the Independent Student Publication of the University at Buffalo, Since 1950
The S pectrum ubspectrum.com
Volume 62 No. 65
wednesday, november 28, 2012
Football season comes to a close Story on page 14
Nabakooza Draws Fire with a pencil Story on page 10
Former students plead guilty to March robbery LISA KHOURY Senior News Editor Two former UB students pleaded guilty on Monday, Nov. 19 in State Supreme Court for robbing two UB students at gunpoint of money and marijuana in the victims’ University Heights home on March 28. Donovan Haigler, 25, and Lance Minton, Jr., 23, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery in the first degree and class “B” violent felonies before State Supreme Court Justice Christopher Burns. Their charges are the highest counts they could have been convicted had they gone to trial. The defendants face anywhere from five years to 25 years in state prison, according to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office website. On the morning of March 28, Haigler and Minton entered the Winspear home, pointed a loaded rifle at the two female student occupants and demanded their marijuana and cash, The Spectrum reported on March 29. One of the victims told Lieutenant Kevin Will of the University Police Department at the scene that one of the suspects was a former student. Inspector Dan Jay of UPD told The Spectrum in March that both suspects are former UB students. The District Attorney’s website reported the victims recognized that suspect as “Donovan.” The victims, with the help of fellow students, searched their Facebook accounts, discovered photographs and names of the assailants and turned over the information to Buffalo Police. With that knowledge, officers obtained the address 45 Tyler St. and found both suspects inside dressed in pajamas. The suspects were transported to the crime scene and immediately identified by both victims. One confessed to the home invasion when interrogated by detectives, but the other refused to answer any questions, according to the DA’s website. BPD also searched their apartment and Haigler’s automobile. The stolen marijuana was recovered inside the apartment, and the gun used in the burglary was in the trunk of the car and loaded with ammunition. Continued on page 8
Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum
President Satish Tripathi announced the university closed its hotly debated shale institute on Monday, Nov. 19.
UB shuts down contested shale institute Fracking drama continues, Tripathi ends SRSI
SARA DINATALE Senior News Editor President Satish Tripathi closed the university’s controversial shale institute on Monday, Nov. 19. The announcement came after the continuing criticism of the Shale Resources and Society Institute’s (SRSI) funding, founding and governance. Tripathi informed faculty in an email. His letter noted the “cloud of uncertainty” that looms over SRSI and discussed the future of fracking research on campus. For members of the UB Coalition for Leading Ethically in Academic Research (UBCLEAR) and the Public Accountability Initiative (PAI), a local watchdog organiza-
tion, the shutdown is a victory. PAI issued a report that pointed out SRSI’s flaws, and that report fueled UBCLEAR’s objections and protest of the institute. But Bruce Pitman, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, continues to be surprised by the backlash that led up to closing the institute. “We have had an ongoing examination of issues – policies, practices – nothing was found to be wrong,” Pitman said. “Nevertheless, there is continuing onslaught of allegations without any backing that have just made it impossible for the institute to do what it was designed to do.” Pitman said for about a week before the decision was made, Provost Charles Zukoski and Vice President for Research Alexander Cartwright had a series of con-
versations with the geology department, the SRSI advisory board and the institute’s codirectors as a “detailed fact finding to really understand what was going on.” Pitman was officially informed of the decision to close the institute on the day it was made public. Ultimately, the president made the decision, Pitman said, but he and Zukoski stand behind Tripathi. Members of UBCLEAR are thrilled with the outcome. Continued on page 4
See a timeline of SRSI’s existence on page 7
Breaking into a new reputation TAHSIN CHOWDHURY Special to The Spectrum
Reimon Bhuyan /// The Spectrum
Willis Lam, a nursing major, and the UB Breakdance club work to educate outsiders and change the reputation of breakdancers.
Inside
Funk music blares from the Flag Room as Henry Chen spins effortlessly. With the entirety of his body weight balanced on one hand, it looks like he’s performing an upsidedown pirouette as he spins; the move he’s practicing is called a 199. Breaking (or breakdancing, as it is more popularly known) began in the ’70s as part of the hip-hop culture, and while it looks cool, some people shy away from it because of the misconceptions surrounding it. The UB Breakdance club aims to change this reputation. According to Ryan Nash, a junior African American studies major and president of UB Breakdance, breakdancing is like any other kind of dance but doesn’t get the same recognition because it’s not considered to be a “true” dance form. This is because breakdancers – more commonly known as b-boys and b-girls – don’t need formal training for their craft. However, they put in the same amount of time and effort to master hand hops as ballerinas do to perfect pirouettes, Nash said. Breaking comes from one of New York City’s boroughs, the Bronx. Breaking originated in South Bronx, where street gangs
dominated the youth culture. This led people to assume that b-boys and b-girls were associated with the negativity that surrounded the region, according to Nash. But breaking was not related to the violence of the South Bronx. In fact, many people who break do it for personal reasons – as a form of self-expression – according to Brendan Tom, a junior communication major and vice president of UB Breakdance. “I take the emotions that I’m feeling toward something … and I just use the energy of that emotion [toward] the energy of my dance,” Tom said. Just like in any other dance, there are competitions in breaking. B-boys and b-girls compete against each other in battles. The name “battle” suggests they are violent – something the media was quick to pick up on. Movies consistently make battles the focal point of gang violence, but the hostility associated with them comes from the level of commitment and passion that b-boys and b-girls have. Everyone wants to win, and the only thing standing between a dancer and victory is his or her opponent, Tom said. “In some ways it’s like a Pokémon battle,” Tom said. “Someone throws out their grass type, and you throw out your fire type. You’re combating what’s put before you. You want to one-up [your opponent]. [It] has an aggression similar to a fight because you’re di-
recting everything to your opponent.” According to Tom, the intensity overshadows the camaraderie that exists amongst b-boys and b-girls. At the end of battles, everyone shakes hands and hugs, but he says that is never shown in the media portrayal. However, battles aren’t just about winning, according to Chen, a junior business marketing major. Dancers usually call each other out to battle because they want to learn from one another. It’s not supposed to be friendly, he said, because it’s like fighting for a title without any real violence. This negative image tied to breaking is what worries parents, like those of Veronica Li, a junior political science major and secretary for UB Breakdance. They were worried about the violence when they found out what their daughter was doing in her spare time. “My parents [said], ‘don’t do it, it’s dangerous,’” Li said. “They think that gangsters are doing it or something.” Many parents do not fully understand what breaking meant to their children and question their reason to continue with the dance, Li said. Her reason was something members in the hip-hop and breaking community call “knowledge of self.” Continued on page 4
Opinion 3 NEWS 6, 7 Life 9 Arts & Entertainment 10, 11 Classifieds & Daily Delights 13 Sports 14
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Opinion
Wednesday, November 28, 2012 ubspectrum.com
Letter to the Editor
EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in Chief Aaron Mansfield Senior Managing Editor Brian Josephs
ROBERT BURKARD
Managing Editor Rebecca Bratek
I have just read the email sent by President Tripathi about the closing of the Shale Resources and Society Institute. By way of disclosure, I should note that I am not enthusiastic about hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of the Marcellus Shale in New York State. My reasons for this view are selfish ones: I own a house on Lake Chautauqua. I do not want to find natural gas in my well water, have to tolerate the traffic noise and dust from all the trucks moving through the area or worry about the consequences to my personal (and public) health from whatever toxic agents are in the ‘proprietary’ fracking fluids that seem to at least occasionally get spilled. I should also note that I do not think it is a good idea to further harm the environment in Alaska by running another pipeline, nor would I like to see any strip mining for coal in my neighborhood or see the sun set behind a nuclear power plant near the lake.
Editorial Editor Ashley Steves News EDItors Sara DiNatale, Co-Senior Lisa Khoury, Co-Senior Ben Tarhan Lisa Epstein, Asst. LIFE EDITORS Rachel Kramer, Senior Lyzi White Jacob Glaser, Asst. ARTS EDITORS Elva Aguilar, Senior Adrien D’Angelo Duane Owens, Asst. Lisa de la Torre, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS Nate Smith, Senior Joe Konze Jon Gagnon, Asst. PHOTO EDITORS Alexa Strudler, Senior Satsuki Aoi Reimon Bhuyan, Asst. Nick Fischetti, Asst. PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Mark Kurtz CREATIVE DIRECTOR Aline Kobayashi Brian Keschinger, Asst. Haider Alidina, Asst. ADVERTISING DESIGNER Joseph Ramaglia Chris Belfiore Ryan Christopher, Asst. Haley Sunkes, Asst.
November 28, 2012 Volume 62 Number 65 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.
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However, the above is my disclosure, not the reason I am writing this editorial. Two things have bothered me about the handling of this institute. The first is that there has been public comment about the institute that questioned the honesty of Dean Bruce Pitman. I was, and remain, deeply offended by these accusations. While I applaud the public call for transparency in funding of the institute and agree that all publications arising from our university should be evidence based, public personal attacks are unacceptable. I have known Dean Pitman for many years. While we do not have a close personal relationship, our relationship is a collegial one. He is a man of great personal integrity. I have never heard him misrepresent the truth. I have seen no evidence in the public discourse about the institute that suggests that he was anything but truthful in his statements about the funding of the institute. While a public apology might be expecting too much, I sincerely hope private apologies have been offered to Dean Pitman.
My second problem is that I believe the institute should not be closed but rather reconstituted to include representatives from both sides of this issue. I see President Tripathi has promised the dialogue will continue, representing a broader range of views about fracking, perhaps like a phoenix rising from the ashes. This resurrection will take time, but time is very likely not on our side. Now that the elections are over, our governor and the legislature will come under ever-increasing pressure to allow fracking in New York State. Here at UB, let us behave like a major research institution. Let us tackle the big social issues of the day (such as fracking), have public seminars and debates that clarify and highlight the issues, both economic and environmental. Let us have industry stakeholders who are in support of fracking work alongside environmentalists who are against it. There have been a series of research initiatives over the last decade here at UB (e.g., UB2020). What could be more critical to Western
New York than its environment and its economy? If these issues are not publicly debated and serve as the basis for more research, how do we know the true risks and benefits of fracking? How do we get our legislators to provide the environmental safeguards we critically need? Speaking personally, there are environmental concerns right now that outweigh the benefits of fracking. However, with the correct measures taken to protect the environment, perhaps the cost-benefit ratio of fracking can be improved to the point where it is acceptable to those of us who are currently concerned. Perhaps we can even do this in a collegial fashion. Robert Burkard Professor and Chair Rehabilitation Science
Big government is watching Updated cyber surveillance laws must come with privacy protection A Senate bill on cyber surveillance is set to go to vote on Thursday, and officials have been running in circles with privacy advocates nipping at their heels for the last two weeks. The latest revision of the bill drafted by Sen. Patrick Leahy requires law officials to obtain a search warrant before reading private emails and other online correspondence, but it was only after receiving severe backlash that this final version came to be. That anger came from the previous revision’s policy that would allow over 20 agencies to access Americans’ email, Google Doc files, Facebook posts and Twitter direct messages without a warrant. The entire push has been to reform a decades-old security act called the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) of 1986, which allowed police to read emails with no warrant – only a subpoena. Considering our last law on Internet privacy was created before the big names of Facebook and Twitter were even designed, our laws need an update. But it needs to be an update that protects the citizens and does not vio-
late their privacy. The bill has been a back-andforth battle for the last few years. In 2010, the Obama administration withdrew its request for warrantless access to Yahoo! Mail accounts. Since then, the Senate Judiciary Committee has been working to update privacy laws, and Leahy even bragged about his bill’s original enhanced privacy protections. But the last couple of months have been the most tumultuous time in those two years after law enforcement groups objected to the legislation and urged Leahy to reconsider the need for warrant-backed action. After the controversial revision that spawned a petition urging Congress to stay out of private emails, the latest version now requires police to obtain a warrant. Again. The anger over the warrantless provisions was perfectly justified, and it would be making a broad loophole for anyone to access virtually anything without consequence. The previous provision of the bill permitted state and local law enforcement to access information on systems not offered
to the public, including university networks and business servers, using only a subpoena. Business owners and university officials already have access to the information being shared across their networks – the provision gives law officials access to the same information with greater consequence, allowing them to obtain student emails and private information without a warrant. The same restrictions should apply for cyber surveillance as ground security. A Dec. 2006 postal reform signing statement from then-President George W. Bush reiterated his power to check mail for reasonable searches or “in exigent circumstances, such as to protect human life and safety against hazardous materials, and the need for physical searches specifically authorized by law for foreign intelligence collection.” The line for “reasonable searches” and privacy laws quickly becomes muddled when the same administration was found guilty for wiretapping without a warrant. It seems a bit too timely that the law was getting quietly rewritten as
the FBI was probing personal emails and the scandalous details of former CIA director David Petraeus’ affair were coming to light. Would potential warrantless search lead to more consciousness or would the public just be subjected to week after week of stories of officials’ emails and congressmen’s Twitpics? It’s definitely time to revamp the old rules and regulations of the ECPA, but if that’s the plan, then the old policy of warrantless search cannot continue. Leahy’s bill has it right: update the privacy policy but without giving federal agencies blanket access. Which revision of the bill is right comes down to who the people can – and should – trust more with their privacy and personal rights: their government officials or their law enforcement. From all angles for now, it feels like a lose-lose. Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
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Cloud of uncertainty What the closing of the UB’s shale institute means for the university It’s official: SRSI is shut down. Last Monday, President Tripathi announced in a faculty email he would be closing the highly contested Shale Resources and Society Institute, citing criticism regarding the institute’s funding ambiguity and a lack of “sufficient faculty presence.” The “cloud of uncertainty” that Tripathi mentions in his letter is not isolated to just SRSI, however, as it still lingers over the university. The institute’s opposition celebrates its victory, but as our school appears in more and more headlines across the country, we must ask what the victory really is. There are always two ways to look at a situation, and SRSI was in the wrong on both sides. The only thing the institute issued in its eightmonth history was a pro-fracking report that, according to Public Accountability Initiative (PAI), had incorrect calculations. Aside from its controversial stance, it refused to be transparent in regard to its funding, founding and governance despite allegations that it had industry ties. So to follow a mission of making sure UB’s faculty members “adhere to rigorous standards of academic integrity, intellectual honesty, transparency, and the highest ethical conduct in their work” and clearly buckling under the pressure from
the SUNY Board of Trustees’s investigation, SRSI was gone. And in its place stands an array of questions and doubt about the school’s reputation. As a Carnegie-classified Research University with Very High Research Activity, UB has an obligation to research topics like hydrofracking. As Tripathi stated in his letter, “given our geographic situation as well as our extensive faculty expertise in issues related to energy, water, and the environment, the University at Buffalo is positioned to play a leading research role in these areas. “Understanding and addressing these issues effectively therefore requires a program of sufficient scale to encompass the scope and complexities of this topic.” Unfortunately for the school and for Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Bruce Pitman, it is how you go about the research that matters. It’s easy to get lost in the details of fracking and private funding, but as a student, the reputation of your school should matter. The negative connotation UB now has – whether the stories are true or false – is what your school is facing and what your school will be known for on a national level until the attention dies
out. The same people who have been against SRSI who do not have any affiliation with UB now see UB’s research in a different light. Under aforementioned pressure after SUNY launched its investigation, the university did what it felt it had to and closed the institute in an effort to look proactive. By closing it, it’s a wave of the white flag and in most cases proof that it was in the wrong. But nobody has actually admitted they did anything wrong. Pitman has been ardent through the investigation that SRSI hasn’t been hiding anything and even stated, “We have had an ongoing examination of issues – policies, practices – nothing was found to be wrong.” According to him, the institute closed because the “continuing onslaught of allegations without any backing … have just made it impossible for the institute to do what it was designed to do.” Which, according to the institute, was to “provide accurate, research-based information on the development of shale and other unconventional resources.” If it believed it could do that and was doing nothing wrong, why close?
As pointed out by The New York Times, UB’s decision is the most extreme response to date of criticism of academic bias in fracking-related research. The other side of the antiSRSI arguments has considered the implications of closing SRSI versus trying to fix what was broken. If the institute was formed for a specific design, would it not be possible – despite Pitman’s claims – to reconstitute it with members from both sides of the issue and to actually make an attempt to be honest and transparent about it? Was there no possibility that it could have ultimately achieved its goal? None of that is clear, unfortunately. UB put everything on the line for money over credibility, and now it must suffer the consequences and backlash, and on his first year on the job as dean, this is what is on Bruce Pitman’s résumé. As the school moves forward from this, he will have to hope the public will trust the school and department again for future research. Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
ubspectrum.com
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Continued from page 1: UB shuts down contested shale institute “It’s really good news,” said James Holstun, UBCLEAR chair and English professor. “It’s a sign that the people of New York and the SUNY Trustees want their public university to remain public and not a mouthpiece for secret corperate money.” Holstun and members of UBCLEAR think SRSI likely received undisclosed industry funding – something Pitman and UB administration adamantly deny. The SUNY Board of Trustees called for an investigation of the institute in September, and UB responded by sending the members a report detailing the founding of the institute. Pitman said SUNY had no input in the decision to close the institute. SUNY Administration and the Board of Trustees support UB’s decision to close the institute because of the questions surrounding it, according to an emailed statement by David Doyle, the SUNY director of communications. “Public trust must be earned and we are confident that this decision will make UB a stronger institution, and going forward its important research endeavors will be able to proceed with clear guidelines that ensure credible academic outcomes,” Doyle said. The trustees reserved further comment until their formal review is completed. Doyle said it’s anticipated the trustees will discuss their findings in a future public meeting. Their next meeting is Dec. 4.
Holstun feels UB didn’t start taking the criticisms seriously until SUNY got involved. Board of Trustees Chair H. Carl McCall contacted Holstun following the institute’s closure and commended UBCLEAR for its “advocacy for transparency and integrity for research activity at the University at Buffalo.” SRSI was created in April 2012. On May 15, it produced its first report, which was profracking. The report was scrutinized nationally and on campus because of allegations of “junk science” and ties between the authors of the report and the gas industry. This was made clear by PAI’s report. Robert Galbraith, a research analyst at PAI and a UB law student, was surprised the institute closed, especially after how passionately the university defended it under “academic freedom.” “I don’t know how confident [PAI was that] the school would close down the institute,” Galbraith said. “We were certainly hopeful we were going to have some sort of effect in discovering these connections and this proindustry institute.” Galbraith was pleased to see Tripathi’s letter stated: “Conflicts – both actual and perceived – can arise between sources of research funding and expectations of independence when reporting research results.” That was a point PAI was “trying to drive home” with its investigation, Galbraith said.
UBCLEAR has been calling to shut down the institute since controversy first arose. The group has gotten over 10,000 petition signatures calling for the institute’s closure. Now the petition is unnecessary, but it shows the support garnered against SRSI. “The institute lacks sufficient faculty presence in fields associated with energy production from shale for the institute to meet its stated mission,” Tripathi wrote in the letter. Pitman had previously spoken about the high qualifications of co-directors John Martin and Robert Jacobi due to their experience in the field. But he explained the issue was the amount of time both co-directors could put into the institute; Martin was a part-time director and Jacobi reduced his full-time faculty position to a fraction, Pitman said. “To leverage our university’s considerable faculty expertise in the area of energy and the environment and to address these issues with appropriate breadth and complexity, UB will establish a comprehensive program of scholarship and education that addresses issues in this broadly defined area of research,” Triapthi said in his letter. Holstun feels the comprehensive plan, which Zukoski will be in charge of, could be beneficial. Holstun was pleased to see the environmental sciences were mentioned. He feels they have been “completely ignored by the institute since its founding.”
Pitman said the hope is the program will get faculty talking about the things that need to be addressed in the complex topics of sustainability, water and energy. He also said he is still trying to process some of what has happened regarding the institute. “I never expected the level of backlash that is based is on statements of ‘Pitman said this, but I don’t believe that,’ or ‘Pitman said this, but I believe this other thing happened,’” he said. “I did not appreciate that intensity, but we learn.” Pitman said he finds the level of the mix of politics and scholarship revolving around the institute “disheartening.” Now that their goal has been completed, Holstun is unsure if UBCLEAR will continue to exist. “We have to have a meeting and talk about that. We don’t know yet. It may very well,” he said. He thinks UB needs to make up for lost time and really address some of the problems it’s run into. In the time since SRSI’s closure, Holstun’s inbox was filled with messages of congratulations. He said the most warming thing in this whole process is how much people love SUNY. He thinks the closing of the institute is an “expression of people’s love for their university.” Email: news@ubspectrum.com
Continued from page 1: Breaking into a new reputation “I was unconfident, pessimistic and had a meek outlook in life,” Li said. “After some time, I [realized] that breaking changed me. Dancing [with others] made me more confident in myself. I go back to it even when times get difficult because breaking allowed me to open up.” For others like Chen, it’s a feeling of satisfaction – the ability to do things that look impossible, like spin on their heads and to defy gravity. “When I first saw it I was like, ‘Whoa, is that even possible? Can the human body do that?’” Chen said. “Knowing that I can do it makes me feel satisfied.” For Nash, it wasn’t just about being able to do something cool or finding himself. One of the main reasons he continued breaking was to clear up the misconceptions surrounding the dance. That wasn’t an easy process. In fact, he was made fun of and called gay when he started dancing. “I was called a f****t, [but I] just laugh about it now,” Nash said. “I saw videos of breakers [doing air flares] and I was like, ‘there’s no way kids should call him names.’ There’s so much talent and skill involved.” A column ran in Generation magazine in Nov. 2010, calling the members of UB Breakdance, “wannabe, city-smart, urban losers,” ac-
cording to Nash. Rather than put him down, these comments were a wake-up call. He realized there were people who still had no idea why b-boys and b-girls danced and the misconceptions surrounding the reason slowed down the evolution of breaking. “[Those comments] put a flame under my ass and made me want to demystify all the misinformation about our dance,” Nash said. “It was the first time I felt so offended in a long time, and it woke me up.” According to Nash, the best way to dispel the societal misconceptions about breakdancing is to make sure his own members understand the culture better. He has regular discussions with his club that he likes to call “Hip-Hop Studies 101: Discussion in HipHop.” They talk about art, history and contemporary issues of the culture and the multiple interpretations of breaking and hip-hop dancing. Common stereotypes include people in the breaking community doing drugs and getting involved with gang violence. In reality, they don’t have any time for those things, Tom said. B-boys and b-girls who want to improve their skills always practice and dedicate the majority of their time to becoming better dancers. They won’t have time to get involved in detrimental things if they spend all their time practicing,
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according to Tom. The breakdance club at UB sees how breaking has a positive effect on people and the members strive to spread that through community engagement programs. They perform a comedic skit called “BREAK! the Influence” for elementary school kids, which follows a b-boy (who dances with a crew) who gets involved with smoking and drinking. His crewmates dress up as his parents, girlfriend and teachers to show the kids they don’t need to drink or do drugs to be cool. The club also aims to promote the breaking culture by introducing kids to it at an early age and by teaching them it’s more than just about flying through the air or looking like they can defy gravity. Breaking teaches discipline because they rely on each other to get better, according to Nash. “I’ll say something like, ‘Yo, Henry, those flares are dope,’ but he’ll be like, ‘nah, man, I suck,’” Nash said. “It’s like we hate ourselves, but [that’s because] we can always become better.” According to Shane Fry, co-owner of Verve Dance Studio, the Buffalo dance scene is on the rise, despite being very young. Fry
remembers how different the scene was when he first started breaking and how it has grown over the years. “The first practice that I went to before I joined [my] crew was in a kitchen,” Fry said. “[My friend] would take the refrigerator and roll it into the closet and … there were kids standing in a circle in his kitchen, just getting down.” Fry was able to open Verve Dance Studio in 2005 along with his wife and some friends. The studio hosts a monthly competition, Battle @ Buffalo, on the last Saturday of every month. Competitors have come from all over the East Coast, as well as places like California and even Poland, Fry said. Some members of the UB Breakdance club participate in these battles; Nash and Tom both went to the finals in this past October’s competition. Everything involved with breaking in Buffalo – the dancers, battles, DJs, spectators, the amount of entertainment – has constantly grown, according to Fry, and he hopes it will continue to expand. The UB Breakdance club hopes to be a part of that expansion. Email: features@ubspectrum.com
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SWJ’s decision handed down: Hayden out, Dale in Today in UB history
ALAN KACHIC Editor-in-chief November 28, 1983 The Student-Wide Judiciary (SWJ) ruled, last Monday, that Bob Hayden cannot be president of the Student Association (SA) because he is not a registered student in accordance with the (SA) Constitution. The court decided that former Vice President David Dale is now president. Article V Section 2 D of the SA Constitution states that SA officers “must be full-time students enrolled in the University’s Daytime Undergraduate Division and must remain such throughout their terms in office”. The Constitution’s use of the word ‘enrolled’ was determined by the court to be consistent with the University’s definition of ‘registered’ – which was interpreted to mean a student who is presently participating in 12 credit hours of classroom time. Although the verdict that Hayden was not a fulltime enrolled student was unanimous, the decision to declare Dale president was split. Chief Justice Jeffrey Haber and Supreme Student Court Justice Barbara Nadrowski both ruled that, out of the three remedies suggested in the prosecution and defense arguments, under Constitutional guidelines, Dale should be declared president. In his dissenting opinion, however, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Kenney suggested temporarily suspending Hayden from the presidency – with Dale assuming all responsibilities in the interim – reinstating Hayden the first day of the spring semester if he could prove fulltime registration. The three remedies presented to SWJ were: declaring the seat vacant as of Oct. 1, the date the petition was filed; declaring the seat vacant the date of the decision; or to temporarily suspend the seat until the technicality can be corrected. If the court had ruled the seat vacant on Oct. 1, SA Constitutional guidelines mandate that a new election would have had to be held to fill the office. If the seat becomes vacant after Oct. 31, then the Vice President takes the presidency.
In rendering its decision, SWJ said, “The court feels that it is guided by the SA Constitution.” Justices Haber and Nadrowski recognized testimony that Hayden’s failure to register for classes may have stemmed from some sort of outside interference but ruled, “The court makes the smallest of inferential leaps in concluding that the remedy to be applied leaps in concluding that the remedy to be applied is to declare the seat permanently vacant. Mr. Hayden did not remain registered throughout his term of office. Whether Mr. Hayden willfully or maliciously remained unregistered is not a concern of this court… In keeping with the spirit and letter of the SA Constitution, the court decided that a violation of the document had occurred.” They concluded that, according to the Constitution, by declaring the seat vacant at this date, Dale becomes president by procedure. The court also took into account the testimony of former SA President Tim Sheehan and former Chair of the SA Constitutional committee Doug Folcare – both of whom helped write the present document. Sheehan and Folcare said they based the eligibility clause on the University’s definition of a fulltime enrolled student, and that this was the spirit of the document. In their decision, Haber and Nadrowski rejected declaring the seat vacant on Oct. 1. “When the constitutional challenge alleged is directly addressed in the Constitution, the Supreme Student Court need not interpret its provisions, but rather, apply the necessary provisions.” They said that the provision applies to a resignation and “J. Robert Hayden did not resign from his office. Henceforth, there is no need to even consider the latter portion of that provision dealing with the conduction (sic) of an election.” It was also decided that it is “highly irregular” for a court to make a ruling retroactive to the filing of the petition rather than as of the date of the decision. While Justice Kenney agreed that Hayden was not presently enrolled, he disagreed with the remedy. Continued on page 8
All information according to the University Police 11/20 9:20 a.m. – A complainant reported a suspicious male roaming the halls of the Biomedical Research Building. He appeared to be disoriented. The suspect was Rafael Tapia, Jr., a registered sex offender. He was arrested and charged with trespassing. He was taken to ECMC under the mental health law.
11/24 10:10 p.m. – Officers observed three males along the west side of Alumni Arena checking vehicle doors on upper Putnam Way. Officers advised the men to leave university property.
10:59 a.m. – A complainant reported a possible criminal impersonation during an exam.
11/25 11:57 a.m. – A resident adviser reported a broken window in the stairwell of Fargo Quadrangle building 1.
5:13 p.m. – A student reported her Coach purse was stolen from Lee Loop earlier in the day. 10:39 p.m. – A Crossroads Culinary Center employee reported her wallet was taken from the staff locker room. 11/21 10:28 a.m. – A complainant reported a motor vehicle accident between two New York vehicles. No one was injured. 12:05 p.m. – The assistant hall director of Porter Quadrangle reported finding a hookah pipe during room inspections. Officers could not find any evidence of marijuana consumption; the pipe was not confiscated. 11/23 4:47 a.m. – A student reported the Buffalo Transportation cab that dropped him off two hours earlier, around 2:30 a.m., was still parked in the Fargo Parking Lot. The student was unsure if the driver was in the vehicle because he let him into Greiner Hall to help carry something. Officers confirmed the ID of the vehicle and driver, who was napping inside.
12:33 p.m. – A complainant reported his chained bicycle was stolen from in front of O’Brian Hall between 11 p.m. on Nov. 24 and 10 a.m. on Nov. 25. 11/26 12:39 a.m. – A maintenance manager reported dried blood in the lobby of Kimball Tower. There were no reports of First Aid being administered in Kimball Tower recently. Officers checked the building and found nothing else, reporting the blood appeared old and dried. It did not appear foul play was involved. 4:59 p.m. – There was an arrest in the manager’s office of Crossroads Culinary Center. 9:02 p.m. – A resident adviser reported a marijuana complaint in Greiner Hall. 11/27 1:05 a.m. – A library supervisor reported unwelcome guests in Silverman Library: a male and a female who were sleeping in the library recently. Officers escorted the couple to Harbor House drop-in center where they would be linked to assistive services. Library staff confiscated their library cards and officers advised them not to return to campus.
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Continued from page 1: Former students plead guilty to March robbery
Continued from page 14:
Continued from page 14: Watson returns, Bulls seek revenge
There was a common theme in press conferences through the Bulls’ rough start to the season. Quinn had to be tired of answering one question: “What about Joe Licata?” Why would people who have no idea how to coach a football team ask that question of a man who knows what he’s doing? The people who asked about Licata are the same ones who credited the Bulls’ recent win streak to the redshirt freshman, but they don’t know what they’re talking about. If Licata was good from the start of the season, Quinn would have obviously had him in. Licata needed to develop from the sidelines, not in an in-game situation. After all, the redshirt freshman wasn’t even sniffing the field because Zordich was dominating. In games against Division IA opponents, Zordich had thrown five touchdowns in seven games – an average of .71 touchdowns per game. Why mess with Zordich’s hot hand just to give Licata, who clearly wasn’t ready, a chance? Quinn knew better. “Alex Zordich is our quarterback,” he would automatically retort, restoring faith in his emerging junior quarterback. Additionally, Quinn had ulterior motives – there was a commonly held belief around UB Stadium that Collin Michael, a lanky freshman who redshirted this year, would take over as quarterback next season. After Licata’s three-game streak, that theory is still prevalent around football headquarters. Quinn knows not to put all his eggs in one basket, so he wouldn’t list Licata as the starter at the end of the season. The depth chart read: “Starting quarterback – Alex Zordich OR Joe Licata.” He won’t commit to Licata as the quarterback of the future, and why should he? Quinn knows better than fans; he won four games this year. In his first three starts (all wins), Licata threw for a measly 638 yards and five touchdowns. Did I mention he tossed two interceptions? You can’t give the ball away like that and expect to keep winning games. Thankfully, Quinn saved Licata’s dreadful performance by developing Michael in practice and training sophomore kicker Patrick Clarke to convert on all eight of his extra-point attempts those three games. Eight for eight. Forget Licata – where’s the love for Clarke? Though the Bulls aren’t bowl eligible, a four-win season is tremendous. And for that reason, Quinn will be around until 2017. Does it make sense now?
Wyatt is the team leader in assists per game, at 6.3, and is the team’s secondleading scorer at 14.7 points per game. At 6-foot-4, he uses his size to take advantage of any mismatches and is the team’s dominant ball handler. Stopping these two players will be a big test early on in the season for the young Bulls. “We might play a little zone and a little man-to-man [defense] here and there,” Watson said. “We just have to make it uncomfortable for all of them, whether it’s Randall or Wyatt. It is a challenge for all of us, and we all will all have a hand in guarding the perimeter. It’s more of a team effort than an individual effort.” The key in this game, according to Witherspoon, is to “attack them down low,” using the squad’s big-man tandem of
Solving the Quinn conundrum
District Attorney Frank Sedita praised the efforts of the patrolmen and detectives and said: “armed with information from the quick-thinking victims, the police immediately apprehended the culprits and secured physical evidence, leaving the defendants with no reasonable alternative but to plead guilty as charged and thrust themselves upon the mercy of the court,” according to the DA’s website. Based on experience, Jay suspected the robbery was a target robbery, indicating the suspects knew the girls possessed marijuana and subsequently robbed their house. Haigler and Minton, who reside in the New York City area, remain free on bail. Burns is scheduled to sentence them on Feb. 13. Burns indicated he will likely sentence them to the statutory minimum of five years in state prison, according to the DA’s website. Email: news@ubspectrum.com
Continued from page 6: SWJ’s decision handed down “I believe that the majority decision to remove Mr. Hayden from office is not consistent with the nature of his violation, his efforts to rectify the situation, the intent of free and democratic elections, and the spirit of the university community,” he said. Because questions were raised, during the hearing, as to whether Hayden was properly notified that he was on academic probation and that he could not register for classes, and because the former president had both appealed to Dean of Undergraduate Education Walter Kunz and Vice President for Academic Affairs Robert Rossberg to rectify the situation, and was currently auditing classes, Kenney argued that, “It has not been proven to me that this violation is as intended, willful or malicious act.” “Mr. Hayden was elected by a majority of the voting students at this university, not for his academic record nor any expectation regarding it, but for whatever his stance was in relation to the issues which concerned the voting undergraduate at the time,” Kenney said. “Considering that the university, which itself denied Mr. Hayden registration status, is willing to reinstate him for the spring semester, I believe that the court should do likewise in order to allow Mr. Hayden to carry out the policies for which he was democratically elected,” he added. Hayden was not available for comment.
Email: aaron.mansfield@ubspectrum.com
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McCrea, sophomore Will Regan and junior Cameron Downing. All in all, the team hopes to garner a signature non-conference win under its belt. “It will be a huge win,” Watson said. “Temple is a good team, and we’re on our way to being a great team as well. Having a win like this under our belt, and the guys knowing that we [are] as [good] Temple, or maybe better, then that will be tremendous for team morale and team chemistry.” Tipoff for the “White-out” game, in which students are encouraged to wear white, is on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Continued from page 10: Mixtape Monthly #8 Some might argue Budden’s content is too heavy for their taste, but the manner in which the New Jersey native packs confessions into four to five minute tracks is the reason most love him; Budden is underrated. Fabolous – The Soul Tape 2
Courtesy of Fabolous
It doesn’t measure up to the first Soul Tape. Two less tracks and beats that were personally sorted out and handpicked by Fabolous wasn’t enough to live up to the hype of its predecessors. “Riesling & Rolling Papers,” from the original Soul Tape, helps give a clear-cut difference in what rapper Fabolous tried to do with The Soul Tape 2. While Fab’s seventh mixtape was released on Thanksgiving Day, no soul in this tape was found. The mixtape shows no per-
sonality and is not as relatable as Fabolous’ previous works. You might have tricked mom and grandma when you told them The Soul Tape 2 is going to be on heavy rotation, but they’ll be disappointed when they hear a couple lyrics and dismiss it for lack of soul. The tape held very high expectations, but those hopes begin to flicker throughout the first 10 tracks. The tracks “Transformation” and “B.I.T.E.” open with a recording of the late Biggie Smalls, and from the pattern, you would figure this to be a recurring feature on every other track. But you can negate those pipe dreams; the ghost of B.I.G. vanishes after the third track, never to reemerge on The Soul Tape 2 again. “Louis Vuitton,” featuring J. Cole is just that – J. Cole’s track. The North Carolina rapper spits two verses, each one better than Fab’s, and Fab’s singing on the hook doesn’t help the track, either. One of the most redeeming tracks on this mixtape is “Life is so Exciting” featuring Pusha T. This can only be played with high volumes, and both artists held their own. Fab came out the running blocks for the opening leg looking undefeated on this collaboration. “The lifestyle, too fly/My new b*****s get next flighted/I say I’m back to the old me but my old b*****s’ll get excited,” Fab raps. Fab runs the last leg and coasts to the finish line, making “Life is so Exciting” an easy banger to be played at ignorant levels. Continue reading this story at ubspectrum.com
Wednesday, November 28, 2012 ubspectrum.com
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Life
Exceeding expectations in higher education ADAM LEIDIG Staff Writer Its requirements are rigorous, but the lifetime benefits of joining this society are more than worth it. The National Society of College Scholars (NSCS) University at Buffalo chapter has been in existence since 2004 and encourages its members to achieve and promote growth of scholastic achievement in the Buffalo community. The UB chapter was recently promoted to Gold Star status as of the 2011-12 academic year. According to Ball State University’s website, “To attain Gold Star status, chapters are required to hold an induction ceremony for new members, create a student mentoring program, hold campuswide events to support NSCS’s integrity initiative, create an on-campus membership recruitment campaign and engage a campus office in a chapter event.” NSCS is a national organization with participants at over 300 college campuses nationwide. The organization was founded in 1994 at George Washington University and serves to recognize the scholastic achievements of students in various fields of academia. The organization welcomes freshman and sophomore students who achieve a minimum GPA of 3.4, who rank within the top 10 percent of their class and take to heart the ideals of leadership and scholarship. Students in NSCS are connected to over 1 million students nationwide and hundreds of UB students through the local chapter. Laura Barnes, sophomore exercise science major and community service vice president, said the instrumental properties of NSCS help students further their education at UB. She thinks it’s beneficial to the students involved.
Courtesy of NSCS
The honor society National Society of College Scholars inducts new students into the elite group every academic year. These students are not only eligible for scholarships but they gain a community of peers who wish to excel academically.
NSCS offers students involved in the organization opportunities for discounts on different scholastic services such as test preparation, tutoring and renting books, according to Barnes. Freshmen and sophomore students are offered more leadership opportunities than they would ever have without the guidance of NSCS, Barnes said, as well as eligibility for valuable scholarships. These include finances such as merit awards, induction recognition awards, service scholarships and scholarships for studying abroad. NSCS gives away nearly half a million dollars in scholarships to its members.
In addition to receiving help from the organization as a whole, Barnes strives to make UB’s chapter more than just the face of NSCS in Upstate New York; she wants members to enjoy their time within the organization. “The NSCS chapter in Buffalo is beneficial because the members here really want to make a difference and stay involved,” Barnes said. “We try to have as many meetings as possible with our busy schedules.” NSCS is used to guide students through the educational process from the minute they walk into a college classroom to the time they graduate, according to Barnes.
NSCS is designed to help members apply to internships, learn what it is like to be in the workforce and gain real work experience. The organization is also known for the PACE Program, or Planning to Achieve Collegiate Excellence. This program is specifically used to encourage younger students to attend college. NSCS members tutor these high school students to prepare them academically and mentally for college life. The members of the organization are involved with high school seniors who may be on the fence about college. NSCS provides opportunities for high school students to obtain thousands of dollars in scholarships in order to pay for college tuition. Stephen Maloney, a sophomore management major and the vice president of NSCS, believes the organization is much more than just a name. “I know many people think of it as just something to put on a resume, but NSCS has so much more to offer,” Maloney said. “As the VP, I’ve had leadership opportunities such as helping to lead and organize our induction ceremony for our new members. [It] was very rewarding.” According to Maloney, NSCS hosts many events that bring professors and distinguished speakers to teach students the skills needed for college and the real world. Some speakers include Paul J. Cullen, associate professor of biological sciences, and Larry Hawk, associate professor of psychology. He thinks these speakers deliver insightful and motivating messages. NSCS is a program that aims to enrich the education of high-achieving students, provide a pathway for the ambitious, and more specifically, make UB a more enriching and scholarly environment. Email: features@ubspectrum.com
It’s a wonderful lie
The war on Christmas doesn’t exist SAM FERNANDO Staff Writer The holiday season is upon us, and it wouldn’t feel like Christmas without the tree, snow and, of course, war. Yes, that’s right. People still perennially claim there is a “war on Christmas.” The phrase has become as traditional as mistletoe and as redundant as Jingle Bells. In a country where every shopping mall looks as if Santa exploded and every radio station plays non-stop Christmas songs, it’s hard to imagine anyone actually believes this. But every year, political commentators like Bill O’Reilly and Christian groups like the American Family Association (AFA) genuinely want people to believe there is, in fact, a war on Christmas. The United States has fought many wars against many enemies, but Christmas never has and never will be one of them. The alleged war most likely began in 2002 when New York City banned nativity scene displays in public schools but allowed more subtle symbols like a Christmas tree, a menorah and the star and crescent. This decision was upheld in Skoros v. City of New York (2006).
Since then, any decision Christian groups feel restricts the celebration has been considered an attack on Christmas. These groups claim the attacks are a breach of the First Amendment – our freedom of religion and speech in particular. I’ve been a devout Catholic all 21 years of my life. I went to a Catholic elementary school, a Jesuit high school and even spent a semester at a Jesuit university before transferring to UB. In no way does a public school’s decision to not display the nativity scene restrict my right to practice my faith. To clarify, the ruling did not prevent nativity scenes at churches or private property. Religion has and should be kept out of the public sphere as the Constitution dictates. As a Catholic, I choose to go to church and celebrate the birth of Christ. Just because there isn’t a nativity scene in the middle of the Student Union doesn’t change what I believe or my right to believe it. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a non-profit organization which tries to protect the Constitutional rights of Americans, has pushed for more inclusive phrases like “Happy Holidays” in public places, especially schools. The AFA has even targeted companies that use the phrase “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas,” and called for boycotts of these companies until they changed their practices, like they did with
Target and Best Buy. The group’s website even has a “Naughty or Nice List,” which ranks companies on how “Christmas-friendly” they are. The words “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greeting” should not offend anyone. The companies that use these phrases are just being inclusive to other religious and secular holidays like Hanukah, Kwanzaa, New Years and many others, including Christmas. ACLU never called for a ban on the phrase “Merry Christmas,” although O’Reilly and AFA would like you to think they did. If one of my Jewish friends wished me a “Happy Hanukah,” I wouldn’t be offended at all. In fact, I would probably wish him or her a “Happy Hanukah” back. By saying this, I wouldn’t be attacking Christmas or demeaning Christianity at all. Religious freedom means more than just the freedom to practice your religion; it implies tolerance as well. Tolerance isn’t merely indifference to other religions but having deference for them. Using more inclusive phrases around the holiday season is nothing short of a business decision that shows tolerance and acceptance of all religions. And as a business, it would be irresponsible not to advertise to everyone and not just those who are celebrating Christmas. This decision certainly would not infringe on my rights as a practicing Catholic.
Political comedian Jon Stewart understands how ridiculous the war on Christmas is. In a debate against Bill O’Reilly he was asked about the war and his response summed up the state of religion in America. “In this country, I think people have confused not being able to pray everywhere with not being able to pray anywhere,” Stewart said. “[People] have confused the loss of absolute power with persecution.” I’m not saying attacks on Christmas don’t exist. Like most things in America, there are definitely people who genuinely hate Christmas and go out of their way to antagonize those who celebrate it. But if all it takes to claim a war is for a select few people who dislike something with a passion, then I can claim there is a war on the New York Yankees or a war on vegetables. No matter what your religion is, the holiday season is about spending time with family and friends and celebrating how grateful you are for all that you have. These claims about a war on Christmas just detract from the true reason for the season. It’s time to make peace with the that the war on Christmas is war that has never existed. Email: ssf6@buffalo.edu
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 ubspectrum.com
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Arts & Entertainment Nabakooza Draws Fire
#8
SHU YEE RACHEL LIM Staff Writer They aren’t real, but the emotions are. They’re simply sketches of people gazing at you from offwhite walls. These are the personal artworks of Kasalina Maliamu Nabakooza, 25, whose art show We Draw Fire is currently on exhibition at Main (St)udios, where she is also currently a resident artist. Nabakooza’s craft is portraiture. The pencil is her tool. “I actually like the way [penciled drawing] looks; it has a fine quality even though it’s such an inexpensive material,” Nabakooza said. The subjects in her portraits are people she knows and encounters, and her smooth sketches very often reflect the moment her subjects are in. Viewers feel like they’re staring at the real subjects themselves in a magical crisscross of space and time: a moment that is both eerie and enchanting. However, for someone outside of Nabakooza’s mind, finding out who the subjects are or where and why they’re there is almost impossible. Each portrait contains a story and the vivid expressions of the subjects in them force the audience to analyze and interpret them, according to Nabakooza. Nabakooza’s current exhibition features a portrait of a little girl shrouded in shades of gray, with the exception of her dress. The dress stood out with flurry waves of blue, red and gold hues, ironically intensifying the frowned expression penciled on the little girl’s face. Viewers see the color-vibrant dress, but they also notice the frustration that plagues the little girl. “Seeing the people in her pictures makes me wonder why they’re smiling, frowning or squinting. I want to go into the sketches and find out,” said senior communication major Joseph Lim. Nabakooza credits UB for the discovery of her hidden talent and passion for drawing. Initially, Nabakooza wanted to become an art teacher and decided to take basic art classes at UB as a non-matriculated student. But according to Nabakooza, sometimes ambition takes an interesting turn and dreams change. While taking classes at UB, she realized she no longer wanted to teach art, and instead she wished to create it.
BRIAN JOSEPHS, ELVA AGUILAR and DUANE OWENS Senior Managing Editor, Senior Arts Editor, Asst. Arts Editor
Joe Budden – A Loose Quarter
Courtesy of Mood Muzik Entertainment
Peiran Liang /// The Spectrum
Kasalina Nabakooza's artwork is currently on display at Main (St)udios in downtown Buffalo.
Nabakooza credits the explosion of color in her art to Dutch artist Piet Mondarian, who inspired her to stray away from her monochrome norm. Nabakooza’s knack at pulling from her inspiration’s projects through her art and has gained praise from fellow artists at Main (St)udios. “I don’t see a lot of younger people capturing emotions the way she does,” said Trinton “TrinityHawk” Garrett, 45, a fellow resident artist at Main (St)udios. “I’ve been in the art world for over 20 years, and I thought she’d been drawing for a lot longer than a year.”
Nabakooza attributes her success in her sole year of drawing to self-motivation. Unafraid of failure, she plunged into her artwork, figuring the opportunity to create couldn’t be passed up. “Don’t stop once you make a mistake; it’s kind of like push through your initial hesitation or your self-doubt, ’cause the thing is you will get better,” Nabakooza said. “And don’t let anyone discourage you from what you want to do.” We Draw Fire will be showcased until Nov. 28 at Main (St)udios.
Those who still antagonize rapper Joe Budden for his 2003 hit “Pump It Up,” need to face the present. Despite being considered a one-hit wonder in mainstream terms, Budden has proven himself to be a recognizable force in underground hip-hop, not only for his lyricism but his transparency with fans. His 600,000-plus Twitter followers and countless anonymous trolls who dedicate time to bringing up his every imperfection can agree that, yes, Budden reacts entirely too much to Internet prodding – but his colorful reactions and real-life accounts via social networks merge with his talent to make for undeniable music. Budden’s latest mixtape, A Loose Quarter, was released three days in advance and two days shy of Thanksgiving. Overall, the mixtape is a breath of fresh air; it’s hiphop without the bells and whistles, but it’s relatable hip-hop all the same. After the intro, the mixtape begins on an aggressive note with “Words of A Chameleon,” which
is produced by aarabMuzik. “What Ya’ll Want,” was an immediate middle finger to those who attribute his relevance to the relationship and Internet drama. “More of Me,” featuring R&B singer Emanny, is the most honest track on the mixtape. It brings to light the love for his current girlfriend, Kaylin Garcia, and the dark past she’s overcome, which in turn made her a mental support system in Budden’s life. Budden then takes the focus from the women he’s dating and arguing with and turns it toward the one woman whose word trumps his. On “Momma Said,” Budden reflects on a conversation with his mother that touches on topics ranging from the rocky relationship he has with both his parents, his relationships with women and, most importantly, the people in his life who continuously take advantage of the rapper. Despite the track being Budden’s take on the conversation, he has no qualms admitting she’s the one person all the fronting in the world couldn’t fool. “She said, ‘People living in your house,’/‘Don’t pay s**t, not respectable,’/I told her, they’re folks I think highly of /She said, ‘Well, they must think less of you,’” Budden raps. The glory of Joe Budden lies in his ability to live confidently like an established rapper while not allowing the urge to become mainstream drown his music. The beats are simple but infectious, and stick to Budden’s trend of incorporating a live band as opposed to sole production effects – which add to the intimacy of the majority of his tracks. The mixtape also holds features from the likes of Ab-Soul, Royce Da 5’9” – one of Budden’s fellow Slaughterhouse members – and Tsu-Surf. Continued on page 8
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012
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The Buffalo punks are alive and well MICHAEL POWELL Staff Writer Artist: Pentimento Album: Pentimento Label: Paper & Plastick/Black Numbers Release Date: Nov. 13 Grade: B Pentimento has accomplished a rarely achievable feat most other local bands can only dream of in the back of their ’98 Chevy vans: the band has succeeded outside of the Buffalo scene. The band had only a six-track EP, Wrecked, under its belt so far, but its first fulllength self-titled LP has given fans another taste of the modern pop punk they’ve grown to love and expect from the Buffalo natives. Pentimento’s album features a style of music that will remind eager fans of the Brand New’s earlier records. Without straining or feeling contrived, Pentimento’s sound consists of emotionally rich vocals and
songwriting that swings between being gritty and even harsh at times to soft, wonderful vocal melodies. This difference is heard clearly on the first two tracks, “Unless” and “Circles.” “Unless” starts the album off with a kick in the stomach through its punk sensibilities. It begins with a chugging guitar riff in the first few seconds that swells into a familiar punk force. With clashing guitars and a high tempo rhythm, the song is a highenergy, solid outing for an album opener. This leads into the much more subtle and melodic “Circles.” Instead of thrashing guitar riffs for an opening, “Circles” comes to life with a sweeping, clean guitar that sounds almost poetic and somber. The rest of the track carries the same lighter guitar tone but also makes sure to add enough grit behind it so as not to turn it into a sappy mess. This balance of tone throughout the song allows singer/guitarist Jeramiah Pauly’s vocals to have more of an impact. He sings with conviction and emotion while conveying the hardships of dealing with someone who is full of broken promises.
Courtesy of Pentimento
His singing straddles the same tone as the guitars – aggressive and light by employing a tactic where he will switch singing with clean vocals to using angrier vocals where he’s close to shouting. These two songs set the groundwork for the rest of the record. Tracks like “Conscience (Consequence),” ”Almost Atlantic”
and “Subtle Words” incorporate a melodic and softer sound that cleaves through the rest of the record’s harsher, more abrasive tone. The aggressive and fast tempo punk sound and the slower more matured take on pop punk that Pentimento brings blend well throughout the album. However, there are some parts where the record could improve on this tonal balancing act. But as the band’s first full-length album, it’s actually nice to see room for improvement. If the band members are able to play and sound this well on their first LP, then in a few record’s time they should have everyone searching Buffalo for the next big punk group. Pentimento currently has its album available for free download on its website and will be playing the Bug Jar in Rochester on Nov. 29. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
I’ll have to say “I love you” in a song MAX CRINNIN Staff Writer UB is filled with lots of beautiful people. Hanging out on campus provides the opportunity to meet tons of new friends, but you can never meet them all. The same goes for lovers. Meeting that special someone can rely on several things: mutual friends, proper introductory circumstances and the magic moment where initial awkwardness fades into a shower of excitement and passion. But what about those people you know you’ll never have a chance with? You pass by them all the time, or maybe you have a class together, but so what? They don’t know you, probably don’t care
and have no reason to think you’re dying to confess the love at first sight that’s ignited within you. Either you’re too shy or there’s just no good way to break the ice. They’re looking at you, but you can’t be sure if it’s “the look.” Everyone has felt this way about someone at some point, but it happens to me too often. My friends are getting worried. Each semester, I compile a long list of loves that go undeclared: girl from English class, girl from Lockwood fifth floor, girl on the Starbucks line, girl down the hall, etc. Luckily, I never feel completely alone in my hopeless romanticism. Music is always there to comfort me with the words and sounds of those who have been in my place. For all the times I’ve failed to come out and say it, there’s a song to explain the feeling. Like the late, great Jim Croce once sang, “Every time I tried to tell you/The words just came out wrong/So I’ll have to say ‘I love you’ in a song.”
And so, here’s my playlist for the girls I love who will never know: 1. For the beautiful girl passing me by – “I’ve Just Seen a Face” by The Beatles Your untamed beauty has brightened my day and changed my life. Go forth, my sweet love, but should you turn around, I’ll come chasing. You’ll never know it, but we could have had it all. 2. For the intimidating, drunk hipster girl – “I Wanna Be Your Dog” by The Stooges Wow. You’re wearing that black leather jacket just right, and here I am in my khaki trousers with a tucked-in polo shirt looking rather “Harvard,” when I should be looking a bit more “Ramones” to give you the nod. You even make that cigarette look attractive. It’s not that you can drink 10 times more whiskey than I can; it’s your edgy cool-wave vibes that are making my knees shake … I wanna be your dog. 3. For the cute girl in class – “All I Really
Want to Do” by Bob Dylan The only time we ever spoke was indirectly last semester in ENG 309 Shakespeare, Early Plays. I was Romeo, you were Juliet—remember? After that, how could anything I said compare to those perfectly scripted verses? I hear this song and think of us: “a pair of star-cross’d lovers.” 4. For the girl next door – “Under Your Spell” by Desire On move-in day it was just you and me in the elevator. The ride to the fifth floor moved in slow motion as we shared our first glance. I knew it was real. I saw that photo of your boyfriend in with all of your things, but I don’t give a s**t. Now we pass in the hallway or smile at each other in the laundry room, but I’m dying for more. This song defined the caged passion between Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan in Drive, so it’s good enough for us, baby. Email: maxcrinn@buffalo.edu
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 ubspectrum.com
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HOROSCOPES
Wednesday, November 28, 2012 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- You'll want to surround yourself with those who are at once supportive and challenging. You'll need their help and inspiration!
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You can learn a great deal by watching someone you admire do something in a way that intrigues you. You may want to try it that way, too!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- It may be time for you to retool your efforts in order to be more in line with the way others are doing similar things.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You're likely to encounter some opposition to your ideas. Still, you should be able to attract just enough support to see them realized.
VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) -- Once you hear what someone else has planned, you'll realize that your ideas are every bit as valid -- and worth the effort they entail.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You're very close to an important personal goal, but the question you have to ask yourself is, "What do I do when I get there?"
GEMINI (May 21June 20) -- You may be more interested in a political issue than you have been in the past -- even though it has always had an impact on your life.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- You can do something unusual in precisely the way it was meant to be done -- and those in charge will surely notice the difference.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You and a rival are ready to go at it again -- but this time the level of respect you have for each other will be higher than usual.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You may be requiring a bit too much in the way of technical support today. Be sure you can make progress the oldfashioned way, too!
ACROSS
55 Turkish bath 57 Crucial car part 62 Contented cat sound 1 Titanic's downfall 64 Braid of hair 5 It eliminates a suspect 65 Like some pickings 10 From the same tree? 66 On the ocean 14 Say it's so 15 Ascended, as from the 67 Medicinal herb grave 68 West Wing underling 16 Tibetan holy man 69 ___-in-waiting (princess' attendant) 17 Cement ingredient 70 Garden border tool 18 Characteristic carriers 71 Calendar unit 19 Cable TV sports award 20 It'll put you down for the count 23 Follow, as a suggestion 1 ___ States (group that in24 Respectful title in India cludes Bulgaria) 25 Bumped into 2 Demonstrate clearly 28 Bridal bio word 3 Device with a mute button 29 Many millennia 4 ___-Roman wrestling 33 Lapse, as a license 5 Bearer of the Golden 35 Concerning this, to lawyers Fleece 37 Primal impulse 6 In ___ of (replacing) 38 What a cliche is, essentially 7 "Winning ___ everything!" 43 General vicinity 8 Traffic toots 44 Grad student's project 9 Take out a policy on 45 "The Mick" of baseball 48 Prepares, as a dinner table 10 Guinness or Waugh 11 Indo-Aryan language 49 "Check THAT out!" 52 Pull the plug on 12 Little handful 53 Swiss high-rise? 13 Con's vote
DOWN
Edited by Timothy E. Parker November 28, 2012 GIVE IT A REST By Turner Givens
21 Delivered a low blow? 22 Give the thumbs-down to 26 Cogito, ___ sum 27 College freshman, usually 30 Tramcar lode 31 Customer service call 32 Second-year coeds 34 "___ in Boots" 35 Winter budget item 36 For the taking 38 Unlikely to bite 39 Home to the Zagros Mountains 40 Delivered formally, as a jury 41 Attendance fig., often 42 Wuss 46 ___-di-dah 47 Pass by, as time 49 Tell bigger whoppers? 50 Big name in flatware 51 Carpenter's tool 54 Whimpered
56 Measure metal 58 Revealing photo? 59 Competed on "American Idol" 60 Pitchfork prong 61 Twinkler in the sky 62 Chum 63 July 4th honoree
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LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 22) -- You don't need anything fancy to make you happy today; it's the simple things that will do the trick for you -- and the right companion. SCORPIO (Oct. 23Nov. 21) -- Progress can be made in a way that takes others by surprise -- but you've known for quite a while that you can make it that way.
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Sports
Wednesday, November 28, 2012 ubspectrum.com
Football season comes to a close Bulls look to next year after four-win 2012
JOE KONZE JR Sports Editor The 2012 season, which was highlighted by a three-game winning streak against Mid-American Conference opponents, marked the highest win total for the football team under head coach Jeff Quinn. The Bulls (4-8, 3-5 MAC) finished the season winning three of four games to help erase the memories of a season that was plagued by injuries and missed opportunities. “Our mindset is about having a November, December tradition,” Quinn said. “That is to get to be bowl eligible and to be able to be in a position that we see Kent State in and Northern Illinois.” The Bulls’ junior star running back, Branden Oliver, missed most of the season with leg injuries, which tested the team’s “Next Bull In” mentality. He still managed to rush for 821 yards on 148 attempts and five touchdowns in the seven games that he played. Freshman Devin Campbell filled in admirably for Oliver and had a fulfilling season. Campbell rushed for 502 yards and two touchdowns on 115 attempts, while grabbing 21 receptions for 176 yards and a touchdown in his first season in a Bulls uniform. “There was a stretch early in the season where this team could have quit and just said, ‘Hey we’re done,’ and they didn’t do that,” Quinn said. “There is a lot of exciting things going on with our football program. [We’re] very determined about moving it forward.” Another freshman who filled in nicely was quarterback Joe Licata. He had shown promise at the beginning of the season, throwing a touchdown on his first passing attempt in the Bulls’ blowout victory over Morgan State (3-8, 2-6 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). Throughout the season, junior Alex Zordich had commanded the Bulls’ offense but was injured late in the Bulls’ game against MAC rival Toledo (9-3, 6-2 MAC) in October. Licata got his first start against Miami Ohio (4-8, 3-5 MAC) and threw for 285 yards – a Bulls season high – to complement two touchdowns passes. He then led the Bulls to their first road win since 2010 against UMass (1-11, 1-7 MAC), giving Buffalo its first three-game winning streak since 2009. “We certainly know who’s been there for the last four games and done a great job,” Quinn said. “He knows he’s got more work to do, but he helped us win three key games in critical situations.”
Bulls extend head coach through 2017 season AARON MANSFIELD Editor in Chief
Nick Fischetti /// The Spectrum
Junior wide receiver Alex Neutz hauls in a Hail Mary pass as time expires in the first half against Kent State on Sept. 19.
Junior wide receiver Alex Neutz grabbed most of the passes thrown in his direction this season. After injuring his wrist in 2011, Neutz came back stronger than ever, posting a stat line of 65 receptions for 1,015 yards and 11 touchdowns. His record-setting night came on Sept. 8, when he snatched eight receptions for 154 yards and four touchdowns. His most memorable moment, however, was his Hail Mary catch against Kent State (11-1, 8-0 MAC), in which he out jumped four defenders for a touchdown just before halftime. “It’s certainly exciting to know that we have [Neutz] coming back. He had over 1,000 yards [receiving],” Quinn said. “He ranks up there with Drew Haddad and Naaman Roosevelt. He’s one of the finest out there.” The Bulls’ defense, led by junior linebacker, Khalil Mack ranked second in pass defense and fifth in rush defense in the MAC.
Mack also finished the season by breaking Vince Cardosa’s (1992-95) record for tackles for loss in a career and has a very good chance at being drafted this April if he chooses to declare. “We certainly expect all of our players to complete their degree and complete their college eligibility and they know how much that means to this football team,” Quinn said. “These things are certainly parts of discussion with Khalil, but I’m not making that decision. That’s a decision that needs to be made by Khalil.” Mack finished the season with 94 total tackles, 21 for a loss. The Bulls graduate 12 seniors this season and will look to build upon what they started as they open up their 2013 season at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Aug. 31. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Watson returns, Bulls seek revenge Bulls look to knock off Owls at home
NATHANIEL SMITH Senior Sports Editor After getting back on the winning side of things with a 76-57 victory against Division II Mansfield University (1-1), the men’s basketball team looks to take on what head coach Reggie Witherspoon calls “the best team they’re going to play so far.” And the Bulls will do it with the return of a muchneeded scoring weapon. The Bulls (2-5) will play host to Temple (3-0) in the main event of a doubleheader at Alumni Arena on Wednesday. This is a team that is learning on the fly, hence the struggles early in the season. “We did take some losses early in the season, but it was something that we needed to go through,” said senior guard Tony Watson. “We had a lot of new guys, and we had to see that we could do better, so going through those rough times just makes it that much sweeter.” Witherspoon also sees the improvements, especially in one key area. “We’re getting better, just in small increments,” Witherspoon said. “Statistically, we’ve outrebounded all of our opponents, so the answer is rebounding. The most positive thing is that we are getting better, and we seem to be getting healthier.” Buffalo will get back its best shooter and one of its veteran leaders in Watson.
Solving the Quinn conundrum
Even though they have actually shot better in his absence – shooting 35 percent from three-point range and 34 percent total – the shooting has been inconsistent, according to Witherspoon, a product of the team’s youth and relative unfamiliarity with each other due to game experience. “The key is that [former players] Dave [Barnett] and Zack [Filzen] had gotten themselves to the point where they can anticipate what was going to happen,” Witherspoon said. “And a lot of that is the passes that lead to the shot. We’re coming off a year in which we were ninth in the nation in assists, and that helps your shooting. And right now we’ve struggled with that. Our guys have to learn that, and as the passing improves, I think our shooting will be more consistent.” Courtesy of mitchell leff Buffalo is taking on an impressive Owls The Bulls will have a tough test against Scootie team that has continued to improve off last Randall of Temple in Wednesday's game. The dy- year’s 24-8 record, starting off with three namic forward leads the team in scoring at 21.7 straight victories. Last year in Philadelphia, points per game. the Bulls lost what was a heartbreaker, falling victim to an Anthony Lee tip-in with After he missed four games with an ankle seconds remaining in overtime, leading to injury, the Bulls are in need of their best an 87-85 defeat. Although the Owls lost shooter. He is shooting 57 percent from four seniors due to graduation, they are downtown in the three games that he’s led by two veterans in Scootie Randall and Khalif Wyatt. played. Randall, who is averaging 21.7 points “Everything’s fine,” Watson said. “An ankle injury is an ankle injury. I haven’t per game along with eight rebounds and played a game 100 percent since I’ve been three assists, is a multitalented forward who in college. It’s something I’m used to. But isn’t afraid to play on the wings or down in the low post offensively. I’m back. I’m ready.” Continued on page 8
I don’t understand why everyone is up in arms. It makes perfect sense. Last Wednesday afternoon, UB Athletics announced head football coach Jeff Quinn and Athletic Director Danny White agreed in principle to a contract extension through the 2017 season. Fans are befuddled, but I am not. Allow me to explain. Ever since preseason this year, it seems everyone has asked: “How long can Jeff Quinn possibly keep his job?” I’d always respond: “If he wins four games this year, he has at least one more season.” UB finished 4-8 this season. Picture it on a graph: Quinn has won two, three and four games, respectively, in his three years at the University at Buffalo. I know the Bulls had won eight (2008) and five (2009) games the two years before the Quinn era, but there must be patience during the adjustment period. He needed to reset the Bulls to a two-win team to build them up to this year’s four-win team. Besides, why wouldn’t you want to keep a guy around who won three straight games (before a season-ending loss to Bowling Green on Saturday)? As the press release announcing Quinn’s new contract stated, “The Bulls have rallied in November.” They rallied indeed. The Bulls showed vast improvement in the Mid-American Conference in squeaking out three wins by an average of six points over teams that finished a combined 9-27 (6-18 MAC). Buffalo’s one road win in that stretch came over UMass, a first-year Division IA program that went 1-11, after Quinn put together what had to be a masterful halftime speech to bring his team back from a 13-0 halftime deficit. Interestingly, one of the teams UB defeated in its three-game win streak, Western Michigan, terminated the contract of head coach Bill Cubit two weeks ago. Cubit was 51-47 (.520) in his eight years at WMU. Quinn is 9-27 (.250) since he took over as head coach in 2010. But this move is not about long-term history; it is about what Quinn has done for the team lately. This contract extension is the right move. A three-game win streak is an anomaly in Western New York, and it can be attributed to the head coach. Some don’t understand. “It’s hasty,” said Ben Tsujimoto, who covers the Bulls year-round for Buffalo.com. “A lot of the stats don’t trend in UB’s favor – the overall record the last three years, the inability to win close games – and it’s tough to see this three-game win streak as a cureall for Quinn’s and UB’s previous problems.” Tsujimoto has advocated for giving the coach one more season before determining his fate, blatantly oblivious to the aforementioned graph that supports UB’s decision to lock the coach up for the next five years. Why wait until Quinn wins five games next year and wants more money? “Aside from last year’s win over Ohio, when has UB beaten a quality opponent?” Tsujimoto said, ignoring UB’s 35-7 win over FCS school Stony Brook last year. “White is taking a serious risk, a leap of faith.” A leap of faith? Hardly. Quinn is an offensive mastermind (Did you see his offense when he was the coordinator at Cincinnati? That was all Quinn, not head coach Brian Kelly, whose Notre Dame team is now No. 1 in the nation) who has been forced to push through a major setback since week nine. The Bulls had sprinted to a 1-7 start under junior quarterback Alex Zordich, the supreme weapon in UB’s quarterback arsenal. So Quinn had to go to the man a few impatient people had been waiting to see – redshirt freshman Joe Licata – to lead the team under center. Licata holds the New York State high school passing record for touchdowns in a career. Some say he’s an accurate QB with a head on his shoulders and a cannon for an arm. In fact, a large part of uneducated Bulls faithful was mystified when Licata wasn’t the starter from day one this year. Continued on page 8