The Spectrum Volume 63 Issue 36 by The Spectrum Student Periodical

LASA students heat things up with weekly dance socials Students develop leadership skills through SLIDE trips

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, SINCE 1950

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Monday, November 18, 2013

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Volume 63 No. 36

THE BEAUTY OF DIVERSITY Commins uses passion for international world to help students KEREN BARUCH

Senior Features Editor

Eric Commins, coordinator of student programs at the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, has always been good at learning other languages. He studied French, Spanish and Chinese in school and his current role at UB has led him to teach himself Hindi, Korean, Japanese, Arabic, Persian, Malay, Tagalog, German and Turkish, “just to name a few.” He engulfs himself in learning other languages so that each time new international students arrive at UB, which is among the top 20 American institutions hosting international students, he has the ability to greet them in their own dialects. “It’s very rewarding to see a student’s face light up with pleasant surprise when they know you’re putting forth an effort to make them feel welcome,” Commins said. Commins is an international student adviser at UB, a school with approximately 5,200 students from other countries – the largest total number of international students in the university’s history. International students now make up slightly more than 17 percent of enrolled students, up from 15.19 percent last year. Commins organizes UB’s biannual new international stu-

Chad Cooper, The Spectrum

Eric Commins, coordinator of student programs at the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, loves working with international students because he believes they affect his life just as much as he affects theirs.

dent orientation programs. In 2013, over 2,000 students attended and over 1,700 participated in the program’s trips and activities. He and four other advisers help international students learn immigration rights and responsibilities, assist with transitioning to American life and help qualified students obtain off-campus work authorization. Though Commins’ job is to assist and change the lives of international students, he finds they mold his life in return.

He said some of the perks of working so closely with international students is staying up to date with world news and trying new cuisines. He said that natural disasters, civil wars and devaluation of currency are worldly events that affect UB’s international student body. “Sometimes, it really hits home, too,” Commins said. “One of our former longtime graduate assistants is back home in the Middle East now in a very dangerous situation. His city was

Muqabla 2013: A night of good vs. evil Students from colleges nationwide compete in Indian dance competition at CFA

bombed recently.” Commins keeps in touch with international students via Facebook after they return to their home countries. He said social media is their main communication medium. Commins also becomes family friends with some of the students. Almost every year, he and his wife invite some of the students he helps to share Thanksgiving dinner with them. He believes anyone can learn a significant amount about his

or herself by spending time with others who “are not homogeneous.” In graduate school, Commins lived with a student from Germany. He remembers trying to explain baseball to him and the difficulty and time it took to finally get through to his friend. “The reality you grow up with and take for granted is so different from person to person,” he said. “That’s really what culture is all about.” Commins thinks International Admissions does an “incredible job” bringing bright students to Buffalo from all over the world. Most of UB’s international students are from China, India, South Korea, Canada, Malaysia, Turkey, Iran, Taiwan, Japan and Vietnam. Commins said not every international student wants to mold into the American culture and that is OK. He hopes they experience certain aspects of American life for enhanced cultural understanding. Commins coordinates trips in the program to show international students places off campus they may not visit on their own. For instance, students who have never seen snow can participate in winter activities like cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing and snowshoeing. SEE COMMINS, PAGE 2

The journey within UB alumnus uses his experiences to encourage a new outlook on opportunities

RACHEL KRAMER

Asst. Arts Editor

Multiple dance battles of good against evil took to the Center For the Arts (CFA) stage on Saturday night in the form of the 20th annual Muqabla competition. The Indian Student Association hosted 12 teams from schools including Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), SUNY Binghamton, Cornell University, the University of Connecticut and Boston University. The teams competed in the hopes of winning the trophy and the right to say they are the best Indian dance team. Each team consisted of 12-18 dancers and competed in one of the three styles of dance – fusion, bhangra or raas. The routines lasted 8-10 minutes and almost every routine found a way to incorporate modern beats and songs with classical or traditional Indian music. Aside from the dancing, each performance began with a video presentation introducing the dancers and giving the audience an idea of how the routine would incorporate the theme of the night – good vs. evil. Some teams took their theme further by utilizing plots from popular stories and myths such as Harry Potter, Batman and the seven deadly sins. The fusion team, Binghamton Masti, performed a routine revolving around the story of Snow White, incorporating a cardboard castle, a poison apple and voiceovers in its dance to cue

Chad Cooper, The Spectrum

UB Zeal (above) was named best overall fusion dance team at Muqabla for their angels-vs.-devils inspired routine that incorporated silks, ribbon twirling and traditional dance moves.

Courtesy of Ken Ilgunas

Ken Ilgunas’ solution to avoiding the cost of room and board? To live in a van, which he purchased specifically for that purpose. He lived there for a year and a half of his two-year stay at Duke.

SAM FERNANDO

the audience into the storyline. UB Zeal, the only UB-fusion dance team, won its category with an angel-vs.-devil inspired routine that integrated ribbon twirling, silks, hula-hoops and acrobatics. Henna Khanijou, a senior psychology major and captain of UB Zeal, felt this win meant more than any other because it was her last Muqabla performance. She was in tears when she grabbed the trophy and held it up for her team. “Ecstatic doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel right now,” she said. “We worked our a** off to get here and it’s just perfect that we won.” The routine started with a video presentation of team members meeting in an abandoned hallway and initiating a dance battle between the devils and the angels. The devils wore pink tank tops, and the angels wore similar pink tank tops with short, blue,

flowing skirts. Everything was embellished with sequins, beads and small mirrors that reflected the lights on the stage. The men on the team wore all black with a pink or blue sparkling vest to indicate whether they were angels or devils. Fusion is a combination of the classical styles, Bhangra and Raas, with modern dance styles like hip-hop, jazz and acrobatics. Judge Alka Moudil’s favorite style of dance is Bhangra because “it possesses a certain unique life force.” This was Moudil’s eighth year judging Muqabla, and she used to dance when she was in high school and college. Although there were no competitions like Muqabla when she was in school, Moudil encouraged students to dance and loves to watch how the groups’ expectations for themselves increase every year. SEE MUQABLA, PAGE 2

Senior News Editor

In the past four years, Ken Ilgunas has lived nearly two years in a 1994 Ford Econoline van and walked 1,700 miles from Alberta, Canada, to Texas. The UB alumnus has made a name for himself as an eccentric journeyman. Ilgunas is speaking Monday at 3 p.m. in 120 Clemens Hall about his hiking trip and on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in 17 Norton Hall about his experience living in a van. He hopes his talks will inspire students to have a different outlook on their various opportunities. “I think any bizarre, unconventional experiment makes us think differently about our lives,” said Ilgunas, who double majored in English and history at UB. “I hope [my story] encourages people to take their own unconventional paths wherever that may lead them.” Although it was never his intention, his story has illuminated two pressing issues in the media:

the increasing student debt and the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline Project. Walden on Wheels After being accepted to Duke University for a liberal arts graduate program in 2009, Ilgunas had one goal in mind: graduating without any debt. He left UB in 2007 with $32,000 debt and had recently paid it all off by working as a tour guide and cook in Alaska. Inspired by Henry David Thoreau, Ilgunas decided to create his own Walden Pond experience. His solution to avoiding the cost of room and board? To live in a van, which he purchased specifically for that purpose. He lived there for a year and a half of his two-year stay at Duke. Initially, all of his expenses were drawn from the $4,000 he had saved, a $1,600 tax return and odd jobs he would complete – including getting repeatedly zapped by electrodes as a “student participant” in various studies on campus. SEE ILGUNAS, PAGE 2

Continued from page 1: Commins His office also helps pair new international students with American mentors for a more “personalized version of American culture” and the opportunity for domestic and international students to interact. When Commins was a college student, he majored in international studies and economics at SUNY Cortland. Upon being paired with his roommate from Germany, he met many students from various countries. “I was very impressed by the sacrifices they had to make to study here,” he said. “I was equally impressed by their bravery to go so far from everything they knew for the purpose of getting an education.” The experience made him realize he wanted his career path to be in student affairs. He traveled a lot with his family, to Mexico, Venezuela, Spain, England, Ireland, France and Canada, and he was exposed to many cultures at a young age. His fervor for language and culture never left him, and he loves that he can explore his passion for the international world at UB. “Being able to help one student each day, as cliché as that sounds, is the biggest reward I could ask for,” Commins said. “Now that I’m a parent, I know that I would greatly appreciate someone looking out for my child, especially if she was so far from home.” He said he is lucky to be in a position where the world comes through his office’s door every day. Though he and his students look different, there are more aspects that illustrate the similarity of all humans, and that, Commins said, “unto itself, is the beauty of diversity.” email: features@ubspectrum.com

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Monday, November 18, 2013

Continued from page 1: Ilgunas

Continued from page 1: Muqabla “I think the dancers like to push themselves, and each year I can tell they do,” she said. “I always look for life in the dances along with strong poses, formations and overall grace.” During every Bhangra group, the stage was a rainbow of barefoot pairs jumping, skipping, twirling and kicking to the beat. The loose-fit clothing bounced along with the dancers, allowing the audience to see the fast-paced footwork. The traditional costumes differ for men and women. Men wear a pagri and turla, a turban and the accompanying fan headpiece. As a top, they wear kurta, a long, flowing shirt underneath a colorful vest and a chaadra – a piece of cloth that’s wrapped around the waist like a skirt. The cloth is decorated with beads and sequins. Women wear a salwar, which are long, baggy pants that are tight at the bottom, and a kameez, a colorful shirt. On their heads is a chunnis, a colorful piece of cloth that wraps around the neck and over the head. Although the style of dress for all of the Bhangra teams was similar, each team’s outfits varied in detail and design. UB Bhangra, the champion of the Bhangra category, was the crowd’s favorite. From the moment the team was announced, the crowd’s cheers, chants and applause overpowered the music. At some points, it seemed the 13 dancers were performing to the sound of their fans rather than the music. The team has been practicing its Muqabla routine for four months, four hours per day, according to Jaskiran Magra, a junior psychology major and dancer for UB Bhangra. “We are so happy all our hard work paid off and we won this year,” she said. “I feel amazing and I’m so proud of our team.”

It was hard to tell if the crowd’s reaction was causing the winning Bhangra team to exude energy, or if the energy of the dancers was fueling the crowd’s applause. Either way, the home team connected with the audience, and that was exactly what Judge Gaitrie Subryan was looking for. “Energy and entertainment are the two key factors when performing,” the firstyear judge and 2006 alum said. “It’s important to have a connection with the crowd. You’re dancing for them, and that’s what it’s all about.” The winners of the Raas category also captured the audience, although they were not from UB. Ricochet Raas from VCU took first place in their category and overall in the competition. The 12 dancers adopted a Harry Potter theme, in which the girls represented the evil slytherin and the boys were the good Gryffindor. Raas is the oldest of the styles of dance, dating back to ancient times. Dancers utilize a pair of decorated sticks called dandiyas in their routine – twirling them like batons and clapping them together to the drum beat in the music, according to Indian Arts and Artists’ website. The 12 VCU dancers were in sync with each other from start to finish, banging their dandiyas together and jumping at the same time. The crowd and judges applauded as they lifted one another, showing off their athleticism. “Each team had their own way of presenting and there really is no perfect way to do it, it’s so hard to compare them,” said first-year judge Satnam Basra. The next event at the CFA is the 40th anniversary celebration of the Zodiaque Dance Company on Nov. 17. email: arts@ubspectrum.com

He decided to embark on this journey because it was a practical way of avoiding the cost of rent. He called it an adventure and an experiment. It allowed him to examine his life and helped him figure out what he wanted and needed out of it. “I saw my Duke education as two different educations: one in the classroom and the other in the van,” he said. “I’m not sure which, in the long run, will be the more valuable of them.” Pipe Dreams After hitchhiking all the way from Denver, Colo., to Alberta, Ilgunas began his 1,700-mile walk on Sept. 27, 2012. He followed the path of the controversial, would-be Keystone XL Pipeline. The pipeline is a proposed idea to bring crude oil from Canada to refineries in Texas. Though proponents of the pipeline say it will create jobs and help energy independence, opponents say it could be costly to the environment. Ilgunas, who opposes the construction of the pipeline, said he decided to take the hike because he wanted another adventure and saw the pipeline as an “unusual place in American-environmental history.” The trip lasted about four and half months. What started out as a hike without a defined goal became a self-reflecting experience for Ilgunas. “I thought of it as a journey,” Ilgunas said. “A journey can’t be a journey without the element of the unknown. I wanted to embrace that spirit and let the journey transform me.” Ilgunas said having the talks is a way to give back to the university he attended. He plans to have a signing of his book Walden on Wheels: On the Open Road from Debt to Freedom after both events. He isn’t trying to convince students to buy an Econoline van. He isn’t trying to encourage students to hike over 1,000 miles either. He wants students to understand that there are ways to overcome their problems, and sometimes the extreme solution may be the most uplifting and beneficial method. email: news@ubspectrum.com

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EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Aaron Mansfield MANAGING EDITORS Lisa Khoury Sara DiNatale

OPINION

Ready for takeoff ?

Justice Department was imprudent to approve airline merger

OPINION EDITOR Eric Cortellessa NEWS EDITORS Sam Fernando, Senior Joe Konze Jr. Amanda Low, Asst. LIFE EDITORS Keren Baruch, Senior Sharon Kahn, Senior Alyssa McClure, 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.

ART BY JEANETTE CHWAN

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 18, 2013 Volume 63 Number 36 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.

In a month, American Airlines will be the largest airline in the world. After months of hurdles and complications, the Justice Department announced on Tuesday that it approved the merger of American Airlines and US Airways after a settlement was reached. The settlement involves the newly established airline to give up an array of spaces at various airports in order to ensure enough competition in the airline industry to keep fares down. But let there be no mistake about it: Such a stipulation is not satisfactory in attempting to alleviate the probable consequences of there only being four major airline carriers in the United States. This consolidation will cause 80 percent of all domestic-travel business to come out of three airlines – leaving no room for competition from smaller companies and will inevitably allow cushion for these major airlines to keep prices high.

Without substantial competition, incentive to keep prices low diminishes. It will be travelers and consumers that will have to bear the brunt of the damage to manifest from this outcome. This merger will make over 1,000 routes dominated by only two airlines – giving them the cushion of a near monopoly to control the costs of traveling from those destinations. American Airlines will now have 69 percent of the limited takeoff and landing spots at Ronald Reagan International Airport just outside of Washington, D.C., granting it near complete control of one of the largest airports in the nation. The Justice Department made a colossal error in judgment by neglecting the original arguments made in the lawsuit filed in August. The settlement reached last week does not address the problem of reduced competition – it only shifts the focus away from the real problem.

Overwhelming levels of statistics demonstrate that this consolidation is unwise and will leave very little room for the smaller companies to be a factor in air travel. And it will be the low-cost airlines, such as Southwest Airlines and Jet Blue, that will suffer for it. Consequentially, consumers will get hammered with higher prices; they won’t even have a choice for an enormous number of routes. This may turn out to be a poor business model for the industry, as it will inevitably cause a large portion of Americans to decide they can no longer afford to travel by plane. The Justice Department should have known better and should have considered past examples of mergers that were prevented due to the deadly potential had they come to fruition. You may recall the proposed merger of AT&T and T-Mobile, which was blocked by the government because it was clear the

unification would lead to higher prices and there would be less room for innovation – monopolization facilitates complacency. It was also propagated that the merger of the cell phone businesses would leave no room for smaller companies. It is the same problem, just a different industry. Theoretically, there could still be incentive for large airlines to keep prices low if smaller airlines were charging lower fees for their routes. The problem with that is the smaller airlines will not have that leverage, as they won’t have as many direct routes as the larger airlines. Now, with only four major airlines – Delta, Southwest, United and the new American – Americans will have to pay much more for air travel, as there will be fewer options to choose from. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

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

The future of football Colleges should consider removing programs that damage students’ health In light of Malcolm Gladwell’s recent visit to UB, now is a time to question football’s role within collegiate institutions. And more specifically, should UB continue to have a football team? “I don’t think any college should have a football team,” Gladwell told The Spectrum on Wednesday. “The case in 2013 for football to be part of the educational mandate of a school is really weak.” The “case” for football programs at universities seems clear: to make money. For some schools, football is a very profitable resource that brings in a substantial amount of revenue. For others, however, it is not. But excluding the schools for which football becomes a drain on resources – where the program ends up costing its athletic department more than it makes – it becomes a moral question that should drive this debate. This is a matter of ethics. “A school should not be doing anything that damages the health of its students,” Gladwell said. “That’s really obvious, especially when you’re not paying

them. That’s even more obvious.” There are various long-term health consequences for students playing football. They become susceptible to neurological damage – as Gladwell pointed out, there is powerfully suggestive evidence that shows many football players are vulnerable to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative neurological disorder. This carries with it a whole host of effects, including serious psychological strains that accompany the condition. CTE is the direct consequence of being hit in the head repeatedly – something football players experience due to their participation in the sport. The neurological risks that players face are just a facet of the potential negative consequences that come from playing the game. Many players break bones, tear ligaments, dislocate body parts, etc. Not to mention, many players are more likely to experience early death as a result of their involvement in a sport that

wears the body down. These effects are what Gladwell has adamantly argued make the game of football morally problematic – especially at a collegiate institution. “People shouldn’t go to college to play sports,” he said. “I’m a big believer in intramural sports. But you come here to get an education. You don’t come here to hit someone else on the head.” It is certainly true that football (and other sports) helps many students afford an education. In fact, it has historically been a potent tool to provide underprivileged students a way to get a degree. Here at UB, many football players benefit from the scholarships they receive, and of course, most don’t go on to the NFL. Because of football, they were able to come to UB. In that sense, football is incredibly useful for educational purposes – it provides talented young people an outlet to not only get into a school to educate them, but to make it a sustainable environment. Through

funding and the level of structure of being a college athlete, many football players can gain from playing the game; they can use it to their educational advantage. Gladwell’s point should not be taken lightly. Most importantly, it shouldn’t be acknowledged as valid in theory but unfeasible in practicality. A lot of people respond to his claims and think something along the lines of, “Well, sure it’s dangerous, but football will never go away.” And of course, we like watching it too much. The only way it will go away is if enough people stand up to make it go away. In our view, more people need to seriously think if young men inflicting long-term harm on themselves is worth the price of our personal enjoyment. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

Monday, November 18, 2013 ubspectrum.com

LIFE, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ¡Azúcar! – let’s dance!

LASA students heat things up with weekly dance socials GISELLE LAM

Staff Writer

Temperatures are dropping in Buffalo, but the Latin American Student Association (LASA) still feels the heat. For one hour every Tuesday at 8 p.m. in the Student Union Flag Room, LASA students engage in “Latin Socials,” where they learn new and different forms of Latin dance. Attendees participate in the three basic and most popular Latin dances: salsa, bachata and merengue. “Latin Social is a way to bring Latin culture to the rest of UB in a setting that’s not performance based,” said Caitlin Meyers, a junior international studies major and secretary of LASA. Students who attend combine swift movements of smooth hip swaying and quick steps to the booming fast-paced Spanish music in the background. Arms alternate from strict angles to fluid motions. Hearts race and skin dampens with sweat. Throughout the dance, students maintain a deep connection with their partners. Abigail LaPlaca, a junior Spanish major, said the emotions are her favorite part of Latin dance. “Bachata is my favorite type of dance,” LaPlaca said. “It’s all about connection with your partner, connection with the music and just expressing yourself through your body however you want.” LaPlaca is currently the undergraduate adviser of LASA; last year she was the dance liaison who choreographed and taught most of the Latin dances. The choreography last year won LASA second place at International Fiesta, a cultural dance competition at UB every spring. Although LaPlaca has an Italian and German background, she loves Hispanic culture and is studying abroad in Ecuador in the spring.

Jackie Shi, The Spectrum

UB’s Latin American Student Association is a friendly and open environment that mirrors Latin American culture. All students are invited to their weekly Latin Socials, where members dance the salsa, bachata and merengue.

“[People of Hispanic culture] are so emotional and they just like to connect with you and be close with you,” LaPlaca said. “They’re so open and friendly.” LASA’s weekly meetings were once called “Salsa Socials,” but in the past two years they have grown to include all three of the dance types, according to LaPlaca. Xavier Perez, a freshman computer engineering major, joined LASA’s Latin Socials to learn about Latin dance, but he found it is also a great place to meet new people. With a Mexican culture back home, Perez said he has experience with these dances from when he was a kid. His family would do dances like the bachata or meren-

gue at parties and, because of Latin Socials, he now can add salsa to his repertoire. He also joined to get more in touch with his culture. He said that in an environment of so many diverse individuals, it can be easy for students to lose sense of their culture. “Being here can get you lost,” Perez said. “I think that this is a good way to return to the roots.” LASA’s president, Alberto Santiago Jr., a senior mechanical engineering major, said he became involved with LASA because he wanted to learn to dance his culture’s dance styles. Before joining the club, Santiago had minimal experience with

Latin dancing but had always wanted to be that flashy dancer he witnessed when he was younger. Since then, he has grown to be one of the best dancers in LASA and now has “that sense of confidence to go out and to actually do anything.” Santiago said Latin Socials are about teaching each other and simply having fun. “There’re no critiques going around,” he said. “We’re just helping to improve one another. That’s why we’re constantly dancing. That’s how you learn to improve always.” It’s not just Latin Americans who attend the Latin Socials, according to LaPlaca. People from differing cultural backgrounds at-

tend; exchange and international students from different countries also participate. “There’s literally every kind of person in LASA,” LaPlaca said. “It definitely attracts the most diverse group of people, but everyone kind of adapts that Hispanic kind of culture of being really close and open with each other.” When LASA students see others members around campus, they always greet each other with a hug, according to Meyers. “We love everyone,” Meyers said. “It’s really a family.” email: features@ubspectrum.com

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SLIDE offers practical experiences abroad Students develop leadership and international skills on short trips GISELLE LAM

Staff Writer

Pharmacology and toxicology graduate student Laura Kuroski always wanted to study abroad during her undergraduate years at UB, but her majors didn’t allow her the time to leave and experience a foreign country. Many students with rigorous coursework face the same dilemma. SLIDE was Kuroski’s solution. The Student Leadership International Dialogue and Exchange (SLIDE) program offers a study abroad opportunity for students who want to develop their leadership skills and experience a foreign culture but may not have time to fit an extended study abroad session into their schedules. Trips are offered once a year and students can travel to countries for roughly one to two weeks without taking time out of UB. SLIDE, coordinated by the Center for Student Leadership & Community Engagement and supported by UB’s Division of Student Affairs, does not work in conjunction with the study abroad department. SLIDE participants have visited Singapore, China, London, Dominican Republic, Prague and Budapest over the years. This academic year, SLIDE will take place from May 19-29 in Italy. Students will spend 10 days developing leadership skills and immersing themselves in the culture of Rome, Florence and Venice. Jude Butch, the leadership program coordinator, said the program allows students who don’t have the “luxury of leaving campus for a semester or a year” a study abroad experience. For students with responsibilities on campus, like participating in clubs or working a job, SLIDE offers an alternative. John Maher, a sophomore chemical engineering major, entered UB with the goal of studying abroad. He soon realized the strict curriculum of his major coupled with the structured schedule would prevent him from studying away from UB for semester. He found SLIDE was a practical fit into his schedule. Maher attended the 2013 trip to Prague and Budapest. The session ran after the school year was over, and it was short enough so he could still keep his summer

Courtesy of Jude Butch

The Student Leadership International Dialogue and Exchange (SLIDE) program at UB offers leadership and study-abroad options for students whose busy schedules prevent them from taking a semester abroad. The 2011 SLIDE group (pictured) visited London.

job at home. To help students develop their leadership skills, SLIDE exposes them to the host country’s culture and styles of student leaders in the foreign colleges. During the 2011 SLIDE trip to London, students interacted with student leaders studying in University of Oxford and London School of Economics. “Students had opportunities to exchange ideas and learn what kind of shared governance in leadership looks like in these European colleges,” Butch said. “In turn, our students talked about what it was like to be a student in the United States.” The Student Association president at the time, JoAnna Datz, attended the trip, and Butch believes Datz’s observations of similar student positions helped her govern during her 2011-12 SA presidency at UB.

Kuroski also attended the London trip. She enjoyed it so much that she attended the 2013 SLIDE program, as well. Kuroski will graduate this coming May and will begin to apply for full-time jobs. She added SLIDE to her résumé. She said she is confident the program will be an experience that will “catch somebody’s eye.” “I really hope it’s something that they can look at to see that I’ve learned these leadership skills at an international level, and not just here in the U.S.,” Kuroski said. Students receive two college credits at the completion of the program. During the trip, students are required to keep journals and video blogs using provided flip cams. In Maher’s lengthy journal, he included summaries of each day along with captioned photos. He was also required to keep a record of leadership aspects

learned from the foreign students, cultural lessons, differences between the two cultures and highlights of the day. Maher has applied for the SLIDE program to Italy and will participate in the study abroad program to London during UB’s winter session. He said the great thing about SLIDE is that there is no class or lecture involved while abroad, which allows participants to “focus on truly living and experiencing where [they] were, without having to worry about class or assignments, a truly great relief considering spring semester just ended.” “The whole point of SLIDE is to learn through immersion, compared to your average classroom setting, and is extremely enjoyable and effective,” Maher said. email: features@ubspectrum.com

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A bazaar filled with culture Cultural groups come together to celebrate diversity at UB

Monday, November 18, 2013

When in Rome, do as the Romans do A guide to international dining etiquette Let it all out When dining in China, it’s considered a compliment to belch when eating your meal. It shows the chef that you’re happily content with your meal – creating a bit of a mess around your plate shows the same. But don’t finish it all, by leaving some food leftover you’ll be telling your host that they have given you more than enough.

MEGAN WEAL

Contributing Writer

Chad Cooper, The Spectrum

Various international and cultural groups on campus celebrated their similarities and differences at this year’s cultural bazaar in the SU on Nov. 6.

GABRIELA JULIA Staff Writer

This year, the Intercultural Diversity Center (IDC) decided to place a major focus on unity between cultural groups at UB. “Let’s celebrate together,” was the tagline of this year’s cultural bazaar in the Student Union. Seventeen percent of UB’s student population is made up of international students, according to UB’s admissions website. Fifteen different clubs and organizations set up booths to represent their culture during the Nov. 6 event. Originally, the bazaar consisted of four groups: the Latino, LGBTQ, Native American and African communities. IDC determined that number, however, limited other groups from presenting their ideals and spreading their passion across campus, and added groups such as the American Sign Language Club, Japanese Student Association and the UB Step Troupe. Ethiopian food, Asian-Indian earrings and Chinese dragons filled the SU in an attempt to embrace the individuality yet togetherness of every student at UB. Mitchell Lo, a freshman business major, and Dan Pu, a junior business major, sat at a table next to the Japanese Student Association with fried wontons and a Chi-

nese dragonhead. The two said they wanted to spread the word about International Fiesta, a dance competition between all of the international clubs in February. Van Anh Nguyen, president of the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), came to the United States after experiencing a very different educational structure in Russia. She was the only Asian student in a school of 800 people and never knew what it was like to be in a diverse environment. UB changed that for her. She came to the States as a very shy student, but UB has helped her work out of her comfort zone. Becoming president of VSA has made Nguyen more sociable and open-minded, giving her the chance to make friends and develop leadership skills, she said. Nguyen believes the multi-cultural atmosphere of the university has shaped her personality. “I developed myself as a leader, and this role has taught me to see the bigger picture in every situation and has given me an opportunity to become a person I always wanted to be: Strong, responsible, diplomatic and prudent,” Nguyen said. SEE BAZAAR, PAGE 8

You know what they say – when in Rome, do as the Romans do. But when you’re in Russia, you need to do as the Russian’s do. And in Italy, you should do as the Italian’s do … you get the idea. When flying the nest and travelling to new places, you need to know the ins and outs of international dining etiquette. You might be used to eating your fries with your hands and using nothing but your fork to eat your meal, but in some parts of the globe, these table manners are going to get you nothing but dirty looks. Get yourself clued up on how to use your cutlery, what to eat and where it’s OK to get a little bit messy. Never mix your vodka Vodka is drunk neat in Russia – no chasers, no mixers and no retching after taking a shot. Unless of course, you’re mixing your vodka with beer and creating a “Yorsh.” Adding anything else to vodka is thought to spoil the drinks purity. It’s also good to note that turning down a drink in Russia is considered one of the rudest mistakes you could make. There, the offering of a beverage is a sign of friendship and trust. Line your stomach and get drinking. Don’t drink a cappuccino after noon Ordering a cappuccino after noon is like shouting, “I’m a tourist” from the top of the Leaning Tower Of Pisa when in Italy. The locals believe that it will upset your stomach and fill you up too much. Don’t worry, though, if you’re craving caffeine, espresso is welcomed all day long. Sometimes, it’s good to Slurp In Japan, it’s good form to start slurping your food – especially when you’re eating a bowl of noodles. In fact, the louder you slurp, the bigger compliment you are giving. By noisily sucking upon your noodles in a Lady and the Tramp fashion, you’ll be letting the chef know your appreciation for the dish. Drinking the soup straight out of the bowl is going to send the same signal.

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Don’t eat with your hands In Chile, eating with your hands is strictly forbidden. The rules are much more formal and European at this end of the country. So get used to holding your knife and fork with both hands. Use your knife AND fork In England, you hold the fork in the left hand, and the knife in the right hand. No switching or putting one or the other down while you’re eating. Using only one hand is considered rude. And don’t even think about resting your elbows on the table. Only eat with your right hand When in India, the Middle East and parts of Africa, make sure that you eat your meals using only your right hand. The left hand is associated with bodily functions that are unappetizing to think about over dinner. Your left hand’s the dirty one, no matter how much you wash it. You left-handed folks can eat with your left-hand; just make sure that your right one remains out of use. Your turn to foot the bill In Turkey, if you ask a party of people out to a restaurant, you’re going to be given the bill. The person who extends the invitation to a restaurant has to pay. So unless you’re prepared to cough up the Lira from your wallet, it’s probably best to keep quiet. Eat the lot If you leave food on your plate in Germany, be prepared for some sideways glances. You need to eat it all if you want to keep your host and chef happy. So no grabbing a Five Guys before heading over to their house. Waste not, want not In the Middle East, you should be honored if someone offers you a prime choice of meat. When speaking of “prime,” however, we’re not talking their finest cut of meat. Oh no, we’re talking head, eyes and offal – anything that would usually cause your stomach to churn. Eat up. email: meganreb@buffalo.edu

ubspectrum.com

Monday, November 18, 2013

UB’s own ‘Iron Chef’ JSA wins yearly ultimate international cook off GABRIELA JULIA Staff Writer

Student Association clubs were given a chance to wow a panel of judges with a signature dish that embodied their cultural identity as part of SA’s annual International Iron Chef competition, held Thursday Nov. 14 in the Student Union. But it was the Japanese Student Association (JSA) – which came in second place last year – that got to take home the title of “Iron Chef.” The event was held by the International Council, a group of culturally diverse clubs that give students the opportunity to learn about other cultures, lifestyles and traditions, in addition to celebrating these experiences first hand, according to SA’s website. “This is a great event,” said William Wheeler, a senior computer science major. “Buffalo is one of the few places that celebrates diversity and that’s awesome.” Many international clubs looked forward to participating in the competition. Each club was required to use tomato as a key ingredient in three different dishes that consisted of a soup, an appetizer and an entrée. JSA’s winning dishes included a main course of Hayashi rice, which is hashed beef with a tomato base over rice – a popular dish in Japan. The club also served consummé soup and a Tofu tomato seaweed salad, which they served in the shape of a piece of sushi. The club received a $200 prize and though the event was a competition among SA clubs, all UB students were invited to enjoy the food the groups prepared at no cost. Judges told JSA the foods it prepared tasted like they could have come straight from a restaurant, according to Yutaro Naito, a junior business major who competed in the cook off. James Ingram, a junior political science major and academic coordinator for SA, was one of the judges for the Iron Chef competition. As a judge, he was looking for dishes that really had that “wow” factor. To earn a perfect score from him, a dish had

Courtesy of Reimon Bhuyan

The Japanese Student Association’s three dishes, including a Tofu tomato seaweed salad rolled liked sushi (above), won the club the title of “Iron Chef ” in an SA-hosted cook off.

to combine a perfect balance of flavors, textures and be plated in a professional fashion. “I believe that events such as the International Iron Chef competition play a vital role on campus in fostering an appreciation for diversity,” Ingram said. The Chinese Student Association made a chicken broth with tomatoes and tofu, beef stew and eggs and onions – a Chinese classic. Josephine Ma, a senior political science major, and Tiffany Lu, a sophomore business major, made the food that was presented to the judges. “I started cooking about four or five years ago,” Ma said. “Both of our fathers were chefs, so that’s why we got involved.” Jennifer An, a senior accounting major, was another cook who infused her roots in her dishes. Her short ribs and tomato soup salad incorporated the flavors she learned from cooking classes in Korea and her parents and grandmother.

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The Malaysian Student Association’s menu included Tom Yum soup, stuffed tomatoes, red chicken and fish cooked by the Bangladeshi Student Association. Naito, who was born and raised in Japan, described the atmosphere of the event as “a really good place to explain food traditions,” because every culture has different customs. The judging system was an adaptation of the original show, Iron Chef, which originated as a cooking show in Japan. All six judges of UB’s versions were SA

affiliate; five of the judges were the other council coordinator and the sixth was SA Treasurer Siddhant Chhabria. The clubs had to submit an application packet listing the ingredients used in their dishes to make sure the judges were not allergic to anything in their recipes, according to Matthew Siwiec, a senior Asian studies and economics major and SA International Coordinator. Once the groups allowed students to taste all of their foods, they set up a dish especially for the judges.

The tagline for the event was “Taste the world, Experience the Diversity.” The International Council has created many annual events, such as International Fiesta and International Iron Chef, to work to strengthen all of the groups’ traditions and expose their diversity to all UB students. email: features@ubspectrum.com

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Women’s basketball drops home opener

Monday, November 18, 2013

An international market close to home

Asian American Student Union Buffalo cannot sustain scorching start, Cornell gets ‘W’ hosts sixth annual Night Market OWEN O’BRIEN Sports Editor

The opening eight minutes were as clean as Buffalo could have played. The final 32 minutes were not. The Bulls (2-1) dropped their home opener to Cornell (2-0), 79-72 on Saturday afternoon, despite junior forward Kristen Sharkey’s 25-point and 14-rebound burst. “I thought we didn’t really embrace the opportunity to come home and play in front of our fans,” said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. “I thought Sharkey did a tremendous job and Alexus [Malone] really worked hard to seize the moment. But not enough of us came to play.” Buffalo jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, and the Big Red missed their first nine shots while turning the ball over six times before their first score. Cornell then went on a 13-0 run to bring itself back into the contest. Buffalo took back the lead and kept it for the majority of the half, but its opportunity to pull away was gone. The Bulls took a 34-31 lead into halftime. “Our bench was disappointing,” Legette-Jack said. “They came out very flat, no enthusiasm, no purpose and I was really disappointed in that. Talentwise, we should have gotten better, and taking that lead to about a 16- or 18-point lead and hope to sneak out of there with a twopoint win.” The Bulls’ bench – which was averaging 27.5 points over the first two games – scored just 10 points and none in the first half. Sharkey controlled the paint from the opening tip. She scored 11 points and had five rebounds in the first 20 minutes. The Bulls outscored the Big Red 22-0 in the paint in the first half and fin-

Continued from page 10: Men’s b-ball In his first game at Alumni Arena, senior guard Josh Freelove continued his smooth shooting touch. Freelove finished with 13 points and has scored in double digits in all three games for the Bulls. While senior guard Jarod Oldham and freshman guard Shannon Evans wreak havoc defensively, Freelove has excelled as the offense’s second option behind McCrea. “Josh has a lot of experience. He’s a guy that I really trust and can create his own shot,” Hurley said of the Alabama State transfer. “He thrives in an open game where he can get out in the open court. If we’re getting turnovers and stops and rebounding the ball, then his effectiveness is going to go up.” The Bulls scored 24 points off of 19 forced turnovers and finished with 10 fast-break points. Junior forward Will Regan found his rhythm offensively, scoring 11 points in just 16 minutes, and Oldham chipped in 11 points and six assists. The Bulls’ next three games are at home in Alumni Arena. Nov. 26, they’ll face Robert Morris (2-1). Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Jeff Scott, The Spectrum

Sophomore guard Mackenzie Loesing had 20 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough for the women’s basketball team to overcome Cornell in its home opener Saturday.

ished with a 44-14 differential. Twelve of 13 players saw the court for Buffalo in the first half, but Sharkey was the only Bull in double figures. Sophomore guard Mackenzie Loesing finished the game with a doubledouble – 20 points and 10 rebounds – including seven points, six rebounds, two steals and two assists in the first half. The second half was when things began to unravel for UB. Cornell took a 45-43 lead with 15:30 remaining in the game and never gave it back. The Big Red stretched their lead to as big as 13 with 3:57 left before Buffalo rallied to make it interesting again. “We definitely fell apart and were undisciplined at times,” Sharkey said. “Coach Jack always emphasizes the team, the team, the team, and today we just weren’t a team in crucial points of the game.” Allyson DiMango proved to be too much for Buffalo as she responded from a zero field goal first half with five baskets in the final 20 minutes. She finished the game with 16 points and six rebounds. Allison Bockrath and Kerri Moran finished with 13 and 11 points, respectively. All

of Bockrath’s points came in the second half. The foul line is what really haunted the Bulls. Cornell shot 21 more free throws (43 to 22) and made the most of its opportunities. The Big Red shot 69.8 percent from the foul line, compared to Buffalo’s 63.6 percent. Cornell also dominated behind the arc, hitting 9 of 18 (50 percent) from deep compared to Buffalo’s 4 of 26 (15.4 percent). The Bulls pulled the game to five points with 56 seconds remaining and four points with 24 seconds as Loesing and Sharkey combined for 17 points in a 3:30 span. Cornell’s clutch free-throw shooting along with a Buffalo turnover iced the Bulls’ loss. The Bulls finished with 17 more field goal attempts than Cornell, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the points at the foul line and from three-point range. Buffalo returns to the road when it faces Duquesne (2-1) on Wednesday. The Bulls dropped their contest 78-52 with the Dukes last season. Tip is set for 11 a.m.

KEVIN HONG

Staff Writer email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 6: Bazaar Nguyen said VSA’s mission is to bring attention to the unique Vietnamese traditions and customs at UB. The members’ goal is to give students the opportunity to learn about the exciting aspects of the culture through meetings, social gatherings and food and dance workshops, she said. The group participates in community service events and is currently working on a fundraiser to raise money to help areas in Vietnam that were affected by natural disasters. IDC welcomed representatives from different organizations, along with campus departments, to showcase what they felt was their identity. The West Side Bazaar was one of these organizations. Lonisa Sledge and Ben Bissell represented the non-profit organization, which helps up to 20 different individuals start their own business. Refugees and immigrants from other countries make up the majority of the people who receive assistance. West Side Bazaar provides a full kitchen and food for these refugees – the representatives came to UB to promote some of its vendors. They sold Ethiopian food and jewelry from the West Side Bazaar store, which is run by a third generation Chinese-

Courtesy of Fahad Hossain

Shao Bo Fang (standing) and Kevin Moy displayed a traditional Asian cuisine called ‘red bean soup.’ Red bean soup is made out of red beans, lotus seeds and tapioca. This was one of many international delicacies displayed at AASU’s Night Market on Saturday.

Indian. Another table at the bazaar gave students the chance to take a picture holding a sign saying, “I am unique because…” Much like the “No Hate” campaign, the pictures of the students will be put together and hung up inside the IDC office to represent the uniqueness of UB culture. Other activities included a photo booth, friendship bracelet making station, trivia games and advocacy writing – students could write letters regarding something they’re passionate about. Patrick Crosby, student-programming coordinator for IDC, said diversity has a large impact on every student, teaching them more about others’ traditions, such as their morals and how they function in a big university. As an attempt to promote awareness of the different cultures around campus, Crosby and other IDC members create workshops and programs to partner with the leadership office and academies to promote individuality, he said. “Diversity is something we don’t think about on a daily basis, but we are affected by it every day,” Crosby said. email: features@ubspectrum.com

An aroma of different foods captured the attention of many students lined up outside Student Union 145 on Saturday night. The sights and smells were hard to resist, as performances and cultural cuisines came together to galvanize an estimated 300 people in attendance at the sixth annual Asian American Student Union (AASU) Night Market. The event, which included over 30 different clubs and organizations, is an annual event inspired by authentic night markets that exist in many different Asian countries. Taiwan, especially, is well known for its vibrant night markets held on its streets. Fiona Wong, a senior business major and president of AASU, took ideas from night markets she had visited in Asian countries in hopes to spread cultural awareness. “We’re open to everybody and try to encourage anyone interested in learning more about Asian culture,” Wong said. “With 13 different countries being represented by their respective clubs all in one room, there is no better place to learn about Asian culture.” Well-known cultural dishes and beverages made appearances. Students lined up and bought tickets at the door. Each ticket was then used to ‘purchase’ all kinds of cuisines, including bubble tea, spring rolls and red bean soup, served by dozens of international clubs. Food began selling out quickly and some clubs struggled to keep up with the demand for a home-cooked and internationalthemed meal. While the filled room of attendees enjoyed the international delicacies, the Buffalo Chips

showcased their singing abilities. They performed popular hits by Maroon 5 and One Republic. “We thought it was a great event and wanted to take this opportunity to show our presence on campus,” said Zach Carr, a graduate student studying communication science and a member of the Buffalo Chips. “We’re often performing elsewhere, usually off-campus, so this was a great way to connect with some of the clubs and students at UB.” The show was then taken over by a multitude of different international organizations. The Filipino American Student Association performed tinikling, a traditional dance of the Philippines, and the Korean Folk Art Club (KFAC) performed a traditional Korean dance. Robin Murray III, a junior mathematics major and vice president of the Black Student Union, thought the performances were “amazing.” He particularly enjoyed KFAC’s routine. He was impressed with the diversity of the performances. AASU Night Market drew in a large and diverse crowd. The Latin American Student Association danced a salsa routine. “We’re hoping to grow closer amongst all the different clubs through collaborations such as AASU night market,” Wong said. The event was well received by many of the attendees, with thunderous applause to performances and laughs shared over plates of food. “It brings everyone together, and lets people try out so many different types of food,” said Eric Chan, a freshman computer science major. AASU hopes to keep up the tradition and hold another night market event next year. email: news@ubspectrum.com

Monday, November 18, 2013 ubspectrum.com

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