The Spectrum Volume 62 Issue 49 by The Spectrum Student Periodical

the Independent Student Publication of the University at Buffalo, Since 1950

The S pectrum ubspectrum.com

Volume 62 No. 49

Friday, February 8, 2013

UB asks for $50 million in state funding

Harlem shakes back onto the stage

Story on page 5

Story on page 4

The first rule of UB Fit Club: you talk about UB Fit Club Determination, sweat lead on-campus exercise revolution to promote healthy living LYZI WHITE Life Editor While he was recovering from an emergency appendectomy, Joseph Steet gained 70 pounds from the fall of 2010 to the end of the year. With a diet mainly consisting of Taco Bell, Four Loko and mozzarella sticks, Steet weighed 210 pounds. Two years later, he weighs 165 pounds. Steet’s physical transformation started with UB Fit Club. One morning, he woke up to an email from Randy Thompson, the founder of UB Fit Club, informing him weigh-ins and baseline tests were that very afternoon. Steet then remembered walking through the Student Union the afternoon before, “fairly inebriated,” and signing up for UB Fit Club’s Biggest Loser competition. Despite joining accidently, Steet went on to win the contest by losing the most weight. UB Fit Club, a Student Association club that gained permanent status this year, strives to push students to find their inner athlete. The club received temporary status in 2010 and has been providing free workout classes for students ever since. The club promotes healthy lifestyles through conditioning classes, a CrossFit-style cornerstone and nutrition workshops. The classes aren’t easy, which is something Steet realized quickly in his first class. He ran up 24 flights of stairs and was exhausted. That was only the warm-up. “We promise you that by the end [of a conditioning class], you will be on your ass, staring up into the ceiling in a puddle of your own sweat, thinking: ‘What the hell just happened to me?’” said Thompson, a senior exercise science major. “And then you’ll come back for more.” Steet agreed. After his first class, he couldn’t stop complaining about the difficulty of the class – but he also couldn’t wait for the next one.

Nick Fischetti /// The Spectrum

UB Fit Club performs burpees (above) as part of conditioning classes, hosts nutrition workshops and gives a welcoming atmosphere to motivate members into living an overall healthier lifestyle.

A typical session contains some basic elements – such as warm-ups, dynamic stretching, body weight exercises and cardio circuits – but no two workouts are the same, according to Shauna Murphy, a sophomore exercise science major and the UB Fit Club president. Whether members are doing “underovers” (jump over another person, who is in a push-up position, then crawl underneath them) or “burpees” (standing, drop to a squat, extend into plank position, back to squat, then stand again), each class helps them become better than the day before, Murphy said. Although they are not certified trainers, Murphy and sophomore exercise science major Michael Reinhardt provide difficult workouts that are designed to “kick your butt but not kill you,” according to Murphy.

Murphy believes students might be intimidated by the club; they might believe the classes contain elite individuals working out and some could be nervous to join. But she stresses no matter your skill level, UB Fit Club is for you. The trainers excel at specific tailoring for each member, Murphy said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re an MMA fighter, a lacrosse player, a weekend warrior or haven’t exercised in years,” Thompson said. “You’re all able to work out together and, by the end of the day, you’re all going to be on the floor.” When someone is struggling, members motivate each other to keep going. Steet believes UB Fit is a better workout than going to the gym, largely because of its encouraging environment.

UB 2020 brings dissatisfaction among some SA members SAM FERNANDO Asst. News Editor Student Association President Travis Nemmer doesn’t see much of a plan in UB 2020. On Tuesday night, Provost Charles Zukoski held an open forum for students, mainly SA senators and e-board members. The session allowed students to share their input on the future plans of UB 2020 – UB’s $5 billion renovation plan. The plan is partially funded by annual tuition hikes that started this year and will equate to $100 million over a total of five years. The provost asked for student opinions to help shape what he called “Realizing UB 2020” – a written plan on how to achieve the goals of UB 2020. “The document has ‘draft’ stamped on it because it is now open for discussion,” Zukoski said. “We are looking for feedback. We are looking for questions. Is it good, complete or incomplete?” Nemmer had a response. “I don’t know,” Nemmer said. “There is nothing for me to influence because there is no plan.” The document sets out four goals: make UB a national leader in education, research and innovation; make students effective leaders for tomorrow; strengthen UB’s engagement in the local community and become a top-tier Association of American Universities public research university.

In the two years Murphy has been a part of UB Fit, she has not heard one judgmental comment from anyone. The participants are there to push themselves to be better; the encouragement is contagious. For the people who have been discouraged from exercising because of people who told them they couldn’t do it, UB Fit Club helps its members to “shut those people up,” said Courtney Hanusch, a junior exercise science major and the club’s vice president. If someone is doing a movement incorrectly, the trainers will help. If a movement might be too hard for someone, the trainers will modify it. The UB Fit Club did not start out the same as it functions today. The club’s first classes were martial arts conditioning classes for Combined Martial Arts Club (CMAC) taught by Thompson and senior media studies major Ryan Monolopolus. Soon, Thompson began teaching the class by himself. He kept much of the martial-arts style movements – punching, kicking, kneeing – and the beginning stages of UB Fit Club formed. Thompson eventually decided on a CrossFit style for the class because it was tough but required no equipment. He stumbled upon CrossFit during his freshman year in his search to get in shape after he joined UB’s boxing club. “I figured out I liked lifting heavy weights and crazy workouts better than getting punched in the face,” Thompson said. The club has grown from just hosting conditioning classes. UB Fit Club also deals with nutrition. The club holds workshops, in which the members come together and learn easy, inexpensive healthy recipes – such as chicken with sautéed zucchini and onions. Soon, Murphy hopes to showcase a burger bar with beef, turkey and other burgers along with non-traditional condiments instead of ketchup and mustard. Continued on page 5

Pending gay membership in Boy Scouts draws campus response TAYLOR BRUNDAGE Staff Writer

photo illustration by haider alidina

UB Provost Charles Zukoski (left) gave a presentation on “Realizing UB 2020” to students, mainly SA senators and e-board members, on Tuesday night. Some SA members, like President Travis Nemmer (right) are unhappy with UB’s drafted plans.

But the document is just “fluff,” according to David Murphy-Longhini, a junior business finance, human relations and management information systems major and SA webmaster. “What if you I told you ‘I am going to make you the most attractive man on the planet, the most wealthy, with girls all over you?”’ Murphy-Longhini asked. “What do you think about that? Of course you are going to say all that is cool. They didn’t seem to have a plan, an objective or a focus.” When asked to respond to the negativity his presentation received, Zukoski said in an email, “I encourage students to read the narrative and ask questions if it is not clear to them.”

Inside

Zukoski added, “Realizing UB 2020 is meant to be ambitious. The challenges facing higher education are large and complex and can’t be addressed with simple solutions.” Murphy-Longhini, like Nemmer, said the document and presentation seemed disconnected – a disconnect mirrored in the relationship between the administration and its students, he added. Dan Ovadia, a senior in the School of Management and the student representative for the University Council, felt the provost did a good job of articulating the overall direction of Realizing UB 2020. Ovadia also stressed student engagement is important and “the plan doesn’t end Continued on page 6

When Gregory Duckworth was 13 years old, he wanted to become an Eagle Scout. During the process, Walter Andrews, his Boy Scout troop 121 leader, told him if he didn’t believe in God, he would not be allowed to join. Andrews told Duckworth to lie if he wasn’t religious. On Wednesday, Feb. 6, the Boy Scouts’ executive board was set to meet and vote on a proposal that would allow troop leaders of each area to set up their own policies. It was postponed until May because of the “complexity of the issue,” according to the committee. If the vote passes, the troop leaders will be granted the authority to choose if openly gay men or lesbians would, for the first time in history, can join the Boy Scouts. “I don’t know why you should even have to tell the Boy Scouts your sexuality,” said Duckworth, a senior English major. “I don’t think that homosexuals are these sex-crazed individuals who will impose their sexuality on unwilling parties. I mean, it’s not like they’re going to rape you just because you’re sleeping in a tent with them.” The machismo, close-mindedness, and pseudo-military aspects of the Boy Scouts are what made his experience negative, according to Duckworth. Continued on page 6

Opinion 3 Life, Arts & Entertainment 4, 5 Classifieds & Daily Delights 7

Sports 8

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Friday, February 8, 2013

Opinion

Friday, February 8, 2013 ubspectrum.com

Fail mail

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in Chief Aaron Mansfield Senior Managing Editor Brian Josephs Managing Editor Rebecca Bratek Editorial Editor Ashley Steves News EDItors Sara DiNatale, Co-Senior Lisa Khoury, Co-Senior Sam Fernando, Asst. Rachel Raimondi, Asst. LIFE EDITORS Rachel Kramer, Senior Lyzi White Lisa Epstein, Asst. ARTS EDITORS Elva Aguilar, Senior Lisa de la Torre, Asst. Nathaniel Smith, Asst. Max Crinnin, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS Joseph Konze Jr., Senior Jon Gagnon Ben Tarhan Markus McCaine, Asst. PHOTO EDITORS Alexa Strudler, Senior Satsuki Aoi Adrien D’Angelo Nick Fischetti, Asst. CARTOONIST Jeanette Chwan PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Mark Kurtz CREATIVE DIRECTOR Brian Keschinger Haider Alidina, Asst. ADVERTISING DESIGNER Joseph Ramaglia Ryan Christopher, Asst. Haley Sunkes, Asst.

February 8, 2013 Volume 62 Number 49 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 both Alloy Media and Marketing, and MediaMate. For information on adverstising 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

USPS plan to cut Saturday service is a necessary step to recovery If the United States Postal Service gets its way, you’ll be getting a lot less spam on Saturdays. The USPS announced Wednesday it intends to stop delivering mail on Saturdays beginning the week of Aug. 5 in an effort to save the struggling agency. While weekend mail will cease, the service plans to continue Saturday delivery of packages and will also keep post offices open so customers can continue to drop off outgoing mail, buy postage stamps or access their post office boxes. Finally – a government agency doing something mildly productive and taking the initiative to fix its problems. Criticism aside, this decision should be welcomed with open arms. Any kind of postal service reform is well overdue and much needed. USPS reported a $15.9 billion net loss last fiscal year – three times the loss recorded in the year prior. In 2005, USPS was debt-free. What happened? The short version is that, thanks to the accessibility of the Internet and ecommerce, the need for snail mail is dwindling. First-class mail, which has been the most profitable product for the Postal Service, has fallen by a third since its peak 12 years ago, and USPS has been in a downward spiral for years as it has tried to adjust to the digital age. Only three out of every 10 people under the age of 45 say they use the service all the time. In fact, the only dedicated demographic is senior citizens, who push the envelope at a whopping 54 percent. On top of all that, a 2006 congressional mandate required the agency to pay up and pre-fund healthcare benefits for future retirees, forcing it to borrow billions to make up for its shortfalls. USPS has received messages of support and cries of outrage since Wednesday’s announcement. Some of the biggest complaints come from the country’s rural communities, where lawmakers have argued the change would hurt their constituents who rely on delivery of prescription drugs and medical supplies. Two major unions in the industry, the National Association of Letter Carriers and the National Association of Rural Letter Carriers, have been vocal in their opposition, referring to the move as “unacceptable” and claiming the USPS doesn’t have the authority to eliminate a day of service without congressional approval. Other trades, such as the publishing industry, have also expressed disapproval, stating any changes would force quicker deadlines for magazines, affect the delivery of small daily and weekly newspapers and force some publishers to seek private delivery options. As for USPS, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe insisted the change will not bring any layoffs, but it is expected to cut overtime and part-time hours and reduce the hours at thousands of smaller locations. Overall, the change has the potential to eliminate approximately 22,500 jobs of over 600,000 positions nationwide.

art by jeanette chwan

That is, unfortunately, a sign of the times. The Postal Service is at a point where it doesn’t have another immediate option. After hitting its $15 billion debt limit last September, it’s capped from borrowing any more money from private banks, only able to rely on the U.S. Treasury. Despite the complaints, a majority supports the change. According to a New York Times/CBS News poll from last June, about seven in 10 Americans say they would favor the elimination of Saturday delivery as a way to help the post office deal with its debt. According to projections, the move will at least save about $2 billion a year, barely a dent in the overall deficit. But it’s a start, and it’s as far as the agency can go until Congress caves in to true reform. It always goes back to Congress, where many members have already expressed blatant disapproval. Saving USPS should not be a political issue, but you can’t argue that cutting service should be its last resort and not its first choice (as Sen. Susan Collins, R-

The drone wars

Demanding the truth about the drone strike program John Brennan, the president’s pick for new CIA director and his principal adviser on homeland security and counterterrorism over the last four years faced the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday afternoon to answer questions on U.S. drone missions. Following the controversy of a new memo outlining the Obama administration’s policy, Brennan argued the opposition has been reacting to a “misimpression” among the American people and “to a lot of the falsehoods that are out there” about how the program works. Then let us, at last, hear the truth. The drone program is shrouded in secrecy. U.S. officials have previously and consistently claimed making details public would possibly pose a threat to national security. Possibly. That doesn’t change the fact the level of secrecy placed on the program is entirely excessive, not giving way to vital information or transparency. Drone strikes have made it back into the spotlight and have become a key topic in Brennan’s hearing after NBC News obtained a 16-page memo this week concluding the U.S. government can order the killing of American citizens they are believed to be part of or associated with al-Qaida. The clarity of the white paper, which was provided to members of the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary committees in June on the condition it be kept confidential, is debatable. What it does include is the legal reasoning behind the Obama administration’s controversial policies: the use of drone strikes against terrorism suspects abroad, including those aimed at U.S. citizens with indictment, such as the attacks on alleged operatives Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan in Sept. 2011. It also includes reasoning on why the strikes don’t violate the constitution or additional laws about killing Americans overseas, aren’t considered war crimes and don’t violate a U.S. executive order banning assassinations. That seems more like an attempt to save face than anything else. Perhaps the document’s ambiguity is a reflection of the program as a whole, with elastic definitions of “an imminent threat” (the memo refers to a “broader concept of imminence,” meaning the government does not require the United States to have clear evidence a specific threat will take place in the near future) and a disregard to due process, the rule of law and constitutional rights.

The logistics of drone killings is hazy, and there is no exact number to how many have actually occurred. Based on news reports, the New America Foundation estimates the United States has carried out 349 strikes in Pakistan and 61 in Yemen. But how many have died? New America estimates between about 1,950 and 3,300 in Pakistan and between about 650 and 860 in Yemen since 2004. Other reports, such as a dual study from the law schools of Stanford and NYU, say the strikes have killed more people than the United States has acknowledged and have largely been ineffective. In Brennan’s hearing, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) claimed Awlaki was “not an American citizen for whom anyone in America would have been proud” as justification for the drone strike that killed him. Are we at the point where we value nationalism over constitutionalism, despite what we may claim any time we feel one of our individual rights is violated? The memo’s list of excuses doesn’t get rid of the fact that drone warfare, whether or not its pros outweigh the cons, disregards due process and the right to a fair trial. Still, the program is supported by an overwhelming amount of Americans – 83 percent according to a Feb. 2012 Washington Post-ABC poll. Respondents in that poll were also asked if they supported using drones to target American citizens who are suspected terrorists. About two-thirds approved. What many have tried to turn into an argument of American realism versus idealism is more of an argument of disclosure. From what we know (which is evidently not a lot), the program has many pros, including more accurate attacks, theoretically less civilian deaths and a decrease in military deaths. There are also cons, such as the argument drone warfare will have an affect on soldiers’ psychology, as soldiers become removed from the humanity of warfare and see the enemy as nothing more than blips on a screen. But we haven’t had any real discussion on the cons; instead we’re told it’s a secret and are left to play guessing games. If we are reacting on misinformation, Mr. Brennan, it is because we lack the information to transform those falsehoods into facts. Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

Maine, has). Congress failed just last year to seal the deal on a massive overhaul of the agency. Last April, a series of proposals for reform passed in the Senate. The plan would have given USPS about $11 billion to offer buyouts and pay off its debts. According to The Washington Post, estimates on how much USPS owes to pension accounts determined the agency has overpaid to the fund for years. But the House failed to take it up and the plan died, leaving the agency to operate on a temporary spending measure. USPS is in desperate need of that overhaul, but until the government can get its act together and revamp the system, cutting Saturday delivery is a necessary step to ensure USPS’ security and future. While it is only a short-term solution to a much bigger problem, let the service do what it must. We will adjust. Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

Letter to the Editor CHRISTOPHER TANSKI Recently, you ran an article discussing the recreational use of stimulants such as Adderall in the college population. The Spectrum deserves praise for acknowledging this issue, but it didn’t go far enough. I can only hope the students lying to doctors to receive these medications are, at the very least, receiving proper counseling from their doctor or pharmacist, but for those purchasing the pills from friends or dealers, they are taking a fairly dangerous medication without knowing all of the risks involved. The drug has been associated with serious cardiovascular events, including death in patients with preexisting conditions such as heart block or a murmur. It should not be used by those with hyperthyroidism. It can cause a dangerous increase in blood pressure in those taking certain antidepressants such as selegeline (brand name EmSam). I can continue to list reasons this is not a drug to be used recreationally, but the point I am hoping to make is students should consult their physician, at the very least, before taking any of these stimulants. The risk is too great to do otherwise. Sincerely, Christopher Tanski PharmD Candidate University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy Class of 2014

Friday, February 8, 2013 ubspectrum.com

Life, Arts & Entertainment

For the young bohemian: What: Second Friday at the Burchfield Penney Art Center Where: Burchfield Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo When: Friday, Feb. 8, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

For the literary genius: What: Poetry reading, “New Poets, New Books” Where: UB Anderson Gallery, 1 Martha Jackson Place, Buffalo When: Saturday, Feb. 9, 2-5 p.m.

For the Fat Tuesday fiend: What: The 18th-Annual Mardi Gras Parade and Festival Where: Main Street and Allen Street, Buffalo NY When: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 5 p.m.

First Friday was last week at the AlbrightKnox Art Gallery, and this week, it’s Second Friday across the street at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. On Friday, Burchfield Penney will celebrate the opening of UB professor Bruce Jackson’s photo exhibit, Being There, as part of its monthly Second Friday special opening. The gallery will extend its hours to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Not everybody’s interested in nightlife, and not everybody’s interested in getting dressed up and drunk every weekend, either. For the bookworms looking for somewhere to venture this weekend, various members of the UB community will be performing at a poetry reading in the Anderson Gallery near South Campus. The presentation is in conjunction with the Transmutation photo exhibit by Carl Chiarenza, who will also be reading his works. Poets Claire Gay, Lauren Gay, Geoffrey Gatza, Isaac Johnson, Patrick Riedy and Letson Williams will also be reading their works. UB professor David Hadbawnik, curator for the Poetry Collection at UB Michael Basinkski and assistant Edric Mesmer will also be in attendance to read their poems.

All right, so it’s not technically the weekend. Still, one of the biggest party nights of the year is upon us, and it would be a shame to let Fat Tuesday roll around without an idea of where to celebrate. Tuesday night at 5 p.m., the 18th-Annual Mardi Gras Parade and Festival will commence in downtown Buffalo. The more spirited folks can create floats, costumes and puppets to accompany them while they march in the parade. Of course, those looking to just party can skip the parade altogether and hit the bars. Participating bars on Allen Street include hot spots like Neitzsche’s and Duke’s, in addition to downtown spots like Noir, Purple Monkey and Tap House.

For the rager: What: Back to School Dubstep Party Where: The Forvm, 4224 Maple Rd., Amherst When: Saturday, Feb. 9, 9 p.m. – 3 a.m. Attention EDM lovers: if you’re bored of gathering in a friend’s dingy basement to hula-hoop amidst cheap laser lights, the Back to School Dubstep Party promises be an exciting – and perhaps more sanitary – alternative. Starting at 9 p.m., you can enjoy electronically induced elation while sipping $2 PBR cans, in addition to other specials to be announced as the night progresses. Local DJs Stuntman, Gh0st, Jolly Wailer, Pinja and Drooka will be playing full sets until 3 a.m., when the party ends. If you buy tickets presale or show a college ID at the door, you’ll get in for $5, and if not, it’s still only $7 admittance.

Have an idea for next weekend? Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

Harlem shakes back onto the stage ‘Fusion pot’ Dance Theatre of Harlem excites CFA

NICHOLAS C. TURTON Staff Writer Inspiration and vivacity captivated North Campus this week, as a group of talented and stifled dancers returned to the stage after declaring bankruptcy in 2004. The Dance Theatre of Harlem took the stage at UB’s Center For the Arts Wednesday evening with 12 dancers. The group presented an eclectic repertoire of five pieces over the course of three acts. Overall, the performance was superbly done. Every dancer was powerful and graceful, and their technique was sound. Lillie Pincus, 14, a dancer from Rochester, N.Y., appreciated the performance. “All of the women’s point work … the musicality, all the formation and partnering, I appreciate [a lot],” Pincus said. The dance company combines the technique of contemporary dance with classical ballet, a sign that the Dance Theatre of Harlem has reinvented itself. Morgan Dodds, 17, of Buffalo, is an aspiring dancer. “The dancers were beautiful and just inspiring … watching all these styles and how they put [them] together,” Dodds said. “It blends into this sort of fusion pot.” The dancers paid homage to classical ballet with a rendition of the timeless “Swan Lake” pas de deux (“steps of two”). In the single pair, both dancers were fluid and synchronized as they performed multiple pirouettes with ease. The execution of seamless grand jetés also illustrated the dancers’ expertise of the piece. While the classical pieces were all well done, the dancers’ strength is seen in the more contemporary pieces, according to Margaret Kaiser, 63, of Buffalo. “They are all well trained,” Kaiser said. “[But] I do feel they are much more comfortable with the very contemporary work.” A contemporary piece called “In the Mirror of Her Mind,” choreographed by Christopher Huggins, was the most notable performance of the night. The portion began with a single female dancer lying on the stage, sleeping with a single spotlight. As the lights grew stronger, three male dancers circled the convulsing female dancer, as if she was stricken by a nightmare. The piece then became a passionate dance between the four dancers set to a symphonic and transient soundtrack. The men lifted the female multiple times throughout the dance, each time as flawless as the first. The female’s ability to continuously switch

Courtesy of Dance Theatre of Harlem

The once-dead Dance Theatre of Harlem came to the CFA Wednesday and showcased a fusion of contemporary dance with classical ballet.

from standing flat to standing en pointe demonstrated extreme strength and skill. The four dancers’ technique was immaculate and, at the same time, full of passion

and emotion; the dancers’ feelings reverberated from the stage. The combination of dance and music was moving, heart stirring and admirable.

The performance ended with a series of short, upbeat dances under the title “Return.” With music from the likes James Brown and Aretha Franklin, the piece was an ode to the cultural birthplace of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. It doubled as a celebration for the rebirth of the dance company. By fusing different styles of jazz dance along with ballet, the dancers were not only standing en pointe or doing pirouettes but shaking their hips and snapping their fingers to “Baby, Baby, Baby” by Aretha Franklin and “I Got the Feelin’” by James Brown for an animated closing piece. “It was really high-energy and a nice piece to close the show with,” Pincus said. The performance ended with a standing ovation from the audience. The Dance Theatre of Harlem will perform next at the 2013 Vision Gala on Feb. 26 in New York City, which will include the likes of Chelsea Clinton (daughter of Bill and Hillary) in attendance. All proceeds will benefit The Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Next Generation and Community Engagement funds. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

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Friday, February 8, 2013

UB asks for $50 million in state funding Center of Excellence for Materials Informatics hopes to have facility JOHN NASSIVERA Staff Writer UB is asking for $50 million, along with $1 million per year, in state funding to build a facility for its Center of Excellence for Materials Informatics. The division, which does not have a building, opened last year and brought more than 40 scientists to develop new or modified materials to make better products that people use every day. President Satish Tripathi said funding to give the center a facility is UB’s main priority for the year. Chemistry professor Sarbajit Banerjee is heavily involved in materials informatics. He describes the research as a new way of designing and processing materials to create products in ceramics, plastics and gels. “There are a number of research areas that people are working on at UB,” Banerjee said. “We’ll bring some of these students [to] help translate these projects into reality, help our industry partners in the region to grow their businesses, to hire more people and to make New York a hub for advanced manufacturing and research materials.” Banerjee, students and scientists are finding ways to better products, like constructing windows to block heat from warm temperatures and bring heat inside when it’s cold. Researchers in materials informatics have also found ways to better purify water, find cheaper and more affordable solar cells and develop less toxic coating to rustproof steal. “There are certain rare earth elements which have very small quantities of materials available and they are depleting,” Tripathi

said. “These materials are very important for national defense, the electronic industry and for a lot of [manufacturing] that gets done. The question is: What is the alternative for these materials?” Tripathi emphasized the local and national need for materials informatics research – he said it will bring an abundance of jobs to Western New York and improve economic development in the Buffalo Niagara region. Tripathi has high hopes for the center’s potential super-computing system, which will analyze different materials and combinations and detect what will form as a result. Alexander Cartwright, vice president of research, said material informatics can be used in a variety of research like nanotechnology connection in studying and treating Alzheimer’s. “What people do is they have to figure out a way to make all of the nanoparticles go into the brain,” Cartwright said. “That is material science. What is the material you use? What is the signature that you’re looking for when you’re doing the imaging? All of that is part of what we’re doing in material science.” The construction process will provide jobs for those involved in manufacturing and building facilities. The progression of research will also lead to employment for students and scientists. UB Spokesman John Della Contrada said UB has collaborated with dozens of companies across the nation regarding materials research and the center’s potential. Local companies like Nanobiox and Graphic Devices are also involved. “These companies represent a range of industries, including advanced manufactur-

spectrum file photo

Chemistry professor Sarbajit Banerjee, above, is one of 40 scientists working for the Center of Excellence for Materials Informatics, which is now asking for $50 million in state funding.

ing, medical devices and clean technology,” Della Contrada said in an email. “The companies have expressed strong interest in partnering with UB and in hiring students who have received in extensive training and education across the materials science.” A location will not be determined until the money is secured. UB continues to focus on obtaining state funding. Della Contrada said UB is talking with members of the Western New York Legislative Delegation about how the center

can lead to success for UB, its students and the economy of Western New York. The delegation continues to support the project. If the money is provided, it will take several years to complete the building. Email: news@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 1: The first rule of UB Fit Club: you talk about UB Fit Club A majority of the club’s clientele comes from the dorms, so instead of eating chicken fingers and other unhealthy options, the members look for healthier food on campus. With just four ingredients from the Elli, members can make healthy, delicious meals, according to Hanusch. UB Fit is a student-run organization. It’s a club for students with similar mindsets who want to live a healthy lifestyle and want to help others achieve the same. A typical CrossFit membership costs over $100, Hanusch said, but at UB Fit, which features multiple CrossFit-inspired exercises, students don’t pay anything. The club also visited a CrossFit gym, owned by an exercise science professor, and saw what a real CrossFit workout entailed. Murphy remembers a 40-year-old mother of four who could lift a bar with enormous weights on it. Murphy couldn’t get the bar up, but it showed her no matter what level of fitness people start at, as long as they work, they will get better. According to Steet, everyone who does UB Fit classes is in better shape than when they started. The reasons for joining UB Fit vary, but the results are steady. Murphy joined to ease the transition from high school to college. She was

stressed, and working out at UB Fit provided great relief. Although she wasn’t prepared for the first class she attended, almost passing out on her first day, Murphy now teaches the conditioning classes. Hanusch first went to the conditioning class run through CMAC. A friend dragged her along and she thought: “This is perfect. I’ll go and meet a bunch of boys because boys are into martial arts.” Now, Hanusch can do 30 burpees in two minutes; when she first started, she couldn’t do five. Steet joined while intoxicated. When he saw the Buffalo Marathon was taking place in four days, Steet signed up. At the time, his only exercise was UB Fit Club’s conditioning classes. He had not run more than three miles in the past month. His preparation consisted of a music playlist, nipple tape and Gatorade power gel. Steet completed the 26.2-mile marathon. It might have cost three toenails, caused massive blisters and taken him six hours, but Steet finished with the help of UB Fit. Email: features@ubspectrum.com

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Continued from page 1: UB 2020 brings dissatisfaction among some SA members with the information sessions.” Zukoski encouraged students to send any additional feedback they might have to his office via email. Murphy-Longhini plans to take advantage of this request, as he has written a document over four pages. Throughout the presentation, Zukoski emphasized the importance of internships for every student, some sort of international experience and establishing the “Heart of the Campus” – a complete renovation of Capen Hall and the surrounding buildings, which he hopes will help centralize the campus. Nemmer feels renovations, for the most part, are unnecessary and the provost should focus on projects and programs that will have a more direct effect on students. “We all want to make UB a better school than it is – a more distinguished university than it already is,” Nemmer said. “Yes, I would like to see things more centralized and I’d like to see Capen look a bit nicer, but I don’t need a super glass building that looks like a mall when we could just settle for working outlets.” Zukoski pointed out the themes of Realizing UB 2020 were health, the environment, creativity and justice. The university plans to create more “tangible” solutions with those four themes in mind. Murphy-Longhini feels the problem is the provost doesn’t have substantial goals. He believes the administration is looking at UB 2020 too broadly and they should narrow its focus. “When you focus on everything, nothing gets done,” Murphy-Longhini said. Ovadia, who has attended other Realizing UB 2020 presentations, said the purpose of the open forum was to figure out the overview of the entire plan. He said the specifics will be set in the future. “Again, at this point, we are talking about a broader direction for the university to use to establish distinctiveness; it is hard to see how it may impact individual departments and programs at the university,” Ovadia said in an email. “Ultimately, continued success and development at UB depends on students, faculty, staff and the local community working together.”

Murphy-Longhini doesn’t think anything substantial will be done by 2020. He joked that “at this rate, it’ll be 2020 before they decide what they are going to do.” “They aren’t getting anything done,” he added. “They are not moving forward. They are too scared to commit and begin.” President Satish Tripathi disagrees and is confident UB 2020 will meet its deadline. “I don’t think our agenda is too ambitious,” Tripathi said. “It’s realistic. There are a lot of things we need to do to get there, though.” The biggest problem with the presentation was the provost did not embrace what UB is doing well, according to MurphyLonghini. During the open forum, Zukoski said the freshman engineering enrollment increased by 50 percent this year. He said this can’t happen again because UB won’t be able to cater to that many students in the department. Murphy-Longhini was “appalled” by the statement. He said the university shouldn’t try to deter engineering enrollment and instead should welcome it. Flexibility and adaptability are important for UB’s success in the coming years, he said. “We absolutely want and will continue to seek student input into this process,” Zukoski said in an email. “The student voice is an important voice in this process.” When Nemmer came to UB, he didn’t know much about UB 2020. He said he’s about to graduate not knowing much more about the plan. “I realized that’s OK, because the administration doesn’t know much about UB 2020 either,” he said. In March, the next four strategies will be released for discussion. The finalized document will be released on May 15, according to statements Zukoski made in December.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Continued from page 1: Pending gay membership in Boy Scouts draws campus response In 2000, the Supreme Court ruled the Boy Scouts have a constitutional right to deny gay members because homosexuality goes against their “expressive message.” The proposition for the new policy suggests local troop leaders have authority over their own rules and regulations. In the 2000 Supreme Court case, “Boy Scouts of America v. Dale,” the Boy Scouts argued, “A society in which each and every organization must be equally diverse is a society which has destroyed diversity.” James Ingram, a sophomore political science major and communication director for the College Republicans, believes the original ban is constitutional in that the organization should have the right to decide what kind of policy it upholds. “What they’re saying is that if they allowed homosexuals to join against the will of the Boy Scouts, it would affect the message that they’re trying to portray within the organization,” Ingram said. “They don’t promote homosexuality and they shouldn’t have to if they don’t want to.” Completely lifting the ban would be detrimental to the Boy Scouts because the faith-based groups that help fund the organization would no longer do so, according to Ingram. Faith-based groups financially support approximately 70 percent of scout units. Often, the religious background of those groups involves excluding gays in society. The Boy Scouts consider it vital the scouts have the right to tie the religious beliefs of the charter into their scouting experience, according to The New York Times. Ingram said the new policy allows for a “perfect compromise” by taking the power away from a national mandate within the organization and letting the troops choose what they want.

Michael Calliste, a sophomore political science major and communication director for the College Democrats, disagrees. He thinks the potential change is progressive. “I think a ban on homosexuality is not indicative of the day and age we live in,” Calliste said. “I think that while they are not a vast majority of the population, they are still a significant minority party and they deserve equal rights like everyone else.” Jim Bowman, special populations outreach coordinator for Wellness Education Services and former Cub Scout, said he would like to see the policy change so people can enjoy scouting and be themselves at the same time. When he was a Cub Scout, he remembers little importance placed on sexuality. “I don’t think the Boy Scouts are about sexuality,” Bowman said. “I think it’s about building leaders. People have diverse identities. A lot of people are speaking to it from a religious standpoint, and there are different ways that people interpret religion. How people understand it comes down to interpretation.” Bowman said having to suppress or lie about LGBTQ identities could be negative for a person’s wellbeing. He works within the LGBTQ community and is in favor of a total lift of the ban. As a gay man himself, he feels sympathy for those who won’t join the Boy Scouts because of their exclusionary policy. Duckworth, Ingram, Calliste and Bowman all share anticipation for the results of the upcoming vote. Ingram said he is hoping for the best for the organization because it serves the community and helps children become “functioning and productive citizens.” Email: news@ubspectrum.com

Email: news@ubspectrum.com

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