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The Spectrum h t t p : / / w w w . u b s p e c t r u m . c o m
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
An independent student publication of the University at Buffalo
Volume 59 Issue 17
Working toward a secure university By JENNIFER GOOD News Editor With a handful of publicized on-campus robberies so far this month, it looks like the October weather might not be the only factor leaving UB students with a chilling feeling. In the beginning of the semester, new security measures were applied by creating joint patrols with the University Police Depart-
ment, the City of Buffalo and Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. The issue that this appears to have created among students is that these joint patrols are only being practiced in the University Heights, leaving North Campus a potentially more vulnerable target. On Oct. 4 two UB students were held at gunpoint and robbed on North Campus. A week later, on Oct. 11, another violent robbery occurred on
North Campus. While the investigations continue and UPD reports that they have a good idea of who the suspects are, no arrests have been made yet. see SAFETY page 8 Stephen Marth / The Spectrum Right: University Police say
they’ve stepped up security after a string of robberies on UB’s North Campus, but some students don’t see the difference.
Rethinking Prop 8 By RACHEL LAMB and SHANE FALLON Asst. Life Editors
Tim Ho / The Spectrum
By coincidence, Coming Out Week this year falls at the same time Proposition 8 is up for a revote.
Gay and lesbian students on campus are celebrating their sexuality at a pretty ironic time. During National Coming Out Week, which runs from Oct. 12 to Oct. 15, the Proposition 8 ban on gay marriage is heading back to court. The famous proposal was implemented on Nov. 4, 2008 after 10.2 million Californians – 51.9 percent of the popular vote – voted in favor of banning same sex marriage. According to James Bowman, special populations outreach coordinator for Wellness Education Services at UB, the two events were not planned to coordinate, but they have. “I believe that there is a sensitivity in the media to link these two events together, but I do not think that one necessarily sways the other,” Bowman said. The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alliance at UB is currently sponsoring Coming Out Week, which it is using to promote equality at UB.
“We live in a hetero-normative culture,” Bowman said. “We are giving students a chance to have an identity this week and an opportunity to get [the UB community] to recognize an identity that is so prominent in our society.” The possible repeal of Prop. 8 has sparked discussions all over the nation, especially in the gay community. “The fact that it’s being brought up now [during Coming Out Week] is an excellent opportunity to promote the gay community and all the positive qualities we have,” said Sam Robbins, a junior dance major. “It’s put in people’s faces in a more explicit matter.” LGBTA is hosting events all week to celebrate Coming Out Week. Wednesday is the LGBTA Bazaar hosted by the Wellness Center and the Intercultural Diversity Center. On Thursday, there is a professional drag show in the Student Union Lobby and a College Wars drag show fundraiser later that night at Club Marcella on Chippewa Avenue. “People need to understand that this week shows that by understanding LGBT individuals, they are enabling us to grow and learn together as a country
and society,” Bowman said. LGBT individuals like Seth Girod, a senior psychology major, are hopeful that the Prop. 8 case will make a difference in national debates about whether or not to legalize gay marriage. “New York should open their eyes to what California is doing, and use it as a better example,” Girod said. Bowman believes in marriage equality and hopes that Prop. 8 is overturned in the California courts. He recognizes that it may take a while, but believes that New York will eventually approve of the legalization of gay marriage. “Obviously California has their own views and laws and we have ours, but it has brought up discussions in all of the states,” Bowman said. “I hope that one day [New York] will have gay marriage.” Presently, New York recognizes gay couples as a union, but does not allow them to marry in-state. Many LGBT people that live in New York do not agree with this. “New York likes to see itself as a trendsetter, but we’re just not doing see PROP page 8
Alvarado will run for SA President Obama plans to overhaul education By ADRIAN FINCH Life Editor With the Student Association presidential elections quickly approaching, SA members and the student body are concerned for the fate of the organization. After previous President Hassan Farah was recalled from office, many speculated that his vice president, Ernesto Alvarado, would run for the position. “As of right now with the SA, what we have going on now is I’m acting president, so I’m fulfilling both duties as president and as vice president,” Alvarado said. Elections will be held on Oct. 21 and Oct. 22 to determine SA’s new leader.
Inside: Arts and Life ........... 5 Classifieds ............. 11 Opinion .................. 3 Sports ................... 12 Police Blotter ...... 9
By CAITLIN TREMBLAY News Editor President Barack Obama has a plan that may make college students a little less strapped for cash. Obama is calling for education reform, which would affect students of all ages – from kindergarten to graduate school to returning adult students. Among the proposals on the President’s agenda are Tim Ho / The Spectrum lengthening the school year Ernesto Alvarado has made plans to run for president in the and expanding Pell Grants. upcoming Student Association election. In order to raise the level and quality of education in “As far as the election goes, about me running, and they the U.S., Obama has proposed I had a cabinet meeting with all highly recommended it,” lengthening the school year to all the members of the SA and asked them what they thought see SA page 6 see OBAMA page 8
ESCAPE THIS They used to be love-drunk, now they’re a Spectrum exclusive. See Page 5
Courtesy of the United States Army
President Obama is making strides toward improving the quality and affordability of our nation’s schools and colleges.
TWO IN A ROW Women’s soccer caught fire over the weekend. See Page 12
Weather: Wed: 46o high / 33o low Thu: 45o high / 31o low Fri: 45o high / 35o low
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Congressional letdown Health care reform bill watered down The Senate Finance committee voted in favor of reform for the health care system on Tuesday afternoon. The bill is a watered down shell of the kind of reform this country needs. It leaves too many Americans uninsured, doesn’t mitigate surging health care costs and generally provides no substantial change to the actual problem. There are five other bills floating around Congress, but this is the first to have the potential to be out of committee. The bill that has been named the “Baucus Plan” after Chairman of the Finance Committee Max Baucus has some good elements and some major flaws. This bill does limit the overall cost of healthcare for Americans but doesn’t go far enough in true reform. However, regardless of the plan, it seems that the Republican leadership wants to sink any reform effort. The Baucus Plan fails to cover around 20 million Americans by the year 2019. It provides wider coverage, but many Americans will still not be eligible. The bill does keep insurers from denying coverage or raising premiums on customers who are not in the best of health. It allows for an “insurance exchange” that allows Americans to purchase insurance and allows small companies to buy large coverage at discount rates for employees. Tax breaks for low and middle-income households to acquire insurance and expanded coverage in Medicare to cover Americans below the poverty line are included in the bill. It allows for a safety net that most Americans could only dream of having. However, the bill falls short because other
ones in the House leave only nine million citizens and legal residents without health insurance, instead of 20 million. It would make sense to find another $100 to $150 million to provide the extra coverage. The money is in the budget if the country makes the necessary changes to allocate funds. The two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are putting a serious dent into capital that can be used to solve other important issues facing the nation. The United States has poured a combined $900 billion dollars into both conflicts. Covering all Americans isn’t just morally right — in the end it might save the average citizen some money. Those without insurance avoid seeking medical attention, and in delaying that, their condition worsens, leading to an eventual trip to the emergency room. The more this occurs, the more taxes and premiums are raised for the rest of Americans. The major problem with the Baucus plan is that it lacks a public option, eliminating a need for competition between insurers to offer the lowest costs. The bill also does not address the lack of health coverage provided by business owners or include a fine for not doing so. The sad part is that the bill also largely ignores reforming the way health care is delivered in this country. There should be no doubt that controlling the ever upward rising health care costs needs to be dealt with. The overall shell is in place; Americans can only hope it’ll include the meat and potatoes to provide coverage for all citizens.
Professional Staff Business Manager Debbie Smith Administrative Assistant Helene Polley Advertising Manager David Vogt Advertising Designer Christopher Lonzi Web Editors Drew Brigham Andrew Muraco Creative Directors Christopher Caporlingua Katelynn Padowski
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 spectrum-editorial@buffalo.edu. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style or length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it clearly as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number and e-mail address.
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OCTOBER 14, 2009 VOLUME 59 NUMBER 17 CIRCULATION: 10,000 The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by 360 Youth. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260. Telephone: (716) 645-2468. Fax: (716) 645-2766. Copyright 2009 Buffalo, N.Y. The Spectrum is printed by Buffalo Newspress PO Box 648, Buffalo, NY 14240-0648.
My mom and me As I awake to my blaring alarm in the morning after an unsound sleep, my frustration with life begins to rise. After spending an hour or so showering, getting dressed and delaying my journey to class, I am forced to walk outside my door and begin my crap-laden day. It seems that lately I have a permanent rain cloud floating above my head. Nothing seems to go just right, and despite my best efforts to replace that black cloud with something more cheerful like a sunflower or a unicorn, I remain in a constant state of irritation. Most days, I feel annoyed and I’m not positive why. I have always Adrian Finch been told I’m a happy Life Editor person; however, my frown that can’t be turned upside down says otherwise. It’s times like these that I always turn to my touchstone – my mom. It’s no surprise that my mom is, and always has been, my best friend. I’ve been told that I am a replica of her, and I suppose that’s not a bad thing. My mom is one of the most caring people I know. She has a perpetual talent for making those around her happy. I remember years ago, my mom and I were home together in our old house. It was a beautiful fall day and the leaves had landed on the ground in a picturesque pattern of orange and red. As I was staring out our window to the backyard, I saw a crow attacking a small animal and my mom ran outside to scare it away. The poor little victim was left in a ball of fluff, barely breathing. As I started crying, she felt her motherly instincts tug at her heart and proceeded to grab a shoebox, placing the little animal inside. She and I raced to the veterinarian office, but as we walked inside, the tiny creature took his last breath. Although I was clearly upset at the time, I remember thinking how compassionate my mom was for trying to save even the smallest life. Most people would think it was a pathetic attempt, but see FINCH page 4
Equal rights for all New York’s battle in recognizing gay rights
Sisters in separation
As Western society becomes more and more progressive, the issue of gay rights is an ongoing debate, especially regarding the extension of benefits to same-sex couples. The prevailing political trend is that many states and countries have begun to recognize same-sex rights and provide benefits to such couples. The debate on gay rights recognition in New York is finally coming to a head as the state’s highest court is hearing two cases brought by opponents of gay marriage. The cases stemmed from two New York State agencies that were extending insurance benefits to same sex couples. The same situation occurred in Westchester County when a county executive extended benefits to same sex couples that were married elsewhere. In both cases, lower courts thought that it was a “perfect exercise of their authority.” This opens the door for a larger debate over whether New York State should recognize and allow same sex marriage. Countries like Canada and Spain recognize same-sex marriages. Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts and Vermont allow and recognize same-sex unions. Maine recently legalized same-sex marriage, but the law is now subject to referendum in the coming midterm elections. Same-sex marriages will be legal in New Hampshire on Jan. 1, 2010. The argument is twofold in nature. Is marriage a religious institution and is same-sex marriage legal under the Constitution of the United States? The government has no business regulating marriage in any sense of the word. Some feel that marriage is between a man and woman, but this country was founded on the principal of separation between church and state. Under that premise, religious tendencies should not be applied to government rulings.
My best friend is like the sister I’ve never had, and I hope to keep it that way. That’s why we attend different colleges, seven hours apart from each other. You may wonder how this is possible. How can I grow in my relationship with my best friend if we only see each other during the summer and winter holidays? For me, it’s more difficult to grow close to my best friend when I live close to her. I have a tendency to get attached to people, as does she. When I’m home, we hang out nearly every day, our relationship becomes stale and we really have Amanda Woods nothing new to share Asst. News Editor with each other. In elementary school, she and I literally stifled each other. We worked on group projects together, sat together at lunch every day and our families went on vacations together. Our parents dubbed the two of us “the bookends.” For four or five years, we both aspired to be authors “when we grew up.” Every free minute we had, we spent coming up with new story plots. Sometimes we were co-authors on one story, other times we wrote our own stories, updating each other on our progress. Whenever our stories were remotely similar, we accused each other of “copycatting.” The more time I spent with my best friend, the more our relationship became too close for comfort. We earned similar grades in school, so we competed with each other to score higher on exams. A family feud erupted when we worked on a class project together and had trouble dividing up our responsibilities. In the eighth grade, my friend’s decision to sing the same song I sang in the seventh grade talent show dampened our relationship for several months. My best friend’s mother even blamed me for her
Even our founding fathers foresaw issues with progressive debates by not allowing the United States to create a second class of citizens. By only acknowledging civil unions and refusing to give benefits to same-sex couples that traditional couples receive, the U.S. today has created a second class of citizens. We only further stray from the ideals our founding fathers built this country upon by allowing this practice to continue. The second issue in the debate is whether or not marriage is a sacred institution. Many senators and congressmen who advocate the preservation of the traditional married couple have wound up in sex scandals themselves. Society at large doesn’t believe in the sanctity of marriage anymore. The divorce rate for first marriages is 41 percent. The rate for second marriages is 60 percent. The true enemies of marriage aren’t same-sex couples, but the holier-than-thou congressmen who break their marriage vows and cheat on their wives. And don’t forget about Hollywood and its shotgun weddings that often end in annulment. Equal rights needs to finally be extended to every American. If same-sex marriage is allowed, chances are it won’t affect most Americans’ daily lives. The government should have no part in denying its citizens every possible freedom just because of the person whose citizens share a bed with. Most Americans would agree that the Civil Rights Movement was necessary. Will they look back after 30 years and say, “Why was there even a debate over gay rights anyway?”
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October 14, 2009 L E T T E R TO T H E E D ITO R
Obey the rules of the Student Association To the Editor, This letter is a response to the article published last week and the subsequent letter published Monday concerning UB Freethinkers. Regardless of religion, creed, or lack thereof, I believe the SA did not overstep their bounds in response to this issue and the uproar about censorship and free speech issues is unjustified. Yes, the SA did take the posters down, but they were fully authorized to do so, no matter what they deemed the reasoning. Every student club on campus is required to sign a contract with the SA in order to be recognized and receive funding. Clubs are extensions of the SA and, as such, are required to obey the rules and regulations that SA sets. This applies to all groups no matter if they are theistic, atheistic, or simply about having a good time. If you want the funding from SA and want to be recognized, you have to obey their
The Director and Staff of the Educational Opportunity Program at the State University of New York at Buffalo cordially invites you to attend the
35
th
Annual
Arthur O. Eve EOP Celebration of Excellence and Awards Convocation
Friday, October 16, 2009 2:00PM in the Student Union Theatre (Students are to check in by 1:30PM) 4:00PM Reception in the Special Events Area Lobby 1st floor Student Union . State Wide Academic Honors 2000 (over 3.0 GPA) . High Academic Achiever Spring 2009 (over 3.0 GPA) . High Academic Achiever Fall 2008 (over 3.0 GPA) . Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges . EOP Graduates 2009
Other Honorees:
. Friends of EOP
Center for Academic Development Services
Sincerely, Michael M. Wach Senior biomedical sciences major mmwach@buffalo.edu
Has ups and downs
Felt strangely free
FINCH from page 3
WOODS from page 3
that’s just the way she is. Apart from having the largest heart I know – capable of loving everyone around her – my mom always seems to have the exact solution to each of my problems – and trust me, there are many of them. It’s a comforting feeling to call her on the phone, and without saying a word, have her know exactly what’s bothering me and give me encouraging words that turn my day around. Even when I was younger, my mom would write notes on napkins and put them in my lunch bag. They usually contained a nonsensical message, but just the simple gesture of knowing that I was loved and that someone had thought of me that day made me feel happy. I don’t want to drone on as a Pollyanna – of course our friendship has its ups and downs. She is, after all, my mother and I believe that it’s some secret, unwritten rule that mothers are required to annoy their daughters, at least at some point in their lives. Asking me to do chores when I’m home on summer vacation is never a good idea and I’m useless when it comes to finding the vacuum in the small hall closet. But, receiving care packages in the mail, texts throughout the day and nights out to dinner when I’m home make me realize that most people don’t have the relationship I have with my mom. Some people say that friends are the family you choose, but even if I were given the choice, I would have picked my mom to be my family.
daughter’s inability to make other friends in school. With much deliberation and undue agony, I decided to attend a different high school than my friend. This was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. All alone in a new school, I missed my friend but felt strangely free. I made new friends and developed new interests, and she did the same. During those four years “apart,” she and I grew closer than ever before. We learned more about each other’s personalities and interests, instead of competing with each other. College was an easy decision for the both of us. We no longer shared the mutual aspiration to become the next J.K. Rowling – I developed an interest in journalism and she had a passion for acting. We separated once again with little regrets. We now talk on the phone every Friday night for some “girl talk” and life sharing. Our separation has helped me to realize a bond with my best friend I never knew existed. Just as it was necessary – and healthy – for my best friend and I to separate for college, I believe the same applies for romantic relationships. Nothing bothers me more than hearing that people selected a particular college because their significant other attends there. Whatever happened to individuality? More often than not, both partners will have differing career goals. Why should students turn down the opportunity to study at a university that specializes in their field merely because their significant other studies elsewhere? And then there’s the obvious – couples break up – and then they’re stuck at a college they don’t like with their ex. Moral of the story: don’t allow your relationships, romantic or not, to dictate your college decisions. It will only create tension for both parties. Another old adage is proven true: absence does make the heart grow fonder.
E-mail: adrian.finch@ubspectrum.com
Students Honored:
rules. It is as simple as that. It seems like many people are trying to pick a fight or draw attention by making this into a free speech issue, but it is simply not the case. Any group that posted something that the SA deemed inappropriate would have gotten the same response and simply because this group got an anti-religious message taken down, they immediately call foul. If UB Freethinkers has such an issue with what SA did, they should return the funding they receive, request to no longer be a UB club, then go and post their message themselves. If they don’t, then please continue to educate the public and have fun in a way which doesn’t overrule the very organization that is the reason you exist.
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E-mail: amanda.woods@ubspectrum.com
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AR T S & LI F E Sobriety: cute and all the rage Denzel Washington, Natalie Portman and even George W. Bush have become trendsetters. Amy Winehouse, infamous for her slurred words and wild behavior, is also trying it on. It’s probably the cutest thing you could wear. And no, I’m not talking about the season’s latest pair of Ugg boots – I’m talking about sobriety. The trend of sobriety isn’t just evident in the realm of celebrity. It’s present in the real world, among real people. Some just happen to be more successful at Jessica Brant it then others. If you’ve Staff Writer ever seen an episode of The Dr. Phil House or Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, then you definitely know what I’m talking about. I’ve never really thought about the subject of sobriety until recently. My mom and I were watching TV and while flicking through the channels, we stumbled across an episode of Miami Ink. Kat Von D, the tattoo shop owner, was celebrating her twoyear sobriety. My mom turned to me. “Can you believe that there are people in the world that are actually celebrating not drinking?” We couldn’t fathom the idea. The idea that one can only have a good time if he or she is drinking is a belief that many may have grown up with. Our culture is too drenched in booze and Budweiser ads to remember that there is a smaller world within the larger society where the opposite holds true. Prominent CNN news anchor Nancy Grace recently made a comment on her show about her first experience with alcohol. She said she didn’t even really know people drank until she went to college. Someone handed her a beer and she poured it in a plant because it tasted bad. Now that’s a woman. I’m not saying that drinking is for sinners. To say that I’ve never had an alcoholic beverage would be a lie. But there are good times to be had without the pretense of alcohol. Drinking in moderation or not drinking at all is perfectly fine. We don’t need to be in a perpetual state of see BRANT page 6
Let’s make some memories Virginia, Tennessee, Massachusetts and soon California. I have traveled to (or am going to travel to, in the case of Cali) all these states this year to see something that is always worth a long trip – concerts. I have never even questioned whether it was worth the trip to go see a band seven hours Christopher DiMatteo away, or if driving to Arts Editor Maine overnight, attending a concert and then driving back the next day, which I did last summer, was a good idea. But of course, and I must quote Will Smith here, “parents just don’t understand.” My dad asks me if I am “f*****g crazy” and my mom tells me I am an idiot – with the most love possible, of course. Every time I have “gone the distance” to go to a concert, I have been able to tell my parents they were wrong – except the time I drove nearly four hours to a show in Ithaca when I didn’t have tickets and didn’t end up getting in. To me, that travel time just adds to the story of the show. If I have the means to travel all across the country to go see something I love, why shouldn’t I? I am young, I don’t have a “real job,” and soon enough I am going to be out of school pursuing a career and I won’t be able to “live it up.” When I drove to Virginia in March, the three shows I saw were incredible. It was the first time I saw one of my favorite bands perform, and I will never forget it. However, the 10 hours in the car that I spent with my best friend talking about everything from philosophy to our families was also something that I will not forget anytime soon. The trips I have taken to see concerts all across Allah’s green creation have given me the great memories of those shows and the memories of see DiMATTEO page 9
Living up to great expectations By JAMESON BUTLER Asst. Arts Editor
Jameson Butler / The Spectrum
New Jersey-based The Gaslight Anthem rocked the Town Ballroom Monday night.
Hate on New Jersey as much as you want, it’s always been known for making great artists like Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi. The next big thing to come out of the Garden State, The Gaslight Anthem, serenaded the Town Ballroom Monday as they brought their Jersey rock sound to Buffalo, showing the city how music from New Jersey used to and should sound. Broadway Calls started off the night in true pop punk style. This was the Oregon band’s second Buffalo show in 10 days. Fans that saw Broadway Calls play with Streetlight Manifesto on Oct. 2 started to sing back the band’s pop punkish lyrics.
Broadway Calls gave the fans a nice helping of West Coast hospitality, clearly excited by the fact that fans from the opposite side of the country had been infected by their catchy beats. After the trio left the stage, punk icon Jesse Malin got the crowd in the mood for the rest of the evening. Some consider Malin, who has been in punk music for over 25 years, to be a living legend. And the way he plays his music shows it. Originating from New York City, Malin started in music at the age of 16 and has had a huge cult following ever since. As Malin played fan favorites like “Wendy,” “The Modern World” and see GASLIGHT page 7
Sinister smiles and sugary send-offs with Boys Like Girls By JOHN RANIC Senior Arts Editor Love drunk pop punks Boys Like Girls made their great escape from the Massachusetts party scene to the radio mainstream in a grand total of two years. With a top 10-charting new album, another huge radio hit and nearly two months of sure to be sold out touring in tow, it seems as if they’ve fallen heel over head into their Boston-bred dreams. Lead guitarist and proponent of the five o’clock shadow, Paul DiGiovanni, isn’t one to blend into the background, as evident by the screams sent in his direction at shows and the thoughts he’s anything but shy about expressing. Proving that boys like college too, he gave an exclusive pre-tour vent session to The Spectrum. “We live on the road. It’s our lives. It’s what we love to do. So I
Courtesy of Boys Like Girls
Paul DiGiovanni puts down his guitar and dishes on everything from Kanye West to surviving the scene
mean we all just can’t wait to get back,” DiGiovanni said. Touring off of the already successful Love Drunk, Boys Like Girls not only have 11 tracks of new material to incorporate into a live setting, they have a radio single that may surpass their status solidifying “The Great Escape” in spins and adoration. Even with the success of “Love Drunk’,” nothing quite feels like the first. “’The Great Escape’ was probably one of our biggest songs to date. It’s just such a big, huge kind of liquidating, freeing type of feeling. We play that song last most tours and I think that it’s just such a cool feeling and a cool note for us to leave on and for the kids to leave on,” DiGiovanni said. “You know, that’s when all the kids go off and go crazy and it always feels awesome.” With their latest release, the band see BLG page 7
Pilates for pleasure By ASHLEY SMITH Staff Writer As if balancing classes and a social life isn’t hard enough, many students find it hard to stay fit during the semester as well. That’s why Wellness Education Services offers Pilates classes for students each semester. The classes are held in an aerobics room in the Ellicott Complex on Wednesdays. By holding fitness classes in the residence halls, WES is able to make its classes accessible to larger amounts of students. “Since most students need to increase [their] amount of exercise, having accessible classes is helpful,” said Marla McBride, assistant director of health promotion for WES and the class instructor. “I can’t think of any real disadvantages, except that the room can get crowded because it is so popular.” Pilates is meant to be a very controlled exercise that improves flexibility, balance, core strength and the overall tone of the body, McBride explained. She said that her class is geared specifically toward beginners. “I always thought [Pilates] was some weird dancer workout. I really didn’t have an interest,” McBride said. “Then Pilates started to become popular and I
Courtesy of Héctor Falcón
Students can get in shape and stretch away their stresses with the free Pilates classes offered by Wellness Education Services. tried the workout at a gym and I was hooked because I absolutely loved the way it made me feel. I went to get trained in Toronto about five years ago and have been teaching beginners’ Pilates at UB ever since.” Pilates can also be very useful to students recovering from injuries. Dane Burke, co-founder of Northstar Pilates Solutions located in Buffalo and a UB graduate, explained its benefits in an article for the Balanced Body Newsletter. “Movements in the Pilates repertoire done on the equipment are very useful in the
course of rehabilitation for the knee in terms of both assessment, as well as treatment of an injury,” Burke said. “The outcomes of treatment are usually good because the Pilates repertoire allows focus on the specific issues relating to the injury.” Though McBride noted that her classes are almost entirely female, she thinks men should try it too. “For some reason, I think there is a stereotype that Pilates is a female workout, but it really is beneficial for both genders,” McBride said. “Men really need to work on flexibility and bal-
ance too, and Pilates is great for that.” In fact, a man named Joseph Pilate developed the program, according to McBride. The classes are held in 271 Richmond Quadrangle. The class runs from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Wednesday and is free for all students. Students can check out the other free classes sponsored by WES, including different types of yoga. More information can be found on its Web site, www.wellness.buffalo.edu. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
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October 14, 2009
Hopes for efficiency
Follow The Spectrum on Twitter SA from page 1
Alvarado said. If Alvarado does run and wins, a Grad Ad University at Buffalo 4x6.qxp 9/21/2009 2:43 PM Page 1 separate election for vice president http://www.twitter.com/ubspectrum will be held within two to three weeks of the presidential election. In the meantime, the council coordinator with the most academic credits would act as vice president, as long as that person was not running in the election. However, with the Friday deadline a mere two days away for the presidential election, Alvarado said that four or five other candidates have taken petitions to run. He is unsure what their platforms will be and what qualities they can bring to the position. Alvarado plans to convey the benefits of his experience during the elections, as both a student and as a member of SA. “I’ve learned a lot of things as a student,” Alvarado said. “I’ve AT THE learned how UB is run, I’ve learned how to interact with students and how to interact with the administration and I think that the experience Mental Health Counseling (MA) Biology (MS) in a position like the presidency is Neuroscience, Mental Retardation, Business Management (MS) extremely important for things to and Developmental Cinema and Media Studies (MA) run smoothly.” Disabilities (MS) Computer Science (MS) Alvarado feels that the winning Nursing Education candidate will have to be diligent in • Adult Health (MS and Post-Master’s • Adolescence, Childhood and Special his or her task to learn the duties of Advanced Certificate) Education (MSEd) the SA president. “I just hope whoever does run • Gerontological (MS and Post-Master’s • Leadership in Education understands the time commitment Advanced Certificate) (Post-Master’s)
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Alvarado would like to see the 24-hour busing plan implemented and wants to promote student awareness for the resources already available, such as tutoring for academics and counselors. “The platform was created by me, [SA Treasurer Jordan Fried] and Hassan, so obviously a lot of things we have in common … the way I want to go about it is the way we approach it, making it more easily accessible,” Alvarado said. Above all, Alvarado hopes that things will run more efficiently and that those granted a position in office will represent SA and UB in a positive manner. “I think that now everything is running smooth because I think that everyone realizes they were part of something bigger than themselves,” Alvarado said. “I think a lot of times it’s easy to lose sight of the purpose of why you [became a member.]” Despite all that has come to pass in room 350, Alvarado remains hopeful for the future and would like to see the SA move forward with a purpose. “[I hope] that everyone that’s here this year remembers us for not everything that happened before us, but for everything that’s going to happen and for all the great things that we are going to bring to UB,” Alvarado said. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
Sobriety has different meanings BRANT from page 5
www.csi.cuny.edu/graduatestudies For more information call or email: (718) 982-2019 masterit@mail.csi.cuny.edu
and understands that this is a serious job and it’s not just something people can just build a résumé on,” Alvarado said. “This is something that is really a commitment . . . to serve the student body.” Alvarado hopes to move forward with SA and simply have a good campaign. No matter the outcome of the election, Alvarado emphasized that he will be loyal to the student body and will work toward the standards to which he is held. “I think that a lot of times, people lose sight and they think they can do whatever they want because they are in a position like this,” Alvarado said. “But ultimately, I think that they need to come back to reality and realize that they aren’t working for themselves – they’re working for the student body.” Alvarado’s platform for the election will be a continuation of his party’s platform from last year’s election. However, he would like to emphasize additional projects for students, more events and an end to the gap between the school’s administration and the student body. “Obviously, a lot of focus will be working with the students and the administration and making sure the students are happy with the way things are going as far as UB 2020, but I definitely want to give students back the things they see, “ Alvarado said.
unconsciousness and absurdity. It’s detrimental to both the body and mind. I would be in utopian bliss if I lived in a world where when you
told someone that you’re not much of drinker, or that you’re going to pass on the drink they offered, they nod politely, say OK and continue with the conversation. Instead, I’m met with puzzled looks. Once, when I told someone that I don’t go to parties to get smashed out of my mind, they responded, “Then why go? Good conversation?” So perhaps that’s it. Unlike many European countries, where it’s customary to have some wine at dinner to drink for taste, Americans drink to get drunk. We don’t want to remember last night and like to hear about our antics through a friend of a friend. Alcohol serves as an escape from the monotonous routine of class, work, home and repeat. Maybe it serves as an escape from ourselves, because without alcohol, let’s just face it: we’re boring as hell. And the peer pressure is too overwhelming, so we cave in. After all, what’s the least that could happen? As a Native American, there’s
increasingly more pressure put on me to drink as I get older. It’s in our history and at family parties it’s usually the thing to do. Some of my relatives grew up on the reservation and alcohol was always around. But my parents aren’t big drinkers and I think that has a huge effect on whether kids start to drink or not. I feel as if my parents don’t want to perpetuate a stereotype or feel like they are not in control of their own actions. I also think that they feel as I do - drinking is not that important to them. The word sobriety has different meanings for different people: abstinence, moderation, and clearheadedness are a few. Finding the strength to put down the bottle isn’t easy. For many, it’s a constant struggle from day to day and I truly admire those who have found the strength. I would recommend that others try it on for size. E-mail: jdbrant@buffalo.edu
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Standing up for other acts BLG from page 5 has taken their recognizable pop punk intentions and mixed in everything from ’80s synth influences to a dusty, country road-written ballad. With age and influence come new followers and believers. “I think in the beginning – in the first maybe year or year-and-a-half of touring – it was all that ‘younger crowd’ who are really keen to go online and dig and dig and dig around for music,” DiGiovanni said. “But honestly, lately, especially with the new record and the direction we’ve been going in, its been changing a lot. There’s been a lot of older fans, which is awesome. Our fans are diehards and love our music and I could never complain about that.” With that said, Boys Like Girls have received their fair share of flack from music snobs and scenesters for their radio-friendly pop rocks. “I think the thing with the older kids … is that they can get kind of spoiled and kind of stingy and kind of just like too cool for whatever. I think a lot of people will say they don’t like something just to be cool and fit into a mold. And I think
that’s honestly the stupidest thing anybody could ever do,” DiGiovanni said. “I grew up listening to whatever the hell I wanted to listen to. Being afraid to say what you listen to just cause you want to fit in to something and denying yourself what you really like is really stupid.” The ill logic in success breeding hatred is both confusing and upsetting. As a fan of bands like Glassjaw and Brand New, DiGiovanni isn’t one to pull punches with the faceless critics and absolute punks online. “I like those bands, but there’s a bunch of songs on the radio that I like too. And if there’s a band that I really like and I’ve liked for years and they put out a new record and the song is on the radio, I’m not going to turn my back and hate them. I’m going to be happy for them,” DiGiovanni said. “That’s the stupidest, most selfish logic that there is. It just doesn’t make any sense.” DiGiovanni found it so upsetting that he has taken the time to defend the Followill brothers and Kings of Leon, of all people. “I was on iTunes the other day looking at the new Kings of Leon. I’ve liked their records and I love
the new record. Sure they have a few songs that are getting big and older people, radio crowds are starting to like it,” DiGiovanni said. “I’m reading these reviews and they’re getting [comments like] ‘One star, they’re sellouts. This is different. They wrote this music for soccer moms. F**k them.’ It doesn’t even make sense. Be happy for them – you can still like them. It doesn’t matter if you’re the first one who ever hard of the band. You should be happy for them.” And while he was doing his best paralegal impression, DiGiovanni stood up for Taylor Swift, who is featured on the forthcoming single “Two Is Better Than One” and was on the receiving end of a Kayne West verbal dump. “She said in the newspaper – in the Wall Street Journal a couple years back – that she was a fan of us. We kept in contact and we needed that perfect sound for ‘Two is Better Than One,’ because it was really heartfelt and emotional and had a lot of meaning,” DiGiovanni said. “We needed a female touch and a nice voice in there and she’s an incredible artist. So, we hit her up and she said she’d do it. We were so excited and I think it turned out perfect.”
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And heading West-ward, DiGiovanni wasn’t impressed with Kanye’s move. “That was kind of a crazy moment, that was kind of a s****y thing, but whatever. Especially knowing her, knowing her personally – she’s such a real, nice person. It just kind of sucked to see, but whatever. Hopefully it’ll end up being good for her,” he said. Kicking off their fall tour with The Maine and A Rocket To The Moon Wednesday night at the Town Ballroom, BLG have yet again made Buffalo a key stop on their touring GPS and play to a city that has supported them since day one. “We always have incredible shows [in Buffalo],” DiGiovanni said. “The stations there treat us awesome, just as far as playing the records and taking us out after, hanging out. We just always had a really, really great experience there no matter what. That’s why we always try to come back as much as possible.” Boys Like Girls like Buffalo and write consistently catchy, goodnatured pop punk. If that’s not reason enough to check out the show, then feel free to stay in and blog about it. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
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Talented lyricist GASLIGHT from page 5 “ B r o o k l y n , ” p e o p l e w a t c hing him could tell how much he cared about his music. All aspiring artists should look to Malin for guidance. Malin got the crowd loosened up for The Gaslight Anthem. But Gaslight fans had to wait through one more band. The night took a turn to the dark side as Murder By Death took the stage. The band from Indiana projected their deep lyrics and haunting instrumentals with as much heart as any band out there. Main singer Adam Turla gave the crowd a little insight into the band. “We have a lot of songs about whiskey and the Devil,” he said. The half drunk crowd raised their glasses in salute to the band. Murder By Death is one of the only bands to actually make it out of Indiana, and has a sound that has not radiated from the radio in some time. Turla’s voice is eerily reminiscent of the late Johnny Cash. Having the only mic and guitar on stage might seem like a lot for one man to handle, but Turla does it with great poise. While Turla handled the vocals and guitar, Sarah Balliet took Murder By Death to a whole new level. A tremendous cello player, she
used her instrument to give their music even more depth. After getting a great helping of lovin’ from the crowd, Murder By Death left the stage, leaving only one band left to play. After experiencing some technical difficulties, The Gaslight Anthem stormed the stage, starting off their set with the upbeat “High Lonesome.” Lead singer Brian Fallon had a huge grin across his face as everybody in the first 10 rows screamed the lyrics. After a few more songs, Fallon took off his guitar and just sang as Gaslight performed “Old White Lincoln.” This was a nice change of pace as Fallon played guitar in every other song. After Gaslight played the bluesy “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues,” from the band’s critically acclaimed The ’59 Sound, the band played the fan coveted “We Came to Dance.” As Gaslight continued to tear through their punk inspired set list, they slowed it down to play “Here’s Looking At You, Kid.” Talking about past loves and heartbreak does not sound better than when Fallon sings it. Although Fallon is one of the best lyricists out there right now, the rest of Gaslight is just as talented. Alex Rosamilia gets his guitar to make the perfect sound to blend
with the beautiful lyrics flowing from Fallon’s mouth. As Alex Levine laid down the smooth baselines, Benny Horowitz beat on the drums harder than almost any other drummer. At times, it looked as though Horowitz was going to put a hole in his snare. The Gaslight Anthem played 11 out of the 12 songs from The ’59 Sound and contrasted it with a nice mix of five songs from their first LP, Sink or Swim, and their EP, Señor and the Queen. As the night drew to an end, the audience, who knew they were lucky to see four acts that care so much about their music, showed how much they cared as they came to dance.
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October 14, 2009
Students start to fear North Campus SAFETY from page 1 “We have really good information so far,” said Gerald Schoenle, chief of University Police. “The investigation is progressing well.” Although this may be comforting to some, others are left still feeling uncertain of their safety around campus. Jennifer Lasher, a senior speech and hearing science major, feels more now than ever a fear of North Campus. “I’ve been here for over three years now and have always taken
the offered safety walks at night as a precaution,” Lasher said. “But never that I can remember has there been three such scary incidents in one week. UB has supposedly taken such great measures to make us safe on South Campus this year, and look what has happened on North Campus now. The balance needs to be better.” Despite the current fear within some students, UPD is confident that these sort of crimes are uncharacteristic of UB North Campus and both campuses have improved in safety.
“[The two robberies] are really rare occurrences. It is very unusual and an isolated issue,” Schoenle said. “[In general] this has been a much better semester so far, crime-wise. There have been a lot less problems and robberies than previous years.” Still, students like Philip Strojny, a senior aerospace engineering major, and Mark Seldinas, a senior business major, do not feel threatened after the incidents, but feel that the UPD could stand to apply even more preventative measures to North Campus and focus their energy differently on South Campus. “I think that there is no change on North Campus. There is definitely
a change on South Campus, but it seems that just consists of breaking up parties. All that does is puts more people on the streets to cause issues,” Strojny said. “They should look out for shady people, not 20 freshmen walking to a party.” Seldinas shared the same sentiment. “I don’t feel any less safe on campus now, but I do know many girls who do and refuse to walk alone anywhere,” Seldinas said. “What I don’t like is what the increase in security [in the University Heights] is going towards.” Strojny suggested that due to students being on North Campus
more during the evening, other precautions should be taken to ensure safety. “There should be slightly more security on North Campus,” Strojny said. “The presence of police may make it safer.” The UPD is still working to solve the ongoing investigations and are continuously making efforts to improve campus safety. As always they encourage students to be aware of your surroundings, never travel alone and when possible, utilize the Anti-Rape Task Force service or UB transportation. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
Make education more affordable OBAMA from page 1 increase student achievement in an attempt to put American schools on par with their European counterparts. Suzanne Miller, chair of the Department of Learning and Instruction at UB and a national expert in learning and instruction, believes that Obama’s plan is good in theory but may not work out as well as he hopes. She feels that an extended school year could only be helpful if the time was used wisely. “If the extra time were used to add back the arts or to engage students in purposeful discussion, then additional time would be a great asset in 21st century schools,” Miller said. Obama hopes that by lengthening the school year, students will be able to master tricky subjects that could cause them trouble. The president
also aims to reform the No Child Left Behind Act so that schools in need are offered assistance and not punishment. To help college students, Obama’s Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act was passed by the House of Representatives in September and is currently awaiting a vote in the Senate. According to a White House press release, the act will “make higher education more affordable by expanding Pell Grants and initiating new tax credits to make sure any young person who works hard and desires a college education can access it.” The act will become the largest federal contribution to college affordability in American history. “This marks a new era for students across Western New York, and reaffirms our commitment to higher education. It also guarantees that our future workforce is well educated,” said Louise Slaughter (D-NY). “The plan works twofold. It will give more aid to the students as well as [saving] the government money and cutting the federal deficit by $10 billion.”
The bill calls for pouring more money into Pell Grants and other federally subsidized loans covered by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which will cut out the private lender middlemen and give more students the opportunity to receive government funds. Another important aspect of this act is that it will streamline the FAFSA application, making it easier for students to apply for federal aid. This should assuage some doubts for students, as UB’s financial aid policy has been controversial on campus. “The FAFSA will have an easier application process, which should help more students apply for aid,” Slaughter said. Slaughter believes that if the bill is passed, the results will be visible to thousands of college students across Western New York, especially since it includes greater funding for community colleges and vocational schools for returning students and those who may not be ready to jump into a four-year university. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
The individual’s choice PROP from page 1 anything about anything [involving the legalization of gay marriage in the state],” said Henry Lu, a senior art history and fine arts major and LGBTA events coordinator. New York is not the only place where debates are being raised this week. Sunday was officially Coming Out Day, and thousands of people marched to the White House in Washington, D.C. to promote equal gay rights. According to an article in The L.A. Times, over 150,000 people were on Pennsylvania Avenue car-
12/31/09
rying signs, wearing T-shirts and chanting for their own equal rights and the rights of those they love. “Everybody needs to realize it’s no one’s choice but people themselves whether or not they get married,” said Carly Rehac, a junior undecided major. “It’s not up to the government to say [who can marry].” For more information on the LGBTA, visit their Web site at http://ubslgbta.org or contact Wellness Education Services. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
The Spectrum
October 14, 2009
POLICE BLOTTER 9/1 - A book was reported missing from the Service Building office. 9/30 - An unattended wallet with credit cards was stolen from a room in Baldy Hall. 10/5 - A vehicle was found open at Diefendorf parking lot. 10/6 - A person received first aid at Putnam’s Restaurant for faintness. 10/6 - A vehicle window was damaged by a lawnmower at Jarvis parking lot. 10/6 - A class disturbance was mediated by patrol at Clemens Hall. 10/6 - A person was sent to the Erie County Medical Center for mental evaluation from Spaulding Quadrangle. 10/6 - A person was sent to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital from Richmond Quadrangle for flu symptoms. 10/6 - Two people were referred to the Student-Wide Judiciary for trespassing and lewdness at Wilkeson Quadrangle.
10/7 - A person was sent to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital from the Commons for a seizure. 10/7 - A suspicious person entered a Park Hall room. 10/7 - A person was sent to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital from the Slee B parking lot for a seizure. 10/7 - An unattended backpack was stolen from Alumni Arena. 10/7 - A person was referred to the StudentWide Judiciary for a hazardous condition at Roosevelt Hall. 10/8 - An unattended bag with credit cards was stolen from Lockwood Library. 10/8 - A suspicious package was found and identified at Governors D parking lot. 10/8 - A person was sent to Erie County Medical Center from Clark Hall for a dislocated shoulder. 10/9 - Tania J. Fuller and Robert A. Mackin were arrested and charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and outstanding warrants from the Cheektowaga Police Department. 10/9 - A bicycle was taken from a Michael Hall rack. 10/10 - An unattended wallet with credit cards
was stolen near Webster Entrance. 10/11 - A vehicle window was broken at Richmond A parking lot. 10/11 - An unknown person exposed himself to anxiolytic-hypnotic drugs at Richmond Quadrangle. 10/11 - A person was sent to Erie County Medical Center and referred to the Student-Wide Judiciary for an alcohol overdose. 10/11 - Ryan M. Dapprich was arrested and charged with misconduct and resistance at Goodyear Hall. 10/11 - A person was sent to Children’s Hospital from Rotary Field for a hand injury. 10/12 - A person was sent to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital from Fargo Quad for feeling ill. 10/12 - A person was referred to the StudentWide Judiciary for marijuana possession on Clement grounds. 10/12 - A missing person from Squire Hall was located at home after a search. 10/12 - A person injured his ankle at the Center for the Arts and sought his own transport. 10/12 - Douglas R. Webber was arrested and charged with lewdness at Lockwood Library. He was referred to Amherst Town Court.
Ticket stubs are important DiMATTEO from page 5 the time with my friends. Anyone who has taken a trip with his or her friends to see a show knows this. A good concert can be made that much better by having to travel to get there, sleep in a car or tent and having something awful happen – or almost happen – to you or your friends. A couple years ago my friends and I went to Cleveland to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The show was amazing and they played some incredible songs, including “Higher Ground,” which they had not played live in 10 years. What made the show that much better was the journey. I went there
and scalped a ticket, we almost did not get our hotel room, we got off the subway at the wrong stop and the fire alarm went off in the hotel in the middle of the night. It turned out the fire alarm wasn’t our fault, and that saved us. These are just a few of the countless highlights of our trip to Cleveland, which was not even 24 hours long. My book of ticket stubs has mementos of concerts from all over the place. To other people, the stubs are just pieces of paper and it doesn’t really matter if the shows were in Connecticut or California, Toronto or Tennessee. Those ticket stubs, just like the memories I have of the shows, are
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significant to me and others just can’t understand it. In a few years, not many people will care about the time I went to some festival in “the middle of Nowhere, New York,” but I will still have the memories of the shows and the time I spent with my friends. So I will leave you simply by saying, go to that concert in New York City or in San Francisco, even if it means you leave at midnight to go there and 6 a.m. to come back. Because even if you don’t get into the show, you lose your wallet or you miss your shift the next day, you won’t regret it. E-mail: christopher.dimatteo@ubspectrum.com
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One of nine freshmen VELEZ from page 12 it, I’m not going to throw it all away just because it’s too hard sometimes,” Velez said. “I want to do this.” Even with a sufficient amount of motivation and skill, the transition to Division I soccer was a big change for Velez. She found it to be different from high school, where there may be players on the team who do not know all of the basics and who are just playing soccer for something to do after school. While it might be easy for some of those players to shrug off a loss, that was never the case for Velez. This is why Velez feels she is a
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perfect fit for Division I soccer. The skill level is higher and players are challenged to give their all right from the start. She is up to the challenges it offers and is excited to be playing. Being one of nine freshmen for the Bulls, Velez feels lucky to get so much game time. “If I got half the time I was playing now, I’d be happy,” Velez said. “But starting and playing pretty much the whole game as a freshman is everything I wanted. When I was in high school, I wanted to play D-I soccer, and now … I’m actually doing it and playing. It’s just everything I ever wanted.” With her limited down time, Velez likes to hang out with her friends and just relax when she’s not playing soccer. She unwinds by listening to music on her iPod. Her favorite artist is Akon. Velez also
enjoys goofing around and trying to make other people laugh. Besides showing off her sense of humor, Velez speaks candidly about something more personal: her three tattoos. She has a cross overlaid with a soccer player subtly kicking a ball on her back, the outline of Columbia (where her family is from) filled in with the colors of the nation’s flag on her right side and the Chinese characters for her zodiac symbol, Pisces. “They just represent my family and everything that’s important to me right now,” Velez said. Though the soccer team has struggled so far this season, the promising play from the freshmen like Velez leaves hope for a bright future. E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
Coron closer to record SOCCER from page 12 Eastern Michigan the previous weekend. Senior goalkeeper Amy Coron kept the Huskies off the board and helped Buffalo accomplish its first winning streak since the Bulls won their first four games in 2008. She finished with eight saves and is now eight away from breaking Buffalo’s all-time record for most career saves, which Nicole Pittaro set in 1995 with 414 saves. The rest of the team’s disciplined play also helped Coron. They were only called for two fouls, compared to NIU’s seven fouls. In addition, the Bulls held the Huskies to 13 shots on goal. One of the defensive highlights occurred when sophomore defender Lauren Crawford deflected a shot by a Northern Illinois attacker, preserving the shutout. Senior Jennifer Mihok and junior
Nina Cornell aided Crawford on defense. Thomas felt the duo’s play has been very consistent. “The defense has been consistently good all season,” Thomas said. “I just think they have very good chances.” Thomas also regards the new streak as a sign that the team is making progress toward consistent success. “[The team] has been closer and closer,” Thomas said. “What we’re trying to do is just keep moving in a forward direction and the goal is to come up and not ever make the same mistakes twice. Last weekend were some big steps forward. Now we just have to make sure that we continue to move in that direction.” The soccer team looks to continue its winning streak as it visits Toledo on Friday. The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
‘They did a good job’ ROWING from page 12 urday’s race was a nearly flawless event and, more importantly to him, a mistake-free event. “There is not a negative [thing] about the team, no way,” Wieler said. “They [won] it. They were ready to race and they went out and they did a good job.” The Novice race also saw UB teams taking the top two spots. The Novice “B” boat, with coxswain Kara Buchheit, Kylie Lewis, Elizabeth Murphy, Lauren Benz, Melissa James, Katelynn Hentz, Tessa Fiscella, Janine Bruno and Rachel Cerchiara, won the race with a time of 18:38.16, and was met nearly a minute after by the Novice “A” team, who came in second with a time of 19:30.75. Buffalo’s Lightweight Eight
team also finished near the top, placing second to Western Ontario in its heat. The team looks to carry this momentum with it throughout the season. Wieler is excited about the potential this team holds for the upcoming season. “If you take 59 people to a race, and 50 of them come home with medals, [isn’t] that good?” Wieler said. Buffalo heads next to Saratoga Springs, N.Y. for the Head of the Fish regatta in hopes of giving the nine rowers who didn’t medal there time to shine and continue their winning ways with the other 50. The meet will be held on Oct. 25 and will run throughout the day. E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
Professional athletes aren’t pure WIKTOR from page 12 this economy” card, but I don’t buy it. The only people you see cheering throughout the game are middleaged men who only care about the final score because they’re trying to cover the spread so they don’t lose their kids’ college funds. I’ve played in little leagues my entire life and know how pure sports can be. I just wish I could say
the same for professional athletes. I don’t need to see Adidas ads when I watch the Knicks, or be hit with iPod Touch promotions every time I visit ESPN.com. Believe it or not, I was more comfortable with the “Say no to racism” ad in FIFA than the Gatorade substitutions in 2K10. At least the former puts out a good message. E-mail: andrew.wiktor@ubspectrum.com
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October 14, 2009
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HELP WANTED “WANTED: VOLUNTEERS for local political campaign. Call Dan Ward @ 444-5326.” LOOKING TO EARN extra cash? Make up to 60% profit sales!! Call today (716) 491-3830 to become Classy Chixx consultant for adult novelty parties. Contact at ClassyChixx@hotmail.com. PART-TIME & FULL TIME for full service paint store. Need good attitude & willingness to learn. Flexible hours, summer employment available, four WNY locations. E-mail resumes to schuelehr@yahoo.com or fax to 716-884-3379.
WAREHOUSE HELP: Pack and ship for nationwide distributor of electronics. Close to Amherst Campus. Part-time. Flexible hours. $9.00 an hour. Apply at: www.stampedeglobal.com. T H E TA L K I N G P H O N E BOOK is looking for a parttime Data Entry Clerk to collect, input and analyze data from verification. Must be proficient in excel and able to work 30 hrs/week. Data Entry/ Analysis experience preferred. Please email Erick Stein estein@talkingphonebook.com with your resume. We are located near the UB stadium on John Muir Drive.
APARTMENT FOR RENT 1,3,4,5,6,7 & 8 BEDROOM homes available. Go to daveburnette.net or call Dave @ 716-445-2514.
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CLASSIFIED ads may be placed at The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union, Amherst Campus. Office hours are from 9:00 - 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Deadlines are Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 12:00 for display and 2:00 p.m. for classifieds for the next edition. Weekly rates are $10.00 for the first ten words and 75¢ for each additional word. All ads must be paid in advance. The ad must be placed in person or send a legible copy of the ad with a check or money order for full payment. No ads will be taken over the phone. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit any copy. No refunds will be given on classified ads. Please make sure copy is legible. The Spectrum does not assume responsibility for any errors except to reproduce any ad (or equivalent), free of charge, that is rendered valueless due to typographical errors. Please call 645-2152 for any additional information.
WE WILL love you! www.luxuryaptswny.com. 4-BDRM $745, 89 Lisbon. Water, trash & lawn care included, on-site laundry. Call 200-1700 x701 for viewing!
1-1 BDRM & 5-2 bdrm available now. $500 - $660/ mo includes heat, water & garbage. Spacious with many updates. Call Matt now at 716-997-1814, these won’t last!!
ONE BEDROOM private carriage house apartment on Main St. near UB South. Large living room, kitchen, dining area, off-street parking + garage space. $775.00/ mo. + utilities. Call Jennifer at 743-7398.
2, 3 & 4 BEDROOM apartments, 3 bedroom duplex, full basement, off-street parking close to UB North, updated 2, 3, and 4 bedroom apts, available close to UB South. Call Bill @ 716-510-5517 or Bobbie @ 716-884-1727.
1-BDRM MINUTES from Main Street Campus. Includes heat, water, appliances & off-street parking. $545. Call: 838-3980, 9am to 6pm/ 692-4578, 8pm to 10pm.
3 & 4 BEDROOMS. Newly renovated near UB South & North 716-510-5517/ 716-884-1727.
1 & 2 BEDROOM apartments. Walking distance UB South Campus. Tom – 716-570-4776.
1,3,4,5,6,7 & 8 BEDROOM homes available. Go to daveburnette.net or call Dave @ 716-445-2514.
HOUSE FOR RENT
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UB MAIN ST. Campus 4-bdrm house, washer, dryer, stove & refrigerator. Off-street parking. $1,000, available now! 636-4388.
ROOMMATE WANTED MINNESOTA 3-BLOCKS from S. Campus. Utilities included. Off-street parking, carpeted, appliances & laundry, 716-984-6970.
SERVICES DEBT RELIEF: Chapter 13 bankruptcy. $600. Attorney Hand, 839-2092. I N T E R N AT I O N A L S T U DENTS: Do you have a relative who would like to attend high school in the United States? Do you have a stable housing situation where you can host this student? If so, a local independent school with a specialized ESL program has limited openings for students seeking to study on an F1 visa. For more information contact Mrs. Jennifer Brady at 716-839-1242 extension 107.
Advertise ! Call The Spectrum Advertising at (716) 645 - 2152
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FREE home-cooked meal! Join us every Wednesday night at 6pm for a delicious meal and some great conversation. ALL are welcome!!! The Newman Center Suite 209 - The Commons.
JOIN US!!! Student Mass every Sunday night at 6:30pm in the Newman Chapel located along the bike path.
Shuttle service available! Sponsored by The Newman Center @ UB Catholic Campus Ministry www.newman.buffalo.edu 636-7495 CATHOLIC Campus Ministry since 1936.
The Spectrum
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October 14, 2009
SP O R T S Genesee Gold By MATT WEBER Staff Reporter Andrew Wiktor Sports Editor
Doesn’t make cents I played NBA 2K10 for the first time last night, and although I did win, this isn’t another article about how good I am at video games. The graphics were good, the game-play was smooth and I don’t know if I mentioned this yet, but I won, so I had a good overall experience with the game – except for one thing: I kept craving a cool blue Gatorade. After every whistle, I had the option of making a substitution complimentary of the sport drink founded at the University of Florida in the mid-’60s. Advertisements in my video game? That is not “G.” Ever since re-watching BASEketball recently, I’ve been more than aware about the money in sports. Instead of wins and losses, teams are concerned with dollars and cents. In America, we have sports venues named for everything from banks to airlines to car dealerships – and those are just the indoor arenas. Stadiums are sponsored by the likes of beer companies, restaurants and auto-insurance companies. Coors, Applebee’s and Progressive: the cornerstones of our glorious country. It’s not just America, however. We have the Nokia Arena in Israel, T-Mobile Arena in the Czech Republic, and Land Rover Arena in Italy. Sports should be about entertainment, not about seven-figure contracts and ridiculously expensive ticket prices. Do you know why gladiator events were so exciting back in the day? Because they were fighting for their lives, not giving a lackluster effort with their only thought being retiring to their milliondollar mansion with a cute fan who hopefully won’t cry “rape.” Instead of guaranteeing athletes thousands upon thousands of dollars for every game they play, why don’t we pay them if they win? Of course, I understand that owning a sports franchise is no different than owning a business, but shouldn’t the game be about the fans too? Nowadays you don’t get die-hard fans attending home games because they genuinely want their guys to win. In fact, when was the last time you went to a regular season sporting event and every seat was taken? The Yankees can’t even fill up their stadium this postseason, and they’re favored to win the World Series. Sure, you can pull the “in see WIKTOR page 10
This past weekend, the Buffalo Bulls rowing team set a new precedent at a familiar meet. Buffalo’s Varsity Eight “A” boat was able to surpass Canada’s No. 1 ranked rowing team, Western Ontario, in the Open Eight race at the Head of the Genesee regatta in Rochester N.Y. on Saturday. This is the first time the Bulls have won this race, although they have competed in it on an annual basis.
Previously, Western Ontario has held a strong grip on the top spot of the Genesee regatta. UWO entered the meet as the defending champions and had won five of the races in the last 20 years. But with several weeks of preparation, Buffalo went into the race with a coxswain full of confidence. Head coach Rudy Wieler was very pleased with the results and has high expectations for his squad. “For the last six weeks we’ve been working very hard,” Wieler said. “This is
our first big race of the year, and the kids performed very well. We have a strong team … this is quite possibly the best team UB has ever had.” Buffalo teams also took two of the other top four spots, as the “C” boat finished in third and the “B” boat came in fourth. The Varsity Eight team, consisting of coxswain Alison Sheehan, Rosa Kemp, Cathleen Streicher, Sasha Bailey, Danielle Carlino, Ashley Hanhurst, Shannon David, Tara Rudowski and Brittany Ronald, won the
SIDELINES race with a time of 31:54.10. However, it was not the only team to finish first and medal at the competition. Fifty of Buffalo’s 59 rowers ended up bringing home medals from Genesee, including another first place finish by the Varsity Four boat. Varsity Four, consisting of coxswain Kate Evely, Megan Bayley, Sydney Gilchrist, Francisca Strange and Samantha Masucci, finished with a time of 36:02.08. According to Wieler, Satsee ROWING page 10
Offense wins games, too By BRIAN JOSEPHS Staff Writer Though the saying “defense wins games” might be true, the success of a good offense cannot be overlooked. The women’s soccer team learned this lesson last Sunday as it took on Mid-American Conference foe Northern Illinois. With a balanced effort on both sides of the ball, the Bulls (3-10-1, 2-3-1 MAC) won their second-straight game, knocking off the Huskies (4-8-2, 0-2-4 MAC), 2-0, at UB Stadium. “I knew it was going to come sooner or later and our team really needed this,” said freshman striker Stephanie Velez, in a press release. “This weekend just proves that we’re not a bad team. Our results haven’t been showing how our team actually plays. It’s just a really great feeling to finally see some wins.” Head coach Michael Thomas believes the team’s recent success was due to offensive and defensive balance and energy. “The team brought great energy out on to the field,” Thomas said. “It’s always tough to bring that energy
Junior earns MAC East Defensive Player of the Week The Mid-American Conference office announced Monday morning that junior Kelsey Lueders was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week, marking the first time she has received the honor. Against Akron last week, Lueders turned in a career day in a thrilling five-set victory over the Zips. Lueders led the blocking corps in an effort that turned in a total of 20.5 team blocks. Lueders recorded a careerbest 11 total blocks during the game, including four solo blocks. She also helped out offensively with seven kills, two service aces and two digs in the win. In a loss on Saturday, Lueders continued her solid play with three blocks in the match. Lueders has 131 kills on the season, which is good for third on the team. Her 56 total blocks ranks her second best on Buffalo.
Velez and Coron earn MAC honors
Richard Girardin / The Spectrum
The Bulls hope to maintain momentum after back to back victories. to a Sunday game after a difficult 90 minutes and battling on Friday.” With neither team giving up more than one goal in each of its wins, the game was expected to be a defensive struggle. It started as such until the Bulls offense broke through in the 17th minute. After a Northern Illinois foul, sophomore defender Angela Nicholas struck the ensuing free kick. The ball was passed to Velez, who
caught the Huskies’ goalie off the net and scored the team’s first goal at the 6:45 mark. Velez struck again early in the second half. Velez scored a breakaway goal off a pass from sophomore attacker Aubrey Stahl in the 47th minute to double the margin. The Bulls put a total of 11 shots on goal, the team’s second most shot attempts in a game this season. The last two games mark the only multi-goal games for Buffalo’s offense this season.
“Right now we’re starting to find that balance,” Thomas said. “It’s early in the season and we have a lot of young players playing [attack]. They were playing pretty well, but struggling to find the back of the net … and the defense has been [strong] for us all year long.” The win gave the Bulls their first winning streak of the season after losses to both Central Michigan and see SOCCER page 10
Making a mark By CHRISTY SUHR Staff Writer Sometimes you need a fresh face to pick up a desperate team. After scoring three goals in two games this past weekend, freshman forward Stephanie Velez is now the sole leading scorer for the women’s soccer team, which previously had five players tied for the distinction with just one goal each. Velez also earned the Mid-American Conference Offensive Women’s Soccer Player of the Week award and was named one of Buffalo’s Athletes of the Week. Velez, with four goals and nine points on the season, is helping revive a program that has been through hard times. She is halfway to matching last year’s top goal scorer, junior Lindsey Bailey, who scored eight goals in the 2008 season. Unlike many other players on the
team, Velez knew she was going to be a Bull before starting her senior year of high school. She spoke with head coach Michael Thomas last August and signed on with the promise that she would help change the women’s soccer program here in Buffalo. Before traveling to Buffalo, Velez finished a strong campaign at Mamaroneck High School with an All-American season her senior year. She was invited to an All-American convention in St. Louis, Mo., providing her with her greatest soccer accomplishment thus far. “It just made me realize how lucky I am,” Velez said. “That wasn’t my goal or anything. I wasn’t trying to reach AllAmerican, it just kind of happened. And when it happened, I was just really taken aback by it and I was really proud. My dad was so proud of me and so happy. Getting All-American [status] was definitely one of the biggest highlights.” Velez credits her father for her suc-
The Bulls earned their first two Mid-American Conference wins this past weekend over rivals Western Michigan and Northern Illinois. Because of their strong play in both games, freshman forward Stephanie Velez and senior goalkeeper Amy Coron were awarded this week’s MAC Offensive and Defensive Women’s Soccer Player of the Week. Velez carried the Bulls offense in both games, chipping in one goal against the Broncos and scoring both goals in a 2-0 shutout against the Huskies. She has a teamleading four goals on the season and nine points overall. The performance by Coron last week was nothing new, as she has been outstanding throughout her career. She made 18 total saves, 10 against the Broncos and eight in the shutout against Northern Illinois. Coron recorded her second shutout of the season against the Huskies and recorded a 0.50 goal against average and a .947 save percentage last weekend. She now sits eight saves behind the UB all-time career saves record.
Scoreboard
Sam Hicks / The Spectrum
Stephanie Velez is the face of the future for the young women’s soccer team. cess. He used to be a gymnast on the Columbian national team. When he moved to the United States at the age of 18, he got into a bad car accident, ending his career. This is one of the reasons why Velez will not give up on the game when she has the chance to be great. “I know if I have talent and I can do see VELEZ page 10
Sunday Women’s Soccer Buffalo Northern Illinois
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Men’s Soccer Buffalo Northern Illinois
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Upcoming Events Thursday Men’s Tennis at ITA Regionals, All Day