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Volume 59 Issue 24

An independent student publication of the University at Buffalo

Dancing for diversity By ASHLEY SMITH Staff Writer Students tangoed their way across the Student Union on Wednesday in a celebration of cultural diversity. Brightly colored red, orange, yellow and black balMarina Bayramova/The Spectrum Right: The Latin Bazaar attracted

many students with dance lessons, craft making and food.

loons filled the lobby, directing students to the Latino Bazaar held by the Intercultural & Diversity Center. From noon to 2 p.m., the Student Union became a hub of cultural activity. Latino rhythms blasted through speakers, enticing students to come in and join the various activities and displays of culture. Craft tables, food tables and club tables lined the

edges of the bazaar and kept the students flowing steadily. It was hard to find an empty seat at the craft tables where students were hard at work decorating carnival masks and making tissuepaper flowers. “I think [that when doing crafts], you get more involved and that’s a better way to experience culture than see LATIN page 2

Students rally against SUNY budget cuts By JENNIFER GOOD and CAITLIN TREMBLAY News Editors The economy might be starting to grow again but students are discovering that financial troubles are still knocking at their door in New York State. In a movement organized by the Student Association, students rallied outside of the Student Union on Thursday to sign a petition and voice their concern with Gov. David Paterson’s proposed SUNY budget cuts. Earlier this month, Paterson announced a plan to cut $90 million from the SUNY budget in addition to the $143 million cut that was made last year. That extra cut caused UB’s tuition to increase an additional $610. Last year, only 10 percent of the tuition increases went to UB while the remaining 90 percent were allotted to New York State. UB now receives 20 percent of tuition increases, but this is not enough to make up for the predicted cut in funding. While UB was not as

Katie Carlett / The Spectrum

Students voiced their anger over Gov. David Paterson’s SUNY budget cuts with a rally outside the Student Union on Thursday. affected by the first round of cuts to the SUNY system, the second round of cuts will affect UB’s academic opportunities, faculty and staff and students. “This next set of cuts [is]

really going to start affecting students in a noticeable manner,” said John Martin, a UB council representative. “I certainly think this is a time to let our local representative and the governor know that

we don’t support this and we won’t stand for it.” Paterson’s proposed cuts have come at an inopportune time for UB, as it just put the finishing touches on its UB 2020 plan.

“These cuts are destroying our precious universities and they will take decades to repair,” said UB President John B. Simpson in a statement read by SA President Ernesto Alvarado.

Students attended the rally Thursday to send the message to Paterson that they are fearful of the quality of their education and the future of UB. “The reason why SUNY schools are such an appeal is because there is such a diverse choice of different majors and availability,” said Rebecca Novick, a freshman business major. “To know that I have so many options and that budget cuts can possibly take away these options … it’s very disheartening.” The loss of funding will affect every aspect at UB, including all students, according to Jennifer Lewis, a SUNY delegate. “This is very real and very important. Next, it can be your department,” Lewis said. “It would be a shame for students to leave SUNY schools because they can’t afford it. This is our campus affecting your friends, your classmates and your faculty, as well.” SA lead the rally to spread the realities of the situation and to inspire students to see CUTS page 7

Steve Lopez at Alumni Arena

Life, passion and journalism

An unlikely duet By KEELEY SHEEHAN Executive Editor In 2005, Steve Lopez stumbled upon an intense violin practice session on a street corner in downtown Los Angeles. Lopez, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and author of “The Soloist” – a book based on his friendship with a homeless LA musician, and the inspiration of the 2008 movie of the same name – spoke as the third speaker in UB’s 23rd Dis-

Inside: Arts and Life ........... 5 Classifieds ............. 11 Opinion .................... 3 Sports ................... 12 This Weekend ........ 5

tinguished Speaker Series. Lopez detailed his meeting and subsequent friendship with Nathaniel Ayers, a former Julliard School student stricken by paranoid schizophrenia and left homeless on the streets of LA. “Nathaniel was seeing and hearing things that nobody else did. He didn’t know what to do or who to tell,” Lopez said. “He ends up in handcuffs, he ends up in a police see LOPEZ page 9

BACK IN AC TION Predictions say the men’s basketball team should finish third in the MAC. See Page 12

By ADRIAN FINCH Life Editor

Tim Ho / The Spectrum

Steve Lopez

As Steve Lopez walked into the classroom at San Jose State University, he sat down among 400 other hopeful journalism students, each with the same determination, drive and passion to become a successful writer. Whether he had the necessary fervor to complete the program and travel blindly into the future that

HOT ROD He’s 64 and still rocking as hard as ever. See Page 5

day was a question waiting to be answered. Looking back from his desk at the Los Angeles Times 35 years later, Lopez knew he had made the right choice when he remained in the classroom, agreeing to the uncertainties of life as a journalist and all the commitment it would require. After endless hours as a student journalist looking for his next big see JOURNALIST page 2

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story, Lopez received his first job as a sports writer with the Woodland Daily Democrat. “I thought, ‘Wow, you can get paid to go to the ball games and write about them,’ and I thought that was a pretty good deal,” Lopez said. As his career began and he teetered on the brink of the success he would soon find, Lopez embarked on his travels as a columnist with the Philadelphia Inquirer, the San Jose Mercury News and the Oakland Tribune. Before joining the staff of the Los Angeles Times as a columnist, Lopez worked for Time Inc. for four years, as an employee of TIME, Sports Illustrated, LIFE and Entertainment Weekly. Making the transition from a reporter trained to cover news stories to a columnist – where he was free to voice his opinion and write about whatever inspired him – was a challenge for Lopez. “You’re trained to stay out of it as a reporter, and so it was not easy for me to figure out how to begin to insert myself into it and find the right touch between reporting and view point,” Lopez said. “It’s not … as if there’s a simple answer … I struggle with that a lot, and still do in some ways.” After winning national awards for his column writing and magazine reporting, Lopez continued to search for his next story, scanning the streets of Los Angeles and listening to the sounds of the city. “What you learn from these experiences is to just get out of the office and to go and open yourself to the possibilities,” Lopez said. “There’s a

story on every street, and the job is … rather than sit in the office and talk about it, to go look for it and embrace that city that you’re covering.” Lopez initially wasn’t sure he would find passion in his career. But when he experienced the joy of creative freedom, he was able to captivate his readers and pull them into his world, if only for the few minutes it takes to read a newspaper column. “It still doesn’t feel like work,” he said. “I can’t ever imagine retiring from this; it’d be like retiring from life.” Lopez does have some regrets. During his time at the Philadelphia Inquirer, Lopez turned down a significant offer in order to be closer to his family. “It had always been a dream of mine to be a foreign correspondent. I thought a lot about it back when I was [at the Philadelphia Inquirer,] and either I was still trying to figure out how to do the column, or my kids were too young and I couldn’t very easily move the whole family, and then I went through a divorce and that made it even more complicated,” Lopez said. “That’s probably the one thing I wish I had done that I never did.” Lopez has already experienced more in his 35-year career as a journalist than most will in a lifetime. He’s parachuted into countries, been held at gunpoint and been accused of being a member of the CIA. He’s been told his columns are racist, narcissistic and a waste of space in a newspaper, but no criticism has ever stopped him. Lopez has travelled to Mexico, Columbia, Iraq and Bosnia – just to name a few – willing to go the distance to get the story and experience the thrill of life and all that the written word has to offer him and his readers. “I realized that it’s a better way to work for a living, to be able to have this variety of topics and the freedom to roll around looking for the next one and the next one,” Lopez said. “It’s been kind of surreal in a way.”

Equipped with the knowledge that writing could offer him endless possibilities, he embarked on a new journey as a novelist. “When I was in my late twenties and early thirties and started reading more, I just thought I would like to give it a try, so I wrote those first three novels and was working on a fourth when I started [“The Soloist”], and I’m just now starting to get these stirrings again,” Lopez said. “I mean each day I’m going over different book possibilities … I’m getting the bug again.” “The Soloist” was Lopez’s first nonfiction novel and was adapted into a movie in 2008. “The last year has been quite a ride … I think it probably won’t be until next year when I have some distance from it, when I can look back and appreciate it a little bit more,” Lopez said. “But it’s been so busy that I really haven’t had the time to stop and consider it all.” Lopez considers his friendship with Nathaniel Ayers, the talented musician suffering from schizophrenia, to be one of his greatest achievements. After spending nearly five years with him, including weekly phone calls, social events, baseball games and concerts, Lopez feels the two have gradually built a friendship established on trust. “There’s never been a subject that I’ve revisited this often, ever,” Lopez said. “I don’t think that I’ve ever done more than two or three columns on one character … but this is a unique experience in my life.” Lopez’s career has been defined by thrilling experiences, the chase for the perfect story, his search for passion, and the love and rewarding experience of finding a friend that will last a lifetime – and he sees no end to his career in the near future. “Whatever comes, I’ll deal with it and find a way to make my mark and strive and find some passion in it,” Lopez said. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com

Freshly cooked food LATIN from page 1 just watching from outside,” said Amanda Stoneburner, a freshman undecided major. The scents of freshly cooked food danced throughout the lobby and a short line of students formed in front of the food tables where soda, empanadas, chimichangas, flautas and other Latin foods were served for free. “[From] the dancing demonstrations to the lessons they give the [students,] there’s a lot of energy,” said Chris Mongielo, a secretary from IDC. “It’s so fun to do.” At other tables, volunteers shared personal experiences. “I love being able to show everyone Latino culture because I’m showing everyone else a part of me,” said Rochelle Lopez, a junior biology major and treasurer of the Latin American Student Association. Many students stood to watch the experienced dancers performing in the union, while others stayed to take part in some basic salsa lessons taught by Andrea Ortiz, a senior health and human services major and dance choreographer for LASA. Ortiz encouraged students to join her on the dance floor to experience Latino culture firsthand through dance. “My favorite part [of teaching]

is all of the different faces that you see and all of the people that want to learn,” Ortiz said. “I love the diversity of it.” Educational posters provided students with informational tidbits, while club members and volunteers spoke with students as representatives of their organizations. Yanco Escano, a sophomore business administration major, stood in front of the Puerto Rican Organization for Dignity, Elevation, and Responsibility Latinos Unidos’ table ready to speak with passersby. “[PODER] participates in order to celebrate Latino culture, to emphasize the diversity of University at Buffalo and simply to expose others to something new,” Escano said. “We’re involved every year.” PODER is a part of the People of Color Council, a group of Student Association clubs who strive to promote diversity and cultural understanding. Representing cultural diversity was an important facet of this year’s Latino Bazaar, and with a variety of activities to enjoy and various clubs to interact with, the event provided many students with a convenient way to learn more about Latino culture and the diversity at UB. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com

The Spectrum

October 30, 2009

O P I N I ON

Editorial Board Editor in Chief Stephen Marth Executive Editor Keeley Sheehan Managing Editors Ren LaForme, senior David Jarka Jennifer Lombardo News Editors Jennifer Good Caitlin Tremblay Chelsie Hinckley, asst. Ashley Hirt, asst. Amanda Woods, asst. Editorial Editor Jacob Shillman Arts Editors John Ranic, senior Christopher DiMatteo Jameson Butler, asst. Eric Hilliker, asst. James Twigg, asst. Life Editors Adrian Finch Matt Mosher Shane Fallon, asst. Rachel Lamb, asst. Sports Editors David Sanchirico, senior Andrew Wiktor Matt Parrino, asst. Joe Paterno, asst. Photo Editors Katie Carlett, senior Samantha Hicks Tim Ho Copy Editors Meghan Farrell Abbi Meade Graphics Designer Rafael Kobayashi

High hopes

Letters are not words!

A look into redefining UB Western New York has been looking for a way to reinvent itself for many years. That future has been recently pegged onto the University at Buffalo’s own UB 2020 plan.

The expansion also includes more buildings to thicken and expand the Academic Spine and a connection between Ellicott Complex and the rest of North Campus.

It hopes to resuscitate the Buffalo Niagara economy with the dramatic expansion of all three University at Buffalo campuses. The much needed facelift will inspire a new generation of college students to enjoy everything UB has to offer.

Lee Road will include a new area complete with a transit hub and will anchor the new “Main Street.” It will also include additional student residences, a hotel, and retail and dining venues.

Make no mistake: accomplishing this is no small feat. The university has already secured roughly 40 percent of the funding, but the well cannot run dry. Failure isn’t an option. The biggest key to the plan is connectivity and the expansion of the Metro rail from downtown to North Campus. There are three major tenets of the UB 2020 plan: expansion, connectivity and making the three campuses vibrant hubs for all of Western New York. The plan calls for a daily campus population of 50,000 students and staff. Look at the expansions as re-investment not only in academics, but also in the general economy. The building and then staffing of positions will draw more people to Buffalo, in addition to bringing in new shops and restaurants. It also aims to streamline and add efficiency to the existing campuses, adding multiple venues for walking and glass auditoriums for viewing the natural winter wonders that occur in the Buffalo area. These are changes that UB needs; everyone who walks around notices the lack of space and the complexity of navigating the campuses. Through multiple building phases, the university plans to add additional housing and academic facilities to North Campus and South Campus and provide the Downtown Campus with a chance to become an advanced medical center.

South Campus will become the center of the four professional schools at UB. It will feature new academic buildings as well as quads, courtyards and pathways, bringing back natural beauty to South Campus. The Downtown Campus hopes to become a world-class center of medicine. The campus will house a center to practice clinical medicine, medical education and groundbreaking medical research. The community must get behind these plans and support the university any way it can. Although the project has been in the works for a long time, the accomplishment of all these plans could provide a rebirth for a decaying city. The plan addresses major problems, including parking garages to put an end to the parking problem. The expansion of the bus system and Metro Rail to provide easy access to all three campuses is vital. These are the steps that will propel the university to new heights. The chance to modernize and update on such a scale is something that occurs very rarely. These are the steps to take to attract the best talent and to increase the reputation of the university. Many expansion projects have been attempted and many have stalled. This plan shouldn’t be allowed to fail – the merits are too great.

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.

The Spectrum is provided free by the Undergraduate Mandatory Activity Fee

OCTOBER 30, 2009 VOLUME 59 NUMBER 24 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.

I got a text message on Tuesday that made my soul hurt. I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry or sigh melodramatically. The only thing I could think to do was to delete the sender’s number out of my phone. So I did. All this from a text message? Oh yes. This message was such a monstrosity that it warranted not only a mention in my Facebook status, but also a lengthy tirade to all of my friends on the merits of appropriate Caitlin Tremblay grammar and, in short, News Editor not sounding like ignorant Tucker Max wannabes. The message read: “Wan go 2 Strbks w. me? I pay 4 u.” I had been out with this guy once before. He’s 27 years old and has a job – both plusses. Call me shallow, but just based on messages like this I cannot, in good conscience, grant him a second date. Why? For many reasons. First, letters are not words. Unless you’re trying to creep on a 14-year-old on MySpace or signing someone’s yearbook in middle school, it is not OK to text, talk or spell this way. Second, not all girls are like Britney Spears with her endless string of K. Feds and 24-hour marriages. We have standards, which generally include grammar and a higher IQ than a jar of mayonnaise. Bastardizing the English language like this is not going to fly unless you’re hitting on a girl with such low standards and self-esteem that she even thinks messages like, “c u ltr 4 a gud time,” are cute. I just gagged. Third, it is never all right to text someone for a date. Whatever happened to the good old-fashioned phone call the next day? When did it become acceptable to rip all of the instantaneous excitement out of dating? Text messages, IMs and e-mails are far too calsee TREMBLAY page 4

Big hotspots Fat club’s open debate about health Long Beach, Calif. has shed some light on a rather big issue. The United States has seen civil rights, women’s rights and now the fat rights movement. The movement has been around 40 years but only recently has gained major traction. It suggests that overweight people are targets of hatred and discrimination. Members argue that fat people are either ridiculed or pitied. In an attempt to curb such abuse, special nightclubs are popping up – nightclubs for the plus-sized. Yes, fat people. These are clubs that cater to fat people, and more specifically, those who might have some trouble getting past the velvet ropes at other nightspots because of their size are made to feel like they fit right in. Weight is a touchy subject in society. But are such clubs are prompting people to lead unhealthy lifestyles? People come in all shapes and sizes and there is no such thing as normal. But obesity does cause real health problems and should be a concern. It shouldn’t come as surprise that obesity is a tremendous problem. Bombarded constantly with cheap fast food, America has become the land of unhealthy people. We have too many fast foods restaurants. This country has become the butt of fat jokes across the globe. The concern is that obesity may be the No. 1 health risk in this country. The Center for Disease Control reports that obesity causes 400,000 deaths a year. It has links to diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea and increased likelihood of cancer. The club for overweight clientele attracts equal numbers of both men and women. An interesting fact is that three-quarters of the women in attendance are plus-sized, while only a quarter of the men are. Some of the club-goers have actually slimmed down and no longer fit

the profile, but still come back because of the friends they have made. But while not all club-goers are heavy, the existence of such venues has led some to question whether they are encouraging people to remain fat in a society where, according to the CDC, one-third of adults are obese. Obesity stems not only from eating habits but physiological conditions, such as hormone disorders. The environment does have positive effects: such venues allow people to build self-esteem, which can lead to people taking matters into their own hands and doing something about their weight. “As the country gets heavier and, ultimately, unhealthier, in many instances the problem is people feeling bad about themselves, and feeling bad about themselves doesn’t motivate people to lose weight,” said Karen Sternheimer, a sociologist who has studied various aspects of pop culture. The validity of such movements is difficult to measure because it’s extremely hard to distinguish between people who are bigger by nature living healthy lives and those who choose to do nothing about their weight. Happiness comes in all forms. No one should be denied the right to have fun and feel comfortable among his or her peers. But clubs of this nature are walking a thin line. People must remember that their health isn’t determined by a number or a look, but rather by what is best for their body. Besides, almost everyone can stand to lose a couple of pounds.

Doth I complain too much? It’s the universal question of the chronic complainer: “Why me?” I’ve never considered myself an overly upbeat person, much less a textbook example of a “good” fellow. I’ve just thought I’ve been lucky to get my way most of the time and slide out of tricky situations with (most of) my ego and self-respect intact. In the end, it’s a priority of Shane Fallon mine to see the proverAsst. Life Editor bial glass as half full. That being said, my karma has been a little off kilter lately, in a plethora of ironic and hilarious ways. This past Sunday, while on the train from downtown to North Campus, I realized at the stop that I had forgotten my monthly pass. Following the lead of countless friends and acquaintances on their constant skipping of paying their fare, I figured I was flying high just this once. Imagine my surprise when the half-smiling face of the NFTA metro ticket inspector interrupted me while scribbling in my diary and rereading “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” A $50 citation later, I finally made my way to North Campus for a busy day of production at The Spectrum. En route, I figured I should crawl over to the school bookstore to pick up a novel for my final required English course as an undergrad. Said course is taught by a professor I have been trying to win over from day one, and whose work I have fallen behind on. What should have been an in-and-out operation was anything but. Upon entering the bookstore, my bag set off the security alarm, an issue I have had since I purchased it a year and a half ago. see FALLON page 4

The Spectrum

October 30, 2009

Looking forward to next year SOCCER from page 12 to play with all the seniors, and it was really touching for us to play together for a final time.” Defenseman Melissa Klein, one of those seniors, was ready and willing to leave everything on the field against the Golden Flashes. “We give 110 percent every game, but especially this game just because it was going to be the last time I was going to step on this field, so it was a bittersweet moment,” Klein said. The moment turned sour quickly though, as the Flashes went into halftime with a 1-0 lead after netting a goal in the 42nd minute of the first half. Midfielder Rachel Dennis sent a kick from five yards into the net to give the Flashes the 1-0 advantage. It was a goal that, according to Bulls head coach Michael Thomas, was a microcosm of Kent State’s

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go into a season saying that you are rebuilding or conceding anything, because we compete, but we did have an extremely young team,” Thomas said. “We had a lot of young players step up and play big roles on the team, and in that sense, we are extremely excited about the future of the program.” The future of the program, however, would not be possible without the departing seniors and everything they brought to the team. “It is no secret that we have a very young team this year, and I think the biggest impact that the seniors have had are on the freshmen,” Thomas said. Whether they need a little sympathy, or they need a kick in the pants, the seniors were always there for them.” Pettenuzzo reflects on her time with the seniors, and just how much influence they had on her since her

freshman year. “This [senior] class, I’m really close with, and they took me under my wing when I was a freshman,” Pettenuzzo said. “This class is known for keeping the beat up on our team, and keeping high spirits, and they definitely did that this season.” Not everybody gets the opportunity to play for a Division I team and gain the relationships that come along with it. Klein will never forget the memories she made in the the past four years with this Bulls team. “Just being on an athletic team is amazing, and I am definitely going to miss that,” Klein said. “There is no other feeling like that in the world, so it’s definitely something I am going to miss. This team is great.”

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and the Golden Flashes took advantage of a Buffalo penalty, scoring on a penalty shot and making the score 2-0. The goal effectively put the game out of reach for the Bulls. With his team playing tough the whole game, Thomas saw the Buffalo penalty as one out of anger. “I thought the first half was very physical, the second half less so,” Thomas said. “Then you started to see some frustrations boil over towards the end, but I was pleased that we were still pushing hard to get a goal, and trying to create things late in the season. We were down a couple goals and we were still fighting. It speaks volumes to the character of the players of this team.” With what can be described as a disappointing season now behind the team, Buffalo looks towards next year as a springboard for success. “As a coach, you never want to

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offensive game plan. “I thought the run of play was pretty even,” Thomas said. “It is a little bit stylistic that Kent definitely throws a lot of stuff towards the net, and at some point they do a good job of making it stick.” The Bulls did have their opportunities to score throughout the game, but were just unable to find the back of the net. “I thought we had some clear cut chances if we had just kept the ball a little bit more when we had Stephanie [Velez] and Aubrey [Stahl] and Taylor [Thompson] all behind the defense at different times during the game,” Thomas said. The second half opened up similarly to the first: very slowly with not much action. The action picked up near the end of the game, and it didn’t favor the Bulls. In the 82nd minute, Marosszeky

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TREMBLAY from page 3 culated. Where’s the thrill of the conversation? After all, first dates are really just like job interviews. Would you text a potential employer after an interview and say “thx for the chat hope 2 c u agan?” No. You wouldn’t get a job this way, so don’t expect to get a date either. This may work in high school “do you like me, circle yes or no” scenarios, but you’re in college now, boys.

This is not cool (“kewl”?) anymore. It’s juvenile, pathetic and honestly it just makes you look like a lazy, beer-gutted frat boy who spends far too much time playing Halo and not enough time actually interacting with humans. I, and 99 percent of the rest of college girls, am not as easily won over as Lindsay Lohan on a meth binge or Miley Cyrus, well, any day of the week. We require effort… and properly spelled words. Gentlemen, your attractiveness comes with an IQ requirement. We’re not looking for the next member of MENSA or for you to cure cancer while blindfolded and reciting War and Peace backwards from memory. We just want to feel like we matter and when you send us atrociously truncated messages that more closely resemble hieroglyphics than actual words, we don’t feel like we mat-

ter. We feel like an afterthought that you couldn’t even bother to waste time actually spelling out words for. We need intellectual intercourse before we can even think about giving you the other, arguably more fun kind. Just call us and be polite and courteous. It’ll go a long way. We’re not Ann Coulter – we’re not scary. There’s no need to hide behind an embarrassingly abbreviated text message to just ask us out. Dial the seven digits we gave you and call. Not hard. Welcome to the adult world, gentlemen, where dating becomes more than holding hands in the hallway, dry humping for six hours and awkwardly watching movies with your parents. This is called adulthood. It’s a good thing, I promise. Embrace it and you won’t be “2 cute 2 b 4gotten.” E-mail: caitlin.tremblay@ubspectrum.com

Karma stinks FALLON from page 3

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Instead of allowing me to go about my business, the bookstore staff took it upon themselves to not only search my bag, but also scan every book in my possession (I’m an English major and a reader, so I have a lot of them) to verify as my own. My property was then haphazardly and disrespectfully shoved back in my bag without the slightest consideration for order, then placed in the store’s drop-off area without my knowledge. Anyone passing by who actually wanted to rob the University Bookstore could easily have helped themselves to my possessions. To add insult to injury, they were completely out of the title that I needed. So much for pleasing my professor with my knowledge and commitment to my passion. Of course, these situations made me ticked off. Of course, there’s plenty more complaints where those came from. I felt unwelcome and ostracized in the bookstore, yet I worked in Barnes & Noble for almost four years in high school, not to mention the fact that I’m an English major, a lifelong reader, and ideally a writer whose titles will one day be shelved in that place. But I’m jumping to conclusions. It’s true. My karma stinks. It’s also true that I may or may not deserve it.

My response to the whole ordeal: So what? Situations come along every day that irritate and flat-out annoy. What in the world is endlessly complaining going to do toward solving my problems? The answer: absolutely nothing. I try every day to simply go on living. It’s the least I can do to solve my issues, and the littlest I can do to make my foes tick. Last but not least, when the nonsense piles up, and I feel like I am drowning in absurdity, I do my best to remember that this too shall pass, and these situations are usually not something that will define my life. I have so much to be thankful for. I have my independence, my health. A passion for Virginia Woolf and Jane Austen I hope will continue to flourish throughout my life. A brain chock full of ideas and potential stories I hope to turn into an awesome book very, very soon. A great family and good friends who provide support when I need it. And very recently, a dark-haired, dark-eyed boy who makes me smile. The glass looks pretty full from here.

E-mail: shane.fallon@ubspectrum.com

The Spectrum

October 30, 2009

James Twigg Asst. Arts Editor

AR T S & LI F E WEEKEND WARRIORS By ALEX NELLISSEN Staff Writer

Death of creativity Originality has become a rare commodity in today’s world. Whether it’s the Ugg boot/North Face wearing crowd, or any hardcore breakdown ever, the lack of originality has become abundant in everyday life. But nowhere is it more profound than in the recent slew of crap excreted from the hills of Hollywood. How often do you see a trailer for a new movie and think to yourself, “Wow! What an original and clever concept.” I’d be willing to bet that it doesn’t happen all that often. I used to be a big fan of going to the movies with friends. It was always a reliable fallback plan that rarely seemed to disappoint. But lately I’ve found myself becoming more and more cynical about the entire theater-going experience. It seems as if the only movies left are remakes and sequels. Most of the time the sequels are for movies that truly do not deserve a continuation. By the time I’m done watching the movie, I feel like I just spent $9 on something I’ve already seen. Take, for example, the Saw franchise. For those of you who are unaware, this year the Saw series released its sixth installment. Really? Do I need to see people tortured for the same reason six times? Granted, the first few films were rather impressive. The twist at the end of the first movie was, in my opinion, one of the greatest endings to a movie I have ever seen. But as the series progressed, the films became more about the gore and less about the creativity. As a result, I found myself less and less inclined to shell out the cash for a ticket for the same regurgitated garbage. Even more infuriating than the onslaught of useless continuations that are plaguing our local cinemas are the atrocious remakes – most of which completely degrade their source material. King Kong, Journey to the Center of the Earth and Halloween are just a few examples of remakes that in no way, shape or form lived up to the status of their predecessors. And from the looks of things, Hollywood has no plans on ending its brutal spree. There are several remakes in development that are sure to make me try to forget yet another part see TWIGG page 8

Courtesy of the Golden Griffin Batallion

UB students are recruited to the Army ROTC annually for an opportunity to serve their country.

By MAX MILLER Staff Writer For Rod Stewart, 2009 didn’t just offer him a chance to shoot out studio album number 26. It led to him reinventing his musical genius yet again. Soulbook, not to be confused with the first four installments of Rod’s Great American Songbook, is a collection of classic soulful hits from the ’60’s and ’70’s. And who better to cover said songs than Rod Stewart? With his incredibly catchy and smooth vocal stylings, the Grammy winning rock and roll artist shows the world that at the age of 64, he still has it, and proves that age is but a myth. Throughout the album, Stewart

collaborates with R&B’s leading ladies Mary J. Blidge and Jennifer Hudson, while also teaming up with Smokey Robinson and 22-time Grammy winner Stevie Wonder. Stewart begins the album with “It’s The Same Old Song,” originally done by The Four Tops, and does a phenomenal job keeping up with the faster-paced chorus, never sounding a step behind. The most lyrically challenging song of the album comes in the Jackie Wilson classic “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher.” Once again, Stewart does a great job providing the beat to a song that raises spirits. Stewart and Hudson’s take on The Everly Brothers’ “Let It Be Me” proves to be an impressive duet, despite being a tale of two genera-

By MATT MOSHER Life Editor It’s not every day that a new media company starts up – especially in Buffalo. But despite what has been a dark time for some news corporations, Skunk Post has set up in the Queen City with a fresh

outlook on broadcasting. Skunk Post is a Web-only news site that launched on Oct. 1 that uses blogs and video journalism to cover various local news stories and features – with a comedic and satiric angle. Skunk Post is owned by Hearst Communications, the makers of

Oct. 30 - Nov. 1

James Twigg

John Ranic

Asst. Arts Editor

Sr. Arts Editor

When?

Halloween… obviously

Where?

Why?

Any neighborhood, although you might want to go out to Amherst if you live in the Heights. You may look like a creepy S.O.B., but hey, it’s free candy. And you can never be too old for free candy.

see ROTC page 9

Courtesy of RCA Music Groups

Rod stole our hearts, but we love him anyway. tions... separated by two generations. Combining Stewart’s easy-onthe-ear lyrics with Hudson’s rhythmic vocals, the two seem as though

they have worked together before, even if there’s decades of differsee STEWART page 6

A new smell for Buffalo media

Jameson Butler Trick-or-treating

The Army ROTC program allows students unique opportunities – from riding in military helicopters to roughing it in the woods – all while gaining hands-on leadership skills and Army tactics training. Many think that the ROTC program is all rigorous military training and drilling. However, this is not the case, according to Greg Losce, a sophomore history major and a cadet with the ROTC program. “It was a lot of fun, and to tell the truth, I thought it was going to be like boot camp when I first signed on,” Losce said. “Everyone has been very open and accepting, along with being helpful. To top this off, I feel a very big sense of camaraderie among my fellow cadets, who not only provide help in the program, but academically as well.” Over 60 cadets of the ROTC pro-

gram’s Golden Griffin Battalion took their training outside the classroom. Flying to their training site in Franklinville, N.Y. in three Chinook helicopters, they tested their leadership skills, soldier tasks and drills. The benefits of the ROTC program are abundant, according to Catherine Deren, a senior exercise science major and public affairs officer for the ROTC program at UB. She said the training and skills acquired through the program can help a person get through school and life. “You can build leadership skills and become more of a strong-willed and responsible person,” Deren said. “It also helps you to think on your feet and builds your résumé for the future. School definitely becomes more manageable with the skills you derive from it.” Learning helpful skills, having a good time, and engaging in a unique

Rod Stewart: Wonder soul

This Weekend in Buffalo What?

What?

Game three of the World Series

When?

Saturday at 8 p.m.

Where? Why?

My couch Because despite the Yankees’ less-than-stellar performance in game one, it’s still the World Series.

What? When? Where? Why?

Christina Courtin Friday at 7 p.m. The Tralf She’s a local girl with big city dreams. Why not check her out?

popular magazines such as Cosmopolitan and O: The Oprah Magazine. Christie Weber, a video journalist for the site, said that the company started as a blog to gain followers while the site was being constructed, equipment purchased and employees hired. Skunk Post staffers came to the Student Union on Tuesday to interview students and give away free T-shirts, bags and bottle openers. They also brought an inflatable basketball game, offering students the chance to win money and items if they made a basket. Skunk Post came to UB in hopes that more students will become “skunk posters” for the site, including bloggers and video journalists. “If you think you’re funny, post something on Skunk Post,” Weber said. “With ‘You Post,’ users can post anything they want; they can even post a funny Craigslist advertisement.” Users can upload content, blogs and videos. The site will let society judge what is acceptable – the videos will not be edited for content or taken down unless the community feels they are offensive, according

to Greg Garrick, vice president of marketing for Skunk Post. “There was a significant gap in the Buffalo market for this type of Web site,” Garrick said. “Our research showed that our target audience enjoys … entertainment sites and shows like The Daily Show … [and] that type of entertainment and satire-type stories.” Garrick also added that everything the site does is based around their target audience, which consists of primarily 18 to 34-year-olds. The site conducted research based on focus groups and did secondary research on Web based traffic patterns of the demographic. The news and stories featured on Skunk Post include a variety of events that take place in Buffalo and the Western New York area. The site also covers national and world news and politics. Skunk Post also features an indepth sports section, covering the Bills, Sabres and the UB Bulls teams. “The site focuses equally on both accuracy and also the entertainment see SKUNK page 8

The Spectrum

October 30, 2009

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By NICOLAS PINO Staff Writer Tekken 6 has thrown out the gauntlet play of your older brother’s King/Devil showdown and brings to the table what other fighters, even the well-documented ghosts of Tekken past, couldn’t – next-generation game mechanics. Technically the eighth game in the series – including the highly popular offshoot Tekken Tag Tournament – Namco Bandai is looking to shatter the competition with this year’s last great fighting game. Since Tekken’s release in ’95, the franchise has grown into an internationally praised standout of the fighting genre. The newest installment does anything but disappoint and is so

much more than a video game with an Asian battle hymn CD side. The new Campaign Mode in Tekken begins with a stylized summary of the series, which is perfect for those new to the franchise and also a great reminder for those who have been there since the beginning. The story continues after Jin Kazama wins the King of Iron Fist Tournament 5. Jin is power-crazed and disillusioned with who he once was, and begins to pave a path of world domination using the powers of the Mishima Zaibatsu. Here the player takes over, controlling Lars Alexandersson, a former leader of Jin’s Tekken Force. The quest is rather long and arduous, as unlocking characters for this mode becomes tedious after a

By ARI SASON Staff Writer After a three-year derailment, California quintet Train is back on track, in more ways than pun. With their fifth full-length album, Save Me, San Francisco, Train returns to the scene they left with a steam-fueled bang. The adult alternative songsters rock relatively hard throughout the album and prove that they can still pump out the hits as well as any soccer mom crooning quintet on the scene. The choruses found in SMSF are quite catchy, which is overly apparent in the lead single “Hey, Soul Sister.” After hearing vocalist Pat Monahan croon out, “Hey soul sister/ ain’t that Mister Mister on the radio,” you’ll be bound to be in a better mood, fueled by flashbacks and retro-themed fun. Train also shows that they haven’t lost their touch in putting out classic compositions, with the track “Brick by Brick” as a prime example. It’s a beautiful song driven by Monahan’s powerful voice, which is accompanied by melodic

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strings and creates that epic buildup with which great songs usually pack in their punch. “Parachute” is another magnificent track with a verse that builds up into an exploding chorus that will make you want to pump your fist as you chant along with the Train conductor. “I’ll open up and be your parachute/ and I’ll never let you down/ so open up and be my human angel/

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few levels of repetitive game play. The adventure mode is reminiscent of the classic Tekken Force mode found in Tekken 3 and 4, thus creating a sense of a “beat-em-up” play uncommon to the fighting genre. However, the game really shines when the player ignores this mode and plays the rest of the single player types, including the spectacular team battle and ghost battle. New game mechanics and stages to explore make this Tekken stand out from its predecessors. The enhanced graphics of the higher end consoles make this game beautiful to look at. Tekken fans will be happy to see that the arcade mode was left almost

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ences between them. Stewart closes out his Soulbook with “Just My Imagination,” and what better way to go out then providing a smooth, Wonderbread remake of the beloved classic by The Temptations. People critical of Stewart for not tackling new material, and singing over already produced hits, should take a step back. For years, Stew-

art has provided his fans with hit singles and classic albums and is an inspiration to already known and upcoming stars. Why can’t he try and make the great better, or more importantly, Stewarter. From beginning to end, Soulbook is a joy to listen to and true fans of his work will appreciate the fact that he’s not going away any time soon. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com

and we’ll only hit the ground running,” Monahan sings. Tracks like “Marry Me” and “Breakfast In Bed” end the album on a softer note, slowing things down a bit and offering up a different side of Train. Martin Terefe, the producer for Jason Mraz’s latest album, also worked on Save Me, San Francisco. This probably explains why “Hey, Soul Sister” has a similar vibe to Mraz’s hit “I’m Yours.” SMSF rocks through mellow melodies, like Train’s previous work. Any Train fan should be more than satisfied. And though it might not be as good as Drops of Jupiter, it definitely gives it a run for its money. The album is good enough to blast out loud and sing along to, but at the same time, is smooth enough to turn down low and casually listen to as background music. And that’s a rare quality nowadays.

E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com

Rod Stewart Soulbook

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The Spectrum

October 30, 2009

suny protest : day one

Photos by Katie Carlett/The Spectrum

Over 1,300 students took part in a protest against the recent SUNY budget cuts.

Petition signed by 1,316 students RALLY from page 1 fight for their right for a better education. “The state of New York has a deficit that continues to worsen. As the deficit grows, so does the need to cut funding,” Alvarado said. “Unfortunately, education is the one area that has taken the biggest fiscal hit and that area is the one that affects us the most.” African American Studies and the Department of Global Gender Studies are two of UB’s institutions already being affected, according to Sophia Azeb, a graduate student in American studies. “We have classes that are being

YOU ALL NEED TO JOIN THE SPECTRUM

YOU ALL NEED TO E-MAIL: stephen.marth@ubspectrum.com LIVE THE LIFE OF KINGS

“These days for the apathetic student are long gone and we will not stand for it.” -Ernesto Alvarado

cut, funds that are being cut,” Azeb said. “We need student support so we can challenge these effectively.” With over 100,000 SUNY students facing the repercussions of the cuts, SA is encouraging students to contact Paterson and urge him to reconsider this plan. In the first day of rallying, SA gathered 1,316 signatures to send to Paterson’s office in Albany. SA members are hopeful that their

cause will be met with the consideration they feel it deserves. “These days for the apathetic student are long gone and we will not stand for it,” Alvarado said. “We need the University at Buffalo to stay strong so we can continue to gain an education here. Don’t cut our future short.” E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

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Opens Nov 20th at the Amherst Theatre in the University Plaza across from Main Street Campus. Special Midnight Shows www.dipsontheatres.com for showtime info or advance sales

The Spectrum

October 30, 2009

Big expectations for the Web site SKUNK from page 5 value of the story,” Garrick said. The site has several special features sections, including a police blotter titled “You have the right

to remain stupid.” The Skunk Post finds some of the dumbest criminals and people who get arrested in the WNY area. Among the other features are special pages for sex, health and fitness,

fashion and beauty and entertainment. Each section has a variety of blog posts and video content focusing on a wide range of topics, and also features posts from Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Popular Mechanics

and other Hearst Publications. Garrick has high hopes for the site and would like the community to get involved. “[I want this to] be a success from a traffic perspective, and that the users return often and enjoy the site and participate and provide user generated content [and to] comment and post things that they find interesting around WNY,” Garrick said.

“We would like this to get bigger and eventually see more Skunk Post sites across the whole country.” The site is located at www.skunkpost.com and has both a Facebook and Twitter account for users to follow up-to-date stories.

E-mail: spectrum-features@buffalo.edu

Red Dawn remake is ‘blasphemy’ TWIGG from page 5 of my childhood. Among these is Wes Craven’s fear-inspiring masterpiece, A Nightmare On Elm Street. Unless the minds behind the remake can think of a more creative way to kill Johnny Depp than the original did, this film is sure to be a letdown. Anyone who holds any respect for quality filmmaking should be repulsed by the decision to secondguess Craven’s work. As horrible as this news is, it is nothing when compared to the No. 1 blasphemy in the works. Currently filming in Michigan and due out sometime next year is the remake of the 1984 juggernaut Red Dawn. Just stab me in the heart now and get it over with. The original Red Dawn was flawless. The story was phenomenal, as was the acting and the action. But what this film truly got right was the timing. It was released during the Cold War and truly had an impact

Thinking about Graduate School . . . Join us at the Graduate Studies

Open House at

The College at Brockport Thursday, November 5, 5–7:30 pm Seymour College Union Take this opportunity to: • Meet faculty from the College’s graduate degree programs and teacher certification areas. • Explore off-campus and distance learning options. • Have your individual questions answered about admissions and financial aid.

GAME from page 6

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Engage.

Excell.

E-mail: james.twigg@ubspectrum.com

‘Online matches lag horribly’

Reserve your place.

Aspire.

on the American public. The film depicts a Russian invasion of America. The movie opened with the red soldiers opening fire on a public high school and the stars of the film escaping into the mountains with nothing but their hunting rifles. Despite being made five years before I was even born, Red Dawn was and remains one of my favorite movies of all time. What makes the remake of this film a true abomination is the recent passing of Patrick Swayze, who starred in the original. As far as I’m concerned, remaking Red Dawn is an insult to the late Mr. Swayze and his career. Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek) will never be able to fill the shoes originally belonging to the best dirty dancer of all time Here’s a better idea, Hollywood: how about instead of ripping off classics, you stop being lazy and write your own films?

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untouched, with the exception of two rather frustrating additions. The first annoyance is the “bonus boss” NANCY-MI847J, a serious piece of machinery that’s nearly impossible to defeat on harder difficulty settings. The second is the final boss, Azazel, who proves to be a ridiculously over-powered demon that was designed solely to eat quarters from the arcade player’s pocket. Frustrating doesn’t even begin to describe the feelings one will feel after facing

these two demonoid phenomena. In Ghost Battle mode, players will face a continuous stream of everincreasingly difficult computer controlled characters, while raising the rank from ninth Kyu all the way to ninth Dan. Conversely, Team Battle mode is great for the times you want to challenge your buddy to use five characters against your one. Both modes add great depth to the single player game and the overall shelf life of this title. Sadly enough, there are some major flaws with the game – the first and largest being that online matches lag horribly, making online competitive play nearly impossible. With no solid online mode, Tekken 6 can’t hold up to the competitors in the genre that have locked down the online formula. The next problem that gamers will face is the new “Rage” mode. Games like Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe implemented this mode to give the casual player more of a chance and swing the games in the last few seconds of the match. For those who are Tekken veterans, this mode will entirely infuriate you, as in a bad Dane Cook joke, n00bs playing Eddy Gordo will end up winning the majority of matches through this highly controversial addition. Also, for those considering buying this iteration of the franchise, you may just want to wait for the notquite-sequel, Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion, which will be released in the first quarter of 2010. With a $60.00 retail price, Tekken 6 makes for a steep purchase, especially with games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Assassin’s Creed II on the horizon. Tekken 6 proves to be promising, but with the next iteration just months away, it promises to do better. Ultimately the fate of the tournament lies in the player’s hands, but it might just be worth the wait.

Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

The Spectrum

October 30, 2009

Simpson visits institutional partners in Turkey By LAUREN NOSTRO Staff Writer UB is working toward a new, more international future in hopes of providing its students with the most opportunities possible. To achieve this and to strengthen UB’s academic opportunities, UB President John Simpson visited two institutional partners in Turkey from Sept. 26 to Oct. 4. While there, Simpson, along with his wife, Katherine, and Stephen Dunnett, vice provost for international education, met with UB alumni in Turkey and renewed an exchange agreement with Istanbul Technical University. The SUNY system began a Memorandum of Understanding with the Turkish Council of Higher Education in 2002, which established a partnership between SUNY and a number of leading Turkish universities to create a dual-diploma program at SUNY institutions, including UB. “Turkey is an important U.S. ally and a strategic country which spans Europe and Asia,” Dunnett said. “It has a very diverse and rich culture and a very fine system of higher education. UB has exchange agreements with the top two universities in Turkey, which offer many exciting educational opportunities for UB students.” Among these educational oppor-

tunities are the joint degree program in civil and environmental engineering between ITU and UB, which began in 2004 and 2006, respectively. These engineering programs won the Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education two years ago. During his time at ITU, Simpson met the newly enrolled freshmen students in the civil engineering program. In the dual-degree program, students divide their time between taking courses at ITU and UB. These students complete their first and Courtesy of Stephen Dunnett third-year academic courses at ITU President Simpson visited Turkey to further expand UB’s international relations and academic opportunities. and their second- and fourth-year courses at UB. Upon their graduation, they receive two Bachelor of U.S. universities. However, only have been offered good jobs,” Korur campuses and facilities of these two Science degrees, one from each uni- Turkish students participate in the said. universities. versity. program. Besides ITU, Simpson and other The admission procedure to highAccording to Defne Korur, direc“It is important for American UB officials also visited Bilkent er education institutions in Turkey tor of the ITU Office of Internation- students to engage in study abroad University, a distinguished private is significantly based on a Central al Relations, 140 Turkish students in order to become more globally university in Ankara, the capital University Entrance Examination, will study at UB under the terms of competent,” Dunnett said. “Increas- of Turkey. The group also toured which is administered to roughly 2 this agreement. ingly, American graduates must the Institute of Material Science million students every year. “We also hope to start sending UB compete for jobs in an ever more and Nanotechnology, a national In addition to visiting the two students to study in Turkey – at both globalized workforce and market research facility and center of excel- Turkish universities, Simpson and Bilkent and ITU,” Korur said. place. Graduates who speak foreign lence in nanotechnology. Dunnett also attended a reception Nine students in the first dual- languages and who have had interAccording to Dunnett, the group with about 40 UB Turkish alumni diploma program in civil engineer- national experience will have an then met with the rectors (presi- in Istanbul. The reception, held in ing graduated from UB in 2008. advantage in the global job market.” dents) and provosts of both ITU the Turkish Cultural Center, gave Eighteen received their B.S. degrees According to Korur, the top 50 and Bilkent, along with many of the Simpson the opportunity to update in civil engineering in 2009. As of students are then recruited to the deans and faculty that work with the Turkish alumni chapter on the fall 2009, there are 109 students civil engineering program. UB on the mutual exchange agree- progress of UB’s 2020 plan. from ITU at UB. There are 27 such “Due to the adoptability skills of ments. dual-degree programs carried out our students and them being culturSince this was Simpson’s first visit between Turkish universities and ally capable in the global world, they to Turkey, the group also toured the E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

Search for compelling column leads Lopez to noble mission LOPEZ from page 1 car, he ends up in Bellevue and his promising career is over.” Throughout his 35-year career, Lopez has written for numerous publications, including TIME, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Oakland Tribune. He joined the LA Times staff in 2001. Lopez was rushing to meet his latest deadline when he happened upon Ayers. “I’m in a full-blown panic two or three times a week trying to figure out what to write about next,” Lopez said. “You’ve got to keep your eyes open, your ears open ... I’ve had three children just because of the column potential there could be in that,” he joked. Lopez caught the faint melodies of classical music while hurrying back to the newsroom to pound out his latest column. He spotted Ayers at a corner of Pershing Square. The image was striking, he said. “You hear a guitar out there occasionally … someone banging on a bucket, but not classical music,” Lopez said. “The violin looks like it’s been pulled out of a dumpster. I move in closer and realize its missing two strings.” Lopez approached Ayers, who was startled and suspicious of him, and asked him why he’d chosen to play in that particular spot. “He said, ‘There’s a Beethoven statue. I play here for inspiration,’” Lopez said. “I don’t know how many times I’d walked past it.” The statue was the remnant of a concert hall that used to stand in the park’s place. “It had moved decades ago, but Beethoven had stayed behind,” Lopez said. Ayers’s mission was simple. “He said, ‘I played pretty well once. It was a long time ago and I’m just trying to get back on track,” Lopez said. Lopez began visiting Ayers frequently in search of a compelling column. As he discovered more

about Ayers’s past, he eventually became a prime player in Ayers’s mission, and the mission of the thousands of others society had forgotten. Lopez learned that Ayers, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, had been a promising Julliard student with a full scholarship until 1972 when, during his third year, after a months-long crescendo of anxiety and hallucinations, paranoid schizophrenia took a complete hold on his life. After treatment involving shock therapy and medications that stripped him of his creativity, and the death of his mother, Ayers found himself in LA. “He wandered the streets, scared and alone,” Lopez said. “Then one day in downtown LA, meets the man who saves his life – Beethoven.” Lopez began writing columns about Ayers’s life, receiving more of a response than he’d envisioned. “Nobody responded the way they did to this first story about Nathaniel,” Lopez said. “They saw this as a ‘there but for the grace of God’ story … People believe in second chances and they think this might be his.” Readers felt invested in Ayers’s life and the possibility of treatment. Instruments became a frequent delivery to Lopez’s office. “People had gone into closets, spare bedrooms, attics, dusted off instruments because they wanted Nathaniel Anthony Ayers to get a second chance … They sent those two missing strings.” Lopez, too, became invested in trying to help Ayers. He spent a night with him on Skid Row, a dumping ground for Los Angeles’s homeless, littered with abandoned war veterans, people in wheelchairs, drug gangs and prostitutes living and working in Porta-Potties. “I saw thousands of people like him, people who were clearly battling physical ailments or mental ailments … it looked like a huge human landfill,” Lopez said. “That, I think, was the night the whole thing changed.”

According to Lopez, there are currently 70,000 homeless people on the streets of LA, a third of whom have a mental illness, and 20 to 30 percent are war veterans. “This is an example of what you get when you shut down mental hospitals and don’t follow through on policy changes and fail to provide necessary services,” he said. Seeing the way Ayers lived on Skid Row and how he meticulously organized his shopping cart – because he could not organize his mind – gave Lopez insight into Ayers’s refusal of medication. “I didn’t understand the psychological barriers,” Lopez said. “He was more comfortable when he wasn’t mingling with people … He didn’t want to return to the world where he had snapped.” But Ayers’s spirit was as unyielding as his denial to seek treatment. “He walks to the edge of the curb and, in a perfect Shakespearean accent, recites the Hamlet soliloquy. He’s now talking to me about literature and helping me understand classical music and I’m looking at these people and wondering what their stories are,” Lopez said. “He said, ‘I hope the whole world rests well tonight,’ and I have not rested well since. How could we allow this? How could this exist?” Lopez considered giving up his career in journalism to become a mental health aid to help Ayers and others like him. Many encouraged him to stay with journalism and continue to bring awareness to the cause through his writing. “I’d like to think a little progress has been made … that I’ve helped people open their hearts and minds, and be less forgiving of public policy failures,” Lopez said. “I’d like to think people got the right message from the book or the movie.” Ultimately, it was Ayers himself who was most influential in Lopez’s decision to continue writing. “What Nathaniel did with this story was remind me that I had my

own passion and I should hold onto it and do it as long as I could,” he said. Ayers currently lives in an apartment in LA acquired for him through mental health services. He has a music studio nearby holding his 15 instruments. He wants to play in a community orchestra and work in music therapy, Lopez said. “He’s progressed tremendously in terms of socializing. I’d like to see him at least someday consider the meds,” Lopez said. “We’re trying to get Mr. Ayers to the point where he decides to try these things … [but] I’m not his doctor, I’m his friend.” Ayers plays mostly in his studio, but continues to play on the streets of Los Angeles, often near Beethoven. “He plays all over the place, all the time, and he can’t get enough,” Lopez said. Lopez said Ayers frequently encourages him to write two sequels to The Soloist. He thinks two more movies should accompany the 2008 film and that the first be aptly named The Soloist: A Diamond in the Rough, Lopez said. Ayers is composing a soundtrack. Ayers appreciates the public’s support and eagerness to hear his story, Lopez said. “He is aware the story isn’t just about him … that it’s about the thousands like him,” Lopez said. “If he was here tonight he’d be playing selections from Diamond in the Rough.” Lopez’s friendship has helped Ayers along on his mission to “get back on track,” but Lopez said that he felt lucky to meet Ayers. “There has never been a moment of regret or self-pity, he celebrates the music … He wakes up and the world is a disorienting place, but the music saves him,” Lopez said. “He knows true passion.”

E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

Impressed and pleased ROTC from page 5 experience are all part of the ROTC program. However, Avery Schneider, a senior English major and cadet, says that it isn’t easy. “You need to have good willpower and commitment when considering joining,” Schneider said. “Along with this, you must also have the desire to better yourself, be open to new things, and see the world from a different perspective.” Maj. Jamey Barcomb, junior class advisor and assistant professor of military science for the program, was very pleased with the training event and was impressed by the high level of motivation and teamwork displayed by all the participants throughout the weekend. “I only wish more college students would consider taking advantage of this training,” Barcomb said. “Unfortunately, most students don’t realize the unique opportunity available to them by participating in ROTC. Any student can take military science and leadership their first two years without any obligation. It is just another college class, the classes are free, and all materials are provided by the program.” Full-time students interested in the military science and leadership class for the spring semester can register online or call 716-888-3239 and speak with Lt. Col. Rebecca Sparacino with any questions about the program. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com

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Myers hasn’t reached full poteneial yet PATERNO from page 12 skating displays unique speed. His shot from the point is powerful and accurate. His soft hands allow him to stick handle effortlessly and he has shown a knack for creating and joining an offensive rush. In the defensive zone, Myers has shown great poise and patience. He is strong on the puck along the boards and is calm in organizing the breakout. With a stick that looks more like a javelin, Myers has shown ease in fending off forecheckers and poke checking incoming forwards to break up an attack. The lone question on Myers is his physicality. He has shown that he can absorb a hit against the boards in his own zone, but hasn’t shown the nastiness of a Chris Pronger or Zdeno Chara. Then again, he is only 19 years

October 30, 2009

Bulls pulled ahead in close game VBALL from page 12

old. He is still expected to tack on another 20-30 pounds of muscle to his frame. That’s a scary thought. Myers’s potential is out of this world. He will be in consideration for Rookie of the Year by season’s end and should get used to wearing an Eastern Conference All-Star jersey. He might as well make room in his trophy case for future Norris Trophies. I’ll admit I’m jumping to conclusions on the youngster, and I’m fine with that. The future is bright in Buffalo for Tyler Myers. If I were a betting man, I’d place my chips on Myers signing the richest contract in team history. In the near future, he will wear the ‘C’ on his chest, and one day, bring Lord Stanley’s Cup home to Buffalo.

Robertson had two service aces in the set. Silvers added five kills, boosting her team-high average to 3.45 kills per set. Buffalo continued its momentum and captured the second set after scoring six of the final seven points. Junior outside hitter Marisa Hornbaker finished with seven kills in the set, including kills on the last three points. Hornbacker led the Bulls with 12 kills, seven digs and a service ace. It looked as if Canisius would bring the match to 2-1 during the third set, but the Bulls came back to pull the away victory. After falling behind 14-9, the Bulls scored six straight points to take a 15-14 lead. The Griffs clawed their way back into the set, evening the score at 17-17, but the Bulls went on a 6-2 run to take a 23-19 lead.

E-mail: joe.paterno@ubspectrum.com

Canisius extended the game and scored three-straight points to pull within one of the Bulls. After numerous comeback attempts, senior outside hitter Maria Mezzadri ended the Griffs run with a kill. A Griffins hitting error sealed the set and the match, and set for the Bulls. “While I felt that we played with our most consistent energy level of the season, we still came away with a loss,” said Canisius head coach Cathy Hummel in a press release. “We’ll have to learn from this match and find a way to win with an important conference weekend ahead of us.” Junior middle blocker Kristin Bignell added nine kills for the Bulls, and redshirt junior middle blocker Kelsey Lueders had seven of her own. Freshman libero Tori Beckman had a match-high 12 digs and junior setter Lindsey Schlegel

had four kills, eight digs, 38 assists and two aces. “It is always great to come out with a victory, especially when you can do it in three sets against a good team like Canisius,” said head coach Todd Kress. “We are continuing to get better each and every day, but we still have a lot to correct as we reach these last few MAC weekends. We will get back at it at practice tomorrow and prepare for Bowling Green and Miami this weekend.” The Bulls currently sit in third place in the MAC East Division. The team will host a double-header this weekend at Alumni Arena. Bowling Green comes to town Friday for a 7 p.m. match, followed by Miami (Ohio) on Saturday. Saturday’s match is set for 5 p.m.

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moved to the starting shooting guard position last season and thrived, averaging 14.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. The breakout season led to AllMAC First Team honors last year. Pierce’s breakthrough game came against No. 2 UConn at Alumni Arena. Against the eventual Final Four clinching Huskies, Pierce scored a career-high 28 points and helped Buffalo compete with Connecticut. It wound up being one of

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Tournament wins, the team finished 8-24 and lost eight of its last nine regular season games. The Bulls return 10 players from last season’s team and get junior guard Ashley Zuber back. After averaging 6.3 points and 3.5 assists a game in 2007-2008, Zuber sat out last season with a hip injury. Buffalo’s men’s team opens with an exhibition contest with Main Street-rival Daemen on Saturday, Nov. 7. The Bulls open the season with a home contest with Vermont on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 5:30 p.m. The women’s team will prepare for the upcoming season with an exhibition contest with Mercyhurst on Thursday, Nov. 5. Buffalo opens its season on Friday, Nov. 13 with a road contest at Niagara. E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com

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Pierce’s double-digit 23 doubledigit scoring games. Pierce was not the only Bull to be picked to a preseason team; the women’s team was represented by its star player. Junior forward Kourtney Brown was selected to the women’s preseason All-MAC team after averaging 17.9 points and 9.4 rebounds a game. She scored 532 points during the season, setting a Buffalo singleseason record. Brown also totaled 11 double-doubles and helped lead Buffalo to its first ever MAC Semifinal game. Even after the team’s surprise triumph in the MAC Tournament, the MAC media members don’t foresee a positive 2009-2010 for the team. Just like the men’s basketball team last year, the women’s basketball team is picked to finish last in the MAC East. Before its two MAC

these young men to be ready to step right into the lineup and compete on a national level.” Highlighting the class is freshman Andrew Schutt, a two-time high school All-American who earned outstanding wrestler honors with a perfect 14-0 tournament finish at the 2009 AAU Junior Olympic Games. “Schutt’s very tough,” said assistant coach Jeff Catrabone. “He’ll break the lineup this year, get in and get some big wins for us.” With the addition of the new class, plus the eight returning wrestlers from last year’s squad, Catrabone believes this year’s Bulls can make some noise in the MAC. “Our goal is to get half the kids to nationals,” Catrabone said. “Out of half those kids, we should have two or three All-Americans. Overall, as a team we hope to win a MAC Championship and this is something we believe we can do.” If the Bulls want their goal of a MAC Championship to come true, sophomore Desi Green will be the one of the reasons they get there. Last year, Green compiled a record of 40-9 and finished the season with nine straight victories, including a notable 4-3 decision over then 10th-ranked Steve Brown of Central Michigan. He led the Bulls in almost every statistical category and set the school’s all-time record with 71 takedowns on the season. “As a team, I want to get us in the

top three in the MAC,” Green said. “I want to go out and dominate and make sure everyone knows we mean business this season.” Green looks to not only improve as a team, but as an individual as well. Although he is ranked 16th nationally in his weight class, he’s better than that in his mind. “They say I’m ranked 16, but I think [I’m] top two,” Green said. “A lot of people put too much thought into the rankings. To me, it’s just motivation.” Catrabone also believes that Green has what it takes to become a top five nationally-ranked wrestler. “His best quality is his attitude,” Catrabone said. “Desi really gets out there and gets after it. He thinks he’s the best and that’s going to make him the best. The biggest thing in wrestling is attitude and Desi has it and it is really going to make him a stud.” The Bulls begin their season at home this weekend when they host the UB Open at Alumni Arena on Nov. 1. This event will feature several top 25 wrestlers and winning programs. Despite the tough competition, Buffalo remains confident that it can compete with such a field. “We’re excited for the open on Saturday,” Green said. “Maryland and Pittsburgh have some top 25 wrestlers, so I’m going to look to go out there and dominate.”

E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com

The Spectrum

October 30, 2009

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The Spectrum

October 30, 2009

SP O R T S Hitting the mats Joe Paterno Asst. Sports Editor

Mount Myers Superman has found a new home, and it just so happens to be along the Buffalo Sabres blueline. For Sabres fans, watching the team begin the 2009-10 season 7-1-1 has been a treat. What’s been an even bigger surprise, however, has been the standout play of the club’s newest defenseman. Drafted 12th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft, Myers has been nothing short of spectacular in his short career in the National Hockey League. Standing at 6-foot 7-inches, the 19-year-old resembles more of an NBA center than an NHL blue-liner. When he laces up a pair of skates, the Sabres have a 7-foot skyscraper on ice. Through his first nine games, Myers leads all Buffalo defenseman with two goals and is sixth on the team with five points. Myers also ranks third on the team, averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time per game. He is currently seventh in the NHL with a plus/minus rating of plus-eight. His defensive partner, Henrik Tallinder, ranks fourth in the league at plus-nine. After coming off one of the worst years of his career, Tallinder had seemingly punched his ticket out of Buffalo by season’s end. But Myers has resurrected Tallinder’s career, and the pairing is quickly becoming a top duo in the NHL. After making the roster following training camp, Myers’s spot on the team was all but guaranteed. He was still eligible to return to Kelowna of the Western Hockey League. But under NHL rule, once a rookie plays his 10th game in the pros, he becomes ineligible to return to juniors. With the Sabres’ 10th game Thursday night, it was decision time for Lindy Ruff. Thankfully, Ruff realized the team had something special in the palm of their hands and announced that Myers would remain in Buffalo for the remainder of the season. Kudos, Lindy. Buffalo would have been foolish to let No. 57 return to the junior ranks. Last year with the Rockets, Myers finished the season with a career-high 42 points. He had 20 points in the postseason, led Kelowna to a WHL Championship, and was named playoff MVP. He had nothing left to prove. To be completely honest, I’ve never seen a hockey player of his type. Aside from his size, Myers possesses an unusual skill-set that puts him in the spotlight. For a player of his stature, Myers has shown freakish athleticism. His smooth see PATERNO page 10

By CHRIS LAW Staff Writer The talent has drastically improved, the success has become more frequent within recent years and the expectations are increasing. Overall, things are looking nowhere but up for the wrestling program. Looking to improve on its fourth-place finish at the Mid-American Conference Championships, this year’s wrestling squad has a new attitude and a new overall look. Buffalo brought in 12 new

wrestlers to strengthen its already strong lineup for the upcoming season. These freshmen combined for over 2,100 high school wins, 24 top three finishers in their respective state tournaments and three high school AllAmericans. “Our goal at the beginning of the recruiting cycle was to add depth and talent to our very young team,” said head coach Jim Beichner. “The incoming freshmen are hungry and eager to compete. I would expect a couple of see WRESTLING page 10

SIDELINES Women’s basketball gives back to the community

Spectrum File Photo

After finishing fourth at the MAC Championships last season, the wrestling team will host the UB Open on Nov. 1 to begin the 2009-10 season.

Varying predictions for basketball teams By DAVID SANCHIRICO Senior Sports Editor Things were expected to hit the bottom for the men’s basketball team last season. The team finished with 10 wins in 2007-2008, and there was no sign of an imminent turnaround. So the Mid-American Conference News Media Association predicted Buffalo to finish last in the MAC East Division and gave the Bulls 35 voting points, almost half the amount of points Ohio, the team predicted to finish in fifth place, received. The Bulls’ expectations must have been a little differen. They got off to a solid start in out-of-conference play and finished tied for first in the East. And that turnaround season made a lasting impression on those media members that predicted dire results a season ago. The MAC News Media Asso-

Spectrum File Photo

Rodney Pierce, a first team All-MAC preseason guard, and the Bulls are predicted to finish third in the MAC East according to the MAC News Media Association.

ciation released its preseason poll on Wednesday and predicted Buffalo to finish third in the MAC East. The voters accredited the Bulls with 97 points, including one first-place vote. Two voters also predicted Buffalo to win the MAC Championship, which would be its first-ever championship victory. Akron, which defeated the Bulls 65-53 in last year’s MAC Championship in Cleveland, is the overwhelming favorite to win the conference. They received 190 points and 19 first-place votes. Kent State finished between Akron and Buffalo with 108 points and three first-place votes. Last year’s Buffalo team more than doubled the win total of the 2007-2008 team, finishing with a 21-12 record and earning a postseason bid to the CBI Tournament. In addition, the Media Association voted Bulls senior guard Rodney Pierce to the All-Mid-American Conference Preseason Team. Pierce see BBALL page 10

Bulls snap streak with sweep By KEVIN CARNEY Staff Writer This year has been about reversing trends for the volleyball team, and the Bulls continued this movement Tuesday night. Buffalo (15-9, 5-5 MidAmerican Conference) came into the Koessler Athletic Center having dropped threestraight matches to Canisius, but the Bulls exited the Main Street complex with a victory, sweeping the Golden Griffins in straight-sets, 25-22, 25-16, 25-22. The Bulls are now two wins away from their most successful season since 1997, when the team had 17 wins. After building an early lead, the Bulls had a tough time closing out the first set of the match. The Griffs fell behind, 22-16, but won four-straight points to decrease the deficit to 22-20. In the end, however, the Bulls were able to take the set, 25-22, thanks to senior libero Ellen Robertson and senior outside hitter Dani Silvers.

Clinton Hodnett / The Spectrum

On senior day, the women’s soccer team could not send its seniors out with a win as the team dropped a 2-0 decision to Kent State at UB Stadium.

Season ends in a flash By MATT WEBER Staff Reporter No matter how bad things get, there’s always a chance to end on a good note. Or things can end just like they started. The Bulls welcomed Kent State to UB Stadium on Thursday looking to end the season with the team’s first win in five games. It was the seniors’ last game donning the blue and white, making the game that much more important to the Buffalo players. But that wasn’t a concern for the Golden Flashes (8-8-

2, 4-5-2 MAC). Kent State took advantage of an 18-7 shot advantage and captured a 2-0 victory over the Bulls (3-15-1, 2-8-1 Mid-American Conference). Buffalo came into the contest dedicating the game to the seniors, and emotions became the driving force for the Bulls in their final game together. “We decided before we came onto the field, we were going to play for each other,” said junior defensive midfielder Martina Pettenuzzo. “It was the last time we were going see VBALL page 4

Spectrum File Photo

see VBALL page 10

In the midst of preparing for the start of its season on Nov. 5, the women’s basketball team found time to give back to the Buffalo community last Saturday. The Bulls took part in the Western New York Girls in Sports Clinic at the Buffalo Bills Field House at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park. Founded five years ago by Mary Wilson, wife of Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr., the clinic gives young girls the opportunity to take part in various sports throughout the afternoon. Events included softball, soccer, volleyball, basketball, lacrosse, tennis, golf and nutrition. Alongside other local teams, the Bulls helped teach nearly 200 young girls different skills, drills, and rules to the game of basketball. “It was refreshing to see the girls so excited to be there,” said freshman guard Abby Dowd in a press release. “Sports are a great way to empower young girls and I think women’s sports sometimes get overlooked, so it was a really rewarding event.” Divided into defensive, shooting and dribbling groups, the team worked with the girls for about 10 minutes each. In that time, they were able to give tips on staying physically active, as well as advice on finding opportunities in sports. For Dowd, giving back to the community was a good start to the year. “It’s really nice to give back,” Dowd said. “These girls look to us as role models and we really want to inspire them to get involved in sports.”

Scoreboard Thursday Women’s Soccer Buffalo 0 Kent State 2

Upcoming Events Friday Men’s Soccer at Florida Atlantic, 7 p.m.

Men’s Tennis at Cornell Invitational, All Day Volleyball vs. Bowling Green, 7 p.m. Women’s Swimming at Miami (Ohio), 4 p.m. Saturday Men’s Tennis at Cornell Invitational, All Day

Cross-country at MAC Championships, 11 a.m. Volleyball vs. Miami (Ohio), 5 p.m. Women’s Swimming at Ohio, 1 p.m. Rowing at Syracuse Invitational, All Day Sunday Men’s Tennis at Cornell Invitational, All Day

Wrestling UB Open, 10 a.m.