The Spectrum Volume 63 Issue 2

Medical school attempts to recover from setbacks Obama’s words received differently by UB community THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, SINCE 1950

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Students react to Miley’s edgy VMAs performance

Wednesday, august 28, 2013

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Volume 63 No. 2

COURTESY OF UB ATHLETICS

SWIPE ‘N’ RIDE New policy requires UB ID to use buses RACHEL KRAMER

Asst. Arts Editor

On Monday, UB students were pelted by rain as they fumbled to retrieve their UB IDs, surprised by a new university policy requiring them to scan their cards in order to step onto the blue buses.

Transportation and Services implemented a “Swipe ‘n’ Ride” system on all 21 of the UB Stampede buses on the first day of classes as a way to collect data about the people riding the buses and make the Stampede a safer mode of transportation, according to university officials.

The new procedure for riding the Stampede buses – and not UB Shuttles – requires each passenger to swipe his or her UB ID card to ride. When The Spectrum inquired about the cost of the imitative, UB Spokesman John Della Contrada stated, “There are no additional costs to the university for the system,” in an email.

A 5-by-7-inch touch screen is adjacent to the machine, which will flash green or red. Green signifies the card is valid and red means it is not.

If a passenger does not have a UB ID, he or she will be required to present some form of identification associated with UB, such as a ticket for an on-campus game or concert.

Some people on campus, like bus driver Jessie Brooks, are having problems with the new system.

On Monday, Brooks, who has been a Stampede driver since 1998, was driving a bus with a broken swipe system. She said the power light was on, but the screen was black.

She spoke to maintenance and they told her to record the number of people who boarded the bus by hand on a clipboard and

Johns’ journey SA president learns independence, work ethic from tumultuous childhood SAM FERNANDO

Senior News Editor

Juan D. Pinzon, The Spectrum

A new Swipe ‘n’ Ride system implemented on all of the UB Stampede buses has forced some students to wait in long lines to ride the bus, and some have voiced their frustration.

not to worry about the computer.

The next day, over 400 cards on her bus showed up red, but she let the people on the bus anyway because “if I didn’t, I’d have an empty bus,” she said. After departing from the bus stop, she made an announcement to her passengers telling them if their card showed up red, to get it checked out at the UB Card office, located in the Student Union.

When Talia Schwartz, a sophomore psychology major, boarded the bus Tuesday afternoon, she was surprised to be asked to swipe her UB ID. “I felt so bad because I was holding up the line as I searched through my stuff like an idiot,” Schwartz said. “This system is going to slow down the process of getting onto the bus, which is already slow. People ride the bus as a faster way to get to class. If you plan on just making it in time for class and you have to wait for everyone to swipe their cards, you’re going to be late.”

Drivers are allowed to make exceptions for students who have lost their card as long as the “person genuinely appears to not be able to locate it on their person” or if their damaged card won’t swipe properly, according to the UB Transportation website.

Chris Austin, assistant director of UB Parking and Transportation Services, believes these “technological hiccups” are because Swipe ‘n’ Ride is still in its “soft launch period.” For the next five weeks, bus drivers are instructed to be lenient toward students who don’t have their UB card or who are denied by the system.

He also believes this opening week is an education and announcement period to inform students that they need their ID in order to board the bus and to fix most of the “hiccups.” He said, by the end of September, students should be used to presenting their UB cards in order to ride the Stampede.

SEE BUSES, PAGE 7

Last semester, Nick Johns said, “I get my hands dirty” – something he believed differentiated him from anyone else yearning for the job of Student Association president.

Two days before the SA election, Johns trekked into The Spectrum office in a black t-shirt and track pants caked in mud – the complete opposite attire of his opponents and even his running mates. It wasn’t the typical uniform for someone trying to convince the editorial board why they should endorse him.

“I’m ready to get down in the trenches and figure out what needs to be done,” he said that day. “I’m not going to sit on a pedestal; I’m trying to live the college life.”

Four months later, he believes he is sticking to his promise.

Since his first day as SA president, Johns, a junior business and political science major, has “hit the ground running,” according to his assistant Marissa Malone. Others in his office echo that sentiment and praise the enthusiasm he brings to his job. But they say it is his work ethic and meticulous nature that separates him from the rest of the student body.

“He doesn’t mind diving into something head first, making sure it gets done,” said Lyle Selsky, SA vice president. “He has a very hands-on approach. Nick likes to be involved in every little thing that happens in the office.”

Johns said his childhood played a big role with this attribute. He was born in Seoul, South Korea, and when he was 6 months old, a Rochester family adopted him.

When he was 12, his parents divorced.

Juan D. Pinzon, The Spectrum

SA President Nick Johns “gets his hands dirty” serving students food at Tuesday’s Back-to-School Barbecue. He credits his work ethic and determination to his parents, as well as the obstacles he overcame in his childhood.

“My parents’ divorce showed me that life will throw things at you that you can never expect, and that your adaptation to changing circumstances while maintaining yourself defines who you are,” Johns said.

Because he was young when they divorced, he was forced to be independent, something he was already used to at that age. His parents would work long hours, so his grandma would often take care of him and his sister, who is two and a half years younger than him.

By his teenage years, he was used to taking care of himself and his sister.

SEE NICK JOHNS, PAGE 7

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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Aaron Mansfield MANAGING EDITORS Lisa Khoury Sara DiNatale

OPINION

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RIDERS ON THE STORM UB’s lack of communication annoys students on first day

EDITORIAL EDITOR Eric Cortellessa NEWS EDITORS Sam Fernando, Senior Joe Konze Jr. LIFE EDITORS Keren Baruch, Senior Sharon Kahn, Senior Alyssa McClure, Asst.

ARTS EDITORS Max Crinnin, Senior Rachel Kramer, Asst.

Felicia Hunt, Asst.

SPORTS EDITORS Jon Gagnon, Senior Ben Tarhan, Senior Owen O’Brien PHOTO EDITORS Aline Kobayashi, Senior Juan David Pinzon, Asst.

CARTOONIST Jeanette Chwan CREATIVE DIRECTORS Brian Keschinger Haider Alidina, Asst.

PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Emma Callinan Drew Gaczewski, Asst.

Chris Mirandi, Asst.

ADVERTISING DESIGNER Haley Sunkes Haley Chapman, Asst.

Ashlee Foster, Asst.

August 28, 2013 Volume 63 Number 2 Circulation 7,000

The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Feedback, Opinion, and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address.

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The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100

ART BY JEANETTE CHWAN, THE SPECTRUM

All institutions are symbiotic; the people who run the institution rely on those who use the institution and those who use the institution rely on those who run it. The relationship of the university administration to the student body can be understood through the terms of an interdependency of parts.

On Monday (the first day of school), many were surprised to learn of an additional protocol when riding the UB Stampede. The Department of Parking and Transportation has added a “Swipe ‘n’ Ride” feature called SmartTrack.

Riders of the bus must display and swipe their UB ID cards to validate passenger access.

UB officials have said this installation will help improve transportation services and collect data to help them track patterns in student activity. They have also cited this as a safety measure – ensuring all who ride the bus are either students, faculty or staff.

While much of the reasoning behind this move makes sense, the first press release announcing this change came out on Aug. 27 – a day after implementation.

The lack of communication and transparency on the part of the administration has rendered the student body bewildered and confused.

Many reports surfaced on Monday that lines to get on the bus increased enormously and that there was vastly more waiting time to get on the bus and for the bus to leave – causing some to even be late for class.

As the semester progresses and students get used to this transition, these delays are likely to lessen. But the fact that no one was prepared for this on day one caused immediate pangs of anxiety and frustration for students.

Maria Wallace, director of parking and transportation services, has indicated that this system is being introduced during the period of Aug. 26 to Sept. 29 and that riders who don’t have their cards will be told by the operator of the bus that this

new policy has been initiated.

Why was there not a generic email sent out to students a week before school started? Why was there not any advanced notice?

Even though students have seen signs on the buses saying they must have their IDs present when using UB transportation, it has very rarely been enforced in previous semesters.

It would seem that in order to increase efficiency of a program, preparing those to use it would be a logical course of action. Consider the number of freshmen who had to endure the excruciatingly long lines at the bus to get from their dorms to class. That is not a good precedent to set for new students the university would hope to retain.

There needs to be a stronger line of communication regarding administrative decisions that cause students to make certain adjustments to their daily life on campus. It is not demanding to ask students to carry their IDs; in fact, it doesn’t make much sense not to – but some

don’t. And if a policy like this is implemented, then all students should be aware of it, especially if it may depend upon them making a change in what they need to have on their person during the day.

For a school with around 19,000 undergraduates, with many being commuters, clarity and cognizance are key to effective management.

Any change to the conditions of commuting and transportation need to be available to the students and the reasoning and purpose behind it should be laid out. There should also be an ongoing exchange of how the alteration is working and whether it is effective toward its purpose.

Student participation in these types of decisions should not be seen as a privilege, but an important ingredient of institutional functionality.

Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

Is prestige worth the price?

Obama’s college-ranking proposal and its application to UB The academic year at UB began in an exalted fashion last week, when President Barack Obama addressed a crowd of 7,200 people in Alumni Arena, as he announced his federal initiative to combat the rising cost of higher education in America.

It has long been the tradition of magazines and various publications to annually release updated rankings of colleges and universities throughout the United States; it has also been the tradition of middleand upper-class families to use these rankings as data to navigate through the grinding process of college selection.

President Obama introduced a plan for his administration to evaluate schools with a new measuring rubric – average tuition, enrollment of lower-income students and effectiveness at helping students graduate with less debt. He expects to begin releasing these rankings by 2015.

The purpose of the new ranking system seems to be clear: to provide a new lens for looking at what schools deserve more federal funding.

While it goes without saying it will be difficult for the president to convince Congress to cooperate with him on anything, let alone an educational reform initiative that will require an increase in spending, the impact of a new set of rankings could alter the perceptions of our higher educational institutions.

The current prominent ranking systems (U.S. News and World Report, Forbes and The Princeton Review, among others) have created a disincentive for schools to reduce cost, as spikes in tuition have coincided with rise in rankings. Only five of the top 25 rated schools by U.S. News offer tuitions less than $30,000 (most wind up costing over $50,000), and those exceptions are only the in-state tuitions for public institutions (UNC Chapel Hill, University of Michigan, UCLA, UC Berkeley and the University of Virginia). The out-of-state tuitions of all those schools closely resemble the cost of the private institutions.

The median household income in the United States is $46,326, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. How many students from families earning that level of income can afford to pay the exorbitant fees of the elite institutions that have established themselves high in these rankings?

It seems perfectly obvious that the current ranking system facilitates the most affluent Americans receiving the highest material value of their educations; it becomes a luxury that disproportionately benefits the wealthiest among us.

An important component of our American democracy, conceptually, is that it supports upward mobility – where citizens are able to advance socially and economically.

In order for this to be possible, every student needs to have access to high-quality education. The president has taken an important first step in introducing reforms to a system that diminishes support for the education of our more vulnerable populations.

The student loan debt – which has topped $1.1 trillion – has burdened recent graduates with enormously high monthly payments, making it harder to find a job and begin their adult lives.

And even more ominous, these tuitions keep rising, leaving students unable to predict the amount their college education will actually cost.

What’s important in the president’s proposal is that a new ranking system could give the schools with lower tuitions that aren’t adding to the national student loan debt crisis greater material value with more promise for life after graduation; it incentivizes schools to reduce costs and make college more affordable; and schools costing less money will enable more students to feel comfortable pursuing a degree in a challenging market.

President Obama’s executive power will allow him to assemble and share data. But he will need congressional approval for funding to go anywhere. Many of the institutions that have benefited from previous rankings will oppose anything that may lessen their market

share; and the Republican base will inevitably resist any endeavor to expand the federal government’s role in American life.

The in-state cost of UB is $8,426 a year – a very reasonable amount.

The university has developed programs – such as Finish in Four – to help students make the most of their college experience with the least amount of financial strain.

And as an institution embroiled in the predicament the president addressed (certainly a reason he chose the university as a forum to unveil his plan), there are discernible ways that government intervention can improve people’s lives, and increasing access to and advancing the quality of higher education seems to be an exemplification of that.

Obama wants federal funding to go to schools to help them avoid tuition increases and control costs.

With the promise of UB 2020, however, comes the indication of a tuition increase – the amount of which remains to be seen. So the question becomes: Are we truly in line with President Obama’s vision?

And if not, should UB’s higherups be reconsidering the rationale of UB 2020, given the proposition of this recent proposal?

Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Medical school attempts to recover from setbacks Two programs on probation, one closed since beginning of 2013 LISA KHOURY

Managing Editor

A month ago, The New York Times touted UB’s up-and-coming downtown medical campus as part of the revitalization of the City of Buffalo.

Construction for the new medical school, which will cost $375 million, is scheduled to start this fall; the school is scheduled to open in August 2016. University officials see the new campus as a critical way to make long-term improvements to UB’s rank and the Buffalo economy.

Yet, early this year, the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) placed two of UB’s surgical residency programs, general surgery and pediatric surgery, on probation. In June, UB closed its dermatology program after four faculty members left and ACGME withdrew its accreditation.

UB is attempting to reconfigure all three programs. Roseanne Berger, the senior associate dean of Graduate Medical Education, said the university is taking the probations as an opportunity to revamp the programs while enhancing the medical school as a whole.

Though the probation happened in the beginning of the year, The Buffalo News broke the story on Aug. 10, after a reporter got word that the programs were on probation.

Less than 1 percent of the nation’s medical residency programs are on probation, according to the ACGME Data Resource Book.

ACGME, which is responsible for the accreditation of about 9,200 residency education programs, cited the general surgery program for the following issues: teamwork, engagement of the residents in planning and quality and lack of a robust system for monitoring duty hours. The main issue with the pediatric surgery program – a fellowship program – was a shortage of pediatric surgeons to adequately train UB’s two fellows, according to Berger.

The day-to-day functions of the general surgery and pediatric surgery programs aren’t affected by the probation, Berger said.

But some wonder if the probation will have a long-term effect on UB’s hope to become a world-class medical school.

General surgery program General surgery and pediatric surgery are in the process of modifying their programs to comply with ACGME’s new standards, according to Berger.

ACGME is scheduled to visit the general surgery and pediatric surgery programs at UB by late October, according to Peggy Simpson, the executive director of ACGME’s Review Committees for Surgery, Plastic Surgery and Thoracic Surgery. Simpson said it is likely that the council’s Residency Review Committee for Surgery will consider the accreditation status of each of these two programs at a meeting in February.

The program is attempting to fix its teamwork issue by implementing new systems for improving

communication within the healthcare team, according to Berger.

General surgery is tackling its residents’ engagement issue by involving the residents more in the planning process and giving them the opportunity to provide feedback on their training. The residents will be invited to town hall meetings to comment on their training and provide input on modifications that they think may be helpful.

UB is buckling down on tracking residents’ work hours in the general surgery program by implementing a web-based system in which all residents can record their working hours on a daily basis.

Pediatric surgery program The program responded by reducing enrollment from two fellows to one, a common training program size in the specialty. UB and Kaleida are recruiting another pediatric surgeon to the region to assist the program.

The program also modified the single fellow’s schedule to ensure it does not exceed the work hour limits set by ACGME for residents and fellows in training (80 hours per week).

Berger said that surgeons and fellows continue to train in both programs and residents are unaffected.

Some residents, however, are concerned that the programs’ probation – and the dermatology program’s closing – will negatively affect UB’s ranking and future recruitment of residents, according to one resident who requested

anonymity.

This year, the number of residents who chose to stay at UB for their residency after medical school increased by 50 percent from last year, according to Berger.

The general surgery and pediatric surgery programs will be reviewed at the February meeting of the ACGME and a decision about their probation will be made at that time. The dermatology department submitted an application for a new program, and action on it is pending.

Dermatology program After four faculty members – three from Roswell and one from the VA Hospital – resigned from the dermatology program late last year, UB chose to close the residency program.

Animesh Sinha, the chair of the dermatology department, said the department is adjusting its program in three ways: strengthening ties with adjunct and faculty members; strengthening ties with UB’s partnering institutions – like ECMC, Roswell Park, the VA Hospital and Kaleida Health – to align efforts to recruit faculty and enhance the department; and placing a major focus on recruiting toptier clinical and research teaching faculty.

When UB closed the residency program in June, the department helped place its five remaining dermatology residents in new programs around the country.

“I think we were all disappointed that we had to deal with the loss of faculty and the

reconfiguring,” Sinha said. “…We worked with [the residents] very closely … to ensure they were kept in the loop about everything, and we worked with them to find the best fit for them.”

The department expects to get some response from ACGME about its reapplication this fall, Sinha said.

Sinha noted that, like every medical school department, the dermatology department is always striving to strengthen its mission of research, education and clinical service.

“That’s always an ongoing thing,” Sinha said. “I think departments go through changes over time and I think the focus, for me, remains since I got here is it’s a great opportunity to build a program to a stronger place than it’s ever been.”

When asked if the program’s closing will negatively affect UB or its ranking, Sinha said UB historically has a “very strong academic dermatology legacy,” and the department’s goal is to rebuild itself as strongly as it can.

“It’s still a very exciting time to be at UB and at UB’s medical school with the real exciting changes on campus,” Sinha said.

“Dermatology will be a part of that.”

Email: news@ubspectrum.com

University Police to hold DWI stop by North Campus SAM FERNANDO

Senior News Editor

The University Police Department (UPD) will be holding two DWI checkpoints starting Friday

and ending early Sunday morning.

The checkpoints will run from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. at an undisclosed location near the Ellicott Complex on North Campus.

The initiative, which is partially funded by Erie County, is part of a statewide effort called “StopDWI,” which aims to reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road.

At the checkpoint, officers will stop all vehicles entering the undisclosed intersection and interview each driver. If they feel the driver should undergo further investigation, they will ask the driver to pull over to the side of the road and he or she may be subject to a sobriety test. If the driver fails, he or she may be arrested at the discretion of the officers.

Lt. Joshua Sticht said UPD has an additional resource at its disposal that many other police departments do not: UB’s Student-Wide Judiciary (SWJ). He said if a student has a BAC of .07 – the limit in New York State is .08 – the police may hand them over to SWJ and have them deal with the student with a number of options, such as counseling for the individual.

Sticht said the number of DWIs in the area has remained fairly steady over the past few years. The number has increased countywide, however, and he wants to prevent

that increase around North Campus.

UPD consulted Sherri Darrow, director of Wellness Education Services at UB, when they were planning the initiative. Darrow said students constantly hear the strong message against drunk driving throughout high school and college, yet some choose to ignore it.

She echoed Sticht’s sentiment that the number of DWIs has been stable over the past few years.

“It might not be an increasing problem, but it is a preventable problem,” Darrow said.

Last spring, the American College Health Association surveyed 5,281 UB students about various health issues. The results showed that in the last 30 days, 1.9 percent of students – roughly 63 students – reported driving after having five or more drinks. And 23.7 percent – roughly 1,252 students – reported driving in the last 30 days after having any alcohol.

Sticht said UB revamped its alcohol and drugs presentation for orientations two years ago, and this DWI initiative is another way UB is trying to ensure student safety.

UPD is expected to put out a press release outlining the details of the checkpoint in the next few days.

Email: news@ubspectrum.com

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

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LIFE Obama’s words received differently throughout UB community SHARON KAHN

Senior Features Editor

On Tuesday, Aug. 20, Eliza Upton-Green, a sophomore linguistics major, opened her email and received dreadful news: For the first time since 1853, a U.S. president was visiting UB, and UptonGreen was not going to be in attendance.

After entering a raffle with thousands of other students, UptonGreen was one of the many not chosen to see the president speak.

But she wouldn’t give up. And after a frustrating hunt, UptonGreen wound up snagging the third-to-last ticket to see the president’s speech on the cost of higher education. She was one of 7,200 people to pack into Alumni Arena and witness what President Satish Tripathi described as “history in the making.”

Obama’s words about national college-related debt and loans inspired many UB students, but others claimed to see past “empty promises.”

On Thursday, Aug. 22, students lined up at the front doors of Alumni Arena past the Student Union and through the Academic Spine, wrapped around to the end of Park Hall.

“You could feel the anticipation and excitement in the air as the arena awaited Obama’s entrance,” Upton-Green said.

Though Upton-Green found Obama’s proposals plausible, others weren’t as convinced.

“I think he’s a great speaker and he says what people want to hear,” said Lauren Orlando, a senior communication major. “He states the obvious – the country is in a difficult state and there are things that we need to do. He just doesn’t actually do it, though.”

Aline Kobayashi, The Spectrum

President Barack Obama began his two-day bus tour in Buffalo and spent his time in the city addressing a crowd of 7,200 inside UB’s Alumni Arena. Obama’s speech focused on higher education. Over the last 30 years, tuition costs have increased 250 percent while family income has only increased 16 percent, he said.

Orlando applied to win a lottery ticket to the event because she wanted to hear what she believed would be “more empty promises from the president,” she said. Orlando said she agreed with many of her friends who think while Obama inspired students to take a stronger role in their education, he still has a lot to prove by following through with these plans.

“He’s locked in for four years, so I feel like we’ll see nothing from him,” Orlando said.

Jamie Altneu, a junior interdisciplinary degree programs social sciences major, thought Obama’s plan for higher education motivated everyone in the room to work hard.

Obama said he and his wife were paying off their college debt until their 40s, which affected their children’s college funds. Altneu said Obama’s personal experience is what is going to motivate the president to work hard toward making college students’ futures easier.

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Upton-Green liked that Obama didn’t only address the loan and debt issue, but also called on students to work as hard as they can to get their degrees in four years.

The president emphasized the idea of getting ‘more bang for your buck.’

“I like that Obama stated that students would have to pass all of their classes each semester to make sure that the federal aid they were receiving wasn’t going to be wasted on students who weren’t focusing on school,” Upton-Green said.

Part of Obama’s higher education plan is to rank colleges on value and performance, which Altneu believes will bring more applicants to UB. “Often, teens are researching colleges that are ranked based on terms irrelevant to their education, such as ‘biggest party schools,’” Altneu said. “Obama’s focus on value and performance will encourage parents to take a more active role throughout the college application process and UB, in turn, will be looked at in a greater light.”

Adam Gassman, a UB alumnus, is the founder and CEO of Newslo, a hybrid news/satire platform.

As a former UB student, he found it cool and exciting that Obama paid a visit to his school.

But as a reporter and lover of politics, he did not find the speech meaningful.

“Personally, I think Obama made a great speech,” Gassman said. “That’s the point: He tends to just make great speeches and do absolutely nothing.”

Gassman categorized it as “another meaningless speech that sounded really nice.”

National college loan debt recently passed the $1 trillion mark and the average student leaves school with almost $27,000 of debt, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Upton-Green left the arena excited for Obama’s reforms. Her yearning for a personal connection with Obama was satisfied and she said she will one day tell her children about the speech.

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UB nightlife takes a turn Only one bar remains in South Campus area of Main Street KEREN BARUCH

Senior Features Editor What used to be one of the most popular bars by South Campus has become the home of the calzone king.

A neon blue sign and long line of drunken freshmen can no longer be spotted outside of 3160 Main St. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays. The former dance club and bar Northside has become a new, different hot spot for college students: Zonies.

The nightlife on UB’s South Campus has evolved recently. The number of open bars has decreased steadily, from five popular bars to just one. The Steer is now the only open bar in the South Campus area of Main Street, and UB students are worried about what these changes will bring to the college town’s nightlife.

Lauren Weinisch, a UB alumna, said it is truly unfortunate that Main Street has “died.”

“When my friends and I were freshmen [in 2006], the bars on Main Street were the place to be on Thursdays and Saturdays,” Weinisch said. “Tuesdays and Fridays were the ‘optional’ night out. Room 101 was our go-to; they always played great music, you were guaranteed to get in and it was always packed from wall to wall.”

As Weinisch continued her career at UB, Room 101 closed and she and her friends started going to Mojo’s. The owners of Mojo’s attempted to give it a “Greek Life” feel, according to Sam Schustek, a senior speech and hearing major.

Weinisch said when she was a senior in 2010, The Steer became the obvious bar choice. There were nights that Third Base hosted “flip night,” and during those times the bar received a big crowd, but the majority of her nights out were spent at The Steer.

Hundreds of UB students study abroad each year, according to UB’s “Up and Away” study abroad website. Schustek was one of those students; she spent the spring semester abroad in Barcelona through a SUNY Oswego program. The nightlife there revolved around clubs, she said, and coming back to Buffalo has been bittersweet.

“The clubs [in Barcelona] were huge and really different from the nightlife in Buffalo,” Schustek said. “No smelly basement house parties. The clubs were a lot of fun and the places I went to were basically all Americans partying in one spot.“ When Schustek heard two bars on South

Daniele Gershon, The Spectrum

The Steer (pictured) has become the unquestioned No. 1 spot for students looking to visit a bar near South Campus following the closing of rival bars Mojo’s and Northside.

Campus had closed down, she was relieved they were the bars underclassmen frequent, because she is 21 and can get into The Steer.

Now the lines for The Steer are long, she said, and it gets packed.

Schustek does not mind Northside being changed into Zonies, though. Any new “drunk food” is always welcomed on South Campus.

Christine Karotseris, a junior nursing major, spent her summer abroad in Spain. Karotseris finds nightlife in Buffalo boring after experiencing clubs abroad.

“The bars in Spain do something different every night of the week,” Karotseris said.

“They go out so late and nothing ever closes. Sometimes I didn’t even go out until midnight or 1 a.m. Also, guys abroad love American girls. Once I said I was American, every guy I met would not leave me alone.”

Karotseris hopes bars around UB start to host live shows and performances or fun nights the way the bars in Spain do.

The bars in Spain rarely ever carded

September 8-14, 2013

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Wellness Activity Day Tues. Sept. 10 / 11am–2pm / Student Union Lobby Healing Art Activity, Yoga and Mindfulness, Nutrition Demonstration, Mental Health Awareness Resources, Games and Prizes

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Campus Speak Speaker: Ross Szabo Behind Happy Faces: Talking About Mental Health Tues. Sept. 10 / 7pm / Doors open at 6:30pm Woldman Theater – 112 Norton Hall (North Campus) Ross is an award winning speaker, author and social innovator who pioneered a new way to help young people take charge of their mental health. His program educates students about mental health issues, suicide and coping. Arrive early, seating is limited.

Advanced reserved seating for faculty/staff bringing classes/students or groups are available by contacting Carissa Uschold at cuschold@buffalo.edu.

FREE EVENT

QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention TraininG Thurs. Sept. 12 / 10am–12pm / Student Union 250 This training assists participants in learning to recognize the warning signs of suicide and ways to effectively help someone in need.

Register online at student-affairs.buffalo.edu/shs

Out of the Darkness Walk Sat. Sept. 14 / 10:30am (registration begins at 8:30am) Delaware Park (near Buffalo Zoo) Join the UB Walkin’ Team, create your own team, or make a donation at goo.gl/iDFqrZ

WELLNESS.BUFFALO.EDU/SUICIDEPREVWK

students, she said, which is a big difference from the strict entry at The Steer.

Carly Schreiber, a senior communication major, studied abroad in Israel. Schreiber’s dorm was located in the center of Tel Aviv, and she spent most of her nights at the coolest clubs in town, she said.

“I came back to Buffalo where there is now only one main bar,” Schreiber said of The Steer. “While on one side the convenience of this one bar being one block away from my house is amazing, I also realize how important it is to broaden your horizons. After being in Tel Aviv, I realize that these years are the prime years for going out and having fun … being young and experiencing things is a part of college, and I do feel like having only one bar on South Campus is holding me back from that.”

Schreiber said she and her friends viewed The Steer as the obvious bar choice even before Mojo’s and Northside closed. Now that The Steer is the only option, students are worried it may not feel as exclusive as it did before.

Workers at The Steer say their bar’s crowd has not changed due to the other bars shutting down, though.

During the summertime, the crowd at The Steer is a little bit older and business is slightly slower because many college students go home for the break, according to Caitlin Lewis, a senior communication major and bartender at The Steer. Now that school has begun again, the bar is crowded and fun, she said.

“Our big nights are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” Lewis said.

“We’ve got all different types of people that come in, but I’ve noticed that a lot of people that come on Fridays and Saturdays also come during the week.”

Lewis explained the vibe of The Steer to be “the college experience.”

“If you go to UB, the No. 1 bar that you hear about is The Steer and everyone comes to The Steer,” Lewis said.

“It’s fun, it’s crazy, it’s loud [and] it’s just a good time. Here we always say, ‘The good ones, they always come back.’”

Mojo’s and Northside had a reputation for admitting underage patrons, Lewis said. The security at The Steer is trained through security classes and all have their security licenses, so underage drinking is not an issue at the bar.

Jeff Martz, general manager at The Steer, said his bar has always had a little bit of an older crowd so they haven’t had any real problems with underage

students trying to get in yet. He said the first weekend back, security saw a few fake IDs and rejected those students from entering the bar, but nothing out of the ordinary has occurred at the entrance to the bar.

The Steer offers drink specials that Mojo’s and Northside did not, he said.

“Here at The Steer, we’ve got a fully stocked bar and we also have premium liquor,” Lewis said. “I know at Northside and Mojo’s they didn’t carry any premium liquors. We also have bottom shelf, which is affordable for students. For example, our well drinks are $3 a drink. We have a cocktail list that we change all the time, so we’ve got a lot more variety than the other bars have had.”

Jillian Bangel, a UB alumna and former Northside bartender, has a hard time imagining there being only one bar in the South Campus area of Main Street. Bangel said Northside had a very upbeat, party vibe in 2011 and then died down in 2012. Last year, though, she said the bar began to pick up again with a new staff, new crowd and new promoters – until it closed down.

“I was told that Northside shut down because they were faced with a summons, and instead of going to court and fighting it, they were given the option to bow out and keep their names out of the paper,” Bangel said.

“Because the two older owners were trying to move on from that business, they opted for just closing the place down.”

The Steer is more of a relaxed social environment rather than a club/dance type of bar, Bangel said. She believes this type of scene is something the upperclassmen can appreciate more than UB’s newest students.

“There is now just one bar on South Campus that only the upperclassmen at UB can enjoy,” said Carly Weil, a senior communication major. “While this is good for those who are over 21 and enjoy the scene at The Steer, it’s unfortunate for those who are 18 years old and just getting to college looking for a fun time out. These students may not experience what it’s like to be at a bar on South Campus until their senior year, which really changes the way UB’s nightlife has been these past four years.”

Students are walking into Zonies drunkenly confused as to where Northside went, according to a worker at Zonies who requested anonymity. He said 20-25 people walk in each big night out between the hours of 12 and 5 a.m. to order calzones in the same spot they used to order their red bull vodkas.

Email: features@ubspectrum.com

Did You Know that Part­time Students

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ubspectrum.com

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

My inevitable concussion

ALYSSA MCCLURE

Asst. Features Editor

It was a sand court. The net sagged in the middle, like most outdoor nets do from use and exposure to the elements.

The sky was filled with white puffy clouds, and the glaring rays from the sun made it difficult to see the ball as it volleyed back and forth.

The ball soared over the net and veered to the right, nearing the out-of-bounds line. I sprang into action and dove for the ball. A fellow teammate, whom I had just met 20 minutes prior, also dove. He got there first. Instead of my forearms connecting with the ball, his elbow connected with my skull.

I spent two hours in the emergency room that night. I left with a general head injury, a suggestion to take pain medication and a promise to my doctor that I wouldn’t play volleyball (or really anything that could end with me being knocked in the head) for a few weeks.

I kept my promise and stayed off the court for those few weeks. But my friends and I played volleyball in an intramural league that competed once a week at Alumni, so I was itching to play again. I figured I had met my injury quota for the season.

I was wrong.

My first game back, I watched from the front row of the court as the ball zoomed over my head. I turned around to see if my teammates needed help, and the ball ricocheted off of my teammate’s arms and directly into my face.

I wobbled unsteadily for a few seconds as it felt like stars spun around me like in the cartoons, and when the gym came into focus again, I realized that everyone was cheering. I found that odd because my own teammate had just pummeled me in the face.

It turned out that one of my other teammates was able to hit the ball over the net after it hit me and scored on our opposing team.

My team scored a point off of my face.

We’ve been playing intramural volleyball ever since. It’s a great way to spend time with friends and fit some exercise into our hectic schedules. Our team song is “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and must be played and rapped to before every game. We collaborated to make team shirts and have expanded our team to include new friends each semester.

Fall 2013 registration for intramural sports is now open, and students who are interested in joining a team can find more information in the recreation section of buffalobulls.com. There are eight different leagues that students can join and I highly recommend anyone who is interested in sports on a recreational level join.

Volleyball once a week is my escape.

Sometimes it’s difficult to fit a trip to the gym in your schedule or seemingly impossible to have more than 20 minutes to yourself when living in the dorms. Hitting that ball over the net is my outlet. Even if I have two exams the next day or I’m not feeling well, I still want to be out on that court with my teammates.

It’s a running joke that I will get hurt at some point in the season. Given how naturally clumsy and accident-prone I am, I wouldn’t be surprised if I was hit in the head again this year – and not necessarily on the court. I could walk into a door, a pole or even a person.

UB offers health services in Michael Hall on South Campus if you ever find yourself in a position where you need to seek medical help. Michael Hall is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is open until 7 p.m. on Mondays.

There is also an after-hours message that can direct you if you call when the hall is closed. If you’re accident-prone like I am, you can call Michael Hall to make an appointment or seek medical advice.

One thing I’ve learned from being clumsy is that you need to be able to laugh at yourself. If I hadn’t been able to laugh with my teammates about scoring a point off of my face, we might not still be together playing today. A bit of clumsiness keeps me humble. A scrape here, a concussion there – it’s all in good fun.

Email: alyssa.mcclure@ubspectrum.com

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1: BUSES Still, some students don’t want to change their routine.

Brooks has noticed she is arriving late and is “rushing to catch up” at certain bus stops because she has to wait for all of the passengers to find their cards and then swipe into the system.

“This policy is designed to ensure campus transportation services are accessible and available for members of our campus community, while also providing a safe and secure environment,” according to the Parking and Transportation Services website.

Schwartz and Brooks agree that safety measures are something UB should implement on the buses. Schwartz said she understands the need for a swipe system for students traveling between South Campus and North Campus at night because sometimes that is unsafe.

“We need this in these times for both the students and the drivers,” Brooks said. “Hopefully when all of the kinks are worked out, it will be good for overall campus safety.”

Austin said the primary focus of the Swipe ‘n’ Ride is the data collection. This data will be used to “effectively manage thousands of vehicles on campus.” It will also be used as a marketing tool.

“Let’s say juniors are riding much less than freshmen,” Austin said. “That lets us know, from a transportation standpoint, that we can key in on the junior population and encourage them to use our transit system rather than using motor vehicles to get around campus.”

Austin isn’t sure what the ending impact will be, but in a press release, Maria Wallace, director of parking and transportation services, said, “this change reflects the Division of Student Life and Services’ commitment to service improvement and assessment.”

Email: news@ubspectrum.com

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1: NICK JOHNS In addition to the divorce, Johns also learned a lot about himself from his adoption. He recalled the many looks he and his white parents would get when they were grocery shopping. He said it was a constant reminder of the relevance of race even in today’s society.

His unique situation allowed him not only to gain an appreciation for every single individual, but also a new appreciation for the cultural diversity at UB. “Showing that everybody has something to bring to the table and that everybody has a valid viewpoint is definitely something that my upbringing has given me – that and a healthy dose of individual spirit,” Johns said.

Though the divorce threw a wrench into his adolescence, Johns still calls his parents his biggest influences – each for different reasons.

Johns’ mother taught him a lot. She was initially a lab technician and then went back to school for IT and worked as a system administrator at Kodak. After that, she went back for nursing. She taught him that persistence pays off.

But the biggest lesson he learned from her is one he tries to embrace every day.

“She is willing to accept anybody for who they are,” Johns said. “I guess I’ve tried to take [a little bit from both my parents] and intermingle them in my life.”

He reveres his father’s work ethic. He was a machinist in a tool shop, and through hard work, he was able to become a mechanical engineer.

Johns tries to emulate that determination.

“His work ethic and his endurance definitely showed me that if you put enough effort into something and do it well enough, you could do anything,” he said.

In addition to his father’s diligence, Johns also attributes his levelheadedness and

goal-oriented nature to his father, something his colleagues have noticed.

“He definitely knows what is expected of him and he has a set of goals in his head and a picture of how he wants to see the office,” said Siddhant Chhabria, SA treasurer.

Johns’ father, Steven, isn’t surprised at his son’s commitment to hard work. He is honored to be one of Johns’ two biggest influences.

Steven was brokenhearted when he and his wife divorced, he said. But he is proud of the way his son handled the situation, especially beginning at such a young age.

“He had to learn to start taking care of himself – being more independent,” Steven said. “I wasn’t there to help him out on certain things. If I wasn’t there, he had to help himself. He had to learn by doing.”

Johns said his parents’ divorce taught him many lessons about life.

“It was at a formative stage in my life and it made me realize a lot of truths about life,” Johns said. “That circumstances aren’t always picture perfect and everyone you meet has a story, but also that you shouldn’t let past hardships affect your outlook for the future. Positivity, whether it’s belief in a higher power or humanity, plays a huge role in defining your interpretation of the universe and its subsequent reactions to you.”

His parents and the obstacles of his childhood have shaped the person he has become. His father taught him that hard work and a little dirt on your hands was a good thing. And with eight months left in his administration, he said his hands aren’t getting cleaner any time soon.

Additional reporting by News Editor Joe Konze Jr. Email: news@ubspectrum.com

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ‘Young hearts spark fire’ The Spectacular Now review SAM FERNANDO

Senior News Editor

Film: The Spectacular Now Release Date: Aug. 3 (limited release), Aug. 23 (Buffalo release) Studio: 21 Laps Entertainment Grade: A In Hollywood, the “living in the moment” mindset is common. But the film The Spectacular Now grabs this theme and takes it to a whole new level.

In a time when teenage romance films are virtually non-existent – unless vampire love is your thing – director James Ponsoldt (Smashed) restores faith in this diminishing genre with The Spectacular Now. The film’s honesty, coupled with brilliant performances by two young stars and their supporting cast, garnered serious buzz when it premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

The film, based on a book

by Tim Tharp, begins with Sutter Keely (Miles Teller, Footloose), a high school senior with a certain zest for life. He doesn’t do well in school or know what the future holds for him, but his wit

and charm always ensure he’ll have one hell of a weekend. And when his girlfriend dumps him, he tries to fill the void with any girl he can find and alcohol – a lot of alcohol – which leaves him passed out on someone’s front lawn.

The next morning, Aimee Finecky (Shailene Woodley, The Descendants) finds him on her paper route, an encounter that sparks an unlikely connection. Aimee is far from similar to Sutter. She is smart, not much of a partier and, unlike Sutter, lives for the future instead of the moment. Though, like Sutter, she comes from a broken home.

Their differences cultivate a relationship that does not make sense on paper. But writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, ((500) Days of Summer), were able to create the ultimate paradox: two people so wrong for each other that somehow they’re perfect for each other.

Although the film may seem rather formulaic, Ponsoldt makes it more than just a teen romance. He tells the story of a seemingly innocent teenage relationship while also touching on deep issues like alcoholism, divorce, and sex.

Courtesy of A24

The relationship acts as the backdrop for a deeper issue many teenagers experience: feeling lost.

Sutter spends much of the film trying to find himself. He is numb to his future, and the one thing that keeps him going – other than the flask constantly in his pocket – is Aimee.

Much like (500) Days of Summer, the film is entirely character driven and the whole cast doesn’t disappoint. From Sutter’s father, played

by Kyle Chandler (Zero Dark Thirty), to Sutter’s mother, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh (Kill Your Darlings), the supporting cast complements the brilliant performances of the teenage couple without stealing the spotlight.

Teller was able to toe the line between a façade of confidence and hidden insecurity – not an easy task, considering the depth of the role. Not to mention, Sutter appears in every scene in the film.

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I’ve had

Much like most “coming of age” films, Sutter is trying to find his place in the world. He is afraid to grow up, but he keeps telling himself that he is just living in the “now.” He has no need to be ambitious and is comfortable where he is. That is why his relationship with Aimee works so well. Much like their first encounter, Aimee wakes Sutter up from his alcohol-induced reality.

The chemistry between Teller and Woodley is nothing short of remarkable – almost to the point where you begin to question their relationship outside the confines of the film. Woodley shows why she earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role in The Descendants and the two have solidified their future in Hollywood.

While watching The Spectacular Now, you can’t help but smile. But the true beauty of the film is how it manages to keep you smiling long after the closing credits.

2

Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

dream jobs

Both at PwC — Penelope Moreno Manager

Grow your own way. And my growth started right when I joined PwC. Quite a start—working with a global tech giant, and one of the top 10 clients at the firm. I learned a lot. Those skills helped me grab an opening on a different part of their business. PwC is flexible that way. And when serious family matters need my attention, they’re flexible about that, too. I’m fortunate. Two dream jobs. Without ever leaving PwC. pwc.com/campus

© 2013 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership. All rights reserved. PwC refers to the United States member firm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details. We are proud to be an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

ubspectrum.com

FELICIA HUNT

Asst. Arts Editor

Artist: Blessthefall Album: Hollow Bodies Release Date: Aug. 20 Label: Fearless Records Grade: AMetalcore outfit Blessthefall is one of the longest standing bands in their genre. The original members began the band in 2003, releasing their first album His Last Walk in 2007.

Vocalist Craig Mabbit (Escape The Fate) left shortly after and clean vocalist Beau Bokan took his place. After changing the lineup and playing small stages at Warped Tour, Blessthefall has finally reached a new high with their fourth album Hollow Bodies.

Blessthefall began writing the follow up to 2011’s Awakening. The album was successful and they were offered a spot on the main stage at this year’s Vans Warped Tour. With all of these milestones, it was necessary for Blessthefall to tweak their sound to fit with their achievements.

Hollow Bodies is the ultimate evolution of Blessthefall. It puts them ahead of their competitors with the improvement in the album. Both Bokan’s clean vocals screamer and bassist Jared Warth’s screams have matured. The

Courtesy of Fearless Records

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chemistry between guitarists Elliott Gruenberg and Eric Lambert is present in every song – sometimes overshadowing the other instrumentals.

Following in the footsteps of fellow metalcore act Bring Me The Horizon, Blessthefall added ambient sound effects and electronic elements. It fits seamlessly with the new era of the group.

“Exodus” – the opening track – offers a good taste of the overall feel of the album. The first chords have electronic beats and the juxtaposition of Bokan’s sweet but powerful, clean vocals with Warth’s precise and ground shaking screams that continue throughout Hollow Bodies. At times, Bokan’s vocals resemble Mabbit’s, but with a better tone. The combination of the old and new Blessthefall is smart, even though it might not have been their intention.

The first single “You Wear A Crown But You’re No King” is everything a hardcore song should be. Lyrics about standing up for yourself and not falling to someone’s power combined with soaring chord progressions and a crushing breakdown to get your mosh on takes Blessthefall into heavier territory than normal. Their massive audiences at Warped this summer couldn’t be controlled during their first live performances of the track.

Warth’s vocals take a backseat halfway through the album with “Buried in These Walls” and “See You On The Outside.” That’s the great thing about Blessthefall – both vocalists can have their respective shining moments and

cater to different types of fans. While the tempo definitely slows Hollow Bodies down, these tracks prove how versatile the band really is.

For the first time ever, Blessthefall included three tracks with guest vocalists.

“Youngbloods” featuring Jesse Barnett, vocalist of Stick To Your Guns, is the most disappointing track on the album. It’s heavy and gritty, yes, but it’s the first time that Blessthefall incorporates profanity in their lyrics. “Carry On” with Jake Luhrs of August Burns Red hits just as hard but without the profanity.

Hollow Bodies’ closing track “Open Water,” however, takes the crown as the best track. Lights, a Canadian electro-pop act and Bokan’s wife, lends her airy croon to the seven-minute duet with her husband. After Lights wrote her song “And Counting,” Bokan penned “40 Days” which incorporated her lyrics. Fans were dying for a duet between the lovebirds, who have fought through conflicting tour schedules for years.

Blessthefall has been climbing the ladder for years, so don’t expect them to stop anytime soon. Hollow Bodies has revitalized the metalcore scene and the competition can only scratch their heads in confusion as they figure out a plan to take Blessthefall’s current reign.

But their empire won’t fall anytime soon.

Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

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12

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

No longer in sync Hi Hi Hi

RACHEL KRAMER Asst. Arts Editor

If you didn’t see what could have been the best reunion in pop culture history Sunday night at the MTV Video Music Awards, you didn’t miss much. *NSYNC reunited for 110 seconds during Justin Timberlake’s acceptance performance for the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, and although I squealed like a fan girl when I saw my childhood obsessions on stage together, I was immediately disappointed.

The once Billboard-topping boy band sang bits of their hit songs “Girlfriend” and “Bye, Bye, Bye” – voted “most hoping to hear” by People Magazine readers – but were no longer as tremendous as I so fondly remembered them from my childhood.

Their choreography was comprised of the classic “Bye, Bye, Bye” jump and fist pump without the obligatory “Bye, Bye, Bye” hands.

That’s not OK. At one point, Lance Bass got lost on stage as the other four members grouped together to strike a pose. It’s been 13 years since “Bye, Bye, Bye” was released, and it was easy to tell that other than Timberlake, the “boys” of *NSYNC hadn’t danced much on stage since 2001.

The “King of Pop” rocked his performance as he sang and danced to a medley of his best solo songs – including “Rock Your Body,” “SexyBack” and “Mirrors” – for a total of 15 minutes. Timberlake had more energy and better dance moves than all of his former band mates combined.

And I don’t think he minded.

It seemed as if Timberlake enjoyed outshining the others, especially at the end of the “reunion,” when JC Chasez improvised a mini solo. Timberlake cut off the reality TV show judge’s moment in the spotlight with what was meant to be a hug, but it ended up more like two strangers awkwardly bumping shoulders in a hallway.

While it was nice to see them on stage together again, it looked like they were fighting for attention.

During the brief 110 seconds *NYSYNC performed, the MTV cameras showed various audience members enjoying themselves, including One Direction – the go-to boy band of this generation. It seemed as if MTV

was trying to compare the two. No offense, *NSYNC, but if the best boy band was decided on talent after a most recent performance, One Direction has you beat.

After the reunion, before the commercial break, MTV showed the band leaving the stage, and while Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick looked like they were going to pass out from exhaustion, Chasez looked annoyed. Gone are the five best friends who used to take quirky pictures in overalls for Tiger Beat posters, and here are five adults who don’t seem to really like each other.

In October, none of the band members attended Timberlake’s wedding to Jessica Biel because they weren’t invited, according to Life & Style Magazine.

Bass went on record in February in an article for the same magazine and denied the possibility of a reunion because, “Everyone is doing their own thing. Justin is doing his thing. I don’t think he would have a moment off to do an *NSYNC album. He’s the busy one.”

The rumors started around two weeks before the VMAs when, according to Bass on his Sirius XM show, “Dirty Pop with Lance Bass,” the crew went to see Timberlake perform in Miami, Fla. After waiting an inconclusive two weeks to see the beloved boy band, most fans didn’t seem to notice *NSYNC’s faltering skills.

The audience at the Barclays Center erupted in cheers, and celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift and Jordin Sparks were singing and dancing along to the iconic ’90s songs, according to People magazine.

The Twitter universe exploded with tweets from fans and other celebrities when the five men, all around 30 years old, rose up from the stage. Perez Hilton, a celebrity gossip blogger, tweeted, “I’m Crying!!!!!!!! FOR REAL!!!

Tears!!!! #NSYNC #VMAS.” Fans, however, were too clouded with the comfort of nostalgia and illusory satisfaction of an epic reunion to care about the actual performance.

Afterward, as JT accepted his award, he thanked his “friends” but assured them, even though they were a major help to his success, “we could keep the award at my house.”

Nothing like showing them how successful he has become without them. I thought JT was more humble than that.

There are more rumors circulating about a larger reunion as *NSYNC now has an official Twitter and tweeted before the VMAs “Mic check, mic check one… two… is this thing on?!”

But unless they all retake pop music 101, I don’t think a reunion will be anything like their glory days.

FELICIA HUNT

Asst. Arts Editor

If you’re a ’90s kid, there’s a very strong possibility you worshipped one boy band and only one boy band. Perhaps you argued with your best friend about how dumb she was for liking 98 Degrees when the Backstreet Boys were “totally hotter.” It’s also a possibility that you drew devil horns on the “enemy.”

Regardless, The Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees were terrible. *NSYNC was, and always will be, the crown jewel of ’90s boy bands, and on Sunday night, they reunited with a two-minute performance at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Donned in matching black suits, the fabulous five – Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick – took audiences back to a time when boy bands ruled the airwaves. The group’s medley featuring “Girlfriend” from their 2001 album Celebrity and their massive hit “Bye Bye Bye” off 2000’s No Strings Attached instantly became one of the highlights of this year’s VMAs. When the camera panned to the audience, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez and Lady Gaga could be seen laughing and singing – a huge change from their reactions to Miley Cyrus’ risqué and ill-perceived performance earlier in the night.

After the short-lived medley, fans took to Twitter and Facebook to react.

Of course, friends bonded about how old they felt with varying feelings about the performance. Some people commented on how ancient *NSYNC looked and how they could have likely broken a bone at any second. Comedian Kevin Hart shared these sentiments, saying the boys gained a few pounds and had difficulty dancing around the stage after the quick reunion.

Justin Timberlake, the leader and heartthrob of *NSYNC, has retained his

*NSYNC brings the noise at MTV VMAs spotlight in the music industry with three solo albums since the break up of *NSYNC, and he plans to release a follow-up to this year’s The 20/20 Experience. Timberlake also toured with Jay-Z during the summer and was featured on the rap mogul’s single, “Holy Grail.”

As for the rest of the band members?

They may have lacked some energy, but they knew it was time to reunite. How often do we hear about the other members?

Chasez, Bass, Fatone and Kirkpatrick need to be back in the limelight instead of judging reality TV competitions if they want to keep some form of an entertainment career.

This performance was the first step in taking *NSYNC off an all-too-long hiatus.

While their performance has since been picked apart with claims that Bass was way off in his dancing (he was), does it really matter? *NSYNC is a symbol of the ’90s generation. They inspired the uprising of boy bands and continue to be an influence today for hit bands like One Direction. They might be getting up in age, but just reliving the memories of the ’90s through their performance is enough for me.

MTV aims to shock the public every year at the VMAs with moments like the famous Britney Spears and Madonna kiss and various collaborations. *NSYNC’s reunion is sure to be talked about for years to come.

Another issue associated with the reunion was the terrible sound quality. *NSYNC can’t be blamed for that. Maybe with better sound quality, viewers would have been more appreciative of the performance. But again, the *NSYNC reunion was brought on by the fans’ desires. The band had fun and we had fun screaming like children in our living rooms.

Of course, JT took the spotlight, starting off with a medley of his hit songs after accepting the prestigious MTV Video Vanguard Award. He’s still relevant and highly talented, so nothing has changed in 12 years.

Whether you loved or hated Sunday’s performance, you have to give *NSYNC some respect. After 12 years, they joined together for the love of music and for their stillhopeful fans. Maybe we’re a little too hopeful, considering rumors of a reunion tour are swirling around the Internet. Until then, we can just secretly listen to our ’90s hits playlists as *NSYNC tears up our hearts.

Email: felicia.hunt@ubspectrum.com

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TWERK, MILEY, MILEY, TWERK Students react to Miley Cyrus’ controversial VMAs performance

Krystal Brown, a senior business major: “If I was Robin Thicke’s wife, I would have went on stage and stopped somethin’… and them shorts have to go.”

Autumn Baldwin, a senior business major: “I think that Miley Cyrus is demeaning herself and women everywhere, but Robin Thicke’s music is also the issue. He’s basically saying women are easy, and let’s have sex no matter what.”

Brandon Glauber, a freshman accounting major (left): “It didn’t work for me.” And Alex Ventura, freshman business major (right): “It was pretty disturbing.”

Paul ‘Clutch’ Basile, a senior social work major: “Miley Cyrus got the cake.”

Jacob Gullo, a sophomore undecided major (left): “It’s really sexually explicit and it sends a bad message to the kids who still watch Hannah Montana.”

Jarryn Skeete, a sophomore communication major: “She’s sexy.

I wanna hit it.”

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16: MEN’S SOCCER “We won both scrimmages, but I don’t think that means much,” Cassis said. “[It] just means we have it right so far, but obviously the competition will be stronger when the season starts Friday, but we are going to come out and just play the way we play as coach Stuart has been teaching us.”

Although Riddle is excited about the team’s expectations, he doesn’t want the players to get ahead of themselves. He stressed the importance of keeping the goal of “winning the next game” and not looking ahead. Riddle doesn’t expect to play the role of a miracle worker in his first season. Instead, he is looking for game-by-game improvement.

With a young squad, a long season can seem overwhelming, so maintaining a ‘one game at a time’ attitude will likely help keep the Bulls in the moment.

“I think we’ve really tried to temper the mood and be realistic,” Riddle said. “Everyone’s excited with what we’ve done so far, but everyone has to be realistic. When the lights go on and the season opens, there will be a different feel to it from preseason and we have to be realistic and know we maybe aren’t as good as some people think we are right now.

“But that’s only natural when you have a young team … the time will come in a couple of years when we can set some lofty goals, but I think right now we just have to focus on that next game.”

Buffalo opens its season on the road at St. Bonaventure on Friday. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. The team’s home opener is Sunday against Vermont at 3 p.m.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

­­­­The

year of the Bulls

Students have reason to be optimistic about UB sports

Email: sports@ubspectrum.com

BEN TARHAN

Senior Sports Editor

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16: WOMEN’S SOCCER The 2013 women’s soccer team doesn’t want to hear about previous years – just the opportunities in front of them.

Buffalo dropped its season opener last weekend at Michigan State, 2-0, and will next travel to St. Bonaventure Friday for a 3 p.m. start before returning to UB for the home opener – hosting Youngtown State on Sunday. Start time is set for noon at UB Stadium.

Email: sports@ubspectrum.com

At head football coach Jeff Quinn’s press conference on Tuesday, I noticed something very different in his demeanor from past seasons.

After three seasons in which he has been unable to commit to a starting quarterback prior to the first snap of the season, he spoke openly and frankly with the media regarding not just who would be starting at Ohio State on Saturday, but injuries as well.

It does help when there is only one player entering the season with a serious injury – freshman running back Jordan Johnson, who will most likely miss the entire year because of elbow surgery – but it’s still a marked change from Quinn’s close-to-the-chest mentality from the past three seasons. It also isn’t something that is limited to the football program.

Say what you want about Athletic Director Danny White, but he has brought a swagger to this athletic department that wasn’t here before.

White’s new mentality coupled with the talent returning on every team means this could be a special year not just for the football and men’s basketball teams but for every team.

There are obvious names that make Buffalo fans swell with pride, like senior linebacker Khalil Mack and senior forward Javon McCrea. But there are lesserknown athletes who have just as good a chance to reel in a Mid-American Conference Championship.

Senior goalkeeper Ainsley Wheldon and junior midfielder Courtney Mann are some of the best of a talented group that contributed to a 12-win season for the women’s soccer team two years ago. After a disappointing season last year that saw the team fail to reach the MAC Tournament, this year’s senior class has one last shot at a MAC title.

The men’s soccer team has a new head coach in Stu Riddle, who has already proven his ability to win in the MAC. In four years at Western Michigan, Riddle went 33-36-9. His signature moment as a Bronco? Upsetting defending national

champion Akron in the 2011 MAC Tournament semifinals.

The volleyball team is incredibly top heavy, with six seniors and just two freshmen. Two years ago, it was one of the youngest teams in the country. Now the freshmen and sophomores who gained experience have the opportunity to win the program’s first MAC Championship as seniors.

Every fall team seems to be laden with talent, but it doesn’t stop there.

The women’s swimming and diving team returns two-time defending MAC Swimmer of the Year senior Britney Kuras, and the men return defending 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly champion junior Mike Dugan.

The baseball team graduated MAC Player of the Year Jason Kanzler and two other starters last spring, but the talent the squad returns is even more impressive.

Both sophomore Tyler Mautner – who set the single-season record for most doubles in a season in the spring – and senior Mike Burke were named to Perfect Game’s Summer College All-America Team for their performances this summer.

Also, senior Matt Pollock will return to the field after redshirting last season because of a broken bone in his hand. Pollock was a first team All-MAC selection in 2012 and a preseason first-team All-MAC selection in 2013.

In just over a year, White has hired five new coaches, and though it’s the goal of every athletic department to win championships, White is expecting his teams to win championships. That’s something new for Buffalo.

The more time you spend around White and hear him talk about his “new mark,” which prominently features the words “New York,” the more you get the impression White came to Buffalo because he thinks Buffalo’s athletics program is a sleeping dragon.

“We’re not selling who we are right now,” White said Tuesday. “We are selling what we aspire to become, and this place has unprecedented potential because of our institutional profile.”

That institutional profile White talks about is Buffalo’s status as a member of the Association of American Universities, of which Buffalo is the only member with FBS athletics that isn’t in a BCS conference.

It seems that a combination of talent and swagger have set the Bulls up for unprecedented success. White has taken the first step in waking the sleeping dragon.

Email: ben.tarhan@ubspectrum.com

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Crossword of the Day

HOROSCOPES Wednesday, August 28, 2013 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK

67 Peg of the links 68 Be in charge of 69 Hurry, old-style 70 Biggest section in a dic1 Photo ___ (publicity setups) tionary 4 Makes known 71 Having common ances11 Something to chew on tors 14 Opponent 72 Approx. landing time 15 Late 16 Noted Swiss canton 17 Astonish 19 It puts an eye on the tube 1 “They’re ___!” (racetrack cry) 20 Knowing looks 21 Pipe smoked by a certain cat- 2 Vote solicitor 3 High ground is above it erpillar 4 After-bath wraps 23 Conspires in crime 5 ___ since (as of) 25 Telepathic letters?

6 Divisions of Biblical chapters 28 Everybody’s antonym 29 Whitehouse web address end- 7 Metric work unit ing 8 Abbr. on a toothpaste box 30 Completely convinced 9 Barfly 32 Dorm designation, perhaps 10 Have one’s heart ___ (desire strongly) 33 Creatures on a slide (var.)

11 Bird that pops out of a clock 37 Tall and long-limbed 12 Suave and polished 39 Bean spillers 13 Was a gossip 43 Victorian house feature 18 Wager 44 Soaks, as tea bags 22 Immature egg, in biology 46 Markdown event 23 Turkish bigwig 49 Chopped cabbage dish 24 Dud, in Hollywood 51 Bird related to the puffin 26 Inexplicably strange 52 Work of King David 27 Buggy relative 54 Legendary boxer 31 Grandkid of Adam 55 Annapolis student, briefly 34 Rolls with holes 57 It cuts with the grain 35 Org. many lawyers belong to 59 Carved stone 61 They may be displayed for al- 36 Goes back to sea? cohol 38 Instinctive, as a feeling 62 Poem with a tumtum tree 40 Jazz legend Fitzgerald

ACROSS

DOWN

Edited by Timothy E. Parker August 28, 2013 GRAB HER! By Jill Pepper 41 Pain in the brain 42 Idaho product, slangily 45 The limit, for some 46 Pixie 47 Comments to the audience 48 Minor memory failures 50 Least foolish 53 ___ leagues 55 Cried like a kitty 56 Worldwide workers’ grp.

58 Breaker on the shore 60 Pecan or walnut 63 “Air” or “canto” opener 64 It has a supporting role 65 Young fox 66 Voter’s option

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) -- A rival is likely to come up with an idea that makes you somewhat envious, but in your own time you can come up with something even better!

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 22) -- A message from a secret admirer reveals more upon a second reading than you had expected. Certain secrets aren't really so secret!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- What you are doing now is only a warm-up -- a prologue to the main event that isn't likely to begin until you're good and ready.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You'll want to be sure that your path is clear; you don't want to come upon any unexpected obstacles that will slow you down.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -You are eager to get started with something you are confident will bring you great satisfaction, but you must clear your docket first.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You mustn't let someone else control you.

Don't do anything that results in you being put in a subservient position.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- You can take any kind of criticism that comes your way, provided it is professionally communicated.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Something that started in a purely businesslike fashion may turn into something far more personal.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You have the opportunity to make a few key changes -- not only in what you do, but in how you think, as well.

GEMINI (May 21June 20) -- Your approach to a certain key problem may be a little old-fashioned, but it gets the job done. You are, if nothing else, true to yourself.

CANCER (June 21July 22) -- You and a friend are not really after the same things, so it may be time for you to work separately for a while.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Time heals all wounds, or so they say. For you, there is one injury that no amount of time will mend; it requires something else!

16

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

SPORTS

ALL GROWN UP Once-young volleyball team looks to upperclassmen to lead JON GAGNON

Senior Sports Editor

William Bergmann, The Spectrum

Sophomore middle blocker Akeila Lain (jumping) burst onto the Buffalo scene last year as a freshman, finishing second on the team in sets played and fifth in points.

The volleyball team entered last season without a single senior on the roster. The year before that, the Bulls were the second youngest team in the nation.

The squad has taken time to develop and posted a 10-18 record last year. Buffalo’s voyage through the Mid-American Conference season was equally disheartening – finishing 4-12, third worst in the conference.

But junior outside hitter Liz Scott said the team was able to “live and learn” from last year’s trek. The Bulls enter their first game on Friday with six seniors and a newfound level of maturity.

“Last year, we had ups and downs and didn’t know exactly how to control them,” Scott said. “I think this year, we’re older, more mature and can control those ups and downs so we can ultimately win.”

Scott’s sophomore campaign led to a spot on the All-MAC second team. She led the Bulls in kills and points by a wide margin, despite playing through a lingering hip injury.

Scott had surgery on the hip during the offseason and is now back to 100 percent.

Head coach Todd Kress said it’s the first time since she has been at UB that she’s been able to play a full preseason and fall schedule injury free.

“When it comes to character and integrity, that’s a tough student-athlete to beat,” Kress said of Scott. “As far as her maturation as a student-athlete, it’s nice that we’re probably going to see even more of a maturation process this year simply because she’s healthy.”

Despite Scott’s success on the court last year, the Bulls are going to need their six seniors to make a major impact.

That shouldn’t be a problem. Seniors Dana Musil and Carissa McKenna finished second and third on the team, respectively, behind Scott in points; senior Dani Reinert led the team in assists; and senior Kelly Svoboda finished first in digs.

“They’ve been through the rigors of preseason and MAC play for three seasons, this being their fourth,” Kress said. “We’ve taken our knocks. We’ve had the last few years where we’ve been very young …

When you’re able to point out examples in your own gym of leadership of what that feels like and looks like, that’s a big asset for any program.”

Senior leadership isn’t something the Bulls have had in recent years, but it could play a key role in this season’s outlook.

It isn’t just the veterans on the squad that will help make contributions. As freshmen, Tahleia Bishop, Akeila Lain and Megan Lipski rounded out last season’s top six point-getters for the Bulls.

“We’ll be a program that will win as a team,” Kress said. “We don’t have that one player that’s going to completely lead the way that we’re going to give the ball to at any point in time. We’re definitely going to win because the team is winning. So I think you’re going to see a lot of contribution from a bunch of different areas.”

The Bulls host the UB Invitational Friday starting with home games against Niagara at noon and Temple at 7 p.m. They finish the weekend with a match against Niagara on Saturday at 7 p.m.

“We’re excited to start up,” Scott said.

“We finished preseason on a high note, so were ready to play. Niagara is always a close neighbor that we want to prove that we’re the best.”

Email: sports@ubspectrum.com

THE (NEW) PIECES

A FIRE FROM WITHIN

TO RIDDLE’S PUZZLE

As 2013 season begins, women’s soccer

Men’s soccer team hopes to build on youth Aline Kobayashi, The Spectrum

Junior goalkeeper Waleed Cassis sacrifices his body to make a save during practice on Tuesday. Cassis is a transfer from Cal State-LA and will start in goal for the Bulls this season.

OWEN O’BRIEN Sports Editor

With a new coach comes a new strategy.

And a new strategy must be coupled with players who have the necessary skillset, and attitude, to achieve the desired goal.

The new men’s soccer head coach, Stu Riddle, didn’t see the pieces he had hoped to inherit in the spring. Just a few months later, his confidence is back.

The men’s soccer team returns only eight players from last season. More than half the players on the roster (12 of 23) are freshmen, and they represent exactly what Riddle is looking for – a fresh start.

Though it is not known why he left, Richard Craven, who tied for the team lead with 10 points last year and would have been a senior, is now playing for Division II Clayton State in Georgia. Out of the 17 student-athletes from the 2012 team eligible to return, only eight are part of the 2013 squad.

“I think it’s only natural when you take over a program which has been underachieving to analyze the players and look at who we thought could and couldn’t help us moving forward,” Riddle said. “Unfortunately, some decisions had to be made, but we are happy with the group we have now and are pretty certain this group can be one that can move us forward pretty quickly.”

The Bulls underperformed last season despite returning six seniors who had helped the team go .500 in the previous year. However, that 5-11-1 season last year, which featured just 12 total goals, seems to be a distant memory with the attitude and excitement emerging from the Buffalo players.

“This summer, everyone worked so hard,” said sophomore defender Jake Jacobs. “Boys I didn’t know had it in them worked really, really hard and I didn’t

recognize anyone. Everyone looked totally different; they were stronger, quicker and had good experiences over the summer.”

The starting roster consists of two seniors, three juniors and six sophomores.

The 12 incoming freshmen make the Bulls one of the youngest teams in the MidAmerican Conference and provide opportunities for new faces to not only be seen on the field, but to be heard in the locker room.

“The coaches [told the freshmen] before the season, ‘There are so many of you, some of you are going to have to step up and become big-time leaders for the team,’” said freshman center-midfielder Russell Cicerone, who scored three goals in Buffalo’s two exhibition contests. “Throughout preseason and all over the summer, you could tell the young guys were up for the challenge.”

This summer provided the opportunity to build chemistry on and off the field.

They enjoyed activities such as movie nights, eating together and lounging in the dorms.

The pride that goes along with being a Bull is returning to the soccer program, according to the team – it’s a feeling Jacobs said wasn’t around last season.

“One of the biggest differences is if you go around campus and ask about the men’s soccer team, I think they are going to have only positive things to say,” Jacobs said. “Last year, I couldn’t say that to you.

I think we are conducting ourselves in the right way – very professional.”

The Bulls will rely on a newcomer in net as well: junior transfer Waleed Cassis, who played D-II soccer at California State, Los Angeles. Cassis anchored a Buffalo goalkeeping unit that recorded shutouts in both exhibition games. Cassis knows there will be a new level of soccer, however, once the season officially begins.

SEE MEN’S SOCCER, PAGE 14

learns from disappointment of 2012 Ben Tarhan, The Spectrum

Sophomore midfielder Kassidy Kidd strikes a pass during practice on Tuesday. Kidd ranked sixth on the team in shots last season and will be a contributor on a team with Mid-American Conference Championship aspirations this year.

OWEN O’BRIEN Sports Editor

During offseason practices, women’s soccer head coach Michael Thomas didn’t want his team losing the competitive edge they play with during the season. With that in mind, he implemented a points system to increase competition between the players and attempt to imitate in-game pressure situations.

It resulted in practices with increased intensity, competition and overall efficiency.

The women’s soccer team has faced its share of triumph and heartbreak over the past two seasons. With small expectations in 2011, the team captured 12 wins – the program’s most since 1999. The following season was met with enthusiasm, but an overtime Akron goal in the final game of the 2012 season resulted in an unexpected conclusion – failing to make the postseason.

“After the disappointing season last year, we all realized we didn’t want this to happen again,” said senior forward and team captain Courtney Gross. “Training sessions from when we started to get up again during our offseason were just so much more intense and so much more competitive.”

The Bulls finished last season 5-12-2 with a 3-7-1 Mid-American Conference record. The team returns the majority of its players from last season and hopes the offseason workouts will pay dividends in 2013.

Led by senior goalkeeper Ainsley Wheldon and talented offensive threats like juniors Katie Roberts, Courtney Mann and senior Courtney Gross, the Bulls are poised to make a statement this season.

“We want to make the playoffs,” Gross said. “We are really striving for a MAC Championship and I think this year out of all the years I’ve been here, I feel the most

confident. We really want it and you feel it from everyone. Even the freshmen coming in, they feed off our vibe like this is the year.”

The motivation for 2013 came from MAC opponents, as well. For senior defender Natalie Jurisevic, she constantly wonders what her competition is doing.

“Whenever I do a workout, I’d say ‘I will do 15 reps of 100-yard sprints,’” Jurisevic said. And then after I finish that I will always think in the back of my mind, ‘What are the people I’m playing against going to do?’ And then I’d push for another ten [reps], even though I’m exhausted.”

This fight-first mentality has helped the Bulls shine in their exhibitions, best exemplified by their 4-0 romp over neighbor Canisius.

“There was a good intensity [against Canisius and] any time you play one of those local schools, it’s a little bit more than an exhibition,” Thomas said. “Whenever you roll a ball out between Buffalo and Canisius, it’s going to be a little bit more than just a game.”

Many players who didn’t necessarily have huge seasons last year took advantage of the scrimmages and the offseason workouts. Thomas noted senior forward Karen McMahon, junior midfielder Megan Abman, junior defender Sophie Therien and junior forward Katie Roberts among those expected to play key factors in the team’s success. McMahon scored the opening goal as Abman tacked on two more in the victory.

“Experience is great for us right now,” Thomas said. “These players have seen it all. They saw a lot of success two years ago; they saw the results go not the way they wanted last year, and I’ve been really impressed with their focus day in and day out.”

SEE WOMEN’S SOCCER, PAGE 14