Student council rep accused of overstepping boundaries VP and president to be on separate ballot in the fall THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, SINCE 1950
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Notley poetry reading in Capen
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Volume 63 No.74
MIRACLE TWINS Soria brothers have overcome tremendous odds on their path to success ANDY KONIUCH Sports Editor
Doctors said the Soria brothers wouldn’t survive on September 13, 1991. But at 10:19 p.m. in Stony Brook Hospital, a miracle happened. In fact, two miracles happened. Maxwell and Michael Soria – identical twins – were born on Friday the 13th. After their mother’s legs were crushed in a hit-and-run accident, the boys were born three months premature. At their first ‘official’ weigh-in, Max was 2 pounds and 3 ounces. Ten minutes later, Mike was born at 1 pound and 9 ounces. Since then, the two have done what few could have expected that September evening – become Division I wrestlers. Max and Mike were juniors on the Buffalo wrestling team this season. Max is first on the active roster with 59 career wins, while Mike ranks fourth with 30. These numbers, however, are far from their greatest accomplishment. Their fight began three months before they were even born. Karen Soria was picking up a friend from the Kings Park Clubhouse. A routine walk from her car drastically changed when a gray truck veered from its parking spot in reverse, crushing Karen’s legs. The driver was never found. “I don’t remember much of it,” Karen said. “I was in shock. I felt my leg right away and knew it was broken.” Karen was rushed to Stony Brook Hospital’s emergency care center in an ambulance. To her surprise, doctors informed her that she was two and a half months pregnant. One month later, she learned she’d be delivering twins. Karen’s doctor wished to insert steel rods into her broken legs, but because of her pregnancy, the operation was not permitted. For the next three months after the accident, Karen was in and out of the hospital. She would spend a week in the hospital, be released, but then have
to return due to urinary tract infections. “I remember asking the doctor, ‘How do I get rid of the infection?’” Karen said. “The doctor said, ‘The babies must be born.’” Karen was told if her babies’ umbilical cords were cut, the twins’ chance of survival was slim. Karen only had two vessels in her umbilical cord compared to the normal three. Because of this, the probability of the boys’ hearts and livers failing were high. But three months after the accident – Max and Mike were born. Karen and Robert, her husband, didn’t get to celebrate the birth of their children for long. Shortly after, the twins were placed in incubators after experiencing severe breathing problems. They were transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). “To feed them, I’d have to stick a tube through their nose which led to their throat,” Karen said. “If they’d stop breathing, alarms would go off, their faces would turn purple.” Two months later, Max and Mike were released from the hospital after reaching Stony Brook’s requirement of 4 pounds and 7 ounces. About five months after the accident, the entire Soria family returned to its Kings Park home. Growing up, breaking bad habits Max and Mike didn’t allow early hardships to dictate their athletic futures. They excelled on the basketball court in middle school and often led their team in scoring. The twins would be seen regularly doing back flips off buildings. They were the epitome of athleticism. They often played football at Memorial Field in Kings Park. “We’d always have Mike and Max cover each other because no one else could keep up with them,” said childhood friend and former high school wrestling teammate Tom McGuire. “We’d say you two cover each other, but don’t fight. They’d usually fight.”
In eighth grade, the Kings Park varsity football coaches saw Max and Mike playing flag football and wanted the two to play for the team. Karen wasn’t sure about the idea because of their size. “I told [the coaches] they were crazy,” Karen exclaimed. “They only weighed 80 pounds, they’d get crushed. [The coaches] would respond, ‘But no one can catch them.’ They were quick little boogers.” But as their peers outgrew them, it was difficult for Max and Mike to find a sport they could compete in. That’s when Kings Park High School’s wrestling coach Brian Lopalo contacted Robert and Karen. “[Lopalo] came to us with an idea,” Robert said. “All the other children their age were becoming much bigger. They started out as peanuts. They played ninth-grade basketball, but everyone else was over a foot taller. There’s no such thing as a 4-foot point guard. Little by little, we got filtered into wrestling.” Max and Mike barely stood 5 feet tall as high school freshmen. That is when the boys met the biggest influence of their wrestling careers, Jack Mangani. A former wrestler at Iowa State, Mangani’s teachings went well beyond the wrestling mat. “I loved having Mangani as a coach,” Max said. “I can’t explain it, but just the things he said – the things he taught me, the things I got out of him, the way he’d push us. Being with him for four years in high school was just beyond the sport of wrestling. He taught life in general, how to be a good person.” A way Mangani pushed the boys was kicking them off their inhaler dependence. Since they were born, Max and Mike had chronic asthma problems and heavily relied on their medicine. Mangani trained the boys so hard that eventually, the two began to grow out of it. “As many as one in five youngsters with asthma may grow out of the respiratory condition as they age,” according to U.S. Health News.
Max and Mike still take pills every day to monitor their asthma, but no longer need an inhaler. “After I worked [with Max and Mike for] one year at the high school level, I told them to throw [the inhaler] out,” Mangani said. “It’s important to get in such great shape that you don’t need them anymore.” Early struggles The Soria brothers didn’t experience instant success when they stepped onto the mat. They weighed only 80 pounds and were wrestling against kids 18 pounds heavier. In high school competition, the lowest weight class is 98 pounds. It was difficult for Max and Mike to add weight. “There was a rule that you can’t wrestle unless you weighed 88 pounds,” Mike said. “We had to gain weight every time just to compete. We’d drink massive amounts of Gatorade before weigh-ins and wear heavy clothes.” Mike once vomited on Mangani’s shoes during weigh-ins because of the excessive amounts of water he was forced to drink. The extra clothing to add pounds caused him to undergo heat exhaustion. They would sometimes resort to illegal measures to make weight. “We’d fill up water bottles and stuff them in their pants so they’d be able to make weighins,” Mangani said. “One time, the refs let them wrestle despite being underweight. We had to beg.” Freshman and sophomore years were a struggle for Max and Mike. Competing against heavier opponents left the twins beat up, but not discouraged. The constant beatings only drove the brothers to train harder. “Struggling as babies and growing up struggling as teenagers wrestling, it’s honestly what helped us in this sport,” Mike said. “Getting through all those adversities, that’s what this sport is really about: learning how to deal with problems and battle
through. That definitely helped us as kids, at least from a wrestling perspective.” Success and sportsmanship It wasn’t until their junior year of high school that the Soria twins started to excel. The brothers bulked up to 98 pounds and both qualified for states in 2009. After winning all of their preliminary matches, Max and Mike were scheduled to wrestle each other in the quarterfinals. “I’ll never forget when we found out that they had to wrestle each other,” Karen said. “When they came out, the coaches were in tears. I was in tears, but it happened.” What happened next was unprecedented. The two took their positions on the mat. But instead of squaring up with one another, they pulled out a coin and flipped it. That coin – a dime – has been viewed as a token of good luck in the Soria family since their grandfather, also named Mike Soria, passed away from Mesothelioma in 2007. Since his death, the Sorias have found thousands of dimes lying around their home and in public. “It’s never quarters, nickels or pennies – only dimes,” according to Karen. It was because of this that a dime was chosen over any other coin. “I’m very proud of that moment,” Robert said with tears in his eyes. “That’s rare. That’s love. Those are two of the most competitive guys you’ll ever see.” When the boys first started wrestling, the Soria family made a mutual decision that the brothers would never compete against one another in live competition. The agreement was made after Max and Mike became heated with one another after a match. “It all started back in seventh grade when we first started [wrestling],” Mike said. “Max actually won. I was angry. It brought the family down; we were fighting each other in our own house and didn’t talk for a week. Ever since then, there was a rule we wouldn’t wrestle each other.” SEE SORIA BROTHERS, PAGE 4
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UB council student rep accused of ‘overstepping boundaries’ Ovadia acting within rules but receiving complaints OWEN O’BRIEN
Managing Editor
Former Student Association hiring committee member Rory Miller claims current UB Council Student Representative Daniel Ovadia has overstepped his boundaries in the race for UB Council representative and in SA’s hiring procedures. Miller, a senior communication major who has resigned from the hiring committee after working in the SA for three-and-a-half years, believes Ovadia has inappropriately inserted himself into Minahil Khan’s campaign for UB Council student representative, the position Ovadia currently occupies. He also thinks Ovadia has manipulated and taken over the hiring committee from the executive board. Matt Siwiec, UB council’s election committee chair, investigated the complaints and said Ovadia hasn’t broken any SA rules or New York State laws. Ovadia changed his Facebook cover photo to Khan’s “Minahil Khan for UB Council� banner. Representatives cannot officially endorse candidates through their current position, according to election regulations. Ovadia can support any candidate he wishes as an individual, Siwiec said. But Miller still feels Ovadia’s actions are inappropriate.
“It would be the same as [current SA President] Sam McMahon supporting Value or Impact when they ran,� Miller said. “They stayed out of it.� The Value and Impact parties opposed each other in the most recent SA e-board election. Ovadia said he never used his official position to endorse Khan and that members have supported candidates in the past. “As long as Dan has said he’s never endorsed Minahil Khan as the University Council rep, what he’s doing is technically within the bounds of the rule,� Siwiec said. “I think a lot of people blew his up because of the nature of his position.� Ovadia was accused of more than just charges of unethical practices. Miller provided screenshots from a private Facebook group the two were part of to The Spectrum; the screenshots were also circulated among some SA members. One of the messages asked group members
to change their cover photos to Khan’s banner. Many members did change their photos, but not all. Miller said he feels although it’s not the way the rule is written, an entire party changing pictures is “essentially an endorsement.� Ovadia is quoted in the message saying, “In helping the campaign, I asked for 3 things – 1) fair hiring process 2) seat at the [sic] winners table at Gala 3) all of you to give Minahil the same level of support that I gave you.� “I think written language in casual Facebook communication always has the potential to be misunderstood or interpreted incorrectly,� Ovadia said. “I think people who know me, and communicate with me in that informal channel, know that’s just how I am with everything.� Some who saw the messages suggested it could be considered bribery. Siwiec ruled Ovadia did nothing that denoted bribery. “There is no monetary
amounts, no gifts being given to these people to actually get them to vote for Manahil or help her in any way for the campaign,� Siwiec said. Miller also believes Ovadia has taken over the hiring committee for 2014-15 employees. Miller said Ovadia has “turned into essentially the chair of the hiring committee,� and has referred to himself as so. Ovadia doesn’t deny possibly using this term, but believes it’s misunderstood. Ovadia runs the logistics of the scheduling process and created the “Doodle poll� – the online document created to help ease scheduling times for the hiring committee and interviewees. When it comes to the final hired candidates, future SA President James Ingram, Vice President Evan Chen and Treasurer Sade Cadle have the only three votes. “Dan’s opinions and notes will be valued no more than any of the eleven other members of the hiring committee,� Ingram said via email. “Each person on the committee was asked to join because I respect their opinions, it would not be fair to any member of the committee to consider one person’s opinion more than another’s.� Ovadia served as Ingram’s campaign manager in April’s SA elections. Miller is afraid Ovadia
has more power than his role as UB council representative legally provides. “He’s overstepped his boundary and it seems his hand in the hiring committee is whatever James thinks, he thinks,� Miller said. “He controls what James says and will whisper things in his ear to have James on his side.� Ovadia is unsure how his input will impact the final hires. “I think at the end of the day, will James listen to me? That’s up to him, but I can tell you right now, his decisions are his decisions.� Ovadia has been heavily involved in the SA for years. He ran for SA President in 2011. He lost but went on to later serve as UB council student representative for two terms. “Dan is the most hardworking individual I’ve ever met, and he does everything to help,� said Matthew Higman, a graduated finance major who’s previously worked with Ovadia. “His entire time here, he’s tried to help in so many ways.� Miller said he was unable to find anybody else willing to speak on the record against Ovadia, partially because “everyone is in like a niche group.� email: news@ubspectrum.com
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EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Sara DiNatale MANAGING EDITORS Anthony Hilbert Owen O’Brien OPINION EDITOR Tress Klassen COPY EDITORS Rachel Kramer Alyssa McClure NEWS EDITORS Amanda Low, Senior Brian Windschitl Samaya Abdus-Salaam, Asst. Giselle Lam, Asst. FEATURES EDITORS Emma Janicki, Senior Anne Mulrooney Claudia Ornis, Asst. ARTS EDITORS Jordan Oscar, Senior Sharon Kahn Tori Roseman, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS Tom Dinki, Senior Andy Koniuch Jordan Grossman, Asst. PHOTO EDITORS Chad Cooper, Senior Juan David Pinzon Yusong Shi CARTOONIST Amber Sliter CREATIVE DIRECTORS Jenna Bower Andres Santandreu, Asst. PROFESSIONAL STAFF
OPINION The right to life, liberty and semi-automatic rifles Opponents of the SAFE Act need to accept the basic tenets of democracy When Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo passed the SAFE Act in January 2013, he described the law as the “toughest” gun legislation in the nation. Although that has been a source of pride for some state residents, it has also generated contention, complaining and civil disobedience. The SAFE Act requires the creation of an assault weapon registry as one of its provisions. Citizens owning shotguns and rifles that are semi-automatic and have military characteristics are required to register these guns with the state. The deadline for registration has come and gone, and opponents to the law refuse to register their weapons, claiming that the SAFE Act infringes on their Second Amendment rights. Let’s be clear about this. The Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to keep and bear arms. A law requiring the registration of said arms is not an infringement upon that right. No matter how fervently opponents of the SAFE Act try
to suggest otherwise, the Second Amendment is not in danger. The 194 children killed since the Sandy Hook shootings – they were in danger. The almost 3,800 Americans shot to death accidentally from 2005-10 – they were in danger. But the Bill of Rights is not under attack. It is, so to speak “safe,” from the SAFE Act. The Second Amendment enjoys greater protection than children in elementary schools. Gun owners who try to act like they’re the victims seem to forget that the actual victims of the gun control debate are no longer breathing. Meanwhile, New Yorkers who rely on law enforcement officers to actually enforce the law may not be feeling quite so safe. Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard has openly flouted the SAFE Act, stating that he will not encourage his deputies to report individuals with unregistered firearms. This flagrant disregard for the law, displayed by someone who is
under oath to serve as the very embodiment of legality, duty and cooperation is nothing short of disturbing. Citizens rely on the police for protection; it is expected that officers enforce the laws that exist, not just the laws they favor. Gun-rights advocates claim “registration is confiscation.” Such hyperbolic and inaccurate statements are their only defense against this law. This nation is composed of a vastly heterogeneous group of citizens with wildly varying opinions and as an American it is necessary to understand that compromise is essential to democracy. Opponents of the SAFE Act want to keep their guns and keep the government in the dark. Those who support gun control, like the group New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, would rather live in a community where military-style weapons are banned altogether. When it comes to gun control, it’s not possible to satisfy everyone. The spectrum of opinions
is simply too wide, and the difference of values too irreconcilable. But the protestors shredding gun registration forms aren’t even willing to approach a middle ground. They’re too mired in conspiracy theory to realize that their rights aren’t threatened. But the SAFE Act isn’t taking away citizens’ rights – or their guns. Guns with a magazine capacity in excess of seven rounds, guns with bayonet mounts or grenade launchers are all still legal. Opponents of the SAFE Act can hold tight to their rifles with detachable magazines and military characteristics as they claim that their rights are endangered. Meanwhile, the rest of New Yorkers rely on the state to protect that other unalienable right, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; the right to a life that isn’t cut short by a semi-automatic shotgun. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
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Friday, April 25, 2014 Volume 63 Number 74 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 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
Art by Amber Sliter
The U.S. isn’t ready for race-blind admissions Affirmative action is a necessary counterweight to rampant educational inequality The Supreme Court upheld Michigan’s statewide ban on affirmative action in its public universities on Tuesday, once again reviving the debate over the necessity and effectiveness of the practice. The 6-2 ruling itself was arguably a statement on voters’ and states’ rights – had they ruled against the ban, the Court would have been overturning a proposal already passed by Michigan voters. The decision also implicitly supported similar laws in seven other states that have disallowed affirmative action in university admissions. A practice that separates students based on their race and ethnicity isn’t laudable, but the United States remains a nation in which many minority students are separated regardless. Fifteen years of information on the country’s 97,000 public schools reveals how deeply racial difference can divide educational experiences. The study, released last month, revealed that minority students are suspended and expelled at higher rates than their white counterparts (even in pre-K programs), more likely to attend
high schools with first-year or sub-standard teachers and have unequal access to math and science courses like calculus and chemistry. Affirmative action cannot eliminate this inequality. But it can help mitigate these issues after the fact. Until the nation’s education system is repaired, it’s not realistic to argue that affirmative action should be banned. As long as race affects students’ educational experiences in grade school, race has to remain a factor in university admissions. In states that have banned affirmative action in their public universities, minority enrollment has suffered. In California, for example, where the effects were the most dramatic, the enrollment gap between Hispanics and the rest of the state’s collegeaged residents increased sharply after the ban at public universities like University of California Berkeley and University of California Los Angeles. The results were less severe in other states including Florida and Texas, where enrollment gaps were only marginally affected, but the trend is clear nonetheless: affirmative action is suc-
cessful in increasing minority enrollment at universities. Despite these statistics and despite its necessity, affirmative action remains deeply flawed. It is limited in its effectiveness, because it only applies to enrollment. Although affirmative action can help students get into college, it offers no assistance once they’ve arrived on campus. Students who receive subpar educations struggle more in college classes than their classmates, and understandably so. Attending an elite university is not automatically beneficial and can prove detrimental to students who aren’t prepared for the courses. Duke economists, who studied this idea of “mismatch,” found that the problem is particularly prevalent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, where concepts tend to build off of each other. Students who did not learn the fundamentals in high school are at a severe disadvantage once again – and in this case, affirmative action can’t help. Affirmative action remains an important tool to help minority students. But admission is a
far cry from graduation; colleges need to be prepared to help struggling students once they’ve arrived. Ongoing support programs, like UB’s Educational Opportunity Program (which works with students at an educational or economic disadvantage, regardless of race), should be available at universities nationwide. Ideally, affirmative action would not be necessary. The problem of educational inequality should be addressed long before students reach college. But for now, race-blind admissions are still an ideal. They are a goal that the United States should strive to reach, a reward that needs to be earned by the development of a society defined by equality. The United States isn’t there yet. As a nation, we have a history of violent discrimination and racism, and the legacy of inequality that the past has generated remains a pervasive element of society today. Affirmative action, despite its flaws, helps to combat this legacy. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
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Continued from Page 1: Soria Brothers Mike won the toss, resulting in Max’s only defeat of the season. The dime was later engraved into the Soria family’s livingroom floorboard with polyurethane, right beside their fireplace. Mike shut out his opponent in the state championship, 7-0. Max never lost again in the tournament and finished in third place. The following season as seniors, Max and Mike added weight to compete in the 106-pound weight class. Both brothers again advanced to the state tournament. This time, however, a faulty bracket resulted in Max and Mike competing on the same side of preliminary matches. The bracket seeding is determined by points earned from the success of previous seasons. The Sorias won every tournament for two years and their only losses came due to ‘forfeiting’ to one another in tournaments. They did not lose to anyone else during their junior or senior seasons. Because of this, a competing coach forged one of his player’s stats, giving him more wins than he actually had. After becoming aware of the situation, Mangani notified league officials and had the bracket changed. Max and Mike finished third and fifth, respectively. They were eligible to compete in the national tournament, where Max took first and Mike fourth. “That was probably one of the greatest feelings,” Max said of
winning the championship. “After losing at states senior year and not getting my state title, it was crushing. Winning nationals was kind of a sense of redemption and a great way to end my high school career.” Mike became the first junior from Kings Park High School to win a state championship, and Max became the first national champion. Their wrestling singlets hang on display at KPHS and will never be worn again. Who is who? If you can differentiate Max and Mike without guessing, kudos to you. They’re identical twins, but mirror opposites. Mike is a righty and Max is a lefty. Whatever one does, the other does the opposite. Their wrestling styles are a reflection of their personalities off the mat. Max has always been more of a brawler, according to Mangani, whereas Mike is more of a technical wrestler, paying more attention to detail. If confronted with a problem, Mike might try and fool you with his words, where Max will probably put you in a chokehold. The two often used their indistinguishable appearances for a laugh. In high school, they frequently switched classes with each other and teachers were completely unaware. It’s almost as if Max and Mike are the same person.
When Max obtains a bruise on one side of the body, Mike will receive an identical wound in a similar spot soon after, according to the brothers. If one has pain in his wrist, so will the other. “I don’t know if it’s ironic or we feel each other’s pain,” Mike said. On the wrestling mat, the Soria brothers are warriors. They will devour you. Off the mat, they strive to help those that are less fortunate. The two had an internship with the UB Child Care Center earlier this year, where they taught early childhood developmental skills to kids with learning disabilities. They are soft-spoken, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t leaders. Max and Mike battle during training. Unlike live competition, the brothers go at each other’s throats at practice. Their goals are to achieve top physical performance. “Imagine strapping headgear on and kicking your own ass,” Mangani said. “It’s kind of poetic to watch when they battle and train together.” Later struggles Mike’s ability to overcome adversity was again tested Christmas night of 2012. What he thought was a stomachache proved much more severe: kidney failure. “I went two days thinking it was a stomachache before going to the emergency room.” Mike said. “Doctors think it was because I was dehydrated and tak-
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Andy Koniuch, The Spectrum Mike does a handstand in front of Alumni Arena while Max looks on. The twins found a passion for athletics, including gymnastics, at a young age.
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Friday, April 25, 2014
Andy Koniuch, The Spectrum Max (right) and Mike (left) complete backflips off the UB wrestling wall. The two use their athletic abilities to push their bodies to the limit.
Andy Koniuch, The Spectrum Mike and Max showcase their athletic talent in UB’s wrestling room.
Doctors believe the infection was obtained through contact with wrestling mats, according to Mike. “I don’t know how I got it, but I was in the hospital for another week,” Mike said. “You work so hard and train to get in shape, but you take 10 steps back and have to get back in shape, heal, feel good again. It’s been a constant problem the past four years.” After another nine days spent in the hospital under intensive care, Mike was released. Grandpa Mike’s good luck dime had worked its magic. Collegiate careers Since transitioning to college, Max and Mike have fused Mangani’s philosophies with Buffalo head coach John Stutzman’s mentalities. It hasn’t been easy, though, as the Bulls have gone through a coaching change since the pair arrived at UB in 2010. The two were recruited by and wrestled for 16-year head coach Jim Beichner. Beichner was fired in 2013 and Stutzman was hired less than six weeks later. “It’s hard for them because the philosophies are so different,” Stutzman said. “[Previous head coach Jim] Beichner was a great
coach and had a great staff behind him. Max and Mike also had a bunch of different assistant coaches, so you’re never getting the same message. I think that’s what’s hardest on a kid’s development.” Despite the coaching changes, Max and Mike have experienced successful careers at UB, but Mike couldn’t escape the risks every athlete faces. To add to his list of injuries, Mike “tweaked” his knee the last month of the 2013-14 season, pulling him out of the MidAmerican Conference Tournament. The cause of the injury: wrestling his brother at practice. Because the NCAA limits teams to one wrestler per weight class, Stutzman had to decide which brother would put on the UB singlet come game day. “Mike has done a phenomenal job with his work ethic this season, but unfortunately that’s been his forte the last four years – he’s been banged up,” Stutzman said. “Max is a super competitor, and losing the spot to your twin brother is nothing to be ashamed about. Max wouldn’t be where he is today without Mike and vice versa. Mike needs Max and Max needs Mike; that’s what’s unique
about it.” Despite Mike’s junior wrestling eligibility due to redshirting as a freshman, he is undergoing his final undergraduate semester. He is unsure if he’ll be returning to UB for graduate school in the fall. “It’s been a constant [struggle] for the past four years,” Mike said. “You don’t have a love for the sport anymore after constantly being hurt.” Recently, he was offered a scholarship to Seton Hill, a Division II university in Pennsylvania, which has agreed to fund his tuition and allow him to compete in his final year of NCAA eligibility for free. But Mike doesn’t know if his body can handle the beatings anymore. “I’ve been having a great season. I thought this was my shot to go to the [MAC] Tournament and do some damage and qualify for nationals, but the day before our last match I end up hurting my knee,” Mike said. “I’ve been hurt every year. This year, though, I’ve been fairly healthy and having a good season, so it’s kind of depressing.” Mike finished the 2013-14 season with a 13-5 record. If he decides to part ways with Buffalo,
his career record as a Bull will stand at 30-18. Max will be returning to UB next year as a senior in his final year of eligibility. During the 2013-14 season, Max had a 13-10 record with a team-leading 28 takedowns, but he did not qualify for his third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. Max ranked No. 2 in the MAC for 125-pounders from October to November and leads Buffalo’s active roster with 59 overall wins, 24 dual meet wins, 71 takedowns, 70 escapes, seven two-point near falls, nine three-point near falls and three falls. The Sorias have been fighting for 22 years. Despite the severity of their battles, however, one presence has remained constant: family. “They weren’t really supposed to be here – born under two pounds,” Robert said. “These types of things are what bonds a family. I think that’s what made us so close. The struggle they had, the empathy we had for our children. In the long run, it all worked out for us.” When it comes to the Soria brothers, miracles happen. email: sports@ubspectrum.com
©2014 St. George’s University
creatine intake stunned Mike’s kidneys, and doctors suggested a kidney transplant. The Sorias needed a miracle – or good luck. “We ripped that dime out of the floor and brought it to the hospital,” Robert said. “I put a butter knife underneath it and popped it out. There’s still a dent in our floorboard.” Max was supposed to be in Buffalo for a wrestling tournament but would not leave his brother’s side. If a kidney transplant were necessary, it would only be from him. Mike ultimately didn’t need the operation and was released from the hospital nine days later. But six months later, during the summer of 2013, Mike experienced more problems. This time, it was viral meningitis. Viral meningitis “is an infection that effects the covering of the brain and spinal cord caused by a particular virus,” according to UB’s Director of Health Services Susan Snyder. Because viral meningitis can have a range of symptoms, from as little as a headache to nausea, it often goes unnoticed. It is less severe than bacterial meningitis – in which amputations can be fatal – but is still very dangerous.
5
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Join the SGU Match Tour at the Providence, and learn about the moment of truth from 2014 graduates. If you’re thinking about medicine, you know how much Match Day means. It’s the moment when you realize that all your hard work paid off and you are going to be a physician. St. George’s University doctors match into sought a er US residencies. Check out our residency list at sgu.edu/match. Come to The SGU Match Tour and meet SGU graduates who landed their dream jobs in 2014.
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Monday, April 28, 2014 6:30pm-8:30pm Providence RSVP: 1-800-899-6337 ext. 9 1280 or visit sgu.edu/infosessions
ubspectrum.com
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Friday, April 25, 2014
SA VP and president to run on separate ballots in 2015 SA Assembly and Senate vote on new election procedures BRIAN WINDSCHITL and AMANDA LOW
News Editor and Senior News Editor
On Wednesday, the Student Association Assembly voted to change election guidelines to have presidential and vice presidential candidates running on separate ballots. During an impromptu Senate meeting on the same night, the SA Senate passed an amendment allowing the SA president to appoint the SUNY delegates. The Assembly also voted Melissa Kathan, a sophomore political science major, to be speaker of the Assembly for the second year in a row. The previous election system required the presidential and vice presidential candidate to be elected together. It also gave the student body the ability to elect the four SUNY delegates.
James Ingram, SA President-elect, believes the changes SA made are warranted. “The President and Vice President of the Student Association serve very different roles,” Ingram said in an email. “Because this is the case, it only makes sense to allow students to elect the positions separately.” Matt Siwiec, elections and credentials chair and international council coordinator, proposed these amendments before the Assembly, which passed the changes unanimously. About 30 people voted. The Senate passed the SUNY delegate amendment 11-0-1, according to Kathan. Ingram was the only senator to abstain because he “felt that we could have had more time to discuss this change.” Siwiec proposed these changes because he feels there are flaws in the current delegate election system.
He said the parties tend to pick delegates they think will “bolster their party votes.” Daniel Giles, the Senate chair, agreed the current delegate system in place needed to be overhauled. “It’s no secret that the way SA elections work is according to a prescribed ‘formula,’” Giles said in an email. “Especially in choosing delegates, quality and competency take a backseat to make sure you can bring in large voting blocks by running certain people.” Kathan held the Senate meeting on Wednesday night in place of Giles because he was not able to attend. Before the meeting, Kathan ran against Andrew Baumgartner, the Assembly’s academic committee assistant, for the speaker of the Assembly position. Kathan won with a 26-4 vote. Kathan said she completed her
Famous poet discovers sixth sense TORI ROSEMAN
Juan D. Pinzon, The Spectrum In the Poetry Collection in Capen Hall on Thursday afternoon, Alice Notley read a breadth of her work, including her new book “Negativity’s Kiss,” and some unpublished pieces.
The wordsmith has been redefining American poetry since the ’60s, according to Steve McCaffery, an English professor and the David Gray Chair of Poetry and Letters. “She is a formative force and has set the direction of American poetry,” McCaffery said. “She has a reputation coming from a particular generation” He described it as “poetry that tried to break away from the fixed form of the previous generations.” Notely published her first book in 1971, when she was 26 years old.
The SA Assembly voted Melissa Kathan, a sophomore political science major, to serve as Speaker of the Assembly again for the 2014-15 year.
goals as speaker within the last year by increasing the number of students in the assembly and passing more amendments. Her goals for the next school year are to become more involved with
Samaya Abdus-Salaam contributed reporting to this story. email: news@ubspectrum.com
Alice Notely reads variety of works in Capen
Asst. Arts Editor
Alice Notley talks to the dead. But she isn’t a medium. She’s a poet. In an audience of curious students and community members, a woman slumped in a chair and cried and one man couldn’t contain his laughter. Alice Notley stood at the podium in front of the diverse crowd and zealously read her poetry aloud, evoking a variety of emotions. Notley, an American poet, was a guest speaker at the Poetry Collection in Capen Hall Thursday afternoon. “Almost all of my good friends are dead so I kind of talk to them,” Notley said. “I write a lot about talking to the dead. I feel as if they’re talking to me and I’m talking back. Somehow there’s work to be done that has to do with reconciling the live and the dead and getting them to talk to one another.” She read various selections of her work including excerpts from her newest book “Negativity’s Kiss” and some unpublished pieces.
Chad Cooper, The Spectrum
the four committees in Assembly and to encourage the assembly to host more events. Kathan also wants to increase the amount of freshman signatures to Assembly and to host a “What is SA?” day. She said she has learned a lot from being speaker for the past year and watching SA progress. “I definitely saw how important loyalty is and how important doing your job is,” she said. “The people who work hard are the people who are rewarded and it’s your duty to fulfill whatever you run on.” Kathan said being speaker of the Assembly is now a part of her “identity.” She said she has many plans for the next year and is excited to serve as speaker again.
Since then, she’s written 30 books over the course of her career and has won an array of awards including an Academy Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the Shelley Memorial Award from the Poetry Society of America. She feels she is the voice of “the new wife, and the new mother” in her own time, but that her first aim is to make a poem, rather than present a platform of social reform, according to poets.org. Although Notley has been living
in Paris since 1992, she lived in the Buffalo area for a few months. Her son, Anselm Berrigan, graduated from UB in 1994 with a BA in English and went on to study at Brooklyn College. This isn’t the first time the famous poet has read at UB. “I have an old connection to Buffalo,” Notley said. “I lived here for two months once. I used come read a lot in the ’70s and ’80s. I was a good friend of Robert Creeley’s” Creeley was a famous 20th century poet and former UB English department chair. “I’ve always come back,” she said. “I was quite delighted to be invited again.” In her writing, Notley addresses life and death, chaos and internal conflict. When read aloud, her poetry is similar to spoken word, filled with alliteration, rhymes and passion. The writer beamed with pride when discussing her writing, but she can’t pick a favorite, even the ones she’s embarrassed of, she embraces. They are part of her work. Her newest book displays her infatuation with detective novels and
consists of a series of poems that read as a cohesive story. The poet explained the concept of the book before reading it, wanting to give her audience insight into her process. Some audience members have differing opinions on her various types of work. “I didn’t like the crime noir stuff she started off with,” said Anna Jacquinot, a freshman neuroscience major. “It was too refined and a little distant, so I didn’t enjoy it the way I did the others.” She liked the pieces toward the second half of the reading when Notely began reading her more serious pieces that covered topics like cancer and death. Jacquinot thought they were more relatable. “I didn’t like the death one as much, because it made me remember a lot of things, but then I realized that it was because I remembered a lot of things that made it more relatable,” Jacquinot said. “I also really like the way that she spoke; I liked her tone of voice.” Jordan Oscar contributed to this story email: arts@ubspectrum.com
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DAILY DELIGHTS sponsored by buffalostudenthousing.com Crossword of the Day Friday, April 25, 2014 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK
HOROSCOPES
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Do what you said you'd do today, and the pressure will be relieved some tomorrow. It's a promise you made to yourself, after all. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You may feel as though you have to do everything right now, but in truth, only those things that come naturally to you will be necessary. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You can come up with an unusual and highly creative way to solve a personal problem that arises quite suddenly toward midday. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Speed works in your favor, but it's sure to make things more dangerous in many ways. Still, you'll think it's worth it. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- A seemingly random encounter is likely to mean much more when you realize that it wasn't so random after all. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- A generous offer may not be accepted, but that's no reason to withdraw. You can stay where you are and be available if you're needed. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Envy is not something to disregard; the more you want what someone else has, the more you will find your own desires getting twisted. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You don't want to ask for permission outright, but you may need someone's tacit approval before you do something rather unusual. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You are probably able to do exactly what it is you said you'd do -- and exactly in the way you had hoped you could do it. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You'll derive a great deal of satisfaction from doing something that others cannot -- but resist any temptation to gloat! PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- You must be disciplined and straightforward throughout most of the day. At one point, however, luck is sure to play a key role. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- You can enjoy the company of others, but there will be a time -- a few hours at most -- when you must arrange to be alone if you can.
Edited by Timothy E. Parker April 25, 2014 STUCK FIVE TIMES By Jill Pepper
SUDOKU
ACROSS
46 Popular soft drinks 48 Prefix with “release” 49 One who’s “just looking” 51 Noted first name in jazz 52 Suffix with “organ” 53 Was successful in the Olympics 56 Learned people 58 Flightless “down under” bird 59 Before now 60 What wrestlers grapple on 61 Server’s reward 62 Locating exactly 68 Bulldog booster 69 Sub detector 70 Gymnast Comaneci 71 Cozy retreat in the home 72 Maternally related 73 Most Jordanians
8 Pours none too neatly 9 Got the feeling 1 Like unripe fruit 10 Stored, as grain or fodder 6 Charlotte ___ (dessert) 11 Hamper a pie? 11 Org. for moms, 12 Distinguishing charpops, and pedagogues acteristic 14 See-through, as ny13 Blue-dye plants lons 18 Meet a challenge 15 “King of the Hill” 23 Frog relatives town 24 Video complement 16 Large coffee dis25 Engrossed with penser 26 Historical memento 17 Sewers’ convenienc28 Prominent donkey es features 19 Mai ___ (rum drink) 31 Camper’s floater 20 Legendary Giants 35 Does well at retail outfielder Mel 37 Break open suddenly 21 “___ Love You” 38 Botanical uprights (Beatles tune) 40 Type of bean or milk 22 Have a malady 42 Spicy cured meat 23 Closer to the color 45 Patient’s problem of tanned leather 47 Grassland dotted with 27 Chooses trees 29 First word of the 50 Area Lord’s Prayer 53 Allocated (with “out”) 30 Architect’s detail 54 “J’accuse ...!” author 32 First word of a letter Zola 1 Adder relative 33 Flossing advoca55 Disco legend Summer 2 Ho ___ Minh City cy grp. 57 Oil from flower petals 3 Suffix for “velvet” 34 Hawaiian dances 63 Small butter unit 4 Army scout’s job 36 “Drabs” partners 64 Valuable find in rock 5 Savage or barbaric 39 Brief swims 6 Word from a cheerleader 65 Actress Lupino 41 Trees with needles 66 Writer’s point? 7 Paranormal showman 43 Web filter target 67 Mustang mover? Geller 44 Very deep sleep
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Friday, April 25, 2014 ubspectrum.com
SPORTS
No. 7: D1 ERA Jonathan Jones TOP 10
Senior thrower goes from Division III to an All-American
of the
TOM DINKI
No. 10: Branden Oliver
Senior Sports Editor
Jonathan Jones played third base for Portville High School, where he would routinely toss a quarter-pound baseball about 20 meters away to his shortstop. In college, Jones now hurls a 16-pound shot put ball more than 60 meters with similar ease. In fewer than two full seasons at UB, Jones, a senior thrower for the track and field team, has been named an All-American, captured three Mid-American Conference Championships in the shot put and holds the program record in indoor and outdoor shot put. “I dreamed about it but I didn’t think I’d be this good this quick,” Jones said. “I didn’t expect it to happen like it did.” Three years ago, Jones was not competing in Division I track and field. Jones attended Buffalo State College’s Division III track and field program after graduating high school. Jones wanted to attend UB, but he was unable to due to grades. Jim Garnham, Buffalo’s track and field assistant coach, told Jones to go to Buffalo State College for a year in order to get his grades up and then transfer to UB. Jones did exactly that. After competing for Buffalo State College in his freshman year and sitting out the next season due to transfer rules, Jones began his decorated UB career in 2012. He won the MAC Championship in the outdoor and indoor shot put his junior season and was named a First-Team AllAmerican for the outdoor season
Football 2010-14
No. 9: Kourtney Brown Basketball 2006-11
Courtesy of UB Athletics Jonathan Jones has been named an All-American and won three MAC Championships in the shot put in fewer than two full seasons in Buffalo.
after coming in fourth place in the shot put at the 2013 Outdoor NCAA Championships. At the 2013 nationals, Jones said he did well at trials and sat down inside the tent after throwing, believing he missed the cut for finals. After stepping outside to watch the second flight of throwers, Jones learned he had just made the cut. The top nine throwers go to finals; Jones was No. 9. “I didn’t expect to get into the finals but somehow I weaseled in,” Jones said. “I walked out to see how the second flight was doing and one of the coaches I knew from Purdue was like, ‘Hey, you better get down there and get ready and warmed up. You
made finals.’ I was like, ‘What?’ I sprinted over, got warmed up and then I made it in.” From there, Jones came in fourth place in the shot put, earning him All-American honors. This season, Jones came in 12th place in the outdoor nationals for the shot put and won the MAC Title for the indoor shot put. At the UB Open at UB Stadium on April 18, Jones broke the school record for distance in the outdoor shot put with a throw of 65’02.25” (19.87m), surpassing former Bull Rob Rolabek’s mark. Inspiration and encouragement from Garnham assured Jones he could succeed at the Di-
vision I level. “Coach Garnham pretty much told me I could [compete at the Division I level],” Jones said. “He put it in my head I could be a Division I athlete and do good at it so he kind of sparked that in me and pushed me on my way pretty much.” Jones has the chance to set more records and acquire more accolades this year when he competes in the outdoor MAC Championships in Athens, Ohio May 15 and 16. Jones is also vying for a spot in the 2014 outdoor NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. beginning June 11.
No. 8: Stacey Evans Softball 2002-05
email: sports@ubspectrum.com
First UB equestrian member to compete in nationals Rebecca Mayville qualifies for IHSA national competition ANNE MULROONEY Features Editor
As a 5-year-old, Rebecca Mayville would gaze out the window on long car drives, mesmerized by horses – tall, powerful and gentle creatures. She knew she had to ride. After three years of begging her parents, she rode her first horse. And after three years of competing at the college level, she’s made it to nationals. Mayville, a senior math major, has been riding horses for over 12 years. This is her fourth and final year as a member of UB’s Equestrian Club, and she’s the first member in the team’s history to qualify for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Nationals. “It’s so incredible that it’s my final year and that I’ve finally qualified,” Mayville said. “My mind is blown.” Mayville qualified for IHSA Nationals at the Zone 2 Championships at Fairfield Hunt Club in Westport, Conn. She competed against two of the best riding schools in the country, St. Lawrence University and Skidmore College – the two teams tied first for IHSA Nationals last year. Mayville said the competition was fierce. “The riders on those teams know what they’re doing,” Mayville said. “They probably don’t get as nervous, and they don’t have to pay for anything because they’re an actual team, whereas we’re a club. They probably ride every day, whereas we can only afford to ride once or twice a week. Going in, I already knew I
was behind.” The club began this year with a budget of $2,200, according to the Student Association’s general ledger on the SA website. That money has already run out, according to Mayville. Although IHSA membership minimizes costs by providing horses at other schools along with saddles and bridles, members are currently paying out of pocket for coaching fees and showing outfits. “We need to bring our own showing outfits, and that includes pants, boots, helmet and coat,” Mayville said. “And a lot of horseback riding is judged on appearance, so you don’t want to buy crummy stuff.” Veronica Sukati, a junior English and legal studies major who acknowledges the expenses of being in the club, is grateful riding is more affordable in Western New York than in New York City where she’s from. “I just love [horseback riding],” Sukati said. “It’s a lot of exercise, patience and training yourself to be better and improve. It’s a lot of setting goals. It doesn’t just teach you to ride a horse, but it teaches you life lessons.” Beth Walkowicz, UB Equestrian Club’s coach, is a strong believer in the virtues horseback riding can instill in riders. She said she has seen what the sport can do for college students, children and the disabled. She believes the sport can be as empowering as it is therapeutic. “Like with any sport, and any art, you’re never finished learning, and you can learn from every horse and horseperson you come in contact with,” Walko-
Courtesy of Rebecca Mayville Rebecca Mayville, a senior math major, is the first Equestrian Club member to qualify for IHSA Nationals. She’s been riding horses since she was 8 years old.
wicz said in an email. “I’m old enough now to have worked with children from the time they began riding at six or seven years old, to now when they’re in their teens. As a group, they’re confident, polite, competitive but friendly, determined and responsible. I think a lot of that has to do with horses.” Walkowicz has coached Mayville for two years. She has noticed how increased confidence and dedication Mayville has put toward the sport has made her a more consistent and professional rider. She believes there’s “no
question” that Mayville will be in the top when she goes to IHSA Nationals. Sukati is also confident that Mayville will succeed at the competition. She and the rest of Mayville’s teammates are thrilled for her accomplishments. “We’re so proud of [Mayville]. She went through all these steps, competing against these big schools,” Sukati said. “Even though we’re a big group on campus compared to what we were, some of these groups of 50 or so girls she’s up against are given money to ride for their
schools. We’re doing it all voluntarily. It’s just so awesome that we finally have someone in nationals.” Mayville will be competing in nationals on May 3 in Harrisburg, Pa. She says her achievements have taught her not to expect to win just because you want it. “You have to work for it,” Mayville said. “You have to train, you have to try hard. You have to be patient. You get exactly what you put into it.” email: sports@ubspectrum.com