The Spectrum. Volume 59 Issue 29 by The Spectrum Student Periodical

HONORING VETER ANS Page 5

DANCING QUEENS AT UB Page 5

The Spectrum h t t p : / / w w w . u b s p e c t r u m . c o m

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

SA vice president election begins By ASHLEY HIRT and AMANDA WOODS Asst. News Editors

Students will vote in a special election this week to choose a new Student Association vice president. Ernesto Alvarado, former vice president, was elected president in the recall elections last month, and SA is

Volume 59 Issue 29

An independent student publication of the University at Buffalo

holding a special election to fill his former seat. Six students – Maaz Memon, Phil Modrzynski, Bryan Ortiz, Juan Pereyra, Greg Robbins and Kevin Southern – are vying for the position. “I think we have a good diversity of candidates, and students have an important choice to make … they

have six good options,” said Joshua Boston, head of the SA Elections and Credentials Committee. All six SA councils endorsed Greg Robbins. The International and Sports councils didn’t have the necessary number of clubs to have a quorum, but the endorsement was still allowed.

From the Editor

Voting will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Due to a scheduling conflict, the election polling places will be different each day. On Wednesday, voting booths will be in the Student Union Lobby. On Thursday, voting will take place in the

Readers had many different views of our front page Monday, which appeared to show a man and a woman – who were not UB students – having sexual intercourse in a lecture hall in Knox Hall. The reaction from the UB community has been that of praise, that of shock and that of disgust. Our editorial board had many ideas for the front page, and after discussion, the majority of our staff decided on what was delivered around campus early Monday morning. The reasoning? Sex is such a taboo in society. Normal discussion about sexual topics is shunned because we have

see ELECTION page 7

see LETTER page 12

Bulls drop ball to Bobcat attack By DAVID SANCHIRICO Senior Sports Editor

There have been specific plays that have sent the football team’s season down a spiraling road full of missed opportunities. Numerous drops, missed tackles and turnovers have hurt the team all season long and have resulted in disappointment. But the Bulls’ last offensive play Tuesday night against Ohio was the ultimate microcosm of Buffalo’s season. After a Matt Weller 46-yard kick gave Ohio a three-point lead with 1:19 left, sophomore quarterback Zach Maynard led the Bulls down to the Ohio 33-yard line, in position to tie or win the game. But on a third-down pass, an open sophomore wide receiver Marcus Rivers received the ball at the 23-yard line and dropped it into the hands of Ohio cornerback Shannon Ballard. It was just one of numerous Buffalo drops, but it was the most important as Ballard’s interception sealed another disappointing Buffalo (3-7, 1-5 Mid-American Conference) loss in a 27-24 Ohio (7-3, 5-1

credit / The Spectrum

cutline Tim Ho / The Spectrum

Dropped passes by the recievers proved to be costly as Buffalo lost its third-straight game to Ohio, 27 - 24.

Students sign up to donate

see FOOTBALL page 10

New health care bill benefits young adults

By ASHLEY HIRT and MARIEME DIOP Asst. News Editor and Staff Writer

MAC) victory. Buffalo now has no chance to play in a bowl game this year. It was Buffalo’s thirdstraight loss that came down to the final minute. The loss continues to reverse the trend set by last year’s team that pulled of numerous comefrom-behind, late minute victories. “I guess you can sit back and say we were able to win some of those games at the end last year, but that’s the way it goes,” said Buffalo head coach Turner Gill. “You just need to learn how to finish, and we have to make the plays when we need to make them.” Gill was not too hurt by the defeat and thought his team worked hard and brought effort to the table. “I’m proud of our football team,” Gill said. “They played hard and with great effort.” For Maynard, the interception capped what was an upand-down night. He finished 17-for-36 with 230 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. But many of those 19

By JESSICA BENNETT Staff Writer

“You have the power to save a life.” This was the message displayed last Thursday in the Student Union Flag Room as UB students gathered together to register as bone marrow donors in the Be The Match Marrow Registry. Bone marrow, the flexible tissue found in the hollow interior of bones, produces new blood cells in adults. This provides a cure for suffering patients. Be The Match works in combination with The National Marrow Donor Program as one of the larg-

Inside: Arts and Life ........... 5 Classifieds ............ 15 Opinion .................... 3 Sports ................. 16 Police Blotter ..... 13

Yuki Tanimoto / The Spectrum

Students registered with the hopes of saving lives. est medical registries in the world. There are over 7 million members in the United States, and an additional 5 million worldwide. But each day, patients suf-

fering from leukemia and other life-threatening diseases must wait to receive marrow transplants. These transsee MARROW page 7

LE VELING UP! Unleash the dragon slayer within you in the new RPG Dragon Age: Origins. See Page 8

After years of debate, the House of Representatives passed a bill that will help decrease the amount of students that do not have health insurance. One in three young adults currently do not have insurance. The bill would insure young adults under their parents’ health insurance plan until they are 27. The bill also offers affordable options for those who have to pay for their own insurance, and free preventative care. The bill would provide coverage for approximately

Courtesy of the House of Represntatives

The House of Representatives based a health care reform bill on Sunday.

36 million people. Insurance companies would not be able to deny coverage because of a pre-existing condition. The

SUCCESSFUL DEBUT UB wins its first dual-meet of the season.

See Page 16

bill would eliminate yearly and lifetime caps. It would see BILL page 8

Weather: Fri: 52o high / 38o low Sat: 53o high / 29o low Sun: 56o high / 38o low

The Spectrum

November 11, 2009

2009 NOVEMBER 16-20

performances Percussion Performance: “Poongmul” Korean Folk Art Club Monday, November 16 • 11:45-12:00 Student Union Entrance (UB Commons)

Tae Kwon Do Demonstration Master Chong’s Tae Kwon Do Monday, November 16 • 12:00-12:30 Student Union Lobby

presentations History Without Borders “Remembered Pasts in South Asia” Prof. Ramya Sreenivasan, Department of History, UB Monday, November 16 • 2:00-3:00 Student Union 210

Public Health Without Borders “Health Care in Brazil” Prof. Mary Matteliano, School of Public Health & Health Professions; Rachel Acquard, Virginia Best, Catherine Hranek, Vanessa Gomez and Natalie Ramshai, UB Students Tuesday, November 17 • 3:30-4:30 Diefendorf Hall 148, South Campus

Tai Chi Demonstration

Middle Eastern Dance Performance

Tai Chi World Champion Bob Gott, Red Dragon School of Martial Arts Monday, November 16 • 12:30-1:00 Student Union Lobby

Nadia Ibrahim Dance Troupe Thursday, November 19 • 12:30-1:00 Student Union Lobby

Dance Performance: “Debka”

Filipino Student Association Friday, November 20 • 12:00-12:20 Student Union Lobby

Organization of Arab Students Monday, November 16 • 1:00-1:30 Student Union Lobby

Bachata/Salsa Dance Performance Alma Nanichi (Heart of the Soul) Thursday, November 19 • 12:00-12:10 Student Union Lobby

Buffalo Tango X Friday, November 20 • 1:00-1:20 Student Union Lobby

Filipino Cultural Dance Performance

The Dance of Formosa Taiwanese Student Association Friday, November 20 • 12:30-1:00 Student Union Lobby

“Holidays Around the World: China”

“Work Abroad 101”

Chinese Students at UB Wednesday, November 18 • 12:00-1:00 Capen Hall 31

Karen Nemeth, Career Services Wednesday, November 18 • 3:00-4:00 Capen Hall 259

“Jakarta: A Metropolis in the Exotic Archipelago of Indonesia”

“Understanding International Classroom Cultures: India”

PERMIAS (Indonesian Student Association) Wednesday, November 18 • 1:00-2:00 Student Union 145A

Indian Students at UB Friday, November 20 • 11:00-1:00 Clemens Hall 120

Social Work Without Borders “Investigating Gender Violence in Pakistan”

“Geography and Internationalization”

Prof. Filomena Critelli & Bina Ahmed, School of Social Work, UB Wednesday, November 18 • 2:00-3:00 Student Union 145A

Argentine Tango Performance

INTERNATIONAL EXPO Buffalo’s 10,000 Villages and El Buen Amigo Bazaar UB’s Asian Studies, Caribbean Studies, ELI Chat Room, Institute of Jewish Thought & Heritage, Intercultural & Diversity Center, Passport Office, Polish Studies, Department of Romance Languages, Study Abroad Programs Tuesday, November 17 • 11:00-2:00 Student Union Lobby

GLOBAL BEATS PARTY: LATIN NIGHT Live Music by the Latin Jazz Project Dance instruction to be provided Thursday, November 19 • 7:00 p.m. Harriman Hall, South Campus

SPONSORED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY

Dr. Kavita Pandit: Associate Provost of International Education for the University of Georgia Friday, November 20 • 1:00-3:00 Clemens Hall 120

“Employment in the U.S.: Tips from UB International Alumni” UB International Alumni Friday, November 20 • 3:00-4:00 Clemens Hall 120

films

exhibitions

“Gallipoli” (2005, Turkey)

“Origami Semba Zuru”, “Malaysia: Truly Asia”, “Introduction to Thai Cuisine”

Turkish Graduate Student Association Tuesday, November 17 • 7:15 p.m. Clemens Hall 120

keynote event

CULTURE IN MOTION FILM SERIES

KEYNOTE SPEECH

SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WINNER

“What Next for Afghanistan?”

Paula Newberg, Director Institute for the Study of Diplomacy Georgetown University Wednesday, November 18 • 7:00 p.m. O’Brian Hall 106

“Afghan Star” (2009, Afghanistan/UK) Monday, November 16 • 7:00 p.m. Student Union Theater

“Son of a Lion” (2007, Australia/Pakistan)

“Outsourced” (2006, U.S.) ASEAN Graduate Student Association Wednesday, November 18 • 5:00 p.m. Clemens Hall 120 “Suite Habana” (2003, Cuba) Caribbean Studies Program Thursday, November 19 • 5:30 p.m. Capen Hall 31

Japanese and Malaysian Student Associations, Thai International Graduate Student Association Friday, November 20 • 11:00-2:00 Student Union Lobby

“World View: Study Abroad Photo Contest & Exhibition” Study Abroad Programs Thursday, November 19 • 4:00-6:00 p.m. Social Hall, 2nd Floor, Student Union

Tuesday, November 17 • 5:30 p.m. Student Union Theater

SPONSORS: AT&T • Bank of America English Language Institute • Haylor, Freyer & Coon, Inc. HSBC Bank • M&T Bank • UB Asian Studies Program UB Office of International Education

Office of International Student & Scholar Services (716) 645-2258 • intlservices@buffalo.edu www.buffalo.edu/intlservices/special_events.html

The Spectrum

November 11, 2009

O P I N I ON

Editorial Board Editor in Chief Stephen Marth Executive Editor Keeley Sheehan Managing Editors Ren LaForme, senior David Jarka Jennifer Lombardo News Editors Jennifer Good Caitlin Tremblay Chelsie Hinckley, asst. Ashley Hirt, asst. Amanda Woods, asst. Editorial Editor Jacob Shillman Arts Editors John Ranic, senior Christopher DiMatteo Jameson Butler, asst. Eric Hilliker, asst. James Twigg, asst. Life Editors Adrian Finch Matt Mosher Shane Fallon, asst. Rachel Lamb, asst. Sports Editors David Sanchirico, senior Andrew Wiktor Matt Parrino, asst. Joe Paterno, asst. Photo Editors Katie Carlett, senior Samantha Hicks Tim Ho Clinton Hodnett, asst. Copy Editors Meghan Farrell Abbi Meade Graphics Designer Rafael Kobayashi

Professional Staff

Big Brother is watching Effectiveness of security cameras in preventing crime There have been debates about whether the use of security cameras can actually aid in crime fighting. The debate has come to Buffalo following high profile arrests due to the aid of such surveillance systems. The Buffalo authorities made arrests in two recent murder cases, largely aided by surveillance cameras Footage provided by such cameras helped solve the homicide cases of Javon Jackson and Jacob Herbert. Such crime deterrent systems are prevalent in large metropolises, but should only be seen as aids to authorities because nothing can replace actual police officers in preventing crime. This system might be effective in cities like London, but in a depressed city such as Buffalo, nothing much would change. CCTV will only provide students with a false sense of security. Data shows that cameras don’t deter crime, and given the wild weather conditions in the city, cameras would be rendered ineffective on a regular basis. These closed-circuit television systems consist of video cameras that transmit images to a central viewing location; they are generally used to monitor banks, casinos, airports, military installations and convenience stores. Look to the United Kingdom, where Urban Eye was recently introduced, for a broader look at the effectiveness of such systems. A team of professors in criminology, philosophers, political scientists, sociologists and urban geographers from six countries assembled a study to test the effectiveness of the system. The project, run by the Center of Technology and Science at the Technical Institute in Berlin, focused on analyzing the employment of CCTV in publicly accessible space in Europe, and assessed its social effects and political impacts. According to the study’s findings, there are an estimated 4.2 million cameras used in the United Kingdom alone. That would mean there is one camera for every 14 people.

However, there isn’t any conclusive evidence that such systems actually deter crime. According to a report by United Kingdom Police Chiefs, using CCTV systems helped solve only 3 percent of crimes. Figures so low don’t justify the cost of building, monitoring and maintaining such systems – especially in the greater Buffalo area. But those in favor of such systems might have a case. Such systems are commonly used as preventive measures in areas police don’t routinely patrol. CCTV evidence was used in England to solve the case of a series of London bombings in 2005. CCTV is best used in tracking abducted children, finding anti-social behavior such as drinking-related incidents and deterring acts of vandalism. However, the use of these systems has stirred up privacy issues. In an Orwellian twist, the government can watch as its citizens walk down the street. Experts have argued that the cameras are not intruding into people’s privacy, but rather public space, where an individual’s right to privacy can logically be weighed against the public’s need for protection. So far in the United States, courts have found this concern about privacy to be a nonissue. Many have found no violation of civilians’ rights under the Fourth Amendment, which protects against “unreasonable searches and seizures.” A larger concern is the fact that such systems are easily rendered ineffective. Cameras can be put offline due to substances blurring the lens, lasers altering the camera’s filter and being knocked off their bases. There is no doubt that a wider net of surveillance cameras could aid police in investigating crimes. But given the weather conditions and the nature of the area, cameras will only persuade criminals to cover there faces or make blind spots in the system major crime areas. Nothing beats the security of a police officer patrolling a street – not even a camera.

Business Manager Debbie Smith

Stalling talks

Administrative Assistant Helene Polley

Obama failing to bring peace to the Middle East

Advertising Manager David Vogt Advertising Designer Christopher Lonzi Web Editors Drew Brigham Andrew Muraco Creative Directors Christopher Caporlingua Katelynn Padowski The views expressed — both written and graphic — in the Feedback, Opinion, and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or spectrum-editorial@buffalo.edu. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style or length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it clearly as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number and e-mail address.

The Spectrum is provided free by the Undergraduate Mandatory Activity Fee

NOVEMBER 11, 2009 VOLUME 59 NUMBER 29 CIRCULATION: 10,000 The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by 360 Youth. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260. Telephone: (716) 645-2468. Fax: (716) 645-2766. Copyright 2009 Buffalo, N.Y. The Spectrum is printed by Buffalo Newspress PO Box 648, Buffalo, NY 14240-0648.

It has been five months since President Barack Obama went to Cairo and won over most of the Arab world with his declaration of justice. He stated that he would face down both Israel and Palestine in his quest for peace. That process – with its auspicious beginning – now seems to have hit a wall. Sadly, the president’s mediating hand has grown weaker and his charisma has faded at the same rate. All the parties involved are using the same old clichés and nobody is buying it anymore. The process is bogged down. The leaders of both sides are simply posturing and diplomacy is caught in some sort of inertia phase. Israel and Palestine also have other priorities at the moment. The United States needs a whole new plan. Obama must take a stronger stand and put tremendous pressure on the Israelis and Palestinians to get this peace process done. The proper response is to simply leave. Let them come to the United States to broker a deal. This process started in an attempt to push Israel to stop building of Jewish settlements on Palestinian land as a token of good faith. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was prepared to adopt a policy of limitation on building new settlements east of Jerusalem. But roughly 3,000 new housing units have been commissioned. Netanyahu states that they will be completed. His reasoning? Construction must go on in East Jerusalem, as it cannot be part of a Palestinian state. There is no tone of peace on Netanyahu’s mind. It gives reason for the Arab states to do nothing as well. It’s incredibly shortsighted to not allow Israel to have lasting peace with Palestine. The United States has been urging Arab states to demonstrate their own commitment to a peace deal. They hope that the Arab states will show a greater acceptance of Israel and grant rights for Israeli commercial planes to fly overhead, or open trade offices in Israel. Instead of supporting such progressive ideas, the United States’ regional allies – Egypt and Saudi Arabia – are refusing to make any of their own gestures and are actively discouraging other Arab states from acting.

Churning out workers Wake up, class, study, extracurricular illegal activities, repeat. I know school is supposed to be the time you enjoy before a nine-to-five consumes your free time, soul, witty sense of humor and any other positive personality traits. It’s the reason lackadaisical bros strive to be Van Wilder. It’s the last gasp of irresponsibility and freedom, and the last time overdrinking isn’t viewed as alcoholism. But it’s amazing how repetitive and uninspirDavid Sanchirico ing my curriculum is. In Senior Sports Editor a way, school does feel like a mind-numbing task that can reward me with an upper-case letter on a piece of paper, but doesn’t expand my brain or fulfill my craving for learning. This is partially because my goal of becoming a successful sports journalist isn’t being achieved through my Business & Professional Communications or Research Methods classes. Obviously I made a poor life choice by attending – and staying at – a school that wouldn’t help me achieve my goal, but everyone I communicate with seems to feel the same way. They feel that going to class is unnecessary if they can memorize the information in a textbook and succeed on tests. So the rumor that I have heard for a while now has finally been confirmed. UB is a diploma mill whose task is to prepare its once-energetic mentees for a destitute 40-plus year period in the work force. Maybe this feeling about UB can be generalized to all of our universities. It seems that without some extra self-motivation to make yourself stick out that you’ll be a clone like everyone else graduating. Universities are designing exact copies with the same experiences and learning capabilities, preparing to send them out into the world to fight for the same jobs. But UB certainly doesn’t let its students know that. The university does not help us enough to prepare for the tough times. I’m a senior and this problem is more evident than ever. I have an adviser that devours me like a piranha if I come to her with a see SANCHIRICO page 13

This is another shortsighted choice, considering increasing trading partners opens economies up for new opportunities for growth. It would allow governments to give their youth population a better future. George Mitchell, the Middle East envoy for the United States, has returned to the region to bring some common sense to all parties involved. The point must be made that the United States’ patience is wearing thin; the country will not wait much longer for peace in the Middle East. If Israel and Palestine were serious about peace, Mitchells presence would be helpful start to the process. But his presence is meaningless considering the stall in the talks; Mitchell simply doesn’t have the clout to push the peace process forward. The Egyptians and the Saudis must be reminded that a peace deal is the best way to check extremism and Iran’s power. The other Gulf states must step out of the shadow and do the right thing. If Obama is hoping to bring the Israeli and Palestinian leaders back to the peace table at the United Nations meeting later this month, he is going to have to increase the pressure on all of the region’s leaders. Some say that the president should fly to Israel to address the Israeli people directly with a gamechanging plan. But no one, least of all in Washington, seems to know what that plan might be. The only time that America has been able to advance peace in this process before has been after the Yom Kippur War, during the Camp David accords and following the Lebanon War. But only when the Israelis and Palestinians have felt enough pain do they ask for America’s diplomacy. This is like watching the same movie over and over and hoping for a different ending. The peace process always starts off as a sprint – fast and strong. However, it needs to be a marathon to achieve lasting peace. The lackluster effort by both sides only furthers the cycle of violence in the region. If and when those two nations get serious, they’ll find the United States to help broker a deal. And when they do, the United States should push for a detailed plan with a two-state solution – complete with borders – and the steps they must take to get there.

Pepère and me Nov. 11 is not only Veteran’s Day, but also my grandfather’s birthday. He would have been 85. My grandfather, Urbain Tremblay, who I called Pepère or Pep, was straight from Canada and one of the most caring and compassionate people I have ever known. His smile was infectious and his dry humor could fill a room with laughter for hours on end. He passed away in January 2008 and, honestly, I haven’t been the same since. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about how I would run across church on Sunday mornings with my dress lifted up, screaming, “Pepère! Look at my nombril!” “Nombril” is bellybutton in French Canadian. Caitlin Tremblay Pep always teased us by News Editor poking it. Instead of “I got your nose,” it was “I got your nombril!” It sounds weird in retrospect, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I had the worst panic attack of my life when he died. Even though my grandmother, his wife, died on Dec. 26, 2005, the magnitude of death didn’t hit me until he was gone. I guess I remembered my Memère through Pep, and when he was gone, things all fell apart – quite literally. Tensions in my family escalated and I found myself caught between two sides. I don’t know how Switzerland does it, being neutral is tough. It’s been rocky since Pep passed away and every day I wish that he were here to bring us all back together with a joke or a smile. What I wouldn’t give for another weekend-long family reunion with 500-plus people there to hear Pep sing “Alouette,” a French song about plucking a bird. In the song you name different body parts that you would pluck off, like eyes, nose, mouth, etc.… Pep, ever the fun-spirited troublemaker would sneak in dirty body parts every now and again, like “les tetons” and “les boules.” Everything seems to remind me of him and that just makes the drama that came after his death all see TREMBLAY page 13

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November 11, 2009

The Spectrum

November 11, 2009

AR T S & LI F E UB veterans for veterans By MATT MOSHER Life Editor

Courtesy of Nicholas Hoffman

Above, from L-R, UB student veterans: Chris Irwin, Heidi Olsen, Matejka Dale, Nicholas Hoffman, Jennifer Wiese, Arthur Lawson, Nnamaka Nwufoh and Dan Grady.

Among the many celebrations for Veterans Day this year, student veterans at UB will be hosting a party of their own – one with a purpose. The club will be hosting a dinner at the Hamlin House in Allentown on Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The dinner is open to local vets and their friends and family. It will feature snacks, food, an open bar and a special guest, Patrick Welch, the director of the Erie County Veterans Services Agency, who will address local veterans. Money raised at the dinner will be

used to support the UB Student Veterans Club, which is seeking a room specifically for student veterans on campus, where they hope to have computers, printers and a place to gather with other student vets. “Our focus is to try and make UB more friendly for veterans,” said Nick Hoffman, a junior pre-health major and member of the UB Student Veterans Club. “Based on the way the war is going, there may be an influx in veterans returning and there’s going to be a next generation of vets. We would like to make this an easy transition for them – make easier steps to take, especially for any [vets]

with disabilities or handicaps.” The club has had trouble becoming an officially recognized Student Association club due to the requirements, which include weekly meetings, volunteer time and the fact that clubs must be open to all UB students – when this is a club specifically meant for military veterans. “Because of the unique nature of a veteran, the average member is older and juggles some combination of work, marriage and kids, school, and sometimes reserve [duties],” Hoffman said. “These requirements are a lot to ask of veterans who have see VETERANS page 6

MAYDAY ALL OVER By JOHN RANIC Senior Arts Editor

Tales don’t tell themselves, but dead friends do shout sing-a-long narratives. From day one, Florida pop rockers Mayday Parade made a name for themselves by booking every date they could and by following the Warped Tour’s burned out footprints. Playing parking lots and snatching up teen hearts with their gut-wrenching, bittersweet tales of breakups and make-ups heard in Tales Told By Dead Friends, the Tallahassee natives seemed to be shooting well past Jersey and into the stars. And then their singer, songwriter and chest piece Jason Lancaster left as the walls around him seemed to change and close in. Mid-tour and prelude to a successful career, the band had to react and save not only face, but also their future. Harmonizing vocalist Derek Sanders stepped in and took over. “It’s worked out pretty well. We’ve been a band longer without him than we were ever a band with him. So, you know, he left in the middle of a tour, which kind

of forced us to adapt really fast because we had to play a show the next day. And obviously the lead vocal parts and guitar parts that he played, we had to figure out who was going to play them and who was going to sing them and whatever and it really kind of forced us to adapt really fast,” Sanders said. “I feel like we did a really good job and Jeremy [Lenzo] and Jake [Budnick] definitely both stepped up a lot and cover his parts really well.” Posthumously touring off Lancaster’s epitaph, A Lesson In Romantics, Sanders and crew put a new spin on their lovestung misery and became bigger than ever, largely due to key opening slots with bands like All Time Low and The Maine, along with some help from a little magazine called Alternative Press. Co-headlining the AP Fall Ball with The Academy Is…, now they’re coverboys. “We definitely really appreciate the support and we’ve had some spots in the magazine before and some articles about us and some good reviews. Definitely, it’s awesome,” Sanders said. “On this tour, being on the cover of AP magazine, is like really just a dream come true that I thought would be amazing for the entire

time since we’ve been a band. So, that’s awesome and we definitely appreciate their support.” Touring off their just-released Anywhere But Here, their first album comprised completely of the new Mayday experience, the band has taken a natural leap into the power pop hit pool. “I think it’s just kind of a natural thing. It certainly wasn’t intentional,” Sanders said. “It’s just kind of the same thing we’ve always done. We just try and put out the best songs that we can and it just kind of turned out that way.” With the huge, radio-ready “Kids In Love” lurking behind current single “The Silence,” that band is bumblebee-buzz worthy and more than fitting of their spot atop the AP tour. Holding the new classics hostage, Mayday still feeds off the energy and tears shed by their fans alongside the old favorites. Nothing stands out more than the fan-claimed love-quell “Miserable at Best,” which is inarguably about a girl named Katie. “Yeah, it definitely happens,”

Courtesy of Mayday Parade

Singer Derek Sanders leads his Mayday Parade through the Town Ballroom Thursday night.

see MAYDAY page 6

The best breast test By RACHEL LAMB Asst. Life Editor

Marina Bayramova / The Spectrum

Numerous dancing queens packed the Center for the Arts Monday night.

Swedish memories By VANESSA FRITH Staff Writer

The Swedish quartet of Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid, better known as ABBA, danced and jived again in the tribute show “ABBA Mania”. The two-hour concert event Monday night at the Center for the Arts Mainstage Theater revived the music of the ’70s phenomenon. From moves to music, the group – which hails from London’s West End – had ABBA down pat. Carley Broom, Katy Summer, Daniel Dibdin and Mark Thomas skillfully performed the vocals, and were accompanied by Manolo Polidario on guitar, Ryan Aston on drums and

Pablo Roberts on bass guitar. The group was ready and wiling to get the whole audience involved. The audience was often on its feet, clapping, dancing and reliving ABBA’s glory days. The group opened with “Waterloo” and performed many of the well-known upbeat ABBA songs, such as “Super Trooper,” “Mamma Mia” and “Does Your Mother Know,” as the crowd enthusiastically sang along. The audience swayed back in time to several slower songs like “Winner Takes it All,” “I Believe in Angels” and “Chiquitita.” Their dance moves were classic ABBA and prompted the audience to join in. The wardrobe paid homage to

ABBA’s heyday. Viewers cheered for the skimpy white outfits and ankle-high, high-heeled boots. The group’s energy never faltered and they seamlessly assumed their roles as the international superstars. They actively fed off the energy and expectations of the avid fans in attendance. The cast left the stage without playing “Dancing Queen,” and the audience cheered and called them back for more. The band came back to play not only “Dancing Queen,” but also “Thanks for the Music” and an encore rendition of “Mamma Mia.” Even the preschool and grade school age set enjoyed the show, as see ABBA page 6

The newest technology available for breast cancer detection is the Breast Specific Gamma Imaging camera from Dilon Diagnostics. While traditional breast cancer screening methods such as MRIs and biopsies take extensive time and money, the new “GammaGram” is cheaper and helps make mammograms easier and more effective. “The BSGI camera works on two levels: sensitivity, which is actually finding an abnormality, and specificity, which is whether or not the structure found is cancer,” said Stephen Foti, president of Medical Imaging Products, Inc., the sole distributor of BSGI cameras. “The quality of sensitivity is about 98 percent, which is equal to that of MRIs. However, the specificity of the GammaGram is over two times more effective than MRIs.” The BSGI camera has a tracing element that is attracted to cancer cells. “Cancer [cells] are much more vascular, meaning they have more blood flow,” Foti said. “The new camera photographs the acting cancer cells instead of just the structure of cancer, which is what old methods did.” According to Foti, the GammaGram is made to target cancer cells specifically, so if an abnormality

shows up on the picture, it has to be cancer because of all of the blood flow to the location. A press release about the GammaGram noted that in black and white mammogram pictures, cancer hides in shades of gray. These can be difficult to see except for people with specific training. “Mammograms identify potential problems, and additional tests such as biopsies or expensive MRIs are called for to confirm a diagnosis,” according to the press release. The GammaGram shows pictures in color rather than in black and white. “Small areas of cancer regions show up so dramatically on a GammaGram [picture] that they are far less likely to be overlooked,” the press release said. According to Foti, approximately 30 percent of the population has difficulty getting a clear picture with the existing technology. “This new technology is especially important for women with dense breast tissue, implants and previous breast surgery,” Foti said. “The imaging goes through the dense tissue better than a regular mammogram machine would.” Foti stated that the price of the BSGI camera is one-third of the cost of an existing mammogram. see TEST page 6

The Spectrum

November 11, 2009

Test provides 97 percent same-day accuracy TEST from page 5

faculty & student

“Insurance can generally cover these costs,” Foti said. “It is a reimbursement policy, but patients should contact their insurance providers for more information.” GammaGrams also cause considerably less worry than regular mammogram machines. “Inconclusive mammograms are very common,” Foti said. “They force patients to agonize for days, weeks or even months to learn if they have cancer or not.” According to the press release, the GammaGram can provide 97 percent same-day accuracy. Dilon Diagnostics has installed BSGI cameras in over 100 cities in the U.S., including New York City, Philadelphia, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Dallas. Approximately 8,000 patients have already used the cameras. Though breast cancer is typically found in older women, rather than those of college age, it is still important to be aware of the risks of breast cancer, according to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Association. Conducting regular self-exams

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Courtesy of Dilon Diagnostics

The GammaGram provides color pictures of breast tissue that detect cancer up to two times more accurately than an MRI. and receiving mammograms can help detect cancer early. The GammaGram will soon be available in Binghamton and Buffalo. A Buffalo hospital is currently trying to raise money for the new machine, so the name of the institute has not been released to the public. “I cannot release the name of

the hospital right now, but the new machine will be in a Buffalo hospital in 30 to 60 days,” Foti said. For more information on the GammaGram, go to www.dilon.com. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com

‘Sometimes people do cry’ MAYDAY from page 5

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Sanders said. “A lot of people come up and are like, ‘Oh, my name is Katie.’ It’s cool that there’s that connection and people feel that connection, but yeah, there’s definitely a handful of people at usually every show that come up and are like, ‘Oh, my name’s Katie,’ and ask about that song.” And the waterworks. “Sometimes people do [cry], especially during that song,” Sanders said. “We’ll have people after the

show that will be like ‘I cried during “Miserable at Best.”’ The band is anything but miserable with a well-received new release proving that they’re much more than what they used to be. With an ever-growing fanbase and a calendar full of bookings, the parade is now and has no foreseeable end in sight. “After this, we have about a week off until Thanksgiving and then we leave again. Actually, the first show is the day after Thanksgiving and we’re doing a headlining tour. It’s gonna be kind of ... short, it’s about

three weeks,” Sanders said. “It’s with There For Tomorrow and The Dangerous Summer and there’s a couple other openers – this band called City Lights is on half of it and a band called Vega Under Fire is on half of it. And then once 2010 hits, the plan is just to tour as much as possible and definitely, for sure, do some overseas stuff.” Sanders and crew are busy, busy boys. Now is your chance to catch them live when they play the Town Ballroom Thursday night at 6 p.m. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com

ABBA Mania meets expectations ABBA from page 5

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they were turned loose to dance in the aisles along with their parents. “It was good fun,” said Elizabeth Chestnut, 17, of Williamsville, one of the few teens in attendance. The Williamsville East High School Vocal Jazz Choir joined the group onstage to add to the night’s entertainment.

Together the two groups performed “I Have a Dream” and the ever-popular “Fernando.” ABBA Mania lived up to the expectations of the many in the audience who were familiar with the real artists. It seems like, just maybe, they had the time of their lives. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com

Not mourning, but praise VETERANS from page 5 given so much already.” Hoffman, who served in the Navy, said veterans who were directly involved with conflicts often find the transition to the classroom to be a difficult one. Veterans suffer from a range of disabilities that can hamper their progress and affect their abilities to enter a civilian lifestyle. “It’s important for us to get rid of the … image of vets being gun toting, shoot-’em-up veterans,” Hoffman said. “Not all veterans have been kicking down doors.” Hoffman said that Veterans Day holds a new meaning for him after serving in the Navy. “Now that I’m in the military ... my take on [Veterans Day] is that we need to pay respects

to [veterans],” he said. “We need to think about them and appreciate what they’ve done.” Hoffman said that he thinks people should not spend the day in mourning, but praise. “I don’t want to sit around and waste my day by mourning that loss,” Hoffman said. “I want to enjoy the day and take advantage of the sacrifices they have made. And I can still turn around and enjoy those who have served and pay homage as well as celebrate.” Tickets for the dinner are available through Hoffman at (716) 597-7240 or by e-mail at hoffmannicholas@gmail.com.

E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com

The Spectrum

November 11, 2009

Postgraduate praise By CHELSEY WATROBA Staff Writer

While most recent college graduates are looking for work, either in graduate school or in their prospective job field, three graduates from the UB’s class of 2009 have already found it. Amanda Maciuba, Rob Rzeznik and Andrew Vaga are featured in the professional art exhibition, “Noncommittal: A Prospective Glance II.” The exhibition will run from Nov. 5 to Dec. 12 in the UB Art Gallery in the Center for the Arts on UB’s North Campus. The artists are all graduates of the Department of Visual Studies. Maciuba has a BFA in print media, Rzeznik earned a BFA in emerging practice and Vaga has a BFA in communication design. According to Millie Chen, chair and associate professor of the Department of Visual Studies, these artists were selected at the end of the previous academic school year when the instructors of the Senior Thesis course for the year made a shortlist selection of students. These students then received a studio visit from Sandra Firmin, curator of the University Art Gallery. As the curator, Firmin selected the three

student artists for the fall exhibition. Firmin has her own process in order to make sure that she selects the best pieces for the exhibition show. She selects the works based on professionalism, commitment and qualitative judgment. She also believes it is important to “show how the pieces interact.” The three artists use different types of materials and techniques to provide their commentaries on society. Maciuba uses black and white prints, along with a sculptural element, to explore her hometown and its transformation from a rural area into a more suburban and busy town. Both Rzeznik and Vaga portray media in their work, but their ideas are almost polar opposites. Rzeznik presents a video in which he comments on the violence and sensationalism of modern media. Vaga represents media in a more lighthearted and interactive way. “The relationship between Amanda’s rural community becoming suburban shows the lack of community, and Rob’s piece speaks to it,” Firmin said. “Amanda is more of the exterior, while Rob shows the interior – so absorbed that we’re losing human contact and interpersonal relationships.” Vaga’s piece is a pseudo-wall of 20 computer screens, four rows of

Contemporary Cuban art coming to UB By CHELSEY WATROBA Staff Writer

Students can get a little thoughtprovoking Latin flavor at the Center for the Arts this winter. A new exhibit in UB’s Art Gallery, “Carlos Estévez: Images of Thought,” will run through Feb. 6 and showcase the work of contemporary Cuban artist Carlos Estévez. The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, is composed of 31 works by the artist. The curator of the exhibit is Jorge J.E. Gracia, SUNY distinguished professor and a Samuel P. Capen chair in philosophy and comparative literature. Gracia is the author of a new book first published in February of this year, Images of Thought: Philosophical Interpretations of Carlos Estévez’s Art. The book takes the artwork of Estévez and examines the

pieces in a philosophical context. Gracia has a long history in both art and philosophy. He explained that he was interested in art and actually attended art school before he went to college and began studying philosophy. “I was away from art as a philosopher until recently. My interest actually was sparked by my interest in social identity, particularly ethnic identity,” Gracia said. “I have had a longtime interest in social interpretation that led to philosophical interpretation of art.” Gracia thinks that Estévez’s work is complex and thought provoking. “I don’t think that you can pinpoint a message for his art as a whole or individual art piece,” Gracia said. “His art is the basis for the grounds for discussion ... It’s clear that his work see ART page 9

five. He created two animations that run simultaneously. In the center is a small webcam that responds to movement and causes changes in the animations, making them react. The exhibition also features a sound component that is interactive with the participants’ movement. “Andrew’s piece is a viable alternative, and another way to use technology than just passively sitting in front of a television or computer screen,” Firmin said. This is the second annual version of “Noncommittal: A Prospective Glance.” “The exhibit is for former students who are at a pivotal point, where they…pursue a career as an artist, or become a curator, or get their MFA or become a graphic designer,” Firmin said. “This is a nudge of encouragement that being an artist is a viable road to take. The artists are so involved in their work, but they do not have much exposure to a professionally mounted show. This is an experience in showing professionally.” The show is presented in collaboration with the Department of Visual Studies. The exhibit is on the second floor of the gallery and it is free and open to the public. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

Shannon Yeh / The Spectrum

Amanda Maciuba illustrates her hometown’s change from a rural to a suburban community in her work.

‘Speak directly to candidates’ ELECTION from page 1 Student Union Theater. Boston isn’t sure whether the location of this election will have an impact on voter turnout. However, 2,000 votes were tallied in last month’s special presidential election held in the SU Theater. Voter turnout may depend on whether the students live on or off campus, according to Alyssia Tucker, a senior marketing and cultural anthropology major. “I’d be more likely to vote if I lived on campus because I would be closer and more involved in the UB community,” Tucker said. Alvarado has high expectations for the future vice president. He hopes that the winner will show honesty, integrity and willingness to work hard for individual clubs and the SA as a whole. He hopes the candidate is organized and has the speaking skills necessary to relay information to the clubs.

Alvarado believes commitment is the most important qualification. “They have to be committed to … their responsibility to the clubs and to the SA,” Alvarado said. “I work six hours a day in the office, and work late a lot. I expect whoever wins to make that kind of commitment. That kind of commitment is necessary to make the SA successful.” Alvarado hopes that students will do their part as well, and take part in choosing a future student government leader. “I hope [voter turnout] is high. I hope students are able to go out and vote as much as they can,” Alvarado said. “I hope the previous election hasn’t taken a toll on students and their willingness to vote and make their voices heard.” Alvarado added that students should find out as much about the candidates’ platforms and plans as possible before voting in the elections “Make sure you speak directly to

the candidates to get all the information,” Alvarado said. “Make sure you read into any information about the candidates to make an informed decision.” Alvarado emphasized that no matter who wins the election; SA will continue to work for the interests of the students. “Regardless of who wins, the SA will continue to work to provide the best services,” Alvarado said. Jamie Root, a junior French and linguistics major, believes it is good that students get to vote for a vice president, rather than someone being appointed by the president. “I think it’s a good thing to have an election because it gives students the opportunity to see who is running and what kind of ideals they stand for, versus the president appointing someone [as vice president],” Root said. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

Various components to finding a match MARROW from page 1 plants have the ability to alleviate or cure almost 70 different debilitating diseases. According to Amelia Vangellow, a freshman undecided major and coordinator of the bone marrow drive, it is absolutely vital that more people join the registry because many people’s lives depend on it. A wide variety of medical conditions, including leukemia and lymphoma, create the need for bone marrow donations. However, sometimes patients do not have matches within their family, so they must look to outside sources, which is why the Be The Match Marrow Registry was created. But even with the registry, some people cannot find a match. “Even with the more than 5 million people in the registry, some patients don’t find a match … the statistic is [that] only three in 10 get the donation they need to live,” Vangellow said. Students who volunteered to become marrow donors at the event

were asked to sign a consent form. By signing, they agreed to allow their name to remain active in the registry until they were 60 years old, or until they requested their information to be withdrawn from the database. A painless cheek swab was then performed to determine marrow type and was entered into the database to find a potential match. An individual must meet a few requirements before they become a donor – they must be between the ages of 18 and 60 and meet certain medical guidelines. Potential donors fill out a registration form and use a cotton swab to swipe the inside of their cheek for 10 seconds to collect cheek cells. The total registration process takes about 10 minutes. “The cheek swabs are taken to a lab … [The lab tests] for human leukocyte antigens, [which] are proteins – or markers – found on most cells in your body,” Vangellow said. “Your immune system uses these markers to recognize which cells belong in your body and which do not. A close HLA match between the patient and donor is the most important factor

in selecting the best bone marrow donor for a patient.” There are two ways for students to donate if a match is found. Blood cell donations are the most common, making up about 70 percent of all donations. This donation is a non-surgical outpatient procedure that is relatively painless. Marrow donation is a surgical outpatient procedure, often requiring the patient to arrive at the hospital on the day of the procedure and stay for the night after. Volunteers are anesthetized in the operating room, and typically one to four small incisions are made over the back of their pelvic bone, where the marrow is drawn. After the procedure, patients might experience some side effects like lower back pain, fatigue and stiffness when walking, according to the National Marrow Donor Program’s Web site. “I’m petrified of the procedure,” said Mary Pentycofe, a sophomore social sciences major. “But when the time comes, I would still go through with it because it’s important.”

The National Marrow Donor Program organizes the donor search and matching process, ensuring that every donor is taken care of before and after the transplant. The donation process takes about 40 hours in a three to four month span, with no cost to the donors. Vangellow helped organize the event after discovering the possibility that her mother, a lymphoma patient, might need a marrow transplant. “I believe this is a good cause and I would like to contribute and donate as much as I can,” Vangellow said. Many of the students who volunteered decided to do so with the knowledge that they too could save a life. “My cousin has half of a brain and leukemia,” Pentycofe said. “I’m donating because it’s so close to home and although I might not be a match for my cousin, I can still help someone somewhere.” Although Pentycofe and her cousin are blood relatives, this doesn’t guarantee a match. There are various components to

finding a match, in addition to blood type. According to the National Marrow Donor Program, doctors analyze tissue type as well – specifically the human leukocyte antigen. There is a shortage of minority donors, which is one of the biggest problems facing the program. As tissue types are inherited, patients are more likely to be a match for someone of their own race or ethnicity. “It’s unfortunate … As a Latino, I believe minorities should donate so that there will be a chance for [everyone],” said Kevin Recalde, a senior finance major. Volunteers of every background are needed to increase the chance of survival for those who are suffering. “By donating, you can be the only match in the world to help save a person’s life,” said Mike Garbin, an account executive for Be The Match. Students can help save a life by logging onto www.bethematch.org, or by calling 1-800-MARROW-2 for more information. E-mail: features@buffalo.edu

The Spectrum

November 11, 2009

The dawning of a new age By NICOLAS PINO Staff Writer

For Dungeon Masters and level one wizards alike, Bioware’s longawaited king of role-playing games has arrived. Dragon Age: Origins contains virtually all that is good in the realm of the 20-sided die, and has a bigger plot than every other RPG – the player gets a different back-story for each class and race in the game. Needless to say, this creates a ton of outcomes for character creation, just like its pencil and paper roots. But before players toss out their coveted character sheets, they should know that there are only three races so far – elves, dwarves and humans – each of which only has three classes to choose. However, this is where the back-stories come in. When players create their

characters, they need to choose a starting social class. This background origin gives the players and the characters motivations, possible choices and personal biases throughout the game. After players learn about the origin of a character, they must begin the quest to become a Grey Warden, which can be described as a Jedilike peacekeeper and defender of the realm. The plot thickens when The Blight – a mysterious plague of demons – invades and eventually destroys the outpost of Ostagar, as Loghain – the game’s antagonist – attempts to steal the throne and besmirch the title of Grey Warden. As the game progresses, players encounter a multitude of recruitable non-player characters that aid in the fight against the dark spawn. Unfortunately, these characters will also be only one of three classes

THE

riginal

and lack the ability to specialize in a wider range of skills. In the game’s defense, each class has three subclasses, which create very cool, specialized characters. Yet, as far as classes are concerned, the game leaves much to be desired. Origins plays like the classic Bioware RPG Baldur’s Gate, bringing back the nostalgic, dungeondelving days of yore. Over the top, command-driven action keeps the player involved in every battle without an excessive amount of repetitive fights. The game runs on a system like its tabletop counterpart, but doesn’t take into account everything that a pencil and paper game would. The game leaves out things like a set turn order based on initiative, weapon speed, indepth skill and strength checks. Even so, the game’s dabbling in the lore is apparent. From

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Take control of your destiny as you venture through Dragon Age: Origins. shape-shifting witches to the walking dead, the game certainly can make players’ bedrooms feel like the basement of their childhood sweaty, nerdy friend Dragon Age: Origins’s replay value is through the roof, but expect to be playing all those hours by yourself. The game simply doesn’t have multiplayer, an absolutely critical component of modern games. To make-up for its lack in multiplayer, Bioware plans to release an expansive amount of downloadable content for players who haven’t already lost friends and family to the game. A multiplayer mode certainly would have made this game a

must-buy, but sadly, the fate of Dragon Age: Origins is slightly less than perfection. For those who are looking for a present for their Dungeon Master this holiday season, this game is entirely worth the money, but those who have never brushed up on their Monster Manual may find Dragon Age: Origins to be a little too D & D advanced. For those who are entranced by the story, there are currently two novels set in the Dragon Age universe, with a tabletop port on the way. Keep an eye out for them this holiday season. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com

Covers young adults in college BILL from page 1 ensure that 85 percent of premium dollars are spent on health care and aims to reduce the deficit by $104 million over 10 years. Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), chairwoman of the House Committee on Rules, was the first speaker as the House of Representatives that debated the health care reform legislation. She spoke during a recent health care regulation meeting about an anecdote that offers a glimpse of the current health care situation. “I learned, rather graphically, from a young man not even in his teens who had a very serious head trauma,” Slaughter said. “Within less than a year he had used up his full allotment. He had reached his cap. And that young man is not insurable in the United States to this day. One of the most important things I think we can do is remove those caps so that we don’t have numbers of people who then become the responsibility of all of us.” The new health care bill aims to have a large impact on Americans amid the current economic situation. Slaughter, who has been actively involved in health issues while serving as congresswoman, is also a microbiologist with a master’s degree in public health. According to Slaughter’s press

secretary, Victoria Dillon, the new health care reform is “near and dear to her heart.” “[The bill is] making sure you can have insurance regardless of the situation,” Dillon said. During the recent health care regulation meeting, Slaughter said that she believes it is time for a change to the health care system. “I think [the committees’] work will stand for generations to come as some of the best that’s ever been done in the Congress, and we’re very proud of that,” Slaughter said. “But there have always been, all the way back to Teddy Roosevelt, people who just said ‘no.’ People who seem not to notice what was going on out in the country.” Slaughter urged the committee to recognize a need for a new health care system. “I have an awful lot of people in my district that are losing their jobs – some of them in the middle of cancer treatment who have had to give that up because they can no longer afford it,” Slaughter said. “The stories that we get almost daily are almost unbelievable, that in America, in this country, that we would not be able to provide the health care to people to simply keep them alive. The time has really come for us to make this change.” E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

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The Spectrum

November 11, 2009

The silence of the goats By JOSH Q. NEWMAN Staff Reporter

The Men Who Stare At Goats

B-

Imagine peace. Hug trees. Be like the eagle and soar. This may not appear to be a sound military strategy, but this was the U.S. Army’s idea in the 1970s. It didn’t quite work out. The Men Who Stare At Goats is a nice attempt at tackling a bizarre chapter in U.S. military history. But much like the absurd ideas some of the characters follow, the film falls flat on its face. It doesn’t have the right tone or satirical punch that makes great mock-epics like Dr. Strangelove work. And no one loves the bomb. The Men Who Stare At Goats follows Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor, Amelia), a small-time journalist who goes to Iraq on the eve of the invasion to reinvigorate his life. He meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney, Burn After Reading), the lead he’s been dreaming of. Cassady reveals to Wilton that he is a secret military operative specializing in psychological warfare. He’s been sent to Iraq to find Col. Bill Django (Jeff Bridges, A Dog Year), his shaggy-haired former

commanding officer. Django is the founder of the First Earth Battalion, whose objective is to find paranormal and therapeutic ways to subdue the enemy. The men of the battalion have long hair, practice yoga and don’t have to address their officers as “sir.” The battalion thrived in the ’80s, but was disbanded when its unconventional practices yielded bad results. Wilton is fascinated by Cassady’s story, but doesn’t believe it, as their predicament in Iraq get worse. When they finally reach Django, they discover the First Earth Battalion’s new goals. Hint: they have to do with goats – and not in a nice way. The film takes on material that doesn’t need to be made fun of because it makes fun of itself. Django and his supporters honestly believe that smoking pot and showing off dance skills are the best ways to combat global warfare. The battalion thinks it has mental powers, and although some of those powers more or less exist in the film, most of them are either failed psychological theories, misguided mysticism or ideas from LSD trips. Django (who looks an awful lot like The Dude from The Big Lebowski) loses it after he gets shot in Vietnam. Cassady readily admits that they all believe in that stuff because

Courtesy of BBC Films

Even with its star-studded cast, The Men Who Stare at Goats falls short of nirvana.

it gives them a sense of identity. Cassady feels he belongs somewhere – that he is important. The problem with the film is that it also believes it’s important. Make no mistake – the allotment of military funds to this program, as well as its lasting influence, is no small matter. However, the film’s cute sense of humor goes against the horrible atrocities committed during war. Instead of making fun of the men who make war, the film makes fun

of the war itself. That’s a fine line to walk, and only a handful of films have done this successfully. The actor’s performances are terrific, however, especially Clooney and Bridges. Clooney plays Cassady as a well-meaning loser who tries to do the right thing through ridiculous ways. Bridges’s Django is hilarious. Viewers can’t help but like a mellowed-out Col. Kurtz. Kevin Spacey is also great in the film, playing a scheming Lt. Hooper.

Spacey has a knack for portraying satanic characters, and Hooper, with his mean snarl and evil mustache, is one of his funnier creations. The Men Who Stare At Goats is a decent satire of gung-ho war films and the lunacy that often comes with military endeavor. But even an all-star cast and golden material can’t save the film from its own ridiculousness. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com

Added pieces not in book ART from page 7 has philosophical dimensions.” Gracia found Estévez in a book of recent Cuban art. “Estévez just left an impression on me, because of his style having a lot of philosophical content, and his art is not run of the mill,” Gracia said. From that moment on, Gracia wanted to buy a piece of Estévez’s artwork, but couldn’t get in touch with him because he was traveling throughout Cuba and Europe. Gracia and Estévez crossed paths by accident at Art Miami, the longest running contemporary art fair in Miami, Fla. “I was walking down an aisle when I saw three paintings, and I knew immediately that they were his … I bought one, and it opened up the door for me to be able to meet him,” Gracia said. “I was talking to him later … another time in Miami, and I thought it was a good idea to use his art for philosophical interpretations of his art because what he does has

a philosophical point of view.” The works of Estévez’s art on display at the exhibit span multiple phases of his career – from approximately 1992, when he was still in art school, to the present. “[The] exhibit is a retrospective, mid career. The pieces here literally span every period of his work,” Gracia said. “They show … where he’s going and where he’s been.” A pamphlet is included with the tour to help guide visitors through the exhibit. The booklet features a short essay written by Gracia about Estévez and his work, colorful illustrations of some of the artwork in the exhibition and a short biography about the artist. But people will have to come to the actual exhibit to see everything, Gracia said. “We’ve added some pieces not in the book, and we did not put all the pieces in the book in the show,” Gracia said. “You’ll have to come and see.”

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Celebrating African culture

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The UB Music Department presents

Music From Copland House In a varied chamber music program titled... “Afternoons in Paris: Boulanger, Copland, and the Americans” Friday, November 13th, 2009 7:30pm, Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall presented with support from the robert and carol morris center for 21st century music

The Student Union Theatre looked like a tent at New York fashion week last weekend as the African Student Association presented “La Belle Afrique: Beautiful Africa” – the ASA’s 10th annual hair and fashion show. Members from student groups, including the Caribbean Student Association, Black Student Union and NAACP strutted their stuff in African-inspired haute couture Saturday night. The show included over 50 custom-made garments ranging from urban to eveningwear. The show also included performances from dancers from ASA, Buffalo State’s Pan-African Students Organization and Eccentric Flow. “We don’t do this just to put on a fashion and hair show,” said Olympia Jarboe, president of ASA. “We are here to celebrate African cul-

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ture and to bring more awareness of African culture to the UB community.” The show started with designs by Pauline Asmaih, entitled Sunrise On The Horizon. Asmaih is a fashion designer from the Bronx. “I’ve had a passion for sewing since I was little. My mother was a seamstress back in Ghana and I started making dresses since I was very young,” Asmaih said. “I was happy [to] create fashion pieces to celebrate African culture at UB.” The show continued with the African-inspired designs of Jocelyn Omari, a fashion designer from Brooklyn. “We at Linany Couture try to incorporate traditional African garments with modern fashion,” Omari said. “We carry modern, tailored and ready-to-wear African-inspired apparel and accessories.” Eccentric Flow, which was recently named the best dance group at UB for the second year in a

row, performed an African-inspired selection. The event also included designs by Jeffrey Nelson and Ama Genfi. “My family and art are my inspiration when it comes to designing,” Genfi said. “To me, fashion is a form of art, a way in which you express your innermost feelings without uttering a word.” The event ended with a tribute to Michael Jackson. As the crowd sang along to some of his biggest hits, including “Thriller” and “Beat It,” models showcased Michael Jackson-inspired garments. “With our annual fashion shows and pageants, we at the African Student Union try to showcase the diversity of African culture,” Jarboe said. “We are happy to celebrate our 41st year at UB, and I would like to thank all the designers, models, and volunteers who helped us put on a great show.” E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

Colleges against cancer

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November 11, 2009

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UB is teaming up with Cornell University to stop cancer in its tracks. print Gail Seigel, principal investigator for the Center for Hearing and Deafness at UB, has joined the new Center on the Microenvironment and Metastasis, a cancer research center based at Cornell. The project has significant potential to answer some very monumental questions on the nature of the disease, Seigel said. “The whole project is very interesting,” she said. “It’s an approach where they combine people doing biomedical engineering and people doing cell biology, to see if we can figure out what it is that makes a cancer cell spread throughout the body.” The new center – funded by the National Cancer institute – is one of 12 new cancer research centers across the nation. Seigel will join the team of biomedical specialists, led by Michael

King, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Cornell, that will take innovative approaches to study the progression of cancer throughout the body, she said. The team’s approach will focus heavily on physical and quantitative aspects of the disease, while still taking into account the biological perspective, Seigel said. “There’s a biology to [cancer], but there is also a physical aspect, with molecules bumping into each other, cells bumping into each other and cells bouncing against the walls of the blood vessel,” Seigel said. “Those are the things that the engineers are studying. It’s really great to combine the two areas, and that’s what gives this project its strength.” Although the majority of the research will be done at Cornell, Seigel will remain at her lab at UB, communicating her progress and results with the rest of the research team by telephone and e-mail. “I’m what they call a subcontractor on it,” Seigel said. “There will be times where I’ll travel there to meet with them, and we’ll have telecon-

ferences, but I’ll be doing all of the research here.” Seigel’s work will focus specifically on the study of cancer stem cells – cancer cells that posses the ability to divide and multiply into all of the cell types that make up a tumor. “There are cells that linger, that maybe aren’t killed by the chemotherapy, and those are the cells that I’m studying,” Seigel said. “They act like stem cells. It’s a very small percentage of the tumor, but all you need is one to survive and it will go on and spread.” Cancer stem cells cause cancer to return in a patient who was in remission. The study of these cells is essential in determining how to stop cancer from spreading, she said. “There’s been a lot of success,” Seigel said. “New treatments are coming out all the time. We are making a lot of progress and people are living longer with it.”

E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

Sour note on Senior Night FOOTBALL from page 1 incomplete passes were results of misplays by receivers. On the gamedeciding drive, Buffalo receivers dropped three passes – including Rivers’ game-deciding misexecution – making it difficult for Maynard to piece together a comeback. Despite his receivers’ faults, Maynard and a pair of seniors playing their last home game got the team into Ohio territory and gave it a chance to win. Maynard completed a six-yard pass to senior wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt on a fourth down at the Buffalo 33-yardline to keep the drive alive. Another senior wide receiver, Brett Hamlin, came through on the next play with a 20-yard reception that set the Bulls up at the Ohio 33-yard line. After a spike and an incomplete pass, Maynard spotted Rivers open on a quick slant route. He delivered the ball, but it squirted out of Rivers’ hands and ended the game. Maynard was confident during the last drive, despite the drops and situation his team faced.

“In the second half we came out with a lot more momentum, getting the ball to the receivers and making good plays,” Maynard said. “We were driving the ball, and unfortunately we dropped the ball and then they got the ball. It hurts really bad.” The painful interception put a sour note on Senior Night as 15 seniors capped their Buffalo home careers on Tuesday night. Roosevelt had one of his best games during his last home game, finishing with eight grabs and a career-high 165 yards and three touchdowns. The loss left a bad taste in Roosevelt’s mouth after the game. “[The loss] definitely hurts, not just for me but for all the seniors,” Roosevelt said. “It definitely hurts to lose like this, but we played with great effort and gave what we had.” Ohio had as much to do with the Buffalo loss as Rivers’ drop did. Quarterback Theo Scott distributed the ball with effectiveness and finished the game 22-for-28 with 221 yards. He started the game with 12 straight completions and didn’t throw an incomplete pass until the

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second half. Scott stayed consistent on what was the game-winning drive for the Bobcats. On a possession that started at the Ohio 17-yard line with 6:58 remaining, Scott went 4-for-5 for 33 yards, effectively distributing the ball and taking chunks of time off the clock in the process. The biggest play of the drive came on a fourth-and-1 at Buffalo’s 38-yard line with 2:45 left on the clock. Out of field goal range, Ohio called an option, and Scott pitched the ball to running back Chris Garrett in open field for a 10-yard run, continuing the drive and setting up the field goal. “Give credit to Ohio University,” Gill said. “They did a good job of executing their plays they needed to.” Buffalo has two games remaining on the schedule. The team heads to Oxford, Ohio next Wednesday for a game with Miami (Ohio). Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

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The Spectrum

November 11, 2009

Exercising a healthier lifestyle By ALEX NELLISSEN Staff Writer

Exercise provides a healthy way to relieve stress and offers students various health benefits. But some students don’t feel like they have time to work out. While some students hit the weight room regularly, some go infrequently, and feel that this provides the same benefits as constant lifting and is less taxing on a their schedules. Richard Cheng, a law school graduate student, said that he doesn’t spend much time at the gym. “I only weight lift occasionally, usually a couple times a month. My workload makes me have bigger things to worry about,” Cheng said. “I do it for the health benefits and for my own general wellbeing.” UB has several fitness rooms, located in the dorms, Alumni Arena and Clark Hall. A number of personal trainers are available in each location. The staff can answer students’ fitness questions. The trainers accept several payment methods, including Campus Cash.

Sany Chavan, a personal fitness trainer at Alumni Arena, said that weightlifting has many benefits. “Weightlifting is great. It helps strength training, builds endurance and muscle, and helps burn fat,” Chavan said. “I’ve been working here for six months and have encountered many students who come regularly and stick to their diet and workout schedule. I’ve seen them gain their results and love it.” Weightlifting on a regular basis, even once or twice a week, can help keep the average person in shape. This, mixed with a healthy diet, can lead to satisfactory results. Katie Stanton, a senior human services major, frequently exercises at the gym. “If you want to do it, go for it. It’s great for bulking yourself up and not at all a bad thing,” Stanton said. “I know people who go all the time.” Despite the positive benefits that weightlifting offers its participants, pumping iron is not for everyone. While some students practically live at the gym, others favor different athletic outlets. Okoa Kinsey, a junior environ-

mental design major, prefers activities outside of the gym. “Certain sports require explosive movements, and weightlifting can litigate those explosive movements,” Kinsey said. Working weightlifting and exercise into any schedule can be advantageous to students’ health now and in later years. The exercise and weightlifting centers in Alumni Arena and the dorms are free to all UB students and have varying hours. For more information, visit www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com

Martin controlled most of bout WRESTLING from page 16 Beichner said. “He was able to break him down and turn him for the pin.” This boosted the Bulls to a 6-3 lead. Buffalo lost the opening match when sophomore 125-pounder Dylan Dabolt dropped an overtime decision to Brandon Davis on a penalty point, 3-2. The Eagles tied up the dual-meet when Scott Meyer beat Andrew Schutt, 4-2, in the 141-pound bout. But Buffalo tied things up, 6-6, when sophomore 149-pounder Desi Green won a close 10-9 decision over T.J. Rigel. Green, the 16thranked wrestler in the nation for his weight class, posted four takedowns in the match and moved to 20th on Buffalo’s career takedown list with 75. Buffalo took the lead in the dualmeet when senior 157-pounder Andrew Stellla posted a 12-0 major decision on Hunter Pool. The Bulls would not trail again throughout

the rest of the meet. “After a scoreless first period, [Stella] came back with four solid minutes of wrestling,” Beichner said. “He dominated his opponent on top, which says something.” Martin’s match against Peter Lewis came next, in which he pinned the Ashland grappler at the 4:25 mark. Martin had controlled nearly the entire bout, posting five takedowns before ultimately getting the pin. Beichner noted Martin’s improved effort from his performance at the UB Open. “Following his disappointing performance at the UB Open, JohnMartin bounced back today.” Beichner said. “He was himself, coming out to wrestle from the start.” A pair of freshman won the next two matches in the 174 and 184 pound weight classes with 6-3 decisions. At 174, Matt Bogardus beat Tommie Graszl while Josh Peters defeated Jake Ewing.

12/31/09

Hamel’s pinfall victory over Josh Grider followed the freshmen’s victories. Hamel, the 20th ranked wrestler nationally at 197, registered his first career pin at the 4:28 mark. The final bout saw Buffalo’s sophomore heavyweight Robert Ryhal lose to Jacob Southwick, 5-1. Buffalo will now face Hofstra in Hempstead, N.Y. on Sunday. Last season the Pride of Hofstra, then ranked No. 13 nationally, beat the Bulls 24-13 at Alumni Arena. The teams hit the mats at 1 p.m.

FREE home-cooked meal! Join us every Wednesday night at 6pm for a delicious meal and some great conversation. ALL are welcome!!! The Newman Center Suite 209 - The Commons.

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The Spectrum

November 11, 2009

Let ter to th e Editor

Sexuality deserves consistent respect To the Editor, Did you feel that there was a dearth of publications that approach sex with a sensationalistic bent now that the Generation’s charter is suspended? The article about WNY AmeriCorp’s work with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was interesting. And the sports section was well done. The opinion page featured a timely call to take illnesses seriously by Stephen Marth. I doubt too many people read those articles though, judging by how many issues are still in the newsstands on this Tuesday – more than I’ve ever seen before. Sexuality is a wonderful thing,

and it’s a fine attribute of humanity that the process to create more people starts with a pleasing act that can emotionally bond two people. Great. It is not news. It is perhaps the oldest aspect of humanity. I will grant that not everything that The Spectrum publishes needs to be news. But it was so inconsistent in quality and goal. There was the special edition, and The Spectrum as usual, thrown together. The edition read like a disorganized joke. And it was not very funny. For instance: the information given about sexuality at one point was indiscernible from a (poorly written) print ad for Trojan. The article on sex toys sounds as if the author had heard of Fleshlights for

the first time. “Five senses, Five Pleasures” read like a column in Cosmopolitan. I don’t consider any of those topics offensive, but there is something to be said for if you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right. Fortunately you published Adrian Finch’s section in the opinion page, because certainly such a gross exaggeration of gender norms cannot be taken seriously. And I cannot take the article on sex-related careers seriously. More thoughtful pieces of work, like Shane Fallon’s article on gay relationships, were lost in the title (Legend of the gay relationship? Really?) or, like Stephanie Cohen’s article on STIs, were lost in the poor

quality of the remaining issue. Written at the top was, “Coming up with topics that matter to you in the world of sex was pretty difficult”. I agree – you did it poorly. Perhaps some articles about sexual violence (which affects 1 in 3 women, and one in six men according to RAINN) would be timely given the recent Take Back the Night, or about birth control methods (which is a huge concern for any heterosexual partaking in sexual intercourse), stigma related to sexual activity or about the scripts relating to sexual expectations that plague men and women ... instead of an opinion column that assumes these scripts are fact. Those arguments about sex may

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not be about innate differences between men and women but the sexual expectations levied on each of them. I could go on. But these are difficult topics to explore, whereas sex toys just take an Internet search. Had The Spectrum attempted these topics, it would have been an impressive issue. The Spectrum took the easy way out. The cover image was particularly awful. If I want pornography, I’ll go to Google. That image is of sex at its most banal, and most clichéd. It is my suspicion that the cover is the reason for the aforementioned low readership this issue. Sure it grabbed attention of those who walked by. And I emphasize “walk by” – many people were simply too embarrassed to pick it up. I realize the models were wearing underwear – you can see it in the picture despite the efforts of the models to hide this. It’s a fake designed to shock people. For what purpose? Sexuality is a gift that humanity has, but it deserves consistent respect – at least if the organization that publishes it wishes to command the respect of its readership. Sincerely, Christine Slocum Graduate Student clslocum@buffalo.edu

Goal of education LETTER from page 1 been taught to not speak about it in public. We wanted to try to change that. Students need to talk about sex like it matters. One in two people will receive a sexually transmitted disease by the age of 25. That statistic is awful. The decision to run the photograph was not unanimous. Our adviser, Charity Vogel, Ph.D., did not approve of the image. Nor did a few members on our staff. But majority ruled. That photograph was to hit that taboo dead on. And it did. Our Sex Issue, which has been in planning since late April by myself, Matt Mosher, Adrian Finch, Rachel Lamb and Shane Fallon, is one of eight special issues that we provide throughout the school year. Some complainants thought that we just ran stories on sex because we had nothing better to write about. That was not the case. Our staff, specifically our life and features desk, has been working diligently on this issue for weeks. That did not mean that we avoided publishing news that mattered to you. Flip through the pages. It’s there. Our goal was for the UB community to pick up The Spectrum and educate themselves. If one person learned something that will help them in the future, then this issue was a success. And I know that we accomplished that goal. Whether a lone student learned something while reading the newspaper on the bus or through discussion in class, this issue made an impact on campus. It made a difference. I invite each and every one of you to contact me with your thoughts, questions and concerns on the issue – or anything else, for that matter. You are the reason why this staff works diligently every production day to give you a product that is worthy of your consumption. Best, Stephen Marth

© 2009 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved. “PricewaterhouseCoopers” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (a Delaware limited liability partnership) or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity. We are proud to be an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer.

Editor in Chief stephen.marth@ubspectrum.com

The Spectrum

November 11, 2009

POLICE BLOTTER

11/3 – An unattended PlayStation was stolen from an Ellicott Complex bathroom. 11/5 – Two subjects were referred to the Student-Wide Judiciary for marijuana use at Goodyear Hall. 11/5 – Michael L. Worthy was arrested and charged with grand larceny at Capen Undergraduate Library and referred to Amherst Town Court.

11/1 - A person used a UB Card that another person lost by Frontier Road.

11/5 – An unattended textbook was stolen from the Capen Undergraduate Library.

11/2 – An unidentified person tagged graffiti on the 990 to Audubon ramps.

11/5 – Unattended books were stolen from the second floor of the Capen Undergraduate Library.

11/3 – A person was cited for aggravated harassment in the Student Union. 11/3 – Roscoe Cumberland was arrested on a persona non grata violation and referred to Amherst Town Court. 11/3 – A person was sent to Buffalo General Hospital from Farber Annex for chest pain. 11/3 – An unattended wallet with credit cards was stolen from the Capen Undergraduate Library.

11/6 – Michael L. Worthy was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and referred to Buffalo City Court. 11/6 – A coat containing a wallet with credit cards was stolen from an Anti-Rape Task Force van on South Campus. 11/6 – A student fainted in Knox Hall and refused transportation. 11/6 – An unidentified person stole an unattended laptop from Diefendorf.

11/7 – A vending machine’s glass was broken at the Millard Fillmore Academic Center by an unknown person. 11/7 – Two juveniles wrote tags at the Baldy Child Care Center. 11/7 – A vehicle mirror was damaged at Jarvis B parking lot. 11/8 – A subject was sent to Erie County Medical Center from Main Circle for alcohol poisoning. 11/8 – A subject was taken to Eric County Medical Center from Red Jacket for an evaluation. 11/8- A subject fainted at Hubies but didn’t need transportation. 11/9 – An unidentified person took a phone headset from Crosby Hall. 11/9 – An unidentified person took an unattended laptop from the Porter Quad.

the more real and hurtful. I can’t go to a Friendly’s Restaurant without thinking of Pep. He went there for breakfast a few times a week and called all the waitresses his “girlfriends.” They all came to his wake. I can’t put ranch dressing on my salad without wanting his special homemade kind. Whenever I see a mushroom, I instinctively want to help him make the stuffing for them. I want Pepère’s famous “hot goose” on Christmas – light on the cinnamon, heavy on the rum. I want to hug him and smell the Werther’s. I miss seeing his U.S. Navy PT Boat hat sitting on the back of my living room couch

during birthdays and holidays. I wish I had more time to spend with him. I wish I could have asked him more about his service in World War II and I wish I could have known more about his childhood in Canada. I wish I could have learned more French from him. The last time I was home, I received my door card for the bar in the American Legion because I turned 21. I wish I could have met my Pepère there for his birthday this year – not only to celebrate his 85 years of life, but also to learn about his service to our nation and to thank him for being a veteran. When his health began to fail, I would write him a letter every week. When I came home from school, I would sit with him and help my par-

SA asks students to nominate professors By CAITLIN TREMBLAY News Editor

Beginning Wednesday, students can nominate their favorite professors for the fall installment of the Milton Plesur Awards. The Student Affairs Department of the Student Association is running the nomination process. These awards were designed to honor UB faculty and staff who go above and beyond in the classroom, engaging their students academically and personally. Participants are asked to consider their professors who have made

11/10 – Christopher Franke was arrested for driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of .15 percent at the corner of Winspear Avenue and Rotary Road. He was referred to Buffalo City Court.

ents feed him and wipe the hospital food from his mouth. As I watched him fade and suffer through debilitating dialysis, I never once thanked him – not only for serving our country, but for keeping my family together and for giving me such happy memories of the most commonplace things. I wish he were here every day because my family needs him. I guess all I can do is take his advice. After I totaled my car on my 17th birthday, Pep said to me, “Vous êtes une belle fille. Ne pas pleurer. Il tout aura raison.” You’re a beautiful girl. Don’t cry. It will all be OK. E-mail: caitlin.tremblay@ubspectrum.com

a lasting impact and helped them grow and succeed as students. Students can nominate professors by going to 350 Student Union and filling out a form or using the online form at www.sa.buffalo.edu/studentaffairs. Anyone teaching an undergraduate class who has not won the award in the past five years is eligible. The deadline for nominations is Dec. 4 and questions can be directed to Director of Student Affairs Kathryn Przybyla. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

Tough luck SANCHIRICO from page 3

I wish he were here TREMBLAY from page 3

question or a graduation concern. Listen, I come to you because I need help, not to be ripped apart because I took some wrong courses freshman year. And let’s say there is that one class that intrigues you. Chances are, it’ll catch the attention of the entire campus. So if you’re a junior or younger, tough luck, because there’s a 90 percent chance that the class will be full. And forget it if said class is one you need to graduate. Not even a force registration form will help you. The result? Spending another

semester and large amount of money just so you can take a class you should have been able to the semester before. I guess these are the consequences of going to a school with an impersonal staff and a duty to send thousands of students out with diplomas. But aren’t we supposed to get some help and knowledge along the way? Buffalo: a school where learning dies and the long decline toward unhappiness begins.

E-mail: david.sanchirico@ubspectrum.com

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The Spectrum

Competition provided opportunity

Silence critics PARRINO from page 16 est scoring average in NBA playoff history, behind only Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson. The missing component has always been the lack of support for him in big games. The final part is that McGrady is entering the twilight of his career, and the window may be closing on his playoff hopes. All he has to do is win one playoff series to silence a decade of critics FREE WiFi

who continue to ask whether or not he can win the big game. I think he can do it, and wouldn’t it be sweet for the former scoring champ if he not only wins a playoff series, but also rides that momentum to the NBA Finals? That would be the ultimate statement.

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BISHOP from page 16 a little boy, that’s pretty exciting.” Bishop quickly found that wrestling was something that brought his whole family closer together. His parents instantly got involved, and missed only one match from the time he joined the team in eighth grade until he graduated high school. The competition provided Bishop with an opportunity. He decided to wrestle in college as a way to pay for his education and meet new people, and decided on Buffalo because of the experience he had on his recruiting trip. “The [wrestling] team just seemed very close-knit,” Bishop said. “The coaches seemed like they cared about the wrestlers. The program – not just wrestling, but all the sports [at Buffalo] – is on the rise. It’s nice to be a part of it.” Bishop has seen the wrestling program progress significantly dur-

ing the four years he has been here. Even though experts have ranked Buffalo as third best in the MAC, Bishop believes that the team can win the championship. Last season, the Bulls finished in first place at the New York State Collegiate Championships – the first tournament Buffalo had won in over five years – and ended up fourth in the MAC Tournament. Along with his fourth-place finish at the conference championship, Bishop also took second at the NYS Collegiate Championships. As a senior, Bishop is looking forward to his last year of competition in Buffalo. He has set goals and hopes to capture a MAC title and a NYS Collegiate Championship. But regardless of the significance of the match, Bishop tries to keep an optimistic outlook going into each match in order to be successful. “You just have to think that you’re the best at everything,” Bishop said. “You just [have to]

think you’re the man, I guess.” Unfortunately, Bishop needs to get healthy in order to work toward the goals he has set for himself this season. He is currently rehabbing from a torn ligament in his shoulder that he sustained in practice. If everything works out right, Bishop expects to be back to 100 percent by early December. Assistant coach Jeff Catrabone thinks that Bishop will be one of the starters for the Bulls if he can overcome his injury. “Hopefully [Bishop] can go win a MAC title if he can get himself a starting position,” Catrabone said. “Right now [sophomore] Dylan Dabolt has won the starting spot, so [Bishop] will have to wrestle him off and beat him first. But I think [Bishop] is good enough to win a MAC title.”

E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com

Played softball in high school ZUBER from page 16 MacDonald can’t wait for Zuber to return is because two seasons ago she led the team with 3.5 assists per game and also cashed in 6.5 points and two rebounds per game. Despite being undersized, Zuber has the ability to make plays and find the open man. This skill was something she picked up early from her father. “I chose basketball pretty much because my dad was a coach in high school,” Zuber said. “He coached the men’s team, so I was at the gym since I was two, playing around with

the ball, and it is just my first love.” Of course, for every first love, there is a second love. For Zuber it was softball. Before quitting the sport because of AAU commitments, Zuber played second base and hit lead off for Parkland High School. Along with her many basketball accolades, Zuber has quite a few for softball, including being named rookie of the year and an AllLeague selection as a freshman. Zuber stopped playing softball her her junior year in order to pursue her dream of basketball. She started all 120 games for her high school basketball team and was named third team all state her senior year. She was also named first team all-area and all-league her junior and senior year, and she still holds Parkland’s record for career assists. Coming out of high school, Buffalo was not the only school looking at Zuber. George Mason, Vermont and Lehigh, among many others, knew Zuber’s talent would help out their

team, but Zuber wanted to go to a school with certain qualities, and Buffalo would ultimately became that school. “I got here and I loved it,” Zuber said. “My high school graduating class was 800 people, so I was definitely looking for a big school, and the atmosphere and coaching staff was amazing when I got here.” Zuber has made her presence felt, not only stats-wise, but also by time on the floor. In the two years she played in games, her minutes nearly tripled, from 352 in 2006 to 925 in 2007. Although sidelined last year, she was on the bench motivating her team to always push harder, which emphasizes her team-first approach. “I want us to win as many games as we can,” Zuber said. “I look at it from a team aspect. I just want to get back on the floor and help the team and play.” E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com

‘Just look at the scoreboard’ BBALL from page 16 matchups pitted The Brooklynites against White Men Can’t Jump. The Brooklynites met over the summer in the Educational Opportunity Program. Despite the team’s name, most of the players don’t actually come from downstate New York. According to the players, the team is one of the more skilled squads in the league. The team finished off the regular season last week with its eyes on the playoffs that started this week. After the game, the members of the Brooklynites were not shy about coming away with a victory. They were all confident in their athleticism and how they performed, despite only winning by three points, 48-45. “Just look at the scoreboard,” said Washington Darko, a freshman undecided major. “That’s all I’ve got to tell you.” Both teams played a competitive game. White Men Can’t Jump was organized defensively and maintained its composure despite facing a 12-point deficit in the opening minutes of the game. The Brooklynites were aggressive on offense and showcased their agility by stealing the ball and blocking a good amount of shots. Despite falling behind early on, White Men Can’t Jump caught up and made it a close game. Darko stayed on court for the duration of the game and led his

team to a three-point victory. He gave some credit to the opposition. “Well, we only won by three, so there was a little competition,” Darko said. “We were winning by double digits at first and then our energy just went down.” Because it was such a competitive match, there was a high amount of frustration and strategy involved. After halftime, the Brooklynites cut down on their opponents’ run by switching to man-to-man defense, thus enabling them to win. “[We discussed] defense,” said freshman architecture major Omari Thompson. “We needed to start crashing boards more to limit their chances.” The win puts the Brooklynites closer to becoming the league’s champion, but the team is not there yet. They still need to win their playoff game this week in order to advance to the next round, where the competition only gets tougher. All of the Brooklynites have their sights set on the championship, but noted a few other reasons why they compete as well. “We play for fun, respect and female companions,” Darko said. The players might not be wearing Buffalo athletic apparel, but in a few weeks they might be sporting Intramural Champions shirts. Division I players? No. Athletes? Yes. E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com

The Spectrum

November 11, 2009

CLAS S I F I E DS HELP WANTED

LASERTRON INTERACTIVE Entertainment Center has immediate part-time openings. Candidates should be able to work at a fast; detail oriented pace & have excellent customer service skills. Starting at approximately $10.25/ hr, must be available weekends & holidays. Stop in & complete a n a p p l i cat i o n at LASERTRON, 5101 Bailey Avenue, Amherst NY. PROMOTIONS: SALES Managers and consultants. FT/ PT. Call 716-864-5696.

CLASSIFIED ads may be placed at The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union, Amherst Campus. Office hours are from 9:00 - 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Deadlines are Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 12:00 for display and 2:00 p.m. for classifieds for the next edition. Weekly rates are $10.00 for the first ten words and 75¢ for each additional word. All ads must be paid in advance. The ad must be placed in person or send a legible copy of the ad with a check or money order for full payment. No ads will be taken over the phone. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit any copy. No refunds will be given on classified ads. Please make sure copy is legible. The Spectrum does not assume responsibility for any errors except to reproduce any ad (or equivalent), free of charge, that is rendered valueless due to typographical errors. Please call 645-2152 for any additional information.

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The Spectrum

November 11, 2009

SP O R T S A different breed of athletes By BRIAN JOSEPHS Matthew Parrino Asst. Sports Editor

Seeking redemption To say that Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady has something to prove this season may just be the understatement of the century. McGrady has been a superstar in the NBA for close to a decade, but people seem to forget, or just dismiss, how good he has been. McGrady won back-toback scoring titles from 2002-04, and has played in seven all-star games. He was responsible for one of the most impressive single game performances in league history when he dropped 13 points in 33 seconds to singlehandedly beat the San Antonio Spurs in 2005. But his 12-year career hasn’t been all glamour. The problem with “T-Mac” has always been that his body never seems to cooperate with his unwavering desire to win. Nagging injuries have piled up over the years – so much so that McGrady nearly called it quits in the prime of his career. The latest setback came toward the end of last season, when the 30-year-old opted to undergo a risky microfracture procedure on his troubled knee. The injury forced McGrady to miss the start of the 2009 season, but he is reportedly on pace to return to the court in the coming weeks. Expect a refreshed T-Mac to return to the Rockets’ starting five. According to McGrady, he is in the best shape of his career and has never felt as strong and mentally prepared to compete. The veteran will have to be ready. He will return to a Rocket team without superstar teammate Yao Ming, who is out for the season due to foot surgery. The team is thriving because of the play of forward Trevor Ariza, a free agent acquisition from the Los Angeles Lakers, and young point guard Aaron Brooks. Ariza has stepped up offensively and provided a viable scoring option for the team in the absence of T-Mac. Brooks is the quarterback on the court for the Rockets and has upped his scoring as well. When McGrady returns, he will instantly make the Rockets an NBA Finals contender. But in order for that to happen, McGrady must exorcise his playoff demons and find a way out of the first round for the first time in his career. In the history of sports, I can’t think of a player that has had more bad luck in postseason play than McGrady. It’s not like the guy hasn’t played his heart out, either. McGrady has the third highsee PARRINO page 14

Staff Writer

You don’t need to wear a blue hoodie and a pair of sweatpants in order to be an athlete at the University at Buffalo. Every Monday to Thursday, UB holds an intramural basketball league in Alumni Arena’s Triple Gym. The league is split into two divisions: the carefree league and the advanced league. Both are intended for recreational purposes; however, the former is for players looking for a relaxed game and the

latter consists of competitive, varsity level competition. The carefree teams play from 7:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m., when the advanced league takes over. During the first three hours, there is a relaxed atmosphere consisting of mostly friendly competition. See team Ultimate for a perfect example. The squad is a group of freshmen that are trying to stay in shape by playing basketball. The team captain, freshman undecided major Matt Frank, said that Ultimate met

through a chain reaction. “I knew one of the guys from home,” Frank said. “We met our center at a party. We met our shooting guard at a frat and the other two we just met [that day].” With the exception of one player who is from China, everyone on the team hails from New York. Despite most being from the same state, they have yet to display much chemistry and are winless going into their final game of the season. They attempted to change that last Thursday when the team played its final game

of the regular season. They didn’t have much luck and ultimately lost, 53-40. Ultimate is not at all disappointed with its season, despite its winless record and lack of a playoff birth. “The league is great,” Frank said. “Because [we’re] in Buffalo and it’s getting cold up here, it’s good that we can come to a really nice gym and play basketball.” After the carefree teams leave the gym, the advanced league takes the court. One of last Thursday’s see BBALL page 14

STARTING STRONG By DAVID JARKA Managing Editor

Three pinfall victories by Buffalo wrestlers highlighted the Bulls’ 31-9 victory over the Ashland Eagles in its first dual-meet of the season. The trio of sophomores – 133-pounder Kevin Smith, 165-pounder John-Martin Cannon and junior 197-pounder Jimmy Hamel – each won their matches via pin on Saturday at Alumni Arena. “We did what we expected of ourselves,” said Buffalo head coach Jim Beichner in a press release. “Overall, it was a dominating performance. Ashland fought hard throughout the entire match and was able to close the door on bouts where we were unable to. Smith, Cannon and Hamel gave our team insurance points by recording pins in their bouts.” Smith recorded the first pin of the meet on Ashland’s Jacob Creed, a four-time North Carolina State champion, at the 5:50 mark of the match. “Kevin dominated his guy,” see WRESTLING page 11

SIDELINES Upcoming Events Thursday Volleyball at Akron, 7 p.m.

Mid-American Conference Football Standings East Division

MAC Overall

Temple

5-0

7-2

Ohio

5-1

7-3

Kent State

4-2

5-5

Bowling Green

3-2

4-5

Buffalo

1-5

3-7

Akron

1-4

2-7

Miami (OH)

1-5

1-9

West Division

MAC Overall

Central Michigan 5-0

7-2

Northern Illinois

4-1

6-3

Western Michigan 3-3

4-6

Toledo

2-3

4-5

Ball State

1-4

1-8

Eastern Michigan 0-5

0-9

OUTSIDE THE MAC College Football AP Top 25 1. Florida (9-0) 2. Texas (9-0) 3. Alabama (9-0) 4. TCU (9-0) 5. Cincinnati (9-0) 6. Boise State (9-0) Jeff Liu / The Spectrum

In their first dual meet of the season, Desi Green and the Buffalo wrestling team topped Ashland on Saturday, 31-9.

7. Georgia Tech (9-1) 8. Pittsburgh (8-1) 9. LSU (7-2)

From suspension to wrestling

Zuber-dee-doo-da

10. Ohio State (8-2) 11. USC (7-2) 12. Miami (Fla.) (7-2) 13. Houston (8-1)

By CHRISTY SUHR

By MATT WEBER

Staff Writer

Staff Reporter

14. Oregon (7-2)

When he’s wearing the standard-issue gray sweatpants and sweatshirt that say “Buffalo Bulls” and a New York Yankees cap, senior 125pound wrestler Dan Bishop may seem like another average athlete at UB. But how he became involved in the sport is unconventional. “I got into a fight in the cafeteria,” Bishop said. “It was either get suspended or join the wrestling team.” The security guard that broke up the fight was the coach of his school’s modified wrestling team. Given the ultimatum, Bishop, who is from Whitehall, N.Y., decided to turn this into a positive outcome by joining the team. Bishop, who placed fourth at last year’s Mid-American

Red shirt junior guard Ashley Zuber of the women’s basketball team doesn’t follow the typical “red shirt” meaning. Usually, the phrase means that a player purposely gave up a year of eligibility, usually his or her freshman year, in order to get an extra year later on. Zuber is part of the minority, however, who had to use a medical red shirt. The 5-foot-4-inch point guard tore her acetabular labrum early last year and missed the rest of the season. She will also be out for the beginning of the upcoming season until December. “At this point, I pretty much have to listen to the doctor,” Zuber said. “There is a certain amount of time that my hips have to heal coming

15. Iowa (9-1)

Courtesy of Paul Hokanson

Dan Bishop Conference Championships, started competing in eighth grade and found that he was a natural wrestler. “I picked it up real quick,” Bishop said. “My first match, I broke the kid’s forearm. For see BISHOP page 14

16. Utah (8-1) 17. Oklahoma State (7-2) 18. Arizona (6-2) 19. Penn State (8-2) 20. Virginia Tech (6-3) 21. Wisconsin (7-2) 22. BYU (7-2) Courtesy of Paul Hokanson

23. South Florida (6-2)

Ashley Zuber

24. Clemson (6-3)

off to surgeries. [Head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald] can’t wait to get me on the floor, but at the same time I have to take it easy and go when I’m ready.” Maybe the reason Hill-

25. Stanford (6-3)

see ZUBER page 14