The Spectrum Volume 61 Issue 08 by The Spectrum Student Periodical

Vol. 61 NO. 8

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Friday, September 16, 2011

Talking Leaves Books Talks Local SARAH AKERS Staff Writer If you’re one of the many students who has bought course books at Talking Leaves on Main Street, you’ve probably taken a crowded shuttle to South Campus, walked a few blocks in the snow, and navigated your way through overflowing piles of books to get to the back of the store, where, (finally) you found your book. Since 1975, many UB professors have ordered their textbooks through Talking Leaves Books, Buffalo’s oldest independent bookstore.

Pokémon Club is Evolving! Pokémon club meets every Thursday evening, stirring up a sense of nostalgia as they try to “catch ‘em all.” LISA KHOURY Staff Writer “Gotta catch’em ALL!” Those who grew up in the ’90s recognize this phrase as the iconic slogan to the hit trading card and video game franchise: Pokémon. For those who participated in the poké-phenomenon that involved spending more money on cards with pictures of different battling monsters on them than they would ever cough up for text-

books today, UB has some news: Pokémon still has some fight left in it. Joshua Cao, a junior accounting major, is the mind behind the evolution of the Pokémon Club. He hoped to get the name out there and catch everyone’s attention. It all started last fall at a Pokémon event. Surrounded by about 20 of his fellow Pokémon enthusiasts, a thought struck him like a Pikachu thunderbolt.

Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum

“I [thought] if 20 people without even a club formed are playing Pokémon, what if we all made a club where we could all meet at a time and place,” Cao said.

Professors who recognize the bookstore’s unique position in the community and encourage students to shop there do more than provide an alternative to the long lines at the University bookstore – they help students get off campus, explore the city, and experience firsthand the benefits of shopping locally. “Professors have said to me that they want students to see what is called, for better or worse, a ‘real bookstore,’” said Jonathon Welch, owner and co-founder of Talking Leaves. “The focus of many university bookstores is selling school supplies and school paraphernalia. Their idea was that a bookstore should be a bookstore.”

By the spring semester, the club was established with meetings every Thursday in Student Union 145A from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Online giants like Amazon and Chegg are creating a new set of problems for local shops: students looking to purchase inexpensive textbooks often favor the hefty discounts online. For the last 40 years, Talking Leaves has made it their mission to support local businesses and citizens.

“It started off with 10 people,” Cao said. “It slowly grew and grew, and now we get about 30 or 35 people each time.”

Now, in record numbers, the same community is turning to cheaper, faster, and more disconnected ways of getting their books.

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Upvoting UB JAMES TWIGG Senior Managing Editor When most people think of reddit, they think of rage comics, funny memes and perplexing pictures. Now, though, UB is getting in on the karma whoring. Reddit, a social news website on which members can post anything they want, is currently hosting the Grow a College Subreddit Competition.

The Bulls head to Indiana focused on avenging their 17-point loss to Ball State last year, and prove that they are a better team.

Courtesy of Sean Baker/ Ball State Photo Services

Bulls March into Indiana Buffalo takes on Ball State in first MAC matchup AARON MANSFIELD Senior Sports Editor

Mid-American Conference football: the rivalries are heated, the competition is elevated, and the teams simply don’t like each other. The Bulls (1-1) seek their second consecutive win this week, as they take on the Ball State Cardinals (1-1) in their first MAC game of the year. The MAC is widely considered one of the most underrated conferences in the nation. Already this year, Ball State beat Indiana, Toledo took Ohio State to the wire, and Northern Illinois came within an inch from ousting Kansas. Fans who have watched the Cardinals this year still aren’t sure what to make of the team. In the squad’s first matchup, Ball State pulled off an impressive 27-20 win over the Hoosiers. A week later, though, the Cardinals got hammered by South Florida, 37-7. Members of Ball State said they were humbled by the loss. Nevertheless, South Florida is the No. 20 team in the nation – a tough opponent for anyone. Consequently, the Bulls aren’t sure which team they’re going up against this weekend – the one that shocked Indiana, or the one that got throttled by a dominant South Florida team. Regardless of which Ball State team shows up, the Bulls know they need to play as a team if they plan on winning.

terback Chazz Anderson, sophomore running back Branden Oliver, and sophomore linebacker Khalil Mack, just to name a few. The Bulls will only succeed, however, if they continue to work as a unit. “The most important thing is that we become a stronger team, that we become closer together,” said head coach Jeff Quinn. “When we’re out there, there are 11 players selling out for each other. Every play, every player. “…I told [the squad] the best team is going to win the MAC. Not the team that has the best players, but the best team.” The outcome will likely depend on which team wins the turnover battle. Ball State is negative one in turnovers this year, while the Bulls are positive two.

Thanks to Krista Armbruster, a junior biology and Spanish major, UB has had its very own corner of the reddit universe for nearly a year now. It’s located at reddit.com/r/ubreddit and is now a contender in the contest. Although it only started with about 50 schools, the size of the competition has quadrupled and today features over 200. “It’s a competition put on by reddit as a whole for the fastest growing college subreddit,” Armbruster said. “It’s based on how many subscribers [the subreddit] can get in a set amount of time, how many posts, how many different hits from people and pretty much how cool it is.” The prizes include stickers and posters custom designed for the winning college’s reddit and a potential meet up hosted by a reddit admin. The biggest part of the prize pack, though, is the chance to have the winning school’s colors and mascot on the reddit homepage for a day. “There are millions of hits on reddit

The UB subreddit, aptly titled UBreddit, currently has about 240 subscribers and gets roughly 200 page views a day, according to Armbruster. However, she is currently working on getting that number larger. For the past year she has been hanging posters up around campus advertising for her subreddit. Those who don’t frequent the website, though, may be unaware that they have even seen them on the bulletin boards. “My personal goal isn’t exactly to drag in every single person that has never heard of reddit. I wanted to bring in people who are already redditors who didn’t know about UB’s reddit yet,” Armbruster said. “My poster is very simple, it’s just the reddit alien with ubreddit underneath it to bring in people who already know about it and to raise awareness about my subreddit.” On UBreddit, members are able to discuss anything and everything UB. Or, if it’s more their thing, merely post some funny pictures. Currently, there are topics on favorite UB professors and a discussion of the ever-changing times of meal exchange. This ability to talk anonymously with others about topics unique to UB has helped foster a distinct feeling of com-

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“If you turn the ball over, you’re not going to win,” Quinn said. “There are a lot of teams right now that aren’t where they want to be because of the turnover factor. So far, we’ve been pretty solid. We need to do a great job of taking care of the ball on the road.” Mack was last week’s top performer on defense. His accomplishment garnered national attention, as he was named the MAC East Player of the Week and National Defensive Player of the Week by College Football Performance Awards. Naturally, teams are game planning to stop Mack. “Teams are going to try to attack us and run away from Khalil and stop him from making big plays, and that’s when everyone else needs to step up and make the big plays,” said senior defensive tackle Richie Smith.

I N S I D E

Buffalo is loaded with individual stars – senior quar-

every day,” Armbruster said. “Everyone sees that homepage. So if UB is on there, that will raise a lot of awareness that UB exists and that it’s a large and awesome school.”

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Opinion * 3 Life *4 Prodigal Sun * 5,6 Classifieds / Daily Delights * 9 Sports * 10

Reddit alien sports some unique UB attire.

Courtesy of mkultra2

psun... I’ts Back

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Friday, September 16, 2011

Continued from Page 1: Pokémon club is evolving! Although Cao says that he is not embarrassed about still playing Pokémon as a college student, he also never dreamed of playing Pokémon so openly. ubspectrum.com “It started with an event at UB; a lot of people were playing Pokémon and I was very surprised by that because I secretly played Pokémon,” Cao said. “But I didn’t think anyone else would actually play Pokémon at UB.” Not one member of the club is hesitant to publicly play this frequently criticized game. In fact, members stand by their hobby proudly. Treasurer Christopher Herzog, a senior psychology major, hugged his Pikachu stuffed animal tightly during the Student Association Club Fair and declared, “No shame.” Secretary Allyn Weilacher, a junior linguistics major, said that she hears people make derogatory statements about the club but she doesn’t let the comments affect her. “It’s not about that,” Weilacher said. “So you don’t let it bother you.” On the other hand, Cao has not received much criticism about his love for the game. “I always get, ‘I haven’t played this since I was a child!’ But never any criticism, more playful respect, in a way,” Cao said. “I don’t think many people have bad experiences while playing Pokémon – so being back in college, I think a lot of people are really happy about it.” They really are. Each Thursday, these dedicated individuals challenge each other with games, cards, and trivia contests, as well as join together to watch the Pokémon television show. Cao often gives lectures on game strategies at the meetings, adding to the competitiveness. Tournaments are the most competitive aspect of the club. One of the largest and most super effective tournaments was held last spring: the winner won five booster packs and a booster deck. Although it is competitive, Pokémon also brings members together as a community. “A lot of freshmen who don’t really know anything about UB are joining, and I already see niches forming of really good friends,” Cao said. “It started with 20 people and we were all friends because of that, and now the freshmen of this semester are starting to become friends with them, and I feel like we all grow as a community like that.” Pokémon is truly a communal activity and anyone is allowed to join. Weilacher says Pokémon is a big part of some people’s childhood and it’s the reason many people gravitate toward the club.

Harry Haggard, senior biology and psychology major and vice president of the club, tosses out a pretty simple reason to join. Friday, September 16, 2011 “Cause it’s Pokémon! What more reason do you need than that? I mean, you get to meet a bunch of cool people, we have lots of childhood memories, we create new memories with new friends, and, you know, too many people don’t take advantage of the club system,” Haggard said. The club is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Yu Xie, a first year education leadership and policy graduate student, recently moved to Buffalo from China and is intrigued by the club. Although she does not yet know how to play Pokémon, she appreciates how the club embraces all those interested. “It’s a really good experience,” Xie said. “You can meet a lot of people and you can enjoy the experience of being together to learn how to learn this kind of stuff.” Likewise, Anthony Mirabelli, a freshman undecided major, signed up for the club at orientation. He said that he felt a pang of nostalgia and wanted to relive his childhood memories. Haggard realizes that Pokémon played an important role in the lives of those growing up in his generation. “Who wasn’t a Pokémon kid?” Haggard said. “Who doesn’t still have the cards hoping to one day, you know, sell them. One day I realized, I’m not the type of person that’s going to sell them, I’m going to be the guy buying cards.” Haggard’s realization that he is the guy on the other side marked a point in his life where he understood what the game is truly about. It was Pokémon’s grasp on how to bring people together as one that truly triggered his emotional attachment. Cao also has the same genuine sense for what Pokémon is about. He hopes to one day expand the Pokémon community at UB by competing with other schools, but for now is focusing on his group here and making sure it keeps growing – in both members and passion. Additional reporting by Nathaniel Smith

Email: features@ubspectrum.com

Opinion Friday, September 16, 2011

EDITOR IN CHIEF Matthew Parrino SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR James Twigg

NEWS EDITORS Madeleine Burns, senior Rebecca Bratek Steven Wrobel ARTS EDITORS Jameson Butler, senior Vanessa Frith Nicolas Pino Edward Benoit, asst. LIFE EDITORS Akari Iburi, senior Hannah Barnes Keren Baruch, asst. Veronica Ritter, asst. SPORTS EDITORS Aaron Mansfield, senior Brian Josephs Scott Resnick, asst. Andreius Coleman, asst. PHOTO EDITORS Meg Kinsley, senior Troi Williams Nyeri Moulterie Alexa Strudler Satsuki Aoi COPY EDITOR Edward Benoit CARTOONIST Patrick Boyle WEB EDITOR Matthew Parrino PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley

Ron Paul criticized after CNN debate

Love him or hate him, you have to admit: Ron Paul is not like any other Republican candidate.

Mumbarak and almost unilaterally supported Israel against the Palestinians.

During CNN’s so called “Tea Party” debate, Paul tried to position his libertarian stance on military spending by saying that 9/11 and other terrorist attacks were motivated by American foreign policy decisions. The blood red conservative audience quickly turned on him and began to boo and hiss like he was a villain in a silent movie.

Foreign policy decisions are not simple or easy to make. Making the call to stop helping in the middle east completely may be just as dangerous as being the big bad world police roaming and meddling in the affairs of other nations, but what Paul brings to attention is an aspect of subtlety that has been ignored in the past for fears of being called an ally of Osama.

Rick Santorum jumped in, calling Paul’s comments “irresponsible,” and unfitting for a presidential candidate. Santorum backed to the now age old argument: They hate us for our free and prosperous culture that is totally incompatible with jihadist ideals.

Terrorism is just not as simple as Muslim extremists hating us for some arbitrary differences, no matter how deep, in our cultures. No doubt, jihadists like Osama bin Laden strongly resent our nation’s freedom that goes against their religion, but to claim they don’t have substantial reason for rage is a dangerous mindset.

Paul fought back, but it started to feel like Kramer at the Laugh Factory just clamoring to get the audience back, especially when he said that one of the reasons al-Qaida hates our nation is because of our treatment of Palestine. The jeers nearly silenced Paul, and he was all but forced to clarify that he was only telling the world how these people think. Santorum then dropped this biggest bomb next to comparing someone to Hitler. He said Paul was “parroting” Osama Bin Laden. The audience rallied behind Santorum, and his campaign will surely use his strong words against Paul. We should always do what is right no matter whom we make angry, even if those people are dangerous. That does not mean we should take the decision to invade and occupy another nation lightly, as we have in the past. We’ve removed democratically elected leaders for personal gain, supported dictators like Egypt’s Hosni

CREATIVE DESIGNERS Nicole Manzo and Aline Kobayashi

The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Feedback, Opinion, and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address. The Spectrum is provided free in part by the Undergraduate Mandatory Activity Fee. September 16, 2011 VOLUME 61 NUMBER 8 CIRCULATION: 7,000 The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by both Alloy Media and Marketing, and MediaMate. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum visit www.ubspectrum. com/ads or call us directly. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100 Telephone: (716) 645-2468 Fax: (716) 645-2766 Copyright 2011 Buffalo, N.Y. The Spectrum is printed by The Buffalo News 1 News Plaza Buffalo, N.Y. 14240 email any submissions to info@ubspectrum.com

It needs to remain clear, however, that no actions taken by terrorists are ever justifiable. The things they have done are atrocities and they should be found and punished. Failing to understand the events that spawn these twisted monsters will doom us to create more and more problems for ourselves. Hiding behind clever phrases like “American exceptionalism” to garner momentary support only continues our denial. We have made mistakes, and there are unreasonable people who take those mistakes and do unbelievably horrible things. In order to effectively combat terrorism and actually defend our nation, we need to listen to people like Paul. The days of being “world police” are over. We cannot afford it economically, and we can’t allow ourselves to send our troops into a fight that is futile.

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EDITORIAL BOARD

EDITORIAL EDITOR James Bowe

Stupid Gun Law Overturned

Turn your head and cough and do you own any guns? It’s probably not part of most people’s routine examinations, but apparently it was a big problem in Florida, where they actually passed a law restricting doctors from asking patients about gun ownership. Judge Marcia G. Cooke recently overturned the law, which restricted doctors to asking about firearms only when there was a compelling medical reason. When they’re bleeding profusely from a bullet wound, at that point there’s little need to figure out if the patient owns a gun. The “Firearm Owner’s Privacy Act,” as it was called, was signed into law on June 2, and it didn’t take long for the case to generate a lawsuit. The main opposition came from pediatricians, who argued that asking whether or not a parent owned a gun was akin to asking of they had a pool or drugs in the home. It’s a safety risk for children. Supporters of the bill claimed that all the act intended to do was protect patients from “harassment” by doctors. They felt as if the questions were infringing on their privacy, and that physicians were trying to sway them from owning guns. Interestingly, some of these complainants were also Medicaid patients. Maybe if they sold their lethal firearms they wouldn’t need Medicaid. In any event, Republican lawmakers inexplicably decided that this needed to be legislated. They claim that it’s a Second Amendment issue, and that the judge should respect all amendments equally. Unfortunately, they are dead wrong.

This couldn’t possibly be further a Second Amendment issue. A question will never prevent anyone from buying or continuing to own a weapon of any kind. Nobody has ever been asked, “Do you own any guns?” and been so shocked that they feel like they couldn’t own their weapons any longer. This law would have caused ridiculous pressure on doctors’ offices. With a law that limits how you can ask about firearms, the legal battle would become a messy “he said she said” fight that would be a massive waste of court time and taxpayer money. For a party that touts itself as a personal freedom party, they certainly had no problem pushing through legislation that directly censors doctors from saying whatever they please and asking whatever questions they please of their patients. Guns, when used improperly, are a significant health risk. Even more so to small children who have neither the motor skills to properly handle a firearm nor any type of training on proper use. Doctors have the right to ask if they see fit, and patients have every right to not answer if they feel it infringes on their privacy. It’s that simple. Is it really necessary to try and legislate discomfort in the doctor’s office? Not every problem that we experience deserves a law. There are infinite inconveniences in our daily lives. Nobody will ever be able to protect us from unusual questions and nobody will ever have to. Loud TV commercials do not need a law, nor do personal questions from someone you pay to ask personal questions.

LETTER to THE EDITOR Administrative Disruption of Academic Freedom at UB On September 21st, as part of the Inauguration Week festivities for new UB President Satish Tripathi, the UB Distinguished Speaker Series will host a talk by former CIA Director and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. Many local residents will be attending. Among the many residents of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan who will not be attending are Zaenullah Khan and Asif Iqbal Khan, of Kyber Pakhtunkhawa, North Waziristan, Pakistan. That’s because Mr. Gates killed them on 31 Dec., 2009, with a US drone strike. Mr. Kareem Khan has named Mr. Gates, along with former CIA Director Leon Panetta, as respondents in a $500 million lawsuit over their wrongful deaths. Mr. Khan’s son Zaenullah was eighteen years old. Mr. Khan’s younger brother, Asif Iqbal, left behind a two-year-old son, Muhammad Kafeel Khan, and a widow, who has plunged into a deep depression. Both men were working on the construction of a village mosque when Mr. Gates and Mr. Panetta killed them. UB has not made public what Mr. Gates will be receiving for his lecture. Two years ago, the Distinguished Speaker Series hosted former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has a similar a record of mass murder. He received a $150,000 (so

his agent told me) for a canned one-hour talk. Former UB President John B. Simpson confirmed to me that his contract stipulated the screening of questions, so that he might be protected from topics he didn’t want to discuss. UB student Nick Kabat, was able to get through with an uncensored question, as you can see if you search for "Tony Blair and the business of covering up war crimes." But whether or not the censors can be tricked again, there is an important principle at stake: what is the UB administration doing in the censorship business? Will university and community members also be censored when Mr. Gates speaks? How is the silent censoring of questions any different from loudly shouting down a speaker whose views you disagree with? Shouldn’t academic freedom come first at a university? The American Association of University Professors has offered an advisory opinion on this sort of censorship. In response to a query from a colleague, Mr. Greg Scholtz of the AAUP Department of Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Governance said, “Our statement on outside speakers focuses on the freedom of the entire university community (the faculty, students, staff, and others you mentioned in your first e-mail) to hear—i.e., to learn. The AAUP’s pronouncements on academic freedom . . . connect academic freedom to teaching and learning.

Faculty have the freedom to teach, and students the freedom to learn. . . If certain questions are prohibited, then so are the answers to them (in fact, in the situation about which you have inquired the questions are prohibited IN ORDER TO avoid giving the answers), and thus the answers are not heard, thereby restricting the freedom to learn.” People may reasonably differ on the question of inviting former CIA Director and Defense Secretary Gates to UB. Personally, I wish UB would find somebody who hasn’t been intimately involved in the murder of brown people around the world, as Gates has, from the Iran-Contra scandal of 1986 to the murders-by-drone of 2003-2011. But I hope we can all agree that anyone whom UB honors with an invitation to speak should honor UB by taking uncensored questions—for instance, about the deaths of Zaenullah Khan and Asif Iqbal Khan. Otherwise, academic freedom is being silently and expensively eroded, while UB with its Distinguished Speakers Series is being turned into another corporation with a public relations department. Jim Holstun is Professor of English at UB.

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Designer Obsession HANNAH BARNES Life Editor

This past Tuesday, Target launched its newest designer collaboration with the Italian fashion house Missoni. It was complete mayhem. Since 2006 when Target launched GO International, their collaboration project, they have combined with 17 top designers to produce quality lines at a low price. But none of them have caused the chaos that the Missoni line did. Fashionistas across the country have been eagerly awaiting the line’s release for months, and the 400-item line did not disappoint. In fact, shoppers were so eager to get their hands on some of the famous zigzag print that they began lining up at Target stores early in the morning in lines that wrapped around city blocks. In a bustle equivalent to Black Friday madness, eager buyers scoured the racks and cleaned them out within hours of many stores’ openings. The store's website was a whole other matter, with the site crashing after being up for only a few hours on Tuesday morning. It stayed down for most of the day, and when it finally started working again, basically everything worth buying was out of stock (believe me, I checked). Missoni was supposed to be offered in Target stores into October, but don’t count on it anymore. After the initial onslaught, stores around the country have been literally cleaned out of the collection, from the sweaters to the storage bins. There may be some returns from impulse buys, but many items may not be restocked. And to add fuel to the fire, many of the items were purchased with the intent of being sold with ridiculously high markups on sites like eBay and Craigslist. As of right now, there are over 30,000 Missoni for Target items being offered on EBay, some (like the zigzag bike) going for over $1,000. Stores like H&M have also done collaborations with high-end designers, and those lines have caused huge fashion commotions as well. It seems that many people will do almost anything to get a piece of a big brand name. Long lines, empty racks, general angst, the whole deal. All of this begs the question – why are we so obsessed with designer labels? It’s somehow gotten into our heads that wearing a label makes you better, more superior, and like you can afford it. Whether or not the label is real has ceased to matter as of late. Fake bags on Canal Street, knockoff sunglasses, and those rhinestone double C earrings are easily spotted, not to mention big name logos splashed across cell phone cases and countless other items. The high-end labels are high-end for a reason, and it's the quality of their goods. Knockoffs are nowhere near as well made, but that doesn't seem to matter anymore, it’s all about flaunting the name. And while the department store collaborations are decently made, the fabrics and construction are nowhere near the level of the real label’s products. Quantity has trumped quality, which is why these low-priced collections are such a huge draw. Label-lust has increased in recent years, with counterfeiting going through the roof and money that people shouldn’t be spending going towards the latest ‘it’ bag. Society pressures people to have it all, and fashion fanatics express that through their clothes. The label, whether you can see it or not, is a status symbol, and many of us are falling prey.

Email: hannah.barnes @ubspectrum.com

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Life

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Be Well, UB

HANNAH BARNES & KEREN BARUCH Life Editor & Asst. Life Editor

If you’ve ever walked past the Founders Plaza on Wednesdays and purchased a fruit from the friendly Farmer’s Market, you’ve officially made use of the many services offered by UB’s Student Wellness Team. With the stress of studying, the joys of partying, and all the fast food in easy reach, college students tend to forget about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. UB’s Wellness Team are taking charge and changing that. Comprised of Student Health Services, Wellness Education Services, and Counseling Services, the team encourages healthy behaviors through a supportive environment and offers services designed to better students’ lives. With a goal to help students feel good and to improve their college performance, they present programs, as well as featured events and workshops to all registered UB students.

The Wellness Education Services office is located at 114 Student Union. The atmosphere, removed from the chaotic SU, attempts to embody relaxation so students can use the space to unwind and attend de-stressing programs.

Also, Michael Hall located at South Campus houses an office so that students on both campuses have the opportunity to use the facilities at their leisure. More often than not, students need an area that has little to no cellphone reception so that they can take a quick break from their wired life. The Wellness Center is attempting to help reduce that number by providing classes that promote a smoke-free atmosphere. According to abovetheinfluence’s web site, smoking is proven to be the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. More than 440,000 Americans die from tobacco-related causes each year, most of these begin using tobacco before the age of 18. Also, The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related injuries, including motor vehicle crashes, each year. Lastly, the Centers for Disease Control report that 30.2 percent of college students have used marijuana in the past year. Each year alcohol, tobacco, and drug use rates are increasing, and our college campus is offering as much as it can to stop this number from becoming higher. The Wellness Team offers UB students a variety of health programs to choose from.

A student relaxes with a cup of tea in the Wellness Center.

Meg Kinsley /// The Spectrum

On Mondays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. there are ‘Quit Smoking Clinics.’ ‘Snacking Tuesdays’ occur every week from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and provides students with a tasty treat dedicated to the day. Fluid movement yoga is offered each Tuesday from 4:40 p.m. to 6 p.m. in 271 Richmond Quad, and is followed by

Friday, September 16, 2011

a Modern Arnis Class from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For those who live on South Campus there is no need to trek all the way over to North Campus facilities. Each Monday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. there is ‘A Time To Relax’ in 309 Michael Hall. Prince Smith, a senior electrical engineering major, has been working for the Wellness Center for three years and encourages students to take advantage of the services. “Most of [the services] are things that most people would pay $20 an hour for, but we can get them for free,” Smith said. “I’ve used the nutritionist, and I have gone to lots of programs, and it’s definitely benefitted me.” As professors start assigning more challenging work and with first exams right around the corner, it is normal to begin feeling stressed. The Wellness Center offers massages on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment. “The wellness center is a great place to just relax, they’re always trying to educate and [to] relieve the stress of everyday [life], and it’s just a place to chill,” said Shelley Hain, a licensed massage therapist and a dance professor at UB, who got involved with the Wellness Center around eight years ago. “I recommend it totally to students,” Hain said, “once you find it, you come back over and over.” The UB Wellness Team promotes mental, physical, and emotional health in students. So grab a fruit from the market or join one of the classes offered and take advantage of the many health services UB provides.

Email: features@ubspectrum.com

UB Enough is Enough Random acts of kindness can go a long way.

JOHAN MATTHEWS Staff Writer Have you held the door for a fellow student lately? Thanked the bus driver? Or even cracked a smile at an unfamiliar classmate? If the answer is no, then you may not being doing your share. According to the UB chapter of the nationwide initiative Enough is Enough, now is the time to band together and voice the sweet sound of harmony. “We really want to infuse the campus with some positive energy,” said Jodi Stelley, the educational programming coordinator of UB Enough is Enough. “We’re asking people to stop and think about how [they] can make a positive change on this campus.” Having helped launch the UB Chapter two years ago as a senior undergrad here at UB, Stelley is ready to kick off this semester’s campaign with a week of workshops and activities starting on Monday, Sept. 19. These programs will aim at bringing staff and students together. “[Our goal is] replacing violence with kindness,” Stelley said. The movement, heavily inspired by the violent incidents in the past at Virginia Tech and at Columbine High School, encourages students to foster an atmosphere of safety and kindness on campus. If history serves as a reminder, it is the cost of not collectively engaging students that is steep. Research shows that when people feel they don’t belong in a community, these

satsuki aoi /// The Spectrum feelings are more likely to escalate into larger acts of violence. Now, part of an organization that is over 150 schools strong, UB’s Chapter of Enough is Enough is trying to do its part in the hopes of avoiding a tragedy like the one at Virginia Tech. During the kickoff next week, togetherness will be just one of the many themes that UB Enough is Enough will discuss. They will also have flyers containing GR codes that can be scanned along with the workshops and host awareness activities. These codes, if scanned, will provide lucky participants a chance to be awarded with one of several prizes, including tickets to Lion King 3D at Shea’s stadium, dinner for two at Bollywood Bistro and more. There will also be other unique opportunities for students to better their community and positively engage one another through the Random Acts of Kindness campaign. This campaign encourages students to perform random acts of kindness based on advice attached to pins that will be handed out in the Student Union all week. “I think that we can stamp out violence in its most egregious and its smallest forms by small acts... so that you would be just as upset if your best friend was assaulted in a parking as you would if it were a stranger,” Stelley said. Everyone has a part to play in making our community a better place, and everyone can move closer toward making this dream a reality. UB’s Enough is Enough chapter hopes to do just that. Email: features @ubspectrum.com

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PRODIGAL SUN

AR Z A H O BI

So Good, It’s Contagious

JAKE KNOTT Staff Writer Studio: Warner Bros. Date of Release: September 9 Grade: B+

No opening credits, just a blank screen. A hoarse, painful cough is uttered. A woman is shown standing; the camera frozen on her as she slowly becomes disoriented. While talking on her cell phone, it’s apparent that the woman’s throat is clogged with something distasteful, and she barely squeaks a word out. This feeble victim is infected, as is the world around her. Awaiting his wife from her business trip in Hong Kong, Mitch Emhoff (Matt Damon, The Adjustment Bureau) sits comfortably in his Minneapolis home. After a delayed arrival, Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow, Glee), slouches over a kitchen counter, motionless. She’s contagious with something new and relentlessly powerful, forcing her to fall and foam at the mouth. Mitch can only stare, heartbroken, into the eyes of the clueless doctor who explains the inconclusive demise of Beth. An amount of uncertainty overflows the room as everyone, especially the doctor, asks only one question. How did Beth Emhoff die? In smooth, well-depicted transitions, similar cases are shown throughout the world. Beth Emhoff ’s unfortunate death was only the beginning of chaos unlike any other. Academy award winning director Steven Soderbergh (The Last Time I Saw Michael Gregg) throws a number of questions to his viewers, and to his characters, who are mere witnesses of all of the harm erupting around the world.

Along with Damon and Paltrow, the acting talent is flawless, with the prominent cast containing nothing but academy award winners or nominees. Most notable is the field agent assigned to the case, Dr. Erin Mears (Kate Winslet, Carnage). Winslet provides a sharp character that elaborates the science involved with the deathly virus. Her boss, Dr. Ellis Cheever (Laurence Fishburne, CSI), is forced into explaining all scientific progress to the public in hopes of keeping the increasingly sickened society at bay. And then there’s British Internet blogger Alan Krumwiede (Jude Law, Repo Men), claiming that he has all of the possible solutions to the epidemic. Law gives funny lines, but more importantly exemplifies a conspirator who frowns upon all of the government’s actions and how it handles the situation. Law’s character also suggests an interesting point while talking to a coworker: people throughout the world are connected to each other more than they realize. These connections are what make the film astounding. Medical professionals from corners of the globe gather into the same room to figure out the nature of the virus. As the future of the human race is cast into mysterious shadow, the only hope for these professionals to save this future is to cooperate and interact with one another. But not everyone wants to play nice. What truly captures this film is the diversity of how people react to the crisis. To some people securing loved ones becomes top priority, while in contrast some fend only for themselves, and do so by any means necessary. This makes viewers ask themselves, what is most important in a global catastrophe?

Matt Damon battles a deadly disease in Contagion.

Courtesy of warner bros. pictures

Contagion provides incredible insight into what appears to be an overplayed plotline. Mainly it’s the intense acting by the wisely chosen cast, and the science that becomes mostly understandable to the audience that gives this film a great chance of success. There is a good amount of scenarios throughout the movie that need to be kept in check, but with a lot happening it also makes for an easily entertaining cinematic adventure.

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The Gospel of Music JAMESON BUTLER Senior Arts Editor My life is full of religious experiences. I have a handful of them a week. When it happens, sometimes I experience a euphoric state that gives me a chance to look at a situation in a different perspective. Sometimes all my problems seem to melt away. But my religious experiences are different from most: it’s not God I’m hearing, it’s what’s getting pumped out of my headphones. Many religions generally have the same principles. Don’t kill, don’t steal, and just be a decent human being. These same exact notions are encouraged through music. To many people, music is just background noise

there to entertain them. But if you look at not as entertainment, but a guideline on how to live your life, it can be just as powerful as any religion.

nary since they open with it a lot. What made it special was after they finished, lead singer Jim Adkins explained that for the first time ever, they would be playing the album in its entirety.

This was not the first time that a concert had moved me. I have seen Taking Back Sunday nine times, and every time I do I lose control and let the music overtake my body.

Music has the ability to dissolve people’s problems with just one song. It has the power to give someone a sense of purpose. It even can make you closer to what you believe in, just by pushing the play button.

When he informed the crowd, I began to shake. “This seriously can’t be happening,” I thought to myself.

I am not saying that people in bands are gods or anything, but the music they produce has the ability to change people’s lives, for better or for worse.

June 1st, 2011 might not be a date that stands out in people’s mind, but it does for me. The Town Ballroom played host to Jimmy Eat World, one of my favorite bands. As I entered the pit, I had no idea that the next three hours would forever change my life. On this fateful night, Jimmy Eat World opened with “Bleed American,” the title track from their 2001 album. This was not out of the ordi-

Bleed American is my third favorite album of all time. I have gone through numerous copies of the CD because I listen to it so much. To get people to understand how much it means to me, I often refer to it as part of my bible. As Jimmy Eat World performed songs I thought I would never see performed live, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and ecstasy overtook my body. There was even a point when I had to fight back the tears.

If you doubt the power of music as a religion, go to a show. People scream the words to every song just because they believe, very strongly, in what is being said. That devotion to music can be just as strong as someone’s devotion to religion. It all depends on what sets you free.

Email: jameson.butler@ubspectrum.com

Dead Ringer for Grade A Entertainment Prodigal Sun Weekend Outlook DAN WHITNEY Staff Writer

Friday

Broadway Joe's

7 p.m. – A Night in Hell: Hubris, Pig Rectum, Pneumonia Hole, Atrichous.

Nietzsche’s

10 p.m. – Cosmic Shakedown, White Bison, Bearhunter

Mohawk Place

8 p.m. – Xiu Xiu, Hedgehog, Kindest Lines. Town Ballroom 8 p.m. – Run DMT, Hxly.

Saturday Nietzsche's

10 p.m. – Handsome Jack CD Release Party, Johnny Nobody, The Mordaunt Sisters

Club Diablo

6 p.m. –Freshman 15, New County, Canoe, Between Glass Walls, Catch the Lion, Dividing the Skyline, & Divided by Friday

Mohawk Place

10 p.m. – Transmission Back to School Dance Party

Town Ballroom

7 p.m. – Ari Schaffir, Joey Diaz, James Kurdziel.

Xtreme Wheels

6 p.m. – Final Conspiricy (CD Release), With Life Comes Death, Infamous Impulse, Between Us All, Game Over.

Sunday

Nietzsche's 8 p.m. – Rose Bond with the Allen Street Jazz Band

Ninth Ward @ Babeville

7 p.m. – These United States, Southeast Engine, Son of the Sun

Show: Ringer Grade: ATime: Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Network: CW

Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Wonderful Maladys) makes her long-awaited return to the small screen in Ringer, her first television role since the end of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 2003. One of the most anticipated projects of the fall television season, Ringer – which premiered on Sept. 13 – tells the story of identical twins Bridget Kelly and Siobhan Martin, both of whom are played by Gellar. Bridget, who is on the run from the police, visits her sister for the first time in six years – a reunion that ends in Siobhan’s apparent suicide. Running out of options, Bridget decides to impersonate her twin in order to trade her troubled life for the seemingly-flawless existence of her other half. Her sibling’s life, however, is far from perfect. As Siobhan’s unexpected secrets begin to surface, Bridget desperately attempts to conceal her true identity from her sister’s husband Andrew (Ioan Gruffudd, Horrible Bosses), best friend Gemma (Tara Summers, The Lake Effect), and lover Henry (Kristoffer Polaha, Life Unexpected), as well as Victor Machado (Nestor Carbonell, Wilfred), a detective who is desperately searching for Miss Kelly. The pilot episode, which had enough action and drama to satisfy all viewers, moved at a rapid pace, and introduced a number of intricate plots and complex characters, each of whom has multiple motives for their actions. Everyone, it seems, is not who they seem; everyone has something to hide.

Sarah Michelle Gellar steps back into the ring with Ringer.

Courtesy of CW

Perfectly cast in the dual role of Bridget and Siobhan, Gellar is finally allowed to demonstrate her excellent acting abilities due to the fact that the women are total opposites: one is a kind-hearted, struggling addict who is attempting to get her life back on track while the other is a cold, calculating manipulator. The actress plays both sides of the spectrum so well it is hard to believe that she has only just begun portraying these two characters.

Parts of the hour-long show felt somewhat rushed, which seemed to be the creators’ way of introducing the numerous storylines and complex characters.

In a recent interview that appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Gellar believes Ringer is “the perfect balance of what audiences want to see” her do, describing the show as “Cruel Intentions meets Buffy,” a comparison that, after viewing the pilot episode, is spot on. From her stares of innocence as Bridget to her icy glares as Siobhan, Gellar, as always, embodies her roles effortlessly and fully.

No premiere is without flaws, and it seems that Ringer has a clear idea where it is going creatively. It is likely that this show – and Gellar – will establish a welcome spot in the viewing schedules of many audiences with a few minor tweaks. From the looks of it, Ringer has enough stamina to give viewers a season of drama, suspense, and twists at every corner.

While the pilot episode had many positives, not all aspects reached perfection.

Their intentions, however, did not exactly translate onto the TV screen, as the show jumped back and forth between a span of different days. The constant movements made the editing appear choppy in some places as the narrative progressed.

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Z FRIDAY, PRODIGAL SUN Z ubspectrum.com

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Inspiration on the Green VILONA TRACHTENBERG Staff Writer

allowed the audience to connect with his strong messages.

Inspired, family-friendly, profanity-free hip-hop is not something one comes to expect, but Buffalo’s own talented musicians may help to change that.

“I have a good time wherever I go. This is why I do what I do and the way I do it,” Drease said.

The 5th annual UB On The Green concert series featured many local acts appealing to many audiences, and Wednesday night at Rotary Field was no exception. Some of Buffalo’s best hip-hop and R&B acts were featured, with Billy Drease Williams and N2Deep representing that talent. N2Deep is a highly energetic five-man funk R&B band, and they entered the stage with vigor and liveliness. Their infectious spirit and passion for performance invaded the crowd, and almost as fast as they began performing, the audience started dancing, mirroring the energy on stage. With covers of retro music from The Four Seasons and Prince’s Purple Rain, the band left the crowd dancing and reliving the past. N2Deep also played soulful, slow songs that inspired the audience. The band’s powerful stage presence allowed each performer to highlight their talents, and instrumental solos abounded. However, the real inspirational entertainment came from hip-hop artist Billy Drease Williams. Drease has an unique persona as a rapper, and his songs have a sole purpose: to inspire. Paired with DJ Tony Caferro, Drease wasted no time in spreading his positive messages when they hit the stage. Drease’s songs reverse the negative stigma of hip-hop music, while providing positive lessons in a pleasant atmosphere. In his song “Get Free,” Drease raps about breaking free of stereotypes, fear, apprehension and anything that can hold a person back. Drease showed humility toward audience members and stimulated the crowd with his humor and personality. Although the audience was small, Drease performed with full force, capturing the moments that

Friday, September 16, 2011

A Bubbly Caillat

Drease closely inspired one of the audience members, Xavier Flywalker Drayton who was featured in Drease’s video “Just Doin’ It.” “My favorite part was seeing someone close to me doing a talent of mine. He inspires me dearly,” Drayton said. Through his lyrics and stage charisma, it is no wonder that Drease’s song “Just Doin’ It” was nominated for a Video of the Year Grammy in 2010. “I think he’s got talent,” said Dan Kozlowski, a junior computer engineering major. “He has strong verses, and I liked some of the music samples used.” Skilled piano player Richie English was featured midway through Drease’s set, and added an impactful musical element as he took the stage to play songs from Drease’s album Good Morning Amy. The piano brought a jazzy, uplifting sound to the the act, and it helped Drease get his unique message across. “What inspires me is to inspire people,” Drease said. “I want the message to come across. [I want] to be highly influential and be an inspiration. [My music] is positive and reflects real life. It’s real so that everyone can relate.” Other songs Drease performed – including “Run,” “Fresh,” and “I Like It” – exemplified solid verses with repetitive simplistic hooks to get the audience to sing along. “I think he’s bringing fresh back to Buffalo in a clean and awesome way,” said Julianna Wojcik, 21, of Buffalo. “It’s so versatile that the kids in the audience can watch, and there are people here in lawn chairs. [Drease] can speak to a lot of people.”

Caillat kicked off her tour with sugary lyrics and a bright personality. ELVA AGUILAR Staff Writer Tranquility and love were in the air after a quiet girl with an immense voice from Malibu, California graced Buffalo. Grammy award winner Colbie Caillat began her seven-week tour in the UB Center for the Arts Mainstage Theatre, amongst some of her biggest fans. She included music from all three of her albums. Armed with a six-person band and a pair of knee-high boots, Caillat opened her set with her hit singles “Realize” and “The Little Things” from her debut album Coco. Caillat did an amazing job not only making sure her vocals stood out against the music, but also a spectacular job preparing her band for the performance. Her band – including a drummer, two guitarists, a bassist, pianist and backing vocalist – had a chemistry seldom seen on stage.

Satsuki Aoi /// The Spectrum

The tempo of the show was turned up a notch when Caillat performed the song “Falling For You,” which had most of the audience singing along and bopping their heads. Following that was the song “Brighter Than The Sun,” which actually got the audience to their feet dancing and interacting with Caillat. Caillat ended her 90-minute long set with a crowd favorite, “Bubbly,” and a standing ovation. Preceding Caillat’s performance was fellow Californian musician, Andy Grammer. Grammer, accompanied by a drummer and bassist, performed six original tracks from his self-titled debut album, as well as a cover of Maroon 5’s hit “Sunday Morning.” Despite the audience being mainly middle-aged women with their daughters, there were a few brave men that came along. Grammer made himself accessible to both audiences by being both wholesome and flirtatious.

The song “I Won’t” from her sophomore album, Breakthrough, began with an intense, yet intimate, drum solo and sparked one of the best reactions from the audience all night.

His personality shone brighter than his music, however, as his 2-person band often overpowered him. Nonetheless, the audience did not seem to mind Grammer’s jokes between songs.

“Words can’t explain how happy I am to see [Caillat] live,” said Margaret Kleeman, a local stay at home mother of Amherst. “I’ve been listening to [Caillat] for years. My kids love her, my husband loves her, I love her,” said Kleeman with her husband on her arm and three children sitting around them.

The comfort and grace Caillat showed on stage is proof of hard work throughout the past four years as her career has blossomed; and her show at UB’s CFA serves as a positive precursor for the rest of her tour.

Before performing the new track, “Shadow,” from her newest album All of You, Caillat explained the inspiration when cowriting the song with her guitarist and vocalist, Justin Young, which stemmed from an emotionally abusive relationship Caillat’s friend went through.

Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

Space Marine Suffers Under the Warhammer their load-outs at one of the many armory drop-pods littering the planet, there’s never an unsatisfied want for the best weapon in the infinitesimal set. While the path of war is best faced with friends, Space Marine supports no local or online co-op play, making the pathway through a thousand Ork corpses a lonely one. Admittedly, the game has some online multiplayer, but it does little to keep the player entertained once the campaign has come and gone. Even beginning to explore the online realm can be an issue, however, as the game is currently lacking an extensive fan-base. Years ago, Relic Entertainment took the realm of die and tabletop warfare and created a masterpiece, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War. Unlike its real time strategy brethren, Space Marine is just not there. Yet. Honestly, at times the game feels more like a product demo than it does a full release. With the backing lore to fill up an entire library, you would think Relic would’ve had the opportunity to include more than the homely looking green-skins, but at least the team went for quality, opposed to quantity. Relic does well to capture the heart of the Warhammer world, its strategy. Each level feels unique and distinct from any that came before it. From sewers to barren wastes, each area of conflict allows for a different approach.

Warhammer dropped the ball, not the hammer. NICOLAS PINO Arts Editor Game: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Developer: Relic Entertainment Grade: C When a game developer fades into their game with: “In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war,” there are two appropriate responses: either return that game immediately for a full refund, or sit back and turn off the lights, as this will be one of the best cinematic representations of plastic miniatures that the world has ever seen. Thankfully, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine is much closer to the latter. This frenetic shooter places players in the middle of a sizable Ork invasion, and while the fate of the planet’s population could ride on the Ultramarines’ shoulders, HQ would rather not take that

Courtesy of THQ

risk. Instead, they’d rather forgo humanity and save the one piece of artillery that will certainly end this impromptu conflict, an Imperator-class Titan. Space Marine finds the subtle balance of hack-and-slash, chainsword fisticuffs and long-range scoped combat that meld together to create the feeling of a walking tank. Unfortunately, the player will move like said tank too. Overall, the game’s most basic controls and physics play out much like EPIC’s critically acclaimed trilogy, Gears of War. Where Space Marine trails off the gory path, however, is the addition of “Rage Mode.” An aura of power engulfs the marine, letting loose his nearly inhuman killing power, leaving only a bloodied pool of Ork organs in his wake. In terms on sheer firepower Warhammer 40k is no slouch, but in a world built around war, one would think that there’d be more to choose from than the standard Bolter weapons and relatively unexciting plasma guns. Although players are able to customize

For example, while the unwieldy power axe may be able to mow through a pack of the smaller foes on open terrain, when put up against the Ork elites, hand-to-hand combat usually ends in swift and utter Orkish retribution. The game faces three unforgivable flaws that will ultimately place it in the realm renting, rather than that of buying. Beyond the linear campaign and slim online pickings, the game lacks shelf life. Compounding this issue is the game’s absolutely savage difficulty and truly despicable exclusion of a cover-system. Finally, “Horde Mode,” which essentially comprises 95 percent of the game’s premise, won’t be playable with friends for another 30 days. For Warhammer fan boys this will hopefully serve as the first of many attempts at a foray into the shooter sphere, and mostly, the game accomplishes exactly what it set out to do. That being said, there is so much potential left unanswered. So many Orks will be left un-slain, due in part to the game’s lackluster polish and shallow development.

Email:arts@ubspectrum.com

Friday, September 16, 2011

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with 2-year wireless svc agreement on voice and minimum $15/mo data plan required.

Purchase of Unlimited Messaging plan required. Available with select plans. International long distance calls and International roaming calls not included. Calls to directory assistance, voicemail, pay-per-use, call routing, and forwarding numbers not included. Other restrictions and conditions apply. See att.com/anymobile or store for details. Monthly discount: Service discount applies only to the monthly service charge of qualified plans and not to any other charges. Available only to qualified students and employees of colleges/universities with a qualified business agreement. Other service discount qualification requirements may apply. Restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. See store for details. Limited-time offer. Subject to wireless customer agrmt. Credit approval req’d. Activ. fee $36/line. Coverage & svcs, including mobile broadband, not avail everywhere. Geographic, usage & other conditions & restrictions (that may result in svc termination) apply. See contract, rate plan brochure, and rebate form at stores for details. Taxes & other chrgs apply. Prices & equip. vary by mkt & may not be avail. from ind. retailers. See store or visit att.com for details and coverage map. Early Termination Fee (ETF): None if cancelled during first 30 days, but a $35 restocking fee may apply; after 30 days, ETF up to $325, depending on device (details att.com/equipmentETF). Subject to change. Agents may impose add’l fees. Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge up to $1.25/mo. is chrg’d to help defray costs of complying with gov’t obligations & chrgs on AT&T & is not a tax or gov’t req’d chrg. Offer Details: Motorola Atrix 4G price with 2-year wireless svc agreement on voice & minimum $15/mo. data plan required is $99.99. Sales tax calculated based on price of unactivated equipment. Smartphone Data Plan Requirement: Min. $15/mo. DataPlus (200MB) plan required; $15 automatically chrg’d for each additional 200MB provided if initial 200MB is exceeded. All data, including overages, must be used in the billing period in which it is provided or be forfeited. For more details on data plans, go to att.com/dataplans. Screen images simulated. ©2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. Service provided by AT&T Mobility. All rights reserved. AT&T and the AT&T logo are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

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Friday, September 16, 2011

Continued from Page 1: Talking Leaves Books Talks Local

Do You Have Tooth Decay?? VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

for a research study The study is open to adults 18 and older.

“More recently, with the increasing development of online books, it has been harder and harder to get students to be willing to buy books, and potentially pay a little more to an independent bookseller rather than get them in the cheapest means possible,” said Barbara Bono, a professor in the English department. ubspectrum.com

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of probiotic enriched toothpaste on dental plaque. Time commitment: Four visits that last approximately 20 minutes. You will be reimbursed for your time and travel expenses if you qualify for the study. The research will be conducted at the University at Buffalo, South Campus For additional information, contact Violet I. Haraszthy or Carol Parker:

at 716-829-6322 or email Dr. Haraszthy at : vh1@buffalo.edu

The management estimates that when Talking Leaves first began offering textbooks selected by professors, approximately 80 percent of students from a given class would purchase the book at their store. Within the last five years, that number has dropped to 30 percent. “John [Welch] has simply said to me that even though I’m ordering really standard literary texts, students either won’t buy the book, or they’ll go seek it elsewhere,” Bono said. “So I can place my order with him, but only a fraction of my students actually go to Talking Leaves to buy the texts.” Although Welch is disappointed to see fewer students shopping in the community, he understands that the expense students face when buying textbooks is an enormous motivating force. “If we’re selling a book for 80 dollars and Amazon is selling it for 62, I can’t really blame students for buying online,” said Welch. Textbooks comprise approximately one quarter of Welch’s Main Street store. However, the business he gets – or fails to get – from textbook sales will not determine the fate of his business. For the last few years, he has been rethinking the store’s position as a supplier of course books. The partnership between UB professors and Talking Leaves was driven by the mutual

desire to help students become more involved in businesses surrounding campus. Online shopping often ruins the sense of community that local purchases promote, according to Welch. “When you shop locally, when you shop in this you spend stays16, in this community, the money Friday, September 2011 community. It employs people in this community and it doesn’t leave here. When you shop with Amazon, everything leaves here and nothing comes back,” Welch said. When professors send their students to Talking Leaves, the hope is that they will stop and look around at books outside of their required reading. The goal is to get students to own books, keep books and read books, according to Bono. The management believes that, as one of the only true bookstores left in Buffalo, Talking Leaves is a great place to start. “I live locally, and I’ve used Talking Leaves since high school,” said John D., a senior English major. “It’s a great bookstore; the atmosphere is really nice. I don’t have a problem getting myself there, it’s always fun just to take a walk down.” Students like John who do get out and explore the city around South Campus know that unique and interesting shops like Talking Leaves are scattered all over the city, from Main Street to Elmwood and everywhere in between. “The biggest issue for us is that student’s don’t feel comfortable leaving campus, or don’t want to leave campus,” Welch said. “They’re not exploring very much. To me, college is the best time in your life to be seeing what else is out there.”

Email: news@ubspectrum.com

Continued from Page 1: Upvoting UB Continued from Page 1: Bulls March Into Indiana While most teams will try to run away from Mack, there’s a chance the Cardinals won’t try to run much at all. Ball State’s greatest strength lies in its passing game. Quarterback Keith Wenning leads an imposing attack against a Buffalo secondary that has surprised many with its strong play thus far in 2011. The Cardinals’ running game hasn’t performed well this year. Ball State will most likely attempt to attack the Bulls through the air. The in-conference bad blood will finally take center stage on Saturday at Muncie Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Email: sports@ubspectrum.

munity for the members of UBreddit.

as a way to keep up to date with news around campus.

“With the UB board I’m looking to post more just because it is a smaller community and I feel like I contribute more to it,” said Nick Robin, a freshman business major. “I think it’s an easy way to talk to other students without feeling, not to say judged, but with a layer of anonymity. It’s more of a way for people who are similar in interests to interact.”

“I haven’t seen too much relevant information, but it IS my main source of info on UB. I found out about our distinguished speakers first through UBreddit on some post, for example, much sooner than I would have checked MyUB. Same with Spring Fest lineup last year. I read the UBreddit more than the Spectrum, honestly,” said McBurger, a UBreddit member in a message.

Armbruster explained that UBreddit isn’t just for current students. It’s open to everyone who’s UB affiliated, including alumni, prospective students, faculty and staff. She believes that it’s a great way for people to connect and start up conversations on topics they really care about. Others choose to use UBreddit

The Grow a College Subreddit Competition will end on Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. While it’s still too early to tell if UBreddit will win, it’s never too late to head over and throw your voice into the mix.

Email: features@ ubspectrum.com

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Friday, September 16, 2011

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