Vol. 61 NO. 26
ubspectrum.com
Friday, October 28, 2011
Desi Green: the Article, the Backlash, and the Facts AARON MANSFIELD Senior Sports Editor
On Wednesday, The Spectrum published an article entitled “Desi Green Ousted on the Brink of History,” which detailed the removal of one of Buffalo’s greatest all-time athletes from the wrestling team. This piece has proven to be one of the newspaper’s most controversial articles of the year, and because this story came from the sports desk, I’ve been besieged with questions, comments, etc. People genuinely care and want to know the truth. That’s why I’m here. Wrestling head coach Jim Beichner cares. That’s why he came into the office of The Spectrum on Thursday. In a conference room at 12:30 p.m., three members of the wrestling program and three Spectrum editors sat and had a discussion about the article. We stand by the story as it accurately reflects the information we had at the time. However, we now know we made one mistake. In the fourth paragraph of the article, there is a sentence that reads: “The athletic department said he had failed numerous mandatory student-athlete drug tests.” In fact, this information came from Green, rather than athletics. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) laws prevent the athletic department from giving out health information about individual athletes. Rather, the athletic department said Green “was dismissed from the team due to multiple violations of team and university policies.” Basically, those in the department didn’t have the right to release the results of Green’s drug tests, so they didn’t. Next, there’s a section pertaining to Beichner, Green’s former head coach. The article stated: “Beichner, however, does not reciprocate. He refused to comment on Green’s case as he felt he had nothing positive to say.” That was the information we were given at the time, following numerous phone calls to the athletic department. On Thursday, Beichner told us he had many positive things to say about Desi. “I care about Desi Green and I like Desi,” Beichner said. “I’ve done everything I possibly could to help him and his daughter in the past four years. I wish him nothing but the best moving forward.” Beichner sacrificed and strived to give Green a future, and he was devastated that Green couldn’t finish his career at UB. Several unnamed sources within the athletic department have given me insight. They’re not allowed to go on the record, but they have granted me the inside scoop. Here it is: Desi was given numerous chances. UB obviously wanted to keep him around. He was one of the best athletes in school history. But when it comes down to it, the university could get in major trouble with the NCAA if it didn’t kick Desi off the team. He broke the team’s rules. That’s that. Beichner truly took Desi under his wing. He did everything in his power to give Desi a prolific career, and then he did everything he could to keep Desi around. But when Green continued to break the rules, there was nothing Beichner could do. The choice was Desi’s. He could have chosen to stop smoking and continue wrestling but he didn’t. I am not – and The Spectrum is not – here to say whether that decision was right or wrong. We’re just here to give you the facts.
Bulls Beat Kent St., Lock up Playoff Berth NATHANIEL SMITH Staff Writer
The women’s soccer team spent the whole of last season in the Mid-American Conference cellar. The Bulls (11-4-4, 4-3-4 MAC) were outshot, outran, and outplayed by their opponents the entire year, as they finished the season at 1-16-2 (0-9-2 MAC). When they were beaten by Kent State (12-7, 6-5 MAC) 7-1 in the season finale, it was clear that they’ve finally hit rock bottom after years of struggle. But last Thursday, the Bulls made one thing clear: this is a new season, and this is a new team. Buffalo finished off an incredible 2011 season in style and beat the Golden Flashes, 1-0, at UB stadium on Thursday. The win clinched Buffalo’s first MAC tournament berth since 2003. After winning just one game in October, the Bulls rallied to win their final two games to punch their ticket to the playoffs. The Bulls’ win over the Golden Flashes bookends a 10-game improvement from last season, the most in Division-I women’s soccer. Head coach Michael Thomas is very proud of this achievement.
“It’s a big accomplishment for us,” Thomas said. “You never want to be satisfied by anything other than winning the conference. But when you were in a drought like we have, we felt like we have fought uphill all season. I’m just so proud of the girls for coming out and getting it done.” Buffalo defeated Kent State using what it prided itself on all season long – shutdown defense. The Bulls’ were imposing, and only allowed the Golden Flashes one shot on goal in the first half. Although their efforts were not reflected on the stats sheet, freshmen midfielders Courtney Mann and Jackie Hall frustrated the Kent State players time after time. They fought for every ball on defense and on offense, while finding ways to keep the Kent State defense off balance with timely passing and ball control. Kent State turned up the pressure in the final 45 minutes, and made six more shots with five on goal. But sophomore goalkeeper Ainsley Wheldon stepped up much like she has the whole year and made six saves for her 10th shutout of the season. Buffalo rode the last two matches on late-game dramatics, but this time its game-winner came in the first half. In the 36th minute, Hall beat a tackle to send the ball to freshman forward
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The UB Women’s soccer team made the playoffs for the first time.
Yan Gong /// The Spectrum
SA Assembly Renews All Departments, Approves Salaries All yearly salaries for each position were shown on a PowerPoint presentation – except for the UBTV and Student Affairs departments, because the SA laptop’s battery died. When a staff member in the audience asked the UBTV director if the members get paid, his only response was, “Yes,” and no further questions concerning the salaries were asked. No questions were asked regarding the Student Affairs department’s salaries, either.
body, and is responsible for running SA’s most recognizable events, including the Fests, the Comedy Series, and Spirit Week.
See the corresponding graphic online for a list of the SA staff members’ salaries.
Event Planners This is a new department at SA, and it assists SA departments and clubs to make sure all necessary steps are taken when planning an event or activity. They help book rooms, contact vendors, and help with budget issues.
For almost each vote, the same two people motioned to end the vote and seconded the motion. The SA Assembly voted yes on all 13 departments and staff salaries. Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum
LISA KHOURY Asst. News Editor
Film Department Works to organize the SA Film Series schedule and create a fun movie-going experience for all patrons.
On Wednesday, the SA Assembly unanimously renewed all 13 SA departments and approved its staffs’ salaries.
Executive Assistants Assists the SA and the other staff members with tasks that make the SA more efficient and knowledgeable.
The departments of the SA are Film, Executive Assistants, Club Services, Entertainment, Environmental, Event Planners, Finance, Marketing, Media, Office Staff, Production, Student Affairs, and UBTV, and members of each spent roughly five minutes describing the department’s duties to the Assembly.
Club Services Aids over 130 clubs in meeting SA requirements by providing opportunities to meet these requirements. They provide all clubs with resources to grow in both membership and in impact on the UB community.
After each department briefly explained what it does, the floor was open to Assembly and staff members for questions. Following questions, there were votes on the confirmation of positions.
RACHEL KRAMER Staff Writer
The departments have the following duties, according to the PowerPoint presentation:
Entertainment Puts on activities and events to entertain the student
Finance Assists the SA departments and clubs to ensure that all financial needs are met while following all SA, UB, and SUNY Mandatory Activity Fee guidelines. Marketing Responsible for relaying information about SA and its activities, events, and opportunities to the student body. It are also in charge of managing and maintaining the brand image of the SA. Media Creates graphics to be used for marketing SA and its events, and for creating and maintaining photographic records of events. It works with Marketing to help brand SA and SA clubs.
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For the Good of the Team
Sticky, dirty, brown sludge covers every inch of their visible skin. It clings to their bodies, coats their hair, and sticks to their practice uniforms. They are the women’s rugby team, and they run like champions off the field after a practice in the mud, wearing the caked, smelly earth proudly. The UB women’s rugby team is undefeated this year for the first time since 2008. To Melissa Babajko, a freshman nursing major, the team is more of a family than just another club team. To her, the team’s motto, ‘For the Good of the Team,’ holds true. “It’s kind of like having a ton of big sisters,” Babajko said. “They can be mean and annoying at times but that’s the way it is. It’s all out of the
love of the sport.”
After playing softball and soccer in high school, Babajko came to UB looking for something new and exciting. She found her answer when the members of the rugby team approached her at orientation. After attending the first practice, in which she couldn’t even participate because of a previous knee injury, she was hooked. “What pulled me in was that it looked like a ton of fun and I knew I would enjoy it,” Babajko said. “I wanted to do a sport and I love football. I was already used to hitting the ground as a goalie from soccer so I don’t really mind this type of hitting – it doesn’t phase me.” It was the full contact aspect of the sport that drew not just Babajko into the team, but the other girls as well. They enjoy the therapeutic quality of getting rough on the field.
The women’s rugby team is undefeated for the first time in many years, and acts as a family both on and off the field. Troi Williams /// The Spectrum
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Jungle Fever
SOPHIE TRUTER Staff Writer Kelli Leclair, a sophomore communication major, fell victim to jungle juice when she was rushed to the hospital, to find out that her drink had been spiked. Emergency rooms near college campuses are seeing more young people with blood alcohol contents of .30 or even .40, according to The Chicago Tribune.
Desi is an amazing athlete, but his UB wrestling career is over. Would it have been great to see him continue making history and dominating opponents this year? Of course. The university thought so, too. UB and Jim Beichner wanted Desi around as much as anyone.
A bottle or two of vodka, some gin and rum, two bottles of wine, some juice-based liquids, a few pubes, and some spit are all ingredients to creating the perfect batch of jungle juice.
The school made the right decision. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Jungle juice is the number one college party drink, according to sofakingdrunk.com.
Alcohol abuse has long been an issue amongst college students. Almost 2,000 college students die each year from alcohol-related injuries, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. UB’s Wellness Education Center encourages students to be more aware of the possible risks that may arise from drinking the popular party punch, which people tend to confuse for a harmless fruity tasting beverage. Sharlynn Daun-Barnett, Alcohol Tobacco and other Drug Prevention Specialist at UB’s Wellness Education Center, has heard countless horror stories, like Leclair’s, about student experiences with jungle juice.
several years ago when four UB students – who have since graduated – were hospitalized after all attending a party near South Campus. “When the police busted the party and talked to the people that lived there they found jungle juice in a bathtub in their house and [the hosts] admitted to peeing and putting pubic hairs in the bathtub,” Daun-Barnett said. “Jungle juice is not kept in cleanly places, we find it in tubs, sinks, storage totes and garbage cans…you don’t really know what else is in there or how clean it is.” Many students are not aware of how strong the alcohol is, according to Daun-Barnett. Apart from not knowing what is actually in the cocktail, high amounts of sugar masks the alcohol, making it easier to consume more of what is gener-
I N S I D E
Many UB students are not aware of the dangers that come from drinking Jungle Juice, the popular party drink. Courtesy of Karin Dalziel
Weather for the Weekend: Friday: Mostly Sunny- H: 48, L: 34 Saturday: PM Showers- H: 49, L: 34 Sunday: Partly Cloudy- H: 51, L: 43
Environmental Affairs Responsible for environmental advocacy and running events and activities that promote environmental consciousness as well as awareness about sustainability issues on campus.
One of the most upsetting stories Daun-Barnett recalls happened
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Opinion * 3 Arts * 4 & 5 Classifieds / Daily Delights * 7 Sports * 8