The Spectrum Volume 60 Issue 55 by The Spectrum Student Periodical

The Independent Student Publication of the University at Buffalo MONDAY EDITION v February 21, 2011 Vol. 60 No. 55 v ubspectrum.com

Rewriting The Record Books Desi Green is arguably the most dominant athlete in UB history MATTHEW PARRINOSenior Sports Editor It isn’t every day that the UB community gets to be a part of something historic. It also isn’t every day that a kid who has endured countless obstacles is able to overcome them all and achieve greatness. But both are unfolding, and if you haven’t heard about Desi Green yet, here’s the introduction. Desi is a junior at UB and possibly the greatest wrestler to ever wear the blue and white. He’s on the verge of becoming the first wrestler in UB history to win 100 matches before his senior season.

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Blitz to a Healthier You UB Recreation teams with online fitness program LEAH CRUSANStaff Writer UB has teamed up with Blitzometer.com to offer students an alternative way to work out. The university’s Recreation and Intramural Services is offering an online fitness program at ubrecreation.blitzometer.com. Jessica Nyrop, assistant director for aerobic and spinning instruction, was presented with the program during the summer of 2010. Nyrop decided to integrate it into the university’s current physical fitness programs. On the website, participants sign up for a Blitz or several Blitzes. A Blitz is “a scheduled fitness program lasting no longer than two weeks,” according to Blitzometer. com. By creating an account, participants are able to sign up for a Blitz of their choosing ranging from Pilates to cardio to an upper body workout. The programs on the website are simple and free. Once enrolled, participants record their progress on the website for the next two weeks, including the amount of reps they completed, the amount of miles they ran, or the weight they lifted.

“I thought it may be another opportunity for students to be engaged in programmed physical fitness,” Nyrop said in an e-mail. “When time commitments, scheduling, and challenges are factors in a physical fitness program, adherence increases.” Blitzometer provides participants with instructional videos to guide them through their workouts and offers Blitzes from beginning to advanced levels. The program is fairly new to UB, but some students have already taken full advantage of it. “I think it’s a great idea for people who want to work out but don’t know how to start,” said Catherine Cuyler, a junior psychology major. “It’s good for people who regularly go to the gym, too, but just need a way to stay motivated.” Participants can become coaches, as well, and design their own Blitz for friends to follow along with. As with any service, to upgrade to a trainer account, participants will be charged $20 per month. Some of the benefits of the upgraded version include creating custom programs, motivating clients, and tracking progress for personal trainers or instructors. g

E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

Green Profile :: 7 DAILY DELIGHTS :: 6 CLASSIFIEDS :: 6 SPORTS :: 8

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Courtesy of Rebecca Bratek

Active Minds & LGBTA to Host Mental Heath Advocate Event STEVEN WROBELStaff Writer Mental health issues can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, gender, or sexual orientation. No matter who someone is or what his or her issue may be, there is nothing to be ashamed of. This is the message that Margaret Bertram will be sharing with the UB community. Active Minds UB, a group that promotes positive mental health and attempts to dispel the negative attitudes that surround mental health issues, along with UB’s Lesbian/ Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered Alliance, will be hosting Bertram on Wednesday night as its keynote speaker for National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Bertram will present a speech on her personal experiences throughout college on how she has dealt with depression, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disor-

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have that have to happen to before people who care about things like that make an effort to say something?” said Peter Williams, a senior interdisciplinary studies and psychology major and treasurer of Active Minds. “If you just know that [problems are] normal, you feel that much less alone.”

Two different numbers are able to track participants’ “Blitzitude” or progress. One number is the percentage of the person’s commitment and the second number contains the number of Blitzes completed.

Participants can Blitz alone or with a group. Some people choose to Blitz with friends or coworkers, while others perform their Blitzes with their teams or clubs.

INSIDE

Alex McCrossen /// The Spectrum

There have been many turning points in Desi Green’s life that have sent him on his current path to athletic stardom. He is on track to becoming the first junior to win 100 matches in UB history.

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der, as well as the struggles of discovering her lesbian identity. Bertram believes that mental health issues do not define who people are, nor do they allow other people the right to judge them. “Although the stigmas that surround mental illness have waned over the years, a lot of people are still ignorant of the fact that it does affect so many people personally,” said Mia Simoncelli, a freshman pre-pharmacy major. “Active Minds is working to connect people through awareness and dispel any preconceived, negative notions. Those who are suffering need a community that supports and accepts them and their illnesses –not turn their backs on them out of embarrassment or uncomfortable shame.” Active Minds serves as a place for students to come and discuss topics that people struggle with, but it also is a safe haven to discuss issues of their own. Active Minds and LGBTA feel that Bertram’s talk is one that needs to be shared with the UB community as it tries to establish a sense of security and belonging for all students, especially in light of the number of suicides in the LGBTA community. “How many people does that

By reducing the stigmatisms that surround mental health issues, Active Minds looks to reduce the isolationism that is often created. The LGBTA also tries to dispel the isolationism that sexual orientation can create within society by being an all-inclusive group. “It’s just good to know that there are people out there who care for you for who you are and they won’t judge you,” said Judy Mai, a sophomore occupational therapy major and president of the LGBTA. “[The LGBTA is] a safe place [where] no one is judged for being who they are…it’s not just for the LGBT; it’s for their allies as well.” Bertram is someone that students can feel comfortable with, regardless of what they are going through or have experienced, because of how powerful her speeches are and her engagement with the audience. “If there is somebody in the audience that has any one of [those issues], you can recognize yourself in what she’s saying,” Williams said. One thing that Bertram, Active Minds, and the LGBTA all advocate is having someone to talk to who is willing and able to accept people for who they are. No matter what type of problem may be troubling a person, there is always someone who is able to listen.

Continued on Page 4

ARTS SHREK THE MUSICAL PAGE 4 Today In UB History: Feb. 21, 1990  Astronaut Shares Memories of Space With UB Crowd Online Now

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The views expressed — both written and graphic — in the Feedback, Opinion, and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or spectrum-editorial@buffalo.edu. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style or length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it clearly as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number and e-mail address. The Spectrum is provided free in part by the Undergraduate Mandatory Activity Fee

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Planned Parenthood Repeal Wastes America’s Time

Comrades of Another Snowy State Need Our Support

Bill passed purely to irritate left On Friday, the House of Representatives passed a controversial bill, revoking all government funding from Planned Parenthood, America’s largest abortion-providing organization. The bill sparked a great deal of outrage, and many saw it as an infringement on the ruling on Roe v. Wade. While the bill couldn’t restrict a woman’s right to an abortion, it was argued that cutting the organization’s funding would restrict a woman’s access to an abortion in a manner that was unacceptable. In addition, the bill was passed primarily due to outrage over a Planned Parenthood video that was later revealed to be doctored. The video appeared to show a Planned Parenthood worker giving advice on how underage prostitutes could have abortions without parental consent. That was later, however, revealed to be the work of clever video editing. Unfortunately, it didn’t matter much. The damage had already been done, and the wave of antiPlanned Parenthood sentiment was in full force. Much like ACORN, which was taken down last year by a similarly doctored video, the Republicans were determined to take Planned Parenthood down. Despite all this, however, the bill actually has very little chance of becoming law. While it was able to pass in the Republican-controlled House, it would have very little chance of passing in the Senate.

MICHAEL TYSON  Asst. Life Editor

Even if it the bill did somehow make it through both legislative bodies, President Obama, who, while opposing abortion on a personal level, considers himself pro-choice, would almost certainly veto it. The problem with this bill passing isn’t so much the theoretical restriction it would place on a woman’s right to have an abortion. Frankly, it’s a giant waste of America’s time. The Republicans who passed this bill in the House know that it will fail in the Senate, and are simply doing this as a symbolic gesture to the left. Congress is supposed to be passing actual meaningful legislation, not engaging in “symbolic” gestures that only exist to express irritation with the other side. We saw the same thing happen last month when the House Republicans passed their meaningless “repeal” of Obama’s health care plan. Americans expect their leaders to get things done, and so far the Republican-controlled House has not worked toward that. While these symbolic gestures may please their own base, they are meaningless when it comes to actually affecting law. If the GOP wants to get something done during the next two years, it will need to change its attitude. Passing legislation like this only contributes to the divisive state of our nation, and doesn’t make any significant progress. g

Ruling sets questionable precedent

In March of 2009, Pieri was in the car with his girlfriend, Andrea L. Glinski, when she hit Amy E. Stewart and Rachel L. Baird with her car, injuring both. Following the crash, Pieri encouraged Glinski to drive away from the accident, which she did. Glinski was convicted on hit-and-run charges, and is currently serving one to three years in prison. In Pieri’s case, it was ruled that because Pieri had advised her to do this (which he confessed to doing), that he had also broken the law, and he was sentenced to one year in jail. In the days following the ruling, there has been a lot of debate on the matter. This ruling could set a precedent in which other passengers could be prosecuted for the advice they give to the driver in hit-and-run cases. While The Spectrum condemns Pieri’s actions, and believes that he should’ve been punished for his role in the matter, we also believe the sentence he received

was excessive. Considering that Pieri was not driving the car, giving him a full year in jail seems drastic, to say the least. In hit-and-run cases, the primary responsibility lies with the driver. Pieri may have advised her to leave the scene, but Glinski didn’t have to take his advice.

Source: wgrz.com

Pieri should’ve been punished in a manner that was proportionate to his role in what took place. If he had received probation, or a suspended license, that would’ve made more sense.

His words may have been nothing more than a snap reaction to a surprising situation. It seems unnecessary to give someone so much jail time for that.

A full year in jail puts more blame for the accident on Pieri than he deserves. He was undeniably in the wrong, but it was Glinski’s fault more than anyone else’s.

This ruling puts an excessive amount of blame on someone who was merely a passenger. Pieri was essentially an irresponsible backseat driver. That may be wrong, and it probably is worth some form of punishment, but it hardly demands a year in jail.

Put it this way: if a youth is caught shoplifting from a store, and claims that it was done on a dare, we don’t arrest the kid who dared him. The person committing the crime is always the one who is responsible.

We hope that this case does not set a precedent. Pieri’s confession was essential to the prosecution’s case. Otherwise, it would have been a game of “he said, she said.” We cannot anticipate many similar rulings in the future as a result of this decision. g

Granted, Pieri is not completely without responsibility. He did advise another person to break the law, but consider the situation he was in. He may have not been paying attention, or may have been unaware of who or what Glinski had hit.

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In that way, The Spectrum’s Tuesday, February 8, 2011 editorial struck a chord: sending more money to Albany is not the answer to the current SUNY issues. For all we know, our legislators would use student tuition dollars to buy extra expensive calculators that will magically solve the current budget crisis. No, writing bigger checks to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Chancellor Nancy Zimpher is not the answer, as most of what we send to Albany will likely stay there – with our esteemed representatives. The Spectrum failed, however, to address the larger issue at play: The way UB has become increasingly disenfranchised thanks to poor leadership in Albany. On the Buffalo end,

the University has absorbed state funding cuts in stride, doing its best to improve efficiency and allocate funds where possible. In whole, UB has lost $59.5 million in state, nontuition funding since spring of 2008 without having to cut core student and academic services. Acting as a buttress against the willy-nilly actions of state legislators, UB administrators have been utilizing financial reserves to help the University withstand the cuts. Now, UB’s emergency reserves are gone. As the adage goes, “All politics is local.” In the case of UB, all fiscal management is local. Or, at least it should be. Albany needs to accept that UB knows best how to spend its money and serve its students. So let UB have control of its own future. The basic concept comes from the American family. In good times and bad, a family will

Just for a moment, let’s take a look at the budget crisis in Wisconsin. Walker came into his office looking at a shortfall of $137 million. In order to combat this problem, he and state lawmakers promptly passed a $117 million dollar tax break for businesses and others. Now he’s complaining that his state just doesn’t have the funds to pay union wages.

For those that are curious, Governor Walker makes $144,423 with a likely pay increase coming to him in July.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Students at UB struggle financially at least as much as other citizens across the state. Many of us work during the semester not out of want, but out of necessity – to pay for books, rent, food, tuition, and the like.

Democrats in the state legislature, knowing that they would be voted down, fled the state in order to prevent the bills passage. Fox News has labeled them cowards for running, but I say they are quite brave. They are taking the only course of action available to them to prevent something from happening that they know is wrong and that the people are against if the massive protests are any indication.

After a week of mounting protests for their cause, the unions were even willing to negotiate on Friday by agreeing to pay more for their share of pension and healthcare but keep their collective bargaining rights. Walker refused to budge.

The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100 Telephone: (716) 645-2468 Fax: (716) 645-2766

Last week in Wisconsin a political storm erupted over Governor Scott Walker’s plans to charge state employee unions more for their pensions and healthcare and take away their collective bargaining rights. This set off massive protests in Madison from these unions.

Walker is not completely anti-union, though. The police and fire unions that supported his campaign are exempt from these new regulations, proving that Walker does stay true to his financial backers at least.

Sentence Is Excessive In Pieri Case Earlier this week, John Pieri, an Amherst man, became the first person in the history of New York State to be prosecuted as an accessory to a hit-and-run crash.

With budget slashing everywhere, including SUNY, it’s only a matter of time before union busting rears its ugly head here.

manage finances within its means. UB would be no different. The University can maximize funds internally, without pricey oversight of people like Assemblywoman Deborah Glick – who consistently stands in the way of SUNY reforms and decides that she and her cronies know best how to spend tuition dollars. Right now, the New York StateSUNY funding model violates that key fiscal principle. Education funding should not be a perennial political issue. So long as the State keeps wasting money, students should be concerned about decreasing quality education. g -Joshua Boston Student Representative University at Buffalo Council Letters to the Editor are not edited by The Spectrum.

This whole issue got me thinking about why unions seem to receive this almost universal bad rap. When they were first started back in the 1920s and 30s, unions made it so that giant corporations could no longer treat their workers like expendable cogs. Safety and wage issues were resolved and the rise of the middle and working classes was seen in the US. This led to unions having greater and greater power when it came time to sit at the negotiation table and, sadly, also led to corruption in many union ranks. But to demonize all unions because of a few bad apples is ludicrous. Any organization is open to corruption; just take a look at Tammany Hall in New York City, or the city of Chicago, or almost any government in Africa. Corruption happens, but we don’t welcome in anarchy because some governments rot, we cut out the rot and move on. Around the time of Reagan, an insidious new form of union breaking came around called outsourcing. Union power waned, and with it went union reputations. News outlets couldn’t get enough stories on union corruption and people everywhere began questioning if we still needed them any more. At the same time that unions started losing their power, CEOs and top executives of the very corporations claiming to not be able to pay union wages anymore saw their pay increase many times over. Now they are making several millions of dollars a year while complaining about a guy who brings in about $30 an hour if you count his benefits. Why should we care about Madison way over here in Buffalo? The reason is simple; one of the major unions in danger of being neutered consists of Wisconsin teachers, for both collegiate and lower level. Attending the largest state-run school in New York gives us a very important reason to care. Governor Cuomo’s proposed budget cuts will already be damaging to UB, if union negotiating rights are taken away the whole system can go to pot. The fact that Wisconsin has traditionally been a pro-union state, and does not have nearly the budget problems of other states, means that these issues could happen anywhere. That protests have spread to other states gives me hope. This nation loves to talk about how we were founded on liberty and freedom. What better way is there to enslave someone than to pay them the lowest wages possible and take their level of education down? Stand up for what’s right, or fall for anything. g E-mail: michael.tyson@ubspectrum.edu OPINION MONday, FEBRuary 21, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM

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ARTS & LIFE A Night of Robust Comedy and Life Lessons

“The weather’s partly suicidal, but the people are f****** tremendous,” May said.

Last Comic Standing finalist Ralphie May took to the Center for the Arts stage Thursday night with a staggering three-hour set. The night opened with the antics of May’s wife, Lahna Turner. At first, the audience was weary to laugh at Turner’s crude humor while she played guitar, but it wasn’t long before she had the audience laughing enthusiastically at her raunchy jokes and rather unconventional love songs. One of the most memorable moments during her set was when Turner gave her take on what a duet between Anne Frank and Helen Keller would sound like, and even elicited audience participation to perform the different roles of the “singers.” Needless to say, she was not afraid to be over the top and show the audience what she thought of controversial topics. After Turner wrapped up her set, she invited her husband onto the stage. Taking to the spotlight with his signature robust presence, May wasted no time appealing to the audience. May began his set the way nearly every other comedian who’s ever come to Buffalo has, by detailing his experiences in the Queen City. He made jokes about fan favorites such as his dinner at Duff’s, and how much he appreciates the city as a whole.

Meg Kinsley /// The Spectrum

VILONA TRACHTENBERGStaff Writer

No topic was off limits for May, as he iterated about controversial political issues in today’s society. Included in his repertoire was the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, terrorism, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Arizona immigration law. “I’m racially insensitive, culturally controversial, politically incorrect, but at least I’m honest,” May said. The audience seemed to appreciate his use of these topics to present his serious side with the intention of spreading lessons of positivity and acceptance to the audience. He strived to promote diversity, saying that society should put aside its differences to appreciate all life. “I thought he was good. He touched on a lot of important issues and he was inspirational,” said Dan Kozlowski, a sophomore computer engineering major. Following in the same vain as Turner, May showed his more controversial side, fueling the fires of cultural difference as he dealt stereotypical cards out evenly to audience members. The crowd members eagerly accepted their stereotypical labels, laughing along as others were ridiculed. Taking some time to show his less abrasive nature, May connected to audience members with his meaningful, educational jokes pertaining to reallife experiences. Having grown up in poverty, May also took the time to comment on society’s material fascination.

RALPHIE MAY “It’s not about black and white, it’s about green, who got it and who don’t,” May said. May truly showed his appreciation for the audience members by doubling his performance time while performing on his birthday. At the end of the show, May and Turner signed merchandise and ticket stubs and took photographs with audience members. “It was absolutely amazing and very heartfelt. He’s got a good message, and it was progressive,” said Luda Gugkaeva, a junior international studies major. The audience walked away Thursday with the satisfaction of a night full of comedic genius coupled with humorous (yet intellectual) life lessons. g

E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com

Active Minds & LGBTA To Host Mental Heath Advocate Event Continued from Page 1 for students, especially if the student doesn’t know that there are people who can help available on campus,” said Kim Fenton, an outreach graduate assistant with Counseling Services and an advisor with Active Minds. “There is definitely a stigma surrounding mental health care, and I really believe in working toward a campus environment in which any students who are struggling will know support is available on campus, and feel comfortable seeking it out.”

For more information on Active Minds, visit their Facebook at Active Minds – University at Buffalo Chapter or attend their weekly meetings on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in Baldy 113.

Margaret Bertram’s talk will be on Wednesday night in Slee Hall at 7 p.m. There is no charge for the event.

E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

For more information on UB’s LGBTA, their general meetings are held on Mondays at 7 p.m. in Student Union 145C and have “coming out” support groups every Thursday at 8 p.m. in SU 362. g

U B ’ s C o m p r e h e n s i v e Fe e Consultation Process Mon. February 21 — Fri. March 4, 2011

w w w. c o m p f e e . b u f f a l o. e d u We N e e d Yo u r F e e d b a c k UB’s Comprehensive Fee is a consolidation of campus-required fees that supports several university services. UB students pay the fee each year, unless you qualify for fee waivers. Every year, UB asks students for feedback about the coming year’s plans for the Comprehensive Fee.

ARTS & LIFE MONday, FEBRuary 21, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM

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Learn about the fee, how it is allocated, proposed increases, programs and initiatives, etc.

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Hear what your peers think

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Join the CompFee Listserv to send us your feedback or questions

For more info: src@buffalo.edu

Our goal is to get as much feedback from students as possible before the fee is finalized. Any time during the Consultation Process (2/213/4/11), visit the website above to leave your feedback or learn more.

Shea’s Makes Room for an Ogre on its Stage ABBY NIEKAMPStaff Writer Buffalo, make way – an ogre is coming to town.

PHOTO CREDIT: ©2010 DreamWorks Theatricals (Joan Marcus) DreamWorks Theatricals & Neal Street Productions present SHREK THE MUSICAL. Pictured: Blakely Slaybaugh (Pinocchio) and the fairy tale creatures of Duloc.

The Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation story of the unlikely hero, Shrek the Ogre, traveling to a faraway kingdom to rescue Princess Fiona, is being performed live at the end of this month, as Shrek the Musical is set for eight performances at Shea’s Performing Arts Cente,r starting Tuesday and running through Sunday. On his rescue journey, Shrek is accompanied by a donkey whose desire for Shrek’s friendship is nothing but annoying. They meet fairy-tale friends and foes along the way, all of whom help create this film-inspired musical’s storyline. DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions are recreating the kingdom of Far, Far Away on the Shea’s stage with a well-credited cast. The big green guy himself, Shrek, whom viewers follow on his journey from the swamp, will be played by Eric Peterson. Peterson, from the Broadway Company, has appeared in productions

such as Oliver! and The Producers. He has also made TV appearances on Law and Order and Law and Order SVU. Also from the Broadway production is Haven Burton, who takes on the role of Shrek’s princess, Fiona. A graduate of the New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Burton recently played Margot the dog whisperer in the musical Legally Blonde, while she understudied the character of Elle Woods. The comedic character of Shrek’s sidekick Donkey is taken on by Alan Mingo, Jr., while David F. M. Vaughn plays Lord Farquaad. Mingo was Sebastian in The Little Mermaid and was an original company member in Rent, playing Tom Collins. Vaughn was an original member of the Shrek the Musical cast and has been in productions of West Side Story and Les Misérables. David Lindsay-Abaire, nominated for two Tony Awards for his work on Shrek the Musical, wrote the book and lyrics for the on-stage production. Meanwhile, composer Jeanine Tesori, who put together the music for the production, was nominated for four Tony Awards for her scores for the Broadway plays Twelfth Night; Thoroughly Modern Millie; Caroline, or Change; and Shrek the Musical. Under the direction of Jason Moore and Rob Ashford, this powerful cast

is sure to create an unforgettable production of Shrek’s journey. For fans that want to follow the musical’s tour or find others that share their love for the ogre, they can join Shrekster, “a place for theatreogres” to network about upcoming tours and interact with other theater fans. Much like Facebook, Shrekster users can create a username and password and set up with a local network. The site is hooked up to a Twitter feed that provides links to interviews with the musical’s cast, such as Burton and Peterson. It also updates users on opportunities to win a trip to see Shrek the Musical and meet cast members. Tickets are now available for Shrek the Musical at Shea’s Performing Arts Ticket office, at 650 Main St. For those fans who wish to buy tickets online, visit TicketMaster.com or Shea’s website, Sheas.org. More information can also be found on Shea’s website. Prices range from $32.50 to $67.50. There are only eight chances to see Shrek on stage. The musical will be performed Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and also 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The last performance will be Sunday at 7 p.m. g

E-mail: arts@buffalo.edu

Engineers Week to Run Until Saturday

held throughout the week, but those who wish to participate in events that require preparation should contact Pastuf or the group organizing the specific event.

VERONICA RITTERStaff Writer

Some of the major events of the week include egg dropping on Monday from noon until 2 p.m., building a spacecraft out of Legos on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until noon, and building a machine on Thursday from 10 a.m. until noon, all of which take place in the Student Union lobby.

It’s that time of the year again – National Engineers Week is upon us. Engineering majors and members of the 15 various engineering clubs at the University at Buffalo have a chance to exhibit their creativity and skill publicly this week, culminating in the Academic-Engineering Ball on Saturday evening. Engineers Week is “a national event scheduled each year, which serves to celebrate and call attention to the contributions that engineers make,” said Dan Pastuf, the engineering coordinator who manages the engineering clubs at UB. Each club will be competing to be named the winner of Engineers Week. First place receives $600, while second and third receive $300 and $200, respectively. Everyone is welcome to join the various competitions

The highly anticipated Botwar tournament, scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. in the SU lobby, is the last of the tournaments. Robots that each club has created will fight against one another in a one-on-one match until the ultimate winner is declared. “At the end of the competition, we do a match with all of the remaining bots thrown into the rink for fun,” Pastuf said. Engineers Week will formally end on Saturday at the Niagara Marriott Hotel with the Academic-Engineering Ball, held right between Engineers

and Academic week. “[The Academic-Engineering Ball is] one of the longest running formal student events that is at UB. ‘E-Ball’ has records of going on during the 1950s,” Pastuf said. This year’s ball features a casino theme. By purchasing a $20 ticket at the SBI ticket office or $25 at the door, students will receive dinner, dancing and casino activities and play money for games like Blackjack and Poker. There will be a cash bar for those 21 and up. “Toward the end of the night, individuals will trade in their play money for raffle tickets in which they can enter to win great prizes,” said JoAnna Datz, the Academic Council Coordinator and a student in the School of Management. “We are very excited for AE Ball and encourage all students, not just members of the Academic and Engineering Councils, to attend.” For more details on the schedule of events, visit sa.buffalo.edu/events/55. g

E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com

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ARTS & LIFE MONday, FEBRuary 21, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM

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CLASSIFIEDS + DAILY DELIGHTS MONday, FEBRuary 21, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM

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said. “Wrestling and basketball are during the same season so I was kind of hesitant [to give up hoops]. I was naturally good at wrestling so the coaches offered me a spot on the varsity team in ninth grade.”

tling,” Desi said. “Being a good father is something I know I have to do and I knew going into it that it was going to be hard. It’s something you have to embrace. The more you think about it, the harder it is.”

Faced with the choice of varsity wrestling or modified freshman basketball, Desi chose the mat over the court.

Desi’s crew – Jefferson, Janee (Desi’s sister), and Tsajelia – attend every match, and it helps him to see their faces.

In his senior season at Rush-Henrietta High School, Desi won the New York State Wrestling Championship and the Empire State Championship. Things looked to be going great for him as he prepared to start at UB. But 2007 would not be a good year for the wrestling star. His older brother Jerome, whom Desi had always looked up to and tried to emulate, was arrested and spent three-and-a-half years in jail for home robbery and home invasion. Alex Mccrossen /// The Spectrum

Rewriting The Record Books Continued from Page 1 But to truly understand the greatness of Desi, you have to look beyond his accomplishments on the mat and to where everything started – with his best friend. Chavela Jefferson is Desi’s mom and has been his biggest fan since the day he was born. She attends virtually all of his matches and said she wouldn’t know what to do without him. “[Our connection] probably started the day he was born,” Jefferson said. “He’s just brought so much joy into my life. It’s always been me and him.” Desi is still a mama’s boy, even at 21 years old, and he chose UB specifically to stay as close to home as possible. Desi hails from Henrietta, N.Y. and that is where his passion for wrestling began. In the beginning, though, wrestling was his second choice when it came to sports in high school. “I’m more of a basketball fan,” Desi

Desi said that it was a weak case but that his family didn’t have enough money to pay for a good lawyer. “No matter what comes up in his life he always takes the higher road,” Jefferson said. “He’s always been there for his family. I think… his attitude [is] what makes Desmond a great person.” Things started looking better in September of 2009, when Desi experienced the best moment of his life: the birth of his daughter, Tsajelia.

“[My daughter] travels with me and goes to all my away and home matches,” Desi said. “My mom travels everywhere also. It’s a good feeling to look into the stands and see my daughter up there. Even though she probably won’t remember it, it’s nice just knowing she’s there.” Desi has left his mark on UB already and continues to add to his legacy. Senior Jimmy Hamel recently joined the 100-win club and said he’s never seen anyone as good as Desi. “He’s extremely confident and he has a swagger about him,” Hamel said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a naturally athletic guy. Even when you play basketball with the kid, he’s just got these freakish athletic abilities that you don’t see every day. His work ethic and mindset are the things that set him apart. He believes he can do anything, and he can.”

Desi says he lives for his daughter, and his mother is proud of the dad he is to his child. “He’s a great father figure and a great leader,” Jefferson said. “It’s like, the breath Desmond breathes, that’s how he cares for his child. I can’t imagine life without her for him. He’s a handson father; he’s not just talking about it.” Being hands-on doesn’t come without a price. Desi struggles to manage the time in the day between wrestling, school, and being the type of father his mother can be proud of. He is Source: facebook thankful that his daughter’s mother is able to take such good care of him and Desi Green is the most prolific their baby. wrestler in UB history, but it is his “[Being a dad] is the greatest feeling in life away from the mat that has the world, especially when I’m wres- made him into the man he is today.

Hamel isn’t the only one who thinks Desi is a good basketball player. Jerome wished his younger brother had played basketball instead of wrestling. In high school, Jerome played sports at the same time as Desi, so making it to a match was never really possible. When Jerome was in jail, he told Desi that he dreamt of the day he’d be able to come see him do what he does best and that he was proud of the person he’d become. Desi attributes a lot of what he accomplished to the advice his brother gave him when he went to jail. “He told me that I had to do the right things,” Desi said. “That I had to stay in college and take care of mommy and my sister. He told me that I didn’t want to end up like him and that he had regrets in his life. But he promised that when he got out he’d fix everything.” Jerome did just that earlier this year when his parole officer allowed him to come watch Desi wrestle for the first time. According to Desi, it was one of the most special moments of his life. Desi recorded a win against Edinboro. Last season, Desi surprised himself when he came back from a torn meniscus to win the Mid-American Conference Tournament. He suffered the injury three weeks before the start of the tournament, and the usual rehab time is somewhere between four and six weeks. Desi trained hard and made it back onto the mat three days before the tournament to begin preparing. He felt that even with the injury, he should’ve performed better as he was only winning his matches by a point or two. But the accomplishment still motivates him to continue working toward winning a national championship. Bulls assistant coach Frank Beasley didn’t always think Desi had it in him. Stepping up to college-level competition is a big jump, and Desi was used to winning easily in high school. What Desi has turned himself into continues to impress Beasley.

“He wasn’t a guy that I had a lot faith in or even liked a lot because he wasn’t the hardest worker,” Beasely said. “He’s turned himself into a hard worker and a leader on this team. There’s a reason he’s been ranked in the top eight in the country. “There’s a reason he’s going to set basically every record in our record books. It’s because he’s a great wrestler, a great kid, and a great teammate. There are no limitations for Desi Green. He’s beaten multiple AllAmericans, and if he truly believes he can win a national championship, he’ll do it.” After graduation, Desi hopes to enter the UFC and become a mixed martial arts fighter. He’s started basic training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu but is waiting until after he is done wrestling to start in other disciplines. He looks up to Anderson “The Spider” Silva and wants to be like the untouchable middleweight champion some day. “There are a bunch of guys who come from wrestling backgrounds [in MMA] and that’s me right there,” Desi said. “I wrestle, I’m really good at it, and I’ve been ranked in the top 20 since my freshman year. Josh Koscheck used to be a coach here and he went on to the UFC. I figured it would be a good way to go because I love physical sports.” In the meantime, Desi continues his quest for 100 wins and looks forward to seeing his name in the history books. “To be able to look in the books and see my name is really exciting,” Desi said. “I’m sure someone will come along and do the same thing but hopefully nobody will be able to do it as a sophomore. If they do, that would be pretty impressive considering they’d have to win 50 matches in a season.” When people look back on Desi’s career, they’re going to see a great wrestler, but those who know him continue to see a great person. g E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com

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SPORTS MONday, FEBRuary 21, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM

SPORTS Brandon Freeland /// The Spectrum

[The student section] was incredible... That’s something that makes a world of difference; having that kind of support and that kind of energy in the building is definitely something we appreciated. We hope it happens again in our final home game…We’re thankful for everyone who set this up tonight and hopefully they’ll come out again. - Zach Filzen Filzen credits part of his success to the support that he received from the student section. (Quote above.) The game was a difficult one for Witherspoon to coach after he lost his father, Moses Witherspoon, to a battle with cancer last Wednesday morning. According to Filzen, the team is dedicating the season to Reggie’s dad, and Witherspoon was appreciative of his players’ effort in the game.

A total of 1,668 came to Alumni Arena Saturday night to see Buffalo’s excellent performance.

Sea of Blue Crashes Down on Panthers Zach Filzen scores a career-high on memorable night

It’s been a while since Alumni Arena saw a “Sea of Blue,” so True Blue stepped up and launched one of the biggest marketing campaigns in recent memory in hopes of getting students out of their dorm rooms and into the arena. It worked. A total of 1,668 students packed the arena, and their efforts

ANDREW WIKTOR  Editor in Chief Saturday was almost filled with great basketball: St John’s won at the Garden on a remarkable how-did-he-not-step-out-of-bounds lay in by senior guard Dwight Hardy; Nebraska topped No. 3 Texas despite the Longhorns’ best attempt at a late-game comeback; and Bulls junior guard Zach Filzen knocked down five triples in the first half en route to a career-high 30-point performance. But the NBA botched one of the most exciting dunk contests in recent memory: the 2011 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest. Did I mention that Sprite, a refreshing product of Coca-Cola, sponsored the event? At no point was Blake Griffin not going to win the contest. It was as scripted as Jersey Shore and as flawed as Yao Ming being voted to the Western Conference’s starting lineup. Just ask DeMar DeRozen, who had two of the best dunks of the contest, yet didn’t make it out of the first round. DeRozen’s first dunk was absurd: he took a pass from off the arm of the backboard, put it through his legs, and slammed it down with style and authority. Naysayers will complain that it took him a few tries to land the slam, which hurt his score, but I remember it taking JaVale McGee (whose mom kissed Dr. J on the mouth) a number of attempts to dunk two balls through two separate hoops, yet he still got a (deserved) perfect score. If DeRozen’s dunk wasn’t a 50, it deserved nothing less than a 48. But DeMar, who is relatively unknown in the league and plays for the struggling Canadian franchise, (The Toronto Raptors. Yeah, they’re still around.) was robbed and given an unwarranted score of 44. Next up on the list of snubbed dunks: Serge Ibuka’s free throw line slam. Julius Erving did it in 1976, and Michael Jordan in 1988, but Ibuka’s 2011 throw down was arguably the most impressive. On his first dunk attempt, Ibuka, a 7-footer, soared from behind the free throw line, leaping for a dunk that started farther away from the basket than any other of its kind. Erving and Jordan got perfect scores in ’76 and ’88, respectively. The un-iconic Ibuka, however, got a 45 in 2011. Heh?

helped lift the Bulls (16-9, 7-5 Mid-American Conference) over UW-Milwaukee (16-12, 11-5 Horizon League), 80-65. Despite two quick turnovers on the Bulls’ first couple of possessions, junior guard Zach Filzen righted the ship quickly and was unconscious from the field. He scored 23 of his career-high 30 points in the first half and had an answer for everything the Panthers did to try and stop him. With two minutes remaining, Filzen passed up a wide open 3-pointer to let some more clock run. Witherspoon appreciated the smart play of his sharpshooter.

MATTHEW PARRINOSenior Sports Editor

CONNED CONTEST

Brandon Freeland /// The Spectrum

“It was a mature decision because a lot of times when you’re shooting it like that, you’re unaware of other things,” Witherspoon said. “He’s not just a guy that shoots it well. He moves well without the basketball and he’s unselfish…He’s a tough person to prepare for.”

“Most of the guys, if not all of them, had a chance to meet my dad,” Witherspoon said. “The way they responded helped… The next thing that really helped us was the crowd tonight. When I came out tonight and saw all those students up there in blue, I was shocked – thrilled, but shocked. It just makes this building that much tougher for our opponents to play in. Those are things that really help. But it was difficult.” Freshman forward Javon McCrea had another terrific performance as he finished with eight points, seven rebounds, and six assists. The big man said that he works on his passing in practice but it comes naturally for the most part. Witherspoon continues to be impressed with his court vision. “Here’s the real deal about Javon,” Witherspoon said. “He loves LeBron James. LeBron’s going out and getting those numbers – rebounds and assists – that’s it, that’s his inspiration…It’s not a surprise that he’s passing like that, but we didn’t know he could see the floor this well.” The Bulls hit the road for their next contest when they take on Kent State (17-9, 8-3 MAC) in Ohio on Thursday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. g

E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com

Filzen entered Saturday’s game ranked fifth in the nation with 83 3-pointers on the season. He added six more against Milwaukee and played one of his most memorable games in the blue and white.

SWEET TWEET your tweet here if you correctly predict a game outcome Follow us @UBSpecSports

Just remember that Griffin was never going to lose this contest. If the judges gave out three 50s, the “rookie” would have needed a perfect jam to stay at bay, which the NBA wasn’t willing to risk. Plus, there were sponsorships at stake.

Bulls Tame Huskies in Takedown Cancer Event

tage after scoring two points on a reversal. However, those two points were waived off in a controversial decision by the referee.

Without providing a play-by-play of the entire contest, let me sum up the rest of the events briefly.

BRIAN JOSEPHSAsst. Sports Editor

“The [referee’s call] didn’t really bother me too much,” Lewandowski said. “My coaches told me to get focused… and I felt like I was in better shape than him. So, I just used [my energy] toward beating him.”

Griffin missed an attempt at a ridiculous 360 windmill dunk, settled for a lesser-version of a similar idea, and was rewarded with a score of 50. DeRozen came back with his “Showstopper” dunk – a one-handed selfalley that he landed on his first try – that earned him a perfect score. His 44-point first dunk, however, crippled him, and he didn’t make it out of the first round. Conveniently, Griffin did. His second dunk, which he settled for after not being able to land a near-impossible baseline-360 dunk off the side of the backboard (yes, he settled for two dunks that weren’t as good as his first attempts), earned him 46 points, just enough to squeak into the final round and give KIA, the official car of the NBA, a repulsive plug. The contest was blatantly planned. The car that Griffin “jumped over” was ready to go, the choir ready to sing, and Kenny Smith ready to ramble (along with the rest of the commentators, who, by the way, were saying the oddest/funniest/most questionable comments throughout. At one point Smith mentioned “girls at the club,” who were only interested in the former stars when they were still in the league.). In the final round, McGee threw down a beyond-difficult reverse jam where he Matrix-avoided bumping his head on the backboard. Unfortunately, McGee seemingly gave up on his final dunk attempt, not daring to challenge the powers that be. I would have loved to see the Wizards center pull out a better dunk, so when fans wrongfully voted for Griffin (which was never not going to happen, in case I hadn’t mentioned that before), more people would have made a stink about it. There were a bunch a fantastic slams Saturday night, but, unfortunately, the right player didn’t get the recognition he deserved. Instead, KIA got the attention that should have been focused around DeRozen. g

E-mail: andrew.wiktor@ubspectrum.com

On Sunday, members of the University at Buffalo community gathered in Alumni Arena to raise awareness and funds for the fight against cancer. At the same time, the wrestling team had to fight a battle of its own inside the ring. Buffalo (9-8, 2-3 Mid-American Conference) hosted Northern Illinois (5-11, 1-4 MAC) in the second annual Takedown Cancer event. After struggling against the MAC all season, the Bulls beat the Huskies 22-9 to close out the regular season. For head coach Jim Beichner, the meet was symbolic of how close Buffalo is to reaching championship potential. “I’ve said the entire year that we were capable of winning the MAC Championship,” Beichner said. “We’re basically an inch away from [accomplishing] that. There were a couple of matches that I wish I could get back… but all-in-all, I think it’s a good MAC win.” The meet started dead even, with the two MAC rivals splitting their first four matches. The tide finally turned in Buffalo’s favor when sophomore Andrew Schutt wrestled No. 30 ranked Tristan DeShazer in the 141-pound weight class. Schutt fought his opponent to a 4-4 stalemate going into the third period. Then, with less than 20 seconds remaining, Schutt scored a huge two-point takedown to take the match 6-4. The sudden takedown sent both the crowd and the team into a frenzy. The victory was particularly notable because of the injuries Schutt has been battling all season long. “Schutt did a great job,” Beichner said. “For him to come back after 5-6 weeks of not wrestling [due to injury] and perform that well was great for him.” The Bulls went on to win four of their next five matches to clinch their final meet of the season. Perhaps the most remarkable victory was No. 15 sophomore Mark Lewandowski’s win over No. 21 Bryan Deutsch. Both wrestlers were jostling for control until Lewandowski appeared to have gained an advan-

Lewandowski remained focused despite the misfortune.

Lewandowski swiftly responded in the second period by overpowering his opponent for two near fall points. Deutsch did not back down, and the two brawlers fought evenly until they were tied 6-6 at the end of regulation. Then, in sudden-death overtime, Lewandowski scored a takedown and the win. Beichner considered this to be the most impressive performance of the meet. “[Lewandowski] has been a winner for quite some time now,” Beichner said. “I don’t even remember the last time he lost. He just keeps winning and that’s all he needs to focus on.” In the 149-pound match, No. 6 junior Desi Green dominated Vince Castillo in a 4-0 decision. This marks Green’s 98th win, setting him up to become the first junior to reach 100 career wins. Both Green and Lewandowski were undefeated against MAC opponents this season. The meet also marked the final time Alumni Arena would see seniors Brian Sheehan, Jimmy Hamel, and John Crisafulli. Hamel and Sheehan bookended the meet. Sheehan started the afternoon with a 3-2 win over Mike Lukowski in the 197-pound match. Hamel ended the competition with a 3-1 loss against Brad Dieckhaus in the 184-pound match. Despite dropping the final match, the day was considered a success. In addition to the victory, the wrestling program raised over $28,000 for the Jeff Parker Foundation and Carly’s Club of Western New York. After the meet, Beichner had only one thing in mind. “We are focused on the next step,” Beichner said. “That is the MAC Championship.” Buffalo has a week off from competition to prepare for the MAC Championship. The tournament is scheduled to start on March 5. g

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