The Spectrum Volume 62 Issue 39 by The Spectrum Student Periodical

the Independent Student Publication of the University at Buffalo, Since 1950

The S pectrum ubspectrum.com

Volume 62 No. 39

Friday, December 7, 2012

Starlight Children’s Foundation brings fulfilled wishes to many Story on page 6

Amy’s Place holds deeper story than cheap breakfast Story on page 4

The Swerve God

Michael Uko’s newfound focus after mastering Twitter DUANE OWENS Asst. Arts Editor

Courtesy of Licata and Cronin families

Chris Cronin (left) is freshman quarterback Joe Licata’s biggest fan. Cronin has attended all Licata’s games since his days at Williamsville South High School.

Licata friend in me

While Licata leads Bulls to new territory, No. 1 fan Cronin enjoys the ride JOE KONZE JR Sports Editor Chris Cronin is a stat machine. If someone asks how many touchdowns the Bulls threw for last season or when the Bulls last won on the road, he will rattle off the numbers without thought. The 17-year-old knows the game. Sports are engrained in his life. But there is more to Cronin than his analytics. He is a motivator, a contagious spirit and redshirt freshman quarterback Joe Licata’s biggest fan. Unlike most of Licata’s fan base, Cronin isn’t family. At the end of the home football game on Nov. 10, Cronin stood outside the entrance to the Buffalo Bulls’ locker room, pacing and waiting to congratulate his favorite player on a big win over Mid-American Conference rival Western Michigan. Licata took over as quarterback for the Bulls late this season and posted a 3-1 record to go along with 1,045 yards and seven touchdowns. He helped ignite the program’s first three-game winning streak since the 2009 season. But Cronin knew this already. He had been following Licata all season. Because Cronin has a learning disability and is unable to go on the field because he was born with a foot deformity, Cronin’s parents refused to let him play the game he loved. They were worried about the risks. So the high school junior manages West Seneca East’s football team. It’s his way of being connected with his passion. His optimism and love for the game are contagious to those around him, according to Jim Cronin, his father. “That’s how Chris is in life: he’s a motivator,” Jim said. “Chris is that sunshine on a cloudy day. His teachers even say he is so enthusiastic and they wish every kid could be like him.” Two years ago, while others on the West Seneca East team were hanging their heads in defeat after a loss to their rivals, Williamsville South, Cronin was on his way across the field to congratulate the opposing quarterback. He was amazed by the offense Licata and his high school team, the Billies, were running. Continued on page 9

It’s the beginning of the semester and there’s a line of people anxiously awaiting entrance into an already-flooded house party. Though it’s midnight and pitch black in the driveway, the easily noticeable 6-foot-4 Derrick Swerve still manages to distract partygoers from the speakers pumping high decibels of music. A girl in the middle of the line constantly peeks behind her shoulder before she finally decides to turn around and ask the question that has become a familiarity for Swerve as of late: “Do you have a Twitter?” Swerve has shaken up the Twitter world with over 130,000 tweets and raised an army of approximately 95,000 followers. When Swerve confirms that he does, in fact, have a Twitter, the girl’s face lights up. She knows she is in the presence of one of the many forms of a celebrity. Born Michael Uko, now attending UB with a major in business and concentration in finance, he’s maneuvered through interesting chapters of life’s book and now has a new approach. Some things never change with Uko. He resorts to his alias when meeting someone for the first time.

Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum

After manuevering from one lane to the other, Michael “Derrick Swerve” Uko finds his way at UB with a new focus on the now that’ll end up shaping his future.

“I don’t tell girls that my name is Mike. I tell ’em my name is Derrick Swerve,” Uko boasted. “If you meet Trey Songz today, you’re going to be like ‘Trey Songz.’ You call me by my stage name, the name I want to be called. I feel like 30 percent of the people that know me, know me by my real name and the other 70 percent know me as Derrick Swerve. I like how it sounds when these h**s say my name. It flows beautifully.”

The “swerve” movement originated during Uko’s high school years and continued throughout his first year at Syracuse University. In 2007-08, Uko attended SU with a major in civil engineering. Because he possessed a keen interest in the construction of bridges and other types of buildings, Uko figured it was a good place to start. But the joy for building couldn’t overcome

his lack of interest in the science and physics that came along with it. Socially, Uko was considered “the man” at Syracuse. Isaiah Johnson, SU alumnus and friend of Uko, holds him in the highest regard and describes Uko as the key figure of excitement and activity during his freshman year in ’07-08. Continued on page 10

Life of the party

College students find success in party promotion business BRIAN JOSEPHS Senior Managing Editor After weeks of promotion, Sickamatic Royal T-Krew held its reggae/hip-hop party at Buffalo Live on Main Street on Nov. 16. It was a success. Hundreds of partiers from New York City, Maryland and Buffalo were dancing to the visceral thrills of G.O.O.D. Music’s “Mercy” and the anthemic cries of dancehall artist Beenie Man’s “Romie.” Meanwhile, John Nurse, a Daemen College graduate, was right by the admissions door as the attendees paid to get in on the fun. It was another successful night for the Sickamatic Krew, one of the few party promotions teams in Buffalo dedicated to the college nightlife. For years, college students have taken advantage of their demographic’s desire for fun by hosting parties at various clubs. Many have failed in this business endeavor, while others have thrived in Buffalo’s night-

Inside

Courtesy of Keith Williams of Immaculate Nights

The Roc Boyz (from left: Dwane “Duece” Bruce, Tracey “Trace” Lavon, Damian “Dame Dolla” O’Meally and Daniel “Bubz” Harris) are one of the premier student party promoters in Buffalo.

life. Party promotions is a job that requires a delicate balance of confidence and humility, ambition and reality. Nurse knows this more than many of his competitors as he’s been in the promotion game for more than five years.

He’s seen many groups rise and fall in the promotions market. “A lot of people kind of let this entertainment thing get the best of them,” Nurse said. “I’ve seen it happen in my own group. People get a big head, pop a few bottles, take a few pictures with

Opinion 3 News 4 Life 6

the glitz and glamour. But at the end of the day, you’re still human. You’re not better than anybody else.” Most student promotional groups are made up of what Ayodeji Lapite, a UB alumnus, calls “made men.” These men have already made a name for themselves on campus. Lapite, who is one of the founders of Dreamchasers, was a member of a now-defunct entertainment group and president of the African Student Association (ASA). Washington Darko of Dreamchasers was a member of the Black Student Union, while Dwane “Duece” Bruce of Roc Boyz Entertainment is a brother of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. They already have an advantage because they have the attention of diverse circles. Roc Boyz consist of Tracey “Trace” Lavon, a senior health and humans services major; Damian “Dame Dolla” O’Meally, a UB alum and rapper; Daniel “Bubz” Harris, a UB alumnus and assistant coach on UB’s track and field team; and Duece. Continued on page 5

Arts & Entertainment 7

Classifieds & Daily Delights 11

Sports 12

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Friday, December 7, 2012

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Opinion

Friday, December 7, 2012 ubspectrum.com

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in Chief Aaron Mansfield Senior Managing Editor Brian Josephs Managing Editor Rebecca Bratek Editorial Editor Ashley Steves News EDItors Sara DiNatale, Co-Senior Lisa Khoury, Co-Senior Ben Tarhan Lisa Epstein, Asst. LIFE EDITORS Rachel Kramer, Senior Lyzi White Jacob Glaser, Asst. ARTS EDITORS Elva Aguilar, Senior Adrien D’Angelo Duane Owens, Asst. Lisa de la Torre, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS Nate Smith, Senior Joe Konze Jon Gagnon, Asst. PHOTO EDITORS Alexa Strudler, Senior Satsuki Aoi Reimon Bhuyan, Asst. Nick Fischetti, Asst. PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Mark Kurtz CREATIVE DIRECTOR Aline Kobayashi Brian Keschinger, Asst. Haider Alidina, Asst. ADVERTISING DESIGNER Joseph Ramaglia Chris Belfiore Ryan Christopher, Asst. Haley Sunkes, Asst.

New low for New York Post My first and Post’s decision to run controversial photo contributes to negative views of journalists

“Doomed” and “about to die,” a photo of Ki-Suck Han’s final moments graced the cover page of Tuesday’s New York Post accompanied by the publication’s typical quarter-of-a-page captions. The photo depicts the 58-year-old clinging to the side of a NYC subway platform as a train approaches. After Han was pushed onto the subway tracks during a confrontation, Post freelance photographer R. Umar Abbasi allegedly ran toward the train repeatedly firing off his flash to get the operator to try to stop. The subway didn’t stop and neither did production. The Post ran the story and the picture on the front cover, an insensitive and unethical decision by a publication that has continually bumped the ethics bar too low to even crawl under anymore. The national outrage garnered by the issue was not built solely around the decision to print the photo. In fact, the main criticism of the entire instance was Abbasi’s failure to jump into action to save Han’s life. All of it brings up the question of documenting the tragedy versus helping the victim – in other words, when a news photographer witnesses a tragedy in the making, is it his obligation to intervene or to document it? Most criticism on the issue of the potential rescues has all revolved around the photographer and shifted away from the other people on the platform. In a classic example of the bystander effect, the presence of the other spectators hindered anyone from intervening. The bystanders’ common belief there was nothing they could do or that somebody else would do something. Many ran away before the train even struck.

Forbes asked John Long, the National Press Photographers Association ethics committee chairman, on the duty of the photographer in the situation. “Some say the photographer has no right to participate in the story he or she is covering, that the photographer must remain objective, merely observe and not become a participant,” he said. “I do not believe it is possible to be totally objective. Your very presence at the scene changes the event you are covering to some degree.” Attempting to catch the conductor’s attention with a flash doesn’t seem like the ideal way to help someone who is clinging for his life to the subway platform, but we cannot analyze the motives of Abbasi without knowing every detail of the situation. It is impossible to determine how much time the train had before it hit Han, if he would be able to save him, what was running through his head or if the people around him would have been willing to put their lives in danger to save another person. What we can analyze, however, is the photo itself and the Post’s decision to publish it. What makes this photo different from the photos of employees nose-diving from the crumbling Twin Towers or the skin-and-bones Sudanese child being watched by a ravenous vulture? The media, after all, has a responsibility to tell the story, and as journalists have been told repetitively throughout the course of their careers, “if it bleeds, it leads.” The argument is if a controversial photo contributes to society and allows people to learn from it and make decisions about it, it is fit to run.

The purpose of the picture is overall based on interests and taste tolerance of the reader, but a reason for the necessity of the information or the social value the photo is supposed to provide doesn’t seem to exist. As for the logistics, taking the photo, running the photo or failing to rescue the victim violated no laws. What everything comes back to is the value of running the story. New York Post placed higher value on the story, and the picture than on the life of the individual. Instances like this completely discredit all journalists – from the up-and-comers to the seasoned veterans. A recent Gallup poll rates the honesty and ethical standards of people in different career fields, and only 24 percent of the public sees journalists in a good light. The Post cover is the absolute epitome of what people dislike about the media, reinforcing the generalization of the morally and ethically corrupt, selfish, snap-happy swindler who would do anything or let anything happen to collect their paychecks. If the reports are accurate that there was nothing more Abbasi could do, then there should be no blame on him, and if he did have time to save Han, then his own conscience will get the best of him. New York Post creates stories through dirty journalism and obtains readership through shock value. There’s no “devil’s advocate” position on this one – the Post milked a controversial scenario beyond the ethical boundaries of journalism to sell copies, and by doing so, it only reinforces the reasons for the public’s lack of trust in the field. Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

December 7, 2012 Volume 62 Number 39 Circulation 7,000 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. 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

Thin patience and pockets Financial aid and loan reform can’t wait any longer There is no greater embarrassment to our country’s higher education system than our sad excuse of a financial aid and protection system for students. According to 2010 numbers, the average per-borrow debt of bachelor’s degree recipients is approximately $22,000, up nearly $3,000 from the last decade. Federal student loans are now increasing at a rate of $20 billion per month. Federal student loans alone are now over $1 trillion. Yet students, professors and administrators all seem to be in denial over the severity of the situation. The issue gets a lot of attention on the network news and in political debates, but it seems the people that it affects the most are silent. You leave high school with little to no knowledge of what will happen when you enter the grand double doors of Prestigious University and what will occur in the four or more years. You are told by high school guidance counselors if your grades are good enough, the school will award you scholarships and grants, and if you need additional help, you can take out loans from the government or have your parents do so. Best of all, you don’t have to pay these loans back until after you graduate. It sounds positively utopian. What you’re not told about is the details behind the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), caps on the amount of financial aid you’re actually able to receive per semester and accrued interest. Even if everything goes according to plan, you coast and ignore your total debt until after you graduate, only to be blinded by how much it actually is when you have to start paying it back. Because private lenders started a trend of giving out money

without considering if borrowers would or could repay, student loan defaults rose this year for the sixth year in a row. Of the 4.1 million borrowers who began making payments in late 2009 and early 2010, 9.1 percent defaulted on their loans within two years. It’s hard to fathom that schools whose presidents can afford to buy a small town or two will turn their backs on you when you’re short a couple thousand dollars, but it happens. According to the 2012 Princeton Review ranking, New York University (NYU) has the worst financial aid in the country. Despite a basically worthless system that does little to help students with the most need, the school’s president John Sexton takes home fragments of those $60,000 tuition bills each year in his $1.3 million salary. Private university presidents have made as much as $4.91 million, and public university presidents have made as much as $1.99 million. According to a Sep. 25 FOIL request, our own president Satish Tripathi makes $385,000 per year, and that’s without factoring in the money her gets from UB Foundation. Yet every year for some students, getting proper financial aid is like maneuvering through a minefield blindfolded. Last fall, UB’s Office of Financial Aid implemented a new financial aid process. Prior to this, refund checks and financial aid were distributed to student accounts before the school year started up. Now, financial aid isn’t credited until after the drop/add period at the earliest. While all this is going on, UB continues to raise tuition. Because of UB 2020, UB raises its tuition 8 percent (approximately $300) each year for five years, leveling out at $6,470 (it’s currently at $5,570 without fees).

Unfortunately for students who spent four years sweating over their textbooks to get their bachelor’s degree, the master’s degree is quickly (or maybe already is) the new bachelor’s. The actual concept of spending more money to acquire a master’s degree is not even a possibility, so students are forced to pay for an education that will not make their money back unless some luck comes along. In this year’s State of the Union address, President Obama announced he would be aiming to hold the line on student loan interest rates for one year, increase Pell Grants, double student work-study jobs and require colleges and universities to justify tuition increases. We haven’t even seen even a ripple of change yet. We are getting scammed, but we don’t have another choice but to let it happen. The best-case scenario for students is to graduate, get a great paying job with your bachelor’s degree and start paying off your student loans. Considering the fact that 53.5 percent of bachelor’s degree-holders under the age of 25 in 2011 were jobless or underemployed, this just doesn’t happen. There’s absolutely no reason students should struggle more to stay enrolled in an institution than to actually complete the courses in said institution. The goal to put students through school is so they can better themselves and make at least enough money to start paying back their loans. Without financial aid reform, they won’t even have that chance. Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

final column ALINE KOBAYASHI Creative Director In the fall semester of my freshman year, I decided to join The Spectrum and planning to work here for only one semester. Five semesters later, I’m still here. I started working at The Spectrum with the intention of gaining some work experience. Never in a million years did I think it would be so emotional to leave this office. When I started working at The Spectrum, I was fresh out of high school. I was shy and just did my work. I was always so nervous to talk to any of the editors. I just wanted to get my work done and leave. Nowadays, it is impossible for me to leave this office. I try to take one step out the door and someone will shout my name. There are days I will hide behind my desk or pretend I am invisible just to mess around with people. I work six days a week and I’m sleep deprived, but I still love it here. The Spectrum has become more than just a workplace for me. It has become a home. In the past two and a half years, I have met so many wonderful people. The Spectrum staff has become more than just coworkers to me. All the obstacles that have come our way, we have overcome together. Of course, there are days when we want to strangle each other, but at the end of the day, we are there for each other. I have always craved to be apart of something where my friends were like a family. And The Spectrum gave me that. So I want to thank everyone who has been a part of my journey. Andrew Wiktor, it all started with you. I remember my first day of class in college. I was told there was not going to be a Graphic Designer position but you still gave me the chance to work. Thank you for opening the door to an experience of a lifetime. But I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today if it weren’t for someone crazy like Matthew Parrino who took a chance on me. I didn’t know anything about how to lay out a paper and yet you were insane enough to give me a chance. Thank you. By the way, nuggies? I wouldn’t have strength to do what I do and put up with all the nonsense if it weren’t for Helene Polley. Helene, you have become like a mother to me and have always supported me through everything. Despite the fact that you are shouting my name every five seconds for me to do work, I will miss all the hectic days and all of our gossiping. There are no words to describe how thankful I am to have you in my life. Andrew Angeles, thank you for supporting me through my first semester as Creative Director. I couldn’t have gone through it without all your support. Mark Kurtz, I hate how you push me around all the time, but I guess it has been fun working with you. Panda Bear, a.k.a. Aaron Mansfield, thank you for making my last semester amazing and for carrying me when I was broken. I hope you always eat your 10:29 apple and practice your dance moves. I’ll be checking up on you. It’s a bittersweet moment for me to be going. Thank you to all the trolls, gnomes and the rest of the staff members who were not given weird nicknames for all the wonderful and insane memories. You all made this a truly remarkable experience for me. To my apprentices, good luck to you all. I know you guys will do a great job and if you don’t, I know your phone numbers. Good luck to the current and future staff members of The Spectrum, we have come a long way so don’t mess up. Lastly, can I have a giant cheeseburger please? Email: aline.kobayashi@ubspectrum.com

Friday, December 7, 2012 ubspectrum.com

News

A Place to call home

South Campus staple Amy’s Place holds deeper story than cheap breakfast LISA DE LA TORRE Asst. Arts Editor The murmur of conversing patrons is almost inaudible under the music blaring from the Amy’s Place speaker system. Waitresses rush from table to table, their hustle making the small diner pulse with energy generally uncharacteristic of a weekend morning. As customers wait in line to be seated – a line leading from the restaurant’s bar all the way to the door – the cooks sing happily along with the radio, the food they’re making sizzling in time with the beat. Manager and cook Jenny Wilson maneuvers effortlessly around her fellow chef despite the tight space they have to share. Without taking their eyes off the food, the two women sing the song’s chorus in unison while customers look on, amused and smiling. In this moment, the Amy’s Place employees are their own culinary-inclined rock band – both because of their musical prowess and because of the undeniable chemistry they share with each other. Annmarie Naples, a longtime customer of Amy’s Place, identifies the employees’ chemistry and obvious concern for each other as part of the restaurant’s allure. “For me … it’s all about the energy, it’s about the wholeness. Look at the waitress; she’s not a waitress, she’s a friend,” Naples said. “I feel [from this place] a sense of family and friendship and [a sense] for the overall good. They go the distance.” Wilson, 26, has been working here for about five years and claims most of the people hired at Amy’s Place are hired from with-

Lisa de la Torre /// The Spectrum

Amanda Amico, left, and Jenny Wilson work together at local diner Amy’s Place, where they consider the staff to be their second family.

in, which makes working together more intimate than working with a randomly selected staff. According to Wilson, the staff ’s intimate knowledge of one another is not only what makes the job so enjoyable but is also what keeps them so motivated to work hard if they slack off – they have their own friends to answer to. “We all depend on each other so much … and [depending on] the way you work, it’s only your friends [who] are going to be upset or happy with the outcome,” Wilson said. “We are definitely our own little commune, our own little tribe.” This communal atmosphere has existed within the Amy’s Place walls since founder Amy Betros first opened the South Campus staple over 30 years ago. Betros, a woman considered by some employees a Mother Theresa-type figure, has dedicated her life to helping people. When

she opened the restaurant, it became a safe haven for people in need of food, shelter or just the comfort of a familiar face. “Amy’s just a caretaker … She just really loves humankind,” Wilson said. “A lot of people who have been here [when she was owner] want the treatment that Amy gave them. We’ll still give you a cup of coffee; we do help people out but not to the extent that she did. We still have $1.99 breakfast and I think we don’t get rid of that just because of her.” In the early ’90s, Amy sold the restaurant and focused her efforts on St. Luke’s Mission, an establishment with the main priority of helping people achieve a “fullness of life.” The mission is funded by donations, and though Betros no longer has legal ties to Amy’s Place, the diner hosts a donation jar for the mission as a way to pay homage to the restaurant’s altruistic roots – and also to support the woman who made it all possible.

SA reflects as fall semester ends

But Betros’ legacy remains present in other, less tangible forms as well. According to Wilson, it’s part of why the Amy’s Place employees are such a closeknit group of individuals. “[Part of her influence] is our general sense of family and sense of community … and us helping each other in every way that we can,” Wilson said. “All of that … is definitely a trickle-down of the Amy’s Place way.” The familial aspect of the “Amy’s Place way” has manifested itself in other aspects of employees’ lives, however. About six years ago, Amy’s staff members of the past and present came together to form a band called the Stamplickers. Originally, they were a Postal Service cover band, hence the mailassociated name choice. Ex-manager and current driver/manager of the Amy’s food truck Amanda Amico, 32, has played keys and currently sings for the Stamplickers. “A couple of us decided we should try to do [their music] instrumentally, so we started doing it,” Amico said. “I was doing this thing called ‘Rock and Roll Mondays’ at Broadway Joe’s at the time, so that was like a practice space … every Monday, we’d play this Postal Service album a million times.” Since their days practicing at Broadway Joe’s, the Stamplickers have played numerous gigs around Buffalo, including wellknown Buffalo hotspots like Nietzsche’s. One of the band’s earliest Nietzsche’s gigs was a Halloween show. The night not only gave the band a perfect opportunity to showcase its talent but inspired the members to expand their repertoire as well.

In the wake of the $300,000 scandal in spring 2012, the Student Association, Assembly and Senate have been working together to dispel skepticism brought on by last year’s student government. Student Association President Travis Nemmer sees great progress between last year’s student government with the Assembly and the Senate. “Things have gotten a lot better [with working with the Senate], and if you want to look at why, look at how well the Senate and the executive board have been working together,” Nemmer said. “There’ve been no serious crises … the Senate as a whole has come to a consensus on almost every agreement.” Next semester, Nemmer is hoping to have the new set of internal controls passed, continued record-high involvement from students across campus and a new draft of Student Life’s club policy. Nemmer is happy with the way the Senate has been working with this year’s e-board and likes that many of the senators are already involved with their own clubs on campus. “Working with the Senate has been so much better than I could’ve expected,” Nemmer said. “We have very few hold-overs from last year, for starters. By and large, a lot of the senators, actually, almost all of them come from clubs. So now we’ve got good Senators who are looking out for the clubs as a whole as opposed to people who are looking to put things on their resume.” Nick Johns, a junior finance and political science major and senator, thinks this year’s Senate brings many positive viewpoints they can merge while working with the e-board.

Continued on page 9

Continued on page 10

LISA EPSTEIN Asst. News Editor

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Friday, December 7, 2012

Continued from page 1: Life of the party

Continued from page 12: Road warriors

“They’re definitely heavily involved on campus,” said Alisha James, a senior communication major who’s familiar with the business. “A lot of them are in the POC [Student Association’s People of Color Council], then you have a lot of them who are Greek Life. They already know a lot of people and have already done their networking, so I think it was a good idea to start doing that promoting.” Organizations like Dreamchasers and the Roc Boyz are groups that were built from the ground up – molded from their members’ name and ambition. The promotional groups do carry different vibes. Dreamchasers and Sickamatic are visibly selfassured, while Roc Boyz’s four core members carry a silent confidence. Even though their personalities are different, the three teams were able to build their brands into respected names in the nightlife. Roc Boyz, founded in 2008, started small. Their first party was in a Fillmore classroom near the end of that fall semester. This was an outlandish idea, but it worked as students filed into the classroom. The University Police shut down the party eventually, but this was still a memorable moment for the Roc Boyz and the party’s attendees four years later. Their stock only went up after the party. The Roc Boyz moved to doing house parties, but they ended up getting so packed that the team was forced to move its events to the clubs. They held their first club shindig at Broadway Joe’s during last year’s spring semester, which was also a successful event. Now they’re known as one of the top promotional groups among the college crowd. “I like it because back in the day, there was no one helping us out,” Dame Dolla said. “We had to lean on each other to do everything we’ve ever done. Now we get a lot of respect, people coming up to us about the parties.” While Lapite and senior health and human services and early childhood major Briamah Aminu have been in the promotions business for years under various organizations, Dreamchasers held their first club party last December entitled “Y.O.L.O.” (promoters tend to name their parties after current trends) at Jamaica, N.Y. Its success only motivated the crew to push harder for bigger events this year. The mutual respect Dreamchasers and Roc Boyz had for each other led them to host a joint event entitled “Win or Lose: We Roc With Obama” last November at Dingen’s Bar & Grill in Buffalo. The party cost approximately $3,000 to hold, including fees such as renting the venue and creating flyers. “Win or Lose” turned out to be another win for these self-made promoters. Lapite said the party had about 500 people, which is unsurprising given the months of promotion they put into this night. These nightlife aficionados flooded Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with hundreds, if not thousands, of flyers and statuses about the key event.

“I thought we got on their shooters for most of the game,” Witherspoon said. “I can’t say we did that for the entire game, but most of the game, their shooters had to shoot contested three-point shots. Inside, I think we established a presence around the basket.” Freshman guard Jarryn Skeete had his first career start for Buffalo and scored just three points, but made up for the lack of scoring with his all-around play. He added three

This guerilla method of promoting is one of their most well-known actions. “When Hurricane Sandy was around, [in one online flyer] they have this guy in flooded waters and he’s like, ‘Party’s still going on,’” James said. “So it ties back to how determined they are to get you to go to their party, through rain, snow, sleet, shine. They don’t care. They’re doing what they’re supposed to do, I guess.” The Roc Boyz and Dreamchasers profited from the party, but neither would reveal that exact amount to avoid inviting students who want in on the operation just for profit. But regardless, Nurse said it’s getting harder for promoters to make back massive profit because of the recent under-21 ban on Chippewa. Now, promoters have to look elsewhere instead of hosting parties in the big venues in Downtown Buffalo. “When you were at the Ballroom, you were making about somewhere to about $6-7,000,” Nurse said. “Now you’re making less than that. So now you’re going to see a lot more parties, you’re going to see a lot more promotions – because people got to make that bread back.” Although finding new venues is a hassle, Roc Boyz and Dreamchasers stressed the promotion business isn’t strictly about money. Bruce and his team have bigger ambitions beyond the college nightlife. The team plans to own its own club when Duece and Trace graduate. The promotional groups also take time out to support other SA clubs in their respective event. To Duece, it’s only fair to the people who have supported them on the upswing. “One hand wash the other, both wash the face,” Duece said. Aminu also noted that party promotion isn’t just a business but a service to college students and Buffalo residents. Dreamchasers bring the dancehall and hip-hop scene to a city that desires it, while the Roc Boyz from Rochester are looking to represent their city well. The service is getting harder with all the legal limitations. “The school has its own events, but there is something missing from these events, which is why a lot of people don’t go,” Aminu said. “That’s why people go out. In the city, we don’t leave our house until 12 o’clock because the party is not over until 5 o’clock. The school throws a party, it’s over at one o’clock. People want something to do. Give them something to get dressed up for. Give them something to show out – to take pictures.” The party promoters remain determined as ever to continue building their self-made business, and as the constantly packed bars and clubs suggest, there’s a market that still needs to be satisfied.

assists, four rebounds and two steals in 17 minutes of action. The Bulls look for their first winning streak of the season as they come home to take on their final Big Four rival of the season, Niagara (35). First tip for the second game of the Saturday doubleheader is set for 7 p.m. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com

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Life

Friday, December 7, 2012 ubspectrum.com

Starlight, star bright

The Starlight Children’s Foundation brings fulfilled wishes to many CHELSEA SULLIVAN Staff Writer Bullies are the least of their problems. Polymicrogyria. Noonan Syndrome. Cystic Fibrosis. These are a few of the daily struggles the Starlight children face. The Starlight Children’s Foundation has brought much light and excitement to many sick and disabled kids. Starlight strives to organize events and outings outside of the hospital that appeal to the interest of the children by building “connections between families struggling with similar issues to combat feelings of isolation,” according to its website. Some of these occasions include events such as Disney On Ice, professional football, hockey and baseball games and Cirque Du Soleil. Starlight aims to bring joy and delight to many families because the joys of childhood have been taken and replaced with the rigors of treatment and hospitalization. “I love what I do,” said Elizabeth Agnello, program coordinator for Starlight. “Starlight is a wonderful organization whose mission is to brighten the lives of seriously ill children and their families.” Founded in 1983 in Los Angeles, the international foundation only started in Western New York a few years ago by helping four families. Now, it currently serves approximately 160 families in Western New York alone. However, there are specific medical requirements before a family can become eligible to join The Starlight Children’s Foundation. “It breaks my heart to have to turn away certain people,” Agnello said. “But, unfortunately right now, we only deal with children with serious and chronic illnesses.” Starlight, however, has made a big impact on many eligible families, such as Aliyah’s. At 9 months old, Aliyah was diagnosed with Polymicrogyria. This rare syndrome is a disfigurement of the brain, which has limited

Courtesy of Elizabeth Agnello

The Starlight Children’s Foundation aims to provide unique and fun opportunities such as watching Disney on Ice or going to sporting events to children with a variety of disabilities and their families.

Aliyah’s brain development and has caused one-sided paralysis and speech delay. “There are kids that bully her [at school],” said Pam Connors, Aliyah’s mother. “She is [just] a kid that wants to be friends with everybody, so it’s hard to explain to her that these kids are actually being mean.” Because Connors isn’t able to prevent her daughter from being bullied, it is upsetting for her try to explain the cruelties of some kids. “She doesn’t take it to heart,” Connors said. “Because she doesn’t know they are [talking to her] to be hurtful, which is hard and pretty upsetting for me.” The Starlight Children’s Foundation has given Aliyah and her mother something to look forward to after a long school day.

“I thought she was going to fall off her chair because she was so happy when I told her about the WWE Wrestling event coming up,” Connors said. “No matter what the event is, she knows it’ll be something fun, so she is always excited.” Another child’s life that has been improved by the Starlight Children’s Foundation is Caitlin’s. Caitlin was diagnosed 16 years ago, at birth, with Noonan Syndrome. Because of this illness, Caitlin is learning and developmentally delayed. She currently functions at a 3- to 7-year-old level, depending on the skill. With such chronic illnesses, it is of great importance to ensure these inspirational children experience the programs Starlight offers. “She gets very, very excited when she hears about upcoming events,” said Sandra Reed, Caitlin’s mother. “She heard about

Santa at the zoo, our next event, and she was thrilled.” Caitlin is always asking her mother what they will be doing each day, which makes Reed happy because she able to excite her daughter by telling her there is something exciting planned. “It’s an extremely wonderful program for any kid,” Connors said. “It brightens her day when she hears about an upcoming Starlight event.” Not only does Starlight help give children something to look forward to, but also it enables them to feel comfortable knowing they’re around other children who share similar health conditions. “There are other kids with disabilities [at the events], too, so it doesn’t just single her out in a crowd,” Connors said. Starlight does not just stop with impacting the lives of the children, but the parents and siblings as well. Reed is grateful for the activities Starlight offers she wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise. She also finds it comforting to know the foundation involves other families who have children with disabilities. “[It] is very nice for us as parents to be around other families that know exactly what it is we are experiencing and what we are going through,” Reed said. “But it’s also great for Caitlin to be around other children with disabilities.” After being a part of Starlight for a year and a half, Reed has found a strong sense of community by interacting and networking with parents who have gone through similar struggles with their own children. “Being a part of the community and being involved with other families with children with disabilities, just kind of opens up your eyes that you’re not alone,” Reed said. “You learn that there are families out there that are going through the exact same thing that you are.” Because Starlight is based solely on donations, there are some events that are more costly and are limited to only immediate famContinued on page 10

Friday, December 7, 2012 ubspectrum.com

Arts & Entertainment

Best Films of 2012: Jake’s personal picks JAKE KNOTT Staff Writer This time last fall, I categorized the best films of 2011 by genre. I’m not ready to offer my top 10 films of the year because there are still many films yet to be released. Nevertheless, I’ll provide this list to steer you in the right direction.

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

Best animated film: Wreck-It Ralph

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Best action film: Skyfall

Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Best fantasy: Life of Pi This is the most beautiful film of the year. Director Ang Lee (Taking Woodstock) successfully uses his wondrous images as storytelling devices. One shot to note is when Lee captures a wide shot of Pi (Suraj Sharma) in his raft with the sea perfectly mirroring the sunny sky above. The raft isn’t shown as something randomly floating adrift but existing in relation to the universe around it.

Skyfall is not only one of the best James Bond films ever made but also one of the best films of the year. Director Sam Mendes (Away We Go) has elevated and evolved the iconic Bond entity in a similar fashion that Christopher Nolan, who redeveloped Batman in his Dark Knight trilogy. Watching Skyfall is more than an occurrence; it’s a hyperventilating experience with endless energy and completely preposterous, but masterfully crafted, action sequences.

Pixar made its worst film yet with Brave, giving the floor to Disney with the galactic videogame world presented in Wreck-It Ralph. The film effortlessly absorbs our attention and gives us something to talk about and cherish. Wreck-It Ralph makes me anticipate the inevitable sequel, where the arcade universe hopefully expands to its fullest potential.

Courtesy of CBS Films

Funniest movie: Seven Psychopaths

Courtesy of Open Road Films

Scariest movie: The Grey Courtesy of Distribution Workshop

Best foreign film: Táo Jiě (A Simple Life) This film has the genuineness of an old family photo album. With some of the best natural acting I’ve ever seen, A Simple Life shows the candid aging of an old maid, Ah Tao (Deannie Yip, Queen of Kowloon), spending the rest of her days in a retirement home. Yip never overacts, portraying a believable person exhausted from a life in the working class.

The Grey is an intensely original survival thriller, which carries its weight with nauseating suspense. Seven survivors of a plane crash in Alaska find their situations buried in desperation when a pack of wolves prey on the group. These predators attack at the most random, unsuspecting moments, and are wrenchingly terrifying. This film haunts me in the best way possible.

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This category went down to the wire, in a year that flourished with wall-to-wall hilarious comedies. However, I award the prize to Seven Psychopaths – one of the best written films of recent years. It pays off with a perfect cast and inspiring plot; it’s a movie about a guy writing a movie while in another movie.

Best superhero movie: The Amazing Spider-Man Most moviegoers automatically think of The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers. But director Marc Webb ((500) Days of summer) has made a flawless extravaganza of special effects and stunt work, while the other two films had minor weaknesses in characterization. Rhys Ifans (The Five-Year Engagement), as The Lizard, embodies a man consumed by desperation rather than another off-the-shelf corny villain.

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Best sci-fi movie: Cloud Atlas Cloud Atlas is a nearly three-hour-long zealous enigma, encompassing various experiences about life, death, existence, love, courage, eternity and the universe. The film portrays six separate generations of mankind by intertwining lives throughout the years. This complex story seems impossible to make, but it remains sturdy enough to illuminate all of its messages.

Best film of 2012: Beasts of the Southern Wild

Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

Although there are still some great films to be released, this is my temporary choice. Beasts of the Southern Wild isn’t for everybody; it’s a grief-stricken tragedy that’s remindful of the victims of Hurricane Katrina who survived but never recovered their lives. We learn to sympathize with these characters instead of pity them. This film has the powerful authenticity of a documentary and is a rude awakening on a harsh subject.

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Friday, December 7, 2012

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Friday, December 7, 2012

Continued from page 4: A Place to call home

Continued from page 1: Licata friend in me

Though the Stamplickers have a lot of fun jamming together, they don’t see themselves pursuing music professionally any time soon. “Everybody’s so busy. People have families and jobs or whatever … like we have a show coming up in December, and all of a sudden there’s just not enough time,” Amico said. “We enjoy doing it, it’s a lot of fun, but we’re not strict about it. We don’t seek out as many gigs as we can play, but if we have an offer and everybody can do it, we’re like, ‘let’s do it!’ We just have a lot of fun together.” According to Wilson, who also occasionally sings for the Stamplickers, the band started in the back room of Amy’s Place. Employees have dubbed this room “The Clubhouse” and it is more than a typical break room. The walls are covered in pictures of employees from throughout the years and a drum kit sits in the corner surrounded by amps and other musical tools. It is in this room that the Stamplickers practice and even perform during various staff parties and events throughout the year. At these occasions, other employees are invited to perform with their own musical groups. “My idea was to showcase [the employees’ music] because there’s so many other people that are in bands here, too,” said restaurant co-owner and Stamplickers member Greg Kempf, 42. “[When we play here,] it’s like, ‘Oh, let’s close down for the day and have a party.’ We have all the Amy’s Place people play and their bands play. [The Stamplickers’ members] are not in it for the money.” Of course, true to Amy’s Place fashion, the Stamplickers put the wellbeing of others – strangers, friends and family – at the top of their list of priorities. The band has played numerous benefits and even held their own benefits of sorts. When one of the employees’ friends was involved in an accident rendering her paralyzed from the waist down, the Stamplickers held a benefit at Neitzsche’s to raise money and show support for their beloved friend. At the celebration for the restaurant’s 30-year anniversary, the employees collected money and donated the proceeds to St. Luke’s Mission. No matter the circumstance, the employees at Amy’s Place are dedicated to one another. Yet, while many regular customers adore the restaurant for this reason, some customers feel less of the warmth than others.

It was a surprise to the former Williamsville South quarterback. However, for Cronin, it was just part of being an avid sports fan. “I didn’t know who the kid was,” said Licata, who holds the New York State passing record for touchdowns in a career (87). “I guess he just liked what our team was doing. You know, we were pretty successful whenever we played at West Seneca East, and I think he just admired what we were doing as a team.” Even though the coaches at West Seneca East were caught off guard as their manager walked across the field, to Jim, it was no surprise that Cronin walked up to the quarterback. He knows Chris has no boundaries. “With Joe [Licata], I think he just reminds you that [football] is just a game,” Jim said. “Yeah, it’s the opponent, but he’s always happy to go congratulate the other team on a win. He’s always proud, regardless of who the other team is.” A few months later, Cronin saw a line in the local newspaper – “Joe Licata, quarterback of Williamsville South” – and he got excited. Licata was set to compete in a local all-star game. “I thought: this is going to be great,” Cronin said. “I kind of walked up to him after the game and said ‘good game,’ and I re-introduced myself and he looked at me and he said, ‘I already know you, buddy.’ And I said: ‘Really?!’” Cronin was shocked Licata remembered him. Since then, the two of them have become great friends. From that point on, Cronin followed Licata throughout the quarterback’s career. According to Cronin, they are able to talk about anything and talk to each other a few times a week either through texting or Facebook. “I love the kid because he’s so down to earth,” Cronin said. “You don’t get that with every Division I quarterback you talk to. And that is what makes Joe separate from the rest. He is, to me, like the story of an underdog. He’s the underdog of the

“The service is decent. I feel like some of the waitresses could be friendlier to the customers, because sometimes they kind of seem like they would rather be doing something else,” said Larry Valdivisio, a senior communication major. Wilson understands the complaint, but she swears the behavior in question is unintentional. She attributes the employees’ misunderstood behavior to their hectic workload and genuine desire to simply hang out with one another. “We’re really just really busy; all of us have like 10 jobs to do all at one time … and while we’re running past each other, we want to know how each other is doing,” Wilson said. “We never intentionally [exclude customers]. And people probably do get that vibe, but it’s just because we are so in love with each other and are doing so many things that we just want to catch up with each other.” The restaurant may be small, but the impact that Amy’s Place has left on customers and employees alike is undeniably large. Because of its vegan- and vegetarian-friendly menu, the restaurant is often praised by patrons for being one of the only diners of its kind in the Buffalo area. Students who live in the Heights frequent the diner because of its convenient location and its respectable execution of hangover-proof meals. According to Wilson, the “ScramAmBacSam,” or scrambled eggs with American cheese and bacon on a bagel, is a huge hit with college students. Amico, however, claims that Amy’s Place has impacted her life on a deeper scale than simply providing a fun place to work and socialize. “[Amy’s Place is] my second home,” Amico said, the playful expression on her face suddenly replaced by one much more somber. “Personally, I started working here at a really bad time of life. And I have to say in ways this place has saved me. It’s been my sanctuary. I couldn’t live without these guys and the family that is here ... This place means the world to me.” By placing an emphasis on support, love and community, the Amy’s Place employees prove their portions don’t need to be large to be served family style. Email: news@ubspectrum.com

UB Bulls. The first game he started, I said: ‘This is going to be something great.’ It was.” Licata thinks of Cronin as his “biggest fan” and values the friendship they have developed over the past two years. For Cronin, one of the best moments was when Licata decided to stay local and play football at UB. Licata had offers from other schools. MAC rival Akron and Big East’s Syracuse showed interest in recruiting the highly touted athlete who earned the moniker “Western New York’s most decorated quarterback.” However, Buffalo made the most sense to Licata. He wanted to stay home and play in front of his friends and family. Aside from his relationship with Cronin, Licata is very close with his family, especially his grandfather, Dana Warman, who has been alongside Licata every step of his football career. Warman played football at Michigan, and he has been watching Joe since grammar school. According to Warman: “The nice thing about Joe is that he’s a nice kid. He’s not cocky or anything.” “I lost my wife this year and Joe’s the closest thing I have to family and [his sisters],” Warman said. “Joe makes my life a lot easier. It’s wonderful to watch him.” Rachel, Claire and Grace – Joe’s sisters, ranked by age – agree if they needed anything, Joe would be there “in two seconds.” When he is not throwing spirals on the football field, Joe drives five minutes to his house to spend time with his family. When Joe was looking for college, Grace never thought the day would come when he had to leave home. And he hasn’t. Though he lives in Ellicott Complex, he comes home to visit all the time, she said. His family supports him at every game – including this year’s season opener at the University of Georgia, a game in which Joe did not see the field.

“We are here wearing his jersey, but if it were any of us out on that field or that court, he would be [there],” Rachel said. “He is at every one of Grace’s [high school] basketball games. He’s there for us 110 percent of the time.” Before the 2012 football season, the Bulls’ last road win was against Bowling Green on Oct. 2, 2010. Licata changed that. He helped the Bulls capture their first road win in over two years against UMass on Nov. 19. Cronin remembers when the Bulls were down 13-0 at the end of the first half. “They put up 29 points in the second half with Joe Licata at quarterback,” Cronin said. “That’s unbelievable. That’s crazy what Joe Licata did at Massachusetts, what he did against Western Michigan and what he did against Miami Ohio.” The excitement continues for Cronin as he counts down the days until the Bulls’ season opener against Big 10 powerhouse Ohio State at Ohio Stadium. Along with Jim, Chris will make the trip down to Columbus to cheer on Licata and his comrades. Chris could have seen Ohio State play Michigan instead, but he said: “No, I just want to go see Ohio State versus Buffalo because that’s [my favorite team].” UB is Cronin’s favorite team largely because of his favorite player. “Every time I’m waiting for Joe, I’m excited,” Cronin said. “I can’t wait to see Joe after a win. I’m so pumped! It’s kind of like opening gifts on Christmas and just waiting for [Licata] to come out [so I can] say, ‘Hi, Joe!’” Whether Licata will lead the Bulls back to the MAC Championship promise land UB saw in 2008 remains to be seen. But one thing is certain – Cronin will be cheering for No. 16 at the top of his lungs. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com

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Friday, December 7, 2012

Continued from page 1: The Swerve God “[Uko] was actually one of the first people I met. He was cool; he was really into meeting the entire campus,” Johnson said. “He was really into being a somebody. He knew everybody; he was always with it. He always had the latest on what was going on on-campus. If there was a party going on Friday, he knew who it was, he knew who was throwing it, he knew where it was, he knew the time it started, he knew who was going to be there; he was always up on everything.” Being Mr. Popular on campus served as a double-edged sword. Uko was well liked, but he became swallowed by what was considered “cool,” which eventually led to his departure from the university after a semester and a half. “I got caught up in just being the cool guy and getting love everywhere,” Uko said. “Everywhere I go, I know people, having fun, just traveling places [and] doing nothing. It was fun, but it was like, why have fun now and be f***ed up later? Just put in work now [and] get money later. I’m not going to be one of them n***as … that’s washed up.” After leaving Syracuse, Uko returned back to his home in Brooklyn, N.Y. – a move that ended up opening more doors and options by trying new things. Music was the first new hobby that became a part of life. Uko met Duane “Holly Starks” Wallace through mutual friend DJ Renwick while shopping on Black Friday in 2008. The two eventually became friends and while Renwick had to return to school, Wallace and Uko would hang out and remix other artists’ songs. The songs were then posted on Facebook. After receiving some attention, Uko then introduced Wallace to high school friends Andreius “Hoffa Billz” Coleman and Keith “KayFly” Sanders, who were both already familiar with recording. With the four pieces together, the crew hit the studio with the beat that eventually grew to become a YouTube hit song with 15,000 hits titled “Get Busy.” Immediately after they each recorded their verses, the crew thought about shooting a video. But before filming started, they became aware they had no identity and no actual name as a group. That’s when Team Swerve came into play. “Swerve” was a term created by Coleman back in 2006-07. “I came up with the idea … when you didn’t hear one rap song without the word ‘swag’ in it,” Coleman said. “Everybody started saying ‘swag’ and I was just sick of it, man. I was like: ‘Yo, f*** swag, swerve, n***a.’” The whole crew took the new term and ran with it, creating a movement and Uko looked to be the natural ringleader. In 2009, Uko became Derrick Swerve

and took the world by storm. Already buzzing with Team Swerve, he studied for two semesters at New York City College of Technology, established himself as a photographer, created “swervanomics” (a guide of blatant observations and tips on surviving everyday life) and joined Twitter, which was becoming the alternative to Facebook while simultaneously burying MySpace. According to Uko, photography was something he enjoyed because of its pure art. Snapping pictures for fun led to a constant barrage of compliments that further led to a realization: he possessed a talented eye for capturing moments in time. But being “young and stupid,” as he put it, ended up cutting that hobby short. “I started posting pictures for fun and people were like: ‘Oh, your pictures are mad nice,’ [so] I stopped going to school [thinking] maybe I should pick up photography,” Uko said. “But I really liked it because of the art, not because of the money. We’re going through the age of social networks and people wanting to be seen so much … so I started taking pictures at parties … and started doing internships. What I wanted to do with it, I would’ve needed a lot of equipment … but I didn’t want to put the money towards it.” July 24, 2009 was the day of birth for the Twitter account @DerrickSwerve, but before then, Uko was anti-Twitter. Coleman first tried to convince his friend to join the new wave, but Uko continued broadcasting his distaste for the social network, dismissing everything related to Twitter until that particular day when boredom struck. This bored day forced Uko’s hand to navigate to the website, then move through the sign-up phase. But from Twitter, Uko has made many discoveries and observations on people. “It’s crazy because Twitter is the direct representation of how the world is,” Uko said. “When I first made a Twitter, people that I know personally wouldn’t even respond to my tweets, follow back or anything. Then when I started … getting more followers and tweeting funny s**t, … it’s those same people that are like: ‘Oh, s**t, you know mad b****es, you know mad people, shout me out, follow me.’ Now that I get a little bit of status, people want to f*** with me and that’s how life is; people do the same s**t.” Over the past three and a half years, Uko has tweeted his way to the Internet status that he is at now. Being labeled as a “Twitter celebrity” and followed by others of that rank has come from a long line of funny tweets, relatable topics, controversial issues and the occasional “twitbeef ” – a battle of words on Twitter. Main targets of the twitbeef were porn stars, video vixens, groupies and washed-up rappers. New Orleans artist Chopper and Miami artist Spectacular were both victimized with slander that only contained 140

Blue Lizard Housing Christopher R. Moyer

characters. The tweets led to an eruption of mentions, followers and eventually Uko being blocked by both. Amber Rose, fiancée to rapper Wiz Khalifa, wasn’t safe in the streets of the World Wide Web either. Some jokes were thrown her way, but instead of blocking Young Work (Uko’s name on Twitter), she responded with some slick words of her own. Nobody was safe in the prime of @DerrickSwerve. Honest and unfiltered opinions on women, sexuality, music, sex and many other topics were regular tweets refreshed on the timeline of users throughout the Twitter world. His account was never one to be read if you happened to be sensitive or insecure. Now, with enough followers on Twitter to wage war, Uko sits comfortably on a seat that levitates over those who don’t have commas in their number of followers. Team Swerve, in turn, had gained more popularity because of the new outreach. Life seemed to be going all right. But on April 3, Uko’s followers and supporters erupted in anger. G.O.O.D. Music dropped its platinum single “Mercy,” in which Big Sean notably repeats “swerve” throughout the song. “Swerve,” the term that was coined nearly six years prior, was now being credited to the Detroit artist. Today, no Instagram caption or hashtag is safe; “swerve” is everywhere. “I felt a way,” Uko confessed. “I can’t be mad because s**t happens. ‘Swerve’ is still a word, but of course we’ve been using it since forever. It took me about a month and a half [to listen to the track]. People kept hyping that s**t up so I [didn’t] even want to listen to it until I just heard it on my own. It was whatever after a while, but f*** it, s**t happens.” Uko doesn’t tweet much nowadays. He goes on a rant every once in a while, but it’s nothing compared to his heyday from 200911. Today, he’s better known for memes and picstitched photos. Earlier this semester, a photo that showed a blonde-haired woman was picstitched with Ramen noodles and ended up going viral. You would think that she braided her hair with the ready-in-three-minutes meal. The image reached the retweets of rapper Waka Flocka Flame and the unverified Katt Williams. Uko was responsible for that. Social media is now used just for fun, though; he is studying at UB to one day live comfortably. That’s his main focus. “I always tell people this: when I was doing photography, a white man told me: ‘As a black man in America, the smartest thing for you to do is get your degree,’” Uko said. “Nothing in life is guaranteed. I do the music. I’m in school; I’m just trying to find ways to be prolific, be resourceful.” Uko, who expects to graduate next spring, has experienced enough to know exactly what he wants and possess the ambition to strive toward it. Keeping a low profile, Uko continues his focus toward making real money and pushing Team Swerve. As Coleman put it, “he’s a good dude, he’s still young, he’s still swervy; he’s about that life.” Still the same Michael Uko, still the same Derrick Swerve. But the swerving is less drastic. The new path is clear, and he’s cruising straight down it.

Continued from page 6: Starlight, star bright ily, such as Cirque Du Soleil, according to Agnello. “Having the community involved in Starlight, such as donating tickets and things like that, I think, makes a huge difference,” Reed said. “Overall, it is extremely important to have community involvement.” Agnello is very appreciative of the private donations and public donations from multiple companies. Some bigger public donors are Wegman’s Food Market, Nintendo, Northwestern Mutual, Forever 21 and many others. These donors are a major contributor and enable Starlight to help many children and families throughout the nation. Even with the support of private and public investors, informing families and getting the word out to the public about The Starlight Children’s Foundation has been tricky. “[Hospitals] send out invitations to families, but a lot of marketing has to do with word-of-mouth, flyers and newspaper articles,” Agnello said. Starlight succeeds in improving the quality of life of seriously ill children and their families, according to Agnello. Connors, Agnello and Reed hope more families become knowledgeable and they all agree awareness of The Starlight Children’s Foundation and getting the word out is an important aspect of helping more sick children and their families. Email: features@ubspectrum.com

Continued from page 4: SA reflects as fall semester ends “I think that as a whole, Senate has been much more efficient than last year,” Johns said. “The reform ticket has been really focused on getting the clubs their money on time as well as giving each and every club their time and undivided attention.” Nemmer also believes this year’s Assembly has been a good group of dedicated members and is happy with the work they’ve been doing so far, especially in regards to the Student Life’s proposed club policy. Speaker of the Assembly Steven Jackson could not be reached for comment at the time of press. Email: news@ubspectrum.com

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