Vol. 61 NO. 28
ubspectrum.com
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
A Furry Roommate LIZ WHITE Staff Writer
ranging in all different shapes, sizes, and species.
Anneka Hutton, a junior biological science major, and Gabrielle Bailey, a junior communication major, were walking on the bike path when they heard a sound. No, it wasn’t the sound of heavy breathing, or the faint echoing from someone’s iPod earphones. It was the crying of an abandoned kitten.
Hutton and Bailey did not intend to keep the kitten they found. However, The American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals (ASPCA) was full and couldn’t accept their found feline. With no other option, Bailey decided to adopt the kitten, which they named Dulce, and brought her back to their dorm.
A third roommate was the last thing Hutton and Bailey expected to find. While strolling down the bike path they discovered a tiny, lonely kitten. Feeling they couldn’t just leave the helpless kitten there, Hutton and Bailey decided to take her back to their dorm room.
“I don’t think we wanted a pet at school, but when we found her we knew we weren’t gonna be able to give her up,” Hutton said.
With the exception of service animals and fish in 10-gallon tanks, pets are not allowed on campus. Last year, records show that four residents violated the Campus Living rules regarding pets, according to Residential Judicial Coordinator, David Wright.
Rules that don’t allow pets in dorms cause problems for students who wish to keep their animals in their dorm rooms.
SA Senate Hears Club Requests for Funds LUKE HAMMILL Senior News Editor
lars on a brand new soundboard last year.
Students wondering what the Student Association does with their Mandatory Student Activity Fee should attend SA Senate meetings, where much of that money is managed. On Sunday in 330 Student Union, senators heard requests from student clubs in need of funds and decided how much money to give each of them.
“I’m not trying to challenge [the purchases], but I’m trying to make sure that I’m looking after the students and that I am taking the opportunity to get all the information for the students,” Ovadia said.
Before that happened, though, the Senate unanimously approved three things: the minutes from its Oct. 4 meeting, the naming of the Senate Finance Committee, and the SA’s recent expenditure adjustments, some of which were explained by SA Treasurer Sikander Khan. Expenditure Adjustments Khan took questions from SA Senators Daniel Ovadia, James Gibbons, and others who were specifically wondering about a $25,000 figure in the budget intended for improvements and replacements for the SA office’s computers, a new soundboard for use during events, and any other capital purchases the SA may need to make. “As the Senate Chair, I’m in favor of spending the $25,000 on the computers and on another soundboard,” said SA Senate Chairman Darwinson Valdez in an email. “This is the advice that the Student Association received from the IT department, so they did not just randomly decide to upgrade the computers. Also, they need to upgrade the computers before it becomes a bigger problem.” Ovadia – who was part of the unanimous approval of the expenditure adjustments – requested more information from Khan about the computer purchases, which Khan is in the process of providing to the senators. Ovadia also pointed out that the SA spent “several thousand” dol-
The new soundboard being purchased, however, will be able to handle larger, more complex shows; allow for faster setup times (reducing booking requirements); and record performances and shows, while the one purchased last year is a replacement for a smaller, cheaper soundboard only capable of handling smaller shows, according to an email to Khan from SA Senior Production Manager Chris Noll. Finance Committee Khan then named the Senate’s Finance Committee, the body that holds club budget hearings toward the end of the year and makes financial recommendations to the Senate, and the Senate unanimously approved Khan’s appointments. The Finance Committee will consist of SISH (Special Interests, Services and Hobbies Council) Club Coordinator Adam Zimnicki, International Club Coordinator Carl Ross, People of Color Club Coordinator Anabel Casanova, Engineering Club Coordinator Dan Pastuf, On-Campus Senator Kittie Pizzutelli, and Off-Campus Senator Mohammed Makda. “I feel that Sikander made a smart decision on the way he selected the Finance Committee… You always want to make sure that you have the representation of the coordinators because they work hand-in-hand with the clubs,” Valdez said. “In addition, you always want to have at least one off-campus and one on-campus senator so that you have a good representation of the students.”
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But those four students were only the ones that got caught. Many other students living in the residential dorms and on-campus apartments own pets Courtesy of Anneka Hutton
The two managed to sneak Dulce’s food, litter, and toys into the dorms without any problems and passed every room check. There was only one moment where they were close to being caught. “There was one time where Dulce escaped into the hallway – she was super adventurous – but we found her within seconds,” Hutton said. “She was terrified and crawling behind the garbage can in our hall.” Now, Dulce lives with Bailey’s family in Horseheads, N.Y. where she
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UB Trick-or-Treaters Full of Community ‘Spirit’ ERIN MAYNARD Staff Writer
While most of Monday’s Halloween doorbellringers were hoping for sweet treats, about 125 university students were knocking on doors for a much more altruistic reason: they were collecting non-perishable food items for the Food Bank of Western New York. Students canvassed the neighborhoods surrounding North Campus asking for donations as part of UB’s fourth-annual “Trick or Eat” campaign. The majority of the students were dressed for the occasion, giving them a chance to have fun while tackling a serious social issue. Last year 4.8 percent of U.S. households accessed a food bank at least once, according to a USDA report. That’s equal to 5.6 million households. An additional 11 million households were classified as experiencing “very low food security,” as defined by the Census Bureau.
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Spectrum Journalists Win National Awards VERONICA RITTER Life Editor ORLANDO, Fla. – Two articles written last semester by then-Spectrum Editor in Chief Andrew Wiktor and Investigative Reporter Amanda Jonas won national awards last week at the 90th annual National College Media Convention. The Associated College Press (ACP) and College Media Advisers gathered Wednesday to Sunday in Orlando, Fla, and attracted more than 2,000 college students and media educators seeking answers, direction, and advice on how to succeed from experts in the field of journalism. Many were rewarded with knowledge, while others were literally rewarded. Wiktor’s article, “Reaching New Heights,” investigated the questionable housing situations of UB students living in the University Heights neighborhood near South Campus. It won third place for news story of the year. By visiting the homes of many students living in the Heights and conducting extensive research, Wiktor revealed that many students reside in homes that violate city and state building codes. The article helped spark a UB-organized “housing blitz,” which is trying to curb the problem. “Journalism, when done correctly, is a powerful tool that helps keep history,
checks governments, and informs the masses,” Wiktor said in an email. “The hard work that was put into these articles has paid dividends, but it’s not the recognition that’s important; The Spectrum should hold such articles as the standard and strive to go above and beyond in every issue.” Jonas won first place in the diversity category for her article entitled “A Shameful Low in Higher Education,” which exposed UB for failing to comply with accessibility standards for disabled students. She hopes her award will change the way The Spectrum is viewed by others. “This is just one of the many pieces for The Spectrum that deserves to be recognized,” Jonas said. “If anything, I hope…the administration and Student Association really see what a valuable asset The Spectrum is to the UB community.” Jonas worked on her article for the entire Spring 2011 semester, and the time spent interviewing, researching, and writing ultimately paid off. “I think it’s important that this article is getting national recognition because it shows you that these are real students that have real problems on a real college campus,” Jonas said. “It will push the administration to make the changes they’ve been promising for so long. Although, if that’s what it takes…
it’s kind of sad in one respect…You think that they would do it just out of the fact that these kids go to our school, and they are just as valuable as the other 18,000 undergrads.” The competition consisted of “hundreds of entries,” according to Logan Aimone, the executive director of ACP, who indicated that the awards should not be taken lightly. “Anyone who earned even an honorable mention, let alone a place, is [in] the very top tier of all the student journalism across the country,” Aimone said. “It’s pretty impressive and distinctive… That particular story stood out for its journalistic merits against a lot of competition.” Wiktor expressed appreciation for his former colleagues and hope for the newspaper’s future. “The awards are a testament to hard work,” Wiktor said in an email. “Amanda worked her tail off to produce her winning story…The future is bright for the newspaper. Considering where we were a year ago – having dreadful conversations about the uncertainty of the paper’s stability – The Spectrum has come a long way and has a long and challenging path ahead.”
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I N S I D E
Continued on Page 2
Weather for the Week: Wednesday: Partly Cloudy- H: 59, L: 48 Thursday: Few Showers- H: 52, L: 37 Friday: Mostly Sunny- H: 47, L: 32
Opinion * 3 Arts * 5 Classifieds / Daily Delights * 7 Sports * 8
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Continued from Page 1: A Furry Roommate receives constant attention and is not limited to a dorm room. She can explore the entire house and gets to take catnaps in a room that’s hers alone. But not all pet-loving students get away with harboring a pet. Alex Kawecki, a junior civil, structural and environmental engineering major, was caught with a hamster two years ago in Goodyear Hall. When she was taking her hamster, Honey, home for spring break, the little furry pet got loose from its cage and ran into someone else’s room. Kawecki was nervous about getting caught for having a hamster in her room so she hadn’t told anyone else on her floor about Honey. As a result, the RA was called to deal with the problem. “They were going to kill [Honey] if I didn’t come claim it,” Kawecki said. “I received 10 hours of community service.” Kawecki doesn’t agree with the current pet regulations on campus; that’s part of the reason she decided to move off campus this semester. Now she has the liberty to keep animals without having to hide them and she isn’t the only one. “If I could change one rule about pets on campus I would say that they should have certain on-campus residences where pets are allowed, perhaps for a higher deposit of some sort,”
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Continued from Page 1: Hutton said. “I think that pets are important to some individuals, especially if they suffer from homesickness.” Animals can positively impact young adults – some of whom are away from home for the first time – by providing stress relief, unconditional love and support, according to Petside.com. Kawecki wasn’t the only one who has kept a pet on campus. On the UB subreddit website, current and alumni students have been posting the types of animals they’ve kept on campus over the years. There have been goldfish (which are allowed), piranhas, hamsters, snakes, turtles, and even cats. None of which have ever been caught by RA’s. Other colleges around the nation, however, have recently started to adopt more pet-friendly policies. SUNY Canton has a dorm that allows pets to walk freely as long as their owners are with them. At Eckerd College in Florida, students are allowed to have cats and dogs too, as long as they’re less than 40 pounds. Pets aren’t for all students, but many students at UB believe that they should be able to have an animal companion to help them deal with stress and homesickness while away at college.
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“It only takes two hours, and it makes a big impact,” said Terri Budek, community engagement coordinator for the Center for Student Leadership and Community Engagement, who organized the event. Students met at the Student Union lobby at 4 p.m. and went out to the local neighborhoods from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. In those two hours, the students collected 3,481 pounds of food; and with some donations still coming in, Budek is confident that the final total will be over 3,500 pounds. While falling short of the center’s stated goal of 5,000 pounds, the total is nearly 500 pounds more than what last year’s effort yielded. And since nearly threequarters of all food pantries, kitchens, and shelters have reported increased demand since 2006, those extra donations are going to be put to good use. The nearly 3,500 pounds of food came from about 1,500 households in Amherst.
The Center for Leadership initially tried to identify the areas in Amherst that would benefit most from direct donations of the food items, but organizers soon realized that there was no way of knowing which neighborhoods needed the most help, according to Budek. So, the center teamed up with the Food Bank of Western New York. Budek brought the “Trick or Eat” campaign with her from the University of Guelph, a public research university in Ontario, Canada where she completed her undergraduate studies. Since the program’s inception in 2001, Guelph has consistently beaten out every other school in North America when it comes to the amount of food collected – last year, its students collected 41,998 pounds of food. When Budek came to UB, she took a look around and decided that “Trick or Eat” needed to come to Buffalo. “We can do this here,” Budek said.
“Most people have big hearts and are happy to donate food,” Budek said. “We’re happy to collect it.”
In addition to Buffalo, “Trick or Eat” also takes place in Connecticut and Wisconsin, as well as in over 75 Canadian communities.
She sees the Halloween tradition as a way for UB students to visit with their neighbors.
“Trick or Eat” is sponsored by Meal Exchange, a youth-led charity based in Canada. In the 10 years that it has been growing, it has become the largest student-organized food drive in North America.
“We say to the students that the school community is going to be their home for at least 10 months out of the year,” Budek said. “This is a good way for them to get involved, for them to get out in the community, and to give back.”
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Opinion ubspectrum.com
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
An Unfinished Success
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Matthew Parrino SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR James Twigg
Congress should continue to fund PEPFAR
MANAGING EDITOR Edward Benoit EDITORIAL EDITOR James Bowe NEWS EDITORS Luke Hammill, senior Rebecca Bratek Sara DiNatale, asst. ARTS EDITORS Jameson Butler, senior Vanessa Frith Nicolas Pino LIFE EDITORS Akari Iburi, senior Steven Wrobel Veronica Ritter Keren Baruch, asst. SPORTS EDITORS Aaron Mansfield, senior Brian Josephs Scott Resnick, asst. Andreius Coleman, asst. PHOTO EDITORS Meg Kinsley, senior Troi Williams Nyeri Moulterie Alexa Strudler Satsuki Aoi
Recent history has not looked very favorably on George W. Bush. There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the economy all but collapsed under his administration, and the state of presidential oratory hit an all-time low. Within his lumps of coal sits a diamond, however. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, was originally a commitment to spend $15 billion on the global fight against HIV, starting in 2003 and ending in 2008. It was extended during the final year of the Bush administration, boosting the funding to $48 billion over 5 years, ending in 2013. PEPFAR has become a resounding success. Bush likened it to the Marshall Plan, which gave massive aid to a ravaged Western Europe after World War II. The comparison is very apt. According to the World Health Organization, roughly two million people died due to AIDS in 2009.
COPY EDITOR Edward Benoit CARTOONIST Patrick Boyle WEB EDITOR Matthew Parrino James Twigg
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
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That number is incredibly high, but compared to years before it is nearly a triumph. By many accounts, global awareness and humanitarian efforts have saved millions of lives across
the world, and the numbers show it. Since 2004, deaths due to HIV have steadily declined. A study in 2009 indicated that may have largely been due to PEPFAR, as African nations that receive funding from the program have a 10 percent reduction in AIDS death rate. Yet, in this toxic political climate, even the most successful and effective of federal programs are not out of the gun sights for big cuts. Democrats and Republicans have targeted foreign aid for spending reduction, and some estimates indicate the cuts could reach $60 billion. With the Republican Party being pushed off a right wing cliff by Tea Party extremists, it’s a real possibility. Michelle Bachmann, a perennial Tea Party poster child, voted against the increase in funding in 2008. The decision here isn’t very hard. In the modern world, where nearly everyone has a strong distrust for the government and its policies, it’s rare to find a program that people can agree works. We’re not sending money to give people tea and crumpets, it’s money
to ensure children don’t contract AIDS from their parents. We’re giving money to ensure treatment for people with a horrible and deadly disease. We’re giving money to save the lives of millions of people. Selfish congressmen seem to see it differently. They see the relatively miniscule amount of money we use to help the poorest and the most needy people on the planet as an undue burden on our nation. Less than 1 percent of our budget is at stake, while people lie on death’s doorstep. Cutting waste is a noble effort, but when we do it we should make sure that what we’re cutting is actually wasteful. What Congress continually fails to do is come to an agreement to restructure what is really eating away at our coffers: entitlement programs. Every year, politicians lead pyrrhic charges against “big government,” and great programs like PEPFAR are always the casualties. This time, they need to step back and ask themselves: Is their job worth the suffering of millions of people?
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Andrew Angeles CREATIVE DESIGNERS Nicole Manzo Aline Kobayashi
Political Correctness Smokescreen Herman Cain’s smoking ad is not worth anger
ADVERTISING DESIGNER Aline Kobayashi The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Feedback, Opinion, and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address. The Spectrum is provided free in part by the Undergraduate Mandatory Activity Fee. November 2, 2011 VOLUME 61 NUMBER 28 CIRCULATION: 7,000 The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by both Alloy Media and Marketing, and MediaMate. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum visit www.ubspectrum. com/ads or call us directly. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100 Telephone: (716) 645-2468 Fax: (716) 645-2766 Copyright 2011 Buffalo, N.Y. The Spectrum is printed by The Buffalo News 1 News Plaza Buffalo, N.Y. 14240
It’s been a long time since Fred Flintstone lit up a cigarette with his neighbor Barney in the early ’60s. It would be unconscionable today to see anything like it. Imagine Spongebob and Patrick puffing away on some Newports behind the Krusty Krab. Since the Stone Age, we’ve made a lot of progress in preventing children from getting into smoking tobacco. In 1971, the very last television advertisement for cigarettes aired on the Tonight Show, and the sound of cigarette ads left the American airwaves. More recently, regulations that took effect in 2010 prohibit tobacco companies from sponsoring pretty much anything at all, including sporting and other cultural events. They’re also now prohibited from putting their logos on apparel to advertise. The law also holds down any audio ads that still lurk, and prevents them from having any music or sound effects. Obviously this tobacco thing is kind of a big deal. Some gray area still exists, though, as presidential hopeful Herman Cain demonstrated in one of his recent campaign ads.
In the 50-second YouTube video, Cain’s campaign manager Mark Block praises the candidate’s fitness for president with the typical babbling rhetoric that we’ve heard thousands of times before. He spouts off worthlessness like “put the United back in United States” and other trite one-liners. None of this is really earth shattering or enraging until the very end of the video, where corny Americanthemed pop music comes in blaring, and Block takes a drag of a cigarette and blows out the smoke. The quick puff literally takes four seconds out of the entire ad, but it quickly enraged people with no patience for “advocating” and “glorifying” smoking. On CBS’s Sunday program Face the Nation, host Bob Schieffer duked it out with Cain and argued that the candidate should be more responsible and raise the level of dialogue. Sure, Cain shouldn’t actively tell people to smoke ‘em if you got ‘em, but this stupid ad is hardly on that level. If opponents are trying to argue that it makes smoking look “cool,” they’re
dead wrong. The only old white Republican that can still make stuff look cool is Clint Eastwood. Block can hardly pull off a moustache, let alone convince anyone that something is “cool.” Not to mention the fact that kids would probably eat a large bowl of spinach while doing their homework rather than actually watch a campaign ad. Cain hasn’t apologized for the ad, noting that it hasn’t been used on television, so the only way to see it would be to actively search for it. Ironically, if there hadn’t been such a big uproar over nothing the ad wouldn’t have reached as massive an audience. Political correctness has run amok when it takes the place of serious discussion on issues like Cain’s absurd “9-9-9” plan that sounds more like a deal on three large pizzas rather than a tax code revision. This man could possibly be the president of the United States, and people are making a big fuss over four seconds of nothing. Block smokes. Get over it.
KEREN BARUCH Asst. Life Editor Raise your hand if you got laid this weekend. Well, so did everyone else in the zip code. It was Halloweekend and needless to say, the one weekend a year where it’s socially acceptable for a girl to dress up as a huge slut. Let me guess. You got down and dirty with a schoolgirl – because actual schoolgirls really wear corsets and thigh high socks. You had some sort of feisty animal rock your bed, because all cats wear tight black dresses and fuzzy ears right? I’m sure she even swallowed the hairball instead of spitting it out, for the special occasion. Every guy gets his hand ready for the night because finally girls resemble the bunnies in porn magazines. Or even better, doesn’t need his hand for the night because his porno will finally come to life. Girls break out into their slutty alter egos and attempt to be as promiscuous as possible because others do not judge them for their outfits…or so they think. For some reason girls think that a light bulb will im-
mediately go off in guys’ heads after they see them wearing, well, nothing. The switch goes off and the boy is automatically attracted to the playboy bunny standing in front of him.
When you’re in bed with Pauly D, a nun, or another really creative boy in a really original outfit, do not give him what he wants, no matter how tempting it is.
Girls, if he only wants you in costume, he doesn’t want you at all.
“I had sex with Tommy Pickles on Saturday,” a friend said to me. But as fun as it is to say that you had had sex with a large boy in a diaper, refrain next time.
Once Halloween is over, the boys forget about the girl behind the character that she resembled, they only remember the stimulating feeling of getting it in with Snooki or J-Wow…Or both if enough alcohol is consumed. If you allowed yourself to fall into the trap of Halloween this past weekend, you must feel pretty stupid for letting the spirits of the holiday take control of your hormones. However, let this be a lesson for next year (because I know you’re already thinking of a costume). Give him the trick right when he thinks he’s in for the treat. It is Halloween after all, right? Instead of wearing less clothing than you would in the shower when you go out, surprise everyone with an outfit that covers every inch of your body.
NATALIE LICATA Staff Writer
It’s a typical Monday morning. I head to my favorite work-and-study zone, the fourth floor of Lockwood Library, my imaginary to-do list scrolling through my brain. I exit the elevator with the option to turn left or right. Seems like it doesn’t matter which direction you turn – a cubicle with a busted electrical outlet or a missing light fixture will be waiting for you. In the past, I’ve only encountered a few less-than-efficient cubicles. Having to relocate once or twice was no problem; however, I reached my absolute breaking point last week when I was forced to relocate my laptop to nine different booths in search of a functioning outlet. This number seemed absurd to me. How could the university have so many glitches in one of the most popular studying areas? Doing my duties as a reporter, I contacted UB Facilities and described my arduous and time-consuming battle with the unsatisfactory workspaces. I assumed my email’s request would go unanswered, but I was wrong. Two days later, I found myself on the fourth floor of Lockwood working in a cubicle with a missing light fixture. Reading in the dark put a strain on my eyes, forcing me to move. The damaged carrels are not just an inconvenience, but also a safety issue. Not only does the lack of proper lighting put strain on the eyes, but the outlets have also been known to spark and shock those trying to plug in their devices – me being one of these unlucky individuals. Finally, I located an acceptable booth. During my study session, I heard a buzzing sound that made me stick my neck out to investigate. I noticed an electrician checking the outlets. This truly surprised me. Although the outlets were checked, only four of the eight that were found with problems were fixed. At the time, I was told that the others would be repaired, provided that a higher priority did not arise. I was also informed that the last time the spaces were checked was in the summertime. At that time, only four outlets were reported to be faulty. By Tuesday, I was told that all eight defunct spaces had been repaired. Although I commend UB Facilities for responding so quickly, I can’t help but feel like the university should regularly check the functionality of these spaces. The cubicles are crucial settings for studying and working on assignments. With trucks of people filing in and out of Lockwood each day, the spaces are bound to have some wear and tear. They should be safe and suitable environments for students. Understandably, we are all members of the UB community. As students, we are the eyes and ears of campus. If we notice that something could be improved or needs to be fixed, we are obligated to report it.
email any submissions to info@ubspectrum.com
Sexaween
Lockwood Library Sparks Student Fury
Have fun with your Halloween – tease him and show him that you’re not just a slutty girl in a slutty costume. This way, when you wake up in the morning, you won’t be regretting your actions and you won’t have to blame the events of the previous night on your alter-ego costume. Let this holiday be about showing off your personality and how creative you can be, not about how to wear as little clothing as possible without the famous “nip slip” while you’re dancing on top of the bar. It’s much more entertaining to go out dressed as a fool and to reject the sex that’s basically being thrown at you, trust me. Be safe, be smart, and be a tease…at least for one night. Email: Keren.baruch@ubspectrum.com
Generally, I am the kind of person who isn’t very proactive, but I’ve learned that if you have an issue with something, you should be vocal about it. You can sit next to your dying laptop with your eyes two inches away from your textbook and feel agitated, or you can alert the people who can solve the problem.
Email: nataliel@buffalo.edu
ubspectrum.com
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Police Blotter 10/25 – Larceny was reported twice at Millard Fillmore Academic Center. 10/25 – Harassment was reported in Fronczak Hall. 10/25 – A hit and run occurred on Bailey Avenue. 10/25 – Property damage was reported on Auspurger Road. 10/26 – Larceny was reported in Squire Hall. 10/26 – A burglary occurred in Spaulding Quad. 10/26 – A drug complaint was made at South Lake Village. 10/26 – Larceny was reported at Millard Fillmore Academic Center. 10/27 – Larceny was reported in Dewey Hall. 10/28 – A burglary occurred in Red Jacket Quad. 10/28 – A hit and run occurred on Webster Road. 10/28 – An arrest was made in Bissell Hall. 10/28 – Larceny was reported in Crosby Hall. 10/28 – A drug complaint was made in Lehman Hall. 10/28 – Harassment occurred in Bissell Hall. 10/28 – Grand larceny occurred in Roosevelt Hall. 10/29 – An alcohol complaint was made in Flint Loop. 10/29 – Larceny occurred in Greiner Hall. 10/29 – A DWI was reported on Main Street. 10/29 – A fight occurred in Lee Loop. 10/29 – Graffiti was reported on Hadley Road. 10/30 – A burglary occurred in Fargo Quad. 10/30 – Criminal mischief was reported in Greiner Hall. 10/30 – An animal complaint was made in Slee Hall. 10/30 – Three burglaries occurred in Fargo Quad. 10/31 – A crime complaint was made on Core Road. 10/31 – Harassment occurred on West Ferry Street. 10/31 – Larceny occurred on Service Center Road. 10/31 – Harassment occurred in Alumni Hall. **Inside the Police Report: Oct. 28, 2011 Call received at 7:19 p.m. University Police received a complaint from a male student. The student reported that his iPod touch and $2,000 of his roommate’s money was stolen from his room. No suspects have been named. UPD officers will try to follow up on the report.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Continued from Page 8: October in Review
Continued from Page 1: SA Senate Hears Club Requests for Funds Club Grant Requests The Senate spent most of the meeting hearing requests from various clubs that needed additional money from SA. These included the Chinese Student Association, Engineers for a Sustainable World, the Kendo Club, the Filipino American SA PODER: Latinos Unidos, the Singapore SA, and the Ukrainian SA. Each club made a proposal to the Senate, after which the Senate debated about how much money to actually give each club. The clubs were requesting monies available in three different SA lines: the club recognition line, which holds $3,000; the new and innovative programs line, which holds $12,500; and the co-sponsorship line, which holds $17,500. Most clubs were granted what they asked for, or close to it. The Chinese Student Association was granted only $50 of the $1,000 it requested because the senators determined that the club already had enough money in its budget to fund the Miss Asia event that it is looking to hold, among other reasons.
Engineers for a Sustainable World request was denied quickly because the club did not appear to speak to the Senate. “I felt that the senators thought about their decision before just giving any money out to the clubs…The situation [with Engineers for a Sustainable World] was different because neither the club nor the club coordinator was able to attend the Senate meeting,” Valdez said. “In this instance, I believe that it should have been tabled until the next Senate meeting… I will advise [the clubs] that they should show up to the meetings because the way the senators are making their decisions is based on whether the clubs are showing up or not,” Valdez continued. “I will still remind the senators that they should consider those clubs that submit their proposals on every Senate meeting.”
Email: news@ubspectrum.com
Senior quarterback Chazz Anderson looked far more competent against the Bobcats than he did against the Volunteers. Anderson threw for 343 yards and two touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Ed Young finished the game with a career-high 135 yards on five receptions. Anderson connected with Young with a short pass that became a 90-yard touchdown, the second-longest pass in UB history. Perhaps the true star of the game was sophomore running back Branden Oliver. He was a nightmare for the Bobcat defense – blowing past defenders and barreling his way towards the end zone with brute force. Oliver finished with a career-high 179 yards and three touchdowns. Best Player – Ainsley Wheldon Granted, sophomore goalkeeper Ainsley Wheldon does benefit from a strong defense. But when the defense wasn’t there, she was ready to make crucial saves. Wheldon was nothing short of great between the goalposts last month, as she posted four more shutouts to add to her already impressive résumé. She also ends the month ranked fourth in the nation with 137 saves. Wheldon is in the top five in Buffalo history for saves in a game. Finally, her 1844:45 played minutes this season is the most by any player in school history. The final 90 minutes came during a bruising game against aggressive Kent State in the MAC quarterfinals.
The Kendo Club’s request was tabled until the next meeting because the club members were not available to answer additional questions the senators had after a fire alarm. And the
Wheldon’s most exciting moment came in Buffalo’s 1-0 victory against Akron (7-9-2, 4-6-2 MAC). The sophomore leapt to deflect a potential game-tying goal in the 86th minute. She regrouped to make another save when an Akron player tried to capitalize off of the rebound. Even head coach Michael Thomas was surprised that Wheldon was able to make those saves.
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Wheldon earned her ninth shutout of the season against Akron, setting a UB record. Most Disappointing Team – Volleyball October was never the volleyball team’s (10-16, 3-9 MAC) strongest month. The Bulls have only compiled a 4-15 record in October over the past two years.
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This year, the squad continued the trend. After upsetting Bowling Green (18-8, 5-7 MAC), 3-2, at the beginning of the month, the Bulls dropped six straight matches and stumbled to a 2-7 record on the month. Buffalo had extremely sloppy performances throughout October. The squad has had more errors than its opponent in eight of the nine games. The team also got swept four straight times in the middle of the month. The Bulls got back in the win column last Thursday against Akron (4-21, 1-11 MAC). However, the Zips are the worst team in the conference and it took Buffalo five sets to take them down. The Bulls were just shutout at the hands of Ball State (22-3, 11-1 MAC) – not a good precursor for what’s in store for November. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
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Arts ubspectrum.com
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
No Fear Filmmaking
A Week in Ink: Issue No. 35 NICOLAS PINO Arts Editor Daredevil No. 5
I, Vampire No. 2 Just in time for the haunted holiday, “I, Vampire No. 2” stalks store shelves nation-wide to the ghastly delight of much of the shambling comic book horde. DC’s relaunch brought life into the decaying veins of the I, Vampire series, and while the series hasn’t seen the light of day in over 25 years, writer Joshua Fialkov is absolutely killing it. Following the exploits of the extraordinarily-brutal vampire queen Mary and her centuries-old ex Andrew Bennett, I, Vampire has enough thrills, chills and kills to bring anyone back from beyond the non-readership grave. Fialkov’s evocative plot of an upcoming holocaust of the human race is penned in stunning detail by some of the finest horror artists DC has to offer. Andrea Sorrentino, fresh off finishing his most recent run on the God of War comic-crossover, manages to illustrate frenetic fights and iconic asides in gritty detail going above and beyond to bring a certain realism to Fialkov’s fantasy. Admittedly on its own, “I, Vampire No. 2” rests on a very perplexing pedestal and can at times, leave readers in the (vampire) dust. Besides the occasional revisiting of an important panel or two, I, Vampire represents the best possible treat for this year’s cellophane candy bag. IVampire 2- Courtesy of DC Comics
Mark Waid may be the modern-age Midas, as everything this comic creator touches turns to gold. Luckily for Daredevil fans the world over, Waid’s put his phenomenal talent to use writing the latest plots for the Man Without Fear, Matt Murdock. Murdock has been ousted again for allegedly donning the costume of Daredevil, a relatively large offense as Murdock himself is a lawyer. With his law firm teetering in the balance, Murdock must manage to save the day without ever being caught. In “Daredevil No. 5” Waid seeks to add a new level of depth to his ongoing narrative, laying the groundwork for some emotionally charged issues over the coming year. Waid’s Murdock is a figurative Atlas, carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and for all intents and purposes, that’s the best kind of Murdock there is. The issue’s art will shock readers unacquainted with the flat-color palettes of yesteryear, and for some, even deter them from indulging in Waid’s wonderful work. For those that can see past Murdock’s muddled exterior, Daredevil is a masterpiece in the making, and if the history of the property holds true, Daredevil is one of the most intellectually exhilarating series on shelves.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles No. 3 The ’90s were a simpler time. Saturdays held the promise of cartoons, cereal and a heaping helping of gaming, and long before the travesty of 2007’s TMNT, the SoCal-inspired turtles were kings of the Saturday morning court.
EDWARD BENOIT Managing Editor
exactly, the GOP has given up on the black vote.
In an age where political punditry dominates the airwaves and unashamed media bias is tacitly accepted as a sad reality, an honest political film is a rarity.
What Fear of a Black Republican reveals, while certainly no revelation, is still pertinent: a two-party system where one party ignores the black vote and the other takes the black vote for granted is not a system that is doing its job.
Fear of a Black Republican, however, is exactly that rare brand of film.
The self-produced and selffinanced venture of director Kevin J. Williams, Fear of a Black Republican boldly pursues one of the biggest political demographic issues of contemporary America: The current run represents the closest the GOP’s utter failure to appeal to the original canon that readers will to black urban voters and its most likely ever get their hands on. continued reluctance to amend And while Shredder’s character has this failure. been kicked to the New York Street curb, Mikey, Leonardo, Donatello and In the process, Williams – a Republican – crafts a documenRaph still have the same old city to tary that is as provoking as it is clean up. honest: Williams is frank about both his support of the GOP and Dan Duncan realizes the need for exceptional artwork in the series, and his party’s shortcomings. manages to deliver on all fronts. Iconic The film begins in Williams’ characters like Master Splinter and native Trenton, N.J. with some Casey Jones are drawn nearly identi- introductions: an introduction to cal to their ’90s counterparts, and the the director – done through a diradioactive ooze that started it all rect address to the camera – and seems to just seep from the issue. an introduction to Trenton – done through a brief recap of the city’s The series’ only qualm comes in the history and current demographform of an identity crisis. Opposed to ics. the tried and true color-coding of years From here, Williams tells the past, the team at IDW felt it would anecdote that inspired the film: be best to give all the turtles matchas an active “urban Republican,” ing headbands, making the action confusing and following the dialogue a the director went to the local Republican Party office to get challenge. Bush-Cheney ’04 door hangers. The party officer, however, While the issue seems slightly overrefused upon learning that the priced for its $3.99 price tag, Eastman door hangers were intended for a and Watlz’s run is the ultimate hompredominately African-American age to a series cut down in its prime. urban area. With so much left to explore with the bipedal reptiles, the duo Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz are working to get readers their nostalgic fix.
While Waid concludes this issue with a rather lackluster cliffhanger, stakes are high for Daredevil. With just moments left to save his career and any shred of self-respect, Murdock is Email: arts@ubspectrum.com going to have to come out swinging. Daredevil – Courtesy of Marvel
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Ninja Turtle – Courtesy of IDW Publishing
Naturally perplexed by this, Williams sought to uncover why,
“If the parties did their job, there wouldn’t be a Tea Party or an Occupy movement,” said Williams during a question and answer session after the showing. Williams’ documentary quest takes him up and down the country, from his native Trenton to multiple Conservative Political Action Conferences in Washington, D.C. to the suburbs of Atlanta to follow the campaign efforts of black Republican Catherine Davis. In addition to traveling the country, the documentary – which was made over the course of several years – functions as a tour of the last seven years of American politics. Events ranging from the 2004 presidential election to Hurricane Katrina to Michael Steele’s failed bid for Senate in 2006 to Obama’s victory in 2008 are all covered – a testament to both the insane length of time the production took and the insane amount of commitment on the director’s part. This daunting production was only exacerbated by the fact that Williams received no funding from either end of the political spectrum – the Republicans wanted “propaganda” and the Democrats wanted “Republicanbashing,” according to Williams. But the director wasn’t about to sell out his message.
Courtesy of Kevin J. Williams
“The media wants Tea Party versus Occupy Wall Street,” Williams said. “It’s like King Kong versus Godzilla or the Yankees versus the Red Sox. We don’t want that…[We] didn’t want to make a Michael Moore film.” The political star power featured in the film is also nothing short of impressive: interviews with Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Michael Steele, Lynn Swann and Cornell West – among others – make up much of the film’s most interesting content. Directorial determination can only go so far, though, and the film’s lack of budget is a real aesthetic hindrance. Luckily, the Powerpoint-quality montages and instances of cheesy public domain background music are few and far between. What’s important, though, is content and discourse, and Williams and his film fearlessly offer both of these things in an age when they have become a scarcity. Fear of a Black Republican and its resolute director are in the midst of a national tour. Stints in Trenton and Portland are upcoming.
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
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Wednesday, November 2, 2011
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Wednesday, November 2, 2011
HELP WANTED MENTORS. Reliable, consistent, nonjudgmental adults needed to befriend youth near your home/ work/ school for 1-2 hrs/wk for 1yr. Background check & car required. Stipend (up to $500) for those who qualify. Men encouraged to apply: Compeer (716) 883-3331 or www.wnymentors.com. FEMALE MENTORS NEEDED. At-risk kids, tween & teen girls ISO cool 18-25 yr old role models. If you can dedicate 1-2 hrs/wk for 1+yrs, have a clean background check + reliable car: apply to Karen at Compeer (716) 883-3331 or www.wnymentors.com. Stipend (up to $500) for those who qualify.
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ROOMMATE WANTED ROOM-MATE(S) WANTED FOR REMODELED APPARTMENTS located at UB at Main Street Campus – off Englewood Avenue. $275-$333 plus utilities per tenant. Washing machine and dryers in basement. Off street parking. Contact Shawn (Property Manager) at sengel1@roadrunner. com or 716-984-7813.
BUFFALO DRIVING SCHOOLS 716-834-4300. Warranted driving instruction package. www.buffalodrivingschools. com ENGLISH TUTOR & SCHOLAR. Native speaker & Asian ancestry. Speaks Cantonese and Mandarin; knows Asian language structure. Can teach and transliterate, not just teach by rote. Specializes in teaching Asian students, but others are welcome also. For information, call (716)695-1170.
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SPECIAL EVENT PARKING NOTICE Judy Shepard DSS Lecture Wednesday November 9th, 2011
Beginning at 4:00 P.M. on Wednesday November 9, 2011 the following North Campus parking lots will be closed and reserved (through 8 P.M.) for patrons of the DSS lecture:
Baird B Lot, Slee B Lot, and Lake La Salle Lot At 8:00 P.M. the parking lots will reopen for the university community These arrangements conform with the Special Events Parking Plan approved by the Offices of the President, Provost, Vice Presidents, and the campus negotiating units.
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Visit ubspectrum.com/games for our online game of the week Also see the crossword and Sudoku answers from last issue
Crossword of the Day STEVEN WROBEL Life Editor
It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a…weather balloon. While many students spend their weekends partying, studying, and hanging out with their friends, one club at UB spent its weekend studying the outer realms of Earth’s atmosphere. UB Students for the Exploration and Development Space (UB-SEDS) is a club that sets its ambitions skyward to generate interest and activism in the community for any and all space-related topics, according to Sean Lyons, a senior aerospace engineering major.
WEDNESday, NOVEMBER 2 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- You have a chance to impress others today, not only with your knowledge, but with your style and grace under pressure. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You may find yourself wishing that things were different -- and today, you can do something to improve your situations measurably. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- A little playtime can work wonders for you today, as you require something of an attitude adjustment and a restructuring of priorities. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You may not know what a loved one is up to, but you suspect that everything is not as it seems. Soon, it will be time to ask questions.
Lyons was the project manager of the club’s High-Altitude Weather Balloon Project (HAWB). The project’s goal was to send a weather balloon into Edited by Timothy E. Parker November 2, 2011 the sky to measure temperature and By Gary Cooper FILLING FOOD atmospheric ACROSS pressure. In addition, the team wanted capture 49 Time-honored practices 1 One on thetofast track?pictures and video footage to document the trip and 50 Freedom from pain 6 Meander measure atmospheric boundary 51 One that goes to school regularly 10 Warmthe greetings layers. 52 Windy City trains 14 Humorous literary technique 55 Bittersweet coating 15 Razor's cutter “This is time one of the most chal 56 Healthy serving 16 Yetproject another lenging yet rewarding feats of my e.g. 60 Bulletin board affixer 17 Canapes and tea sandwiches, undergraduate career,” Lyons said. 61 Serious about 19 Notion “The lessons I have learned and [the] 62 Use it to prevent running on 20 Game of pursuit success this in project havePrayer given me 63 City in northern Nevada 21 Firstofword the Lord's an no course offered at this 64 Matter of grammar 22inspiration Mensa aspirant's hurdle university could ever provide.” 65 Labor leader Chavez 24 Practice piece 27 Needling literary works The launching of the balloon 28 Some McDonald's fare last Saturday, Oct. 22, was the culmina 31 Skin moistener tion of many hours of planning. The 32 Crackerjack group had toof not only raise the funds 33 "Get out here!" to37take on this project, it also Winner of four goldbut medals at had the Berlin Olympics to38develop means byletters which to Bannedthe insecticide perform all the 39 Ripped off desirable functions. UB-SEDS $1,100 in funding 40 Moneyprocured rolls from sponsorships from local compa 41 Inconclusive result nies and from Board I Inc. 42 Made fromSub a fleece 43 Mr. Chips' chips “The idea for this about in either 45 Marching to a came different drummer October or November of last year, when we saw a video of a father-andson team that sent an iPhone aboard a balloon and recovered it, becoming a temporary media sensation on many newscasts and newspapers,” said Andrew Dianetti, president of UB-SEDS and a junior aerospace
DOWN 1 Fissure 2 Diva's operatic ditty 3 Like a cold sufferer 4 A famous conjoined twin 5 "... a pocket full of ___" 6 Gas up for the next leg, e.g. 7 Ammonia attribute 8 Word with "many moons" 9 Propose a compromise 10 Part of Hispaniola 11 Beneath 12 Canadian migrants 13 Belts, as a homer 18 Balzac's sculptor 23 Oil amts. 25 Adds water, as to soup 26 Strange sky lights 27 Splinter group 28 Type of chart 29 The 29th state 30 Weighed down 33 Mall occupant
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- You needn't fear that an old friend is betraying you; on the contrary, he or she is actually doing something unusual in support of you.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Someone is likely to stick to you like glue today, eager to learn everything he or she can from you in a very short time. Be patient.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- The quality of your efforts is not in question at this time, but some may claim that you are doing less than you had committed to.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- New information comes to you today that has you correcting a misconception and rethinking your game plan.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Take care that you do not respond inappropriately today simply because you misunderstand what another is saying or doing. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You may be affected more than usual by the opinions others have of you and your work. Don't try to fix things, however.
34 Certain sports venues 35 Sheltered from the wind 36 Double-digit bills 38 Atkins regimen 39 Tender-hearted 41 Rush-hour certainty 42 Curtain-in-the-breeze sound 43 Agent's charge 44 "Thank God, it's Friday" declarer? 45 Address Congress, e.g. 46 Born in the wild 47 Film, familiarly 48 Sergeant once played by Phil Silvers 51 Vegas ventures 53 Pizarro founded it 54 The sun, for one 57 Cell messenger 58 TV regulators 59 Fish spawn
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Don't forget to perform certain requisite duties for another today before you prepare for a social event schedule for evening hours. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- You and a new friend can join forces today and make a difference -- though some may not perceive the difference for a few days or weeks.
Sudoku
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An Ode to Journalists
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Post-Brown Life Begins for Bulls
ANDREIUS COLEMAN Asst. Sports Editor
For you ask the questions, The world yearns to hear. You find the answers, Deaf to fear. Write the headlines and Make the deadlines but Keep your eyes open, Neglecting bedtime, cut. I’ll stop there. If you can relate to those lines, there’s no need to explain. But if you can’t, let me take you way back to two weeks ago. Senior Sports Editor Aaron Mansfield and I had just concluded our mission to the City of Brotherly Love. “You know, you really have to be a prick to do our job,” Mansfield said. Temple had just destroyed the football team, but we still needed quotes from the players and coaches to write the game story that was running. So the press conference came and went, and my colleague and I shared our mutual feelings of near-disgust with ourselves. How could we press these heartbroken studentathletes for answers just to further exploit their failures? At that point, I couldn’t imagine what it must be like to have to continually interview someone about an aspect that even I know I wouldn’t want to talk about. Actually, I never really felt like the “prick” that Mansfield said our job required being until less than a week ago. Last week, I wrote the article about Desi Green’s dismissal from the wrestling team. I really felt bad for the athletic department because of all the momentum surrounding the wrestling team (and lack thereof for the football team). Though I knew that Green’s situation was a very controversial one and felt it should be publicized, I never meant for anyone to be hurt in any way. I also realized that some of Green’s quotes in the article could really jeopardize his future. But it was an important story regardless. Green’s quotes added to the quality of that story, and judging from the backlash following its publication, it must have been a decent article.
2011 women’s basketball team takes court Wednesday Senior guard Teresa Semalulu (left) and junior guard Nicki Hopkins (right) are the captains of this year’s women’s basketball team. They’ll lead their team onto the court for an exhibition matchup on Wednesday night. Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum
AARON MANSFIELD Senior Sports Editor Last year, the women’s basketball team put together its most successful season in recent memory. The squad finished with 16 wins – more than the previous two years combined. The team even earned its firstever postseason tournament berth, as the Bulls competed in the Women’s Basketball Invitational. This isn’t last year. In 2010-11, the Bulls boasted all-everything forward Kourtney Brown, as well as an exceptional supporting cast of Jessica Fortman, Ashley Zuber, and Bridgette Kendricks. They were just four players, but they were the squad’s leaders, the team’s heartbeat. They accounted for 65 percent of their squad’s total scoring. “I think it’s very fair [to say this is a rebuilding year],” said head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. “When you look at the foundation, we have to re-establish that foundation. I like the players we have back and they have earned the opportunity that they have.” With Brown dominating overseas (she recently put up 40 points and nine rebounds in her first game in Spain) and the other three seniors having graduated and moved on to the real world, the women’s basketball team is in sheer rebuilding mode. However, the Bulls are convinced that they’re going to be competitive this year, regardless of what doubters might believe.
Still, Hill-MacDonald said she doesn’t know who will take command for this year’s team and step out on the floor as opening-day starters. “We’re looking for the players to compete for starting roles because they’re wide open,” Hill-MacDonald said. The team’s leaders will be different this year, but they expect to continue improving on last season. Those leaders will almost certainly include senior guard Brittany Hedderson. She was Buffalo’s second-leading scorer a year ago, finishing with 10.7 points per game. The Ontario native is an all-around dominant guard. She’s an outside threat, finishing last season with the most three-point buckets on the team. She also totaled the most assists and rebounds of any returning player. “We’re quite inexperienced, so we’re looking for Brittany to step up as the only returning starter,” Hill-MacDonald said. “It’s her time to be consistent on the floor and bring the younger players along and she knows what the camaraderie was among the players last year. She has a huge responsibility.” After Hedderson, the team’s next-leading scorer who will return this year is junior guard Nicki Hopkins, who averaged 4.7 points a year ago. Buffalo should also receive substantial leadership from senior forward Beth Christensen and senior guard Ephesia Holmes. Hopkins made the team’s second most 3-pointers, Christensen’s 27
With seconds left on the clock, the opposing team was given two technical foul free throws. The Bulls lost. I asked Hill-MacDonald several questions in that press conference, but I didn’t ask anything about the timeout she called because I didn’t want to be the “prick.” However, that was the main storyline of the game. That headline got lost in the story because I didn’t ask those questions. To give you, the reader, the best story possible, we have to ask those difficult questions that nobody else wants to ask. Maybe others do want to ask. I wanted to before I began reporting. But now I have to, for you. Email: andreius.coleman @ubspectrum.com
Those younger players are now the veterans, and they face the daunting task of replacing Brown, who finished last year averaging 22.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. “All of us are going to have to step up and make up for all that she did for us in those categories,” Hopkins said. Brown’s 1,995 points are the most points scored for either the men or women’s basketball programs. She also ended her career with 1,124 rebounds, an All-American honorable mention, and a Mid-American Conference all-time record 260 blocks. Hopkins will co-captain this year’s team alongside senior guard Teresa Semalulu. “We learned a lot from our upperclassmen and we’re just trying to pass it on,” Semalulu said. “Even though we lost four seniors, we did play with them in practice. I think we’re going to have a successful season.” While the squad was senior-laden a year ago, this year’s team is filled with freshmen and sophomores, as those youthful players take up nine of the team’s 14 spots. This year’s team will feature a run-and-gun style, complemented by the squad’s array of speedy forwards and centers.
Bulls Split Week to end Lackluster October Head coach Todd Kress praised his team’s overall performance, but he believes there’s more to come for the Bulls.
One of those speedy bigs is Christensen, who will be expected to pick up the rebounding slack. “I’m going in with the mentality to outhustle people and out-muscle people,” Christensen said. At the end of last year, Buffalo hosted Ball State in the MAC tournament opening round. Buffalo’s low turnover total led the Bulls to an 82-73 victory and a trip to Cleveland for the quarterfinals. There, Buffalo saw its short tournament run ended by Central Michigan, 90-69. In the Women’s Basketball Invitational, the eighth-seeded Bulls pieced together an incredible effort but fell just short, losing 82-79 to No. 1 seed Wright State. This year’s team will look to get back to that postseason level, but inexperience will no doubt lead to some struggles along the road. The team’s non-conference schedule is extremely difficult, and includes trips to Syracuse and UConn. “We’re doing a lot of teaching because the players are young, and we’re waiting for the light bulb to go off,” Hill-MacDonald said. The squad’s season gets underway Wednesday night against Buffalo State College in an exhibition matchup. The game will take place in the newly-renovated Alumni Arena at 7 p.m. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
October in Review
“This is an important [win]; they’re all important,” Kress said. “But I think our biggest win is still out there. We have yet to play our best volleyball, and I think we’ll have a more significant win in our future.”
Amidst all the misunderstandings and apologies that followed that issue, I thought back to a story I covered during my tenure as a staff writer. Women’s basketball head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald blew a game for her team by calling a timeout that the Bulls didn’t have, right after senior guard Brittany Hedderson banged a game-tying three-point shot.
blocks were the second most on the team, and Holmes started five games last year. With four prominent senior leaders taking the floor every night, it was difficult for the younger players to crack the lineup.
Saturday night’s match wouldn’t yield quite the same results for the Bulls, as they suffered their sixth shutout of the season at the hands of Ball State. After receiving much hype in the beginning of the season, the Bulls have struggled. They continued that trend, splitting matches this weekend against Ball State and Akron. Spectrum File Photo
TYLER CADY and KRISTOPHER GEARHART Staff Writers The volleyball team has been steadily slipping to the bottom of the Mid-American Conference rankings all month long. The Bulls (10-16, 3-9 MAC) were on a six-match losing steak, and they were swept in their last four. Buffalo finally broke the trend when it hosted a lowly Akron (421, 1-11 MAC) team on Thursday. The Bulls beat Akron, 3-2, but that would be the week’s only bright spot. Ball State swept the Bulls when they traveled to Muncie, Ind. on Saturday. For much of Thursday night, the Bulls exhibited the same underwhelming play that has plagued them all season. So when they faced a six-point deficit in a pivotal third set, the team looked like it was on its way to another loss. The Bulls came fighting back. Buffalo got its first win since Oct. 1, taking the sets 22-25, 25-20, 2523, 23-25, 15-13 over Akron. After splitting the first two sets, the Bulls found themselves playing catch up for majority of the third set. Akron had a 23-20 advantage, but the Bulls rallied to score five straight points to take the set.
Freshman hitter Liz Scott, who finished with a team-high 16 kills, cited the team’s mentality as the force behind the comeback. “I think for once we just started to believe in ourselves, and our team, and play together,” Scott said. “I think that alone can pick us up from anything. I think we had momentum for the rest of the match, even though we had a couple wavering points. We just had control after [the third set] and stayed confident.” In the fifth set, the Zips had another early advantage, 4-1. However, the Bulls quickly recovered to tie the set at 4. Buffalo ultimately hustled its way to a 15-13 victory in the deciding set to take the match. “This win completely changes around our confidence and our outlook on the rest of the season,” Scott said. “We can still make it into the MAC [tournament] and we’re confident in that. Every win from here on out will be our biggest win.” Buffalo hit .217 as a team for the match – ahead of just .176 for Akron. Freshman middle blocker Alessandra Jovy-Heuser influenced that number heavily, as she hit an astonishing .737 for the match, a career high. Scott also hit an impressive .483.
The Bulls never scored more than 19 points in any set, as the Cardinals were too much for the young Bulls team to handle. Led by freshman hitter Sable Staller, Buffalo started out strong against Ball State, taking a 4-1 lead in the first set. Ball State would come back to take the set, 25-19, and never look back. Staller and Scott would lead the way in kills with 10 and 11, respectively. Buffalo only accumulated 36 total kills in the match to Ball State’s 45. The disparities would not end in the kills department. Buffalo had a poor overall offensive performance, finishing with a .140 hitting percentage while concluding the first set at .107. Ball State, on the other hand, thrived, finishing with a team total of .337. Errors would again haunt the Bulls as they committed a total of 21 on the night – amassing seven in set one, eight in set two and six in set three. Ball State limited its mistakes by only committing 12 throughout the contest. The Bulls return to Alumni Arena this weekend for a two-game home stand. They will take on Bowling Green (18-8, 5-7 MAC) on Friday at 7 p.m. and Miami (Ohio) (12-14, 3-9 MAC) on Saturday at 6 p.m.
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There were plenty of surprises, disappointments, and unforgettable moments from every sport this October.
BRIAN JOSEPHS Sports Editor It’s been quite a month for UB sports. Buffalo’s two soccer teams made the Mid-American Conference tournament to bookend their incredible seasons. However, success wasn’t contagious. While those two teams flourished under pressure, other teams collapsed – namely volleyball and football. The teams saw their seasons slowly slip away as the month continued. October wasn’t perfect, but it was eventful. Here’s what stood out this month: Best Team – Women’s Soccer There was nowhere to go but up for Buffalo, and the team did just that. The Bulls finished their regular season in October with an 11-4-4 (4-3-4 Mid-American Conference) record after winning just one game last season. Buffalo wasn’t satisfied with its first playoff berth in eight years. Its win against Kent State (12-8, 6-6 MAC) last Sunday marks the first time the Bulls have made it to the semifinals in more than a decade. After winning just one game in October, the Bulls rallied to sweep their final two games to punch their ticket to the playoffs. The team’s final regular season win against Kent State avenged its 7-1 loss to the Golden Flashes in last season’s finale. Most Exciting Game – Football vs. Ohio A lot of people didn’t expect the Bulls (2-7, 1-4 MAC) to win this game. Ohio (5-3, 2-2 MAC) had an imposing aerial attack and an impressive turnover ratio, and looked like one of the best teams in the conference. Buffalo was just coming off of a 41-10 throttling at the hands of Tennessee (3-5, 0-5 Southeastern Conference), which is also known for its high-powered passing offense. The Bulls shocked the doubters that Saturday afternoon with one of their best games in recent memory. Buffalo beat Ohio, 38-37.
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