The Spectrum Volume 62 Issue 72

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

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CampusLOOTr founder seizes business opportunities at UB

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UB junior recognized as national scholarship

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Bulls look to strengthen special teams

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monday, april 15, 2013

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Volume 62 No. 72

ALINE KOBAYASHI, The Spectrum

BULLPEN TURNED

Aoki, Lamar headline raucous Spring Fest in Alumni ELVA AGUILAR

Senior Arts Editor

Smoke, sweat and a sea of thousands filled Alumni Arena for one of the most successful Spring Fests in years. Sunday night, DJ Rosado, 5 & A Dime, Bad Rabbits, Krewella, Kendrick Lamar and Steve Aoki performed at Student Association’s Spring Fest 2013 to a venue of raucous undergraduates and fans alike of the six acts.

The night served as a massive crescendo, with each performance adding to the unbearable energy inside Alumni Arena. As the night progressed, the crowd grew and fans filled the entire floor and the stands to enjoy this stop on Karmaloop’s Campus Verge Tour. Aoki closed out the night with a command of his audience unlike any of his tourmates. The electrosynth mashups merged with Aoki’s laidback yet focused demeanor had all of Alumni jumping at the

sway of his arm. Fans in the audience held up Japanese flags in honor of Aoki’s nationality and others simply held up posters with “cake me,” a common occurrence at Aoki shows. The overpopulated venue eventually became too hot for comfort as the enormous screens adjacent to the stage showed women in their bras climbed on top of any shoulders available and halfway through his set, Aoki abandoned his turntables to engage the audience which

roared in excitement as he moved closer toward the end of the stage. Electronic dance music was the crowd favorite by far Sunday night, as four of the six acts performed EDM and kept the energy at its absolute peak. Krewella, the fourth act to grace the stage, took the crowd from content to berserk in preparation for the night’s headliners. The chemistry between sisters Jahan and Yasmine Yousaf captivated their fans that came in full force, as the majority of the people sitting

in the stands throughout the first three acts sprinted down as soon as the Krewella logo appeared on screens in the venue. The group was a duo for most of its set as the Yousaf sisters performed “Alive,” one of their newest tracks featuring Nikki Rivera, a mashup of Europe’s “Final Countdown” and “Rise & Fall,” which gave the girls the opportunity to flex their vocal abilities as well. SEE SPRING FEST, PAGE 10

MEET Celebrate, remember,

THE CANDIDATES:

UB Council

student

representative

SAM FERNANDO

Asst. News Editor

The UB Council serves as the primary oversight and advisory body to UB and its president and senior officers. Among the regular duties of the council are reviewing all major plans and activities of the university in the areas of academics, student life, finances, buildings and grounds, as well as making recommendations and regulations for the benefit of the university in matters of community and alumni relations, according to the UB Council’s website. The election for the UB Council student representative, who will represent all UB students, will take place online from April 16-18. An email will be sent to students Tuesday morning when polls open. Last year, about 2 percent of the student body voted.

See a full candidate breakdown on page 2

FIGHT BACK UB hosts Relay for Life in Alumni Arena SHARON KAHN

Asst. Features Editor

As attendees slowly piled into Alumni Arena, there was a solemn sense of hope in the air. The crowd remembered those who lost loved ones while honoring those who overcame one of life’s hardest battles. Relay For Life had begun. Students, faculty and the UB community came together on Friday for a 24-hour event to raise money for the fight against cancer. Eighty-seven teams and 1,237 participants came together and raised $54,785.58, according to the Relay For Life website. Relay For Life is an overnight fundraising event in which teams camp out around a track. Each year, over 4 million people in over 20 countries take part in the allnight walk, according to relayforlife.com. Members took turns walking around the track made up of luminaria bags, which are candles or glow sticks placed inside decorated paper bags, commemorating those who lost the battle to cancer and recognizing those who survived. The night consisted of a number of events that kept everyone up on their feet and having a good time. Participants enjoyed a special performance from the UB Dazzlers, three-legged races, frozen t-shirt contests, musical chairs, a scavenger hunt and a chance to participate in a one-of-

Daniele Gershon, The Spectrum

Survivors came together to begin the survivor’s lap, a special way to honor those who have battled cancer. The arena flooded with cheers as participants clapped for each survivor walking the track.

a-kind Zumba session with all of their teammates. Kaylee Rizzari, a sophomore legal studies and psychology major and member of the UB Dazzlers, enjoyed dancing with her teammates. While her team came together “last minute,” the Dazzlers were able to raise close to $600 for the event. “Everyone knows someone whose life has been affected by cancer,” Rizzari said. “We wanted

to support the fight against cancer. We had a really great time and plan on participating every year.” Sarah Narkiewicz, a freshman occupational therapy major, enjoyed being on the Relay For Life committee. She thought the event turned out great. While it was Narkiewicz’s first year on the committee, she hopes to get more students involved next year. Relay for Life began in May 1985, when Dr. Gordy Klatt

walked around a track for 24 hours in Tacoma, Wash., and raised $27,000 for cancer research. The following year, 340 people came to join Klatt at the track. Since then, the movement has “grown into a worldwide phenomenon, raising more than $4 billion to fight cancer,” according to relayforlife.com. SEE RELAY FOR LIFE, PAGE 10


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Monday, April 15, 2013

MEET THE CANDIDATES: UB Council student representative

Name: Daniel Ovadia Year: Senior Major: Business Current position/extracurricular activities: 2012-13 UB Council Student Representative, chief public relations officer of a student investment group in School of Management, a Western New York Prosperity Scholar

Daniel Ovadia believes one of his biggest assets is his incumbency. As the current student representative of UB Council, Ovadia is running for re-election. He said the first semester is mainly building the relationships with the council. He said his familiarity with other members and the position will allow him to do more. “I have gotten a lot of experiences at UB,” Ovadia said. “A diversity of experience gives me a diversity of contacts and a diversity of understanding, which is invaluable in speaking with the Council.” Ovadia believes communication is the key to the position, and he plans to continue to use the Coalition of Advocacy and Leadership

(COAL) as his main outlet. COAL, a group created by Graduate Student Association President Jonathan Knights, consists of the seven presidents of the student governments, the chief justice of the Student-Wide Judiciary and the student representative to the UB Council. Ovadia uses COAL to gain feedback and report his findings to the council. “It’s great to get their perspectives because sometimes what you find is the [UB Council student representative] doesn’t necessarily get the full perspective – they are getting the perspective of the school they are in,” Ovadia said. “By having this organization … I am able to make sure I am bringing to the table the real concerns.”

Name: Robert Golightly Year: Junior Major: BA/MA in economics and BA in mathematics Current position/extracurricular activities: Sports club council coordinator, SA senator, SA finance committee member, cross country and track club member

Robert Golightly has been involved with student governments his entire college career. He is now trying to move the skills he has learned to the UB Council. He said he has spoken to students and the majority of them do not know what the position of student representative to the UB Council is. For that reason, he wants to open the visibility of the position, if elected. “Putting a student in a position where [he or she has] a voice that has to be listened to is a good opportunity to really engage the people who are ultimately making the decisions for the university,” Golightly said.

His experience as the sports club coordinator required him to be the advocate for 37 clubs, Golightly said. He got to know the students and was forced to reach out to his constituents. He admits it is different from representing the entire student body, but it gave him experience of representing the needs of other students. He thinks it is important to be on campus constantly talking to students. “As a representative, you can have your own ideas and agenda to push … but really, it is important to have the various student input because with a campus this big, there are varying opinions,” Go-

Name: Nigel Michki Year: Freshman Major: Computational physics Current position/Extracurricular activities: Catholic Student Union treasurer, UB nanosatellite team member, partner on a project converting math textbooks from English to other languages to assist international students

Nigel Michki has a message for those who think he is too young to be the student representative on UB Council: “Age does not necessarily bring wisdom.” The freshman admits he might not be the most experienced candidate, but he stresses he is a fast learner and keeps up-to-date on the issues. He said he is not a politician and calls his platform “ballsy,” because the first words on his platform read: “I don’t have a platform.” He believes students should be the ones deciding what issues are important. He said his goal, if elected, is to get feedback from students and involve them in use-

PHOTOS BY NICK FISCHETTI, THE SPECTRUM

ful discussions with administrators. “I’m going to bring a very different perspective to this role as a whole,” Michki said. “I’m a physicist. I don’t really play the whole political game, so I try to do things as directly as possible.” While attending Grand Island Senior High School, he spent a year and a half working with administrators from the five schools in the district on a capital project. The team of 25 – consisting of administrators, community members and Michki, the only student representative – tried to determine a financial plan to improve the area’s five public schools. The group was able to get a $60 million plan passed.

This past year, Ovadia, a former SA senator, has been to different university meetings, like the Faculty Senate, Professional Staff Senate, SA Senate, Assembly and many others, he said. He feels the student governments have the ability to reach out to each of their constituencies, and he thinks embracing this is vital to the position. Ovadia, if elected, plans to address some issues in particular: graduate exam prep for students, the University Heights, student safety and financial aid. He plans to speak with students to get their input on these issues. He encourages students to vote and to approach him with any concerns they are having. lightly said. Student safety, student debt and tuition increases are at the forefront of the list of concerns, he said. He plans to speak to students about these issues so he can be the “voice of the student body” but also “an ear for the administration.” He believes having a healthy relationship with the student governments is essential to being an effective representative. He also said reaching out to student publications like The Spectrum and Generation is important to educate the students on the issues. He wants to build a dialogue with the students and wants to get started as soon as possible.

“It really taught me the ins and outs of how working that bureaucratic circle goes,” Michki said. “It might not be the perfect parallel, but it is a very good parallel to what this position entails.” He said if elected, he plans to create a Facebook page that allows students to post any issues that concern them. However, he believes face-to-face communication is most effective, so the page will be just the first step. He encourages people to contact him with any issues they believe are important or if they have any questions.

Signature Series David Felder’s

Les Quatre Temps Cardinaux The premiere is the focal point of a two-day program that marks the start of a new university tradition called the Signature Series, which President Satish K. Tripathi is introducing this spring to celebrate UB’s legacy of innovation and distinction in arts and letters.

WORLD PREMIERE

Tuesday, April 23, 2013 7:00 p.m. Lippes Concert Hall, Slee Hall, North Campus

Internationally acclaimed composer of con-

temporary music, David Felder has long been recognized as a leader in his generation of American composers. His works are known for their highly energetic profile, lyrical qualities and for his use of technological extension and elaboration of musical materials. Felder is SUNY Distinguished Professor and Birge-Cary Chair in Composition at UB.

LES QUATRE TEMPS CARDINAUX

“Les Quatre Temps Cardinaux” is a complex song cycle for two solo voices, a 35-piece orchestra and twelve channels of electronics. Commissioned in 2011 for the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress, “Les Quatre” is dedicated to the memory of Serge and Natalie Koussevitzky. The work was composed from fall 2011 through spring 2013, and was written for Ensemble Signal, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and the Slee Sinfonietta, and for singers Laura Aikin and Ethan Herschenfeld. Additional support was provided by the Robert and Carol Morris Center for 21st Century Music at UB, the Cameron Baird Foundation, the Birge-Cary Chair at UB, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Events MONDAY, APRIL 22 2:00 to 3:30 PM Open rehearsal of “Les Quatre” Open to the public, RSVP requested Lippes Concert Hall

3:30 to 5:00 PM “Textual Signatures”: A Panel Discussion Open to the public RSVP requested Baird 250

TUESDAY, APRIL 23

Faculty and students from the departments of English, Music, and Theatre and Dance, joined by the biographer of poet René Daumal (whose poetry is musically interpreted in “Les Quatre”), will explore the relationship between texts and the arts, with attention to the particular poems featured in Professor Felder’s composition.

1:00 to 2:00 PM Luncheon Dialogue: “Inside the Making of ‘Les Quatre Temps Cardinaux’” Open to the public, registration limited to 60, RSVP required Slee Lobby

5:30 to 6:45 PM Pre-concert reception, sponsored by UB Alumni Association Ticketed event limited to 100 RSVP required Black Box Theater, CFA

Join music enthusiasts from UB, other local colleges and schools, and the community as the composer, conductor, vocalists and ensemble allow the public to observe one of the final rehearsals of “Les Quatre” prior to its world premiere.

Composer David Felder and others involved in the premiere will hold a lunchtime discussion of the process of bringing “Les Quatre” from conception to fruition. A complimentary light lunch will be provided for all registered participants.

Gather with others prior to the premiere for drinks and hors d’oeuvres, with remarks by E. Bruce Pitman, dean of UB’s College of Arts and Sciences, and composer

David Felder (schedule permitting). Reception cost includes admission to the 7 p.m. concert.

Single Ticket: $30; $25 for UBAA members Pair of Tickets: $55; $45 for UBAA members 7:00 to 8:45 PM Concert Lippes Concert Hall

The Slee Sinfonietta presents: The Signal Ensemble: Conductor Brad Lubman, Soprano Laura Aikin, Bass Ethan Herschenfeld. Program features the world premiere of David Felder’s “Les Quatre Temps Cardinaux,” preceded by a performance of Felder’s percussion concerto “Tweener,” performed by soloist Thomas Kolor, assistant professor of music at UB.

Advance tickets: $12/$9/$5 Door: $20/$15/$8

Concert admission is free for UB students with Student ID

For more information, and to register visit www.buffalo.edu/president/sig-series Concert tickets also can be purchased at the Slee Hall box office (645-2921) the night of the performance.

PRESENTED BY THE UB OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE ROBERT AND CAROL MORRIS CENTER FOR 21ST CENTURY MUSIC


Opinion

Monday, April 15, 2013 ubspectrum.com

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in Chief Aaron Mansfield Senior Managing Editor Brian Josephs Managing Editor Rebecca Bratek Editorial Editor Eric Cortellessa News EDItors Sara DiNatale, Co-Senior Lisa Khoury, Co-Senior Sam Fernando, Asst. Rachel Raimondi, Asst. FEATURES EDITORS Rachel Kramer, Senior Lyzi White Lisa Epstein, Asst. Sharon Kahn, Asst. ARTS EDITORS Elva Aguilar, Senior Lisa de la Torre, Asst. Max Crinnin, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS Joseph Konze Jr., Senior Jon Gagnon Ben Tarhan Markus McCaine, Asst. PHOTO EDITORS Alexa Strudler, Senior Nick Fischetti Satsuki Aoi, Asst. Aminata Diallo, Asst. CARTOONIST Jeanette Chwan CREATIVE DIRECTOR Brian Keschinger Haider Alidina, Asst. PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Mark Kurtz Danielle Abrams, Asst. Luke Nuttle, Asst. ADVERTISING DESIGNER Joseph Ramaglia Ryan Christopher, Asst. Haley Sunkes, Asst.

April 15, 2013 Volume 62 Number 72 Circulation 7,000 The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Feedback, Opinion, and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address. The Spectrum is provided free in part by the Undergraduate Mandatory Activity Fee.

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Healthy changes everything Buffalo Public Schools need to meet state regulations immediately On Wednesday, the Investigative Post, a non-profit investigative reporting center in Buffalo, released data from a 2011 survey that revealed 90 percent of Buffalo high school students did not attend physical education classes daily – 36 percent higher than the national average. Students in kindergarten through third grade are only getting physical education once every six days, according to the survey, and there isn’t a comprehensive health education program throughout the Buffalo Public School District. All children in grades K-3 must take part in a phys-ed class on a daily basis, and grades 4-12 must have gym class at least three times a week, according to the New York State Department of Education. To meet state regulations, the district would have to hire 30 more physical education teachers. The Buffalo school system as a whole isn’t in compliance with state regulations for its physical and health education programs, and it hasn’t been for a least a decade, according to the Post. This is unacceptable. Buffalo schools are failing – graduation rates in the city sat at 47 percent in 2012 – and it doesn’t seem to be getting better. One in three adults living in the City of Buffalo is illiterate, according to Say Yes to Education, a national non-profit committed to increasing high school and college graduation rates for innercity youth. Forty-five percent of Buffalo’s seventh graders are overweight, according to the Post, and obesity has been proven to impact academic performance. Seventy-six percent of high school students nationwide who scored grades of D and F on their report cards in 2009 didn’t exercise for five or more days per week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fifty-four percent of these students were also sexually active, according to the same survey. Two years ago, a survey found that about 51 percent of Buffalo high school students said they had sex – five percentage points higher than the national average. A lot of these students – 30.8 percent of high school students – said they did not regularly use condoms during sexual intercourse. More than 200 student pregnancies were reported in the district last year. For a district that spends over $750 million per year, it’s shocking that health – something that seems to be at the core of any type of success, whether academic or otherwise

ART BY JEANETTE CHWAN, THE SPECTRUM

– has taken a backseat. If Buffalo schools want to start seeing academic success, they must first see physical success in the form of health and fitness. The district cannot ignore such a vital part of childhood and adolescent education any longer. Buffalo schools, whether it falls in the hands of the district or in the hands of the Board of Education, must meet regulations immediately. Whoever made the decision to cut physical and health education classes needs to be removed immediately. Something needs to change. The district has started by finally complying with federal nutrition guidelines, and it has screened 2,000 students for dental hygiene and has paid for those who couldn’t afford the visits. But it isn’t enough. “It seems that the state is not necessarily guaranteeing that a lot of their own regulations are being com-

plied with,” Jessica Bauer Walker, the executive director of the Community Health Worker Network and second vice president of the District Parent Coordinating Council of Buffalo, told the Investigative Post. “We as parents and the community are trying to shine a light on it and ask the state to actually enforce their own regulations as well.” We live in an increasingly digital society. Kids today spend more time playing video games, playing with iPhones or other technological toys and watching television than ever before – 43.4 percent of Buffalo high school students watched TV for three or more hours per day, and 33.4 percent used computers three or more hours per day in 2011. You can’t blame any of the obesity, academic success or sexual activity numbers on Buffalo’s long, cold winters or the accessibility of tech-

nology. You can’t blame these numbers on just the students or their parents, either. In 2011, about 31 percent of people in Buffalo were living below the poverty line, according to Census Bureau data. If students are more worried about their financial status – where their meals are coming from or what they will go home to after school – they’re not going to perform well academically and they certainly aren’t going to worry about their health. The district needs to meet state regulations and set up programs that teach students about healthy living, wellness and safe sex practices with the help of the Department of Education. Without these basic human needs, students just aren’t going to excel scholastically. Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by MediaMate. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at (716) 645-2452. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100

Bottom line: It’s budget time

President’s budget reflects what voters elected him to do Last week, President Obama unveiled his 2014 budget that aimed to address the gridlock in Washington and end the debt standoff with Republicans. In his speech Wednesday in the White House Rose Garden, he stressed his budget proposal as a blueprint that reduces our deficit and makes investments that enable the economy to grow. His budget includes $300 billion in additional spending on jobs and public work or projects, while also implementing cuts to Social Security and Medicare. The cuts have marshaled anger from both the right and the left. The right is already claiming the cuts are too “modest,” while the left remains livid at the very notion of reductions to such entitlement programs. As Obama has become accustomed to Washington culture and displays considerably more grey hair to prove it, he is now well aware that no budget proposal will satisfy his political adversaries. But what the president demonstrated on Wednesday is that he is willing to make compromises in the interest of merely getting something done – which is not an easy feat in our nation’s capital. While we want to see compromise, we also don’t want to see a budget that violates our values, leav-

ing portions of the American people too thin for themselves. Obama must seek compromise, but he must not allow Republicans to force him into a corner where reducing the deficit comes at the cost of people’s welfare. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s immediate dismissal of the proposal is in line with his consistently intransigent behavior since Obama took office. The president’s bottom line demand for $700 billion in new taxes on the wealthiest Americans is a way to increase government revenue that can go toward creating jobs. It is the economic recipe that worked in the ’90s when there was record growth, incomes rose at all levels and, for the first time in our nation’s history, there was a federal surplus. Obama has also proposed a Pigovian tax on cigarettes that forces smokers to pay an extra $0.94 a pack that will go toward a $77 billion expansion of preschool education. The central idea of a Pigovian tax to increase the cost of an activity that is a personal choice and that is harmful. The hope is that it will reduce the practice of that activity while also letting those who engage in it pay for something beneficial to society.

This is not a new concept and the area that the money will go to is especially important as more and more sociological research concludes that preschool education plays a vital role in children’s development and affects them for the rest of their lives. Government spending is not a bad thing, as much as conservatives like to claim it is, and it is necessary in times of economic hardship to fuel job creation and make investments, which enable people to succeed in a market economy. Preschool education helps achieve this. Public infrastructure projects achieve this, and in order for the government to be in a position to do this, it needs revenue. Even Ronald Reagan understood this and was willing to bring in revenues when necessary. Though what Reagan didn’t understand was that lower taxes on corporations don’t really make the economy grow. When he was president, income disparity rates increased and more jobs were shipped overseas. So this notion that higher taxes just make it more difficult for corporations to hire more workers and grow is untrue, and it is worth mentioning that trickle-down economics is now a disproven economic fallacy.

We don’t think it is right to punish success, but we also don’t think that is what the president is trying to do. The point that needs to be stressed is that government spending does create jobs and we need more revenue to do it and taxing the biggest corporations and the wealthiest individuals – who can afford it – is the most feasible way to bring that money in. The president’s budget reflects two important things. One, he is serious about getting it passed. Two, he will offer compromise but not alter the economic plan for growth that he articulated during the election – which he won handily. Many economists have made it clear these across-the-board cuts from sequestration will cause massive damage to the economy and cost hundreds of thousands of jobs. Now that Obama has put forward a budget, it is time for Republicans to come to the table and hammer out a deal that the president can accept. Obama shouldn’t be deprived of his agenda that the voters embraced in November. Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com


Monday, April 15, 2013 ubspectrum.com

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News

Perseverance pays Kim, founder of CampusLOOTr, seizes business opportunities while at UB TAYLOR BRUNDAGE

Staff Writer

Harrison Kim, a senior business major, has been making his own money since he was 14 years old. Throughout his early teenage years, Kim spent his free time scooping ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery. Kim dreaded seeing a bill fall into the tip jar, which meant he was required to serenade the customer – but it didn’t stop him from singing for that tip. Kim said his job wasn’t ideal, but he would do whatever it took to support himself and his family. Now at age 22, he’s in the midst of developing CampusLOOTr, a website that allows students to buy and sell products in a virtual campus marketplace specified to their college or university. He said growing up with a single mother and younger brother was far from easy. He felt it was his role, as the oldest son, to step up and help financially support the family. In addition to working at Cold Stone, Kim earned money as an event organizer in his hometown of Queens, N.Y. Although his South Korean mother worked hard to support her family, she didn’t speak much English. Kim stepped up to help pay the family bills. Because of his situation, Kim felt forced to grow up faster than many of his peers. Kim said his difficult childhood experiences contributed to his business background, shaping him into the entrepreneur he is today. “The job market is tough,” Kim said. “I figured instead of sitting around playing video games, I would do something worthwhile and start a company.” Kim is bent on the idea that he is no different from any of his peers. His philosophy entails using re-

Satsuki Aoi, The Spectrum

Harrison Kim (right) sits with Robert Iorizzo (left). The two operate CampusLOOTr, a website Kim started with the same entrepreneurial spirit he learned as a teenager scooping ice cream to help support his younger brother and single mother.

sources and teamwork to take advantage of any opportunities present. Kim said if those opportunities aren’t present, he creates them himself. He takes pride in his perseverance through difficult situations but stresses the importance of teamwork in every aspect of his life. It wasn’t long after Kim began advertising his business idea that he attracted a group of equally experienced and driven team members – all of whom are UB students or alumni. “Harry has a certain drive and passion about this,” said Robert Iorizzo, a junior business major and

one of Kim’s CampusLOOTr partners. “It’s truly contagious.” Although Iorizzo describes Kim as overly modest at times, Kim stressed he could not be where he is today without his team. Each team member brings something necessary to the table, according to Kim. The UB Panasci Business Plan Competition is a contest designed to bring UB students from science, technology, business and other disciplines together to maximize their potential to create viable businesses in Western New York, according to the UB School of Management website.

Kim and his CampusLOOTr business partners competed but lost in the semifinal round in March. Upon learning about the competition, Kim said he couldn’t let something like that slip out of his grasp. He was inspired to take the next step, and he knew he couldn’t do it alone. He started recruiting classmates. “The team coming together was a coincidence,” Kim said. “It was a strange coincidence.” All of the team members met and collaborated in just one year. Kim learned his classmate Iorizzo ran his own computer repair business in his hometown. Iorizzo has

been self-employed since age 14. Additional members Volker Einsfeld, a computer science Ph.D. student, Thorton Haag-Wolf, a computer science UB graduate and David Van Laeken, a junior computer science major, have also been working with computing and business for the duration of their lives. It didn’t take long for the group to develop a working connection, according to Kim. Kim is grateful that his team continues to work toward a common goal. He’s proud to see where his idea has already been taken and the places it could potentially go. “[Kim] is just a person,” Iorizzo said. “He met some other people and made something happen.” The team won’t give up. Although the team didn’t make it past the semifinal round of the Panasci Competition, it will continue to do whatever it takes to make the idea happen, according to Kim. In the future, Kim and his teammates plan to make CampusLOOTr more automated and easier for students to use. Kim said the possible monetary awards from future competitions could help make that happen faster. Nick States, a senior media study major, said he likes the idea of CampusLOOTr because it’s “unique.” “It’s made by the students and for the students,” States said. Kim takes pride in the progress CampusLOOTr and his life, in general, have made. He has created and seized an opportunity at UB and collaborated with students to make his dream a reality. “A lot of big things have started at colleges,” Iorizzo said. “One could be starting here right now.” Email: news@ubspectrum.com

Be Green =- Get Green

Return your Plastic Bottles using any of the 8 conveniently located machines throughout campus.

You Get to Help the Environment & Get Cash! myubcard.com/greenscene


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Monday, April 15, 2013

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CAMPUS NEWS BRIEFS UB reveals downtown campus design UB has collaborated with Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum (HOK) architectural, engineering and planning firm to create the new design for UB’s downtown Medical Campus, according to UB News Center. Kenneth Drucker, the design principal for the project and design director of HOK, told UB News Center the plans are designed to coalesce “academia and research” to increase interactions between students and faculty. He added that the lower floors will be primarily used for the medical education program and the more specialized research will be on the higher floors. It will also include a common atrium in between the levels for students and researchers to interact. Robert Shibley, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning and head of the design committee, said the goal of the design is to create a medical school that is “typical of sites” of Buffalo, according to UB News Center. To accommodate for this feature, the campus will be modeled similarly to other Buffalo buildings. Like the Ellicott Square Building, the medical school will seem to take up the entire block

but will have an open interior to foster social engagement and to capitalize on natural lighting, Shibley told UB News Center. The location is also imperative to the plans, he said. An enclosed bridge across High Street will link the medical school, which will be directly connected to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. The connection will be essential to enhance the learning experience for medical students. The design will also strengthen the community of the surrounding area. The efficiency of the public transportation system – mainly bussing and the NFTAMetro system – will increase because of the new plans, according to UB News Center. Drucker said the community of the surrounding area has been supportive during the whole process. He said the cooperation is something he hasn’t seen before in his entire professional career. The medical campus is scheduled to be completed by the 2016 Fall Semester.

UB strives for $103.5 million South Campus construction After the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences moves downtown in 2016, UB plans to restore South Campus under the plans E.B. Green, the original architect laid out decades ago, according to The Buffalo News. UB officials are planning to knock down Cary, Farber and Sherman Halls in the 2019-20 year, Laura Hubbard, vice president for finance and administration, told The News. The project will cost approximately $12.5 million. Parker and Townsend Halls will also be renovated to house the School of Social Work and the Graduate School of Education, costing about $91 million, which UB does not have right now according to The News. Funding for the renovation and relocation was not included in this year’s state budget, but Hubbard is hopeful it will be recognized next year so UB can begin a larger transformation of the two campuses.

UB plans to move other professional schools like the Law School and School of Management from Amherst to South Campus, according to The News. In the process, UB also plans to remove the “temporary” annexes of classrooms and offices that litter the lawns and quads Green envisioned. “The design he did was really a classic campus – great lawns, quads and somewhat more of a naturalized campus around the perimeter,” School of Architecture and Planning Dean Robert Shibley told The News. UB has no intention of deserting South Campus despite the accusations of the university moving on to new downtown territory; it should be apparent with the work that has already begun on Hayes Hall, he said.

More than 20,000 SUNY students may get refunded As a result of a class-action settlement in a case brought by three former Binghamton University students, more than 20,000 State University of New York students and alumni may receive refunds for wrongly paying outof-state tuition, according to WGRZ. The three students commuted from New Jersey to New York for high school and were thus eligible for in-statetuition rates because they had a New York State diploma. Students who received a GED diploma from New York are also exempt from the twiceas-expensive out-of-state tuition cost. SUNY will not only refund those wronged, but will also more clearly define the tuition costs and other fees so future students are more aware of their eligibility or exemption. Email: news@ubspectrum.com

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For more information, please contact the course instructor, Dr. William Scheider. Email: wls3@buffalo.edu Office Phone: 829-5369

For more information on this course as well as on UB graduate programs in epidemiology, please see our website http://sphhp.buffalo.edu/spm


Monday, April 15, 2013 ubspectrum.com

6

Features

Tjahjadi-Lopez recognized as national scholarship finalist BETHANY WALTON Staff Writer

Joyce Adiges, The Spectrum

Christine Tjahjadi-Lopez’s humanitarian ambitions made her UB’s third finalist for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship in 20 years.

Christine Tjahjadi-Lopez, a junior international trade major, wants to start a for-profit organization dedicated to creating safe housing for victims of human trafficking. She works every day to inspire young women. Her passion for helping humanity earned her a spot as a finalist for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship competition this February. Though she did not win the scholarship, she was UB’s third finalist in 20 years. The scholarship is given to college juniors who are trying to better the world politically or socially, according to Tjahjadi-Lopez. The winners receive $30,000 toward any graduate school of their choice and an internship in Washington, D.C. Winners also attend a week-long leadership training session with other winners from across the country. The foundation is interested in finding students who possess “exceptional leadership potential” and are “committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education or elsewhere in the public service,” according to truman.gov. The annual competition chooses 50 to 65 students to be awarded the scholarship each year. Tjahjadi-Lopez applied after learning about the scholarship and the application process from Elizabeth Colucci, the assistant administrative director of UB’s Honors College. Tjahjadi-Lopez worked on the application for a year. Tjahjadi-Lopez said the 14-part application forced her to question what she was doing with her life and why she was worthy of the scholarship. “I feel like it’s my mission in life to spread God’s love by bringing joy to people,” Tjahjadi-Lopez said. “I didn’t see how what I was doing was something worthy enough of winning a scholarship, but that was one of the things Elizabeth kept on telling me: ‘You are worthy.’” After being notified of her selection as a finalist, Tjahjadi-Lopez was given the names of the judges who would be interviewing her in March. To prepare for her interview, she worked with Colucci and Sam Cavalleri, the career programming specialist from UB’s Career Services department, to improve her speaking skills and work on her public speaking etiquette. Tjahjadi-Lopez also contacted several influential people in the Buffalo area and at UB for additional help. Their support and encouragement helped her realize her status as a young business professional and gave her the confidence to communicate on the same level as the judges, Tjahjadi-Lopez said. All finalists were invited to New York City on March 27 for a pre-interview dinner with past Truman Scholars. Interviews for final-

ists in the New York and Rhode Island regions were held the next day in Lincoln Center at Fordham University. The finalists were given a chance to mingle, network and make connections with each other while waiting for their interviews. Tjahjadi-Lopez was then introduced to the panel of eight judges. Although she said many other finalists found the interview scary, her six-month preparation made her unshakeable, and she had no trouble answering the questions. By making the competition a daily focus up until in the interview date, TjahjadiLopez became comfortable with the judges beforehand and was ready for any question that came her way. She even put pictures of the judges on her wall. “When I went to bed and woke up, they would be the first things I saw in the morning,” Tjahjadi said. “I really wanted to be comfortable with their faces and know their characteristics. I Googled them one day and spent two hours finding as much as I could about them and putting them each on a piece of paper.” Trina Hamilton, an assistant professor of geography at UB, has worked with TjahjadiLopez in the past on research and thought she was the perfect candidate for the Truman Scholarship. In Hamilton’s opinion, what makes Tjahjadi-Lopez stand out from other students is her work ethic and interest in learning more and helping others. “[Tjahjadi] is one of the most enthusiastic students I have ever met,” Hamilton said. “She has seemingly endless reserves of energy that she continuously directs to creative social justice projects, and she’s exactly the kind of informed, engaged and creative citizen that I think they’re looking for.” Although Tjahjadi-Lopez did not win this year’s scholarship, she is constantly applying to other scholarships for graduate school, and she has won some – including an essay contest held by WE LEAD for a conference in Washington, D.C. Tjahjadi-Lopez hopes more UB students in the future will apply for the scholarship so they can benefit from the same practice and make important connections that will help their future. Regardless of the outcome, Tjahjadi-Lopez believes she left an impression on the other finalists and judges because she shared her plans for the future. She hopes UB will one day have a Truman Scholar because she wants to show a state school can win a prestigious national scholarship. Email: features@ubspectrum.com

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Monday, April 15, 2013

7

Stress eating during finals: I’m not the only one, right?

LISA EPSTEIN

Asst. Features Editor

Finals are approaching quickly and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be reaching your maximum stress level weeks before the actual final exam. And if you’re really like me, you’ll be reaching for some comfort food while staying up well into the night, cramming for your exams. Here are some facts about comfort eating that may surprise you. Comforteating.com says people eat when they’re stressed, bored or lonely. The website states comfort eating is instilled in people from birth. “When we were babies, we cried and our mothers comforted us with their milk,” the website states. “As we grew older, we were given treats for comfort or when we hurt ourselves. We were rewarded with sweets or the occasional ice cream when we were good. We were learning the lessons that food could make us feel better.” When we are under pressure, upset or worried, our comfort food buttons get pressed and we are more likely to eat these types of foods, according to the site. I love pizza, but when I found out that one slice was around 190 calories, I realized I had no idea how many calories I was mindlessly consuming. Mayoclinic.com explains although some people actually eat less in the face of strong emotions, others turn to impulsive or binge eating. Food also serves as a distraction when worrying over an upcoming event and your emotions can become so tied to

your eating habits, you may rapidly eat whatever’s convenient without even enjoying it. When I’m feeling the pressure of school or work, it feels so much better to indulge in some French fries or chocolate as a way to make myself feel better. Psychologytoday.com writes when you experience stress, your brain signals your body to produce a hormone called Cortisol. Left to its own devices, long-term anxiety depletes your energy reserves. Your body uses fat and sugar-laden foods to help your body build up reserves that deal with these stressful situations. When I asked my coworkers what their favorite foods to eat are when they’re stressed or upset, unsurprisingly, the choices were mostly sugary, fried or greasy. I thought about my own habits and the foods I eat and realized no matter how often I exercise, the things I eat will directly affect my health in the future. During finals, I try to limit what I eat to cope with my stress, but sometimes the urge to reach for those chicken nuggets is too strong. Weightloss.com explains there are five steps to stopping emotional eating before it starts. They include: identifying your triggers, recognizing hunger signals and when you’re really hungry, limiting your trigger foods, not skipping meals and creating alternatives to eating, like reading a book, or other activities for a distraction. No matter your stress level, there are always foods and treats that can be a distraction during the last few weeks of school. But learning about some facts and warning signs can help keep you energized and ready to end the school year on a smart and healthy note.

Mac & Cheese Serving size: 1 cup Calories: 400

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Monday, April 15, 2013 ubspectrum.com

Arts & Entertainment

Mark Twain was here: A new perspective NICHOLAS C. TURTON Staff Writer

Courtesy of Prometheus Publishing

Thomas Reigstad’s Scribblin’ for a Livin’: Mark Twain’s Pivotal Period in Buffalo sheds light on Mark Twain’s time spent in Buffalo as the city and his career leapt to great heights.

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In July 1869, Samuel Langhorne Clemens – better known as Mark Twain – arrived in Buffalo, N.Y., as a rising star in the literary world. At the age of 33, Twain – who is most lauded for writing The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885) – spent 18 months in the Queen City. This time in his career was fundamental to his overwhelming success in the literary world, yet a great deal of scholarship on the writer disregards Twain’s time in Buffalo as dreary, isolated and unimportant. Many scholars felt Buffalo was a transgression for Twain – that the gloomy weather drove him away – but it’s possible these scholars didn’t look deep enough. Thomas Reigstad wishes to change their perspective. Reigstad, an emeritus professor of English at SUNY Buffalo State College and an avid Twain scholar, challenges these assumptions in his latest book, Scribblin’ for a Livin’: Mark Twain’s Pivotal Period in Buffalo. Reigstad spoke about his book last Wednesday at the Central Library in downtown Buffalo. Anne Conable, of the Development and Communications Department of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, introduced Reigstad enthusiastically at the talk. “The work [Reigstad] did for the book has really added a tremendous new piece to the scholarship that exists of Mark Twain,” Conable said. “It’s really important for the canon of the literary genius of Mark Twain.” In his book, Reigstad details Twain’s life in Buffalo through the lens of social networks, literary accomplishments, familial transformations and his role as editor of The Buffalo Express, a prominent Buffalo-based newspaper during Twain’s time. Reigstad has labored over countless documents, resources and nearly every issue of The Buffalo Express that Twain contributed to. Through his research, Reigstad noticed a strong connection between Twain and Buffalo. One of the overarching arguments Reigstad makes is about Twain’s rise to success at the same time of Buffa-

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lo’s rise as a prominent city. Twain, who was shifting from journalism to writing novels and literature at the time, set a precursor for his eventual stardom. Buffalo, a booming industrial city, was on the rise to becoming the eighth-largest city in America. “Buffalo and Twain were coming of age together,” Reigstad said. “It was a happy confluence … Buffalo was a catalyst for Twain’s literary transformation.” Twain finished his second novel, Roughing It, a prequel to The Innocents Abroad in Buffalo. It was in the Queen City where he married Olivia Langdon, lived in an illustrious mansion on Delaware Avenue and networked with names such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Slee and William G. Fargo – men he kept in touch with for a number of years. The original manuscript of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn also sits at the Central Library in downtown Buffalo. The manuscript was a personal gift from Twain, strengthening the bond that exists between Twain and the Queen City. Carl Penders, 60, of Buffalo, attended the talk on Wednesday. Penders, who is a writer himself, connects well with Twain’s sentiments. “[Twain is] a looming figure over American literature,” Penders said. “He’s a great writer, a great humorist … and his satiric look [on life] … it’s prevalent even today.” When Twain passed away, he willed that his autobiography be released 100 years after his death. With the 100th anniversary in 2010, his autobiography was published and became a best seller despite its enormous size – a true testament to Twain’s everlasting mark on the literary world. “He is the quintessential American author,” Conable said. “His books are timeless … and they’re a part of who America was at that time.” Surely, the stance that Twain was, and still is, a prominent American writer will not change. With Reigstad’s new book, however, the sentiment towards Twain’s time in Buffalo might. That’s all that Reigstad hopes to do: provide a fresh, new perspective on the eternal author. “Twain died in 1910,” Reigstad said as he ended his talk. “But he never forgot Buffalo.”

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ubspectrum.com

Monday, April 15, 2013

The cost of being The Bawse Poor decision-making costs Rick Ross big bucks

ELVA AGUILAR

Senior Arts Editor

Blame the “yes” men. Blame Rocko. Blame feminists. But God forbid you blame Rick Ross. The controversy surrounding the Spring Fest 2012 headliner’s lyric on Rocko’s “U.O.E.N.O.” began earlier this month when a particular lyric in Rick Ross’ verse caught the attention of listeners everywhere. “Put molly all in her champagne, she ain’t even know it/I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it,” Ross raps. Within the past week, the lyric has cost Ross an endorsement deal with Reebok and his spot on the track; if you search the song today, you’ll see another Spring Fest alum, Wiz Khalifa, has replaced Ross. As an avid female rap fan, I often find myself defending rappers and their intentions to those who don’t understand the culture. I’ve had heated debates with people who believe rap music is wholeheartedly negative or not “real” music. But this is a situation I couldn’t possibly defend. Rick Ross has dealt with his fair share of controversy in the past, but never over something like this. The threats he received by the Gangster Disciples for using Larry Hoover’s name in “B.M.F.” and the jokes that came from the pictures 50 Cent leaked of him receiving his corrections certification were all results of his decision making. He chose to use the name of a legendary gangster without per-

mission from his dangerous cohorts and, even if he did become a corrections officer to help clean up his act, he should have known the pictures would become public eventually. What I can’t seem to understand, however, is why a rapper – whose job it is to be a lyricist – took so long to own up for his lyrics. Before this week, Ross argued that he never meant for the lyric to be interpreted as rape, which confuses me because what else could he have meant? According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, MDMA (molly) acts as a stimulant and a psychedelic, which results in the user reaching a euphoric state. The scary thing, however, is that multiple drugs and substances are labeled as molly but aren’t the actual drug, according to a CNN report from last August. But even if what Ross intended to slip into an unknowing woman’s drink is molly, which would bring her to a euphoric state, what explanation could he have for taking her home and enjoying her, and she ain’t even know it? Rick Ross has dominated the mainstream scene since 2006 when “Push It” hit radio and has continued to dominate ever since. He has made millions from his music, which has proven that the man is talented. So why couldn’t such a talent find something else to say? Rick Ross’ lyrics are easily quotable and are used in daily conversation, Facebook picture captions and Twitter statuses constantly. So to argue that Ross isn’t a face for rap music or hip-hop is absurd. I sit and wonder what Rocko and Ross’ entourage thought when they were in the studio when Ross recorded his verse. Did nobody stand up and question the intentions behind the lyrics or how quickly they could get “misinterpreted?” Or were they initially worried but couldn’t conjure up the courage to tell the Teflon Don he was being insensitive? Ross has branded his name, his label (Maybach Music Group) and

has coined various terms throughout the years; his goal has been to become a household name and that alone should be enough for him to know better than to say something as ridiculous as he did on “U.O.E.N.O.” The argument that other rappers have also incorporated rape into their lyrics, while sad and true, has nothing to do with Rick Ross. Last week, The Smoking Section released a list of 32 overlooked rape lyrics in rap, and while the list held notable names like Tyler, The Creator, Lil Wayne and Cam’ron, none of those rappers held major sponsorships when those lyrics were released. What makes my stomach turn the most, however, are those who are referring to Ross as a victim. Ross has been in the game for a long time; he has made a lot of money and will continue to do so for years to come, trust me. But the women who listened to the original song and had to remember how they were once taken advantage of and they “didn’t even know it” shouldn’t be expected to take it lightly. The discussion about rape culture is an ongoing one. We overlook the mockery of rape and the mental anguish victims have to endure because of it, and we defend those who are insensitive toward it because we’re still scared to talk about it. Rick Ross deserved to get dropped from Reebok and from the track, if not because he made a poor lyrical decision because he obviously doesn’t care about representing himself as a brand. The business is just that – business. If you’re too scared to face the taboo discussion about rape, then at least realize how his poor decision making is bad for business. Boss up or shut up. Email: elva.aguilar@ubspectrum.com

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Stay classy, Reebok Sneaker company knew what it was getting into

BRIAN JOSEPHS Senior Managing Editor

You have to find Rick Ross’ public relations skills severely lacking, when all is said and done. The rapper has been given numerous opportunities to apologize for his hellacious lyrics on Rocko’s “U.O.E.N.O.” Ross attributed the controversy to a public misunderstanding. If he has transformed into some sort of Orwellian lyricist who uses club rap and women as a metaphor for society as a whole, then he may be right. But because that’s impossible and Rick Ross is still Rick Ross, there’s no possible way to interpret this lyric as date rape. The fact that we know what type of character Ross is made it that much more awkward when he finally apologized only after getting dropped by Reebok. In his apology statement, he began by saying: “Before I am an artist, I am a father, a son, and a brother to some of the most cherished women in the world.” Here’s the thing: It’s only William Roberts II who’s being described here. Roberts suddenly stripped himself of his trap-god, grandeur fantasies in an attempt to become sincere. The problem is Reebok singed a contract for a Rick Ross endorsement, not a Roberts co-sign. As such, Reebok should’ve known exactly what it was going to get with Rick Ross when the company made the deal. When you really think about it, the controversial lyrics are right along the lines of what the Rick Ross character would say. A bit of a stretch, maybe, but this is a figure who rapped lines like, “She a p***y ho

until she give me p***y ho.” That’s why it seemed like a save-our-own-ass type of maneuver when Reebok decided to drop Ross. If you’re going to use a mainstream artist to endorse your product, you immediately should be thinking about what he/she represents; that’s the face of your product. You’re embracing all the positive/negative characteristics of the artist, and unfortunately, Reebok couldn’t handle the heat when protesters lined up in front of its flagship store. Its plan had backfired. So now we have a respected sneaker company that just lost its face and a rapper who has one more incident to add to his latest career blunders. If I were in Reebok’s shoes, I would take a time machine back to when Ross was about to sign the contract, grab those papers and walk the heck out of that room (after apologizing to Ross, of course). Because that’s impossible, I probably would’ve cut his endorsement deal, too. As messed up as that lyric was, I would’ve admitted to screwing up because I knew what I was getting into when signing Ross. Ross’ lines were inappropriate, but you have to wonder how much of the controversy is contextual. Would the lyrics have drawn so much attention if he were still actually releasing good songs? Consider how artists like Eminem and Tyler, The Creator have thrived despite explicitly referring to rape. Eminem’s “As the World Turns” has him fully indulging in those fantasies. The hip-hop community has to consider why such lyrics are so prevalent in the genre. Reebok, on the other hand, has to rethink its marketing strategy after taking this huge ‘L.’ I mean, c’mon, man. You have to listen to “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast)” and think that a character who “sells dope straight out the iPhone” may not be the most wholesome figure or representative of what a “Classic” is. Email: brian.josephs@ubspectrum.com


ubspectrum.com

10

Continued from page 12: Black Mamba Trading Gasol means no Gasol or Kobe for the first half of the season, making it tougher to get Howard to resign. Waiving Kobe – the face of the franchise for 17 years – would be a coldblooded decision, but at the end of the day, the NBA is a business and the Lakers need to make a move that is going to help set them up for success in the near future. No one will understand that better than Kobe. Whichever path they decide to take, our days of seeing Kobe Bryant in the NBA – regardless what jersey he sports – are numbered. I’m glad to call myself a witness. Email: jon.gagnon@ubspectrum.com

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Continued from page 1: Relay for Life There are three key components to the Relay For Life event, which makes it different from other fundraising events. First is the survivor’s lap. As the Relay event began, survivors were advised to come to the front of the arena for all of the participants to see. Dressed in their purple “survivor” shirts, children and adults gathered together as the room roared with applause. The survivors held onto a large banner, celebrating their victory over cancer, as they took the first lap around the arena. Onlookers continued cheering and clapping for the entire first lap. The luminaria ceremony was a chilling moment for everyone at the event. The luminaria bags lining the track were lit up and the rest of the lights slowly dimmed. A hush fell over the arena, which had been overflowing with celebration. For Alyssa Hariprashad, a junior exercise science major, the luminaria ceremony is her favorite part of Relay For Life. “I think it’s amazing that they take out part of the night to remember everyone who has battled against cancer even if they did not win their battle,” Hariprashad said. Hariprashad participated in Relay For Life throughout high school because it was a popular event within her community. Now, Hariprashad participates to support her roommates who have lost family members to cancer and helped plan Relay For Life at UB. “This has been the best relay event I have been to because each and every one of the participants were extremely engaged and it was well organized,” Hariprashad said. Later in the night, the fight back ceremony took place. This emotional ceremony inspires and encourages everyone to take action in the fight against cancer.

In between the main events, participants enjoyed “themed laps.” The committee created an overall Disney theme for the event this year, and each lap called for different clothing attire, all of which fell under the Disney theme. The “Mad Hatter Lap” consisted of participants wearing hats, wigs and headbands. The “Colors of the Wind Lap” had participants in bright colors and tie-dye clothing. The “Hercules” lap had everyone walking around the track in muscle tees. Around the track, teams put together different types of sales for some last-minute fundraising at the event. Participants could exchange dollar bills for “relay bucks,” which allowed them to purchase anything teams might be selling. Popcorn, cups of mud and desserts were big hits. Participants could pay five relay bucks to put a friend in jail and other participants paid three relay bucks to get their friends out of jail. Other teams set up booths where relay bucks bought a massage from the UB physical therapy students or a manicure from the Dazzlers. Teams are already looking forward to next year’s relay event. The committee starts planning for the next year’s relay as soon as the current one ends, according to Megan Rosen, a junior biological sciences major. Email: features@ubspectrum. com

Monday, April 15, 2013

Continued from page 1: Spring Fest Matthew Lippman, 17 and a senior at City Honors School, attended Spring Fest with plans to only enjoy rapper Kendrick Lamar but left pleasantly surprised. “I didn’t realize [the show] would be so EDM oriented, but it was wild,” Lippman said. “Krewella especially; they were insane.” Co-headliner Kendrick Lamar gave Spring Fest a break between EDM acts for his raw lyrical talent and, much like Krewella and Aoki, he also brought his niche group of fans to Alumni just for him. Dylan Allesi, 20, of Fredonia, visited UB for solely Lamar and although he sat through performances he didn’t like, Lamar made it all worth it. “I wasn’t really vibing to the electronic music, but Kendrick got me as hyphy as can be,” Allesi said. “The atmosphere was rich with good people and good beats.” Lamar opened his set with “The Art of Peer Pressure” and worked his way into tracks such as “Hol’ Up,” “Money Trees” and “Backseat Freestyle,” both incorporating his 2011 debut album Section.80 and g.o.o.d. kid, m.A.A.d city. The smell of marijuana, compliments of attendees who managed to evade security for a short period of time, engulfed the entire arena during Lamar’s set as he performed “B**** Don’t Kill My Vibe,” “Cartoons & Cereal” and especially “HiiPower.” As the rap fans began to leave to make room for Aoki’s following, Lamar astonished his fans by reappearing in a UB Bulls basketball jersey, with his label and collaborative T.D.E. stitched on the back along with the number three, making him an honorary Bull for the night. Although 5 & A Dime and Bad Rabbits didn’t receive as much praise as their tourmates did, they held their own in front of an un-

familiar crowd. Bad Rabbits even went as far as hanging with fans after their set in the Alumni Arena lobby as they promoted their EP, Stick Up Kids, as well as their upcoming LPs American Dream and American Love. While hundreds of rowdy students were turned away by approximately 8 p.m., those who arrived early were greeted by senior sociology major DJ Rosado, who also opened Fall Fest 2012. Although Rosado only performed for a fraction of the audience that ended up at Alumni that night, his stage fright from Fall Fest diminished as he spun for his fellow students, whom he deemed his inspiration for the night. Many students who arrived immediately recognized Rosado. “Everything I’ve made, it was all inspired by my four years here,” Rosado said. “I started making music when I got here. So it’s not really like I have a following. I’m just regurgitating everything UB gave me.” Those inside Alumni Arena were able to mute out the chaos occurring outside the venue, which erupted after security began denying entrance to students. Once 6,500 people entered Alumni Arena, the event reached maximum capacity, according to SA Entertainment Coordinator Ned Semoff. Although some did exit after Alumni reached capacity, regulations state that no more people would be allowed entrance. Despite the small riff of the night, Spring Fest went off without a hitch. Alumni Arena seldom hosts that many people and the only other event that might compare would be this year’s commencement ceremony. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

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Crossword of the Day

HOROSCOPES Monday, April 15, 2013 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK

ACROSS 1 Discussion group 6 Pouts peevishly 11 Cookout throwaway 14 It stimulates a sense 15 Sherlock's lady friend 16 Find a function for 17 Tool belt item 19 Coal holder 20 Hurricane's center 21 "A Nightmare on ___ Street" 22 Color associated with screeching brakes 23 They're often whispered 27 Secretive couple 29 Word to a general practitioner 30 Position in a hierarchy 32 Beauty salon sound 33 Dos Passos trilogy 34 Clean with elbow grease 36 Cheap cigar (Var.) 39 Interim employee 41 ___ out (made a successful putt) 43 Nonfictional 44 Be rude in line 46 Head of a Muslim state (Var.) 48 Pompon-centered cap 49 Chief in a burnoose 51 Fuzzy fruit

52 180 deg. from WSW 53 Anterior limb 56 Coven's kettle (Var.) 58 Coke companion 59 "CSI" evidence 60 Tell it like it isn't 61 Airport posting (Abbr.) 62 18th-century explorer 68 Asian title of respect 69 Square things? 70 Aquatic bird similar to a loon 71 "___ give you the shirt off his back!" 72 They'll question you 73 Neighbor of Turkey

Edited by Timothy E. Parker April 15, 2013 REAR OF A LUXURY HOTEL By Alex Mathers

26 A thumb to the nose 28 "Fight Club" star Brad 31 Stalin's persecuted peasant 35 A bit of antiquity 37 Fertilizer from bats 38 Country on the Red Sea 40 Apple or pear, e.g. 42 Hindu festival of lights 45 University of Kentucky athlete 1 "Faux" follower 47 Documents entered into public records 2 A compass can help you make one 50 Change the identity of 3 It goes with "neither" 53 Newly made 4 Another way to spell 49-Across 54 Bizarre 5 Targets of many jokes 55 Stares with open mouth 6 Word that's conferred 57 Bad-mouth 7 Canton in Switzerland 63 Powerful explosive 8 Bank that deters flooding 64 Network revenue generators 9 Death tolls 65 Above, to Shakespeare 10 Addresses for churches 66 __-Wan Kenobi 11 Newspaper newbie 67 Hawaii's Mauna ___ 12 Tree that provides wickers 13 Road curves 18 Remove, as a coupon 23 Brown in a pan 24 Prop for Rembrandt 25 Suite cleaner

DOWN

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- You may have a hard time getting started today, but once you do you'll find no shortage of things to occupy your mind. TAURUS (April 20May 20) -- There are those who do not believe you are the right one for the job -- whatever it may be -- but you can prove, today, that they are mistaken. GEMINI (May 21June 20) -- Something you did in the distant past is likely to catch up to you today -- perhaps for the first time. You can surely make amends. CANCER (June 21July 22) -- You may have something to do late in the day that occupies your mind, and has you rather nervous, for hours ahead of time.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You are wanting more in the way of answers than others are able to provide, try as they might. You must modify your own expectations. VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) -- You may not be able to get your own work done today until you dedicate some time to another's pet project. Eventually you'll be on your own! LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 22) -- Phone or internet communication will not provide you with everything you need today. What's required today is a little face time. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Yes, you know how to do almost everything that will be expected of you today -- but one thing in particular may require a little study.

FALL SPACES ARE

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

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- The more casual you can be in your conversations today, the less threatening others will find you. Avoid being pushy or aggressive. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- A few memories may have you changing your plans before the day is out -- but remember, you can't recreate the past in every detail. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- For everything there will be adequate time today, provided you have prioritized and given yourself a schedule you can follow faithfully. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- You may feel as though you have too much to do today -- and perhaps you are right. But that doesn't mean you can't get it all done, does it?


12

Sports

Monday, April 15, 2013 ubspectrum.com

Bulls look to strengthen special teams for next season

The future of the Black Mamba

JOE KONZE JR

Senior Sports Editor

The football team last returned a kick for a touchdown on Sept. 20, 2008. Last season, the return game ranked 12th in the Mid-American Conference in kickoff returns, tallying just 850 yards and zero touchdowns. The return game is still a question mark for the Bulls, with a variety of players capable of returning the ball. Senior Okoye Houton handled kickoffs for the Bulls last year, averaging 19.1 yards on 13 returns, while senior Cordero Dixon returned 10 punts for 31 yards. Sophomore Devin Campbell and senior Brandon Murie stepped into the rotation multiple times during the season as well. “It’s the schemes; it’s the blocking; it’s the tackling; it’s covering; it’s holding people up so returners can get the ball so they can hit some seams so they can hit some big plays,” said head coach Jeff Quinn. “It’s been too long [since] we have had kickoff return for a touchdown or a punt return for a touchdown. Way too long.” Campbell returned 10 kicks for 219 yards but was forced out of the role when he became the team’s featured running back after an injury to senior running back Branden Oliver. Although special teams is primarily filled with backups or substitutes on the team’s offensive and defensive units, it is perhaps the most important aspect on the football field. It is an aspect of the game that Quinn says can help make his team stronger. “It’s really a full-team effort in really buying in to the totality of how important special teams is in changing field position and potentially putting some points on the board so we can get ourselves with some shorter fields,” Quinn said. “[Also to] get our offense in a closer proximity.” The Bulls did see success in blocking kicks last season with the help of senior defensive back Adam Redden, who helped end a 10-year drought. Redden blocked a punt that resulted in a 33-yard touchdown by Kyndal Minniefield, which gave Buffalo its first punt return for a touchdown since Sept. 2002.

JON GAGNON

Sports Editor

Nick Fischetti, The Spectrum

Sophomore running back Devin Campbell (above) had success in his brief stint in the return game last year before becoming the team’s starting running back after senior standout Branden Oliver went down with an injury.

“For a stretch there, [Redden] had a number of blocked kicks and punts,” Quinn said. “I really like where we are with him along with Khalil Mack and a number of other defensive guys, and we’ve got some tremendous schemes.” With the graduation of kicker and punter Peter Fardon, the Bulls were left to fill an empty spot on their roster last season. Junior kicker Patrick Clarke and freshman punter Tyler Grassman handled the kicking game last season. Clarke netted 11 of 15 field goals and went 28 for 29 on extra points, ranking him 10th in the conference in kicking.

On Nov. 3 against Miami Ohio, Clarke blasted a 47-yard field goal as time expired to give Buffalo a win that jump-started a three-game win streak. “Pat has great sense for the game,” Quinn said. “A real quality competitor. Somebody that is always locked in and mentally prepared. He has spent a lot of time evaluating himself. He is a very detailed guy, very particular with little things in detail.” Clarke also hit a 49-yard field goal against Western Michigan, placing him 10th on the list in the UB record books for longest field goal. Grassman averaged 34.9 net yards and totaled three touchbacks, ranking him last in the conference in punting.

The hope is that his experience will bring him to another level this next season. “Tyler Grassman, we started him as a true freshman as a punter,” Quinn said. “He did a real nice job for us. I’m excited have our two [kickers] back.” The Bulls will look to improve their special teams unit before the Blue-White scrimmage, which will take place April 20 at 2 p.m. at UB Stadium. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Bulls come up short on senior day Women’s tennis drops to 11-4 MARKUS MCCAINE

Asst. Sports Editor

On a day when the women’s tennis team bid farewell to its lone senior, Tamara Markovic, the emotion made it hard for Buffalo to focus. In the last home match of the season, the Bulls (11-4, 2-4 MidAmerican Conference) fell to Akron (16-8, 4-2 MAC), 6-1. “It’s an emotional day,” said head coach Kristen Ortman. “There’s a lot going on, and it’s hard to focus on what’s going on the court. I think that was an issue.” Buffalo’s sole doubles win of the day came from the second doubles pairing of freshman Gopika Kapoor and junior Anamaria Candanoza, who earned the victory by a score of 8-5. In first doubles, the combination of juniors Tanvi Shah and Miranda Podlas fell 8-5. Third partners sophomore Laura Fernandez and junior Marta Stoyanova fell behind early and could not find a way to catch up, eventually losing the match 8-1. All six matches in singles play were decided in straight sets. The Bulls found themselves on the losing side, dropping five of the six singles matches.

Nick Fischetti, The Spectrum

Tamara Markovic (above) played in her last home match as a member of the women’s tennis team on Saturday. The Bulls fell to Akron, 6-1.

Kapoor picked up the lone singles win for the Bulls, beating her opponent 6-0, 6-1. “For me, every time I go into a match, I don’t really care about what I’ve accomplished before,” Kapoor said. “Every match is a new match. I don’t care who I play or where I play in the lineup. It’s just a new day.”

Kapoor’s teammates did not fare as well, with Buffalo losing in straight sets in the other five singles matches. “I think that Akron out-executed us today,” Ortman said. “They hit their shots and we didn’t.” Shah and Podlas, the team’s first and second single players, lost their matches 3-6, 0-6, and 5-7, 3-6, respectively.

No. 5 Fernandez and No. 6 Candanoza also suffered defeat, 4-6, 2-6, and 5-7, 2-6, respectively. Markovic could not get a win on senior day, falling 0-6, 1-6 to Prang Pantusart. “It’s hard playing on a team because it’s something I’m not used to,” Kapoor said. “Tennis is a really individual sport. But playing as a team is kind of hard. Even though you win your own match, you still have to have everyone on the team win for your entire team to win. So it’s a different experience.” The Bulls have now dropped three of their last four matches since starting the spring season on a 10-game winning streak. “We started off really well and our confidence was really good and we should have built on that,” Kapoor said. There are now only two games left in the regular season. “It’s crunch time,” Ortman said. “Time to show up and work hard.” Buffalo finishes its season on the road for its last two MAC matchups. The first of those two road matches is scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m. against Eastern Michigan (812, 3-3 MAC). Email: sports@ubspectrum.com

The consequence of Kobe Bryant’s injury to this season’s Lakers is simple: they’re done. If they are fortunate enough to make the playoffs, a first round sweep against the Thunder or Spurs is inevitable. The questions that remain for the 2013-14 season’s prospectus are a bit more interesting, though. The Lakers have a lot of decisions to make. Has Kobe suited up for the last time in the NBA? Through Kobe’s near two-decades-long stint in the NBA, we have seen him conquer a variety of injuries, constantly playing through pain and inventing himself as a ‘warrior’ of sorts on the court. This injury however, will take more out of Kobe than any he has ever experienced. The recovery period is said to be six to nine months. I’ll assume it will be closer to the latter considering his age and recent struggles with other leg injuries. This would slate his return to near the all-star break of next season. Kobe had previously said next year will be his last in the NBA, but a brief two-month return after the all-star break doesn’t seem to be worth it. Does this mean Kobe will attempt to extend his career past what he already claimed? Under the circumstances, it’s possible. But the severity of this injury could be enough to put him over the edge and lead him to call it quits. “Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing?” Kobe said in a Facebook post. “Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was. Maybe this is how my book ends.” Just a few sentences later, in the same post, he makes you believe otherwise. “One day, the beginning of a new career journey will commence,” Kobe said. “Today is NOT that day.” We probably won’t know his decision for some time, but what I do know is that if there is one person in the NBA who can recover from this and prove the impossible once again, it’s Kobe. Though the bigger question may not be what Kobe is going to do, but what will the Lakers do? With Kobe’s injury leaving a majority of his season next year in doubt, the Lakers need to make resigning Dwight Howard their first priority. If Howard re-signs with L.A., he is eligible to make about $30 million more than he could by signing with any other team. So let’s assume they get Howard back. With their current roster they will be $30 million over the cap, prompting an $85 million luxury tax penalty. It’s safe to say the Buss family won’t be interested in paying that tax with the star player watching from the bleachers for most of the season. In this case, decisions need to be made: Who will stay and who will go? Because Steve Nash is owed too much money for any team to take on his contract, there are two likely options: amnesty Kobe (amnesty clause states you can waive a player without his salary affecting the team’s salary; the player must have been signed prior to 2011-12 season) or trade Pau Gasol. Either move would help the Lakers avoid the colossal luxury tax they would owe. If I were the Lakers, I’d have to lean towards amnestying Kobe. He has, at most, two years left in him and the move would save the team millions. Who’s to say after all the wear and tear Kobe has faced this season and in recent years that he will ever come back to 100 percent? SEE BLACK MAMBA, PAGE 10


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