The Spectrum Volume 63 Issue 56

ONLINE Spectrum 360 Newscast Reports on Relay for Life, International Fiesta, Distinguished Speakers Series event and the men’s basketball team’s big win over Miami Ohio.

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

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International Fiesta Photo Gallery See our photo staff's many snapshots.

monday, march 3, 2014

Volume 63 No. 56

A not-so sweet home?

Handful of students in off-campus complex have dealt with roaches since August SARA DINATALE

Managing Editor

Jennifer Ruffin set down her bag as she got ready for her human physiology class. A roach scurried out of the backpack’s opening.

Ruffin inadvertently brought the problem from her off-campus apartment to class. She had seen roaches on the stove, in the oven, crawling in cupboards and on counters, navigating through air vents and into bedrooms – and, now, one scurrying across the floor in front of her classmates.

Some students living in building three of the University Village at Sweethome have been dealing with roaches since they moved in during mid-August.

The situation has improved since the start of the semester and management is “aggressively” addressing the pests, according to Dan Barry, the regional manager of American Campus Communities, which owns the Sweethome complex.

But tenants are still disgruntled by the situation.

“There’s no way in hell I would have lived here knowing it had a roach issue,” Ruffin said. “I just want people to know, Sweethome ain’t so sweet.”

The apartment is not constantly crawling with insects, but Ruffin last saw “a few” on the stove Saturday morning. She and her three roommates – who are all at UB for one year in a pre-medical school program – are frustrated with the pests. They say the apartment has an ant problem, too. Ruffin described the number of roaches since August as going from “worse to bad.”

Rent at the complex, which is located just outside North Campus, ranges from monthly installments of $634 to $994, depend-

Kelsang Rmetchuck, The Spectrum

Amanda Hoyte sits in her University Village at Sweethome apartment surrounded by the contents of her cupboards. She and her three roommates have have been dealing with roaches since mid-August and put sealed food in the open because they consistently found roaches in their cupboards.

Courtesy of Jennifer Ruffin

Jennifer Ruffin last saw roaches in her apartment on Saturday. This photo shows one of her roach traps filled in October. Ruffin and her roommates said the problem has persisted since August.

ing on floor plans, according to the Sweethome location’s website.

About 800 residents live at Sweethome within nine buildings, and this issue is affecting less that 1 percent of residents, according to Barry.

Barry, who described the situation as now “isolated to two units,” said exterminators were visiting the inflicted apartments weekly between mid-August and October and then switched to biweekly treatments when exterminators “were finding less or no activity.”

But Ruffin and her roommates question the legitimacy, regularity and extent of the sprays. Ruffin said she put tape on the seal of the bedroom and bathroom doors on a day the apartment was notified via email exterminators were coming. When she came home after the treatment

Campus discusses e-cigs as cessation method As product is growing, differing opinions persist AMANDA LOW

ously the exterminator needs to do something different,” Boyle said. “But I have yet to see it.”

He thinks the building needs to be evacuated and “bug bombed.”

Ruffin’s roommate Kayla Lewis bought her own industrial-sized roach spray.

“I can’t take it anymore; I don’t do bugs,” Lewis said, adding that people who pay less money for rent aren’t dealing with bug problems. The tenants have noticed the roaches generally come out at around 1 a.m. and 2 a.m.

All the tenants said they’ve been spending their own money on traps, sprays and cleaners.

Barry said the students were not notified about the problem prior to signing their leases because management wasn’t aware of it until mid-August, after lease signing. The problem originated from one unkempt room, and

that room no longer has roaches, he said.

Boyle said a maintenance worker told him and his mother the roach problem existed for about a month before he moved in, which was around the time Ruffin and her roommates moved in.

“From what the maintenance people said, the problem was noticed in July and I was never notified of the situation,” he said.

“The fact I pay $619 a month to live here, I deserve to know and that’s what really makes me mad about the situation.”

Amanda Hoyte, who lives with Lewis and Ruffin, woke up from a nap on her first day in the apartment to roaches on her headboard. The women notified management and have wanted to break their lease since September, but have been unable to.

SEE ROACHES, PAGE 2

A FIERY FIESTA ISA claims crown at entertaining 2014 International Fiesta JOE KONZE JR

News Editor

As a sophomore in high school, Alex TerBush picked up a cigarette for the first time. It started as a pack-and-a-half-day habit.

As a sophomore in college, he picked up an electronic cigarette and eventually weaned himself off tobacco products completely.

He hasn’t had a drag of a normal cigarette for two years.

Though some people struggle with patches, gums and lozenges as a way to stop smoking, TerBush went straight for an electronic cigarette. E-cigarettes continue to be a topical conversation, as society ponders potential regulation and the question of the device’s effectiveness as a cessation method. TerBush is an example of one of the many students turning to e-cigs. But the debate about the product isn’t just happening nationally and internationally – it’s happening at UB, too. UB’s anti-smoking policy bans e-cig use.

Though research is still being conducted on the effects and potential health risks of e-cigs, many see them as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes.

was done, she said the tape was still intact.

Exterminators are now treating, inspecting and logging information weekly, according to Barry. The bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas are all being treated “as we have in the past,” Barry said.

Shane Boyle, a senior psychology major, lives on Ruffin’s floor.

He first discovered roaches when his mother helped him move in during August. The roaches were in the closet, on the walls and “even on the couch,” Boyle said.

He said last semester, he was seeing roaches every day – now, he’s seen “a few all together” since classes resumed.

Boyle said exterminators have visited his apartment “only twice” this semester.

“If cockroaches are still being seen – which they are throughout the building – well, then obvi-

Senior Arts Editor

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHAD COOPER, THE SPECTRUM

“They’re not pristine,” said Gary Giovino, professor and chair of the Department of Community Health and Health Behavior at UB. “They’re not brown rice and broccoli. But the point is, people who smoke regular cigarettes are getting nicotine … So if we got all the people who smoke cigarettes onto e-cigarettes and some of them even quit, that would be a great thing.”

Almost 3.5 million Americans smoke electronic cigarettes, according to the Tobacco Vapor Electronic Association. Electronic cigarettes are not currently see e-cigs, page 2

Loud chanting reverberated throughout the Center For the Arts. The walls shook as the Indian Student Association (ISA) took over the stage.

Using vivacious colors, flawless timing and exquisite dancing to convey the story of the Taj Mahal, ISA won the crowd’s approval and took home its second straight first-place award at the 2014 International Fiesta Friday night.

The event included 14 clubs’ performances, which told tales of love and tragedy – creating an engaging atmosphere for the packed audience – in keeping with the theme of “myths, legends and folklore.”

The Student Association brought back three alumni guest emcees for the evening – Andrea Ortiz, David Cobb and Harrison Nyguen – who, in the show’s introduction, appeared on stage as silhouettes against a red background, the aesthetics demanding the audience’s attention.

The crowd began rising to its feet; the energy was palpable.

But the room’s emotion reached its highpoint during

Yusong Shi, The Spectrum

Friday, the Indian Student Association earned its second first-place trophy in two years. The group told the love story of the Taj Mahal and incorporated various Indian-style dances of Bollywood, Garba/Raas, Bhangra and classical.

the performance from ISA, the most colorful group of the night.

Combinations of Bollywood, Garba/Raas, Bhangra and classical dance styles told the story behind the creation of the Taj Mahal.

“There’s a lot of myths and folklores in Indian culture,” said Priya Sasankan, the president of Indian SA. “The problem is, a lot of our stories are a long epic.

Through traditional dancing, it takes about 15-20 minutes to tell those stories and do it justice.”

The clubs were allowed a maximum of eight minutes. The use

of ‘the sapp’ – a Bhangra percussion instrument – and the dancers’ multi-colored clothing added a nice ambiance to the routine.

ISA excited the crowd and captured the tale with its tightly choreographed and polished moves.

The spectators chanted “ISA” in approval.

“There was a lot of energy,” said Haider Tawakali, a freshman exercise science major. “Indian SA was definitely on top. They pulled the energy out of everybody. They went above and beyond.” see fiesta, page 2

ubspectrum.com

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Monday, March 3, 2014

Continued from page 1: E-cigs regulated under the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). This places e-cigarettes in an area where there are no restrictions on the content inside of the devices’ cartridges. Inside the cigarette-like tube are “juices,” which come in a variety of flavors, from menthol to chocolate.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said one-fifth of adult smokers have tried e-cigarettes. The devices have also become second in smoking cessation methods behind going “cold turkey,” according to Forbes.

The UBreathe Free policy revised its terms in 2010 to include electronic cigarettes under the methods of smoking prohibited on campus.

Jordan Boulware, a senior business major, thinks it is an “abuse of power” to say that students are not allowed to use electronic cigarettes on campus.

UB Wellness Education Services advocates harm-reduction methods to help quit smoking. The center, however, does not support using electronic cigarettes as one of those methods.

Sharlynn Daun-Barnett works at UB Wellness Education Services and has been helping students quit smoking since 2002. She agrees with the center’s belief to not use ecigs as a means of quitting.

“It is helpful to do something different like wear a patch or chew gum while you create a new habit,” Daun-Barnett said. “Because, otherwise, you’re reducing your nicotine but you’re not creating a life-

style that’s different for the long term.”

Boulware believes e-cigs only carry a stigma because the term “cigarettes” is attached to it.

Another concern with e-cigs is the opportunity for those who haven’t smoked to use them as a gateway to nicotine or regular cigarettes.

“I just know it’s a very new product and I worry about people who don’t know – who like the flavors but may be putting themselves at risk,” Daun-Barnett said.

Giovino shares this concern regarding the regulation of e-cigs.

Regulation could restrict marketing to kids – which includes the flavorings that appeal to younger users – and promote harm reduction, he said.

Giovino believes e-cigarettes should be properly regulated. And if corporations “cannibalize” regular cigarette sales, this would allow e-cigarette sales to go up, and he views that as a positive effect.

“We don’t know enough about them but that’s something that can be easily solved,” Giovino said.

“I think there’s great potential for good but with very strong caveats.”

TerBush, a first-year graduate student in physical therapy, decided to quit smoking because of his health-related field of study.

“Practice what you preach,” he said, referring to his decision to stop using traditional cigarettes and building up tar on his lungs. “[E-cigs] should definitely be

held to different standards. As more studies are done on the effects of electronic cigarettes on people’s health, I think there will be a larger divide between the two because it is just a nicotine delivery system. But it is addictive, so they might see it as an addictive substance.”

The adverse public effects of electronic cigarettes are not the same as normal cigarettes, according to TerBush, but he understands why the university would want to ban it.

Electronic cigarettes are being advertised similar to how cigarettes were advertised almost 50 years ago, according to Giovino.

Mitch Cochran is a sales associate at Juicy Vapor, an e-cigs specialty store, and has been using his device for about two years.

Cochran said he does not understand why non-smokers would start using e-cigarettes.

“In terms of people who don’t smoke cigarettes, I don’t necessarily want someone who doesn’t smoke cigarettes to come in, start running out of fruit flavors to try and pick up a tobacco flavor,” Cochran said.

“They’re going to go, ‘I kind of like the taste of this, I wonder what an actual cigarette tastes like.’”

The question, according to Giovino, is: How would the FDA regulate e-cigs?

If the FDA does set up a policy, Giovino thinks it should “maximize the probability that people who use cigarettes will instead switch, and the people who never use don’t find

them attractive.”

Many students who have switched from regular cigarettes to e-cigs do not believe the device should be used if you have never smoked before.

“The reason I would say switch to an e-cig if you smoked previously, is because it’s the lesser of two evils,” TerBush said. “If you don’t smoke anything, I wouldn’t say smoke electronic cigarettes.”

Boulware thinks those who use e-cigs without nicotine mostly view them as “mobile hookah.”

The cost of a basic electronic cigarette kit is about $40, according to Cochran. But the devices may go up to more than $100.

The initial cost of an e-cig model may seem large, but the cumulative amount a normal cigarette smoker spends on packs is typically more expensive in the long run.

Giovino thinks it is a great alternative but the best option is always to avoid starting.

“The issue becomes, ‘What are we against?’” he said. “Are we against cancer, heart attacks, emphysema or bronchitis? Or are we against addiction?”

For him, it’s a “no-brainer.” email: news@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 1: Roaches The girls have removed all the food from their cabinets and countertops, where they noticed the roaches are most attracted, and onto their coffee table and shelves in their living room.

“I feel a little better because I can see it,” Hoyte said, explaining she preferred food out in the open than to not knowing what was behind closed cupboard doors.

Though Ruffin feels she’s been treated unfairly, not all tenants share those sentiments. Evangelia Tzelios, a fourth-year occupational therapy student, has lived in the complex for two years. She said she was never notified about the roaches, but she has seen exterminators come in to do preventative sprays – Barry said those happen once a month.

Tzelios feels Sweethome is the “best” out of all options she found for student housing.

“The rent is actually inexpensive considering the apartments come furnished and we get great amenities,” she said. “In my experience, it’s been managed pretty well and I don’t think I could have asked for a better student living situation.”

Barry said the roach situation is “unfortunate” and is being dealt with “diligently.” He said he understands the affected students’ frustration and why some of them reached out to health inspectors. He said he’d do “the same thing in their shoes.” email: news@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 1: Fiesta Following close behind the Indian SA, in second place, was the Malaysian Student Association (MaSA), with its performance of the famous “Legend of Puteri Gunung Ledang.”

The story was full of magnificent romance, telling of ‘The Sultan’ and his quest to marry a beautiful princess.

MaSA used an interesting choreography strategy that made the princess the center of attention. The interchangeability of the colors that lit the stage elegantly conveyed the mood of the action and evoked a trance-like state from the audience.

Warm yellows and reds excited the audience during uplifting moments, while the use of cool blues and greens calmed them down as the tale became more somber. It was a strong balance.

The second-place finish for MaSA was the first placement in the club’s history.

The Japanese Student Association (JSA) rounded out the top finishers with a gentle presentation of an aggressive battle between Raijin, God of Thunder, and Fuijin, God of Wind.

Their performance had a fitting range and pace as it intertwined

contemporary and hip-hop moves with traditional Japanese dancing.

And just when audience members thought the performance was winding down, a memorable battle scene broke out.

JSA’s combination of choreography, set pieces, music and theatrics made for one of the many memorable performances from the evening.

“We’re very excited,” said Jason Hesch, who played Raijin. Hesch is a senior media study major and works as JSA’s public relations officer. “We started practicing last semester, right before Thanksgiving break. And it’s been non-stop ever

since. It’s literally been every night.”

Hesch also said the audience’s energy helped drive the performance.

Although these performances were trophy winners, they weren’t the only crowd-pleasers during the evening. Almost every group brought something unique to the stage – from break dancing to risqué burlesque to Vietnamese Lion Dances.

“I thought the evening was very multi-cultural,” said Devin Sanford, a sophomore engineering major. “It brought around a lot of nations and it showed different backgrounds of where people come from. I think it

was a good lesson to show everybody.”

Each performance captivated the raucous audience with its own unique flair.

“I was surprised myself,” said Matt Siwiec, the International Council coordinator. “I did not expect this many people to come today. I know International Fiesta has been popular amongst the years but I was just like, ‘wow.’” email: arts@ubspectrum.com

Monday, March 3, 2014 ubspectrum.com

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Aaron Mansfield MANAGING EDITORS Lisa Khoury Sara DiNatale OPINION EDITOR Anthony Hilbert COPY EDITORS Tress Klassen, Chief Amanda Jowsey Samaya Abdus-Salaam

OPINION

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Just say ‘yes’ to regulating e-cigarettes Calls for restrictions growing as e-cigarette sales rise

NEWS EDITORS Sam Fernando, Senior Amanda Low Madelaine Britt, Asst.

ART BY AMBER SLITER, THE SPECTRUM

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.

Monday, March 3, 2014 Volume 63 Number 56 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.

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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

With the newest nicotine-delivery trend sweeping the nation, calls for common-sense regulation are both warranted and necessary.

Last week, e-cigarette regulations burst upon the political stage of the western world. The European Parliament, representing the 28 European Union nations, approved tough new rules regulating the e-cigarette market.

Following the move, Democrats in the U.S. Senate proposed a bill to ban marketing of e-cigarettes to minors.

The moves in Europe and the United States have sparked a conversation about the appropriate way to regulate the newest, en vogue way to get a nicotine fix.

The debate is long overdue.

E-cigarette use has sharply risen in recent years. Between 2012 and last year alone, sales have doubled and stores offering ecigarettes have quadrupled. Sales reached $1.7 billion in 2013.

The numbers shouldn’t come

as a surprise. E-cigarettes have made a highly public move from Internet banner ads to gas station counters, with stores dedicated to “vaping” popping up across towns and cities.

Any dramatic rise in the popularity of a method of inhaling a drug, particularly something as addictive as nicotine, deserves careful consideration.

E-cigarettes are small batterypowered devices that allow for the inhalation of nicotine in the form of a vapor made up of several chemicals including propylene glycol, which makes the trademark puff of vapor from e-cig users. The chemical is also well known for its use as stage fog.

Often considered a path to smoking cessation, the device’s cartridges are available in various flavors and with different levels of nicotine.

The vapor is considered a minor lung irritant, but conclusive science on the effects of using

e-cigarettes is out. That void is filled with the claims of detractors who argue that e-cigarettes – because they can so easily be used inside and do not impact others nearby – increase nicotine use and are a gateway to smoking cigarettes.

But many consider the new trend a healthy alternative to smoking cigarettes and praise the new devices.

E-cigarettes are certainly better than traditional cigarette use, for bystanders and the actual smoker. They are far from harmless, though. Some regulation is necessary.

The bill proposed to the Senate would ban marketing to minors, an important and vital first step.

The European bill goes further and sets an important precedent to consider in this country.

The passed bill bans advertising, similar to the regulation for traditional cigarettes, mandates health warnings on packaging, makes e-

cigarettes childproof and limits the amount of nicotine per milliliter.

These laws are far from draconian and maintain the status quo for nicotine regulation. Laws need to keep up with the development of new methods for the drug’s delivery.

The United States must update its laws to match current smoking trends. Though more research is needed, nicotine’s addictive nature and e-cigarettes’ popularity certainly justify introductory rules in line with those passed in Europe.

Warning labels addressing the dangers of nicotine, reductions in advertising similar to those on traditional cigarettes and limits on the concentration of nicotine in e-cigarettes are all necessary and straightforward regulations. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

Governor makes right call in maintaining food stamp benefits The food security provided through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ensures a human right to members of an advanced democracy like the United States.

SNAP is funded through federal farm bills that also fund protections and subsidies for farmers. Last month, Congress passed a long-delayed farm bill promising new benefits to farmers in the form of new subsidies while making deep cuts to SNAP. The bill egregiously realigns the priorities of this nation, allowing further buffeting of profitable agribusiness while stripping protections for those most in need.

In response to the move, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a plan last week to preserve the $457 million from the federal government that comes to New York for SNAP. The plan will retain the approximately $127 per month that nearly 300,000 New York households would have lost under the federal bill.

The plan reveals both a penchant for helping the poor and the value of clever budgetary maneuvering.

The recently passed farm bill closed a loophole that guaranteed SNAP benefits to Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) recipients regardless of how much LIHEAP assistance they received. The new regulation required LIHEAP recipients to get at least $20 per month to receive the SNAP benefits. Many received far less than this – as little as $1.

Cuomo plans to spend $6 million of state funds to bring the nearly 300,000 households that would lose SNAP under this regulation up to the monthly $20 LIHEAP threshold. This will guarantee a continuation of federal SNAP benefits.

The move sets a powerful precedent as several other states disproportionately affected by the SNAP cutback consider similar plans to maintain the food assistance funding – as they should, despite the ideological arguments against food security for this nation’s most vulnerable. Fraud, cost and lack of incentive to work are among the most cited reasons for cutting SNAP benefits.

Fraud in the food stamp program is certainly troubling, though sparse at best. More than 98 percent of SNAP benefits are issued to eligible households with only a 3 percent rate of overpayment, and errors have been decreasing since the 1990s, according to the Quality Control Branch of the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service.

The program’s cost is among the most common, and erroneous, criticisms of SNAP. But in actuality, every $5 spent on SNAP generates as much as $9 of economic activity, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Though there has been a spike in recent SNAP claims, primarily a function of the recession and persistently high unemployment rate, the share of gross domestic product dedicated to the program is expected to shrink through the decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The governor’s plan, then, will not only assist those in need but will also stimulate economic activity in the state to a rate far higher than the $6 million initial investment.

Claims will persist that guaranteed food security will serve as a disincentive for recipients to work. The stance is more ideological than accurate, and far from empirically vetted. The phony fear should hardly be what stops us from feeding people in need.

Some people will abuse the system. Some will choose not to work because they know a federal program will assist in food payments. Some will try and sell their benefit cards.

But the crimes of the few should not deny the rights of the many.

Despite the imperfections of SNAP, the system allows the government to protect a basic human right for millions of America’s most needy – and hungry – citizens. It’s a program that deserves wholehearted support.

With his legal finagling, Cuomo is setting an important precedent. His decision to preserve the food security for 300,000 families will make a world of difference for people who won’t be forced to choose between rent and a meal. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

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LIFE, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Monday, March 3, 2014 ubspectrum.com

UB’s smoke-free policy leads monthly InFocus discussion Students, faculty discuss effectiveness of UBreathe Free JENNA FITTS

Staff Writer

When Megan Bragdon was pregnant, she was concerned about the effects of secondhand smoke. Despite UB’s antismoking policy, she said people give her rude responses when she asks them to put their cigarettes out on campus.

Bragdon, the program coordinator for the University Honors College, had the chance to voice her opinion on smoking at the latest InFocus series meeting.

Friday at noon, students and faculty gathered in 107 Capen Hall to talk about smoking and the university’s smoke-free policy, UBreathe Free – which restricts smoking on campus grounds. It aims to make the campus cleaner and healthier for students, employees and visitors.

Contrary to the rule, students continue to congregate in front of doorways for a cigarette break between classes, making the policy a subject for discussion. Though the few students who were against UBreathe Free at the meeting didn’t vocalize their opinions strongly, many students on campus find it unfair that smoking on campus is banned. But the majority of those who attended Friday’s discussion believe smoking shouldn’t happen at all at UB. “You should be respectful of me as a person having to breathe the air walking past,” Bragdon said. “I’m not saying you don’t have a right to smoke; just don’t

Yusong Shi, The Spectrum On Friday, students and faculty discussed cigarette use on UB’s campus at a monthly InFocus meeting. The university, which has a smoke-free policy, has struggled to implement the rule.

smoke here. Don’t smoke where I have to breathe it, and respect the community you’re around.”

Sherri Darrow, the director of Student Health and Wellness, was the meeting’s moderator. Each month, a UB professor or faculty member facilitates the open forum about a current issue in society, engaging both students and faculty.

Ten percent of UB students have reported tobacco use in the last 30 days, according to Darrow. Out of those who do use it, men are more likely to consume tobacco than women, she said.

“Does this surprise you?”

Darrow asked the group.

Robert Rondinaro, a junior biological sciences major, did not expect those numbers.

“I would say [I’m] a little surprised because, just by walking outside campus, you will see at least two or three students smoking every day,” Rondinaro said.

The adult rate for smoking was 44 percent in the 1950s and is at an “all-time low” at 19 percent today, according to Darrow.

Darrow explained there are three reasons for the decline: the increasing cost of tobac-

co products, the indoor air laws that prohibit smoking inside of buildings and restricted access for smokers, including requiring photo IDs to purchase cigarettes.

“The main reason for the smoke-free policy is out of respect for each other and the environment,” Darrow said. “We do have a commitment here. We are a community and have a policy we are hoping will support that.”

Some students, agreeing with Bragdon, vocalized concerns over second-hand smoke.

“Some smokers build up this

attitude that people can’t tell them what to do,” one student added. “I don’t think they understand the severity of secondhand smoke.”

The way senior biological engineering major Phil Tucciarone sees it, the policy will not progress without strictly enforcing it on campus.

“What is a rule without enforcement?” Tucciarone said.

“Without enforcement, how strong are the rules that we have?”

Rondinaro talked about his experience working at a movie theater and having no authority to do anything when he saw people smoking in the public restroom. Others agreed and said UB’s policy needs to be stricter in order for smokers to take it seriously.

One student suggested implementing a fine for those who do not obey the rule.

As the meeting closed, Darrow told the group the smoking issue is challenging and takes effort to overcome.

Wellness Education Services has a website on which students can learn more about UB’s efforts to promote health in the community for the long term.

The next InFocus meeting will take place March 28. The topic has not yet been released. email: news@ubspectrum.com

I’m meant

What I want to be.

You want to make an impact. An impact on your family, your community, even your world. You want more than a career, you want advancement, a purpose. At Hofstra University, we understand what pride and purpose is all about. It’s about finding an academic area that excites you, challenges you, and fulfills you. It’s about small class sizes, flexible schedules, exciting and challenging programs and dedicated faculty that help you receive a graduate education grounded in reality with a foundation in exceptional scholarship. And, it’s about experiences and campus opportunities that give you an edge when it comes to your career. Find a program that’s meant for you: choose from Hofstra’s 150 programs in areas such as business, communications, the health professions, science, and education.

Graduate Open House Sunday, March 9 @ 1 p.m. hofstra.edu/grad-day

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Monday, March 3, 2014

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For first-place Fiesta finisher, chemistry made the difference ANNE MULROONEY

Asst. Features Editor

When Cory Russo, a senior business major, couldn’t keep up with the Indian Student Assocation’s (ISA’s) Bollywood moves during practice, he knew exactly what to do: break out the Cotton-Eyed Joe. On Friday night, the ISA donned brightly colored skirts, veils and vests to share the epic love story of the Taj Mahal through the art of dance. After a performance filled with energy, neon fabric and grand romance, ISA placed first in International Fiesta’s competition for the second year in a row.

Russo, who has been participating in ISA’s performances for four years, recalls this year’s Yusong Shi, The Spectrum dance practices with a smile. As Cory Russo (center), a senior business mathe only white male on the dance jor, does a flip at the end of ISA’s perforteam, he joked that he incorpomance at International Fiesta. rated his “white person dances” into practices to add some culAs seniors, this was the last the world, the building stemmed tural diversity.

When dancers forget their from the emperor’s promise to year of participating in Intermoves, most ISA members re- his dying wife – he told her he national Fiesta for Russo and sort to traditional Indian dance would build the richest mauso- Cunliffe. They’ve been involved moves. But for non-Indian ISA leum over her grave. Now one since their freshman year and members like Russo and se- of the Seven Wonders of the will miss the culture and friendnior anthropology major Rachel World, the Taj Mahal is consid- ships ISA introduced to them.

Hickson, American dance moves ered a testament to eternal love They said that besides the culand remains one of India’s most ture, the best part of their income more naturally. volvement with ISA has been “We’d just go into the Cotton- popular tourist attractions. the friends they’ve made.

ISA painted a portrait of the Eyed Joe or the electric slide,” “In ISA, we are a big famibuilding and displayed it during Russo said. “We also tried to get the ‘Single Ladies’ dance in, be- the finale of its performance. It ly and I couldn’t imagine spendcause in our routine, the wife was ISA member Lindsay Cun- ing my four years here at this school with anyone else,” Cundies and the emperor’s single liffe’s favorite moment onstage. liffe said. “I love this club, I love “We stayed up so late painting again. We thought it would be a funny finale to the dance, but it, and in the end, I was so proud all of the people who have come they wanted to keep it cultural- of it,” said Cunliffe, a senior and gone, and I will cherish the psychology major, in an email. memories that I have for the rest ly Indian.”

The Taj Mahal was built be- “Once you get immersed in the of my life!”

Most of Russo’s favorite tween 1631 and 1648 by the or- Indian culture, you just want to der of Shah Jahan after his favor- keep learning more and experi- memories from his time in ISA are from the practices preceding ite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, passed encing new things.”

Fiesta performances. The prac!"#$%"&'()(*"+$,#-./#$0#1&#)$*1#)#2/) away during childbirth.

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most serious, he said – everyone was dedicated, enthusiastic and coming together as a team. But every practice was rigorous in its own way and became a time for bonding, he said.

“We have the longest nights,” Russo said. “We’ll be up every single night ’til 12:30 or 1 in the morning. Everyone is so tired, but we all keep coming back. It’s so nice to hang out with the people, and you see them every day.”

Priya Sasankan, a junior psychology major, is the president of ISA. Indian culture has long been important to Sasankan. She grew up attending Indian events in Buffalo and feels that she’s “always been a part of it.”

“The Indian community here in Buffalo is very strong,” Sasankan said. “Ever since I was a child, I have always been involved with and grew up with

strong ties to my culture.”

Sasankan loved having the opportunity to bring her entire team on stage. Her favorite part of ISA’s participation in Fiesta was the performance’s finale, because of its high energy.

“When you get on that stage, you begin to feel the emotion of the music and any nervousness you may have had leaves you,” Sasankan said.

She felt amazing during the whole performance, she said – it was only afterward that the nervousness set in.

“The competition was incredibly tough this year, and every team did such an amazing job,” Sasankan said. email: features@ubspectrum.com

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Monday, March 3, 2014

Looking back, moving forward The lasting effect of suicide in my life

SAM FERNANDO

Senior News Editor Just before Christmas, one of my mother’s best friends completed suicide. She was 64 years old and her birthday was the following week.

But I didn’t find out until a few days after Christmas because my mother didn’t want to “ruin” the holiday.

In my life, I have dealt with a number of deaths – more than any 23-year-old should have to face. But even worse, suicide was the cause of four of those deaths – which is four too many.

She was someone I had known my entire life, but still didn’t have a close relationship with.

She drove my mom to her doctor’s appointments when I was a toddler. She would babysit me when I was little.

She was the spitting image of my sister – well, maybe not physically, but in almost every other way. Like my sister, she was loud and obnoxious, but in a good way. She was Sri Lankan like my family, and in that culture there is a certain way women are to act. But she knew how ridiculous that expectation was, so she was never afraid to be herself, something I always knew but didn’t fully comprehend until after her death.

When you think of suicide, visions of lost children seeking a temporary solution come to mind. But for a 64-year-old – especially one I knew my entire life – suicide didn’t even register as a possibility.

Two Saturdays ago, I attended the funeral/memorial service. Yes, it’s strange to have such a service two months late, but I wasn’t surprised by the delay.

Suicide may be stigmatized in American society, but in my family’s Sri Lankan culture it’s absolutely taboo and often unspoken. My mother’s friend was cremated shortly after her death without any discernable celebration of her life.

I was angry. But I managed to have a handle on my feelings.

I thought this was a sign of my changed self.

I’ve written a column before about how my experiences with sui-

cide four years ago sent me down a depressive spiral, but I never really described what that meant.

I would isolate myself from everyone – my parents, my sisters, my friends. I would constantly be thinking about death and I wouldn’t try to forget about it. In a strange way, I embraced these thoughts and let them linger in me.

Emotionally, I was a wreck, but I never cried. I was stoic. I didn’t feel anything except anxiety. I was numb to happiness, sadness, even anger. My mind was going 100 miles a minute. No matter what I tried to think about, death and that unexplainable fear would shortly return.

I would lock myself in my room with my guitar. I would find temporary solace in my strumming and singing. But the second I played that last note, my feelings would return.

At the end of my first column on suicide, I alluded to the fact that I was past that depression.

I wasn’t. I’m not. And truthfully, I’m not sure I ever will be.

I suggested I had grown out of it; my feelings of incompleteness were something of the past.

I spoke too soon. I was wrong.

Two Sundays ago, two months after the death, my sister texted me, asking me what song I was going to play for the memorial service.

Instantaneously, those feelings returned, throwing me into a brick wall of emotions I had thought I was past. My mind was going 100 miles a minute again. I found it hard to concentrate. I was working and I had to excuse myself at least 10 times to “go for a walk.” And by that I mean going to the Union to sit on a couch and bury my face in my hands and remind myself to breathe. This past week, I went on a lot of these walks.

That night, when I went home, I pretended everything was fine in front of my mother. I believed she was the one who was allowed to feel like that, not me. It was her best friend and I was the best friend’s son.

“

I went to my room and just sat on my bed. My TV was off. My laptop was off. I didn’t play music. I just sat there.

An hour into this solitude, I started crying uncontrollably, being mindful to keep it down because my mother was just a few rooms away. I didn’t sleep at all that night.

That was the only time I cried. I still don’t know why it was that day of all days. Maybe it was when it became real for me. Maybe it was built up from the two months without that closure I was seeking.

I don’t know.

That is the thing about anxiety and this kind of fear: It’s hard to pinpoint the cause, which makes dealing with it all the more difficult.

It was a visceral fear I felt in the pit of my stomach I just couldn’t shake.

But what was there to be afraid of ? To be honest, I am still not entirely sure. I wasn’t suicidal, so that wasn’t it.

I feel a part of me has always had that “who’s next?” mentality. As irrational as that thinking is, I have averaged a suicide each year over the past four years. So in the back of my head, there were fears of what was to come.

Each of those suicides, no one saw it coming. I mean, in hindsight we could piece it together, somewhat, but generally, they were unexpected.

I’ve always been a fearful person.

I lock my bedroom door when I am sleeping. My friends sometimes make fun of me for how hesitant I am when I am making a left turn. I always have to triple check to make sure my front door is locked. It’s just who I am.

So when something like suicide is so far out of my control, it scares me.

This woman had children. She had a certain zest for life that you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

But she could have been anyone.

She was a big part of my life, but I never really had a strong relation-

THIS WORLD IS MADE OUT OF SUGAR. IT CAN CRUMBLE SO EASILY BUT

Women’s Tennis (7-1) The Bulls defeated Colgate (4-3) and Binghamton (1-5) by scores of 7-0 and 6-1 this weekend at the Miller Tennis Center. Buffalo has now

TONGUE OUT AND TASTE IT. -SARAH KAY, FOR MY DAUGHTER

won six matches in a row and will next host ASA (2-0) Saturday at 1 p.m.

Men’s Ice Hockey (24-9, 12-2 Northeast Collegiate Hockey League) The Bulls fell, 3-1, to Niagara (159, 10-4 NECHL) in the semifinals of the NECHL tournament. Junior forward Chris Marsack scored the Bulls’ lone goal early in the second period, but the Purple Eagles scored three unanswered goals to secure the victory. Read the full game story at ubspectrum.com.

The Bulls’ season is now over, as

LIBERTY YELLOW

”

DON’T BE AFRAID TO STICK YOUR

Continued from page 8: Quick Hits Men’s Tennis (6-2) The No. 56 Bulls were on the road this weekend for two matches and split them. Buffalo defeated New Jersey Institute of Technology (6-4) on Friday 4-3, but lost to Princeton (8-4) 4-3 on Saturday.

The Bulls will again be on the road next weekend, with matches against Bryant (8-4), Brown (5-5) and Boston (4-5).

ship with her – at least not as strong as the one my mother and sister had with her.

I think that is a big reason for this emotional whirlwind. With all four of the suicides I have dealt with, I had enough of a relationship to feel the hurt, but not enough of one to have any lasting memory to latch onto to help me grieve. In many ways, I find it hard to remember each of them.

But I tried to latch onto something.

Whenever she saw me, she would always find me from across the room and give me one of her world-famous bear hugs. This was always immediately followed by a kiss on both cheeks that left the biggest dark red (borderline purple) lipstick marks on my face. As a kid, I hated that; I always tried to avoid it but failed miserably.

She knew how embarrassed it always made me. So every time she saw me, she would always make sure to paint my cheeks red (purple) just to spite me. But as I got older, I retaliated. She was probably about 5-feet tall, so every time she would hug me, I’d pick her up off the ground and tell her, “I dare you to do it. I dare you.”

Still, she would always manage to find a way to win this battle.

As much as I hated it, I miss that.

Simply put, she was the life of the party.

But that day when my sister texted me, that fear took me by surprise. I couldn’t understand where the feelings came from. I didn’t want to be around anyone, but I didn’t want to be alone.

Was it the death? Was it the thought of playing “Tears in Heaven” at yet another funeral? Or was it something more?

I didn’t know.

I got short with a few of my coworkers. I found myself joking around more than normal just to mask how I was feeling. But still a few people noticed.

The week leading up to the ser-

they narrowly missed out on an automatic bid to the ACHA National Tournament to NECHL regularseason champion Syracuse (20-7, 12-2 NECHL) and did not receive an at-large bid.

Track & Field The track & field teams competed in the MAC Championships this weekend at Kent State. The women finished with a school-best fourthplace finish. The men also finished in fourth place and had a school-record 101 points.

The Bulls had six individual MAC champions, including senior Jon-

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athan Jones in the shot put with a throw of 19.08 meters, sophomore Mike Morgan in the heptathlon with 5,704 points, senior Asia Henry in the 800-meter dash with a time of 2:06.68, sophomore Camaria Long in the 200-meter dash with a school record time of 24.09 and junior Chris Reape in the high jump with a jump of 2:15 meters.

The men’s distance medley team won with a time of 9:52.37 and the women’s 4x400-meter relay team won in 3:39.70. email: sports@ubspectrum.com

vice was tough. I tried to pretend everything was all right. It was important to me that my friends and family didn’t see me in such a vulnerable state.

Spoken-word poet Sarah Kay summed up my experience perfectly in her poem For My Daughter: “There’ll be days like this, my mama said. When you open your hands to catch and wind up with only blisters and bruises … When your boots will fill with rain, and you’ll be up to your knees in disappointment. And those are the very days you have all the more reason to say, ‘Thank you.’ Because there is nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away.”

I am still trying to find a message in so much tragedy. Maybe there isn’t one. But I know one thing now.

It’s OK to feel helpless. It’s also OK to be afraid. And it’s OK to ask for help.

I will never get over the suicides.

Each one will always be in me. So will my depression and my fear. But I am learning to make them a part of who I am without letting them overwhelm me.

I’ve realized you can never fully get over something. And I wouldn’t want it to be any other way. My fear, depression and anxiety were a big part of my life and dealing with them four years ago – and now – have propelled me into the place I am currently in.

Suppressing a problem is not the same as addressing it. I continue to deal with this emotional side of my fears, but it is definitely easier now that I understand it.

In that column last September, I said my experiences with suicide have come to define who I am. I should have written that differently.

My experiences continue to shape who I am becoming.

I am not fully there. But I will get there.

“This world is made out of sugar,” Kay said in the same poem. “It can crumble so easily but don’t be afraid to stick your tongue out and taste it.”

Four years ago this week, my history with suicide began. Each time, a part of my world crumbled. I feel like part of my world will always be crumbling. But I am no longer afraid to stick my tongue out, taste the wonderful things I am blessed with and tell the people around me how much they matter. email: sam.fernando@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 8: Award Bashor pointed to MAC champion Akron as a blueprint of success for the Bulls. Akron finished seventh last season but came in first this year. Bashor attributed this to a higher level of competition in the MAC. The men’s team will host its MAC Championships next Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Alumni Arena.

Kuras will compete in the NCAA Championships in Minneapolis, Minn., which begin March 20. email: sports@ubspectrum.com

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Crossword of the Day

HOROSCOPES Monday, March 3, 2014 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK

ACROSS 1 Beaver projects 5 Sired, biblically 10 White-crested duck 14 Golden calf, for example 15 Decrease, as support 16 Painted metalware 17 California woman’s imperfection?

20 Coin with a hole in it 21 Weaves together 22 Wide gap 25 Rash treatment 26 Nibbled on 29 It may be rolled out in the rain 31 Intelligence, slangily 35 At all times, in verse 36 Internet message 38 Civil wrong 39 Treasure Island locale 43 A little of this and a little of that 44 Little role for a big star 45 In poor health 46 Not real 49 Balkan native 50 Scot’s “No way!”

51 Deal breaker?

53 Plane reservation 55 Narrow, elevated pathway 58 Buddhist sacred city

62 Site of a famous mission 65 Pro’s foe 66 Improve, in writing 67 It keeps on rolling 68 Part of a hammer head 69 Emulate a high roller 70 Marco Polo crossed it

DOWN 1 It may be slipped 2 Month on the Hebrew calendar 3 One-quarter of tetra4 Jargon, e.g.

5 Breakfast companion 6 Drop the ball, literally or figuratively 7 “Anything ___” 8 Change with the scenery 9 Magnetic flux units 10 Abruptly disconnected, in music 11 Look of distaste 12 Building annexes 13 Soaking 18 Render ineffective 19 Transparent sheet 23 Shangri-la resident

Edited by Timothy E. Parker March 3, 2014 SAME PLACE? By Gary Cooper 24 Swiss currency 26 Fabled moralist 27 Dabbling ducks 28 Bud Grace comic strip 30 Sixths of an inch, to a printer 32 Sign of spring 33 Syllables sung while skipping 34 Arrange, as hair 37 Rickey fruits 40 Middle of a square, sometimes 41 Bone-dry 42 Shade of blue 47 Crowing time 48 Gives a speech 52 Tiptoe’s opposite 54 Angle indicator in geometry 55 Support for the elderly?

56 Put into the pot 57 Joint for a beggar?

59 The Earth turns on it 60 Indian gown 61 Sailing the waves 62 What some yellow-bellied birds suck 63 Stopover 64 Like 33

S

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -You'll be able to explore your options with a new sense of freedom, but take care that you don't overdo it and burn yourself out.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -You'll be forced to face certain shortcomings whether you like it or not. Ultimately, however, a realization proves inspiring.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -You may feel as though the circumstances you face could quickly become overwhelming. A friend offers some sage advice.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -You may be observed by those who do not wholly appreciate what you do, or why -- and you needn't feel compelled to explain yourself. Yet. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -You're approaching a certain endeavor far more creatively than most, which is sure to win you both praise and criticism.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You'll want to follow certain roads today; avoid getting yourself lost in terrain that cannot be confidently navigated.

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 can correct mistakes before they have any real effect on your progress -- or perhaps even before others notice them.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -You'll receive information that is not in sync with what you know to be true -- or have you simply been making erroneous assumptions?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -You must be sure that what you are hearing is accurate; you can't afford to make decisions based on outdated information.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You have but a few minutes to finish what you only recently started, and today those minutes may not be easy to identify.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- A complicated maneuver lands you in some hot water. Fortunately, you're not likely to take anyone with you who doesn't want to go.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -Not all elements of a current endeavor are falling into place as expected. You may have to search high and low for the reason.

8

Monday, March 3, 2014 ubspectrum.com

SPORTS

In position for top-two seed, Bulls close out regular season TOM DINKI

Asst. Sports Editor

The men’s basketball team enters the final week of the regular season in prime position to enter the Mid-American Conference Tournament as a top-two seed, which would automatically place them in the semifinal round – two wins from the NCAA Tournament.

The Bulls (18-8, 12-4 MAC) play at Akron (18-11, 10-6 MAC) Tuesday night and close out their regular season Saturday against Bowling Green (12-17, 6-10) at Alumni Arena.

With a win over Akron Tuesday night, Buffalo would clinch the MAC East regular-season title, but this will not guarantee them a top-two seeding. The Bulls will have to beat out at least one MAC West foe, either Toledo (24-5, 12-4 MAC) or Western Michigan (19-9, 12-4 MAC), for a top-two seed. The Bulls fell to Toledo earlier this season but defeated the Broncos.

The Rockets defeated Western Michigan Saturday night, 9685. Toledo is currently the No. 1 seed, while Buffalo is second in the standings and Western Michigan is No. 3. With their 78-55 win over Miami Ohio (11-6, 9-7 MAC) Saturday, the Bulls automatically advanced to Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, for the quarterfinals.

The Bulls defeated Akron in their previous matchup Feb. 19, 96-90, at Alumni Arena. It was the Bulls’ highest scoring output of the season. The loss was the first of a three-game losing streak for Akron, though the Zips broke the streak by defeating Bowling Green, 57-47, on Saturday.

“We attacked them well,” said Bulls head coach Bobby Hur-

ley. “They really looked to get in the passing lanes. We were able to drive the ball effectively to the rim. [We had] some good balance on offense. Some guys stepped up and played well.”

The Zips have just two players who score over nine points a game, senior forwards Demetrius Treadwell and Quincy Diggs. Treadwell is averaging 14.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and Diggs is averaging 12 points per game and shooting 33.6 percent from beyond the arc. The duo combined for 35 points in their last meeting with the Bulls.

Buffalo had three 20-point scorers in seniors Javon McCrea, Jarod Oldham and Josh Freelove in that matchup. With the Bulls clinching at least a spot in the MAC quarterfinals, Saturday’s game against Bowling Green will be the Bulls’ last home game and it marks the seniors’ final game in Alumni Arena. UB will honor McCrea, Oldham, Freelove and fellow seniors Auraum Nuiriankh and Corey Raley-Ross before the game for Senior Day. “It’s bittersweet that it’s ending,” Hurley said. “We’re having a great year and that means we have a chance to play in the postseason, so it’s exciting. At the same time, as coaches, we’re going to miss [the seniors]. It’s going to be a tough day for us emotionally.”

Buffalo lost its first game with the Falcons Feb. 2, 74-68, in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Bulls led by six with 4:26 remaining but allowed Bowling Green to go on a 12-0 run that proved to be the difference. Hurley received a technical foul with 2:28 left in the game and the Bulls leading by two. The foul allowed Bowling Green to make three free throws and take a lead they held

onto for the rest of the game.

“Sometimes you win games in the last couple minutes; sometimes you lose games in the last couple minutes,” Hurley said.

“I think we’ve experienced it all this year. We’ve been super competitive in a lot of close games and our team is finding a win to win close games here down the stretch.”

After starting off 3-2 in conference play, Bowling Green has gone 3-8 in its last 11 games. The Falcons are second in the MAC in scoring defense, allowing 63.5 points per game, though they are ranked second-worst in the conference in scoring offense, with an average of 63.1 points per game. Buffalo scores nearly 10 points more per game, averaging 73.2 points.

Junior forward Richaun Holmes leads the Falcons in scoring with 13.5 points per game.

He also is grabbing 7.7 rebounds per game. Holmes ranks second in the MAC in blocks per game at 2.8. Sophomore guard Spencer Parker ranks second on the team in scoring at 12.9 points per game and scored 23 against the Bulls Feb. 2.

The Falcons rank last in the MAC in three-point shots made per game at 3.9. They have just two players – junior guards Jehvon Clarke and Anthony Henderson – who are a threat beyond the arc. Clarke and Henderson have combined for 71 percent of the Falcons’ made three-pointers.

The Bulls face Akron at 7 p.m.

Tuesday and tipoff for Saturday’s game against Bowling Green is set for 2:30 p.m. at Alumni Arena. email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Kuras wins third straight Most Outstanding Swimmer award; Bulls finish fifth

Courtesy of UB Athletics The women’s swimming and diving team competed in the MAC Championships in Geneva, Ohio, Saturday. Senior Brittney Kuras (foreground) was named the MAC’s Most Outstanding Swimmer for the third year in a row.

BEN TARHAN

Senior Sports Editor

By the time of the 400-yard freestyle relay – the final event of this past weekend’s women’s Mid-American Conference Championships at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio – the Bulls’ goal of winning a team MAC title was out of reach.

But that was no reason for Buffalo to give up in the last event.

“If you can’t win the whole thing, you want to win the last event,” head coach Andy Bashor said to his team.

The relay team, composed of junior Spencer Rodriguez, junior Taylor Steffl, senior Marissa Murphy and senior Brittney Kuras, followed Bashor’s creed, putting an exclamation point on the weekend with a first-place performance that was a school, meet, MAC and pool record.

Buffalo finished fifth as a team but won eight of the 20 events.

Junior Jessica Powers, Kuras and Rodriguez garnered individual victories. The Bulls finished first in the 800-yard freestyle relay along with their 400-yard free-

style relay win.

Kuras finished her exceptional MAC career with her third straight MAC Most Outstanding Swimmer award. She is the fourth swimmer in MAC history to win the award three times.

She won all three individual events she swam – the 100yard freestyle, 200-yard individual medley and the 200-yard freestyle. Kuras’ 100-yard freestyle time of 48.5 qualified her for the NCAA championship meet and broke her own school record. It was the fastest time in the history of the MAC. She also anchored the 400-yard and 800yard freestyle relays.

“She’s come in ready to practice and putting in that work over the spring and summers and it really paid off,” Bashor said.

“That 100-yard freestyle was a very special swim for her to go 48.5 and that will qualify her for NCAAs. It is great for her to be here three years and be in NCAAs all three years.”

Powers won two events, placing first in the 1,650-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle.

She also finished second in the

200-yard freestyle behind Kuras.

Bashor made sure to point out Rodriguez’s performance as well. Rodriguez finished second behind Kuras in the 200yard individual medley and won the 400-yard individual medley.

But Bashor was most impressed with her ability to bounce back on Saturday. Rodriguez finished fourth in the 1,650-yard freestyle and three hours later led off the Bulls’ victorious 400-yard freestyle relay.

Kuras, Rodriguez and Powers were all named to the All-MAC first team and Steffl was named to the All-MAC second team.

Steffl finished fourth in the 100yard butterfly and also scored points in the 100-yard freestyle and 50-yard freestyle.

Though Kuras is graduating, the squad’s performance has Bashor excited for the future.

“We had a lot of great individual performances, but we need more of them and we have that ability but it just didn’t show up,” Bashor said. “There were a lot of really good swims in there that we can continue to build off of.”

SEE SWIMMING, PAGE 6

Chad Cooper, The Spectrum The Bulls will play at Akron on Tuesday night for a rematch of their 96-90 victory over the Zips Feb. 19 at Alumni Arena. Freshman guard Shannon Evans had 13 points and four assists in that game.

Quick Hits Women’s hoops gets big win; track & field successful in MAC Championships

Yusong Shi, The Spectrum Freshman Margarita Kotok and the women’s tennis team have gotten off a strong 7-1 start.

Women’s Basketball (16-11, 9-7 MAC) The Bulls defeated Miami Ohio (7-20, 3-13 MAC), 74-61, in Oxford, Ohio Saturday afternoon. Buffalo’s nine MAC wins are the program’s most since the 2002-03 season.

Junior forward Kristen Sharkey scored 22 points, 18 of which came in the second half.

Sharkey made eight free throws in the final five minutes to secure the victory. Read the full game story at ubspectrum.com.

The Bulls finish out the regular season with two games at Alumni Arena. They first host Akron (18-8, 12-3 MAC) Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Baseball (6-1) The Bulls went 3-1 this weekend. Buffalo defeated Maryland Eastern Shore (0-7) on both Friday and Sunday. The Bulls defeated the Hawks 11-1 on Friday and 5-3 on Sunday in 10 innings.

Senior pitcher Kevin Hughes got his first start of the season in the

11-1 win, pitching six innings, giving up five hits and one run and striking out five batters.

The Bulls split their two games with Virginia Military Institute (7-3), losing 2-0 on Friday but rebounding to defeat the Keydets 6-5 on Saturday. Read more about the team’s weekend action at ubspectrum.com. Buffalo will next play at Georgia (4-6) on Friday at 6 p.m.

Softball (9-7) The Bulls went 1-4 this weekend in the University of Mexico Lobo Classic in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Bulls’ lone win came in their first game Friday against North Dakota State (10-6), 3-2. Buffalo lost to New Mexico (3-15) by a score of 5-2 on both Friday and Saturday.

They lost to Idaho State 16-7 on Saturday and 3-1 on Sunday.

The Bulls will next play Thursday against UMBC (7-3). The game will start at 2:30 p.m.

SEE QUICK HITS, PAGE 6