The Spectrum Volume 63 Issue 52 by The Spectrum Student Periodical

UB alum draws upon lifelong interests to make films Veterans’ Assoc. hosts Combat to Classrooom event

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

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Men’s tennis in midst of historic season

Friday, february 21, 2014

Page

Volume 63 No. 52

AN INTERNAL FIRE For tennis captain Shkodnik, dreams of professional career are motivation JOE KONZE JR

Senior Arts Editor

Yevgeniy Jason Shkodnik knew what he wanted. As an 11-year-old at the Gordon Kent’s New England Tennis Camp in Connecticut, he fell in love with the sport. The quick lateral movements, the demand of split-second reaction time, the culture – he wanted to be part of it all. Many 11-year-olds dream of pursuing a career in professional sports. Some write their goal down on a piece of paper, some tell their parents. On that fateful day, in an instant, like a tennis ball meets the chalk line on a scorching serve, Shkodnik felt a fire lit in his heart. It was his new dream. He knew what he wanted. He wanted to be a professional tennis player. *** Among the roughly 30,000 students who attend the University at Buffalo, it’s tough to stand out. But it’s not hard to find Shkodnik in a crowd of people. Down the middle of his back, a bushel of dreads flows freely. He has grown the dreadlocks for seven years, and they have become one of his defining characteristics. The strands of hair range from 12-18 inches. That’s about the length of 4.5 pens. “We’ve been in a four-year wrestling match in terms of him getting it cut. I feel like he’ll be faster,” said UB men’s tennis coach Lee Nickell. “We’ve toyed with the idea of doing the thing that they do in Jackass where they carry the razor behind.” But the hairstyle is part of who Shkodnik is. “We’ve battled with that for quite some time,” said Shkodnik’s mother, Maya. “We can’t force him to cut it. Now he’s almost 23 and I can’t do anything about it.”

Chad Cooper, The Spectrum

At the age of 11, senior Yevgeniy Jason Shkodnik fell in love with tennis. His personality, hairstyle and drive differentiate him from others at the University at Buffalo. His dream of playing professionally has helped fuel his path to UB.

Chad Cooper, The Spectrum

The tennis environment was one thing that attracted Shkodnik to Buffalo. When coach Lee Nickell recruited him, UB was coming off a successful 2010 season in which the Bulls won the Mid-American Conference regular season championship before advancing to their first-ever MAC title game.

SEE SHKODNIK, PAGE 2

Aziz Ansari to perform as part of 2014 Comedy Series MEGAN WEAL

Asst. Arts Editor

On Wednesday, the Student Association announced that Aziz Ansari will perform in Alumni Arena April 28 as part of the 2014 Comedy Series. SA made the announcement via its Facebook page. The announcement came a week after SA announced its 13th annual comedy series. The event will be free to UB students with a valid student ID; 5,300 student tickets are available. Ansari is well known for his role as Tom Haverford in NBC’s Parks and Recreation, in which he plays an administrator with the lifelong goal of becoming a mogul. In his stand-up comedy routines, he’s known for his quickwitted social observations, audience interaction and fresh, relevant material. “We think he’s one of the biggest names in comedy right now, especially for college-age adults,” said SA President Sam McMahon. “His shows and comedy features have been extremely funny and extremely successful. So we really thought this was a

He is an athlete and young man who stands out. His hairstyle is symbolic of that. *** It’s a February afternoon. With snow coming down in Buffalo and frigid temperatures forcing practices inside, the UB men’s tennis team files into Miller Tennis Center in Williamsville to practice. The players are preparing for a match against Marist, a strong opponent. The team breaks after a brief meeting. Out of the circle, the 6-foot Shkodnik emerges. He takes his position on the court and prepares to receive a serve. Shkodnik reacts quickly. He moves laterally, winds up and swings his racket with so much torque the tennis ball looks like a neon green Indy car hitting its top speed and racing to the finish line. The sound of rubber meeting nylon and titanium caroms loudly off the walls. A barbaric grunt follows. *** The tennis environment was one thing that attracted Shkodnik to Buffalo. When Nickell recruited him, UB was coming off a successful 2010 season in which the Bulls won the Mid-American Conference regular season championship before advancing to their first-ever MAC title game. Nickell saw Shkodnik’s athleticism and knew he was full of potential, though he was a somewhat raw product in need of development. But there was one thing that made Nickell’s recruiting decision easy: Shkodnik’s mentality. “When I first started talking to ‘Yev,’ he communicated well, which I liked,” Nickell said. “And he was under the radar a bit. When we got him up here on a visit and we got to know him, I saw potential in him not just tennis wise but as a leader as well.”

Courtesy of Flickr user Vans 66

Aziz Ansari will perform at Alumni Arena April 28. The news was announced Wednesday. Ansari has starred in the NBC hit show Parks and Recreation as Tom Haverford. He also starred in Thirty Minutes or Less.

great chance to bring in someone who speaks to this generation.” Ansari will be joining a long line of renowned comedians who have performed at the SA Comedy Series. Previous performers include Craig Robinson, Tommy Davidson and Chris Rock. The comedy series is in its 13th year at UB.

“We got an email from one of his booking agents saying that he was well-routed through the area on April 28 and asked if we had any interest,” McMahon said. “The whole e-board knew right away that it was something we were interested in.” The event will take place in the Alumni Arena, which has a holding capacity of 6,500. Six-hundred tickets are allocated to the general public and 600 to students in the area with a valid college ID. SA has not finalized its ticket giveaway system yet. Ticket information is still in planning stages. “We’re thankful that fundingwise we got some co-sponsorships from around the university,” McMahon said. “Student Affairs co-sponsored us, as well as the Graduate Student Association (GSA).” SA announced comedians H. John Benjamin and Aisha Tyler from FX’s hit show Archer will also perform on campus. That event will take place on March 1. email: arts@ubspectrum.com

School of Management resolves commencement scheduling conflict AMANDA LOW News Editor

The School of Management has changed its final exam schedule to end before UB’s commencement ceremonies. Initially, the final exams overlapped with graduation. Julie Farrell, the School of Management commencement coordinator, said her department moved back its exams to avoid potential conflicts for students. The School of Management would be most impacted in the overlap of spring 2014 final exams and commencement ceremonies, said A. Scott Weber, the senior vice provost for academic affairs, in an email. The final exam schedule was set for May 12-17, and the School of Management commencement was planned for May 16. Farrell said the school noticed the conflict sometime before winter break and formed a committee to work with the Office of the Registrar and arrange exams to run Monday to Thursday. “We worked very closely with the registrar’s office to ensure our students would be set and be able to celebrate,” Farrell said.

If there is a conflict with a general education exam and the ceremony, the student can contact the School of Management and they will work together with the faculty to reach a solution, according to Farrell. The biomedical sciences commencement ceremony also fell during the final exam schedule on May 15. Kelli Hickey, the senior academic advisor for biomedical sciences, said the school’s commencement is usually the last day of final exams and they have had to work out issues in the past. “This year, I am not aware of any conflicts during our ceremony, [but] some of our graduating seniors have exams afterwards,” Hickey said in an email. “We have advised those students to communicate with their professors to see if they can work something out.” Weber also said students should contact their professors if there is an overlap, and professors should treat it as a normal exam conflict. email: news@ubspectrum.com

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Friday, February 21, 2014

Continued from page 1: Shkodnik

Courtesy of Yevgeniy Jason Shkodnik

Shkodnik (far right) helped lead the Bradenton Prep Academy Patriots to a state championship in 2008 and a national championship in 2009, his senior year. He finished his high school career with 19.5 sacks and second-team all-state honors.

Chad Cooper, The Spectrum

Shkodnik’s dreads range from 12 to 18 inches, the length of 4.5 pens. The hairstyle has become his trademark and makes him stand out among others on campus.

Shkodnik had been developing as an athlete and as a leader since his days at the Gordon Kent camp in Connecticut. When he returned home from the camp, Shkodnik told his mother that he wanted to train and improve. “He found some tennis rackets and he called [renowned tennis coach and former world No. 4 player] Brad Gilbert – a family friend – and I talked to Brad,” Maya said. “The first time we went to San Francisco for a consultation, he saw [Shkodnik] for a whole day, and he trained him for a full day. And he said that he had a lot of potential and we have to put him in a better environment, which would probably be a tennis academy.” At the age of 12, Shkodnik and his mother decided he would head to the IMG Sports Academy in Bradenton, Fla., just a few miles outside Tampa. “You can’t play up [in New York] year round,” Shkodnik said. “In Florida, you could play at any time. I felt it was the best opportunity for me.” Maya quit her job and flew out to Florida with Shkodnik for his first three weeks, and then she flew back home to be with his sister Elizabeth. The pattern continued, as Maya would fly back and forth over the course of six years to check up on Shkodnik. Maya said it was horrible that he had to be in Florida fulltime. “He grew up at the age of 12,” Maya said. “It felt like he was 17 already because he had to do everything on his own … He had to be disciplined. It’s very hard for a child.” But Shkodnik had his mind set on becoming a professional tennis player. While attending IMG Sports Academy and Bradenton Prep Academy (his school) fulltime, Shkodnik was disciplined and focused on his goal.

His competitiveness was something that caught the eye of a Bradenton product, who was playing football at Tennessee State at the time: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Rodgers-Cromartie, now a six-year NFL veteran defensive back, wanted to give Shkodnik guidance and ensure that he would stay on track to pursue his dream of becoming a tennis player. “When I met him, he was the most outgoing kid that [IMG] Academy had,” RodgersCromartie said. “He had a lot of ambition. That’s what really stuck out to me. He had a good head on his shoulders and really wanted to get out of Bradenton. That’s why I stuck with him.” Shkodnik is thankful to have Rodgers-Cromartie in his life as a role model. “He’s like my big brother. We talk almost every other day,” Shkodnik said. “I’ve spent a lot of time with him. I just know how hard he works and he’s so talented. Now he’s in the league, he’s accomplished and he’s still working hard.” Following Rodgers-Cromartie, Shkodnik had no problem staying focused on his immediate goal of playing college tennis. Shkodnik’s career at UB has been successful, partially because he spent time developing as an athlete in Rodgers-Cromartie’s sport. *** During his freshman year at Bradenton Prep, all Shkodnik did was play tennis and go to school. It wasn’t until his sophomore year that he finally explored another sport: football. “When I took over the program, there were existing players off the team from the previous year before. There was only seven,” said Joe Hammond, Shkodnik’s high school football coach.

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“It was a real small school. Basically, one of the best things for me to do was to go in the hallways. There are about 400 kids in the school. So I started basically talking to kids in the hallway and anyone that looked like an athlete.” Hammond noticed Shkodnik’s athletic build. The two struck a deal. “Tennis was my thing,” Shkodnik said. “After talking to the coach, he said, ‘Yeah, as long as you come a couple times a week to practice to see the formations, then you’re good.’ I told him I didn’t want to play anything serious. Obviously, I didn’t want to get hurt.” Hammond put Shkodnik at the defensive end position because of his elusiveness and quick feet. For the next three seasons, he rushed the edge and penetrated the backfield for the BPA Patriots, helping them to a state championship in 2008 and a national championship in 2009, his senior year. He finished his high school football career with a total of 19.5 sacks and second-team allstate honors. Scouts took notice, but they wanted him to play outside linebacker or free safety. It didn’t matter. Shkodnik said that, although he briefly flirted with football and other sports like baseball (in which he batted .310 throughout his career), he was focused on tennis. Under the guidance of BPA tennis coach Ellis Ferreira, Shkodnik earned three letters as a varsity tennis player and received a top 25 rank as a player in Florida. He was a two-time captain, as well. He helped his team to a state championship and earned all-area and all-conference honors. Shkodnik’s best friend Calvin “Koo Koo” Miller, from Bra-

denton, said when Shkodnik returns to town, he takes time to visit everyone who helped him progress as an athlete and as a person. Hammond said it’s like a presidential tour. *** Back at the Miller Tennis Center, another blistering tennis ball scrapes the hard court – it’s inbounds. The opposing players react too slowly. Point to Shkodnik and his partner. His voice reverberates throughout the indoor complex: “Go Bulls.” Shkodnik has emerged as a leader for Nickell, his coach. For the past two seasons, he has served as captain. “He just brings the effort every single practice,” said assistant coach George Tibil, a teammate of Shkodnik from 201112. “Not only for himself, but he brings the other guys up. He’s been getting so much better because of his energy. He’s motivated and he’s hungry every day.” This season, Shkodnik has been a primary catalyst of the Bulls’ success. They’re 4-1, and though they are ranked No. 72 nationally, the team looks to be headed for the 50s next week. Shkodnik holds a 2-1 individual record and 2-1 doubles record. His appetite comes from his desire to be the best he can at the sport he loves. It’s a desire imprinted on his body. A tattoo of a solar system with a tennis ball at the center of it sits on his right rib cage. Above it is the Chinese symbol for “dreams come true.” And then the finishing touch: the acronym O.W.E. – a saying, Oakland Raiders defensive back Mike Jenkins came up with along with Shkodnik and his Bradenton friends. They have minted that stands for “outwork everyone.” Though his demeanor is dominant and fear-inducing on the court, he has a bubbly personali-

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ty away from it. “If you’ve ever talked to Jason and you’ve met him, No. 1 is his personality,” said Hammond, his football coach. “He’s a go-getter. Everybody is drawn to the type of person he is.” Take a look at his Twitter account, @JSHKODNIK, and you’ll find pictures of his teammates imitating his trademark pose, called “The Yev” – standing with feet angled outward, hands outstretched. It’s a way for his young comrades to pay respect to their leader. *** Shkodnik has been set on becoming a professional tennis player since that day at camp. Although his mother wants him to attend graduate school right away to pursue his master’s in business administration, Shkodnik – a senior double majoring in communication and health and human services who has made the Dean’s List the past three semesters – plans to try the professional tennis circuit out for a few years and see where that goes. If it doesn’t work out, Shkodnik said he will head right to graduate school. When he does go to grad school, he plans on shaving his dreads. That will mark the end of his tennis career. But he’s not shaving them yet. The dreadlocks are a part of him like tennis became a part of him at age 11. He’s not giving up on his dream. He still feels the emotions of that fateful day every time he stands in the service box. It’s still what he wants. email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Friday, February 21, 2014 ubspectrum.com

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Aaron Mansfield MANAGING EDITORS Lisa Khoury Sara DiNatale OPINION EDITOR Anthony Hilbert COPY EDITORS Tress Klassen, Chief Amanda Jowsey Samaya Abdus-Salaam NEWS EDITORS Sam Fernando, Senior Amanda Low Madelaine Britt, Asst. FEATURES EDITORS Keren Baruch, Senior Anne Mulrooney, Asst. Brian Windschitl, Asst. Emma Janicki, Asst. ARTS EDITORS Joe Konze Jr., Senior Jordan Oscar Meg Weal, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS Ben Tarhan, Senior Owen O’Brien Tom Dinki, Asst. PHOTO EDITORS Aline Kobayashi, Senior Chad Cooper Juan David Pinzon, Asst. Yusong Shi, Asst. CARTOONIST Amber Sliter CREATIVE DIRECTORS Brian Keschinger Andres Santandreu, Asst. PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Emma Callinan Drew Gaczewski, Asst. Chris Mirandi, Asst. ADVERTISING DESIGNER Ashlee Foster Tyler Harder, Asst. Jenna Bower, Asst.

Friday, February 21, 2014 Volume 63 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 MediaMate. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at (716) 645-2452. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100

OPINION Freeway under fire Clear plan for future must precede demolition of Buffalo skyway An iconic Buffalo landmark has come under criticism from an outside group, though it’s one that fails to appreciate the rich and complex history of this city. Last week, a Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) report titled “10 Freeways Without a Future” included the Buffalo skyway as a highway in need of demolition. The report referred to the freeway as an eyesore that “mars public views” of the waterfront, citing that “41,500 vehicles per day” cross the corridor, before going on to call it “blighted” and “obsolete.” What is missing is a clear, vetted proposal for what would replace the skyway, though a Department of Transportation (DOT) review of the bridge’s future is underway. The CNU report made no mention of many benefits the skyway has offered, particularly for the drivers of those 41,000plus vehicles. Following a com-

mon pattern, the report proposes overly optimistic plans without any real appreciation for the advantages the skyway provides citizens today. The skyway offers far faster connection between the inner harbor downtown and Route 5 than traversing downtown streets. In addition to practical considerations, the structure, with its sweeping curves and mammoth size, has been an icon of the cityscape since its completion in 1956. The experience of the skyway itself is symbolic of Buffalo – the view of Lake Erie while navigating awkward exits, the smell of cereal from General Mills. It is unique to the city. The CNU report advocated demolition of the freeway, which DOT estimates would cost approximately $20-25 million, and construction of a boulevard to allow walkability, development and closer connection with the waterfront.

Though the plan itself sounds wonderful, and much better than the $50 million the report cites it would cost just to maintain the skyway over the next two decades, its feasibility must be interrogated. This city has had a sordid past with waterfront development that should make us wary of such suggestions by an outside group. Just the words “Bass Pro,” harkening to the failed development project in 2011, remind citizens of how controversial, and potentially unsuccessful, urban development can be. Beyond this, the report paints the skyway as a blighted straw man, favoring depiction of it as something without benefit. The freeway has, and continues to have, value to the city and inhabitants that must be considered when looking at alternatives. The CNU report is not the first call to tear down the controversial freeway. Local politicians, particularly State Congressman

Brian Higgins, have attacked the skyway in similar veins to the CNU. The freeway has become an easy target for politicians promoting notions of development with few substantive plans, using statements like CNU’s report to demonize the structure, without any clear future in mind – save starry-eyed promises. Before any plans for demolition are taken seriously, a robust report on the future of our waterfront, one that takes into consideration how traffic can be rerouted and the practicality and costs of its prescriptions, is necessary. The skyway is far from perfect, but tearing it down without a practical end-goal would be far worse than an obstructed view of our waterfront. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

Breaking barriers to nuclear power $6.5 billion loan for nuclear sets vital precedent for future of energy Tackling climate change and reducing carbon emissions begins with dismissing outmoded ways of thinking, including fears about nuclear energy. Yesterday, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced a $6.5 billion loan deal between the Obama administration and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Company. The deal will support the construction of two nuclear reactors at the Georgia power plant. These reactors will be the first constructed on U.S. soil in nearly three decades. The agreement could not come soon enough. The defining problem our generation will face is climate change due to atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. And like the proverbial frog being cooked in water that is slowly brought to a boil, we, too, are slowly being cooked – as the atmosphere around us is getting warmer. The only way to escape the boiling pot is with a broad-based effort that includes all available resources. This effort has to include nuclear energy, despite its sordid past and contentious future. Moniz’s announcement was quickly met with criticism from environmental groups such as Environmental America and Friends of the Earth, which responded with attempts to loosely connect this project with the Fukishima disaster in 2011. “Fewer than three years have

passed since the tragedy at Fukishima demonstrated that nuclear reactors can never be safe,” Friends of the Earth Nuclear Campaigner Katherine Fuchs said in a statement. Nuclear power and the reactors involved in its production certainly pose some potential risks, as do most forms of energy generation. But Fukishima displayed a need for careful regulation. It didn’t prove that nuclear power is never safe. The greater carbon dioxide emissions these reactors will eliminate, however, would be unsafe, irresponsible and unconscionable. Nuclear energy poses threats in the form of a potential meltdown, and certain risks in the form of nuclear waste. These issues can be mitigated and carefully handled, as we work toward developing alternative energy sources. The plan for the future should not be complete reliance on nuclear. Movements toward truly renewable energy sources should not be precluded by this deal. But climate change is no longer a looming threat. It is a daily reality, and supporting the proven effectiveness of nuclear in meeting high-energy needs is an important stopgap measure. With last year’s revelation that atmospheric carbon dioxide has passed 400 parts per million, according to readings by the National Oceanic and Atmospher-

ic Administration, and devastating changes in weather patterns, the time for baseless fears and debates has passed. Now is the time for meaningful action, with tangible, immediate effects as opposed to just research and development. Nuclear doubtlessly has a stigma surrounding it. The word conjures images of Chernobyl, men in Hazmat suits and Fukishima headlines. Those opposing nuclear development all handily leverage these events – and our fears. To conquer climate change, we must move beyond misconceptions and doubts they breed toward energy sources we don’t understand. The fear generated by sensational headlines on nuclear energy has limited nuclear development in the world. Though America has 100 commercial reactors, none of those were built later than the 1970s, primarily due to national panic following the near disaster on Three-Mile Island in 1979. Globally, following Fukishima, nuclear power has seen a drop in popularity. Germany, Belgium and Switzerland, for example, are all decommissioning nuclear plants after anti-nuclear protests erupted, using the disaster as a flashpoint for public outrage. But Fukishima was an anomaly, a tragic disaster that was but a small wrinkle in a long history of safe, effective nuclear energy

production. Disasters are important to consider, as ways to understand and prevent future issues. But legislating and policy-making based on disasters, not pragmatic realism, is the real danger, particularly when climate change marches forward. This deal sets a powerful, and necessary, precedent. It allows for a new generation of safer, more efficient reactors in this country and shifts the global conversation toward pragmatism and away from demonizing. Most importantly, it meets both the realities of our growing energy demands with a plan that will not add to atmospheric carbon dioxide or get caught into doomed environmental utopianism, like the expensive Solyndra debacle in which hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars were lost in a failed attempt to explore solar power. Alternatives must continue to be explored and appropriate plans for nuclear waste must continue to be proposed. But dire problems, like climate change, require immediate solutions. If not, today’s realities will eventually reach a boiling point long before our fantastic fears are ever realized. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

A good start to a continuing problem In long run, Cuomo’s plan to give inmates a college education is beneficial

JORDAN OSCAR Arts Editor

ART BY AMBER SLITER, THE SPECTRUM

The U.S. penitentiary system creates a vicious cycle that never ends: people go to prison, serve their time, get released and can’t find jobs as convicted felons – many wind up back in jail. This pattern isn’t just destructive to communities throughout the country. It’s not cost effective, and it isn’t helping convicts

assimilate into our society. It’s a cycle that needs to change. On Sunday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed a new program that would offer inmates the ability to get a college education. He said it would keep many of them from returning to prison by giving them a greater chance of being successful once they got out. Cuomo’s proposal would offer inmates in 10 prisons throughout New York State the opportunity to earn either an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree over the course of two to three years. It would cost the state an additional $5,000 each year per inmate. That amount might look like a lot of money (or very little com-

pared to what we pay as college students), but it’s negligible in comparison to the $60,000 it costs to house each inmate and the $3.6 billion the state spends annually on its prison system, according to a press release from Cuomo’s office. Although the costs are a major issue, the real problem is the roughly 40 percent of inmates who reenter the prison system within three years of their release because they can’t get jobs as uneducated convicted felons. As of 2003, over 68 percent of inmates across the country don’t even have a GED or high school diploma, according to Department of Justice statistics. And programs like this have been shown to reduce inmates’ SEE PRISONS, PAGE 6

Friday, February 21, 2014 ubspectrum.com

LIFE, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT From Italian B.A. to the big screen Scott Sackett, UB alum, draws upon lifelong interests while producing films

Courtesy of Sugar Wonder Blues

UB alumnus Scott Sackett (right, holding mug) worked on the on-air staff at WRUB Student Radio while he attended UB, which influenced him to go into media.

EMMA JANICKI Asst. Features Editor What do you do with a B.A. in Italian? Scott Sackett found his answer in filmmaking. Although Sackett, a UB alumnus, has made his career in radio and television producing and is currently working on three films, his path in college was neither defined nor typical. Sackett’s educational history reads more like the résumé of a foreign language teacher than a producer – he earned his B.A. in Italian in 1991 and his Ed.M. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages in 1997. “I entered UB as [an] undergraduate with a vague notion

that I wanted to live and travel abroad and write,” Sackett said in an email. “After five years, I think the University, my department and my parents wanted me to move on, so I totaled my course credits and figured I had enough for a B.A. in Italian. How’s that for planning?” During college, he joined the on-air staff at WRUB Student Radio, which he says had a significant impact on his career path. Only a few days after graduation, Sackett was hired at WNED-FM, Buffalo, where he worked for 13 years. “What else could I do with a degree in Italian, knowledge of German and a smattering of other languages and the knowhow I gained at WRUB?” Sackett said.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

Applied Physics, MS Biomedical Engineering, MS, PhD Biotechnology, MS Chemical Engineering, MS, PhD Civil Engineering, MS, PhD Computer Science, MS, PhD Computer Engineering, MS Construction Management, MS Electrical Engineering, MS, PhD Environmental Engineering, MS Financial Engineering, MS Integrated Digital Media, MS Management of Technology, MS, PhD Manufacturing Engineering, MS Mechanical Engineering, MS, PhD and more…

Now, as the executive producer of the feature-length film Sugar Wonder Blues, currently in postproduction, Sackett ensures that filming and production goes smoothly while remaining under budget and on schedule. Sackett is also working on a PBS documentary entitled Lake of Betrayal: The Story of Kinzua Dam, which chronicles the losses Seneca Indians suffered after the dam was constructed in 1965, and a documentary film about singer-songwriter Eric Andersen called The Songpoet. In college, Sackett’s interest in Italian led him to become president of the Italian club and to study abroad at the Sapienza University of Rome. SEE SACKETT, PAGE 6

Replaying the ’60s PHILL SPUNT

Contributing Writer

Album: Sun Structures Artist: Temples Label: Havenly Release Date: Feb. 10 Grade: C+ Two years ago, Temples burst onto the music scene and seemed to have the potential to provide a new wave of psychedelic rock. Their distorted 1960s twang and pop-rock sound created a euphoric sentiment that has garnered significant publicity in a short time. But in Temples’ debut album, Sun Structures, the band’s ideas have no direction. It feels like listening to a condensed essence of the psychedelic ’60s – down to the note. Noel Gallagher of Oasis may have labeled Temples “the best new band in Britain,” but this time capsule needs a bit of updating for the modern age. The one thing that Temples lacks is originality. The main riff of “Shelter Song” sounds as if it was lifted straight from the iconic Beatles album Revolver. It’s so similar in sound that it may be a reworked version of “Day Tripper.” The album’s drumming resonates with The Velvet Underground’s “Venus in Furs” – the sort of echo filtering that screams 1966. James Bagshaw, Temples’ frontman, sounds like a combination of John Lennon and Syd Barrett. He especially sounds like Barrett on “Keep In The Dark,” which itself sounds like a rejected Bob Dylan song with an “I Am The Walrus”-esque synthesizer sound. Modernity finally comes to the forefront in “Mesmerize” – an interesting mix of the classic ’60s sound with newer indie styling. Had the entirety of the album worked its way along this

Courtesy of Fat Possum Records

trajectory, Sun Structures could have been exciting, impactful and original. But Temples has fallen short. It is clear the band looks to its idols too much in creating its own sound, so much so that listening to Sun Structures makes the listener want to abandon Temples in favor of the classics. Why listen to the amateur when you could listen to the best? Imitation is futile. Temples is solid musically. But if the group wants to be more than just a novelty footnote in music history, they need to create something new like modernday psychedelic masters Tame Impala did. Unlike Tame Impala, Temples fails to bring the groovy bass lines and emulation of John Lennon’s voice into the current music scene. The grittiness of Sun Structures serves to create a dissociative feeling – a feeling that acts distasteful in the imitation of the original bands, which makes the album sound like it’s full of bad cover songs. Had Sun Structures been released 50 years ago, it might have revolutionized music, but sadly Temples is past its time. It’s time to take the greatness from the past and bring it to the present, but in a different way. The album proves it’s hard to make history repeat itself. Temples does not try and imitate. The band tries to repeat – unsuccessfully. email: arts@ubspectrum.com

The NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering offers graduate programs in engineering, science and technology management that empower students to put ideas into action. Take, for example, industrial engineering student Hanako Tsuchiya, who was determined to improve industry efficiency and safety. She put her knowledge to work and landed an internship with FreshDirect which turned into a full-time position as an Operation Analyst. Learn how the NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering culture of invention, innovation and entrepreneurship can help you bring your ideas to life.

ATTEnD OUR GRADUATE infORMATiOn SESSiOn On ThURSDAy, MARch 20Th grad.poly.edu/infosession

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Friday, February 21, 2014

UB Veterans’ Association hosts Combat to Classroom event Student veterans band together to network and support one another MADELAINE BRITT Asst. News Editor

The UB Veterans’ Association plays an active role in the lives of students who have managed to juggle civil duty with civil studies. Justine Bottorff found that difficult. She served two terms in Iraq, and, like her fellow veterans, she returned to the United States in hopes of assimilating into civilian life smoothly. She knew no one in Buffalo. She struggled with finding relief in classmates and peers who did not have the experiences, the memories and the fighting time she had. She knew resources existed but lacked the inspiration to go after them. Then she found UB’s veteran community. “I think the biggest thing is bringing veterans together because when you feel like you are alone, it’s hard,” Bottorff said. “It’s good to be around other people who have had similar experiences. Part of my function is to help other veterans. That’s the whole point of networking and meeting other veterans – to help other veterans – because who else will do that better?” The UB Veterans’ Association is an international veterans organization that aims to bring together student vets from across the globe. On Wednesday, the organization held Combat to Classroom, a biweekly event that educates veterans on the student and career resources that are offered at UB. There are students at UB, both domestic and international, who have come back from serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and places all over the world. Now that they’re

on campus, they’re finding support, friendships and networking opportunities through the association. This week’s meeting hosted guest speakers Holly Justice, an engineering career counselor in the UB Career Services office, and Dr. Cathleen Morreale, the coordinator of the Public Service Internship program. Josh Hays, a senior political science major and the president of the organization, credits the group for bringing together this population of the student body and creating a more hands-on learning and social environment for them. In addition to Combat to Classroom, Hays and his team are hosting other on-campus events, including a free breakfast in the Tiffin Room next Tuesday, to bring veterans together. Wednesday’s seminar emphasized the importance of résumé-building skills, interviewing and various career services offered to student vets – including on-campus recruiting, workshops and the “meet a mentor” program, which links current students with UB alumni. Specifically geared toward fine-tuning the skills and work experience of vets, the event’s hosts supplied helpful information to the students who are looking forward to their careers outside the classrooms and off the battlefield. According to Justice, who spoke to the students about job skills and hiring tools, there are certain hurdles that former servicemen and women must jump to be successful in the market. “The military loves jargon,” Justice said. “Everything has a code name. Everything has an acronym. Civilians don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Michelle Nguyen, The Spectrum

Holly Justice, the engineering career counselor, talked to the UB Veterans’ Association on Wednesday about career counseling. President Josh Hays (center), a senior political science major, helped lead the discussion Wednesday afternoon.

UB Career Services will help veterans make the translation so veterans’ résumés represent what they’ve accomplished in a way employers can understand. Interviewing skills and experience are vital for a veteran student, Justice said. Morreale, who wrote her dissertation on veterans affairs and whose brother and father served in the military, agreed. She highlighted the importance of an “intentional learning agenda” through internships and outsideof-the-classroom experience. It is all part of the extensive work to create a more welcoming community for student vets, according to Hays. “We are looking to keep all the programs in UB,” Hays said. “Before we were actually focusing on community service outward. Now, we are focusing on building the community inward.” That’s when Hays and the group instituted Combat to Classroom. The globally connected student organization is gaining political attention. Michael J. Little, the veteran legislation analyst for New York State Senator Mark Grisanti, attended the event on Wednesday.

He said the UB Veterans’ Association is a key player in veteran assistance. “As the veteran legislation analyst, what we do is we want to get out to the local communities and really talk to the citizens,” Little said. “I felt that, with UB leading the way in mental health training with some of their campuses and their work with the [Veterans Affairs], I felt that it was important for me to come here and just talk to the students and listen to what they have to say.” Brandon Gilliland, the veterans financial aid adviser, is confident in UB’s student veterans. He believes, with the academic talent and devotion these students have, the organization will make significant headway nationwide. “With this population, they are academically driven; they have proven themselves as good students, so that gives us a lot of unity to have the voices heard on campus,” Gilliland said. Shaun Boadi was searching for this unity. Boadi, a sophomore political science major, realized how difficult it was transitioning into civilian life following his threeyear term in Fort Bragg.

“Getting back to the real world – learning how to study without someone telling you what to do all the time – in the military, you are always told what to do,” Boadi said. “Now, you are back on your own.” Like many of his student comrades, Boadi has found comfort in the social engagement the organization and its events, like Combat to Classrooms, brings. “It gives us a community at the school because, like they said, we are the only ones here for us,” Boadi said. “We’ve all had the same experiences. It’s a support group for each other.” Royce Burgess, the vice president of the organization and a senior political science major, believes providing support and services to vets is vital for a smooth transition into civilian life. Burgess, who is a returning veteran on inactive reserve, served in Afghanistan for eight months. He believes the international connections and membership that the association has, including members from South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, is creating a community that not only cares about veterans but also can relate to them. The UB Veterans’ Association is having a clothing and household items drive to benefit the Veterans Residential Program, organized by Peter Young Housing, Industries and Treatment – a veterans support organization. Drop-off locations are at the Student Life office, Student Leadership office and room 101 in Allen Hall on South Campus. email: news@ubspectrum.com

Reactions to Aziz Ansari announcement Gabriel Kahn, English and Economics, Senior: “I’m just glad that we have a big-name comedian coming. He’s a funny guy and I think he’s one of the top comedians that they could have gotten.”

Brian Smist, Mechanical Engineering, Sophomore: “I think Aziz is a really good comedian.”

Samantha Reyes, Psychology and Health and Human Services, Senior: “I’m indifferent about it – I just know about him because his name is different. Was he in Parks and Recreation?”

Riaz Shah, Mechanical Engineering, Freshman: “Oh my God! Aziz Ansari? He’s my idol!”

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Friday, February 21, 2014

Continued from page 4: Sackett Years later, Sackett’s love and knowledge of languages and his interest in teaching influenced him to work with PBS making film documentaries, including Elbert Hubbard: An American Original and Glorious Battle: The Siege of Fort Erie. Sackett taught at the English Language Institute in Baldy Hall and as an adjunct at Niagara County Community College. He also serves as chair of the Literacy New York Buffalo-Niagara Board of Directors. Today, as Sugar Wonder Blues, which was filmed locally, approaches its release date, Sackett said he feels it is the responsibility of those stable in their careers to “make opportunities for upand-coming talent.” Megan Erbacher, the film’s director, said that for most of the cast, it was their first feature film project, according to film’s Kickstarter video. “Any questions I had involving the process, I went to Scott,” said Laura Mikolajczyk, one of the film’s leads. “Right from the beginning, we had to talk about what I was and wasn’t comfortable with. The open dialogue was nice.” Sugar Wonder Blues was Mikolajczyk’s first feature-length film role, but she has appeared in numerous stage productions, in-

cluding Cinderella at Artpark. “[Sackett] always knew the perfect time to give feedback and it was encouraging,” Mikolajczyk said. “He’s also a well-rounded individual. You could talk to him about almost anything.” Sugar Wonder Blues is the story of what happens when “Two brothers fight for control of their recently deceased father’s auto repair shop. Relationships break down as secrets are uncovered,” according to the film’s Facebook page. The cast wrapped filming on Dec. 16, according to the Kickstarter page, and now that it has been successfully funded through donations, Erbacher hopes to premiere the film in Western New York this summer as well as online. Sackett advises students interested in the film industry to watch lots of movies and read criticism of film in order to gain a wider breadth of knowledge about the production process. He said it is important to learn how directors work in order to help solve problems on set. An unconventional education helped Sackett find success in the film industry. He recommends students take language courses during college. “I think it’s a big handicap to

complete a college degree without giving serious study to other languages and cultures,” Sackett said. “If one wants to be pragmatic about it, just recognize that most college graduates will follow career paths influenced by global economic forces and that a skill set with two or more languages likely will have greater marketability.” Although Sackett enjoys the “magical moments on set” that come with working with the cast and crew, he most enjoys postproduction work because “that’s where the story comes to life.” He said filming can be challenging because the producer must manage the cast and crew while also creating an atmosphere that allows for and nurtures the spontaneity and experimentation necessary for any creative work. From coordinating opera nights as the president of the Italian club to informing students over WRUB’s airwaves, Sackett accumulated the skills he now draws upon each day on set.

Continued from page 8: Quick Hits Sunday in the Spartan Classic. Friday and Saturday’s start time is set for 11 a.m., and Sunday’s first pitch is 10 a.m. Softball (6-0) The Bulls come off their historic opening weekend and play five games this weekend at the Red and Blue Classic in Mississippi after a week off. Buffalo’s first game is set for 9 a.m. on Friday, and the squad will close its weekend with an 11 a.m. game Sunday against Northern Colorado (0-5). Men’s Tennis (4-1) Buffalo travels to Marist (10) after a 4-3 home victory last Saturday. The Bulls have won two straight. The match time is TBA. Women’s Tennis (4-1) The Bulls travel to West Virginia (1-5) after consecutive 7-0 home victories the past two

weekends. The match is set for 1 p.m. Track & Field The track & field teams will compete in the Cornell Denault in Ithaca this weekend. Senior sprinter Asia Henry won MAC Track Athlete of the Week and senior thrower Jonathan Jones won MAC Field Athlete of the Week based on their performances in the SPIRE Division I Invite last weekend. Wrestling (3-16, 0-7 MAC) Buffalo looks for its first conference win of the season against Northern Illinois (6-11, 1-6 MAC) in the final match before the MAC Championships. The match is set to begin at 1 p.m. at Alumni Arena. email: sports@ubspectrum.com

On the web: Spectrum Sports 360 podcast – Our sports editors talk Khalil Mack, NFL Scouting Combine & upcoming draft.

email: features@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 3: Prisons rates of re-incarceration by up to 90 percent, according to Cuomo’s statement. Cuomo cited a similar program at Bard College in Dutchess County that offered college degrees to 500 inmates, 250 of whom completed the program. Only 4 percent of participants and 2.5 percent of graduates returned to prison after they were released. “Someone who leaves prison with a college degree has a real shot at a second lease on life,” Cuomo said. “Because their education gives them the opportunity to get a job and avoid falling

back into a cycle of crime.” But Cuomo’s proposed program isn’t cheap and has sparked a lot of controversy and debate since its announcement. Many seem outraged at the prospect of taxpayers’ dollars helping convicts get a college education when some law-abiding citizens can’t afford college and don’t receive financial aid. Others offer a similar sentiment over the state’s deteriorating public school system and budget issues. Meanwhile, college students may be left wondering why they are falling deeper into debt when they could go to jail and get their

education paid for at everyone else’s expense. As a student who is going to graduate over $30,000 in debt, I sympathize with people’s frustration over our nation’s studentdebt crisis. My situation is similar to a lot of the people I’ve met on campus: my parents make too much money for me to qualify for aid, but not enough to help me pay for college. Making college more affordable is an enormous task that needs to be addressed, just like the problems with public education. But that shouldn’t have any bearing on Cuomo’s attempts to

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fix a different issue. It’s easy to condemn Cuomo’s proposal because it isn’t putting money into education reform. But the money going into prison reform wouldn’t automatically go toward financial aid for college students. Both issues are becoming increasingly pressing. Giving convicts a second chance through education will not only reduce crime rates and stimulate our economy, it will stop the destruction mass incarceration is causing in our communities and save millions of tax dollars.

But people don’t think about all of these factors when they rashly condemn Cuomo’s plan. When they see a multifaceted issue and someone comes up with a solution to fix one of those facets, people dismiss it because it doesn’t fix the issue as a whole. I hope Cuomo’s proposal is the first of many similar plans that will fix our broken prison system. His plan is a good start. email: jordan.oscar@ubspectrum.com

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