The Spectrum Volume 63 Issue 52

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In this week’s episode of Spectrum 360, our team reports on Engineering Week and Bot Wars, one exceptional student within UB’s ROTC program and all the latest happenings within UB Athletics. Visit the multimedia tab at ubspectrum.com.

monday, february 24, 2014

SA remembers a friend FASA organizes surprise memorial for late Taiwanese Student Association treasurer

Volume 63 No. 53

International Fiesta to take place on Friday Clubs prepare for competitions, performances JENNA FITTS

Staff Writer

Yusong Shi, The Spectrum

Jean Zhao (right), a sophomore exercise science major, and Barry Lee, a junior business administration major, sign a card in memory of Benjamin Wu.

GISELLE LAM

Staff Writer

On Sunday, Taiwanese Student Association (TSA) President Chun Ming Cho entered 145 Student Union expecting just another meeting. Instead, he entered a room full of loud music, colorful streamers and members of the Filipino American Student Association (FASA), which organized a celebration honoring TSA’s late treasurer. On Dec. 19, Benjamin Kuan Yu Wu, a sophomore from Taiwan, died in a car crash on Millersport Highway near UB’s North Campus. FASA planned the event as a celebration rather than a time of mourning. Members from almost every international Student Association were there to celebrate Wu. “That doesn’t happen very often, especially in the SA family,” said Corinne Zee, a junior exercise science and vice president of FASA. “I decided on behalf

of FASA that I would set up this big party, celebration because in Buddhism you don’t mourn death. You celebrate death.” Zee said she and her peers did not know the student who had passed away was a member of SA. During the International Councils meeting at the start of the semester, clubs went around the room with their announcements. When it was TSA’s turn, Cho, a junior chemical and biological engineering major, announced TSA’s treasurer had passed. “We are really close friends, like brothers actually,” Cho said. “Sometimes I’m still thinking about Benjamin.” Cho met Wu during a small party for Taiwanese international students. There are only around 20 international students from Taiwan and the gathering was a chance for the new students to make friends and get more comfortable, Cho said. SEE TSA, PAGE 2

On Friday, students will have the chance to watch their peers perform at the Center For the Arts (CFA). After months of practice, the performers will have a chance to be crowned the winner of UB’s International Fiesta. The International Council will host the annual event Feb. 28. The International Council consists of a wide array of clubs, celebrating cultures and nationalities from across the globe. This year’s theme is myths, legends and folklore. Initially, International Fiesta was a food event in the Student Union; its dance portion was a minor part of the occasion. Now, Fiesta is a dance performance that displays diversity and culture with a competition portion for some of the participating clubs. “I think it’s more about the journey and process of getting to the end,” said Daryl Chong, president of the Malaysian Student Association and a media study major. “International Fiesta is all about showcasing our culture and diversity through dance performance. We hope to make Malaysia proud.” Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the event and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Students and the general public can pay $7 ahead of time and $10 the day of the show for entrance. Undergraduate students had the chance to pick up free tickets at SA, but the opportunity ended on Friday. The clubs competing this year

Courtesy of Reimon Bhuyan

The Indian Student Association, last year’s International Fiesta champion, will aim to defend its crown this Friday.

are the Filipino American Student Association (FASA), Japanese Student Association (JSA), Chinese Student Association, Indian Student Association, Latin American Student Association and Malaysian Student Association. Chong said Friday will mark his club’s fifth year participating in International Fiesta. “We started planning since last semester and started choreographing ever since,” Chong said. “It has been a really busy journey, but hopefully we can pull it off.” Joshua Racho, the cultural chair of FASA and a sophomore business major, is excited about this year’s theme. “It definitely allowed us to go deeper into our culture,” Racho said. “We’re able to show a lot more compared to last year.” Ayumi Kamio, president of the Japanese Student Association (JSA) and a senior health and human services major, has similar thoughts on the theme. “We get to tell people about a

traditional story from Japanese culture that maybe isn’t that well known,” Kamio said. Though certain clubs will compete in Fiesta, other cultural clubs can put on an exhibition performance without competing. Teams finishing in first, second and third place in the competition will receive a cash prize that will go into the budget of their clubs. “For winning Fiesta, the clubs receive a trophy, the title of being a Fiesta winner and money for the club to use, so it is a very big deal for them to win,” said Matthew Siwiec, the international council coordinator in charge of planning International Fiesta. Preparation for the event included renting the CFA main stage, organizing clubs that wish to participate and finding judges and advertising, according to Siwiec. FASA placed third in last year’s Fiesta. Racho said placing in the competition made his club members feel like their efforts paid off. SEE FIESTA, PAGE 2

An outlet for creativity UB professors Rutzmoser, Victor read from their eclectic poetry collections MEGAN WEAL & JORDAN OSCAR

Asst. Arts Editor and Arts Editor

When your adjunct English professor from freshman year asks you to hand him a beer, you know you’re a long way from UB’s lecture halls. Most students wouldn’t expect to see their professors on stage reciting risqué poetry, but that was the scene when English professors Jon Rutzmoser and Divya Victor performed at Rust Belt Books, reading poetry from their books shhhh! It’s poetry and Things To Do With Your Mouth on Friday evening. The evening spanned a variety of stylistic performances, from the fast-paced reading of Rutzmoser’s “seven + ways to score a penis,” which had the audience running to keep up, to Victor’s performance of her own poem “This Whiteness Is…” in which she explained her youthful fascination with Bob Saget to the audience. “The musicality of the poems really comes out in their performance,” said Josh Lam, an instructor in the English department, in an email. “It’s like finally hearing a piece of music performed after trying to imagine it while reading the score.” There is a small room behind the literature-cluttered book-

Jordan oscar, The Spectrum Divya Victor, an English instructor, Melissa Wright, a comparative literature graduate student, Claire Brown, an English Ph.D. student, and Joshua Lam, an adjunct English instructor, perform Victor’s own poetry at Rust Belt Books on Friday evening.

store. Lines of chairs faced the stage, as the room was packed with local poetry enthusiasts, graduate students and professors from UB. Poetics Plus put on the reading with the help of students, faculty and the director of UB’s Poetics Department, Steve McCaffery. Some of Buffalo’s most prevalent poetry supporters attended the event. The space was small enough for conversations and inter-

mingling. Victor and Rutzmoser walked around the crowded room, embracing friends and chatting with students who were there to appreciate the work on display for the evening. “In a space that has hosted so many UB poetry readings over the years, I think that the familiarity of the poets and readers with some of the audience creates a more open and dynamic space for performance,” said Lam, who is married to Victor.

The audience was transfixed – laughing when the poets laughed and falling silent as the words grew more solemn. “It was so exciting,” said Chloe Higginbotham, a graduate student in the Department of Media Studies. “Rust Belt Books is the best place for readings, but the work was so stimulating.” As a poet, performance is crucial to Victor’s work. “The embodied race, gender, sexuality or visible ability-status

of the performer can radically alter the reception of the text,” Victor said in an email. “Performance re-makes the poem. Every time.” Lam was familiar with the poems before they were published because he’d seen his wife’s work. But the event gave him a sense of fulfillment. The evening provided insight into the minds of two people, with the poems offering an unlocked door for the audience to walk into and look around at their leisure. It wasn’t the free alcohol creating the buzz around the room – it was the poets’ presence. “Like electrical outlets (and unlike Gap outlets) art can allow for an entity (audience) to plug in and become re-animated (electrified),” Divya said. “Poetry, for me works as an outlet in the same way an electrical one does – I sometimes stick my finger in where I shouldn’t and get shocked by what happens.” The audience had the chance to plug themselves into Rutzmoser’s and Victor’s poetic minds for the evening, an experience that altered perspectives and expanded the minds of the poets and audience members alike. email: arts@ubspectrum.com


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Monday, February 24, 2014

Relaying a message UB Against Cancer prepares for Relay for Life SAM FERNANDO

Senior News Editor

Maureen McCusker thinks we all have a special power. This year, her organization, UB Against Cancer (UBAC), has a catchphrase: “Everyone can be a hero.” McCusker, the president of UBAC and a senior environmental geoscience major, has a series of events planned to raise awareness of all types of cancer. The organization, which is a chapter of the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Colleges Against Cancer program, plans to raise money to help those affected by cancer. McCusker’s soon-to-be fatherin-law was diagnosed with prostate cancer six years ago. Recently, it metastasized, but McCusker said he is doing well. She stressed the idea that everyone can make a difference, and that is why UBAC chose a “superhero” theme for all its events this year. UBAC runs under the Center for Student Leadership and Community Engagement. The group has about 35 active members. Next week is Relay Kickoff Week, when UBAC will start to fundraise and prepare for its biggest event, Relay for Life. From 6 p.m. April 11 to 6 a.m. April 12, teams will fill Alumni Arena and walk to raise money for the cause. “The event is more than just about cancer – it is about uniting people from different backgrounds, coming together as one student body,” McCusker said. Kelsey Barbour, UBAC’s vice president of missions and a se-

Courtesy of Maureen McCusker

Next week, UB Against Cancer (UBAC), a campus organization that aims to fundraise and increase awareness about cancer, is holding Relay Kickoff Week. The week will be a precursor to the group’s signature event, Relay for Life, which will take place from 6 p.m. April 11 to 6 a.m. April 12.

nior health and human services major, said Relay for Life is the group’s highlighted event. In 2011, Barbour was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She has been cancer-free since June 2012. To her, being part of the organization holds a special significance. She said the reason for the overnight event is simple. “Cancer never sleeps,” she said. “So we fight all night long.” Genna Imbrenda, UBAC’s vice president of special events and a junior business major, said cancer is something that affects everyone. She knew a few people in her church community

who passed away from cancer. She hopes more students will get involved. “A lot of students don’t know what Relay for Life is,” Imbrenda said. “We would have more teams if people knew what it was. We are trying to spread the word.” On Tuesday, UBAC is holding a “Heart of the Matter” event to inform the UB community about the various types of cancers that exist. “A lot of times when there is a cancer event, it’s focused on one certain kind of cancer,” Barbour said. “But this event raises awareness of all the different

Continued from page 1: Fiesta “[This year], I’m just focusing on making a good show, creating a piece that will definitely wow the audience,” Racho said. “And hopefully the trophy will come along with that, but the goal is to make a spectacular piece.” Kamio hopes JSA will place in the competition this year. JSA members have been practicing since last semester, and they have more dancers participating than previous years. “The reason why JSA participates as a club is because it’s a good opportunity for

our members to get to know each other because you work with them,” Kamio said. “They become friends with people they never would have met or talked to if they hadn’t joined fiesta. So I think it’s a good experience for our members.” Amanda Low contributed reporting to this story. email: news@ubspectrum.com

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types of cancer.” At 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the group is hosting an event at Sky Zone in Cheektowaga, where students can participate for $14. UBAC is busing students to the event for an additional $5. From March 3-7, UBAC is hosting a “Purple Blitz.” They will be handing out “relay swag” – gifts and treats from ACS promoting the Relay for Life event. They will also be having a bake sale and a bowling event to market the club and fundraise. Imbrenda feels that if people realized how fun Relay for Life is, more students would attend.

For her, the highlight of the event is the Luminaria – a moment when the lights are turned off and Alumni Arena is lined with “Luminaria bags,” lit with electric candles or glowsticks. Participants design the bags to remember and honor someone who has been affected by cancer. McCusker and her e-board members encourage students to join and create a team on UB’s event page on the Relay for Life website. email: news@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 1: TSA From there, the two and Jack Lai, TSA’s event coordinator, became close friends. They would play League of Legends together and take trips to Canada. Cho was shocked when he heard the news because Wu had died the day he was planning to return to Taiwan. The two friends were going home for winter break and had plans to meet in Taipei to hang out. After Wu’s death, Cho went back to Taiwan and met with Wu’s parents and attended the funeral. Cho said Wu’s parents didn’t want their son’s peers to know it was Wu who had died in the car accident over winter break. At the time, the only news of the event was that a UB international student had been in this accident. The UB community did not know the victim had been Wu, the TSA treasurer. Matthew Siwiec, a senior Asian studies and economics major and SA international council coordinator, said he did not know Wu personally, but was very surprised by the loss of an SA member. He didn’t realize it was Wu until Zee told him. He thought someone would have contacted SA about it.

“We have this feeling of family within the council because we do a lot of events together,” Siwiec said. “It was very respectable of [Zee] and very amazing of her to go out and organize this for one of the clubs.” SA Vice President Judy Mai commended Zee for the amount of work she put into hosting this celebration. Mai believes it was necessary to show support for someone who was a representative in SA. FASA prepared food and drinks for the event and provided a large poster board for attendees to sign and to write a note in remembrance of Wu. TSA named previous secretary, Maki Nakamura, the new treasurer. Cho said they are adjusting to the change in e-board members and will host events and general meetings in the near future. He expressed gratitude for the support of SA and the international clubs that partook in the event. email: news@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 24, 2014 Volume 63 Number 53 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 The G.M.O. you didn’t know

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Consumer empowerment should be central in G.M.O. labeling debate The cornerstone of our capitalist market, for better or worse, is consumer choice. And choice is meaningless if consumers are not able to make informed decisions. The debate over genetically modified organisms (G.M.O.’s) used in our foods has been long and controversial with those decrying “frankenfood” railing against those portraying the process as the savior from food shortages and high food prices. The battle over labeling these foods has been gaining significant traction in recent weeks, with states like Colorado putting labeling initiatives on their ballots for the upcoming elections. The process of genetically modifying food involves introducing new genes into foods for perceived benefits, such as drought-resistance, improved nutritional value and the ability to withstand herbicides. While these are doubtlessly beneficial for consumers’ pocketbooks and farmers’ finances, there has been long-standing opposition to G.M.O.’s and questions regarding its impact on health. The science has remained generally inconclusive, leading to claims that research doesn’t demonstrate the safety of G.M.O.’s. But a recent effort by Italian researchers who cataloged 1,783 studies of G.M.O. safety revealed “there is no credible evidence that G.M.O.’s pose any unique threat to the environment or the public’s health,” according to an article by Forbes. Credible threat or not, given that genetic modification is a contentious issue, labeling should be required to respect the desires of those who wish to know what they are purchasing. Currently, no federal requirement exists to label foods with G.M.O.’s in them. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims because there is “no significant difference between bioengineered foods and ‘natural’ food,” labeling is not necessary. Whether genetically modified food poses an imminent threat to the consumer’s health, the process surely constitutes a significant change to the food in question. Beyond these considerations, however, the role of consumer choice is central to why G.M.O. foods should be labeled.

ART BY AMBER SLITER, THE SPECTRUM

Monday, February 24, 2014 ubspectrum.com

Claims against labeling often cite the sense of false danger that would arise if foods were labeled. The thinking goes that consumers, falling back on preconceived anxieties regarding G.M.O.’s, will not purchase foods labeled as such. Surely the role of misinformation and lack of understanding exists in regards to food production generally, and genetically modified foods particularly. This should not, however, impede efforts to provide information on whether G.M.O.’s are in a product. Though we should all take greater time to understand our food and its ingredients, this begins with first

having access to information regarding what is in the food we eat. Regulation requiring labeling of genetically modified foods would empower consumers to make more informed decisions about the food they purchase, allowing for competition in the market that reveals actual consumer preferences. Furthermore, labeling would encourage greater consumer understanding of G.M.O.’s in general, pushing the concept into public conversation on a broader scale. Knowledge of what we consume is, fundamentally, a right that has gone largely overlooked in past decades. Whether the constit-

uent parts of the food we eat are deemed healthy by federal regulators does not and should not determine if we know what goes into the food we eat. Labeling of the presence of G.M.O.’s is a right for citizens and consumers. The essence of our economic system lies in informed consumer choice. But first we have to know what we’re choosing. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

State’s relocation of sex offenders to near local park is unjustifiable New York’s decision to move offenders into West Seneca area is foolish Sex offenders belong nowhere near a town park frequented by local children, and though the move might be legal, the state has no moral authority to place them there. Nearly 300 residents of West Seneca furiously protested on Saturday, reacting to the relocation of seven developmentally disabled sex offenders to two group homes in a neighborhood in the relatively small town just south of Buffalo. The protesters are justifiably unhappy. The move took place late on Jan. 3 by the state’s Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities after the secure facility the offenders were being held at, Monroe Development Center in Rochester, closed. The state notified the local police that the men were being moved to two homes on Leydecker Street but did not inform the general public of the move. The inherent deception in the attempt to move the sex offenders secretly is exacerbated by the violent, abhorrent nature of their crimes. Of the seven, four are Level 2 offenders and three are Level 3, the highest offense level. Offend-

ers are deemed to be Level 3 when the “risk of re-offense is high” and there is a significant “degree of dangerousness posed to the public,” according to the state’s sex offender registry. The registry reveals the details of the crimes committed by the new residents of 510 and 526 Leydecker St. Christopher Eckert was convicted of sexual contact against a child and sexual abuse. His victims include a 6-year-old and a 4-year-old. William Maund’s victims were 4 and 5 years old when he raped and sexually abused them. Russel E. Bennethem, Richard C. Walton, Timothy Knisley. Respectively, their records include sexual abuse of a 14-year old, a nine-yearold and an eight-year old. Their new home is just 600 feet from a neighborhood playground. This location is the most contentious aspect of the move. The state disregarded and overrode a town ordinance prohibiting any registered sex offenders from living within 1,500 feet of a school, park or “anywhere children congregate.” Although the state is legally permitted to override local law, ethical-

ly the move is far from permissible. Legality of an action should not be the only concern by a state organization involved in such a significant decision. Moral considerations for the community affected and potential danger must be at the forefront of any deliberation on any decision, particularly when locating sex offenders. Protestors Saturday – fueled by frustration toward perceived state negligence and concerns for children – repeated calls for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to immediately move the offenders. Further angered by the lack of advance notice, protest organizer Tony Fishione stated the community “was blindsided by this.” He and his neighbors refuse “to be held prisoners” in their homes, he said. Cuomo responded with an explanation of the state’s dilemma when former sex offenders are released. “People are saying ‘I don’t want to live next to [them],” Cuomo said. “That’s the predominance of the problem.” Certainly even such monstrous criminals deserve a level of human

rights and, when deemed appropriate by the courts, should be allowed back into the community. The issue is not that former offenders never be allowed back into society. Given the nature of their crimes, where they are allowed to live is crucial to contemplate. The secretive nature of the move, the blatant disregard for local laws and apparent disinterest in the safety of the community is unacceptable from our elected officials and state organizations. When common sense, common law and better judgment are sacrificed for the convenience of an easy decision, poor results will inevitably follow. For the best interest of the community, these offenders should be moved immediately to a location in accord with local regulation and with proper notification. Community organizers have promised to protest every weekend until the issue is dealt with. We can only hope this is the worst that comes from this unacceptable move. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com


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LIFE, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Monday, February 24, 2014 ubspectrum.com

A shared dream Williams trains hard for Conference Culinary Challenge

Putting UB in the light

Two students, two paths to the Marine Corps

Kelsang Rmetchuk, The Spectrum

UB’s own Chef Williams has been selected to compete in the Northeast Regional Conference Culinary Challenge at Rutgers University. He grew up loving food, and Campus Dining & Shops is helping him achieve his dreams.

Yusong Shi, The Spectrum

Michaela Rubin (left) and Kelly Murphy train together to ensure they’re in shape to meet the physical demands of Officer Candidate School. Both women are working toward being Marines.

KEREN BARUCH

Senior Features Editor

One. She gripped the bar as tightly as she could and pulled herself upward. Ten. Michaela Rubin’s chin raised high above the bar. She kept her back straight as her body hung in the air. Forty. Her arms began to tremble, but she continued to keep her core tight. She needed to keep herself together for a few more seconds. Fifty-six. It was time to remember the importance of mental strength. She did not let the pain or sweat get the best of her. Seventy. Seventy seconds – which felt like a lifetime – had passed. She had accomplished her mission, holding herself in a pull-up position for more than a minute. Rubin, a sophomore Chinese studies major, is one of 27 students who belong to the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School program, which is located in the Commons, Suite 208. She is part of the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC), a summer internship for undergraduates who wish to pursue a Marine officer’s commission. The program is designed to give students an understanding of the opportunities and challenges that Marine officers face. But Rubin has found setbacks in her path to become a Marine. Last summer, Rubin attended her first training at Officer Candidate School (OCS), a school in Quantico, Va., that trains, screens and evaluates candidates for the Marine Corps. She found the Marines at the school to be inspirational, which reaffirmed her desire to become part of their family. After a summer spent meeting the demands of the high-intensity training, just a few days

before Rubin’s graduation from OCS, she was dropped from the program. The training is “more demanding than [most people] have experienced before,” according to OCS’ site. It includes 12-mile endurance hikes in full combat gear, obstacle courses and combat conditioning courses, like the 3.5-mile combat simulation course. Rubin’s lack of physical fitness and knowledge of the prep material caused the school to make the decision. She failed two academic tests and one physical test. “I really overestimated myself and underestimated the rigors of training,” Rubin said. After holding herself up for 70 seconds, Rubin could not do any pull-ups on the bar. She was not going to allow being dropped from the training program bring her down, though. Rubin immediately began the process of being reselected for the program. She said she trained physically and studied the material to prove she “would be an important asset to the Marines should [she] be reselected.” She scored a 293 out of 300 on her physical test the second time and, after the commanding officer of Western New York interviewed her, she was reselected this winter break. Rubin will attend two sixweek increments of training for the next two summers. She would have graduated her first increment last summer had she passed, but she looks forward to trying again. She hopes to graduate OCS in the summer of 2015. The program is competitive, she said, but it’s the only one that allows you to walk away with “no strings attached” if you choose not to remain part of the program. “If you don’t want to do it, they don’t want

you,” Rubin said. Rubin joined the PLC at UB during the first semester of her freshman year. She had known she wanted to pursue a military career path since high school and almost transferred out of UB to a service academy before she discovered the PLC program. “I want to be a part of the elite force that defends this nation,” Rubin said. “Marines and Marine officers are truly a different breed of people who are willing to put down everything to protect the men and women next to them.” Rubin trains five to six times each week. She began her training unable to do any pull-ups and now she can do six deadhang pull-ups in a row. Her goal is to reach 12 by the time she gets to OCS this summer. *** Kelly Murphy can do 11 pullups. After training together, she and Rubin are confident that they can meet the physical demands of OCS. Murphy, a freshman legal studies major, grew up in a military family. Her father is a Marine and her sister is a Petty Officer Second Class in the Navy. When Murphy was 8 years old, her father was deployed to Iraq for more than a year. “It was hard but made our family stronger,” Murphy said. “He was busy but always made time and made sure he was around for birthdays and special events.” Following in his footsteps is a dream of hers, she said. The PLC program at UB is helping her achieve that. “I want to be a part of something bigger than myself,” Murphy said. “The Marine Corps is all about honor, pride and respect, which are all attributes I want to be associated with.” SEE MARINES, PAGE 6

ERIC CULVER

Staff Writer

Growing up in Buffalo as the youngest of five boys, Seth Williams spent his childhood surrounded by food – growing in the garden, cooking on the stove and canned into mason jars. “[My siblings] would always fight over the last grab of the potato salad,” said Williams, a chef manager at UB. “So I decided I’d learn how to make it.” Williams has been working in UB’s Dining Services as a chef for a year and a half, learning different cuisines and cooking techniques. He views his kitchen as an entirely different world. An upbringing immersed in culinary culture has led Williams to a job that he loves and given him opportunities. From March 19-22, Williams will compete in the Northeast Regional Conference Culinary Challenge at Rutgers University. It is the first time a chef will represent UB at the challenge. Nine chefs from across the country will be given a protein – this year’s will be live lobster – and will have 60 minutes to prepare four portions of an original hot entrée. “The entire Dining & Shops [community] is excited that Chef Seth’s recipe was selected,” said Raymond Kohl, marketing manager for UB Campus Dining & Shops. “We think it’s a great opportunity for him, the overall vision of what we’re doing here at Campus Dining & Shops and [it’s] nice to have the recognition.” To qualify for the competition, Williams worked diligently for a week to create his dish, Shrimp and Grits. His dish consisted of succulent blackened lobster meat with wild boar bacon and kale, served over Gruyere grits and truffle-poached eggs. Out of 14 applicants, nine were chosen, including Williams. If Williams wins the Northeast Region Culinary Challenge, he will go to Baltimore to compete in the National Conference on July 10, 2014.

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“[It’s about] bragging rights and exemplifies the work and the commitment that Campus Dining & Shops is putting toward that program and really trying to build that program,” Kohl said. Starting next week, Williams will begin training 30-35 hours a week to polish his technique, timing and presentation until he leaves for Regionals. Campus Dining & Shops Assistant Director Adam Coats will assist Williams in perfecting his entrée along with Kohl and Executive Director of Campus Dining & Shops Jeff Brady. “We took Chef Seth away from his daily responsibilities in order to research and create a great dish for the Culinary Challenge,” Brady said. “We now decided to reach out in the culinary community and find experts who engage in this type of competition.” Brady, Coats, Williams and Kohl found two chefs in Western New York who compete on a regular basis and agreed to help Williams prepare for the event. Williams will be doing a complete run-through in a competition class with Chef Scott Steiner, who teaches at Niagara County Community College’s culinary institute. “I want to practice until I can do it in my sleep and then do it without really thinking about it,” Williams said. Williams will also be working under Master Chef Roland Hennin, who coached the 1992 gold medal U.S. Culinary Olympic Team and is one of 60 Master Chefs certified in the United States. “Working with both professional groups we feel is going to better prepare Chef Seth for the Culinary Challenge,” Brady said. Williams said he doesn’t believe he deserves all of the credit and wants to make himself, his team members, his bosses and UB proud. “I want to get people excited to come to UB and see what our dining program is and put UB in the light,” Williams said. email: arts@ubspectrum.com


ubspectrum.com

Monday, February 24, 2014

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Spreading educational equality UB alumni discuss their experiences working for Teach For America GABRIELA JULIA Staff Writer

Katherine Rizzone led students through their first experience at an art museum. She held earth science labs outdoors. She watched one of her students score his first-ever goal on the soccer field. Rizzone, a UB alumna, experienced these proud moments during her time working for Teach For America. Teach for America (TFA) was created in 1990, aiming to find “leaders who work to ensure kids growing up in poverty receive an excellent education,” according to its website. There are 16 million American children facing the challenges of poverty and “an increasing body of evidence shows they can achieve at the highest levels,” according to TFA. Rizzone is one of approximately 40 UB alumni who have joined the movement to help impoverished children enjoy a highquality education. During her undergraduate years at UB, Rizzone wanted to attend medical school. But during her senior year, she realized she “needed to gain greater perspective [on life] and a stronger sense of social responsibility.” She considered joining the Peace Corps after graduation, but when a friend told her about TFA, the organization intrigued her. “As I learned more about it, I discovered it was a domestic teaching corps and provided an opportunity to make a meaningful impact here in the U.S.,” Rizzone said. She spent her time at UB working at the tutoring center

Courtesy of Amanda Jonas

Amanda Jonas (center), Class of 2011, is one of the 40 UB alumni who have worked for Teach for America, a program aimed at educating children living in poverty. Jonas poses with some of her students at the Dulles Air and Space Museum.

and volunteering at a local Boys & Girls Club with the UB Crew team, of which she was a member. But volunteering didn’t expose her to the same social issues TFA did. Reading about TFA opened her eyes to America’s educational disparities, she said. Rizzone saw these educational inequalities as social injustices, and her urge to change them grew each day. “I wanted to directly do something about the [inequalities and injustices] rather than just reading about it or bemoan the situation,” Rizzone said. “So I applied to TFA.” After Rizzone was accepted, TFA placed her in North Carolina. There, she taught high school

science and coached a soccer team at a rural school. After completing her two years working for TFA, Rizzone attended medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is now a sports medicine physician at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. She still has a classroom, but now it’s a “classroom of patients, rather than high school students.” TFA has enabled her to see things differently, she said. She now has a “better understanding of the social obstacles that patients are fighting against,” and believes she is “much more pragmatic” than many of her colleagues. TFA has made her a better doctor, she said.

Mary Wall, UB’s recruitment associate for TFA, studied civil engineering and creative writing at Carnegie Mellon University. She joined TFA right after college and taught high school math in Helena, a town on the Mississippi River. The teaching experience allowed her to work one on one with students who didn’t realize their own potential, she said. She remembers working with a student who consistently scored in the C range. The student was willing to work on math problems during lunch breaks, and by the end of the year, the student was scoring A’s. Wall found it fulfilling. Christopher DiMatteo, a UB alumnus who majored in an-

thropology, currently teaches at KIPP Spirit College Preparatory through TFA. He was part of the “Literature for Miniatures” club during college. The club’s goal was to help college students volunteer in an inner-city school. He wanted to continue volunteering after college. DiMatteo is also a grade-level chair, data captain and curriculum coordinator at his placement school. “When you see a student finally get what you’re teaching them, it makes your day,” DiMatteo said. “It is also important to note that through TFA, I’ve made some incredible friendships that will last for the rest of my life.” He said though teaching can be stressful and difficult, being surrounded by amazing people makes it easier. It takes commitment and passion to be a good member of TFA, he said. “If you are passionate about education equality and helping kids succeed, get involved,” DiMatteo said. “Even if you aren’t sure about staying in education for the long term, the experience you gain is valuable for anything that you’ll want to do.” Rizzone said America will continue to have high crime and poverty rates compared to other developed countries around the world if more people don’t stand up and do something to help. “Our economy is held hostage by these facts,” Rizzone said. She encourages UB students to apply to one of the 50 regions across the nation that have TFA programs. email: features@ubspectrum.com

Spank! Harder comes to Buffalo for its “second cumming” MEGAN WEAL

Asst. Arts Editor

“Turn those cellphones to vibrate” the announcer calls over the loudspeakers. Even before the audience is finished fiddling with their phones, the stage lights up. A red X appears on the back wall, “It’s Raining Men” begins pounding through the auditorium and two shirtless men start grinding the floor of the stage with everything they’ve got. On Thursday night, a crowd of predominantly women watched the much-anticipated Spank! Harder, the follow-up parody to Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody, in UB’s Center For the Arts. With obscene language by the bucketload and enough bare torsos to last an audience member for next century, Spank! Harder is not for the tight-lipped. For those who missed Spank!, or refused on literary principle to read E. L. James’ “50 Shades Trilogy,” the opening five minutes give the audience a quick recap. Luckily, James was “hardly writing Dickens,” according to the play, so it’s really just a quick job summarizing all of the couples’, well, quick jobs. With only four cast members and four main characters, the summary is easy to follow. There’s Tasha Woode, our indecisive protagonist, Hugh Hanson, her S&M-loving dominant, Carter Carnegie, the man in the middle, and E.B. Janet (E.B.J), our author and narrator. Once the recap is over, we rejoin Tasha and Hugh to see what

Juan D. Pinzon, The Spectrum

Spank! Harder had the audience laughing throughout the entire show with its parody of the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy. The show was risque – from making jokes about S&M to daring audience participation.

they’re up to – “Spoiler alert: they’re up to sex,” Janet notes. We meet the pair in a scene that is set up like a Willy Wonka playground for bondage lovers – all set to the tune of “Pure Imagination” (just change “imagination” to “domination”). Spank! Harder manages to keep itself close to the original plotline of the “50 Shades Trilogy,” but it focuses on breaking barriers with its smart, yet obvious, humor that hits the audience right in the face. There’s no confusion when E.B.J announces she’s here for her “second cum-

ming” – everyone knows what she means. With musical numbers scattered throughout for good measure, Spank! Harder follows Tasha as she tries to choose between Hugh and Carter. Hugh describes how his relationship with Tasha revolves around “mind-blowing sex; we don’t talk about our feelings and I buy you the occasional giraffe.” But that just isn’t enough for little Tasha. She wants what she hasn’t gotten – a nice, normal, respectable boyfriend. So, with

E.B.J’s help, she writes one into the story. Imagine a man so nice that he’s vomit-inducing – that’s Carter Carnegie. He enters the stage, and Tasha’s fictional life, with a choreographed ’90s dance set to The Backstreet Boys. As the play continues, it becomes increasingly obvious that Tasha is the world’s dumbest protagonist. She succumbs to all sexual offerings, even when Hugh gets jealous and purchases her “platonic Mexican friend” José out of jealousy. The play isn’t going to win awards for its choreography or in-depth characterization, but its smart wit and clever rewriting of popular songs is parody at its finest, taking tunes like Robin Thicke’s chart-topping “Blurred Lines,” which was criticized for its degrading attitude toward women, and turning the tables by making men sex objects instead. Spank! Harder takes pop culture and rips it to shreds. The characters alluded to almost every popular trend imaginable, from unfashionable UGG Boots to the addictive finger tapping of Candy Crush. It’s a no-holding-back parody of the culture in which we live, where a book about S&M can outsell some of the world’s most elegant writers. The play’s clever parodies and sexual antics clearly entertained the crowd. Though the theater wasn’t packed, laughter still filled the auditorium throughout the performance. Though the audience was composed primarily of women, some males braved the theater

of females, like Devin Kiblin, a sophomore accounting major in the School of Management. “What can I say – even though it was aimed towards a female audience, it was just so awkwardly funny,” Kiblin said. “The rendition of ‘Blurred Lines’ was hilarious, but I don’t think I ever want to see a guy doing that to a floor ever again.” Just when there seems to be no more boundaries to break, E.B.J takes a walk into the audience, looking for Hanson’s next submissive. The room divides, as half of the crowd sits looking at their shoes, praying that they’d be ignored, while the other half jumps from their seats in desperation. The lucky lady selected was Rebecca Nalbach, who voluntarily walked to the stage to be serenaded with an S&M version of “I Could Be Your Hero” – of course changed to “I Could Be Your Master.” Some women would blush and shy away at the prospect of a theater of people watching as a dominant serenaded them – but not Rebecca. She shook her butt, spread her legs and had the whole audience doubling overt from laughing. “It was hotter than hot,” Nalbach said after the show. And what better way is there to describe a show that features at least seven minutes of air humping alongside the classic ensemble of male thongs and rip-off Velcro pants? email: arts@ubspectrum.com


ubspectrum.com

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Monday, February 24, 2014

A firefighting fraternity Students find brotherhood by volunteering at local fire department ANNE MULROONEY Asst. Life Editor

Young men in search of brotherhood often set their eyes upon UB’s Greek Life. They pledge for a fraternity for a semester and then become brothers. Some students find fraternity elsewhere. Mike McGuire and Matt Wheeler found brotherhood at Ellicott Creek Volunteer Fire Company. The students balance school, jobs and volunteering, and they often encounter traumatic and devastating situations with local volunteers on calls. Through the experiences, McGuire, Wheeler and their fellow volunteers have become like brothers. McGuire, a junior computer science major, believes joining the firefighter department has given him better friends, better experiences and better self-satisfaction than a fraternity ever could have. “I think in Greek Life and in school, the word ‘fraternity’ has been skewed a bit,” McGuire said. “Fraternity means brotherhood – that’s what it’s supposed to imply; that’s the original meaning of the word. And there’s really no stronger brotherhood I’ve ever encountered than the fire service.” McGuire has been volunteering at the fire department, which is located on South Ellicott Creek Road in Amherst, for eight months. He’ll be a probationary member until he completes the necessary requirements within a year of joining. McGuire believes the requirements – being on squad, responding to fire calls and taking a fire training class – are equal to what most fraternity members go through during the pledging process. “It’s a year-long pledge,” McGuire said. “It’s not, ‘We’re going to beat you up just so you can prove how badly you want to be in our frat.’ No, for the fire department, it’s answering the question: Are you going to dig down and do what it takes, learn the ropes and get your requirements down? That’s what my pledging entails.” Matt Wheeler, a senior mechanical engineering major, has been volunteering at Ellicott Creek since he was 14. He, too, has found meaning in his friendships there. “In the fire service, you might get teased a little bit when you first get in, but you could call any person from the fire department at two in the morning and say you need help and they’ll be there for you,” Wheeler said. “It gives you peo-

ple you can always rely on. I’ve even borrowed vehicles from people – if I need a car for a day, the guys’ll say, ‘Here, take my truck.’” The intensity of the firefighters’ friendships reflects the intensity of the stresses they experience. Firefighters often bear witness to tragic events, so the department at Ellicott Creek offers Critical Stress Incident Debriefings (CSID) for free. Heart attacks are the most common cause of death among firefighters, at 47.2 percent, and traumatic stress is the second most common, at 28.2 percent, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. “We do see people at their worst,” McGuire said. “We go to a house fire and there’s somebody who lost their home, or we go to an EMS call and someone’s lost their husband, or father, or brother. It’s difficult to see, but I can’t think about it too much or I’m just going to torture myself. It’s when we’re needed the most that people are usually at their worst.” Wheeler recalls a house fire last year, during which members pulled three people from a burning fire – CSID came to debrief and to “make sure everyone was OK.” “It is stressful, but if you know you did everything you could for someone, then you can set your mind at ease with that,” Wheeler said. Firefighters aren’t the only ones who deal with stress due to their work at the department – their friends and family also worry when their loved ones go on calls. Ali Grippo, a junior mathematics major, is dating McGuire and still has trouble dealing with the anxiety. “There’s really no way to deal with the nervousness,” Grippo said. “I just need to trust that he knows what he is doing and that he’ll come home safe. I always have him send me a quick text when the call is over so I know he’s safe.” Although Grippo worries “all the time when he is gone” and hates not knowing what goes on during McGuire’s calls, she’s still proud of her boyfriend for making the decision to sign up and stick with it. “When he told me he had made the decision to join, I couldn’t have been more excited,” Grippo said. “It was something he had been thinking about for a while and I was proud of him for finally committing to it.” Working in the fire service has been personally rewarding for both McGuire

Courtesy of John Spaulding

Matt Wheeler (right), a senior mechanical engineering major, along with his fellow Ellicott Creek Fire Company volunteers, ensured a garage fire was extinguished and people at the scene were safe. Wheeler finds a strong sense of brotherhood from volunteering at the department.

and Wheeler because it has given them some of the closest friends they’ve ever had. They will remember their experiences both on calls and in the firehouse forever. Wheeler recalls carrying a little boy’s aquarium full of lizards out of a burning house. “The look on his face when he saw that we had gotten his pets out,” Wheeler said. “That was pretty cool.”

The Ellicott Creek Fire Company has brought these two students “true fraternity” through their service to the community. McGuire said the bonding that comes with saving lives, helping the sick and injured and putting out fires is incomparable. email: features@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 4: Marines Murphy sees the Marine Corps as a lifelong career. She looks forward to spending six weeks at OCS in Quantico this summer with Rubin. She will then return to UB to continue working on her legal studies degree. The summer between her junior and senior year, she plans to go back to OCS to complete another six weeks of training. She hopes to be able to accept her commission and become a United States Marine Corps officer upon graduating from UB.

Captain David E. Rosenbrock is responsible for officer selection in Buffalo and the greater Western New York area. He seeks college students who wish to pursue a potential career in the United States Marine Corps. Rosenbrock said discipline is the hallmark of a Marine. He believes Murphy and Rubin have what it takes to make it. “Kelly and Michaela have made substantial improvements since they have joined our program,” Rosenbrock said. “They

Continued from page 8: Scores ning, and the Bulls allowed the Flashes to get out to hot start on Saturday as well. It is worth noting that the defense stepped up in the second half of each game, forcing key turnovers, but it’s rare to win while allowing 90 points. Bench production: B It’s tough to call Evans a bench player with the minutes he’s playing, which leaves the bench production to two sophomores: forward Justin Moss and guard Jarryn Skeete. Skeete still doesn’t look right since coming back from his injury, and while Moss has had moments of dominance, he has also struggled at times. Moss was efficient on Saturday, scoring 12 points in 12 minutes and grabbing five rebounds. Skeete played more minutes than

he has recently on Saturday but scored only three points. He filled up the rest of the stat sheet, however, with six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Coaching: B Head coach Bobby Hurley coached a solid game against Akron on Wednesday, although his temper did seem to bother the refs at more than one point throughout the contest. Saturday featured a scary moment late in the game when Bowling Green cut a 10-point Bulls’ lead to five points. Hurley didn’t call a timeout to regroup, but the Bulls were able to hold on and pull away again. email: sports@ubspectrum.com

have both made significant gains in physical strength and endurance and have become more disciplined in their academic pursuits. The Marine Corps does not want just ‘anyone’ to become an officer. We only work with well-rounded, intelligent people.” Murphy’s father, Michael Murphy, is “proud beyond words” that Murphy and her sister have decided to serve in the military, he said. “It is an honorable thing to put your country ahead of your

own self-interests, and an experience that a very small percentage of young people ever have,” Michael said in an email from Sasebo, Japan. “My baby has decided to follow her old man’s footsteps [into the United States Marines],” he said. Michael went on to say his daughter is going to “one up” him because she’ll be graduating as a Second Lieutenant. email: features@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 8: Quick Hits They will compete in the University of New Mexico Lobo Classic for six games next weekend. Track & Field Sophomore Megan Patterson and senior Rachel Roberts each recorded victories at the Denault Invitational. Buffalo competes in the MAC Championships next weekend in Kent, Ohio. Wrestling The Bulls dropped their senior day and regular season finale against Northern Illinois on Sunday after jumping to a 11-0 lead early. They will next compete in the MAC Championships on March 9. email: sports@ubspectrum.com


Monday, February 24, 2014 ubspectrum.com

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Crossword of the Day

HOROSCOPES Monday, February 24, 2014 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK

ACROSS 1 Cold War initials 5 Puts on a few pounds 10 Bell emanation 14 Dashboard dial, for short 15 “The game is ___” 16 Troll’s larger kin 17 Challenging way to race 20 Auburn hair dye 21 Like the moon 22 Gem with a play of color 25 Ceylon and green, for two 26 Kramden’s vehicle 29 Downwind at sea 31 American Express or Kia product 35 Nibbled on 36 They sound batty 38 Many microbrews 39 It’s produced under pressure 43 Today’s Persia 44 Spooky 45 ___-fi 46 The art of film 49 Car wash supplies 50 Soak up some rays 51 Grass roots environment? 53 Application entry 55 Full or half dives 58 A nest on a cliff

62 Wall safe feature 65 Ill-fated son of Adam 66 Cognizant 67 Fencer’s weapon, sometimes 68 Enjoy the banquet 69 More cunning 70 Poor grades

DOWN 1 Mormon state 2 Savory spice 3 CAT procedure 4 Zoo behemoth 5 It may be natural or noble 6 Back, at sea 7 Extremely small amount 8 Pitched a perfect game against 9 Not mono 10 Guiding principle 11 They often clash 12 Parabolas, e.g. 13 What to spend in Albania 18 Smell in “Apocalypse Now” 19 Applaud 23 Hand cream ingredient 24 Africa’s Sierra ___

Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 24, 2014 WHAT A CROCK! By Henry Quarters 26 Like some training 27 Reproductive organs 28 Many a family car 30 Go inside 32 Gambler’s words of lament 33 Where some pilgrims flock 34 Don’t leave at the doorstep 37 Plastic-wrap brand 40 Spoiled, as food 41 Latvian capital 42 The boss’ “echo” 47 Maxi’s opposite 48 Concert settings, at times 52 Fish with a big net 54 Sought lampreys 55 Asia’s largest desert 56 Revival meeting shout 57 Command to a dog 59 You can skip it 60 Slurpee rival 61 ___ out a living (just gets by) 62 Love-’em-and-leave-’em type 63 Anger 64 “ ___ the ramparts ...”

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -Even a minor irritation can be too much for you, given your overall sensitivity level. Avoid such things if you can. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -It's time for you to show others that you can perform up to par no matter what the circumstances. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -What begins as a meaningless frolic is likely to turn very quickly into something that means a great deal to you. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -You've been pitching certain ideas to those around you for quite some time, yet no one seems to be jumping on the bandwagon -- yet. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -You may be called upon to save someone from a self-destructive course of action. It's a matter of experience versus youth. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You may be battling fatigue throughout much of the day, but this mustn't stop you from doing what you promised.

FALL SPACES ARE WHERE YOU SHOULD

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

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -You may have to apologize for something that was, in the main, not your fault, but you know how to make things right. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -Racing against the clock, you may discover that much can happen very quickly if you have prepared yourself fully ahead of time. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -You may be surprised to learn just what others think of you and your current efforts. Now it's time to turn things around. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Don't let your eagerness put you in a vulnerable position. Take things slowly to start, and watch out for hazards. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You know how to get out of another's way without risking your own strong position. The race is not even close to finished, you know! AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You can beat the odds, but there will surely be a price to pay when all is said and done. Nothing comes to you free of charge.


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Monday, February 24, 2014 ubspectrum.com

SPORTS

Bulls go undefeated in opening weekend JORDAN GROSSMAN

Staff Wr iter

Coming into the weekend, the baseball team thought its biggest problem was replacing its star-studded senior class from last season. On the way home, its biggest problem was deciding whether to watch a comedy or a horror movie on the bus ride. After Buffalo’s opening weekend against Davidson (2-2) was snowed out, the Bulls (3-0) had their first action of the season this weekend at the Spartan Classic in Norfolk, Va. The roundrobin tournament consisted of four teams, each playing one game per day for three days. After nine months of anticipation following the most successful season in program history, the Bulls did not disappoint. The team went 3-0 in its first taste of competition, with wins against Norfolk State (1-4), Villanova (1-4) and Quinnipiac (0-3). Both strong pitching and offensive performances contributed to the victories. Coach Ron Torgalski believes the theme for success this season is smart, fundamental baseball along with motivated players. “Our situational hitting was on point all weekend,” Torgalski said. “If we needed a sacrifice with a guy on third, we got it done. They work hard in the offseason and in the weight room, and you could see the progression.” Coming into the season, the team knew that replacing star outfielder Jason Kanzler – who is now in the Minnesota Twins’ organization – was going to be a challenge.

Chad Cooper, The Spectrum

Senior outfielder Matt Pollock went 3 for 3 on Sunday as the baseball team defeated Quinnipiac, 10-1, to complete an undefeated weekend at the Spartan Classic.

Kanzler led the team with a .330 batting average, 53 RBIs, 12 home runs and a .997 fielding percentage in 2013. As hard as it is replacing those numbers, a young platoon of speedy and athletic outfielders has so far impressed. “You can’t replace a guy like Kanzler, but we have an array of young talent that will collectively make up for what we lost,” Torgalski said. Senior infielder/pitcher Mike Burke led the Bulls with a .625

Quick Hits McCrea becomes Bulls’ all-time leading scorer; baseball starts season undefeated

Yusong Shi, The Spectrum

Junior Sebastian Ionescu and the Bulls headlined weekend matches with a 4-3 victory over Marist, moving them to 5-1 on the season.

Men’s Basketball (16-8, 10-4 Mid-American Conference) Buffalo won its first game at Kent State in 17 contests alltime on Saturday afternoon. The Bulls defeated Kent State 78-69, behind 31 points from senior forward Javon McCrea. McCrea moved passed Rasaun Young as the leading scorer in UB history. Buffalo takes sole possession of first place in the MAC East with the victory. The Bulls travel to Ohio (19-8, 9-5 MAC) on Wednesday for a rematch from their 73-70 loss on Feb. 15. Tip is set for 7 p.m. Women’s Basketball (15-10, 8-6 MAC) The Bulls dropped their third home game of the season on Saturday 73-63 against Bowling Green (23-3, 13-1 MAC). Freshman forward Alexus Malone led Buffalo with 18 points. Buffalo had no answer for Alexis Rogers and Erica Donovan as the two

ON THE WEB

combined for 49 points. Buffalo travels to Ohio (8-17, 3-11) on Thursday. Tip is set for 7 p.m. Men’s Tennis (5-1) The men’s tennis team extended its winning streak to three games at Marist (0-3) on Saturday afternoon. Each of its five victories has been decided by one game (4-3). Buffalo travels to New Jersey Institute of Technology (6-1) on Friday. The match is set for 4 p.m. Softball (8-3) After going undefeated in its opening weekend, the softball team went 2-3 this weekend in the Red and Blue Classic in Oxford, Miss. The Bulls defeated UT-Martin (4-6-1) on Friday and Northern Colorado (2-13) on Sunday. SEE QUICK HITS, PAGE 6

batting average, one home run and four RBIs over two games. He launched a home run to right field in the top of the fifth inning in a 7-1 win over Norfolk State on Friday. Saturday was the closest game of the weekend, but the Bulls’ pitching was too powerful for the Villanova bats. Junior pitcher Anthony Magovney hurled a gem, allowing only two hits and two walks over 7.1 innings in the 4-2 victory. Junior first baseman Tyler

Mautner went 2 for 3 with a pair of RBIs. Senior shortstop Mike Scarcello and senior designated hitter Thomas Richards contributed positive offensive production. The team finished its weekend with a 10-1 rout of Quinnipiac. Sophomore outfielder Nick Sinay led the offensive explosion with a 5-tool performance, going 3 for 3 with three walks, a pair of RBIs and a stolen base, and providing excellent fielding in the outfield.

Burke, the team’s leading pitcher last season, silenced the Bobcats by pitching 6 innings, allowing one earned run and striking out 10. The team continues its season on Friday with a doubleheader against Maryland Eastern Shore and Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va. email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Hardwood Report card

Bulls sweep week; McCrea becomes all-time leading scorer SPORTS STAFF After finishing last week with a heartbreaking loss to Ohio (19-8, 9-5 Mid-American Conference) at home, the men’s basketball team rebounded with a big 96-90 win at home against Akron and a 78-69 victory at Kent State (1512, 6-8 MAC), its first ever in 17 chances at the MAC Center. Here is The Spectrum sports staff ’s breakdown of the Bulls’ (16-8, 10-4 MAC) performances from last week. Three-point shooting: A After a horrid performance from beyond the arc against the Bobcats, the Bulls were much more successful against Akron and Kent State. They shot 66 percent from the three-point line in the first half and 54 percent overall on Wednesday and carried that momentum into Saturday, shooting 46 percent from deep against the Flashes. Junior forward Will Regan was four for six on the week, while senior guard Josh Freelove hit five of 11 from beyond the arc. Foul shooting: B+ Buffalo took advantage of its opportunities at the charity stripe this week, shooting 72 percent on Wednesday and 80 percent on Saturday. Senior forward Javon McCrea hit 13 of 16 Saturday – when he broke Buffalo’s all-time scoring record – and freshman guard Shannon Evans had a 5-for-5 performance Wednesday.

Courtesy of David Dermer

Senior forward Javon McCrea scored his 1,919th point against Kent State to pass Rasaun Young for the most points in school history. Young scored 1,908 points from 1993-98.

Ball control: B+ This would have been an A if we were grading just Wednesday’s game. The Bulls put on probably their best ball control performance of the year, assisting on 21 baskets and turning the ball over only eight times. But Saturday was mediocre in terms of ball control. Buffalo had 12 turnovers and assisted on only 16 buckets. Those 12 turnovers included a few key errors down the stretch that allowed Kent State to stay in the game. Overall offense: AIt was hard not to give the Bulls an A in this category after they scored 96 points against a defensively competent Akron team on Wednesday, but the beginning of Saturday’s game was

brutal. The Bulls scored just seven points in the game’s first 11 minutes before going on a 10-0 run to get back in the game. Still, the team scored 174 points this week. That’s impressive. Rebounding: A The Bulls continued to do well on the boards this week, particularly on the offensive glass. Buffalo outrebounded both opponents by double digits and grabbed 23 offensive rebounds. Those offensive boards led to 25 second-chance points. Defense: C+ Buffalo was successful this week because of its offensive performance. Wednesday’s game was a shoot out from the beginSEE SCORES, PAGE 6

Women's basketball falls to conference-leading Bowling Green Men's tennis wins a tight match against Marist Men's basketball team comes back to defeat Kent State


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