Holiday Preview: The Spectrum Volume 63 Issue 37 by The Spectrum Student Periodical

SA gears up for holiday bus shuttle service UBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new winter session to begin in January THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, SINCE 1950

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

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Volume 63 No. 37

Holiday Preview Issue

ALINE KOBAYASHI, THE SPECTRUM

Wednesday, November 20, 2013 ubspectrum.com

NEWS

You’ll be home for the holidays

Student Association gears up for holiday bus shuttle service out with the holiday bus shuttle service. Director of Student Life Tom Tiberi said it was an easy decision to support SA’s plan because of how it benefitted students. “A lot of students do take flights either home or somewhere else over break and to provide students with a shuttle service is a great idea,” Tiberi said. Student Life will be providing a baggage-holding service for any students attending an early class who want to take advantage of a later shuttle. Students can store their bags on the first floor of SU anytime on Friday, Nov. 22, and Tuesday, Nov. 26, between 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Haider Tawakali, a freshman exercise science major, believes it’s a great use of the mandatory student activity fee. He said it is a great alternative for students

JOE KONZE JR News Editor

UB students will no longer have to find a source of transportation to the airport this upcoming holiday break. As part of Student Association President Sam McMahon’s plan of utilizing the student activity fee, students will now have the option to receive a free ride to the airport for their Thanksgiving travels. Starting Oct. 23, students were able to pick up tickets from the Sub Board I (SBI) ticket office on the second floor of the Student Union for the shuttle. Tickets are administered on a first come, first serve basis. Although there were 946 spots, as of last Friday, 220 of them have filled up. Students must present a UB ID when riding the bus. Student Life is also involved in helping

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Chad Cooper, The Spectrum As part of Student Association President Sam McMahon’s plan of utilizing the student activity fee, students will now have the option to receive a free ride to the Buffalo Niagara International Airport (pictured) for their Thanksgiving travels.

who might not have enough money to spend on transportation. “SA is really looking out for the students. I really like that they did that,” Tawakali said. “I’m not using it, but my friends are. It’s a really good convenience for them because they are already broke and going through however many weeks of college.” Each shuttle seats 43 students who are allowed to bring two bags. The buses meet at the Lee Loop in front of SU. The total cost for the shuttle service came to $2,700, which was a little bit more than anticipated for Thanksgiving break, McMahon said. But with the money left over from early events, McMahon decided to “empty it” back into SA’s “activities and general events line.” After obtaining a firm quote for the service, McMahon and the professional staff structured the shuttle times around when most of the flights were departing and arriving. McMahon also said if a student was to arrive at the airport and find out his or her flight was canceled or delayed, the shuttle

service would bring that person back to campus until the next flight. For now, the shuttle service will provide students transportation to the airport but SA has entertained the thought of possibly transporting students to the Amtrak station. “We had our schedule kind of set in stone. The email had already gone out,” McMahon said. “[Maybe] it will be something that we do for Christmas [break]. It’s a lot easier to plan for because the train only leaves a few times a day. That’s something we might try to do for winter break.” This is a trial run for the plan, but McMahon hopes this will be something that can be used in the future. He also said the SBI tickets office will be open until next Tuesday and students can get a ticket up until an hour before the shuttle leaves. email: news@ubspectrum.com

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

OPINION

The function of the holidays A time to serve others and reflect on yourself

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. 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 20, 2013 Volume 63 Number 37 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.

Charles Dickens once said: “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” Of course, this notion extends beyond Christmas to all of the holidays many celebrate this time of year – Hanukkah, Kwanza and everything else. It is the holiday spirit that Mr. Dickens was speaking about, and that comes from a communal atmosphere. It is true, however, that the holiday season does coincide with the busiest time of the semester – which makes the realization of that communal atmosphere more difficult on a college campus. Nevertheless, the holidays take on an important role in all of our lives whether we recognize it or not. It is a time to let people know you care about them, a time to give, a time to participate in acts of charity and a time for personal reflection. There is something about the cyclical nature of the holiday season that prompts introspection – how can you not think about where you were this time last year and where you hope to be this time next year? That may be one of the reasons it is one of the times a year many people go to the movies – for the seasonal aroma induces us to consider human issues relevant to our lives. And it also happens to be when a lot of the best movies come out, as the industry anticipates this surge of moviegoers. It may be worth noting that the holiday season is also an elevated consumer season – we are not so naïve to believe it is only and purely for the sake of spirit and goodwill. It has a great deal to do with money. But, in addition to being consumers, we are all humans first. And that means we should think about human issues first when considering the role the holidays will play in our lives this year. It may be cliché, but, like most clichés, which seem obvious on the surface, it does possess a deeper, more profound meaning: The holiday season is about doing things for other people.

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This is a perfect opportunity help out at a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter – dedicating just a little time for those who are most needy. In fact, many people are compelled to do that this time of the year. But the holiday season is not the only time of the year the less fortunate need help. People who actually go out and help should remember the feeling of satisfaction that comes from serving others – and they should continue to do so at all times of the year. Many local charity organizations have ample help during the holidays as they get an influx of volunteers, but, during the rest of the year, they are understaffed. Those who do make

the decision to help this season should continue to do so afterward, as serving others is one of the noblest causes. As there is a lot of activity going on around Buffalo during the holidays, there are many international students here at UB unable to return home. Imagine being in a foreign country knowing few people, being unfamiliar to many of the customs and not being able to see your family for the holidays. Sometimes, there is an empathy deficit in today’s society – not that it didn’t exist in the past – but American students should extend their spirits to international students and perhaps provide one of those students company during this time.

Here at UB, with approximately 17 percent of our student body from foreign countries, we pride ourselves on our multiculturalism and ethnic variation. Well, we should all really prove our pride and reach out to those on campus. With that in mind, it is important to understand the healthy function of the holidays each year, which is to stop us in our tracks. The main question you should ask yourself as the season approaches is, ‘What will I do with it?’ email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

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

Surprise in China

Policy shifts mark a good first step For over three decades, Chinese couples have had to endure a strict and unreasonable onechild policy – facing the risk of huge fines and capricious levels of harassment from authorities if they violate this rule. It was in 1980 that China’s Communist Party’s leaders enacted this policy into law to address the issue of overpopulation. Since its authorization, this experiment of a government attempting to control its demographics and limit population growth has been widely debated. This law has undeniably changed Chinese society. Birthrates have sunk from an average 4.77 children per woman in the early 1970s to 1.64 in 2011, according to the United Nations. The regulation also resulted in China having the world’s most unbalanced sex ratio; the amount of boys far exceeds the amount of girls, according to The Washington Post. But last Friday, China made an announcement. Now, couples can have a second child if one of the parents is an only child.

It’s about time that China eases this draconian policy that has long been a harsh violation of human rights and a brutal form of repressing its people. But it must be noted that this is still not enough. In our view, a one-child policy is not an effective or sustainable way to address the issue of overpopulation in China. Certain municipalities there are, without question, congested, but being the second largest country by land area in the world means that the country itself has enough space for its people. A more effective and reasonable approach to overpopulation would be to increase commercial development in provinces and cities throughout the country – creating an influx of more jobs outside of places like Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin. This strategy would attract residents of China’s larger cities to move to other places. It would enable the country’s citizenship to be wiely dispersed and address overpopulation and congestion without imposing a pre-

posterous regulation on human reproduction. The law has resulted in decades of forced abortions and infanticide, and many childless parents have sunken into despair. China’s announcement marks an important first step toward improving the status of its human rights, but it can’t be ignored that this move is still not sufficient. Aside from easing the one-child restriction, much of the initial policy will stay in place – including forcing a family-planning bureaucracy in every city, town and village in the country. The move Chinese leaders are making is less likely in the interest of human rights as it is anticipating the effects of an aging population and potential shortage of labor workers in the future. Another big change China announced is that it is abolishing labor camps pervasive throughout the country. This has been one of the country’s most damning moral failures as this system,

which was set up in 1957, essentially imprisons tens of thousands of citizens without trial. Since the inception of this program, petty offenders such as prostitutes, thieves and drug dealers are sentenced to these labor camps for up to four years without ever facing a judiciary. In 2009, a report filed to the United Nations states that there are roughly 320 labor camp facilities throughout China holding over 190,000 people. There is no justification for this kind of regime that does not honor the universal principles of due process. If these most recent announcements are followed through, however imperfect these policy shifts are, they are at least a positive step and could substantially improve the conditions of living in China. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

A NEW WAY TO SHOP Buffalo organization encourages goods and services exchange AMANDA LOW

Asst. News Editor

What if you could get some of your holiday shopping done without having to spend any money? Communify can help you with that. Communify is an organization that encourages bartering and exchanging between the Buffalo community. It is hosting its first Fall Clothing Exchange on Nov. 30 at The Foundry, a multifunction venue on Buffalo’s East Side. Stephanie Brochey, the founder of Communify, created the organization so Buffalonians could trade goods for goods or goods for services – like free massages in exchange for a camera. “The whole mission of Communify is just to prevent people from having to constantly be pulling out their wallets,” Brochey said. “And focusing on all these different resources that are in the community, whether it be a friend with a skill or just people who are trying to get rid of stuff.” The organization started as a Facebook group that let people post items or services they were willing to exchange for things they needed. It was a way the community could avoid swapping with strangers on sites like Craigslist and make these exchanges more personal. Brochey eventually wanted to incorporate the idea into an event that fit with Communify’s theme. Clothing exchanges were something she did regularly with her friends, so she realized it would be a great way to kick off her organization. The upcoming Fall Clothing Exchange will allow people to

Courtesy of Communify Buffalo Communify is an organization that encourages bartering and exchanging within the Buffalo community. It is hosting its first Fall Clothing Exchange on Nov. 30 at The Foundry on Buffalo’s East Side.

come and hang their unwanted clothes on racks, then go around the rest of the venue to find clothes they want. Communify has had a bigger response than in its first clothing exchange event, which was held in March. The FallyMac Food Truck, which specializes in macaroni and cheese, will be at the November event for any hungry holiday shopper. “If I could have the ideal shopping experience, I’d want to go out and be able to get clothes for free, drink and hang out with my friends, so that’s kind of how I set it up,” Brochey said. Attendees of the spring exchange ranged from age 18 to

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55 years old. The event drew in the kind of crowd that is likely to go to a thrift store. Brochey hopes more people will invest in that kind of attitude by coming to the event. “It’s really focusing on reducing waste,” Brochey said. “It’s cutting out the fact that every person has to buy one of everything, that there should be more opportunities for people to be utilizing each other’s resources.” Matt Maracle, a supporter of Communify since its conception, believes the organization provides a much needed service to Buffalo. He praises Brochey for starting Communify by herself.

For people who prefer to receive compensation, there is an option of exchanging clothes with Second Chic, a consignment store located in Elmwood Village. Alison Pieroni, the manager of Second Chic, has been working with Brochey since the Spring Clothing Exchange. “I think it’s something new that Buffalo hasn’t really had yet, so it’s been cool to watch it grow and be a part of it,” Pieroni said. In August, Communify had its second event, “Show How.” Brochey invited local businesses, tradespeople and organizations including the University Heights Tool Library – a Main

Street business where students and homeowners can rent tools – to share their skills and services with locals. Communify has no physical location, but Brochey hopes to have one by the end of next year. At the beginning of 2014, she plans to start having monthly meetings to organize people who want to stay involved, help plan events and bring in new volunteers. The Fall Clothing Exchange will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Nov. 30. email: news@ubspectrum.com

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

UB’s new winter session to begin in January SAM FERNANDO

Senior News Editor

For some students, winter break is a time for family vacations, sleeping in, ski trips and … class? UB is offering a new winter session for students this academic year. The three-week session, which starts Jan. 6 and ends Jan. 24, will give students the chance to take up to five credits over the holiday break or take a class in a different country as part of the study abroad program. A. Scott Weber, the senior vice provost of academic affairs, sees the new program as highly beneficial for both students and professors. “Many of our faculty have engaged energetically around the concept of a three week intensive study opportunity,” Weber said in an email. “The result, on campus, is extended sessions in rapid succession. This structure gives them, and the students who enroll, a different way to experience teaching and learning.” University Registrar Kara Saunders said UB has talked to other SUNY schools like Stony Brook, Albany and Binghamton about the winter session programs they have. UB used these conversations to shape the current winter class offerings. Saunders thinks the plethora of classes available will give students an opportunity to catch up if they are behind in their major requirements. She said it could also help student stay on track to finish their education in four years. Michael Tonn, a senior economics and international trade major, saw this opportunity to finish his degree early. He only needs one more economics course to graduate and is taking

Application of Economic Analysis (ECO 403) during the winter session to avoid taking classes in the spring. “[The winter session] gives students an opportunity to get ahead or possibly catch up,” Tonn said. “The winter [break] is so long now, I really wouldn’t have anything else to do, so it worked out.” He said the accelerated style of a three-week course could be beneficial to him because he has done well in the courses he has taken over summer breaks. A course costs $245 per credit hour for New York State residents and $742 for out-of-state residents. There is an additional $67.39 charge per credit hour for a “Comprehensive Fee” and $9.38 for an “Academic Excellence Fee.” Every student enrolled must also pay a one-time $7.89 “Student Activity Fee.” Of the 123 courses available to students, six are currently full. As of last Friday, 1,040 students total have enrolled, with about 550 of them taking an online course, which makes up about a quarter of all classes offered. The other 92 ‘in-person’ courses have roughly 500 students enrolled – that averages to fewer than six people per class. Twenty classes are empty. Saunders said UB is still trying to figure out what is going to happen to the classes that are under-enrolled or have no enrollment. In the meantime, she said UB is trying to increase the number of students taking advantage of the winter opportunity. She hopes the university will not have to close or cancel some of the courses. If that is the case, however, Saunders said UB will give students enough notice to figure out alternate plans. Saunders encourages students

to take advantage of the session. UB plans to send out emails and postcards to undergraduate students to boost attendance. Weber thinks having a winter session study abroad program will give students “global competence so important to development of a well-informed world view and makes those students more valuable candidates for employment or advanced study.” Fiona Wong, a senior business major, agrees. She said the new program gave her an opportunity she would have never been able to take advantage of before. “I wanted to do it because it would add more diversity to my résumé,” Wong said. “One of the things that always held me back was the cost of study abroad. But because it is a shorter session, it is cheap. I can get the same experience at the fraction of the cost.” UB has eight study abroad programs for the winter session and 70 students are currently enrolled in them. Wong, whose family is from Hong Kong, is studying in that city during the three-week break. She said the program gives her the chance to connect with her roots. Weber said UB will be surveying the students who participate in the various winter session programs. He said it is a way to better future winter sessions. “I hope we are laying a good foundation this year so we can just keep building on it – celebrating what buffalo has to offer in the winter, instead of just complaining about the snow,” Saunders said. email: news@ubspectrum.com

Daniele Gershon, The Spectrum UB is offering a new winter session for students this academic year. The threeweek session, which starts Jan. 6 and ends Jan. 24, will give students the chance to take up to five credits over the holiday break or take a class in a different country as part of the study abroad program.

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Can you ‘hack’ it?

UB students earn honors in various hackathons this year JAMES DRAGONETTE

Staff Writer

Some UB students see hacking as more than just an illegal activity. They see it as an opportunity to display their skills for the future. Recently, students from various academic departments at UB have taken home thousands of dollars in cash and prizes after prevailing over competitors from across the nation at two separate “hackathons.” At MHacks, a competition that began on Sept. 20, Nate Burgers, a sophomore computer science major, created his own programming language. His work garnered much attention, earning him not only a cash prize for the most technically challenging hack – among other accolades – but also a spot in the top 10 hacks of the entire competition. At Kent State University’s recent hackathon, ‘Kent Hack Enough,’ a team of four UB students developed a unique addon for the web browser Google Chrome, revolutionizing the way Internet users navigate pages. “These students are great ambassadors for UB,” said Atri Rudra, associate professor of computer science, in an email. “We know our students are good, but this is a nice way for folks outside of UB and Buffalo to know this secret.” Though depictions of computer hacking as an entirely malicious activity abound in popular culture, they are not entirely accurate. It leaves out the type of work done by participants at hackathons, which is not harmful or illicit. At these events, participants gather to build useful and creative pieces of software from scratch, in hopes of finishing their work in the allotted time. “Hackathons are fun because they allow you to be creative with computer science,” said Mack Ward, a junior computer engineering and mathematics double ma-

jor, in an email. “Often in class we write straightforward programs to solve some given problems, but rarely do we explore the non-traditional applications of what we are learning. Hackathons give students an opportunity to go outside of their ‘programming comfort zone’ – to create whatever they want, no questions asked.” Ward was also part of the team that won top honors at Kent Hack Enough. The team included Pritesh Gupta, a sophomore computer science major; Gabriel Holodak, a sophomore computer science major; and Zach Wienand, a freshman computer engineering major. The members met through the Facebook group ‘Buffalo Hackers’ before making the trip to Ohio. On the ride there – shortly after meeting in person for the first time at Davis Hall – the team decided to build a web browser extension called Scrolr. This Google Chrome add-on allows users to scroll up and down web pages using gestures of the head, which are picked up by the user’s webcam, without the use of mouse or keyboard. The team’s hack was so impressive that the group came in first place overall, receiving $1,000 in cash and $3,000 in credit for Amazon Web Services, which the team members split evenly amongst themselves. The idea was largely inspired by the desire to not touch a computer’s keyboard or mouse when eating or multitasking while browsing the web, according to Gupta. Beyond this trivial use of Scrolr, he added that it does indeed have practical applications for those who may not physically be able to use a keyboard or mouse. Though the extension and its code are freely available online, the group does not intend to spend much time improving or releasing it formally. MHacks spanned the weekend from Sep. 20-22 and took place at the University of Michigan. At

MHacks, Burgers, working alone, developed his own programming language called “Lark,” which won him the ‘Best Use of iOS’ award, the Andreessen Horowitz prize for the Most Technically Impressive hack and an honor as one of the top 10 hacks overall in the competition that included over 1,200 participants. “What made [Lark] different from other computer languages is that it allows you to edit an app while it’s running,” Burgers said in an email. “Traditionally, this kind of thing is impossible.” Burgers, who received a $2,000 cash prize and an Apple iPad Mini for his work at MHacks, said although he plans to eventually go to graduate school, he has received many different job and internship offers due to his work at hackathons. Ward and Gupta said their participation in hackathons has directly and indirectly opened doors to internships and job opportunities. Rudra stressed how crucial hackathons are to students’ development, saying, “It has been nice to see some of undergraduate algorithms lectures half empty because the students were all at a hackathon.” “Hackathons are complementary to the courses that our students take: they apply the knowledge they gained in different courses to build one single product,” Rudra said in an email. “This application is precisely what they will need to do when they go to their jobs (or start their own company).” Ward echoed Rudra’s sentiment. Ward believes hackathons are an essential learning experience for computer science majors. He encourages students interested in the field to attend a hackathon whenever they can. email: news@ubspectrum.com

Jackie Shi, The Spectrum At the MHacks competition at the University of Michigan, Nate Burgers (above), working alone, developed his own programming language called “Lark,” which won him the Best Use of iOS award, the Andreessen Horowitz prize for the Most Technically Impressive hack and an honor as one of the top 10 hacks overall in the competition, which included over 1,200 participants.

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FEATURES

Six religions gather in the spirit of Thanksgiving, discuss beliefs and traditions RACHEL KRAMER

Asst. Arts Editor

Nick Fischetti, The Spectrum Hillel President Joe Ornstein speaks to various Campus Ministries organizations about what it means to be Jewish during this Thanksgiving season as a part of an interfaith Thanksgiving dinner aimed at promoting dialogue between students.

Over 80 people of varying religions and faiths gathered in Pistachio’s on Friday for a night of education, diversity and unity. The Jewish Student Union hosted an Interfaith Thanksgiving dinner, catered by the Kosher Deli, to encourage dialogue between various religions on campus. The purpose was to spread ideas and foster new relationships between the various Campus Ministries clubs at UB, according to Hillel President Joe Ornstein, a senior media study major. The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, University Baptist Church, St. Joseph University Church/Newman Center, Latter-day Saint Student Association, Bahá’í Faith, Hillel and Jewish Student Union attended the event. The evening started out with salad and mingling, giving attendees a chance to make new friends and start to learn about other faiths. Although dinner started out segregated, each religion sitting at their own table, the seating arrangements changed after everyone stood up to get salad. Members of InterVarsity were talking about their Christian beliefs with the Jewish Hillel members, sharing traditions, customs and beliefs about giving thanks. “Interfaith connections are so important,” said Christine Schaefer, a junior German and history major and member of Intervarsity. “I feel I never get to talk to other students about topics like this, and that fact that we are all

opening up to each other is such a good thing. I am learning so much.” After eating salad and briefly getting to know one another, each organization was given about five minutes to speak to the entire group on matters of religion, giving thanks and what faith means to them. Danielle Chevalier, an industrial & systems engineering major and the historian of InterVarsity, started the speeches off with a tragic story about texting and driving, making the point that “we shouldn’t only be grateful on Thanksgiving; giving thanks to God should happen every day.” Every organization’s message revolved around that same theme – people shouldn’t only be thankful one day a year. Father Patrick Keleher, known as Father Pat, the director and campus minister for the Newman Center, gave a speech revolving around the idea of “praying for people who seem to have nothing to be thankful for.” Pastor Dale Meredith of the University Baptist Church agreed with Father Pat’s message, and the pastor’s speech revolved around having hope that the lives of people in need will get better this holiday season. This unity of religions and faiths is a main pillar of belief for people of the Bahá’í faith. With only approximately 300 members in the Buffalo area, the Bahá’í faith was one of the lesser-known religions represented at the dinner. The main belief of the Bahá’í is the “unity of man and that we as people are responsible for taking care of one another,” accord-

ing to Einas Schifferle, a member of the Bahá’í faith for 14 years. “We believe everything comes from one source, with a different name, at a different point in history but it always serves a purpose: to connect people with a higher being,” Shifferle said. “So Bahá’ís don’t have any conflicts with any other faiths. We want unity with all faiths.” Ornstein had never heard of this religion before and was excited they came to the event to educate the students and people on attendance about their beliefs and traditions. Throughout the dinner, he came to realize that although each religion has different traditions, customs and sometimes languages, they have similar beliefs. “Anytime world religion is discussed, the first thing that’s talked about is our differences,” Ornstein said. “When in reality, seeing what everyone thinks and what our laws dictate, we all believe in the same thing. At the core of religion there is that nugget of a golden rule: that we all just want to be good people.” Shafer agrees and enjoyed having the opportunity to learn about other religions over a turkey dinner. She thinks interfaith sharing should be something that happens more than once and not only during the holiday season. “This gives students a place to discuss topics that may not get to be brought up in casual conversation,” she said. “Maybe next time InterVarsity will host an interfaith dinner to keep this education going.” email: features@ubspectrum.com

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Mission Nutrition: Holiday edition UB’s nutrition club discusses importance of staying healthy during holiday season KEREN BARUCH

Senior Features Editor

High blood pressure, high cholesterol and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases are associated with old age and physical inactivity. Studies are finding that college students are facing these diseases just as often, though. Sixty percent of freshmen eat too much artery-clogging saturated fat and 66 percent don’t consume the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, according to USA Today. Mission Nutrition, a temporary Student Association club, wants to change those statistics. The club hopes to make eating on campus more nutritious. With Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza falling within two months of one another, club members are promoting the importance of portion control and healthy eating habits. Members hope to create an open community at UB, where students and teachers can talk about nutrition and food. President Camille Farkas, a senior psychology major and cofounder of Mission Nutrition, said the club is working on numerous projects to ensure the UB community is as healthy as possible. Growing up, Farkas’ parents were health conscious and they home-cooked most meals. Now that Farkas lives on her own, she is able to understand the importance of what her parents did for her and her brothers. “We grew up healthy and valued to the importance of a healthy, well-rounded diet and the love of good food,” Farkas said. Farkas said students typically eat poorly. The food provided in dorms and on campus is not nutritious, she said, and she hopes

Daniele Gershon, The Spectrum

UB’s Mission Nutrition club – including (left to right) Treasurer Tyler Szczesniak, a sophomore business major, President Camille Farkas, a senior psychology major, Vice President Caitlin McCullough, a sophomore exercise science major, and Secretary Ally Abrams, a senior exercise science major – hopes to make eating on campus healthier.

to help guide students to choose the best items available to them. The club recommends its members to choose the egg and tuna cups from campus dining, breakfast oatmeal from Starbucks and a salad from Edgy Veggies with a “drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette.” One of the club’s upcoming meetings will focus on how to eat healthy on campus and in off-campus apartments. Vice president and co-founder of the club Caitlin McCullough, a sophomore exercise science major, said she knows a lot of students who want to live healthy lives on campus but find it extremely difficult. UB has acknowledged that more students are asking for and eating healthier meal options, according to an article published by UB Reporter in September. UB has added more vegetarian options across campus; dining halls serve fresh fruit daily; and Bravo Pasta in the Student

Union offers wheat pasta. Campus Dining & Shops also posts nutritional information about all of its meals on its website. Jeff Brady, director of Campus Dining and Shops, told UB Reporter he’s seen many students switch from regular milk to soymilk and that menu items like egg-white omelets have become more popular on campus. Mission Nutrition hopes to ensure all students maintain a healthy diet on campus. McCullough struggled with weight in high school. She would gain 20 pounds, lose 10 and then gain it back again. “The problem was that I didn’t understand food,” McCullough said. “I thought that eating a 100-calorie snack pack was healthy. I wasn’t focused on the nutrients. My senior year is when I started doing my own research and discovering how different foods can impact my body.” That year, McCullough became a vegetarian.

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Her perspective changed from, “I want it, but can’t have it,” to “I can have it, but I don’t want it.” She hopes to help people see how eating right will make them look and feel amazing, she said. McCullough gives members of the club tips about how to feel good and lose weight, good places to eat locally and what exactly it means to be a vegan or vegetarian. She said the club wants to form a supportive group of people that can freely discuss food and its impact on “our bodies and the world we live in.” Next semester, the group wants to push to make the contents inside of vending machines more nutrient dense. “Having items like trail mix, protein shakes, fruits and vegetables more accessible to students will have a huge positive impact,” Farkas said. With the upcoming holidays come delicious-smelling foods and tempting meals.

“Go ahead and have a slice of pie, but keep your wits about you and remember serving sizes still exist,” McCullough said. “If you feel you might give in to temptation, use healthy ingredients in your holiday recipes. Don’t forget to keep going to the gym – the pounds can slowly creep up on you and sweater weather is not an excuse.” McCullough suggests using whole-wheat flour as a healthy alternative to white flour. She said to keep eating lean protein, fruits, veggies and whole grains because it’s better to add healthy foods to a diet rather than just eating the junk and skipping the healthy stuff, especially during the holiday season. Her favorite holiday treat is pumpkin pie. When she wants to have a healthy alternative to the ice cream on top, she mixes one frozen banana, one carrot, 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of almond butter and a pinch of almond milk. She calls this her “Thanksgiving ice cream.” Mission Nutrition hopes to bring in guest speakers to talk about gaining and losing weight, fad diets and more. They want to ensure students know that eating healthy does not mean eating less and that food should be valued and enjoyed. Farkas said more nutritious foods would make students more satiated and give them energy levels to feel better about themselves. The club also hopes to include food tastings and demos for UB students. For now, the club is focusing on encouraging students to remain healthy during this holiday season while still enjoying the treats on their holiday dinner tables. email: features@ubspectrum.com

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

A time to count blessings

Two UB students express what they are most thankful for this Thanksgiving KEREN BARUCH

Senior Features Editor

As the UB community prepares for Thanksgiving, people begin to think about the things in life they are most thankful for. Thomas Safran, a sophomore business administration major, and Michael Tyson, a student currently on a leave of absence from the Graduate School of Education, shared what they are most thankful for with The Spectrum. The two have words of advice and suggestions for the UB student population during this holiday season. Cancer-free this Thanksgiving Tyson is participating in the “month of gratitude.” Every day this month, he is updating his Facebook status noting one thing he is grateful for. “I started doing this simply because I’m really happy to even be here for another Thanksgiving,” Tyson said. For three years, Tyson felt a mounting pain in his back, he said. The pain became so bad last year that he finally got an MRI. Doctors found a “softball-sized tumor wrapped around [his] thoracic spine.” He received his first surgery – it’s been 11 months since – and even though he is down two vertebrae and four ribs, he’s walking around and enjoying life. “I could seriously be thankful for that alone each day of this month, but I wanted to list the many blessings in my life beyond my actual life,” Tyson said. After two rounds of radiation and two surgeries, Tyson was finally free of cancer. Just two weeks ago, he received an official scan that said he was clean. The biggest lesson he learned is to take life one day at a time. “When you’re looking at the treatments before going through them, the process can be overwhelming,” Tyson said. “But if you focus on only one step at a time, you can keep from going mad. I feel that translates well to any aspect of life.” Learning abroad Safran is thankful for his summer experience abroad. He was always interested in learning about other cultures, but he never pursued this desire until this summer. He was finally able to immerse himself in the Asian culture in Singapore.

Courtesy of Thomas Safran

Thomas Safran (far left) rode elephants in Bali, Indonesia, during his summer abroad in Singapore. Safran said his experience studying in another country has opened his eyes to amazing experiences and people of different cultures. He is thankful for the opportunity.

Upon arrival in Singapore he made friends with local Singaporeans who showed him great places to explore and eat, he said. They even introduced him to a restaurant that served frog. Safran was thankful for the ability to try the new Singaporean cuisine, from chicken feet and murtabak – dough stuffed with meat and onions – to Milo, one of his new favorite drinks. The first weekend after he arrived in Singapore, students at the Singapore Institute of Management created a scavenger hunt across some cities. He and his soon-to-be best friends found different landmarks with the clues provided during the hunt. He became fond of the public transportation system in Singapore. He was able to travel from Little India, to the Merlion statue, to a Buddhist temple and more, in just

one evening. The experience has taught him the importance of diversity, tolerance and respect toward those different from himself – he realized how crucial it is to be able to communicate with people from different cultures. “Just go out and try something new, whether it’s trying new food or joining a club on campus where you don’t know anyone,” Safran said. “You may be surprised and actually enjoy it. Remember to say hi to people you don’t know. Many of the international students are looking to make new friends, too.” Safran said you don’t necessarily have to study abroad to gain a diverse perspective, because UB offers ample opportunities to meet people from around the world. Safran urges students to get engulfed in other cultures and allow them to change their lives

the way his life changed this summer. He is thankful for the opportunity because of the worldly insight he gained on the trip. One weekend, he and his friends took a journey to Bali, Indonesia. The experience was unforgettable, he said. He rode around a forest on an elephant, and he said being so close to such majestic creatures was a surreal experience. The insight and mentality about culture and diversity he gained abroad, as well as the unforgettable experiences exploring the city of Singapore at night, studying at the Singapore Institute of Management and riding elephants in other cities, is what Safran is most thankful for this Thanksgiving. email: features@ubspectrum.com

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

DIY holiday treats

Turkey traditions UB students discuss unique Thanksgiving Day traditions

Easy recipes that will impress your relatives

CASSANDRA YOCHUM Staff Writer

For many college students, Thanksgiving Day is a time to go home and load meal-plan-filled stomachs with a home-cooked turkey meal. But some UB students partake in other traditions beyond the turkey plate. Whether they use the holiday as a screening process for future girlfriends, to play a made-up sport or to fight over the wishbone – many students’ families have their own quirky way to celebrate the holiday and remember what they’re thankful for each year. “Thanksgiving tends to be when my brothers and I bring home potential girlfriends,” said Marc Jabaji, a senior health and human services major. Turkey Day serves as a “trial period” in Jabaji’s family for prospective girlfriends. If his brothers happen to approve of the girl, then she is welcomed into the family and it is “safe to proceed with the relationship,” Jabaji explained. Jabaji’s immediate family, aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends gather to partake in the judging. The family members also bring their own dish to share and, after the meal, spend the evening sitting around a fire, relaxing and talking. Jabaji said he is thankful for the growth he has seen in himself over the last year. “I have grown emotionally and spiritually,” Jabaji said. “It’s enabled me to be a better human being toward everyone.” Dylan Ekes-Erckert, a sophomore geology major, expects about 40 family members to flock to his house for his family’s Thanksgiving celebration. Ekes-Erckert plans to spend his holiday eating copious

MEGAN WEAL

Contributing Writer

Courtesy of Flickr user Dessart//

amounts of food and playing games. His family’s most popular game is “Turkey Ball.” “Nobody actually knows what Turkey Ball is,” Ekes-Erckert said. The game involves throwing and kicking a ball at a single goalie, which continues until someone finally scores. “There is no purpose to it at all,” he said. But it is his family’s offbeat tradition. He enjoys spending time with his relatives, though the holiday requires a thorough clean up the next day, especially because of his messy distant cousins. “We take four to five tables and line them [up] through the house,” Ekes-Erckert said. “Then [we] put kids at a separate table in the kitchen.” This Thanksgiving, EkesErckert is thankful for the selfimprovement in his life. His social skills weren’t very strong his freshman year, but he has been breaking out of his shell and has made a lot of new friends. Robert Slaughter, a junior business administration major, spends the day with his brother

and uncle. They devote the day to eating, sleeping and watching football. Though it may not be the most conventional Thanksgiving Day dish, his favorite plate is his brother’s mac and cheese. Slaughter’s weirdest Thanksgiving tradition, he said, involves the use of a wishbone from his family’s turkey. “You find the wishbone and two people pull on opposite ends both making a wish,” Slaughter said. The person who breaks off the bigger piece will have their wish come true, he explained. Slaughter is thankful for his small but “one of a kind” family. Though Jabaji, Slaughter and Ekes-Erckert’s traditions may be different, the purpose of Thanksgiving seems to remain the same: Spending time with family and reflecting on what they have to be grateful for. email: features@ubspectrum.com

The holidays are finally upon us. There’s no denying it anymore; they’ve come right through the door and smacked us in the face. And what’s the best part about going home for the holidays? Mom’s home cooking. You never thought you’d miss it, but you do. So, you’re probably going to go home, throw on your sweatpants and sit in the kitchen while you’re fed all the home goodies that you’ve missed over the past couple of months. What about surprising your mom? Why not bring her home a tasty treat, or whip her something up while she’s relaxing? These recipes are super quick, easy and, most importantly, cheap – so you’ve got no excuse. You know those fancy truffles you can buy at Godiva? Don’t bother. Make your own. They are the easiest things to roll up and they’ll easily impress people. You will need: 1.5 cups 70 percent dark chocolate 125 milliliters double cream 2 tablespoons butter 1 pinch of salt 1 large handful of hazelnuts 1 bowl of cocoa powder Directions: Break your chocolate into chunks and place it in a bowl. Then, gently heat your cream on the stove until it begins to boil and add butter. Take the cream and butter off the heat and quickly pour it over the chocolate chunks and leave for a few minutes. After a few minutes resting,

fold together the mixture until it is mixed thoroughly – cover and leave in the fridge for two to three hours. Place the hazelnuts and cocoa powder in separate bowls. After the mixture has set, begin to mold the truffles. Take a teaspoon of the mixture and quickly roll it in your hands to form a ball shape. Next roll it in either the hazelnuts or the cocoa powder. Place them in the fridge until you’re ready to eat – and you’re done. This next recipe will be perfect to throw together while you’re watching a movie by the fire. Now, I know s’mores hold all the memories of summer – camp, long nights, late mornings and campfires. But the ‘s’moreo’ is here to fill the gap before the sun comes back into our lives. You will need: A packet of Oreos A large bar of your favorite chocolate A large bag of marshmallows Directions: You know how to make s’mores – just do the same thing here. Split your Oreo in half. Then gently and carefully roast your marshmallow over a crackling fire. When it’s nice and gooey, and looks as if it’s about to fall of your skewer, slip it between the two Oreo halves. Stuff two chunks of chocolate in with the marshmallow quickly, so that it melts off the residual heat. And that’s it, the perfect holiday movie snack. These recipes are so easy, you could rope your younger siblings or relatives into giving you help in the kitchen. The holidays are all about family, right? If you’re feeling more adventurous, both these recipes get better with a kick of chili. Just sprinkle a little dried chili onto the Oreo base of the s’moreo’s or add about three pinches into the truffle mix. Change them up to suit your taste buds. And most importantly, have a happy holiday. email: meganreb@buffalo.edu

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

How deep are your jams? MAX CRINNIN

Senior Arts Editor

A wise elf once said, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” We hold this truth to be selfevident for all holidays, that singing, or music in general, is an essential element to any cheerful gathering you may attend or host over winter break. Here’s hoping this season you’ll be getting together with friends and family for a series of parties laden with lots of cookies, Glühwein and roast beast. Regardless of your faith or the way you celebrate, it’s always good to mix things up with new songs and sing-alongs to go with more traditional tracks. Adam Sandler and Frank Sinatra definitely belong in the holiday song hall of fame, and there’s no need to remove them from your playlist; but don’t you want to impress your hipster friends? Spice up the party this season with these underrated holiday jams that will bring joy and cheer to guests who are sure to be impressed by your extraordinary musical taste. 1. “The Orchestra Song”

all time sounding like a drunken sailor at the end of a long voyage as he sings one of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time – he even does a run through of the lyrics in Latin to kick off the track. This one may hurt your ears. It’s definitely not right for a quaint, small-table dinner with classy guests, but if your friends plan on going a little hard on the eggnog, throw this on and admire how similar to Dylan they sound in their stupor.

Courtesy of David Adams

veins; capture that buzz with this addition to the list. 3. “Angel (Holiday)” – Jack Johnson This twist on Johnson’s popular original, “Angel,” is another great chance to get guests joining the chorus with something they already know. Here, bells and instrumentation make this version ready to hit the streets

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This gem is probably best remembered as a throwback to elementary school chorus concerts. If you never had the pleasure of belting this out as a youngster, fear not. You can practice this perfect sing-along while watching Nora Ephron’s classic 1998 film You’ve Got Mail, in which Meg Ryan and company sing this tune at a Christmas party. All you need is a friend with mediocre piano skills to make this song a hit – a perfect chance to start the festivities off with an icebreaker for any new friends and/ or acquaintances in attendance. 2. “How Deep Is Your Love” – Bee Gees In no way is this a holiday song – so what? Holidays are about good vibes, love and reflection on the things that matter most. That’s exactly what you get here. This song is great because people know it enough to sing along, but they will have to ask you why the hell it’s on your holiday playlist. Here’s how to explain: This song sounds like almost all of the half-muted, fuzzy holiday music that gets pumped through shopping malls for the entire month of December. The mall is, perhaps, the No. 1 place to get consumer-induced holiday cheer coursing through your

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for any caroling session. Johnson’s smooth vocals and sentimental lyrics touch hearts and warm you up for cuddling by the fire or baking cookies with Grandma. 4. “O’ Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis)” – Bob Dylan Haters will be quick to judge this selection. Here you have perhaps the most OG hipster of

5. “Angel In The Snow” – Elliott Smith With all of the corniness of a holiday playlist, it’s good to add something with real emotion and substance. Smith means business when it comes to love and despair. This song may sound despairing, but it’s a great love song. If you’re feeling lonely this holiday season and your party consists of no one but you and yourself, play this track and let the tears flow for eight nights of Hanukkah, 12 nights of Christmas or all the way unto New Year’s Eve. email: arts@ubspectrum.com

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

MUST-SEE HOLIDAY SHOWS IN BUFFALO Three productions that will spread holiday cheer this season FELICIA HUNT

Asst. Arts Editor

The Queen City takes pride in its theatre and music scene with venues that host well-known, established national acts. From Shea’s to First Niagara Center, there are productions and shows for every type of holiday eventgoer. Spread some holiday cheer with friends and attend one or more of these musicals, ballets or concerts this season. For the ballet enthusiast The Nutcracker When: Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. Where: Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St., Buffalo, N.Y. Ticket Price: $40.25-$83.25 In 2009, Neglia Ballet collaborated with Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Shea’s for a new production of The Nutcracker. They performed for 7,668 people – the largest audience the Neglia Ballet has ever had. Since then, the company has continued to put on the show every year, and it remains the only ballet company in the area to have a live orchestra accompany its production. The timeless Russian ballet takes the audience into a land of sweets and a dreamlike atmosphere. UB students have had the chance to help make the magic come alive. Lynne Koscielniak, the theater design program chair at UB and set designer of the production, enlisted her students to create the lane of sweets, and Chris Van Patten, a 2012 UB alum with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in theater design and technology, signed up.

Courtesy of Gene Witkowski Neglia Ballet’s production of Christmas classic The Nutcracker has been performed at Shea’s Performing Arts Center every year since 2009.

“I was very interested in scenic design and Lynne needed the help,” Van Patten said. “I had the opportunity to construct set pieces with my peers outside the boundaries of school.” The ballet will be at Shea’s the weekend after Thanksgiving, so if you come back to Buffalo early, head down to Main Street to check out The Nutcracker. For the kid at heart How The Grinch Stole Christmas When: Tuesday, Dec. 17 to Sun. Dec. 22; various show times listed on Shea’s website Where: Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St., Buffalo, N.Y.

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Ticket Price: $38.25-$76.25 Dr. Seuss captured young children’s hearts with his book How The Grinch Stole Christmas in 1957. Since then, the story has become a holiday classic as two films and a musical adaptation. Now, the Broadway hit will make its debut in Buffalo for the holiday season. The Big League Productions, from New York City, will perform the show at Shea’s as part of the M&T Bank Broadway Series during December. The musical features songs from the original animated series such as “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas,” while Max the Dog nar-

rates The Grinch’s evil doings. The Grinch, who has a heart that is “two sizes too small,” wants to steal Christmas away from the loving and Christmasobsessed people of Whoville. Through his evil plans, he learns the true meaning of Christmas and his heart grows “three sizes that day.” Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, growing up with Dr. Seuss was almost mandatory. If you live in Buffalo, take your younger relatives or a group of friends to reminisce on past Christmas memories.

For the progressive metalhead (with a love for Christmas music) Trans Siberian Orchestra Winter Tour 2013: The Lost Christmas Eve When: Monday, Dec. 30 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Where: First Niagara Center, 1 Seymour H Knox III Plaza, Buffalo, N.Y. Ticket Price: $30-$68 Head-bangers and air guitarists rejoice. The progressive metal Christmas group Trans Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is returning to Buffalo with its last performance of The Lost Christmas Eve, the third installment of its trilogy. This year marks TSO’s 15th year performing, so more lights and pyrotechnics than ever will accompany the rock opera, according to the group’s website. Composer, lyricist and producer Paul O’Neill founded the band in 1993. Since then, the group has grown in size with five successful albums – it has also become the first major rock band to never play as an opening act, according to Lumino Magazine. What’s more impressive is that TSO has sold more than 10 million concert tickets since they began touring in 1999. Though the show is after Christmas, TSO’s legendary status will surely bring in a large crowd, and tickets to the show can double as the perfect gift for the music fanatic in your life. email: arts@ubspectrum.com

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Holiday tech gift guide Pebble Smartwatch Price: $149 The Pebble Smartwatch started as a Kickstarter project that has since come to market and received a number of updates that make it work well with most iOS or Android devices. The watch can wirelessly connect to your phone and manage all of your texts, emails and appointments with the click of a few buttons – likely to bring joy to anyone who receives it as a present. The price is more affordable than many comparable watches.

JORDAN OSCAR

Staff Writer

With Thanksgiving coming, there is no better time to start looking for the new tech gifts that geeks have been salivating over recently. This holiday season, whether you’re a gamer, audiophile, tablet lover or camera enthusiast, there is something new to put on your list. Here are just a few must-have gifts this year: Playstation 4 and Xbox One Price: $399 for Playstation 4; $499 for Xbox One For the gaming-enthused, there are few better gifts this holiday season than the Playstation 4 (PS4) and Xbox One. The next generation of gaming looks stunning with systems that run roughly eight times more powerful than their predecessors, but beyond graphics and game play, both consoles bolster tons of improvements to their features, user interfaces and peripherals. The debate over which console is better will be a long and heated battle that will last for years to come, but with a $100 cheaper price tag, a vastly improved user interface, a handful of new online features (which the PS3 was lacking) and reportedly 50 percent more power than its competitor, the PS4 looks like the supreme console gift to give this holiday season.

iPad Mini with Retina Display and iPad Air Price: Starting at $399 for iPad Mini with Retina Display; $499 for iPad Air With improved performance and double the resolution over their non-Retina Display companions, both the iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina Display make everything look as smooth, clean and gorgeous as the tablet itself. Because they both feature the same processor, resolution and features, the deciding factor of which to put under the tree comes down to affordability and preferred screen size. Canon EOS 6D Price: Starting at $1899 for camera body without lens If Santa can’t come through on this pricey request, it may take years of signing off on Christmas gifts from mom and dad before you get your hands on this camera. Eight nights of Hanukkah giving definitely won’t cover the price either, but for those interested in photography, this is the cheapest full-frame camera that Canon makes. With a 20.2 megapixel CMOS sensor and massive 25,600 ISO

range, the camera takes outstanding photos in any lighting so you won’t feel the need to cough up an additional few thousand dollars for the next best model. GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition Price: $399 Whether filming your risky sport hijinx, playing in the snow or capturing a drive through a winter wonderland, GoPro has made its name as the world’s most versatile camera available for gifting this holiday season. Smaller, lighter and better than its predecessor, the Hero3+ Black Edition can capture video at 60 frames per second (FPS) in 1080P and even shoot in resolutions up to 4k at 15FPS. The Black Edition comes with a number of apps, features and a remote to control filming – all of which make the camera worth the additional cost over other GoPros.

Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Price: $200 For the audiophiles and mixers in your life, give professional, quality comfort with these headphones. Audio-Technicas are renowned for their comfort, sound quality and noise cancelation, and the ATH- M50’s are no different. With sound quality that Beats by Dr. Dre can’t compete with, these remarkable headphones are some of the best available at a reasonable price. SkullCandy Ink’d Earbuds Price: $20 SkullCandy’s Earbuds are a great stocking stuffer and gift for on-the-go college students. With a built-in microphone and ability to quickly pause/play or change tracks, the earbuds may not have the same quality as expensive over-the-ear headphones but still offer good sound quality and noise cancelation. email: arts@ubspectrum.com

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Gridiron Report Card The Spectrum grades the football team’s drubbing of Miami Ohio Passing game: B+ Sophomore Joe Licata returned to his usual role of game manager after his record-setting performance last week. He finished 20 of 32 for 172 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Licata had a few underthrown passes in the first half and a poor pass to Neutz in the end zone in the third quarter. Running game: A Senior Branden Oliver had 82 rushing yards in the first quarter in a dominant running performance. He rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns in a game where he didn’t play the last quarter and a half. Oliver is now 20 yards short of his own

school single-season rushing record. Sophomore Anthone Taylor added 154 yards. Receivers: ALicata spread the ball around the way he usually does, finding eight receivers on the night. Sophomore tight end Matt Weiser had a few drops, but those were the only blemishes on the receiving corps’ resume. Offensive line: A The offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage the way Bulls fans have become accustomed to this season. There were ample holes for the running backs to run through and Licata had more than enough

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time to throw passes all day. Run defense: A The Miami offense couldn’t get anything going all night, especially on the ground. The Bulls allowed only 135 rushing yards and 4.0 yards per carry. Most of that yardage came with the game already well in hand. Pass defense: A Miami’s starting quarterback, Austin Gearing, completed just five passes on Tuesday for 65 yards. The pass defense was all over the place and junior linebacker Jake Stockman had an interception.

Special teams: ANot that it mattered, but sophomore punter Tyler Grassman booted two kickoffs out of bounds resulting in penalties. Junior kicker Pat Clarke nailed all three of his field goal attempts with a long of 38. Coaching: B+ It took the Bulls a whole quarter to get things clicking on offense, but you can’t degrade a coaching performance when the team wins 44-7. email: sports@ubspectrum.com

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013 ubspectrum.com

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