The Spectrum Volume 63 Issue 46 by The Spectrum Student Periodical

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, SINCE 1950

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Student films every day for a year, creates reflective doc

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Flappy Bird finds immense popularity at UB

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Peel has brought a new mindset to softball team

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Friday, february 7, 2014

CVS ends sale of tobacco products Students question effectiveness of the change

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Volume 63 No. 46

New bus route gives students ride to local bar, among other destinations UB adds bus stop to complex that includes The U CHAD LEUTHAUSER Asst. News Editor

Yusong Shi, The Spectrum

CVS implemented a new policy that will stop all cigarette and tobacco sales by Oct. 1. The company has a location in the Commons at UB.

GISELLE LAM

Staff Writer

On Feb. 5, CVS Corporation announced in a press release that by Oct. 1, its stores would no longer sell cigarette and tobacco products. The drug store is the first national pharmacy chain to make such a decision. Sharlynn Daun-Barnett, the alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention specialist at Wellness Education Services, said she was thrilled about the news and that it “shows [CVS] cares for their customers and for long-term health.” Daun-Barnett believes both the nation and campus will benefit from CVS’ new policy. “UB students and staff have been trying to get the North Campus CVS to stop selling cigarettes for more than five years — collecting hundreds of signatures through petitions and meetings with store managers,” Daun-Barnett said. UB has also taken action over recent years to enforce a stronger smoke-free-campus policy. Five years ago, cigarette and tobacco products were removed from the shelves of on-campus shops like the Elli and Campus Tees, and Campus-Cash tobacco purchases were prohibited. UB cannot restrict The Commons from selling tobacco be-

cause these stores are not under the university’s regulation. Daun-Barnett has worked with UB medical and pharmacy students who are lobbying for the removal of tobacco products from all pharmacies. They believe these items should be disassociated with healthcare and pharmacy centers. “If you’re getting products that cause cancer, it doesn’t support the health mission,” DaunBarnett said. Though many UB students praise CVS for its policy change, some are skeptical whether the change will benefit students or dissuade the smoking population. Student Andrew Proefrock, who has never smoked before, congratulates CVS on taking a stand and hopes other companies will follow. Proefrock believes, however, that “[smokers] will still smoke regardless.” As a freshman biomedical science major who has played sports all his life, he understands the importance of practicing healthy habits. Brittany Herbert, a legal studies concentration sophomore, thinks it’s a step in the right direction, but one that may backfire for CVS. SEE CVS, PAGE 6

For students looking to party at popular bar The U this weekend, UB might be providing them with a designated driver. The university has implemented a new stop for Stampede buses at the Maple Ridge Center on Maple and Sweet Home Roads. The complex includes an AMC theater, Value City Furniture, OfficeMax, several restaurants and The U. Though some speculate the Stampede’s new stop is only to drive students to the bar, UB insists otherwise. Assistant Director for UB Parking and Transportation Services Chris Austin and UB Spokesperson John Della Contrada said there is no official contract between The U and the university, specifically. Della Contrada said the contract is between University Life and Services and Maple Ridge Center. Three buses will run the route, operating from 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday to 3 a.m. the following day. The route, which includes stops at the Ellicott Complex, Governors Complex, Goodyear Hall and the main circle, added the new stop to AMC Maple Ridge at no extra cost. “We do not have an agreement with The U but do have permission from the developer of the complex to allow our UB Stampede buses to drop off and pick up students,” Austin said. Jimmy Spezzano, the owner of The U, has expressed his excitement about the deal between UB and the Maple Ridge Center. “The U is working in conjunction with the UB Stampede on this venture, and will be available for comment in the near future,” Spezzano said. He declined to comment regarding a specific arrangement between his bar and UB. Austin said UB chose to add a stop to the center because of

Chad Cooper, The Spectrum

Students now have the option to take the Stampede bus to and from the popular bar and club The U from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Though UB denies any official agreement between the university and the bar, the hours of The U correlate with the hours of the new bus service.

its proximity to campus and the various recreational options it offers to students. Some students think the sole reason for the bus stop isn’t for the many restaurant options or the furniture or office supplies stores. “At the end of the day, students are not going to the movies at 2 a.m.,” said Justin Reisman, a junior political science major. “The school is not fooling anyone by not admitting this bus is intended for kids looking to party on the weekend.” In the complex, AMC stops selling tickets before midnight; Subway closes at 10 p.m. on Thursday and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; Toni Pepperoni closes at 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; Tea Leaf Cafe closes at 11 p.m. Thursday and 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; Taco Bell closes at 2 a.m. Thursday and 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The U is open until 4 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Wednesday, the bar announced on its Facebook page: “We have the buses, we have the new look and now we have 18+ nights all weekend long on Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” regarding this week only. Usually on Fridays, patrons must be 21 or older.

The dates and times of the new bus route correlate with the weekend hours of The U. “I am not out to encourage underage drinking, but it’s inevitable and the school might as well provide safe transportation for students who do drink,” said Swaroop Reddy, an electrical engineering major. Austin said the safety of UB students is his No. 1 priority. “Student safety is always of utmost importance to the university,” Austin said. “In regard to this service, just as we have not had safety issues running our Stampede to the Boulevard Mall, Tops and Wegmans supermarkets, or to WalMart twice each week, we do not foresee this service as compromising student safety.” Ian Ryan, a sophomore business major, is conflicted; he’s not sure whether the new bus stop is a good thing. “It’s a toss up – it’s like, I am catering you to drink, but also preventing drinking and driving,” Ryan said. Community members have called the Stampede bus the “drunk bus” on weekends, in which it runs from North to South Campus, where many students frequent parties and bars. SEE BUS ROUTE, PAGE 6

Lady Beronia Jackson Professor James Currie’s personality entices students to take his classes ANNE MULROONEY

Asst. Features Editor

As a young boy in a London suburb, James Currie sat improvising on a piano, wearing his mother’s clothing and referring to himself as “Lady Beronia Jackson.” Today, Currie’s passion for performance lives on in UB’s musicology department. From childhood drag queen to bullied high schooler, Currie believes his current professorial career owes itself to his persistent love for performing arts. “I was a crazy little kid, a real flamer as a child … like, a massive flamer,” Currie said. “In a certain way, it’s been 43 years of taming down. I found myself quite early.” Currie arrived in the United States in 1992 and began working toward receiving his Ph.D. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Cambridge and a Ph.D. from Columbia; he is the author of the book Music and the Politics of Negation; and he has a 4.6 ranking on ratemyprofessors.com. Now, he is an associate professor

of music and lectures on the history of musicology with a consistent stage-orientated mentality. Although Currie has always been musically and theatrically inclined, his formal training didn’t begin until he was about 10. Soon afterward, he began playing the viola and joining orchestras, which led to a relatively steady form of socializing during his adolescent years. As a young gay boy with few friends, the performing arts became a refuge for Currie during a difficult period. “You hear these kinds of stories all the time: the effeminate, probably-gonna-be-gay person finds some kind of solace – just space, basically – in either acting some kind of fantasy within the performing arts or just the fact that the arts create space,” Currie said. “In order to sit at the piano and play, or do a still life, or write, you simply have to push a lot of things to the side. Otherwise, you can’t concentrate.” Much of Currie’s academic work focuses on the phenomenon of creating “the space that is made by the concentration necessary to create something we

Juan D. Pinzon, The Spectrum

James Currie, a professor in the musicology department, lectures his students in a theatrical style.

call art,” he said. Colleagues like Tony Arnold, an associate professor of music, and students find the reverence and passion Currie has for his work inspiring. Currie’s lectures have “an uncanny ability to draw together threads from a wide variety of disciplines … and spin them into illuminating narratives about the very nature of music, its intrinsic value and integral position at the

core of our existence,” Arnold said in an email. She believes his pedagogical strength lies not only in his expansive knowledge of music, but also “his ability to connect on a human level.” Currie’s humorous attitude has won him glowing reviews within the music department’s community. “I’m obviously not afraid to make a fool of myself,” he said.

Currie is frequently dressed for lectures in button-up vests and is never afraid to strike a goofy pose. Ross Aftel, a graduate student studying historical musicology and music theory, said class with Currie is far from dull. “Dr. Currie is very witty, everyone loves his accent and it does not take that much for him to keep the class engaged,” Aftel said. “He develops fascinating lectures for his students, devotes time for anyone who needs extra help and he’s very passionate about what he does.” Currie’s passion amplifies his liveliness in the classroom. His theatrical lectures keep everyone engaged and attentive, according to Rachel Wu, a graduate student studying piano in the musicology department. “He’s very funny; he’s always moving around and acting silly,” Wu said. “He makes fun of himself, especially when he plays piano. He’ll pretend to choke when he messes up, and he’ll stick out his tongue and make a funny noise.” SEE CuRRIE, PAGE 6

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Friday, February 7, 2014

Friday, February 7, 2014 ubspectrum.com

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Aaron Mansfield MANAGING EDITORS Lisa Khoury Sara DiNatale OPINION EDITOR Anthony Hilbert COPY EDITORS Tress Klassen, Chief Amanda Jowsey Samaya Abdus-Salaam

OPINION

Torch obscured by fear, but flame burns on Olympics shrouded by terrorism threats, controversial politics

NEWS EDITORS Sam Fernando, Senior Amanda Low Madelaine Britt, Asst. Chad Leuthauser, Asst. FEATURES EDITORS Keren Baruch, Senior Anne Mulrooney, Asst. Sharon Kahn, Asst. Brian Windschitl, Asst. Emma Janicki, Asst. ARTS EDITORS Joe Konze Jr., Senior Jordan Oscar Meg Weal, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS Ben Tarhan, Senior Owen O’Brien Tom Dinki, Asst.

ART BY AMBER SLITER, THE SPECTRUM

PHOTO EDITORS Aline Kobayashi, Senior Chad Cooper Juan David Pinzon, Asst. Yusong Shi, Asst. CARTOONIST Amber Sliter CREATIVE DIRECTORS Brian Keschinger Andres Santandreu, Asst. PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Emma Callinan Drew Gaczewski, Asst. Chris Mirandi, Asst. ADVERTISING DESIGNER Ashlee Foster Tyler Harder, Asst. Jenna Bower, Asst.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014 Volume 63 Number 45 Circulation 7,000 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 news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address. The Spectrum is provided free in part by the Undergraduate Mandatory Activity Fee. The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by MediaMate. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at (716) 645-2452. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100

Following a tumultuous year, rife with political suppression, prejudicial legislation and threats of terrorism, the Olympic Games – intended to unify the world in a joyous cacophony of (almost) sportsmanlike jeering – begin Friday. They couldn’t come sooner. The world needs an illusion of unity, a job the Olympic Games seem fit for. Consistent headlines on new dangers facing Sochi, Russia have punctuated front pages in the months preceding what will be a victorious moment for Vladimir Putin. The decision seven years ago by the International Olympic Coalition (IOC) to hold the Games in Sochi came with pledges and high hopes for the success of the Games, which Putin delivered in person. Putin’s personal charm was cranked, based on reports of the event, in a way only a shirtless horseback rider turned postSoviet force of geopolitical nature could muster. Skirting due diligence and better judgment, the IOC voted for the Games to be held in a city only miles away from the politically fraught region of Chechnya, a place

wracked by violence since its second civil war in the 1990s. Violence spilled into Volgograd, a neighboring city to the north of Sochi, in December when suicide bombings killed over 30 civilians. Since then, Putin’s fist has tightened around the area. Fears have grown to such an extent that the U.S. State Department has warned travelers going to the Games, and The New York Times has cited security experts characterizing this as “the most dangerous games ever.” In response, Russian security forces have formed a dense web around the newly built athletic complexes turned monuments to the postmodern czar. Though security is not the only issue facing Putin’s games. Security from terrorist threats is just the first, but perhaps most palpable, problem. With each successive nesting doll cracked open, the world is forced to gaze upon another contorted visage, a disheveled character to be dealt with or explained away by the regime. Legislation enacted against gay “propaganda” has been widely discussed and enforced. Rus-

sian officials have been cracking down on activists and frightening gay athletes with threatening rhetoric in the past few months. The disturbing move serves only to remind how suppressive the administration remains, even as it prepares to host the event with global unity and acceptance as its core tenet. Even as claims of improperly prepared facilities, abuse of stray dogs and corruption and overspending surface, the torch’s flame burns on. The hope remains that the Games will stand as a glimmering event of brotherly sport amid a sea of otherwise wholly unbecoming behavior. IOC’s choices of cities to host the Olympics are often portrayed as less than perfect; there is nothing unique about that. But Sochi is a bit different. Terrorism has certain acridity to it, and a thinly veiled oppression of a group based on sexual orientation is becoming unthinkable with a rapidity we have scarcely seen before. Putin’s grasp around the Olympics is itself the source for the contention obscuring the torch.

We should not forget these problems leading up to the Games. Sochi’s problems are largely indicative of the issues facing the world today. Political suppression. Unchecked state overreach. Violence fueled by longstanding feuds sparked frequently by religious fervor. Repressing groups finally moving toward acceptance. Economic struggles. These are, sadly, universal – more so than we tend to realize. The Games should stand as a beacon in the thicket of these crises, something to remind us we can rise above as a global community, against what would otherwise shake our confidence in accord and semi-annual harmony. We reach what we believe to be the center this Friday evening – the lighting of the torch, the opening ceremony and the goodhearted games. We can only hope nothing more menacing lurks deeper. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

Effort to shuttle for safety shrouded in silence UB Stampede now ferries students to and from The U – just don’t ask why An otherwise practical effort at dealing with the realities of college partying habits has turned into a political football game for the administration. Through an agreement more secretive than necessary, the UB Stampede will now stop at Maple Ridge plaza on (Thirsty) Thursdays through Saturdays, 8 p.m. until 3 a.m. College students hungry for great deals at Subway and Taco Bell, movies and popcorn at AMC Maple Ridge and brandname quality furniture at Value City frequent the plaza. Coincidentally, there also happens to be a club and bar in the plaza, interestingly called The U. UB’s Parking and Transportation Services has been less than forthcoming with comments to The Spectrum on the matter. “Student safety is the goal,” said Assistant Director Chris Austin – an oft said, though vacuous, phrase. Safety from what exactly – students gorged on Chalupas getting behind the wheel? Does the university not want stu-

dents dragging their new particleboard armoires the long mile to the dorms? Officials wouldn’t tell us, but given that the majority of Maple Ridge’s fine establishments close long before 3 a.m., we can only speculate the buses are meant for – gasp – drunk students returning from a night of partying. Jimmy Spezzano, the owner of The U, told The Spectrum that his bar is “working in conjunction with the UB Stampede on this venture and will be available for comment in the near future.” This is hardly a matter to criticize. The fact is that The U does a far better job preventing underage drinking than its former South Campus counterparts. The scourge of drunk driving has plagued the campus long enough. It not only puts those behind the wheel in danger, but also those innocently along for the ride or sharing the road. The busing plan certainly opens the university to criticism from utopians on whether

the administration is just providing an avenue for student drinking, a pass not only enabling partying but encouraging it. Criticism from other, less-visited bars may also come with claims of favoritism. But are these attacks warranted? Are they substantiated by anything more than false presumptions and rosy outlooks irreconcilable with reality? No, they are not. Call this what it is – a bus for students to take between campus and a popular bar, and a plan to reduce the attractiveness of driving drunk after a night of partying. This does not enable drinking, but allows safety; it does not encourage partying, but discourages getting behind the wheel drunk. The U likely sees this as a positive business move; conceivably, it will increase traffic to the bar. Taco Bell employees likely fear the same – raucous, rabble-rousing students tend to be testy over their Gorditas.

This is hardly a reason to disapprove of the new stop along the route between centers of learning, nor is it a reason to hide behind refrains of “no comment.” The university should be promoting the new bus stop. A nonsensical, opaque policy is what needs to change. Consistency is necessary, as well. Despite past claims by Dennis Black, the vice president for University Life and Services, of “not [being] in the protection business” regarding students off campus, this new effort at stemming drunk driving implies the university feels differently. Commendably so – a campus that chooses to ignore the rowdy utopian masses and instead meets realities as they exist on the ground, a campus that takes on the messiness of real life (particularly at “shot o’clock”) is long overdue. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

Friday, February 7, 2014 ubspectrum.com

LIFE, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT One year, many ‘little moments’ to cherish UB student films every day for a year and creates self-reflective documentary KEREN BARUCH

Senior Features Editor

An iPhone 4S and the desire to make something bigger than himself. Tal Kissos held on to those two things on Dec. 31, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. From that moment on, Kissos began to film a documentary on his iPhone that he believes has the ability to make an impact on the world. Each day during 2013, he videotaped a few seconds of his life. Kissos is a senior media study major who has a passion for media and hopes to become a film director or producer. He believes that in order to succeed in the media industry after graduation, he must have hands-on film experience outside of the classroom. So in 2013, he shifted his focus from coursework to his own film, which is called Year of My Life. He said he hopes it inspires the world to appreciate life’s little moments because “time is fleeting before our eyes.” The project is intended to make students realize how important it is to capture moments. “When you’re young, your head is always in some other place,” Kissos said. “You’re always thinking about where you have to go and what you have to do and stuff like that. You’re never fully there. And this project is a way to [remind us] to look back and appreciate what we’ve had and to actually live in a moment.” The opening to his video takes place at a party with his friends. They are counting down the seconds to 2013, a year in which Kissos’ audience has the abili-

Keren Baruch, The Spectrum

Tal Kissos, a senior media study major, decided to branch away from the media study department and create his own documentary about his life in 2013.

ty to see snapshots in the 15:46 film. “Originally, the idea was to capture a one-second video every day,” Kissos said. “But then I realized I should make it more dynamic. I wanted to cut and edit it so it would be more interesting.” Reccurring themes appear throughout the documentary: friends, family and work. There’s footage of Kissos working on shows he directed at UB as well as films he is producing. He captured his Israeli family several times throughout the documentary and devoted a generous focus to holidays and meal gatherings. Kissos said the video kept him constantly on the lookout for “little moments” he wants to “cherish” and keep with him. He

believes videos can better encapsulate moments than pictures. “And that’s what I’m all about,” Kissos said. “Capturing moments.” Kissos had a personal goal with his plan. He wanted to sit down in the beginning of 2014 and appreciate everything he had gone through during the year. But as he continued to create his documentary, he realized others may enjoy watching moments from his life. He then realized it could have a larger impact. Kissos hopes to continue making yearly films. When he watches his 2014 Year of My Life compilation, he’ll remember being interviewed for this article in The Spectrum. Some of his instructors have recommended he submit his video to film festivals, but Kis-

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sos is unsure if he wants to. He knows for certain, however, that the experience improved his video skills. He used Adobe Pre-

miere Pro CS6 to edit and put together his video.

Though Kissos does not believe UB courses have helped him succeed as a media student as much as his personal projects have, Josephine Anstey, an associate professor in the media study department, said students aiming to work in the media industry can gain proficiency in film, video production and postproduction. She said the basic, intermediate and advanced video and documentary courses are beneficial. “The courses are not specifically geared for television but the shooting and editing skills certainly apply,” Anstey said.

“Most recently, we are offering course material that focuses on short-video sharing apps, mobile phone image capture and fast/ online editing for social networks and the web.” This spring, the media study department has launched a new lecture series open to the public. It has “cutting-edge media practitioners,” according to Anstey. Rachel Weinberger, Kissos’ mother, is proud of her son for taking initiative with his filmmaking in addition to his coursework. “Tal is very passionate about making film and dedicated to it,” Weinberg said. “He has big plans to move out to California to pursue his passion and career. I have no doubts that he is going to make it in Hollywood.” Weinberger said when Kissos was in high school, he was recognized as “the most prominent photographer” and his work is still hung in his school today. Though she admits she is biased, she loved Year of My Life. “I think it’s original – a nice and balanced reflection on his life at school, friends and family,” Weinberger said. “On a personal level, I told him that from now on when he is around, I will always wear makeup … even when I am home with no plans to go out.” Kissos’ video ends at a party with his friends counting down the seconds until 2014. His iPhone 4S remains in his hand each day as he captures more moments, which he hopes to enjoy in decades to come. email: features@ubspectrum.com

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Friday, February 7, 2014

TOP UB SCORES* *According to The Spectrum’s survey submissions

1. David Xiong (AND) - 125 2. Ryan Proud (iOS) - 97 3. Rob Paulson (AND) - 85 4. David Brunette (iOS) - 82 5. Mike Hasenauer (iOS) - 76 photos Courtesy of dotGEAR Studio

Flappy Bird finds immense popularity at UB JORDAN OSCAR Arts Editor

If you’ve wandered around campus lately, you may have noticed people transfixed by their phones and frantically tapping the screen. If you bumped into one of those people and received a scathing glance, it’s probably because you cost the person a high score in Flappy Bird. The simple task of maneuvering a bird through a series of pipes has captivated people all around campus. “I’m stuck at six; it’s the hardest game I’ve ever played in my life,” said Brandon Roberts, a junior business major. “This game looks a lot simpler than it really is. You think you’re going to do so well but it never happens. You always do bad in this game.” As of Thursday, over 25 million have played Flappy Bird on iOS and over 10 million have downloaded it from Android’s Google Play. It’s the No. 1 free app in the App Store and Google Play and it has likely been leaving most players frustrated, struggling to beat their personal high score. Pictures of high scores and “epic fails” have flooded social media and roused competitive nature throughout some of the student body. And although the app launched in May 2013, it only recently took off, topping charts for free apps on the iOS App Store and Google Play. Games like Candy Crush and Words with Friends have garnered

similar amounts attention and wide game play. But what makes Flappy Bird different is how the game hides its challenging nature. Users appreciate its minimalist design and structure, which allows for easy continual play – one attempt after the other. The game also encourages competition among friends – Android users can even use Google+ to compare scores with friends in their “circles.” “I downloaded it yesterday,” said Juraj Damjanic, a senior psychology major. “But I’m just trying to beat my friend’s high score … It’s fun and entertaining.” Hours pass quickly with dozens of runs of Flappy Bird that end in mixed success. One good run on the game can easily be followed by dozens of disappointing ones. With the game gaining popularity, the creator, Dong Nguyen, is cashing in on his creation. It has become so popular that Nguyen told The Verge he is making $50,000 from ad revenue every day, or $18 million each year. “He’s a genius,” Roberts said. “Look at the makers of Angry Birds; they [marketed around it] and made toys and everything. I don’t think people even play that game anymore and it’s still worth millions.” One thing is for sure: Flappy Bird’s popularity is growing, one tap at a time. Joe Konze Jr. contributed reporting to this story.

Complimentary Failure BRIAN KESCHINGER

Creative Director

Game: Flappy Bird Platform: Android, iOS and Windows Phone (coming soon) Release Date: May 2013 Developer: Hanoi Publisher: .GEARS Studios Grade: AAnger and bright colors: two things that normally aren’t associated, unless you’re playing Flappy Bird. Flappy Bird is the latest trending smartphone game, but it’s not your traditional popular casual-gaming experience. The objective is simple: tap the screen to make your bird flap its wings and fly in between pairs of pipes. But it comes with no tutorial, instructions or guidance – you learn to play by failing, a lot. The side-scrolling game seems friendly at first with its familiar, Super Mario World-esque graphics, vibrant colors and rewarding sound clips. But there is nothing amiable about this game. The learning curve is minimal but mastering it is insurmountable. The course continues to be randomly generated until you fail. You can’t finish or beat Flappy Bird. Through your first 20 trials of Flappy Bird, I’d be impressed if you received a score higher than three. The game is unforgiving and punishing, but you can

feel yourself progress and gain an understanding that ultimately reels you back into giving the colorful bird one more flight – and another after that. After achieving a respectable high score, you develop expectations for yourself. So on your next flight when you hit into that first pipe, a fire ignites inside of you, forcing you to frantically tap the area of the screen where the restart button is going to show up. It’s easy to fail upward of 15 times in just five minutes, making it a game of repetition. But I achieved some of my best runs the first time I picked it up after not playing for several hours. Sometimes after playing many times back to back, you can lose focus and feel like you’re looking

straight through your phone – it’s time to step away and regroup. The Android and iOS versions are nearly identical, with just a few subtle differences. For a game with such simplistic functionality and very few resources on-screen, the iOS version has a noticeably worse frame rate than its Android counterpart. This doesn’t break the game for iOS users, but when looking at the Android version in comparison, it’s buttery smooth and makes for a small pacing difference. The iOS version also has pause functionality, while the Android version changes the color of the bird and background from run to run. Although Flappy Bird is difficult and grueling at times, it’s never unfair. The game’s consistent hit boxes on pipes and the bird along with the identical vertical and horizontal spaces between pipes make this game a true test of concentration, preciseness and skill. Flappy Bird currently sits at the top of both the iOS and Google Play free app charts, with a Windows Phone version currently awaiting approval by Microsoft. It never holds your hand. Those who think it’s a bad game aren’t good at it. But those who are good at it respect it. email: arts@ubspectrum.com

email: arts@ubspectrum.com

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Friday, February 7, 2014

Continued from page 1: Currie

Continued from page 8: Peel “I feel my formula worked at Hampton, so I was like, ‘let’s move up the ladder and see if it works here,’” Peel said. “I love doubters.” She immediately changed the attitude among the players at UB during workouts and practices with her competitive flare. “There is competitiveness in everything,” said senior pitcher Tori Speckman. “From the lift, conditioning, to practice, they’ve made it where you want to push yourself. You don’t feel the need to have someone tell you.” Peel is taking over a program that has been unsuccessful since joining the Mid-American Conference in 2001 – especially in the last eight seasons. Buffalo has lost more conference games (118) than games won overall (117) in this span. “I think because there’s been such a losing culture, trying to change our mindset and build confidence and knowing that you deserve to win [are the biggest challenges],” Peel said. Senior shortstop Sammi Gallardo said Peel hasn’t come in trying to change everything on a technical level. Peel doesn’t try to alter swings for those who’ve had individual success over their career.

Players say she is able to easily relate to them due to her playing career and short removal from the game. Peel played professionally as recently as 2009. “It gives me a little bit of credibility with saying I’ve been there, I’ve done that, I’m not just a 50-year-old coach who hasn’t played in 30 years,” Peel said. She’s built a strong relationship with her players and has already shown the ability to recruit. The Bulls signed junior third baseman/catcher Hayley Barrow from the University of Central Florida since signing Peel. Barrow said Peel’s winning history and edge is what drew her from Florida to Western New York. “She told me she was here to make me the best player I could be, and I struggled with that at my previous school because I kind of got down on myself,” Barrow said. “I didn’t have someone to sit there and tell me that I could be the best player, but she made me believe I could turn into that kind of player.” And her players love her swag and having the opportunity to develop their own. “[If] you strike out, it doesn’t mean you have any less confidence, less swag per se,” said

sophomore infielder Ryleigh Fitzgerald. “It even lightens the mood a little bit. You are like, ‘You know what, I have some swag,’ and it helps me personally to relax.” Glenn Moore believes she will have success at Buffalo because, frankly, she doesn’t know anything else. “I also think her talent and confidence with that talent gave her an expectation to win,” Moore said. “Winners win; it’s that simple. You are either OK with being just OK or you are not. If you are not, you will find a way to win.” The team’s newest motto is “why not us?” Inspired by the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks, the team believes they are being overlooked in the conference. Peel is trying to instill in her players that they have the talent to win this season, but they must believe in themselves. Peel begins her newest challenge this weekend, as the Bulls begin their season on the road Friday at Southern University. Buffalo won’t play at home until conference play begins on March 28. email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 8: Hockey Senior goalie Michael Musialowski has provided the Bulls with excellent goaltending all season, as he has put together an 8-5 record with two shutouts and 381 saves, averaging 2.92 goals allowed per game. The future of Buffalo hockey is bright as freshman goalie Stephen Palmer has been reliable when called upon. His 6-1

record and team-best 2.57 goals against average has given the team an extra spark. “These guys have really performed and have grown together as a team since August,” Kersten said. “The coaching staff and players just hope we can continue this journey until midMarch.”

LIBERTY YELLOW

The Bulls are on the road this Friday when they play St. Bonaventure (5-12, 4-8 NECHL) at 8:30 p.m. They will come back home Saturday to hit the ice with Rochester College (1315) at the Northtown Center at 7:30 p.m. email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Wu believes this self-deprecating humor lightens the mood in an otherwise all-too-serious class. Creating an atmosphere in which everyone feels comfortable participating and reacting sincerely to the material presented “makes everything easier.” Currie believes his popularity among students and faculty stems more from his love of performance than his love of teaching. “My need for a performance base is oddly catered to two or three times a week when I have to stand in front of a fee-paying audience,” Currie said. “I don’t even have to see how much money people put in the jar at the end of the evening – I just get a paycheck. It’s a weird, odd fortuity.” Although Currie prefers the aspect of performance to the aspect of education in his teach-

ing profession, his relationship with students is one of mutual affection. “They’re very smart kids,” Currie said. “They don’t have an entitled relationship to what you should know and what you shouldn’t know. There is a feeling of excitement that can come with teaching in a place like this, which is very important to me.” This semester, Currie is teaching Music History II and Enlightened Postmodernity. Currie may no longer play under the name “Lady Beronia Jackson,” but he is still happily performing – most often in front of an audience of students – remembering how much music has served as his nearly life-long salvation. email: features@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 1: CVS She said that other stores might follow in CVS’ footsteps, but at the same time they may choose not to because of the potential loss in revenue. Instead of choosing to smoke less, consumers can choose to purchase their products from other stores, Herbert said. Hnu Thaper, a freshman business major, thinks CVS’ new policy is a good idea, but that “people are still going to buy tobacco either way.” Following the announcement, CVS changed its social media icons to no smoking symbols. Government officials celebrated the decision on social media sites like Twitter. The White House tweeted the president’s comments: “Obama: ‘Today’s decision will help advance my Administration’s ef-

forts to reduce tobacco-related deaths, cancer and heart disease.’ #CVS.” Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg tweeted: “CVS’ decision to eliminate #tobacoo sales is a major milestone in the effort to reduce tobacco use … #CVSquits.” Daun-Barnett said next month, Wellness Education Services is planning to have UB students write thank-you notes to CVS regarding this policy change. She encourages students to visit CVS’ social media sites in support of this step to create a more expansive smoke-free population. email: news@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 1: Bus route

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On Sept. 30 at a community meeting to discuss problems in the University Heights area surrounding South Campus, Assistant Vice President for Government and Community Relations Michael Pietkiewicz said UB’s bus service allows students to go to the library on South Campus, which is open 24 hours a day. “It is what it is – the ‘drunk bus’ is honestly the best way to get students to and from North and South Campus safely,” Reisman said.

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Crossword of the Day

HOROSCOPES Friday, February 7, 2014 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK

ACROSS 1 Winged god of love 5 Foe of Two-Face 11 “What ___ to do?” 14 Heredity determiner 15 Conductor Toscanini 16 Uncompromising law 17 With too much on one’s plate 19 Some spots before your eyes? 20 Lay one’s mitts on 21 15-Across and others 23 Art prop 26 Agent of espionage 28 Cabbage purchase 29 Counteracting agent 31 Dancer’s glide 33 Water pistol, e.g. 34 Look around a prison? 36 Not much 41 Change with the times ... again 42 Quaker bit 44 Elevated ground 47 Grace period? 50 Quarry 51 Apiece 52 Made waves, in a way 53 Oceanfront 56 Big-bang material

57 Partners of “ands” and “buts” 58 Sensible 64 Actress Ruby 65 Magazine chief 66 Pouty look 67 Trauma centers, briefly 68 One may be superior 69 Long-range weapon

DOWN 1 It may be inflated or massaged 2 Gun, as an engine 3 Latish lunchtime 4 Federov of the NHL 5 Thai currency 6 “So there you ___!” 7 Sum (abbr.) 8 Wrapped movie monster 9 Word with “rest,” “work” or “play” 10 Where a leaf joins a stem 11 Diminishes 12 Bay of Bengal city 13 Not outdoors 18 Join, as metals 22 Puppeteer Lewis 23 Consume 24 Ever and __ 25 Eye doctor’s concern

Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 7, 2014 IN ALL THE RIGHT SPOTS By Oliver Klamp 26 Offered one’s seat 27 Mark Twain, for one 30 Double quartet 31 Terra- ___ 32 “Whadja say?” 35 Sot 37 Dentistry photos 38 Hoop height, in feet 39 Film ___ (dark movie genre) 40 Clue or Life 43 John and Bobby’s brother 44 ___-down cake 45 Like better 46 Rental agreements 48 Unattached 49 Japanese floor covering 51 Shrill-voiced bird 54 Footnote word 55 Extinct bird 56 Pressure unit 59 Maximum degree 60 Small digit 61 Charles S. Dutton title character 62 Clunky ship 63 Clothes line

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You may have to bear a burden you had hoped would not be yours -- but you can rise to the occasion and acquit yourself in style. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -How you talk about yourself and your endeavors will tell your rivals much about what you are really about. Do you want that? ARIES (March 21-April 19) -You're likely to get some advice that strikes you as odd -- until you realize that you've been misinterpreting a certain situation. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You'll receive assistance today precisely when you need it most, and you'll want to return the favor at the earliest possible opportunity. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -You can help someone you know from letting things slip through the cracks. Yes, it means bearing more responsibility than usual. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -You mustn't ignore the signs that are right in front of you. Once you take them in, several questions will be answered.

FALL SPACES ARE WHERE YOU SHOULD

BE LIVING! GOING FAST RESERVE YOUR SPACE TODAY BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- What you do unintentionally is likely to be more important in the long run than anything you have planned. Let momentum build. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Your understanding of a key situation will make the difference between taking a step forward or a step back. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -You are eager to see where things are headed, yet you know there are certain dangers to address if you let a situation go unabated. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -How you express yourself makes all the difference. There's nothing wrong with letting others know you know what you're talking about! SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You'll benefit in a roundabout way from something that a neighbor or casual friend does as a matter of routine. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Focus on the task at hand and don't let yourself be distracted by something that you think will be much more fun.

Friday, February 7, 2014 ubspectrum.com

SPORTS

On a hundred, thousand, trillion Peel has brought a new mindset to UB softball in her first season OWEN O’BRIEN Sports Editor Trena Peel has swagger. The first-year Buffalo head softball coach has won an SEC Player of the Year award, represented her country in the Junior Olympic games and excelled as a coach largely because of this simple yet often misunderstood trait. Swagger is a characteristic Peel wants her teams to encompass. It’s become the team’s slogan and is inscribed in the back of their t-shirts. “I tell them, ‘I’m ok with being cocky,’ because when you are cocky and you can back it up,” Peel said. “Hey, it is what it is. Beat us if you don’t like it.” Peel was introduced as Buffalo’s head coach July 12. She thrived at LSU for four years before playing six seasons professionally. Peel was also a member of the 1999 USA Junior Olympic softball team. As a coach, she brought Hampton University to the NCAA Tournament in just her third season. Now, she is looking to rebuild UB’s program. Peel is a winner – she won four SEC championships at LSU and a Mid-Eastern Athletic Championship as a head coach last season. When she played for Team USA, however, the team finished in second place to Japan. She didn’t take the loss well. “That was a tough loss,” Peel said. “You get all the hype and to get the silver medal, you never want to be second place. I don’t even think I kept my silver medal; I gave it to my mom. I didn’t even want it. That’s just the competitor in me. I don’t want silver.

I’m not proud of it.” She represented her country again and won championships in 2001, 2002 and 2003, but that one loss has always remained with her. Peel is no stranger to turning around athletic programs. When she went to LSU, the program was only in its third season after a 15-year hiatus. Still – largely due to her contributions – LSU won four championships in four years. As a senior, Peel was a semifinalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award. “She was highly driven to win, and I wanted her in the moment when it mattered most,” said Glenn Moore, Peel’s coach for her first two seasons at LSU and the current Baylor head coach. “I knew her competitiveness would jumpstart her adrenaline. Trena was a risk taker and won most of the time anything significant was on the line. She was shrewd and not interested in useless things or activities that didn’t seem to have a productive purpose.” Peel graduated from LSU in 2003 with 269 hits, 45 doubles and 27 triples – all of which rank first in school history. She is one of nine All-Americans in the program’s history and played in its first ever Women’s College World Series. She was heavily scouted and recruited by colleges since early high school. Peel played travel softball in the 18-year-old division since she was 15 and drew interest from “literally every school out there,” she said. She had no idea where she wanted to play, though, and therefore entered the recruitment process with an open mind. The Aurora, Colo., native’s first

Chad Cooper, The Spectrum Trena Peel is LSU’s all-time leader in hits, doubles and triples, and she represented Team USA in the Junior Olympics. This season, she is looking to bring her winning mentality to UB in her first season as the softball team’s head coach.

three stops were Georgia, Michigan State and Colorado State. Her next three were scheduled for LSU, Nebraska and Florida. After visiting LSU, she canceled her next two trips. She knew where she wanted to go. The competitive environment that surrounded LSU reeled her in. “If I went to any other school, I would have been the No. 1 pitcher, No. 1 shortstop, but LSU was the only program where I had to really compete because

there were people there better than me that I thought would make me better,” Peel said. Peel had numerous assistant coaching stints and professional league tours before running her own team. When she inherited Hampton’s softball program, she was the first full-time head coach at the school. Peel knew changes were necessary. The administration gave her complete control over the program. They allowed her to fly in

recruits and really pitch the values and qualities she wanted in her student-athletes. “It doesn’t matter how good of a career I had or what I know or how good of a coach I am – if I can’t go out and recruit kids and bring kids to campus, it doesn’t matter,” Peel said. Peel values discipline over everything else. She kicked a few players off her Hampton team in the first season due to violations of team rules. The team struggled initially, but the structure paid off as Hampton won 25 games in 2012 and 34 games in 2013. Hampton won its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship and played in the NCAA Tournament in 2013. With her success came new opportunities. Michigan State University offered her an assistant coaching opportunity after her 2012 season for more money than her head coaching position. She looked into it, but ultimately decided it wasn’t the right fit. Peel is a firm believer in going with a “gut instinct,” which is how she found herself at UB the following summer. When UB offered her the head coaching position in 2013, she was told to stay away. All of her colleagues told her the Buffalo job was a trap and she could never recruit or win there. Even Buffalo’s previous head coach, Jennifer Teague, told her to reject the Buffalo job. She had built a winner in Hampton and many believed she should stay. P e e l didn’t listen. Athletic Director Danny White sold her on his vision for Buffalo athletics and she believed this was a place she could thrive. SEE PEEL, PAGE 6

Tournament dreams within sight Men’s ice hockey aiming for ACHA tournament JEFF PLACITO

Staff Writer

It doesn’t get much better than scoring the game-winning goal in double overtime on the last game of the season for the league tournament championship. For the men’s ice hockey team, that moment culminated a spectacular 2012-13 season. An unsuccessful regular season, however, kept them out of the American Collegiate Hockey League (ACHL) national tournament. The Bulls have not forgotten that even though they were tournament champions, their rival, Niagara, went on to play in the ACHL national tournament while they were left out. The Bulls are aiming for vengeance this season as they battle for first place in the Northeast Collegiate Hockey League (NECHL). With only three games left in their regular season schedule, the Bulls (21-9, 11-2 NECHL) lead the NECHL with 34 points. “The season has been great,” said assistant coach Jeremy Kersten. “We have done all we can so far and now just need a little luck and help in the next few weeks.”

Courtesy of Dwayne Niewiemski

Senior goalie Mike Musialowski (33) and the men’s ice hockey team take on St. Bonaventure on the road on Friday night and Rochester College at home on Saturday night as they look to make the ACHA national tournament.

The team has played especially well considering nine seniors graduated last season, creating a need for underclassmen to step up. The players and coaches have shown their resiliency all season – bouncing back from not only from the loss of senior leader-

ship, but also a shaky 3-3 start to the season. It has been a tight race between the top three teams in the NECHL, as reigning regular season champ No. 24 Niagara (15-9, 10-4 NECHL), No. 22 Syracuse (17-5, 10-2 NECHL) and Buf-

falo have gone back and forth in the standings. The Bulls have split meetings with both teams. Those two losses have been the only blemishes for the Bulls in league play. With three games left to play, the Bulls must continue their

dominance if they want to advance to the ACHL tournament this year. A team can receive a bid to the tournament by finishing first in its regular season league standings or placing in the top 20 of the computer rankings. This is the first year the ACHL is using computer rankings over the coaches’ poll to determine the at-large bids. Buffalo is currently ranked No. 20, but the squad will need some help if it is going to get an automatic bid to the ACHL tournament. Despite splitting a twogame series with Syracuse last month, the Orange scored one more goal and own the tiebreaker. Desire alone cannot elevate a team to championship status. A winning squad needs talented players who can work together as a team, not just individually. The Bulls have both the desire and talent to win. Junior forwards Brenden Robinson and Michael Schalberg have helped the Bulls to their impressive record so far this season. Robinson has tallied 55 points with 21 goals and 34 assists, while Schalberg has recorded 54 points with 25 goals and 29 assists. SEE HOCKEY, PAGE 6

For the most comprehensive, up-to-the-minute UB sports coverage, follow @ubspecsports and visit ubspectrum.com. On the site today: SEASON PREVIEW: Behind new head coach Trena Peel, the softball team is looking for new success after finishing 16-32 last year.

GAME STORY: The women’s basketball team had its poorest first half of the season Thursday, but it found a way to win.

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Read more news surrounding the men’s basketball, women’s basketball and softball teams. Also: the football team made several announcements this week, including: the 2014 season opponents; the schedule for its four non-conference games; three performers for the UB Football Tailgate Concert Series; and the 2014 recruiting class.