Vol. 61 NO. 78
ubspectrum.com
Monday, April 23, 2012
Inside The Spectrum
News
Professors Honored For Teaching Excellence On Wednesday afternoon students, faculty, and family members gathered in Baird Recital Hall to honor professors who have gone above the typical expectations of their students.
STORY ON PAGE 9
Life
REIMON BHUYAN /// THE SPECTRUM
Student Association Treasurer Sikander Khan moved $300,000 to a new line in the SA budget on March 22 after he had signed a contract with Virtual Academix on March 13.
SA Treasurer Resigns
Khan steps down following $300,000 Virtual Academix scandal
Fighting for a World Without Cancer The National Cancer Institute estimates in this year alone over 1.6 million people will hear the words: “you have cancer.” It is estimated that 577,190 will lose the battle.
STORY ON PAGE 5
Sports
AARON MANSFIELD Editor in Chief
Valdez. “The job, as I consider it, has been done. He has resigned; he is removed from office as of now.”
As of 1:50 p.m. on Friday afternoon, Sikander M. Khan has resigned from his position as SA Treasurer, effective immediately, following the $300,000 Virtual Academix scandal and police investigation.
“A week less of him working is money saved from the mandatory student activity fee – $250 is about two and half students’ mandatory activity fees that we just saved from somebody who wasn’t doing ethical work for the students and for the Senate that trusts in the treasurer’s words to make its decisions,” Valdez said.
Khan declined comment for the time being. The decision comes five days after the Senate began a petition to initiate Khan’s recall. At Sunday’s Senate meeting, the voting members chose to suspend Khan’s pay until the end of the school year.
“I feel that whether he resigned because he felt guilty or because he saw the petition – [either] is good enough for me,” said Senate Chair Darwinson
The SA Assembly backed the petition during its last meeting on Wednesday. Assembly Speaker Steven Jackson said he understands Khan’s reasons for quitting, as Jackson said Khan must’ve known the petition was going around and things were not in his favor. The Spectrum asked incoming SA President Travis Nemmer if he was surprised by the resignation.
“Yes and no,” Nemmer said. “There’s been so little communication on the topic that we didn’t know what to expect. It’s crossed my mind that he might resign; it’s crossed my mind that he might be holding out for a [StudentWide Judiciary] hearing. But at the end of the day, we didn’t really expect it.” Nemmer was in a meeting in the SA office when Khan entered, put his resignation on a table in front of Nemmer, and said: “Here you go, guys.”
Nemmer’s reply? He simply said: “All right.” “It was a shockingly unremarkable event,” Nemmer said. Current President JoAnna Datz sent out an email within an hour of the resignation. She appointed Treasurer-elect Justin Neuwirt to begin immediately. The Senate approved Datz’s appointment
unanimously during Sunday’s meeting; he will take office 8 days early. Engineering Coordinator Dan Pastuf, who wrote a new tentative budget when Khan failed to provide one to the Senate by the April 14 deadline, said he didn’t expect the resignation whatsoever, but he thinks the move is imperative for SA to move forward. He expected Khan to fight for his position. “I think [the resignation] was more on his own terms,” Pastuf said. “That he either got sick of dealing with it or decided: ‘the time has come, I’ve had enough.’” Email: news@ubspectrum.com Additional reporting by Managing Editor Rebecca Bratek
Equality Starts With ‘Her’ UB English professor fights racial discrimination LYZI WHITE Life Editor
Pollock Leads Off With Sense of Humor
There was one thing on 7-year-old Hershini Young’s mind: Paddleboats. She imagined herself and her father, Surendra Bhana, gliding across the waters in a small boat. She, of course, would do the paddling.
The baseball team always takes batting practice together before a game. But one spring day last year, junior outfielder Matt Pollock decided to spice up the ritual.
STORY ON PAGE 12 SATSUKI AOI /// THE SPECTRUM
Paul Stephan holds a side of “queso” from Moe’s Southwest Grill to represent every student’s expense to Environmental Affairs.
Check out The Spectrum’s end of the year N64 NBA Showtime tournament on page 10.
Inside OPINION
| 3 |
LIFE
| 5-6 |
ARTS | 7 | CLASSIFIEDS & DAILY DELIGHTS |11| SPORTS
| 12 |
No Small ‘Environmental’ Affair LISA KHOURY and SARA DINATALE Senior News Editors
On Monday, April 16, Environmental Affairs Director Paul Stephan posted a YouTube video entitled: “60 Seconds to Save SA Environmental Affairs.” The video received hundreds of views, and a mass amount of students commented on the SA’s Facebook page. Student Association President-elect Travis Nemmer, along with his e-board, decided to consolidate the Environmental Affairs Department with Student Affairs for the 2012-13 academic year. The decision has been met with controversy within the SA. Nemmer said the facts have been misrepresented. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
Bhana, a history professor, knew the boats were off limits to them, an Indian father and his multi-racial daughter. He could read the sign – White Persons Only. But his headstrong daughter, who believed she could be anything, wouldn’t listen. She snatched the money from her father’s hand and ran up to the dock with excitement. She remembers the worker glaring down at her. “Whites only,” she said. Young turned and walked away slowly. How could her father have let her humiliate herself like that? How could he have subjected her to such disappointment? How often would the disappointment continue for her?
REIMON BHUYAN /// THE SPECTRUM Hershini Young, an Associate Professor of English, educates her students about discrimination and racial awareness through her first person experiences as a child growing up in Durban, South Africa during the apartheid. But her early years shaped her – transforming her from that idealistic 7-yearold into a professor of English, passionate about race, discrimination, and awareness.
“There’s no point in learning all of this. If you don’t change the world we live in, then it’s just an exercise,” Young said. “The point is to learn about how we live and to make some changes.”
Young, now a confident, independent, and mystifying woman, walks through campus with her head held high while maintaining an ever-approachable demeanor. She teaches classes such as Contemporary African American Literature, Queer Studies, and Gender, Sexuality, and Race. Her research focuses on racial awareness.
Racial integration
Often. Young, now an associate professor of English at UB, spent her childhood in Durban, South Africa under apartheid. As a child, she lived in a different neighborhood from white children, went to different schools, and drank from different water fountains. Her parents, both academics, moved the family to the U.S. in 1987 when Young was 19.
Apartheid ended in South Africa in 1994, but for Young, issues of race persisted. When she moved to the U.S. she found that it wasn’t unlike her home country. It was also a tortured place where skin color, connections, and cash matter more than many admit. Young makes sure to teach that to her students.
When Durban started to experiment with integration in schools, Young was the first black child in an all-girl, all-white boarding school. To enter the school, Young first took an entry exam. They chose her because she scored the highest. Bhana chose the school because he thought it would benefit his daughter. He was not scared of how the new learning environment might affect Young – the goal was to provide a better education. That’s not to say the experience was painless. Many parents did not want their children to share a school, let alone a classroom, with a black child so they took their kids out of school before Young enrolled in classes. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
ubspectrum.com
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Monday, April 23, 2012
CONTINUED FROM PAGE1: EQUALITY STARTS WITH ‘HER’ Even with such a remarkable opportunity, Young was still constantly told no. No, she couldn’t board at the school with the other girls. No, she couldn’t use the same changing facilities as her classmates when they went swimming. No, she couldn’t sit at the bus stop while she waited to go home. No, she could not travel to other schools to perform the plays she was a part of. Signs surrounded her telling her where she could and could not go. The words were different, but the meaning was clear: No. Still, Young kept going. Across the Atlantic Sea Despite the odds against her, Young earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas University (KU), and she went on to complete her doctorate at the University of California at Berkeley. She took her first teaching job at the University of California at Riverside before coming to Buffalo. None of that would have happened if her parents hadn’t decided to leave South Africa. The tense atmosphere within the country and the encroaching of the country’s politics into Young’s parents’ academic sphere prompted their exodus. Bhana heard talk of his university falling into the hands of apartheid-supporting Indian politicians and he was forced with a decision that would affect his entire family. He and his wife had offers for three-year visiting professor positions at KU. They had to decide whether it was worth it to leave South Africa for a period of three years or the rest of their lives. They were not given a leave of absence from their current jobs, but they quit, packed up their lives, and left despite the uncertainty of the future. The family had mixed feelings about the trip across the ocean, but for Young it was a tangible escape from her problems. She knew one thing: she wanted to be any place but where she was. With sandals on her feet in the middle of winter, Young arrived in Kansas. All she could think when she got there was: “it’s cold.” “I went to an all-girl school [in South Africa]. It was very British so it was very proper and then I show up and it’s this huge American high school,” Young said. “People were kissing next to lockers and they were wearing all sorts of different [clothing]. There were [no] uniforms. I was totally overwhelmed.” Young could not understand how students could get away with this at school. In her South African school, it was cause for expulsion.
Racism across borders The move to America was a difficult transition for Young. She was over-optimistic and believed it would be the solution to all of her problems. All too soon, she realized that no matter where you are on the globe, people are people. Although there was no legal racism in the United States as there was in South Africa that did not mean it did not exist. America was different, yet it was the same. The atmosphere was something completely different from what she was used to but racism existed – albeit covertly instead of legally. Instead of discouraging Young, it just made her more passionate. “She developed her own sense of justice and fair play and her sense of persona [growing up],” Bhana said. “She rejected racism and bigotry. It’s a value that defines her life.” That persona came from her family. A literary upbringing Her father is her main inspiration. She watched Bhana’s commitment to changing the world through teaching and resolved that she would do the same. Bhana was a part of the anti-apartheid movement as a student at Witwatersrand University and continued when he became a professor. He held firm to the idea that human beings are to be valued for their humanity, regardless of race or ethnicity. “The harsh lesson of living in South Africa was the poverty and degradation of human beings,” Bhana said. “It broke my heart to see suffering as much as it did Hershini’s.” Bhana and his wife, Kastoor Bhana, were both academics. Bhana was the head of the history department at the University of Durban-Westville (UKZN) and Kastoor was the head of the psychology department. Kastoor was the first black woman to chair a psychology department at UKZN. Their status as academics allowed them to have friends of both races, an opportunity that many others did not have. Their worldview was more open than others because of this, according to Bhana. Bhana was fundamentally about looking for truth, no matter how ugly it was, and he was adamant about raising a daughter who wasn’t sheltered. “I have inculcated one value over and over: dig deep within yourself to confront demons,” Bhana said. “Do not be upset by major or minor issues – they will pass if we learn to use our inner resources. Be true to yourself.” Bhana also passed on his generosity of spirit to his daughter, Young said. He taught her
that it’s possible to understand people’s feelings, that it’s possible to understand why people do terrible things. Young learned how to be critical but not hurtful. It was lessons like these that got Young through some of the toughest times of her life. When things became difficult during her time in South Africa, Young relied on two things to keep her going: her parents and literature. Young spent most of her free time at the library, sometimes reading up to four books a week. “It got so that the librarians would give me the books and would ask me to write a little review,” Young said. “My dad has one that he had framed when I was 10 years old and it’s just a paragraph that was published in a newspaper that was like: ‘Read this book because…’ My father says that was the beginning of my career.” It was her ultimate escape. When things were unbearable around her, she found liberation in literature. She read “voraciously,” Bhana said. Whether it was trashy romance novels or classic literature, Young’s head was almost always found between pages. She leaned on her parents for support as well. When she became too frustrated and began to doubt herself, her parents were the ones who lifted her up. “My mom, she doesn’t sugar coat anything, she’d just tell it to me straight,” Young said. “So a lot of times she would just say: ‘get up and go back out there.’” Young took the experience in stride, focusing on her education rather than the malice around her. The apartheid ended in 1994 and there was one thing running through Young’s head: “I wish I was there.” Although she wasn’t there in person, she was there in spirit. The significance of that moment still resonated with her and her family. Young’s grandmother, who was over 80 years old, blind, unable to walk, and illiterate was finally given the power to vote. She wasn’t able to record her vote by herself, so when she was asked for whom she wanted to vote, she yelled: “Mandela! Mandela!” “It meant the world, because it meant that even my grandmother got to vote once before she died,” Young said. Legal racism finally ended in South Africa, but that doesn’t stop Young’s personal battle against intolerance. A new generation Young implements racial awareness in every aspect of her life – as a woman, professor, and mother. As her parents taught her race, so she does with her 8-year-old son. She makes sure to teach him to be proud of who he is, that he doesn’t fit easily into boxes society might try to stuff him in. Young considers Buffalo to be “absolutely segregated.” It would be easy as a middle class professor, Young said, to stick to the nicer areas of Buffalo. But she makes sure to attend events or even simply run errands
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in black communities as well as the mainly white communities. Young placed her son in a Spanish immersion program to show him the different cultures Buffalo is filled with. The program places children whose first language is Spanish with English-speaking children. Spanish is the language of instruction. It’s a new program – an integration experiment of sorts, something Young has experienced herself. “One of the things I really wanted [my son] to get a sense of is different languages, different cultures, and different social economic status,” Young said. Just like his mother, Young’s son often gets asked questions about what he is. But Young has taught him that it’s who he is that matters. From student to teacher This is Young’s eighth year teaching at UB. She hopes to promote diversity within the English department – in the classes that are taught, the faculty that is hired, and the graduate students the department recruits. Her classes concern African American literature and the Diaspora, or the scattering of people away from their ancestral homeland. Perceptions of race differ from country to country, Young said, and she works hard to address that. Carlton Brock, a junior English major, was exposed to African American studies for the first time through Young’s first-person experiences and unique perspective. Since Young lived through legal discrimination, her perspective is not the same as a professor who simply read about the apartheid in a textbook, according to Brock. Young stresses the importance of “the other side,” the people that didn’t win – the idea that every person matters. Often, the topics drain Young. She refuses to read many of the novels she assigns at night, fearing how they might affect her before she sleeps. In her own classes, she wants her students to walk away with the knowledge of how race still operates in the world. But discussing difficult topics – child soldiers, prostitution, slavery, and lynching – does not come easy. Not everyone agrees with her methods or opinions. End of semester evaluations sometimes label her racist, claiming she discriminates against white people. Those callous words hurt Young. Her goal is to make people think. Her passion is to make her students aware of the world, and accusations like this trouble her. She shows race through a “non-white point of view.” When she says “we,” many times she refers to black people, something people aren’t used to and something that makes some uneasy. She associates herself this way because she dealt with a foreign form of racism that many Americans are unaware of. She asks difficult questions, she makes her students think and sometimes it’s hard, but at the end of the day, students leave with motivation.
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It’s her passion and knowledge that keeps Brock going back to Young’s class. After having just one conversation with her, it was evident to Brock that: “Hershini Young is everything that she presents to you. She’s honest, and she’s real about it.” Background is an important part of Young’s teaching method – instead of just lecturing in front of a group of students, she discusses with individuals. She likes to know her students, where they come from, and if there’s any extra help they need. When she taught at Riverside, Young had a different audience. The student body was composed of mainly Latin students while at UB most of her students are from New York City and are more urban. She understands that different cultures mean different cultural expectations, and her teaching must shape itself around that. This is why many of her students value her above other professors. “She cares, she’s always prepared, she’s knowledgeable, and she’s engaged with the students more so than a lot of other professors here,” Walker said. “[Her class] is intimate as opposed to just being a number, a statistic.” Young decorates the walls of her office with pictures of her family and posters of events she’s helped students put together. On her windowsill sits paintings she was given by a student – a girl who had never painted until Young’s class, who was inspired to finish an entire series. When her students don’t attend class, Young misses them. When her students move on, they keep in touch – she opens her email regularly to find one-liners saying: “I love you,” or greeting cards in her mailbox. Remembering the past but moving forward Young’s home in South Africa is still etched in her mind – the way she could see the ocean from her window, the smell of the country, the monkeys jumping across her roof. She misses her family and her old home, and although she’s bringing her son there next year for a visit, she’s still looking toward the future. A scholar activist, Young’s power to change the world lies in her classroom. “The name of Hershini contains within it an intense emotional power that could drive you to put forth great effort to accomplish your ambitions and to do something noteworthy and worthwhile,” according to kabalarians. com. “There are humanitarian ideals in this name, making you feel the urge to champion the cause of the downtrodden, the victims of circumstances and injustices.” Hershini Young has never stopped being that determined little girl. Since that day on the lake, Young no longer walks away when someone tells her no. She stands up proudly and asks questions, prompting others to do the same.
Email: features@ubspectrum.com
“She’s allowed me to know how to articulate something and not be afraid to do what you want [just] because it’s kind of tough,” said Akinsele Walker, a senior English major. “If you do what you love and sacrifice for that love, everything will turn out all right. You
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Opinion
Monday, April 23, 2012 www.ubspectrum.com
Page 3
It’s Not Over Yet
Kony’s Quiet Night
Incoming SA must reform contract system Sikander Khan has stepped down from his position as treasurer. He’s not talking, and for now, at least, there won’t be much news on what finally motivated him to resign. A few questions still linger, though. After all this time, we’re still amazed at how the SA system has been set up for failure. We’re still confused as to why the police suddenly dropped the case and simply treated it as an internal matter. Roman satirist Juvenal once wrote in his native Latin: “quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” As the millennia have passed, a loose translation of the line has wormed its way into our collective unconscious. Who watches the watchmen? At this point, nobody does in SA. We’ve entrusted them over $3.5 million, and they can feasibly spend it on a whim with very little oversight. The system is easily corruptible and obviously broken. Let’s put it this way: had Khan and SA President JoAnna Datz been on friendly terms, this whole issue may have flown under the radar. We were a figurative inch from watching $300,000 of student funds vaporize.
Now our student government must not only make the figurative attempts to look better, but also make substantive changes to the way it governs itself. If not, the damage done by the Virtual Academix fiasco might be permanent. First, a new rule must be implemented into the SA constitution that provides radically enhanced oversight for large contracts. Any service or products that SA buys that will cost over a certain amount should be reviewed by a permanent professional at SA whose job is to ensure that contracts are fair and that SUNY guidelines have been followed. If this person doesn’t sign on contracts along with e-board members, then the contract should be voided. This position could either be filled by a professional already in SA or be made new. The person should not be a student. Whether or not they decide to go with our idea, Travis Nemmer, next year’s SA president, and the new eboard must sit down and decide on a plan to fix this problem. The Senate also needs to step up its game. We understand that they’re students as well and don’t necessarily have the time to review every piece
of spending, but that’s not an excuse for letting something of this magnitude pass under their noses. Now they need to work with the incoming e-board to protect the money we’ve allowed them to handle. Yet a question continues to nag us. Where have the police been in all this? At first, the University Police were called in to talk about concerns with the Virtual Academix, but they quickly gave it back to SA as an internal matter.
Among the ranks of gamers around the world is Anders Breivik. During his trial for murdering 77 people in Norway, he gave chilling accounts of how he used videogames to train for his mass murder. For some reason, people are taking him seriously when he says this. The insane ramblings of a mass murderer are being used as a political tool against violent videogames. While we’re at it why don’t we take his manifesto on an impending race war seriously? Maybe we should start listening to Charlie Manson, too. Yet the issue of video games and violence is much older than the attacks by Breivik. After the Columbine shootings, it was discovered that the killers played the computer games Doom and Wolfenstein 3D. The Virginia Tech murderer was also reported to have played violent computer games, although evidence contradicts this.
The science isn’t there to support the link. Some studies done at Texas A&M actually indicate that playing violent video games might decrease violent behavior. Although not conclusive, it does go to show that at the very least that there has yet to be credible scientific evidence supporting a link between violent behavior and videogames. We should then look at the data. Without a doubt, if violent video games caused violence, there should be a correlation between juvenile violent crime and video game use. Fortunately for our future society, just the opposite is true. In fact over the course of the past 17 years, while video games have come to drawn in more money per year than music or movies, violent and non-violent crime rates have both dropped sharply. Even among juveniles the trend rings true. Certainly, it wouldn’t be proper to attribute playing video games to the drop in violent crime. Nobody has done research to indicate such a
March’s Kony 2012 video, which attracted 88 million YouTube views, marked Friday as the date for its “Cover the Night” campaign. The goal was to have citizens from across the globe plaster posters, stickers, and paintings of warlord Joseph Kony to spread awareness of his crimes. I decided to find out how the movement worked out the next morning. After walking around North Campus, I only came across two Kony 2012 posters.
We aren’t in the game of knocking down Khan. We don’t want the police involved to ruin him or any other person, for that matter. What we do want is for the truth to come out and for anyone who did commit a crime to be punished. We don’t know if Khan did anything legally wrong at all, but somewhere along the lines it sure looks like somebody may have tried to defraud SA, and in turn, us.
I wasn’t ready to blame the lackluster turnout on student apathy just yet, so I perused the Internet to see if other areas had similar results. The Guardian reported that the campaign flopped in every scheduled location in North America and worldwide.
That deserves at least a significant investigation.
Video games don’t cause violence It’s amazing that this argument hasn’t been settled already. Let’s break down why video games and violence aren’t connected, shall we?
Like any other year, this year’s 4/20 was a day to celebrate the use of today’s most popular drug: cannibus. But just over a month ago, it was supposed to be a day of widespread activism.
There is much more information now, however. While it’s not apparent exactly what happened, there is surely enough information to warrant a second look. Whether from within SA or by Virtual Academix, on some level, it looks like there was some sort of foul play going on.
Game Theory
According to a 2008 Pew Research Center study, 97 percent of 12-17 year olds have played video games. It’s probably safe to say, considering the explosive growth of the gaming industry that number is only going up.
BRIAN JOSEPHS Senior Managing Editor
claim. What this does indicate, however, is that the video games do not encourage violent crimes. On another level, however, coverage of Breivik’s video game playing is borderline offensive. It takes away from real reporting on the mind of the man, and what it’s like to think like a killer. The fact that he obsessed about a race war probably had much more to do with the mass murder, but the focus has been directed unfairly to video games in order to make a cheap headline. Opposition will likely die off as the years roll by. Of course, there will be a dedicated few who clings to delusion that will keep arguing, but this has clearly become a generational argument that and as such won’t last long.
The movement failed, at least at UB, anyway.
I’m not sure if this is hindsight bias or not, but the more I think about it, the more I feel that “Cover the Night” was doomed from the start. Anybody can blame this on the general apathy of the youth, but using age as a scapegoat is too easy. Invisible Children targeted the college-aged demographic, and I feel that it is the organization’s responsibility to find a way to prevent such a failure from occurring. I do believe that the cause was a genuine one, but at the end of the day, the blame really falls on them. I believe the biggest problem of the campaign was that it sought to sensationalize. It’s impossible to suddenly get college students to be all-in for a widespread viral video. A more reasonable route would be to establish campus organizations or perhaps city chapters to make the idea more tangible. It’s wishful thinking to believe that a one-night outburst of activism is going to happen within just one month of introducing the idea. The sensationalist aspect of it involves giving evil a face. Most college students have familiarity with some sort of injustice going on in Africa. The video made Joseph Kony the symbol for all those injustices. It basically said: “Here’s the bad guy. Here’s the reason for society’s problems.” For 30
MANAGING EDITOR Rebecca Bratek EDITORIAL EDITOR James Bowe
However, a sensation just doesn’t work with today’s generation. When you take a drug (let’s say marijuana to keep this 4/20 theme going), you get a sensation, a feeling, and it goes away. The same thing is happening to the Kony campaign. The other flaw with this campaign concerns Invisible Children itself. An organization has to continue to be proactive in order to continue such a movement. But I got the sense that Invisible Children was just surviving after the fraud allegations. They just fell by the wayside after co-founder Jason Russell’s lewd public outburst. Of course, some of the movement’s thunder was taken away by the Trayvon Martin case. It may be because of America’s short attention span, but I’d argue this change of focus is justifiable. How can we fix the world’s problems if we can’t fix our own? Would you use a hammer without a handle to hit a nail? I do think Invisible Children will learn from its mistakes. Any organization with the ability to make something that can grab the attention of more than half of America’s young adult demographic has some serious rhetorical ability. But for now, critics are smirking in the quiet night. Email: brian.josephs@ubspectrum.com
And if you’re truly worried about it, then you don’t have to let your 10-year-old play Modern Warfare. Problem solved!
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SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR Brian Josephs
But it was just too novel. The fact that such a villainous character would show up conveniently with a plan to stop him announced in such a highbudget film was just all so thrilling at the time. Most media outlets hit the nail on the head when they described the campaign as a “sensation.”
For right now, however, it’s obvious that gaming doesn’t cause kids to go out and kill people. It takes a hell of a lot more than playing Grand Theft Auto on the weekends with your friends to create a murderer.
April 23, 2012 | VOLUME 61 NUMBER 78 | CIRCULATION: 7,000
EDITOR IN CHIEF Aaron Mansfield
minutes, it sought to essentially simplify justice.
NEWS EDITORS Sara DiNatale, co-senior Lisa Khoury, co-senior Lisa Epstein, asst. Joe Konze, asst.
LIFE EDITORS Rachel Kramer, senior Lyzi White Keren Baruch Brad Parker, asst.
PHOTO EDITORS Alexa Strudler, senior Satsuki Aoi Nick Fischetti Reimon Bhuyan, asst.
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley
ARTS EDITORS Elva Aguilar, senior Adrien de L’Ange Duane Owens, asst. Lisa de la Torre, asst.
SPORTS EDITORS Nathaniel Smith, senior Scott Resnick Jon Gagnon, asst. Ben Tarhan, asst.
WEB EDITORS Aaron Mansfield Brian Josephs Rebecca Bratek
CREATIVE DIRECTORS Aline Kobayashi Nicole Manzo
GRAPHICS DESIGNER Haider Alidina
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Monday, April 23, 2012
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Life
Monday, April 23, 2012 ubspectrum.com
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Fighting for a World Without Cancer MEGAN DRESSEL Staff Writer The National Cancer Institute estimates in this year alone over 1.6 million people will hear the words: “you have cancer.” It is estimated that 577,190 will lose the battle. Unless somebody finds a cure. Every day organizations like the American Cancer Society work toward raising enough money to fund research so that a cure can be found. On Friday, UB participated in the fight against cancer by hosting the Relay for Life in Alumni Arena. One hundred and ten teams participated – both students and community members alike. One member from each team walked around the track from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. to raise money for awareness. All of the money raised prior to and during the walk goes to the American Cancer Society. Participants are asked to fundraise prior to the event, but each team is also required to host an activity at the actual relay to bring in additional funds. This year, the activities ranged from selling coffee and baked goods to braiding hair and guitar concerts. The first Relay for Life was held in 1986, organized by Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma colorectal surgeon, and the “mother of relay” and member of the Relay Hall of Fame, Pat Flynn. Nineteen teams participated and $33,000 was raised. Since then, Relay for Life has grown exponentially and now takes place all across the country in communities and college campuses. The goal hasn’t changed: commemorate those who have been lost, celebrate those who have won their battle, and raise money for the American Cancer Society. Mark Bucsek, a first-year medical stu-
h t
dent, participated in three relays prior to this one. Originally, he participated because his group of friends created a team, but after losing his father to lung cancer in July 2010 only seven weeks after diagnosis, the event took on a much deeper meaning. Bucsek is a member of the Oncology Interest Group, a group of students interested in “making a positive difference in the lives of patients suffering from cancer,” according to their Relay for Life team page. Their initial goal was to raise $3,000 before the event – they hit that quickly. Bucsek raised $1,560 for the cause and the team almost doubled its goal, raising over $5,000. Buscek is currently in the M.D. Ph.D. program, which offers a medical degree along with a Ph.D. in research.
YOUNG KYUNG YOON /// THE SPECTRUM Relay for Life was held last Friday at UB, as students and members of the Buffalo community raised money and promoted awareness for the fight against cancer.
The loss of his father has greatly impacted his goals for the future.
“In medical school you learn every organ system,” Puca said. “But every single course has at least two lectures on cancer, because you can get cancer in anything, whether it be blood, vascular, respiratory, etc. It seems like it’s really omnipresent in the curriculum, so it’s good to see that we can create a group and make it more omnipresent within our community and raise awareness about finding a cure.”
“I started college and I wanted to be a doctor, I just didn’t know what kind,” Buscek said. “But once he got sick, I felt like I had to do research and try to stop this. I really want to make an impact on cancer. I know that millions of people say that, but I feel like having both degrees and the research and medical knowledge will give me the best chance that I’ll have of making a positive movement. It’s going to be a long time, but I promised my dad that this is what I was going to do.” Buscek is not the only member of the Oncology Interest team to have lost a loved one to cancer. Zachary Puca, also a first-year medical student and founder of the interest group, lost his mother to breast cancer when he was 5 years old. This is his first year participating in the Relay, but in 2008 he participated in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, a 40-mile walk that takes place across the country. He has raised approximately $1,200 for the relay.
It is not only the medical school students who are getting involved. Mallorey Himmel is a freshman pre-pharmacy major and was team captain for the Leadership House team, UB the Cure. Her first relay was in middle school and this will be her fourth. Himmel’s connection to the cause is her grandmother, a survivor of breast cancer – twice. Himmel is motivated to make a change and has been working hard to keep her team energized and organized through the entire planning process. Still, there have been a couple of difficulties. “The hardest part, especially being a freshman, is that we don’t have the same resources as other people might,” Him-
mel said. “We don’t have cars. Some teams can go to the store and purchase water to sell at the event, whereas we don’t have any coolers, we would have to buy ice, and that’s a lot of money for any college student. It’s been hard to feel like we’re making a difference because you feel so small compared to the whole relay event.” Himmel’s favorite part of the event is the “Luminaria Lap.” The lights dim as candles that line the arena illuminate the track and everyone at the event takes a silent lap. It is a time to recognize the difficulties and the struggles that those with cancer face on a daily basis. There is also a survivor walk. Survivors have an opportunity to walk the track celebrating the battles that they have won. The rest of the participants follow closely behind to demonstrate their support for the survivors and their dedication to find a cure. This year UB also offered theme laps. Since the 12-hour constant walking around the track can get tedious, each half-hour there was a theme for the lap. There was a toga lap, a Disney lap, a Mardi Gras lap, a tie-dye lap, and many
more. These themes break up the time in a fun way and help participants stay motivated and excited. There were also performances from the break-dance club, the Glee club, the Impulse dance group, and the Buffalo Chips. UB set its goal very high and wanted to raise at least $100,000. According to Bryanna Marotta, a sophomore health and human services major and the survivor and caregiver chairman, UB had raised approximately $85,000 as of Saturday night. In order to meet the goal, there will be a Dining Out for Relay event at Buffalo Wild Wings this Monday, April 23. Students who want to help the cause can go to Wild Wings for lunch or dinner – simply mention the Relay for Life, and 10 percent of each check will be donated back to the UB Relay. UB is also offering a text campaign so any student can text the words RELAY UBUFF to 41518, and $5 will be donated. Email: features@ubspectrum.com
could be you! is Become the next Victor and get
e. bull
paid for it!
Do you want to have a great time being on the sideline, closest to the action?
open auditions in the student union theater.
[
Wednesday, April 25 2 – 4 pm Thursday, April 26 11 am –1pm (Auditions will take approximately 30 minutes)
Candidates must be available to perform at all home Football, Volleyball, Men’s & Women’s Basketball games during the 2012-13 seasons and other athletic, campus and community events as needed. Mascot performer must have an outgoing personality, be enthusiastic, able to work with crowds and children, use body language to express emotion.
]
Valid UB Student ID required for each person auditioning. Improvisation, dancing, gymnastics, tumbling and acting skills are preferred. For audition dress in t-shirt, shorts, sneakers and headband or bandana. Females: hair tied back Males: clean-cut hair
open auditions
ubspectrum.com
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Monday, April 23, 2012
Weekend Gossip with The Spectrum Let’s Get Steer-ious
GUS SIPP Special to The Spectrum With a weekend full of momentous events and drunken sexcapades, it’s kind of tough to remember each and every detail. For the many students that dare to go out on a Thursday night and drink their weekly stress away, there is always plenty to do. Even though you have a quiz in a communication class Friday morning at 9 a.m., you decide to throw your inhabitations to the Captain Morgan bottle. Pre-gaming immediately after your Thursday night class is essential, at least in my personal experience: one shot for every 50-minute class and two shots for every hour and 20-minute class you had to sit through for the week. I was not one of the students who stayed in Thursday night to relax, study, or just chill with the boys. Dressed to impress and seven shots deep, my friends and I gathered into the $17 cab on our way to Main Street, unaware of what the night had in store for us. Since there were no planned parties
we knew of and we could not just walk into a random fraternity party uninvited (without a bare-fisted brawl), the move was clear. We went straight to UB’s hotspot, The Steer. Waiting in line to get into a bar is always an adventure. I overheard girls voicing their honest opinions about their significant others, or how they plan on throwing up tonight despite their severe onset of acid reflux. Thursday night, I heard this gem: “I’m having sex tonight despite my period.” I walk into The Steer with my friends where I immediately notice the mood is very different, especially from what I am used to. Not only was the girlto-guy ratio nothing short of terrible, but the loud shouts from the pool table were overshadowed by the awful pop music being played. I don’t know about you, but when I’m drunk at a bar I just want to grind up on girls’ rocking yoga pants or booty shorts. I’m not in the mood to sit down, sip a beer, and listen to Carly Rae Jepsen asking me to call her. Maybe. With that being said, if I hear Avicii’s
Levels one more time, I’m going to level myself in the face. Some celebrities decided to grace us with their presence Thursday night as well. Four members of the UB basketball team were at The Steer including senior and NBA-hopeful Mitchell Watt. Yes, I took a shot with him and felt like a college athlete for a few minutes. If you managed to walk past the pool table you probably found that short girl owning the competition and running the table, as she does on a nightly basis. Her uncanny ability to put the pool ball in the holes with her long stick usually draws a small crowd. And yes, you guessed it, your TA from class does not have a twin, he just has a side job as a bouncer at The Steer. It’s ironic that he makes sure that students don’t cheat on their exams during the day, but witnesses many students cheat on their significant others at night. On Friday night, I heard the Bar Crawl happened. Too bad I blacked out before I could actually go and share all the gossip with you. People are now
probably gossiping about me. I did, however, participate in my own crawl to the bathroom toilet where I profusely shared my Panera Bread dinner with the porcelain throne. Saturday was basically a repeat of Thursday night’s activities, just to more of an extreme. The line for The Steer was out the door and down the sidewalk. The crowd was a mix of locals, guidos, desperate chicks, band nerds, bronzer queens, and almost every other stereotype you can think of. The grotesque scent of puke spread throughout the entire bar due to a vomit-filled girl’s bathroom. It was so crowded, I could not take three steps without stepping on some babe’s high heels or some dude’s Sperry’s. The worst part of the night – and I think many would agree – was when my bladder filled to capacity, and I made the treacherous journey to the little boy’s room. In my travels, I had to circumnavigate some guy in white skinny jeans grinding and throwing some girl around like something out of a Madonna music video. The kid was about three or four thrusts away from having sexual inter-
course on the dance floor and it was not a pleasant sight, to say the least. The crowd did appear more formal than usual, probably because most people came straight from Gala. To top off the extravagant events throughout the night, a fight occurred which resulted in both parties being immediately escorted (or thrown) out the door. It’s always shocking and seemingly comical to see small guys talk a large game, establishing “beer muscles” over the course of the night. Yes, this past weekend was an eventful one. I think it’s fair to say that this campus is filled with many distinct characters and no matter where you are at night you are bound to see something worth speaking of Sunday morning – if you make it that far. Keep in mind, if you do anything really crazy next weekend, you might be reading about yourself next week. And remember, if it’s often negative and spreading rapidly, it’s not necessarily a sexually transmitted disease – it could just be gossip. Email: features@ubspectrum.com
e student chapter of the UB Alumni Association
www.UBSAA.com
Arts
Monday, April 23, 2012 ubspectrum.com
PEIRAN LIANG /// THE SPECTRUM Bobby Gould surveys the flirtatious interaction between Charlie Fox and secretary Karen in David Mamet’s play Speed The Plow.
Subversive Theatre Gives the Speed-y Treatment to Hollywood “It hit points of sarcasm as well as true to life possibilities in the movie industry,” Marieh said. “Tim Finnegan did an amazing job portraying [this blend].”
DELANEY MARSCO Staff Writer Manipulation. Deceit. Sex.
COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. PICTURES Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling take the lead roles in Nicholas Sparks’ film adaption The Lucky One.
Chick Flick Lovers Get Lucky DELANEY MARSCO Staff Writer Movie: The Lucky One Release Date: April 20 Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
According to David Mamet’s play Speed the Plow, these elements are vital tools for surviving in the cut-throat world of Hollywood’s big-shot filmmakers. The play, put on by the Subversive Theatre Collective of Buffalo, is a commentary on the dilemmas put forth by the ruthless nature of the filmmaking industry. Bobby Gould (Timothy Patrick Finnegan) is a newly promoted head of production for a film studio, and as such he is responsible for bringing worthy scripts to the studio head. His colleague and friend of 11 years, Charlie Fox (Kevin Craig), comes to him with a project featuring a big-name star – a project that stands to make both of them very wealthy men. The plan becomes complicated, however, when a secretary with an agenda, Karen (Andrea Andolina) sleeps with Bobby. Finnegan embodies the cool, pragmatic realism that Bobby Gould requires for the majority of the play. Craig, whose character often serves as comic relief, acts as the perfect foil to Finnegan’s Gould in both stature and delivery. The two male leads work with each other in a memorable manner. However, Andolina’s representation of Karen makes far less of an impact, by no fault of the actress. It seems as though Mamet meant for Karen to merely be a pawn – another worthless wannabe cast aside by coldhearted Hollywood. Nonetheless, Andolina does an admirable job of embodying the dubious naiveté of the untrustworthy Karen and plays off the other leads with adeptness. The way the three leads were cast did justice to the play’s thematic agenda. Each character acts as a stereotype associated with “making it big” in show business. It was Finnegan who really showcased the complex and often contradictory nature of professional filmmaking. John Marieh, 28, of Florida, said the play was fantastic for that reason alone.
An aspect of the play that perhaps isn’t obvious to the audience, but that is vital for praising the prowess of the actors is the complexity of Mamet’s scripts. Director Christopher Standart, who has been acting and directing since 1982 and has received multiple Artie nominations, said the difficulty of Mamet’s work makes the play both challenging and rewarding for actors. “[Actors] hate the script because there are so many words, and it’s not only [memorizing] the words, but you have to memorize the pauses,” Standart said. “The author puts in italicized words that have to be hit in order to keep a rhythm. It’s like doing Shakespeare. The language is athletic. It requires breathing. It’s like doing Shakespeare on cocaine.” The quick, biting dialogue is evident but the skill the actors needed to wield the language makes the difficulty of the script go unnoticed. The choice of actors was deliberate on Standart’s part; he chose actors he knew he could trust with the unique requirements of the script. A weakness of the production, however, is the constant idioms and occasional stutters in the dialogue that could have been ad-libbed due to nerves or could have been a part of the script. It was difficult to tell from the actors’ body language if it was purposeful or not. The play’s plot was engaging and at times stagnant, but Mamet’s characters’ rambling and the passion with which it was executed was evident. “I really love to direct, [but only] when I feel very passionate about the piece,” Standart said. His love of Mamet’s work and his relationship with all the actors made this production very enjoyable for him. This aspect reflected onto the audience and made Speed the Plow an amusing way to spend a Friday night. Speed The Plow will continue running at the Subversive Theatre Collective of Buffalo until May 13. Tickets range from $15-20.
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Grade: B Last weekend, chick flick lovers and Zac Efron enthusiasts everywhere dropped everything to see the newest adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ The Lucky One. Logan Thibault (Zac Efron, The Lorax) is a Marine deployed in the Middle East. The day after a bloody night raid, Logan finds a picture of a woman with the words “keep safe” written on the back. After finding the picture, he survives multiple near-death situations leading him to believe that the woman in the picture kept him safe. When Logan returns home, he has problems readjusting to life as a civilian. He decides to walk from his home in Colorado to find the woman from the picture, Beth Clayton (Taylor Schilling, Atlas Shrugged: Part I). Once he finds her in Louisiana, he begins to work at her pet kennel business without revealing that he was looking for her. They eventually fall in love, but the situation becomes complicated by Beth’s ex-husband and Logan’s secret. The film is, in many ways, a typical Nicholas Sparks romance. Its primary focus is the complications of lovers who seem destined to be with one another (like The Notebook) and the internal struggle of the protagonists. The adaptation employs themes of fate and destiny, but also has a heavy tone of mortality that often overshadows the love story. This could be seen as both a fault and a positive. On the one hand, those elements cast a morose tone over the film that makes it a little dense for a romance. On the other, they serve as a reminder that all things are temporary and that life must be lived to the fullest – a moral that supplements the film’s plot and overall message. What is most compelling about this film is the diversity of the characters’ lives. While other films in this genre seem to focus more on the
love story than on the characters individually, this movie gives perspective into a variety of human experiences. Beth is a divorced mother with a controlling husband, and struggles to find her voice in her overwhelming relationship. Her son strives for his father’s approval but never achieves it. Logan attempts to balance his apparent psychological stress with his growing love for Beth. Efron, who undoubtedly bulked up for The Lucky One, did a decent job of portraying a stoic ex-Marine. His level of maturity was executed well, but his emotive power lacked development. Schilling, whose look is slightly older than Efron’s, successfully played a convincing mother who lost her brother in Operation Iraqi Freedom. One scene that showcased the talents of both actors was Beth’s breakdown after visiting her late brother’s grave. Logan calmed her down, which led them to share a tender, viscerally affecting moment that seems to take an emotional toll on both characters. The lushly green landscape of Louisiana and the typical Southern colonial homes helped add to the film’s strengths. The filmography also heightened the aesthetic pleasure of the landscape by using the sunlight to its advantage. These strengths help draw attention away from a plot that is the embodiment of a cliché romance: boy finds girl, boy and girl fall in love, and complications ensue only to strengthen their romance and bring them together in the end. For all wondering how many love scenes there are, the answer is plenty. For those wondering if The Lucky One is like every other Nicholas Sparks romance, the answer is probably. While The Lucky One does employ the clichés of its genre, it is overall an enjoyable, tearjerking film. The attractive and believable cast combined with a visual feast makes this film a worthwhile matinee flick. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
The Rydell Gang’s CFA Shindig SEAN BABINEAU Staff Writer Since its debut on Broadway in 1972, Grease has rocked the stage with its provocative material and playful, energetic dance and musicality. Thursday evening at the CFA, the popular story graced the stage with a comedic, high-energy student performance. The performers’ smooth, blazing vocals and vivacious dancing resulted in an opening night that will make local fans of the classic story happy. The incredible singing ability of the majority of the cast received much applause, as high notes were continuously belted out with precision and clarity. The vocal talent had more of a professional feel than what’s typically expected. “The cast and crew did a really fantastic job on it,” said Brian Fiscus, a sophomore architecture major. “It was really lively and energizing. I was on my feet the entire time.” Another element that added to the professional sound of the performance was the instrumentals, which resonated from
the orchestra that sat between the audience and the stage. They accompanied the ensemble – led by UB’s Music Director, Nancy Townsend – with their high soaring vocals. The choreography of the entire production was also very precise. When the cast came out to perform “We Go Together,” a song that ended both acts, the synchronicity and timing of these scenes wowed the audience and left the theatre buzzing. “I especially liked when they sang the finale,” said David Turner, a senior biology major. “The whole cast coming together and singing and dancing was a lot of fun.” Kenickie’s car, “Grease Lightning,” entered the stage in Flintstone fashion by a cast of leather-jacket wearing bad boys, who spun it playfully. These actors continued the antics by singing the famous song that praises the car’s ability to attract women as laughter erupted from the audience. Laughter accompanied the car in later scenes, but at this point it was used more as a prop than a vehicle.
“I was kind of hoping they would have had the car redone the second time they brought it on stage,” said Nancy Cunningham, 22, of Ontario, Canada. “That was a little bit sad, but it was still awesome.” One of the more disappointing parts of the production was the unbelievable metamorphosis of Sandy. In the second to last scene, where the song “All Choked Up” was performed, Sandy came out onto the stage smoking a cigarette in a risqué outfit. The transformation was taken too far, as Sandy, played by senior music theatre major Emily Croft, was depicted more like an ornery, indifferent runway model than an exploratory teenager with a change of heart. While the camaraderie between the guys seemed slightly generic throughout the play, the girls’ dialogue and interactions were fantastic. The infamous pajama party scene where the pink ladies introduce Sandy to their mischief is the most apparent indicator. The ladies’ acting and interplay in this scene were both superb. Sophomore music theatre major Gabrielle Gorman was the highlight of the
SATSUKI AOI /// THE SPECTRUM
Sandy and the “Pink Ladies” show out for their opening performance last Thursday of Grease last Thursday at the CFA. show with her portrayal of Rizzo. Gorman executed the hardened, cynical Rizzo to perfection while still adding her own personal flavor to the role. The funniest and most believable couple on stage was unexpectedly comprised of two supporting roles, Roger and Jan, played by sophomore theatre majors Zachery Snyder and Emily Nelkin. The quirky and playful way they accentuated their dialogue was hysterical. They fully embraced this style during their perfor-
mance of the song, “Mooning,” where they sang a giddy, provocative duet. “I really enjoyed this scene,” Fiscus said. “It was funny how they were flirting and having a great time.” The show will be back at the CFA with the Rydell gang and company from April 26-29. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
ubspectrum.com
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UB Late Night Gets a Dirty Mouth To compensate for Saturday’s gloomy weather, UB Late Night held a stand-up event accompanied with complimentary bananas and pancakes to lift spirits and steer away from seasonal affective disorder.
The incoming e-board is proposing that the Environmental Affairs Department is put under the umbrella of Student Affairs.
Eric O’Shea was given the task of making students laugh. The Bob Saget look-alike is no stranger to the spotlight, with a million hit videos on YouTube and VH1 appearances he is a well-decorated comedian.
Nemmer said that by placing the environmental department under Student Affairs, Environmental Affairs would have more money and resources than it did previously. The former Environmental Affairs Department would be able to share in the personnel and budgetary decisions of the Student Affairs office.
O’Shea touched on topics that only ’80s babies would remember – bouncy balls with the handle, the bottomshelf cheap cereal that came in a bag, and a mother’s ninja-like moves with a wooden spoon references kept the audience reminiscing.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily going to work,” Stephan said. “The issue to me is you’re saying: ‘Oh, we’re going to strengthen you by putting you in Student Affairs,’ but you give us this huge staff cut and you give us this huge budget cut, so that sends us the signal that you’re not trying to strengthen us; you’re trying to weaken us.”
The comedian took advantage of his surroundings by poking fun at events advertised in the Student Union Lobby where the show was held. The loud noises and cheers coming from the second level of the Union were an easy target for O’Shea’s quickwitted comebacks. O’Shea’s used his improvisational skills to engage with his audience. The New Haven, Conn. native kept the audience engaged by teasing those in the crowd that didn’t give him the warm response he desired.
“You ever laugh at the art students for how easy they have it?” O’Shea joked. “The engineers want to kill them don’t they? Engineers, what do you have to do? ‘I have six tests, six bios, a take-home lab, and a study thing I have to do, what do you have to do, art student?’ ‘I have to draw a circle.’ ‘What? Does this blow torch hurt?’ ‘My eyes! My art career is over.’” Attacks on news anchors and the passive-aggressive pitching style of softball players seemingly followed, but the crowd really responded when the jokes turned raunchy. Girls blushed and gave awkward giggles when O’Shea spoke about various sexual positions while imitating a weatherman.
YEASOL LIM /// THE SPECTRUM
Comedian Eric O’Shea brought full-fledged vulgarities to his stand-up show for UB Late Night on Saturday. When O’Shea sensed the discomfort of three girls in the front row, he made a serious face while saying: “Stop it,” in a feminine tone. The jokes got real when O’Shea spoke on the sexual conduct that led to him getting fired at a Subway. “I got fired because of my sense of humor,” O’Shea said. “I just hit on all the hot girls that walked in. ‘Hi, can I get a 6-inch?’ Aww yeah, how about a 7-inch? ‘Um, you don’t have that here do you?’ We got one left. It’s cooking right now. Chips and a drink?”
dience member, and he made several direct statements to her, commenting on her “sense of humor.” Other audience members also enjoyed the show. “It was hilariously realistic and it really reminded me of a lot of things that happened to me in real life,” said Marissa Malone, a freshman undecided major. “[I liked] when he talked about people driving 30 mph in the left lane because I rage about that every time I drive.”
The ending piece was a fan favorite with the most active member of the crowd. Monisola Oyebola, a senior chemistry major, laughed hysterically when O’Shea incorporated some acting along with his stand-up.
After a roaring round of applause and one last swig of Aquafina, O’Shea walked off-stage and reiterated how great the crowd was. The audience was then directed to a delicious spread of pancakes and bananas, thanks to UB Late Night.
O’Shea shared his interpretation of popular songs, such as rapper Ludacris’ “Move,” and related it to bowel problems.
O’Shea will be making his next comedy stop at Edinboro University in Edinboro, Pa.
Ooyebola laughed until her cheeks hurt. She was O’Shea’s favorite au-
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1: NO SMALL ‘ENVIRONMENTAL’ AFFAIR “[The e-board’s] plan was never to cut out environmental activities,” Nemmer said. “We’re big fans of the environment; we think SA should be sustainable. That being said, a lot of what the Environmental [Affairs Department] does is they advocate and they work with administration. That’s the definition of what the department of Student Affairs does.”
DUANE OWENS Asst. Arts Editor
To focus on his demographic, O’Shea merged his off-the-cuff materials with his experience in college life. He asked the crowd about what they were studying when an eager member of the audience shouted out: “Unemployment!” O’Shea commended the gentleman for his witty joke then transitioned into how art majors have it so easy at universities.
Monday, April 23, 2012
The budget for Environmental Affairs had been cut from $7,500 to $5,000 in a tentative version of the SA’s budget. There was a period of time that the line was rumored to be $500 – that was never true based on the budget shown at Sunday’s Senate meeting. The tentative budget had $13,000 allocated for Student Affairs – $5,000 earmarked for Environmental Affairs and $8,000 for Student Affairs. Nemmer said that Environmental Affairs would be able to draw from the Student Affairs line based on the discretion of the Student Affairs director and the needs of the Environmental Association. However, senate voted 10 to 3, to keep the Environmental affair’s line at $7,500 – something appointed SA Treasurer Justin Neuwrit proposed – to ensure the organization would have sufficient funds. The entire budget for the 2012-13 school year is still being negotiated, and the newly elected e-board is not allowed to have a direct say in the process, according to the SA constitution. The budget has yet to be officially approved, but parts of the budget were viewed and discussed at Sunday’s meeting. Stephan and other Environmental Affairs members and advocates are troubled by the staff cuts. The department will be cut from 11 workers to three, according to Stephan, but
Nemmer said that six of the 11 positions are unpaid subcommittee representatives. The e-board is cutting the paid staff from five to four, according to Nemmer. He plans to keep the six unpaid subcommittee representatives for a total of 10 positions. There is a discrepancy between what Stephan thinks and what Nemmer said. In response to student concern, the elected e-board released a statement on the SA Facebook page on Thursday stating: “To this end, we are committed to hiring a Climate Neutrality Coordinator and another Environmental Activities Coordinator within the Student Affairs Department.” Stephan said he is glad to hear that the elected e-board is listening to what he and fellow Environmental Affairs members are saying, but to him it is still a cut. “Actions speak louder than words,” Stephan said. “It’s easy to say: ‘We’re going to hire these people,’ but there’s no job descriptions out. I haven’t seen a new budget that has our money back. But this isn’t victory yet. I need to see some results and more than what they’ve promised.” Pay is still being negotiated for the upcoming Environmental Affairs staff, according to Nemmer. The Environmental Affairs Department saves more than $20,000 per year, and it has been around for two and a half years. It has saved student dollars through the use of CIT paper as well as turning off computers each night within the SA office. The department also advocates for student issues, such as improving recycling and sustainability on campus. Stephan stressed that the Environmental Affairs Department is not a big expenditure; it’s equivalent to the cost of a side of queso from Moe’s Southwest Grill per student, he says. Environmental Affairs will share resources with other sects in the entire department of Student Affairs like athletics and Greek life, according to Nemmer. “Our plan in the end will lead to more money, more manpower, and finally, more environmental projects,” Nemmer said. “This is a net gain for everybody involved.” Email: news@ubspectrum.com
ubspectrum.com
Monday, April 23, 2012
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12: BULLS CLINCH SHARE OF MAC CHAMPIONSHIP injuries. We are not going to be the victim of circumstance, were all Division-1 athletes, and they had to step into a new role and I don’t think we did a great job of doing that today. We had veteran players striking out on the same pitches over and over and that’s not acceptable.” The losses did not cloud the offensive fireworks on display at Nan Harvey Field. Six Bulls had two or more RBIs throughout the series. Sophomore centerfielder Holly Luciano and senior utility player Kristin Waldron shone brightest this weekend. Waldron went 5-9 with two walks in the doubleheader, hitting her first homerun of the year in the first game and knocking in two runs and scoring four times overall. Teague was pleased with her effort. “Waldron has finally starting to hit the ball like were used to her hitting, so its good to see her finally coming around,” Teague said. Luciano flexed her muscles Sunday, hitting a grand-slam homerun in the second inning of the first game. She finished the day 4-1 with four RBI’s and four runs scored. The pitching, however, wasn’t as golden. They gave up 23 runs in the two games, including 14 in a game that went 10 innings. Sophomore pitcher Tori Speckman took the brunt of that punishment, giving up a season-high 14 runs off of 15 hits in over nine innings of work. The Golden Flashes had no problem squaring up the pitches that Speckman was throwing; she gave up seven home runs. Senior pitcher Holly Johnson didn’t fare much better, as she surrendered six runs on 10 hits in 3.1 innings
pitched. In what was a rough first inning that proved to be the difference in the ball game, she gave up two walks and hit Kent State’s Caitie Kilbane with the bases loaded, scoring a run. In that inning, she gave up four of her six runs earned. The Bulls were also unlucky on the injury front Sunday. Junior first baseman Jessica Griffin took a hard hit while trying to make a play defensively at first base during the first game. She left the game with concussion-like symptoms and will be day-to-day. She adds to the list of the Buffalo players that have fallen over the last few games. “We’ve got a lot of tacky injuries,” Teague said. “[Freshman outfielder Karly] Nevez has a little knee issue going on and hopefully she’ll be back by next weekend and [sophomore second baseman] Sammi [Gallardo], she’s going to see the doctor on Monday; she’s got a little bit of a shoulder issue going on.” With the season quickly winding down and only nine games to go until the MAC Championships in Akron, Ohio, Teague knows that it’s gut check time for her players. “To me, we have all the tools. It just depends on how much they want to fight for the post season,” Teague said. “Starting pitching needs to come out from the first inning, and we haven’t had that specifically from our pitchers and we need more of it.” The Bulls hope to turn it around as they take on St. Bonaventure (17-19, 4-8 Atlantic 10) at home on Tuesday. First pitch for the game at Nan Harvey Field is slated for 4 p.m. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
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Page 9
Professors Honored For Teaching Excellence JOE KONZE JR Asst. News Editor On Wednesday afternoon students, faculty, and family members gathered in Baird Recital Hall to honor professors who have gone above the typical expectations of their students.
The Milton Plesur Excellence in Teaching Award is given out annually to professors who create a helpful learning environment and continue their impact outside of the classroom. The award is named after late UB history professor, Milton Plesur. Plesur crossed the boundaries of the typical student/teachALEXA STRUDLER /// THE SPECTRUM er relationship by establishing friendFive UB professors receive the Milton Pleasur Award for their influential work both inside ships with students. The winners of this award have Plesur’s attributes and are and outside the classroom. nominated by students. The recipients of the award were Dr. James Jensen, professor of civil, structural, and environmental engineering and director of the environmental science program; Bradley Owens, Ph.D., assistant professor of organization and human resources; David F. Watson, associate professor of chemistry; Sarah Elder, professor of media studies; and Peter Morgan, Ph.D., director of undergraduate studies and professor of economics. Catherine Boatman, a senior media study major, nominated Elder. Boatman dreamed of going to Hawaii to shoot a film during college, but couldn’t afford to. When Boatman met documentary film professor, Sarah Elder, her dream came true. Elder helped her apply for the grant that allowed her to go to Hawaii. “A lot of the films that come out of our [media] department are Buffalobased because you don’t get exposure to other parts of the world,” Boatman said. “[The grant] allowed me to travel to Hawaii to do a film, which was very rare for an undergrad here at UB to have the opportunity.” Elder devotes her life to producing, teaching, andT:10.625” studying films. She said
she was caught off guard that she received the award. Boatman wasn’t Elder’s only student present at the ceremony. “You don’t really get feedback from students, they move on to their jobs and their families,” Elder said. “The fact that so many of my students came to support me today, brought me to tears; I didn’t expect it.” Morgan won this award for the second time in eight years because of his ability to understand and entertain students. Ofhir Yabocowiz, a freshman business major, was personally affected after being in Morgan’s class. “He really changed my life,” Yabocowiz said. “I was in trouble and he was just understanding and compassionate. You just don’t get a lot of teachers like this.” Morgan has recently gone through tough times in his own life, the specifics of which he was not interested in disclosing to The Spectrum. He has always been there for his students, and by nominating him for this award his students were there for him.
Morgan takes his role as a professor beyond just being an educator. “We [are] also mentors,” Morgan said. “It’s my obligation and my responsibility. Teaching is only a part of the job.” The Student Association, which saw a record-breaking amount of applicants, oversaw recommendations. Students who nominated their teachers must describe how their professor specifically creates an enthusiastic atmosphere in the classroom. SA received about 50 applicants, according to Amanda Horn, SA representative for Student Affairs. “We read through each and every applicant,” Horn said. “It took a long time but we thought it was important to read each and every word written, and make sure that each professor we chose [actually met] the standards of Milton Plesur.” Email: news@ubspectrum.com
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Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic. Other restrictions apply. See attwifi.com for details and locations. Limited-time offer. Smartphones require a new 2-year agreement with qualifying voice and data plans. Subject to Wireless Customer Agreement. Credit approval required. Activation Fee $36/line. Geographic, usage and other terms, conditions and restrictions apply, and may result in service termination. Coverage and services not available everywhere. Rollover Minutes: Unused Anytime Mins expire after the 12th billing period. Night & Weekend & Mobile to Mobile mins do not roll over. Taxes and other charges apply. Term may vary based on your business agreement. Data: If usage exceeds your monthly data allowance, you will automatically be charged overage for additional data provided. Early Termination Fee (att.com/equipment/ETF): After 30 days, ETF up to $325. Restocking fee up to $35. Other Monthly Charges/line include a Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge (up to $1.25), a gross receipts surcharge, federal and state universal service charges, fees and charges for other government assessments. These are not taxes or government required charges. Monthly discount: Available to qualified employees and students of companies, government agencies and colleges/universities with a qualified business agreement (“Business Agreement”) to Business Agreement and may be interrupted and/or discontinued without notice only to the monthly service charge of qualified plans. A minimum number of employees, minimum monthly service charge for qualified plans, additional AT&T services or other requirements may apply for eligibility. Discounts may not be combined. For some accounts, actual discount can vary monthly depending on your employer’s aggregate volume of qualified charges. Offer subject to change. Additional conditions and restrictions apply. See your AT&T representative and contract and rate plan for details. © 2012 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.
ubspectrum.com
Page 10
Monday, April 23, 2012
CONTIUED FROM PAGE 12: POLLOCK LEADS OFF WITH SENSE OF HUMOR boys. He spent much of his childhood trying to keep up with his older brothers. Both of his older brothers, Brian and Nick, were always impressed at the lengths Pollock would go to keep up with them, whether it was in little league or just playing pick-up football in the back yard. The constant competition athletically and the bid for attention with his older brothers has manifested itself over time, turning him into the person he is today: one with a thirst for humor and a determination to become the best baseball player he possibly can.
Although he has a rep for being silly at times, he has no problem being serious when the time calls for it – but he makes sure that the two never mix. “I try to make the best out of both,” Pollock said. “When I am serious, I am dead serious, and when I want to joke and it’s time to have a good time, I will be right there with all the guys.” Pollock is an intense guy when it comes to his training. “You see him in the weight room and you get a true sense for who the kid really is,” Murphy said. “He puts all
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12: DONE IN A FLASH
his time and energy into becoming a better athlete and it really shows on the field.” Pollock really got into weight training his junior year of high school. His older brother Brian recalls leaving Pollock at home as a “sophomore, just enjoying life.” But when he returned home the next summer, his little brother wasn’t so little anymore. Pollock has continued training at an incredible pace, becoming one of the team’s undisputed leaders in the weight room. Scahill recalled a time during the off-
season when the team was doing a particularly tough exercise. The coaches strapped the players onto a treadmilllike device and then had each player pull it along. The entire team had finished except for one player, but instead of watching his teammate struggle as the last participant in the coach’s grueling drill, Pollock hopped on next to him and finished the workout with his teammate. Head coach Ron Torgalski has noticed Pollock’s work in the weight room and knows that his team responds positively to his ethic. “Guys see the work that he has put in
in the weight room and think: ‘Hey, he made that commitment and if I make that commitment it’s going to help me,’” Torgalski said. Whether Pollock is singing his heart out at Perk’s or screaming at his teammates in the weight room, his magnetic personality has brought him success at Buffalo. As he moves forward as an athlete, student, and friend, Pollock will do all he can to sing and play his way into the hearts of the people around him. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
The Spectrum’s NBA on NBC Showtime N64 Bracket
approached the third and final set against Ball State freshman Ray Leonard. David eliminated any doubt his teammates may have had, overpowering Leonard 6-1 in the final set. This was David’s 25th victory of the season – he managed to go undefeated against MAC opponents. With the match tied at 3, the Bulls’ fate to win the MAC regular season championship was left in the hands of sophomore Travis Zappia, who was the only Bull yet to complete his match. Zappia’s three-set battle was a heartbreaking one as he was defeated 6-3 in the final set. “We expect to win the MAC title,” Nickell said. “It’s been an up and down year for us but I certainly am very proud of where we came considering the injuries we have. I’m proud to share the title, but we’re not going to be happy unless we’re going to the NCAAs at the end of next week.” Although their conference season finale on Saturday was complete, the Bulls still had a match on Sunday to cap off the regular season. On Sunday they faced IUPUI (10-15, 4-1 Summit League) and were able to redeem their loss, winning 6-1. After sweeping the Jaguars for the doubles’ point they continued their dominating performance, winning seeds one through five in singles play. “It was good that we bounced back, and we came back with a lot of energy today,” Nickell said. “It’s good to get a victory like that after a loss like yesterday.” Up next on the slate for the Bulls is the MAC tournament. Having clinched the No. 1 seed, they will receive a bye in the first round and will play the winner of the Ball State vs. Toledo (15-11, 1-4 MAC) match. This match will take place on Friday with the time to be announced.
Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
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1 "Dracula" author Bram 2 Corn flour 3 From time immemorial 4 Wood used in shipbuilding 5 Make a faux pas 6 "Mata Hari" star Garbo 7 Accounting inspection 8 Abates 9 Sheepherding areas 10 Difficult experience 11 7, on a sundial 12 Pretend to be someone you're not 13 "Alamos" opener 18 Waste away 19 Not decent, say 23 A tug may tow it 25 Bleachers level 26 Island instruments, for short 27 They're all created equal 29 Sci-fi sighting 30 Tel ___ 31 Table for chemists? 33 "Did ___ and gimble in the wabe" ("Jabberwocky") 34 Words ending many riddles 36 The thing over there 37 Had on 38 Highly collectible 39 ___-school (traditional) 40 Black ___ (covert missions) 43 First phases 44 "The Outsiders" actor Rob 46 Adding device 47 Burst in suddenly 48 Hangman's loops 50 Act of gluttony 51 Rags-to-riches author Horatio 54 Olympian war god 55 Be intentionally hard to find 56 German woman's title 57 "Honor ___ Father" (Talese novel) 58 Color property 59 "Messenger" compound
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Don't let your own self-consciousness show today; you will want to appear capable and confident, especially when in a new environment.
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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Your financial security is a primary issue today, but you'll take comfort in the fact that others are working on the problem with you. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You can understand where someone else is coming from today, and this ability to walk in his or her shoes can benefit both of you right now. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) You can expect a compromise to benefit you more than anyone else today -- but don't think that you won't have to give something up! ARIES (March 21-April 19) You'll want to put a certain issue under the microscope at this time and take a look at those aspects that are usually overlooked.
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ubspectrum.com
Page 12
Monday, April 23, 2012
Pollock Leads Off With Sense of Humor doesn’t believe that he is necessarily blessed with strong vocals.
BEN TARHAN Asst. Sports Editor
While most of the team wore their batting practice jerseys, Pollock made a few modifications. With no shirt on underneath, he left his batting practice windbreaker completely unzipped with his gold chain hanging on the outside.
Pollock is almost always willing to kid around, but his antics reach a new level on road trips. Scahill recalled a road trip last year when the team was stuck in particularly bad traffic. Pollock, naturally, was the one to do something unexpected.
Pollock is one of the best players on the baseball team, among the leaders on his team and in the MidAmerican Conference in batting average, homeruns, and RBI. But to his teammates, he is also a guy that can be relied on for a good joke. Whether the squad is looking for a leader at the plate or a punch line in the locker room, Pollock is never afraid to deliver.
Whenever the team is in a practice situation or back home in the dorms, Pollock is willing to lighten the mood and show off his many different talents.
Jon Jones and the awkwardness of sponsorship in professional sports
Pollock enjoys getting the whole team involved and helping new members understand that everyone is open to a joke. The people that he met on his recruiting trip were a big part of the reason that he chose Buffalo, and he hopes to have done the same for others.
The baseball team always takes batting practice together before a game. But one spring day last year, junior outfielder Matt Pollock decided to spice up the ritual.
“He’s a funny guy,” said senior outfielder Dan Scahill. “He is one of the guys that you can just kind of mess around with, make jokes with even in a serious situation. It’s good to laugh sometimes and he’s a good person to laugh about stuff with.”
No Bones about it, He’s the Corporate Champion
The team bus had not moved in nearly 20 minutes, so Pollock grabbed a few of his teammates and proceeded to the top of a hill next to the road where he led an impromptu tan session, laying out in the sun to catch some rays, getting his burn on while the traffic dissipated.
One of Us” delighted the audience and his teammates.
Pollock attributes a bit of his humorous persona to the work he had to put in as a child to receive attention from his family. Although he is not an attention seeker, he enjoys being put in the spotlight and giving others the opportunity to shine along with him.
Pollock doesn’t shy away from any singing escapades, admitting that he “enjoys singing,” particularly for the emotional response it brings out of people – even if he
Pollock’s life away from Buffalo has largely been focused on family. He grew up in Sagamore Hills, Ohio, the middle child of five and the youngest of the three oldest
MEG KINSLEY /// THE SPECTRUM Junior outfielder Matt Pollock is known as a jokester on the baseball team, but still knows when to be serious.
Recently while walking through the dorms with his teammates, his friends challenged him to sing at Open Mic Night at Perks. Pollock, who is always up for a good time, accepted their challenge. His humorous rendition of singer Joan Osborne’s hit “What if God Was
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Bulls Clinch Share of MAC Championship JON GAGNON Asst. Sports Editor The men’s tennis team is a week away from having a chance to do something that’s never been done in school history: win the MidAmerican Conference Tournament Championship. After traveling to Muncie, Ind. on Saturday, the Bulls (9-9, 4-1 MAC) wrapped up a share of the league’s regular season crown with Northern Illinois (21-6, 4-1 MAC) as well as a bye in the first round of the MAC tournament. Unfortunately, it missed out on an outright regular season championship and fell to Ball State (17-9, 2-2 MAC). “We probably played at about 50 percent of our level. The conditions were bad and we didn’t respond well to the conditions,” said head coach Lee Nickell. “It was disappointing for us knowing that if we won that match we wouldn’t have had to share the title with Northern Illinois.” The importance of the game was apparent
and it lived up to expectations.
“Our top three have been very solid; they’ve been a rock,” Nickell said. “I think our bottom three have been thrown into the fire pretty quickly with the absence of junior George Tibil and sophomore Jason Simon being injured.”
SPECTRUM FILE PHOTO Buffalo wrapped up a share of the MAC regular season title despite falling to Ball State this weekend, 4-3.
Done in a Flash
Kent State takes two, slows Bulls down NATHANIEL SMITH Senior Sports Editor
Evans came in first as the challenger. As Immortal Technique’s ‘The Point of No Return’ blared all over Phillips Arena in Atlanta, he walked in with a look of sheer determination, unlike the silly sauntering fans that fans expect. This was, in announcer Joe Rogan’s words, “the fight of his life.” It gave me Goosebumps. Then came Jones’ turn. He played a short clip of 50 Cent’s ‘God Gave me Style’ along with one of my favorite songs ever, Jadakiss’ ‘The Champ is Here.’ I should have been excited as the champ walked into a sold out arena with two amazing songs pumping into the ears of the masses. But as he sauntered out into battle with a swagger that I haven’t seen in a champ since Mike Tyson during his heyday, I couldn’t help but stare at the three white letters that were on the chest of his warm-up gear. UFC.
I’m just saying that it just feels awkward, considering we’re in the age when we question every single thing that is wrong with officiating. With some people even conceding that commissioners in various sports ‘fix’ games in order to achieve higher ratings, it’s odd that we are okay with allowing this without really discussing it. Jones is a great guy for this league. He is immensely talented and has just enough flair to please the novice fans. But as far as corporate dollars and sponsorships are concerned, he should be left out of that arena. Now I know that there are people who think that I’m crazy for thinking this, but let’s extend this analogy for a second. Lets say that the NBA had a meeting and decided today that five-time champion Kobe Bryant suddenly was the face of the league. In commercials, during games all over NBA Arenas, wherever you went, you would see Kobe as the sole person assigned with the ‘task’ of representing the league, apparel-wise.
Just like that, it was over. The momentum that the softball team gained in the past two weeks couldn’t last forever. After winning six games out of seven, the Bulls (1423, 4-8 Mid-American Conference) couldn’t continue their winning ways. They hit the cover off the ball during the doubleheader, scoring 17 runs, but it wasn’t enough, as Kent State (24-20, 10-4 MAC) swept Buffalo, winning 14-11 and 9-6 in two games that were back-and-forth affairs.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
But what really intrigued me were the entrances.
I’m not here saying that Jones or the UFC cheated in this match. He clearly outclassed Evans, who never threw multiple combination punches after the first round, and was powerless against the reach of Jones and the speed in which he unleashed his elbows on the face of the former champ. Jones clearly and undisputedly won that match.
The top of the lineup for the Bulls was able to sweep through the Cardinals’ top three players. Junior Vusa Hove and senior Wojciech Starakiewicz only required two sets to eliminate their opponents; each won 6-0, 6-4. It took freshman standout Damien David a little more effort to deliver a win for the Bulls.
“They were down and we battled back, and we were down, and they battled back again,” head coach Jennifer Teague said. “We left a lot of runners on base today, it doesn’t matter about
It had the feel of the old heavyweight boxing matches that I fell in love with growing up in the early ’90s, with punches and some counters, hard elbows, and a little bit of flair thrown in from the two fighters.
I felt like I was watching WWE superstar John Cena come in the ring, or even The Rock, when he was coming in the ring in the mid-’90s with CEO Vince McMahon. Jones might as well have had White walk alongside him, taunting the crowd, jeering and posturing with his champ, his moneymaker, his asset. As he ended the grueling five-round, 25-minute match, with hand in air and belt around waist, I couldn’t help but feel discomforted about the whole spectacle.
Three out of the six singles matches ended in thrilling fashion, going to the third set. The teams split the six singles matches, 3-3.
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Contrary to what many people are saying on Facebook and Twitter, the main event at UFC 145 between former training partners and friends Jon ‘Bones’ Jones and ‘Suga’ Rashad Evans was a great fight, a case where tactics played more of a role than blind rage.
Something just bugged me about those three letters. It deeply bugged me. Here is a sport fighting for relevance in the national scene, a sport that is really on the cusp of something greater than UFC president Dana White ever dreamed of. And to sponsor any fighter, it just makes things seem…wrong.
The Bulls surrendered the first point of the match after being defeated in two-out-ofthree doubles matches. That 1-0 deficit heading into doubles proved to be the difference maker, as Buffalo dropped the match, 4-3.
With the Bulls trailing the match 3-2, David
NATHANIEL SMITH Senior Sports Editor
Wouldn’t you feel weird about that? Jones and his manager Malki Kawa both insist that the UFC branding isn’t permanent, that he is looking for a major brand like Nike, Under Armour, or Adidas. But I am not a fan of his name attached to the league like it is. If the UFC is to be taken seriously, this should end with Jones. GEUNUG JEONG /// THE SPECTRUM Junior first baseman Jessica Griffin lies injured on the field during the Bulls game against Kent State. Although she was ok, the Bulls weren’t, as they were swept by the Golden Flashes.
Email: nathaniel.smith@ubspectrum.com