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The Art of Getting Lost REBECCA BRATEK Staff Reporter
The world is entering an increasingly digital age where everything is based on the abilities of the latest technology. Mark Shepard is trying to deviate from that dependence and get back to the basics. Shepard, an assistant professor of architecture and media study at UB, has developed a mobile app for the iPhone and iPad that, in the most basic sense, gets you to your destination by helping you get lost. The app, cleverly entitled Serendipitor, is “an alternative navigation app that helps you find something by looking for something else.” But, how does that really work? The concept is simple: the app uses the power of Google Maps to direct a route from point A to point B, giving the user a set of directions with a twist. For example, the first direction will start off pointing the user in the right direction—until the user is told to pick a random person to follow for two blocks. “[The app] takes routing instructions from Google Maps and uses playful directions to put you off of the route,” Shepard said. “[This] gets people thinking more about what’s around them.” The user can choose to pick a destination or be assigned one at random and the app will work its whimsical magic to route the user on an exploration. Follow a pigeon until it flies away and take a photo of it flying. Ask someone to take you to the part of the city he is afraid of and photograph it. Get on the closest subway, bus, or tram and ride for one stop. These types of directions take users out of their monotonous and secure bubbles and, in turn, lead them to discover cities in different ways. The thrill of exploration is what fuels this app. The journey the user is prompted to take pictures of discoveries or the products of the directions. These photos, along with the steps taken to reach the user’s destination, can be uploaded to an e-mail format to be shared with family, friends, and other users.
“[The Serendipitor] helps people see the city in a different way and find things that they didn’t know existed,” Shepard said. “Most [GPS] apps are designed to find exactly what we are looking for. [Serendipitor] finds something we did not think we were looking for.” The Serendipitor tries to deviate from relying on a GPS system for navigational purposes and lets humans rely on their innate navigational skills to get from point A to point B. It tries to take the dependency on technology out of something that humans naturally know how to do: take a leisurely walk without eyes glued to a screen. The app has been welcomed with positive feedback from technical, professional, and civilian critics. “The concept for the app is unique and fun,” said one review on the iTunes store. “It puts you in situations you would have never imagined. It’s a great activity to do when the weather is great and you have nothing to do.” Many users have also reported to Shepard that they like to “have to interact with people they don’t know” and enjoy the fact that the app “gets them lost.” The Serendipitor has also been nominated for the Transmediale Award 2011, which honors works that “reflect visionary and innovation expression, originality in practice and exemplary in their contributions to the discourse that address our technological, societal and global digital cultures,” according to the award’s website. The concept behind the Serendipitor may not be one understood by all, but it conveys a message to society that anyone can appreciate: it’s time to value the whim and serendipity associated with exploration and “getting lost” in a city. The Serendipitor was developed by Shepard at the V2_Institute for the Unstable Media as a part of a larger project named the Sentient City Survival Kit. More information about the app and Shepard’s projects can be found on his website at http://www.andinc.org/v3/. The Serendipitor app is available as a free download for the iPhone and iPad through the iTunes online store. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
Modernizing Campus Learning Changes Coming to UB Libraries
The Independent Student Publication of the University at Buffalo HOLIDAY EDITION v December 10, 2010 Vol. 60 No. 40 v ubspectrum.com
MARIELA ESTEVEZ Staff Writer
The Honors College will soon relocate to its new permanent home on the third floor of the Capen Undergraduate Library, formerly a silent study area. The ground floor will be upgraded in order to allow for a more
Weather: friday: 36°/ 29° snow | saturday: 38°/ 30° sun and clouds | sunday: 36°/ 12° snow
spacious and modern silent study area and to accommodate space for the Honors College relocation. This project is just a stepping stone for the “Heart of the Campus” initiative, a plan for the university to create learning environments both in and out of lecture halls.
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“[The decision to relocate the Honors College here] largely had to do with the location of the Capen library. The academies are all in Capen so there’s a kind of ‘heart’ that’s emerging there,” said Robert G. Shibley, campus architect and future dean of the School of Architecture and Planning.
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The Spectrum Friday , December 10 , 2010
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Modernizing Campus Learning continued from page 1
Alexa Strudler /The Spectrum
Students should expect to see changes to the UB Libraries on North and South Campus over the next few months.
Over the next few years, students should expect to see many changes on both North and South Campus. “The learning landscape calls for places to learn all over the campus, not just in classrooms,” Shibley said. “One of the core elements in that is that every campus should have one or more hearts, which are places where a number of service delivery, academic support, and things like the Honors College or the Undergraduate Academy might reside.” The “Heart of the Campus” project aims to modernize and create high-tech study areas near places where students can grab a snack in between classes. “If it seeks to help me improve my grade, I say go for it,” said Joshua Nimblette, a junior undecided major. “The most important part of this project is they will be investing the students’ money into the modernization of our school.” Ms. Rich’s Corner Café in the Natural Sciences Complex has already undergone technological renovations. “This area has been modified to support much more casual food service, for grab-and-go
food service,” Shibley said. “The same thing has happened in the lobby area in Knox Hall, where when you come out, you have a much more informal seating area with large screens that you can plug into with your laptop and do group work.” The convenience of snacking while studying is beneficial for students, providing an energizer to help them power through university-level coursework. “The other idea is that the ‘Heart of the Campus’ is really one part of the larger understanding of the learning landscape everywhere,” Shibley said. “As we do our classroom transformations and bring more and better technology to those classrooms, we’ll also be preparing better study spaces in and around and outside those classrooms.” Students hope that the renovations will lead to more mixed-use areas on campus, allowing them to study as well as converse with each other. “I think we’re missing more relaxing areas on campus where we can enjoy talking with our friends,” said Christina Townsend, a junior psychology major. “It’s good to have more places on campus where you can both study and talk
CAPEN – THE WORD AROUND CAMPUS > “Capen is overcrowded as it is. Adding something just for a select group of students, and taking away from the rest of the student body is unreasonable. It’s the only 24-hour library that we have and with less space, it leads to overcrowding. And the requirements for Honors College are ridiculous, making almost nobody qualified [to be a part of it]. There are already way too many people on the third floor of Capen at night. Maybe instead of paying all this money for an honors college, they should invest in new furniture. [It is] such a waste of space.” - Bobbie Hangen, sophomore biology and psychology major. > “I went the other day to study in the quiet area that is no longer there and that’s the first I heard of the
construction. I’m more of a Lockwood type these days so I haven’t been to Capen in a while. Therefore, I don’t really feel qualified to say anything other than that I’m sad to see the big open and relatively quiet space to study go away. I spent a lot of time there last semester. I don’t know much about the Honors College though.” - Peter Williams, senior psychology and community mental health major. > “The only thing I know is that [the Honors College office] is moving. I haven’t really heard anything else though. I’m just excited that it will be in a more central location on the Spine so I won’t have to walk as far as Talbert for meetings anymore.” - Jessica Walts, sophomore dance and psychology major. > “I have heard about [the Honors College office taking over the silent
study area] and it made me mad. The basement was a nice place to study in a group with people and an easy place to meet and now that it’s a silent study area, it’s harder to find decent group study places.” - Lauren Surowiec, freshman pre-pharmacy major > “I dislike how crowded the basement of Capen has become [because of the Honors College taking over the silent study area]… the study group I meet with [in the basement] cannot sit at the same table anymore.” - Catie Bonga, freshman mechanical engineering major. > “I really don’t see the point of [moving the Honors College to Capen].” - Cait Zeigler, senior exercise science major. > “I have heard about [the Honors college move] but I really didn’t pay
to your friends at the same time.” The university strives to create a “learning landscape” environment alongside UB’s master plan, where students can intellectually engage with each other by exchanging their ideas outside of their lecture rooms as well as inside of them. “What we want to accomplish through the master plan is to create an environment where our learning communities are vital and intellectual activities,” Shibley said. “[These] are small examples of what we hope to get increasingly better and better at – to turn the heart of the campus into a learning landscape on the campus.” Although the changes around campus are becoming apparent, the renovations are not going to be over soon. ”I think, overall, [the Capen renovation] project is due to be completed next June and is a small part in what we hope will be a larger heart of the campus in that area,” Shibley said. “Overall, the ‘Heart of the Campus’ is going to take a few years [to complete].”
it much mind [because] I’m never really in Capen.” - Jay Kowalewski, sophomore English major. > “I think that [the Honors students] should have their own area as long as it doesn’t take away from the rest of us.” - Mike Cronmiller, sophomore accounting major. > “Honestly I don’t know too much about [the Honors College moving to Capen], but from what I do, I don’t really think that it sounds like a good idea. Personally I liked the silent study area where it was, and I think adding more group study space would be a waste of space.” - Jeff Mason, sophomore mechanical engineering major. > “Well, I can’t use it so what is the point to me? [So] I would be indifferent.” - Andrew Wierzbicki, sophomore business management major. > “Neutral towards it. [The Honors College move] doesn’t bother me.” - Michael Whiting, sophomore mechanical engineering major.
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> “I think it would be a good idea [to move the Honors College to Capen] if I were an honors student, but since I’m not, it kind of makes me feel excluded. Not really sure why honors students need their own study area away from other students.” - Stephanie Waugh, sophomore pre-pharmacy major. > “For [almost] 20,000 [students], there is no place to study. There aren’t enough computers and I want to study for finals, but there are no places to go. This is the worst time to do remodeling. [The administration] robbed me of a place to study.” - Philip Mathew, exercise science major. > “I think it’s dumb that they started work during finals, but I don’t know what’s going in there.” - Mia Magliazzo, sophomore pre-pharmacy major. > “[I’m a former Honors College student and] I don’t like it. It was fine where it was. Why the hell are they moving it? Capen’s busy enough the way it is.” - Gabriella Engelkes, sophomore visual studies major.
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Editorial Board Editor in Chief Andrew Wiktor Managing Editors David Sanchirico, senior Luke Hammill Amanda Woods Editorial Editor Jeff Pelzek News Editors Lauren Nostro, senior. Brendon Bochacki, asst. Amanda Jonas, asst. David Weidenborner, asst. Arts Editors James Twigg, senior Jameson Butler Vanessa Frith, asst. John Hugar, asst. Nicolas Pino, asst. Life Editors Jennifer Harb, senior. Katie Allen, senior. John Connelly, asst. Steve Neilans, asst. Sports Editors Matt Parrino, senior Jacob Laurenti Chris Rahn Brian Josephs, asst. Photo Editors Clinton Hodnett, senior Renee Huo Megan Kinsley. Karen Larkin, asst. Sam Zakalik, asst. Web Editor Adam Cole Copy Editor Meghan Farrell Graphics Designer Aline Kobayashi
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DECEMBER 10 , 2010 VOLUME 60 NUMBER 40 CIRCULATION: 10,000 The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by 360 Youth. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100. Telephone: (716) 645-2468. Fax: (716) 645-2766. Copyright 2010 Buffalo, N.Y. The Spectrum is printed by Buffalo Newspress PO Box 648, Buffalo, NY 14240-0648.
Generation Column Points A Jagged Finger Writers Should Check Themselves And Play Fair
When it comes to inter-media war, we are usually not ones to take offense to unwarranted attempts to get a rise. Generally, The Spectrum gives little thought or allowance to unwarranted cheap shots from other campus news stories; they are entitled to print their opinion columns just as we are. But that doesn’t mean that we will take UB Generation’s ridiculous column sitting down. Allie Balcerzak’s rancorous criticism of our thriceweekly news coverage goes far beyond hyperbole, and it warrants an intelligent response. The Rahn piece that leaned toward a male’s interpretation of the rules of attraction was a column; a column, if Ms. Balcerzak doesn’t know, is an article that pertains to one staff member’s opinion, and it does not reflect the collective attitude of a newspaper. So as far as fact checking goes, we are doing quite fine. We stand behind Mr. Rahn and his right to a page three column that makes a point and garners attention. Part of writing in the news is stimulating controversy with contentious columns, as Generation evidently knows. She moves on to claim that an article on the removal of Four Loko from beverage distributor shelves was additionally sexist. Balcerzak must have missed that the only plausibly sexist line was a student quote. Not only have many of our female writers agreed to the statement’s proximity to truth, but our newspaper is not in the business of censoring student opinions to make our objective coverage more delicate.
Obama’s Agreement To Tax Cuts Is A Political Move Diplomacy Must Make Sacrifices To Stubborn Republican Caucus
Many were stunned to find that on the front page of The New York Times Wednesday, there was an article whose headline read that president Obama supported a tax cut deal with congressional Republicans. The plan would allow for the continuation of Bush-era tax cuts. The obvious turmoil within the Democratic caucus has not shaken our president, whose attitude toward controversy for the first two years of his term has been that of an accommodator and not so much of a fighter. Obama holds fast to the premise of necessity in his decision to support the bill. Perhaps t he president foresees the ominous horde of Republican congressmen this January and has accepted that the policy was an inevitability
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If there is any question as to what the editors do in the office, for the record, we run an independent newspaper for more than twelve hours each production day, making sure that our mistakes are minimal. If we ran our articles once every two weeks, criticism of our coverage would be better taken. But perhaps the most frustrating example of illogical mudslinging in Balcerzak’s article suggested that we attempt to persuade UB students to transfer to other Buffalo colleges, simply because we run advertisements for Daemen College. First of all, there is no reason to transfer to Daemen, unless you want to pay more money for a less competitive school. It would not benefit us as a newspaper in any form to drive students away from UB. The Spectrum is funded independently. Despite what it says on page three, we have not received funding from the school for two years, and we rely wholly on advertisements for financial sustenance. If we received large sums of money from Sub Board for our press, we could be picky about our advertisements. But as it stands, we owe no consideration to UB for our ads, and our newspaper never pledged allegiance to the betterment of UB. If UB loses students, there is no way it is The Spectrum’s fault. If a college newspaper was the deciding factor that prompted you to transfer colleges, like Balcerzak suggests, we are sure that your former college will not miss you. So in retrospect, we don’t even have to save face. We ran Rahn’s column with sober discretion, and our reporting has always been factually sound and unbiased. Our advertising may cater to other colleges, but that is just a part of business, a constant war in which all is fair. We are only sorry that Balcerzak, a fellow journalist, does not know that yet. If there was a bone, consider it picked.
that will be reckoned with sooner than later anyway. The Democratic majority could choose to filibuster the plan, but that would probably fall under the wheel of the Republican Party, running the Congressional train this incoming year. Indeed, it would make sense to clear the way for other important things that Obama has planned for the remainder of his presidency, that is, what is left of it before he needs to begin a reelection campaign. But taxes are such a crucial foundation to the Democrats. To pull the support from under their congressional weight is to wear at the crux of liberal ideals, ideals that Obama was so adamant in advocating for in his presidency insofar. It seems to us that Obama is going down this road in order to make friends on the other side of the political spectrum. We think that it is a political move, on Obama’s part, to give a little to Republicans in order to earn their confidence in future congressional proceedings in an under-the-table quid pro quo. At face value, it looks like absolute sacrilege to liberals, many of whom had the utmost confidence in President Obama
to accomplish sweeping reform in government in 2008. But to lose faith at this point would be submissive and forgetful. President Obama revolutionized American healthcare, a milestone not only in his presidency but American history, and it seems like nobody cares. We can assume that he has a plan, because our leader has yet to steer us off a bridge, even though this looks bad. With state money on the gimp, it seems the acme of idiocy to cut taxes, and we can only hope that Obama and the Republicans are gunning for a progressive plan to rectify the financial recession. Our system of government was created around dissent, as the bipartisan parties represent people of varying ideology with equal representation in government. But when the leader of the Democratic Party, and incidentally the country, decides to pull the rug out from under a liberal selling point, left-leaning voters look dumbly with open palms at our president in wait for the benevolent side effects. Again, Obama must have a plan. Right?
LETTER TO THE EDITOR New Minor in Jewish Studies at UB There is now an 18 credit Jewish Studies Minor at University at Buffalo. The academic study of Judaism represents an objective and interdisciplinary approach to the history, religion, philosophy and language of Judaism. Jewish Studies is a non-theological, non-denominational, and open to all students, Jewish and non-Jewish. “Judaism is important,” according to Professor Richard Cohen, the Director of the Institute of Jewish Thought and Heritage, “not only because of its contributions to the formation of Christianity and Islam, but because Jews and Judaism represent an independent and ancient civilization with its own universal contributions.” The Minor will focus both on Judaism’s contributions to the larger cultural contexts in which Jews have found themselves and to the inner development of Judaism. “This Minor will also be beneficial for anyone interested in understanding the contemporary political situation in the Middle East and the religion of Islam to the world at large, which has its historical and spiritual roots in a long and mutually productive association between Judaism
DAVID SANCHIRICO
Senior Managing Editor
Peace Up and Deuces It is a Spectrum tradition for outgoing seniors to write one last column to cap off their tenures. Usually, these banal pieces reiterate the cliché statements your mom has told you throughout the years. But no soap box is required for this rant. I’m not going to preach and give you life lessons; believe me, if you are taking life lessons from me, you’re not off to a good start. And there’s no need for me to write a melodramatic synopsis of my “emotional” journey at UB. I have enjoyed the best nine semesters at the best school in the country, one that the best kids in the United States attend. With all the complaining we all do, it’s easy to forget how great this place is. At the same time, we forget how awesome (most of ) UB’s 18,000+ undergraduates are, even though we’re surrounded by ill-informed students who complain how cold it is while wearing pajamas, T-shirts and slippers outside. It’s too easy to bitch and moan about everything here. The clouds and gloom that darken our university from November to March negatively affect our emotions, and we usually react by complaining about someone’s poor taste in music or someone else’s idiotic Facebook status that no one should actually care about in the first place. I know I’ve spent too much time doing the above, most recently regarding the stupid Facebook number questions game (seriously, stop it). Everyone seems to worry how I’ll do now that my Van Wilder stint at UB is over. I plan to enter the so-called dying field of journalism, one that’s saturated with aspiring sportswriters who are relegated to writing not-for-profit blogs. Most of my friends who graduated last year tell me postcollege stories of living off Ramen and living with parents again. It all sounds so awful, but those who are friends with me should know I’ll be OK. It’s because I “chill.” I also listen to Jimmy Valvano’s words of wisdom, which include the three things everyone should do every day: laugh, think, and cry. If you do all three of those things – bros, substitute something for crying – then you won’t be able to find any reason to complain about Buffalo’s dull and cold days. Back on subject, who knows what will happen once my diploma is mailed and my time here is done? I could either end up on ESPN or in my parents’ basement playing Xbox all day. I’ll either end up with a beautiful, smart wifey who challenges me to be the best man I can be, or I’ll be the creepy guy poaching off hoodrats at The Steer when I’m 32. But there’s no need to worry, because no matter what, I’ll still flash that Sanchirico smile and tell those corny Uncle Dave jokes. It’s just my nature to be happy and make others smile. I thank my parents for that; they are the ones who always told me to basically say “F it” to the trivial dramas in my life, because complaining over some shorty just isn’t worth it. So with this, I say farewell. I’ve left enough writing, vomit and other fluids on this campus. I look forward to seeing this school prosper under UB 2080, and I hope to see many of my classmates making all sorts of marks in their respective fields. E-mail: david.sanchirico@ubspectrumcom
and Islam,” adds Professor Hughes, Associate Director of the IJTH, and the coordinator of the Jewish Studies undergraduate program. Students can take courses in Hebrew, taught by Lilia Dolgopolskaia; biblical and rabbinic Judaism, taught by Dr. Sergey Dolgopolski; in addition to medieval and modern Judaism courses taught by Drs. Hughes and Cohen, respectively. A Jewish Studies Minor would offer a natural complement to undergraduates majoring in cognate departments such as History, Philosophy, Classics, Political Science, and English. It is not a complicated way – and indeed it is quite a broadening intellectual way – to add another significant dimension to one’s undergraduate credentials as a UB graduate. The requirement for the minor are as follows: (1) Overall GPA of 2.0 or better, (2) JDS 203, “Introduction to Judaism,” with a minimum grade of C+, (3) DS 229, “Medieval Judaism,” with a minimum grade of C+, (4) 4 other JDS courses or courses from other departments with approved Jewish Studies content (may include 2 Hebrew language courses); (5) At least 2 course must be at the 300- or 400-level. For further information or to apply for a Jewish Studies Minor, email Dr. Aaron Hughes at aaronhug@buffalo.edu
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deadmau5 is Alive and Recording EVAN KLINGENSMITH Staff Writer
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Cannes You Dig It?
Film Festival Seeks Student Talent Courtesy of Fake Problems
Fake Problems lead singer Chris Farren spouts lyrics while drummer Sean Stevenson lays down a beat on drums
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Ducks getting blown away Being a parent is hard when your kids weigh less than an ounce.
Fake Problems, Real Music JAMESON BUTLER Arts Editor
There are two foolproof ways to beat the frigid Buffalo winter: Florida sunshine and punk music. Fake Problems combines both of these cures and delivers it directly to the listener’s ear buds. This Naples, Fla. quartet possesses a potential that is unmatched by most bands. With songs that are danceable, while also having exquisitely crafted lyrics, Fake Problems has a sound that people won’t be able to ignore for long. Fusing various sounds ranging from indie to punk, Fake Problems has taken on the title of “Beach Punk.” This new trail-blazing band can be best described as Vampire Weekend meets The Gaslight Anthem. Fake Problems’ latest release, Real Ghosts Caught on Tape, presents a cleaner sound than the band’s previous two records. “We made a conscious effort to not use distortion, on our guitars at least. All the tones were just straight from the amps,” said lead singer and guitarist Chris Farren. “The only thing going on in there is reverb. There are few touches of distortion in a few places, but for the most part we wanted a kind of a cleaner, smoother sounding record.” Accompanying Farren in Fake Problems is Casey Lee on guitar, Sean Stevenson on drums, and Derek Perry on bass. All being from Naples, the members of Fake Problems met while participating in other bands. “We were all involved in the small, but active, Naples music scene, which was pretty much high school bands playing in garages, maybe a community center once in a while,” Farren said. “We were all in different bands, doing different things, and we met like that. And once all of those bands broke up, there was just us left there in the dust.” While the band was formed when the members were young, it was still obvious that the band had to leave the sunshine in order to gain the spotlight. “As far as growing up in Naples, when we first started our band, it helped us in that we were so isolated that we knew that we
couldn’t just play around town and play around Florida,” Farren said. “We had to tour and we had to get out. We had to go to New York City and go to Chicago and L.A. and Boston and everywhere. It drove us to tour and get our name out there.” During the dawn of their career, veteran Florida punk rockers Against Me! took Fake Problems under their wing and gave the band a foundation for what has become an impressive young career. “We booked a show for Against Me! … and we kind of started our friendship there. Then Sabot [Records] put out our first seven inch, and then they put out our first full length and Against Me! took us on tour,“ Farren said. “We were already touring and stuff on our own and booked things ourselves, but that step and support from them kind of put us into some sort of small underground light. We started getting our records reviewed in Punknews.org and other publications like that. Them vouching for us really helped us at the beginning.” Much like their friends in Against Me!, Fake Problems combines a folk tune with their punk core to create an Americana sound. What sets Fake Problems apart from most bands is their heartfelt lyrics. Almost every song hits close to home with the listener as Farren belts out lyrics about life and all the pain that goes along with it. “It’s always real. I have never really been able to…write a song that wasn’t about anything or write a song that doesn’t mean anything to me. I can’t write a kind of fiction narrative,” Farren said. “It doesn’t mean the same to me when I write a song like that. I feel that it drives the song a lot further when it really means something to you and you’re saying things that have happened or you really believe in.” On Dec. 20, Fake Problems will be bringing their sunny punk to gloomy Downtown Buffalo. They will be performing at the intimate Mohawk Place. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. “We aren’t trying to change the world, we are just trying to entertain people and have a good time,” Farren said. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
STEVE NEILANS Asst. Life Editor
The Student Association Entertainment department has started to accept submissions for its inaugural SA Film Festival, to be held in the Student Union Theatre on March 25. “We wanted to have an opportunity for UB undergrads to show us… their hard work. There’s not a lot of opportunity for media students, or just students in general, to showcase their creative filmmaking talent,” said Matt Solomon, assistant event manager for SA Entertainment. The SA Film Festival Review Board will accept a maximum of three movies from each director/ writer, due on March 4. Prizes will be awarded to the winning films, and all accepted films will receive airtime on UBTV. The event is open to all undergraduate students, regardless of major. Films should be two to 15 minutes in length and can be of any genre. Submissions must be in DVD format. Solomon believes that this festival will provide students with a great opportunity to show their talents on a large stage. “There’s a film festival that they do in the media studies department that is really limited and restricted… and a lot of the media studies [students] aren’t in it. So we’re just trying to open the door to people that want to get involved,” Solomon said. “There [are] people making movies all throughout UB, so we just want to create a place for them to showcase that.” Submitted films will go through two rounds of judging. The SA Film Festival Review Board will survey films in the first round of the competition and industry judges will determine a winner in the second round. Submission forms are available online at www.sa.buffalo. edu and in 350 Student Union. “It’s something that at the first [SA Entertainment] meeting we ever had we talked about doing, so we’re creating something that we’ve all been really excited about,” Solomon said. “I love when people can showcase what they see in their heart, so I’m very genuinely excited about doing this.” E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
Artist: deadmau5 Album: 4x4=12 Label: Mau5trap, Ultra Records, Virgin Records. Release Date: Dec. 7 Grade: B+ Tom loves the name of this Canadian electronic artist; Jerry, not so much. Joel Zim mer ma n , better known by his stage name deadmau5 (pronounced “dead mouse”), released his newest album, 4x4=12, on Dec. 7 in the United States. The opening track of 4x4=12, “Some Chords,” will be treasured by fans of deadmau5’s For Lack of a Better Name era. The beginning of the track starts off building up the beat as if the lights at one of deadmau5’s shows would start pulsating all around the listener. The track then falls right into the beat and is packed with a punch for the listener’s ear. “Some Chords” begins the album with the high-energ y mentality that deadmau5 is known for and starts the album off on the right note. Track two, “Sofi Needs a Ladder,” introduces Sofia “Sofi” Toufa, a female singer/rapper featured on multiple tracks, who has become a recent addition to many of deadmau5’s live performances, including San Francisco’s Treasure Island Music Festival. Her pop vocals are almost Top40-friendly and make the track accessible to those new to house music. The climax of the a lbu m spa n s across tracks five and six, when
Courtesy of Ultra Records
deadmau5 has separate collaborations with Wolfgang Gartner and Chris Lake. Both are renowned electro-house producers, with Gartner hailing from California and Lake being a West London lad. The t wo collaborations create a great crossover that spawns a festival-ready vibe. The track “Animal Rights,” which is collaborated with Wolfgang, shows what these two producers really can put on the table when they have time to bounce back and forth off of each other’s creative cognitive abilities. Calming down the listener, the collaboration with Chris Lake on the track “I Said” is an almost trance-esque track, easily suited for a late-night set closing out an event. After listening to the album in its entirety, it becomes clear that deadmau5 positioned the track listings on the album in order to reflect one of his renowned live performances. Through albums like 4x4=12, one can see why deadmau5 gets so much attention. With stirring live performances and stellar album releases, it’s clear that this artist is far from dead. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
Clinton Hodnett /The Spectrum
Tickets are still available for Winter Gala this Saturday.
Winter Gala UB’s Student Association is holding its annual Winter Gala at the Buffalo Convention Center on Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight. The Winter Gala started in 1991 as a small event called the SA Christmas Party, and it has built up to an occasion that has around 800 to 1,000 people in attendance each year. The revenue gained from the event goes back into the SA’s budget for other creative events later in the year. The gala will feature a 17-piece swing band, dinner, and an open bar for those over the age of 21. Additionally, UB’s Jam Club will be playing in the Convention Center’s foyer during the event. Tickets are on sale at the SBI Ticket Office for $30. SA will also offer free transportation to and from the event, with pick-ups and drop-offs at Hadley Village, South Lake, Flint Loop, Ellicott, Governors, South Campus, and The Villas. Students can sign up for a bus in 350 Student Union. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
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Don’t Freak Over Finals Week AKILAH HAWKINS-LEWIS Staff Writer
On one hand, the holidays are near. On the other, so are finals. Soon enough, everyone will be able to go home and enjoy time with loved ones. Unfortunately, before that can take place, almost all students are forced to suffer through finals. If any college student were asked for a word that is synonymous with finals week, the word stress would often come up among a slew of profanities. This is the time of the year when students find themselves the most overworked, especially if they haven’t been keeping up with their work since the start of the semester. “I definitely haven’t been doing as well as I know I could,” said Shanney Lacey, a junior industrial engineering major. “It is pretty easy to slack off in the beginning of the semester and end up falling behind.” For students like Lacey, one option is to pull several all nighters in the library and hope to actually wake up on time for the test in the morning. However, according to Sherri Darrow, the director of Wellness Education Services, there is no reason for students to pull their
hair out from the roots over finals. “There are several ways to reduce stress during this time of high anxiety,” Darrow said. One of the best ways to limit stress is to reduce caffeine intake during finals week. Believe it or not, though caffeine limits sleep, it is also a stimulant that can cause stress and send students crashing within minutes of consumption. “I’m guilty of using a five-hour energy or two to get through my work,” said Tavia Garvey, a sophomore pharmacy major. “But, after a few hours, I’m usually extremely tired.” Another simple way for students to reduce stress during finals week is to get a sufficient amount of sleep. Limiting rest during a time of high anxiety can weaken the immune system and increase the chances of getting sick, thereby causing more stress. Anyone who has ever tried taking a test while sick knows that trying to focus while being congested and having a headache and runny nose is near impossible. Another helpful tip for students is to take five to ten minutes breaks between hour-long study sessions to have something to eat. “Take breaks for snacks rather than eating continuously. While studying or at a computer screen, we tend to lose track of how much we are eating. When we just sort of multitask … we lose touch with how hungry we are or if we’re already full,” said Janice Cochran, coordinator of nutrition and physical activity for Wellness Education Services. Cochran doesn’t condemn eating a snack periodically, but she encourages students to bring their own food to campus and be sure to still eat full meals when studying throughout the day. It will save time from standing in lines, and students won’t have to stress about the prices. “Yes, you can have some snacks, but don’t skip meals and then rely
on vending machines because then you’re going to overtax your system. You’re going to get a lot of calories but no nutrients to process them or to support your immune system,” Cochran said. Often, students believe that cramming for hours and hours is the most efficient and useful way to study, but it is actually very detrimental to student health. Although working out may seem like the last thing students would want to do during finals week, it can actually be a very useful tool to use to stay energized. “The other huge advantage of breaks is doing something physical. We tend to rely on caffeine… But, when you take a physical break and you go for a fast walk or do a couple flights of stairs, it totally revs up your body. It gets oxygen to your brain; [it gets] your blood moving again. Physical breaks are a super advantage when studying,” Cochran said. Going for a quick run or lifting weights when feeling stressed can help reduce stress levels and provide some extra energy. However, it is understandable that the gym isn’t for everybody. Luckily, UB offers various yoga classes and wellness workshops that focus specifically on stress reduction. Darrow also reminds students that there are always free and helpful resources on campus for students to partake in. Wellness Education Services always offers free massages by appointment. Although finals week can often leave students feeling defeated and overwhelmed, it is important to remember that it never the end of the world. “Take a few deep breaths, relax, and then get back to it,” Darrow said. “It doesn’t have to be as painful as you believe it to be.” E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
Just Charlie is Just Decent SPECTRUM DESKS JOHN HUGAR
Arts Life Managing Photo News Sports
Asst. Arts Editor
Artist: Charlie Wilson Album: Just Charlie Grade: C+ In the 1980s, Charlie Wilson brought funky music Courtesy of Jive Records to the world as the frontman of The Gap Band. In the time since, however, he’s settled into a solid career in mainstream R&B. His last two albums, 2005’s Charlie, Last Name Wilson and 2009’s Uncle Charlie sold relatively well and proved that after years on the scene, Wilson wasn’t going anywhere. Now, he’s back with Just Charlie, an album that provides solid R&B material, but it is not particularly innovative and probably won’t add much to his legacy. The proceedings begin with “My Girl Is A Dime,” a number that wouldn’t seem out of place on a record by Chris Brown or Jason Derulo. It’s nice to know Wilson can keep pace with the young guys, but it would be nice if he did something with a little more individuality. Following that, listeners are treated to “You Are,” the lead single and the best track on the album by a wide margin. Its big, booming chorus gives Wilson a chance to let his considerable vocal talents shine. His vocal skills have not declined at all despite his advanced age. From that point on, however, the album is nothing special. It’s really just one bland track after another. None of them are particularly bad (except for the closing “Lotto”, which sounds like a bad will.i.am imitation), but none of them really stand out. Mainstream R&B fans will probably like this album. Wilson is a very strong singer, and the songs have their share of catchy hooks. Unfortunately, people who aren’t R&B devotees will probably come away from this album wanting more. Anyone familiar with Wilson’s work with The Gap Band knows that he has a great personality. Sadly, it’s nowhere to be found on this rather drab album. If he lets loose on his next album, he could make something great. He certainly has the voice for it. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
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Mulkey Steals Show CHRIS RAHN Sports Editor
The men’s basketball team played its third Big Four rivalry game of the season on Wednesday night, and its opponent came into Alumni Arena with hopes of stealing a win from the Bulls. Too bad for the Niagara Purple Eagles (2-7, 0-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) that senior point guard Byron Mulkey – the nation’s steals leader – beat them to it. For their third straight home game, the Bulls (5-3) scored more than 80 points and thus remain unbeaten at home after an 82-64 victory over Niagara. The win gives Buffalo a record of 2-1 against its Big Four rivals this season. Mulkey finished the game with five steals, but it was the final one that put the nail in the coffin for the Purple Eagles. With just under six minutes remaining in the contest, he ripped the ball from a Niagara player and took it coast-to-coast, finishing with an and-one layup to put the Bulls up by 15. Purple Eagles head coach Joe Mihalich was impressed with the play of the Bulls point guard. “He’s really kind of embraced the role he’s playing, and he’s just filling the stat sheet up,” Mihalich said. “He’s the key to their team… he’s the straw that stirs the drink.” The Bulls captain finished with 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists while shooting 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. While Mulkey has been the clear leader of the team so far this season, his supporting cast has played well all year. Against Niagara, the Bulls had four players score in double-figures, including a career-high 16-point performance on 6-of-7 shooting by senior forward Jawaan Alston. The depth of the frontcourt has really been something that Bulls head coach Reggie Witherspoon has taken advantage of this season. “It’s great to be able to have a guy that has that experience, that you pull in off the bench,” Witherspoon said. “[Alston] can go out and defend guys on the perimeter and still have the energy necessary to rebound the ball and score around the basket.” Joining Mulkey and Alston in double-figures
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was junior guard Zach Filzen. After spending most of last season playing a minimal role for the Bulls, the sharpshooting junior leads the Mid-American Conference in 3-point shooting this year. “It’s been something I’ve been waiting for, for a while,” Filzen said. “I was excited for this year [because] I knew I’d have a chance. It’s a lot of work and a lot of preparation. I just try to go out and play and try to help the team win.” Filzen added four more 3-pointers on Wednesday, giving him 26 on the year while shooting at a 40 percent clip. He scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds in 37 minutes of play. Junior forward Mitchell Watt was the fourth Bull in double-digits and barely missed a double-double on the night. Watt scored 11 points to go with nine rebounds and four blocked shots in only 17 minutes of action. The Bulls also excelled on the defensive end, limiting their opponent’s possessions by outrebounding the Purple Eagles 41-31. They also shut down Niagara’s two active leading scorers, junior forward Kashief Edwards and senior guard Anthony Nelson. Edwards and Nelson came into Wednesday night’s affair both averaging over 14 points per game. The Bulls defense Clinton Hodnett /The Spectrum gave them fits, as they shot a Senior point guard Byron Mulkey (2) continues to lead the nation in steals as the combined 10-of-33 from the Bulls continue to win at home. floor. With the score tied at 10 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four blocks entering the first media timeout, the Bulls came out in 23 minutes off the bench. of the quick break with an 8-0 run, giving them a lead Next up for the Bulls is a matchup with the they would not relinquish. Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix (4-5, 1-1 Horizon A balanced offensive attack, including shooting 58 League) on Saturday at Alumni Arena. Tip-off is set percent from the field, gave the Bulls a 41-30 halftime for 2 p.m. lead. Seven different players hit more than two field E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com goals in the half. Freshman forward Javon McCrea contributed six
Tuck, Duck and Get Ready For Some Puck MEG LEACH Staff Writer
Source: thepipelineshow.blogspot.com
Sweden hopes to feel at home in Buffalo and turn in a memorable performance at the World Juniors.
The best hockey players in the world are coming to Buffalo over winter break. And they’re all under 20 years of age. The International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Under 20 Championship (commonly known as ‘The World Juniors’) is coming to Western New York to bring the best of the best to face off at HSBC Arena. Last year, the U.S. team surprised everyone when it snatched away what would have been Canada’s sixth consecutive gold medal, in overtime. The game did nothing more than to fuel an already boiling Canadian and American rivalry that falls over the WJC every year. Defying World Junior tradition, the first meeting between Canada and Team USA will not be at the usual time. The two teams used to see each other on New Year’s Eve during preliminary rounds. This year, it’s likely that they’ll only meet in the playoffs and/or the medal rounds. In the summer, Team Canada held one of the
most competitive camps. With enough prospects for two full teams, the decision came down to who played well in high-stress situations. The battle between ‘team white’ and ‘team red’ made the players work hard, with ‘team white’ gaining two straight wins. Sweden, who hasn’t released much of its roster information, has always performed well in the under-20 competition. A bronze medal in this heated competition would be no surprise for them. Many feel that the tournament will not only bring good hockey to the Queen City, but it will also help boost the economy. “It’s going to bring a lot of commerce to the city,” said Shelby Griswold, a sophomore international business major. “This is a great thing for the City of Buffalo. A ton of people from all over the world are watching us because of the world juniors. It shows even more how much of a hockey city Buffalo is.” The IIHF World U-20 Championship will run from Dec. 26 until Jan. 5. Team USA’s first showing is at 8 p.m. on Dec. 26 against Finland. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Scouting Wisconsin – Green Bay Game Time: Saturday, 2 p.m. at Alumni Arena 2010-11 Record: 4–5 (1–1 Horizon) 2009-10 Record: 22–13 (11–7 Horizon) Last Meeting: Dec. 22, 2009 Bulls 71, Phoenix 65 at WisconsinGreen Bay
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Prediction:
Rahmon Fletcher (Senior guard No. 20) - The senior is Green Bay’s leading scorer on the season with over 17 points a game. He has been a consistent scorer his entire collegiate career; he has averaged over 10 points per game over all four seasons. He’s an efficient scorer as well, shooting 49 percent on field goals and 87 percent from the free-throw line this season.
The Bulls will come out of the gates fast and will take an early lead that will be too much for the Phoenix to overcome. Their defense has been tough on opponents and will wear Green Bay down as the game goes on.
Bryquis Perine (Senior guard No. 0) - The senior had a breakout season last year as he increased his scoring average by 10 points. This season, he is averaging 13 points per game, but he has more turnovers than assists. Perine will have trouble against Buffalo’s tough defense. The Bulls will win if… They don’t make too many mistakes. The Bulls have played their best ball in Alumni Arena this season and haven’t scored less than 80 points in any of their three games there. It’s the last game before break, so there should be a very good turnout, making life difficult on the visitors.
Green Bay doesn’t have enough scoring to match the Bulls, and it will show as Buffalo stifles its opponent. Look for another high-scoring, double-digit win for the good guys. Bulls – 83 | Phoenix– 65
CHRIS RAHN Sports Editor
MATTHEW PARRINO
Senior Sports Editor
You’re the Problem Alumni Arena’s maximum capacity is currently 6,100 seats. The average attendance this season for men’s basketball games is currently 1,499 people per game. One word comes to mind when seeing that number – embarrassing. Not every city is lucky enough to have a Division 1-A basketball team that is competitive almost every year and plays in such an accessible location. I can’t think of a city that is as hungry for success in athletic competition as Buffalo is, and yet fans continue to ignore the team that, in my opinion, gives them the best shot for a championship. Bulls head coach Reggie Witherspoon is a local guy who has proven time and time again that all he does is win. Since the 2003-04 season, Witherspoon has only failed to reach 17 wins twice, and in that same stretch he has taken the Bulls to the Mid-American Conference Championship game twice. I know what you’re thinking: “They lost both times.” Well, guess what. Look around the country at successful college basketball programs, and I’ll bet they come equipped with a huge fan base that affects the outcome of every home game they play. Basketball, more than any other sport, can be affected one way or another by fan involvement. Being so close to the action allows fans to let the opposing team hear them and hear exactly what they’re saying throughout the game. I’ll tell you right now that the fans that attend Bulls home games do their job and cheer on the team from whistle to whistle. But 1,499 fans only makes for 25 percent of what the building can hold, and that just isn’t cutting it. To the student body, what are you doing? Are you that busy that you can’t sacrifice two hours of your time to come out and support your school’s team? And it’s not like the football season – sorry head coach Jeff Quinn. The basketball team is good and they’re fun to watch. The freshman class is chock-full of talent, and freshman forward Javon McCrea alone is worth the price of admission, which for students is free. This team plays shut-down defense, blocks shots, shoots the three, and throws down vicious slam-dunks on a nightly basis. If that doesn’t sound like something to invest your time in, then I guess college basketball in Buffalo is a lost cause. The Bulls put a beat down on local rival Niagara on Wednesday night, and Purple Eagles head coach Joe Mihalich called the Bulls one of the best defensive teams his squad would play all season. And that is one coach that has seen his fair share of good basketball teams. Coming into the season, the Bulls were predicted to finish toward the bottom of the MAC, yet they have looked like one of the best Bulls teams since the 2005 team that made it to the MAC Championship. The Bulls lead the MAC in blocks per game (5.75), opposing field goal percentage (39), and scoring margin (+9.1), and they are second in the MAC in scoring defense (62.8), field goal percentage (46), 3-point percentage (35), and steals (10 per game). Led by senior guard Byron Mulkey, the Bulls have a player that every fan, student, or otherwise can appreciate. The kid came to UB on an academic scholarship and is the definition of work ethic. Mulkey is leading the nation in steals with 4.14 per game this season, and he is imploring fans to come out and support the Bulls. “We’ve been doing a pretty good job [this season] on our home floor and we really want people to come out and be a part if it,” Mulkey said. “We continue to work hard day in and day out in practice so we can go out in the games and give people a glimpse of what we do every day…We work hard and enjoy each other, and I think the fans can feel that. I just encourage them to keep coming out.” Your next chance to come out and get a look at the Bulls is on Saturday, when they host Wisconsin-Green Bay (4-5, 1-1 Horizon League) at 2 p.m. Other games over break include No. 18 nationally ranked Brigham Young University (9-0) on Thursday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. and the start of conference play on Saturday, Jan. 8 against Bowling Green (1-8). If you read this whole column and still don’t want to support this team, don’t complain about teams at UB “sucking,” because you’re the reason why. E-mail: matthew.parrino@ubspectrum.com