The Spectrum Vol. 70 No. 3

VOL. 70 NO. 3 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, SINCE 1950

Innovative art exhibit transports visitors into the life and works of Vincent Van Gogh

Your guide to Queen City entertainment this semester

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UBSPECTRUM

Volleyball star Monika Simkova fights for her life in ICU

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UB students hitchhike from Amherst to Wyoming Twenty-six rides, eight states, 1,483 miles, one wild adventure JULIE FREY ASST. NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

Nick Metz and Collin Searles have been friends since freshman year when they lived on the same floor in Wilkeson Quad.

So when Metz got a call from Searles last spring asking if he wanted to sign up for a two-week hitchhiking ride across America, Metz felt like he had no choice but to say yes.

“I answered the phone and Collin said, ‘Yo, dude, I’ve got a great idea, wanna go hitchhiking this summer?’ And I was like, ‘Sure, why not,’ and then we just kind of did it,” Metz, an environmental studies major, said. “We chose a date when the semester ended and we just went.”

Metz’s impulsive decision to join Searles on a trip calling back to another era led the duo to meet an eccentric band member right here in Buffalo, attend a sleepover with a total stranger and traverse the edge of defeat, just before crossing into the central time zone. The duo learned lessons on privilege and security while on the road.

Metz and Searles each packed a backpack with three changes of clothing, a shared tent, food, a camp stove, their water bottles, rain jackets, 12-in-1 soap, a

rechargeable battery, a physical map, their phones, their wallets and a sign that read WEST in big bold letters.

And that was it.

On May 17, Metz and Searles waited for two hours beside I-290, right off UB’s North Campus, for their first leg of the adventure. But before landing their first ride, Searles, who invited Metz to go hitchhiking, felt a bit apprehensive about hitching a ride with a stranger, while Metz felt a little ridiculous waiting on the side of the road.

“Waiting for our first ride, I was a little nervous because I didn’t know what to expect,” Searles said.

“The most nervous thing was just sitting there with your thumb out and you’re like, ‘Oh, what are people thinking?’ Are they are looking at us like, ‘What a bunch of crackheads?’’” Metz recalled.

Adding to the stress of the first day, Metz and Searles were stopped by the police — for the first of many times.

“It took awhile on the first day for us to get a ride, probably two hours and we got stopped by a cop on the first day,” Metz said. “We got stopped by the cops probably a total of over 20 times.” “[Hitchhiking] isn’t illegal,” Searles SEE HITCHHIKERS PAGE 4

Collin Searles Collin Searles (left) and Nick Metz (center) pose with an unknown

Honors College is whiter than undergraduate student body Officials say they have taken steps to make POC feel more comfortable, recruit more underrepresented minorities GRANT ASHLEY SENIOR NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

After spending the fall 2020 semester entirely online in his home country of Nigeria, Namhe Itegboje was excited to begin the spring semester on campus.

The then-freshman electrical engineering major rode out his first snowstorm, attended in-person classes and made friends in the Governors Complex, where he lived with many of his fellow Honors College students. Some of those friends were Black. Others were international students, like him.

Some weren’t. He reveled in it.

“I’ve... become friends with people from five different countries [since coming to UB],” he said halfway through the spring semester, almost bragging.

Which was why, despite knowing that UB was more ethnically diverse than its Honors College, Itegboje was so shocked SEE HONORS

woman at a trail head.

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UB opens onUB slides to No. 93 in U.S News Best Colleges ranking campus flu clinics University maintains its and engagement activities,” Provost and Additionally, U.S. News releases special-

UB will begin administering the flu vaccine this week to members of the university community DAN EASTMAN ASST. MANAGING EDITOR

UB is offering the flu vaccine free-ofcharge (with insurance, which all students are required to obtain privately or is provided by UB) for members of the university community, the school said in an email.

Students, faculty and staff can now receive the vaccine on all three UB campuses. No appointments are necessary, but individuals will need to present their UB card upon arrival. The sites will be open through Nov. 18.

place on the top 100 list despite another drop ALEX FALTER SENIOR ARTS EDITOR

UB fell in the U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges ranking released Monday for the second consecutive year.

The university dropped five spots, from 88th in 2021 to 93rd in 2022. UB is still on an upward trajectory, though, climbing from 109th in 2014 and peaking at 79th in 2020.

“We are proud that UB continues to be recognized among the top universities in the nation and to positively impact the world through our research, scholarship, creative activities, education, clinical care

Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs A. Scott Weber said in a news release.

Released annually since 1983, the U.S. News and World Report’s Best National University Rankings is arguably the mostread college rankings, appearing in major online publications like CNBC and The College Post.

In compiling this year’s list, U.S. News used a variety of criteria to determine where each school ranks, with major weighted factors being graduation and retention rates, social mobility, graduation rate performance, undergraduate academic reputation, faculty resources for the 2020-2021 academic year, student selectivity for the fall 2020 entering class, financial resources per student, average alumni giving rate and graduate indebtedness.

The schedules for the sites are as follows:

North Campus Tuesdays, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

10 Talbert Hall South Campus Wednesdays, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

7 Diefendorf Hall Downtown Campus Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

2211 Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Although the flu vaccine isn’t required, public health officials strongly encourage students to get inoculated to protect themselves and others from infection. The flu season typically lasts from October to May. UB will also be offering COVID-19 vaccines at these three locations.

Email: danielson.eastman@ubspectrum.com

Paolo Blanchi / The Spectrum UB’s yearly ranking among U.S. News’ Best National Universities since 2014

ized lists each year that highlight which colleges are the best for particular programs.

The university scored well on many of these focused lists, most notably coming in at No. 63 on the Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs list, No. 76 on the Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs list and No. 83 on the Undergraduate Computer Science list.

UB came in as the second-ranked SUNY school, tied with Stony Brook. Only Binghamton, at No. 83, ranked higher.

Despite the school’s drop in the rankings, the 93rd spot still represents a solid showing on a list of 392 universities.

Email: alex.falter@ubspectrum.com

2 | Wednesday, September 15 2021 HONORS FROM PAGE 1

to learn that he shared an Honors College cohort of 405 students with only nine domestic Black students.

“I would’ve expected much more,” Itegboje said. “That means I know, …like, half the Black people in [my] Honors College [class]!”

The university’s Honors College is whiter but more female than the university’s general population, according to university admissions and enrollment data reviewed

by The Spectrum this month.

Female students made up 52.7% of Honors enrollees last fall, compared to just 44.2% among non-Honors students.

Females were a minority in the incoming Honors classes of 2018 and 2019, but each of those cohorts was still more female than the university at large.

NEWS “Our goal to diversify the Honors College extends beyond race and ethnicity to also include a diverse balance of gender, students from various geographic areas, students from varying socio-economic backgrounds and across all disciplines,” Reed said in an email. “By diversifying our student body in all areas, we provide the opportunity for our students to learn from those who may be different yet who are all committed to intellectual discovery.”

Some Honors students of color, though, still felt alienated by the comparative lack of diversity.

Claire Feng, an Asian-American senior industrial engineering major, says she can recall times from her first year in the Honors College when she felt “very uncomfortable” pushing back against arguments made by her white peers in class.

“During a freshman [Honors] seminar,

students from underrepresented minority communities in an effort to make the Honors College more diverse, according to Reed. Such measures implemented by the Admissions Office include “a holistic review of applications, events/programming for historically underrepresented minority prospective students and bilingual marketing materials and staff.”

The problem may in part be that many of the POC students who were persuaded to apply to the Honors College simply weren’t persuaded to attend UB. While almost 12.6% of those admitted to the Honors College for the fall 2020 semester were students from URM communities, freshmen from those groups only made up 9.25% of Honors College enrollment.

Asian students and students of color also had higher rates of admission than rates of enrollment. Only white students had a

Sabrina Akter-Nabi / The Spectrum UB’s Honors College is whiter and more female than the university’s general population, according to university admissions and enrollment data.

However, about 58% of Honors students who enrolled in the fall of 2020, the most recent class for which complete enrollment data were available, were white, compared to just 48.5% of non-Honors College freshmen that semester.

Some of that may be changing, though.

Successive freshman classes of Honors students have been more diverse. Honors College freshmen were 65% white in the fall of 2018, considerably whiter than Honors freshmen in the fall of 2020. The share of incoming Honors students representing underrepresented minorities — defined by the University Factbook as “includ[ing] Black, Hispanic, and Hawaiian ethnicities” — has increased slightly during the same time period, rising from 6.7% in 2018 to 9.25% in 2020.

That trend appears to have continued into fall 2021, when “the Honors College enrolled the most URM [underrepresented minority] students in its freshman class in its 40-year history” despite incomplete enrollment data, according to Dawn Reed, director of Interdivisional Marketing & Communications for the university’s Enrollment Management office.

The percentage of URM students in the Honors College still lags behind that of the rest of the school, however. Students from underrepresented minority groups made up 21% of the non-Honors, incoming freshmen in 2020.

According to Reed, the Honors College has implemented some programs to make incoming freshmen from underrepresented communities more comfortable, such as pairing them with mentors of color in programs like the Schomburg Fellows Program, hosting a Welcome Weekend event for freshmen to mingle with upperclassmen, and holding the Generation Honors Program, which teaches incoming freshmen about on-campus resources while “fostering a sense of community and connection.”

ubspectrum.com new languages, I like trying new food. ...So I would like more [international] diversity for the simple fact that I would get to meet people from more countries... [and] learn more about the world.”

The Honors College’s historic enrollment of international students comes amid four consecutive years of decline in UB’s international student population despite intensified digital recruitment campaigns since the onset of the pandemic.

University officials have blamed both federal policy and COVID-19.

Admissions data were not available for international students.

But aside from increasing international enrollment, students have their own ideas for creating a more diverse Honors College.

“A lot of the systemic issues that prevent more diversity in the Honors College [take place] at the high school level, so I understand how difficult of a task it can be [to diversify],” Feng said. “The students aren’t always something we can choose, but increasing diversity within the faculty and staff ” — something Feng believes could lead to better policies — “is something within our control.”

Diversity of faculty and staff is also a goal of the Honors College, according to Reed, who noted that the Honors College “continue[s] to engage faculty from various backgrounds and disciplines to offer programming that broadens students’ perspectives through engagement with issues of diversity and equity.”

Meg Negussie advocates for a holistic and compassionate, but ultimately meritocratic system during the admissions process. The sophomore computer engineering major who enrolled in the Honors her freshman year came to her beliefs while applying to the program, and after struggling with imposter syndrome.

When first applying to UB, Negussie discussed the Honors College’s supplemental essay prompt, which asks the applicant how their experiences have broadened their perspectives and what experiences they hope to have moving forward. Her father advised her to write about being a Black woman in a STEM field.

“And I remember really not wanting to do that because I didn’t want this college to accept me because I met a certain requirement [or because] I survived a certain prejudice or whatever,” Negussie said. “I was so scared of people being like, ‘Oh, you’re only here because you’re a minority.’ I didn’t want to be associated with that at all.”

As such, Negussie thinks that the Honors College can solicit more applicants by making “the playing field a little less scary.” “[When] I tell people that I’m in the Honors College, they’re like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe that. I couldn’t imagine being in [the] Honors College,’” she said. “And it’s really intimidating to hold yourself to that standard.”

we were talking about the book ‘White higher enrollment rate than admission rate Fragility,’ ...and one of the main points in in 2018, 2019 and 2020. the book is that sometimes white people International recruitment for the Honspend more of their energy proving that ors College, though, has been on an upthey’re not racist than in actually helping ward trajectory. The freshman Honors POC communities,” Feng said, recalling class in 2018 had no international stuone instance. “And the class discussion dents; the 2020 cohort had 30, comprisquickly turned into, ‘I’m not like that, my ing 7.7% of the class and making it the friends aren’t like that, not all white people largest group of international freshmen in are like that,’ and we never got to actually the history of the program, according to discuss allyship or systemic issues. I want- Reed. ed to voice that we were missing the point Itegboje, one of those 30 international that the author was trying to make, but I Honors students, has been enjoying the was afraid of social alienation and push- cross-cultural exchange. back from the rest of the class.”

“I like meeting people from different Other students, like Sergio Sandoval, a cultures,” Itegboje said. “I like learning Email: grant.ashley@ubspectrum.com sophomore accounting major and Honors student who identifies as Hispanic, are more or less apathetic about how diverse the Honors College is.

While Sandoval said he “mostly see[s] white people” on campus and thinks the Honors College could be “a little bit” more diverse since it doesn’t reflect the racial demographics of New York State, he also said that Honors College diversity “doesn’t at all” affect him personally or academically.

And although he sees diversity as a tool for learning about the world, Itegboje, too, doesn’t think of diversity as a necessity.

“I believe you can get value from wherever you are,” Itegboje said. “So, even if… everyone in the Honors College was Black, or if everyone in the Honors College was white (except for me), I’d think it’s still going to be pretty much the same experience for me.”

Regardless, Honors College staff are working closely Sabrina Akter-Nabi / The Spectrum with the university’s Office of The Honors College has implemented some programs to make incoming freshmen from underrepresented communities Admissions to recruit more more comfortable, according to administrators.

ubspectrum.com

OPINION

Mental health is public health It’s our collective responsibility to treat it as such

JUSTIN WEISS MANAGING EDITOR

Before COVID-19 raged across the U.S., killing hundreds of thousands of Americans and hospitalizing millions more, I was a public health student.

“You’re a what?” my friends would ask, in the fall of 2019.

“I’m a public health student,” I’d respond.

“What’s that?” they’d reply.

Suffice it to say, few people have that question now, after the hellish year-and-ahalf we have been through as a society.

Most people today have, at minimum, heard of this field. Many have strong opinions about the people dictating health policies like masks, quarantine and vaccines.

But almost nobody — including many within the field — acknowledges that there is so much more to public health

than communicable diseases.

There’s excessive alcohol consumption, food safety, motor vehicle injuries and prescription drug overdose.

And then there’s the mental health crisis, which I would argue is just as much of a public health crisis as infectious diseases like COVID-19.

And yet nobody talks about it that way.

That’s a darn shame.

I say it’s time we change that.

I say it’s time we start treating mental health like COVID-19: with the seriousness and urgency that it deserves.

When it comes to the pandemic, we have employed an upstream approach, mandating vaccines, requiring masks indoors and encouraging social distancing.

We have plastered signs around campus listing symptoms, resources and contacts.

We have conducted full-scale media blitzes, placed emergency protocols in syllabi and prepared for the worst-case scenario.

We have been very proactive when it comes to combating this disease — and rightfully so.

But where’s that same fervor when it comes to mental health?

Why aren’t we treating mental illness with the same energy we bring to COVID-19? Where is the upstream, all-handson-deck approach designed to catch students before their mental health spirals out of control?

We should be plastering signs around campus extolling the importance of counseling, and we should be properly funding

our counseling services.

We should be having a serious conversation about implementing mental health days — similar to sick days — that students can tap into if things get really rough.

We should consider bold and innovative strategies to combat one of the scariest and most prevalent illnesses in existence.

Simply put, we should treat mental health as the public health crisis it is.

I feel like a broken record at this point, but every semester is the same story: students start off with a ton of energy and excitement, and then boom, they hit a major rough patch.

Some have the support and resilience to get through it; others don’t. It’s that latter group that keeps me up at night, because we’ve seen this end in tragedy too many times before. It feels as if once a semester, we all receive an email from the university confirming our greatest fear.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and we’ve all seen the stories of students across the country — including at UB — who feel like they have no other choice.

It breaks my heart into a million pieces and pains me to no end.

I also think of all the students who are suffering in silence, who feel an empty pit in their stomach when they return home to the dorms each night, who are overwhelmed by the significant demands of being a student and a child and a friend and an employee, who feel as though nobody understands them.

I think we’ve all experienced the visceral feeling of being alone, of trying to navigate an unfamiliar terrain while feeling physically ill to our stomach.

Wednesday, September 15 2021 | 3 I think we’ve all had our bad days, when the world seems to be working against us and all we can do is fight to see the next one.

And I know we’ve all been affected by this crisis in personal and profound ways.

Maybe it’s a roommate, or a friend, or a family member, or a colleague, or one’s self, but everyone on campus knows somebody who is just trying to make it through the day.

I see it every day on this campus, in the faces of strangers on the Stampede, in the pages of this publication, in the voices of my friends who are struggling to stay afloat.

If we’re trying to maintain a safe distance from people who have COVID-19, I think it’s our responsibility to bridge the difference with people who are feeling lonely or overwhelmed.

If we see masks as essential to keeping us — and others — safe from the virus, then I don’t think we have an option but to see genuine human connection as essential to keeping us — and others — safe from mental illness.

And I believe that if as a university, our response to the COVID-19 pandemic is to do everything we can to catch susceptible students before they reach others, then we have a moral and legal responsibility to treat the mental health epidemic in the same way and catch susceptible students before they spiral out of control.

It’s on all of us to make mental health the public health priority it so desperately needs to be.

Email: justin.weiss@ubspectrum.com

A letter to Vice President for Student Life Brian Hamluk We have a mental health crisis on campus. Let’s fix it.

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Dear Vice President for Student Life Brian Hamluk, On behalf of the entire staff of The Spectrum, we are delighted to welcome you to campus as the new vice president for student life. It’s an exciting time for our university, as we emerge from this pandemic stronger and more resilient than before.

Unfortunately, it’s also a scary time, especially for the thousands of students who feel isolated, anxious and overwhelmed.

Every minute of every day, our students are suffering in silence. As a staff, we strongly believe this university has a mental health crisis — and, as a result, the administration has a moral responsibility to act.

Of course, we are far from the only school with this problem.

Students across the country report strong feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. But we are not the rest of the country; we are a community

of 30,000 vibrant students.

And as the vice president for student life, it is your responsibility to ensure that we all have access to the mental health services we so desperately need.

We decided to come together as a united front to advocate for further mental health services. As journalists, but also as humans, we believe we have a responsibility to shine a light on the issues that matter most to us all.

And, as students who work, play and study on this campus, we believe there is no more important — or pressing — issue than that of mental health, especially in the wake of troubling and heartbreaking recent developments.

Here are our demands: Unlimited counseling sessions.

Counseling Services currently caps counseling sessions at 10 per academic year. We believe this isn’t nearly enough, as many students require additional help from qualified professionals. We demand greater funding for Counseling Services, so it can fulfill its responsibility as an oncampus mental health provider and support the very students it claims to support.

Create a ‘long-term’ counseling option.

Students are currently referred off campus if they have serious mental health concerns. This is unacceptable; students who are spending thousands of dollars on a “total institution” should have support for their very real needs on campus. They shouldn’t have to worry about a lack of insurance or scheduling logistics.

Mental health days.

Students are asked to skip class because they have been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19, but no such policies are in place for the very real mental ailments those same students deal with every day. We believe students should be able to take three “mental health days” per semester, in an effort to catch up on schoolwork, sleep and mentally recharge.

Mental health training for students.

During the summer before their freshman year, students are required to complete an alcohol and sexual violence training. We believe the university should also mandate a mental health training, where students would become familiar with emotional first aid and learn how to help their peers — and themselves — in case they develop a mental health problem or experience a mental health crisis.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 VOLUME 70 NUMBER 3 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.

Anyone interested in joining The Spectrum’s professional staff or advertising team can email Alek Ogadzhanov at: aio@ubspectrum.com.

The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Opinion section 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.

For information on adverstising with The Spectrum: VISIT: www.ubspectrum.com/advertising EMAIL US: spectrum@buffalo.edu The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100

Reilly Mullen

Mandatory training for professors.

Many professors are sympathetic toward students’ mental health needs; some are not. We demand that the university implement mandatory mental health training for professors, so they are equipped with the tools and sensitivity necessary to support students in crisis.

Plaster signs around campus.

Campus is currently filled with signs extolling the importance of wearing a mask, completing the Daily Health Check and washing your hands. We demand that the university place flyers and other materials around campus explaining the importance of emotional first aid and listing mental health resources.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. We can’t bear to receive another email confirming our worst fears. Please don’t delay in making changes. Our community is counting on you.

SPORTS EDITORS Anthony DeCicco, Sr. Hunter Skoczylas

MANAGING EDITORS Justin Weiss Dan Eastman, Asst.

MULTIMEDIA EDITORS Sabrina Akter-Nabi, Sr. Sai Krishna Seethala, Sr.

NEWS EDITORS ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Grant Ashley, Sr. Jack Porcari, Sr. Natalie Doller, Asst.

Julie Frey, Asst.

ARTS EDITORS Alex Falter, Sr. Kara Anderson, Asst.

Jenna Quinn, Sr. CREATIVE DIRECTOR Paolo Blanchi, Sr. Jiayi Zhang, Asst.

4 | Wednesday, September 15 2021

FEATURES

ubspectrum.com

HITCHHIKERS FROM PAGE 1

chimed in (hitchhiking is legal while on the shoulder of the road in a majority of states).

Metz and Searles learned to bookmark a website on their phones detailing the hitchhiking laws to show the police whenever they were stopped. But it wasn’t just the act of hitchhiking that attracted the police’s attention.

“On two separate occasions, in two separate states, the police were called on us. The complaint was that there was an 11-year-old and a 13-year-old hitchhiking,” Metz laughed. “Two separate states, same ages. Apparently, we really look like 11- and 13-year-olds.”

Still, the duo came across what they described as the most “interesting” ride of their trip that first day, when a white van sporting a “free candy” sticker on its side pulled up beside them.

“This guy pulls up in this white van and it literally says ‘free candy’ on the side. This punk-rock dude opens the door and asks us where we’re going,” Metz said, his face lit up with glee. “We’re like, ‘Can you get us to Erie [PA]?’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, sure.’”

Once in the car, the man, Greg, told Metz and Searles that before he could take them to Erie, he would have to make a few stops — the first to pick up his dog.

“He drove us to the middle of a bunch of warehouses, it looked like you could build cars there,” Searles laughed. “He was only our third ride and I’m thinking we’re done for.”

Greg had warned Metz and Searles they needed to be careful of his dog, a “vicious” pitbull.

“He leaves his keys in the car, and goes in for 20 minutes, with his keys in the car, very trusting dude,” Metz said. “He comes back with Princess Peanut Butter Cup who is this old, sweet dog, the sweetest thing ever, and [she’s] cuddling with us in the back. We asked him, ‘We’re going to Erie now, right?’ And Greg says no. He said that he needed to go pick up some weed but he couldn’t go to his drug dealer’s house because his baby mama [lives] next door to her and he couldn’t see her [his baby mama].”

Greg then brought Metz and Searles to a Tops parking lot to meet a dealer dubbed in Greg’s contact list as “Brian Goatf----r.”

Finally, with Princess Peanut Butter Cup and a bag of marijuana in tow, the gang set off for Erie.

This ride would also teach Metz and Searles their first hitchhiking lesson after they offered Greg gas money: never pay your ride.

“It’s just the principle of it, you’re hitchhiking and you’re not really expected to pay gas money,” Searles said. “It’s the whole idea that you’ll ruin it [for] other hitchhikers who need transportation without money; if you pay money, it’s like making [paying] an expectation.”

Metz and Searles learned more of these unspoken hitchhiking rules from a houseless man, Matt, who the pair met walking his dog. Matt reminisced about his own hitchhiking days, and Metz and Searles, feeling defeated from being stuck in Ohio, unable to get a ride that day, listened.

“He told us he was staying in a motel down the road, gave us his key and told us he’d be there in a few hours if we needed a place to sleep,” Metz and Searles said of their unexpected host. “Nicest dude ever, it wasn’t weird at all.”

“I talked to him until three in the morning,” Metz said. “He’s got a really sad story. It’s unfortunate. But he’s really educated and really smart. Entertaining to talk to. You know, a great guy. I still talk to him sometimes. I have his Facebook.”

Meeting Matt became a pivotal point in their trek across the country. It’s when Metz and Searles went from being two guys learning how to hitchhike to two guys knowing how to hitchhike.

“He was sort of like a guide we met at the point where we [were] so over it [the trip],” Searles said. “If we didn’t meet [Matt] we probably would have left. But he told us that a ride will always come and that really got us through. Some days, you’re just waiting for like eight hours in the hot sun. People are flipping you off, yelling ‘freeloaders’ and honking at you. I mean there’s a lot of things… Are you go-

Collin Searles Collin Searles holds a sign reading “WEST” on the shoulder of I-80.

ing to get a ride? If you don’t get a ride, where are you going to sleep? Where are you going to eat? It’s the exposure of all those factors at once that’s like, okay, what is gonna happen? Especially when you get a ride because you’re ending up somewhere completely different and you’re at the will of the person driving.”

The duo’s final ride, into Cheyenne, WY, was their scariest one, Metz and Searles said. The two were offered a ride by a “super-religious Cuban guy” who drove a semi-truck and whose driving left a lot to be desired. The truck driver made direct eye contact with Metz and Searles while they watched in horror as the truck occasionally drifted over into the other lanes.

“I got a video of [his driving] because I was like, ‘No one is ever gonna believe me,’” Metz said. “He was looking at us while driving and his girlfriend sent him nudes, that he was looking at, zooming in on her bra and everything while he was driving.”

The truck driver’s religious beliefs were also rather startling, Metz and Searles said.

Over the course of the ride, the driver shared controversial ideas like how he thinks women are the inferior gender because Eve came from Adam in the Bible.

Despite how foreign of an idea that was to Metz and Searles, they had no other choice but to agree.

“I heard that and I thought, ‘Wow, that’s

crazy,’” Searles said. “You’re stuck in their car so there are certain things that you have to say. I’m not gonna go pressuring into that topic because if they’re very adamant about it, you’re in their car and you don’t want to piss them off.”

Metz and Searles say they came to understand their immense privilege while on this trip. Being able to traverse the country as young, white men gave them immunity to racist and sexist comments, even if it made them feel uncomfortable.

“One thing again, we are white males so a lot of our experiences with people being racist is like, ‘Oh, I can’t imagine [thinking like] that,’” Searles said. “But what would somebody who wasn’t in our position, how would that experience be, right?”

The two also say they came to understand their monetary privilege, in addition to their social one. Metz and Searles arrived in Chicago around dusk one evening, and as they were walking down the street, they came across scurrying rats and people preparing to sleep under umbrellas.

They decided to spend money to stay the night in a hotel. They acknowledged that their financial security kept them safe.

“That was the moment where I was like, ‘Dude, if we didn’t have money we’d be sleeping on like the streets of Chicago,’” Searles said. “It was a very big perspective sort of thing for sure.”

The two said that they largely enjoyed

their trip and that they would both do it again, but that “95%” of the time it was miserable: Standing on the side of the road, waiting for hours on end in the heat and direct sun, trying to look happy and fun, all for someone to pick them up.

“It really sucks to be standing on the side of the road,” Metz said.

“The moments that you meet the people though, it’s like damn, I would never have met you in my life just because of the social circle I have, and if I did I would assume things about you,” Searles chimed in. “Now I’m stuck in a car with you, and they’re pretty cool.”

The duo recommends hitchhiking and has some tips: Be willing to say no to rides heading away from civilization, pack lightly and come with a sign and a good attitude, since nobody wants to pick up an unhappy person.

Metz and Searles both said that hitchhiking is like a butterfly effect; it’s impossible to predict what rides will come but the decision to take a ride will impact future ones.

Their next big adventure is hiking Denali, the highest peak in North America, which they hope to accomplish after they graduate in 2023.

Email: julie.frey@ubspectrum.com

ubspectrum.com

FEATURES

Wednesday, September 15 2021 | 5

UB’s open piano returns to campus

Campus staple returns, but in a new location JACK PORCARI SENIOR NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

If there’s any sound that has long defined the bustle of the Student Union, it’s the playful melodies that trickle out from the famed piano perched on the building’s second floor.

This semester, the piano has found a new home in Student Union room 145a, but the instrument’s tunes and melodies still inspire passersby.

Rin Krivokrysenko, a senior bioinformatics-computer science and statistics major, was the first student to play a tune on

Sai Krishna-Seethala / The Spectrum A sign says the Student Unions Piano is provided for the “use and enjoyment of all.”

the newly-installed Boston upright. While Wong said. “The room [it is currently in] in the SU or do light work there while lison their way to breakfast last Wednesday, is not exactly sociable compared to the tening to other people play,” Dorn said.

Krivokrysenko realized the doors to room flagroom. I can understand the decision “I feel that having an open piano to play 145a were open — inviting guests into a and it is probably there for clubs, but I still helps the campus be more connected as a pleasant surprise. wish they could put back the old, slightly whole, and less separated by people’s ma“Then I saw it — the SU piano, in all its broken piano in the SU flagroom.” jors or year in school.” glistening glory,” they said.

Many students are excited to have the Regardless of where the music comes After a COVID-19-filled year-and-a- opportunity to play again, but miss the from, there is no doubt that the student half, Krivokrysenko says it’s nice to be friendly atmosphere the keys used to cre- body will continue to connect with others able to see such an iconic staple back on ate. through song. campus.

Ryu Dorn, a fouth-year biomedical sci“The piano is one of the only good “It was obviously not the same piano, ences major, says that the SU feels “less memories I’ve had at UB since COVID-19 but still, there was a piano back in the SU,” lively” now. shut everything down,” Dorn said.

Krivokrysenko said. “It was great to finally “It made it worthwhile to have lunch Email: jack.porcari@ubspectrum.com have some good news after such a rough start to the semester. Considering it was so early in the morning, it occurred to me that I might have been the first student to get to play this brand-new piano and the administrators nearby confirmed this.”

Hoi Lam Wong, a senior computer science major, calls the piano a helpful outlet, especially since it is so difficult to practice in a dorm setting. Despite this, Wong and other students are nostalgic for the piano’s previous location, in the middle of the SU. “You can share the music with more people and it brings music to the whole SU building where Sai Krishna-Seethala / The Spectrum Junior occupational therapy majors Ciana and Hannah play the piano located in 145a Student Union. a lot of students gather,”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

6 | Wednesday, September 15 2021

ubspectrum.com

SA is in the ‘planning stages’ of Fall Fest and Comedy Series Organization hasn’t released any public event information about annual shows ALEX FALTER SENIOR ARTS EDITOR

UB’s Student Association hasn’t publicly released any information regarding this year’s Fall Fest or Comedy Series, but SA president Nicholas Singh told The Spectrum last week that his team is in the “planning stages” for these events.

The Spectrum asked Singh last week about the annual events, which were canceled last year due to COVID-19. His administration — including Singh, vice president Montana Desabio and treasurer Austin Wolfgang — still hasn’t made information public about the entertainment.

Singh said SA is simply working on the

events, but offered nothing else.

“As of right now, my team is currently still in the planning stages for the events listed above,” Singh wrote in an email.

In the past, SA has brought esteemed artists such as Bruno Mars, Kanye West and Mac Miller to Fall and Spring Fest, with Comedy Series showcasing legends like Dave Chapelle, Jay Leno and Chris Rock. The SA’s last in-person event was Trap Fest, held in November 2019, where rappers DaBaby and Gunna performed at UB’s Center for the Arts Mainstage Theater, which can host as many as 1,750 people.

Comedian and actress Margaret Cho performed virtually on March 17, 2020 for the SA’s Comedy Series.

With time continuing to fly by, some students are beginning to wonder if the events are going to take place this year.

Stephen Malinowski, a senior computer science major, wonders if SA may be un-

Vindhya Burugupalli / The Spectrum Cleveland rapper DaBaby co-headlined the SA’s Trap Fest in November 2019.

Alexander Brown / The Spectrum Georgia rapper Gunna co-headlined the SA’s Trap Fest in November 2019.

sure what to do because of COVID-19 limitations, but he says that doesn’t justify keeping students in the dark.

“They [SA] should be saying if there is or isn’t going to be anything [Fall Fest and Comedy Series],” Malinowski said.

“If there isn’t going to be anything like Fall Fest this year, I would like to see that money go to something like free seats to a Bills game, or some type of discounted activity.”

The SA began offering free AMC tickets to students on Sept. 12. Students can pre-order up to three tickets across the semester.

Singh, a senior civil engineering major, won an uncontested race for SA president in April with 1,462 votes, compared to 930 abstentions. Wolfgang’s election to treasurer was also uncontested. Desabio won

the only contested race, beating out Steven Holguin by nearly 250 votes to become vice president.

The SA didn’t hold an in-person Fall Fest, Spring Fest or Comedy Series last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Comedy Series has a beginning balance of $55,000, according to the SA’s General Ledger. Fall and Spring Fest have a beginning balance of $250,000. The SA has not listed any further transactions relating to the production of either event.

Only time will tell when the SA provides an update, but The Spectrum will continue to keep students in the loop as more information rolls out.

Email: alex.falter@ubspectrum.com

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ubspectrum.com

Wednesday, September 15 2021 | 7

Mental Health

Stress relieving activities to boost your mental health this semester SPECTRUM STAFF

As the calendar flips to fall and exam season fast approaches, students are understandably feeling the heat.

The Spectrum staff has some suggestions for avoiding burnout and taking care of your mental health. Here are some tips for maintaining emotional well-being:

“Rizzoli and Isles.” I find a lot of comfort in watching the shows my parents watched when I was a kid. It’s important to take time for yourself to process your emotions but when you’re feeling up to it, reach out to a trusted friend, family member or professional.

Going to the gym

REILLY MULLEN

I struggled with managing my stress for a very long time, and my life felt out of control. My emotions and thoughts were at the whim of the day’s events with no stability. I was going through the motions, and I wasn’t an active participant in my own life; it was steamrolling over me.

When I started working out, it was because I wanted to be in control of something.

What I had not expected from working out were ways to manage my stress and stabilize my emotions. I was doing something that made me feel good — mind, body and soul. I felt strong. I could lift a good amount of weight and walk and run further than before without getting tired.

My body felt physically stronger, and from that, it made me feel like I was also stronger mentally.

JULIE FREY

Going for a run

Running — like life — has its ebbs and flows, peaks and valleys. The grueling start.

The persistent self-doubt. The physical and mental pain. The constant struggle.

But, in a year that has challenged me more than any other, running has been a rare solace. There’s a saying that all runners are running from something. This year, I’m not just running to escape my bad days or constant stress; I’m running to find myself. Running isn’t foolproof. It doesn’t always make me happy. But, whether I push myself to run for ten minutes or an hour, I feel like I am in control. Here’s to finding the things in life that make us feel alive.

Spending time with friends

If I hadn’t spent time with my friends between writing articles and doing homework, I probably would’ve dropped out and gone insane my first semester. Being around friends is my favorite stress-relieving strategy because there are so many different things you can do with them. My friends and I have blown off steam by going for 1 a.m. bike rides (flashlight highly recommended), spontaneously going to a bizarre music festival at Canalside and cooking brunch for half our dorm hall — and that’s all just stuff I did in the past two weeks. Not to mention that your friends can meet you where you’re at emotionally. Need to vent about your problems?

Go for it (with permission). Need to think about anything but your problems? They can help you do that too. Unless you need some time alone, you can’t go wrong with a little kiki.

GRANT ASHLEY

Watching and playing sports

Every person has an activity that brings them joy, whether it’s shooting a basketball for an hour or two, or spending a Sunday on the couch clicking through football games. Being active and playing sports can relieve stress immediately not only because you’re outside in the sun, but because it’s what you love to do. It’s what you grew up doing. For me, playing sports

takes me back to when things in life were simple and I wasn’t stressed. It’s like I’m back in eighth grade again with no worries in the world. There’s something special about playing catch or shooting a basketball until it feels like my arms are going to fall off. No worries, no stress, just doing something I love.

HUNTER SKOCZYLAS

Spending time with family

Our strongest support systems can be our families, whether by blood or simply by bond. Our family members are the ones who we feel safest with because they care for us the deepest, understand us the best and, in most cases, know us the longest.

That’s why when I’m feeling overwhelmed by my emotions, I turn to my family.

Whether it’s my mom, sister, cousin or one of my close college friends, I find the most peace in talking it out with someone.

I pride myself on my independence, so in those moments I feel irrational for needing help. But these people remind me that it’s okay to feel like you’re drowning, because ultimately the water will drain and the feeling will pass. I know talking to someone can be daunting; maybe you feel like the issue doesn’t exist if you don’t verbalize it, or that telling someone would only burden them. But things only get better when you face your problems and since those people in your life truly care about you, they will want to hear how you’re doing — I promise! That’s why we forge these amazing bonds with people, because one day they may need to save us from ourselves.

NATALIE DOLLER

Going to therapy

I struggled silently for years before deciding to seek professional mental help.

JUSTIN WEISS

Meditation

When I have too many things going on and my mind is racing a million miles a minute, sometimes it helps just to stop. I sit with my eyes closed and turn on a Lo-Fi playlist. I stare at the blank space behind my eyelids. Thoughts slowly but surely enter the void, but I do not interact with my thoughts. Instead, I watch them float by like a jellyfish in the abyss. Through simply acknowledging my emotions and thoughts without continuing to develop them, I can observe my emotions from a third-personesque perspective, relaxing my overthinking mind and reminding myself to relax.

Reilly Mullen / The Spectrum Grab a blanket, put on your favorite TV show and take some time to yourself when you’re feeling down.

Getting some sleep

Sleep plays an integral role in your health. It empowers the body to recover and allows you to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on whatever life throws at you. Feeling sleepy during the day not only prevents you from thinking clearly and being the best version of yourself, but it affects your mental health as well. You know those days where it feels like everything went wrong and you just want to go home and sleep and wake up the next day? I’ve been there one too many times and it’s seriously affected the way I approach my daily life, and sometimes, it’s okay to do that. Just sleep it off, wake up and try again. Sleep resets your brain and pulls you out of that funk. I don’t know where I’d be without prioritizing sleep and understanding its importance.

HUNTER SKOCZYLAS

Going for a walk

With everything in lockdown due to the pandemic, there wasn’t a lot to do on campus last year, so late-night walks with my fellow bored freshmen were a staple.

They’re perfect if you need to tackle a bout of anxiety. There’s something so relaxing about taking in the evening ambience, watching the stars and not having to worry about anything other than putting one foot in front of the other (and who’s going to DJ). The pillars, the Ellicott Creek Bike Path and Insomnia Cookies are my favorite destinations, but get creative!

North Campus is a big place, so there’s a lot to explore. Just watch out for skunks!

(And if you go alone, bring your phone and stick to lighted areas!)

Cooking

Listening to music

Reilly Mullen / The Spectrum Going to the gym can be a great way to combat stress.

ALEX FALTER

Watching movies/TV

There’s something to be said about the shield my blanket becomes, fending off my anxiety during a day-long depressioninduced movie marathon. When you can’t muster up the words to vent and you just need some time to yourself to unpack your feelings, step into the Twilight Zone and go on a journey with all your favorite characters — my go-to’s are “Bones” and

REILLY MULLEN

GRANT ASHLEY

ALEX FALTER

We don’t always need a hand or a distraction. Sometimes it helps to feel out your emotions as they are, and no medium creates a better environment for self reflection than music. In times when I feel stressed or can’t stop worrying, nothing grounds me like a calm song with lyrics that match perfectly with my mood. The music embraces me and lulls me into accepting my feelings; I’ll find myself feeling better as the tension melts away. As these feelings progress I eventually add happier songs to the queue, giving a feeling of closure and refreshment at the end of these sessions.

A negative experience with a past therapist made me weary of opening up to a stranger. I tried to manage on my own for a long time but inevitably fell into destructive coping mechanisms. The stigma behind mental health often deters people from seeking the professional help they deserve for fear of being labeled “weak” or “crazy,” and unhealthy emotional practices have been ingrained into society after years of stigma and oppression. But there is something so relieving about having your struggles and emotions validated by a mental health specialist. Being able to unpack your feelings with an outsider whose only priority is your best interest is freeing.

Seek out the mental health services available to you, either through Counseling Services or a private provider.

Reilly Mullen / The Spectrum When classes become overwhelming, a walk around campus is a great way to clear your mind.

It’s no secret that mental and physical health are closely intertwined. Taking care of the body is as much a mental challenge as a physical one, requiring dedication, consistency and setting good habits. Our diet is one of the primary ways in which we demonstrate control over our body as we choose when and what goes into it. I try to cook for myself whenever I have the time and I generally try to be mindful about what’s on the plate in front of me. I think that it’s helped me feel happier and become more disciplined in how I treat myself. I’m not some culinary guru either; I can often be found scarfing down three servings of off-brand macaroni and cheese at midnight. It’s more about finding pockets of time that I can control and treating myself to a tasty, healthy meal because everyone deserves it. Cooking can be daunting at first, but with a smidge of effort and experience, it becomes a lot more fun. Sure, making a perfectly creamy French omelette is hard, but scrambling some eggs and chopping in my favorite vegetables isn’t. And it tastes a lot better because I made it.

PAOLO BLANCHI

8 | Wednesday, September 15 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ubspectrum.com

Your guide to Queen City entertainment this semester REILLY MULLEN ALEX FALTER

Whether you’re an indie fangirl or a comedy fanatic, there’s no shortage of live shows worth attending in Buffalo in the coming months.

From outdoor venues such as ARTPARK to indoor venues like the Keybank Center and Town Ballroom, to virtual events through the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, here are The Spectrum’s top picks for live entertainment hitting the Queen City this semester:

Sept. 15 Phoebe Bridgers ARTPARK

A rising star in the music industry, indie artist Phoebe Bridgers has made a name for herself thanks to her beautiful voice and the mental health advocacy featured in many of her tunes. With four Grammy nominations already under her belt, Bridgers latest album, “Punisher,” peaked at No. 6 and marked her first time on the Billboard 200. Fusing the sounds of rock, folk and emo music together to create some of the most memorable instrumentals in recent memory, Bridgers’ progressive sound is a must-listen for any self-respecting music lover. Bridgers will take to the Artpark Amphitheater stage at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15.

Tickets are $49.50.

Dec. 3 Sebastian Maniscalco KeyBank Center

Hailing from Chicago, stand-up comedian Sebastian Maniscalo will perform at KeyBank Center in early December, just in time for finals week. Known for minor roles in films like “Tag” and “The Irishman,” the stand-up comic has spent over 20 years perfecting his craft, from open mics to his five hour-long comedy specials (four of which are available to stream on Netflix). Fresh off the first season of his reality series, “Well Done With Sebastian Maniscalco,” the comedian/actor’s stop in Buffalo as part of his tour, “Nobody Does This,” will surely bring plenty of laughs to attendees. Tickets start at $44.25 and doors will open at 6 p.m.

EDITOR IN CHIEF SENIOR ARTS EDITOR

and Draw events throughout the semester.

Attendees will be sent a link where they can take part in a guided drawing lesson taught by various experts from the museum. Each month, a different theme will be made the focus, including technology in October and the “Art of the Stick Figure” in December. Novices fear not: the museum’s website preaches that attendees

Email: alex.falter@ubspectrum.com Email: reilly.mullen@ubspectrum.com

Various virtual sessions Virtual Drink and Draw Albright Knox

Although the world has opened up significantly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still plenty of events available from the safety of one’s own home. Buffalo’s own Albright-Knox Art Gallery will host multiple Virtual Drink

The World Famous Comedy Show / Wiki Commons Stand-up comedian Sebastian Maniscalco will perform at KeyBank Center on Friday, Dec. 3.

Sept. 25 Blue Öyster Cult Riviera Theatre

Made famous by tracks like “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and “Burnin’ for You,” Stony Brook band Blue Öyster Cult will perform at the historic Riviera Theater, which seats roughly 1,100 people. The MTV-famous classic rock band will surely bring plenty of riffs and excitement to the Western New York area. Even those with little knowledge need not worry: anyone with an ear for Alice Cooper or Black Sabbath will surely find themselves at home among this talented quintet. Tickets are start at $49 and the show will kick off at 8 p.m.

Oct. 2 Conway the Machine Town Ballroom

One of Buffalo’s top MCs will be performing in the Queen City’s Town Ballroom the first weekend of October. A native of Buffalo’s East Side, Conway has spent nearly a decade climbing the rap industry ladder and it shows. With two projects already released this year (and a third on the way) there’s no better time to get into Conway the Machine and the rest of the Griselda record label. Taking influences from the classic NYC hip-hop sound of the 1990s, Conway will surely offer a little bit of everything for fans and curious listeners. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and tickets range in price from $27.50 to $57.50.

may bring any drawing utensil of their choice, as well whatever beverage they deem necessary. These events are scheduled for select Thursdays throughout the winter from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $3 for members and $5 for non members.

Phoebe Bridgers American singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers will perform at ARTPARK on Thursday, Sept. 15.

Oct. 23 Dude Perfect KeyBank Center

With over 56 million YouTube subscribers, viral-sensation Dude Perfect has made a name for itself with outrageous trick shots and hilarious stereotyping videos. Now, over 10 years after its debut, the group is making its way to Buffalo in the midst of its second live tour. Never failing to come up with new ideas, only time will tell if the collective plans to wow a KeyBank Center crowd of as many as 19,200 patrons will succeed. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and tickets start at $27.

Blue Öyster Cult / Flickr American rock band Blue Öyster Cult will perform at Riviera Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 25.

ubspectrum.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday, September 15 2021 | 9

Drake disappoints with ‘Certified Lover Boy’ The Grammy Awardwinner features stories of heartbreak and mistakes on his latest project ALEX FALTER SENIOR ARTS EDITOR

Album: Certified Lover Boy Artist: Drake Label: OVO / Republic Records Release date: Sept. 3 Rating: 4.2/10 Scheduled to be released as early as January, Drake’s “Certified Lover Boy” was arguably the most anticipated hip-hop release of 2021. After multiple postponements, the Toronto native finally delivered on his promise, releasing “CLB” at 2 a.m.

Friday.

Drake was not oblivious to the extended wait, enlisting artist Damien Hirst to design a striking album cover featuring a series of nine emoji-esque pregnant women, signifying the nine-month delay.

Sadly, the album’s lazy cover is all-too indicative of the project’s poor quality. Rapping about mistakes made on both ends in past relationships, Drizzy is not the carefree, ready for anything bad boy listeners heard in the early 2010s. He’s a seasoned veteran who’s taken a load of punches across his life. But while those scars may make for some heartfelt stories, there’s not much of that here, only showing a wane in quality from one of hip-hop’s finest.

Opening up with “Champagne Poetry,” the J.L.L.-produced beat eerily yet confidently sets the album’s tone. As Drake continues to rap about his largest flexes, one can see bits of shade sprinkled throughout the two verses. These largerthan-life flexes don’t feel the same as they did six years ago, when they felt fresh and alluring.

Now it’s beginning to feel dull and overused.

Problems continue to develop in the off-putting “Girls Want Girls.” As the name suggests, the album’s third track features Drake and guest Lil Baby discussing their love of lesbian women. Leaving little room for interpretation, the rappers deliver in the poorest of takes, comparing themselves to lesbian women for the sole reason that they are both attracted to females. While outrageous lines such as “You say that you a lesbian, girl, me too” [Drake] and “She like eating p---y, me too” [Lil Baby] may appear comical from shock value, the writing feels incredibly insensitive and the “comparisons” do little to redeem that creative decision.

The Come Up Show / Wiki Commons Drake performs in July 2016. The Canadian rapper blew it on his latest album, “Certified Lover Boy.”

Luckily, tracks like “Love All” makes listening through the more lazily contrived pieces worthwhile. Featuring a verse from the reliable Jay-Z, the pair heartfully rap about their journeys and betrayal they’ve faced over the years over a beautiful soul beat. While its tune definitely strays from the album’s core, “Love All” thankfully results in one of the project’s best songs, re-

minding listeners that Drake can still make exceptional music when he puts his mind to it: “Never had a lot, this is all I need / People never care ‘til it’s R.I.P. / N----a turned they back on me for no good reason / Loyalty is priceless and it’s all I need / Can’t burn a bridge just to light my way / Lotta ‘42 on the flights I’m takin’ / Pourin’ out my soul and it might sound crazy / Lotta fallin’ outs help me build foundation.”

Later in the project, Drake and Houston native Travis Scott deliver a song completely undeserving of the legacy left by their last two singles together (“SICKO MODE” and the Quavo-assisted “Portland”). Backed by a beautiful beat mixed with vocals and instrumentation from producer Wondagurl, “Fair Trade” features the generational stars providing poorly constructed verses about the women and wealth in their lives, made even worse from the poor mixing/editing with the start of Scott’s verse.

One of the album’s highlights comes from longtime collaborator Future. The Atlanta rapper is as confident as ever as he raps with such a smoothness that even a lackluster verse demands respect. While his emphatically comical, yet still impressive, bout on “Way 2 Sexy” is sure to be stuck in the heads of millions of listeners, the rapper truly shines on “N 2 Deep.” Made in a similar vein to the duo’s previously released “Life is Good,” a beat switch allows both Drizzy and Future to rhyme over their own respective beat, blending two songs into one. While Drake’s part on “N 2 Deep” feels too similar to a Blink-182 x Travis Scott-esque infusion of rock and emo music, Future cleverly uses his beat to steal the show as always, delivering a simple yet clever verse on how he spends his money: [Future] “Shorty met a sponsor in the club / Shock’s spend a hundred like dubs /

I’m lovin’ droppin’ bands on her / Emilio Pucci curvin’ her up / We turn the studio into a strip club / Got the strippers goin’ way up.”

By the time the album reaches “TSU” and “Pipe Down,” Drake’s problems with repetition become all too clear, as the rapper’s mix of hurt, hateful and cocky emotions begin to blur together. Even with some expertly crafted bars, Drizzy’s once great storytelling ability feels like a pool of throw-away bars about successes and failures: [“Pipe Down”] “Tried to run it back a hundred times / The world is yours, but the city’s mine / I can’t believe you put it on your mother’s life / I can’t believe you told me it was ride or die / ‘Cause you’re not here, somehow you’re still alive / True enough I know you from the other side / I set my expectations way too high / Yeah, and I would listen to the lies that you would tell all night / Angel eyes, but you’ve been giving me hell all night.”

Never one to disappoint with features, Drake brings some of the most exciting talent from across the industry onto the album. On top of stellar verses from current mainstays like 21 Savage and Lil Durk, singers Yebba and Tems shine in some of the album’s most heartfelt, poignant moments. The most exciting singing guest comes in the form of singer-rapper Kid Cudi, who raps as positively as ever on “IMY2.”.

Drizzy rarely misses, an idea widely accepted by even his biggest detractors. But while this project has some exceptional tracks that are sure to make their way onto many year-end “best song” lists, “Certified Lover Boy’” is easily Drake’s worst album yet, representing a disappointing decline in an iconic discography.

Email: alex.falter@ubspectrum.com

Williamsville’s ‘Beyond Van Gogh’ offers up an immersive and emotional experience The innovative art exhibit transports visitors into the life and works of Vincent Van Gogh KARA ANDERSON ASST. ARTS EDITOR

From rippling waters to portraits formed from flowing colors, the Beyond Van Gogh exhibit in Williamsville’s Eastern Hills Mall offers visitors the opportunity to walk through a mesmerizing and animated version of Vincent Van Gogh’s life and works.

The exhibit features an in-depth look at the artist’s career in three parts with the Education Room, the Waterfall Room and the Immersive Experience Room, where music and narrations of Van Gogh’s personal writings can be heard.

The exhibit opened Aug. 20. Tickets start at $46.99 for adults; $28.99 for children; $41.99 for students, seniors and military members; $63.99 for flexible entries; and $93.99 for VIP entries.

More than just a museum of immobile paintings, Beyond Van Gogh fosters a personal connection between the viewer and the exhibited art through a visual and auditory journey.

“What I liked was that you really got to see [Van Gogh’s] ups and downs,” Laura Rivera Salgado, a UB student and psychology major, said. “Because all we [typically] see is the beauty of paintings, and all the famous ones, that sometimes you forget how much failure there was behind all of that success.”

Like other visitors, Rivera Salgado cites the Education Room, where Van Gogh’s story of failure and success is presented, as having deepened her appreciation for the artwork seen later in the gallery. In this first stage of the exhibit, visitors traverse a timeline of Van Gogh’s life, presented on panels consisting of biographical information and letters exchanged between the

painter and his brother, Theo.

Many visitors said the final section, the Immersive Experience Room, is their favorite exhibit in the gallery. With 32-foot tall ceilings, visitors are greeted by a projected 30-minute video loop that covers the walls and floors in Van Gogh artwork.

Portraits blink, sketches are drawn in real time and flowers bloom across the room.

“It was so much more than I could have ever imagined,” Emily Frey, a junior occupational therapy major, said. “It was very emotional. I didn’t expect that. It made you feel very raw for some reason and I didn’t expect that at all.”

Frey is not alone in her feelings about the exhibit.

“It’s not uncommon to see couples hugging, and holding hands, and seeing someone with tears,” David Taylor, the owner of Empire State Concerts and local event promoter for the exhibit, said. “It’s a moving exhibit, not just in the literal sense.”

Beyond provoking an emotional response, visitors also say this room helped connect them to the Dutch painter’s artwork through the simultaneous movement of the art and themselves.

“This is an interpretation [of Van Gogh’s work] where it pops to life,” Sarah Hedley, a visitor to the exhibit, said. “It puts you in

and shows you specific parts that you may have missed in a static image.”

The emotional vibrancy felt while viewing this room had multiple visitors watching the video loop at least twice. For some, one run of the loop was dedicated to taking photos while another was used for deeper introspection and reKara Anderson / The Spectrum flection.

The Immersion Experience Room offers visitors some time for relaxation The Immersion and to simply admire the spectacle around them.

Experience Room bring Western New Yorkers a moving poralso offers visitors some time for relax- trait of Van Gogh’s life. ation and to simply admire the spectacle The exhibit is also a collaboration with around them.

Buffalo-based businesses including Elli“Just turn your head, everywhere look- cottville Brewing Co. and Black Willow ing around, because that’s the point of im- Winery. Exhibit attendees can purchase mersion,” Rivera Salgada said. limited-edition wines and beers, items TayBeyond Van Gogh has helped enrich the lor has described as “lending itself to the Buffalo art scene in light of disruptions art community.” caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and While originally set to close in October, the temporary closure of the Albright- Taylor said the Van Gogh exhibit will be Knox Gallery. By bringing artwork to life extended at least one month, due to the in such a powerful manner, the creators event’s overwhelmingly positive response,

Kara Anderson / The Spectrum The Beyond Van Gogh exhibit in Williamsville offers visitors the opportunity to walk through a mesmerizing and animated version of Vincent Van Gogh’s life and works.

which included nearly 40,000 pre-sign ups.

Buffalo will host similar exhibits in the future, but with different artists. Although unable to disclose which artist will be next, Taylor hints that immersive exhibits in Toronto such as the currently running Beyond Monet may indicate what’s to come.

As Beyond Van Gogh captures the heart and imagination of thousands of Buffalo natives, visitors say they are excited for more.

“It’s hopeful, in a weird way,” Frey said.

“So if you’re hesitant about it, just go and be there in the moment.”

Email: kara.anderson@ubspectrum.com

10 | Wednesday, September 15 2021

SPORTS

ubspectrum.com

Volleyball Four takeaways from UB’s 28-3 loss to Nebraska star Monika The Bulls showed a lack Big plays gashed UB’s defense of discipline and gave Šimkova up big plays against the Penalties hinder UB’s offensive effort Cornhuskers fights for her life in ICU ANTHONY DECICCO

SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

Senior outside hitter entered hospital in early August with deadly bacterial infection HUNTER SKOCZYLAS SPORTS EDITOR

Over the past few years, Monika Šimkova could be found regularly on the Alumni Arena floor, fighting to defeat her volleyball opponents.

Today, Šimkova finds herself in a different fight: for her life. Šimkova, a senior outside hitter from Malacky, Slovakia, has been in the ICU since early August with a life-threatening streptococcal bacterial infection. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, according to a GoFundMe set up by her sister, Lucia Michalovicova, which led doctors to perform a bilateral above the knee amputation. Šimkova has had seven surgeries in five weeks, according to her sister. She is unable to eat on her own. She is continuing to fight off the bacterial infection in her blood, a fungus in her leg wound postamputation and pneumonia in her lungs.

She turned septic in the ICU, which led to multi-organ failure.

Michalovicova launched the crowdfunding campaign to help gather enough support and funding to become her sister’s primary caregiver. She started the hashtag, #One4Mon, playing off Simkova’s jersey number, 14. The fundraiser has brought in over $118,000 of its $250,000 goal in roughly a week.

“Monika is continuing to improve each and every day,” Michalovicova said in the GoFundMe description. “Being able to sit up in bed, sucking on an ice chip and being able to swallow water down her throat is massive progress. Things we take for granted are life changing moments for Monika.”

Simkova joined the Bulls in 2019 after spending her first two collegiate seasons with Long Beach State. She has appeared on the Slovakian National Team every year since 2014 and competed at the U19/U20 European Championships.

She led UB in service aces, with 30, and added an impressive 111 kills last season.

Those who feel inclined can use the link on our website to donate to Šimkova’s recovery.

Email: hunter.skoczylas@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @HunterSkoczylas

After a dominant 69-7 Week One victory over FCS foe Wagner last week, UB football (1-1) found itself on the opposite side of the scoreboard against Nebraska Saturday afternoon.

The Bulls fell 28-3 in front of roughly 85,000 people in a jam-packed Memorial Stadium.

The Cornhuskers (2-1) used their hostile home-field advantage and superior roster to secure a much-needed victory over the Bulls. Still, UB head coach Maurice Linguist says he’s proud of his team’s efforts against a Big Ten opponent. “[I’m] proud of the way our team competed,” Linguist said following the game.

“There’s no moral victories, I told the team this in the locker room. We’re not fighting for moral victories. We play and prepare and plan to win, and we came up short.”

The Bulls put up a valiant effort — and even matched Nebraska’s physicality at the line of scrimmage — but made too many mistakes to beat a Power Five opponent of Nebraska’s caliber. While the program seems to be heading in the right direction, UB isn’t yet ready to take the next step — especially in the infancy of Linguist’s regime.

Here are four takeaways from UB’s loss to Nebraska:

Quian Williams impresses again

Despite surrendering 28 points, the Bulls’ defense didn’t look terrible against Nebraska.

The defense kept UB’s dormant offense in the game during the first half, as they kept the Cornhuskers off the board on their first two drives.

But right when it seemed UB had UNL under wraps, junior quarterback Adrian Martinez unleashed a gut punch to the defense.

The first came on a third-and-five in the second quarter. UB’s secondary had every Cornhusker receiver guarded and even sent a blitzing linebacker to contain Martinez, but the elusive quarterback evaded the pass rush and exploded for a 71-yard scramble to set the Huskers up for a twoyard rushing touchdown.

Martinez also torched the Bulls’ secondary with two 68-yard touchdown passes to senior wide receiver Samori Toure.

UB’s defense put up a valiant fight against a talented Nebraska offense, but the Bulls’ inability to prevent chunk plays cost them in Lincoln.

Alex McNulty struggles on the big stage

Football fans everywhere know that college kickers generally can’t be trusted.

The Bulls trusted junior kicker Alex McNulty with a field goal opportunity four times Saturday afternoon, but the Caledonia, NY native missed three of his attempts.

McNulty missed a 52-yarder, a 50-yarder and a 42-yarder but did convert on a 45yard attempt.

Considering the Bulls’ offense never reached the end zone against the Cornhuskers, McNulty’s performance was indicative of the UB scoring attack as a whole.

McNulty was an All-MAC third-team selection despite going one-for-four on field goal attempts in 2020, so UB will need

Following an impressive performance against Wagner in Week One, in which he tallied five catches for 96 yards, senior wide receiver Quian Williams put together another strong performance against the Cornhuskers on Saturday.

Williams hauled in eight catches for 93 yards, including a 21-yard gain to set the Bulls up in field goal position at the end of the second quarter.

Despite UB’s lack of point production against Nebraska, the Eastern Michigan transfer emerged as a reliable pass-catcher for senior quarterback Kyle Vantrease. Even against a formidable Big Ten secondary, Williams was able to find open zones in the defense early and often.

Williams has yet to find the end zone in his first two games, but he has provided UB’s run-heavy offense with a much-needed boost through the air. Williams was a goto target whenever the Bulls needed a first down and is developing into UB’s top receiving option.

He proved the moment wasn’t too big for him despite the raucous atDavid Dermer mosphere at Memorial Stadium.

him to convert at a higher rate in order to win close games throughout the season.

Discipline was a serious issue for the Bulls against the Cornhuskers.

The Bulls committed 10 penalties for 88 yards, with two sticking out above the rest.

The first was a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against junior running back Dylan McDuffie in the third quarter.

After a six-play drive that saw UB reach the Nebraska 23 yard line, the penalty pushed UB to the 38. The Bulls were ultimately forced to attempt a 45-yard field goal after their best drive of the day was halted by the foul.

Just one drive later, UB was flagged for sideline interference after Linguist and his staff vehemently contested a late hit on Vantrease that wasn’t called a penalty.

While it was a passionate attempt to protect his quarterback, Linguist’s loss of composure pushed UB back to its own 11 yard line and the Bulls were forced to punt later in the drive.

Ten penalties are 10 too many to beat a team of Nebraska’s caliber. The Bulls must emphasize discipline and cut down on their penalties to not take themselves out of games in the future.

UB must now lick its wounds and prepare for 16th-ranked Coastal Carolina, who beat Kansas (ironically coached by former UB head coach Lance Leipold), 49-22, Friday night.

“All we have to do now is just go back to the process, the systematic approach that we carry with us every single week, to fix what we have to fix, build on the positives from the game and prepare ourselves for a very good Coastal [Carolina] team coming into Buffalo,” Linguist said.

The Bulls will return to Buffalo to take on the Chanticleers Saturday at noon. The game will air on ESPN2.

Email: anthony.decicco@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @DeCicco42

Senior wide receiver Quian Williams (3) evades tackles during UB’s 28-3 loss to Nebraska Saturday.

Alexander Brown / The Spectrum Monika Šimkova (14) readies for a serve during a 2019 contest against Toledo. Šimkova is fighting for her life in the ICU.

David Dermer Linebackers Kadofi Wright (2) and James Patterson (8) combine for a tackle in UB’s 28-3 loss to Nebraska Saturday.