The IndependenT STudenT publIcaTIon of The unIverSITy aT buffalo, SInce 1950
The S pecTrum
ubSpecTrum.com
volume 62 no. 4
WedneSday, SepTember 5, 2012
Bulls fall short of “special” in Athens
Fall Fest
Photo Page
Story on Page 14
Check out page 7
Undergraduate students pay $94.75 per semester to fund the Student Association. SA brings Fall and Spring Fest to UB, amongst other activities, clubs and events.
Fall Fest Logistics These numbers are approximate. SA will not receive invoices until October. Total cost of Fall Fest 2012: $200,000 J Cole: $99,000 Childish Gambino: $50,000 French Montana: $35,000 DJ Rosado: $100 Production: $150,000 - $175,000 Which includes: staging, speaker towers, lighting, portable toilets, tents, fencing, metal detectors, EMT station, university police officers (about 40), on-hand ambulance crew, tents set up for artists, food provided for artists, wiring, production crew, etc. Production crew includes: 100 members for pre-show duties (set up fencing, metal detectors, etc.), 400 members during the show (police staff, security staff between stage and crowd, runners (people on staff that drive artists around, etc.) Overall attendance: 7,400 Student attendance: 6,650 General public attendance: 750 Total cost of 2011 Fall Fest: $175,000 The Fray: $150,000 The White Panda: $20,000 2AM Club: $5,000 Overall attendance: 2,100-2,400
ALEXA STRUDLER /// THE SPECTRUM
More than 7,000 people rocked out to French Montana, Childish Gambino and J. Cole at Fall Fest 2012.
UB ‘can’t get enough’ at Fall Fest J. Cole, Childish Gambino impress mass of students at Baird Point ELVA AGUILAR and DUANE OWENS Senior Arts Editor and Asst. Arts Editor With ideal weather gracing the East Coast from top to bottom, it seemed impossible to stay indoors last weekend. New York City hosted Electric Zoo, Philadelphia held Jay-Z’s Made In America festival and New Jersey was prepping for Rock The Bells. A few hundred miles away – at Baird Point on UB’s North Campus – thousands of students and rap fans gathered to see hip-hop artists French Montana, Childish Gambino and J. Cole at Fall Fest 2012. This year’s Fall Fest served as revitalization for the Student Association’s morale, as an overwhelming feeling of anticipation and high energy engulfed Baird Point Saturday night.
According to SA treasurer Justin Neuwirt, 7,400 people were in attendance – a number that towers over last year’s Fall Fest attendance, approximately 2,400. The Fray headlined last year’s show. SA President Travis attributes the high attendance to the great weather Buffalo had last weekend. “The crowd was well over capacity for Alumni Arena, so if it rained we would’ve wound up having to turn people away,” Nemmer said. Senior sociology major Harris Rosado, who spins under the name DJ Rosado, opened the show with contemporary rap and house music and immediately set the tone for the night. Vivacious, unapologetic, unpredictable and in other words: dope.
The show itself went on without a hitch. French Montana hit the stage right on time and despite the limited time he had to perform, he made due. The New York rapper’s set list predominantly consisted of his radio favorites, including “Shot Caller” and “Pop That.” What gained the most praise from his audience, however, was a track that wasn’t even his own. When Rick Ross’ “Stay Schemin’” came on over the speakers, the audience erupted and sang along to French Montana’s raspy hook. As Montana’s set ended, the sun began to set and the eagerness in the crowd was broken by an off-stage voice that belonged to the night’s superstar: Childish Gambino. Dressed in Bordeaux (maroon-purple) pants and a swinging gold chain, microphone in hand, Gambino’s energy surged
Nemmer say Nemmer
Continued on Page 12
SA President hopes to rebuild a shattered reputation LISA EPSTEIN Asst. News Editor While other 16-year-olds were applying for their learner’s permits, Travis Nemmer was applying for college. When the Student Association president skipped his junior year at Clarence High School to graduate at 17, he had no intention of becoming the future SA President or even getting involved in student government. After doubling up on classes and taking AP classes in high school, Nemmer entered UB as a history, political science and Russian major, averaging 20-plus hours a semester. He never did get that driver’s license, and now students may catch the lanky 20-year-old walking around campus, sporting his signature Ray-Ban frames and SA polo. Joseph Nemmer, Travis’ father, de-
scribed his son as someone who puts all of himself into everything he does. Whether it was the rifle team in high school or the Model United Nations, Nemmer puts a lot of time into whatever he gets involved in. That same sentiment carries through in his dedication to SA. “He’s been involved in the Student Association all along, and just seeing what the folks before him have done, he’s learned a lot from that,” Joseph said. “The organizational skill structure from all the clubs that he’s been a part of, and the functions that he’s been involved in organizing is what he brings to his position as president.” The self-described “weird dude” in high school and former captain of the rifle team spends his free time reading, writing and shooting rifles. Sam McMahon, a senior aerospace and mechanical engineering major and one of Nemmer’s close friends, pointed out Travis’ sense of humor as one of his best qualities. “Travis is one of the funniest guys
I’ve ever met,” McMahon said. “If anyone ever wants a perfectly timed sarcastic declaration, they should look Travis’ way.” With his quick wit and vast knowledge of current and past events, friends often consider him “one of the smartest people they know,” according to senior art history major Victoria Feliz. “Seriously, ask him who the ruler of China was in 1493 and he could probably tell you,” Feliz wrote in an email. Nemmer hopes to graduate from UB and go to law school to study election law or criminal prosecution. He spent the summer studying for the LSATs, and he has yet to decide where he’ll be applying. Even while balancing a massive amount of homework and switching one of his three majors from Russian to classics, Nemmer still found time to get involved in multiple clubs and organizations on campus, including Mock Trial, Model UN, Sub-Board board of directors, the College Republicans and the Elections and Credentials committee. Continued on Page 12
ALEXA STRUDLER /// THE SPECTRUM