VOL. 70 NO. 15 | FEBRUARY 23, 2022
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, SINCE 1950
Professor Dalia Muller hopes to change how UB students learn
A conversation with Nikole Hannah-Jones
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UBSPECTRUM
Alexia Hecico defies barriers to become a world champion mountain runner
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Phishing schemes cause challenges for UB community UB offers resources to combat phishing, students say it hasn’t been communicated to them JACK PORCARI SENIOR NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR
When freshman biomedical sciences major Daniel Knapp enrolled at UB, he received more than a typical acceptance email. “The moment I became a UB student, like the moment I got the email, on the second day, I got a phishing email,” he said. Phishing is a form of cybercrime found everywhere in which fraudulent actors prey on victims’ technological weaknesses to obtain personal information, data or money. These scams, especially on datarich campuses like UB, occur more often than one would expect. But UB was unable to provide an exact figure for the amount of phishing that affects the campus community when asked by The Spectrum. “Since I started three years ago, it’s [phishing solicitations] definitely picked up more recently,” Sarah Siddiqi, a junior political science and psychology major, said. “So a lot more this semester than last.” Other students, like junior biology major Kelsey Boardman, say they experience these “cryptic messages” on a different timeline. “I would say I got a lot [of emails] last semester in the fall. As of spring, I haven’t gotten as many and UB has started mark-
Solen Feyissa / Unsplash The Gmail app, for iOS.
ing them as their spam,” she said. “I’ll look at my junk [mail] and they have shown up there more now. But sometimes they’ll still end up in my normal inbox and I just completely delete them if they come in.” Kevin Cleary, UB’s Information Security
Officer, says the school is only aware of phishing schemes “anecdotally.” “Cybercrime typically goes underreported and so to put a specific pin on the numbers, the data, that’s not something that’s easily trackable — there’s not even a unified spot
with which to report that,” Cleary said in an interview with The Spectrum. The most common way scammers get SEE PHISHING PAGE 4
Negotiations quietly begin weeks after COVID-19 vaccine mandate announced for SUNY faculty UB faculty union pursues “local” vaccine mandates with SUNY timetable uncertain GRANT ASHLEY SENIOR NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR
United University Professions, the union representing SUNY faculty members, has started negotiations with SUNY and Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office regarding a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for faculty,
UUP spokesperson Mike Lisi confirmed Monday. “Because negotiations are ongoing, we cannot talk about details publicly,” Lisi said. “Talks are progressing, and they are positive in tone.” The discussions come more than a month after Hochul first announced the requirement for faculty during a New Year’s Eve press conference. But unlike COVID-19 vaccine requirements for students, the mandate for faculty cannot go into effect until UUP and the state come to an agreement regarding
Paolo Blanchi / The Spectrum The United University Professions office, located in The Commons.
its implementation and due process procedures for non-compliant employees. It remains to be seen when and how talks will conclude. Hochul’s announcement “blindsided” campus union leaders, who received almost no communication from the governor’s office regarding the new mandate, according to Phil Glick, president of the Buffalo Health Sciences Chapter for UUP. “The governor… didn’t provide any details, nor did her office provide any further details, nor will she answer any questions on it,” Glick said. “And simultaneously, the [SUNY] chancellor, [Jim Malatras,] resigned. And I would say that between about Dec. 15 to Jan. 15, SUNY leadership was very thin [because of that]. So, I don’t think anyone at SUNY was trying to clarify what the governor had said.” The governor’s announcement was also unclear on the definition of “faculty,” creating confusion for UUP leaders, according to Kat Kielar, vice president for professionals of UUP’s Buffalo Center Chapter. UUP represents nonfaculty professionals as well, but all union employees are subject to the same rules, including vaccine man-
dates. “I have to give her [Hochul] the benefit of the doubt; she’s new to that role,” Kielar said. “But at the same time, discussion with unions is important.” Hochul’s press office did not respond to a request for comment. Holly Liapis, a SUNY spokesperson, did not respond to specific questions from The Spectrum. But she said SUNY is working to implement the mandate. “All faculty will be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19,” Liapis said in an email to The Spectrum. “We are working closely with the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations and our partners in labor on implementing the mandates.” UUP passed a resolution Jan. 27 calling for “negotiations with New York State and SUNY to determine the implementation of a systemwide vaccine requirement for UUP employees and that this mandate assures all employees remain protected for due process during any disciplinary actions resulting from such a mandate.” UUP’s Buffalo Health Sciences Chapter’s leadership unanimously voted to endorse the resolution. “If a vaccine mandate is negotiated at the state level, UB will implement [it], as of any effective date, by requiring subject employees to upload proof of vaccination and booster to a centralized UB Human Resources database,” the university said in an email to The Spectrum. “Non-compliant employees would be subject to corrective action, as provided in the UUP collective bargaining agreement.” But Glick and UUP’s Buffalo Health SEE MANDATE PAGE 4
NEWS
2 | Wednesday, February 23 2022
D’Youville granted university status
Buffalo gets a second university KYLE NGUYEN ASST. NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR
The City of Buffalo now has two universities to its name. D’Youville College will be known as D’Youville University after the New York State Board of Regents voted unanimously to grant the 114-year old institution approval for the name change on Feb. 15. “It is with the utmost excitement we are experiencing this landmark moment,” D’Youville President Lorrie Clemo said in a statement announcing the approval. “Not only does the status as a university reflect our academic excellence, but it also supports our longstanding commitment to our students and our surrounding community as a place of innovation, outreach, and growth.” Touro College of Long Island and Utica College were also approved for university status by the board. The switches come after the New York State Department of Education decided
to amend its definition of a university in January, eliminating the requirement for schools to offer doctoral programs. Under its revised definition, an institution is only required to offer undergraduate and graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, alongside at least three graduate programs in various disciplines to qualify as a university, such as agriculture, business, fine arts, humanities and social sciences. D’Youville’s efforts to gain university recognition go as far back as 2007, when then-President Sister Denise Roche requested an amendment to the charter. The college bolstered its efforts in 2018 with a second petition for a charter amendment. NY Sen. Tim Kennedy, a D’Youville alum, credits the successful name change to the collective effort of school leaders, community voices and alumni. “We’re thrilled to finally get this across the finish line and celebrate this major victory for D’Youville University,” Kennedy said in D’Youville’s Kavinoky Theatre. Email: kyle.nguyen@ubspectrum.com
Fortunate4now / Wiki Commons The Koessler Administration Building on Porter Avenue at D’Youville University, formerly D’Youville College.
ubspectrum.com
Canada will loosen border restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers starting Feb. 28 U.S.’ northern neighbor will begin accepting COVID-19 rapid tests, randomize on-arrival surveillance testing GRANT ASHLEY SENIOR NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR
Canada will allow fully vaccinated travelers to enter the country with negative COVID-19 rapid test results starting Feb. 28, Canada’s Public Health Agency announced last Tuesday. Rapid tests must be taken the day before arrival at the border or flight departure. Only rapid tests “administered by a laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service” will be accepted. At-home tests will not be accepted. PCR tests, which will still be accepted, must be taken within 72 hours prior to arrival. The country will also resume the randomized on-arrival testing surveillance program put in place before the omicron wave, but travelers selected to participate in the program will not have to quarantine while awaiting their results. Unvaccinated travelers will continue to be required to quarantine for 14 days and take COVID-19 tests upon arrival and on the eighth day of their quarantine period. The Canadian government’s definition of
fully vaccinated includes those who have received at least two doses of an approved vaccine, which includes the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, or at least one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The Canadian government cited Canada’s high vaccination rate, large supply of tests and treatments, low hospitalization rate and a passing omicron wave in their announcement. “Today’s announcements are a reflection of the progress we have made against this current omicron variant,” Jean-Yves Duclos, Canada’s minister of health, said in a statement. “As we have said all along, Canada’s border measures will remain flexible and adaptable, for potential future scenarios.” Foreign nationals seeking to cross the Canadian border previously had to submit a negative PCR test result, a quarantine plan and arrival information within 72 hours prior to arrival. Toronto attracted UB and other Buffalo-area college students for its nightlife, concerts and culture before the pandemic. Niagara Falls, ON was also a popular destination for its tourist attractions and view of the falls. UB has a 99% on-campus vaccination rate among students. Email: grant.ashley@ubspectrum.com
Adrien Delforge / Unsplash Visitors enjoy a view of Niagara Falls in October 2020
‘True Blue’ aims to build a strong community New initiative invites students and faculty to demonstrate their school pride KAYLA ESTRADA ASST. NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR
Victor E. Bull is the ultimate characterization of school pride. But he isn’t the only cheerleader on campus. University Communications and the True Blue student cheering section have collaborated on a new initiative called “True Blue,” which aims to create a longterm sense of community at UB. “We see it at games, of course, but we also see pride in UB being expressed all
over campus and on social media,” Devon Jerla, marketing manager for University Communications, said in a press release. “There’s a strong sense of camaraderie at UB and an eagerness to show it both internally and externally. And we are excited to amplify that because it’s so positive and so powerful.” The club’s website, buffalo.edu/trueblue, acts as a center for showcasing different aspects of life and school pride. The site provides a variety of photo galleries, student experiences and pictures of students, faculty and staff adorned in UB’s signature blue and white. This hub for collectiveness provides students with an opportunity to take part in the “True Blue” community.
“The overall objective of True Blue is to build on the pride people have for the university, and to give students, faculty, staff and alumni a collective way to express that pride,” UB spokesperson John DellaContrada said. “We see this as a long-term effort to create a stronger sense of belonging among the UB community, which we believe is something many people want to share in.” UB Athletics, Student Life, University Advancement and other university administrative units are also collaborating with True Blue and University Communications to encourage students to join this inclusive initiative. “The progress made in the last 45 years is truly amazing,” Jim Atwood, SUNY dis-
tinguished teaching professor in the Department of Chemistry, said. “The friendliness and diversity are wonderful.” Ethan Tong, a sophomore biomedical sciences major and member of the True Blue student club, says he enjoys the welcoming environment and inclusive conditions that his membership with True Blue provide. “The best part, besides cheering on our amazing sports teams, is meeting different people,” Tong said in the press release. “It truly is the diversity of people at UB that makes it great.” Email: kayla.estrada@ubspectrum.com
Screenshot from buffalo.edu/trueblue UB has launched a new initiative called “True Blue,” which is
intended to highlight the students, faculty, staff and alumni who make up the university community.
OPINION
ubspectrum.com
Anxiety sucks My experience with the suffocating aspects of anxiety
JENNA QUINN SENIOR ENGAGEMENT EDITOR
It’s the night before the first day of classes and I can’t sleep. What’s wrong? My friend asks as they walk in circles around my room. “Tomorrow is important and I need to wake up early, but I can’t sleep,” I reply. Oh, sorry. Is it because you wasted your whole day in bed? Something about their voice is off. Cold,
even. Like they’re working against my best interests. Did you not have anything to do? You always complain that you’re stressed so I would’ve expected you to do something today. Then it hits me: I live alone. For the fifth night in a row, my anxiety has materialized, turning once peaceful, sleep-filled nights into fever dreams. After years of fighting with my brain, my anxiety has learned to step outside of my body. Are you okay? Your eyes are still closed. “Leave me alone. I’m serious.” Just calm down, I’m trying to help you. “Please just leave me alone.” OK.… Remember how you tripped when walking into the office the other day? That was so embarrassing. “PLEASE!” My eyes shoot open. My head is throbbing, my vision blurry. I stay up for the rest of the night, replaying every embarrassing moment I’ve ever had — real or
not. I feel exhausted, even when I try to relax. Anxiety is weird like that. Anxiety is that impossible video game level you need to beat before being able to do anything else. It’s the feeling when I’m walking into class, and fumbling a little while trying to sit down in a chair. For some of you, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. It might even be something you laugh at. But it’s a big deal for me. Am I an idiot? Do I not know how to sit in a chair the right way? I can’t be serious right now. My heart starts to race. These people are probably all laughing at me right now, I’m going to have to drop this class. The room gets a thousand degrees hotter. I’m sweating. Is that me breathing so loud? I can’t make more of a scene, or else they’ll remember me in public. I feel my throat closing. I’ll just go home. I won’t even bother with the rest of my classes since I’ll probably snowball and
Wednesday, February 23 2022 | 3
ruin the whole week. I leave, practically collapsing on the way out. This is what I mean; my brain amplifies the stakes of small, easy tasks until even sitting in a chair can make or break my day. While the people around me seem relaxed, my anxiety flares up like an annoying itch. Having anxiety is like being in a cage with an open door. I can leave at any moment, but I stay out of fear that something bad might happen the second my body passes through the entryway. I know I’m not alone, though. Tons of people struggle with anxiety and share personal experiences to let others know they aren’t alone. I just hope I can do the same thing for the people reading this. So, to anyone who is struggling out there with anxiety, depression or any type of mental health issue, you’re not alone. Nobody is. Email: jenna.quinn@ubspectrum.com
Women in rap deserve the same chances as men In a male-dominated genre, listeners need to open their minds
ALEX FALTER SENIOR ARTS EDITOR
Is it just me, or do women not receive enough representation in the rap industry? Sure we have our Cardi Bs and Megan Thee Stallions, but why do rap festivals have an overwhelming majority of male performers? These days, it seems every city has a male rapper to represent them, as Memphis has in Juicy J or Buffalo has in Benny the Butcher. We all know the battle for the title of “King of New York,” but where is the competition for “Queen of New York?” Yes, I’m sure some of you will blame
it on the labels: “Record labels don’t sign enough women, that’s the problem.” But labels are king-makers; they don’t sign artists to distribute representation fairly. They are businesses, and as businesses, they sign artists based on popularity, in order to make money. Now, before you say, “Maybe female rappers just aren’t as good as men,” stop.. The fact is, women are simply not given a chance. The amount of people I know who swiftly dismiss women rappers but can’t even name five female artists is remarkably disappointing. As someone who subscribes to a large range of rappers, there shouldn’t even be a difference. Regardless of gender, most rappers have fairly similar material, but each offers a unique perspective. Listeners have alarmingly different perceptions of sexuality in music. We are spoon-fed songs where men violently rap about the things they do to women in the bedroom, but when women make their own songs about their sexual experiences, many listeners scramble for the ‘skip’ button. That’s bullsh-t. If it is acceptable for men to make millions of dollars off
of songs sexualizing women, then women should have the same support and appreciation when they look to do the same. What I see is an insecurity that transcends music. As a child, I wouldn’t hear other boys on the playground discussing top-tier shows like “Zoey 101” and “Powerpuff Girls.” But as an adult I’ve noticed more and more guys talking about how much they loved those shows as if they didnt pretend to hate them as kids. This rejection of femininity isn’t always intentional. After existing in a culture where genders are clearly divided among the arts, it can be difficult for people to break away from their norms, let alone discuss it openly for fear of being embarrassed. But this only holds men back from experiencing everything the world — and women — has to offer. It’s natural to want to experience different cultures and places around the world. But how can we expect to appreciate the world if we don’t even bother to take the time to understand the opposite gender? Males also sometimes refuse to delve into the female side of hip-hop culture (along with female sides of any other
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2022 VOLUME 70 NUMBER 15 CIRCULATION: 3,000
Do you have an interest in journalism, graphic design, photography, social media, advertising, cartoons or copy editing? The Spectrum is always looking for enthusiastic students who want to be part of our team. Join our 45-time award winning independent student newspaper for hands-on, realworld experience in your field. Anyone interested in joining The Spectrum’s editorial staff can email Reilly Mullen at: eic@ubspectrum.com.
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Reilly Mullen MANAGING EDITORS Justin Weiss Dan Eastman, Asst. NEWS/FEATURES EDITORS Grant Ashley, Sr. Jack Porcari, Sr. Julie Frey, Sr. Kayla Estrada, Asst. Kyle Nguyen, Asst. ARTS EDITORS Alex Falter, Sr. Kara Anderson, Sr.
form of popular culture) because of their often-fragile masculinity. Growing up in the aforementioned gender-divisive culture, many still strive to hold up a strong, hypermasculine image. So relax. Stop worrying about what people think, or what your taste in music means to the people around you. Women deserve all of the opportunities and success that men do. Especially in a genre that sometimes hypersexualizes women to an extreme extent. As I said before, many people will simply say they have not found any female rapper they thought was good. But do they look? Do they sit down and give the same attention, appreciation and open-minded chance they would give any of the male rappers whom they listen to on a daily basis? People need to stop defining their interests by the gender representing it. Don’t close your mind, and don’t be embarrassed. Experience everything available, and love what you choose as unapologetically as you can. Email: alex.falter@ubspectrum.com
SPORTS EDITORS Anthony DeCicco, Sr. Sophie McNally, Asst. Kayla Sterner, Asst. MULTIMEDIA EDITORS Sabrina Akter-Nabi, Sr. Sai Krishna Seethala, Sr. Moaz Elazzazi, Asst. ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Jenna Quinn, Sr. CREATIVE DIRECTOR Paolo Blanchi, Sr. Jiayi Zhang, Asst. COPY EDITOR Andrew Lauricella
4 | Wednesday, February 23 2022 MANDATE FROM PAGE 1
Sciences Chapter tried to take matters into their own hands. In a meeting with UB’s Employee Relations office, which acts as a liaison between the university and its unions, Glick proposed that the Health Sciences Chapter and UB enter negotiations to implement a “carve-out” vaccine mandate, which would only require members of the HSC to be vaccinated for COVID-19. “Buffalo HSC is only about 1,000 people, but it’s 1,000 more” that are required to be vaccinated, Glick said. Such a mandate would require approval from UB, statewide UUP and SUNY. “Local, campus-specific agreements are not allowed under our collective bargaining agreement with the state unless all parties to that contract agree,” Lisi said. “UUP is working on a systemwide vaccine mandate agreement.” Jackie Orchard, a SUNY spokesperson, did not respond to requests for comment on the Health Science Chapter’s proposal. But comments from UB appeared to
FEATURES dampen plans for a local mandate. “Leadership is aware of the proposal; however, UB was not provided local authorization to negotiate a booster requirement,” the university said. “Local negotiation of any term/condition of employment for represented employees must be approved in advance by GOER. In the case of the faculty requirement, it is currently being discussed at the state level and, thereby, off limits for local negotiation. “Ninety percent of UB employees have uploaded proof of vaccination. About 50% have uploaded proof of a booster, and the university is actively urging employees to upload proof if they’re also boosted and/or get a booster shot as soon as they are time eligible.” UB employees are required to disclose their vaccination status to the university. Unvaccinated employees with a “regular physical presence” on campus are currently required to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. Email: grant.ashley@ubspectrum.com
PHISHING FROM PAGE 1
ahold of student information is through third-party websites, according to UB’s Information Security Office. These websites, many of which claim to offer enticing, useful and free services, require students to forgo their data rights. Without reading the fine print, one may have no idea who has access to their UB email address, which only increases the possibility of unwanted circulation and cybercrimes like phishing. UB officials advise students to be cautious of untrusted QR codes/shortened links, create unique passwords for UB-related accounts and to opt for credit cards, rather than debit cards, as they have greater consumer protections. While every state defines cybercrime differently, New York has a host of laws stipulating what is legal on the internet, from identity theft and “computer trespassing” to unlawful disclosure of an intimate image and forgery. Under New York Penal Law section 156.35, unlawful possession of computer information could lead to a class E misdemeanor and up to four years in prison. Nationally, the Federal Trade Commission received 4.8 million identity theft and fraud reports in 2020, which was up 45% from 2019. Consumers reported losing more than $3.3 billion related to fraud complaints, more than double that of 2019, according to the commission. Investigating and solving reports of cybercrime are not always straightforward. “It’s a different dynamic than most of the crime reports we get, which is a good thing,” Deputy Chief of Police Joshua Sticht said. “The number of reports and the number of victims are not really analogous as they are with other crimes.” “Almost every time we get one of these email phishing attempts, it’s not local,” Sticht said of prosecuting cyber criminals, since they are typically out of local jurisdiction. “It’s not anything that we as a
ubspectrum.com New York State Police Agency could prosecute.” International students are also a common target for phishing schemes. “We’ll quite often see that international students are specifically targeted by scams that prey on their worries about their visa status,” Sticht said. Despite the fact that most UB students know about phishing, many are unaware of the resources UB offers to stay proactive about the constantly-evolving issue. These resources consist of sample phishing emails and detailed instructions on how to recognize a scam. Other online tools include a safe-computing dashboard, where students can download free antivirus software and learn more about “digital hygiene” practices on their student accounts, social media channels and more. “I didn’t know there was a website for that,” Knapp said when asked about UB’s cybersecurity resources. “I saw one poster about it on the bus: ‘phishing is a thing, be careful.’” Knapp says the UBReddit is frequently filled with students asking questions like, ‘Hey, I got this email about this job offer. Is this real?’ “Kids are buying it, but you gotta be careful,” Knapp said. UB has been “constantly” updating its phishing guidance, according to Diana Tuorto, IT Communication Officer for UBIT. The challenge is still ongoing, but UBIT says it will continue to fight it. “The digital materials we’ve been putting out there have been evolving since cybercrime itself has been evolving,” Cleary said. “This is a continual cat and mouse game where bad actors, the folks that are trying to perpetrate this fraud, are continually trying to circumvent and evade industry-leading AI algorithms that try to identify phishing.” Email: jack.porcari@ubspectrum.com
Courtesy of Dalia Muller Students working on the “Impossible Project.”
How the impossible becomes possible Professor Dalia Muller hopes to change how UB students learn JULIE FREY SENIOR NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR
On a cold day in early February, more than two dozen students filed into Davis Hall 101 for their “Super Bowl.” The students — all of whom completed CSE 199, UB’s freshman computer science seminar, the previous semester — were divided into two- or three-person groups. Then, each group took turns at the front of the room, where they presented their ideas to “Make Computing Anti-Racist.” Students don’t often return to classes they have already completed, but that’s not the case for the protégés of Professor Dalia Muller. Muller, a professor of Latin American and Caribbean history, has known she wanted to teach since she was in ninth grade. A self-described “historian by training and teacher by vocation,” Muller has a Ph.D. in history, and was the first woman, Black person or Latinx person to serve as Honors College director. She is also the mastermind behind the “Impossible Project,” which she describes as a “transformative learning experience.” The idea behind the project is for students to collaborate with UB community members to solve seemingly impossible issues that Muller and other affiliated faculty present. “The purpose of the “Impossible Project” is not to find a solution, but to find a new point of departure,” Muller told The Spectrum during a phone interview. “I do have students who come into the classroom and they freak out, they think, ‘What do you mean the impossible? How am I supposed to do the impossible?’ I want that cognitive dissonance, I want them to feel uncomfortable. I want them to come
into a classroom that feels like it’s topsyturvy and turned on its head because it provides a different form of an engagement with learning.” As Muller describes it, the “Impossible Project” is an impossible task. Previous projects have been “Solve a Global Problem,” “Decolonizing the Brooklyn Museum” and, most recently, “Making Computing Anti-Racist.” Muller knows these problems will not be solved during the 15 weeks students have to come up with solutions, but she hopes her students will gain new perspectives on each issue’s significance. In “Making Computing Anti-Racist,” students attempted to combat racist code and algorithms by doing everything from creating socially-responsible code certification to promoting prison reform. The students in computer science professor Kenny Joseph’s freshman seminar course had less time than usual to complete their project. But Joseph says he believes his class still grew from the experience. “I think [the project] definitely benefited the students,” Joseph said. “They saw content they otherwise might not have seen and stretch[ed] what they are comfortable doing in the classroom. It helped me change the way I understand how we should teach and, to an extent, what we should teach.” Jeannine Nwade, a senior political science and business administration major, was involved in the most recent iteration of the “Impossible Project.” Nwade served as a research assistant for the project the CSE 199 students eventually participated in. Despite not being a computer science major, Nwade says she gained a lot of insight on anti-racist coding. “I was a part of the research team that researched the racialization of the internet and how it disproportionately affected marginalized communities,” Nwade said.
“My work was used in the creation of the research module for computer science students. It was very eye-opening to understand how racial elements have been a part of the internet for so long (such as with the LAPD and NYPD’s use of predictive policing) and how it evolved over time (racial elements in speech recognition systems like Alexa and Siri).” Muller stepped down as Honors College director in 2020 but says her inspiration for the “Impossible Project” stemmed from her previous position. As director, she says she wanted to create a transformative learning experience, create global citizens and make a curricular commitment to justice — something she hopes to continue in her faculty position. “I came into the position Courtesy of Dalia Muller [director of Honors College] A headshot of Dalia Muller. with a really deep and radical rather than expanding to honors students, commitment to diversity within Honors, Muller hopes the project will expand to which is a perennial problem across the each university department. nation,” Muller said. “[I also came] with “When I stepped back into my faculty a commitment to thinking about how we role I was thinking about how I should can use the space of the Honors College carry forward this project and I’m reto really push at the boundaries of critical ally excited with how it has evolved since teaching and learning.” then,” Muller said. “I’ve been working Presidential Scholars, or recipients of with a variety of different departments on UB’s Presidential Scholarship, served as building possible projects across the disthe first generation of “Impossible Projciplines where I serve as a collaborator or ect” participants. Their scholarship is confacilitator in what is radical faculty to factingent on taking a one-credit, pass-fail ulty collaboration. So, basically, I teamed course, HON 101 — a presidential scholar up with faculty who are justice-oriented, development seminar — that comes with no matter the discipline, and we figure out admission into the Honors College. how to radically transform their classes.” Muller’s goal changed when she stepped down from her role as director. Initially, Email: julie.frey@ubspectrum.com she had planned to implement the project into the Honors College’s curriculum but
ubspectrum.com
FEATURES
Wednesday, February 23 2022 | 5
A conversation with Nikole Hannah-Jones Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist talks The 1619 Project, maintaining “openness” KAYLA ESTRADA ASST. NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR
REILLY MULLEN EDITOR IN CHIEF
Nikole Hannah-Jones is not in the business of making people comfortable. The 46th Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Keynote Speaker wore a black Adidas ankle-length velour dress accented from head to toe with pops of red, from her dyed-red hair to her classic blackand-white Nike Dunks with a red swoosh. She donned large gold hoop earrings and a gold jewel-encrusted name-plate necklace. Calm, cool and collected, Hannah-Jones knows that her journalism, often regarding the lives and experiences of Black Americans, can lead to some controversial conversations. And she likes it that way. Hannah-Jones is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, activist and staff writer for The New York Times Magazine. She co-founded the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting — an organization dedicated to serving and supporting journalists of color — and founded The 1619 Project — a NYT Magazine initiative that aims to refocus conversations regarding American history on the contributions of Black Americans and the consequences of slavery. Hannah-Jones sat down with The Spectrum before her speech as part of the 35th annual Distinguished Speaker Series to talk about race and becoming informed citizens:
Lily Smith / The Spectrum Nikole Hannah-Jones spoke to Spectrum reporters in the Center for the Arts Wednesday.
willing to allow people to make mistakes in the conversation, and at the same time, you should also have humility. You don’t know everything and there are people who have had a very different experience of America than you. So if you engage with openness and humility, that will go a long way.” TS: How do you think we, as students and future decision makers, can work toward becoming better informed citizens?
Nickole Hannah-Jones: “You should
NHJ: “Read a lot more, I really do mean that. I think part of the response to The 1619 Project has been people have realized how little they actually know about the society they live in. And we’re also distracted with so many things that are pulling our attention. I think we have to consume a lot more knowledge and talk about it.”
always try to maintain openness. Understanding that people are in different places in their journey, they have different levels of understanding, they have different experiences. And if you’re going to engage in these conversations, then you have to be
TS: For this DSS, you’re the Martin Luther King Jr. Keynote Speaker. How do you handle professionals and colleagues in your industry who disagree with the work that you’re doing?
The Spectrum: College campuses are a huge hub for gathering people with different backgrounds and worldviews. What advice would you give students who are trying to take part in difficult conversations on campus?
NHJ: “As a journalist, to me, if you are producing journalism that everyone agrees with, you probably haven’t done your job very well. I personally didn’t get into journalism to make people comfortable. I think you have to respect that people disagree. And you have to decide which criticism is worthy of considering. And we should all be reflecting on our work and not be defensive of everything. And then some criticism is not worthy, and if you follow me on Twitter, how I deal with that depends on the day. But I just think all of us, and especially now as we see really, really low numbers of Americans who trust journalists, we have to be open to criticism, and we have to be open to critique and we have to take it seriously. If you aren’t respecting your readers — and that doesn’t mean you ultimately agree with the criticism — but if you’re not willing to take that seriously there’s no way that we’re ever going to have high levels of trust in our profession again.” TS: What advice do you have for young journalists of color who are preparing
to enter the journalism industry?
NHJ: “One, you’re very needed. Our industry does not reflect our country. And I’m not a person who thinks that this is about political correctness. I think it’s about accuracy. How can you accurately cover a country without newsrooms that reflect the communities that you’re trying to cover? But for young journalists of color, it’s going to be challenging. Our profession likes to think of itself as progressive but we suffer from the same issues that the country that we draw from suffers from. What I always tell young people, but particularly people of color, is you’re never going to be able to control how people see you, how people perceive you, but you can control your own excellence. So spend your time trying to make yourself as undeniable as possible. And then if things don’t go your way, if you run into obstacles, you know that it’s not because it’s something that you could have been doing or should have been doing.” Email: kayla.estrada@ubspectrum.com Email: reilly.mullen@ubspectrum.com
Nikole Hannah-Jones discusses inequality and effecting change Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist serves as MLK Jr. Commemoration Keynote Speaker A.J. FRANKLIN STAFF WRITER
Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer-prize winning staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, told audience members Wednesday that “the answers are not going to come from us [the older generation]. The youth have always led.” Hannah-Jones served as UB’s 46th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Keynote Speaker Wednesday at the Center for the Arts. Her 50-minute Q&A session touched on the value of representation in education, the importance of affecting positive change and the idea that progress toward racial equality isn’t guaranteed. The Notre Dame and University of North Carolina alum is the creator of The 1619 Project, an initiative through The New York Times Magazine that refocuses conversations on U.S. history to reflect the effects of slavery and institutionalized racism. She is also a professor at Howard University, a historically Black college in Washington. Hannah-Jones says she came across the year 1619 in a Black studies elective she took in high school. She says the course
exposed her more to Black history and literature than her “entire K-12 [educational] career.” 1619 is the year enslaved Africans were first brought to North America. “My teacher, Mr. Raydial, I would ask him to give me books on my own [because that] one hour class was not enough,” Hannah-Jones said. “One of the books he gave me was, ‘Before the Mayflower’ by Leronne Bennet. That’s the day I read about 1619. And I was like, ‘Oh, ‘Before the Mayflower’ was talking about a year before the Mayflower, when the ship by the name of the White Lion [came] to Virginia. And that history had been erased.” Hannah-Jones says she chose the year 1619 for her project so she could highlight the fallacies surrounding Black history in U.S. education. “So fast forward to 2019 or late 2018, I am obsessing over this approaching 400year anniversary and still, most Americans had never heard of the date,” HannahJones said. “I just knew it was going to pass with very little public acknowledgment.” So Hannah-Jones decided to change the narrative by pitching The 1619 Project to her editors at the Times. When she “didn’t receive any pushback,” she felt validated to proceed with the project. Her initiative earned national acclaim, and in 2020, she received the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for her introductory essay. Since 2019,
Lily Smith / The Spectrum Nikole Hannah-Jones spoke to Spectrum reporters in the Center for the Arts Wednesday.
The 1619 Project has been a required reading in the Buffalo School District. The Waterloo, IA native has personally invested in her cause with the literacy program she founded in her hometown, which is called the “1619 Freedom School.” The free after-school initiative seeks to improve the literacy skills of Black students by providing free instruction centered around Black American history. Jada Mowatt, a senior chemical and biological engineering major, received the 2022 MLK Jr. Scholarship, which is awarded annually by UB’s Minority Faculty and Staff Association to a junior or senior-of-color who “demonstrates high academic standards and leadership ability, and who exemplifies personal character that advances the spirit and philosophy of Dr. King.” “Things are very, very tough right now given our circumstances,” Mowatt said.
“So just knowing how to keep pushing when things are tough was really inspiring to hear.” At age 11, Hannah-Jones wrote a letter to the editor of her local newspaper lamenting that Jesse Jackson didn’t win the 1988 Democratic Party nomination for president in part because of his race. She channeled that passion into a career as a journalist, activist and teacher of Black history. Today, she hopes younger people use that same energy in their endeavors. “As a 16-year-old Black child, I was both enraged that all of these years, when I thought the reason no one ever taught us about the history of Black people was because Black people didn’t have a history that could be taught, that we hadn’t done much of importance,” Hannah-Jones said. Email: news@ubspectrum.com
6 | Wednesday, February 23 2022
GALLERY
ubspectrum.com
Lily Smith / The Spectrum Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones spoke at the Center for the Arts last Wednesday.
Moaz Elazzazi / The Spectrum Rain, snow or shine, the Stampede braves all the elements.
Sabrina Akter-Nabi / The Spectrum Students attend class inside a Knox Hall classroom on a recent weekday.
Sai Krishna-Seethala / The Spectrum Students congregate inside a room in Davis Hall on a recent weekday.
Sai Krishna-Seethala / The Spectrum Ronaldo “Rondo” Segu goes up for a layup against Western Michigan last Saturday.
Moaz Elazzazi / The Spectrum Joseph Costa, an instructor in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, won the 11th annual Life Raft Debate last Tuesday.
Sai Krishna-Seethala / The Spectrum Ronaldo “Rondo” Segu catches his breath after a player during UB’s 87-73 victory over Western Michigan last Saturday.
Moaz Elazzazi / The Spectrum Students walk through a hallway in Greiner Hall during a blackout last Thursday.
ubspectrum.com
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Wednesday, February 23 2022 | 7
‘Love is Love’ night at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens UB and Buffalo community offer many resources and events for the LGBTQ community DAN EASTMAN ASST. MANAGING EDITOR
On select nights over the next month, The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens will open its doors to visitors after dark to see nature in a different light. On Wednesday night, the lights were an array of colors in each conservatory to promote the importance of acceptance of the LGBTQ community at the “Love is Love” event. In collaboration with The Pride Center of Western New York, the Botanical Gardens provided activities, giveaways and resources to the community and visitors throughout the night. Visiting the gardens after dark can be a magical and stress-free experience, especially for students looking to escape the rigors of the classroom. The plant collection is highlighted by soft lighting to enhance the shape, sizes, textures and colors of each species. Visitors can enjoy the landscape as light bounces off the glass of the conservatory and onto the plants, rocks and twinkling decorative ornaments overhead. While visiting the Botanical Gardens can be a valuable resource to relieve stress, here are a few of the other numerous resources available for LGBTQ students, faculty and staff at UB and in the Buffalo Community:
Rainbow Hour
Counseling Services Rainbow Hour is a monthly meeting held the last Thursday of every month from January to June. The discussion aims to bring together LGBTQ individuals at UB through conversations and games. The next discussion will be held this Thursday from 5-5:50 p.m. over Zoom.
Lavender Ceremony
Intercultural and Diversity Center This ceremony recognizes the achievements of graduating students who identify as LGBTQ. The ceremony is scheduled for May 13 in the Student Union. Additional information about how to participate will be disclosed in the near future.
Gender Inclusive Housing
Campus Living Students looking to embrace diversity in a safe and affirming environment can do so through UB’s Gender Inclusive Housing. A group of students living in a community without an assigned gender. The living learrning community brings LGBTQ students and straight allies together to freely explore issues of gender identity, expression and sexual orientation through specialized events and programs.The application can be submitted when applying for housing next semester. The application deadline is March 10 for returning students and May 1 for new students.
LGBTA
Student Club The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Alliance is open to all LGBTQ students and straight allies to spread awarness about issues affecting the community while establishing a safe space on campus by hosting events and meetings that teach and promote understanding among all students. The next meeting will take place on March 7 at 6 p.m. in NSC 216.
UB LGBTQ
Faculty Staff Association The UB LGBTQ FSA tries to promote a welcoming and inclusive university community of LGBTQ faculty and staff through education, networking and advocacy. Membership is open to all faculty and staff — full-time, part-time and retired — who agree to the constitution and annual $30 dues. Members are invited to attend their next event on March 15 for a discussion with Christopher Goerss, an advocate for shattering stigma around societal concerns ranging from LGBTQ rights to HIV/AIDS.
Pride Center of Western New York
278 Delaware Ave. The Pride Center of Western New York works to create a safe, healthy and satisfying place for LGBTQ people to live, work and establish their families. The organization provides community members with free resources such as HIV/STI testing, educational workshops and classes and a variety of free safe-sex resources. The Pride Center holds a number of events which can be found on its website, such as monthly meetings for TransGeneration, a program that promotes the exploration of gender in a positive and affirming environment. The Pride Center’s next meeting will be held virtually and in person on March 1 from 6-8 p.m. Email: danielson.eastman@ubspectrum.com
Hao Wang / The Spectrum Students hold up flags during a campus Pride Parade in April 2019.
Sabrina Akter-Nabi / The Spectrum Dancers with the Zodiaque Dance Company grace the Center for the Arts stage last fall.
UB’s Theatre and Dance Department releases spring semester events calendar UB’s calendar includes reoccurring favorites and pieces never seen at UB ALEX FALTER SENIOR ARTS EDITOR
Last Monday, UB’s Theatre and Dance Department sent out a university-wide email announcing its events calendar for the semester. The email highlighted a post-pandemic experience that follows recent improvements in the U.S.’ response to COVID-19. “Spring 2022 represents a return to live, in-person performances at the department’s home in the UB Center for the
Arts, on the UB North Campus, as well as selected performances at UB Katharine Cornell Theatre in the nearby Ellicott Student Housing Complex,” read the email. The event season will kick off on March 11 at 7:30 p.m. with the first showing of the Zodiaque Dance Company, UB’s nearly five-decade-old “pre-professional” dancing cohort. The show will be performed in the Center for the Arts’s Drama Theatre. April will be particularly eventful, starting with performance pieces created by members of Choreolab, UB’s experimental dance laboratory. The final performance will be the MFA Dance Thesis. The plays “Studio Ensemble: Vinegar Tom” and
“Twelfth Night” will also be performed in April, and will offer two very different tales for viewers to experience. With the exception of “Studio Ensemble: Vinegar Tom,” which will be held in the UB Katharine Cornell Theatre, all of April’s showings will take place in the CFA. The final showing, which will also take place in early April, is the play “Violet,” a musical about “a young woman on a quest to right the wrongs of her past.” This will be held in the CFA’s Drama Theatre. Visitors will be required to provide proof of complete vaccination, which the email defines as those who are “two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, or two weeks after a single-dose vac-
cine.” All events will cost $10 for students and senior citizens and $20 for adults, with the exception of “Studio Ensemble: Vinegar Tom,” which will cost $5 for all attendees. Email: alex.falter@ubspectrum.com
8 | Wednesday, February 23 2022
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ubspectrum.com
Fortune forgone “Uncharted” debuts as a fun, but not overly exciting exploration of 21st century adventure film KARA ANDERSON SENIOR ARTS EDITOR
Movie: “Uncharted” Director: Ruben Fleischer Starring: Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg Studio: Columbia Pictures Rating: 7.2/10 Evoking delight and nostalgia with adventure and near-fantasy, “Uncharted” brings to life the treasure-hunting whimsy of familiar favorites such as “National Treasure” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Transporting the viewer back to a time of homemade maps, where the ‘X’ marking the spot was no more than a mound of dirt in one’s backyard, revealing nothing but the jewels of childhood imagination, the movie is less to be enjoyed for its content than it is for the childlike thrill of danger and discovery. The film is based on the video game series of the same name and takes inspiration from the fourth installment, “Uncharted 4: A Thief ’s End.” Directed by Ruben Fleischer and starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg as Nathan Drake and Victor “Sully” Sullivan, the film puts video games to the big screen in an actionpacked two hours involving Spanish colonial history, knife-wielding girlbosses (who may or may not be villains) and the occasional menacing nun. Where “Uncharted” succeeds, unsurprisingly, is in its creation of a seductive world of high stakes and greed. Holland especially captures the essence of the at-
tractive thief with his easy-going demeanor and suave bracelet-stealing techniques (his showy and skillful bartending doesn’t hurt either in the creation of this persona). The charm of a young 20-something who is brazen enough to go against the most ruthless treasure hunters, with a comparable lack of experience, is not lost on the film. But “Uncharted” surprisingly fails in its action scenes. Though there are times when old and new technology come together in epic sequence (such as Holland shooting off centuries-old cannons to take out a helicopter), the actual ability to follow the frequent hand-to-hand combat is often compromised. From confusing camera shots to overly blurry and fast movements, the action in this action movie becomes nearly unwatchable. The one scene in which these lackluster visuals can be somewhat forgiven is when Holland and co-star Sophia Ali, playing fellow treasure hunter Chloe Frazer, fight off a hilariously hard-to-understand Scotsman in an underground nightclub. Here, the oversaturation of strobing colors, raging music and some impressive bar tricks compensate for the otherwise shoddy shot. Continuing on this wavering path of sometimes sticking the landing and other times flubbing, “Uncharted” experiences issues with its overall dialogue. With comedy at the backdrop of everything, there are times when “Uncharted” can create a genuine laugh. However, with stilted deliveries by Wahlberg and jokes that too often feel shoehorned in, the comedy of the film often comes off as overbearing and in the viewer’s face. It’s as though the film lacks confidence in itself to deliver humor without making it obvious that a joke is being made. Additionally, awkward sound-mixing paired with lines that are far better suited
for its video game counterpart than a bigscreen movie make the conversations in this film feel at times unnatural and even a bit jarring to listen to. Then comes the female characters. At first glance, “Uncharted” deviates from its genre predecessors like the Indiana Jones franchise, in having female characters with actual agency and drive, rather than the traditional damsel-in-distress act. However, the film quickly devolves into a boy’s club. While it’s always fun to see the scrappy underdog and his morally gray companion win, it becomes disheartening when it’s at the expense of another character’s development. The once clever Chloe Frazer has to be written completely out of the last quarter of the movie, just to have Nathan succeed in finding the lost ships of Ferdinand Magellan’s historic voyage. Again, the curation of a female charac-
ter, this time Jo Braddock played by Tati Gabrielle, is dampened down in order to make way for plot progression. With Braddock and Chloe being the only two prominent female characters in the film (along with being the only prominent characters of color), this de-evolution of character feels stale and untimely. Although “Uncharted” passes the bechdel test, it fails to make any strides for representation of women in film. Overall, “Uncharted” marks itself as an OK piece of entertainment for anyone who’s willing to suspend their disbelief for 116 minutes. The kind of film made for the movie theater that needs a towering screen, a bag of popcorn and a group of friends to watch with, “Uncharted” is sure to add a little fun to upcoming weekends, but it falls short of becoming a staple in the action-adventure genre. Email: kara.anderson@ubspectrum.com
Courtesy of Sony Pictures Tom Holland stars in “Uncharted,” a 2022 action-adventure film.
‘Peacemaker’ represents an interesting turning point for DCEU DC’s latest effort is a comically violent romp with tremendous heart ALEX FALTER SENIOR ARTS EDITOR
The DC Extended Universe has seen a rejuvenation of sorts as of late. After a string of less-than-stellar films and the fallout from the departure of Zack Snyder, movies like “The Suicide Squad” and “Shazam!” have showcased the universe beginning to relax. “Peacemaker,” the spinoff series of the aforementioned “The Suicide Squad,” perfectly continues this trend, balancing violence with raunchy humor and genuinely heartfelt performances.
Set after his “death” at the end of “The Suicide Squad,” the titular Peacemaker (reprised by John Cena) is tasked with a new mission: stop an alien species called the Butterflies from eradicating humanity. The plot, although simple, is bolstered by excellent acting across the board, as Peacemaker and his band of misfits work desperately to stop the impending threat. Yes, the team may be a simple set of conflicting personalities, but the interactions between members are a joy to behold. As viewers get to know Harcourt, Economous, Murn, Adebayo, Vigilante and Peacemaker they will fall in love with each character’s story, as James Gunn creates a powerful sense of empathy between the viewer and the screen.
Courtesy of HBO John Cena stars in “Peacemaker,” a TV series created by James Gunn for HBO Max.
Ironically, all these heartfelt moments contrast hilariously amidst the violence, which “Peacemaker” has plenty to serve. At its heart, it’s an action show, and through fierce gunplay — along with other necessary weapons — the crew tears through waves of villains in a gory fashion. Yet, these characters are not just emotionless psychopaths — at least, not most of them. They are humanly scarred individuals whose subplots don’t always justify their actions, but do create a context. This serves to be the show’s greatest strength. Where many other series showcase mindless and unnecessary action, “Peacemaker” aims for a form of realism (yes, realism in a comic book show with aliens) not often seen in the genre. Much like “The Suicide Squad,” no character is safe. While these characters don’t drastically alter the rest of the DCEU, the aforementioned connection developed between audience and character allows for devastating emotional blows when characters are killed or go through traumatic moments. Most impressively of all, the show still finds ways to be unapologetically funny no matter the mood of the scene. Dark and brood moments can be interrupted by a hilarious refer-
ence or gag, while not taking away from the scene’s tone. The ability to produce laughs in all forms is one of Gunn’s greatest strengths, as he delivers an unfiltered product that truly is his own vision. A killer soundtrack is another staple of Gunn’s work. As unconventional as ever, the series (exclusively available to stream on HBO Max) is equipped with a variety of little-known rock songs, which always fit the mood to an astronomical extent. Whether it be the bombasticity of the show’s title sequence to Wig Wam’s equally explosive “Do Ya Wanna Taste It” or a rather emotional moment to the tune of Faster Pussycat’s “House of Pain,” the soundtrack hits all the right notes, making the series all the better for it. Perhaps one of its most exciting qualities is the series’ unflinching effort at tearing down expectations and norms of masculinity, particularly in Peacemaker’s story arc. Conflict with the White Dragon — Peacemaker’s bigoted father — presents the audience with a chance to watch the protagonist grow to accept and love himself for what he is, while still reminding them of just how twisted his mind is. This complicates Peacemaker’s character, helping to redeem and humanize him despite his actions in “The Suicide Squad,” and portray him as more than what Cena in August described as a “douchey Captain America” when discussing the role. While it may not reinvent the wheel, “Peacemaker” comes as close as anything can these days to doing so. A true display of work greater than the sum of its parts, this is an excellent sign for the future of the DCEU if management can continue to let its creatives stretch their legs. Email: alex.falter@ubspectrum.com
ubspectrum.com
SPORTS
Wednesday, February 23 2022 | 9
‘You are competing with yourself and competing with the mountain’ Alexia Hecico defies barriers to become a world champion mountain runner KAYLA STERNER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
lexia Hecico stood atop the podium, overwhelmed with emotion. She had just won the World Mountain Running Championships, and was flanked by thousands of admirers while Deşteaptă-te, române, the national anthem of her home country of Romania, blared overhead. It was a defining moment for a runner who had spent countless hours honing her craft and working to be the best at her event. “I was getting goosebumps. I’m proud of where I’m from, but I think that moment made me realize that I made a change in how people see my country and [what] they know about it,” Hecico, a junior business administration major, said. “I’m so proud that I was part of something so historic.” Hecico may have won first place with the Romanian U20 team at the world championships in 2017, but her journey atop the mountain — and the podium — began years earlier. As a kid, the Baia Mare, Romania native took up swimming — something she embraced until her coach, one of her father’s old friends, started putting too much pressure on her. “She [her coach] saw potential in me and I think that’s when she started putting herself first and not what we [Hecico and her parents] wanted,” Hecico says. Hecico had a tough time escaping that experience. She recalls crying before races because she feared not being able to perform to the high standards she was being held up to. Her own mind proved to be her biggest obstacle at the start of her running career, but Hecico had a coach who would never give up on her: her mother. Hecico says her parents were her biggest supporters along her journey. With her mother coaching her, and her father joining her on runs and offering feedback, she was destined for success on the trails. “They made sure that everything I did, I understood that nothing bad was going to happen. They weren’t going to punish me if I wasn’t hitting my times or I wasn’t feeling good, or if I didn’t win a race,” Hecico said.
‘I just need to have a good race’
Hecico’s running career soared to new levels when she entered a mountain running race by accident, believing it was cross country. What started as a mistake quickly turned into a triumph when she left those trails victorious. From there, it was the Balkan and European Championships, for a chance to prove herself on the grandest stage.
“2016 was definitely the year that made me say OK, you know what, I’m going to fix everything that is not going the way I want it to and I’m going to put in the work and see what happens,” Hecico said. Despite being a novice to mountain running, Hecico’s strong will helped guide her to the World Championships. After finishing in 31st place in 2016, a spark ignited inside her that pushed her to new limits. Training six days a week, sometimes more than once per day, her efforts paid off in 2017 when she continually found the podium. Hecico finished third at the U18 Mountain Running Cup. She traveled to the European Championships with Team Romania, where her team placed second (Hecico finished fifth individually). And she reached the podium at the Balcan Championships, where she placed second again. But that wasn’t the end of her journey. Hecico went on to win the 2017 World Championships with Team Romania and came up just short of an individual medal after placing fourth in the competition. She says she was confident in her abilities heading into the race. “I went into the race knowing I can’t do worse than the year before, so I didn’t have any pressure. I wasn’t thinking about whether I need to beat X, Y or Z,” Hecico said. “I just need to have a good race and be proud of how I run.” Hecico was overwhelmed yet prideful, standing among some of the world’s best athletes at such a young age. New doors of opportunity began to open up for Hecico after she got in contact with Paul Kirsch — a U.S. junior mountain running team manager — who encouraged her to run in the states. The two met at the World Championships in 2017, after Hecico introduced herself to Kirsch as she went to congratulate the U.S. team.
Courtesy of Paul Hokanson / UB Athletics A Baia Mare, Romania native, Alexia Hecico has been lauded for her “physical strength” and “mental toughness.”
Hecico with her résumé, provide her with coaching contacts and offer encouragement. “Here was this kid who approached somebody, and I thought that took a certain amount of guts, so I just wanted to help,” he said. “I thought, here’s this talented person, she’s well-spoken, she’s nice and it was easy to give her feedback on her résumé.”
‘I found my second family here’
Soon after meeting Kirsch, coaches from colleges across the U.S. began offering her scholarships. “I decided that I really want[ed] a good school academically, because I know that my running career will stop at some point. I need a back-up plan,” Hecico said. “So I ended up emailing every coach from the top-100 academic universities and UB was definitely the best choice because I wanted a full scholarship.” Her recruitment journey began in September 2017, but Hecico didn’t hear from UB until November of the following year. Months before she had to sign her National Letter of Intent, head coach Vicki Mitchell approached her offering a full ride. “Her athletic performances were very strong in mountain running, which is a very demanding running event. We do not compete in mountain running in the NCAA system, but I felt that her physical strength and mental toughness to race at a very high level in mountain running would translate well to NCAA cross country and distance events on the track,” Mitchell said. “As I got to know Alexia, I began to understand her passion for competing, and felt that she would be a good fit for our program. Most importantly, she was extremely strong academically.”
I was getting goosebumps. I’m proud of where I’m from, but I think that moment made me realize that I made a change in how people see my country and [what] they know about it. ... I’m so proud that I was part of something so historic. Kirsch was instantly impressed by Hecico’s speed and tenacity. “She was pretty fierce about trying to catch third place,” he said. “She didn’t, but she was really pushing it, as hard as she could. That was very admirable.” From there, Kirsch was able to help
But academics weren’t the only thing on Hecico’s college search list. Given that she would be 4,000 miles away from home and on a different continent, she was searching for a soothing atmosphere and a positive relationship with her coach.
“I had to have someone who I knew would have my back, that I could talk to, and would make me feel at home. That is exactly what happened at UB,” she said. “I found my second family here. I had to be in a place where I could feel comfortable after leaving home for nine months.” But just before she started her career as a Bull, tragedy struck. Hecico’s father, one of her life-long supporters, unexpectedly passed away in spring 2019. The news rocked her world and halted her training for two weeks. It left her unable to compete at the World and European Championships. “Mentally, I was just exhausted, and also physically. I had to take two weeks off after the news because I couldn’t move, couldn’t get out of bed,” Hecico said. Her resilience shined through as she refused to let this become a barrier. When she does struggle, she thinks of running with her father, as well as his coaching points. “He would always say what I wanted to hear, the things that would make me feel more confident and calm. I remember every single time before a race he was telling me the same exact thing,” Hecico said. “He would say, ‘Alexia, don’t even stress about it. The outcome won’t end up better than it will. You will not be able to change the outcome. Give your best, that’s it.’” Hecico says her father’s wisdom helps her stay in a good headspace. But once she arrived in Buffalo, Hecico had to deal with another obstacle: adjusting to life in a foreign country. Hecico passed that test with flying colors, according to Mitchell. “Alexia actually made the process of moving to a new country look easy. I believe her experience in travel[ing] through her international competitions in high school helped with that aspect,” Mitchell said. “After the obvious things such as jet lag, I think one of the most challenging aspects for her [is] being away from her mother/home for so long. Academically, she has excelled from day one.” Hecico runs toward any obstacle with a heart full of determination and a soul that refuses to accept mediocrity. “I have a saying in mountain running,” Hecico said. “You’re competing with yourself and you’re competing with the mountain. The mountain is the one that is actually giving you a hard time, so you need to look at it as a companion, but at the same time something that is there for you to challenge.” Email: kayla.sterner@ubspectrum.com
SPORTS
10 | Wednesday, February 23 2022
MEN’S BASKETBALL DOMINATES AT BOWLING GREEN Last week in UB Athletics
MEN’S TENNIS NOTCHES FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON
SOFTBALL NOTCHES HISTORIC WIN OVER PENN STATE
Men’s tennis (1-6) broke its string of six consecutive defeats with a win over St. Bonaventure (1-5) Saturday afternoon. Wins in all six singles matches and two of the three doubles contests solidified a dominant 7-0 victory for the Bulls. Doubles action saw freshmen Cheng Tang and Yu-Shiang Huang sweep the Bonnies with a 6-0 victory, while sophomore Finn Macnamara and junior Greg Hastings bagged a 6-3 victory to secure the doubles point. Singles play had each of the Bulls land a win. Senior Simon Wibler secured a 6-2, 6-0 win in first singles, followed by Tang picking up a 6-3, 7-5 victory for second singles. Macnamara kept up the stride with a straight sets 6-1, 6-2 victory, as freshman Daniils Snaiders won 6-4, 6-0 at the fourth. Huang and Hastings ended on a high with back-to-back wins: 6-2, 4-6, 10-2 and 6-2, 6-4 wins, respectively. Men’s tennis will hope to keep up its momentum Saturday at 2 p.m. against the Cleveland State Vikings (0-7).
For the first time since 2014, UB softball defeated a Power 5 team and finished the season’s opening weekend with a winning record. This weekend’s Panther Invitational saw UB defeat Penn State 5-3 on Saturday, which marked their first victory over a Power Five rival since they took down Texas Tech 5-0 in 2014. Friday’s opening play brought a mixed bag of results. UB picked up its first win of the 2022 season with a 4-1 win over the CSU Vikings, which they followed up with a hard-fought 4-3 loss to the FIU Panthers. Saturday’s match witnessed UB’s landmark victory over D-1 giant Penn State. The Bulls roared to a 5-3 win with runs from Lucyshyn, senior catcher Olivia Kincanon and sophomore infielder Ally Sobaszek. Inclement weather paused Buffalo’s rematch against FIU in its tracks, as the game rolled over to Sunday. But, after going down 6-0 Saturday, the Bulls ultimately lost 7-1. The Bulls bested the Vikings in the final event of the weekend, 5-4. The Bulls will be back on the road in Albuquerque, NM for the Lobo Classic from Feb. 24-26.
SOPHIE MCNALLY
SOPHIE MCNALLY
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Men’s basketball (14-8, 8-4 MAC) stormed to a 112-85 win against the Bowling Green Falcons (12-14, 5-10 MAC) Tuesday night at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, OH. The game marked UB’s fourth straight win, and saw the Bulls command the court from start to finish. Senior forward Jeenathan Williams set the tone as soon as he stepped onto the court —- scoring eight of UB’s first 10 points in the initial three minutes of gameplay. Halftime saw the Bulls secure a 5138 lead, which extended to a 17-point lead early on in the second half. Despite this, the BGSU Falcons fought their way to stay in the game. Their attempt to level the playing field left them just 11 points down with 12:12 left on the clock, before graduate student forward Tra’von Fagan’s basket put an end to the run. This record-breaking win surpassed the old benchmark of 106 points scored on the road, set twice in the 1973-74 and 2017-18 seasons. 12 Bulls found the scoring column, with senior forward Josh Mballa paving the way with 20 points and a faultless 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Other game leaders Williams and Segu both finished with 19 points, and four and six assists respectively. Defensively the Bulls had the upper hand, curbing the Falcons’ shots to 38.0% from the field and 30.0% from three-point range. UB will hit the road to face the Northern Illinois Huskies (8-18, 5-11 MAC) Thursday at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb, IL. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NOTCHES CLOSE VICTORY AGAINST MIAMI (OH) Women’s basketball (18-8, 12-4 MAC) defeated the Miami (OH) RedHawks (8-17, 4-12 MAC), 83-71, Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena. Junior guard Dyaisha Fair and freshman guard Georgia Woolley impressed with a combined 56 points. Fair scored a game-high 36 points with four assists and four steals while Woolley notched 20 points, three assists and three steals. Both the Bulls and RedHawks started off slow, before three back-to-back fastbreak layups brought UB into the heat of play, giving them a 10-6 lead by the first media timeout. Woolley started off the offensive assault right out of the gate with a pair of threes to give UB the 46-39 lead at the start of the second half. The two teams traded baskets until Miami finally tied the game at 65 at the 8:04 mark in the fourth quarter. The Bulls answered with a 7-0 run of their own, with a triple from Fair and offensive rebound putback by junior forward Loren Christie, for a 7265 UB lead. The final minutes saw Fair dominate with seven straight points, while senior forward Adebola Adeyeye knocked down a mid-range jumper to round off the 18-6 UB run that sealed the victory. The Bulls will return to action against the Ohio Bobcats (13-10, 7-7 MAC) for a 7 p.m. tip-off at Alumni Arena Wednesday.
SOPHIE MCNALLY
SOPHIE MCNALLY
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Five defining statistics for UB Athletics Impressive winning streaks, strong shooting performances propel winter and spring teams JUSTIN WEISS MANAGING EDITOR
As the calendar flips to March, all eyes are on the men’s and women’s basketball teams as they encroach on the NCAA Tournament. But it’s not just March Madness that is around the corner; wrestling and swimming and diving also have their postseason tournaments to look forward to in the coming weeks. Here’s a look at the numbers that have defined these teams — with a special shout-out to softball — over the last few months:
14
Consecutive wins for swimming and diving
Swimming and diving is on an unrivaled 14-meet winning streak. The team hasn’t lost a match since January 2019 — that’s more than three years ago. Beginning Wednesday, the team will look to defend its 2021 MAC title. UB will need its top athletes — junior diver Tori Franz, who excels in the 3-meter dive; senior freestyle swimmer Toni Naccarella, a two-time school record holder; and senior breaststroke swimmer Katie Pollock, the reigning MAC champion in the 100 breaststroke — to stand out. “It was really fun to watch the girls celebrate and feel the accomplishment of working so hard toward a common goal and then being in a position to achieve it,” head coach Andy Bashor told The Spectrum last week. “These ladies do a lot of what we call delayed gratification. They work really hard for a long period of time to peak at one moment.”
.765
David Skogman’s twopoint shooting percentage
At 6-10, redshirt sophomore center David Skogman has a distinct advantage over his opponents: his size. But it’s not just his stature that makes him such a threat in the paint. He is also an impressive athlete with a pretty shooting touch. “Skogman is great for us,” senior forward Jeenathan Williams told The Spectrum two weeks ago. “He’s stepped up a lot. He’s been making a lot of great plays for us. Shooting the ball really well, rebounding Sai Krishna-Seethala / The Spectrum Redshirt sophomore center David Skogman dribbles the ball during a recent game against Western Michigan. week. He’s a key factor in what we do.” Spectrum last year, when asked about the Skogman’s .765 two-point shooting percentage would be the best in challenges of playing elite programs at the Three the nation, if only he took more two-point start of the season. “It makes our team Wrestlers in the national rankings shots. But he’s shooting 81.1% from the better, helps us grow our relationships Graduate student Derek Spann (133 lb.), line and grabbing 6.2 rebounds per game with each other and allows us to earn the graduate student John Arceri (149 lb.) and — not too shabby for the Waukesha, WI trust of one another.” redshirt junior Michael Petite (157 lb.) are native. all in this week’s national rankings.
3-2
Softball’s record after the first weekend of the season
For the first time since 2014, softball has a winning record after the first weekend of the season. Even more surprisingly, Saturday’s 5-3 win over Penn State marks the first time the Bulls knocked off a Power 5 opponent since 2014. The Bulls have been propelled by the strong bat of sophomore utility player Madison Fernimen (team-leading .429 batting average) and the stellar arm of sophomore pitcher Julia Tarantino (3.15 earned-run average in 20 innings). “The competition is as tough as it gets but it’s honestly making us better,” sophomore infielder Rachel Steffan told The
23.8
Points per game for Dyaisha Fair
Cierra Dillard is UB’s all-time leader in scoring average in a season and a career. But it’s Dyaisha Fair, a fellow Rochester native, who may eventually break both records. Fair, a junior point guard from Edison Career & Technology High School, trails just three players — Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, Villanova’s Maddy Siegrist and Delaware’s Jasmine Dickey — on the list of NCAA Division I scoring leaders. “I don’t get used to that, I’m always surprised by how well Dyaisha plays,” head coach Felisha Legette-Jack told The Spectrum in early February. “Because if you expect certain things, you get disappointed. These ladies have been really well but there’s still so much room at the top for them to get to.”
The dynamic trio has helped the Bulls notch a 12-6, 7-2 MAC, record — including a six-match winning streak spanning the entire month of January and early February — and push for the top spot in the conference, which is currently held by No. 21 Central Michigan. “You’ve gotta take it day by day, but these guys are not idiots,” head coach John Stutzman told The Spectrum last week, in reference to his athletes thinking about winning the first MAC title in program history. “They know what’s at stake, you might as well talk about embracing it. If you don’t talk about it then it doesn’t mean as much… Hopefully, we can put ourselves in a position to do something special that this program’s never done.” Email: justin.weiss@ubspectrum.com