The Spectrum Volume 62 Issue 26

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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


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The Spectrum Volume 62 Issue 26 by The Spectrum Student Periodical - Issuu