The Spectrum Volume 61 Issue 47 by The Spectrum Student Periodical

Vol. 61 NO. 47

From One Bruce to Another

IVCF Must Change Constitution to Remain SA Club LUKE HAMMILL Senior News Editor

CAS Dean Bruce Pitman settling into new role

REBECCA BRATEK News Editor

The Intervarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) must get rid of the “basis of faith” that its officers must subscribe to if it wants to maintain its status as a Student Association-recognized club.

Bruce Pitman is almost inaudible as the heater in his office hums over his speech, which is barely louder than a whisper – but that doesn’t mean he is anything but talkative.

On Sunday the SA Senate adopted a resolution to lift the IVCF suspension that was imposed in December, after former IVCF Treasurer (and SA Assembly Speaker) Steven Jackson resigned and accused the club of forcing him out because he is gay.

He sports a small, green stud in his left ear, a shaved head, and a smile that beams with any mention of his beloved university; the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences doesn’t seem to quite fit the stuffy “dean” stereotype.

Jackson’s resignation sparked an investigation into whether the club’s constitution is in line with university and legal antidiscrimination policies. IVCF’s constitution requires officers to subscribe to a “basis of faith” in evangelical Christian beliefs such as the “entire trustworthiness and authority” of the Bible, including the verses condemning homosexuality that Jackson came to disagree with.

Pitman became the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) – UB’s largest and most diverse school – in July 2011, after Bruce McCombe announced his retirement earlier that year. (McCombe has since returned to the administration as the interim provost after Harvey Stenger left to be the president at Binghamton.)

The SA resolution will allow IVCF to meet, draft a new constitution, and ratify a new constitution, but it also imposes a new fiscal suspension, effectively freezing the club’s SA budget, which was comprised of $6,000 in mandatory student activity fee money at the beginning of the school year.

The school houses 25 different departments, spanning from the social sciences to humanities and arts. It also includes the natural sciences. More than 15,000 students are enrolled in the school, and almost 500 faculty members teach and conduct research in over 20 centers, institutes, galleries, and performance venues in CAS.

IVCF has until Feb. 25 to pass and submit a new constitution; if it fails to do so, the SA Senate could impose further repercussions, including full de-recognition of the club.

But how does a man with a mathematics and technological background unite such a large and diverse school – more than 50 percent of UB’s student body – into one, cognate force?

At its last two meetings, the SA Senate created a committee to investigate the allegations against IVCF. The committee – Special Interests and Special Hobbies (IVCF’s club council) coordinator Adam Zimnicki, SA Vice President Meghan McMonagle, Engineering coordinator Dan Pastuf, and on-campus senator Daniel Ovadia – determined that IVCF’s constitution does violate UB policy – specifically, the “University at Buffalo Student Code of Conduct,” which states:

Rising to the top Pitman came to UB in 1989 as an assistant professor in the mathematics department, after complet-

Bruce Pitman succeeded Bruce McCombe as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences this past July.

ing his undergraduate studies at Northwestern (he studied math and physics) and earning his Ph.D. in mathematics at Duke. He liked the mathematics department at UB – it combined applied mathematics with other scientific disciplines. “I was attracted to that – I do very applied kinds of research,” Pitman said. “It was a group where people weren’t afraid to be working with disciplinary scientists – folks who are, in my case, engineers and physiologists. Talk with those guys, that was OK, that was an accepted

Seven of approximately 15 members of the pro-life group, which is still a temporary club in the Student Association, joined 500,000 other pro-lifers in the Jan. 23 march. The students also attended the Students for Life of America Conference with 687 other Students for Life college groups in the nation on Sunday, where they received the award for best new group out of 80 new groups. Christian Andzel, a sophomore history and political science major and the club’s president, was overwhelmed by the responses he received about the award.

“We make no distinction between membership and leadership and deem them to be one and the same,” Ovadia said during the committee’s presentation to the Senate.

“One girl said to me that [she had] heard so much about UB through [our] newsletter, and

UB’s IVCF is a local chapter of a national organization, and UB’s Campus Ministries Association also recognizes the club. If the IVCF eliminates its basis of faith, the national Intervarsity Christian Fellowship might not recognize the group.

“Students were good with computing at the time, but there weren’t very

In 2003, Pitman became the associate dean for research in CAS. He spent eight years in that position, under two CAS deans, before reaching his current position. Overcoming obstacles On Feb. 27, 2007, Pitman’s oldest son, Eric, passed away suddenly from meningitis, a rare bacterial infection of the membranes cover-

[that she] never knew that such a group could have such determination, could have so much charisma going through everything [we] went through,” Andzel said. The UB Students for Life have faced opposition on campus, including an incident last May when vandals attacked their “Cemetery of the Innocents” display. Group members said they spotted approximately 40 pro-choice advocates at the march, who shouted things at the marchers as they walked along. One pro-choice advocate shouted to Andzel in particular, saying he is a man and has no right to voice his opinion on a woman’s issue, Andzel said. “That same claim was used by the Southern slave owners directed to the white abolitionists’ movement,” Andzel said. Continued on page 5

Courtesy of ChrisTian AndZel UB Students for Life marched down the streets of Washington D.C. as a part of the March for Life.

Booze, Blood, and Beauty EDWARD BENOIT

IVCF outreach coordinator Quinten HallLochmann Van Bennekom requested that the Senate give the club until April to resolve its constitutional conflict with SA and its national organization.

Managing Editor A jaded, old, and quite possibly drunk former theater critic stands before a small audience. The stage is dark; its adornments are few. For the better part of the next two hours, he will discuss alcoholism, unrequited lust, and existential crisis.

“We just want to work with both organizations,” Van Bennekom said to the SA Senate. “We’re trying to accommodate both. It’s a legal process, and it does take time.”

Oh, and vampires.

But SA senators thought it was important that the SA’s requirements come before those of an outside organization, and they imposed the Feb. 25 deadline.

The unconventional play in question is Conor McPherson’s “St. Nicholas”; its lone performer is Buffalo legend Vincent O’Neill, owner of the esteemed Irish Classical Theater; the venue is Buffalo’s own Road Less Traveled Theater, in the Market Arcade Film and Arts Center.

Van Bennekom declined an interview with The Spectrum following the proceeding.

“St. Nicholas” and its lone performer

Email: news@ubspectrum.com Courtesy of Road Less Traveled Productions

Friday: Snow Showers- H: 33, L: 30 Saturday: Cloudy- H: 45, L: 42 Sunday: Few Showers- H: 43, L: 33

In 2000, Pitman was appointed as vice provost for educational technology. In this position, he helped to integrate technology across the university. Pitman and his colleagues were responsible for setting up today’s cybrary and drop-in computer terminals along walkways. They developed the UBlearns site and helped set up “smart” classrooms and other valuable resources still in use by students today.

many resources on campus, and the ‘old birds’ knew nothing about using computing to do anything,” Pitman said. “That was back in those ‘dark ages.’”

UB Students for Life March for Life in D.C. Clothes wet and hair matted with rainwater, the UB Students for Life skipped class on Jan. 23 to take part in the march in the March for Life in Washington D.C.

IVCF supporters have argued that the club is not in violation of the policy because it does not require its general membership to subscribe to its basis of faith; it only requires its officers to do so. But the SA committee considers the ability to run for office of a club as a right of being a member of the club.

mode of doing mathematics here. And that’s a little unusual.”

Meg Kinsley /// The Spectrum

Continued on page 5

LISA KHOURY Asst. News Editor

“Any organization with restrictive membership clauses which discriminates based on the basis of race, religion, sex (except as exempted by federal regulations), sexual orientation, disability, age, creed, national origin, or veteran status will not obtain or maintain university registration/recognition.”

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Monday, January 30, 2012

tell the tale of an unnamed alcoholic Dublin theater critic whose work, family life, and spiritual condition are all as unfulfilling as you’d expect those of an alcoholic Dublin theater critic to be. Indeed, almost the entirety of the play’s first act is spent recounting them and their emptiness, with varying degrees of emotion and gusto. The critic’s existential crisis eventually leads him to the London abode of a handful of actors – including that of the significantly-named and supernaturally beautiful Helen – while (naturally) quite drunk. After failing to consummate his lust with the walking classical allusion, the critic finds himself alone on a park bench. It is here, at the apex of his disillusion and discontent, where the vampires enter, turning the critic’s worldview on its head.

“I think it’s a good, introspective piece,” said Gina Gandolfo-Lopez, managing director of Road Less Traveled Productions. “It makes you look within yourself…and really question the world around you.” Any one-man or one-woman show requires nothing short of a powerhouse performance, and O’Neill delivered. While the outward persona of his character was usually one of jaded disillusionment and distance, occasional moments of genuine emotion – over Helen’s beauty, or the “real power” of the vampires, or, ironically, his own inability to express his emotions genuinely, artistically or otherwise – provide some of the play’s best moments. “What can I say, it’s Vincent O’Neill…he was phenomenal,” said Anne of Buffalo. Continued on page 2

Opinion * 3 Life * 6 Arts * 7 Classifieds / Daily Delights * 9 Sports * 10

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Monday, January 30, 2012

UB Law Students “Draw the Lines” for Congressional Districts to Win Competition “At first I don’t think we envisioned any kind of district,” Skompinski said. “We played around with and got our foot in the door with the software, and once we got more comfortable with it, the districts followed in place. We were pleasantly surprised that we could get two major majority Hispanic districts out of it, and we were obviously happy with that and thought that was extremely important to keep.” Dean explained that the districts were not discovered in the past because of the now-larger Hispanic population.

Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum A group of first-year law students drew new congressional districts to win a competition earlier this month.

JOE KONZE JR.

mise in order to create a successful plan. One of the elements the team struggled with was making sure that it kept people who shared the same interests together.

Staff Writer Thanks to a team of UB law students, many “major-minority” voters could now have a louder voice in the election process. A group of first-year law students – Matthew Burrows, Andrew Dean, Jacob Drum, Nutan Sewdath, Lauren Skompinski, and Eric Tabache – competed in the 2012 New York Redistricting Project at Fordham University, a national competition that calls for teams to illustrate new congressional district maps, and they won. The group separated itself in the competition by retaining communities throughout New York State and preserving districts based on socio-economic, cultural, and geographical characteristics; they were announced as the winners on Jan. 17.

Team members explained that the most important factor was maintaining cultural communities – areas and regions with coherent cultural and political identities. One strategy was keeping people who read the same local newspaper in the same district, team members said. The first-year law students were able to create their map using District Builder, a free program that allows citizens to create legal redistricting plans. “We had to master the software and its overlays,” Dean said.

“There was a lot of criteria that the competition organizers laid out that we had to follow,” Dean said. “They were serious about it. The criteria were contiguity, compactness, compliance with the voting rights act, equal population (one man, one vote), maintaining political competiveness in the district, and statewide political proportionality.” With so many tasks to follow in the competition, the team had to compro-

District Builder provides population data for every political subdivision in New York State. It even provides subdivisions at the block level, and it can tell where large ethnic populations are located. The highlight of the law students’ project was the proposal of two majority Hispanic congressional districts in the Bronx and upper Manhattan. Their goal was to give ethnic minority voters a stronger tie in future election processes.

“I think the reason we were able to do it this year and not 12 years ago was because in the Bronx, Hispanics share a lot of communities with African Americans,” Dean said. “To get a community with a 51 percent or greater Hispanic voting age majority requires a number of population that I don’t think was there 12 years ago. It could have been, but this year, demographically, their numbers had surged so much in the city that we were comfortable with expanding Hispanic representation in the congressional delegation.” The group is proud of its accomplishment, especially because it was done during the first semester of law school for the students. “It just wasn’t real to me,” Tabache said. “Going to the conference, I didn’t know how big it could get, and I am glad that we were able to represent the university.” The team’s congressional map remains an idea at the moment, but the fact that it was locally and nationally recognized could possibly lead to implementation in the future. The team’s initial intent was not to win awards or reach personal goals. The main point was to make a difference in the state of New York and to represent the UB community, as well as the law program. “It just makes you realize that these prizes are out there for whoever makes a real attempt to achieve them,” Dean said. “If you just work hard at something, you stand a good chance at succeeding.” Email: news@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page1: Booze, blood and beauty The one-man show also relied on a number of formal elements – some conventional, some not – to tell its story. Blocking was for the most part quite simple, and consisted mainly of O’Neill moving between the three strategically placed chairs on stage. The occasional sarcastic impression aside, most of O’Neill’s gestures consisted of scarf flourishes and, in those rare moments of genuine feeling, desperate grasps of his chest. This relatively straightforward stage direction served only to highlight O’Neill’s vocal performance – the exposition told through O’Neill’s thick Dublin accent was the real star of the show.

The only other presence on stage beside O’Neill and the trio of chairs were five vertical structures, onto which visual impressions of particular scenes were projected. This effect – which, despite its visual nature, was more diegetic than mimetic – was coupled with a great deal of tone lighting and intermittent snippets of music to create an almost overwhelmingly atmospheric production. O’Neill and his visual accompaniment were directed by Scott Behrend, the founder and artistic director of Road Less Traveled Productions, an Amherst native, and a former employee of O’Neill’s at Buffalo’s Irish Classical Theater. Though the two have

had a long history together, this production marks their first collaboration with Behrend directing. “I’m a big believer in collaboration,” O’Neill said. “It’s a question of finding the right vehicle…it’s lovely to see [a production like this] spread its wings.” “St. Nicholas” will run through Feb. 19, with showings every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and every Monday at 2 p.m. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

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UB Plans Renovation of Buffalo Neighborhood LISA EPSTEIN Staff Writer Four hundred and fourteen boarded up, neglected, and decrepit houses sit in ruin. Tiny apartments house families of all sizes, ethnicities, and walks of life. Little to no access to healthy food, poor transportation, violence, and gang activity are common problems. But the residents of Buffalo’s Commodore Perry neighborhood are getting assistance, courtesy of UB. Students and faculty in UB’s Center for Urban Studies have partnered with the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA) to come up with a proposal to return the area into the community it once was. The BMHA Perry Choice Neighborhood Initiative is being funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Choice Neighborhood Initiative. The $250,000 grant went to 17 out of 119 schools that had applied for the grant. Spearheading the plan is Henry Louis Taylor, a professor at the Center for Urban Studies. “My interest has always been in distressed neighborhoods and in building a model that shows us how to do it,” Taylor said. “The idea is to change the neighborhood into a community of opportunity.” The Perry neighborhood was once a thriving community filled with people of all cultures, nationalities, and ages. Those of Polish, Italian, German, Canadian, British, Irish, Russian, Austrian, Hungarian, Swedish, Czech, Romanian, and African heritage once called the diverse neighborhood home. Today, the neighborhood’s main residents are African Americans living well below the poverty line. For more than half a century, the one-time neighborhood of opportunity has slowly turned into a dangerous place for its residents, and it has started to affect the students in the surrounding schools. Taylor believes that simply renovating the housing won’t solve the problems that face the distressed community. To fix the issues, Taylor wants to build a network of supportive neighborhood services, develop an employment strategy, and encourage neighborhoodoriented businesses to help pull business and revenue back into the community, allowing people living below the poverty line to reach stability

and economic independence. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is not solely funding the Perry neighborhood renovation. In addition to the $250,000 HUD grant, the BMHA donated $350,000 to the proposal. Taylor said the total of $700,000 will be used in a two-year planning grant, which allows Taylor and his colleagues to figure out how many housing units to build, what will be torn down, and the best place to put the new houses. In February 2013, the group will apply for a $30 million implementation grant to start renovating the neighborhood. Taylor has a group of about a dozen students working closely with him on the project, and through their experiences working on the Perry renovation alongside him, Taylor believes that the lessons they’ll learn will go beyond the classroom, allowing them to see what they can really do to affect the lives of others. “It broadens their horizons and heightens their skill levels,” Taylor said. “I think it gives them a better understanding between theory and practice. I think it deepens their appreciation for ordinary people. Especially people of color, like blacks and Latinos. I think it shatters what they thought things in distressed neighborhoods are all about, and I think it gives them optimism about their abilities to change the world.” Taylor said he hopes the project creates a nurturing and supportive environment for the children of the neighborhood after its completion that will hopefully have an effect on people of similar communities. “Our goal here is to create a model, and if we can build that model in Buffalo, how we can rebuild a neighborhood in a way that changes the trajectory of people’s lives, then to us, that’s a model that we can export to other locations and places,” Taylor said. “It’s a chance for us to create a better world in the process of [neighborhood] planning and development.” Taylor has high hopes for all the people affected by the proposal. Email: news@ubspectrum.com

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Creating a Debate

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Matthew Parrino SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR James Twigg MANAGING EDITOR Edward Benoit EDITORIAL EDITOR James Bowe NEWS EDITORS Luke Hammill, senior Rebecca Bratek Sara DiNatale, asst. Lisa Khoury, asst. ARTS EDITORS Nick Pino, senior Vanessa Frith, senior Brian Josephs Elva Aguilar, asst. Vilona Trachtenberg, asst. LIFE EDITORS Aaron Mansfield, senior Keren Baruch Lyzi White Rachel Kramer, asst. SPORTS EDITORS Tyler Cady, senior Brian Feller Nathaniel Smith, asst. PHOTO EDITORS Meg Kinsley, senior Alexa Strudler Satsuki Aoi WEB EDITOR Matthew Parrino James Twigg GRAPHICS DESIGNER Haider Alidina Cartoonist Pat Boyle

PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Mark Kurtz CREATIVE DESIGNERS Nicole Manzo Aline Kobayashi ADVERTISING DESIGNER Aline Kobayashi Liam Gangloff, asst. The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Feedback, Opinion, and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address. The Spectrum is provided free in part by the Undergraduate Mandatory Activity Fee. January 30, 2012 VOLUME 61 NUMBER 47 CIRCULATION: 7,000 The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by both Alloy Media and Marketing, and MediaMate. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum visit www.ubspectrum. com/ads or call us directly. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100 Telephone: (716) 645-2468 Fax: (716) 645-2766 Copyright 2011 Buffalo, N.Y. The Spectrum is printed by The Buffalo News 1 News Plaza Buffalo, N.Y. 14240 email any submissions to info@ubspectrum.com

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Creationism is not science

In 1633, famed mathematician and physicist Galileo Galilei stood accused. The Roman Inquisition had been investigating him for heretical views on the solar system. See, Galileo had been using new advances in telescope technology to observe the skies and started to believe in Copernicus’ view that the earth revolves around the sun. He published some of his findings in the book Starry Messenger, and the Vatican wasn’t happy at all. The Vatican had subscribed to the Aristotelian view of the solar system, which says that the Earth is the center of the universe. Aristotle’s flawed hypothesis meshed perfectly with biblical descriptions of the sun. The Inquisition found Galileo guilty of heresy, forced him to recant his views, put him under house arrest, and prevented his books from being published. Although it’s been quite a while since

the Holy See had ironclad control of the western world, religion is still at odds with science. The heliocentric model of the solar system has been completely proven but the debate over biology, mainly outside of science, is still raging. Indiana’s state senate recently accelerated the debate by voting 8-2 to bring a bill to the floor that will allow Creationism to be taught in school. Also known as Intelligent Design, Creationism is the view that an intelligent creator, i.e. God, created the universe and is taught as an alternative to Evolution. There are two different issues with this, first of which is the matter of separation of church and state. The Supreme Court already ruled on the subject in 1987, when they struck down a Louisiana law requiring the teaching of “creation science,” saying that it had no secular purpose. Creationists argue, however, that there is a secular purpose because there is a debate going on within

the scientific community about the validity of the theory of evolution. However, there really is very little debate. In fact, a hyper majority of scientists, along the lines of 99.85 percent, support evolution. In stark contrast, the general American public sits around 48 percent according to the Pew Research Center. What the debate really boils down to is not whether or not Creationism should be taught in schools, but what “teaching” Creationism would be. Among our editorial board, we had some creationists and some evolution supporters. We all agree that it should be mentioned. Although scientists do not support it, many people do and the issue should be addressed. Problem is, Creationism is fundamentally not science because it is not testable or observable. When Galileo became convinced that the Earth revolved around the sun, he did so

because he was able to see evidence, and repeat his observations. Nothing about Creationism can do that. Evolution, however, has come to being after a long series of testable and repeatable observations. It may be a “theory,” but that doesn’t mean it’s a simple guess. It’s heavily supported by evidence and tests. Therefore, Creationism should not be taught as a parallel argument to evolution. Religious people might view this as an attack on their beliefs, but it is most certainly not. We aren’t trying to get into a metaphysical debate about whether or not God exists, or if evolution is completely true. Science isn’t about asserting that something is true, it’s about testing and figuring out what is right.

Suspending the Future Buffalo schools cannot continue with current policy

Every kid loves a day off from school. We all got up on those December and January mornings hours earlier than we normally would just to check the school closings to see if we had one of the greatest blessings ever handed down by a superintendent: the snow day. Last school year, 18,000 students got extra days off on top of their scheduled ones in the Buffalo School District. They were suspended for one reason or another. Some were suspended for being late, some for violence. That translates to a student suspended every three minutes. Fifteen-year-old Jawaan Daniels was one of those suspended students in June 2010. He was caught wandering the halls during class and suspended. After the silliness of preventing a kid from going to class because he wasn’t going to class, Daniels went to catch a bus.

He was killed on his way home that very same day. Last Wednesday, the Buffalo School board felt the wrath of frustrated parents and students protesting the suspensions. Many of the demonstrators argued that just kicking kids out added to crime rates, and starts kids down a road to prison. Some of the offenses that kids are getting suspended for are downright stupid. Wearing a hood or ripped jeans, being late, or walking the halls out of turn apparently are all offenses that can get you kicked out for a day. Not only that, but a parent doesn’t even have to come to get you. You just get kicked out. Certain kids obviously need to be suspended. Violent kids can’t be around other students. However, the protesters have a very good point. These massive amounts of suspen-

Artful, Artificial Beauty Marks REBECCA BRATEK News Editor

Did it hurt? You’re so badass. What did your parents say? What’s it mean? Can I touch it? That’s ugly. That’s trashy. Did you know that’s permanent? You’ll look stupid in a wedding dress. Aren’t you worried about your skin getting all saggy? Yes, but not as much as you imagine. Thanks I guess? They don’t know (I think). Send me a message if you really want to know. No…Thanks, I love looking ugly and trashy. OMG no way, you mean this isn’t going to come off in the shower!? Who needs to be boring in white? And I’m going to get Botox, don’t you worry. Tattoos. Either you love ’em or you hate ’em, and there doesn’t seem to be an inbetween. But you can’t deny this rising phenomena – something I’d like to call the “inked age.” Almost every single one of my friends has at least one mark on his or her body. I have two tattoos, but I’m sure you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at me. Most people think I’m too much of a “goody two shoes” to ink my body – but that’s stereotypical. And I’ve heard every question, compliment, or insult in the book. And you know what? No, I’ll never regret it. It’s not like I found a bum on the street or got a prison tat. I researched the best artists in the area, I made sure the parlors were hygienic, and I made sure I thought long and hard about what I was about to put on my body forever. Tattoos are a work of art. Instead of paper, skin is the artist’s canvas. And what better canvas than the human body, a work of art in itself? And the pain? Not as terrible as many fear. Coming from a girl who epitomizes wimp, getting inked was a piece of cake. It’s more tolerable than getting vacci-

sions shows how the school district has all but given up on the children it is supposed to serve. When minor infractions bring suspensions, the kids at most risk for losing out on an education are given an officially sanctioned route to just go home. At that point it’s not even a real consequence, the school is just dumping the problem out into the streets for the issue to be taken up by someone else. In essence, to the district they’re just another statistic. Parents, however, also need to be a bigger part of this solution. Too often in this city are great, kind kids led down the wrong path because of the environment they’re in, and the people with the greatest control of that are their parents.

nated, in my opinion, because the needle doesn’t go as deep. The constant movement of the needle across your skin becomes almost monotonous and turns into a slight annoyance once you get used to it. I would even call it cathartic, an almost healing pain, and that’s not meant to sound sadistic. It’s just another form of release – like writing in a journal or going for a run.

A good solution would be to expand an in-school-suspension system that ensures kids won’t get behind on their work. That way, a student is still punished for breaking rules, but is not simply turned loose so as to be easier to deal with. Buffalo’s youth is the key to the city’s revival. 10 years from now, these students will be the community leaders, business owners, and blue-collar workers or the drug dealers, pimps, and murderers. The perfect storm of degeneration that is Buffalo cannot be solved by one simple action, but every gear in the machine must do its part to get the city back to glory.

Why Put a Bumper Sticker on a Ferrari? LISA KHOURY Asst. News Editor

And, sure, you might think you will be looked over when you’re trying to land a job just because you have some ink on your skin. But, you must ask yourself – is that a job you would really want anyway? In all seriousness, as long as your tattoos aren’t that visible in typical business attire, your employer isn’t going to care if you have a “MOM” memorial. Some ask about regretting a tattoo or it losing meaning. This is probably the biggest conflict people have with marking their skin. Sure, the song lyrics you like at 18 may be completely out of style once you turn 50, but that doesn’t mean you should regret it. If it was something you once wanted, be proud of that fact alone. Most tattoos have a story behind them – all beautiful and all personal. And I never tire of telling my stories when I’m asked. Many ask why do you need to mark your body with anything that means anything to you? And I ask, then: why not? A close friend is thinking about getting her first tattoo. She wants to get a sunflower – not because she just thinks it’s “pretty” or “hipster,” but because it reminds her of her mother who passed away when she was younger. Another friend wants to get a pine tree. You’re probably thinking that’s the dumbest idea you’ve ever heard. But, that tree reminds her of her childhood home. I know tattoos aren’t for everyone, but you can’t judge those who do choose to mark their body. Having tattoos doesn’t make me any less of a lady, and tattoos do not make a person “dirty” or “trashy.” Clean skin or inked skin – it’s all the same to me. You have one body for one life; why not make it unique? Email: rebecca.bratek@ubspectrum.com

I get it. It’s the 21st century. You’re cool, you’re rebellious, you’re cutting edge, you have a point to prove, and you’re a woman. Awesome. Ladies, I know you’re at least at the legal age of making your own decisions, but before you decide to get a tattoo, allow me to let you in on a little secret. A secret you may have not fully realized yet thus far in your life. What you must understand is, as women, we are – naturally – beautiful creatures. Seriously, though. Your body literally has the ability to turn heads. Guys drool over us. We hold some serious power in our hands, because – as corny as this sounds – we hold the world’s beauty. But something girls seem to forget nowadays, or maybe have not been taught, is that women hold the world’s class and elegance in their hands, as well. So what’s more attractive than a girl with a nice body? I’ll tell you what: a girl with class. Looks may not last, but class does. And so do tattoos. An elegant woman does not vandalize the temple she has been blessed with as her body. She appreciates it. She flaunts it. She’s not happy with it? She goes to the gym. She dresses it up in lavish, fun, trendy clothes, enjoying trips to the mall with her girlfriends. She accentuates her legs with high heels. She

gets her nails done. She enjoys the finer things in life, all with the body she was blessed with. But marking it up with ink? That’s just not necessary. I’m not here to say a girl should walk around flaunting her body like it’s her job – that’s just degrading. Instead of getting a tattoo, a more productive use of your time would be improving and appreciating the body you have been given, not permanently engraving it. Can you get meaning out of a tattoo? Arguably. If you want to insert ink into your skin as a symbol for something greater than yourself, then maybe you are proving a point to yourself or the rest of the world. But at the end of the day, are you really a happier person? Has this tattoo, for instance, caused you to learn something new about yourself? Has it challenged you? Has it led you to self-growth? Nothing comes out of getting a tattoo. You get a tattoo, and that’s it. You do something productive, though, and you see results. That’s a genuine, satisfying change in life. Not ink. Invest your time, money, and effort into a gym membership, or yoga classes, or new clothes, or experimenting with different hairstyles if you’re craving something new with your body, not a tattoo. I promise, it will be a much more rewarding experience, and you won’t find yourself in a rut when your future grandkids ask you what’s up with the angel wings on your upper back as you’re in the middle of giving them a life lesson on the importance of values and morals. God knows the last thing this world needs is another generation of kids questioning their basic values and morals. Email: lisa.khoury@ubspectrum.com

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Monday, January 30, 2012

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Monday, January 30, 2012 Continued from page 10: Bulls Make it Rain in Dekalb Illinois forward Abel Nader scored 11 points, but he had to earn every point, shooting just 2-13 from the field. “Defensively we did a pretty good job at keeping them out of the paint and defending our basket,” Witherspoon said. “It seemed like they made a few more shots than that [28 percent shooting] because of the last four to five minutes of the game, but I think for the most part there were times when the shot clock went under five [seconds] and they shot contested shots that ended up being air balls, and that’s what you want.” The Bulls now look to make it three straight against MAC West opposition, and the fifth in a row overall, as they return home to take on the Ball State Cardinals (12-7, 4-3 MAC) at Alumni Arena. Tipoff for the game on Wednesday is slated for 7 p.m.

Email: sports@ubspectrum.com Continued from page 10: Lacrosse Club Team One of Best in Nation well as some transfers. He believes that there is enough talent to fill the void of the three players that left. He also expects the experienced players to be in full stride for the season. Buffalo practices five days a week for two hours a day as they prepare for their tough schedule. Buffalo will start the season in March as it takes a trip south to play a trio of teams. Over the weeklong break, the squad will take on No. 14 Clemson, Georgia Tech and No. 12 Florida State. The team went 1-2 against these teams on the same trip last year. Its home schedule is highlighted by an April Fool’s Day Matchup with No. 15 Virginia Tech. The Bulls’ first home game is scheduled for March 30, a conference game against New Hampshire. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page10: Disappointing Loss After Strong Start for Bulls

Page 5

Continued from page1: From One Bruce to Another

“The game plan was to keep up the pressure in the second half,” Hill-MacDonald said. “They got hot and we missed some assignments defensively and let them get some wide open looks from three.”

ing the brain and spinal cord. He was a freshman at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in Kenmore. He passed away shortly after returning home from a class trip to Quebec.

Toledo’s guard Courtney Ingersoll was responsible for two 3-pointers in the last few minutes of the game that gave the Rockets the momentum. While Toledo got stronger as the game went on, the Bulls became more passive.

“This is the most devastating thing that could happen to a parent,” Pitman said. “It certainly has impacted my wife, my younger son, Mark, and me.”

“We didn’t come out and play in the second half with quite the level of communication we did in the first half,” Hill-MacDonald said.

After Eric’s death, Dr. Tom Furlani, the director of the Center for Computational Research (a UB supercomputing facility that Pitman is involved in), renamed the center’s annual workshop to the “Eric Pitman Annual Summer Workshop in Computational Science.”

Hedderson led the way with 23 points for the Bulls and sophomore center Nytor Longar chipped in 16 points as well. But the Rockets had a more effective scoring duo. Toledo center Yolanda Richardson’s strength in the post helped her to a 17-point, 11 rebound double-double, while Toledo guard Andola Dortch added another 18 points. Regardless of the struggles the Bulls are having this season, a bright spot has been true freshman forward Christa Baccas. A career-high 18-point game last Wednesday was complimented by a 10-point, nine rebound game Saturday afternoon.

The workshop is held each summer in Eric’s honor, remembering a young man who enjoyed learning new things and challenging his thinking about the world and his place in it. It strives to introduce local high school students into the computing world and give students a chance to do something “different,” according to Pitman.

The Bulls have lost eight of their last nine and will attempt to earn a much needed victory against a struggling Western Michigan (5-16, 2-6 MAC) team. They will travel to Kalamazoo, Michigan on Thursday for a 7 p.m. tipoff.

Pitman describes the dedication of the program as “touching” and “poignant,” and he hopes that other students can benefit and learn in Eric’s memory.

Email: sports@ubspectrum.com Continued from page1: UB Students for Life March for Life in D.C. Alexa Bernstein, a freshman undecided major, and Erica Menasse, a freshman speech and hearing science major, are both pro-choice, but they are not angry that UB Students for Life represented UB at the march. “He can voice his opinion,” Bernstein said about Andzel. “I find that cool.” Both said if they got pregnant, though, they would choose to get an abortion. “I’m young and still have a full life ahead of me, and if I had a baby that wouldn’t be possible. I wouldn’t be able to be successful,” Bernstein said. Andzel said the impact that UB Students for Life made at the march affected how others now see UB. “We wanted to be one of those 500,000 people who made it to the march and to represent UB, because everyone looks at UB and says, ‘oh very, very liberal,’ which it is,” Andzel said. “But there are pockets of conservative thinkers or people that just want to stand up for the human life.” Email: news@ubspectrum.com

“Doing anything to help remember Eric, it’s hard, in one way,” Pitman said. “It also makes me very happy and appreciative of what a friend has done for us. I’m just as passionate about doing that workshop and putting it on because I believe in what it tries to do. The support [from] friends across campus has just been tremendous.” Thoughts on UB 2020 Pitman supports Governor Andrew Cuomo and President Tripathi’s efforts with the UB 2020 legislation – now a part of the NYSUNY 2020 plan. He believes the tuition increase is essential in bringing UB to the next level, though he knows it’s a burden on students. The tuition increases will help bring more prestigious faculty to the university, and in turn, start bringing back classes for students, according to Pitman. The medical campus is also slated to move downtown as a part of the 2020 plan. This move will not only expand the school’s reach, but will also help economically impact the Buffalo region. Pitman wonders how the university will balance

these goals. “One [of the goals] was to get a first-class facility for the school,” Pitman said. “Then moving it downtown, and sort of the economic impact it will have downtown and hopefully without deleterious effects in the region around South Campus.” He continued to stress that the main mission of a university is to educate students, and the struggle to balance that mission with the university’s economic reach is a complex issue. “The state also talks about universities as financial engines for the region,” Pitman said. “Well, yes. But we can, as a university, influence certain kinds of financial activity in Buffalo and the region, but you can’t do everything. A lot of burden is being placed on the university, a lot of expectations.” Pitman explained that to be an “economic engine” for Western New York, the university needs to graduate its students into the community. This means our students need to get involved in companies in the Western New York area and show businesses that strong, talented students come from this university. Uniting a college Pitman succeeded McCombe as CAS dean this past July, when McCombe retired after four years in the position. He describes the transition as a “wonderfully easy” one; Pitman and McCombe had become colleagues and friends over the years – McCombe was even the associate dean for research before Pitman. “Of course it’s a smooth transition,” said H. Lorraine Oak, the associate dean for research and sponsored programs in CAS. “They’re both named Bruce.” Pitman also relies on his four associate deans for guidance – he knows he couldn’t understand the vast and encompassing CAS alone. “[The associate deans] try to educate me, and I rely on their opinions about decisions very, very strongly,” Pitman said. “I think we can have some pretty frank discussions about what we’re trying to achieve, how do you get there, and how do we manage to do things.”

Pitman doesn’t have a set plan for CAS yet, but he stressed that he wants to improve the university “experience” for students. In simple terms, he wants students to be able to look back at their college years in 30 years and not remember that midterm or spending three hours in a lecture; Pitman wants students to remember their experiences outside of the classroom. “Being on campus, being a college student is more than just five classes every semester,” Pitman said. “You get educated so that you can think, and that helps, but what you really remember is [experiences].” Outside of the dean’s office Pitman was born in Canada, but he grew up in New Jersey. He likes living in Buffalo because of the city’s proximity to his birthplace – he even has a Canadian flag pin on his bag. He lives with his wife of 25 years, Marcia, a teacher; and their son, Mark, who is currently a senior at Canisius High School. The Pitmans also have Caleb, their very spoiled family dog. “Bruce often brings the office home with him – laptops are a wonderful thing,” said Marcia Pitman, Bruce’s wife. “When Bruce is not sitting at his computer, he is very active. No matter how busy things are for Bruce at work, he always makes time to spend with his family.” Pitman enjoys running, which he describes as an activity where he can just think and relieve stress. He enjoys skiing – he loves the snowy winters of Buffalo. But, above all, he is passionate about CAS and the university. Pitman wants to make CAS as strong as it can possibly be, and in turn bring students into a university he hopes they’ll remember fondly in the future. “I want to make this institution, UB, be the place that students across New York say, ‘I want to go there – that’s just the cool place to go for my undergraduate education,’” Pitman said. “When we get there, I’ll be happy.” Email: news@ubspectrum.com

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Page 6

Quick Tips for 4.0 Success MEGAN DRESSEL Staff Writer

“Each semester, I take an advance level class, but I also take a class that was more based on my interest,” Page said.

In this new semester, students are working as hard as ever to get a higher GPA.

There are a few points that all of these students agreed upon. They all sit at the front of the classroom, take notes by hand instead of on their computers, and don’t use their phones in class. They all prefer to write only the key concepts of lectures rather than feverishly taking notes.

Mian Li Ong, a senior psychology major, has had ten 4.0’s in his academic career. He believes that one of the keys to his success is his ability to “study smart.”

When asked what his biggest piece of advice was for fellow students, he emphasized and discipline. “[Discipline] is very important because you can talk all day long about having the right study skills, but if you do not have the right self discipline to follow through, then it’s worthless,” Ong said.

There were differences in opinions about favorite locations to study: Page enjoys the comfort of her own home, while Ong enjoys the O’Brian Law Library. Kristansen and Cigga prefer anywhere that’s completely silent. All four acknowledged the importance of picking a schedule and sticking to it, regardless of what that schedule is.

Reimon Bhuyan /// The Spectrum Students chasing the elusive 4.0 GPA might benefit from some advice from current UB scholars.

unclear to him. As co-founder and president of the undergrad business association, Ciggia organizes his entire week to make sure that he is making the most of his time during the day. He also finds that breaking up his work into small slots of time allows for him to buckle down and be more productive then doing large amounts over a large span of time.

It’s also important to have down time, whether it is to watch TV, go for a run, or eat dinner with friends. All these students are also involved with internships or on-campus clubs, proving that it is possible to be extremely busy, extremely involved, and still do extremely well.

Evan Kristansen, a senior psychology major, also stressed the importance of time management and self-discipline. However, he believes that his success at UB is directly due to his involvement with the research options of the psychology program. Kristansen also emphasized communicating with your professors, regardless of class size. While he or she may give you very basic feedback, like keeping up with reading, you might also get tips that are not being shared with everyone, like focusing more on lecture notes. Carson Ciggia, a sophomore business administration major, also makes a point to meet with his professors, being sure to go to their office hours when things are

Taking Advantage of Winter Break

Page suggests creating rhymes, acronyms, stories, or breaking down large concepts into smaller ones will help students learn the material better.

It is the holy grail of academics, coveted by students everywhere: the elusive 4.0. Students at UB attempt to achieve this stamp of perfection every semester, but there are only a few who actually do it.

“Organize yourself and organize your time well,” Ong said. “Do not overload yourself. Know what your limits are and what you are capable of. It’s better to do one thing well then to try to do everything well.”

Monday, January 30, 2012

Going to class, getting the correct amount of sleep, not surfing Facebook during class – these are all things that have been said before, but are not necessarily being put into effect. These students are seeing the results. Everyone has their own personal preferences, but trying something new, or simply tweaking old strategies can make the biggest differences. Reimon Bhuyan /// The Spectrum

Email: features@ubspectrum.com “A lot of classes, I bring them back to my own life,” said Emily Page, a senior psychology major. “Certain things with psychology, they are very easy to bring back to your own life.”

Courtesy of Center for Student Leadership & Community Engagement

While many students relaxed over winter break, one group took action to help others.

MAX CRINNIN Staff Writer Nineteen UB students spent their winter breaks unlike most of the UB population. While many students returned home to spend a month relaxing with friends and family after finals week, these kids took a different route. They participated in UB’s Alternative Winter Break – leaving their homes for one week in order to save someone else’s in the bayou of Louisiana, or becoming familiar with a foreign culture in the Italian countryside. Down in Louisiana, people continue to struggle from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The wetlands are slowly becoming ruined as waves from the boats damage the coastline and the wetlands lose their ability to absorb floodwaters, according to www.marietta.edu. UB took part in battling this natural disaster. “We put 500 donated Christmas trees into wooden crates and got into boats in the bayou,” said Emma Starkman, a senior business major. “We then threw the crates with the trees in them into the bayou. That helps lessen the effects of the damage coming from the wave action that comes from boats in the water.” For one week in January, the group worked in cooperation with the Bayou Grace and LUMCON, two organizations dedicated toward various environmental and educational services in the wetland area, in order to better the postKatrina environment in New Orleans.

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Starkman has always been interested in environmental issues and she knew that attending Alternative Winter Break would be her opportunity to make a difference while working with those who are both directly and indirectly affected by the wetland loss. The group had the chance to not only learn about the culture in the wetlands, but also to interact with the locals and get one-on-one time socializing with them. According to Starkman, many people in New Orleans expressed their appreciation for the contributions from the group. “We were at a bar to [try a] Cajun dish and we told some of the locals why we were down there helping,” said Phil Tucciarone, a sophomore chemical engineering major. “Without even asking what we had ordered, they picked up our check.” The volunteers had the opportunity to talk with New Orleans natives – many of whom were college and high school students during the time Katrina hit.

While the students in Louisiana benefitted from a week of education and community service, those that traveled to Italy came home with a completely different experience. The trip was offered as a seminar called, “Roman Archaeology and Reclaiming Ancient Roman Culture.” It was more like a study abroad program than a philanthropy trip. Students studied in Italy for a total of three weeks. The tour guide that led the group through their adventures in Italy was Professor Bradley Ault, a classics professor at UB and expert on ancient ruins. Ault brought them to locations in Rome and Naples, guiding them through significant archaeological sites and teaching them about literary text relative to the Ancient Roman world. Their studies and experiences will be the subject of a paper due at the end of the Spring 2012 semester. By completing the trip and the paper successfully, those who participated will earn credit toward graduation with the equivalence of either an Honors seminar or a study abroad experience – whichever they choose. “It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life,” said Steven Coffed, a Presidential Scholar and freshman engineering and applied sciences major. Coffed said the trip introduced him to a world of travel that he never knew existed prior to this experience. “I wanted to extend my views of the world,” Coffed said. “My family traveled very little when I was a child, and considering that I would like to study abroad extensively in the future, I thought that this trip would be a good introduction to becoming a world traveler.” The students that left their family and friends for three weeks out of the four that UB schedules for break found that the time away was worth the journey they embarked. “I missed my family and friends,” Coffed said. “[But] I knew I’d see them again with many stories to tell. It will be a little tough jumping right back into school after a rather exhausting experience, but hey, you can sleep when you’re dead.”

Email: features@ubspectrum.com

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“They were out of school and displaced for 30 or 40 days minimum,” Tucciarone said. “They underplay it – it wasn’t like a sob story. They said it was just a part of their life, and it sucks, but they are still passionate about the Cajun culture and thankful for those who help to preserve it.”

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Monday, January 30, 2012

Page 7

Shea’s Restores Its Former Glory

hopes of maintaining the look and feel of the original Shea’s Buffalo.

JAKE KNOTT Staff Writer

At the top of the program’s ladder is the Restoration Manager Doris Collins, a native of Erie, Penn. Collins moved to Buffalo after the passing of her husband, and now serves as the guardian to the sanctity of Shea’s.

The day seemed ruined when the temperature plummeted down to 20 degrees, with the streets and sidewalks covered with snow and ice. But on Jan. 15, many loyal Buffalonians fought through the arctic landscape to enter the historic Shea’s Performing Arts Center for its 86th anniversary celebration. The theater still blossomed in its original constructed location – a stupendous achievement for any foundation, regardless of its purpose.

“I keep everything exactly the same, and I mean exactly,” Collins said. “For instance, we could’ve gotten four or five different patterns for this carpet right here, but we didn’t.” To some people, the preciseness of a pattern can slide, but that’s not the case for Collins and her compassionate attachment to the aged structure.

The spectators were treated to a screening of The Black Pirate, which was released in 1926, the same year Shea’s was built. Nostalgia was in the air. The film was a part of Shea’s Free Family Film Series, a monthly tradition to remind people of the building’s historic importance. Families piled into Shea’s for the free movie, purchased cheap concessions, and gracefully spent bonding time together while admiring the atmosphere and shielding their wallets from harsh prices. Shea’s has seen its fair share of hard times, especially during Buffalo’s economic decline during the 1960s and ’70s. A suggestion was brought forth to tear down Shea’s and resurrect it as a parking lot, but a small group of people known as the “Friends of Buffalo” banded together in a fight to prove the importance of Shea’s. These courageous citizens won their

“Experience to volunteer [for the Restoration Program] is definitely not necessary,” Collins said. “Actually, I almost prefer less experience. Some people are experienced and taught in a certain way; well they aren’t taught in my way. I’m always looking for people.” Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum

Shea’s Performing Arts Center invites people to remember the past and preserve the structure for the future.

battle, adding Shea’s to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and financing an expansion near the end of the decade. Lisa Grisanti, a decade-long veteran Marketing Director at Shea’s, shares the passion for the theater’s prospering success. She promoted the Shea’s Restoration Program to the crowd – the current plan to refurbish Shea’s to maintain the building’s original

theatric décor. “It’s a beautiful historic building,” Grisanti said. “Knowing that so many people have an experience at Shea’s, and trying to restore [the theatre] for the future generation, that excites me to work every day.” When constructed, Shea’s served as a silent movie house for those who wished to escape the demoralizing

Eastman Organists Bring Life to the Pipes

living conditions during the Great Depression. The theater was the hottest ticket in town, especially without many other forms of readily affordable entertainment. The Restoration Program consists of part-time and volunteer workers who spend their weekdays refurbishing the establishment. The staff supply services anywhere from stenciling the wallpaper to repainting the walls in

As the surrounding population restores Shea’s, the building remains prominent in unending glory. Fans of historic flicks and Queen City staples can check out the theatre first-hand during any of the venue’s upcoming shows in its Family Film series with The NeverEnding Story on Feb. 12.

Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

Baldwin Bonds with Buffalo VILONA TRACHTENBERG Asst. Arts Editor It’s not often that a Hollywood star comes to Buffalo to perform and pay homage to its own established theater company. For Alec Baldwin, this was his third time.

Courtesy of Road Less Traveled Productions

Organists from the Eastman School of Music brought life to the organs in Lippes Concert Hall last Friday evening.

ADRIEN D’ANGELO Staff Writer The murmurs emitting from the rows of ruby-red seats subside as the lights in the enormous column-lined concert hall fade to a faint glimmer. The stage is empty. Only two 20-foot stands point microphones upwards, gripping at heavy silence as a suited young man with glasses and a white bow tie appears on the overhanging balcony. Surrounded by metallic pipes, some reaching almost 30 feet in height, Benton Blasingame meets the applause with a smile as he brushes the tail of his coat so that it dangles over the bench like a veil. There is a deep reedy boom a few moments after as the floor of Lippes Concert Hall begins to quiver. Benton’s fingers glide along three rows of keys while his feet descend upon the pedal board simultaneously. Benton was one of four performers who showcased the Eastman Organists’ Day recital on Friday night. Eastman School of Music organists Isaac Lee, Chelsea Barton, and John Allegar accompanied him in a performance that encompassed a wide array of classical and baroque-inspired pieces. Allegar, who closed the recital, is pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts at Eastman, working in the studio with David Higgs – a well-acclaimed organist and music director. His set consisted of some more experimen-

tal works by modern composers Gaston Litaize, Lionel Rogg, and Olivier Messiaen. Allegar started playing piano at age 8 before moving on to organ at 14. The Kansas City native’s relationship with the organ wasn’t love at first sight, however. He began to appreciate the instrument for its versatility after delving into the study and attending concerts. “Just the whole technique of playing the organ is completely different,” Allegar said. “You have so many color possibilities that you might not have on the piano.” Since every organ is different, Allegar enjoys traveling to get a feel for different models. “It’s like getting to know a new friend, but you have to get to know them very quickly,” said Allegar. Attended primarily by an older crowd, this concert was an event that appealed to the finely tuned taste of classical music enthusiasts in Buffalo. Yet in the thicket of grey hair, glasses, and penguin suits were a small group of UB students. One of which being Daniel Rider, a senior electrical engineering and math major, and self-proclaimed organ fan, who spoke through a thick beard about his frequent attendance at on-campus recitals. Rider claims to have been the youngest member of the audience for several shows at the

Lippes Concert Hall, but has seen a marked rise in student attendance. While an outward fan of J.S. Bach, Daniel says that his second genre of choice is rock music. Pointing out the parallels, Daniel adds, “If you listen, you can pick up a pattern that you might hear in a rock song.” While the actual cost of the organ these performers brought to life on Friday isn’t known, this musical beast, built in 1990, was estimated to cost upwards of $750,000. “Now it’s worth a lot more than that,” says Philip Rehard, the Concert Manager at Slee Hall. Those who were caught in the halting wind of this giant piece of wood and steel would tell you, it was worth every penny. Besides hosting Eastman organists, the Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall provides entertainment by presenting over 150 concerts annually, including UB student and faculty recitals, Beethoven string quartets, and featured visiting artists. Concert-goers should be on the lookout for Slee’s largest upcoming acts like violinist Kim Kashkashian, composer Robert Levin, pianist Richard Goode, and Eastman’s Ying Quartet coming this spring.

Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

Baldwin, award-winning veteran actor, star of 30 Rock, and featured host of Saturday Night Live returned to the stage to perform in Buffalo among the city’s most talented actors in Clifford Odets’ play “The Big Knife”. Baldwin, who performed in Buffalo in 2006 and 2009, returned last Friday to the CFA night to fundraise for Road Less Traveled Productions, a non-profit independent theater company founded in 2002. Baldwin, in something of a role reversal, portrayed deadbeat actor Charlie Castle. Baldwin was perfect for the role, however, and played freely with Castle’s deviant and troubled persona. Castle – on the verge of losing his wife, Marion – tries to get out of a 14-year contract to stay with his family. He is forced into signing the contract, however, when his studio boss threatens to blackmail Castle. Baldwin sat center stage during all three acts, flanked by the 11 other actors. The star was casual and modest on stage, allowing the other actors to read with vigor and precision when their moments came. Although the play was only read and not acted out, Baldwin and his cohorts gave life to the script, providing both exposition and emoition. “I thought the play was amazing,” said Caroline Grachos, 18 of Buffalo. “I really liked how even though [the actors] weren’t able to move around the stage, they still made [the audience] picture what was going on. I thought it was great how [Baldwin] played it. He knew when to be passionate with his lines, and when to play it straight, so it really gave high points to the performance.”

Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum

Alec Baldwin returned to the CFA to help benefit Buffalo’s Road Less Traveled Productions.

Andy Anselmo, Alec Baldwin’s vocal teacher from when he first began his career, was in attendance to watch Baldwin’s contributions, and was humbled to see Baldwin perform to benefit the theater. “He’s so supportive and has such a big heart, like what he did here tonight,” Anselmo said. “Not many people do that, he’s unusual, a beautiful human being.” Bill Zimmerman, a member of the board of the Community Music School, said Anselmo is the quintessential voice teacher of the past century. As a Buffalo native, he taught famous students like Regis

Philbin, Tony Bennett, and Liza Minelli in addition to Baldwin, but Anselmo knew Baldwin was a stand out from the start of his career. “When Alec came to me, I knew from the very beginning when he walked in, that here was somebody with talent,” Anselmo said. “There was some energy, something about him that was totally free and ingratiating.” Baldwin turned the Road Less Traveled into a highway, and helped gain awareness for Buffalo’s contribution to theater.

Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

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ubspectrum.com

Monday, January 30, 2012

2.1.12 clubhouse & model townhome

GRAND OPENING free food & prizes including: an ipad, a flatscreen tv & gift cards up to $500

free limo bus from UB Commons

apply online @ villasonrensch.com l e as i n g cen ter: u b co m m o n s, s te. 116 | 716.6 89.96 0 0 amenities subject to change | renderings subject to change | while supplies last

Monday, January 30, 2012

HELP WANTED LASERTRON Interactive Entertainment Center has immediate Part-time openings. Ideal candidates should be self motivated, enjoy a fast paced work environment and the reward of a job well done. Starting at approximately $10.50/hr, must be available nights and weekends. Stop in and complete an application at LASERTRON, 5101 North Bailey Avenue, Amherst, NY. MR/MS FIX-IT needed to measure success, trim negative thoughts, and build self-esteem in role as mentor to high-risk youth. www.compeerbuffalo.org or 716-883-3331 to apply.

APARTMENT FOR RENT 1 TO 8 BEDROOM HOUSES AND APARTMENTS at UB South: dozens in prime locations on Winspear, Northrup, Englewood, Merrimac, Highgate, and more! Most have large bedrooms, hardwood floors, off street parking, laundry. Local, responsible landlord with maintenance staff. Call, text, or email Jeremy Dunn, (585) 261-6609 1,3,4,5,6,7&8 BEDROOM homes and apartments available June 1, 2012. To view go to www. daveburnette.net or call Dave at 716-445-2514. CALL FOR AVAILABILITY: some spots remain for the spring semester. www.cvbuffalo.com 716-833-3700. 1,2&3 BEDROOM APARTMENTS. Walking distance UB South campus. Tom-716-570-4776. CANISIUS UB APARTMENTS available now. 1-Bdrm $500+ electric, includes other utilities. Please call Frank at 716-374-0464. EVERYTHING YOU NEED for the 2012 academic year. Great 1 to 8 bedroom houses & apartments. Near South Campus. Off-street parking, laundry, dishwashers, & much more! Please call: Andy to schedule a showing 716-308-4881. OUR NICEST APARTMENTS Rent Now! Newly remodeled 1-4 person apartments on W. Winspear, Englewood, Tyler, Heath, & Merrimac. Amenities include O/S Parking, Whirlpool

Classifieds ubspectrum.com

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Baths, W/W Carpeting, New SS Appliances, Free Laundry, Live the Sweethome Life on South! Call 716-208-4308.

hardwood floors, offstreet parking, laundry. Local responsible landlord with maintenance staff. Call, text, or email Jeremy Dunn, (585) 261-6609

4, 5, 6, & 8 BEDROOM Remodeled Apartments to choose from: located at University at Buffalo Main Street Campus-Off Englewood. Beginning June 2012: 32 Apartments $275/ to $300/ bed plus utilities. Washers & Dryers included. Contact BRADENGEL37@gmail.com 301-785-3773 or Shawn 716-984-7813 check out our web-site www.BUFAPT.com

1,3,4,5,6,7&8 BEDROOM HOMES and apartments available June 1, 2012. To view go to www. daveburnette.net or call Dave at 716-445-2514.

1+2 BEDROOM MAIN ST. South Campus. Appliances, carpet $370-$500. month + utilities & security deposit. Call 884-7900. MERRIMAC 3&4 BEDROOM updated kitchen, bath, dishwasher, laundry, and off-street parking. $285 per person. Available June 1st. 716-3085215. SPACIOUS WEST WINSPEAR 3-BDRM. Each room $395+ utilities & deposit. Appliances and furnished. Call Zeb 444-2331. zebsyed@yahoo. com.

3-BDRM TOWNHOUSE recently decorated. All appliances including washer & dryer. 2.5 baths, family room with fireplace & central A.C. Lease, security, & last months rent. Available now. Call: 716-691-5710 9-5pm. EVERYTHING YOU NEED for the 2012 academic year. Great 1 to 8 bedroom houses & apartments. Near South Campus. Off-street parking, laundry, dishwashers, & much more! Please call: Andy to schedule a showing 716-308-4881. OUR NICEST HOMES Rent Now! Newly remodeled 3-8 person homes on W. Winspear, Englewood, Tyler, Heath, & Merrimac, Amenities include O/S Parking, Whirlpool Baths, W/W Carpeting, New SS Appliances, Free Laundry, Live the Sweethome Life on South! Call 716-208-4308. 3,4,5,6,7,+8 BEDROOMS Englewood, Merrimac, Heath, + Winspear. Excellent Houses $275.00 p/p 716-870-8100.

2 BDRM APT:Well-maintained building, offstreet parking, safe residential area off Hertel. Basement laundry, storage, newer appliances, water & trash included. No smokers/pets. 1-year lease with 1-month’s rent & 1 month security deposit/ background check. $625+ gas & electric. Available now! 716-636-4454.

ROOMMATE WANTED AMHERST SOUTH CAMPUS/ University Plaza side of Main. Quiet Architect students looking for serious male roommate. Excellent condition, private bedroom, big closet, laundry, dishwasher & parking. Available. 5 minute walk to Crosby Hall. $300.00+ share of utilities. 716-400-9663.

SERVICES CITYA1DRIVINGSCHOOL.COM Beginners & brush-up driving lessons. 5hr class $30.00 716-875-4662. BUFFALO DRIVING SCHOOLS 716-834-4300. Warranted driving instruction package. www. buffalodrivingschools.com

ADOPTION HAPPY, SECURE, FAMILY OF THREE eager to welcome our 2nd child into our loving home. Open plans are welcome. 716-239-5876.

139 HEATH, 3-BDRM HOUSE. $725 www. uboffcampus.com or 716-200-1700 ext. 701 Olya. 6 BDRM MANSION for rent just minutes from UB’s South Campus on Main Street near Depew. Property features spacious rooms, ample offstreet parking, newly renovated kitchen & 2 full baths, &much more. A must see! Call Jennifer 716-743-7398. For more info. $3,000/mo + utilities.

LISBON/ BAILEY: 2-3 bedroom upper & lower. Newer carpeting, living room, dining room, kitchen, appliances, laundry, off-street parking, furnished, $180+, 440-5133 or 636-1656. Available June 1st.

GREAT HOUSE 15 HEATH ST. 3-5 bedrooms, reasonable utilities, private parking, Available 6/1/12. Call to see: 716-432-7125.

HOUSE FOR RENT RONYOUNG.COM For pictures & Room Sizes: showings ron1812@aol.com. 1 TO 8 BEDROOM HOUSES AND APARTMENTS at UB South: dozens in prime locations on Winspear, Northrup, Englewood, Merrimac, Highgate, and more! Most have large bedrooms,

BEAUTIFUL 5-BDRM HOME: largest bedrooms in area! 5-min. from MSC. Large living spaces and office. Off-street parking. Call 873-2059.

th, les to Shutt th, UB Sou s! r on UB No er destinati h and ot

www.CVBuffalo.com

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