost were
winnable,” Beasley said. “If we had turned one of those matches around we would’ve won.” The Bulls barely missed getting back the extra points in a few of their matches. Sophomore Ron Majerus suffered a cut near his eye in the opening seconds of his 174-pound bout against Ohio’s Nick Purdue. Majerus could not recover from the injury and lost 10-5. Even the night’s most commanding performances were not enough to secure a victory for the Bulls. No. 16 nationally-ranked junior Desi Green dominated Ohio’s Darrin Boing in the 149-pound weight class, defeating him 103. Junior Kevin Smith beat Ohio’s Gavin Moore in the 133-pound division, 11-4. Both wrestlers were one point away from the major decision victory that could have given Buffalo the win. Despite the missed opportunities, the Bulls were still within grasp of taking the dual meet. Sophomore Mark Lewandowski had a good showing to win in a 4-0 decision against Ohio’s Chris Kline. Junior John-Martin Cannon followed that up by earning a 3-2 victory over Ohio’s Steve Wilson in the 165-pound match. Senior Jimmy Hamel’s 4-3 win over Ohio’s Ryan Garringer at the 184-pound weight class put the Bulls ahead 15-10 with just two matches remaining. However, Buffalo dropped the next two matches and, consequently, the meet itself. The Bulls are now preparing to host MAC rival Kent State, currently ranked 17th in the nation. Beasley believes that the loss is only a bump in the road and that the team will be able to shake it off going forward. “[The loss] only made us more focused,” Beasley said. “We think we will be able to match up better with Kent State [as well as other MAC teams].” The dual meet is slated to start at 1 p.m. on Sunday. g
E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
The wrestling team lost a heartbreaker to the Ohio Bobcats in a 16-15 decision.
SWEET TWEET your tweet here if you correctly predict a game outcome Follow us @UBSpecSports
SWEET TWEET @JIM Bulls 25, Owls 34 (loss; again) Follow us @UBSpectrum
AN ALL-STAR ACT OF FUTILITYPAGE 7 Column by Carey Beyer
BASKETBALL PAGE 10
FOOTBALL TEMPLE PREVIEW PAGE 10