Vol. 61 NO. 30
ubspectrum.com
Monday, November 7, 2011
Greiner Hall Students Steaming Over Hot Water Shortage SARAH AKERS Staff Writer
“The hot water issue is just incredibly annoying,” Trujillo said. “The thing that makes me the angriest is the fact that I am paying a ton of money and cannot even have hot water, which is a basic in every dorm building.”
The highly anticipated sophomore dorm, Greiner Hall, has been touted as a stateof-the-art and environmentally friendly facility. However, now in its first semester of operation, students are finding that they lack basic necessities – most notably, hot showers.
Bruce and Melanie Miller, parents of sophomore communication major Gabe Miller, claim that they’ve heard of their son’s problems in Greiner since the beginning of the semester. As the months went on, they heard more and more complaints. They, like many parents, were shocked that the university let the problem go on for so long.
Frank Fonseca, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, is a typical college student that survives on only a few hours of sleep; he is more focused on the practical effects, rather than the environmental, of having to worry about cold showers.
“It seems to me that they had no business having students occupy the dormitory if the problems were not resolved prior to the start of the semester,” Bruce said in an email. “I mean, with any new building there may be some minor kinks to work out. We’ll give the school the benefit of the doubt. But let’s be honest – this is November. If my memory serves me correct, the semester began the first week of September. Cold showers? That’s not what I call a ‘minor kink.’ That’s a serious flaw.”
“I don’t want to have to lose another 45 minutes to wake up earlier so that I can turn the shower on and sit there like a jackass waiting for it to warm up,” Fonseca said. “Forty-five minutes is valuable when you only get four hours of sleep.” Students in the sophomore-only, suitestyle dorms have been living with unpredictable and often non-existent hot water. Since the beginning of the fall semester, students wait an average of 20-30 minutes before water begins to get warm for their showers. Greiner Hall was designed as a candidate for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold certification – an internationally-recognized certification system that provides building owners and operators with guidelines for identifying and implementing green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. As an environmentally friendly building, low-flow showerheads and faucets are
The state-of-the-art Greiner Hall has been without reliable hot water since the beginning of the semester.
standard. Students wonder if the lack of immediate hot water has something to do with the “go-green” mentality that surrounds the hall. “I understand that Greiner was built to cut back on energy and be a green building,” said Alexandria Trujillo, a sophomore pre-pharmacy major. “But at the end of the day I’m wasting more water because I have to leave it running
for two minutes to reach a lukewarm temperature to wash my face at night.” Campus Living has assured concerned parents and students that it is taking the problem seriously. However, students are continuing to plan their schedules around the possibility of waiting up to a half an hour for a mildly warm shower. Students pay roughly $600 a month to
A woman walks into the mall, her heart intent on buying a new pair of stylish winter boots. The feeling of disappointment floods over her as she realizes that none of the latest styles fit around her calves. Valarie Gasiewicz has experienced this scenario more times than she cares to admit. But a year and a half ago, Gasiewicz made it her mission to find a solution to end this foot-fashion fiasco. The UB alumna from the class of 2008 channeled her love for shoes to open her own shop. On Oct. 29 The Shoe Suite, located at 4446 Main St., had its grand opening.
Shooting for a Higher Purpose
Christian sports ministry seeks to spread good will one hoop at a time BRIAN JOSEPHS Sports Editor
for orphans in the Czech Republic, and delivering sporting equipment to East Asia.
The world is vast. There are many languages, cultures, beliefs, and religions that shape each region. Those differences can divide nations and negatively impact communication between people.
The group doesn’t get any monetary awards when it embarks on its missions. However, Morris Michalsky, basketball specialist for Athletes in Action, explains to his teams that the journeys go far beyond material purpose.
Yet the sound of a basketball “swooshing” through a hoop means the same thing in every language.
“You tell the team that you’re looking for an enviable spirit that can be forged where other people gather a breathless form of wonder and say ‘How does this happen?” Michalsky said. “You tell them you want to bring honor to Christ.”
For the past few years, Buffalo has been involved with a Christian sports ministry called Athletes in Action. Founded in 1966, the group travels around the globe to spread Christianity through sports. According to Tommy Young, a member of Athletes in Action’s communication staff, the overall goal of the group is to build worldwide spiritual movements using sports as a platform. Collegiate basketball is Athletes in Action’s main vehicle for spreading good will. The organization is well known for touring worldwide with teams made up of former or current college basketball athletes from approximately 150 campuses. On these tours, the organization’s activities range from holding youth basketball clinics to wide-scale humanitarian efforts. Athletes in Action’s recent efforts include building basketball courts and public bathrooms in Kenya, caring
Michalsky has been involved with Athletes in Action since he was coaching college basketball in the late ’80s. Since being named basketball specialist in 2004, he has accompanied groups to Guatemala, Poland, and Croatia – among plenty of other places. He is also the chaplain for the U.S. Men’s National Basketball Team, a position he held during its gold medal run in the 2006 Olympics. Although Michalsky’s position with the national team may seem more important to the public eye, he believes his relationship with the college athletes and the professional players is of equal importance, as spiritual awareness is a universal goal. “I feel like I switch wherever I need to be,” Michalsky said. “The guys in the NBA are just guys. [Senior guard] Zach Filzen and [senior
Continued on Page 4
Weather for the Week: Monday: Partly Cloudy- H: 59, L: 49 Tuesday: AM Showers- H: 59, L: 45 Wednesday: Mostly Cloudy- H: 61, L: 43
live in UB Residence Halls. A double room in Greiner costs $6,840 per academic year – $612 more than a double in any other hall. For this price, students and parents both believe that hot water within a reasonable amount of time is essential. For many students, the only way to pay for their housing is either through loans or support from their parents.
This problem has been going on since “day one,” according to Fonseca and the Millers. Hearing the university is speak-
Continued on Page 4
Let’s Get Some Shoes
RACHEL KRAMER Staff Writer
UB Alumna Valarie Gasiewicz started her own business selling shoes that aren't often found in regular shoe stores. The Shoe Suite had its grand opening on Oct. 29. Meg Kinsley /// The Spectrum
Axl Hu /// The Spectrum
After speaking with Andrea Constantino, the interim director of Campus Living, the Millers were reassured that the university was “taking the problem seriously and addressing it promptly.” On Nov. 1, Constantino stated in an email to the Millers that “[the university] has been in contact with the architects and plumbing contractors to correct the issues that are still unresolved in Greiner Hall.”
The Shoe Suite is a women’s shoe shop that sells everything from formal heels to wide calf boots, handbags to all natural soaps, lotions, and more. Gasiewicz was inspired by her personal experiences to start a business that provided wide-calf boots for women. She used to go shopping with her mother for boots and found it difficult to find the perfect fit, according to Gasiewicz. “We just have thicker calves,” Gasiewicz said. “We would go to the mall and have so much trouble finding one boot and then we would spend up to $250 on the only pair of boots that fit us, even if the style wasn’t great.” This is a problem for many wom-
en today. Boots are in fashion, but some designers create them so that they only fit a specific type of leg.
“I typically stay away from boots because they are so tight in the calf area,” said Sarah Smith, a freshman mathematics major. “I think this store will do well because usually boots come in ‘one size fits all,’ so they will reach [out to] new customers.”
said. “It turned out to be such a need in the community. I know my friends and people I work with have the same problem. We would go shopping but we would never find boots that fit.” The boots that are sold at The Shoe Suite have an elastic band in the top of the shoe so that the part that fits around the calf is able to stretch to fit over jeans and on any size leg.
Even though there is an obvious need for these types of shoes, they seem impossible to find on the market and in popular shoe stores. Gasiewicz hopes to change that.
The Shoe Suite isn’t limited to just boots. The store sells an assortment of shoes, including designer brands that can’t be found elsewhere in Buffalo. Heels for all occasions are also available.
“I have talked to a bunch of vendors and designers and they said finding a wide calf boot can be very difficult,” Gasiewicz
Gasiewicz doesn’t take her success for granted. She gives back to the community through the organization Soles 4 Souls. Soles
Continued on Page 4
Lover of Nature Defeats Obstacles to Leave Mark at UB Kristina Blank wins prestigious scholarship LISA KHOURY Asst. News Editor As a kid, Kristina Blank would walk around her small hometown of Craryville, N.Y. and pick up garbage off the streets that people had thrown out their car windows. By age 12, she began a journey with her family to become a “46er,” which entails climbing all 46 peaks of the Adirondack Mountains beyond an elevation of 4,000 feet. She finished by age 16. Her innate love for nature and the environment has possessed her to pursue a degree in environmental studies (with a chemistry minor), a career in environmental justice, and bring about real change in the world. This past October, Blank won the SUNY Association of Council Members and College Trustees Excellence and Student Initiative Scholarship – a highly selective scholarship awarded to only four college students throughout New York State. The scholarship included a prize of $1,000 and an additional $250, which Blank donated to the Clean Air
Continued on Page 2 Kristina Blank, a life-long lover of nature, received the SUNY Association of Council Members and College Trustees Excellence and Student Initiative Scholarship. Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum
I N S I D E Opinion * 3 Life * 5,7 Arts * 6,7 Classifieds / Daily Delights * 9 Sports * 10
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Monday, November 7, 2011
Continued from page 1: Lover of Nature Defeats Obstacles to Leave Mark at UB Coalition of Western New York. Although Blank is pursuing a career based around leadership, she is naturally shy. She hates the spotlight, and she even had anxiety attacks growing up when she had to speak in front of the smallest of groups. However, someone who succeeds in environmental justice is someone who takes the lead; and that’s exactly what she has decided to do. “It became very apparent to me that this is a career for a select few people,” Blank said. “You really have to be at the top of your career – you have to work for it if this is really what you want to do. “So I threw myself in whatever I could think of to make myself successful,” Blank said. “One of the most important things I wanted to tackle is to be more of a leader. It became very apparent that if you want to be successful in the career you have to be able to organize people, [be] good with public speaking…I’m not very sure how I accomplished this still to this day. I kind of told myself, OK, this is the field I have to be in, and I need to be a leader in it. This is what I need to do, this is what I have to do.” Her father, Jonathan, who is an exforest ranger, largely influenced Blank’s love for the environment. He left being a forest ranger to pursue a more practical career in the medical field. Now that he is the director of surgical services at
Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, N.Y., he encouraged Kristina to enter UB as a pharmacy major; this way, she would have a job waiting for her after graduation. Kristina switched her major to environmental studies, though, in the fall semester of her sophomore year. She realized she needed to pursue her passion after attending a Power Shift conference with the Environmental Network (EN), an environmental club at UB. By the spring semester, she brought the entire nationwide conference to UB. It took her all semester long, and after the conference the Honors College reviewed her work, and granted her four credits for it. The following fall semester, Blank was elected president of the EN. Before she was elected, Blank spent her summer interning for The Center for Health Environments and Justice (CHEJ). She spent the entire summer researching polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a flexible plastic material used in numerous school supplies that contains toxic chemicals. She went to almost every store that sells school supplies to find out which contain the material. She then put together a back-to-school guide containing school supplies that do not contain PVC, which was distributed to about 30,000 students nationwide.
Blank continued her research on PVC, and brought her experience with CHEJ to UB. She organized a campaign to get PVC off of campus completely. On Valentine’s Day of her junior year, Blank and members of the EN set up their campaign in the Student Union, and urged students to “have a heart and go PVC free.” Students who held up a sign with this slogan on it and had their picture taken were considered signers of the petition. About 200 of these pictures were assembled, and sent to former UB president John B. Simpson as a visual petition, as well as a paper petition of about 500 signatures. About a week later, Blank was asked to give a presentation to the Environmental Stewardship Committee, and she eventually convinced the committee to begin to get PVC off the UB campus. The material subcommittee is currently working on changing its contract with Staples, the company that UB gets most of its school supplies from. Elizabeth Colucci, senior assistant director of the Honors College and coordinator of the competitive scholarship and fellowship program, saw something in Blank, and convinced her to start applying for national scholarships. Blank was a finalist for the Harry S.
Wide Calf Boots available
Snyder Pointe Plaza 4446 Main St Snyder, NY 14226
If you bring in a pair of shoes to donate to our charity Soles4Souls, you get 15% off a new pair of shoes purchased that day - great way to clean out your closet and get a new pair of shoes! www.theshoesuite.com Visit us on facebook
Truman Scholarship – the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship in the nation, and got honorable mention for the Udall Scholarship. By her senior year, Blank stepped down as president of the EN to give someone else a chance to gain the leadership experience she had. “Her whole focus was not to run everything herself, but to encourage the members to step up and do more and take more of a leadership position,” said William Pople, current EN president. “She kind of directed from that idea where she didn’t want to do everything, she didn’t want to be the person to speak at all the meetings. She wanted other people to assume some kind of responsibility, and to encourage other people to be more active.” Kristina now seems to have found her niche. She is planning on going to the University of Washington next year for grad school to pursue environmental justice. This time around, she will be entering school as a leader instead of an apprehensive student. “I am glad that she decided to fight for environmental injustices because I think a lot of people that are fighting for the environment can be looked at as kind of ‘hippie-ish,’ and they get portrayed as a joke almost where people don’t take them seriously,” Pople said. “I think she’s a face people can look at and say ‘OK she’s a normal person, someone
we can listen to, and we can respect her opinion, and she may have done the research.’” Although it was Blank’s father, Jonathan Blank, who made her a lover of nature, he was skeptical of his daughter studying environmental studies. Now he sees, however, that she is going above and beyond what he ever did as an environmental student. “It’s almost surreal some of the successes she’s had,” Jonathan Blank said. “When her younger sister ended up at UB, she was in some random class, and her professor was talking about this very, very motivated student. It turns out they’re talking about [Kristina]. It’s very bizarre to me that she’s known on the campus, she’s like a star…I think Kristina is extremely self deprecating to begin with, and she’s not looking to be in the limelight or anything and she’s looking to do well, and she’s very modest.” Blank overcame major personal obstacles during these past few years at UB. She became a leader, despite her timid and shy nature. She realized what she wants to do with her life, and she has been put in the spotlight for realizing and pursuing her passions. “When you connect with your passion, things just start to click,” Jonathan said. “In her case, she blossomed.”
E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
Opinion ubspectrum.com
Monday, November 7, 2011
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Matthew Parrino SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR James Twigg MANAGING EDITOR Edward Benoit EDITORIAL EDITOR James Bowe NEWS EDITORS Luke Hammill, senior Rebecca Bratek Sara DiNatale, asst. Lisa Khoury, 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 Alexa Strudler Satsuki Aoi Troi Williams, asst. Nyeri Moulterie, asst. CARTOONIST Patrick Boyle WEB EDITOR Matthew Parrino James Twigg
PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Andrew Angeles CREATIVE DESIGNERS Nicole Manzo Aline Kobayashi 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 7, 2011 VOLUME 61 NUMBER 30 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 email any submissions to info@ubspectrum.com
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A Cold War Continues
Misplaced Priorities
U.S. should radically reduce nuclear armament.
In 1962, the world was on the brink of annihilation. Nuclear warheads were being set up in Cuba, and the resulting tensions were pushing the U.S. and Soviet Union toward all-out war. Mutually Assured Destruction was ready to break down, and only the wills of two leaders kept the worst from happening. The Cuban Missile Crisis, as it came to be known, showed the true power of the technological marvel. At the time, the thermonuclear weapons acted as a deterrent. Direct engagements like World War 2 were less likely because of the overwhelming destructive ability each side had. Each side knew that if it were to flinch, the world would be rendered a lifeless cinder. Technology has continually advanced in the following 50 years, but our tactics regarding nuclear weapons has been remarkably similar. We employ what is known as “the Triad.” In it’s most basic form, the Triad is the use of intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear missile submarines, and long-range bombers in conjunction. Tides and the economy have changed since then, and the prospect of maintaining a massive nuclear arsenal
has not been popular. In past years the U.S. and Russia have signed nuclear disarmament treaties like START that significantly reduced our arsenal. Obama signed a new START agreement with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The new treaty allows for 1,550 weapons, but opponents are arguing that even that is too much. Congressman Ed Markey argued that at least one aspect of the Triad should be eliminated. Nuke supporters fall back on the stabilization factor. They think that the nuclear warheads guarantee that we can retaliate against any attack. Our opponents know this and that supposedly deters them from attacking. Yet this shows a complete misunderstanding of the technological might that is our military, and callousness to the death and unbelievable destruction that an atomic weapon causes. Nukes were so plentiful because of inaccurate guidance systems. At the time, we couldn’t be sure if we were going to hit a site, so the bombs needed to be big to guarantee destruction. The more you had, the better chance you had to take out your opponent’s weapons.
In effect, we really don’t need nuclear weapons anymore to deter our opponents. We have unprecedented precision now, the likes of which were unimaginable to the people of the ’60s. We could hit the eye of a sparrow from a world away with a hellfire missile, and not even put a person in harm’s way. This isn’t to say we should eliminate our entire nuclear arsenal. It is impossible to predict every possible situation, but having this much devastating power is overkill and unnecessary. Our economy isn’t on its legs yet. The government has big debts and an ongoing deficit, and everyone wants our elected officials to eliminate waste. Defending the golden nuclear cow is an outdated and ugly proposition that all sides of the aisle should consider. Millions of men and women are out of work, struggling to find a job and we’re spending our money maintaining a gigantic death machine. When normal people are strapped for money, they don’t go out buying guns. Our government should think the same way.
Ohio is for Haters Unions need to be protected
Have you ever wondered why you weren’t forced into working at an unsafe factory when you were a kid, or why you don’t have to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week?
police and firefighters under the laws. With that inclusion, the total number of people affected could reach 350,000 if the resolution, Issue 2, is passed.
Well, you can thank a union for that. Since the beginning of industrialization, unions have played an integral role in ensuring workers’ rights and safety. For just as long, they’ve been under assault by business leaders and government.
The battle has been extremely fierce from a monetary stance. The main group fighting SB 5, We Are Ohio, had raised $24 million by the middle of October. That’s more money than every dollar raised for 2008 presidential campaigns in Ohio combined.
On Tuesday, voters in Ohio get a chance to push back against those forces to protect the union that represents their state workers.
It’s insane to see where the priorities of the Ohio government lie. Like many other states, Ohio is feeling the pinch of the bad economy, and needs to save money, but for some reason the state is looking at the people who do the most.
Senate Bill 5 was signed into law back in march, and had a wide effect. Originally, the law banned all collective bargaining, but was reworked to only ban bargaining for benefits. SB 5 also eliminates automatic raises based on seniority in favor of a system that supposedly rewards teachers based on performance. On top of that, most other rules on seniority are thrown out the window, like tenure and layoff priority.
The legislation hurts teachers, policemen, firefighters, and nurses all so that the state can avoid making changes to the education system that are actually worthwhile. Without a way to collectively bargain for their benefits, workers will be completely powerless to any changes to one of the most important aspects of employment.
Ohio touched a hornet’s nest when it went further than similar legislation, like that of Wisconsin, and included
While basing pay raises on performance sounds like a good idea and often has popular support, it is com-
monly a flawed system. Teachers who constantly struggle with students who are on the edge are less likely to be recognized for their work and get the raises and recognition than teachers who work with already gifted students. In the end, what you get with “performance based” raises and perks in many public jobs become subjective and easily corruptible. What should be done is a combination of automatic pay raises and performance review. That way, the incentive to do well is there and the people who have long time experience will be satisfied. Unions need this win in Ohio. Throughout the nation, including here in New York, workers have been under attack in the name of a momentary political statement. Victory will excite democrats, who have sustained large losses since 2010, right in the beginning of a new election cycle. Ohioans who care about educated children, safe streets, and healthy people should vote no on Issue 2, and force their government to rework the terrible law.
EDWARD BENOIT Managing Editor
By now you’ve all heard the news – it’s been impossible not to have heard it by now, really. Indeed, many of you are still talking about it, and undoubtedly still ponder its impact on your lives, on your futures, and on your ultimate understandings of the world. No, I’m not talking about Bank Transfer Day; or the ongoing insurrection in Homs, Syria; or Europe’s ongoing debt crisis and the possible demise of the Euro; or the ever-growing Occupy movement; or the hacking of Israeli defense and intelligence agency websites by hacker group Anonymous; or al-Shabab’s grenade attacks in Nairobi, Kenya. The mind-blowing, life-changing, earthshattering news to which I allude is, of course, Kim Kardashian’s divorce. It’s a touchy subject, I know – many of you are still reeling. Here’s the thing, though – and this is probably difficult to hear – but in the grand scheme of things, Kim Kardashian’s divorce isn’t exactly important. Or newsworthy. Or deserving of any more than, like, 30 seconds of discussion, tops. Here’s how every discussion regarding Kardashian should have gone, ideally: “So, Kim Kardashian just filed for divorce.” “That’s not surprising.” “No, it really isn’t.” “Wait, why is she famous again?” “You know, I’m not really sure.” “Huh.” [Awkward pause.] Instead, though, this horrifically unimportant piece of “news” dominated public discourse for a solid two to three days. I was personally involved (peripherally, at least) in two major conversations regarding Kardashian’s divorce and all of its potential ramifications. Why? Why is it that we, as Americans, are so profoundly captivated by trite crap like this? I’m certainly guilty of it too – I definitely spend a disproportionate amount of time discussing videogames, funny YouTube videos, and my fantasy football lineups (though I would argue from my admittedly biased perspective that any one of these things is infinitely more important than Kardashian’s marital status, especially anything pertaining to fantasy football). Now, this isn’t to say that other countries don’t have their own escapist schlock meant only to distract – anyone who’s seen Japanese game shows or Dutch reality TV can tell you as much. We Americans, however, take things to a whole other level in that our distractions from the news become news events themselves. Even the majority of our news programs, from fluffy human interests pieces to the partisan shouting matches on Fox “News,” are meant to entertain. And it is this Zeitgeist of constant distractions, I feel, that contributes to our national complacency more than anything else. People, when it comes down to it, would rather discuss Jersey Shore than political issues, and would rather shout about political issues than actually solve them. It’s not that we, as a country, are unaware that our Social Security system is broken or that our budget is bloated or that our international power and prestige is waning – it’s just that whenever public discourse is fixated on these issues for any appreciable amount of time, some new distraction comes along and derails whatever progress or hint of progress was made. So come on, America, it’s time to get your priorities in order. It’s time to lay off the video games and the celebrity gossip and the reality TV, at least long enough to patch up our rickety infrastructure and dysfunctional financial institutions so that the next generation or two can have the luxury to banter about their own vapid, escapist drivel. Think of your children, America, think of your children.
Email: eabenoit@buffalo.edu
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Continued from page 1: Shooting for a Higher Purpose forward] Titus Robinson are just guys…we’re all learning to pursue truth and grace.” Buffalo has been building a steady relationship with Athletes in Action ever since head coach Reggie Witherspoon took over in 1999. Witherspoon was aware of the ministry’s work even before he came to UB, and had no second thoughts about asking Filzen and Robinson to join when they first came to Buffalo. Filzen, a devout Christian, was on board immediately after the offer. “I was never skeptical,” Filzen said. “I knew [Athletes in Action] was solid, and my faith is very important to me. It’s the most important thing in my life, so I could tell right away that it was the real deal.” Filzen and Robinson engaged in some minor activities with Athletes in Actions before their biggest endeavor with the ministry came last summer. In June, the two made a twoweek journey with Athletes in Action to East Asia to play against professional teams and hold clinics for youths. The athletes were part of a 10-man team that consisted of players from Appalachian State, Memphis, Michigan, Clemson, Northwestern, and Cornell.
Continued from page 1: Let’s Get Some Shoes
Robinson, too, was passionately on board for the journey. “I knew that it would help me in my personal faith and that it would be a great experience to play overseas,” Robinson said. “So I just chose to go with it.” However, the well-intentioned athletes weren’t allowed to spread their Christian beliefs in the Republic. The nation isn’t democratic, and the spreading of religious beliefs could lead to persecution by the Communist government. The 10 athletes went on with their mission undeterred. They were able to teach basketball ethics and fundamentals to the youth without pushing their beliefs. Michalsky wasn’t surprised that the organization was able to accomplish this mission, as he’s been in similar situations before. “It’s amazing when you come in with compassion for oppressed people or people who are addicted to their power,” Michalsky said. “Compassion is a way to reach people’s hearts. Secondly, sport is a language. Sport, music, and love are international languages. You don’t need a whole lot of words to communicate those things.” The Athletes in Action squad grew stronger on the court as well. According to Robinson, the team won seven of the eight games it played against the East
Asian professional teams. The athletes’ success was made even more impressive by the fact that they only had five days of training camp before going overseas.
4 Souls is a charity that takes gently used shoes and donates them to impoverished communities all over the world, as well as to victims of natural disasters.
“We were very successful on the court and that’s a great credit to those young men,” Michalsky said. “None of the guys we took, other than Zach and Titus, were teammates. So for them to learn to play in a cohesive way was extremely praiseworthy. I was extremely pleased with this particular group to buy into the mission.”
Gasiewicz encourages her customers to participate in this cause by giving them 15 percent off of their purchase when they donate a pair of gently used shoes.
Michalsky praised Robinson. The coach believed that Robinson’s heightened spiritual awareness reflected in his play. “Titus played out of his mind,” Michalsky said. “He was on fire the whole tour. He got more confident about who he was and who he was supposed to be in his position before God, and it transferred to how he felt on the court. He was one free bird.”
“It is one of the most fulfilling feelings in the world because you make such a difference,” Gasiewicz said. “You don’t think one pair of shoes could make any difference, but these could go to women, men, and children who have nothing to wear on their feet…It’s a great way to clean out your closet and an even better way to give back to the community.” Although Gasiewicz graduated with a bachelor’s in science for nursing, she’s found herself doing something completely different from her original goals.
“Ever since she was a child she knew she wanted to have her own business,” said Gasiewicz’s mother, By the end of the journey, it was clear to Witherspoon that Robin- Claudia. “She never knew what it son and Filzen were more focused would be until recently, and now look at her. She did it.” than ever. Filzen said that the journey helped them become Gasiewicz considers herself a better leaders for the Bulls, and the level of competition they faced “shoeaholic at heart,” so opening a shoe store seemed the most rewardduring their time in East Asia ing for her personality and calves. would only help them to become With the powerful support and better players. encouragement from her mother, Gasiewicz was able to start up the Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
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business. But the journey hasn’t been easy. The current economy was a major source of struggle for the new business owner. But she doesn’t let the economic situation of the country stop her from pursuing her dream. “The biggest struggle was hearing people say that it would never be possible,” Gasiewicz said. “I think it’s just getting back to the basics. No matter what, people are going to buy shoes. People need shoes. Women will always love shoes.”
Continued from page 1: Greiner Hall Lacks Hot Water ing with contractors is welcome news for the students living in Greiner Hall.
“I just question how much awareness the school officials had about the problem at the beginning of the semester,” Bruce said. “And if they, in fact, were aware of the problem, why did it take until November for the problem to be fixed? The students shouldn’t Luckily for Gasiewicz, she has had have had to be subjected to cold a strong support system throughout showers for this long a period of time.” the entire process. Her family has suppoted her when things weren’t looking good. One thing students can agree on is the fact that they spend an “I know women and they love to excessive amount of time and shop,” Claudia said. “They may not water waiting for a warmer tembe spending as much now as they perature. While many students did two years ago, but they still love to shop. As a woman, I know if understand and appreciate the effort to have an environmentally I want a pair of shoes I’m going to get those shoes. Maybe right now friendly building, they believe I can’t afford them, but in a week that fixing the temperature would when I can afford them, I’m going be better in the long run. to buy them.” Since The Shoe Suite has been thriving, Gasiewicz encourages anybody to start his or her own business. “Go for it,” Gasiewicz said. “Anything is possible, anybody will tell you that because it’s true. I took a lot of my own advice and just dove into it.” Email: features@ubspectrum.com
“If they spent the money to get it fixed it’d actually probably save money because people wouldn’t have to waste water waiting for it to get warm,” said Kelsey Clark, a sophomore exercise science major. Email: news@ubspectrum.com
Life
Monday, November 7, 2011
ubspectrum.com
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The SAD Tune of Winter Blues
JOHAN MATTHEWS Staff Writer Winter’s almost here, and with the darker days comes colder nights. At least this is the notion held by most students when they think of the upcoming season, though it was not always like this. For a lot of people, snow once represented a time of fun and enchantment. But this can change as people grow older. Such is the case for Angelo Threats, a senior biological sciences major and Buffalo native. “I started hating snow when I was like 9, before that it was fun…but after [I was] 9, I had to start shoveling and that’s when it got real bad,” Threats said. “If Christmas could be without snow like it was last year, I’m happy with that…snow causes trouble.” For many like Threats, the inconveniences that wintertime brings turn daily routines into everyday hassles. Shoveling the driveway, warming up the
car to melt off the ice, and piling on warm clothes just to get the mail can all be mood-dampening chores. For others, the winter months can be a disabling period of depression. Those who suffer from such severe levels of depression can be considered clinically depressed and could be diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Experts believe that, with SAD, depression is somehow triggered by the brain's response to decreased daylight exposure. Two specific chemicals in the brain, melatonin and serotonin, may be involved in regulating a person's sleep-wake cycles, energy, and mood. The shorter days and the longer hours of darkness in fall and winter cause increased levels of melatonin and decreased levels of serotonin, creating the biological conditions for depression, according to kidshealth. org. Some are so affected by the lack of sunshine and overbearing weather that they often experience
anxiety, fatigue, low energy, difficulty sleeping, and even weight gain all throughout the season as a result of SAD. “I’ve gone through it,” said Steven Parks, a senior architecture major. “It’s terrible…you have a lot of work to do for school and you have no way to release that energy or that stress because basically you’re stuck indoors. There’s nothing to do. That stress just kind of builds up and, toward the end, you get that serious depressed feeling.” Parks is just one of many students at UB enduring the winter blues and bearing the burden of SAD. The potential to catch a cold and the desire to stay inside as to stay clear of what awaits outdoors could lead to serious depression. What doctors suggest is going out and getting stuff done despite the weather. Also, exercising, eating lots of fruits, a daily intake of vitamins, specifically vitamin D, and exposure to light can combat the symptoms. On especially cold days, people can warm up by drinking mood-enhancing drinks like green tea. When the sun refuses to come out, people may act the same. But this reclusive behavior comes at a price. What people may be doing in order to avoid the cold can eventually end up hurting them, and can cause them to become sick. “While it’s true that UB’s Student Health Services sees almost twice as many colds and upper respiratory infections during the fall and winter months than in spring and summer, that doesn’t mean the cold weather and snow are making you sick,” said Paula Z. Taton, a clinic manager of Student Health Services at UB. “More than likely it’s due to being indoors with large groups of people for longer periods of time in the colder months. While SAD is a real condition, it’s important not to blame the wintertime and the cold for everything.
Many students find themselves knee-deep in the wintertime blues while others look for ways to get out. Courtesy of flickr user bigbirdz
In the meantime, keep warm and aware of ways to prevent sickness. “Here’s what you can do to keep yourself healthy,” Taton said. “Get a free flu vaccine at Student Health Services. Wash hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer frequently. Cover your cough. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or, if needed, into the bend of your elbow. Drink plenty of water, eat a healthy balanced diet and get lots of rest.” Email: features@ubspectrum.com
The UB Department of Music Presents
The Borromeo String Quartet Slee/Beethoven String Quartet Cycle
Concert III: Friday, November 11, 2011, 7:30pm Baird Recital Hall Concert IV: Saturday, November 12, 2011, 7:30pm Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall Tickets/Information: (716) 645-2921 or www.slee.buffalo.edu
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A Towering Comedic Team Here is a heist movie that surpasses even the James Bond series in over-the-top action. Visualize a 1953 red Ferrari roped to the top of a skyscraper, hanging off the building’s side with a man dangling for dear life on the car’s front bumper. This is one such example of the absurdity presented in Tower Heist. And, truthfully, the ridiculousness is relentless, as its hysterical cast and crew does what they do best.
Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy star in the crime comedy Tower Heist. Courtesy of Universal Pictures
JAKE KNOTT Staff Writer
Movie: Tower Heist Release Date: Nov. 4 Studio: Universal Pictures Grade: B+
The story centers on The Tower, a luxurious private apartment (portrayed by the actual Trump Tower) that dwarfs everything around it. However, this soaring skyscraper quickly becomes tainted. Tower owner Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda, Flash of Genius) astonishes the world by being charged with financial fraud. Not only has Shaw pulled off the greatest Ponzi scheme since Bernie Madoff, all Tower employees are forced to stand in horror as their hard-earned pensions evaporate without warning. It’s payback time for Tower building manager
Director Brett Ratner (Cop House) – known for his work on the Rush Hour trilogy – knows the procedure on making wacky action flicks and
The heist sequences are moronic, but with the countless laughs they draw out, it doesn’t matter. The comedy isn’t exactly clever, but the movie has a multitude of laugh-out-loud scenes that are enough to balance the crude humor and the merciless charisma of Shaw to keep the audience’s attention. Tower Heist is purely a good time, worth a viewing at the movie theater, unlike numerous recent comedies. There exists a long string of impossible scenarios, and the trick is to not question them, and instead to simply accept and be amused. This shouldn’t be a problem for most audiences.
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
production of a play titled Anonymous. As the narrator (Derek Jacobi, The Borgias) describes the setting and background of the story, the scene morphs from a 21st century auditorium to 16th century England.
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Although Stiller’s character is becoming stale – he portrays the same persona in most of his films – the supporting cast operates like a refurbished engine. Namely Eddie Murphy (Shrek Forever After), who additionally produced the film, and stars in his first live-action movie since Imagine That in 2009. People will no doubt love the spastic energy Murphy gives as a tarnished city thug assigned to coach the gang in the art of theft. Murphy’s performance has the liveliness of an infinite strand of firecrackers lighting up the scene.
manages to repeat the feat in Heist. Writers Ted Griffin (Killers) and Jeff Nathanson (New York, I Love You) collaborate in this textbook crimecomedy film, having already made a name for themselves with Ocean’s Eleven and Catch Me If You Can.
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Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller, Little Fockers), who plots the “perfect” heist. Leading the charge, Kovacs recruits Tower concierge Charlie (Casey Affleck, The Killer Inside Me), elevator “technician” Enrique Dev’Reaux (Michael Pena, 30 Minutes or Less), and former Wall Street investor Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick, Beach Lane).
Monday, November 7, 2011
Mon - Thurs
Anonymous will have viewers questioning the legitimacy of both Queen Elizabeth and William Shakespeare. Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
DAN WHITNEY Staff Writer Film: Anonymous Studio: Columbia Pictures/Relativity Media Release Date: Nov. 4 Grade: B+ Arguably the most famous playwright of all time, William Shakespeare penned classics like Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. But what if Mr. Shakespeare was in fact a fraud? According to the new film Anonymous, a fictional interpretation of the playwright’s literary life, Shakespeare did not write them, but merely took the credit. Directed by Roland Emmerich (2012), Anonymous is part political thriller and part drama, as the viewer witnesses a first-hand account of Elizabethan London. Paying homage to Laurence Olivier’s 1944 adaptation of Henry V, the film opens on a modern day
It appears the Earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1) has a penchant for the written word. However, given his status in the hierarchical political world, he is unable to claim his works as his own. Enter Ben Jonson (Sebastian Armesto, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), a struggling playwright of what will soon be called the Shakespearian Era. The Earl confers with Jonson, asking him to be the name and face of his masterworks. Jonson declines, wishing to make his own way to the top, and mentions the idea to lowly actor William Shakespeare (Rafe Spall, One Day). Shakespeare, keen to break free from his stagnant career, snaps up the offer and enters the life the Earl could have lived. While the main focus of Anonymous is to tell this fictional story, the film also does an excellent job portraying the life of Queen Elizabeth I and her search for an heir to the throne, a riveting addition to the story as the viewer is led down a road of violence, manipulation, incest, and bastard children. With the role of Queen Elizabeth I played by both Joely Richardson (The Tudors) as well as Vanessa Redgrave (Cars 2), the family ties make for ideal portrayal of young queen and a more a distinguished ruler.
In terms of acting, all those involved gave notable performances, but both Richardson and Redgrave shined in their dual role of Queen Elizabeth I. The mother-daughter pair were able to breathe life into a fictionalized portrayal of a ruler who not only slept around with various men, but gave birth to several bastard children. Known as the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth never actually produced an heir to her throne, which led to James VI of Scotland as her successor. The fact that she mothered multiple children is just one of the liberties Emmerich took with his film. Historical inaccuracies are present from start to finish as Emmerich and his writers play around with various occurrences for the sake of his film. Since the movie is to be viewed as fiction and nothing more, this should not bother the viewer in the least. One major problem this film had was the jumping back and forth through time, which happens constantly during the 130 minute run time. The audience is likely to get years and time periods confused if it did not pay close enough attention. Another downfall was the plethora of characters present throughout the film. At times, it was hard to keep track of who’s who and what the motives were. In the end, Anonymous is a thrilling and intriguing film that makes the viewer wonder just how much truth may be behind the story unfolding in front of his or her eyes. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
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Monday, November 7, 2011
This War’s Not Over
portrayed the exact opposite. Willett has a unique voice, and it propels the band. He crooned to the crowd, and kept them captivated with beautiful stories. By time the band got three songs in, the crowd was telling the stories with Willett, as if they were the ones that created the tales. Guitarist Jonnie Russell was charismatic on stage. Often he was the only member playing guitar for Cold War Kids but that did not seem to phase him. For every song he sounded crisp and spot on. As he jammed out on the guitar, he was running around stage and getting the audience more into the show. Occasionally, Russell would demonstrate his musical ability and replace Willett on piano. Not only is Russell an excellent guitar player, he also has the capability to play multiple instruments. As the night winded down, Cold War Kids performed the song “Saint John.” Maust was the only person playing a stringed instrument as Willett focused on vocal duties and Russell moved to the piano.
Cold War Kids gave a thrilling performance in Toronto on Friday night. Meg Kinsley /// The Spectrum
JAMESON BUTLER Senior Arts Editor
down the bass line, and the lyrics radiated through the concert hall.
Flannel, skinny jeans, and dark brim glasses were all in high volume Friday night at Phoenix Concert Hall as one of indie rock’s biggest acts took the stage.
Cold War Kids combine blues with contemporary indie rock. The soulful instrumentals added to the band’s atmospheric feel, while the upbeat percussion kept tracks danceable. The result is one of the most entertaining live shows since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Although Cold War Kids played Toronto in March, they made sure to change up their set list to keep things fresh for returning concertgoers. Cold War Kids played a lot of deep tracks, especially off their sophomore album, Loyalty to Loyalty. While this displeased some members of the crowd, hardcore fans in attendance reveled the chance to hear songs that the band doesn’t play very often. The band opened with “Royal Blue” from its most recent album, Mine Is Yours. The crowd starting dancing along as Matt Maust laid
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Every member of Cold War Kids displayed a mastery of not only their instruments, but also how to perform on stage. All of the members had a great stage presence, but lead singer Nathan Willett and guitarist Jonnie Russell stole much of the spotlight. Willett fluctuated between guitar and piano while singing, while other times he dropped his instruments all together to focus on the vocals. At times he seemed nervous on stage, but his voice
During the song, Russell brought out a drumstick and an empty bottle. He proceeded to use the bottle and various parts of the piano to add his own percussion into the song. Chicago natives Young Man opened for Cold War Kids. Colin Caulfield, the face of band, presents a unique sound that is sure to reinvigorate the indie world. The only problem with Young Man’s set was the general lack of stage presence. Young Man, while sounding good, was stagnant and boring on stage. Their long instrumental journeys were interesting to listen to but boring to watch. If the band did more to entertain the crowd, Young Man would become a cornerstone very quickly. Cold War Kids displayed why they currently hold the spotlight of the indie scene Friday night. Luckily for everyone, the Cold War isn’t over.
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Strolling For a Cause JOHAN MATTHEWS Staff Writer The Student Union Theatre boomed with high energy last Saturday, Nov. 6, as Phi Beta Sigma strolled its way to victory at the ninth annual Stroll Benefit. ‘Strolling,’ or party walking, is an American dance that was primarily used to go along with The Diamonds’ 1957 hit song, “The Stroll.” Couples face each other in lines and stroll down in variations of dance walks. Strolling has transcended its roots, and has grown into a multicultural language of dance expression. The practice is traditionally associated with African American fraternities and sororities, but now is practiced by all varieties of Greek organizations. For the past eight years, certain chapters of UB’s Greek Life have been using the dance form as a way to bring students together and raise money. Its ninth annual benefit was no exception. The event, hosted by Lambda Sigma Upsilon and Lambda Theta Alpha, sold over 400 tickets at $10 each, and featured over nine fraternities and sororities aiming to secure money for a charity of their choosing.
“The ninth [annual show] was definitely the best one we’ve ever had,” Ruiz said. “The grand prize definitely pushed a bunch of people to come out and compete and do things they wouldn’t do. Normally we wouldn’t have such a good turnout, but the money talks.” The crowd filled up the entire SU theatre. Seats were flooded with students and others were forced to sit on the stairs. They cheered wholeheartedly and chanted for their squad during the impromptu dance contests and the actual show. “We feel good…[it was a lot of] hard work and dedication, after school and after work. We stayed up to 5 a.m. every night so we deserve it,” said Augustine Queener, a senior marketing major and a participating dancer for Phi Beta Sigma. “Overall we just had a great time, we bonded together, we worked hard together, and we had fun together.” Next year Ruiz says that they have even bigger plans and hope to raise the first place prize to $1,500 in order to attract even more organizations
Email: features@ubspectrum.com
After a long night of strolling, Phi Beta Sigma used the dance to take home first place in the event, receiving a $1000 cash prize. Half of the money the group received was donated to a charity of its choice while the other $500 goes to its chapter. Lambda Pi Upsilon took $250 for second place, which will also be donated to its charity of choice. The event drew students and Greeks from all over the east coast, demonstrating how widely received the highly synchronized dance form has become around campuses throughout the nation. Performers were met with high anticipation as an energetic crowd moved and grooved in their seats to the music. When time came for the real show to begin, things got even more entertaining as a lewd M.C. ushered in a night of pristine routines and raunchy lap dances. “Overall I think it was really good, it was worth the money, and I enjoyed myself,” said Tiffany Michell, a senior exercise science major at UB. “If I were in Buffalo next year I would definitely come back.” Coordinators, Gabriel Ruiz, social chair of the Lambda Sigma Upsilon fraternity and a senior legal studies major, and Miosoti Marinez, a senior at Buffalo State college and member of the Lambda Theta Alpha sorority, were pleased with the event’s turnout.
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Monday, November 7, 2011
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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 716-9847813.
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BUFFALO DRIVING SCHOOLS 716-8344300. Warranted driving instruction package. www.buffalodrivingschools.com
HOUSE FOR SALE CONDO FOR SALE. Close to UB North Campus. 3-Bdrm, 2-Bath. $94,500. Open house Sunday 1-3pm. Call Gerrie Nowak, Hunt Real Estate, 716-432-3018.
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
WRITE FOR THE SPECTRUM!!! The Spectrum is looking for writers, graphic designers and photographers. Are you a writer? Do you have something to say? Email eic@ubspectrum.com to get more information and you could see your name on the front page next semester!
(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
Expires 12/31/11
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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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.
MONDay, NOVEMBER 7 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- What you suspect is likely to be the truth, but you may not be in a position to ask those in the know. Investigate carefully.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- A quick start today is likely to yield fast results -- but you can expect a slowdown before day's end.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- It's time to update your wardrobe, your work habits and your surroundings -- just a bit. Things are becoming antiquated.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -Small changes today are likely to have a major impact -- perhaps not on your life, but on the lives of those you touch daily.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Even before you begin doing what you have been assigned to do, you may receive something of a promotion. You can acquit yourself well.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Keep your wits about you, and know when it's best to keep your opinions to yourself. Certain fears are allayed late in the day.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You're going to have to be more organized if you expect to keep up with your growing regimen of duties. Write things down.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You're likely to get the information you need through the grapevine today, but you'll want to be sure that your sources are accurate.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- The reasons you are doing certain things are far more pragmatic than anyone else might suspect. You may be ready for a change.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You may be wondering if something is fair today, but there are those who will ask you what's fair got to do with it? They have a point.
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 7, 2011 the sky to measure temperature and BACK ON THE SCREEN By Nick Coolidge atmospheric pressure. In addition, the ACROSS team wanted to capture pictures and 51 "O death, where is ___ sting?" 1 Money fortoresearch video footage document the trip and 52 ___ A Sketch (drawing toy) 6 Turkish measure thehonorific atmospheric boundary 55 Having limits 10 Result of downsizing layers. 59 What churchgoing hikers rave about? 14 Avoid being overdue, in a way 61 Whom fans adore 15 Barely edible “This project is onefare of the most chal 64 Brief <00AD>refreshers 16 Viva voce lenging yet rewarding feats of my 65 Heckelphones 17 Get out of bed undergraduate career,” Lyons said. 66 Island feast 18 Former Generaland C. Everett “The lessonsSurgeon I have learned [the] 67 Designer Saint Laurent 19 Likeofathis storybook success projectduckling have given me 68 Log-transport channel Apparitionno of course comic actor Keaton? an20inspiration offered at this 69 Knowledge gained through tradition 23 Provoke a blessing, in a way university could ever provide.” 70 Arizona city 24 "No pain, no ___" 71 Elaborate parties 25 Venomous viper The launching of the balloon last 28 Profound Saturday, Oct. 22, was the culmina30 of Notmany weirdhours of planning. The tion 32 Belly forraise shortthe funds group hadmuscles, to not only 35 When many people are off work? to take on this project, but it also had Overhead constructions to38 develop the means by which to 41 Always, in poems perform all the desirable functions. 42 Pesto base UB-SEDS procured $1,100 in funding 43 Mobster's father or mother? from sponsorships from local compa46 What LittleSub Miss Muffet did nies and from Board I Inc. 47 Reach, as one's goal 48 King address “The idea Arthur's for this came about in either 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 Seizes, as a brass ring 2 Summer show, often 3 Liqueur flavoring 4 Placed one within another 5 Pluck eyebrow hairs 6 Makes inquiries 7 Spiced-wine punch 8 Ruckus 9 Name to a position 10 Awkward person 11 Physics unit 12 Mineo of "Rebel Without a Cause" 13 Foxy 21 Snorkeling site 22 Be nosy 25 Not quite right 26 Famous package delivery man 27 Fabric fold 29 The pinnace stops here 31 Genetic initials 32 Buddhist in Nirvana
33 Fair structure 34 Like 26-Down's suit on Dec. 26 36 Air show formation 37 Airborne fish-eaters 39 U.S. pharmaceuticals regulator 40 Hawker's pitch 44 Opposite 45 Petty quarrel 49 Way-overpriced item 50 Make possible 53 Long for 54 Publicizes extravagantly 56 "We Can Work ___" (Beatles) 57 Kind of park or song 58 Curvy letters 59 Modeling need 60 Greek peak 61 Down with something 62 Half a quartet 63 Dory propeller
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- A puzzle demands attention today -- but you may not want to delve into it just yet, as it will require you to bare certain troubling emotions. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Others come to you with an easy task today -- but if you look beneath the surface you'll discover there are complexities to be dealt with.
Sudoku
Sports
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Undefeated and Still Losing BRIAN JOSEPHS Sports Editor
When you look at today’s sports coverage, it is clear that boxing is hastily becoming a forgotten sport. As painful as it is to admit, I’m not surprised. A majority of the lower weight classes are boring even to the boxing aficionado, and when I can’t go to sleep at night, I just turn on the heavyweight matches. Questions of who was going to be the next best WBC title contender have been replaced by who Jon “Bones” Johns was going to fight next. Yes, UFC conversations have taken boxing’s place, and there is not a thing I can do about it. Over the past decade, it became clear that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. may be boxing’s only hope. As a Haitian-American, I was holding onto the hope that welterweight and fellow Haitian Andre Berto may be the sport’s saving grace instead. Unfortunately, Berto doesn’t have the same market appeal as Mayweather. Mayweather has talked the talked, gone undefeated, and drawn the crowds for those main event fights. The blue-collared Berto only lost one fight and is too charitable for a fan base that values charisma. Mayweather is a boxing genius. His defensive skills are unmatched in his division, his accuracy is topnotch, and frankly, he has the skill set to be one of the best boxers of all-time. But why is he so insecure? After his controversial knockout against Victor Ortiz nearly two months ago, Mayweather got into an argument with 80-year-old HBO announcer Larry Merchant. He accused Merchant of being unfair to him even though the announcer was just doing his job and pressing him about the two cheap shots that won him the fight. Even more recently, “Money” Mayweather got into an on-air argument with a Shade 45 (a Sirius Radio station) talk show host. DJ Rude Jude, the host, questioned Mayweather on why he was ducking Manny Pacquiao, the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer. Then suddenly, the WBC champion got completely defensive. He immediately played the race card as a pathetic means to escape the interrogation. “The black man always gets it the hardest way,” Mayweather said. Since when was this about race? Some of the most celebrated fighters of all time are African-American. Mayweather was just using the race card as a fragile curtain to hide his insecurities. Frankly, his undefeated record is the only thing Mayweather has to hold on to. Mayweather is unfortunately a defensive mastermind; there are barely any defensive fights that are entertaining. Also, his arrogant persona makes fans see “Money,” and not Mayweather the boxing champion. Mayweather is so insecure because he knows the only way he can cement his place in boxing history is to face someone who can dent the one thing he prizes the most. Pacquiao may be the greatest boxer in the world, and nothing more would damage the WBC champ’s ego than losing to a fighter with such skill. That fact is steadily becoming known to the boxing faithful and the casual sports fan. Unfortunately, Mayweather and Pacquiao meeting up is the only thing fans want to see. Mayweather’s image will only continue to falter as long as he refuses the potentially historic match, and it will negatively impact boxing, as he is the current face of the sport. Boxing is an art, and there’s much to appreciate in Mayweather’s domination of the sweet sciences. But in the end, Mayweather is only gaining money, while boxing continues to lie in its comatose state.
Email: brian.josephs@ubspectrum.com
Monday, November 7, 2011
Cannon Blasts Competition at UB Open BRIAN JOSEPHS Sports Editor
where the mistakes are being made and just keep at it…The kids need to refocus and have a short memory.”
It had been an eventful offseason for the wrestling team. The team’s nine-month break included the signing of a nationally renowned recruiting class, the renovation of its facility, and the loss of arguably its best wrestler.
Junior Mark Lewandowski finished last season with a top-12 finish at the NCAA tournament, but struggled against the invite’s lesser foes. He beat his first opponent 11-1, but only had less than 30 minutes to recover for his next match. As a result, he lost 5-1 against the unrostered Owen Scott.
Fans gathered to see if Buffalo had truly refocused itself to start off its 2011-12 campaign on Sunday and saw mixed results.
Lewandowski redeemed himself with a convincing 15-0 third place finish over Edinboro’s Jason Greisheimer. However, Lackey believes that there was no reason Lewandowski should’ve lost his second match – fatigue or not.
The Bulls hosted the UB Open, a meet that had 170 wrestlers from 11 different schools. Buffalo had its strong moments, but only crowned one champion in the meet. Senior John-Martin Cannon, the 174-pound wrestler, quietly entered the meet under the surrounding hype of the offseason developments. However, he made sure his presence was known by the time the seven-hour meet was over. Cannon was just one of the 10 crowned champions, but he was one of the most dominant. Cannon dominated each of the opponents he faced en route to the finals. He manhandled his rivals, and wasn’t taken down even once during the meet. Cannon and his coaches decided to sit out this season with the hopes of being named an All-American next year. The soonto-be-redshirted wrestler’s outstanding performance didn’t surprise head assistant coach Matt Lackey one bit. “John-Martin is a stud,” Lackey said. “I was happy to see him do it. That’s what we expected John-Martin to do – dominate.” Cannon did just that and his opponent in the semifinals was on the unfortunate end of the senior’s attack. SUNY Cortland’s Louis Puca gave Cannon a hard slap to the head in a fit of frustration after being overpowered for the majority of the match.
John-Martin Cannon was nothing short of impressive at the UB Open.
This smack only set Cannon off, and he repeatedly slammed Puca to the ground to clinch the 14-4 victory. “I used [his foul play] to my advantage,” Cannon said. “It only made me aggressive.”
Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum
The Bulls sent two other wrestlers to championship matches – freshman Dominic Montesanti and senior Kevin Smith. But both fell short despite their best efforts.
Cannon’s final match against Pittsburgh’s Patrick Tasser would not go as easy, as his fast pace throughout the meet finally caught up with him. The future AllAmerican’s fatigue was noticeable in the championship match, and the raw power he showcased during the meet was less apparent.
Smith’s 141-lbs title match against Edinboro’s Mitchell Port had one of the afternoon’s more exciting moments. Neither opponent gained a clear advantage – the match was constantly stalemated. At one point, the two nearly collided with the scorer’s table as they pushed each other out of bounds. Smith’s effort wasn’t enough in the end, and he lost, 4-2.
The two were tied 1-1 going into overtime when Cannon finally scored a takedown on Tasser to take the 174-pound championship. But the standout senior was slightly frustrated that the match played out in such a tight fashion.
Montesanti was strong coming off of his redshirt season. He beat all three of his opponents by margins of four. But his performance sputtered in the 165-lbs. championship match, and lost to Lehigh’s Sean Bilodeau by pin fall.
“I wasn’t really feeling great, but I got to be able to push through it,” Cannon said. “I shouldn’t be having close matches like that with kids that are unranked.”
Cannon is hopeful that his teammates will move forward from their disappointments. “I think we got to go back to the drawing board,” Cannon said. “We got to figure out
“Mark wasn’t ready to wrestle the match, and that’s on Mark,” Lackey said. “I think it was mostly mental. Whether he wanted to go out there or not, he needs to be prepared to do so, and I think Mark knows it.” Buffalo also debuted its highly touted recruits at the invite. Freshman Jake Waste had the most impressive performance of the bunch and finished the meet in fifth place. Lackey said that freshman Justin Lozano, who finished in seventh, also had a standout performance. On the other hand, he added that the new recruits, along with the rest of the team, had a lot to learn as the season progresses. “We have an extremely young team this year,” Lackey said. “We need to make sure that we go out every week not worrying about wins and losses as much as taking something away, and making sure we get better each week.” The Bulls will travel to Harrisburg, PA to compete in the Wrestle For A Cure Duals. The meet will take place next Saturday.
Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Bulls’ Underdog Run Falls Short
NATHANIEL SMITH Staff Writer
The women’s soccer team exceeded all expectations this year, and on Friday, the squad was looking to pull off another shocker in a season full of them. The top-ranked Toledo Rockets (13-6-2, 11-1-1 MAC) would play spoiler, as they ended a dream season for the Bulls (125-4, 5-4-4 MAC) by winning 3-1 in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament in Toledo, Ohio. The young Bulls put a scare into Toledo early. In the 16th minute, freshman forward Katie Roberts took a pass from freshman midfielder Courtney Mann, who beat the defender on the inside and unleashed an incredible shot that soared over Toledo goalkeeper Vicki Traven. The goal was the seventh of the season for Roberts, extending her team-leading total. The senior-laden and battle-tested Rockets would not relent, scoring three goals to put Buffalo’s season to bed. The most crucial goal came in the 48th minute, as sophomore goalkeeper Ainsley Wheldon tried to clear a ball that rolled to her. A Toledo player deflected the kick and MAC offensive player of the year Rachel MacLeod took advantage, making a shot from about 20 yards out while Wheldon was still trying to recover. That shot proved to be the game winner, as the Rockets added another goal to further put the game out of reach. Despite the tough loss, coach Michael Thomas was proud of the Bulls’ effort. “It was a lot to ask to come up and knock [Toledo] off at home, but I am really proud of the effort that the players gave,” Thomas said. “We represented UB really well.”
Despite the way the season ended, the Bulls still have plenty to smile about. Their 11-game turnaround was the best in all of women’s soccer at the Division-I level, a far cry from the 1-16-2 record that they put up just a year ago. “We aren’t completely satisfied with the season, but I’m proud of them,” Thomas said. “We didn’t get to raise that trophy, but to have the most successful season in like 11,12 years is a big accomplishment.”
On defense, even though Wheldon was not named to any all-MAC team, she was able to submit a record-breaking year for the Bulls, becoming the all-time leader in season shutouts (nine) and wins (12), and finishing third in goals against average (.79). Despite her 5-foot-4-inch frame, she was able to reach up and make some spectacular saves, some of which should have been definite goals for the opposition. She finished her season with 139 saves, which ties her for fourth in school history. The first-year players made a huge impact on this Bulls squad as well. Freshmen like Roberts and midfielder Megan Giesen have made their mark on the MAC. For the second time in three years, a freshman ended the season as the top scoring threat for the Bulls, as Roberts led the way with seven. Even though Giesen couldn’t finish the year due to injury, she was the leader in the midfield. The rookie from Strongsville, Ohio was a defensive dynamo, as she constantly won tackles and put pressure on opposing players. On offense, she added two goals and an assist in the 12 games she started. Both players were named to the MAC’s all-freshman squad on Thursday.
“All of the freshmen came in and contributed in such big ways,” Thomas said. “You could have put any two girls in [the all-MAC freshman team] and they would have been deserving. Katie has been our biggest goal scoring threat. Megan has brought a very blue-collar work ethic to the midfield, and has even added a few dramatic goals. They were very deserving of the praise they received.”
The seniors, although they ended the season with a loss, finally were able to get a taste of winning soccer. Forward Aubrey Stahl led the pack. She proved to the MAC that she was one of the best scorers in the conference, as her five goals were enough to earn a spot on the all-MAC second team. This senior class is particularly special to coach Thomas. He arrived in Jan. 2008, a mere month before signing day, and he knew it would be exceptionally difficult to bring this team to the top of the MAC. Stahl, midfielders Danielle Turner and Angela Nicholas, and forward Cathryn Hilliard were the first athletes he recruited, and he was appreciative of the efforts they gave throughout their time here. “I just thanked [the seniors],” Thomas said. “I think they know what they accomplished, and they know that when Buffalo moves into a bright future, they will be a big reason why we got there.” Looking ahead, the future looks bright for the Bulls. They will return 10 of 11 starters, and with a young core of Wheldon, Roberts, Giesen and Mann, Thomas believes there is significant hope for the future. “We realize that there was a reason for the success [this year],” Thomas said. “It was the willingness of the players to absolutely work and absolutely commit to
The Bulls saw their storybook season come to a close at the hands of the Toledo Rockets. Spectrum File Photo
this season. It was the willingness of the players to put the team above their own personal goals.” Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Bulls Split Weekend, Face Pivotal Stretch (Ohio) (14-14, 5-9 MAC) on Saturday.
Friday’s match marked the Bulls’ first sweep since their season opener.
Buffalo saw glimpses of its former glory as it split the weekend against its conference foes. Candace Weng /// The Spectrum
SCOTT RESNICK and BRIAN JOSEPHS Asst. Sports Editor and Sports Editor October wasn’t kind to the volleyball team. The squad won just two matches last month and stumbled into Alumni Arena over weekend in hopes of finally getting back on track. On Friday, it seemed that the new month marked a new beginning for the Bulls (11-17, 4-10 Mid-American Conference). Buffalo defeated Bowling Green (18-9, 5-8 MAC) with a convincing 3-0 sweep. However, the Bulls dropped their next match to Miami
The Bulls had lost six of their last seven matches, but they were nothing short of impressive against the Falcons. They dominated Bowling Green in nearly every statistical category. The highest statistical difference was found in hitting percentage. Buffalo hit a solid .277, while Bowling Green finished with a season-low .026.
Buffalo only had four games left going into the weekend, and head coach Todd Kress applauded his team for playing with poise at such a crucial point of the season. “We had our backs against the wall,” Kress said. “We knew what was ahead of us and we knew what we had to do to get into the conference tournament. The difference was our defensive and blocking game.” Buffalo routed Bowling Green in the final set. The Bulls went up 18-9 in the third set, and ended the match with a 25-15 win bookended by a powerful shot by freshman Liz Scott.
Buffalo smothered the Falcons in the set and held them to an abysmal -.088.
son pursuit as Miami won the hotly contested match, 19-25, 25-16, 25-20, 22-25, 15-12.
that I hope we can correct on the court when we’re juniors and seniors,” Kress said.
“I loved the look in our eye tonight,” Kress said. “It was a look of determination. They were accountable for one another, they fought for one another, and it was a look that wasn’t here for a huge part of the season. That’s huge for us.”
The Bulls came firing out of the gates, as they looked as good as they have all season in the first set. Spurred by an 8-3 run, the Bulls proved victorious, 25-19. They led by as much as eight during the set.
Now with two matches remaining on their schedule, the Bulls will need to win out in order to have a chance at the MAC Tournament. Kress feels that consistency will prove to be the determining factor in his team’s fate this season.
Buffalo’s victory over Bowling Green marked a major milestone for Kress, as he now has 300 collegiate wins under his belt. Kress doesn’t place an emphasis on the achievement, however, as the success of his team remained his number one priority. The Bulls looked to carry that momentum into a Saturday night showdown with Miami (Ohio), a match filled with postseason implications. Both the Bulls and the RedHawks were battling for the eighth and final spot in the MAC Tournament, and neither team showed the slightest desire to give in during a dramatic fiveset thriller. Despite playing in front of a raucous home crowd on a night when the squad honored lone senior Abby Niekamp, Buffalo took a step back in its postsea-
The second set, however, would take on a much different feel, as the RedHawks held the Bulls to an underwhelming -.029 hitting percentage en route to a 25-16 victory. Miami continued its dominance in the third set, dropping the Bulls, 25-20. Kress attributed his team’s sudden collapse to its lackadaisical approach. The win allowed one team to continue dreaming of postseason glory, while the other was left to find solace in what could have been. Unfortunately for the Bulls, they were once again on the short end of that stick. Kress believes that his team beat itself. “We definitely made some errors down the stretch, errors
“We need to cut down on unforced errors, and we need to put a different product on the court consistently,” Kress said. “We can play at a high level at times but we have a hard time backing it up, from not just match to match, but even set to set and point to point. We’re just struggling right now with consistency. If we find that, we’ll have an opportunity this weekend when our backs are against the wall.” With their season hanging in the balance, the Bulls will begin the ever-important stretch at imposing Ohio (19-9, 11-3 MAC) on Friday night, before concluding their regular season schedule on Saturday at a slightly less intimidating opponent, Kent State (10-19, 3-11 MAC). Email: sports@ubspectrum.com