The Spectrum Volume 62 Issue 52

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

The S pectrum ubspectrum.com

Volume 62 No. 52

Friday, February 15, 2013

After surprise ending to 2012, baseball starts again

Dancing in support of vaginas

Story on page 10

Story on page 7

Fight for your right to party: Student sues City of Buffalo

SA Assembly grows to 42 members

SAM FERNANDO Asst. News Editor

First Assembly meeting of the semester has record turnout

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n October, 19-year-old Colin Miller presented a petition with over 8,000 signatures to the Buffalo Common Council. The UB student was protesting the new commingling law, which prohibits anyone under 21 from frequenting bars in the Chippewa Entertainment District. The council threw it out. But Miller wasn’t done yet. His next move? A lawsuit. Miller, a freshman digital media studies major, is suing the City of Buffalo for the commingling law. He joins UB alumnus Adam March, owner of Bayou Party Bar and The Lodge, and Daniel Valentine, owner of Lux nightclub, who are the other two plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “My freedom to move as I like in a public establishment – not seeking the sale of alcohol – for a lawful purpose is being infringed upon,” Miller said. March said he was told the reasons for the ordinance were safety concerns – the underage patrons were creating higher amounts of criminal activity on Chippewa. He was also told the police couldn’t handle the large crowds on college nights (Thursdays), the only night students under 21 were allowed at bars. The college night exception ended on Oct. 2. “There is no policy [the city] can pass disallowing a particular age group that is going to curb violence altogether because violence is going to occur no matter what,” March said. Darius G. Pridgen, Ellicott District Common Council member, was not available for comment by the time of press. Pridgen told The Spectrum in October, when College Night ended, the bar owners on Chippewa never renewed the provision for college night by the Oct. 2 deadline. “I don’t have a [say] on it,” Pridgen said in October. “We would need to create new legislation to bring College Night back, and it would really depend on how long it takes people to talk and get on one page.”

LISA KHOURY Senior News Editor

Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum

Colin Miller, a freshman digital media studies major, is one of three plaintiffs suing the City of Buffalo for the “commingling” law, which prohibits anyone under 21 from frequenting bars in the Chippewa Entertainment District (pictured in front of Lux nightclub).

March feels the city was just trying to assign blame to 18- to 20-year-olds. He disagrees with the law and said the commingling is not the cause of violence, and none of the violence has come from patrons in one of his or Valentine’s establishments. “[The commingling law] was a knee-jerk reaction to their perceived increase of violence,” March said. The Chippewa Entertainment District is safer if those under and over 21 are not congregated in one strip of bars in a small section of the city, Pridgen said in October. He told The Spectrum there were “homicides, stabbings and underage drinking” during College Night and it was a “mess.” The lawsuit states March and Valentine experienced “debilitating drops in gross revenue directly correlating with the restriction and will be prevented from properly conducting their businesses, which include entertainment to any individual that enters for lawful purposes.”

Since the ordinance was implemented, Valentine has lost $15,000 to $25,000 weekly, according to the lawsuit. March said his revenue loss has been similar. “When a municipality infringes on our fundamental rights, then they have to do it with proper reasoning and with the least restrictive means possible,” said Elizabeth Holmes, paralegal for the lawyer representing the three plaintiffs, Paul J. Cambria, of the Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria law firm. Critics of the lawsuit call it “ambiguous.” Holmes said the way the ordinance is written doesn’t allow businesses to know what the penalty is for breaking the law. She said the Buffalo Police Department has the authority to do what it sees fit as a punishment – possibly ticketing a business or even shutting it down for a few days. Miller, a Buffalo native, feels the lawsuit is a way for him to give back to the city he loves. He feels it is his duty to try to lift the ban, and he hopes other students will get involved, too. Continued on page 2

For a good time, take a Buffalo taxi SHARON KAHN Staff Writer

Courtesy of Darien Johnson

Students recall their positive experiences with Buffalo taxi drivers from throwing snowballs at drunk pedestrians to listening to “cab driver problems.”

Alex Van Horn’s view of taxi drivers changed forever one afternoon. During her freshman year, Van Horn called Buffalo Transportation to take her to the airport for Thanksgiving break. With all the stress of packing, checking in and catching her flight, Van Horn, now a sophomore communication major, left her laptop on the seat in the cab, only realizing once she passed through security. After frantically calling her cab driver, Van Horn was assured that Gary, her driver whom she had just met, would hold onto her computer until she returned from break. UB students are able to experience oneof-a-kind cab rides through Buffalo Transportation. While many believe the drive within a cab is just a mere means of transportation, some students feel it is much more than that. “I didn’t expect a complete stranger to be so caring,” Van Horn said. “When I returned from break, he picked me up from the airport with my laptop waiting in the car.” Igor Muchnik, who goes by ‘Gary’ to his customers, held on to Van Horn’s computer

Inside

Opinion 3

over break, eager to return it to his new customer. Van Horn and her friends continue to go to Gary whenever they need a cab. “To me, customers are the same [whether that be] students or anybody else – as long as they are nice and respectable,” Gary said. Van Horn isn’t the only student at UB who puts great trust in cab drivers. Ethan Mirenberg, a sophomore accounting major, believes the cab drivers in Buffalo are incomparable to drivers anywhere else. When he called Jamal, his favorite cab driver, he knew he was in for an interesting experience. Drunken people were roaming around the streets and refusing to move out of the way, Mirenberg said. Jamal honked the horn, but no one moved out of the way. “After finally making it around the pedestrians, we could tell Jamal was pissed,” Mirenberg said. “I’m sure he had a long night dealing with stupid drunk kids, and the addition of the snowstorm definitely didn’t help. Jamal stopped the cab, we got out, made some snowballs, hopped back into the cab and launched snowballs at the drunk people through the open cab door as we drove past them.” Continued on page 2

News 4

This semester, there are 42 members of the Student Association Assembly – 30 more than last semester. “I’m shocked, in a good way,” Assembly Speaker Steven Jackson said after the Assembly’s first meeting of the semester on Wednesday. “I think a lot of it had to do with media and marketing, and SA really stepped up over the break and delivered some awesome posters, awesome flyers, definitely got the word out a lot better than I could’ve imagined.” There were 12 active members of Assembly at the end of the fall semester. Wednesday’s meeting was buzzing with member participation. The diverse group of students, many new to Assembly, were raising their hands in response to Jackson’s main question of the night: “What do you want to see done at UB?” Members brought up broad topics that involve working with administration and students to bring change to campus, but focused their attention on these few: revisiting the UB Breathe Free policy, engaging international students in SA and informing the general student population about what SA does. Jackson announced at the meeting he will not run for re-election after this semester and will leave the student government as a whole. The junior history and education major, who has been involved with student government since high school, is switching his major to computer science and wants to focus on his upcoming challenging curriculum. Jackson has been a member of the Assembly since his freshman year. He said the group’s biggest accomplishment in the past three years has been reducing student apathy. The 42 students who attended on Wednesday night, many of whom were active participants, are what make him feel like he’s leaving the Assembly having promoted change in the government body. Jackson said the most important matter brought up on Wednesday that he believes must be tackled is UB Breathe Free – a campus policy that prohibits smoking indoors and outdoors that he believes is habitually unenforced. “I’m not saying I disagree with it, and I’m not saying I agree with it,” Jackson said. “It’s one of those things that is great on paper, but there’s really no way of implementing it. And so I think it’s important to revisit the policy and see how we can tweak so it has the interests of students better in mind.” Jackson’s main goal for his last semester as speaker is to see “independence for the Assembly.” “I’m hoping what comes out of this Assembly is people who are confident to go up to administrators and ask them questions, and I’m hoping the administration is going to be receptive of that,” he said. The group of 42 seemed passionate and optimistic to begin the semester as active Assembly members, but only time will tell if they will put their enthusiasm into action. The next meeting will be on Feb. 27. Jackson plans to ask SA Treasurer Justin Neuwirt to attend and discuss safety on South Campus – a goal Neuwirt has been pursuing through community engagement and consulting administration during his tenure. Email: news@ubspectrum.com

Life, Arts & Entertainment 6,7

Classifieds & Daily Delights 9

baseball preview 10


ubspectrum.com

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Continued from page 1: Fight for your right to party: Student sues City of Buffalo “It sounds corny, but [students] can make a difference,” Miller said. “Look at me. I’m a nobody. I’m 19 years old and I just started college, but I sought out the right people and the right resources, and now I’m going to court to fight for something that I care about … If you wanted to, you could change a few things.” Miller wants businesses to thrive and believes the commingling law isn’t letting Buffalo live up to its full potential. Last summer, Miller started Buffalo Alive, an organization that connects college students in the area to local businesses. Although it is in its beginning stages, Miller hopes it will introduce the 108,000 college students to the city. “We help introduce students to what the city has to offer,” Miller said. “UB has a lot of international students, students from out of state, students from Long Island and they have no idea where to go. It’s a culture shock.” Miller said the media portrays Buffalo negatively, but the city is “underrated” and has a lot more to offer. He wishes more students took advantage of the businesses downtown to help change Buffalo’s image. “It sucks,” Miller said. “There should be a way for students to get an unbiased voice about the city.” He wants to be that voice.

Miller met Valentine and March when he reached out to them to create events at their establishments through Buffalo Alive. March and Valentine asked him to be a plaintiff in the lawsuit because he was “well involved in helping college students become integrated and active,” March said. “[Chippewa on Thursday nights] is probably the most consistent and largely enjoyed thing in Buffalo – other than the Sabres or Bills,” March said. “You would think that would be celebrated, not demonized.” Miller said Buffalo Alive is an opportunity for him to highlight and give back to the city he has grown to love. Buffalo is important to him and the lawsuit shows how far he would go to protect the rights of local college students and local businesses, he said. “I want [Buffalo Alive] to help college students and also give them a voice – like with the curfew when they need it – and at the same time for businesses so that they can help bring economic growth to the city,” Miller said. Both Miller and March encourage students to get involved and call the mayor and the commissioner of the Buffalo Police Department to voice their opinion. Email: news@ubspectrum.com

Friday, February 15, 2013

Continued from page 1: For a good time, take a Buffalo taxi After an enjoyable cab ride for everyone, Jamal even gave Mirenberg and his friends a reduced fare. Mirenberg was sure Jamal was happy to have so much fun on the job after a long night. Jamal is originally from New York City. His desire for a better life led him to Buffalo. “The rent was too high in the city,” Jamal said. “Now in Buffalo, I have three houses, a wife and a kid.” Jamal loves driving UB students around. He said the difference between regular customers and UB students is that he has fun with the students. Danielle Miesch, a freshman speech and hearing science major, loves riding with “cab driver Paul” when she goes out with her friends. Miesch and her group of friends called two cabs to pick them up from the Richmond Loop. While Miesch and a few of her friends entered Paul’s cab, the other driver waited for the remaining friends to show up. “The two drivers were talking to each other about the situation and we felt really bad,” Miesch said. “Paul was so understanding and to ensure we didn’t feel bad, he started cracking jokes the entire time with the other driver who was still waiting at the loop. They kept making jokes and referencing ‘cab driver problems,’ as if they were sending tweets on Twitter. We had such a good time with him that we called him later that night to take us home.”

Kelsey Flanagan, a freshman undecided major, agrees that cab rides in Buffalo are as crazy as they come. “One night, about 10 of us squished into a cab and got about 10 houses down before a cop pulled us over,” Flanagan said. “He noticed that the cab’s lights were out and then realized how many of us were really in the cab. The officer decided not to give our cab driver a ticket as long as we all got out. Our driver fought with the officer to drive at least just the girls to our destination so they wouldn’t have to walk in the cold.” In addition to a cab ride that can be more fun than a night out, Buffalo Transportation also offers deals for UB students. Students have the option of paying for cabs with Campus Cash and even qualify for flat rates to a number of different locations. “I think that cab drivers here in Buffalo are just so used to driving college kids around and are used to the drama and squishing, which is why they are so friendly,” Flanagan said. “They even work out pricing with you and are really patient and understanding about students gathering money to pay for the cabs. If someone isn’t feeling well, they will pull over, and they keep bags and napkins around just in case.” Each cab ride brings a new story to share. By creating meaningful relationships with cab drivers and sharing in pleasant experiences, many UB students use the same cab driver every time they need a ride. Email: features@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 6: Scavenging for cavities Although Li didn’t qualify to participate in aged “opposite tooth” that comes into contact the licensing exam. the licensing exam, he found the dental student with the damaged one all the time. Patients are Thomas Chacko, a first-time patient and who worked on his teeth thorough and help- also more likely to qualify for a free treatment graduate student in the School of Social Work, ful. The student even addressed other health if they are healthy and young. found the screening informative and eye-openconcerns such as Li’s smoking habits. The stu“We cannot see patients that have high ing. As an international student, Chacko hadn’t dent’s detailed and extensive knowledge of the blood pressure, uncontrollable diabetes, neck made any concrete decisions regarding dental subject was impressive and the added presence or back pain or any other high-risk medical care and saw the free screening process as an of licensed dentists made Li feel more com- condition that would hinder them from sitting opportunity to see what UB’s dental school offortable, he said. for a long time [because] the licensing exam fers. “If I had to point out the most positive takes about three hours,” Osaka said. During the screening, he learned a cavity things about the screening, I would say that it Patients who qualify have not been easy he had gotten filled was done improperly and was pretty impressive that there may be one or to find. UB dental students are working to get was causing problems with his teeth. Ultimatemore professors walking around and checking as many patients in for screenings as possible, ly, Chacko did not qualify for the free licensing what every dental student is doing and how starting the first week of the spring semester. exam but felt service that CH051619B 2 he received quality 2/18/2013 MEDIA MATE LLC they are doing,” Li said. “Seeing the professors made him consider returning in the future. While the clinic may become busy at times walking around makes you feel more secure 10.625 x 9.56” SALVAREZ and constant interaction between students and Each dental student generally receives two and assured.” jb/kls General licensed dentists may take place, Osada sees patients each day, adding up to a total of apLi feels bad his cavities didn’t qualify him it as “win-win” situation for both parties; pa- proximately 10 per week, according to Cheryl to help out. tients can receive free dental work and find out Poon, a graduate student in the UB School of Cavities must be “virgin,” meaning they more about his or her oral health, and dental Dental Medicine. As a result, each student has have never been restored or filled before, and students can search for all of the qualifying already had one-and-a-half to two years of the damaged tooth needs to have an undam- cavities and diseased gums they need to pass practicing on patients and learning how to car-

ry out operations. This will help the students once they venture out into the “real-world,” according to Poon. While anyone can come in and go through the screening process, Jerod Less, a graduate student in the UB Dental School who is preparing to take the WREB exam, believes UB students will benefit the most from it. “When you are a student, it is hard,” Less said. “You’re studying all semester, and sometimes you just don’t have enough time to go to the dentist. But with what we are offering, students don’t have to go too far to get quality dental care. They can come right to South Campus.” ALDI000016 Interested patients may contact Poon directly at wrebexam2013@gmail.com for more details and to set up a screening. Email: features@ubspectrum.com

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Opinion

Friday, February 15, 2013 ubspectrum.com

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 15, 2013 Volume 62 Number 52 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

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Brace for the arms race Trust in China to negotiate with North Korea on nuclear tests

On Tuesday, seismic activity indicated something we’ve all been anticipating and have all been warned of: North Korea is testing nukes. The North conducted an underground explosion in Pyongyang to test nuclear technology that could eventually be paired with long-range missile fire. The test, the first under new leader Kim Jong-un, follows weeks of threats to carry out an “all-out action of high intensity,” and as many have already pointed out, it’s a clear sign that Jong-un will be following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather: a leader who prefers confrontation rather than peace. Should we be worried? Yes. On Wednesday, newly sworn-in Secretary of State John Kerry called for a “swift, clear, strong and credible response” from nations, stressing this importance: the test immediately gives credibility to North Korea’s plans to mount a nuclear threat on the United States. Urgency is key here. It’s very easy to sit and speculate if and when something will happen, just as it’s easy to panic about the ifs and whens. But if Korea is back to flexing its nuclear arms – bluff or not – we cannot simply sit and hope nothing happens. The only real option the United States and the U.N. Security Council have is to leave it up to China, North Korea’s closet ally, who has already condemned the North for Tuesday’s test. If China is willing or can be convinced to negotiate with the North, then it will also prove it has the power to threaten to take away its aid and patronage. The United States has other options its can utilize, but most of them range from “last resort” to “ABSOLUTELY NEVER DO THIS.” Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said we would begin by continuing the original drill of tightening sanctions. Negotiation attempts have also been suggested, but neither of those choices are even threats anymore. Rigid legislation and executive orders regulating trade and aid have been in place for years, some stretching over multiple decades, while previous leaders have ignored negotiation attempts. Two other options could potentially be incredibly detrimental. We could either recognize North Korea as a nuclear power and do nothing, or we could attack the North’s nuclear and missile sites. The results of either could be completely catastrophic, however, if played incorrectly.

ANDREW WEBER Special to The Spectrum

Art by jeanette chwan

There isn’t a way to help North Korea through military action and committing to any attempt would be suicide. So it’s important to reiterate the seriousness of the situation. If we call what may or may not be a bluff, the North will continue to evolve and develop its program; if we act too hastily, however, it could bring disastrous consequences. What’s left is an immediate and urgent decision with no easy road. Our best bet is to work with China to force an agreement and corner North Korea into a situation that it can’t sidle out of. Whatever option we take, however, it is a risk, and we should all be prepared for a bit of a battle on the matter. Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

A fight for justice up in flames Dorner should not be regarded as a hero We are not all Chris Dorner. In 2008, Christopher Dorner was working as an officer in the Los Angeles Police Department when he allegedly witnessed his training officer kick a mentally ill suspect while he was down on the ground getting handcuffed. Dorner reported the incident but, unsurprisingly, the LAPD concluded it never happened. Instead, he was charged with making false accusations and, as a result, was fired by the department. The former cop had been relatively quiet, however, until his online manifesto appeared – a 14-page document in which he listed his complaints and grievances toward the LAPD and declared “unconventional and asymmetrical warfare” against a department he accused of corruption and racism. Dorner had a valid argument. It’s absolutely possible he was unjustly fired – the LAPD has a notable history of racism and corruption, and this would just fit into a long timeline of tales told. But he didn’t just want attention to the cause; he wanted revenge. And because of his actions, all of his efforts are now futile. The manifesto had fair complaints, except for one slight problem: the day before, the daughter of Randal Quan – a former LAPD captain and a lawyer who formerly represented Dorner during Dorner’s dismissal hearing – and her fiancé were shot and killed. Quan’s family was specifically targeted in Dorner’s manifesto. And so began the 2013 Southern California shootings, a series of shootings that killed four people and wounded three other officers in which Dorner was named the main suspect. Despite all that, the rabid inhabitants of the Internet have crowned him as a folk hero. Dorner has a large array of supporters throughout the online social world: a Facebook page with over 16,000 likes, fans tweeting encouragement and people from all over the country saying “we are all Chris Dorner.” They cite passages from his manifesto, seeing him as a hero waging against a corrupted system, comparing him to the character Django from the recent film Django Unchained. He is a symbol of justice – a dark knight.

The philosophy of medical school and sacrifice

But despite his goals, he lost every case he had when he first pulled the trigger on Monica Quan. No matter how justified his anger toward the LAPD was or how valid his complaints were, there is absolutely nothing heroic about the way Dorner went about clearing his name. Unfortunately, Dorner’s actions have discredited a very important argument about the culture and the corruption of the LAPD, an organization with infamous cases such as the Rodney King beating and the Rampart misconduct scandal to its name. The point it drove him to speaks volumes. In his manifesto, he wrote, “The only thing that has evolved from the consent decree is those officers involved in the Rampart scandal and Rodney King incidents have since promoted to supervisor, commanders, and command staff and executive positions.” In the search for Dorner, the LAPD mistakenly shot multiple people when officers thought they were the suspect, prompting people to wear shirts and signs that read “Don’t shoot, I’m not Christopher Dorner.” It’s optimistic to think the department will ever change, but it was and is a conversation that is unquestionably vital. The problem is that it was introduced to the public eye in such a negative way. The tales of corruption will be overshadowed by Dorner’s spree shootings, by the politics of his manifesto and by Tuesday’s manhunt that – quite literally – went up in flames and ended his life. Dorner was not a folk hero or vigilante. Though he might have been at one point following his termination, he transformed from some innocent victim of a broken system into a criminal who reacted to injustice in an inappropriate and used revenge as his solution. A man who wanted to clear his name, instead, completely muddied it, purposefully tearing down every argument he had. Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

Being a medical student requires sacrifice and dedication. We’ve all heard that phrase more times than we care to remember. Eventually, though, we are faced with the reality of what such sacrifice entails. That’s when it gets tricky. First, we need to understand what defines a sacrifice. Philosophically speaking, a sacrifice is a personal phenomenon that can be roughly understood as follows: (1) that which one is unwilling to part with for nothing, but (2) will willingly be given up if the compensation for doing so surpasses its subjective value to that individual. Each person assigns value to things in their lives differently, and thus, what is sacrificial in nature to one person could be of no importance to another. It follows then that sacrifice is highly unique to each person. You are probably thinking, “Fine, that’s nice and all, but what constitutes sacrifice for a medical student?” In order to understand that, you must also understand the spirit of the medical school doctrine. Medical school is unique in the sense that it is preparing you for a completely demanding discipline. You cannot flirt with medical school, you cannot lease medical school and you cannot simply take a long engagement with medical school. When people enter medical school, they matriculate for keeps, for marriage, for life. That is what becoming a physician is about, and that is precisely what medical school instills in you: complete dedication. Nothing more. Nothing less. Having grossly established what medical school demands and what it aims to prepare you for, it makes sense that the breed of sacrifice students need to offer up to the pedestal of medicine will be tantamount to that which medicine demands – things that are whole, complete and for life. The sacrificial objects may vary based on the student but generally include things such as social lives, friends, personal time, family time, relationships (romantic and otherwise), time for religion, loss of spiritual reflectivity, etc. All of those are sacrifices. However, upon closer inspection of that list, it becomes soberingly clear that it is populated by many of the things and activities that define a person’s identity, both to oneself and to others. Why is this significant? Simply put, the behaviors in which we partake make us who we are, and conversely, that which we cease to do will change us. The general argument goes as follows: What we think influences what we do. What we do exposes us to experiences. These experiences sculpt who we are. Who we are is a function of those experiences, both past and present. If those experiences change, then the present changes, and the future changes by extension. When this occurs, we have no choice but to redefine who we are. So the surreptitious secret that no one talks about when you submit yourself to medical school is that you are not only committing to sacrifice; you are committing to a complete redefinition of your sense of self. This is, in many ways, the true sacrifice of medicine. This is the most sincere sacrifice people can make: Willingly giving up that which makes them the persons they are now while embracing the knowledge that they will never be the same people again. The initial implications of this are obviously unpalatable at first, but make no mistake: it is the reality of every medical student – they will eventually be redefined by their vocational sacrifices. This is a universal reality, and it is the common pledge that binds the physician community together – renovating them into colleagues. This is the essence of why the medical profession is so tightly knit. Every member of this physician culture has undergone a breakdown and rebuilding of their identity, unique to the individual yet universally understood and respected by the group as a whole. So the question that everyone has, “What will I have to sacrifice?” is actually irrelevant. It is not what the individual decides to sacrifice that is important, but rather the sacrificial act itself that is important. The decision to enter medical school is one that should not be taken lightly and perhaps aspiring doctors should be encouraged to take some time off between graduation and medical school matriculation. Why? Time to think. Time to reflect. Most importantly, however, so they can have time to simply be themselves and time to cogitate about who they are before they make the conscious decision to part with that person. Becoming a doctor is not simply a job. It is not simply a profession. Becoming a doctor is a dictum, a code of ethics and a way of life. Once you begin the physician’s journey, there is only one guarantee: You will never be the same again. Email: aweber125@gmail.com


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Friday, February 15, 2013 ubspectrum.com

News

In face of possible minimum wage increase, campus responds Obama focuses on economy in State of the Union Address

ERIC CORTELLESSA Staff Writer Before the State of the Union on Tuesday, many Americans wondered how President Barack Obama would address a divided Congress about his plans to improve the economy. In an hour-long speech in which the president addressed immigration reform, gun control and reducing carbon emissions to prevent global warming, he defined the nation's primary goal of achieving prosperity for the middle class. Obama established the most tangible of his list of economic initiatives: raising the minimum wage. “A growing economy that creates good middle-class jobs – that must be our North Star that guides us,” Obama said. In a move pundits identified as having political appeal to younger Americans – particularly college students – the president proposed an increase in the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $9. Michael Calliste, communication director for the College Democrats, thought the speech was superlative and outlined a bold vision for the future. “I thought his focusing on education, on getting voting rights out there, on lowering gun violence, I thought that was all fantastic,” Calliste said. “I think he outlines a more liberal second-term agenda.” James Campbell, a distinguished political science professor, said the speech summarized a fairly partisan agenda and did not defy any expectations he had from the president – outlining a more proactive position of the government to help build the economy. “I didn't hear any surprises,” Campbell said. “His perspective on what it takes to get the economy moving again is in line with what he’s been saying over the last four years.” Over breaks, Calliste works for minimum wage in Brooklyn, N.Y., at a local movie theater. He was happy when President Obama made his announcement on Tuesday. However, he also expressed concern over the efficacy of such an economic policy move on a macro-level. “The idea appeals to me because I work for minimum wage when I'm back home,” Calliste said. “I don't necessarily think it’s the best idea, but I like where he’s thinking.” While Calliste questions the possible effects of raising the minimum wage, he feels it is a good step toward reducing income inequality in the United States. Most Americans can’t live off such a low income, he said. Campbell said such a move would be harmful to what needs to be Obama’s highest priority: getting the economy moving and creating jobs. “It seems to me that increasing the minimum wage has a cost and the cost is jobs,” Campbell said. “When the unemployment rate is pretty close to 8 percent and has been there for pretty much his entire time in office, this may not be a good idea in terms of

courtesy of Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin S. O'Brien

President Barack Obama spoke about raising minimum wage to $9 in the first State of the Union Address of his second term.

increasing job growth throughout the country. At the margins, raising the minimum wage reduces employment.” James Ingram, communication director for the College Republicans, agrees with Campbell and feels the president doesn’t have a substantial fiscal policy directed toward long-term growth. “Raising the minimum wage will only be a temporary solution,” Ingram said. “It’s very simple economics. If you raise the minimum wage, eventually the market is going to reach equilibrium again. What we need is creation of new jobs, not temporary solutions like raising the minimum wage.” Ingram feels that now in addition to Obamacare, small businesses will suffer from a federal increase in the minimum wage.

“They want to grow, they want to invest, but when you have to pay part-time employees full medical insurance and $9 an hour, they just can’t afford that and it doesn’t help businesses expand,” Ingram said. “He really does not have a strong grasp on economic concepts.” Calliste thinks Obama’s economic theory is more stable than most Republicans believe. By bringing in increased revenue from taxing the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans, Obama is able to invest in social programs that can help ordinary people make the most of their lives. “I think the wealthiest Americans can afford to have their taxes raised,” Calliste said. “Now that he got that in January from the fiscal cliff negotiations, he can really go to work for the Americans that put him in office.”

Obama asserted this notion into his speech with the proclamation, “It is our unfinished task to make sure that this government works on behalf of the many and not just the few.” However, Ingram finds Obama’s economic proposal misguided and feels there should be reduced taxes on corporations and wealthy Americans who serve as job creators. Campbell and Ingram are concerned with the way the president is managing the nation's economy. Calliste is glad to see Obama using his second term to push forward a more liberal public policy now that he is liberated from the constraints of having to face reelection. “He can do what he wants now at this point,” Calliste said. Email: news@ubspectrum.com

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Friday, February 15, 2013

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Friday, February 15, 2013 ubspectrum.com

Life, Arts & Entertainment

How to lose a guy in five ways SARA DINATALE Senior News Editor I’m exhausted from watching the females in my life continually dig themselves into holes they can’t get out of. I don’t enjoy seeing girls lose all sense of themselves and what is logical in the pursuit of relationship, or mistreating the relationship they’re already in. Maybe it’s because I was basically raised by three men that I see things from a perspective other ladies can’t seem to grasp – but girls, listen up because these are the top five things you need to stop doing. That’s a text message, not a piece of Freudian psychoanalysis. I understand the allure of text messaging. It takes a lot of the anxiety out of flirting. You have a moment to collect your thoughts, to say something witty. But when you’re embarking a flirtatious series of text messages – you can’t let yourself go crazy trying to analyze, “what he must have meant by that.” Most times, if a guy tells you he isn’t sure if he’s free Sunday, it’s because he isn’t sure if he’s free Sunday. I’ve seen girls work themselves into a fluster, sending me screenshots of conversations they’ve had with a guy they like, asking me what I think he meant by answering with “OK.” Sometimes, he really is just OK. Sometimes he’s not sure if his tentative plans with his parents will pan out. It doesn’t mean he’s hooking up with other girls or that he has suddenly dropped all interest he has in you. I’ve seen girls analyze text messages harder than I analyze my literary criticism homework. Don’t stress out over a text he probably sent you from the toilet. Judge his intent by how you interact in person. Words are powerful, but don’t let a text ruin your day just because you’re convinced it must have a deeper meaning. Your phone should not serve as an archive of past relationships. iPhones have a ridiculous amount of memory, but that doesn’t mean you should use it to save text messages from a guy you stopped talking to eight months ago. Don’t use your cellphone to live in the past. It’s probably one of the most self-destructive post-breakup things you could indulge in. You’re just getting over the I-didn’t-havea-Valentine slump. The Notebook is on. You remember what it was like to be in a relationship. You get depressed, and as you’re reaching for the ice cream, you reach for your phone, too. You locate the name all the way at the bottom of your conversation list, flip past the awkward post-breakup texts and find the real adorable crap from before things went sour. Congratulations. Welcome to a seemingly endless shame spiral. You made yourself feel about 20 times more horrible in record time. Breakups are tough. But when the tie has been severed, clean out your whole life – including your phone. “Does this make me look fat?” Six words no guy ever wants to hear. So stop asking. I think being confident is the most attractive quality anyone can possess. But dropping that phrase screams insecurities. There is no good way for the situation to play out. What if you’ve actually gained some weight? Why are you forcing him to comment on something you’re not comfortable with yourself ? Your guy doesn’t want to lie. He doesn’t want to make you feel bad. Why are you setting yourself up to look needy? In most cases – you’re not fat. You know you’re not fat. Your grandma knows you’re not fat. He knows you’re not fat. Stop reaching for compliments. Don’t put yourself down just to force someone else to push you back up.

Scavenging for cavities

UB School of Dental Medicine offers free screenings BETHANY WALTON Staff Writer Yanan Li, a senior business major, heard free dental exams would be going on at UB’s School of Dental Medicine. He hadn’t been to the dentist since he was a child, so he figured a stop at the clinic wouldn’t hurt. Although he’s a smoker, Li thought he had decent dental health. Li was told he had four cavities, unhealthy gums and deeply stained teeth. His dental issues were treated, but the issues weren’t bad enough for the dental students. They wanted people whose dental health was much worse. The UB School of Dental Medicine is offering free dental exams and x-rays until March 10 as a screening method to find patients for an upcoming licensing exam. The Western Regional Examining Board (WREB) is a licensing exam that dental students have the option to take at UB. Although the exam is not required to practice in New York State, it is a requirement in 30 other states; many students choose to take it in case they decide to work outside of the New York. The students organized these free dental exams in hopes of finding people with bad dental health who qualify to be patients for the licensing exam. Currently, dental students are screening for patients with certain cavities and level of gum disease. These patients need to be available from March 11 to March 13, when the

Courtesy of Paul Goyette

UB’s Dental School is offering free dental exams to the public until March 10 to help fulfill its graduate students’ Western Regional Examining Board licensing exam requirements.

exam will take place. They are being extremely picky, according to Aki Osada, a graduate student in the dental school. “The cavities have to be perfect for us,” Osada said. “They cannot be too small or too large and they also have to be in a certain location … if we find a patient with cavities that qualify, we will offer them a free filling to be done for our licensing exam in March.”

In addition to having “perfect cavities” and being available during spring break, patients must also meet a checklist of additional criteria. To qualify, a patient must be between 18 and 65 years old, have at least two of the perfect cavities or a certain advanced level of gum disease, have not seen a dentist within two years or more and must not have a latex allergy. Continued on page 2

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Hold on to some of your cards. Sex doesn’t equate to love. If you’re really into a guy, jumping into his bed after the first date isn’t going to amplify his desire to be in a relationship with you. It will probably destroy it. There is no exact science or right time to have sex – it varies in each relationship. But if you want a guy to truly get to know you, stop setting yourself up to viewed solely as a sexual object. You’re probably funny and charming, but all that can get lost in a scuttle to the bed sheets. You should be your own first love. I know it’s corny and cliché – but I mean it. Being single doesn’t mean you’re undesirable. It doesn’t mean you’re never going to find love. Honey Boo Boo’s mom found love – you got this. Stop measuring your self worth on whether or not you’re in a successful relationship. The amount of self-loathing I see girls drop on themselves when they’re single makes me sick. The validation of how awesome you are should come from yourself. While I’m sure being in love is all sorts of fantastic, if you’re constantly looking for someone else to give you a sense of value, you’ll never realize how valuable you actually are. Email: sara.dinatale@ubspectrum.com

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Student Spotlight Christian Cunningham, a.k.a. YBG ELVA AGUILAR Senior Arts Editor

Courtesy of SBI

SBI Health Education is hosting Rise Up and Dance in the Student Union in support of the V-Day movement to raise money and awareness of violence against women.

Take a stance and dance ANDREA SAADAN Staff Writer One in three women in the world is physically or sexually abused in the course of her lifetime, according to the United Nations. UB students and members of the Buffalo community aim to change that – by dancing. SBI Health Education is hosting a dancea-thon – Rise Up and Dance – this Friday night in the Student Union as part of the VDay movement. V-Day is a global campaign that strives to stop violence against women and girls by generating attention and increase awareness, according to the official website. The dance-a-thon is being held in conjunction with One Billion Rising, an event for V-Day’s 15th anniversary. The overall message of the campaign is to put an end to violence by urging women to “walk out, dance, rise up and demand an end to this violence,” according to its website. One Billion Rising uses dancing because it is creative and spontaneous, said Ashera Buhite, a senior global gender studies major, in an email. She said that Eve Ensler, the founder of V-Day, is all about dancing because “it takes up space.”

The meaning of V-Day depends on the person interpreting it; it could mean “Valentine’s Day, Vagina Day, or Victory Day,” according to Laurielle Aviles, a senior linguistics major. This is also the first time that a dancea-thon is being held as part of the campaign. Aviles is the director of Rise Up and Dance and came up with the event’s concept on her own; she hopes to raise awareness of the V-Day ambition. “Even though we’re not in the same place physically … we’re still part of the one billion rising in the world,” Aviles said. Aviles has been passionate about taking a stand on violence against women and girls since she was a freshman. She emphasized it is important for people to realize the problems women face such as domestic violence, but they should not be seen as “victims” who need to be taken care of. Instead, women should be seen as survivors, ending the problem and receiving support, Aviles said. Aviles believes everyone has to help end violence against women and girls. “It can’t just be on the shoulders of women who support this cause or women who have experienced [violence],” she said. Continued on page 8

Up-and-coming musicians don’t need to leave the comfort of campus to shoot an aesthetically pleasing music video. Sophomore undecided major Christian Cunningham, who raps under the name YBG, released a music video for his song “Myla’s Love,” last Saturday from his mixtape, Embassy Suites: The First Floor. He currently still deems himself up and coming, but his passion for music has been around since he was 9 years old. Despite his longtime relationship with music, Cunningham has made sure to explore his craft academically to make sure his lyrics are up to par with today’s hit makers. The Spectrum had the opportunity to sit down with Cunningham for the first student spotlight – where we aim to introduce the abundant talent UB has to the student body – for some insight to his budding career and musical aspirations. The Spectrum: How long have you been rapping? Cunningham: “Since I was 9. It started with just one random night, me and my brother. As I got older, I turned myself [away] from mainstream because when I first started out, it was more me rapping about fancy cars and flashy stuff I didn’t have. I actually took a break for three years and got up on my vocabulary skills and started reading the dictionary so I could be articulate and lyrical. From there I got into my inner self and digging deep into more positive concepts and things people would relate to.” TS: Embassy Suites dropped in August 2011. Are you working on anything else? C: “I’m working on a new mixtape called Breaking Bad. The whole concept behind that is that I kind of stuck with keeping it safe [on my previous mixtape] and now I’m doing more daring things and pushing the limit.” TS: Could you name some of your inspirations growing up from either the old or new school rap era? C: “[Growing up], Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, Nas and older Jay-Z. Today, Kanye West.

Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum

Sophomore undecided major Christian Cunningham, who performs under his stage name YBG, is currently working on a new mixtape, Breaking Bad, and building a buzz on his music career.

people watch/pick up girls on campus? C: “The union or the gym for both.” TS: What about the biggest struggle on campus or at UB? C: “The nightlife. It just seems so repetitive, the same thing over and over again and parties here get shut down by midnight; I just wish they lasted longer.” TS: What should people unfamiliar with your music expect people from you? C: “[Music] is just in me. This is a gift that was given to me, not just anybody can make music. I actually did a song off the “Call Me Maybe” beat and I do crazy stuff like that … to show that I’m different and can handle anything you throw at me.” TS: What’s your ultimate goal or dream as an artist? C: “To take it to the top. Take it to a new level.”

TS: You filmed your “Myla’s Love” video on campus, and you work on your music strictly on campus, so is there anywhere you absolutely avoid visiting or eating here? C: “Salsa [in the Ellicott Complex food court], it’s not authentic to me.”

Those interested in Cunningham’s work can access him through his Twitter account, @PureGreatnessYB; his YouTube account, YBGreatnessful; and Embassy Suites can be found on DatPiff.com

TS: Where do you consider the best place to

Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

For the sublime stoner:

For the cultured college kid:

For those who love NALFO/D9:

For the “Mardi” Animal:

What: Badfish – A Tribute To Sublime Where: Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. Buffalo, N.Y. When: Friday, Feb. 15. Doors open at 7 p.m.

What: Michel Bouvard French organ recital Where: Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall, UB North Campus When: Sunday, Feb. 17 at 5 p.m. Throughout the month of February, the Department of Music has presented various pianists and organists for what they consider a keyboard extravaganza. This weekend, acclaimed organist Michel Bouvard will perform pieces from Felix Mendelssohn, various French composers and even his grandfather, Jean Bouvard. Students who are interested in playing can also reap the benefits of Bouvard’s talents with a master class that’s open to the public on Saturday, Feb. 16 in Lippes at 10 a.m.

What: Mu Sigma Upsilon/Lambda Sigma Upsilon step show Where: Student Union Theatre When: Saturday, Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. Lambda Sigma Upsilon was the first Latino fraternal organization at UB to organize step and stroll competition in Buffalo. Now their sisters in Mu Sigma Upsilon are back at UB, and they’ve teamed up to remind Buffalo’s Greek life why they were the first. Greek organizations such as Lambda Upsilon Lambda, MALIK, Phi Beta Sigma, Step Expressions from Buffalo State College and UB’s own Step Troupe will be performing. If you’ve never been to a NALFO/D9 step show in Buffalo, be prepared to not only watch amazing choreography but also experience the party-like atmosphere among one of the most tight-knit college communities in Buffalo. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

What: Mardi Gras Buffalo Bar Crawl Where: Downtown Buffalo When: Friday, Feb. 15

You may have lit your first joint with “40oz. to Freedom” playing in the background, but unless your parents let you tag along as a toddler you probably never saw Sublime play live in concert. Badfish – A Tribute To Sublime, is the next best thing, and this Friday is your chance to see them for the contact high of a lifetime. Badfish – A Tribute To Sublime is a cover band that plays Sublime tunes across the country, mostly for college audiences. Tickets are available on Tickets.com or at the Town Ballroom box office on the day of the show for $19, for ages 16+. Tell me … are you a badfish, too?

This has been a great week for overindulgence, whether in chocolate on Valentine’s Day or booze for Mardi Gras. However, if you still haven’t filled your chaos quota, you need to check out the Mardi Gras Buffalo Bar Crawl. For only $15, you get free admission to some of Downtown Buffalo’s best bars, all of which offer $3 drink specials to participating patrons. It’s supposed to snow, however, so dress accordingly. And be careful if you plan on flashing for beads – you might poke an eye out. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com


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Continued from page 10: Cover to cover

Continued from page 7: Take a stance and dance One Billion Rising asks people from around the world to raise their voices and celebrate empowerment by doing whatever they can each day to end violence and support survivors, said Jane Fischer, director of SBI Health Education, in an email. Rise Up and Dance is a way for students to be a part of the larger movement, according to Fischer. “The issue of violence is obviously heavy,” Fischer said. “However, we want to show that you can celebrate the work that is being done … and do good work at the same time.” The world is based on violence, according to Aviles. The culture we live in has caused us to be “immune to the terribleness that violence is,” she said. Aviles believes this culture needs to be erased and preventing violence against women and girls requires the involvement of everyone from the different communities worldwide. “Sometimes, you feel like there’s nothing that you can do as one small person,” Fischer said. “I love that the V-Day campaign, both internationally and locally, allows you to connect with other people who also want to make a difference.” Aviles is working with Late Night UB for Friday night’s event. “Even if you spend four hours dancing with your friends, and at one point the thought of ‘maybe there is something I can do that makes one person’s life a little better or a little safer’ strikes you – then that’s a good night,” Fischer said.

The funds raised through these events will have a portion go toward the V-Day campaign and then sent to countries where women need help, according to Aviles. She said last year’s event sent funds to Congo, Haiti and New Orleans. The rest of the money will be given to a community organization and this has allowed SBI Health Education to provide Safety Services that keep the campus safe and helps to raise awareness about sexual violence, according to Buhite. Fischer hopes the UB community will understand it has the power to make a difference in the world and within the community itself. “I hope that people come out and have a good time while learning about the work that is being done or finding out what they can do – even small steps,” Fischer said. “We’re going to celebrate and raise energy.” Aviles stresses that people should attend ‘Rise Up and Dance’ and show support for the V-Day cause. “Maybe you’re not dancing,” Aviles said. “But you being there shows that UB is not going to stand for violence against women.” Email: features@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 10: Jokes on them “I think we’ve corn-fed him enough to drop some more bombs for us,” Kanzler said. “He’ll be fine. He’ll be a good replacement and he’ll hit the crap out of the ball.” The outfielders are close knit, and though they get serious in the weight room, they like to keep things light-hearted. “We always have something to make fun of each other, but with that comes a little extra push,” Richards said. “Even though we joke around, those jokes end up resulting in better efforts. We’re always in each other’s faces, screaming at each other, getting better every day.” The outfield unit is equally imposing on defense. Kanzler, Pollock and Richards had a combined fielding percentage of .974 last year, as the trio only made three errors in a combined 148 games played over the course of last season.

Kanzler added to the defensive effort with his arm strength, assisting on 11 outs from the outfield in 2012. “My philosophy is that you play as shallow as you can comfortably play so that you can take away those bleeders over the infielders’ heads,” Kanzler said. “So in that regard, we kind of shrink the field for the opposing team. So that helps the infielders out a lot.” The Buffalo outfield trio hopes to build on a hot finish to the 2012 season; the Bulls made an improbable run to the semifinals in the MAC Tournament. “We drop bombs and we have fun,” Kanzler said. “We give the fans what they want to see. We hit the ball.”

Mike Burke, Junior, SS/RHP: Burke started 44 games at shortstop and became one of the team’s best starting pitchers, earning a 4.28 ERA at the mound. He was above average at the plate, finishing the season batting .290 and had more RBI’s (25) than any other infielder (excluding first base). Burke touched on his offensive output, as he is looking to become more of a power hitter. “I want to hit a few more home runs, get the power up this year,” Burke said. “I hit four last year and I want to double it. That’s my goal.” Michael Scarcello, Junior, SS/3B: After starting in just 34 games and making 42 appearances, Scarcello finished third on the

team in batting (.323) for players who played in at least 30 games, a major improvement from his .211 average as a freshman. Scarcello will be rotating between shortstop and third base, depending on who’s pitching that day, and he is looking forward to the opportunity to get more at-bats. “Last year was great experience and really helped my confidence, so I’m really looking forward to this year and getting similar results [at the plate],” Scarcello said. River McWilliams, Senior, RHP/3B: McWilliams appeared in 18 games on the mound and finished the season with the lowest ERA on the team (.361). He also started 31 games for the Bulls at third base and played extremely well offensively and defensively, batting .293 and finishing with a .957 fielding percentage. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 10: Build it and they will come Additionally, a baseball stadium would make it much more convenient and comfortable for local alumni to attend games, and comfortable alumni means more donations to the program. This could help the Bulls reach full funding and give head coach Ron Torgalski more resources to build off last season’s success.

Buffalo is no longer a fledgling Division I program. With a new athletic director who has put an emphasis on winning, it’s time the Bulls begin to focus on sports other then football and basketball. Email: ben.tarhan@ubspectrum.com

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The program has come a long way since Torgalski’s first year on the recruiting trail. The program now has actual baseball players on campus for recruits to stay with. In 1999, baseball recruits stayed with football players because there were no baseball players on campus. Lacking a roster did have its advantages, though. “It was easy to promise guys playing time because we had no players,” Torgalski said. The program has never had full funding since joining Division I, which puts pressure on Torgalski and his staff to use their scholarships wisely. His solution is to recruit hard working players who want to be in Buffalo. If they don’t want to be here, he doesn’t recruit them. Torgalski believes this recruiting tactic has become a signature of the program. “From the day we started, [we have] recruited kids that are tough, hard-nosed kids that want an opportunity to play and want an opportunity to prove that this program is taking positive steps in getting better each year,” Torgalski said. In the past few seasons, these tactics have helped the Bulls – who limped through a decade of irrelevance – enjoy greater success. The program has been on the upswing in recent seasons. In addition to making a deep run in the MAC Tournament last year, former catcher Tom Murphy was drafted in the third round by the Colorado Rockies in last year’s MLB Draft. With returning players at nearly every position this season, the Bulls seem primed to make another run at the tournament. The team also has numerous underclassmen contributors, which bodes well for 2014 and beyond. But the program still lacks key components that would take it to the next level. Its home field is owned by the Town of Amherst and sits adjacent to UB Stadium across Millersport Highway. The indoor facility the team uses is a 10-minute drive north on Millersport Highway from UB’s North Campus. The baseball program’s lack of scholarship dollars also makes it difficult to compete in the MAC, where every other baseball program is fully funded. In 2011-12, Buffalo had 8.62 scholarships to split between 20 players, totaling $206,111. That number pales in comparison to the funding other conference programs receive – Eastern Michigan handed out 10.82 scholarships for a total of $282,286;

Kent State handed out 11.18 for $241,298. “It’s tough to bring in recruits and show them the facility we play on,” Torgalski said. “That’s one of the things we would hope: to get a facility on campus – something we can call our own, take pride in and really build to something special. The other thing we’re still hoping for is to increase our scholarship dollars.” The lack of full funding hurts the Bulls’ depth. Although they enjoyed three seasons of Murphy’s play, Torgalski had to bring in a junior college catcher this year to replace him. Full funding would bring less urgency to the recruiting trail when top-flight players graduate or leave via the draft. For now, Torgalski has his team focused on the task at hand: earning its first-ever back-to-back trips to the MAC Tournament. The team’s success and attitude is a credit to Torgalski’s recruiting prowess. “He’s a good recruiter,” Breene said. “He’s a good salesman for the university, and I think that’s why he’s able to get some of those kids in here like [senior outfielder Jason] Kanzler and those guys now. They are all damn good ball players. If you’ve got a lineup sprinkled with people like that, you are going to have an opportunity to win some games in the conference.” Breene is confident that Buffalo isn’t the barren baseball landscape it appears to be at first glance, and with Athletic Director Danny White taking over the reins this past summer, he believes White’s vision for the athletic department will help Torgalski make the baseball team a perennial MAC Tournament contender. “With Danny White and these new guys that are coming in, they want our programs to be competitive and they are looking to do whatever it takes now to generate those dollars to make sure that all of our sports, including men’s baseball, get fully funded and have an opportunity to compete,” Breene said. “That would be motivation enough for anyone to want to stay.” Although bad weather and poor funding have been constant pitfalls for the Bulls, the skies may finally be starting to clear over Amherst Audubon Field. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 10: Pitch Perfect

Email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 10: Infielders’ choice He also noted it was a good offseason, especially for his hitting. “It’s gotten a lot better,” Mestas said.

Friday, February 15, 2013

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Redshirt senior River McWilliams will also provide the Bulls with experience on the hill. He appeared in 18 games and accumulated a 3.61 ERA while pitching 42 innings and striking out 40 batters. McWilliams will provide the most experience on the staff, but like Burke, he also plays infield on days when he is not pitching. “We are going to be depending on some young guys, younger guys that really haven’t had the innings and looking forward to an increased role this year,” Ziroli said. “We have a couple guys that have electric stuff. Mike Burke and River McWilliams are going to be huge cornerstones.” McGee – who will start on Friday as the Bulls travel to take on North Carolina A&T – experienced growing pains last season with a 10.57 ERA when he was asked to step in for the injured Copping. He finished the season with 25 strikeouts over 23 innings. “We have always been known as a hitting team and this year, we want to be known as

a hitting team, but also a pitching team,” McGee said. “Hopefully, we can get deep into the tournament.” The transition will be a bit of a challenge for Buffalo as the team is without catcher Tom Murphy, who was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the third round (105th overall) of last spring’s MLB Draft. The Bulls brought in junior catcher Kyle Figgins, who played last season for Kalamazoo Community College in Michigan. “It’s been difficult. It’s hard to replace Tom Murphy,” Magovney said. “It’s more difficult because now I have to have catchers figure out what I like to throw, but I feel comfortable with the catching situation now.” The Bulls will open up their season on Friday as they travel to a warmer climate for a three-game weekend series against North Carolina A&T. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com


Friday, February 15, 2013 ubspectrum.com

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Crossword of the Day

HOROSCOPES

Friday, February 15, 2013 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK

ACROSS 1 Mathematical stepping stone 6 Lad's sweetheart 10 Discharge 14 Alternative to text messages 15 Cut and paste 16 Showed up 17 Leaves suddenly 20 Fan mail recipients 21 In the direction of 22 Seam treasure 24 Arizona's motto, "Ditat ___" 27 Juicy fruit 28 Ashtray accumulation 31 Cutting, as a remark 33 D.C. bigwig 34 All together 36 Disparaging comments 38 PlayStation or Xbox 42 Clearer, as the sky 43 Put under 45 Prominent rock 48 Compound found in perfume 50 Anklebone

51 At attention 53 Crawl from lap to lap? 55 Mouth piece? 56 Make invalid 58 Bouncing off the walls 61 Speaker's mistake 66 Scandinavian seaport 67 "Better you ___ me!" 68 Had in mind 69 Pete Rose's team, for most of his career 70 Does fabric repair 71 Armor plate that protects the chest

DOWN 1 Serve that doesn't count 2 Flightless ranch bird 3 Ohio city on the Ohio 4 Conqueror of matter 5 As well 6 Eyewear units 7 Ruckus 8 It can be deadly or mortal 9 Proofreader's notation 10 Neutral middle vowel 11 Hymns of praise 12 Surface

Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 15, 2013 BUCKLE MY SHOE By Katherine Jaffy

13 Attach, as a new muffler 18 Long in the tooth 19 Author W. ___ Maugham 22 Part of a geisha's garb 23 Ladder foothold 25 Remove, as a bottle cap 26 Cylindrical storage tower 29 Egyptian pyramid, essentially 30 Narrow dagger 32 Presses for cash 35 Tedious task 37 Bar staple 39 Understands 40 Waste time (Var.) 41 Holder of combs, perfumes, etc. 44 Clairvoyant's claim 45 Certain muscle 46 Words of warning 47 Add more gold plate 49 Ages 52 Key-changing gadgets for guitars

54 Satisfied, as an obligation 57 Red ___ (newts) 59 "Touched by an Angel" co-star Downey 60 Elbow counterpart 62 Common title word 63 Hem companion 64 "Bi-" halved 65 Martians, for short

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Preparation is the issue today, and you mustn't hang back and let others get the jump on you. You are able to learn a lot very quickly. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -You're going to have to juggle the conflicting tastes of several people who are in charge of a situation you are responsible for balancing. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- There is likely to be very little to criticize about your work today. Others will come running when you announce what you are doing next. TAURUS (April 20May 20) -- You may be too concerned with outdoing a rival than with doing your best work. Focus on the task at hand, and don't be too competitive.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You'll be facing a challenge today that is more complicated than it may seem at first. Advice comes your way that you can use at the last minute. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- What you are trying to accomplish today may require you to be somewhat repetitive until you reach your stride. Then things really take off! LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You may not know just which way to go when given a choice today, but the road that leads in a wholly new direction may be your best bet. VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) -- Your own recent progress has been noteworthy, but you may still feel as though you are falling short of your ultimate goal. Keep going!

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LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 22) -- You'll be required to provide accurate information to someone who is in a position to request it. Don't balk -- and don't delay. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- If it's a straight answer you are after, you must be sure to ask the right person the right question. Otherwise, you'll encounter a dead end. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You may have trouble determining with any real accuracy what someone else is thinking today -- and his or her opinion matters to you. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You may feel like you're at the end of your rope at this time, but take care that you're not merely overreacting to a temporary situation.


10

2013 Baseball Preview *Opinion*

Build it and they will come Buffalo baseball needs an on-campus stadium BEN TARHAN Sports Editor The Bulls have a lot working against them when they take the field on Friday at North Carolina A&T. Any Buffalo baseball team would be at a disadvantage with the notorious weather: wind, snow, rain, sleet. You name it – we’ve got it. But the UB baseball team has additional drawbacks, namely its lack of an on-campus field and its insufficient scholarship funding. Baseball has only been a varsity sport at Buffalo for 13 years. It’s understandable that there is no baseball facility on campus, and the large number of sports that Buffalo funds accounts for the lack of scholarship funds. It’s no one’s fault that the baseball team is at a competitive disadvantage against the rest of the Mid-American Conference, but it’s time to fix the problem. The athletic program turns a profit, and the baseball team’s alumni base is only growing. It’s time for UB Athletics to step up to the plate and take care what could be one of the school’s most successful teams. The first step toward becoming a bona fide Division I baseball program is building an on-campus facility. I’ve watched games at Amherst Audubon Field, and it’s not an enjoyable experience. Although the Bulls’ offense usually puts on a show, the steel bleachers behind home plate are the only seating arrangement for fans. Buffalo is the only MAC team with a facility that doesn’t seat 1,000 people or more. (Amherst Audubon Field has a listed capacity of 500.) During the months in which the Bulls compete (mid-February to mid-May), the weather is not all that warm in Buffalo, and sitting on steel bleachers does not help to heat the scarce fan base. Baseball is “America’s pastime” and the Bulls should look to their past for a stadium site. Everyone knows about the softball fields on South Campus, but how many people have used them? The open field is the perfect size and location for a baseball stadium. Though the Bulls’ current field arrangement is closer to North Campus, it’s terribly inconvenient to reach the field without a car. A South Campus field would be easily accessible by the Stampede and it would be easier for the surrounding community to attend games, which would help grow a fan base. The small area would force the field to be built with quirks that baseball players are accustomed to and the game has come to be known for. Perhaps the Bulls could have their very own version of the Green Monster or something that would be purely Buffalo baseball.

Cover to cover

Torgalski’s mark on the baseball program goes back to its roots BEN TARHAN Sports Editor Wind, snow, freezing temperatures in April. These conditions are not conducive to baseball, in which the best teams generally hail from warmer climates. The conditions are also synonymous with Buffalo. Running a baseball program in Buffalo comes with enough climate-related challenges, but pair those with the difficulties of starting a Division I program from scratch and you get a good look at one of the biggest struggles in the MidAmerican Conference: Buffalo Bulls baseball. Although such tough conditions seem to imply coaches would only make a short stop before moving to warmer climates, head coach Ron Torgalski has been with the program since its inception in 1999, and he has

been the head coach since the 2007 season. “We didn’t have uniforms; we didn’t have baseballs,” Torgalski said. “It was like Christmas all year round because we just kept buying things. It was interesting, but it was a lot of fun.” In 1999, Torgalski was an assistant basketball coach at UB. He was considering getting his master’s degree in teaching certification and was planning on leaving the basketball program and UB, to teach and coach high school sports in the area. When Torgalski was about to leave, Buffalo began to make the transition to Division I, which included reinstating the baseball program. Bill Breene, currently the assistant director of athletic development, was tasked with the head coaching position. He asked Torgalski, who had experience recruiting the area from being a basketball coach, to be his recruiting coordinator. “I liked him and basically asked him if he would be interested in joining me to help me get this thing off the ground,” Breene said. In 2012, Torgalski completed his 12th season as a coach, his sixth as head coach, and led the Bulls to their first ever MAC Tournament. The squad made it to the conference semifinals before falling to College World Series qualifier Kent State. Continued on page 8

Infielders’ choice

Bulls bring back experienced infield JON GAGNON Sports Editor Last year, the Bulls finished second in fielding percentage in the Mid-American Conference. This year, they look to improve on that statistic with an experienced infield. All four starters played in at least 30 games last season and all are upperclassmen. With two of the infielders doubling as part of the pitching rotation, the infield shuffles around a bit, but the players are comfortable with the movement. Alex Baldock, Senior, 1B: Baldock played in just 31 games last season due to injuries, but he was one of the team’s best offensive players. He batted .284 with a .488 slugging percentage and nearly half of his 31 hits on the season were extra-base hits (13). Baldock finished off his season with an elite performance in the MAC Tournament, helping the Bulls get t h e i r first-ever MAC To u r n a m e n t win. He was selected to the MAC All-Tournament team after batting .375 and driving in sevens runs in just four games. “Our first goal is to make it back to the MAC Tournament,” Baldock said. “After what you saw from Kent State last year, anything is possible. If we get there and are playing

hot like we were last year, we’re going to try to make it through and win that tournament. Until then, just getting there is our main goal and not make it as stressful to get there.” Baldock is especially confident with the assurance of this year’s infield. “We’ll be golden with that,” he said. “Whoever’s in there, we’re going to be confident turning plays up the middle.” Jon Mestas, Senior, 2B: Mestas started 53 games for the Bulls at second base last season, in his first year in the starting role with the team. Mestas struggled at the plate, only batting .266, but he was surehanded defensively. His .948 fielding percentage was better than any other infielder who played in at least 40 games (excluding first base). Mestas hopes the infield’s gritty defense can produce more wins for the team. “We pretty much have all of our guys coming back this year,” Mestas said. “We were No. 2 last year in the MAC in fielding, so we’ve been working hard all fall so we can maybe finish in the top five or top three in the MAC.” Continued on page 8

Continued on page 8

Pitch Perfect Bulls look to establish pitching identity JOE KONZE JR Senior Sports Editor It’s common baseball lore that the pitcher controls the pace of the game. The Bulls’ pitching staff is looking to set the squad’s tempo in its quest to exercise past demons this season. Last season, opposing teams had a .299 average and the Bulls allowed 577 hits. But with newfound experience and expanded roles, the pitchers believe they’re ready to hit new highs. The growing pains… With graduation taking the two top pitchers from the staff – Cam Copping and Jeff Thompson, who pitched a combined 174 innings in 14 starts apiece – Buffalo will have to rely on younger players. Sophomore Anthony Magovney, junior Mike Burke and sophomore Mike McGee will anchor the staff for the beginning of the season as redshirt senior Kevin Hughes – who struck 24 batters in 21 innings last year – recovers from Tommy John surgery. Last season, Magovney pitched 43 innings in 18 appearances while posting an ERA of 5.65. He’s looking to expand his role in the rotation. “Last year was huge for [Magovney] to pitch in big games for us. He threw a lot of conference games,” said pitching coach Steve

Bulls outfield looks to lead with powerful offense, jovial attitude MARKUS MCCAINE Asst. Sports Editor

“Scahill was a good outfielder, so big shoes to fill there,” Richards said. “Playing with guys like Kanzler and [Pollock] will only raise your talent. We’re probably the best outfield in the MAC. We’re definitely the strongest. In the weight room, we crush it.” Last year, Richards batted .289, hit four home runs and drove in 24 runs. Richards came into the 2012 season weighing about 180 pounds. He’s benefitted from the weight lifting program and comes into the 2013 season weighing 225 pounds. The Bulls hope to have added pop from him in the lineup this season. Continued on page 8

The outfield is the core of the Bulls’ roster this spring, and its members have been going extra hard to make sure they can carry the weight. The unit has aimed to be most intense when it comes to lifting, and the athletes believe all the weight training will give them an edge over other teams. “I’d put us up against any team in the nation that we could out-lift them,” said senior outfielder Jason Kanzler. “We are probably the strongest team in the nation.” In 2012, Kanzler used that strength to earn second-team AllMid-American Conference recognition. He didn’t just use upper-body strength, though; Kanzler is a dual-threat player. He swiped 17 bases last season in addition to eight home runs, 40 RBIs and five triples. “The more you can prepare off the field for your athletic endeavors on the field, it’s just going to be easier when the time comes,” Kanzler said. “Our bodies won’t be aching and at the end of the season, we’ll be primed, ready to go.” Senior Matt Pollock joins Kanzler in the outfield. Pollock returns after a monster 2012 season in which he was named to the All-MAC and AllMideast region teams. Pollock also ranked 24th nationally in slugging percentage, 26th in runs scored per game and 31st in total bases. Pollack batted .357 with a .447 on-base percentage and a .638 slugging percentage last season, all while cranking 12 home runs and 44 RBIs. Buffalo lost Dan Scahill to graduation last year, and the squad will look to junior Thomas Richards to fill the void. Richards joins Kanzler and Pollock in an experienced outfield.

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Ziroli. “We used a six-, seven-man rotation last year in conference, and he was one of those guys [who] really stepped up and earned the role.” Burke, who doubles as the team’s starting shortstop, posted a 4.28 ERA last season with five wins and six losses. He also had the third-most innings pitched on the team with 69.1. Rest will be key for Burke’s success, as he will get a fair share of innings on the mound in addition to the majority of the starts at shortstop. “We’re in communication with [head coach Ron Torgalski],” Ziroli said. “We get his stuff done early, whether it be bullpen [sessions] or … whatever he’s got to do that day, we make sure nothing is going to be neglected from his [infield] game.” Continued on page 8

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