The Spectrum Volume 62 Issue 26 by The Spectrum Student Periodical

the Independent Student Publication of the University at Buffalo, Since 1950

The S pectrum ubspectrum.com

Volume 62 No. 26

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Car crashes into South Lake

NBA season preview

Story on page 4

Story on page 12

A King fighting to conquer an unruly Queen City R&B musician ‘Michael King’ struggles to become full-time musician ADRIEN D’ANGELO Arts Editor Mike Donohue suspends himself a few inches off of a white carpet while he holds on rigorously. His shoulder is in excruciating pain, still pulsing from the surgery, but he works through it. As he hangs inverted from gymnastics rings in his home in Lockport, he meditates, using the force of his breath to distinguish between his pain and the noise of his thoughts. “Most weeks, I only meditate this way once or twice, but it helps to concentrate on the body and push everything else out of my mind,” Donohue said. Using gymnastics rings is just a part of being a “fitness nut,” according to Donohue. He began doing inverted hangs after suffering a shoulder injury from one particularly rowdy horse that flung him off its saddle during his work as a horse trainer and stable hand in the summer of ’03. Donohue, a 28-year-old part-time UB student and R&B musician, uses a steady regiment of physical and mental workouts to clear a noisy mind. Still, he often wonders why his hometown seems so reluctant to hire him. His struggle with the Buffalo music scene as an R&B musician has tested his patience and his perseverance.

Courtesy of Mike King

Michael Donohue, a part-time UB student and R&B musician, is working to become a known commodity in Buffalo, but it hasn’t been as easy as he thought it would be.

With his first album release now five months old, Donohue is still waiting for the moment when he can list “musician” as his only job title. Donohue, or “Michael King,” and his band step on stage for one of the few gigs he’s had the opportunity to book. It’s a windy September day on UB’s South Cam-

pus and the trees have just started to transition into autumn colors. Donohue looks over at Daniel Ross, the guitar player in the band, through his glasses to cue the start of “Shoegazin’.” The sun hits Donohue’s thin brown chin hairs as he steps toward the mic. “So pardon me for jumping off cue, and coming out of the blue/But I had to write,

even though I know I just met you,” sings Donohue. At 5-foot-9 and meticulous away from the mic, his stature and persona are not indicative of his confident stage presence. Growing up with two sisters, Donohue always felt like he was brainwashed into becoming the ideal boyfriend. His father, Barry Donohue, a self-employed lawyer, worked frequently and his absence led Donohue to become a “momma’s boy.” But Donohue was not always the shy, passive type. “I was a choir boy until I went to a school that didn’t have music and then just fought everybody,” Donohue said. “I guess that was my outlet once I couldn’t sing.” Donohue, a quarterback in high school, started hanging out with his future Canisius High School football teammates the summer before his freshman year. A few of these acquaintances were Buffalo gang members. “That was one of the big turns I know in life,” Donohue said. “[We] just kind of ran the streets.” Two years later, Donohue was out drinking with his defensive line acquaintances. They found themselves at Grover Cleveland Golf Course across the street from South Campus. Armed with drunken ambition, they yelled into the darkness, ripped up the greens, threw away the cones and decimated the ball-washing machines.

The haunting past of Harriman Hall

UB alum arrested for marijuana candy

UB PARA encounters ghost on South Campus RACHEL RAIMONDI Staff Writer “Jacob” and room 303. UB Paranormal Activity Research Association (UB PARA) will never forget the two. The group believes it contacted a ghost on Thursday night. In its latest ghost hunt, the club investigated Harriman Hall and found clues it thinks suggest the building has a haunted past. In the basement lounge, the club’s ghost radar produced the word “Jacob” and then “dangerous” immediately after. Blips that club members believe indicate the presence of spirits came up on the radar. Andrew Schop, a sophomore business major and treasurer of UB PARA, said he saw a shadow peeking around the corner of the staircase. Other clues came up on the radar as well: “Christian,” “king” and “Kepler.” A club member used his iPhone to research the words and their relation. He came up with Susan Kepler from Buffalo. “Oddly enough, there will be a memorial service for her in King James Christian Cemetery this week,” Schop said. The group often goes into investigations with no previous knowledge of common myths and histories. They investigate for clues and put it together later. Part of the investigation involves the use of Electromagnetic Field (EMF) readers, which gauge

an area’s surrounding energy levels. By the stairs where they saw the shadow, the meter jumped from 200 to over 400. The spike in energy levels could indicate the presence of a spirit, but it was likely exposed wires that triggered the EMF reader, Schop said. Still, the group did not feel comfortable on the staircase. Hannah Carrasco, a freshman biomedical engineering major, said the area gave her a bad feeling in her gut. She warned the others, “Don’t go there.” Carrasco had the same feeling when the group went to the attic to contact “Jacob.” At the top of the stairs, they found three large, dark wooden doors. One stood out to them: Room 303. The club members took turns going to the attic because they believe large groups of people deter spirits. Nicole Davis, a senior anthropology major and UB PARA’s president, led the first group. Members said they got a lot of activity. Davis said she heard a voice. “We saw a light on under the door,” Davis said. “When we went in, I heard, ‘Oh sorry.’” The club members initially thought the voice came from a janitor and left, fearing they would get in trouble. They then decided to explain themselves and tell the janitor why they were there after hours. But when the group went back to the room, no one was there.

Continued on page 9

LISA KHOURY Senior News Editor

Satsuki Aoi/// The Spectrum

The UB Paranormal Activity Research Association believes it contacted a ghost Thursday night in Harriman Hall.

The Maglite flashlights proved otherwise. Maglites light up when two circuits are connected. UB PARA uses Maglites to detect the presence of spirits. The group hopes spirits will cross the circuits and – with their own energy – turn the light on. When the spirits pull back their energy the light will go

off, according to club members. In the attic, the students asked “Jacob” to indicate his answers to yes or no questions by manipulating a flashlight. They received a response right away. Continued on page 9

The Buffalo Police Department (BPD) discovered chocolate-flavored marijuana, hard candy containing marijuana, 640 “Jolly Lolly” marijuana lollipops and 5 pounds of regular marijuana at UB alum Alexander Zito’s home, The Buffalo News reported. UB students were also at Zito’s house. BPD also found $13,000 in cash, hashish and crack cocaine. Zito was charged with felony possession of marijuana and cocaine. BPD raided the 26-year-old’s sixth-floor apartment on the 600 block of Delaware and found students “extremely high.” One student was so high police “thought he was going to pass out,” according to The News. Some students said Zito told them he owns a medical marijuana dispensary in California, and The News reported Zito’s business cards stated he was the proprietor of a medical marijuana shop in San Diego. Zito told officers he was unemployed for two or three years, but police found records showing his rent was paid for the next six months. The furniture in his apartment was brand new, according to The News. Zito told officers he plans to return to UB for a master’s degree. Zito’s major is listed as “Hero of the World” in UB’s online directory. Email: news@ubspectrum.com

Inside

Opinion 3 News 4

Life 7

Arts & Entertainment 8-10

Classifieds & Daily Delights 11

Sports 12

ubspectrum.com

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Opinion

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 ubspectrum.com

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in Chief Aaron Mansfield Senior Managing Editor Brian Josephs Managing Editor Rebecca Bratek 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 Keren Baruch 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.

October, 31, 2012 Volume 62 Number 26 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.

Media manipulation Calm before the storm Fake Romney photo reinforces the need for fact checking Last week, The Tufts Daily, the independent student newspaper of Tufts University, published an editorial titled “Photo release should serve as a warning.” The gist of the piece was that a recently released photo of Mitt Romney mocking gay high school classmates shows the times we are living in and should serve as a warning of Mitt Romney’s character. There was one big problem with the editorial: the photo was a fake. In fact, it wasn’t just a single Photoshopped picture making the rounds and grabbing laughs; it was part of a large spread Vanity Fair produced in its humor section. The student paper failed to fact-check, but it wasn’t alone – so did the rest of the world, it seems. The photo captioned “Uproarious old Mitt does his best Liberace!” was a big hit on the Internet, and even bloggers from The Huffington Post and Politico were fooled by the manipulation. With one search on Twitter, you’ll find there are a few stragglers who haven’t heard the news yet. The viral spread of the photo is a far better sign of the times and our character. In the social-media age, honesty sometimes feels like an oxymoron. There’s a lot of danger with a website like Twitter, especially if it’s just one photo circulating from the Vanity Fair gallery instead of the whole set. Unless you really want to make sure you’re not making a fool out of yourself before posting, you’re not going to look at that photo and say, “Something doesn’t look right here.” It looks natural. Having the gallery out in front of you is a different story, especially if it has a giant “humor” label at the top of the page. But with Twitter, you see 140 characters at a time and one picture at a time. This situation is revealing of us as a whole. It doesn’t matter if something is right or wrong or is a parody; if it reinforces how we feel about somebody, we’re going to take it and run with it. The picture backs up a lot of opinions felt and stories told about Romney, and

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this photo gave physical evidence to those who wanted it. It’s just that the evidence wasn’t real. This election is receiving so much attention that everything is going to be heavily scrutinized. We need to be careful of that, especially in the remaining week. All undecided voters are looking for little things to swing them to a side, so a photo with this much attention is going to add to the fodder. Few bothered to check to see if that photo was real, and obviously nobody on the Tufts Daily e-board could verify its validity. An editorial is just an opinion, but it is the opinion of the entire paper. The mistake takes away some credibility from a great paper with that piece, an article that sought to reveal the “real Romney” and turned him from the bully into the bullied. Additionally, The Tufts Daily took down the editorial, so catching it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time (though the tweet that promotes the piece is still online). Ethically, Tufts Daily is in the wrong. Right or wrong, once published, it’s fair game. The newspaper violated that rule. The editors are trying to cover up their mistake. It’s important that we’re not too trusting of each other as journalists and as news sources. Whether it is an effort to get things out before anybody else or whether it comes from personal bias, there is always going to be misinformation floating around (as we saw this summer when several media outlets misreported the Supreme Court’s health reform decision). It’s the danger of taking a side as a journalist, too. Everything you do after making a major mistake is going to be skewed and looked at in a new light. We have to keep questioning and saying “something doesn’t look right here,” or that cycle of misinformation – whether it’s coming from Twitter, a student paper or a major news source – is just going to be fed. Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

Despite Romney’s intentions, FEMA needs to remain part of national funding The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) might have to lose the “federal” from its name if Mitt Romney gets elected. The organization – known for preparing for national disasters, deciding where rescuers and supplies go and determining how survivors should be assisted – might receive major cuts in the next few years depending on who gets the top seat in the executive branch. Multiple news sources went back into their archives this week to last year’s GOP debate, where Mitt Romney was questioned about his intent to cut federal programs including FEMA. He said: “it is simply immoral, in my view, for us to continue to rack up larger and larger debts and pass them on to our kids.” He also mentioned it would be better if we sent all responsibilities of the federal government, including the tasks of FEMA, to the private sector. Fast forward to Oct. 2012 and the nation’s East Coast is underwater. Yet on Sunday, a Romney official reaffirmed the former governor’s position, stating: “Gov. Romney wants to ensure states, who are the first responders and are in the best position to aid impacted individuals and communities, have the resources and assistance they need to cope with natural disasters.” Cars are floating on the streets of New York, and Romney still wants to privatize disaster response. Some things must be left to the states rather than Washington; emergency response to disaster is not one of them. With deregulation of FEMA, we would essentially have 50 individual centers of natural disaster aid. Imagine Hurricane Sandy with FEMA under solely state aid. Sandy leaves NYC with its disaster, but the rest of the state can’t help it because it’s too worried about its own planning and preparation. Sandy has directly affected at least 13 states so far. It affects a large portion of our landscape, and the effect reaches even further with fami-

lies and friends in different cities, states and countries. It takes away the hands from other states if you leave the power to the states on this one. Even with the tremendous help of FEMA, the affected states will need as much help from the unaffected states as they can spare. Something the national government has learned from agencies like FEMA is how to approach the situation, which has taken years of past mistakes and experiences. After the disaster incurred by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which was the most obvious example of poor federal and state coordination and even poorer management, it would be fair to expect a better disaster response with Sandy. Instead, it seems the GOP plans to take the power out of the National Response Coordination Center (again, national) and its major branch, FEMA. It’s unthinkable that any state might not get the help it needs from its government in a time when it needs it most. It’s questionable if Romney understands there are actual people involved – the same people he’s worried about protecting the future for – considering he wants to deregulate something that could help them. It’s worrisome that Romney keeps getting all these little tests, such as the attacks on Benghazi and now Sandy, to see what he will do if he is in charge. Have his answers – answers that are poorly timed – to these tests been sufficient? Romney is a man who is all about business, willing to make some sacrifices and to shift some numbers around. But he has yet to figure out how to take his broad plans and apply them to actual instances. Cutting aid to FEMA is something that affects the people he’s asking to vote for him, the people he’s asking to trust him with their country and lives. Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

Far from home

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A New Yorker stuck in Buffalo reflects on Hurricane Sandy BEN TARHAN News Editor Since I was 9 years old, I have thought Sept. 11 would be the worst disaster New York City would go through in my lifetime. Although I didn’t quite comprehend the events of 9/11 at the time, I remember enough of it – as I have grown up, I have been able to retain it. Then again, how could I forget? On Tuesday night, as I watched the devastation Hurricane Sandy brought to New York City, I got a familiar feeling. It took a phone call to my parents before I realized Sandy wasn’t going to be like Irene was last August. This was a lot more serious. Although my Brooklyn home is on high ground, my parents’ and friends’ descriptions of events transpiring around the city left me feeling empty and helpless. My best friend was the first person I contacted after I called my parents. Although he is away at school, his house sits on the cusp of the Zone A evacuation area. His father was staying in a hotel in Manhattan so he could

get to work. But his mother and two younger brothers were stuck at home, with water rising in their basement and a tree on top of their garage. That was when it really hit me. I turned on the news and saw images of familiar areas that were nearly unrecognizable. A shot taken from downtown was the picture that hit me hardest. The photo was taken facing north and highlighted the line where Con Ed – an electric, gas and steam service to NYC – shut the power off. The Empire State Building and the surrounding area were lit up, but from 36th St. south, all the buildings were dark. It only got worse when I started reading Facebook statuses. Breezy Point, Queens – where a good number of my high school classmates are from – was flooded and then set on fire by exploding transistors when the rain stopped. More than 80 houses burned down. Almost an entire community was leveled in fewer than 48 hours. Unbelievable. Rockaway, not far from Breezy Point, where even more of my high school classmates live, was flooded above the first story. Families were cowering in attics, similar to what happened in Hurricane Katrina.

The damage I was seeing resembled the movie The Day After Tomorrow, and as my mom continued to relay more news, she kept repeating: “It’s like a disaster movie out there.” This is something no New Yorker has ever imagined. Manhattan was never shut down like this before. By Tuesday night, every bridge and tunnel that connects Manhattan to Long Island and New Jersey was closed. My grandfather, who grew up in Brooklyn and lived through the unnamed hurricane of 1938 that ravaged Long Island and New England, can’t recall NYC being this locked down or any storm afflicting the city with this much damage. Despite the huge disconnect between the severity of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy, the images resemble what we saw seven years ago in New Orleans –streets flooded, houses underwater. Although the water levels did not rise as high as they did in New Orleans, no one expected them to get as high as they have. I understand people who aren’t from New York City are brushing it off as a disaster that doesn’t affect them. The places probably mean nothing to them. Every report is just another nameless place that has been filled up with a bit of water.

But for too many people, this is reality now – not just for people in the city, but also for UB’s huge population of students from NYC and Long Island. As Sandy continues to move inland – seemingly targeting Buffalo – my mind is in a completely different place. The images of devastation do not stop. My childhood summer getaway – Fire Island – is completely submerged in water. The accounts of what’s happening in NYC have humbled my Buffalonian arrogance that the bad weather here outweighs any weather downstate. The constant rain over the past few days in Buffalo seems miniscule compared to the widespread destruction experienced in the southern boroughs. While watching the rain, wind and flooding, my initial reaction was relief that I was far away. My calculated reaction was much different. I realized the only thing worse than riding the storm out with my friends and family was watching from 400 miles away. I feel helpless. Email: ben.tarhan@ubspectrum.com

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 ubspectrum.com

News South Campus’ hidden treasures A rich medical history is within its walls

ERIN MAYNARD Staff Writer Shana Wirechowski thought showing her parents a room full of human brains was the best way to introduce them to UB. On Wednesday, Oct. 24, Wierchowski, a first-year medical student, toured the Museum of Neuroanatomy with her parents. The building, also known as the Brain Museum, is part of the Hidden Treasures of the South Campus: Walk Into History tour. “People just want to see what a human brain looks like,” said Chris Cohan, a pathology and anatomical sciences professor. “Photographs in books just aren’t the same. We use the brains in a very technical way for the medical students and even for residents, but also in a very different way for other visitors.” Cohan said the tour is an opportunity for people to marvel at the brain. The event was an exposition of special collections housed in the buildings of South Campus. The collections trace the history of medicine, pharmacy and dentistry and focus on the relationship between the healthcare fields and the university, as well as the city of Buffalo and the surrounding area. The museums are about more than just brains. Wednesday’s tour focused on the evolution of prescription medicine. The event was coordinated by the Robert L. Brown History of the Health Sciences Collection in Abbott Hall and included the historical collections from the School of Nursing in Wende Hall and the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Kapoor Hall. “I thought it would be a good way to have my parents see the campus,” Wierchowski said. “It’s more interesting when there’s something to do – more interesting than just pointing out the buildings.”

Erin Maynard /// The Spectrum

These medications – which can be seen at the Robert L. Brown History of Health Sciences collection – were used for constipation and sweetening. However, they were poisonous or dangerous, including the medication on the left, which contains strychnine – commonly used in rat poison.

The collections include a full-scale apothecary in Kapoor Hall, a replica of a 1900s dental office in Squire Hall and several dental implements patented by Buffalo natives. There is a World War II portable military X-ray unit at the Museum of Radiology and, at the Museum of Neuroanatomy, guests can handle a human brain. Visitors can also go to Abbott Hall for “History Meets Medicine: An Informal Panel Discussion” featuring James Bono, chair of the history department; Michael Rembis, director of the Center for Disability Studies; and David L. Herzberg, an assistant history professor. “We’ve tried various ways to increase the profiles of the various campus museums,” said Linda A. Lohr, manager of the Robert L. Brown History of the Health Sciences Collection. “Most of these collections are labors of love for the curators.” Some students use the Brain Museum as they work toward their medical-related degrees. But the brain exhibit is not just for future doctors, according to Cohan.

The Neuroanatomy Museum collection includes approximately 80 specimens. Some brains exhibit diseases like Alzheimer’s or various malformations. Lohr said the museums have steady traffic from offcampus visitors because of the educational outreach work the museums do, but she wishes more UB students visited. Students from South Campus may be drawn to Kapoor Hall because of its Tim Hortons but are fascinated by the turn-of-the-century apothecary installed to attract visitors, said Cindy F. Konovitz, director of the apothecary and artifacts at the School of Pharmacy. “Not many people know about the apothecary,” Konovitz said. “But when Kapoor Hall was designed, special thought was given to displaying the historical exhibits we have here.” On Wednesday, Rembis discussed the importance of studying the patients themselves, going beyond their available medical records. “They were mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, daughters, sons,” Rembis said. “They were people of the community, and we need to think of them in more complex ways.” Bono spoke about the importance of the history of medicine for medical humanities. The panel challenged its audience to think about the interconnectedness of medicine, history, society, culture and communication. Lohr said people chart the future by exploring the past. She wants people to visit South Campus medical museums to gain a better perspective of present-day medicine by understanding its origins. The Brown Collection is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other museums should be called in advance to secure an appointment to visit, as times vary.

REBECCA BRATEK /// The Spectrum

Anna Schimpf, an 18-year-old from Wayne County, crashed her white SUV into South Lake at approximately 7 p.m. on Sunday. She was able to swim to safety, and she faces Amherst Town Court in the coming week.

Car crashes into South Lake, driver is OK AARON MANSFIELD Editor in Chief Anna Schimpf was visiting her friend at UB when she crashed her white SUV into South Lake, the body of water adjacent to South Lake Village on UB’s North Campus, at approximately 7 p.m. Sunday. The 18-year-old from Wayne County opened her car door and swam to safety. University Police Department (UPD) Lieutenant David Urbanek was on the scene and said she was 100 percent all right. She was not transported to the hospital. Schimpf did not lose control of her car or spin out but drove straight into the lake. “For whatever reason, she continued across the lawn through the guardwire adjacent to the pole and into the water,” Urbanek said. “The person is not injured. She opened the door, got out and is not injured – just wet.” Cold-water divers were on scene to pull the vehicle out of the water. “Her speed from the video is way too fast for that turn,” said UPD Lieutenant Joshua Sticht.

The speed limit on St. Rita’s Lane, the road adjacent to South Lake, is 15 miles per hour. “That low speed limit was set mostly because there are so many pedestrians, bicyclists, children in proximity to the bike path,” Urbanek said. “That’s why the speed limit is so low. There are no signs of any intoxication or use of any substances whatsoever.” The Getzville Fire Department was on scene, along an environmental health and safety unit to look at the environmental impact of any fluids that may have leaked into the waterway. “Thank goodness we were alerted to this by students in South Lake Village,” Urbanek said. “We can’t say how thankful [we are]. This could have been a tragedy. We’re still putting the whole thing together.” Schimpf was issued tickets for speeding, unsafe lane change and ignoring a traffic control device on campus. She will attend Amherst Town Court in the coming week. Email: news@ubspectrum.com

Email: news@ubspectrum.com

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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Students worry about Sandy’s impact RACHEL KRAMER Senior Life Editor While Hurricane Sandy is making its way toward UB, it has left a destructive path behind, affecting the homes and families of many students. According to the Weather Channel, there are around 8 million people without power on Long Island as of mid-afternoon on Oct. 29. Many students from New York City and Long Island are having difficulty getting in contact with their families back home due to power outages and broken phone lines. Students are thankful for texting. Sandi Katz, a freshman psychology and human services major from Lindenhurst, N.Y. hasn’t spoke to her family in over 10 hours. Her family has been without power for over 24 hours, and all the cell phones have since died. “I hope my family is safe, but I’m really worried because I can’t get in touch with half of my friends at home, and the news is just making it worse because they keep focusing on my town,” Katz said. The last thing she heard from her mom was the roof was starting to fall off her house. She said her mom was reluctant to tell her anything that was going on. Katz wishes she were on Long Island with her family. “I want to be there for them to fathom how horrible it really is,” Katz said. “I’m worried.” The only updates Katz gets come from various news sources and Facebook, which she knows may not be entirely reliable. After hearing about the damage on Long Island, she is only slightly worried about the storm coming to UB. She doesn’t think it will be as dangerous. Matt Lanz, a sophomore accounting major from Jericho, N.Y., is concerned for his family, but is hopeful everything will be okay. He has been communicating with his mother through text messaging because the power has been out since yesterday, and she is ensuring him the family and his house is fine. Lanz is still stressed. The pictures online are only making it worse. “I have [seen them] and it hits home, in a way,” Lanz said. “I never really expected this to ever happen and seeing the places I’ve been to so damaged is terrible.” Ilana Saffeir, a sophomore occupational therapy major and resident of Commack, N.Y., agrees. Her mother

Alec Frazier /// The Spectrum

Himanshu Grover oversees the Great Lakes Protection Program.

UB joins 20 universities to preserve the Great Lakes

Courtesy of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Hurricane Sandy has already caused massive damage in New York City and Long Island as it makes its way to Buffalo

sent her a picture of her grandpa’s house in Jericho, N.Y., which has a tree sticking through the ceiling. Another picture exposed a tree crushing his car. “It’s hard to see and believe, but it’s even harder to think that I am not there with them, helping my family through this,” Saffeir said. Her family didn’t lose power because their wires are entirely underground. She is able to call her parents for updates. They informed her everyone is fine and they have stocked up enough food to last a long time. According to ready.gov/hurricanes, it is important to stock up on essentials such as water bottles and canned food. They also suggest setting the refrigerator to the coldest setting to prepare for a power outage. This gives the food contained a few extra days of freshness after the electricity goes out. Andrew Nash’s, a sophomore biological science major and resident of Pawling, N.Y,. family was prepared for the power outages. They bought a generator and candles. “They have been mostly using the generator, but my mom’s always prepared to use her vanilla and pine scented candles for any occasion or excuse to use them before

2012

NOVEMBER 12-16

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Arab Spring IN FOCUS

UB conducts research with Canadian and American colleges in Great Lakes Futures Project

Christmas,” Nash said. The power has been going on and off throughout the storm, and Nash has been communicating with them mostly through texting. He is thankful he lives on a hill, so there is no danger of flooding. He is also thankful his family isn’t on Long Island. “I can’t believe the pictures I’ve seen from Long Island, it’s just unbelievable to see such massive change due to weather somewhere so close to where I live,” Nash said. “The clean up will be an incredible task to face once Sandy passes.” Matthew Bancone, a sophomore exercise science major and native resident of Mineola, N.Y., feels lucky. His family is safe and his house isn’t flooded yet, even though water is running rapidly through the streets outside his house. He maintains communication with his family on Long Island through texting, and they still don’t have power. Hurricane Sandy is predicted to hit Buffalo Wednesday, Oct. 31, according to the Doppler radar on weather.com.

SAM FERNANDO Staff Writer

Email: features@ubspectrum.com

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UB is forming an international collaboration to preserve the world’s largest group of freshwater lakes. Kathryn Friedman, a law and policy professor and director of cross-border and international research, is co-leading the Great Lakes Futures Project. Formed in September with 20 universities from the United States and Canada, it will protect and preserve the future of the Great Lakes and their surrounding region. Friedman plans to strengthen the project to promote environmental policy change for the Great Lakes in both Canada and the United States. She is serving on the leadership team with Irena Creed of the University of Western Ontario; Gail Krantzberg of McMaster University; and Donald Scavia, director of the Graham Institute at the University of Michigan. “This is an unprecedented collaboration of U.S. and Canadian academics, governments, nongovernment organizations, industry and private citizens,” said Himanshu Grover, an assistant professor in the department of urban and regional planning. Friedman said the Great Lakes Futures Project is strong scientifically but lacks in the “law and policy side.” She plans to use her expertise in law to further the project. “I am offering a different lens through which to examine Great Lakes issues,” Friedman said in an email. “This series of workshops represent the first time that science and policy researchers are putting their collective heads together on such a large scale to tackle the myriad issues confronting the Great Lakes.” According to Friedman, the project gained support from 21 research organizations and 27 research mentors. Twenty graduate students from the United States and Canada will be responsible for colContinued on page 6

Tuesday, November 13 • 7:00 p.m. Student Union Theater, North Campus

“Goodbye Mubarak!” (2011) On January 25, 2011, the world was captivated as thousands of protesters flooded Tahrir Square in Cairo. But the foundation for the protests had been laid before the mass outpouring of opposition. “Goodbye Mubarak!” reveals a revolution-inwaiting already simmering under the surface of Egyptian society one year before the protests.

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Continued from page 8: Madea’s criminal investigation unit villain, played by an unrecognizable Matthew Fox (Emperor). Fox has a long list of noticeable roles, but none have come close to this. He is petite in stature but has bulk muscles and snake-like veins running over his body. He observes human nature in disgust and uses this hatred to drive his murders. But, alas, a plain script ruins Fox’s character. After murdering a victim, he leaves behind a painting as a clue for the police about his next victim and is dubbed “Picasso.” There’s nothing logical about Picasso’s attempt to aid his pursuers because no murderer on Earth would lend his pursuers a cheat code of his plans. This is just another attempt to spice up a dead plot. Cross and company are, of course, assigned the Picasso case, and Cross quickly makes sense of the clues. The relationship between Cross and Picasso becomes minimally engaging, especially when they dispute about psychoanalysis. Their dialogue against each other is all right, but the action scenes are too blurry and obscure to work. Among other reasons, the main issue with Alex Cross is that it takes itself too seriously. The preposterous action scenes aren’t an issue because action filmmakers always ignore their physics lessons. A crime thriller needs to embrace its absurdity and allow everyone involved to have fun. But fun is the worst adjective to describe Alex Cross – both the movie and the character.

Perry doesn’t have the charisma to be an action star. Because of his comedic status, he buckled down too much and unintentionally gave his character the personality of a statue. He always looks nervous, and he monotones his dialogue just enough to get past each scene. Perry never gives anyone a reason to believe what he says or does, perhaps because he doesn’t believe it himself. It’s tough to blame director Rob Cohen (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor) for the catastrophe. He previously made The Fast and the Furious and Dragonheart, two films that remained self-aware and confident in the preposterous material. Cohen seems like an ideal choice for an action extravaganza like this, but his direction shows he didn’t enjoy himself making this film. And if the filmmaker doesn’t have fun, then the audience suffers and doesn’t have fun either. Alex Cross never detaches itself from being generic. This is the kind of film that moves its plot predictably from A-Z with nothing memorable in between for the audience to absorb. Action movies aren’t supposed to teach lessons, but they should at least try to stand out from the countless other entries in the genre. Alex Cross will be caught in the mix and forgotten about within a year. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Continued from page 5: UB joins 20 universities to preserve the Great Lakes lecting and analyzi ng data and developing research assessment papers under the guidance of research mentors, like Grover. The students will use scenario analyses, a process in which researchers look at past and current conditions and factors of a situation, in order to theoretically project the situation’s future. The students will use data from the past 50 years to assess the changes over the next 50 years of eight areas in particular: climate change, energy, water quantity, biological and chemical contaminants, invasive species, governance and geopolitics, demographics and societal values and the economy. Grover will help two graduate students, one from UB and one from Canada, conduct research, collect data and create an assessment for Friedman and leaders. “This is an excellent opportunity for these students to analyze real world data and be involved with research that directly impacts their lives,” Grover said in an email. These assessments will then be presented to government officials as “policy briefs” to potential-

ly implement change to improve the future of the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Program and the Transborder Research University Network (TRUN) helped form the Great Lakes Futures Project. UB has been involved with the Great Lakes Program since 1985. President Satish Tripathi helped found TRUN in 2008. TRUN is a collaborative network of universities in both the United States and Canada that has great influence on the direction of the Great Lakes Program. The Great Lakes Futures Project was made possible by an amendment to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. In 1972, Canada and the United States signed the agreement to address critical environmental health issues in the Great Lakes region, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). On Sept. 7, both countries amended the agreement so it “facilitates United States and Canadian action on threats to Great Lakes water quality and includes measures to prevent ecological harm,”

according to the EPA. Friedman also said the Great Lakes Futures Project propels UB’s reputation even further as an international leader in research; it allows UB to create beneficial connections with other universities. Scavia said it is time to start preparing a sustainable future for the environment. He believes the Great Lakes Futures Project does just that. “I am really excited to see the major research universities on both sides of the border take on this really important issue,” Scavia said. “Stepping back and taking stock on what has happened over the past 50 years and taking a new look at where we are, or should be going, is critical at this point in time.” Although much of the research is already underway, the project is officially set to begin in Jan. 2013 at a workshop at the University of Michigan. Email: news@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 7: SpaceVision conference makes UB history interacting with the people who are associated with companies such as NASA are very important. According to Dan Pastuf, adviser of SEDS, around 25 NASA representatives will be attending the conference as keynote speakers. “This is a great networking opportunity,” Dianetti said. “There are hundreds of students around the country coming to Buffalo. It’s a great opportunity to meet the people in the companies in which students hope to work.” There are major expectations UB SEDS hopes to reach. According to Coffed, in past years there have been anywhere from 200-500 people attending the conference, and a large turn out would be great for the Queen City. “I hope that this will be one of the best conferences yet. I hope it raises the bar for SEDS USA,”

Pastuf said. “I want people to become more aware of the organization and the challenges that the space flight industry face and what issues the industry faces and what we, as a country, can do to advance us into the future.” Dianetti said the main goal of this year’s conference is building the future of the space industry and building the future leaders of the industry. The space industry is at a point of transition, and there are a lot of opportunities that not many people are aware of, Dianetti said. “I want this conference to get students, in general, interested in space and ready to try and make a difference in our space efforts,” Dianetti said. “I hope to bring that excitement and that energy to Buffalo.”

There will be a multitude of unique ideas that will be brought to SpaceVision because there are many people from different backgrounds attending the conference “These people have made the mistakes. They have stories to tell and the experiences to share and, that, I believe is the most beneficial,” Dianetti said. “There are tons of things that you learn when talking to these people. Some academically focused, but some of them are not at all what I would learn in an engineering class. You learn about life lessons and hear people’s actual life experiences.” Email: features@ubspectrum.com

Tuesday Nov. 6th & Wednesday Nov. 7th 2012 9 AM—3 PM Student Union Social Hall North Campus Thursday Nov. 8th & Friday Nov. 9th, 2012 9 AM—3 PM Biomedical Education Building Lobby South Campus

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 ubspectrum.com

Life

Courtesy of Flickr user plumandjello

Courtesy of UB SEDS

UB Students for the Exploration and Development of Space will host this year's national SpaceVision conference at the Buffalo Convention center. The convention will bring students from around the country to Buffalo, along with NASA representatives as keynote speakers.

Students of Mary Beth Debus’ COM 317 class will be stepping out of the classroom to plan a health fair at Public School 30.

SpaceVision conference makes UB history

Promoting healthy living in the Buffalo community

CHELSEA SULLIVAN Staff Writer Space lovers’ dreams will be fulfilled in Buffalo this November. Soon, NASA employees will be walking around UB. Every year the national club, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS), hosts a conference titled SpaceVision. Every one of the 34 SEDS chapters throughout the nation applies in hopes of being chosen to host the conference. For the first time, UB has been selected and will be hosting SpaceVision from Nov. 8-11. “This is the biggest engineering conference that UB has ever seen or ever will see again for [probably] the next 10 years,” said Steven Coffed, sophomore airspace and mechanical engineer major. Since Oct. 2011, when SEDS found out it would be hosting the conference, the team has been working together to ensure the conference is a success.

According to Andrew Dianetti, a senior aerospace and mechanical engineer major and conference chair, it is important to know how to network and connect with others. “The organization does have some connections to past speakers and people in the industry, and they help you get in contact with people,” Dianetti said. “The first [step] would be to write up invite letters to explain what the conference is trying to accomplish and email the letter to all the people you’d want to come to the conference.” The event is four days long and approximately 50-60 people will be speaking throughout the four days of the conference. Not only will there be panel talks but also keynote addresses, a banquet, workshops and other networking events. “The conference enables you to rub elbows with the people that are going to hire you some day. It’s not a representative of the company or someone who works for the company – it’s the people who run it all,” Coffed said. The theme of this year’s SpaceVision conference is “Crossroads: How Our Generation Will Take Us To the Space Frontier.” Students Continued on page 6

SAMANTHA OLIVIA YUEN-MAK Staff Writer Buffalo students have started to step out of the college classroom and back into the elementary school classroom. The Buffalo Public School District reached out to Mary Beth Debus and her communication students and requested help planning a health fair at Public School 30. Debus teaches the Professional Business in Communication (COM 317) class. One of her goals for the semester is to have students work together to plan events that involve family engagement within the Buffalo community. The health fair was requested by Public School 30 an efforts to teach students and their family members who have immigrated to America the benefits and wellness of being healthy. In past years, the class has helped plan carnivals, school dances and Thanksgiving-themed events. Debus

feels that the students should have a lot of flexibility in their planning. Early in the semester, she taught her class how to write cover letters, resumes and interviewing skills. After conveying these different skill sets to the students, Debus posted wanted ads on UBlearns so her students can apply for a position in one of the six non-profit departments. Each student submits a professional cover letter and resume, and they are interviewed by Debus one on one. This interview process is how students are selected for their role in the project. The six different departments in the class project include marketing and public relations, procurement, finance, inventory, planning and logistics and a creative department. Kevin Diver, a senior communication major, described the class as a very unique experience. “Obviously as a communication major I’ve been in a ton of group projContinued on page 10

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Arts & Entertainment

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 ubspectrum.com

A ‘swell’ movie

MAX CRINNIN Staff Writer

Courtesy of Summit Entertainment

Madea’s criminal investigation unit JAKE KNOTT Staff Writer Film: Alex Cross Release Date: Oct. 19 Studio: QED International Grade: CDr. Alex Cross is an investigating Swiss Army knife – he takes one glance at the aftermath of a crime scene and can calculate how many culprits were involved, which weapons the criminals used and how the crime occurred step by step. He’s an overdramatic movie detective who can determine his wife’s pregnancy by spotting a coffee stain on her blouse. If real-life criminal investigation units had prophets like Dr. Cross, many criminals would settle for early retirement. He must’ve been the FBI’s valedictorian; he is

as advanced in solving mysteries as Liam Neeson’s Taken character is at capturing sex traffickers. Unfortunately, this film never allows for its audience to suspend belief like the Taken series. Alex Cross acts like an ordinary TV crime drama that’s disguised as a 90-minute feature film, containing all of the regular character archetypes, car explosions, insane ex-military villains and off-the-shelf masculine one-liners. Cross (Tyler Perry, Madea’s Witness Protection) has pursued an FBI career in Washington, D.C. his whole life. But his hesitant wife, Maria (Carmen Ejogo, Sparkle), doesn’t want to disrupt their family’s routine because that’s what movie housewives are contractually obligated to do. Maybe one day, Hollywood will open its shades and realize women don’t specifically exist to inconvenience the aspirations of men. But Alex Cross isn’t marginally short of entertainment – it at least provided a worthy Continued on page 6

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Movie: Chasing Mavericks Release Date: Oct. 26 Studio: 20th Century Fox Grade: A To surf a wave in Mavericks, you need to be able to hold your breath for four minutes. You need to have the strength it takes to paddle for over 30 miles. And most importantly, you need to be the master of your deepest fears. Chasing Mavericks brings audiences a wave of emotion and all the excitement of big wave surf action. In an area that Hollywood rarely explores, big wave surfing hits the big screen in this movie with brilliant sequences of the notorious Mavericks surf break in the cold waters of Northern California. In addition to the nailbiting scenes of brave surfers taking on Mavs, comes the heart-wrenching tale of a boy and his passion for life. The film is based loosely on the true story of surfing legend Jay Moriarty (John Weston, Under The Bed), who died at the age of 22 in a free diving accident. Moriarty left behind countless impressions on others through his aloha spirit, encouraging people to enjoy life while respecting each other and the ocean – a true waterman. After his death, “live like Jay” became a common phrase within both the surf community and Moriarty’s hometown of Santa Cruz, Calif. Every

Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

year, a big wave surf contest aptly named “The Jay” is held at Mavericks in Half Moon Bay, Calif. Director Curtis Hanson (Too Big To Fail) did an excellent job of casting Weston for the part of Jay, as he is full of the vitality and spirit the real Jay Moriarty so famously embodied. Hanson also makes his film a success by balancing an emotional story with the action an audience expects from a film about big wave surfing. In the film, Jay is a 15-year-old who has always had a passion for surfing. It is his curiosity and love for the sport that causes him to discover Mavericks by chance. Jay is then coached by the reluctant Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler, Machine Gun Preacher), a local surf guru and Mavericks pioneer, who eventually became the father Jay never had. The film deals with serious emotional blows when exploring the rough past of both Jay and Frosty. As the characters deal with loss and hardship, they break up against each other like waves on the rocks and find strength in each other’s friendship.

While both characters face their separate demons, Jay and Frosty also rely a great deal on the women in their lives. The film includes two good love stories that interweave beautifully. One aspect of the film that stays true to Jay Moriarty’s life is the portrayal of his wife and high school sweetheart, Kim (Leven Rambin, The Hunger Games). The film is truly about the connections that people make in an effort to tackle their fears and overcome struggle. Frosty teaches Jay how to perfect the four pillars that are necessary for surviving Mavericks, but more importantly for surviving life: mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. This film is a journey that will inspire audiences to seek improvement and excellence in all four pillars of their own lives. While it may also spur a new interest in surfing, audiences should try something smaller than Mavericks. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Continued from page 1: A King fighting to conquer an unruly Queen City

Courtesy of Jason Vieaux

Classical guitarist Jason Vieaux held a master class at UB last Saturday and gave sound advice to some of UB's up-and-coming muscians.

A master class with Jason Vieaux SHU YEE RACHEL LIM Staff Writer The late morning rain couldn’t damper the inner acoustics of the Baird Recital Hall. Around 10 people gathered to listen – not just to music, but also to advice. Last Saturday, 39-year-old classical guitarist Jason Vieaux conducted a master class where he listened to three UB musicians and coached them on their respective skills. This came a day after his performance with harpist Yolanda Kondonassis at UB’s Slee Hall. Zane Merritt, UB’s guitar instructor and current Ph.D. student in music composition, performed “Fuga” from Violin Sonata No. 3 in C by J.S. Bach. With his left foot propped on a footstool, Merritt was all soul as he strummed and plucked his guitar. Every crescendo and diminuendo was clear and there was much forward movement in his playing. Vieaux later commended Merritt on his ability to sound out the significant areas in Bach’s piece, and gave him some tips on how to improve. “I was really interested in what [Vieaux] was [talking] about,” Merritt said. “When he was telling me to play really legato, really connected and the particular right hand technique he uses – like just sweeping across the strings opposed to planting or plucking.” UB musicians Molly Shambo and David Gorfien also played in the master class, performing Histoire du Tango by Astor Piazzolla together. They played two movements from the piece – “Bordel 1900” and “Café 1930,” with Shambo on flute and Gorfien on the guitar. While both individual parts were played beautifully, Vieaux suggested the details of the piece still needed some working on so both sounds could better complement each other. Chenxu Liu, a first-year graduate student in chemical engineering, was impressed by Vieaux’s music technicality. “He makes very clean sounds,” Liu

said. “Like when a guitarist strikes the strings, it’s very hard to make it clean – just the sound – no noise.” Liu plays the classical guitar and minored in music during his undergraduate years. He specifically came to observe the master class to glean some tips Vieaux had to offer. Those looking closely would notice that Vieaux’s right thumbnail was very long (which is usual for guitarists) and also exceptionally white. “I regularly use a ping pong ball that’s glued underneath a portion of my real thumb, and that’s not something I ever recommend,” Vieaux said. “It’s just something for me. It just makes my daily life as a musician easier because I can never grow my real thumbnail to this length. You see, I have very long fingers and very short thumbs.” Talk of finger-thumb ratios stirred some commotion in the audience. “I do not have the ping pong ball,” Meritt said. “When he was talking, I was testing out how long my thumb was in relation to [my fingers]. Looks like mine are a little longer so I think I can pull it off with just my natural nails.” Vieaux has persisted much in his quest for musical mastery. He makes sure to put in a minimum of three hours practice time in the morning before doing anything else. Last June, Vieaux launched the Jason Vieaux Classical Guitar School, where lessons are shown online, so those who missed his master class last week will still be able to reap the benefits. Vieaux uploads guitar practice videos online, and students may also submit videos of themselves practicing guitar to the school for instruction. Vieaux will perform in Toronto on Nov. 6. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

The course was destroyed. “They tracked us down because we did a lot of damage,” Donohue said. “It was just drunken stupidness.” No charges were pressed. Donohue had a family of lawyers to thank for that. But the close relationship Donohue had with his parents began to unravel as he hit the peak of his troubled teen years. He would scream into his father’s face, demanding a logical explanation for punishment after punishment. Barry, who struggled to maintain the role as the man of the house, often yelled back. One Sunday morning, a frustrated Donohue refused to go to church with his family. At this moment, Barry couldn’t take anymore. He kicked Donohue out of the house. He was on his own. “I was a real s*** disturber, but [my parents] somehow contained themselves from kicking the s*** out of me, and instead kicked me out,” Donohue said. “I’m glad they did, though. I needed that life lesson.” After attending two different high schools in Buffalo, Donohue dropped out and started working odd jobs. This led him to work at Allegany State Park at 19, where he met Kate, a love interest who quickly made Donohue rethink his troublemaking ways. “She was the brick wall, finally,” Donohue said. A few months after they met, Donohue was already thinking about marriage. Kate was his muse, and as he got more and more into songwriting, she appeared as the subject of songs such as “Say You’ll Stay.” She was his method of mental rehabilitation – the spark that convinced him to get out of trouble and get back into school. Although they are no longer together, Donohue does not deny the positive impact Kate has had on his life. Donohue took classes at ECC before transferring to UB. He attended classes part-time while working full-time at Circuit City. The money was good, but the company didn’t last, as it eventually became liquidated in April 2009, causing Donohue to lose his job. He found odd jobs again while still attending school. In 2006, he found a place in the UB a capella group, The Buffalo Chips. His rockand-roll style quickly accelerated him in the group. He was promoted to director a year later, a position that allowed him to compose and arrange material for the boys. He led the Chips into the International Competition for Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) in 2010. “Although the group has competed almost every year since its inception, we had never made it to finals,” said Darren Cotton, 24, a UB alumnus and former Chips member. “The 2009-10 [performers] changed all that due in large part to several of Mike’s stellar arrangements and really tight cohesiveness among the group.” The Chips placed well in the finals but fell short of winning. It was still a proud moment for the young vocalists and remains to be their best placement in the competition. Shortly before leaving the Chips in 2010, Donohue started playing at open mics in Buffalo. His smooth vocal style impressed crowds, but Donohue never really found a place where his R&B style was appreciated – until he stumbled into a nightclub on Delaware Avenue with his guitar across his back.

“The [club] that really hit was Blush,” Donohue said. “And I was the only white guy in there. I remember walking in and being like, ‘ooh, maybe I shouldn’t play here.’ I realize now that Buffalo is very segregated musically and R&B is shunned to two clubs, so when you go in there, it’s very ‘dark.’ I remember taking the stage and that crowd went crazy.” The difference between Mike Donohue and Michael King is perhaps described by the glow of the live setting. When Donohue performs live, he connects with the audience in an incredibly personal way. It’s a feeling he has trouble expressing. “It’s corny to say electricity like everybody says, but it’s like, it’s just, it’s an energy – the crowd, every time someone cheers, every time a musician is killing it – it just gets you going,” Donohue said. “I wish I had better words to describe it.” Donohue’s first EP, Open, was recorded at GCR Audio, Buffalo’s most prestigious studio, which is managed by Goo Goo Dolls bassist/vocalist Robby Takac. Takac asked Donohue repeatedly where outside of Buffalo he planned on promoting Open. But Donohue wanted to conquer his hometown, thinking this would be an easy task given his broad Buffalo network. It isn’t. Donohue sent approximately 50 emails to print, news and radio publications using Mailchip, a free email marketing service, which allowed him to see who opened the email and press kits. Zero looked as his press kit and a scarce 10 opened his email. “In Buffalo, just because of the style of music, if I were rock, punk or pop, it would be no problem,” Donohue said. “The second they hear jazz, R&B they’re like: ‘no, sorry.’” UB has been Donohue’s main source for events. Even after spending $6,300 on his EP, he hasn’t had a chance to make that money back. He’s currently employed at Wegmans. At the Michael King show on UB South Campus last month, Donohue showed his skillful strumming on guitar while projecting his velvety voice into a microphone. Donohue plays with a full live band: drummers, bassists, guitarists, keyboardists, percussionists and a brass section. Some of these performers, such as saxophonist Will Holton and bassist Zuri Appleby, are wellknown figures in Buffalo. The crowd was composed primarily of men and women in their 30s and 40s who cheered diligently under a blue tent. It was a surprisingly warm September day, and the sun was hot on Donohue’s face, causing him to sweat but not falter. His performance was crisp, and it evoked a sense of sensuality while remaining open and jovial. “I’d say that above all else, we put our heart and soul into this, you know,” said Daniel Ross, a Canisius College student and guitarist in the Michael King Band. “We want to put something out there that other people can feel and relate to, because we all go through heartbreaks and struggles, and I think what separates us from a lot of people out there is that we put that in our music. And I think the audience can receive that well … Mike has a lot of soul for a little white guy.” Michael King will perform Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Union Theater. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 1: The haunting past of Harriman Hall COUPON

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“We asked it to give us a sign for one minute,” Davis said. “It held the flashlight on very bright for one minute. Then I said time was up, and it went out.” To make sure vibrations didn’t set off the flashlight, club members stomped on the floor. The hallway remained dark. The students continued to call out to the ghost. Davis said one guessed the name “Jacob,” and the light returned. The second group called out “Jacob” but was unable to contact the ghost. Still, something didn’t feel right about the attic – especially the door on the left, Carrasco said. “I don’t want to open that door,” Carrasco said. “I just got a rock in the bottom of my stomach when I was by it.”

After several minutes of no activity, Schop volunteered to enter room 303. Inside, there was the painting equipment Davis previously described. The room however, was still empty. The students were spooked. “I just walked into the other room and got a horrible feeling like someone was there,” Schop said. “Someone did not mean us welcome, but harm.” UB PARA left immediately, vowing to never put any members in danger. The investigation will be continued. Email: news@ubspectrum.com

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Taylor Swift stuck at a Red light FELICIA HUNT Staff Writer Artist: Taylor Swift Album: Red Release Date: Oct. 22 Label: Big Machine Grade: CBy elementary school, it is common for students to be able to connect certain colors with emotions. The color red can symbolize a burning passion – love or an intense hatred. Taylor Swift needs to go back to school. The innocent blonde country crooner who captured hearts with 2008’s “Teardrops On My Guitar” and established herself as a must have in any teenage girl’s iPod has changed. Her fourth studio album, Red, is a lackluster attempt at further pushing her genre’s boundary and lacks the emotion of her previous efforts. The opening track, “State Of Grace,” sounds like it belongs at a sold out rock concert. Swift channels U2 in this track and abandons her country roots. It’s clear she wanted to diversify, but this song was not the right way to start off. On the title track “Red,” Swift sings relatable lyrics about trying to forget an ex-lover. However, the lyrics do not make up for the electronic

Courtesy of Machine Records

stuttering of the word “red” and her signature country style only makes a quick appearance toward the end of the track. Red then progresses into “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “22” – two songs that make Swift’s effort comical. The stuttering of words continues, and the chorus contains a dub step beat that completely abandons the country idol Swift once was. It is disappointing to hear “I Knew You Were Trouble” because Swift was able to convey much more emotion in earlier ballads like 2008’s “White Horse.” Current smash single, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” harnesses Swift’s classic love problems amid the generic background clapping and pop hook. The lyrics are still applicable enough to the normal teenager or early 20-something girl to make it an instant radio hit. While it doesn’t encompass Taylor Swift’s typical sound, fans have loved this song since its debut this past summer.

Among the train wreck that is Red, Swift redeems herself with three songs. “The Last Time,” a duet with Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol, finally brings out Swift’s passionate side. The singers’ voices intertwine perfectly and establish a haunting aura of passion and pain. “All Too Well” showcases Swift’s songwriting ability as she tells a story about going to visit her boyfriend’s family for Thanksgiving. The track is consistent with mainstream country songs, and her southern twang reminds the listener of her roots. The most promising song on Red is “Sad Beautiful Tragic.” The song cascades through the light strums of a banjo with Swift’s pained and airy voice accompanying it. “Sad Beautiful Tragic” is Red’s lifesaver as it reflects back on previous singles such as “Back To December.” “Long handwritten note/deep in your pocket/Words how little they mean/when they’re a little too late,” Swift sings. While Red fails to be ingenious, her first week album sales are slated to top Mumford & Sons’ Babel for largest number of units sold in the first week. Of course, Swift will clean up house at the next music awards show, but hopefully she will return to real country music after failing at genre blending.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Bulls rallying late to earn MAC tourney berth JON GAGNON Asst. Sports Editor The men’s soccer team is amidst a late-season run to qualify for the Mid-American Conference tournament. The Bulls (4-10-1, 2-3 MAC) have been struggling all season to score. A recent four-game losing streak, where they were outscored by a combined 12-0, left them near the bottom of the MAC standings. But the squad has turned it around over the last two weeks. Last Friday, the Bulls took down Western Michigan (10-5-2, 2-2-1 MAC) 2-0. Buffalo is on a twogame winning streak. “We have a do-or-die mentality and the guys are responding to it very well,” said head coach David Hesch. With two games remaining in the regular season, it’s coming down to the wire for the Bulls, who need to win both games in order to qualify for the MAC Tournament. “We’re obviously taking it game by game,” Hesch said. “We’re looking to possess the ball a little bit more. We’re looking

to defend a little bit deeper and go to goal and make our shots count.” The test will begin on Wednesday evening at Hartwick (4-9-2, 1-4 MAC). The game is set for 7 p.m. If the Bulls take down the Hawks, they’ll enter their season finale in a must-win situation. They will host Northern Illinois (5-8-3, 3-1-1 MAC) at UB Stadium Friday evening at 7 p.m. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 7: Promoting healthy living in the Buffalo community ects. At first it seemed a little daunting, but it has gotten a lot easier to prepare because there is a reason for doing this group project, as opposed to just doing a presentation,” Diver said. “We’re actually putting on an event, and we want to do a great job here. Nobody wants to drop the ball, and everyone is actually taking it to heart.” Diver applied for the planning and logistics department but ultimately got selected for the procurement department. The professor felt based on his resume, his aptitudes fit the position in the latter department where his presence would benefit the entire project. Jean Onokako, a junior com-

munication major who is part of the public relations and marketing department for the health fair project, feels it is important for students to be involved in educating younger students about good health and wellness practices. “It is important for the kids at the elementary school to be aware of healthy habits,” Onokako said. “We want UB students to get involved to donate items for prizes for the health fair, and the more that we get, the more beneficial the health fair will be.” Diver also feels it is important to get students at UB involved with this project because it is important to show UB is more than academic

departments, Greek life and student associations. Debus said the students in her class have invested their own money to help fund equipment and prizes. This shows her they are dedicated. “Students in the past who have taken this class have donated money and as a class we decided that since we did not have to buy a text book, we would donate $20 each,” Diver said. “We have roughly 30 students who donate $20 each, making the donation from the class to be about $600 on top of about $300 that was given to us from UB.” Students describe her course

as an internship and a class meshed together. Her students teach each other and then apply the knowledge they gain in class to their nonprofit project. The class project aims to teach students how to apply what they learn from inside the classroom to the real world. The students that have taken her class in the past used the non-profit as an experience on their resume. “Unlike a lot of projects that you have to do in classes, this one has a real outcome,” Debus said. “There are real parents, real children, a real school and if we don’t succeed, there will be consequences to that. So the students tend to take

it really seriously.” Students hope to get more UB students involved with their project and want to have the UB local businesses involved as well. According to Onokako, the students in his group have drafted letters to local businesses and UB organizations, asking for donations of any kind to help make this health fair as successful as possible. The health fair will take place at Public School 30 at 5 p.m. on Nov. 19. The event is open to the public. Email: features@ubspectrum.com

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