Courtesy of Shrek the Musical
The Independent Student Publication of the University at Buffalo WEEKEND EDITION v February 25, 2011 Vol. 60 No. 57 v ubspectrum.com
The world of Shrek, Donkey, and Princess Fiona has graced the Shea’s stage this week.
Check Yourself Before You Shrek Yourself EDWARD BENOITStaff Writer
DROPKICK MURPHYS
Through energetic acting, lively choreography, and beautiful sets, Shrek the Musical took members of the audience at Shea’s Performing Arts Center out of their seats Tuesday night and brought them to a land far, far away.
Punk By the Book
Directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford, scored by Jeanine Tesori, and written by Pulitzer Prize-winner David Lindsey-Abaire, Shrek the Musical is an adventure of fun. The stage incarnations of Shrek (Eric Peterson) and his friends walk the fine line between adult innuendo and children’s gags as though it were easy, picking up recurring jokes and running with them faster than the Gingerbread Man along the way.
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The story, for the most part, stays faithful to the film on which it was based. For those unfamiliar, both the film and stage versions concern the titular ogre’s quest to get his swamp back from a group of fairytale creatures forced to move there at the behest of one Lord Farquaad (David F.M. Vaughn), the story’s villain. To get his land and precious solitude back, Shrek agrees to go on a princess-fetching errand for Farquaad, a journey on which the misanthropic ogre discovers friendship, love, and self-esteem. Fans of the movie will be delighted to learn that Shrek the Musical keeps everything that was great about the film intact and virtually unchanged in its stage incarnation. Shrek, Donkey (Alan Mingo, Jr.), Fiona (Haven Burton) and company are all the same characters that they were on the big screen, and virtually all of the film’s classic scenes are left unchanged as well. Some scenes, like Farquaad’s “muffin man” exchange with the Gingerbread Man and Shrek’s reverie about the likeness of ogres to onions are greatly improved by the energy and bravado of a live stage performance. Shrek the Musical is hardly just a rehashing of the film on stage, however, and the musical is at its best when it departs from the source material. The backgrounds of most of the major characters are expanded upon greatly, giving an extra dimension of depth to their interactions. Alex McCrossen /// The Spectrum
Fans welcomed Dropkick Murphys and Against Me! into their family Wednesday night.
Drunk on Knowledge Alcoholism seminars on drinking and relationships come to UB
social activity that can have a positive effect on a relationship. On the other hand, drinking can be a source of conflict when one member of the couple drinks much more than the other, or when the two partners drink apart from one another. “Generally, drinking five or more drinks in one evening for men, or four or more for women, is considered to have the potential to create problems,” Leonard said. In addition, excessive drinking can intensify any couple’s conflict.
It is believed that drinking alcohol as a couple is often part of a shared
INSIDE NEWS :: 2 OPINION :: 3 ARTS & LIFE :: 4–5 DAILY DELIGHTS :: 6 CLASSIFIEDS :: 6 SPORTS :: 8–7
Leonard also points out the danger of drinking very large amounts of high-proof beverages. This can also occur with beer or wine, particularly if a lot is consumed over a short period of time. In addition to these behaviors, there are other patterns of alcohol use that can have an adverse impact on relationships and
WEATHER FRI
The opening presentation will be held by Kenneth Leonard, Ph.D., a senior research scientist at the Research Institute on Addictions and vice chair for research in the department of psychiatry at UB. Leonard’s presentation is entitled “The Social Environment and Adult Alcohol Use: How Drinking Shapes and is Shaped by Friends and Family Relationships.”
“The first is drinking and driving,” Leonard said. “Although they often do not recognize it, even relatively moderate amounts of alcohol impair driving ability. Avoiding drinking and driving usually requires some planning beforehand, and students do not always do that planning.”
SAT
UB’s Research Institute on Addictions will be hosting a four-part series on alcohol and alcohol addiction beginning on March 4 and continuing throughout the spring at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
SUN
FLOYD SWEETStaff Writer
According to Leonard, average college students should be aware about the effects of alcohol and alcoholism. The two most serious behaviors that put college students at risk are obvious.
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the scene is acted comically over an upbeat musical number, the sad undercurrent adds another onion layer to Shrek’s character. Fiona and Farquaad are given similar treatment. “I Know It’s Today,” one of Fiona’s solo numbers, shows the frustration and restlessness the fractured fairytale princess feels as she waits years for her rescuer. Farquaad’s own solo number, titled “The Ballad of Farquaad” in the Napoleonic-villain’s typical self aggrandizing fashion, provides glimpses into Farquaad’s own background and motivation. Story elements would be nothing without actors and actresses to carry them, though, and Shrek the Musical delivers in this capacity as well. Eric Petersen plays an endearing Shrek, with Alan Mingo, Jr. providing a sassy foil to him with his role as Donkey. Haven Burton’s pep and energy does Fiona’s character more justice than Cameron Diaz’s flat deliveries in the movie ever did. David F.M. Vaughn certainly doesn’t come up short in the role of Farquaad, either, and takes the vertically challenged villain in an unexpectedly comedic direction. Perhaps no one moment better demonstrates this than the climax of the play’s first act, where Shrek and Donkey arrive at the castle to rescue Fiona. While Shrek searches for the princess, Donkey — and the audience — are soon face-to-face with the dragon guarding the castle, a massive puppet flawlessly operated by a team of four puppeteers and voiced by an offstage Carrie Compere. “Forever,” the ensuing song-and-dance number, channels all facets of the show’s creative energy into a truly magical five minutes. Shrek’s magic won’t be staying at Shea’s Performing Arts Center for long. With only a handful of shows left to catch, get your tickets as soon as you can before Shrek the Musical packs its bags for another kingdom far, far away. g
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
The play begins when a young Shrek is kicked out by his parents in order to see the world at age seven. Though
school or work achievement. “While it is common for college students to drink this much on occasion, doing so every weekend is of greater concern,” Leonard said. “Drinking this much during the week when there are classes the next day is of even greater concern.” These patterns of drinking not only increase the likelihood of experiencing adverse events because of intoxication, but the social and physical impact can last even longer, and these patterns can increase the likelihood of developing long-term problems, according to Leonard. The other three seminars will be held on April 1, April 15, and May 20 on the first floor of the Research Institute on Addictions at 1021 Main St. Mark Muraven, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology and area head of the doctoral program at the University at Albany’s department of social-personality psychology, will be hosting the April 1 seminar, titled “Improving Self-Control.” On April 15, J. Scott Tonigan, Ph.D., a research professor in the University of New Mexico’s department of psychology, will hold a lecture called, “The Benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous: What Research Does and Does Not Tell Us.”
Reduced Response to Alcohol and Mechanisms of Person-Environment Vulnerability,” will be presented on May 20 by Marsha E. Bates, Ph.D,, research professor of psychology at Rutgers University’s center of alcohol Studies and director of its cognitive neuroscience laboratory. Each seminar begins at 10 a.m. They are free and open to the public but are especially geared toward researchers, clinicians and policymakers. “College students are certainly welcome to attend,” said Kimberly S. Walitzer, Ph.D., deputy director at the Research Institute on Addictions. “Several of the upcoming topics such as family and friend relationships, self-control, and AA may be of interest to college students.” The Research Institute on Addictions was established in 1970 as a component of the New York State Division of Research of the Department of Mental Hygiene. The purpose and goal is to address all aspects of alcoholism by researching the use and abuse of alcohol, including causes, treatments, and prevention. g
E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
University Police have attributed the source of the odor that filled the first floor of Fronczak Hall on Tuesday to the inappropriate disposal of a chemical, not a natural gas smell, as the email alert originally indicated. The Environment, Health and Safety Department, a sector of University Facilities, is working with the staff in Fronczak Hall to ensure that safe disposal procedures are carried out. g
Attention all undergraduates: The Spectrum is looking for its next editor in chief and it could be you. If you’re interested in the position, send Andrew Wiktor an e-mail by Monday Feb. 28, indicating your intent to run. Members of The Spectrum’s editorial board will elect the next EIC the week before Spring Break. For more information on the position, e-mail Andrew Wiktor at ajwiktor@buffalo.edu.
The closing seminar, “Cue Reactivity,
LIFE RECYCLE MANIA PAGE 5
Source of Odor in Fronczak Hall Identified
ARTS YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF THE WEEK PAGE 7
aged 22 from Niagara Falls, were pronounced dead at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital at 2 a.m. According to Earl Cartwell of the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office, Ford died of “internal bleeding due to laceration of the heart,” and McClendon died of “cerebral contusions and lacerations of various organs.”
NEWS Today in UB History Feb. 27, 1980
Students Crash Through Window To Death Two male Amherst campus residents died early Tuesday morning after shattering an eighth floor Fargo Quadrangle window and falling to the Ellicott Complex second floor terrace. Marcy B. Ford, aged 21 from Buffalo, and Michael A. McClendon,
According to University News Bureau official John Thurston, there was an argument in Fargo resident Brenda Geter’s eighth floor room between her and Ford, a Governors’ resident. McClendon, a Resident Advisor (RA) from the Wilkeson Quad, who was up on the Fargo floor, went in to break it up. The argument moved toward the corridor and window space. McClendon stepped between Ford and Geter to physically separate them. “Ford and McClendon came together at the window, causing them to break it and fall out,” said Thurston. The call came in to the Department of Public Safety at approximately 1:19 a.m.
Fargo Head Resident Phil Samuels explained that McClendon was acting as a friend, not as an RA. “He was acting in the right way,” Samuels said. “But they just were a bunch of friends. Everybody knew each other.”
the bar was ever fixed and perhaps re-broken. When asked if the barrier could have prevented the tragedy, Samuels said, “The bar is there to prevent anybody from falling out of the window. You can draw your own conclusions.”
Freak accident
Thurston, when asked how a supposedly thick picture window could break, replied, “It is pretty thick, but that one sure did.”
“No one was trying to kill anyone,” Samuels added, reiterating that the altercation was more of a scuffle than a fight. The Head Resident noted, “These kinds of scuffles happen all the time. It’s just the circumstances that made this particular one become a freak accident.” Circumstances surrounding the tragedy reveal that a wooden railing, which usually is across the approximately four-by-five foot picture window, was missing. The floor’s RA, Kathy Burke, who is responsible for residents on the eighth, ninth, and tenth floors of the Fargo tower, said she has filed between four to six work orders to fix the bar. Samuels said he “had no idea” if
News Briefs 12/8
Russia Plans For Massive Military Overhaul By 2020, the Russian military plans to have nearly $650 billion invested in upgrading its force. Officials are saying this will bring about a new kind of military for Russia. The featured expenditures will include eight nuclear submarines, 600 jets, and 1,000 helicopters. The submarines will carry the new Bulava missiles, which are still being developed and tested. One hundred warships and two helicopter carriers will also be added to the military arsenal. Analysts say that this overhaul will only prove to be productive if the Russian military upgrades its training and recruitment. In recent years, the Russian military has already made changes to military infrastructure. Nearly 200,000 officers have been released from duty and 90 percent of army units have been disbanded. Experts are predicting this renewal will make Russia less dependent on the nuclear weaponry it took over after the collapse of the USSR. g
Saudi Faces Terror Parks May Stay Charges Open With Help From Local Towns A 20-year-old Saudi man is facing terror charges after police caught on to his recent activity. Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, who lives in Texas, has been trying to make homemade bombs and has been researching possible targets to attack. Aldawsari was arrested on Wednesday on the charge of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. He will appear before a federal court on Friday. A supplier of toxic chemicals alerted officials after receiving a suspicious order from the suspect. Aldawsari, who was enrolled as a student at South Plains College, had ordered the chemical phenol claiming it was for off-campus research. E-mail records also show that Aldawsari had a recipe for picric acid that he referred to as a “military explosive.” Officials also found that Aldawsari intended to use a cell phone detonation device, and they located a statement claiming “it is time for Jihad” in what is allegedly his diary. The list of possible targets included George W. Bush’s residence in Texas and multiple reservoirs and dams throughout Colorado and California. g
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NEWS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 v ThE SpECTRuM
Last year, several New York Staterun parks ended up costing the state hundreds of thousands of dollars, prompting their closures. Now, local towns where the parks are located are attempting to keep them up and running. Woodlawn Beach Park in Hamburg cost the state $360,678 to run, while only bringing in $48,226. Similar outcomes were witnessed with Knox Farm Park in Aurora and Joseph Davis Park in Lewiston. The state did not run the parks to make money but with the budget crunch, had to cut expenses, which led these parks to lose funding.
One RA, who did not wish to be identified, said that there are bars missing from windows throughout Ellicott. “I’m sure they will be fixed now,” she said. Thurston revealed that before Ford died, charges of criminally negligent homicide had been filed against him for his role in the incident. No further legal action has been taken, he noted.
No chance Following the incident, a team of campus Emergency Medical Technicians arrived on the Ellicott terrace, “almost instantly, with massive equipment,” according to Samuels. “If there was any chance of saving them with CPR,” he said, “they’d be alive now.” Both Director of Public Safety Lee Griffin and Thurston reported that the Getzville Ambulance workers praised the newly trained emergency team. Griffin told the Buffalo Evening News that the eyewitnesses were “very emotionally shocked. We couldn’t talk to them very much.” The Director said they were given sedation at the Erie County Medical Center. Tuesday morning, RAs, Head Residents, and floor members—who had been barraged with TV cameras and the press—were tired and tense. Much of the preceding night’s “hysteria,” according to Griffin, had calmed down. Although Samuels said crowds were kept under control, Ellicott RA John Cima asserted that one staff writer for The Spectrum had gotten in the way and acted “in an unprofessional manner.” “You can’t go around trying to prevent this type of incident,” Samuels remarked. “It really was just a freak accident.” Thurston reported that both the Attorney General’s office and the State Dorm Authority will conduct an investigation—which he said will include why the bar was missing. g
However, local residents believe that closing the parks for good will hurt the communities. That is why they are taking the risk of running these parks on their own, without raising taxes for town residents.
E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
The towns will be in charge of maintenance and upkeep of the parks and their facilities. In Aurora, outside help may be needed but none of these towns want the burden to fall on taxpayers. In New York State, the majority of parks are unable to bring in enough revenue to cover annual costs. g
On this day in UB History tragedy struck when two male students died after falling eight floors down from a Fargo Quadrangle window. What started as a minor scuffle between two students, turned into a disaster when an RA attempted to separate them, flinging himself and one of the students into and out of the window, which was missing the customary protective wooden railing.
OPINION Andrew Wiktor
Ahmadinejad Hypocritical In Supporting Revolts
MANAGING EDITORS
Ignores Injustices In Own Country
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF
Luke Hammill, senior Amanda Woods EDITORIAL EDITOR
John Hugar
NEWS EDITORS
Lauren Nostro, senior David Weidenborner Dannielle O’Toole, asst. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
Amanda Jonas ARTS EDITORS
James Twigg, senior Jameson Butler Vanessa Frith, asst. LIFE EDITORS
Jennifer Harb, senior Mike Tyson, asst. SPORTS EDITORS
Matt Parrino, senior Carey Beyer Brian Josephs, asst. PHOTO EDITORS
Clinton Hodnett, senior Megan Kinsley Alex McCrossen WEB EDITOR
As countries such as Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia have revolted against their oppressive leaders, many people have come out in support of them. The latest person to come out in support of these revolts is a rather unlikely one, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ahmadinejad’s support for the protestors was surprising, due to his rather poor track record of dealing with unrest in his own country. From his infamous claim that “there are no homosexuals in Iran,” to the highly contested 2009 election, he doesn’t have a great deal of credibility in this situation. While The Spectrum agrees with the support for these protestors, we also believe it’s highly hypocritical for Ahmadinejad to be giving his support, considering his wellknown history of ignoring dissent in his own country.
2012 OR 2020? LukE hAMMILL Senior Managing Editor
was largely stifled, and it generally appeared that Ahmadinejad did not care what the people protesting in the streets had to say. There can certainly be a parallel drawn between that and what Muammar Gaddafi is doing right now in Libya. While Ahmadinejad has not engaged in violence against his own people in the manner that Gaddafi has, he has ignored dissenters in a similar way. Ahmadinejad stated that it’s “a wonder” that someone could shoot his own people the way Gaddafi has. That’s certainly a statement we can agree with but it seems highly ridiculous that it would come from him; he has no credibility in the situation. The counterargument would be that in spite of his
Ahmadinejad should take his own advice and listen to the wishes of people in Iran. Many people believed the 2009 election in which he became president was rigged. In the aftermath of the election, dissent in Iran
*SATIRE
hypocrisy, Ahmadinejad’s remarks are still a good thing, simply because his words may have some sway with Gaddafi and other leaders, and convince them to step down. That, however, seems unlikely. Ahmadinejad doesn’t have any more credibility with other world leaders than he does with anyone else. It is quite likely that the leaders who he is criticizing would find his words just as hypocritical as we do. It is unknown why he has decided to come out in favor of these revolts, but there has been some speculation that it’s due to a connection to the Muslim Brotherhood, the organization that played a large role in the Egyptian revolution. If anything, it would certainly explain why he is on their side. Regardless of his reasoning, however, Ahmadinejad’s hypocrisy can neither be overlooked nor justified. If he wants to create a world where dissenting voices have power, he should look no further than his own country. Then, people might take him seriously. g
Adam Cole
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
SOuRCE: BBC
BUSINESS MANAGER
Debbie Smith
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Helene Polley
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Breathing Tube Case Not A Fault of Canadian Health Care System
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
American hospitals would act similarly
Marissa Giarraputo Jeannette Wiley
ADVERTISING DESIGNER
Aline Kobayashi
The views expressed — both written and graphic — in the Feedback, Opinion, and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or spectrum-editorial@buffalo.edu. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style or length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it clearly as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number and e-mail address. The Spectrum is provided free in part by the Undergraduate Mandatory Activity Fee
FEBRUARY 25, 2011 VOLUME 60 NUMBER 57 CIRCULATION: 7,000
The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by both Alloy Media and Marketing, and MediaMate For information on advertising with the Spectrum visit www.ubspectrum.com/ads or call us directly. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100 Telephone: (716) 645-2468 Fax: (716) 645-2766 Copyright 2010 Buffalo, N.Y. The Spectrum is printed by The Buffalo News 1 News Plaza Buffalo, NY 14240
Six years ago, America was captivated by the case of Terri Schiavo, a woman being kept on life support by a feeding tube. Schiavo’s husband wanted to remove the tube, stating it was his wife’s wish, while her family disagreed, arguing for her to continue being on life support. The case divided America thoroughly. Liberals tended to argue for removing the tube, making the argument that she had the right to die, while conservatives argued for keeping the tube in, and many considered it murder to take it out. Now, a similar case is occurring in Canada, this time involving a 13-month-old boy. The boy has been kept on life support since last fall and is currently in a vegetative state.
As this story has gained traction, many conservatives have argued that this story proves that Canadian health care is heartless and doesn’t care about the well being of its citizens.
One important distinction between this situation and the Schiavo case is that this time around, death is inevitable. The doctors have ruled that the boy’s neurodegenerative disease leaves him without hope.
The Spectrum strongly disagrees. The fact is, what’s going on here would likely go on at an American hospital, as well. Considering that the child will die under any circumstances, it is unrealistic to expect a hospital to spend a great deal of time worrying about how painful his death is.
Knowing that the child will more than likely die, the debate is about the manner in which he will die. Last week, a Canadian Supe-
Quite simply, hospitals have greater priorities. This may seem grim, but it’s a fact of the business. We
Who could argue with you? This is probably the first historical stretch of all time during which so many crazy things happened. It’s not like anything crazy ever happened all that often anytime else throughout history. And I paid attention in World Civ, at least most of the time. (Side note: I don’t think it’s true about the end of the world in 2012, but if it is, how could you really complain? We’d be the last humans ever on Earth. If you believe in an afterlife, you could say you saw the end of the world. I’d consider that an accomplishment.) Anyway, while I’m on campus and constantly hearing about the UB 2020 plan, I can’t help but draw a parallel between 2020 and 2012. It’s not that I think that UB 2020 will cause the end of the world – it’s just that with the way that people talk about UB 2020, it has become a sort of myth; a sort of “final date” when we expect something to happen, kind of like 2012. So, on Jan. 1, 2020, will more buildings that look like Cooke Hall just start exploding out of the earth? Will parking garages sprout up out of the dirt, Tremors-style? Will the “economic engine” that drives Western New York’s economy finally be unveiled? Will it look like, as Peter A. Reese wrote in Artvoice last week, “a fire-breathing, fuel-injected aluminum V8, or some wimpy electric traction motor?” Speaking of the economic engine, I’d also assume that Downtown Buffalo will suddenly look like Chicago or New York City on Jan. 1, 2020. The Main Place Mall will turn into the new Mall of America, the waterfront will suddenly have something cool going on (and it won’t be Bass Pro), and brand-new skyscrapers will be opened behind a golden statue of the Stanley Cup-winning Terry Pegula. And all because of UB 2020. Here’s the genius of the plan. It’s the same concept that was understood by whoever made up all of the stuff about the Mayans and 2012: if you popularize an idea, and you say that the idea is going to take place on a concrete date in the distant, unforeseeable future, and you keep referring to the idea by using that date, as if it is the fulfillment of some immortal prophecy, then people will believe in it.
rior Court judge ordered that the breathing tube keeping the boy alive be removed. After the ruling was set down, the parents asked for a tracheotomy to take place, but the doctors refused. In the aftermath of this, there has been a debate about whether or not this case could be seen as an example of the flaws of Canadian health care. While many Americans support and wish the United States would employ a similar system, others have argued against it, believing the government would play too much of a role in our medical lives.
2012 keeps getting closer and closer. Even though all of that stuff about the Mayans and the end of the world is probably garbage, I couldn’t blame you for believing in it, what with all of the crazy things that have been happening in the world lately.
Here’s what I think: UB 2020 is no less of a myth than the theories about 2012. Obviously, none of the stuff I said before is going to suddenly happen on New Year’s Day 2020, just like we won’t get hit by giant meteors, violent earthquakes, and swirling hurricanes in December of 2012.
certainly can sympathize with the boy’s grieving family, but it seems silly to paint this story as a condemnation of Canada’s health care system. When the boy’s parents attempted to transfer him to a Detroit hospital, it also refused to perform the tracheotomy. This shows that the Canada is no less cold or heatless than America is when it comes to this situation. The people trying to say otherwise are simply grasping for straws. g
Indeed, UB President John Simpson even said himself that 2030 is now an optimistic date for the fulfillment of his UB 2020 “master plan.” That’s because last year, legislators in Albany killed a bill that was essential to the execution of the plan. Those legislators weren’t swayed by the new buildings or the economic engine that I described to you in the vision above. Because I failed to mention that the new Cooke Halls would be exploding out of the grounds of a private school’s campus. g E-mail: luke.hammill@ubspectrum.com
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ILLUSTRATIONS! Love to draw? Calling for all doodlers and serious artists to enter their creations. Your artwork could make the front page! contest ends 2/31
OSCARS PREDICTIONS Tweet your prediction for Best Picture and get printed!
e-mail any submissions to info@ubspectrum.com
The Spectrum is doing a piece about parking on campus. E-mail luke.hammill@ ubspectrum.com if you have any good stories relating to parking lots, parking passes, parking tickets, or anything else parking-related.
OPINION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 v ThE SpECTRuM
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ARTS & LIFE
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ARTS & LIFE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 v ThE SpECTRuM
Punk By the Book
mixture of hardcore punk and Irish folk made the audience feel more like it was at a family reunion than a concert.
JAMESON BuTLER Arts Editor
The spectators Wednesday night got to be the guinea pigs, as they were some of the first people to hear several new songs off Dropkick’s new album, Going Out in Style.
Whoever says punk is dead is a heretic and clearly was not at Rapids Theatre Wednesday night. Two of the biggest names in punk music, Dropkick Murphys and Against Me!, shared the stage and provided a night full of pints of Guinness and circle pits to a handful of lucky fans who got tickets before they sold out. Dropkick and Against Me! have become two of the biggest names in punk music. These two bands have paved the way for much of the punk music that is being produced today. And when these two bands combine forces, the product is magical. The huge Irish populace of Buffalo came out in droves for this show, and it wasn’t disappointed. As Dropkick tore through their 27 song setlist, it was apparent why they have amassed such a dedicated following. From the moment Dropkick took the stage, they had the crowd eating out of their hands. Their
UB Students for Life is Resurrected MIChAEL TYSONAsst. Life Editor While coat-hangers and holocausts were brought up, the general feel of the meeting was quiet tame. On Tuesday night, there was a formation meeting to bring about the Students for Life (SFL) club at UB. The club was very active in the pro-life arena back in the ’90s, received some resuscitation in 2007, and is now trying to re-form if it can drum up enough interest. “There wasn’t anything on campus that expressed my views,” said Sara Buttitta, a senior business major and president of the fledgling club. “There’s no strong swing either way, and there’s no support for women who don’t want an abortion but don’t know what to do.” SFL invited three guest speakers to share their beliefs and views on abortion. Matthew Boyle, Rachel*, and the keynote speaker Dawn M. Iacono, the director of pro-life activities for the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, all took turns speaking to the group. As counterpoint to the meeting, several people on the pro-choice side of the debate came out. This was originally to protest, but they sat quietly through the meeting and engaged in civil debate afterward with the students and guest speakers that were there for SFL. Boyle started off the show with stories of how he helped to form Students for Life back in the early ’90s. Some readers may remember the Valentine’s Issue of The Spectrum that showed a pro-life display of 4,400 crosses on a field at UB. SFL was responsible for that, and Matt discussed the reaction to that display.
As Dropkick serenaded the crowd with new jams, the masses seemed to enjoy them as much as the classics they performed, like “Citizen C.I.A” and “Shipping Up to Boston.” What makes Dropkick’s live show so special is how dynamic it is. There is not one member of the band that demands more attention than another, as every member provided his own personal style to the overall show. From Ken Casey providing the dominant bassline to Josh “Scruffy” Wallace on bagpipes, to Jeff DeRosa delivering the banjo licks that got everyone dancing, every person in Dropkick makes his own highlight reel. Before the band left the stage, it invited the lovely ladies of the audience on stage to help perform “Kiss Me, I’m Shitfaced,” which has become a staple of its show.
statewide, and Erie Countywide. There was also a list of physical and psychological complications that come with abortion. The physical list included perforation of the uterus and bowel, loss of fertility, and death. Once Iacono was finished, the room was opened up to questions. Crescenzo Scipione, a sophomore American studies major and the main organizer of the pro-choice side, started with a list of questions that attacked most of the numbers presented. Scipione stated that 77 percent of pro-life people are men and pointed out that only one in four people at the meeting were women. “I found that there are 125 prolife activists that are labeled as domestic terrorists by the FBI,” Scipione said. “You called prochoice activists damaged, but I say the real crazies are on the pro-life side.” The back-and-forth became angrier and there was a real danger of the meeting falling into a shouting match. Ed Koch, associate campus minister at the Newman Center, brought calm to the discussion. The vitriol and rhetoric from both sides was put in check, and an actual discussion was had by all. “We welcome debate,” Buttitta said. “We’re here to make sure all choices are informed, and debate is a great way to do that. We aren’t just here to deny abortions, we want to do diaper-drives, walks for life, and do what we can to help out after the birth as well as before.” g
*The Spectrum was unable to confirm Rachel’s surname. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
The parade of females on the stage gave the song an extra layer. As Casey sung about falsifying yourself to get laid, the women screamed every word. As the song progressed, it became nearly impossible to distinguish Casey’s voice from the crowd’s.
ARTS & LIFE
Not to be overshadowed by Dropkick, Against Me! supplied the anarcho-punk that has shaped the face of modern punk. Their mixture of Americana and punk fit in perfectly with Dropkick. Sporting one of the best live shows out there, it took no time for Against Me! to make the audience perk up and pay attention. The band started its set by playing “White Crosses,” and the mosh pit instantly became dramatically larger. Tom Gabel, the lead singer for Against Me!, seemed to be having as much fun performing as the crowd had chanting along. When the band performed classics like “From Her Lips to God’s Ears” and “Don’t Lose Touch,” the insanity in the crowd increased significantly. The pinnacle of their show was when they
played the widely loved “Pints of Guinness Make You Strong.” As soon as the opening chord was strummed, the crowd was electrified. Every person in the audience toasted to the band, screamed every word, and shoved to get mere inches closer. Off With Their Heads was the first band to take the stage. While they began the set basically unknown to the audience, their hardcore punk stylings fit in perfect with the rest of the show, and the audience ate it up. The crowd was half of the fun of the show. As the acts shined on stage, the intoxicated audience danced and sang along like one giant family. By the end of the night, there was not a single person that wasn’t covered in sweat and bruises; just how a punk show should be. g
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
UB Competes in Recycle Mania Competition hANNAh BARNESStaff Writer In six hours, UB goes through 9,600 pounds of trash, and almost 90 percent of it is recyclable. Raising awareness to this fact is the premise of Recycle Mania, a 10-week nationwide competition between colleges to see who can really turn it around and recycle. The nationally sponsored competition, organized here by UB Green and the Student Association Environmental Affairs Department, is an opportunity for students to get involved with recycling in a fun way. Recycle Mania is a friendly competition meant to foster eco-friendliness and recycling awareness in its participating schools. Over the 10 weeks, schools report their numbers for recycling and trash, and once everything is counted, they are ranked according to the highest number of recyclables, the least amount of trash, and the highest overall recycling rate. The competition emphasizes the importance of recycling and encourages students to incorporate it into their daily lives. “The little things go a long way,” said Mike Alcazaren, a senior aerospace and mechanical engineering major and the SA environmental affairs department’s director. “[Recycling] is a very simple and easy thing to do; it’s a difference of maybe a foot between a recycle bin and a garbage can.” The environmental affairs department wants to encourage students to recycle and go green, putting signs on garbage cans around campus that say, “Stop, can this be recycled?” and promoting the “Getting Caught Green Handed” program. This program, run by the environmental affairs department, applauds students who are being environmentally conscious and rewards them for their eco-friendly actions. A student caught “green-handed” – or recycling – by members of the SA envi-
hYuCkSOO kWON /// ThE SpECTRuM
New recycling machines were recently installed around campus in an effort to make UB greener. ronmental affairs department or members of the SA government E-board, will be given prizes such as reusable water bottles. “Recycling is important because all that stuff needs to go somewhere other than just a landfill, and we can use less energy as well to help reduce our impact on the world,” Alcazaren said. Recycle Mania is all around campus, and clubs should also watch out for a video contest between clubs, sponsored by the Environmental Affairs Department. The top three videos created by clubs about how they recycle will win a prize. Students can also track UB’s weekly progress on the status boards placed at campus entrances, and by visiting UB Green’s Facebook page. “We have been improving for the past four years,” Alcazaren said, The competition also promotes ecofriendliness in all aspects of everyday life. “Something else students can do besides recycling is to consume renewably sourced products and reusable products,” said Matt Kopalek, a senior international business major and the SA environmental affairs department’s materials communication representative.
“[Students] should take note and encourage friends to recycle.” Not only is recycling beneficial for the environment, it is also good for the school, with UB receiving money for certain recyclables, such as paper. Last year, UB placed second in the SUNY system, per capita, during Recycle Mania. “Recycling is not just a ‘nice’ thing to do, it is the smart thing to do,” said Emily Gibson, a junior communication major and the student representative in the communication and outreach subcommittee of the environmental affairs department. “By recycling, you’re not just improving the world of those around you, you’re improving the world that you live in. too, and the effort that you put in to [recycle] is a lot less than the cost of not [recycling].” Recycle Mania began Jan. 17 and will run through March 27, with the first two weeks having been counted as “trial” weeks and the other eight for the actual competition. The final results will be announced at the end of the contest, after all the data has been compiled. Every recycle bin in the school gets weighed to contribute to the university’s numbers, so look at that water bottle you are about to throw away- and recycle it instead. g
E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
Norma McCorvey, aka Jane Roe, the woman behind Roe v. Wade, came up in Matt’s speech as he told of how she switched sides in the abortion debate. He closed with a warning that the new SFL could expect a lot of opposition. Rachel spoke of her experience receiving an abortion when she found herself accidentally pregnant while still an undergraduate. She had no physical complications, but did not appreciate how she was treated and has since come to regret her decision. After Rachel’s speech, there were a few respectful questions from the pro-choice people, namely Alex Walters, a junior linguistics major who was part of organizing the prochoice side. Walters’ questions were answered respectfully in turn. “I used to identify as pro-life,” Walters said. “I came from a small conservative town, so I know where they’re coming from, I can relate. I’ve also seen the slippery slope that can lead these debates into chaos, and I wanted to avoid that.” Iacono then stepped up and began her presentation. She talked of how many women she came in contact with through her position as a crisis pregnancy counselor. “There is so much external pressure to have an abortion for some of these women,” Iacono said. “There’s even a rise in mothers pressuring their daughters to abort.” She used a slide show to further her point and also brought up McCorvey as well as other pro-choice activists that later became pro-life. The main thrust of her slides was to present evidence in numbers. Most of these numbers were merely the amount of abortions performed nationwide,
ARTS & LIFE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 v ThE SpECTRuM
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CLASSIFIEDS
CLASSIFIED ads may be placed at The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union, Amherst Campus. Office hours are from 9:00 - 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Deadlines are Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 12:00 for display and 2:00 p.m. for classifieds for the next edition. Weekly rates are $15.00 for the first ten words and 75¢ for each additional word. All ads must be paid in advance. The ad must be placed in person or send a legible copy of the ad with a check or money order for full payment. No ads will be taken over the phone. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit any copy. No refunds will be given on classified ads. Please make sure copy is legible. The Spectrum does not assume responsibility for any errors except to reproduce any ad (or equivalent), free of charge, that is rendered valueless due to typographical errors. Please call 645-2152 for any additional information.
HELP WANTED
baths, living room, dining room & finished basement. June 1st. Call: 688-6497.
dishwashers & much more! Please call: Andy to schedule a showing. 716-308-4881.
2 BEDROOMS AVAIL in 5 bedroom house – June 1, 2011. Main/ Heath, 716-432-7125.
NOW HIRING RETAIL sales P/T & F/T, retail footwear/ clothing stores hiring sales positions. 3 locations: Niagara Falls (near Fashion Outlet), Eastern Hills and McKinley Malls. Start immediately. Fun products. Need strong salesmanship & ability to work independently. Call Hyunja (owner/ cell): 807-5696 for interview.
3 & 4 BEDROOM apartments near south campus. 1 bath, kitchen with dishwasher/ disposal, laundry & carpeting. June 1st or August 1st. Call: 688-6497.
SOUTH CAMPUS 4-bdrm house updated. Hardwood floors, new furnace, free laundry, parking, walking distance. $295+/ person & security deposit. Available June 1st, 716-239-5244.
AMHERST – SOUTH Campus/ safe side of Main. Quiet Junior Architect students looking for serious male roommates. Excellent condition, private bedrooms, big closets, laundry, parking & dishwasher. Available now & May. 5 minute walk to Crosby Hall. $295.00+ share of utilities, 716-400-9663.
APARTMENT FOR RENT MARDI GRAS lives here! www.luxuryaptswny.com/UB. UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS. 3-4 bedroom apartments available. $645 - $800 a month. Call 716-884-8213 Today!
MERRIMAC 3 & 4 BEDROOM updated kitchen, bath, dishwasher, laundry & off-street parking, $275 per person. Available June 1st, 716-308-5215. 2 TO 8 BEDROOM APARTMENTS and houses now showing for next academic year. Northrup, Winspear, Merrimac, Englewood, Tyler, Highgate and more! Hardwood floors, laundry, off-street parking, so much more! Call, Text, or email Jeremy Dunn to take a tour. (585) 261-6609, jgdunn2@msn.com. 5-BDRM, 2 LEVEL upper apartment! Walk to south campus/ bus, appliances, laundry, security, parking. June 1st, (716) 568-1600. 4-BDRM, WALK to south campus/ bus. Large rooms, new carpet, appliances, laundry, security, parking. June 1st, (716) 568-1600. 3-BDRM, WALK to south campus/ bus, appliances, laundry, security, parking. June 1st, (716) 568-1600. AMHERST 1 & 2 bedroom. Minutes from UB. Newly remodeled. Includes: heat, water, appliances, balcony & off-street parking. Laundry in basement. $685 $825, 716-691-7600. 2-BDRM MAIN ST. South campus. Appliances, carpet $500 month + utilities & security deposit. Call 884-7900. EVERYTHING YOU NEED for the 2011 academic year. Great 1 to 8 bedroom houses & apartments. Near south campus. Off-street parking, laundry, dishwashers & much more! Please call: Andy to schedule a showing. 716-308-4881. SOUTH CAMPUS 4-bdrm apartment updated. Laundry, parking, walking distance. $250+/ person & security deposit. Available June 1st, 716-830-3226.
AMHERST, 3 BEDROOM apartments. Kitchen, 1 ½
LISBON/ BAILEY: 2-3 bedroom upper. Newer carpeting, living room, dining room, kitchen, appliances, laundry, off-street parking, furnished, $180+, 440-5133 or 636-1656. Available June 1st.
HOUSE FOR RENT
4,5,6 & 8 BEDROOM REMODELED apartments to choose from. Located at University at Buffalo Main Street Campus off Englewood. Beginning June 2011. 32 apts. to choose from $275/ bed plus utilities. Washers & dryers included. Contact Bradengel37@gmail.com 301-785-3773, or Shawn 716-984-7813. Check out our web-site: www.bufapt.com.
6 & 7 BEDROOM APARTMENTS. 2 houses from south campus. 2 baths, kitchen, living room, dining room, new furnaces, dishwasher, laundry facilities & wall-to-wall carpeting. June 1st or Aug. 1st. Call: 688-6497.
4-BDRM 3-BATH @ Alexander & Beckingham Estates. North Campus Available June thru August. 716-688-2526, www.wyseproperties.com.
SOUTH CAMPUS housing 14 properties to choose from. 1,3,4,5,6,7 & 8 bedroom homes. Available June 1st 2011. Call Dave 716-445-2514 or go to daveburnette.net to view all properties. HEATH, WINSPEAR 3,4,5,6,8 bedroom houses and apartments $275/ pp, 716-870-8100. 2 TO 8 BEDROOM APARTMENTS and houses now showing for next academic year. Northrup, Winspear, Merrimac, Englewood, Tyler, Highgate and more! Hardwood floors, laundry, off-street parking, so much more! Call, Text, or email Jeremy Dunn to take a tour. (585) 261-6609, jgdunn2@msn.com.
CLASSIFIEDS + DAILY DELIGHTS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 v ThE SpECTRuM
FANTASTIC LOCATION across the street from UB south at Main & NF Blvd. Rent for completely furnished room starts at $325.00/ mo including all utilities and Internet. 630-300-4228. Immediate occupancy.
PSYCHIC READINGS by Rita. Romance & careers. $30/ 30 min. Parties, 716-626-4335.
CHEEKTOWAGA/ SNYDER 2 bdrm, parking, yard, $315.00 + utilities, kukulka@buffalo.edu, 716-923-3437.
LEGAL SERVICES: Located just minutes from UB’s North Campus, Hogan Willig focuses in personal injury, criminal & traffic, real estate, estate planning, matrimonial & family law, bankruptcy & more. Call 716-636-7600 or visit Hogan Willig at 2410 N. Forest Rd., Amherst, NY.
ROOMMATE WANTED
UNCLASSIFIED (misc.)
2-BDRM TONAWANDA NY. $400/ month w/ deposit. Free heat. DSL & cable. email: davidbel@buffalo.edu, 716-799-9211.
www.QualityThingsForLess.com, save 10%. Enter code: UB11.
UPDATED 6-BEDROOM house, laundry, 2 baths, no pets, $300 per room + utilities & security, 830-3226. CLEAN 3-BEDROOM house, laundry, off-street parking, no pets, $325 per room + utilities & security, 830-3226. 4 OR 5-BDRM, absolutely gorgeous, w/w carpeting, 1 + ½ baths, new windows, furnace, security system, stainless steel stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer/ dryer, off-street parking 4-cars. Must see! $335/ person + utilities. Gino 830-1413. 5 BEDROOM HOUSE for rent. Prestigious Highgate. One block from Main Street campus. Nice quiet family neighborhood. Excellent condition. Updated electric and heating. Off-street parking, 2 full baths, living room & family room, stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer & dryer. $1500 per month, $300 per tenant, water included. June 1st – May 31st lease. Must have references. Call for appointment at 716-491-9105. Showings begin February 27th. EVERYTHING YOU NEED for the 2011 academic year. Great 1 to 8 bedroom houses & apartments. Near south campus. Off-street parking, laundry,
DAILY
6
CITY A1 drivingschool.com. Beginners & brush-up driving lessons. 5 hr. class $30.00, 716-875-4662.
SPACIOUS 6-BEDROOM house 2 kitchens, 2 baths, laundry, no pets, $285 per room + utilities & security, 830-3226.
SPONSORED BY The Undergraduate Student Association
Visit ubspectrum.com/games for our online game of the week Also see the crosswords and sudokus answers from last issue
DOWN 1 Neill and Snead 2 Cable car
ROOM FOR RENT
7, 8, 9 BEDROOM houses. Walk to south campus/ bus, appliances, laundry, security, parking. June 1st, (716) 568-1600.
Crossword
3 Flight prefix 4 pitcher’s ploy 5 Strike caller 6 Garden root 7 Removes wrinkles 8 Container 9 high peak 10 Acid in milk 11 kind of sax 12 Matinee — 13 Not often seen 19 Student chore 21 Self-confidence 25 Disturbs or vexes 26 Beating down, as hail 27 Crooked 28 Luxuriate 29 prince Valiant’s wife 30 “Wolf Man” Chaney, Jr. 31 Wielded an axe 32 Stay clear of 33 Faked out the goalie 35 Sweetie-pie
SERVICES
5-6 BEDROOMS – Big and beautiful, free laundry, energy star windows, furnace and water heater, updated kitchen & bath, stainless steel appliances, internet & cable connection in every room, off-street parking, huge yard, 3 ½ blocks to UB, Minnesota Ave., $200 - $220/ per, (716) 446-1213.
DELIGHTS
ACROSS 1 Iffy attempt 5 City in New York 10 pirates’ base 14 Field 15 Wall decor 16 “M*A*S*h” actor 17 Grape brandy 18 Gold digger? 20 Cure salmon 22 22.5 degrees 23 Elegant wrap 24 Delhi attire 26 Chi follower 27 Finishes (2 wds.) 30 percolated 34 What a —! 35 “holly —” (Neil Diamond tune) 36 Night before 37 Baker’s must 38 Facade 40 Love letter add-on 41 Soccer goal 42 panache 43 hamper 45 Cheer up 47 Worked clay 48 Badges and such 49 Sleight-of-hand 50 Russian pancakes 53 private’s word 54 Wildlife shelters 58 Sea turtle 61 Iridescent stone 62 Busy as — — 63 Daddy’s sis 64 NCAA Bruins 65 What sheepdogs do 66 — “the Body” Ventura 67 Way with words
ENGLEWOOD 5-BDRM, off-street parking, updated kitchen/ w dishwasher, 1 ½ baths, washer/ dryer, insulated windows & doors. Great front porch. June 1st, (716) 799-9605.
39 Turned chicken 40 Be in a daze (2 wds.) 42 Carrie’s dad 44 Count — —! 46 Nicked 47 Jeweler’s measures 49 Bearings 50 humdrum
51 Brain part 52 Disney CEO Bob 53 “Melrose place” star 55 humane org. 56 Soft mineral 57 Bed support 59 British rule in India 60 Do batik
Sudoku – Difficulty 2/5
YOUTUBE Videos of the Week 5. Shadow Sword Fight Dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge.
4. “Who The Hell Is Arcade Fire?” Song Props to this guy for realizing the Grammys aren’t just a popularity contest.
3. Predator: The Musical (The Final Schwarzenegger Musical) This would beat Rent in every category.
2. Flight of the Bumblebee on 101 Bottles! One hundred one bottles of bee-r on the wall. Buzz-zing!
1. Roman Candle Headshot That’s what he gets for not using Protego.
ARTS & LIFE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 v ThE SpECTRuM
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Bulls See Flashes as Kent State Delivers Knockout Blow
SPORTS
AARON MANSFIELDStaff Writer The men’s basketball team has never left Kent State with a victory. Although things looked good at halftime, the team remains winless at the M.A.C. Center. Up 43-33 at intermission, the Bulls (16-10, 7-6 Mid-American Conference) could not maintain momentum, and the Golden Flashes (19-9, 10-4 MAC) avenged the 25-point shellacking they received earlier this year at Alumni Arena. Led by Carlton Guyton’s 19 points, Kent State beat Buffalo, 72-69. Head coach Reggie Witherspoon was unhappy with how many shots his team missed down the stretch. “We missed so many wide open shots that it was just incredible,” Witherspoon said. “Some were right at the rim. The margins that we missed them by were so poor that we couldn’t even get the rebounds." Freshman forward Javon McCrea had arguably his best performance to date, as he finished with his fourth double-double of the season. The freshman sensation showed why he is known as a stat-sheet stuffer, finishing with 15 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and four steals.
basket and our opponent would only get 53. Yet we had less turnovers and more rebounds and lose.” Senior guard Byron Mulkey kept Buffalo’s hopes alive as he went fearlessly to the basket on the ensuing possession, finishing with a beautiful floating layup. The Bulls hastily fouled Kent State guard Randal Holt. After he converted both free throws, the Bulls, down by three, were left with one chance to extend the game. But Buffalo was unable to get organized on its final possession, as a double-covered Mulkey didn’t get a clean shot off. Coming out of the locker room was an issue for the Bulls, as Kent State started the first half on a 6-0 run and the second half on a 9-0 run. The free throw stripe yielded a major disparity, as the Golden Flashes shot 80 percent compared to Buffalo’s 43 percent. While McCrea put up a solid game overall, his 1-for-5 free throw shooting performance hurt the Bulls. “It’s disheartening to have that kind of opportunity and have our guys lose it [at the line],” Witherspoon said. Mulkey looked good yet again on the stat sheet, and the MAC steals leader added four more takeaways to his season total. He also finished with 13 points, five assists and six rebounds. The Bulls will look to rebound on Saturday when they travel to Akron to battle the Zips (18-10, 8-5 MAC), who have won their last six games. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. g
E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
Junior guard Zach Filzen continued his hot shooting in the first half, putting up 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from downtown. But he cooled off in the second, and so did the Bulls. After his unconscious start, Filzen finished with 17 points. The teams battled back-and-forth in the second half until Kent State iced the game in the closing seconds. The Bulls went on a 9-2 run over four minutes, but Kent State guard Michael Porrini threw down a vicious right-handed baseline slam over a helpless McCrea, who avoided committing a foul with 17 seconds remaining.
SpECTRuM FILE phOTO
The men's basketball team lost a close one to Kent State on Thursday night despite a 10-point halftime lead. The Bulls have never won in Kent's building.
Bulls Outlast RedHawks in a Near-Upset
have as much composure. [The RedHawks] definitely stepped up their defensive pressure and instead of just settling ourselves… we ended up missing a lot of shots early in that half.”
BRIAN JOSEphSAsst. Sports Editor
The team tried to keep calm through the heated situation by staying focused.
“We just looked like we were worried [down the stretch],” Witherspoon said. “I told the coaches at halftime that we looked worried… If it was the crowd, shame on [the Bulls]. It’s unfortunate that we would get 65 shots at the
Even though the Bulls (14-13, 7-7 MAC) came away with a victory at Alumni Arena on Wednesday night, it still remains to be seen if they’ll be able to keep that momentum going into March. The Bulls nearly blew a 15-point lead in the final minutes against Miami (Ohio) (10-17, 2-12 MAC), but stood tall in the last seconds to walk away with a 77-74 win. The game’s final moments were unforeseeable because of Buffalo’s strong performance in the first half. After falling into an early six-point deficit in the opening minutes, the Bulls started to dominate with lights-out shooting and presence in the paint. Buffalo shot a season-high 61.8 percent in the first half and outscored Miami 24-12 in the paint. The second half told a different story. Buffalo struggled to drain shots right out of the gate and shot a mediocre 31.4 percent from the field. Head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald grew a little concerned about this turn of events. “I thought we were getting the same type of shots in the second half, but they weren’t falling for us,” Hill-MacDonald said. “We didn’t seem to
“I really just looked for my teammates to pass it back out [when I was stopped],” Brown said. “A lot of [my points] just came from my teammates making good passes.” Junior forward Beth Christensen was also instrumental in Buffalo’s win. Her career-high of 13 rebounds asserted the Bulls’ advantage in the paint. She also recorded three blocks and six points.
What I don’t understand is, does everyone think that Golisano wasn’t a Sabres fan? Did he just decide to buy the team because of the amazing financial opportunity of taking over an organization that was $30 million in debt? SpECTRuM FILE phOTO
Kourtney Brown had another monster performance against the RedHawks. Hill-MacDonald stressed that the team could not rest on its clutch performance with a critical game against Ohio (7-20, 3-11 MAC) coming up on Saturday. “Ohio plays a very tenacious defense,” Hill-MacDonald said. “We will have to handle the same type of pressure we experienced tonight, but maybe even turned up a notch because of [Ohio] priding themselves on defense.” Tip-off is at 7 p.m. at Alumni Arena. g
E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
All in the Family On Saturday, the women’s basketball team will say goodbye to four of the most inspirational athletes that have ever graced the floor of Alumni Arena. This group of ladies loves playing not only for the fans, but for each other as well.
Amidst an aura of confidence, one thing that isn’t overlooked is the emotion shared between these teammates. Indeed, it has been a tremendously challenging career for them, but none of them want to see it come to an end yet. Fortman, also an exercise science major, has become very attached to the girls she’s had the opportunity to play with. “It is emotional,” Fortman said. “So many friendships have grown. It’s like an immediate family. You look
Golisano may have been cheap, and his policies may have handicapped the Sabres’ talent decisions, but the fact is that we would not have the Sabres today if he hadn’t bought the team in 2003. Can you blame Golisano for being cheap when the ownership team that he took the Sabres from had led the franchise into so much debt that there was a legitimate chance that the team would leave Buffalo?
Pegula’s new financial policy of handing a blank check to Regier may make it easier to retain our own talent, but bringing in new blood will be just as difficult as ever.
Seniors Kourtney Brown, Jessica Fortman, Bridgette Kendricks, and Ashley Zuber will play their final game in blue and white at home. Throughout the years, the four girls have shown nothing but determination to help the team reach its potential.
Anybody who has kept up with this team over the last five years knows that this is the year that the team can make it happen, according to Zuber.
That’s another thing. This new business venture has everyone coming forward against Golisano. He and the rest of the departing executives are now viewed as pariahs in Western New York. It is easy to blame hardship on the people leaving, but Golisano does not deserve any hate from the fans.
That being said, it is nice to hear that Pegula plans to take the chains off of Darcy Regier and the management team and let them spend whatever they need to in order to become successful. It would be even nicer if it weren’t for the fact that we still have to convince players to come to Buffalo over the other big-time programs in the league.
ANDREIuS COLEMANStaff Writer
This year, the Bulls are aiming for the top. Zuber, an exercise science major, believed that this is the first thing all fans should know.
Everywhere you turn, there is a member of the Sabres faithful buzzing about how the team’s new owner, Terry Pegula, is going to save the franchise. I have a message for all of you: calm down.
Many fell in love with Pegula because of his obvious love for the team. He could not even bring himself to look at Sabres’ legend Gilbert Perreault for fear of losing his composure.
The game came to a head when Brown fouled the RedHawks’ Kirsten Olowinski to send her to the line. After Olowinski missed her second free throw, the RedHawks’ Erica Almady came down with an offensive rebound and a second chance to pull off a comeback.
Brown managed to overcome Miami’s doubleteams in the post to score 29 points in the game. She, once again, attributed her success to her teammates.
Buffalo has been craving a championship for years, and recent developments have given the city hope that its thirst might finally be quenched.
There is no denying that the team needs a change. The franchise has become stagnant over the last eight years under the ownership of Tom Golisano, and many fans had started to become disenfranchised. Pegula’s takeover might be exactly what the team needed, but there is no telling that now.
“I think we were just focusing on getting a stop and playing solid defense,” said senior forward Kourtney Brown. “When we were on offense, they [felt the pressure] because we were still up.”
However, Brown had other plans. She intercepted Almady’s follow-up pass and was fouled right after. She drained her two subsequent free throws to send the RedHawks home and to their 10th straight loss.
CAREY BEYER Sports Editor
Don’t get me wrong. I also can’t help but be excited about the new opportunity that has come to the Queen City, but we all have to make sure to not get too far ahead of ourselves.
The RedHawks took advantage of Buffalo’s cold streak and went on a 19-7 run to bring the score within one with 1:48 remaining in the game.
With the Mid-American Conference Tournament quickly approaching, the women’s basketball team had to find the winning formula it lost in the last couple of games.
DON’T DRINK THE PEGUL-AID
All of this excitement has also led a few more impressionable fans to claim that the Sabres will see the effects of this change this season. There is nothing that Pegula and crew can do to change the team’s direction until, at least, the coming offseason. The first major move of the new group was to waive team captain Craig Rivet, who will most likely return to the team at half salary once he makes it back through waivers. Moves like that are smart, but will have little effect on the team’s success this year.
ASHLEY ZUBER
JESSICA FORTMAN
BRIDGETTE KENDRICKS
forward to seeing other people’s parents after the game. Other people’s parents become your parents, and it’s really nice to have that kind of support.”
“This year has been the best year for me,” Kendricks said. “It’s not that we didn’t get along the other years, but our chemistry is so much better this year. We’ve believed in ourselves more and it has taken us far. We play for our fans, but we really play for each other.”
around you. It’s been special, but we’re going to go out with a bang.”
“You can’t be selfish when you have an entire team and your team’s like your family,” Brown said. “It’s like walking out on your family.”
Looking back on their careers, the girls know that it is not the individual accomplishments that will define them, but how much they meant to each other.
g
Real changes will take time, so we all need to relax, because if being a Buffalo fan has taught us anything, it’s to not drink the Kool-Aid just yet. g
E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
E-mail: carey.beyer@ubspectrum.com
Kendricks, an early childhood education major, felt that the chemistry the team has developed from playing together for so long has made this season even more special than the others.
“When we leave college, it’s not going to be about how many points you scored or the records you set,” Zuber said. “It’s about how good of a teammate you were, and how you affected the other people that were
The players describe the team as their family, and they are conscious not to let each other down.
In case there are doubters out there, the Bulls won’t be phased – these ladies believe in themselves. They welcome all to come and witness greatness on senior day, which is Saturday at 2 p.m. in Alumni Arena.
phOTOS: ALExA STRuDLER /// ThE SpECTRuM
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