the Independent Student Publication of the University at Buffalo, Since 1950
The S pectrum ubspectrum.com
Volume 62 No. 20
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
UB embarks on research program with Zimbabwe
Read’s cultural connections
Story on page 5
Story on page 8
**Editorial**
Strife in the Heights
A call for immediate action in Buffalo’s – and UB’s – University Heights The University Heights district is the definition of deplorable. It has been an ongoing talking point over the course of several years – on Monday, we reported about a student who was left homeless after his Merrimac home became infested by bed bugs, but this is not the first instance or the last. Hardened raw sewage is caked around open basement pipes. Faulty electrical wiring and natural gas problems have started house fires. The violations go on and on. The housing conditions aren’t the only problems occurring inside the walls of the Heights homes. September brought two separate drug busts, including a major drug ring on West Northrup Place.
It isn’t any better outside the homes. Two attacks have occurred recently on Winspear Avenue, leading to medical treatment for one victim and reconstructive facial surgery for another. However, as each new story comes out, we consistently see the blame passed from one person to the next. The issues are written off as minor or swept under the rug completely. But with each new story, the truth comes out – stories of unsafe streets and safety sacrificed for the sake of a few extra bucks. Despite jurisdiction lines, “University” is in the name. UB’s name is part of that neighborhood, and it’s being marketed by UB as affordable housing near campus, yet
the university continues to shy away from it further and further with every call and crime report. It wants to stay affiliated with the area to get students in the doors but turns the other cheek when one of the doors unhinges. Is anybody even listening anymore? Whether UB likes it or not, it owes some responsibility to the people who live in this neighborhood. There needs to be change. Each week, Dan Ryan, director of offcampus student relations at UB, and City of Buffalo Inspection Services have been going door to door during housing blitzes in the Heights – writing up landlords and surveying these awful conditions. The Blitzes began in 2011 when our then-Editor in Chief
Andrew Wiktor published “Reaching New Heights,” an article outlining the conditions and violations of the district. Now weekend after weekend, more dirty secrets are uncovered. Violations are being written left and right with horrible landlords to blame – many of whom don’t even live in Buffalo and certainly not in the Heights. With no concern for the quality of living and just looking to pocket their cash, they’re well aware they can take advantage of the students who feel their only option lies in the Heights. After all, they’ve been told constantly that it’s a part of the city that’s affordable, close to campus and within distance of a bustling nightlife. It’s convenient, and we students thrive on convenience. Continued on page 3
Obama, Romney bring heat to domestic policy discussion Students watch debate in Student Union and weigh in LISA KHOURY Senior News Editor
Satsuki Aoi /// The Spectrum
Tim Dean, an openly gay professor, teaches Queer Theory in UB’s English Department. He uses his experiences as real-life teaching tools – he’s unashamed of who he is – and encourages his students to think about sexuality in new and different ways.
Casual sex
Professor Tim Dean encourages his students to think about sexuality in new ways AMI DIALLO Staff Writer His bold British accent can be heard through the crowd. With his briefcase in hand, Tim Dean stands tall and poised amongst his students. He watches and cheers proudly as one of them performs in the UB Drag Show in the Student Union. When Shania Elizabeth Understood, better known as senior English major Clinton Hodnett, stood on stage, smiles spread across almost every face in the audience – especially Dean’s. Dean, who teaches Queer Theory and Introduction to Poetry, began his career 19 years ago and has been out living his passion ever since. He feels that his homosexuality is a quality that helps him give a unique perspective in the classroom. He makes sure to maintain an open relationship with his students and informs them of his sexuality right away. He isn’t ashamed of who he is. “I think I was one of those people where when I came out, they were like, ‘yeah we know,’ so some people
were not surprised and that made [coming out] easier in a way,” Dean said. “I think because it was not a big of a deal for me, it was not a big of a deal for other people, mostly. I found if you treat people like people, they would treat you as a person. It's not the only thing important about me because there are other aspects to who I am. If I seem like I'm comfortable with myself, you would be comfortable with me, too.” He hasn’t always been a success at UB. When he started teaching a course similar to Queer Theory in 2002, it was a disaster. “When I explained to the students what it was, they freaked out,” Dean said. “By the second class, there were only two people left enrolled and the course was canceled.” Despite his first failed attempt, Dean taught a similar course titled Literature and Gender four years later, but it wasn’t much more popular than the first class. He blamed it on the scheduling – it was a three-hour night class. “It wasn’t a total disaster, but from my point of view, it wasn’t a success either,” Dean said. Continued on page 12
Inside
Students in the Union watched President Obama attempt to make up for lost ground against former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in a feisty dispute over domestic policy during the second presidential debate on Tuesday night. A consensus among students and media outlets is Obama was more aggressive than the first debate. Some students said he was still too reserved. Both candidates continually cut off Moderator Candy Crowley. “I really think this debate was pretty even,” said Nicholas Paul, a junior biochemistry major who is voting for Romney. “It’s really hard [to name] one clear winner in this one. For their points, they both argued, they both cut each other off at certain times. It was pretty even. Neither one was going out crazy hard against the other.” Thirty-seven percent of voters polled after the debate said Obama was the victor, 30 percent thought it was Romney and 33 percent called it a tie, according to CBS News. The debate, which took place at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., featured a town hallstyle format with an audience of approximately 80 undecided voters. They asked questions regarding the terrorist attack in Libya, energy production, gasoline prices, tax plans, jobs for college graduates, immigration, auto industry, oil production, job creation, contraception, assault weapons ban and poverty. A 20-year-old college student asked the first question, voicing his concern about whether he’d be able to find a job after he graduates. “More debt and less jobs,” Romney answered. “I'm going to
Opinion 3 News 5,6
Life 8,9
Classifieds & Daily Delights 13
Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum
Students watch Tuesday night’s passionate presidential debate at a screening party in the Student Union.
change that. I know what it takes to create good jobs again. When you come out in 2014 – I presume I’m going to be president – I’m going to make sure you get a job.” Unemployment was below 8 percent in September for the first time since Obama took office, according to CNN. Romney said his economic plan would create “12 million jobs in four years.” Economists believe the economy will add that many jobs in four years regardless of who’s elected to the White House, according to National Journal. Both Obama and Romney said their tax plans would benefit the middle class and spur job creation; each argued his opponent’s plan would do the opposite. Toward the end of the debate, Obama brought up Romney’s controversial “47 percent” comments from May. “Think about who he was talking about,” Obama said. “Folks on Social Security who’ve worked all their lives. Veterans who’ve sacrificed for this country. Students who are out there trying to hopefully advance their own dreams, but also this country’s dreams. Soldiers who are overseas fighting for us right now. People who are working hard every day, paying payroll tax, gas taxes, but don’t make enough income.”
The candidates delved into foreign policy when the Sept. 11, 2012 attack that killed four Americans in Benghazi, Libya became a focus. Romney called the president’s entire policy in the Middle East into question because it took Obama two weeks to call it a terrorist attack. “It was a terrorist attack and it took a long time for that to be told to the American people,” Romney said. He also questioned: “How could we have not known?” Despite Romney’s accusation, Obama said he called it a terrorist attack right away. Crowley interrupted Romney to confirm Obama immediately referred to it as “acts of terror.” Patrick Jameson, a freshman computer science major, is often frustrated with the lack of opportunity viewers have to fact check during presidential debates. He was glad Crowley stepped in. Jameson considers himself liberal but is still an undecided voter. “I definitely think Romney won the first debate significantly; he’s definitely a stronger debater than Obama,” Jameson said. “Obama seems to be more reserved and doesn’t attack Romney as much as Romney attacks Obama.” Continued on page 7
Arts & Entertainment 10,11 Sports 14