(From left to right: Michael Taheri, Diego Reynoso, Latosha White, Norm Paolini) With the help of St. Luke’s, Diego and Latosha have found their way to UB.
Fast Track to UB The Independent Student Publication of the University at Buffalo WEDNESDAY EDITION v March 30, 2011 Vol. 60 No. 67 v ubspectrum.com
UB Council Convenes
Norton Medal nomination made, Holm honored, resolution passes LAUREN NOSTROSenior News Editor On Monday morning, the UB Council met for the first time since Satish K. Tripathi was recommended to be UB’s 15th president. Chairman Jeremy Jacobs spearheaded the meeting, which addressed the recommendation of Officer in Charge Tripathi, the 2011 Norton Medal nomination, and the resolution in support of tuition policy and reforms from SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher. Dr. Edmond J. Gicewicz, president of the UB Council, nominated JoAnn Falletta, music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, for the 2011 Charles P. Norton Medal. The Norton medal is presented annually and is UB’s highest award as it recognizes an individual who has “performed some great thing which is identified with Buffalo.” Falletta was considered “one of the finest conductors of her generation” by The New York Times, according to her website. Tripathi issued a resolution to name the second floor of the Commons on UB’s North Campus the Bruce A. Holm Commons. Holm, a
SUNY Distinguished Professor and key figure in research to develop high-technology and life-sciences research in the Western New York region, died Feb. 9 of kidney cancer. Additionally, Vice President Marsha Henderson presented to the UB Council Zimpher’s resolution in support of the following reforms: A rational tuition policy that is fair, predictable, and responsible A slate of efficiency provisions that will create savings and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of current business practices while maintaining appropriate checks and balances and moving SUNY in line with other public higher education institutions across the country Authorization to pursue public/ private partnerships in order to leverage much-needed private sector capital so colleges and universities across SUNY can realize the fullness of their respective missions. The council unanimously supported the resolution. Remarks were made by Student Representative Joshua Boston regarding recent and upcoming student protests, and closing remarks were made by Tripathi. The next meeting will be held on Monday, June 13 at 8 a.m. in Capen Hall. Each meeting is broadcasted live at www.buffalo. edu/ubcouncil. g
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High School All-Stars on a Mission MATTHEW PARRINO Senior Sports Editor Diego Reynoso and Latosha White have struggled throughout their lives. They both have grown up under difficult conditions, but they are too busy working toward the future to worry about their hardships. The bond that these two students share is the place that provides their families with a place to live – St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy, at 325 Walden Ave. St. Luke’s is a fixture in the Buffalo community and helps provide aid for people in numerous ways. It’s located on the East Side and has been the home of both Diego and Latosha for many years; the mission has provided them with housing because their families cannot afford otherwise and because they volunteer at the mission. Both teenagers exemplify how a relationship between UB and St. Luke’s can help inner-city kids. Diego attends Bennett High School, and Latosha attends Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. This year, with the help of the mission, both Diego and Latosha were accepted into the Meszaros International Center for Entrepreneurship (MICE) program, which works directly with UB. The program is for high school students looking to learn more about business, and classes meet once a week for five months, every Saturday for about three hours.
DANNIELLE O’TOOLE Asst. News Editor Note: Due to the illegality of using and selling prescription medications for non-medically intended use, many of the sources are referred to by their first names or pseudonyms to protect their anonymity.
Adderall was originally marketed as Obetrol in the 1960s as a weightloss drug. In the last 25 years, the drug has been re-branded in order to treat ADHD and narcolepsy in adults and children. More recently,
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St. Luke’s was co-founded and is co-directed by Amy Betros and Norm Paolini. Their mission is to help the people on the East Side in any way they can. A new program in the works is an afterschool effort that will help kids study and improve their skills in the subjects they’re taking. Betros and Taheri are heading up the after-school program but need volunteers to help teach the students. UB students could really help get this program off the ground, according to Betros. “The goal is to get [UB] students interested in helping so they can be role models for our kids,” Betros said. “We’re trying to give the kids a chance. If we can get them young and teach them young, then they’re going to get through school…When you have someone who encourages and helps you, you make it.”
In 2009, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that full-time college students aged 18 to 22 are twice as likely as their counterparts who were not in school to have used Adderall non-medically in 2008.
Students taking Adderall For those who take Adderall and do not have ADHD, the drug acts as a powerful stimulant that increases concentration, energy and focus. Academic pressures and the fast pace of college life are driving some students to seek alternative ways to boost their performance and give them a competitive edge. “I take Adderall when I need to pull all-nighters,” said Molly, a senior business major. “It keeps me awake
There are a number of subjects being taught in the after-school program, like creative writing, reading, math, and science. One of the biggest problems facing the St. Luke’s staff is the amount of 16-year-old inner-city students still reading on a thirdgrade level. St. Luke’s functions almost primarily on donations, and nobody on the staff accepts a salary, according to Betros. There isn’t any money to pay tutors but kids are being left behind because they aren’t equipped with the basics. Betros believes UB students able to sacrifice some time and make the 12-mile bus ride down to St. Luke’s can change someone’s life. “The thing is that the kids here want to do better,” Betros said. “But they don’t have anyone to help them…[The program] will be something cool that kids will want to come to. We’ll have snacks for the kids; they can go to math, English, reading, science, or whatever they need help in.” Betros hopes to have computers available as well so that the kids have an easier time doing their homework. Taheri has been a bridge between UB and St. Luke’s for a while now and has even brought his law school students down to St. Luke’s in the past to help out. Even if UB students don’t want to teach, there are dozens of other ways to help. President John B. Simpson had a vision for UB 2020 that, if executed, was meant to help bring jobs to the city of Buffalo. Taheri thinks the new UB president should include the less-fortunate in his plans for the future.
Continued on Page 5
While this stimulant is usually used to deliver a calming effect for those with ADHD, when people who do not need the drug consume it, it produces an opposite effect.
Courtesy of flickr user ChelseaM
Spectrum survey finds Adderall abuse on campus
Being on a level playing field is what St. Luke’s is all about. The Mission is a staple of the East Side and helps the community in a variety of ways. It feeds anywhere from 400 to 600 people a day.
and it keeps me focused on studying rather than on Facebook or other distractions.”
An on-campus survey has revealed that many students at UB are abusing the prescription drug Adderall. Misusing prescription amphetamine medications such as Adderall is a widespread problem at UB, a survey reveals, with nearly onethird of UB students stating that they have used the drug non-medically. Additionally, over 75 percent of students surveyed have heard of students obtaining and using ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) medications for other than their intended uses.
“It’s a very solid entrepreneurship program that’s allowed two kids from St. Luke’s to go, who would never have had an opportunity to go to that program,” Taheri said. “We’re very grateful. They gave the kids a scholarship and without that they just wouldn’t get the exposure to business principles. Now they’re on a level playing field.”
Adderall has become a prevalent substance on college campuses as a study drug to increase productivity.
Have you heard of other students using ADHD medications non-medically?
Students on Speed
Michael Taheri, a former UB adjunct law professor, has volunteered at St. Luke’s and works with Diego and Latosha within the MICE program on Wednesday nights at St. Luke’s. He can’t say enough about what the program has done for Diego and Latosha.
Meg Kinsley /// The Spectrum
For what uses have you obtained Adderall or heard of others obtaining it for?
The majority of students surveyed indicated that the primary use of Adderall they were aware of or had taken part in was as a study aid. Other uses included to promote weight loss and as a recreational “party” drug. “I was prescribed Adderall a few years ago to help me focus during my studies,” said Kelsey, a junior undeclared major. “I never finish my whole prescription, so I always give pills to my friends who need help studying, too.”
Dangers of the drug
Nearly 90 percent of UB students surveyed who had confessed to non-medical Adderall use indicated that they received pills through a friend with a prescription or someone who was known to sell Adderall. Other students stated that they obtained Adderall through a family member with a prescription.
Physicians have been expressing concern about the ease at which students gain access to drugs, and it is not necessarily through prescriptions, according to Rita Watson, a columnist for The Providence Journal and former director of education and policy at Yale’s Substance Abuse Treatment Unit.
“I am like the doctor of Greek Life,” said John, a senior political science major and fraternity member. “Whenever anyone needs to buy Adderall, they come to me, especially during finals weeks.”
“People often keep drugs in their medicine cabinets that they no longer need, and it is an invitation to others to help themselves,” Watson said.
Continued on Page 5
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OPINION Editorial Board
Davis Shouldn’t Die
Editor in Chief
Georgia murder case surrounded with questions
Andrew Wiktor
Managing Editors
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.
Twenty years ago, Troy Davis, a Georgia man, was charged with murdering Mark McPhail, a police officer. At his trial, nine witnesses testified that they saw Davis commit the murder. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. In the time since his conviction, seven of those witnesses have recanted their testimonies. Davis is still on death row. Does something seem horribly wrong here? In the two decades since his conviction, Davis has appealed several times. In 2008, the Supreme Court granted him a stay of execution and ordered the federal district court to review his case again.
Sports Editors
Unfortunately for Davis, the review did not go well. When the district court looked at his case, it ruled that Davis had not done enough to “prove his innocence.”
Photo Editors
When Davis went to the Supreme Court a second time, it wasn’t as kind as before. It rejected his plea without giving any explanation, leaving Davis on death row.
Life Editors
Jennifer Harb, senior Mike Tyson, asst. Matt Parrino, senior Carey Beyer Brian Josephs, asst. Clinton Hodnett, senior Megan Kinsley Alex McCrossen
While no new date has been set for Davis’ execution, there is still a man sentenced to die even though there’s a lot that suggests he could be innocent.
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
Meeting Skepticism
In the simplest terms, this is wrong.
Georgia courts should hope that isn’t the case.
While it’s certainly possible that Davis did murder McPhail, there is plenty of reason to believe he could be innocent. The fact that seven of the nine witnesses recanted their testimonies has established a great deal of reasonable doubt.
Of course, we’ve already seen that situation occur before, right here in Buffalo. Anthony Capozzi spent 22 years in prison after being convicted of raping two women, only to be exonerated when Altemio Sanchez was revealed to be the true culprit.
How could anyone be certain of Davis’ guilt when the people who claimed to be there aren’t certain themselves? This would be problematic in any situation, but when capital punishment is involved, it becomes far more egregious. Georgia is planning to take the life of a man who may not have done anything wrong. That is simply unconscionable. Regardless of how anyone feels about capital punishment, it shouldn’t be controversial to say that a man shouldn’t be killed if we don’t know for sure whether or not he committed the crime. In this case, that standard is not met. What’s really troubling about this issue is that it speaks to the inherent flaws in our country’s legal system. Suppose new evidence came out that proved Davis was innocent. Even though that would provide a happy ending to the story, we still would’ve kept an innocent man in prison for 20 years. The
Capozzi may have been granted his freedom and awarded $4.25 million, but he lost a huge chunk of his life, and he will never be able to get that back. When people are convicted of crimes even though evidence against them may be shoddy, it’s a very serious problem. Reasonable doubt exists for a reason – to make sure no one has to rot in prison, or in some cases, die, when it’s undeserved. In Davis’ case, a new trial should be granted. If seven of the nine witnesses no longer commit to their testimonies, then that trial should be thrown out. Davis is essentially being held on death row for faulty testimony. At the very least, Davis’ sentence should be commuted to life. If a man were to die for a crime he didn’t commit, it would be a terrible tragedy. The Georgia courts have a chance to make sure that is not the case. g
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Point two of the Education Law of New York §356 states that the council must meet at least four times per year and that the information discussed at each meeting must be made public three days prior to the session. In other words, the topics discussed at each meeting are known before the council convenes, so the only possible surprises come when a motion must be voted on, or the student representative reports on recent student activity.
In time, I think he’ll find the confidence needed to head UB, but again, that wasn’t the most troublesome part of the meeting. As mentioned before, university councils must conduct four meetings per year. But the rules don’t mention anything about the public nature – or lack thereof – of “executive meetings.”
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For those unaware, the UB Council is charged with the duties of advising our university and its most important officers, including the president. Nine of the 10 members of the committee are appointed by the Governor of New York and serve seven-year terms, while the final member is an elected student representative who serves as a liaison between the student body and administration.
I know that it was Satish K. Tripathi’s first council meeting as officer in charge, but I would have liked to see him control the room like a future president should. In popular terms, Tripathi lacked the swagger that the leader of the largest SUNY school must possess to be effective.
MARCH 30, 2011 VOLUME 60 NUMBER 67 CIRCULATION: 7,000
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At 7:58 a.m. on Monday morning, Senior News Editor Lauren Nostro and I walked into room 505, located in the penthouse of Capen, for a UB Council “meeting.” Instead, we found ourselves in a staged gathering that had all the qualities of a scripted show, minus the popcorn (there was coffee, yogurt and fruits, instead.)
Instead, the resolution was rushed through without any debate. And that wasn’t the worst part of the meeting.
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Wait, Capen has five floors?
Even though signing the resolution was probably the right move, it would have been nice to see the members of the council – the entity which “serves as the primary oversight and advisory body to the University at Buffalo” – prove that they read the resolution diligently by providing some form of conversation before agreeing.
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But that’s because most haven’t been to the fifth floor of Capen Hall.
In other words, it was a political move to get on SUNY’s good side and was met with no opposition.
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Leather swivel chairs, plasma televisions, fancy dinnerware, and mahogany tables aren’t exactly the first things that come to mind when most think of the University at Buffalo.
Although there was a motion passed last Monday, there was hardly a vote and certainly no surprises. A SUNY resolution regarding a rational tuition policy was proposed and quickly accepted without any debate. Council Chairman Jeremy M. Jacobs recommended to agree with the terms of the resolution even though UB’s future plans include a broader scope for the increase in tuition.
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ANDREW WIKTOR Editor in Chief
Jeannette Wiley /// The Spectrum
New York Times Online Experiment Unlikely to Work Most loyal readers prefer print version As the popularity of online journalism has increased in recent years, many news outlets have adjusted their approaches accordingly. In the past year, The Spectrum has published several Internet-exclusive articles, and we are hardly alone. Indeed, online content is a large source of readership and revenue for many news organizations. This was likely the reason why two weeks ago, The New York Times made the decision to begin charging its users for online content. Under the plan, readers would pay $15 for digital and smartphone access, $20 for digital and pad access, and $35 for both. It is important to note that the Times will still allow readers to access some content for free. Over the course of a month, one can view 20 articles on the site. Knowing this, it is likely that only the most dedicated readers will be willing to pony up the dough.
Taking that into consideration, it seems unlikely that this plan will be successful. Admittedly, online journalism is very popular these days, and many people turn to the Times’ website for their news. The problem is that anyone who loves the paper enough to read more than 20 articles a month is likely already a subscriber to the print version; the online subscription would have a very limited appeal. In this sense, it is important to remember the intimate reading experience that a physical newspaper provides. The Internet, while popular, and more convenient, cannot replicate the appeal of holding a paper in one’s hands. Dedicated Times readers probably prefer the personal experience to the digital one. Additionally, the presence of 20 free articles means that casual readers will likely not be interested. Even if a reader views more than 20 articles a month, he could very easily
just stop at 19, and then go to other sources. Several stories originally reported in the Times are retweeted by other news organizations, and eventually posted on their own websites. While there are several articles that can only be found in the Times, a fair chunk of its content is available elsewhere. Considering the popularity of online journalism, as well as the prestige of the Times, it’s easy to understand why the organization would try and experiment like this. A great deal of money can be made from online content, and the Times is simply trying to capitalize on that market. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that it will be able to find much of a market for this idea. The casual readers won’t care enough to pay the money, and the diehard fans will prefer the genuine, physical, article. g
In fact, they don’t mention executive meetings at all; however, this didn’t stop the council from calling one at the end of the public meeting. As the others in attendance cleared out of the room, a worker went around and removed the microphones that allowed the meeting to be recorded and broadcasted online, and turned off the video camera. Nostro and I took the hint and headed for the exit, although we should have stuck around until we were verbally kicked out. We both left the “meeting” with a pit in our stomachs, pondering what the executive meeting would be about and why there was nothing of substance said at the public meeting. It’s not as if a secretive presidential search was just conducted and the vice president of our school suddenly resigned, or anything. And those occurrences certainly wouldn’t fall under the duty of reviewing “…activities of the university in the areas of academics [or] student life…,” which is charged to the council, right? With articles about UB bypassing SUNY guidelines while conducting the presidential search, editorials about the odd candidates up for dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and columns about how private our school’s administration has been as of late, The Spectrum may be coming off as overly skeptical. After Monday’s seemingly staged UB Council meeting, however, I think we weren’t nearly skeptical enough until recently. g
Email: andrew.wiktor@ubspectrum.com
OPINION WEDNESday, MARCH 30, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM
3
NEWS
of reviving UB’s defunct bicycle club and was actively involved in the school’s Greek Life by taking part in various charitable causes.” As a tribute to Scarpati, his fraternity brothers decided to host an event last year to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving, and to generate money for the Matthew Scarpati Scholarship. Scarpati’s parents set up the scholarship fund the summer he passed away, and donations can be made year round. For the past two years, his parents have awarded a scholarship to UB students who most resemble their son and excel academically.
Source: facebook.com
Gone But Not Forgotten
DANNIELLE O’TOOLEAsst. News Editor This Sunday, the second annual Matthew Scarpati Memorial Walk will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Participants will meet in the front of the Student Union, and the walk will traverse the Academic Spine. Scarpati entered UB as a freshman economics major in the fall of 2008, and in the spring of 2009, he pledged and crossed into the fraternity Pi Lambda Phi. While home for the summer, Scarpati was killed when a drunken motorcyclist crashed into the 19-year-old while changing his bicycle wheel on the Wantagh bike path near his home on Long Island. “Matt Scarpati was the perfect embodiment of an all-around student who had his head in the right place, with a clear picture as to where he wanted to go in life,” said Karan Kapoor, a junior finance and marketing major and vice president of Pi Lambda Phi. “He set in motion the process
“As a fraternity, we really wanted to show our support to his family and be able to keep Matt in our memories forever,” said Kyle Berninger, a junior mechanical engineering major and president of Pi Lambda Phi.“[The walk] helps raise awareness on the dangers of drinking and driving, as well as allowing everyone to spend the day together sharing memories of Matt.” Fraternity members also hope that the walk will urge authorities to install proper safety measures for pedestrians and bicyclists. There is a $10 registration fee per person and $5 if you are part of a group with 10 or more members. Registration will begin at 10 a.m., and the walk will begin around 11 a.m. All proceeds are donated to Scarpati’s charity fund. Last year, roughly 500 people attended the walk, and over $3,000 was raised. “We hope to have a bigger turnout as the years go by, and we anticipate keeping this charity event going as long as our chapter is at SUNY Buffalo,” said Trevor Titley, a junior communication major and member of Pi Lambda Phi. “The great part about being in a fraternity is that it preserves his memory as we teach our pledges about who Matthew was as a person.” Refreshments will be provided, and all who register will be given a T-shirt. There will also be a raffle with prizes, including apparel provided by True Blue and Upstate New York Transplant Services. g
News Briefs 3/30
Computer of Australian Prime Minister Hacked The parliamentary computer of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is believed to have been hacked. The computers of at least two other senior ministers have also been victims in a series of cyber attacks. The Australian government was alerted to the breach in security by a tip from U.S. intelligence services. The Australian Parliament House’s email network was targeted, as it is the least secure network used by parliament members. Australian authorities have not commented on the reports of cyber-warfare. Several thousand emails may have been accessed during the hacking. Reports have suggested that the hackers were looking for information regarding Australia’s profitable mining industry. Unnamed sources said that Chinese intelligence agencies may have been behind the computer hacking. The U.S. has recently warned countries about China’s extensive cyber-warfare capabilities. g
U.S. Supreme Court Reviewing Wal-Mart Sexism Claims A group of women are filing a gender-discrimination lawsuit against the world’s biggest retailer, Wal-Mart. The U.S. Supreme Court is now hearing evidence on whether the lawsuit should go forward. The group of women filing the lawsuit claim that female employees have been held back from promotions and wage increases. Christine Kwapnowski, one of the six women named as plaintiffs in the case, claims that when she asked her manager about a promotion she was told to ‘doll up.’
The women are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to make the case a class-action lawsuit against Wal-Mart. This means that more than a million women would be represented in the lawsuit and may be entitled to lost pay and damages. This would make it the largest sexdiscrimination case in American history. Wal-Mart has denied all allegations of discriminating based on gender. The company has previously won awards for promoting a women-friendly workplace. It also points out that if the case were taken as a class-action lawsuit, many women who do not have any grievances would be misrepresented. A final decision on how the lawsuit will proceed will be made by June. g
Facebook Suit to Stay in Buffalo Federal Court A lawsuit filed against Facebook co-founder Mark E. Zuckerberg by an Allegany County businessman will remain in Buffalo’s federal court despite attempts to move it to Allegany County Court. U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara ruled that the case will remain a federal matter, as the two parties live in different states. The businessman, Paul Ceglia, claims to have a written contract from 2003 that would entitle him to own 84 percent of Facebook. Ceglia claims that he gave Zuckerberg $1,000 to help start the business. The social networking site now has more than 500 million members and is worth $50 billion. Ceglia’s team of attorneys insist that its client has a legitimate case against Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg’s attorneys have stated that Ceglia’s claims are a complete scam. Ceglia was charged with a felony in Texas 16 years after he was caught with possession of psychedelic mushrooms. In 2009 he was also charged with defrauding customers in a company he ran with his wife. The case was later dismissed. g
Email: news@ubspectrum.com
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The Henschel Quartet performing all - Beethoven Friday, April 1st, 2011 7:30pm Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall For tickets and info: (716) 645-2921 or www.slee.buffalo.edu Presented by the UB Department of Music
Spend a bright summer in Buffalo. Get ahead in your studies by choosing from a huge schedule of credit-bearing courses, lectures and workshops at UBThisSummer. UB graduate and PharmD students register March 29 and undergraduates March 30.
Find a course or two that’s right for you at www.ubthissummer.buffalo.edu.
apply online @ uvsweethome.com 716.689.5800 | 283 American Campus Dr limited time only. see office for details. UB_04017_ThisSummer_UB_Ad_MECH2.indd 1
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NEWS WEDNESday, MARCH 30, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM
3/22/11 1:20:58 PM
3/22—Weapon possession was reported on Hayes Road. 3/22—A subject was reportedly selling drugs in Porter Quadrangle.
3/25—Larceny was reported in Abbott Hall. 3/25—An incident involving alcohol took place in Schoellkopf Hall. 3/25—Larceny was reported in Clark Hall.
3/22—Larceny was reported on Frontier Road. 3/26—A suspicious person was reported in Red Jacket 3/22—Larceny was reported Quadrangle. at UB Stadium. 3/26—A noise complaint 3/22—A suspicious person for loud music was made in was reported in Capen Hall. Spaulding Quadrangle. 3/22—A noxious odor was reported in Goodyear Hall.
3/26—Disorderly conduct was reported in Hayes Hall
3/23—Disorderly conduct was reported at Goodyear Hall.
3/26—A subject was treated for an alcohol overdose in Fargo Quadrangle.
3/23—A subject was cited 3/26—Marijuana use and with loitering outside Capen possession was reported in Goodyear Hall. Hall. 3/23—Larceny was reported 3/26—Larceny was reported in Wilkeson Quadrangle. at Goodyear Hall. 3/23—A subject was charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle on White Road.
3/27—A subject was charged with Driving While Intoxicated on Bailey Avenue.
3/27—A subject was treated 3/23—An intrusion alarm was set off in the Center for for an alcohol overdose in MacDonald Hall. the Arts. 3/27—Drug use and 3/24—A subject required first aid treatment in Bonner possession were reported in Hadley Village. Hall. 3/27—Larceny was reported 3/24—Criminal mischief was reported at Squire Hall. in the Student Union. 3/24—A subject in South Lake Village required a mental health evaluation.
3/28—Marijuana use and possession was reported on Frontier Road.
3/24—Harassment was reported in South Lake Village.
3/28—A subject required first aid treatment at Hochstetter Hall.
3/28—Larceny was reported 3/24—A subject required first aid treatment in Alumni in the Ellicott Complex. Arena. 3/28—Marijuana use and possession were reported at 3/24—Marijuana use and MacDonald Hall. possession were reported at the Millard Fillmore Academic Center. 3/29—Larceny was reported in the Natural Sciences Complex. 3/25—Criminal mischief was reported in Flint Village. 3/29—Marijuana use and 3/25—An animal complaint possession were reported in the Millard Fillmore was made in O’Brian Hall. Academic Center. 3/25—Disorderly conduct 3/29—Criminal mischief was reported in O’Brian was reported in Crosby Hall. Hall.
Fast Track to UB Continued from Page 1 “I think there is now a void [following the failure of UB 2020 legislation], and that gives the president coming in the opportunity to create a vision that incorporates the poor,” Taheri said. “I don’t think that was there. Now you have a real opportunity to show a connection between the kids coming in and what’s going on in the poorest part of the city. It’s a chance for St. Luke’s and UB to intersect and meet a need. That’s with the basics of reading and writing. I think good things can really happen.”
The possibilities are endless if UB steps up to the plate, according to Taheri. If not for the MICE program, Diego may not be dreaming of becoming a lawyer or a doctor. The opportunities that MICE has afforded Diego and Latosha are very crucial, Diego said. Without the program, they wouldn’t be able to meet people in the professional world and would struggle building the contacts they have already started to develop. He is also thankful not to have fallen through the cracks growing up. “If you follow the crowd, you’re just going to fall down with everyone else,” Diego said. “You have to be a friend to everyone but just keep your own interests in mind. The grades at Bennett are down
Students on Speed Continued from Page 1
for a reason. It’s because people choose not to work, read, and study.” Diego was born in Argentina and lived there until he turned four years old. His family then moved to Canada for about six years before finally arriving in Buffalo. Latosha has grown up in Buffalo and is proud of it. That may explain why she has taken so well to UB. “UB has a home feel to it,” Latosha said. “I don’t know how to explain it. It’s nice and neat and the people there seem nice.” Both Diego and Latosha are ready to go to college and both envision one day attending UB. While Diego plans to first go to Trocaire College to study radiology, Latosha has already applied to UB.
when taken as directed for a true medical condition, it is a potent medication with many side effects,” said Richard D. Blondell, MD, director of addictions research at UB. “The biggest problem [for those not prescribed to it] is addiction with long-term effects similar to cocaine and crystal meth. Sudden death has also been reported with abuse.”
Unlawful possession of prescription medication is a crime under Section 220 of the New York State Penal Code. Adderall is considered a stimulant drug (it contains amphetamine), which is a controlled substance under this section of the Penal Law. Adderall and other drugs While possession could range from misdemeanor to felony level, unlawful sale of Mixing Adderall and alcohol has become the drug is a felony. a growing trend, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which reUniversity Rules & Regulations also govern ported that nearly 90 percent of full-time this situation, as university rules define college students who used Adderall non“clear and present danger” to include the medically in 2008 were binge alcohol us“sale/possession of drugs:” ers in the month preceding the survey, and “Students selling prescription medication more than half were heavy alcohol users. are likely to face criminal charges,” said “I like to take Adderall when I am drinkMelinda Saran, vice dean for student sering,” said Brian, a sophomore exercise scivices at the UB Law School. “Students posence major. “I can drink more and party sessing small amounts of medication are longer.” probably more likely to have universitybased discipline, including referrals to High rates of binge and heavy alcohol use drug treatment programs.” among full-time college students who use Adderall non-medically are a cause for Nonmedical use of Adderall is of particuconcern because of the well-documented lar interest to policymakers because, as associations between excessive drinking an amphetamine, Adderall is among the among college students and the adverse group of legally approved drugs classified consequences for students’ physical and as having the highest potential for depenmental health, safety, and environment. dence or abuse. Since Adderall is an amphetamine-based Saran stated that most students see Adderstimulant, it may override the effects of alall as a “makes you smart” drug, because, cohol, which may lead some to over-drink. like all other ADHD and ADD prescription This could easily result in alcohol poisoning. drugs, it is a central nervous system stimulant. It allows users’ brains to concentrate Additionally, snorting Adderall may result more efficiently because it increases the in dangerous respiratory complications, levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. cardiac arrhythmias, and paranoid or psychotic reactions. However, the list of side effects is long and can include insomnia, loss of appetite, and Every student surveyed at UB who had resometimes symptoms obsessive-compul- ported non-medical Adderall use also resive disorder. Adderall can also cause a ported recreational alcohol use. They were dangerous increase in heart rate. also more likely to use marijuana, cocaine, cigarettes, and other prescription pills. “Although [Adderall] is generally safe
She hopes to be able to bring people back to St. Luke’s from UB to help out in any way that they can. “You meet new people every day,” Lotosha said. “Coming to St. Luke’s is a big part of our lives so why not introduce it to other people. The worst someone can say is ‘no, I don’t want to go.’ You just have to ask.” Diego said that St. Luke’s is a great place to get involved. “St. Luke’s supplied us with an opportunity to live there and I’ll do anything for them any chance I get,” Diego said. “St. Luke’s always brings the best out of people. It brings everyone closer together.” g Email: news@ubspectrum.com
Poly-drug use, or drug synergy, is extremely dangerous. Cocaine and stimulants taken simultaneously increase the risk for heart attack and stroke. In order to respond to the increasing misuse of Adderall, many websites have emerged to expose the potential dangers of doing so. Wendy Bailey, a University of California, Santa Barbara graduate who studied pre-med, created one such website, adderallabuse.net, with that aim. “Since many people are at college to have a good time, they compensate for their lack of organization, planning, and diligence by using Adderall,” Bailey said. “For some reason, people think Adderall is safer than street drugs because it is a prescription drug, and this shows a severe lack of cognitive effort and misunderstanding of what a drug is. Many controlled substances are very dangerous.” While Adderall potentially has severe side effects for both prescribers and non-prescribers of the drug, those who are taking it without a doctor’s supervision are more likely to not be pulled off the drug in time, or to recognize the serious side effects, according to Bailey. In a society where many solutions come in the form of a pill, it is not surprising that an increasing number of college students graciously welcome the energetic and academic boost Adderall provides them. However, the well-investigated consequences of doing so should steer some students away from this dangerous “quick fix.” “The people who abuse amphetamines tend to go down quickly,” Blondell said. “Friends of these people can intervene in these situations. The actions of friends can potentially save a life; as the saying from the 1960s goes, ‘speed kills.’” g
Email: news@ubspectrum.com
ARTS & LIFE WEDNESday, MARCH 30, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM
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MO MOVIE VIE
Full Percussion Section, Two Feet
ARTS & LIFE
VILONA TRACHTENBERGStaff Writer A Latin percussion section usually takes a large compilation of instruments, but for legendary tap dancer Savion Glover, it takes only two – his feet. Hundreds of dance fans flooded the CFA Thursday night to watch the production of Solo In Time and to see “the greatest tap dancer who ever lived” take the dance floor. Courtesy of Legendary Pictures
Don’t be suckered in, even these gorgeous heroines couldn’t save Sucker Punch.
Grade: D-
two characters converse about it openly while Baby Doll awkwardly stands about four feet away from them in a scene that’s so painfully stupid that the lobotomy they discuss seems preferable by comparison.
Several months ago, promising trailers for a quizzically titled movie began popping up in cinemas. Boasting fast action, hot girls, a cool premise, and the direction of 300 and Watchmen’s Zack Snyder, Sucker Punch looked like it had everything but a title that made sense.
Virtually every following scene disjointedly compounds the nonsense. Most of the film takes place in what are ostensibly Baby Doll’s inner fantasies, where we learn that the protagonist’s inner psyche basically resembles that of a 14-year-old sexually-depraved fanboy.
Unfortunately, the film’s title is about the only thing that makes sense in this disjointed excuse for a movie. What looked like spring’s coolest action romp is in fact an incoherent and unintentionally hilarious mess. The “sucker punch” of the film’s title refers to the viewer’s jarring realization that he just dumped $10 to see this travesty.
There are two equally disquieting and sexist levels to this fantasy. The first involves Baby Doll relocating the asylum and its denizens to an imagined 1920s whorehouse context, where we meet the film’s supporting cast, all of whom sport equally misogynistic names like “Sweat Pea” and “Blondie.”
Don’t Get Suckered EDWARD BENOITStaff Writer
The film begins with a cheesy voiceover explaining “guardian angels” and that everybody has one. In the following 10 minutes, protagonist Baby Doll (Emily Browning, The Uninvited) sees her mother die, has her inheritance stolen, hears her sister beaten and killed by her drunken stepfather, is framed for said murder, and is committed to an insane asylum in rural Vermont. Baby Doll’s guardian angel must have been on vacation. Things only get worse from there, both for Baby Doll and the film’s unfortunate audience. Upon Baby Doll’s arrival to the asylum, it is revealed that her stepfather plans to bribe an equally nefarious member of the asylum’s staff to have Baby Doll lobotomized. We learn this because the
The second level of fantasy – in which all of the stylized action of the film’s trailer takes place – is only entered when Baby Doll performs her “dances” for the “clients” of the “whorehouse” she imagines around her. If that last sentence made utterly no sense, don’t worry, neither does the movie. It’s painfully evident from virtually everything that happens in Sucker Punch — which bears Snyder’s first credit as a writer — that the director is downright clueless when it comes to writing much of anything. Not a single character in the film is characterized in the slightest, with conflicts between the film’s primary cast of hookerific heroines bursting in out of nowhere, only to be clumsily resolved just
as quickly. These excuses for dramatic plot arcs are conveyed via dialog that’s so bad it’s actually funny, as the outbursts of giggling that filled the theater readily attested. Snyder’s sense of pacing is just as bad, as scenes flit between different storylines and emotional tones with such dissonance and disquietude that the film might as well be institutionalized for schizophrenia. On top of all this, the gender dynamic Snyder presents in the film is so absurd, manipulative, and one-dimensional that it hinges on being offensive. Virtually every male character is portrayed as both sadistic and depraved. The female characters, on the other hand, are portrayed positively, but they all spend the entire movie in fetish costumes, acting out dissolute nerd fantasies, undercutting any empowering message there might have been. Snyder can’t take all the blame for this disaster, however. Browning and company couldn’t act their way out of a cardboard box, let alone an insane asylum, while the original soundtrack is both unapologetically bad and cringingly overloud. The only thing even slightly redeeming about Sucker Punch is the film’s action, which is visually impressive but marred by its ponderous over-choreography and the fact that the scenarios give the impression that they were concocted by a middle school student. Don’t get sucker punched – avoid this movie at all costs. g
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
The entire performance was designed to capture the essence of the “flamenco” theme as Glover strived to “allow one to hear the dance versus see the dance,” a message he spread frequently throughout the night. Glover’s tap shoes were the basis for the numerous percussive sounds generated in the flamenco, echoing the rhythms of Latin percussion. Glover used the inside of his feet to make drastic heavy sounds mimicking tomtoms and used the balls of his feet to speed up and emulate a drum roll. With great vigor and energy, Glover stomped the stage and used the bottom of his feet to provide heavier sounds, imitating a bass drum. Sliding and dragging his heels to elongate the sounds, and clicking his feet together to provide a lower pitch, Glover proved that the use of instruments is overrated. During one of his pieces, he even used his hands and fists to play rhythms, showcasing a bongotype sound. To make the various sounds used in the dance pieces performed, Glover draws upon many motivations. “I’m motivated by life itself. I’m motivated by anything that breathes,” said Glover. “The art form is bigger than me, it’s bigger than us. It’s far beyond any type of show business. The opportunity to share the energy with people is what I’m into more than show business.” A guitarist, bassist, and singer accompanied his “percussion,” and Glover highlighted the important parts of the instrumentation. When the guitar became louder, he added emphasis to the guitar solo, keeping each rhythm syllabic and separated. “I loved it. It was amazing and beautiful. I wanted to see it all my life,” said Cornelius Newman, 30, of Buffalo. “It was very inspirational and encouraging.”
Source: New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Savion Glover dance company, Bare Soundz, performed alongside Glover. They performed in unison as well as overlapping different beats to add more variation to the percussion sounds. The duo engaged in a “tap off” where they took turns showing off what they could do with their feet. Glover’s continuous smile when talking to his fellow performers kept the performance feeling informal throughout. It was a friendly gathering of humble passion for performance, coupled with the quest for improvement and being completely satisfied with it. “Once I’m satisfied, then I’m done with what I’ve set out to accomplish. I hope not to reach that point while I’m here on this earth,” Glover said. This legendary tap dancer is a unique performer and does not have a set method of choreography. Glover does not use set lists when performing and considers himself an improvisationalist. Glover danced through 12 pieces without intermission, eliciting audience amazement. “The energy level was incredible. The audience [became] exhausted faster than he did,” said Mike D’Ambrosio, 62, of Amherst. The audience rose to a standing ovation after the show, wanting to see more of his masterful tapping. “My masterpiece is not finished yet. Unlike a painter, they have a beginning, middle, and end. I just have a beginning,” Glover said. Just like that, he will continue to paint the percussion masterpiece with his tap shoes and his rhythm. g
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Marshall Davis, Jr. from Glover’s
People’s Choice Voting Beginning on March 28th, the Student Wellness team is asking the UB community to vote for their favorite essay! “Hope and Healing: It Gets Better” Writing Contest Info: UB students were asked to write essays addressing any or all of the following themes:
Where can I make my vote? Please go to the website below and follow the online voting directions. http://wellness.buffalo.edu/essay
• What messages of hope do you have for people struggling with adversity? • What gives you hope during difficult times? • What has helped you overcome adversity in your life?
How are the winners chosen? All the submissions were anonymously judged by a panel of UB faculty and staff. The top 10 entries are posted on the student wellness team website where the campus community can read and vote on their favorite essay or poem. The top three essays with the most votes win.
What are the regulations: Voting is only for people part of the UB campus community. You need a UB email address to make your vote. Also, individuals are only allowed to make one vote for their favorite essay. Multiple votes will not be counted.
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ARTS & LIFE WEDNESday, MARCH 30, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM
Voting Deadline: April 8, 2011 Winners announced: April 18, 2011
|1|“I’d Rather Be Alone” – Amely |2|“Save Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back” – My Chemical Romance |3|“Anywhere But Here” – Rise Against |4|“Nobody’s Listening” – Linkin Park |5|“Born to Run” – Bruce Springsteen |6|“Get Me Out” – MxPx |7|“Move Along” – All American Rejects |8|“Tell Someone Else, I Don’t Care” – The Years Gone By |9|“In One Ear” – Cage the Elephant |10|“Blah, Blah, Blah” – Ke$ha featuring 3oh!3
Alex McCrossen /// The Spectrum
American Repertory Theater of Western New York presents local playwrights One Act Showcase.
Bite-Sized Theater ZACHARY BOURQUEStaff Writer The American Repertory Theater premiered three one-act plays featuring enough local talent and emotional terrain to undoubtedly impress newcomers.
gardless of Leszcynski’s talent. In a nutshell, Michael attempts to save his own life by exploring the tortured life of his assailant. For most of the play, Chet (Andrew Michalski) is holding a knife to Michael, so it’s easy to see the strange nature of the therapy session. The strangeness, unfortunately, never really attains a positive form.
On Thursday night, local playwrights Mark Humphrey, Mark Lloyd and Matthew LaChiusa each presented a one-act play. The night, though inconsistent, contained more than enough inspiring moments to allure younger generations of local playwrights and actors.
The third and best play, Matthew LaChiusa’s “The Wheelbarrow” ended the night in a light-hearted mood. Jack (Jacob Albarella), an opinionated, cynical playwright, and his girlfriend Judy (Lauren Cichon) attend an avant-garde play and suffer the self-absorbed snobs surrounding the event.
The first play, Humphrey’s “Leaving Boyletown,” portrayed actor Vincent (Russ Burton) struggling with his personified past role Taylor (Bryan Patrick Stoyle). Taylor, a wild and wacky dose of comic relief, argues for the continuation of his existence before Vincent destroys him by pursuing a darker, grittier role.
Jack was the most interesting personality of the night, making snide remarks left and right about the “artsy fartsy” environment and the stuffy characters in it. Admittedly, the tenseness between Jack and Judy felt peripheral to the humor of the exchanges themselves.
The play earns points from the start for the original concept and the balance of Stoyle’s humorous performance as Taylor and the overlying sadness of the piece. Vincent makes his resentment for the fictional Taylor clear from the start while Taylor argues for his relevance through his quips and nostalgic pathos. The act essentially moves through the dynamics of a tug-of-war argument. Vincent wants desperately to move on and prove his range as an actor, but Taylor understandably hopes for a renewal of his fame. The problem here is the actual lack of dynamic to the conflict. Vincent wants to change to the new, Taylor wants to revive the old, and neither one of them will budge. Mark Lloyd’s “See The Screams” was stricken with a similar plague: a conflict that remains as is before being abruptly resolved. It had an undeniably strong start with Michael (Michael Leszcynski) convincingly conducting himself like a man who was just brutally mugged in a dark alleyway. This second act was a bit of a mess, re-
It was also “The Wheelbarrow” that had a play within a play, joining the cast members with the audience to watch the short play named after the title. The direction was top-notch and the action and dialogue never lulled. While the plays were a mixed bag, each one had something special to offer, and each one had glimpses of real potential for more, and better. It is an intriguing way to develop and provide opportunity for writers and actors at a rapid pace. The actors, particularly Michael Leszcynski, Jacob Albarella and Bryan Patrick Stoyle, put on engaging, humorous and heart-tugging performances. The scripts, for the most part, did not do them enough justice. The first two plays had winning concepts, marred some by a clumsy and disorganized approach to resolving conflict. In the program, it was said playwright Mark Lloyd aspired to complete 50 of these plays by the time he is 50. There is no doubt such an endeavor will only yield improvement. g
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Song and Dance Cures Rigor Mortis LESLIE TUNMOREStaff Writer The Mel Brooks classic Young Frankenstein and his monster were alive and kicking, singing, dancing, and terrorizing the citizens of Transylvania last week at Shea’s Performing Arts Center.
SA PLAYLIST
online now at ubspectrum.com/arts
You may have noticed yesterday that moving through the Student Union unhampered was impossible. We understand you want us to vote, but shoving your fliers down our gullets every time we take a single step just makes us want to avoid anything related to you. So SA candidates, this playlist is for you.
which is a salute to their grandfathers and what their ancestors had accomplished. The performance was filled with all of the classic raunchy sexual jokes that the movie provides, such as the song “Deep Love,” in which Elizabeth sings to express her sexual satisfaction. The musical supplemented the jokes with fresh cultural references for the younger crowd, as shown in a number about Igor’s humpback in which he and Dr. Frankenstein go back and forth about his hump, his hump, his lovely Igor hump, an obvious homage to “My Humps” by Black Eyed Peas. For anyone that is a true fan of Brooks, and is
The musical, written by Brooks and Thomas Meehan, was originally adapted from the storyturned-screenplay written by Brooks and Gene Wilder back in 1974. With music and lyrics done by Brooks, this musical proves that it can cross any generational gap by bringing in the laughs from audience members of all ages. The story starts out when Dr. Frankenstein (Christopher Ryan), pronounced Fronk-en-steen, a medical teacher in New York, received news that his grandfather in Transylvania has died and has left his estate to him. Despite being well aware that his family over in Transylvania is known for bringing the dead back to life, Dr. Frankenstein reluctantly travels overseas, leaving his beautiful but high-maintenance fiancée Elizabeth (Janine Divita) in New York to deal with the legalities of the situation. Upon arriving in Transylvania, however, Dr. Frankenstein is greeted by Igor (Cory English), pronounced Eye-gor, who is the most recent in a long line of manservants to the Frankenstein household. From there, Dr. Frankenstein’s adventures only escalate as he meets his new wellSource: youngfrankensteinthemusical.com endowed lab assistant, Inga (Synthia Link), and Mel Brooks’ classical Young Frankenstein has housekeeper Frau Blucher (Joanna Glushak). Together they try to complete his grandfather’s come to Shea’s Performing Arts Center. work in bringing a corpse back to life while familiar with his other comedies like The Proevading the angry town mob at every turn. ducers, which won a record-breaking 12 Tony The musical follows closely to the film, only in- Awards, Blazing Saddles and Spaceballs, it’s a troducing new elements when deemed neces- given that turning a classic comedic movie into sary to bring first-time viewers up to speed on an equally funny stage adaptation is a hard who the main characters are. In order to do this, thing to do. However, if the performance is each character is introduced with a song that de- taken for what it is – a live musical adaptation scribes the qualities and characteristics specific of the movie – then the cast and crew of Young Frankenstein really delivered a memorable and to each person. comical performance. g In “The Brain,” Dr. Frankenstein emphasizes how much he wanted to be taken seriously as a Email: arts@ubspectrum.com medical doctor and separate himself as far from his mad-scientist relatives as possible. However, after a change of heart, Dr. Frankenstein and Igor sing “Together Again for the First Time,”
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ARTS & LIFE WEDNESday, MARCH 30, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM
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Students stood up on the stage to sing hopeful songs, and the Dazzlers and Kickline team performed for entertainment. Teams stood around and did dances such as the Cotton Eyed Joe and the Cha Cha Slide, which inspired an optimistic vibe throughout the arena. Throughout the night, members from each team were walking around a track surrounded by luminarias, which are white paper bags that are used to symbolize the remembrance of one who lost his battle against cancer or the honoring of a survivor.
Satsuki Aoi /// The Spectrum
On Saturday night, Relay For Life was held at Alumni Arena.
The Fight Against Cancer KEREN BARUCHStaff Writer Here at UB, there are a myriad of students from different corners of the globe. Although each student may embody a different culture, the threat of cancer is universal. On Saturday, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., various organizations flooded Alumni Arena with three passions: to celebrate cancer survivors, remember the loved ones who lost their battles, and fight against the disease by searching for a cure at the sixth-annual Relay For Life. “One World Against Cancer!” is the theme of this year’s relay and 176 teams each chose a different country to symbolize. Each of these teams decorated a table based on their country and found creative ways to fundraise for the American Cancer Society (ACS). A $10 fee was required for registration in advance and a $20 fee if one registered at the door. All the proceeds went to the ACS, a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization. Stationed in Atlanta, Ga., there are 12 chartered divisions and more than 900 local offices. More than 5,100 communities are involved with the ACS. At 6 p.m., Juliana Jaramillo, the president of the UB Against Cancer club, began the opening ceremonies. She revealed that so far $58,000 was raised, which was only $18,270 away from UB’s highest record. With a total of 1,538 participants, only $12 per person was needed to reach the goal. After opening ceremonies was the survivor’s lap, where each survivor at the relay wore a purple shirt and took a lap around the track. “It’s very touching, but at the same time overwhelming because everyone is watching you,” said Donna Czaja, a cancer survivor who was attending the relay at UB for a second year.” Seeing people’s faces was inspirational and it definitely gives off a positive feeling.”
Around 10 p.m., the luminaria ceremony began. The crowd watched a slide show and participants discussed how they felt when they lost a loved one to cancer. After each person spoke, each participant took a moment to remember all of those who were lost to the disease.
Organizations were recognized for donating over a certain amount of money. The gold-level fundraiser, which was the team that raised the most amount of money, is Campus Dining and Shops (CDS). They raised $5,994.26 by connecting to friends and family, selling cupcakes at Perks and Sizzles, and having pie-in-the-face contests. According to Lois Cultriera, a Perks employee in the Ellicott Complex, the members of CDS felt passionately about the cause because one of their co-workers has stage-four cancer in four different areas of her body. The single participant that raised the most money on her own was Catherine Brown, the human resource director and a member of the CDS team. Although this was her first year attending the relay, she raised $1,092 by reaching out to her friends and family. “My husband had cancer; he was diagnosed when our son was three months old and was treated for two years,” Brown said. “That’s what made me passionate and that’s why I was able to raise so much money.” People were able to stop at each organization’s table in order to donate money and participate in events. The Mortar Board, which is an on-campus honor society, chose the U.S. Virgin Islands as its country. Members made virgin cocktails, hosted sand castle building contests, and charged $2 for a 15-minute nap in a hammock. They raised around $500 prior to the relay and have participated in the event each year. “Everyone has been affected by cancer in one way, shape, or form,” said Liz Sherman, a member of Mortar and a senior communication, French, and psychology major. “That’s what keeps our society coming back each year.” The various organizations that supported the relay – such as Student Life, The Villas at Chestnut Ridge, Sweet Home Apartments, The Student Association, Campus Tees, UB Athletics, University Police, CDS, The Wellness Center, and WRUB – were all recognized for giving an outstanding amount of help and support. Finally, the fight-back portion of the night consisted of each participant making a personal promise to be committed to the fight against cancer. g
Help for the Homeless MICHAEL TYSON Asst. Life Editor We have all seen them. That pile of rags and unkempt hair that gruffly asks for a dollar or two. Or maybe we’ve seen the lady pushing a shopping cart full of junk down the street while having an animated conversation with herself. These are the homeless people of this nation, and there is something that can be done. Dennis Culhane, Ph.D., is a professor of social policy at the University of Pennsylvania, and he has devoted his professional life to the study of homelessness. He looks at the ways that we can solve the homeless problem as well as prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place. The Student Union Theater was filled on Monday afternoon with people from all across UB and Buffalo itself who came to hear Culhane speak. Sociologists, social workers, political science majors, students from across the spectrum of college majors, and professors were there to see what new insights Culhane had into the sticky issue of homelessness in the United States. In an experiment titled The New York/New York Agreement Cost Study that began in 1989, the totals were racked up on what it costs taxpayers to take care of homeless people in New York City. This included cost of shelters, cost of hospital stays, and cost of prison and jail stays for the chronically homeless single adults in NYC. The study found that it cost roughly $40,000 per year to support a homeless person. The study also found that the combined costs of subsidized housing and treatment for the mental illness and addiction that tend to plague this group of the chronically homeless came out to only $900 more per year than the current system, with the added bonus that these people are no longer homeless.
Courtesy of Dennis P. Culhane, PhD
Culhane pointed out that the NY/NY study did not factor in the costs of ambulance services, which homeless people tend to require a lot due to their lifestyle, and that, too, would further offset the cost of subsidized housing. The NY/NY study only looked at single adults that were chronically homeless. This is one of the smallest groups of homeless people, but the most likely to have mental health problems, drug addiction problems, or both. They are also the most likely to remain homeless without assistance. Another study in Massachusetts looked at the largest group of homeless people – families. Usually these families consist of a mother and two or more kids that are too young for school. This group has very low incidents of mental illness and substance abuse but almost double the number of people in shelters and double the time spent in shelters. This study found that families that were given just a little bit more assistance than the norm were much more likely to pull themselves out of homelessness and less likely to return. Many opponents to housing subsidies argue that we would simply be giving these people something for nothing. Culhane counters with the statistic that was found out in NYC that we already give a lot of money for this issue. If we shell out just a little bit more, we can get these people the help they actually need rather than just keeping them on the streets. g
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ARTS & LIFE WEDNESday, MARCH 30, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM
There’s Something Going on in the LAIRS Lab…
“If you can save one kilogram of weight on the robot, it saves approximately $2,000; thus, the less you spend on fuel: the cost of launching the rocket,” said Pramod Chembrammel, an MS student in mechanical and aerospace engineering and one of the Space Bulls working on the mechanical aspect of the rover. “You can assume how much more money you would save to launch a satellite or a robot to Mars; they are looking for lighter rovers so they can use the same concept in their future interplanetary explorations. They are looking for new equipment and better designs.”
The Space Bulls are one of 10 qualifying teams from across the country to compete in NASA contest JENNIFER HARBSenior Life Editor
Additionally, the team is facing difficulty in reducing the lag time in transferring data from the cameras to their screen. The Space Bulls are currently experiencing a two- to five-second delay when they transmit information, but the lag needs to be on the order of milliseconds by the day of the competition, according to Shailaja Nagarajan, an MS student in electrical engineering and one of the Space Bulls working on the telecommunications aspect.
The Space Bulls are taking their education – and competitive streak – to new heights. Eleven University at Buffalo students (making up a team called the “Space Bulls”) have been given the opportunity to collaborate on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) and the National Institute of Aerospace’s (NIA) Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts Academic Linkage Exploration Robo-Ops (RASCAL) competition. As one of approximately five teams still in the running across the nation in this competition, their acceptance is stunning in and of itself. “This is our first year participating; other teams like University of Utah and University of Pennsylvania have been participating in this competition for very long. In fact, their rovers are ready by now, and we are still in the preliminary round,” said Kumar Vishwajeet, a Master of Science (MS) student in mechanical and aerospace engineering and the Space Bull in charge of the team’s controls. “So, this is a lot of new experience for us. It will be a very tough competition, but we are learning many new things.” The contest challenges university teams to design and construct a “planetary rover and demonstrate its capability to perform a series of competitive tasks at the NASA Johnson Space Center’s Rock Yard in Houston, Texas,” according to the competition’s official website at nianet.org/RASCAL/RoboOps/index.aspx. “Basically, there is a rover, or a six-wheeled robot, that is going to be in Houston and controlled from the UB campus over the Internet. The rover will be monitored with cameras… from here we’ll be navigating the rover over the field [in Houston],” said Dipen Dave, an MS student in mechanical and aerospace engineering and one of the Space Bulls working on the rover’s navigation. “The idea of the competition is to pick up as many stones as possible – there are 30 in the field. The terrain is a mock terrain of Mars, the moon, and some other planets. It has a rough terrain, a sandy terrain, and it has a hill. So basically we have to navigate through all these things.” NASA judges will supervise the competition, and scoring will be based on the ability to perform the task, adherence to requirements, time, and the inclusion of the Education and Public Outreach component: as part of the competition, teams are required to utilize the Internet and social media sites in
“We have to transfer the data we collect from Houston to Buffalo so we can control from here,” Nagarajan said. “We need to minimize the amount of data we transfer; we are working on taking less-resolution pictures, streaming less-resolution videos, and sending only the data which we will need for sure.” Troi Williams /// The Spectrum
Eleven UB students and one professor are finalists in a nationwide NASA competition and will have to control a space rover in Houston via the Internet. order to educate and reach out to other students and generate further interest. “The scoring for the public outreach part is based on the number of hits on the YouTube video and the number of hits on the website on the day of the competition because we will be having a live telecast of the competition on the website,” Dave said. The teams may be composed of undergraduate and graduate students and a faculty member. Dr. Puneet Singla, an assistant professor in the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering, is the faculty member involved with the Space Bulls. Due to the fact that the competition involves so many different areas of expertise, the team had to pull from many academic departments and integrate knowledge in order to form a cohesive plan. “When we had the first meeting, we figured out all the areas we had to work on. We had to work on the mechanical aspect, the navigation; we needed someone in computer science, we needed a communications person,” said Ravikiran Chollangi, a student working toward his MS in mechanical and aerospace engineering and one of the Space Bulls in charge of the mechanical aspect of the competition. “So we had friends that were working in those things, so we talked to those people and that’s how we formed our group.”
private shuttle Scan & Learn
fall 2011
spaces going fast
As one of the qualifying teams, the Space Bulls received a stipend of $5,000 from NASA to purchase materials and another $5,000 travelling stipend for the team. Team members said they are also receiving funds from the mechanical engineering department and are looking into gaining more support from the electrical engineering department. Additionally, they are involved in discussions with other industries to help secure additional sponsorship, but the exact level of assistance has yet to be determined. “Sponsorship is very important; it’s not only money, but we want people to get involved in this kind of thing. It doesn’t matter how much money they give us; what matters is that they get themselves involved,” Vishwajeet said. The team is trying to recruit others, especially juniors, so that the Space Bulls’ efforts can continue in the future. This is the first year that UB is participating in the competition, so it’s a critical time to generate interest among younger students, according to Vishwajeet. The team has run into a number of challenges thus far, but members are very optimistic about their progress. For instance, one of the goals is to make the lightest rover – it not only improves scores in the competition, but there are also immense financial gains if the team’s creation is used in aerospace technology.
Sagar Keer, a MS student in computer science and one of the volunteers with the Space Bulls, is working on the software with the manipulator on the rover, which will be controlled by a joystick. Although he has worked with this type of programming language before, he admits the task is quite difficult. However, he is highly interested in astronomy, so working on a project for NASA is fun for him. Vishwajeet admits that the project is difficult because everything must be made from scratch, but he is confident in the Space Bulls’ progress. “It’s not just about winning the competition; it’s about learning,” Chembrammel said. “This is such a multidisciplinary thing, so we want to set a platform for juniors to continue this.” The team will be holding information sessions in the Student Union lobby on April 11, 15, 18, and 22. Simulations may be administered during those times. The competition, which will take place from May 22 to 25, will be broadcast live on the Space Bulls’ website, at spacebulls.eng.buffalo.edu. In order for UB’s team to gain the highest number of points for the public-outreach portion, viewership must be high during the actual contest. Additionally, the Space Bulls request that all students “like” their Facebook page, at “Space Bulls (UB) Robo-ops Team.” If the team wins the RASCAL competition, it will receive a $5,000 prize and/or travel to the NASA Desert RATS analog test site in Arizona. g
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ARTS & LIFE WEDNESday, MARCH 30, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM
9
DAILY
DELIGHTS
Crossword
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Visit ubspectrum.com/games for our online game of the week Also see the crossword and Sudoku answers from last issue
Crossword
ACROSS 1 RPM dial 5 Mist 10 Stadium sound 14 Hoarfrost 15 Fully conscious 16 Kan. neighbor 17 Pretty soon 18 Not widespread 19 Fill a pipe 20 Tire problem 22 Georgetown alums 23 Listen carefully 24 Appian Way, e.g. 26 Viscous matter 29 Political unit 33 Camel halts 34 End 35 “— to the West Wind” 36 Lebowitz or Drescher 37 Pay by mail 38 Cliff dwelling, now 39 Muslim honorific 40 Intern 41 Evita or Juan 42 Lay down 44 Snappish 45 Host Trebek 46 River source 48 Keeps informed 51 Makes 55 Q.E.D. part 56 Cheer 58 Game-show prize 59 North-forty unit 60 — Carlo 61 Model Macpherson 62 Cougar’s pad 63 Out, at the dentist’s 64 Recolored DOWN 1 Bushwhack 2 Japanese aborigine 3 Slangy summons 4 Gangsters
10
5 Hold dear 6 In — — (briefly) 7 Runner’s rate 8 Mouths, in zoology 9 Theol. belief 10 Turbine parts 11 All right 12 Soprano Gluck 13 Chats, slangily 21 Golfer’s props 22 Coop sitters 24 Column order 25 Kid 26 To date (2 wds.) 27 Bathrobe size 28 Newton or Asimov 29 Fainthearted 30 College credits 31 — box 32 Loafer insert 34 UPS competitor 37 Magritte or Russo 38 Worked on a second draft 40 Wire thicknesses
DAILY DELIGHTS WEDNESday, MARCH 30, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM
41 Egyptian creator god 43 More recent 46 — couture 47 Organic compound 48 Burst of laughter 49 1977 whale movie 50 Rani’s wear 51 Doting 52 Air France hub
53 Giza’s river 54 Got a ticket 56 The Mustangs 57 Sweetie-pie
Sudoku – Difficulty 4/5
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HELP WANTED SPRING – SUMMER job openings. LASERTRON Entertainment Center is currently hiring for Go-Kart operators, servers, referees and general customer service. Candidates must be available this spring, summer and possibly beyond. Working at a fast, detail oriented pace and having excellent customer service skills is a must. Starting at approximately $10.50/ hr, must be available nights and weekends. Apply in person: LASERTRON, 5101 North Bailey Ave, Amherst. SWIMMING POOL Construction – Dependable help wanted, full time seasonal (April/ May startup, steady through August), construction/ landscaping experience always a plus. Great pay & work outside. Call or e-mail for additional information. 716-510-8740, slivan@verizon. net. WAITSTAFF NEEDED for retirement community 11-2 or 3:15 – 6:45. Will train. Apply at Amberleigh 2330 Maple near Transit or call Colleen at 689-4197. SPRING/ SUMMER jobs available ASAP. Accounting, sales, Internet, marketing, media, entertainment promotions. Call Debra 400-4891. $10 - $20/ HR. Part-time painting, cleaning, landscaping, Ron1812@aol.com.
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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. AMHERST, 3 BEDROOM apartments. Kitchen, 1 ½ baths, living room, dining room & finished basement. June 1st. Call: 688-6497. 3 & 4 BEDROOM apartments near south campus. 1 bath, kitchen with dishwasher/ disposal, laundry & carpeting. June 1st or August 1st. Call: 688-6497. 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. CLEAN, SPACIOUS 3/ 4 bedroom duplex. 1 mile from N. Campus. Newer appliances including dishwasher, microwave & washer/ dryer. Plenty of off-street parking. Rent includes cable/ high speed Internet, water & garbage. $1050.00/ month, 1yr. lease begins 6/1/11. Call Tony 716-510-3527. 1, 2, 3 & 4 BEDROOM semi-furnished with washer/ dryer. Walking distance to Main St. Campus. Immediate occupancy. 1 yr lease plus security. 716-691-5710.
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ROOM FOR RENT 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.
ROOMMATE WANTED 2-BDRM TONAWANDA NY. $400/ month w/ deposit. Free heat, DSL & cable. email: davidbel@buffalo.edu, 716-799-9211. AMHERST – SOUTH CAMPUS/ safe side of Main. Quiet Architect students looking for serious male roommate. Excellent condition, private bedroom, big closet, laundry, parking & dishwasher. Available now & May. 5 minute walk to Crosby Hall. $295+ share of utilities, 716-400-9663.
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been putting up stats that Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, and every other professional player could envy.
SPORTS
If he were playing a 162-game schedule like MLB teams do, Murphy would be on pace for more than 50 home runs – a feat only attained by Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista last season. Following the same 162-game calculation, Murphy would be on pace for 222 RBIs: the MLB all-time record is 191. These projections cannot be taken too seriously, as college baseball is much different than the pros, but they do serve to convey the success that Murphy has had this year. As impressive as his statistics are, they are not the only thing that makes Murphy so special. It is Murphy’s polite and wholesome demeanor that defines him as a person, not his achievements on the diamond. “Without sounding mushy or anything, you couldn’t ask for a better kid,” said Kelly Murphy, Tom’s mother. “He keeps his grades up; he’s never been in any kind of trouble; he’s a caring person. I can’t say enough about him.” Murphy’s mother isn’t the only one who realizes how special her son is.
Jessica Lin /// The Spectrum
Tom Murphy has been working hard all season long to maintain his excellent performance at the plate.
Murphy Gets Malicious at the Plate
“[Tom] is always very positive,” said Bulls head coach Ron Torgalski. “He’s a tremendous kid who gets along with everybody. He’s well-liked on the team, and he’s all business. He’s really dedicated to what he’s doing both in the classroom and helping us win baseball games.” Torgalski isn’t exaggerating when he says Tom is all business. The business major focuses 100 percent of his energy on getting the task at hand done.
Buffalo catcher has scouts drooling
Murphy understands that playing baseball at UB on top of having a normal life requires an unfathomable amount of commitment. He regularly wakes up at 5 a.m. for practice or 6 a.m. to go to work.
AARON MANSFIELDStaff Writer James Starks was the last athlete to come out of UB and become a household name. The next could very well be Tom Murphy. What’s so special about this small-town kid? Murphy, a business major, is the starting catcher for the baseball team, and he has
Torgalski said Murphy has stepped up as a leader this year. Last year, the squad was stacked with seniors, so Murphy sat back and let the older players lead. Now, even though he is only a sophomore, he’s who the players look up to.
“Throughout my whole life, [my parents] have told me you have to work your hardest to make your way up,” Murphy said. “Both my parents have shown me through their careers and lives that you aren’t handed anything.”
Here we go again. Another year, another Colonial Athletic Association basketball team dominating the NCAA Tournament.
“He started baseball when he was five years old,” Kelly Murphy said. “I was out in the yard playing with him [back then]. He got to his first night of tee-ball and they moved him [to an older league] that night. He’s always played ahead of his age group.”
Wait, that doesn’t sound right.
Murphy’s parents realized when he was young that he had unbelievable potential. They knew that they would support him in every way possible, but there was one condition: he wasn’t allowed to mess up, at all. If Murphy were to get in trouble once at school, with the law, or in any other way, his parents said they would no longer support his baseball career. He has achieved his goal of playing college baseball, but Murphy is already thinking about what he can do after his time with the Bulls is over. “My dream would be winning a [Mid-American Conference] championship and going to the NCAA tournament,” Murphy said. “Beyond UB, I hope to get drafted, play in the minor leagues, and work my way up from there.” The modest young man’s dreams are growing more feasible every time he steps up to the plate. Torgalski and Kelly Murphy mentioned that several pro scouts have already contacted them. Regardless of how far he goes, Murphy is enjoying the ride because he gets to play the sport he loves. Baseball is more than a game to him. “I put all my time and hard work into the sport,” Murphy said. “But I don’t feel like I have to do this, or like it’s work. It’s something I love to do. It’s my life.” g
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Bulls Find No Success to Start MAC Play AARON MANSFIELD and ERIN McCORMACK Staff Writers
The junior shut out Calderone in the second set, 6-0, and looked poised to secure a victory for Buffalo. Both athletes brought their best efforts in the third set. The grueling, thrilling final set went to Calderone, 10-8.
The Bulls (5-6, 0-2 MAC) got pulverized by Western Michigan (10-8, 1-0 MAC) on Friday, 7-0. Buffalo set out on Sunday to try and salvage the road trip with a victory but was bested 5-2 by Toledo (18-8, 1-0 MAC). Against the Broncos, junior Wojciech Starakiewicz competed in the most intriguing match of the day in a showdown with WMU’s best player. Starakiewicz, the only player in UB’s Division I history to achieve national and regional rankings, took on Michael Calderone, who has the Joel Lim /// The Spectrum fourth-most wins in Western Michigan tennis Buffalo was dominated by Western Michigan history.
and Toledo.
It was a tough day for freshman Travis Zappia against Toledo. He not only lost in the doubles tiebreaker match with senior Marcelo Mazzetto, 9-8 (6), but he came up short in the singles tiebreaker as well, 7-6 (5), 7-5. Solid performances by junior Alex Kalinin and freshman Jason Simon in the singles matches gave the Bulls their two points against the Rockets. Kalinin defeated Mircea Dimofte in three sets: 6-4, 5-7, and 7-5, whereas Simon disposed of Gursher Harika: 6-1, 6-3. The Bulls will have home-court advantage on April 3, when they face off against the Marist Red Foxes. First serve is at 10 a.m. at the Miller Tennis Center. g
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Bulls Ousted at Miller Tennis Center
Center. Buffalo lost both contests, 5-2, 6-1, after dropping some crucial matches in the dual meets.
matches. Podlas only needed two sets to take down Bowling Green’s Jade Johnson, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Buffalo only came away with three singles wins and two wins in doubles.
BRIAN JOSEPHSAsst. Sports Editor
Buffalo had six of its matches go to three sets, including a thrilling super-tiebreaker that pitted freshman Miranda Podlas against Western Michigan’s Rachel Denny.
Popescu scored a 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-4 victory against Bowling Green’s Christine Chiricosta. She then defeated Western Michigan’s Maggie Remynse 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-2 in what proved to be Buffalo’s only singles win against the Broncos.
The women’s tennis team has been struggling all season with its non-conference opponents. Things didn’t get any easier when it started conference play this past weekend. The Bulls (4-8, 0-2 Mid-American Conference) hoped to start MAC competition on the right foot as they hosted Bowling Green (10-4, 1-1 MAC) and Western Michigan (8-9, 1-1 MAC) at the Miller Tennis
After losing the first set 7-6 (8), Podlas fought back intensely to take the second set, 6-7 (2). However, Denny came out on top, 1-0 (10-8), in the final set. Podlas and senior Diana Popescu were the only players to come away with victories in the singles
Popescu currently has a teamhigh 11 singles wins this season. Head coach Kathy Twist stated that Pospescu’s tenacity was the main reason behind her success. “Diana is mentally tough,” Twist said. “No matter how long [the match] is going to take, she’s going to make sure she stays in it until she wins.”
able to follow the tournament because of the work she had been doing on the campaign. Luckily, McMonagle had assembled a team of advisors to aid her in sports-related issues. Under her advisement, McMonagle had a very strong opinion of the tournament. “The number one seeds are gone,” McMonagle said. “VCU is awesomem, and I’m really psyched to see what happens with the rest of the games.”
STATE OF THE UNION VOICE Party Presidential candidate Joanna Datz had not been following the tournament because of her campaign commitments. She does believe that school spirit is very important, and the NCAA Tournament is a great way for schools to infuse their own school spirit. It is a shame that the Bulls could not get into the tournament; and she would love to see the Bulls and their fans get the chance to be part of March Madness in the future. Much like her counterpart, vice-presidential candidate Megan McMonagle had not been
Darwinson Party
The Bulls couldn’t get any momentum from doubles competition. They lost both of their doubles points in the dual meets. Buffalo’s struggles in doubles competition and lengthened volleys will be a focal point for the team in the next couple of days. “I think the doubles point is a very big psychological push,” Twist said. “We’re also going to need more consistency, so if we have to hit 50 balls [for one point], we’ll be able to do that.” The Bulls will continue their home stand against Akron (12-3, 2-0 MAC) this Saturday. The first serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. g
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The Rams of Virginia Commonwealth University are sitting in the Final Four after completing one of the most remarkable March Madness runs of recent memory. Although Cinderella stories are far from unheard of in the annual spring tournament, the Rams have blazed a particularly special path to get to the final set of games. When the NCAA decided to expand the tournament field to 68 teams last year, many criticized the move as arbitrary. Some believed that the decision would succeed in nothing more than harming the integrity of collegiate sports’ greatest month. After all, how successful could an already inferior team be when it had to play an extra game and travel before even meeting the powerhouse it would have to face in the real first round? Very successful, apparently. VCU was a member of one of these inaugural play-in games. The Rams met Southern California in Dayton, Ohio. The Rams may have defeated the Trojans, but the performance in that game did not give many fans hope going into the real tournament. Already branded as a write-off, VCU was tabbed to play Georgetown in the round of 64. The Big East had been a powerhouse all season and had 11 teams in the tournament; the No. 6 seed Hoyas would surely plow through their unworthy opponents. This was before the Big East, Georgetown included, crumbled. The Hoyas, much like their conference counterparts Louisville and St. John’s, were upset by upstart lowseeds. So, good for the Rams, they pulled off the upset. Surely they could not do it again as they were slated to face off against the Big Ten beast that was the Purdue Boilermakers. Well, it turns out they could. Fellow low-seed Florida State took the Rams to the brink but could not stop their charge, and neither could the No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks. So here we sit, another Cinderella going to the Final Four, and if the Rams’ story wasn’t good enough already, their next matchup makes it even better. If VCU wants to get to the National Championship, the No. 11 seed is going to have to get through last year’s Cinderella, the Butler Bulldogs. Much like VCU, the No. 8 seed Bulldogs were not given much of a chance of repeating last year’s success and making a deep run into the tournament. In a perfect world, these two teams would be able to square off in the National Championship game. But only one of these two teams will earn the chance to square off against one of the NCAA tournament’s good-ole-boys, either Kentucky or Connecticut, for the national championship. The game against Butler is going to be intense. Forward Jamie Skeen, the Southwest Regional Tournament MVP, is going to have to take charge of his Rams because there is no way that their opponent is going to underestimate them. Only one of these teams will get to go to the dance because, as the story goes, there is only one glass slipper. g Email: carey.beyer@ubspectrum.com
the remaining games of the tournament. At the same time, he can’t help but be excited for Buffalo’s own basketball future. “Of course I’m going to watch the games,” Valdez said. “Since I work for sports, I like watching the games. I do media for them so I need to keep up with what the competition looks like. I have a good feeling about next year for us though. The student population needs to know that our team is growing, our freshmen are really good, and we have a chance to win the championship next year and get a shot at the NCAAs.”
Even though Darwinson Valdez has been running as an independent candidate, he has been putting just as much effort into his campaign for SUNY Delegate as the main parties have been putting into theirs. As such, Valdez has not had much time to follow the tournament thus far. He is not, however, out of the loop on March Madness news.
Blue Party
“I’ve been hearing things,” Valdez said. “I know the number-one seed got upset by Kentucky. I know we’re in the Final Four and my pick to win it was Kentucky, so I think they are going to take it all.”
“My focus right now is on UB,” Ovadia said. “I know we didn’t go to the Final Four but I know we did really well, so my focus right now is on UB and what we can do for the university. I hope [to watch the remaining games], but I definitely want to get started working on next year. We have to start early.”
Once the campaign is over, Valdez is planning on taking his chance to relax and watch
CAREY BEYER Sports Editor
Murphy has wanted to play baseball almost as long as he’s been alive. As a kid, he improved as an athlete by competing against kids who were older than he was.
Starakiewicz, like the rest of his team, got off to a slow start and dropped the first set, 6-4. However, unlike the other Bulls, Starakiewicz came roaring back.
Over the weekend, the men’s tennis team kicked off Mid-American Conference play on the road with a pair of meets. The results weren’t exactly what it was looking for.
Commonwealth in an Uncommon Place
Politics takes up a lot of time for those involved. The candidates of the Blue Party have not been able to follow the tournament as much as they would like. Presidential candidate Daniel Ovadia has not been watching the games because the time he has spent on his campaign. His mind is honed in on issues here at home.
Vice-presidential candidate Teresa Sprow wishes that UB can get to the point where many of the tournament teams are in terms of school spirit. While basketball is the sport of the hour, she would have school spirit raised for all athletics. “Obviously I think school spirit is very important,” Sprow said. “I wish that UB could get to the point where everyone goes to all of the games instead of just the bracket busters. I would love for students to support more than just basketball, but also other sports like field hockey, football, and everything else.” She does not plan on missing all of March Madness, however. When she is freed from her political campaigning, she plans on watching the rest of the games with her friends. “I’m going to be watching some of the games, either at a friend’s house or at a restaurant just because it is a lot of fun to watch competitive games,” Sprow said. “It’s something interesting even if I’m not into the actual games.” g
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STUDENT PHOTOS :: Meg Kinsley /// The Spectrum Union PHOTO :: Courtesy of Douglas Levere