Learning pole dancing for fitness & self-confidence Renowned writer Gladwell sits down with The Spectrum
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Volume 63 No. 35
‘Weapons of the spirit’
Malcolm Gladwell shares insights in visit to UB
ERIC CORTELLESSA
Opinion Editor
On Wednesday, Malcolm Gladwell, best-selling author and staff writer for The New Yorker, visited the University at Buffalo. Gladwell knows how to capture people’s attention. His books have sold nearly 5 million copies, his talks attract thousands and his television appearances reach millions. But many of his public activities he finds wearing. He prefers spending most of his day reading and writing, which he attributes to his introversion. “An introvert is not someone who finds public encounters difficult,” he said in an interview with The Spectrum. “An introvert is someone who finds public encounters costly.” At the age of 50, Gladwell is a cultural icon. As someone Time magazine named one of the 100 most influential people, he has taken on a distinctive role in the public sphere. Widely noted for his distinctive appearance – his puffed up hair, his spunky yet cultivated image – Gladwell is even more distinguished in the world of ideas. His first book, The Tipping Point, focuses on how social trends emanate from unlikely sources – the various ways in which the world does not work as it seems. He uses social theories, sociology, psychology and an array of different kinds of research to explain the intricacies of human behavior and experience through the lens of telling stories about real people and real events.
Aline Kobayashi, The Spectrum On Wednesday, author Malcolm Gladwell addressed Alumni Arena as the third speaker in UB’s Distinguished Speakers Series.
His most recent book, David and Goliath, uses that same approach to provide an examination of underdogs and adversity – how disadvantages can be advantageous and how obstacles can become opportunities. He told a group of students on Wednesday afternoon that he likes to write books that “can be read by precocious 12-yearolds.” He said the best praise
With heated bus stop on its way, some students question Stampede system
he gets is when parents tell him their children read his books, because it means he may have opened them up to a world – to the power of stories and storytelling. And this week, Gladwell brought the power of stories to Buffalo as the third speaker of UB’s 27th Annual Distinguished Speakers Series. The event included an informal ses-
sion in the afternoon with students and an address in the evening in Alumni Arena welcome to the general public. The first thing Gladwell said in his speech Wednesday night was an implication that he may be a Bills fan. He said he grew up not too far from Western New York, in Southern Ontario, and because Canada has no NFL team, Canadians cheer for
the team closest to them geographically. If you’re from Vancouver, you root for the Seattle Seahawks; if you’re from Montreal, you root for the New England Patriots. “Had I grown up in Montreal instead of Toronto …Well, those 400 miles would have made so much of a difference in my self-esteem,” he said. SEE GLADWELL, PAGE 2
Everyone is talking about Fight Club Political, law and art exhibition at the Center For the Arts gains attention ERIC CULVER
Staff Writer
Juan D. Pinzon, The Spectrum
Some students hope there will also be a heated bus stop added outside the Student Union on North Campus.
CASSANDRA YOCHUM Staff Writer
Some students view heated bus shelters as necessary salvation from harsh Buffalo winters, but not every student is sold on the impact of the idea. Though UB has taken steps to make busing safer and easier for students, some think UB’s new swipe system and upcoming heated bus shelter outside O’Brian Hall may cause more issues than solutions. Ivan Chao, a sophomore intended communication major, thinks the current state of campus transportation is “disorganized.” Maria Wallace, the director of Parking and Transportation Services, said UB put a lot of research into the design process and location, taking the utilities,
existing infrastructure and cost into account. “Students will have the option during pleasant weather to wait at the [existing] shelter within Flint Loop, and then during inclement weather they’ll have the option of waiting in the heated shelter,” Wallace said. Chao said the location of the heated shelter, at North Campus’ Flint Loop, could cause traffic and safety issues for students. The South Campus pickup station is next to Hochstetter Hall, and because the heated shelter is going to be adjacent to O’Brian, Chao worries students are going to run into the Flint Loop to get a seat on the bus. He also thinks students will over pack the heated shelter because they are desperate for heat in the winter months. SEE BUS STOP, PAGE 2
Regina Jose Galindo stands naked in an open field. A stationary camera watches the artist as an excavator loudly strips the grass and dirt from the earth’s skin around her. In the chaos of the destruction, she stands erect – unmoved and unaffected. If the viewer watches long enough, Galindo is left on a tiny island of dirt slowly crumbling beneath her feet. This curious video is one of 15 works featured in Fight Club: Politics, Law and Art, an exhibition currently on display in the Center For the Arts’ Lower Visual Studies Gallery. The exhibition opened Nov. 7 and displays original work from 15 different artists interested in exploring ideas of politics and law and their relationship to art in contemporary culture and society. The title of the exhibition is partially inspired by the famous film and novel Fight Club, but the real ideas driving the overall body of work are the brainchild of Mark Snyder, a 50-year-old Buffalo native currently working on completing his Master’s of Fine Arts at UB. Snyder described Galindo’s piece, Tierra, as a reflection on the former state of the Guatemalan government dictated under Jose Rios Montt. “It emphasizes the vulnerability, it shows the mechanism of the government and just the in-
Chad Cooper, The Spectrum
Fight Club: Politics, Law and Art is an exhibition currently on display in the Lower Visual Studies Gallery of the CFA. It features a variety of art forms from 15 artists who explore the grey areas that exist between art, society and culture.
humanity in many ways,” Snyder said. “Each artist in this exhibition produces works that expose invisible power structures and hierarchies, marking them for the public to see and confront.” Snyder began working on organizing Fight Club at the end of the summer, carefully selecting the artists who met the specific criteria he set forth for the exhibition. Natalie Fleming, 25 of Carmel, N.Y., has been working alongside Snyder to get Fight Club up and running. She hopes the work will allow individuals to walk away with a better understanding of two things: the variety of forms that art can take and the variety of ways artists can engage in the important social/political issues of today. Most of the pieces are interactive, which allows for direct
engagement between the artists’ work and the audience. Jennifer Gradecki, a visual studies Ph.D. student, has a piece featured in the exhibition that is modeled after a psychological study in which participants had the opportunity to shock other participants. In Gradecki’s interactive piece, viewers can actually give someone else a shock to experience the experiment. One painting, similar to a Verizon coverage map, took up an entire wall in the gallery from floor to ceiling. Territories is the work of Patrick Foran, 34, and represents American Indian reservations in the United States. The Lansing, Mich. native created the map in three days. He is not an American Indian himself. SEE FIGHT CLUB, PAGE 2
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Continued from page 1: Gladwell By the end of the night, audience members would realize this was an interesting prelude to the subject he would devote the majority of his hour-long speech. The argument in his speech was about another way of looking at and thinking about defeat. Instead of lingering over his newest work, Gladwell used his speech to tell a story that is not in his book. He noted the story’s theme was similar to Chapter 7 of David and Goliath, which details the resistance and opposition of Irish Catholic women to heavily armed British soldiers during the Irish Civil War. “The question that I explore in that chapter was, what inspired the women to march? What compels underdogs to fight?” he said. “But if I tell you too much about what’s in my book, I’ll diminish your incentive to read it.” So he told the story of Alva Smith – later Alva Vanderbilt and then Alva Belmont. She was a determined woman living a comfortably affluent life of privilege in the early 20th century before “halfway through her life, she became a radical, a very important radical,” Gladwell said. She became a leader in the suffrage movement that won women the right to vote in 1920. In introducing the story, Gladwell
invoked a common explanation for why some people choose to flout authority – the Theory of Deterrence, which says that people make decisions based on costs and benefits. When the benefit of breaking the rules exceeds the costs, people are more likely to engage in that activity. But Gladwell asserts that this notion doesn’t hold as true as the Theory of Legitimacy, which maintains that people obey authority when they are treated with fairness, trust and respect. When people aren’t treated accordingly, they’ll act out in a way that demands they be treated with legitimacy. In the United State before 1920, women were not treated as legitimate. They were expected to stay at home and couldn’t work or run for public office. And their husbands often committed infidelities, such as Willy Vanderbilt, Alva’s first husband. So Alva, a woman with seemingly everything who is living a cushioned life, decided to rise up and challenge a situation she did not find legitimate. When she moved the suffragette movement’s headquarters to New York City and hired a lobbyist to push for the right of women to vote, she showed, as Gladwell said, “if you deny people legitimacy, they
will one day, by one means or another, come back and defeat you.” The arena silenced as he said these words, finishing his speech, before he took questions from the audience. People had lots of questions for the writer who has spent his career delving into strategies for how to defeat the world. And a college campus was an appropriate forum for such a discussion. In college, Gladwell never took a course in psychology, which is now what he is most interested in. At the University of Toronto, he majored in history. Though he has said college for him was not “an intellectually fruitful time,” he emphasized the continuing importance of studying the humanities. “Being able to think clearly and write clearly and be knowledgeable about the world of ideas and literature,” he said, “these are things that are part of what it means to be a human being.” He acknowledged there are two factors relevant to the issue of students today being concerned over studying humanities in the current economy: value and practicality. “I think there’s enormous value in studying the humanities,” he said. “It is true that in the modern world it’s a less practical degree than it was
years ago … so we just need to be forewarned that you have to be prepared to manage that gap between value and practicality.” He does feel that the case for a humanities degree is much stronger at a public institution. “The costbenefit makes more sense to me,” he said. And in Chapter 3 of David and Goliath, he outlines the importance of public institutions – that they give you more freedom to tackle subjects and not get overwhelmed. “Public institutions like this give people the freedom to explore what they want to learn, not just what they can excel in,” he said. Having a background in humanistic learning contributed to Gladwell’s ability to understand the world around him and how to present stories as a journalist. “What is our job as journalists?” he said. “Our job is to translate the world for the public.” As a translator, Gladwell is recognized for his distinct writing style noted for its lucid prose, which many find mesmerizing. “A lot of it comes from all the years I spent at a newspaper, because newspapers demand that you be clear, simple, straightforward,” he said.
Since he began with The New Yorker in 1996, he has made it an effort to remain a cogent writer. In the informal session, he recognized aspects of the magazine he does not like, such as how long some pieces are and that some writers are “too precious” with their writing, but he also recognized the aspects he cherishes. “The quality of editing is so extraordinary,” he said. “They’re very sensitive to the precision of language.” Being there has fostered his career well, as he has used precise language to elucidate what he calls “weapons of the spirit” in his writing. The weapons of the spirit are what his work tries to illuminate, and it is designed to deduce meaning and pinpoint certain counterintuitive connections that help explain how we live and the world we live in. It is what he, as a journalist, translates to the public. And on Wednesday night, the university community was able to hear the observations from one of the world’s most prominent translators. email: news@ubspectrum.com
Continued from page 1: Bus stop Assistant Director of Transportation Services Chris Austin doesn’t think the number of students waiting at the new stop will be a problem. “There has never been an issue, historically, with people waiting for buses at key periods,” Austin said. He thinks the Stampede system adjusts to the increase in the amount of student traffic at peak times of the day. Rahul Ghera, a junior architecture major, is pleased with the location of the coming heated stop. “It’s definitely needed by now,” he said. Ghera thinks the area by O’Brian Hall is a “good hang-out area,” and he hopes the heated stops expand to also be in spots by the Student Union and on South Campus. Most
of his classes are on South and he has no qualms with how the buses have been running. Though Chao is excited about the new heated bus stop, he feels the location of the shelter adds to what he calls the mismanagement of the bus system as a whole. Chao, who lives near South Campus, said he often freezes at the Flint Loop bus stop for nearly an hour toward the end of the day. “I feel that the UB Stampede is very inconsistent,” Chao said. “The time it takes to wait for a bus greatly varies.” The time he spends waiting for a bus going to and from South Campus varies between 10 to 40 minutes, he said. Chao thinks Transportation Services’ top priority should be a more organized bus system.
Chao also thinks Transportation Services needs to ensure buses are on schedule. He feels the office needs to take into account the time it takes for loading and unloading the bus. “If students are experiencing delays that are not in line with the posted bus schedule, then they should reach out to our office,” Austin said. Joseph Oot, a junior environmental design major, thinks the swipe system, which was implemented in the beginning of the semester, slows down the buses. People have to run to classes, and the time it takes for everyone to swipe is too long, he said. Austin said the swipe system does not impede the loading time for buses.
Wallace said her office has “been out there first-hand,” observing students and staff members boarding the buses. She said they did not see any delay due to the swipe system and believes students are becoming “acclimated” to the process. Chao is dependent on the bus system to get him to and from his South Campus home. Oot and Chao think there are an adequate number of South Campus buses, but they are poorly organized. “The number of buses is satisfactory; it’s the number of stops that causes issues,” Oot said. He believes the large number of buses is an environmental concern as well. He said too many buses go between Ellicott Complex and the Student Union, and he wants Trans-
portation Services to build a climate-controlled tunnel to clear the unnecessary traffic. Austin said the buses traveling between Ellicott and Lee Loop transport approximately 7,000 to 8,000 students per day. Wallace said if students are having issues with the bus system, they should feel free to contact Transportation Services. She said students can comment, complain or suggest at any time and know that their voices will be heard. Austin hopes students bring their “compliments or complaints” to the office. email: news@ubspectrum.com
Continued from page 1: Fight Club
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“In part, I made this work to educate myself on the history of land struggles and sovereignty issues for Native Americans,” Foran said. “But I think it’s also about the blind spot these territories occupy in the mind of most non-indigenous people, including myself.” Aside from his own work, Foran was impressed with the depth and diversity Snyder compiled for the show. He felt it has inspired conversation with his program and within the community. Jeff Sherven, 50, a print media technician and instructor at UB, was also a contributor for Snyder’s exhibition. Sherven admires the collected works for the variety they present to the audience. “The nice thing to have a show like this is that [the artists] each have particular qualities, tactile qualities, sensory qualities, in terms of
sound or even auditory pieces,” Sherven said. “All of a sudden you get connected with historical data in terms of slavery or the issues related to Jim Crow, then you turn around and deal with how sex is a real arbiter of who we are.” He explained that the artists have found a way to express a variety of topics in a subtle way, so the issue isn’t always obvious at first. “Every one of the artists here have found a way to re-contextualize what is contemporary data and awareness,” Sherven said. Fight Club: Politics, Law and Art will be on display at the Lower Visual Studies Gallery until Jan. 25. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Friday, November 15, 2013 ubspectrum.com
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Aaron Mansfield MANAGING EDITORS Lisa Khoury Sara DiNatale OPINION EDITOR Eric Cortellessa NEWS EDITORS Sam Fernando, Senior Joe Konze Jr. Amanda Low, Asst.
ARTS EDITORS Max Crinnin, Senior Rachel Kramer, Asst. Felicia Hunt, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS Jon Gagnon, Senior Ben Tarhan, Senior Owen O’Brien PHOTO EDITORS Aline Kobayashi, Senior Juan David Pinzon, Asst. Daniele Gershon, Asst. CARTOONIST Jeanette Chwan CREATIVE DIRECTORS Brian Keschinger Haider Alidina, Asst. PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Emma Callinan Drew Gaczewski, Asst. Chris Mirandi, Asst. ADVERTISING DESIGNER Haley Sunkes Ashlee Foster, Asst. Tyler Harder, Asst.
November 15, 2013 Volume 63 Number 35 Circulation 7,000
The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Feedback, Opinion, and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address. The Spectrum is provided free in part by the Undergraduate Mandatory Activity Fee. The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by MediaMate. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at (716) 645-2452. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100
WIVB fails in reporting on the Heights Recent report riddled with flaws, presents incomplete picture Students being robbed at gunpoint – some being burglarized inside their homes; innumerable housing violations; the University Police not having jurisdiction to patrol the neighborhood; scores of students and community members distraught over the university not doing enough to combat horrid living conditions. These are just some of the stories media outlets in Buffalo should be paying attention to regarding the University Heights neighborhood. But on Monday, WIVB Channel 4 focused on something else – public urination. In an absurd display of reporting, WIVB chose to run a story that seemed more like something that would come out of The Onion than it would a serious news channel. The story is about how the university has decided to install portable toilets near the bus stops on South Campus. WIVB chose to interview students around South Campus talking about the trend of students – in some cases themselves – urinating on campus buildings. The interviewer used that as a way to address the ongoing debate of whether UB should monitor its buses transporting drunk students to and from South Campus. He asked students if they ever use the bus system to get from North Campus to South Campus to go to the library. “I have never used the buses to come down here to go to the library,” said UB student Will Robinson. Before, he and another student said they use the bus to get to South Campus in order to party. The problem with this type of reporting is that it is an example of what literary theorists might call a synecdoche – taking the part for the whole. It portrays UB students as imbeciles – only interested in partying and not interested in the pursuit of knowledge. But what the reporter didn’t do was actually go to the library and ask the students in there how many of them use the buses. Instead, he engaged in a one-sided report that falsely depicts our student community as philistines. In fact, WIVB cameramen staked out the bus stops at night when there is a likelihood there will be many college students engaging in nightlife activities. This is not to say that the drinking component of the college experience is not prevalent within our community, it is, but it is only a
ART BY JEANETTE CHWAN
LIFE EDITORS Keren Baruch, Senior Sharon Kahn, Senior Alyssa McClure, Asst.
OPINION
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facet of it. And the way this report engages its subject and specifically excludes other facets of our community is a misleading form of journalism. What it did include portrayed UB in a very negative light. But what should be portrayed in a negative light is the university’s hands-off approach to the problems within the Heights. With all the egregious things going on in the Heights that receive very little attention, WIVB chose to cover this – drunk students peeing on buildings. The university administration’s remedy: Porta Potties. This is tantamount to using a Band-Aid for a gunshot wound. And this report does show one resident commenting on how silly
these Porta Potties look on a college campus. “It absolutely solves no problem whatsoever,” Bernard Kunz told WIVB. “It’s not good enough. It’s ridiculous. It’s disrespectful to the community and it just looks ridiculous.” He gave an intelligent answer and made a valid point about the appearance of this measure. Think about it: Can you imagine Porta Potties in Harvard Yard? But all of the students they interviewed were unable to provide intelligent, reasonable answers. They apparently couldn’t find one UB student to comment on the matter who could resemble the majority of the student body – cultivated and discerning. The ridiculousness of Channel 4’s coverage could have dissuaded the reasonable students from
participating. But that is likely not the case. The likelihood is that WIVB reporters didn’t look hard enough or thoroughly enough to find the real answers – because they already knew what story they wanted. With all the dire questions surrounding the Heights in need of probing, WIVB demonstrated misplaced priorities in its recent reporting. If our community wants to see the changes the Heights needs, we need honest reporting from our news sources. And if WIVB is the only source paying attention to the Heights, we shouldn’t expect those changes anytime soon. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
A vital way to help low-income college students Recognizing the intricacies of Pell Grant reform In a recent opinion piece in The New York Times, Sandy Baum, an economist at George Washington University, Kristin Conklin, a founding partner in HCM Strategists, and Nate Johnson, a consultant at Postsecondary Analytics, address the problems regarding federal Pell Grants. In “Stop Penalizing Poor College Students,” they write: “The problem is that the program provides support for only 12 credit hours per term, which the government defines as full time for financial aid purposes.” It is certainly true that this makes it more difficult for recipients of Pell Grants to graduate in four years. And it is also true that there are many factors at play. There is irony in the government’s categorization of full-time students to receive federal benefits when the amount of credit hours per semester is not enough to graduate on time. Keeping recipients confined to those limitations can wind up hurting the people it aspires to assist.
Keeping in mind that many colleges have a set price for a full academic course load over the semester, it is true that many do not. A recent survey demonstrates that most community colleges set prices by credit hour, according to The Times. The majority of students benefitting from Pell Grants are attending community colleges as well as nonselective colleges and vocational schools. So the statistics demonstrate that most of the people that Pell Grants go toward are affected by this stringent, foolhardy policy. A major aspect of this issue is that Pell students don’t get any other form of federal assistance. This is what they rely upon to pay for their college education. Helping increase access to education is an ever-important part of life in the 21st century. Very few Pell students can afford to pay for that extra course that the grant does not support. So the result is they stick with 12 credit hours per semester – they stick with what is permitted.
And as Baum, Conklin and Johnson point out, the 12-credit-hour limit becomes a ceiling. It invariably increases how long it takes them to graduate. We would also want to point out that this diminishes the amount of people added to the workforce. Economists will dispute the positive and negative effects of that, but in order to stimulate our economy and have more people working and more people spending, we need more people in the workforce. We need more Americans having access to higher education and, thus, able to live the lives of their choosing. Congress should consider modifying the program to alleviate low-income students’ extra burden in trying to graduate on time. It is hard enough to be of little financial means while trying to earn an education. The current strains that make it harder for Pell students are unnecessary. What is needed now is an investigation into the program and the efficacy of the 12-credit-hour
cap – which seems to have an array of problems. Many states recognize this, too. Hawaii initiated a “15 to finish” campaign (similar to UB’s Finish in Four) that is designed to increase the number of students taking 15 credit hours per semester in order to graduate on time. But as “Stop Penalizing Poor College Students” indicates, this campaign was much more successful for the schools that charged a flat rate for the academic year as opposed to charging per credit. This suggests that students receiving financial support from the federal government to pay for college faced more challenges sticking with the plan outlined in that campaign. Congress should consider changing the language of its financial aid regulations. Too many students are marginalized by the logistics of the current program. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
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LIFE, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
BEYOND THE POLE Local studio teaches pole dancing for fitness and self-confidence GABRIELA JULIA Staff Writer
Sequined costumes, shiny poles and dancing on stage to a live band isn’t just for Vegas show girls. Eight years ago, Chelsea Kelly quit her job as a kindergarten teacher and opened Pole Play Dance Studio in Buffalo. Some of the classes in the Hertel Avenue studio are fitness-oriented while others teach skills women may only want to use behind closed doors. Kelly offers classes, workshops and lessons for beginner, intermediate and advanced dancers. Classes include: pole dancing, cardio go-go dancing, chair dance workouts, cardio hula-hoop and lap dancing. Kelly even teaches girls how to ‘twerk.’ Girls can also book the studio for events like bachelorette or birthday parties. The classes attract people of various ages from all around the Buffalo area, including UB students. In the past, Kelly has even taught two fitness classes at UB, one of which was a go-go style routine. “We joke, we laugh, we have fun, all while getting a good workout in,” said Kim Shepherd, a business graduate student at UB. “I’m so happy I found Pole Play and would encourage anyone to try it. Just come in with an open mind and willingness to try. But be warned: It’s addicting.” Shepherd had taken dance classes for years and was interested in trying different styles. Once she saw an advertisement for Pole Play, she was intrigued. The graduate student was a bit intimidated and didn’t know what to expect.
Shepherd was pleasantly surprised. She started off shy in classes, unsure of herself and self-conscious. But she became more confident as the weeks went on. She said the pole dancing class was a great workout and helped her build self-acceptance. Each week, she looked forward to challenging herself to learn new moves. “I try to teach these classes as if it were any other dance class,” Kelly said. “You will walk out with better posture, more poise and more confidence. You have a one-up on everyone once you see you have these talents.” Seven years ago, after Kelly opened Pole Play, she saw a show at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and came home inspired. She got her sister, best friend and some of her students together to create Eye Candy Burlesque, a local dance troupe that performs throughout Western New York. “There were girls hanging from strings, a girl taking a bath on the ceiling, champagne glasses coming from the floor and women singing and dancing all over,” Kelly said. “Then I thought about how there isn’t anything like that in Buffalo.” The troupe of 10 dancers performs at local venues like the Town Ballroom and Riviera Theatre. Burlesque Dance Workout is one of the studio’s most popular classes. Its dance themes, from the 1930s though the ’50s, work as muscle-toning and cardiovascular workouts, according to Pole Play’s website. This December, the burlesque dance troupe is doing a performance called “Eye Candy: On Thin Ice, A Winter Burlesque Show” at Tralf Music Hall. The
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group will perform alongside a live band, emcee and drag queen show. For those not yet skilled enough to be in a dance troupe, Kelly’s classes are $160 a session and each session is eight weeks long. Those who want to work at their own pace with more attention can choose private lessons for $100 an hour. Each month, Pole Play offers different workshops or a “one-time teaser class” for $25. Some people focus on the provocative aspects of burlesque, and others take the class to become better dancers and gymnasts. “People always get the wrong idea of burlesque, but the women love it more than the men because of how fun it is,” Kelly said. Megan Austen, a sophomore nursing major at UB, likes the idea of pole workouts but said that once it’s called “dancing,” it sounds a bit risqué. “I think it’s a good idea and I wouldn’t mind trying it,” Austen said. “I just wouldn’t become a stripper.” There are no restrictions when it comes to signing up for classes. Kelly has taught college girls, married women, doctors, teachers, cosmetologists and housewives. Girls under the age of 18 can join with parental consent. “The oldest woman we’ve ever had was a 75-year-old,” Kelly said. “One girl came in for a lap dance workshop and brought her grandmother along as well.” The pole dancing classes also promote camaraderie, and the attendees often become friends with one another.
Daniele Gershon, The Spectrum
Chelsea Kelly (pictured) quit her job as a kindergarten teacher and opened Pole Play Dance Studio in Buffalo. Some of the classes in the Hertel Avenue studio are fitness-oriented while others teach skills women may only want to use behind closed doors.
email: features@ubspectrum.com
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Friday, November 15, 2013
An intellectually fruitful evening with Malcolm Gladwell Renowned writer sits down with The Spectrum
AARON MANSFIELD Editor in Chief
A perfect day for Malcolm Gladwell is one in which he does not say a word to anyone until after dinner. He wants his writing to appeal to a precocious 12-year-old. His Twitter bio is simply, “Skinny Canadian.” This is Malcolm Gladwell, the best-selling author of works such as The Tipping Point and Blink, we’re talking about. He is a national icon. He appears on CNN often, is name-dropped in hip-hop songs (most notably “Ten Thousand Hours” by Macklemore) and is possibly the wealthiest writer in America. But you wouldn’t know that by talking to him. Gladwell visited UB Wednesday. He spoke at an informal session in the Center For the Arts with students during the afternoon, and he addressed Alumni Arena as UB’s third Distinguished Speaker at night – but in between those two events, he did something unusual. He took the time to sit down with two Spectrum reporters. At the informal session, before getting spruced up for his speech, Gladwell sported greyand-black Nikes (their long shoelaces hit the floor), a babyblue button-down (untucked) and stone-blue jeans (lightwash). The look is complete with his curly ’fro and round glasses. The eccentricity of his appearance
matches that of his thoughts. I wish I had the tact to sum up all I learned from listening to Gladwell throughout Wednesday. Where could I possibly begin? Thankfully, he has written much about the theory that disadvantages can become advantages – for example, he posits that a child growing up with dyslexia can turn that into an advantage, as he or she will develop resiliency and work ethic at a young age. In this case, my disadvantage is indeed an advantage – everything Gladwell said is so extraordinary, so truly riveting, that I cannot possibly address it all. But that is, inherently, an advantage: It guarantees any article about him will be interesting. So let’s get to it. If you’re a college student who feels lost, do not panic. I opened our interview asking about the fact that Gladwell has said his undergraduate experience at the University of Toronto was “not an intellectually fruitful time.” That’s right – Malcolm Gladwell struggled in college, too. His advice for students today? Take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding the job market and slow down. Take your time. Indulge your curiosity. “I think that people are too quick to try to figure out what they ought to be doing with the rest of their lives,” he said. “My great regret when I look back on my college years is that there were all kinds of things I was interested in but didn’t pursue because I was in too much of a hurry. Or I falsely assumed I wasn’t interested. All the stuff I have gotten interested in over the course of my career is stuff I have learned since graduating.”
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He wishes he had studied psychology and statistics, but he didn’t take one class in either topic. If you’ve read Gladwell’s work, you understand how ludicrous that is. Part of what makes him great is his broad spectrum of knowledge. He is essentially a historicist, psychologist, sociologist, scientist and philosopher rolled into a terrific writer. But what makes him truly great is his skill of communicating illustrious thoughts and ideas and concepts to everyone – even a 12-year-old. Gladwell is one of the leading intellectuals alive, but in person, he comes off as an average guy with awesome hair. He works most days out of his favorite coffee shop in New York City, and patrons rarely approach him or ask for photos. “The people there are over me,” he said. The one thing that struck me most about him was not only his willingness to chat with two college students, but his interest in our discussion. You know how you can tell when someone is really listening to what you’re saying? He was engaged. He maintained eye contact and was genuinely interested in offering advice and answering questions. This is made more impressive by Gladwell’s admitted extreme introversion. That doesn’t mean he’s shy, or that he finds public speaking terrifying, or that encounters with people are cumbersome for him. It means he finds interactions with people draining. Whereas talking to others invigorates a classic extrovert like Bill Clinton, a classic introvert like Gladwell feels his figurative energy battery draining when he is engaged in conversation. SEE MANSFIELD, PAGE 6
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5
THE GOD OF
THUNDER
Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
JORDAN OSCAR
Staff Writer
Film: Thor: The Dark World Released: Nov. 8 Studio: Marvel Studios Grade: B With the Bifrost destroyed, the nine realms have fallen into chaos, and it falls on the Mighty Avenger to restore the peace he is sworn to uphold. Thor: The Dark World picks up where Thor and The Avengers left off; Loki (Tom Hiddleston, Out of Darkness) is being brought back to Asgard to pay for his crimes, and Thor (Chris Hemsworth, Rush) is battling to save the realms from falling further into chaos. As peace is restored, an ancient enemy named Malekith (Christopher Eccleston, Emily) reawakens and threatens to plunge the nine realms into total darkness, which he attempted to do many millennia before – until Thor’s grandfather stopped him. Pitted against an enemy that neither Odin nor Asgard can withstand, Thor must risk everything to stop the dark elf before the universe is extin-
guished. Generic plot aside, Thor: The Dark World, directed by Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones), is everything that fans of Marvel’s movie universe have come to expect and builds upon the enjoyable foundation of the first Thor film. Thor was packed with whit, humor, charm and action, but between the mythological and fantastical was a film filled with family drama and memorable characters. The Dark World is no different. From the large battles at the film’s onset to the climactic clash between Thor and Malekith at the film’s conclusion, The Dark World is packed with action from start to finish. Between armor-clad warriors and dark elves whose weaponry seems out of this world, even by Asgardian standards, action in The Dark World is as enjoyable as it is fantastical. Though the film’s many battles aren’t anything viewers familiar with science fiction haven’t seen before, they remain pleasant to watch and continue to develop the fantastical world of Thor and Marvel’s universes. SEE THOR, PAGE 6
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Friday, November 15, 2013
Continued from page 5: Mansfield With that in mind, it makes more sense why he’d rather not talk to people for most of the day. It’s not that he doesn’t like talking to people (in fact, he says, “I can do it, and I’m happy to, but I can’t do it for that long”), but it makes him tired – which is why it’s ironic that he has made his living communicating. Many of Gladwell’s books are self-help without being self-help; they better the reader by sharing stories of extraordinary others. But that doesn’t mean he is a fluffy writer. No topic intimidates him (perhaps that tenacity comes from his 10 years reporting for The Washington Post). Much has been made of Gladwell’s opposition to college football. Though arguably his most famous speech on the matter, at the University of Pennsylvania, discussed how Ivy League schools need to start the movement of removing their football programs, he does not believe any school – including UB – should have a team. “The case in 2013 for football to be part of the educational mandate of a school is really weak,” he said. “It’s not clear to me, particularly when you consider the damage to the health of the players, a school should not be doing anything that damages the health of its students. That’s really obvious, particularly when you’re not paying them. That’s even more obvious. In some cases, football programs make a lot of money for the
schools; in most cases they don’t … You come here to get an education. You don’t come here to hit someone else on the head.” I found it odd when Gladwell said he spends most of his day watching football. Turns out he loves the sport. He does not, however, believe it belongs on a college campus. He states that a minorleague system, similar to that of baseball, would make more sense. He will go on television and express these thoughts, and he will do interviews, and he will write pieces for The New Yorker. But Gladwell doesn’t think he’s some revolutionist or genius. “I don’t have any grand ideas that will save the world,” he said. That has been a criticism of his writing: That it is too simplistic. Perhaps he doesn’t have ideas to save the world, but he does have a grand way of explaining ideas. You can almost see Gladwell’s brain working as he speaks. He has a methodical approach to explanations – a skill he has possessed since he demanded he be the one to elucidate board-game rules to his friends at age 10 – and a personal story to make almost everything understandable. He has so far surpassed the level of an average reporter that it is easy to forget that Gladwell has been a journalist his whole career. And he weighed in on the change going on in the industry. “Journalism is in this weird position right now,” he said. “The
need for journalism has never been greater. So, what is our job as journalists? Our job is to translate the world for the public, the general public. So as the world gets more complicated, translators get more and more important.” He prides himself on taking complicated matters and making them clear for his audience – dumbing them down to a level a precocious 12-year-old can understand. In that sense, he is a translator. But just as he is not simply a journalist, Gladwell is not simply a translator. A translator, by its definition, must speak multiple languages, and Gladwell speaks many. He does not, however, merely speak languages; he invents new ones. He is, truthfully, one of the most brilliant people alive today. And yet he never saw his fame coming. “No one’s more surprised than me,” he said. “I had no clue. I was a newspaper writer. I was anonymous. I was quite happy. I was as stunned as anyone else.” I have been fortunate to interview many interesting people as a young reporter. I can’t say anyone has ever impressed me as much as Malcolm Gladwell. I’m thankful to have caught him right after dinner. email: aaron.mansfield@ubspectrum.com
Continued from page 8: Basketball Youngstown State jumped out to a 21-11 lead in the opening nine minutes before the Bulls pulled to within three and headed into the locker room down 32-29. After an initial three-point goal by the Penguins to open the second half, Buffalo went on a 13-0 run over the next 3:30 to take a sevenpoint lead. Buffalo outscored Youngstown State 43-33 in the second half – led by 48.3 percent shooting and a little help from the Penguins, who shot an abysmal 2 for 16 from deep in the second half. The Bulls expanded their lead to as big as 12 with 4:41 remaining after a Miley jumper. Youngstown State responded with an 8-0 run before Miley recorded two more of her eight points. When the Penguins brought the game close again, Loesing found Sharkey for an open layup and a seven-point lead with 44 seconds remaining to secure the victory. Loesing led the Bulls with 22 points on 7-of-20 shooting. She added five rebounds, five steals and three assists. Seventeen of the Bulls’ 23 field goals came off assists, and the Buffalo bench combined for 32 points. Heidi Schlegel led the Penguins with 23 points and nine rebounds. Karen Flagg filled the stat sheet with 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists, but committed a gamehigh 12 turnovers.
Buffalo’s ‘D’ forced 23 turnovers, accrued 13 steals and held the Penguins to 35.8 percent shooting from the field – including 3 for 21 from behind the arc (14.3 percent). The consecutive victories mark the first time the women’s team has started a season 2-0 since the 200708 season and the first time the team won back-to-back road games to open a season since 1983. The Bulls return to Alumni Arena this weekend for the first time since their two opening exhibition victories. “I really enjoy our crowd,” Legette-Jack said. “The fans are really starting to buy into the ‘20 sports, one team.’ It’s going to be exciting to come back and see our Bulls nation embrace us.” The Bulls host Cornell (1-0) on Saturday. Buffalo fell to the Big Red 70-43 at Cornell last year but then went on a three-game win streak at the start of MAC play. The Big Red are led by Allyson DiMagno and Shelby Lyman, who combined for 36 points in their opening game. The duo started in this matchup last season and combined for 18 points. The women’s contest will serve as the first of a UB basketball doubleheader. Tip is set for 12:30 p.m. and the men’s team will take the court afterward.
easily predictable twist, which only adds to the magnetic draw the character has when he is on screen. Aside from Thor, Loki and Jane, the film is packed with an outstanding supporting cast that brings some much needed levity to the film while maintaining its tone and making the experience more enjoyable as a whole. Some characters are underused, but others like Darcy (Kat Denning, Day One) – Jane’s assistant – are given just enough screen time to make their performance memorable and important to the film. Filled with humor, action and some astounding performanc-
es, Thor: The Dark World is another solid movie in the Marvel Studios lineup. Though it builds on the strengths of the first Thor film and ends on some exciting possibilities for future titles featuring the Mighty Avenger, there isn’t very much within the film that feels as unique as the original Thor did a few years ago. Nonetheless, the film is every bit the action-packed adventure viewers likely expect.
email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Continued from page 5: Thor When it isn’t an action movie or suffering from some pacing and plot issues, the film has some truly phenomenal moments that exceed Thor in their emotional weight and ability to draw the viewer inward, all of which are carried to new heights and depth by the film’s exceptional cast. After a sluggish start, a majority of the film is spent further exploring Thor and Loki, revealing aspects of the characters that viewers have never seen before. In the past, Thor was overconfident and arrogant, nearly starting a war to put the frost giants back in their place, but this film finds the
character at ends with the kingly position he has always wanted. Realizing there are limits to what a king can do, Thor’s conviction and determination drives the character as he deals with the difference between what he wants and what is expected of him. In the presence of Jane Foster, (Natalie Portman, Illusions and Mirrors) who emotionally and romantically ties Thor to Earth, Thor becomes a much more emotionally nuanced character, furthering the range that viewers have already seen from the character in Thor and The Avengers.
Loki, however, is just as mischievous as ever, still hungry for power and waiting for his chance to sit on the thrown. But The Dark World takes the character to an unprecedented emotional low; seeing a disheveled Loki on the floor of his destroyed cell is one of the many moments in which Hiddleston truly shines, bringing a depth and nuance to the character that is exacting and captivating. Unlike previous films involving the character, The Dark World makes great use of Loki’s eye for deception, providing the audience with a few surprises before he pulls off an
email: arts@ubspectrum.com
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Friday, November 15, 2013 ubspectrum.com
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Crossword of the Day
HOROSCOPES Friday, November 15, 2013 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK
ACROSS 1 Half the alphabet? 5 Sonata quartet 10 Sounds from the meadow 14 Ganges garb 15 Draw out 16 Take a shine to 17 Think ahead 18 It turns in its work 19 Self-storage rental 20 Walk-off game winner, sometimes 23 “Get out of here!” 24 Chem class requirement 25 Anchor-chain openings 28 Twosome 30 Common omelet ingredient 33 Be expectant 34 Teeming 35 Easily handled, as a ship 36 Where one won’t find lost luggage 39 It’s guaranteed to remove wrinkles 40 Reminder to take out the trash 41 Bones parallel to radii 42 You can hang it or take it 43 Owl’s sound 44 Feared African fly 45 Is in the past? 46 Song for two
47 Pucker up 53 Mediocre 54 The odds are against them 55 Where Mike Krzyzewski coaches 57 Golf tournament, sometimes 58 Magisterial mallet 59 Throw off 60 Antarctic cruise sight 61 Church land 62 Miss America band
DOWN 1 Cause of Cleopatra’s death 2 Bath powder ingredient 3 Kind of history or hygiene 4 It’s needed to make a difference 5 AT&T and Verizon, for two 6 Potato exporter 7 Babe with a bat 8 Repeat word for word 9 More fitting 10 Book jacket write-up 11 Indigenous Japanese people 12 Of the same kind 13 Songs the band is going to play 21 Letter before iota 22 Pencil holder, at times 25 A bad one should be kicked
Edited by Timothy E. Parker November 15, 2013 CARRY ON By Alicia Moorhead
26 Far from oblivious 27 Tot’s vehicle 28 Embroidered loop 29 Off in the distance 30 ___ a clue (is naive) 31 Square footage measures 32 Disorderly struggle 34 Change the style of 35 Year-end periods 37 Zero on the scoreboard 38 Black thrush 43 “Every dog ___ its day” 44 Little skirmish 45 Treat unjustly 46 First-magnitude star in Cygnus 47 Vatican leader 48 Computer error source, often 49 Shape of the president’s office 50 Actress Campbell of “Scream” 51 Big cat native to the Americas 52 Uses the slopes 53 Cry 56 Biblical suffix
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- You can bet that those around you are not going to see things the way you do. Indeed, your perspective is developing quickly. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You may be contacted by someone who wants more from you than he or she is willing or able to give in return. Be cautious. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You have a positive view of the immediate future, and you know that you can influence things in a way that benefits those around you. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -Someone else is ready to give you precisely what you need -- all you have to do is ask. No formalities will be required. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -You can put things in a simple, straightforward manner that is understood by everyone around you. Some may feign confusion, however. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -You can please those who have gotten used to your unusual methods, but others may remain critical, at least for now.
FALL SPACES ARE WHERE YOU SHOULD
BE LIVING! GOING FAST RESERVE YOUR SPACE TODAY BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- The little things really add up. When you take the final tally, you'll be surprised to discover how much you've taken in. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -You mustn't let another take advantage of you, nor must you stoop to any form of deception to make your point or further your cause. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -You may not be tolerant of another's vulnerability or weakness, most likely because you are keenly aware of your own. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Try diplomacy if sheer force of will doesn't get you what you want. Indeed, a compromise may be in order, whether you like it or not. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- It's time to begin preparing for your next project, even though you haven't yet finished the one you are currently working on. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- You can break some kind of personal record today, but no one outside of your own inner circle may be aware of it. Things are looking up!
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Friday, November 15, 2013 ubspectrum.com
SPORTS
Buffalo bests Youngstown State in foul-riddled battle
Bulls drop Big Four road test at Niagara, fall to 0-2 JON GAGNON
Senior Sports Editor
Courtesy of Youngstown State Athletics
Freshman forward Nia Roberts goes up for a layup during the Bulls’ game against Youngstown State on Wednesday night. The Bulls won 72-65 to improve to 2-0.
OWEN O’BRIEN Sports Editor
The NCAA inserted new rules this offseason – including stronger enforcement of hand checking and defenders having two hands on offensive players in the paint – resulting in more fouls. It is an initiative aiming to increase scoring. Buffalo’s women’s basketball team almost found this out the hard way on Wednesday night at Youngstown State (0-2). Behind sophomore guard Mackenzie Loesing’s team-high 22 points, the Bulls (2-0) defeated the Penguins 72-65, despite committing 29 fouls. Junior forward Christa Baccas (10) was Buffalo’s second-leading scorer but played only 18 minutes, and three other Bulls (senior guard Margeaux Gupilan, junior forward Kristen Sharkey and freshman guard Camera Miley) had four fouls apiece and played limited minutes.
The referees were consistent, whistling Youngstown State 25 times for fouls. “Everybody says it’s going to be ugly before it gets great, trying to make the game a little bit more appealing,” said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. “But we have to go through the trenches right now and I think we will.” The teams combined for 69 free throws. The constant whistles forced Buffalo to turn to its bench as all 12 players contributed. Every Bull saw at least eight minutes of action and 10 of the 12 played at least 14 minutes. Miley, Loesing and senior guard Slone Walton were the only Bulls to play over 20 minutes. “We are just going to have to find our way through these games because we can’t have officials coming to all of our practices,” Legette-Jack said. SEE BASKETBALL, PAGE 6
The “Purple Nation” crowd of students chanted boisterously, “This is our house!” as the final seconds waned down at the ‘Taps’ Gallagher Center of Niagara University on Wednesday night. The atmosphere was booming for the Big Four’s showdown featuring the Bulls and the Niagara Purple Eagles. The Purple Eagles fed off their home crowd – snagging offensive rebounds, fearlessly slashing to the basket and finding back-door cutters for easy layups in the paint – and the Bulls’ monstrous effort from senior forward Javon McCrea wasn’t enough as Niagara won, 92-81. McCrea finished with 31 points and 14 rebounds. Bobby Hurley is now 0-2 as Buffalo’s new head coach. “We have to get back to the drawing board defensively and figure out a way to not let our opponents shoot such a high percentage from the field,” Hurley said. “To give up 92 points is unacceptable.” While the Bulls struggled to shoot early – scoring just five points through the game’s first eight minutes – the Purple Eagles (1-1) fought for offensive rebounds and created secondchance opportunities that got them out to an early lead. Niagara took a 6-5 lead three minutes in and never trailed again. The Bulls were outrebounded 44-41 (28-17 in the first half), and the Purple Eagles shot 48.4 percent from the field compared to Buffalo’s 37.9 percent. Aside from McCrea – Hurley said “[We] couldn’t have thrown the ball enough to him,” – Hurley’s new offense seems to be taking some time for the players to get used to. The Bulls shot 31.2 percent against Texas A&M last Friday. “Our guys will learn the offense better,” Hurley said. “It’s all new to them so I think it will come around once the season progresses.” Senior guard Josh Freelove was second on the team with 15 points and has shown flashes of being a potential go-to shooter – a role that is increasingly becoming a necessity for the Bulls, who have shot 12 for 47 from threepoint range in their first two games.
Brian Keschinger, The Spectrum
Senior forward Javon McCrea had 31 points and 14 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough for the Bulls to overcome Niagara Wednesday night.
One of the biggest components of Hurley’s new system is a three-guard lineup, featuring a combination of Freelove, senior Jarod Oldham, sophomore Jarryn Skeete and freshman Shannon Evans. All four guards played at least 22 minutes Wednesday (Oldham 34 and Skeete 33), though they had struggles. Oldham, Skeete and Evans shot a combined 6 for 28 and scored just 19 points. Oldham, the point guard, had eight turnovers. “[Oldham’s] arguably our best all-around player,” Hurley said. “He didn’t have a great game, but I’m going to anticipate seeing him playing a lot better throughout the year.” Since falling behind in the game’s opening minutes and trailing 47-33 at half, the closest the Bulls came was an 83-79 deficit with 3:30 left. The Purple Eagles seemed to have an answer for every Bulls run – whether it was an Antoine Mason and-one 3-pointer with 12 minutes left to extend Ni-
agara’s lead to eight, or via two points at the free-throw line. The game featured 73 free-throw attempts (40 from the Purple Eagles), and Hurley described some of the referees’ block/charge calls as “peculiar.” Mason, a guard and Niagara’s leading scorer, torched the Bulls for 25. Ramone Snowden and Tahjere McCall each had 15 points and eight rebounds. The Bulls failed to get much production from junior forward Will Regan – last season’s second-leading scorer and a preseason first-team All Mid-American Conference honoree. Regan got into foul trouble early, played 19 minutes and scored five points – often getting bullied in the paint defensively. The Bulls will look to get their first win in the home opener on Saturday against Division II opponent West Virginia Wesleyan (1-1). Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. in Alumni Arena.
So you see the big shoes you have to fill, Mr. White. You see why your extension of Jeff Quinn drew such criticism. Former NIU coach Dave Doeren did in two years what Quinn has needed four to get close to. You preach to us that you are building “America’s next BIGTIME College Athletics Brand,” and I believe you. I see the same things you do in this university – the large endowment, vast alumni base and expansive room to grow. But another MAC school is outgrowing you. The Huskies’ football facilities – minus their stadium – have all been built within the past seven years. The Huskies’ Yordon Center – built in 2007 – includes academic support areas, athletic training areas and a 12,500-square-foot strength and conditioning center. This past offseason, Northern Illinois completed an indoor field house. Buffalo’s newest athletic structures are 20 years old. They are artifacts from the school’s Division I-AA era. Buffalo has done remarkably well with the outdated facilities, but you’re not looking for remarkably well, are you? This athletic department needs new buildings. The East Club is a great step and I hope it will help to fundraise for the things Buffalo’s athletes need. But I haven’t even seen a plan yet.
I’ve followed this program very closely over the past two seasons, but I have yet to see anything but a conceptual picture in passing. Where are the big plans to pitch to donors? Why aren’t you pitching these things to recruits? Why aren’t you pitching UB Athletics’ growth to potential students? That is how you show people the potential of this university. That is how you get freshmen and applicants excited about being part of Buffalo’s athletics program. You’ve already done many things to go in an upward direction. The pregame concerts and new tailgate atmosphere are unlike anything I’ve seen on campus before. The student section at the Ohio game last week was a proud representation of this school. Plus, the overall rising trend of attendance numbers this season cannot be denied. I don’t take some particular cruel pleasure in watching my classmates suffer through losses. I do not root against the Bulls. But when all I hear is talk and I see no action when comparable schools are actually taking steps forward, I have no option but to criticize. Mr. White, give me reason to stop criticizing, and I will.
email: sports@ubspectrum.com
An Open Letter to Danny White
BEN TARHAN
Senior Sports Editor
Dear Danny White, I need to apologize. I wrote a column on Oct. 14, 2012 titled “Get real” following the football team’s 45-3 loss against Northern Illinois, calling for the job of head coach Jeff Quinn. I realize now that was unfair. There were plenty of other losses last season that warranted the same response, but that wasn’t one of them. Northern Illinois is on another level. The Huskies proved that Wednesday night with a 48-27 statement victory over Ball State, leaving the Huskies as the lone team with an undefeated MidAmerican Conference record. In a Nov. 8 editorial, The Spectrum emphasized the importance of the 2014 football recruiting class be-
cause of the success of this year’s team. If you want to see a program that has gone through that process, look at Northern Illinois. Though the school has won more than half of all its football games, Northern Illinois historically doesn’t have a great program. From 1996-2007, the Huskies went 63-76, making only two bowl games. But the Huskies’ success since 2008, and particularly since 2010, is undeniable. Buffalo should be where they are in the next five years. Let’s recount the Huskies’ successes. They haven’t lost a game at Huskie Stadium since 2009. They haven’t lost a conference game at home since 2008. They’ve played in the last three MAC Championship games, winning the last two. They’ve lost one conference game since 2010. Most impressively, the team has gone through three head coaches in that time. The two coaches before the Huskies’ current head coach, Rod Carey, were hired by bigger programs – Minnesota and North Carolina. But Northern Illinois’ dominance is merely a side effect of my main point. The Huskies have done a great job of sustaining their accomplishment.
It’s rare for mid-major programs to play at such a high level for so many years. Three straight – and probably soon to be four – 11-win seasons is a remarkable feat. If you don’t look closely, you could chalk up the Huskies’ success to a few fluke recruits panning out, but that wouldn’t be accurate. The Huskies won two games in 2007. There was a head coaching change and then quarterback Chandler Harnish took his first snap for the Huskies. They have lost only six conference games since then. From 2008-11, Harnish terrorized MAC opponents. He was without argument the best quarterback in Northern Illinois history at the time of his graduation. He graduated with 8,944 passing yards, 68 passing touchdowns, 2,983 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns. In 2012, the MAC was finally released from Harnish’s reign of terror, but there wasn’t much respite. Jordan Lynch took the reins last season and led the Huskies to a 12-2 record, passing for 3,138 yards and 25 touchdowns and rushing for 1,815 yards and 19 touchdowns. The Huskies went to a BCS bowl. And now, even as they’re under a new coaching staff, the Huskies look even better this season.
Sincerely, Ben Tarhan email: ben.tarhan@ubspectrum.com