Faculty member trains guide dogs on campus Club promotes hope, reminds students they’re not alone
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Volume 63 No. 22
UB BREAKS GROUND IN DOWNTOWN MEDICAL CAMPUS SAM FERNANDO
Senior News Editor
New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo believes it is “irrefutable” that Buffalo has changed over the past five years. But he likes what he sees. “You can see it on people’s faces – [Buffalo] is not what it was; it is what it could be,” he said. “With this leadership and with this energy, there is no stopping what Buffalo can do.” On Tuesday, Cuomo joined about 500 members of the UB, Buffalo and New York State communities at the corner of Main and High Streets in downtown Buffalo to celebrate the university breaking ground on its new downtown medical campus. The project costs $375 million and is funded primarily by an NYSUNY Challenge Grant, which Cuomo provided when he signed the NYSUNY 2020 legislation in 2011. New York State Senators George Maziarz, Mark Grisanti and Tim Kennedy said the effort to pass NYSUNY 2020 legislation was bipartisan. The medical campus, which is scheduled to open in the 2016 fall semester, is part of President Satish Tripathi’s UB 2020 plan “to pursue research addressing critical societal needs, provide students with transformative educational experiences and further engage with local and global communities,” according to a UB news release. “This puts the medical school in the heart of our expanding downtown campus, the center of the region’s bioscience corridor and just a short walk away from the hospitals and life science research partners,” Tripathi said. “Moving the school downtown connects us more closely to all our surrounding communities. It
Chad Cooper, The Spectrum
“When we put the shovel into the ground today, that was a shovel toward the new future of Buffalo,” said New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “With this leadership and with this energy, there is no stopping what Buffalo can do.”
also connects our distinguished past with our bright future.” Architecture firm Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum (HOK) designed the building on Main and High Streets. The facility is projected to be eight stories tall and encompass approximately 540,000 square feet. The project is also the largest individual construction plan in UB’s history. The new building is strategically located in the heart of the downtown Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, which will give students easy access to hospitals and many other health care facilities. In his State of the University Address on Friday, Tripathi said increasing UB’s recognition on
a global stage and strengthening the school’s research prowess are crucial goals of UB 2020. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz believes the medical campus is a positive movement in this direction, calling the project “the next big step in one of Western New York’s greatest success stories.” “[UB], through its partnership with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, is setting the standard for leading medical research in transforming the region into a hub for not only biomedical and scientific fields but an international center for excellence,” said Poloncarz, a UB alumnus.
UB will hire 100 new medical faculty members for the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and the average graduating class will increase from 140 students to 180. Apart from bettering UB’s future, the medical campus will have a number of effects on the area. Mayor Byron Brown said the addition of the new campus is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy. He said the campus will attract people from all across the country and educate people from all across the globe. “It is certainly now no secret that the governor has placed incredible focus on Buffalo and
Western New York,” said Brown, who compared the new medical campus to others that have revitalized cities like Pittsburgh and Cleveland. “We have an incredible asset in the form of a worldclass research university and a world-class medical school. UB and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus are the foundation of Buffalo’s growing life sciences economy.” Thirty-one years ago Tuesday, Lackawanna Steel Company closed, causing 6,000 people in Western New York to lose their jobs. Cuomo said this was the moment “that crystallized a point of decline for Buffalo and Western New York.” SEE MEDICAL CAMPUS, PAGE 2
BREAKING BARRIERS
UB’s LGBTQ community strives for stronger campus presence ERIC CORTELLESSA
Opinion Editor
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hen Jay Duarah returned home to Michigan for spring vacation his freshman year, his mother asked him a direct question: “Are you seeing someone?” Duarah, an Indian immigrant, is the son of a diplomat. He never lies to his parents. Remaining honest while deliberately vague and knowingly evasive, Duarah told his mother plainly, “Yes, I’m seeing someone.” His mother asked him for her name but he wanted no part of that discussion. The subject then shifted and the conversation carried on. But later in the evening, his mother asked another question: “Do you have a picture?” “Yes, I do,” he told her. She insisted that she see the face of the “lucky girl.” She was persistent, and after much hesitancy, Duarah finally gave in; he showed his parents the picture. “It’s a he!” his mother bellowed. The room went silent and descended into a terrifying awkwardness, Duarah said. It took a moment for the family to compute the information their son presented to them. His moth-
er began to cry and his father remained silent. The dinner then ended abruptly. They had each recognized in their own way that their lives had suddenly changed. Today, Duarah’s mother will ask him about his personal life occasionally, but his father never broaches the subject. “I will have to be the one to break that barrier,” Duarah said. Breaking barriers was the main focus of UB’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Alliance (UB’s LGBTQA) last week as they celebrated National Coming Out Week. Duarah, who is now a firstyear electrical engineering graduate student, credits having an LGBTQ community at UB to surmount the strain he experienced in coming out to his parents. Last week’s events were designed to provide an outlet to more students on campus with experiences similar to Duarah’s. Members held an amateur drag show in the Student Union on Tuesday and a color run on the field next to the Center For the Arts on Friday, where they threw cups of colored cornstarch on each other to highlight their identities and raise awareness for both their club and the cause. Allie Balmer, a senior anthropology major and member of
Aline Kobayashi, The Spectrum
On Friday, members of UB’s LGBTQA celebrated National Coming Out Day by participating in a color run.
the club, noted the symbolic significance of the color run. “The event is basically about getting people to come together, and obviously the gay pride flag is the rainbow colors,” she said. “That was the whole idea. That’s the main association.” Jham Valenzuela, president of UB LGBTQA, organized the event. Since he has taken the top leadership position, he has changed the club – making the meetings more discussion-based, aimed at establishing a stronger sense of community. Some have taken issue with his method, however, claiming he has made the club too much an extension of Wellness Services.
“The problem with this is, one we already have that organization on campus and two the purpose of this club is to be a social organization,” said a member, who asked to remain anonymous, in an email. But Valenzuela cites these alterations in the club’s structure as vital to the expansion and growth it has experienced this semester. In the 2012-13 academic year, the weekly meetings averaged around 15 people. Now, they average over 40. Every Monday, the group holds a meeting centered on dialogue. The discussions are led and moderated by Valenzu-
ela and Vice President Laura Borschel, a senior English major. Some meetings have erupted in vehement disagreement – like when they discussed whether Straight Allies should be considered a part of the LGBTQ community. Even when tensions flare, however, the club has maintained a level of camaraderie and cohesiveness that many members say is critical to their ability to live as LGBTQ in Buffalo. Club members are encouraged to share their experiences in the group setting, and each meeting becomes a portal into an underlying question of what it means to be LGBTQ here, at UB, now. *** efore the meeting starts, the room is a hubbub of overlapping dialogue with discordant voices wandering the air. When Valenzuela begins the meeting, a sense of seriousness overtakes the atmosphere. The club sits in an open circle. Valenzuela and Borschel introduce the week’s topic before the students introduce themselves; they list their name, major, PGP (preferred gender pronoun) and anything additional pertaining to how they identify themselves.
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Continued from page 1: LGBTQA On Sept. 23, the meeting’s theme was identity. When Valenzuela announced the subject that evening, he proposed that it be considered under the theoretical notion that, “My experience is unique; it can’t be found elsewhere.” In a room full of students with different experiences, the goal was for everyone to share them, so that these differing experiences become shared experiences, according to Borschel. The club is noted for its ethnic diversity and it is evenly split between genders. When Valenzuela asked club members to include something they indentify themselves as, the responses were as multifarious as they were unique. They included: a feminist, artist, southerner, writer, history buff, geek, cuddle monster, filmmaker, break-dancer, Canadian, angry feminist, Bills fan and New Yorker. When one club member said he was “a Kansan,” another student, startled with unbridled surprise, howled, “You’re not in Kansas anymore.” It took over 45 minutes in that meeting for sexual orientation to even be mentioned. The purpose of getting members to discuss other forms of identity, Valenzuela said, was to inform each other how various identities shape their communities. They waited until the very end to address being LGBTQ. Valenzuela noted how “lesbians, gays and [bisexuals] experience the world differently.” The conversation was planned to show how regardless of how different they all are, they have all been lumped together in one category as LGBTQ. The members, however, do not all identify as LGBTQ. There are several straight allies in the club, like Gabriel Caladozo, a freshman computer science and engineering major. “A straight ally is someone who is for the gay rights campaign, who is not closed-minded, is open-minded, is open to everyone,” he said. “I don’t really see people as being gay or as being straight. I just see people as people.” *** n Sept. 30, the meeting’s theme was “coming out.” Each member was encouraged to share their own stories, and the struggles that accompanied the process. Borschel began by elucidating how an internal process had to take place before she could actually inform family and friends of her sexual orientation. “I think the first critical thing that people don’t realize is that before you come out to people, you have to come out to yourself,” she said. “For me, it took a really long time to come to terms with the fact that I was gay. It took me about two years to process, and I came out when I was in high school.”
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While in high school, she was embedded in an environment that was not conducive to her sexual orientation. Growing up in Alden, N.Y., a rural town on the northeast border of Erie County, Borschel felt alienated. “The town I grew up in was very smalltowny, very Republican, very hickish,” she said. “Just not a good place for that type of stuff.” Her high school didn’t even have a GayStraight Alliance (GSA) – what is now considered the main support group that most high schools are supposed to facilitate. “All spaces are designated straight spaces; I don’t know if people ever think about that,” Valenzuela said. “It’s one of the privileges of being straight. Every space is a designated straight space unless you go into a space that is queer, because in that space, the assumption is that everyone in there is queer.” He learned that when he stepped into his first GSA meeting. This induced him to get involved, which later led him to a place where he was comfortable embracing his identity and sexual orientation. “It shows how spaces really mold desire,” he said. For Borschel, it was the prospect of escaping her hometown that suggested a sense of possibility. “What really pushed me to come out was this promise of going to college,” she said. “Because I could be whoever I wanted to be in college and I didn’t want to start off being somebody that I wasn’t.” Borschel recalls she first came out to a person via text. “I was sobbing and crying and it was really emotional,” she said. She now considers the experience transformative – enabling her to move forward with her life and begin the process of establishing who she was going to be. When her friends and family accepted her, she felt a strong sense of relief. “It took a very long time for me to get to a place where I could be proud of my sexuality,” she said. *** aving a positive coming-out experience is a huge privilege,” Valenzuela said. “Because having a negative coming-out experience can scar you for life.” “Some people even kill themselves over it,” Borschel added. A study conducted in 2011 revealed 21.5 percent of gay, lesbian or bisexual teens reported attempting suicide while 4.2 percent of straight kids reported the same, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
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And 62 percent of homeless, queer youth successfully complete suicide, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. Both Valenzuela and Borschel know people who have been rendered homeless after coming out to their parents. They have seen the damaging impact such an event can have on a young person’s life. “I had a friend in high school,” Borschel said. “He was the only out kid and his mom kicked him out.” Being on the street, one becomes more susceptible to violent crime, which is widespread within the LGBTQ community in Buffalo – more so than many may realize, according to members of the club. “We have friends who have been hatecrimed,” Borschel said. “We have friends who have been at fraternities and have been talking about how hot some guy was and he got the s*** kicked out of him.” “Here at UB,” she added. Borschel, who identified herself appearing as a “twinkie boy,” said the risk of violence is “compounded further the more trans you look or the more androgynous you look.” “When I go to bars, I get confused for a gay boy all the time,” she said. “It’s really funny, but it’s also really terrible.” Valenzuela and Borschel added that men have had violent reactions to discovering she is a girl – like a time in a gay bar when a male approached her. “I had one dude one time who said, ‘I just want to [expletive] the [expletive] out of you’ and I was just like, ‘Oh, no thank you, I’m a girl,’ and he just got in my face,” Borschel said. “It was really, really frightening.” Episodes like this are a stark reminder for the LGBTQ community of a misconception widely pervasive – that they are all in the same struggle together. As Valenzuela noted, “A lot of people in the LGBTQ community are at a higher risk of violence” – particularly when females present as males, he said. And Borschel has experienced the pangs of bigotry due to her appearance throughout her life. “I have been walking down streets and people will shout things,” she said. “It happens.”
But through UB’s LGBTQA, she has had an outlet to help her work through the turmoil; she has a network of support that she benefits from and extends to others. *** oming out, societal and familial acceptance and the risk of violence from strangers are among the day-today concerns of an LGBTQ person. But on Monday nights, as the club sits in its circle, they talk about it all. And just by doing so, a sense of community and belonging has manifested. It has been nearly four years since Jay Duarah came out to his parents. When he came to UB his freshman year, he had an opportunity, like every other college student, to find himself. His involvement with the club has been the space for him to be who he wants to be. The club made it its mission last week to spread its message that it is here to help students with the process of coming out; but its existence is to serve an even larger purpose – to be a home for LGBTQ students, no matter where they are in life. The students who have been through the process know how to help those who are struggling with it presently. Borschel remembers the response she received from her parents: “When I ended up telling my parents, my mom was very upset, but my dad just laughed and said, ‘Well, Laura, you could grow up to want to be a tree or a rock and I wouldn’t care.’” As new students come to each meeting, Borschel and Valenzuela make it clear they don’t care if they are an artist or a southerner, a history buff or a break-dancer – they are welcome.
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Continued from page 1: Medical campus Cuomo stressed his passion to change the direction of Buffalo’s future to a more positive one. He wants to change the negative culture in Buffalo and sees the medical campus as a step toward Buffalo’s success. “We wanted to say to Buffalo, ‘I understand the cynicism; I understand the pessimism. I know you believe you’ve been forgotten,’” Cuomo said. “But I am saying it is a different day.” Tripathi thanked Cuomo for his ongoing support in achieving UB 2020. He said it is through the support of Cuomo and the UB and Buffalo communities the plans for the medical campus were possible. Tripathi emphasized how important the initial steps of the project are. “This is a defining moment for UB, for Buffalo and for New York State,” Tripathi said. “We know the impact of this progress extends far beyond the region. The students we educate, the discoveries in treatment generated here, will save
lives and improve the quality of life for people around the world.” Various UB leaders and community members came to the event to show their support for the initiative. Speakers included: Dean of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Michael Cain; SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher; CEO and Chairman of M&T Bank Robert Wilmers; New York State Assembly Member Crystal Peoples-Stokes; President of the Allentown Association Board Edward Castine; Co-Chair of the Orchard Community Initiative Zaid Islam; UB Provost Charles Zukoski; Chair of the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences John Tomaszewski; Senior Associate Dean for Health Policy Nancy Nielsen; and medical student, class of 2016, William Stendardi. email: news@ubspectrum.com
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EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Aaron Mansfield MANAGING EDITORS Lisa Khoury Sara DiNatale OPINION EDITOR Eric Cortellessa NEWS EDITORS Sam Fernando, Senior Joe Konze Jr. Amanda Low, Asst. 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. Daniele Gershon, 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.
October 16, 2013 Volume 63 Number 22 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.
OPINION
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Finding a third term U.S. would benefit from a third major political party Many times in life, people are posed with binaries. A binary can be a way of helping us simplify – breaking something down into two opposite parts. But it can also be a way of polarizing differing positions in ways in which obscure our ideas more than they clarify them. This is what has happened in American politics. A recent Gallup poll reveals that 60 percent of Americans are now showing support for the emergence of a third political party. Consider us a part of the majority on this one. The political system has become too polarized by dissension between Democrats and Republicans and their inability to work together to produce a functional government. It wasn’t always this way. Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC’s “Hardball,” has recently written a book titled Tip and The Gipper: When Politics Worked about how President Ronald Reagan and Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill were able to work together in their time and pass legislation regularly. The basis of Matthews’ argument is somewhat inflated but it is indeed valid; both Reagan and O’Neill were pragmatists interested in making government work. Reagan, the ideological hero of the Right Wing, raised taxes 16 times during his presidency. Above all else, he was a politician – willing to make compromises for the sake of achievement. President Obama has not shown himself to have the gift that Reagan had of influencing public perception or affecting public policy. But he is also president in a different time – in a more intense and divided political climate. Some Republicans flat-out hate him and are against him simply to be against him. Others, the more moderate within the party, are entrenched in a quagmire; they are unable to work around the extremists who are peddling too large an influence in the current democratic process.
ART BY JEANETTE CHWAN
In other words, the current Republican Party is at odds with itself. The Democratic Party faces a similar dilemma – but nowhere near the level of extremity that Republicans do. They too have staunch ideologists who are outspoken on their beliefs; and they, too, have moderates who lean more to the center – whose primary interest is achieving tangible initiatives. But due to the dog-eat-dog climate that permeates our political landscape, it is hard to find a place for these more practicalminded politicians. Some conservatives here at UB feel they align with the Republican Party on economic issues but see the national party’s agenda on social issues as incredibly alienating.
A serious and substantial moderate party would do the country well. An ideology focused on meeting in the middle would add a practical component to our legislative process and would give more Americans the voice in Congress they deserve. As diverse and multi-cultural as America is, not all Americans feel their political convictions fit within a binary system. More and more, people are registering as independents, according to The Washington Post. We recognize the intricacies of initiating a third party that could become a major factor within American politics. As Chris Cillizza of The Post has pointed out, it will require a great deal of gymnastics – and an even greater amount of money.
Even with large numbers of Americans suggesting they are ready for a restructuring of the political system, the chance of this happening is not very feasible – at least right now. In early-childhood education, teachers often give students a choice between A or B, where the aim is to get the student to recognize the choice does not fall solely between A or B but rather to seek out C. Anthropologists call this “finding a third term.” With the government shut down for over two weeks, and with our two-party system unable to deliver the basic functions of democratic process, it may be time to give this a little more thought. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
The Spectrum is provided free in part by the Undergraduate Mandatory Activity Fee. The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by MediaMate. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at (716) 645-2452. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100
A time for wagon circling
As Bills show progress, fans should maintain perspective It is usually at this time of the season that fans’ expectations drop radically. By now, at the conclusion of Week Six, we usually have an idea and an image of what our team is. The Buffalo Bills’ 2-4 record is disappointing, however, it does not reflect the potential this team has demonstrated thus far. It is important to recognize that this is a rebuilding year. With a rookie coach and a rookie quarterback and a rookie offensive coordinator, there is a lot of growth that needs to take place. And it is imperative that we, as fans, understand that this is a process that will take time. As a young team, they have been competing every week – making each game come down to the final minutes. Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals reflected one of the primary problems the team has suffered for the last several seasons: They have been devastated by injuries. The absence of EJ Manuel and Stevie Johnson was palpable for fans who have put their faith in their first-round draft pick to be the franchise quarterback. Many fans have responded with protestations of frustration, saying the
management should have been prepared for a potential Manuel injury. Manuel, a mobile quarterback, is injury prone due to his playing style. The team would have benefited from having a veteran who could groom him through his rookie season and who could be prepared to take over should he be injured. Buffalo did sign Kevin Kolb for two years and up to $13 million and, much to Bills Nation’s chagrin, he suffered a devastating, career-ending injury during the preseason. The Bills coaching staff cannot predict player injuries, so it is difficult to blame them for this loss. And in the midst of a rebuilding year, with a young team that is trying to gel and establish its identity for long-term success, it was not worth taking up cap space on another veteran backup quarterback whose only purpose would be a temporary solution. Jeff Tuel appeared promising during the preseason and he seemed to be reliable enough to take over, but he had no experience. The experience he did have in college isn’t exactly impressive; he went 4-22 in 26 starts at Wash-
ington State. His performance against the Cleveland Browns was indicative of one thing: that he is not ready to lead an NFL offense. Thad Lewis demonstrated strong ability on Sunday and it says something about the state of the team that even with all its injuries, and with its youth and inexperience, the Bills hung in it until the end and came back from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Every game must be kept in perspective this season. It is a bad statement on behalf of the fans that the fourth home game of the season failed to sell out – resulting in Ralph Wilson purchasing the remainder of tickets so that fans could watch the game on television. But it is also worth pointing out Buffalo is the third-poorest city in the United States, according to Buffalo Business First. Part of our fan base’s identity is rooted in our sense of working-class toughness and blue-collar braggadocio. But if the team is not performing, and if two of the most important players on the team are not playing, many Buffalo-area
residents do not feel it is worth paying the costs of tickets alongside the accompanying expenses of attending a game – parking, food, drinks, etc. Buffalo has some of the most loyal and diehard fans in the NFL. We stick with our team no matter what, and we are strengthened by our devotion to a cause greater than ourselves. The outcome of Bills games is beyond the control of fans; and that is exactly what being a fan is about: having faith in something beyond your control. As the team is in a period of rebuilding this season, it is pivotal fans keep this in mind and continue to support the squad – which is showing a great deal of promise, but making baby steps in its attempt to construct a winning team. The Bills are the only NFL team to have yet made the playoffs in the 21st century. We all want to see that change. And in the meantime, Bills fans should do what they do best – circle the wagons. It is what makes us who we are. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
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LIFE, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Purposeful puppies
Faculty member brings volunteer work to campus KEREN BARUCH
Senior Features Editor
Haiku and Kaylin wake up at 6 a.m. each morning to run around the fields and parks in Kenmore. After playtime, Barb Mccabe feeds the two dogs breakfast and takes them to Starbucks, where employees greet the trio with smiles. They’re regulars. Mccabe, an instructional support technician for the biological sciences department, nurses her morning coffee before taking the dogs to North Campus. But these dogs are more than just ‘man’s best friend’ – they’re pups with a purpose. In 2005, dogs became a new addition to Mccabe’s Hochstetter Hall office – she began volunteering for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Mccabe is a puppy raiser for Guiding Eyes; she is in charge of raising puppies before they are sent off to guide dog school. Her on-campus job is to ensure students’ labs are set up and cleaned up each week. She works with teaching assistants and professors to coordinate the campus biology lab and her co-workers support her bringing her volunteer work into the office – something for which she is thankful. She utilizes UB as one of many methods to help her puppies get accustomed to the real world and ready for guide dog school. Mccabe has raised eight puppies since 2008, which have each gone on to graduate from guide dog school and be paired with a person who is blind. “I always used to be interested in [guide dogs],” Mccabe said. “I read Hellen Keller books and thought guide dogs were amazing. The things they could do and how well trained they were is something I’ve always thought about. So, after my family pet dog died – it had been about six months to a year – I started looking for a program.”
The bond forged between a raiser and the dog is the foundation for all the life lessons the guide dog needs to master, according to the Guiding Eyes website. Raisers work with the dogs for 12-16 months. Mccabe searched for the organization’s program in Erie County and said everyone at the Erie County Guiding Eyes for the Blind program was supportive and welcoming. Since then, Mccabe has been taking in and raising one dog at a time. This year, however, she is raising two puppies: Haiku and Kaylin. She usually likes to stick with one dog, but she raised Haiku and Kaylin’s mother and couldn’t let one of them go. She made the exception and now travels with two puppies instead of one. “We try to keep a fairly low profile, but they are very good [on campus],” Mccabe said. “I’ve never had a problem. I used to work in another department, and I’ve raised two puppies upstairs [of Hochstetter Hall] and have never had a problem … They’re almost like therapy dogs; everybody likes to have a little puppy hug once in a while.” There are many aspects to raising a Guiding Eyes puppy that the average person would not think of, Mccabe said. She has to teach her puppies not to chase after leaves in the fall or to go after rabbits; she said Haiku loves rabbits and it’s difficult to train a puppy not to chase after something when it’s natural for dogs to do so. Mccabe has to teach her puppies how to play fetch, too. She said most people believe it’s just natural for dogs to know how to play, but a person who is blind needs his or her guiding eye dog to be able to put the ball directly back into his or her hands. A dog has to be trained to stay at the end of the leash after he or she goes to the bathroom – otherwise, it would be impossible for a
Juan D. Pinzon, The Spectrum
Barb Mccabe volunteers for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. She is currently raising two puppies, who are frequently in her office in Hochstetter Hall. Mccabe trains them to prepare to move on to guide dog school and eventually be paired up with a person who is blind.
person who is blind to clean up after his or her dog. A dog has to be able to respond to commands such as a master tapping the inside of his or her thigh so the guiding eye dog knows to come close and sit in between his or her master’s legs. This is for special circumstances, like when a blind person is sitting on a bus and
100 Corner COMBOS UNDER 600 CALORIES*
needs to conserve space. During her lunch break, she takes Haiku and Kaylin on walks around campus. UB students are constantly petting them and playing with them, which helps with the dogs’ socialization training. Students walk in and out of Mccabe’s office, and the dogs are accustomed to staying relaxed and si-
LIBERTY YELLOW
lent in hectic public settings. When it comes time to say goodbye to her puppies, Mccabe is overcome with a bittersweet feeling. “To tell you the truth, I cry every time,” Mccabe said. “It’s hard giving them up after you’ve just raised them for over a year. But it’s kind of like sending your kids off to college. When I send my kids off to college, I would not want to hold them home and tell them, ‘No, I need you here.’ I want them to go out and succeed and do what they are capable of doing.” She said when they go on to graduate from Guiding Eyes and are paired with someone in need, the sweet feeling takes over the sadness. Mccabe receives letters and notes from people who have been paired with her dogs. Gemini was the last dog Mccabe sent off into the real world. Stacey Robinson, a woman who is blind and was born and raised in Tennessee, now has Gemini. “I’ve had Gemini for four months now,” Robinson said. “She is my fourth dog from Guiding Eyes. If I didn’t have her, I would be forced to be more dependent on my husband or my other family. I am thankful for all of the puppy raisers because without their work and giving of their life and time, we wouldn’t have such great guide dogs in our lives.” Mccabe knows her work is paying off when she hears how successful her puppies become at guiding the blind. Her love for dogs and her passion and interest in guiding eye dogs, especially, is what inspires her to continue giving back to the community and raising puppies. She is glad the UB community accepts Haiku, Kaylin and all of her other puppies. email: features@ubspectrum.com
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Wednesday, October 16, 2013
5
MAKING LOVE A MOVEMENT ON CAMPUS New group works to remind struggling students they’re not alone ALYSSA MCCLURE
Asst. Features Editor
A group of students is making love a movement at UB by providing help and support for students battling depression, anxiety and self-harm. Kelsey Habla, a sophomore architecture major, started the Love is the Movement Interest Club, which is based off of the national non-profit To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA). TWLOHA is a movement dedicated to creating hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide, according to its website. “There is hope and help available,” said Habla, the club’s president. “I think that a lot of people who are affected by depression, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders and self-harm have an apprehension toward seeking help for themselves. It is our goal to change the way people think about these issues and get help for those in need of it.” Katie Kruszynski, a sophomore nursing major and the vice president of Love is the Movement, first became aware of TWLOHA in seventh grade. Her best friend self-harmed and she had other friends who struggled with depres-
Jeff Scott, The Spectrum
(Left to right) Vice President Katie Kruszynski, member Florencia Salinas, President Liz Habla and Secretary Andrew Ellison are part of the Love is the Movement Interest Club, which is based off of the national non-profit To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA).
sion. Her school began a ‘To Write Love on Her Arms Day,’ in which students would write the word ‘love’ on their arms to show their support for those battling depression, anxiety, eating disorders and self-harm. Kruszynski also has personal experience combating these issues. “This summer, while I was battling depression, I was also struggling with self-harm, so the TWLOHA community and the website really helped me get through
it,” Kruszynski said. “I was able to read other people’s stories and how they overcame their struggles and I was also able to see that it was OK to get help and to tell people about the things I was struggling with.” All of the club’s executive board members were interested in forming a community for students to provide support to each other and to anyone who may be struggling and in need of help. “Since I first arrived as a freshman last year, I wanted to help
form a group that serves as a ‘by students, for students’ approach to prevent self-harm, led by people who have faced such situations, to show that every issue is manageable,” said Josh Schmid, a sophomore civil engineering major and secretary of Love is the Movement. “I hope that this [club] can be just that.” Habla came across the UChapters section of the TWLOHA website this past summer, which got her interested in starting a
chapter on campus. She spoke to past presidents of TWLOHA clubs at several colleges in the Buffalo area, including Canisius College and Niagara University, and received encouragement to establish a club at UB. “I became very inspired and wanted to share this cause with the UB community,” Habla said. “I think that what TWLOHA deals with is very prevalent on college campuses and we want our club to be a beacon of hope for those who need help.” Founding the club has been a “relatively smooth process,” according to Habla. The group has selected its e-board and is working on a constitution. The club is currently working toward permanent standing with the Student Association. To become an official UChapter recognized by TWLOHA, one or more of the club’s members must attend the national conference in Florida this coming May to receive proper training and learn about the organization in greater depth, according to Habla. The club is not currently officially affiliated with the TWLOHA organization and won’t be recognized until next year. For now, members are trying to gauge student interest and garner more participation. SEE LOVE, PAGE 6
Terror on the high seas: Captain Phillips review JORDAN OSCAR
Staff Writer
Film: Captain Phillips Release Date: Oct. 11 Studio: Michael De Luca, Scott Rudin and Trigger Street Productions Grade: A
Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Captain Phillips begins as a pulsepounding game of cat and mouse when Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) attempts to outwit a group of Somali pirates in an effort to save himself
and his crew. It turns into a plea for survival when he becomes the pirates’ sole captive in the ship’s small lifeboat. Directed by Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Ultimatum) Captain Phillips recounts the harrowing true story of Captain Richard Phillips’ actions after armed pirates hijacked the Maersk Alabama off the coast of Somalia in April of 2009. The tense biopic thriller places the relationship between Captain Phillips and Muse (Barkhad Abdi) – the leader of the Somali pirates – at the forefront as they struggle to cope with events escalating beyond their control during the six-day crisis. With a screenplay based off Captain Richard Phillips’ memoir “A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea,” Captain Phillips is an outstanding, tense and heartfelt film that speaks to an affinity for real-life action in a time of crisis. Barry Ackroyd’s (The Hurt Locker) cinematography along with Greengrass’ directing does a great job presenting the larger forces at work within Captain Phillips’ narrative without detracting from the story at hand. Greengrass’ notorious use of “shaky cam” comes into play a few times and, although some people dislike the technique, its limited use within the film serves as a way to make the action on screen more tense and energetic. Aside from a coincidental drillturned-real-life scenario near the onset of the film when the hijackers first try to take the ship, events within the movie never feel beyond the realm of reason. Muse and the other three pirates may serve as the villains, but their motivations are portrayed in a way that makes their actions feel necessary. The film’s commentary on the
effects of globalization brings deeper meaning to the film and makes the situation they are forced into more powerful. As the U.S Navy becomes increasingly involved in stopping the pirates from escaping and saving Captain Phillips, tension within the film continues to rise. As Navy SEALs get involved, the film comes to a relieving and heartbreaking conclusion. Tom Hanks delivers his best performance in years, anchoring the audience into a character who is intrinsically relatable through his actions and emotions. Though we are given very little insight into Captain Phillips, we are drawn to the character as the film’s narrative progresses. Other than Hanks and a few known actors, the mostly unknown cast brings an unexpected level of believability into the film, especially when it comes to the four pirates – all of whom made their debut performances in Captain Phillips. Although Hank’s portrayal of Captain Phillips will garnish a lot of attention, it is impossible to watch the film without noticing Abdi’s astonishing performance as Muse. Despite making his film debut in Captain Phillips, Abdi is able to gain sympathy from the audience as a character who could have easily been portrayed as a despicable villain. With Tom Hanks in front of the camera and Greengrass behind it, the final few moments of Captain Phillips encapsulate what makes the film so great. All the while providing a much-needed break in the relentless tension, which begins at the film’s onset with a shot of Phillips’ home. The events of the film may have happened a few years ago, but that doesn’t stop Captain Phillips from enthralling the audience into its brilliance.
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Wednesday, October 16, 2013
FALL FEST REACTIONS
Tony Christiano senior aerospace engineering major
“It was wet and kind of stupid. They played their tracks and just yelled over it. I liked the music, but they weren’t doing much with it. The rain also definitely took away from the energy.”
Malcolm Robinson sophomore undecided major
“I left early because it was raining and it was ruining my shoes. They should have just kept it inside; I would have stayed.”
Daisha Scott junior communication and health and human services major
“I thought it was cool despite the rain. I was right in the front and I actually touched A$AP Rocky. In the past, my favorite [Student Association] show was when J. Cole came because the weather was nice.”
Tim Van Oss senior civil engineering major
Mustapfa Hydara freshman biological sciences major
“I thought Super Mash Bros. was awesome. I got really confused when A$AP came on because they were marketed as two different people and then they were both on stage. It was cool and fun, but I think everyone expected something else.”
“It was the best event by far this year – hopefully Spring Fest tops it.”
Kayla Morey (right) freshman intended nursing major
“The first guy was stupid, but Ace Hood was good. [Super Mash Bros.] was kind of out of place with the other ones. It didn’t bother me, but my roommate (left) didn’t want to stay in the rain for A$AP so we left.”
Continued from page 5: Love Habla has spoken with Holly Hallum, the UChapters Program Director of TWLOHA, who is “on board” with what Habla is doing at UB. Though the club does not yet have a faculty adviser, Habla said she has received support from every faculty member to whom she has mentioned the club and its mission. Andrew Ellison, a junior biochemistry major and secretary of Love is the Movement, discovered the club from one of Habla’s Facebook posts, which described the club’s goals: “to present hope and find help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.” He decided to join because he wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself and help others. “I almost lost one of my best friends to suicide, and many of my other friends, along with myself, have suffered from, or are suffering still from depression,” Ellison
said. “I want to be able to help all of them, and anyone else that I can, and make sure nothing bad happens to any of us in the future.” Habla stresses that the club is not only for people who are suffering from depression, anxiety and other related conditions, but also for anyone who is interested in contributing to the club’s mission. The group will serve as a support mechanism and a safe place where anyone can go to talk about what may be bothering them. “I’ve been through some rough times and would like to use my experiences to help other people who are going through depression,” Schmid said. “Without the intervention of friends, I would not have been able to get past what was ailing me. I’d like to build a network of students at the university who can help others with their experiences.” The club intends to plan fundraisers and activities that will attract
more attention, such as a benefit concert and movie night. During their meetings, members complete and discuss activities from the TWLOHA Street Team website. They are also planning group QPR – Question, Persuade, Refer – training, which is an hour-long session that helps participants identify the signs of suicidal thoughts or actions. The training is designed to help individuals learn how to offer hope for those struggling and teaches participants how to get help for a person who might need assistance, according to Habla. People with thoughts of selfharm will show signs of it to their peers before their parents or psychiatric professionals, according to Schmid. The club would like to work with UB’s Wellness Education Services. Habla stresses that the club itself is not a counseling service but instead a peer service aiming to guide students to the appropriate resources.
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“Nobody wants to ever use [the training], but everybody will inevitably come across a situation where knowing it could save another person’s life,” Schmid said. The club’s members have expressed interest in learning more about the subject and stigma of suicide. Ellison and the other e-board members attended keynote speaker Ross Szabo’s lecture on suicide and mental health during Suicide Prevention Week at UB in September and were able to draw a lot from someone with first-hand experiences. His story was emotional and inspirational, according to Ellison, and it led him to ask himself what he was going to do about the issue of suicide. Habla and Ellison also participated in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Walk Out of Darkness Sept. 14 at Delaware Park with UB’s team, UBWalkin’. The team raised $6,750, surpassing its goal of $5,000.
Ellison said too many people suffering from mental illnesses are afraid to come forward because of the negative societal stigma. Love is the Movement aims to provide a place where students can gather and discuss any feelings they may have with “zero judgment.” “The most important message of TWLOHA is you are not alone,” Ellison said. “We live in a society where you are considered weird if you suffer from a mental illness. We need to be a society where you are able to receive help if you suffer from a mental illness.” Habla’s interest in helping others and in TWLOHA has led her to pursue a minor in Health and Wellness. “I want to make a difference at UB,” Habla said. “If I can help even one person break out of their shell, start to overcome depression or stop self-harming, I will consider it a great success.” email: features@ubspectrum.com
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Wednesday, October 16, 2013 ubspectrum.com
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Crossword of the Day
HOROSCOPES Wednesday, October 16, 2013 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK
ACROSS 1 Indian tea or state 6 Stops stalling 10 Jessica of “Valentine’s Day” 14 City at the foot of Mount Carmel 15 “Wait one minute!” 16 Jodie Foster title character 17 Villain in a script 19 Dog’s wagger 20 Rock band Mercury ___ 21 Foes of Custer 23 Cause of Cleopatra’s demise 26 “Deck the Halls” end 28 Be among the cast of 29 Swipe 31 Outflow’s opposite 34 Place for a big match 35 Unpleasant guest 36 Morning moisture 39 Law firm VIP 41 Troop formation 44 Second-to-last letter of the Greek alphabet 45 Spanish dad 47 A maternal relation 48 Add as a bonus 50 Floral perfume 51 Potato exporter 54 Like some cheddar 56 Finish 57 Keepsakes
60 Charlotte of sitcom TV 62 Potent pub rounds 63 Land way, way down south 68 Attire not for the modest 69 1/12 of a recovery program 70 Like some men’s backs 71 Back talk 72 Separate, as laundry 73 In a class of one’s own
DOWN 1 “Caught you red-handed!” 2 Juan or Jose, e.g. 3 Take a load off, say 4 “It’s ___ cry from ...” 5 Navigator with a strait named for him 6 Plant appendage 7 Mexican-American 8 Reggae pioneer Peter 9 Fill and then some 10 Forerunner 11 Inclined, to a Brit 12 Russian pancakes 13 Fred or Woody 18 Eggs, to a biologist 22 Chatter on and on
Edited by Timothy E. Parker October 16, 2013 INDUSTRIOUS PESTS By Gary Cooper
23 “... and make it snappy!” 24 Car-seat attachment 25 Classmates 27 Most October babies 30 Exact opposite 32 Angling in, as a nail 33 Bow-shaped line 37 Buoy one’s spirits 38 Wagner’s Valhalla god 40 Brief options between 45s and albums 42 Pain in the brain 43 Computer geek, for instance 46 Coin of Cairo, once 49 Suffix with “ball” 51 Mosque VIPs 52 Novelist Ephron 53 Periods of prayer? 55 “To ___ is human ...” 58 News agency that was the first to report on Sputnik 59 Able to see right through 61 And others, in footnotes 64 Fit for the job 65 Three, to Nero
66 Fading computer screen, for short 67 “Will do, Captain”
LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 22) -- You may be in charge of someone who is in no mood to be held down in any way. Your only choice may be to loosen the reins more than usual. SCORPIO (Oct. 23Nov. 21) -- You may miss out on something that doesn't seem to affect you at first, but later on you'll wish you had joined in. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -You may not fully understand just what is being asked of you, as it isn't in accordance with what you usually provide. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You may be in no mood to indulge in the social scene, yet there may be some very real good to be had from taking part.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You can do much to lift another's spirits, but doing too much may have an adverse affect. Judge your contribution carefully. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- You may be in an unusual position that requires you to step out of your comfort zone and do something you've not done before. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Most "accidents" today are not anything of the kind, and you'll realize this when you begin to assess the reasons for the day's developments. TAURUS (April 20May 20) -- Your behavior isn't likely to go unnoticed, so take care that you are doing only that for which you want to be remembered!
FALL SPACES ARE WHERE YOU SHOULD
BE LIVING! GOING FAST RESERVE YOUR SPACE TODAY BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE
GEMINI (May 21June 20) -- Take care not to throw your weight around; a subtle approach, understanding and sensitive, is more likely to get the job done. CANCER (June 21July 22) -- You may be trying to do something in a manner that is no longer employed by others. Still, old-fashioned methods are sometimes best for you. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You're being noticed, and you're not even having to do anything outrageous, unexpected, or out of the ordinary. VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) -- You're likely to avoid serious danger with the help of a friend who knows just what kind of situation you are facing -- and why.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013 ubspectrum.com
8
SPORTS Successful duo brings bond to UB
Assistant volleyball coach, junior setter have roots in Lees-McRae OWEN O’BRIEN Sports Editor
When Buffalo volleyball assistant coach James Goodridge was the head coach at Division II Lees-McRae, he took his team to Zeros – a restaurant the squad traditionally visited following games with rival King College. One trip was different from most – it followed a loss, something Lees-McRae rarely experienced. To try and cheer the team up, the restaurant made them a tray of hot cookies. The girls demolished them, but Goodridge wasn’t happy about that. After his team finished eating, Goodridge had only one thing to say: “I told them cookies taste like failure,” he said. Junior setter Taylor Pritchett, now at UB, was Goodridge’s setter at Lees-McRae in North Carolina. She was at Zeros that evening. Pritchett has yet to eat another cookie in front of Goodridge. The two are together in Buffalo, looking for a new challenge with a Division I program. Around Christmastime last year, Goodridge decided to accept an assistant position with the Bulls. After Pritchett reassessed her situation and decided LeesMcRae didn’t seem like the “right fit” anymore, she looked into UB and the opportunity to keep building toward success with her old coach. Pritchett is the backup setter for the Bulls (15-4, 3-3 MidAmerican Conference), but due to head coach Todd Kress’ strategy, she is often on the court at the same time as starting senior setter Dani Reinert. Pritchett is second on the team in assists (318). Pritchett had opportunities to play for a Division I team straight out of high school. She had offers from schools like Marshall and Winthrop, but chose Lees-McRae – the only Division II program with which she spoke. “A lot of it was the way [Goodridge] said he was going to work with me,” Pritchett said. “His coaching style was more conducive to how I learned. Some of the other coaches I spoke to were very loose with situations.” Goodridge helped Pritchett adapt to college life and transition from high school student to Division II student-athlete. They formed a bond. Upon hearing about Goodridge’s decision, Pritchett began researching UB immediately. As a psychology major, she loved Buffalo’s strong psychology program. She received her release from Lees-McRae and shortly after called Goodridge and began talking about the possibility of joining him.
Daniele Gershon, The Spectrum
After Lees-McRae head coach James Goodridge (left) accepted an assistant coaching position at UB, junior setter Taylor Pritchett (right) decided to try to join her coach in Buffalo.
“I called [Goodridge] one night and said, ‘I looked into the school and I want to try to follow you,’” Pritchett said. “‘I’m going to send [Buffalo head volleyball coach] Todd [Kress] an email,’ and he said, ‘OK, go for it.”’ Goodridge told Kress about Pritchett’s talent and desire to play for the Bulls. He explained to Kress how, out of all the players from his team, she was one who could contribute and play at the Division I level. After his initial endorsement to Kress, Goodridge tried to step away from the recruiting process. He wanted the other Buffalo coaches to decide her fate. “I didn’t really have a ton of involvement in the recruiting process for her, just because I didn’t want our prior relationship of me coaching her in the past to hold a lot of weight,” Goodridge said. “I wanted her to be recruited for her own merit and not because I think she should be here.” Goodridge knew Pritchett had assets to contribute. He saw it all when he was recruiting her to Lees-McRae and through her play after she arrived. “[Pritchett’s a] very cerebral player, very smart and a headsy player,” Goodridge said. “When I coached her, I knew when she got there she had Division I opportunities and we scooped her up and stole her away.” The hardest part for Goodridge was leaving his players at Lees-McRae. He was the men’s volleyball head coach for three years. At the same time, he served as an assistant with the women’s team for two seasons, before taking over as head coach in his final year. Goodridge had a lot of success there but was ready to “begin a new chapter.”
Loesing highlights Big 4 preseason awards
Sophomore guard one of six UB players selected to preseason All-Big 4 teams
Another one of his fears was the possibility of losing some of his authority by accepting an assistant position. Kress assured him this wouldn’t happen. “Coming in from a head position to an assistant position, I didn’t want to be silenced,” Goodridge said. “I didn’t want my voice to be quiet in the gym. I wanted to be able to come in, teach, have a say, and he said I would absolutely be able to do that.” Pritchett said she hasn’t noticed any changes in Goodridge’s demeanor. He’s the hands-on coach with the same intense attitude he had at Lees-McRae, Pritchett said. The biggest adjustment for Goodridge from Division II to Division I has been the size of the school and the amount of facilities, he said. Pritchett said the biggest change in her transition is the differing attitudes between her former team and current one. She felt some of her LeesMcRae teammates might not have been as committed as others, but she hasn’t experienced that at UB. Pritchett and Goodridge continue to excel and get the best out of one another. Goodridge describes Pritchett as very quirky, saying, “It’s never a dull moment with her. She’s kind of weird, always fun to be around.” Goodridge called himself a “heckler” and said Pritchett’s ability to “take it in stride and laugh at it” has helped the two remain relaxed on the court. Pritchett and Goodridge are hoping to avoid as many “cookies” as possible at UB. email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Read the full story online at ubspectrum.com/sports
Saturday
Making impacts on the diamond – in Buffalo & Boston Softball team is pulling for Will Middlebrooks and the Red Sox JON GAGNON
Senior Sports Editor
Lacey Middlebrooks and her brother, Will, raced to the morning newspaper to see who had thrown the most strikeouts and had a better ERA in their pitching performances the night before. It was a common event in the traditional athletic, competitive household – two siblings battling each other. But the paths Middlebrooks and Will followed after high school are far from traditional. Middlebrooks was a standout softball pitcher at Tulsa and is now an assistant coach for Buffalo’s softball team. Will is the starting third baseman for the Boston Red Sox – who are battling the Detroit Tigers for the right to represent the American League in the World Series next week. “It was crazy competitive; I wanted to beat Will in everything and he wanted to beat me,” Middlebrooks said. “Everything was a competition, and my dad kind of egged it on. Growing up with a brother who was just as competitive and athletic helped me to become such a good athlete.” Middlebrooks will serve as the Bulls’ pitching coach this season in her first year coaching. Her name is etched in the record books at Tulsa, as she finished her career in the school’s top 10 in career wins, saves, complete games, shutouts and innings pitched. She is part of a new coaching staff at UB, led by first-year head coach Trena Peel, who said Middlebrooks’ relation to the Red Sox has sparked excitement on the team. “When [Will] gets a hit, we talk about it every day, so it’s kind of a side story for us and we get excited,” said Peel, who is a Colorado Rockies fan but is temporarily in the Red Sox’s corner. “I’m all about Boston, and it gives me a reason to watch now, knowing somebody, so I want to see them be successful.” On Sunday, the Red Sox evened up their series with Detroit (1-1) in thrilling fashion. The Sox trailed 5-1 entering the eighth inning and it was Will who sparked the team’s rally after doubling to left field. Just three batters later, the bases were filled for David ‘Big Papi’ Ortiz, who hit a game-tying grand slam. Middlebrooks was on her way to dinner and just missed her brother’s clutch hit. “As soon as I turned it back on, he had just gotten on base
Courtesy of Lacey Middlebrooks
Lacey Middlebrooks is in her first year at UB as an assistant softball coach. She’s trying to help to turn around a struggling program while her brother, Will, is helping the Boston Red Sox try to earn a trip to the World Series.
with his double,” Middlebrooks said. “I had missed that, but I always kid and say he does better when I don’t watch.” Middlebrooks said watching her brother play is surreal. “When the game was on, I paced back and forth and I could not let myself watch his at-bat because I get just as nervous as if it’s his first game,” she said. “I’m grateful to be able to watch my brother and see him go through this process.” Middlebrooks is in the heart of softball’s offseason and is trying to revamp a team that struggled last year. The Bulls finished 16-32 and 6-14 in Mid-American Conference play. The program’s struggles, however, made her decision to join the Bulls easier. She is excited to help turn around a program and have an impact on the team. “Once I graduated and was away from [softball], I realized how much I missed it and how softball has been my passion for so long,” Middlebrooks said. “I feel like I have a lot to contribute to a lot of people.” While Middlebrooks continues to help prepare the Bulls for the upcoming season, Will is fighting to help the Red Sox earn a trip to the World Series. They currently have a 2-1 series lead over the Tigers and Game Four is scheduled for Wednesday at 8 p.m. email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Colby Way named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week Senior defensive end Colby Way was named the Mid-American Conference East Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the football team’s 33-0 victory over Western Michigan this past weekend. Way had four tackles and three sacks, tying him for the team lead with senior linebacker Khalil Mack; they both have five sacks this season. Way’s three sacks also moved him into ninth place all-time on the school’s career sack list with 15 sacks in his career.
Juan D. Pinzon, The Spectrum
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