Vol. 61 NO. 24
ubspectrum.com
Monday, October 24, 2011
Summer Sweat Yields Fall Glory for Oliver Undersized running back disproves doubters, outworks opposition AARON MANSFIELD Senior Sports Editor Masses of fans that pack UB Stadium on Saturdays are left bewildered, asking one simple question: “How can somebody that small be that good?” Branden Oliver doesn’t even need to think about his answer: “I just work harder.” Oliver is a 5-foot-7-inch star from Miami, Fla. who came to Buffalo because no other Division-I football coach would offer him a scholarship. He was just too little. Now those coaches are kicking themselves.
Now he’s the star of the Buffalo offense. Motivation Oliver is adamant that he’ll do anything to avoid another season like 2010. The Bulls finished 2-10 and Oliver ran for a mere 336 yards and no touchdowns. Branden Oliver’s outstanding performance this season has been nothing less than impressive and Bulls fans have enjoyed watching him show out. Rebecca Bratek /// The Spectrum
student-athlete last year. His success on the gridiron? He owes that to the hill at UB’s old football stadium.
“Last year, people always asked me: ‘Why do you keep playing him?’ Well, that’s why – his effort,” said head coach Jeff Quinn. “He doesn’t make mistakes and he comes to practice every day with a mindset and a purpose: to get better. He doesn’t measure himself against others; he measures himself against himself, knowing he has greatness inside of him.”
Determination and Humility
It’s safe to say fans have already forgotten the Branden Oliver of 2010.
Most college football players push themselves to physical extremes in once-daily workouts. The really dedicated athletes work out twice a day. Oliver pulled three-a-days over the summer.
His feet felt like 50-pound weights as he sprinted up the hill for the hundredth time, but Oliver kept telling himself to keep moving. Sweat showered his face as he pushed himself in the summer heat. The steep hill by itself wasn’t quite enough, so he forced himself to wear a 30-pound vest.
He’s acing tests and lighting up linebackers, dominating homework assignments and taking swing passes for six.
Oliver struggled on and off the field as a freshman in 2010, but he made major changes in the summer of 2011.
Nothing was going right. He couldn’t
balance class and the demanding workload that comes with being a Division-I starting running back.
He wasn’t just running or lifting weights, though. That wouldn’t be his style.
Oliver has rushed for 853 yards and eight touchdowns so far this year, making him Buffalo’s second-leading scorer. Three weeks ago – following a three-touchdown, 179-yard performance against Ohio – Oliver was named the Mid-American Conference East Player of the Week. The Bulls won the trilling matchup 38-37, thanks largely to Oliver’s electrifying performance.
Oliver and sophomore linebacker Khalil Mack – who’s received his own share of national recognition this year – put together the most challenging workout they could conceive. Every day, they’d go to the hill, the weight room, and the film room. And every day, Branden reminded himself of his motivation: last year.
Oliver said he owes his success in the classroom to the experience he gain as a
“You could say that he’s an animal, but
National Preservation Conference
Grain Elevators Provide a Look into the Past
Conference – held for the first time in Buffalo by the National Trust for Historic Preservation – an opportunity for Buffalo to showcase its famed architecture on the national stage. “This is the first time, I think, that there’s been national attention to what really is a great collection,” said SUNY Distinguished Professor Bruce Jackson, whose photographs of the grain elevators were showcased throughout the buildings. “Every one of these is different. I’ve been on the inside of most of them now, and every room is different.”
Buffalo’s now-defunct grain elevators were open to the public this past Friday as a part of the National Preservation Conference. Satsuki Aoi /// The Spectrum
LUKE HAMMILL Senior News Editor
There is a time warp in Buffalo. Here’s how to use it: From downtown, drive south down Michigan Avenue and hang a left on Ohio Street, passing the Swannie House, a century-old dive bar and eatery that used to provide a night’s stay for cargo ship captains and crew. You’ll see the General Mills building and smell Cheerios in your nostrils as you notice the few factories that still puff gray smoke into the typically gray Western New York air.
Traffic will become sparse as you make your way into what seems like uncharted territory. You’ll go by Louisiana Street and over a drawbridge that will take you across the Buffalo River and behind the Old First Ward. On the other side, hang another left onto Childs Street, and – poof! – it’s suddenly 1920. Or so it seemed on Friday, when the UB School of Architecture and Design provided a chance to go inside some of Buffalo’s now-defunct grain elevators, which have stood unused for decades and are closed to the public. The event was held in conjunction with last weekend’s National Preservation
In one of those rooms, located in the row of towering grain silos known as Marine A, UB musicians performed an eerie-sounding John Cage piece that highlighted the building’s breathtaking natural reverberation. When the percussionist struck a woodblock, it echoed as if he was deep inside a complex of dark caves. It’s no wonder that bands like My Morning Jacket have recorded vocal tracks in grain silos just like Marine A to achieve a distinctive largeness not possibly simulated in a recording studio. Jackson described the elevators as “the largest machines ever made by man.” Robert Skerker, co-chair of the Buffalo Preservation Conference, called them “the most significant buildings ever built here” in a speech to eventgoers. Buffalo is well known for its Frank Continued on page 5
Preservation Conference Highlights Buffalo’s Best REBECCA BRATEK News Editor
Buffalo became a tourist destination for thousands of outsiders this past weekend, and, for once, they focused on some of the city’s positive aspects rather than the amount of snowfall or the unemployment rate. The National Trust for Historic Preservation – a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to saving historic places and drawing attention to unique architecture – chose Buffalo to hold its annual National Preservation Conference this year. More than 2,500 “highly educated opinion-makers” (the highest attendance rate for a Preservation Conference in 10 years) arrived on Wednesday and stayed through Saturday to explore what Buffalo has to offer. “If this was an audition, Buffalo now has a starring role,” said Valecia Crisafulli, vice president of partnerships for the Trust in an article in The Buffalo News. The conference was all about “keeping you at the cutting edge of preservation,” and Buffalo was “the perfect laboratory for debating and examining the field’s alternating currents,” according to the conference’s Facebook page. The four-day conference had many events in store across the city for visitors and Buffalo citizens alike. Tours of historic sites – Lockport’s Erie Canal
The historic Richardson Olmsted Complex – a former mental hospital that’s being refurbished into a luxury hotel – was open to the public for the fist time in over a decade on Thursday, Oct. 20. This was one of many events included in the National Preservation Conference. Meg Kinsley /// The Spectrum
locks, the Graycliff Estate in Derby, Frank Lloyd Wright’s residence, the historic community around Kleinhans Music Hall, city parks, and even Forest Lawn Cemetery – were the highlight of the conference. “I hope that people use [last] weekend as an opportunity to explore Buffalo, even if it just acts as a reminder that we have these great resources and potential,” said Patrick Riedy, a senior English major and a resident of Buffalo for 21 years,
A Novel Way to Spend Time VERONICA RITTER Life Editor Carlton Brock III, a junior English major, likes being in control of the world. When a writer gets behind a computer or notebook, that’s exactly the type of power they possess. “With Enhanced I literally made the world new,” Brock said of his recently self-published science fiction novel. His novel, which incorporates elements of action and adventure, takes place in the year 2085 during the middle of a global war. The story follows Rio Orca, a soldier who is able to start fires with his mind. Many characters within the novel define the title, and are enhanced in some way like Rio.
While self-publishing a novel at 19 years old is a major accomplishment, it isn’t what sets Brock apart from most other college students, though it helps. Most juniors in college barely find the time for juggling school, homework, part-time jobs, and a social life. Brock, however, isn’t like most juniors. “He’s the type of kid instead of going out partying on a Saturday night, he’d rather spend time with his younger siblings and read a book to them,” said Carlton Brock Jr., Brock’s father and senior vice president of St. Jude Medical Inc. “My daughter is trying to write her own book because she wants to be just like her big brother.”
Continued on page 5
Brock is one of nine sisters and brothers including stepsiblings. When he isn’t writing, reading, or seeing the latest movie to have hit theaters on Friday night, he is spending as much time as possible with his siblings. “It’s something I try to make time to do every week,” Brock said. “It’s also really interesting to try and see the world through their eyes and help them learn new things.” Whether it’s simply playing with his three younger siblings – 7-year-old Simone, and 4-year-old Peyton and Nia – or attending his brother’s shows – local hip-hop artist and freshman undecided major Quinton ‘Scooter’ Brock – Carlton dedicates the same amount of time to his family as he does to his writing. Continued on page 5
Weather for the Week: Monday: T-Showers- H: 57, L: 43 Tuesday: PM Showers- H: 57, L: 48 Wednesday: Showers/Wind- H: 57, L: 43
Continued on page 2
Carlton Brock III self-published a science fiction novel, titled Enhanced, at the age of 19.
Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum
I N S I D E Opinion * 3 Arts & Life * 4 Classifieds / Daily Delights * 7 Sports * 8
ubspectrum.com
Page 2
Monday, October 24, 2011
Continued from page 1: Summer Sweat Yields Fall Glory for Oliver no matter what an animal does, it’s going to stop doing it,” Mack said. “There’s a difference – Branden will never stop. Just the other night he wanted to go over to the hill.” Branden says he never wants to experience another season like 2010. Ever. Oliver made drastic improvements with the help of Mack and the football team’s strength coach, Zack Duval. “A normal athlete and Branden are two different things,” Duval said. “There isn’t enough weight room for him. He basically took over our weight room. Pound for pound, he’s the strongest on our team.”
Overcoming His Size Oliver has muscles like a young Arnold Schwarzenegger, but his teammates make him look more like Danny DeVito. His favorite player of all-time is Barry Sanders – a 5-foot-8-inch former Detroit Lions running back who was one of the best rushers in NFL history. Sanders was known for his shiftiness and ability to make defenders miss. Branden, too, is known for his elusiveness. He frequently leaves defenders on their posteriors asking: “What just happened?”
When you ask Branden’s friends and family what he’s like as a football player, there’s only one word that keeps coming up – hardworking. And when you ask about his character, there’s one word everyone brings up – humble.
“I don’t even know what I’m doing when I have the ball half the time. It just happens,” Oliver said.
When Branden went away to school, Edwin, Jr. told him that humility was imperative. He said: “if you exalt yourself, you will be humbled, but if you humble yourself, you will succeed.” Following his monster performance at Ohio and his recognition as MAC East
Player of the Week, Quinn said Oliver was quick to give the honor to his offensive linemen. He told them: “you guys did it.”
His height is far from imposing, but when he meets a defender head-on, you’ll swear he turns into a Mack truck. He frequently drags piles of opponents – some significantly bigger than he is – for three or four yards.
“It inspires me and it inspires all his teammates, to know that here’s a guy who maybe in stature, physically, is not at the same level as some of the guys we’re facing,” Quinn said. “But it’s all about his heart and his determination, and that’s what you love about human beings that have that. That’s what he brings to the table.” He decided that he would never let somebody stop him just because he was too small. He would simply work harder to make up for what he lacked in size. “We know football is not pretty. It’s a tough game for tough guys,” Quinn said. “Bo has that belief in himself, that he doesn’t care how big he is.” Surpassing Expectations Branden started playing football when he was 6. He wanted to play when he was 5, but his father told him he was too young. Branden wouldn’t stop crying, and his father – Edwin Oliver, Sr. – said he knew right then and there that Branden was going to be a football player. Branden’s work ethic developed during his childhood in Miami. Branden grew up with two big brothers – Edwin Oliver, Jr. and Tarell Short – who always challenged and protected Branden. However, Branden’s relationship with his brothers was always a bit bizarre. He is six years younger than Tarell and seven years younger than Edwin, Jr., but Branden says he always won their youthful fights. Oliver, Sr. says Branden isn’t lying. Edwin, Jr. just laughs. “He won with dad’s help. He was always tough.” Branden’s dad learned early on that Branden was more than just a short kid. A coach told him that Branden would play in the NFL one day when Oliver, Sr. took Branden to the Miami Dolphins’ football camp.
He also recalls the time he took Branden to his brothers’ wrestling match. The two older brothers were in high school; Branden was in elementary school. He wrestled the other wrestlers’ siblings behind the bleachers, and the youngest of his opponents was in middle school. Branden beat all of them. Oliver, Sr. said he had no choice but to take Branden to the local YMCA and sign him up for wrestling. Two weeks later, Branden was in his first tournament. He miraculously advanced all the way to the championship match, where he faced a kid who’d been wrestling his whole life. Branden beat the odds yet again, winning the tournament. “As he was coming of age,” Oliver, Sr. said. “I noticed a difference as far as desire and him wanting things more, and putting a little heart ‘n soul in it.” Nowadays, Branden blazes by his opponents. He’s been the strong, short kid for as long as he can remember, but Branden hasn’t always been fast. You wouldn’t guess it if you look at him today, but Branden was the slowest in his family when he was growing up. He knew he wanted to play football for a living and he knew he needed to get faster, so he asked his dad for help. Oliver, Sr. obliged. “I got him the best stuff for training,” he said. Branden’s favorite 30-pound vest, a weighted jump rope, and a homemade sled that holds weights were among the items. Branden’s speed continued to increase as he continued to train. The brothers and their father remember the days they all used to race in the street outside their house. Branden used to always finish last; Edwin, Jr. was a major track star, and Oliver, Sr. and Short were exceptionally speedy, too. But one day, when Branden was 12, he beat his dad in a race. Short laughed, so Branden challenged him and beat him. The brothers were stunned and they called Edwin, Jr. outside.
Going Unnoticed While big-time schools like Miami were paying attention to guys like Miller, Branden was getting repeatedly passed over because of his size. Branden said numerous schools offered to bring him on recruiting trips, but they’d cancel the trips at the last minute. Buffalo was the only Division-I school to offer him a scholarship and he immediately accepted. He said the teams that ignored him gave him endless inspiration. Branden has continually been forced to overcome the odds, but he’s eternally countered adversity with enthusiasm. “One time he was in the ninth grade, and the coach never called me and informed me that they pulled my son to the varsity,” Oliver, Sr. said. “[He was] 13 years old, starting against these 17-year-old guys. The first handoff, he went for 15 yards. The second handoff, the guy picked Branden up and threw him down like ‘BOOM’. He got right up, went in the huddle, and ran it again.” Devastating Doubters Branden may have accomplished a lot already, but he’s not finished. He is hastily piecing together one of the most successful seasons for a running back in Buffalo history. “The enjoyment I have watching him run, hearing his name called, compared to me having mine back when I played… now there’s so much more enjoyment and fulfillment,” Oliver, Sr. said. Though Branden knew he had the potential to achieve greatness, he is still shocked with the amount of recognition he’s receiving. “After the last game, there were so many kids wanting my autograph, and I was just so overwhelmed,” Branden said. “I’ve always dreamed about this kind of stuff.” Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
“Everybody just kept quiet,” Oliver, Sr. said. “Everyone was like: ‘Wow, this kid has really gotten a lot faster.’” In high school, he was on a relay team that set a 4 x 100 track and field record in Miami-Dade County. One of his teammates on that relay squad was Lamar Miller, the starting running back for the Miami Hurricanes.
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Opinion ubspectrum.com
Monday, October 24, 2011
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Matthew Parrino SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR James Twigg MANAGING EDITOR Edward Benoit EDITORIAL EDITOR James Bowe NEWS EDITORS Luke Hammill, senior Rebecca Bratek Sara DiNatale, asst. Lisa Khoury, asst. ARTS EDITORS Jameson Butler, senior Vanessa Frith Nicolas Pino LIFE EDITORS Akari Iburi, senior Steven Wrobel Veronica Ritter Keren Baruch, asst. SPORTS EDITORS Aaron Mansfield, senior Brian Josephs Scott Resnick, asst. Andreius Coleman, asst. PHOTO EDITORS Meg Kinsley, senior Alexa Strudler Satsuki Aoi Troi Williams, asst. Nyeri Moulterie, asst. COPY EDITOR Edward Benoit CARTOONIST Patrick Boyle WEB EDITOR Matthew Parrino James Twigg
PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Andrew Angeles CREATIVE DESIGNERS Nicole Manzo Aline Kobayashi ADVERTISING DESIGNER 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.
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A Historic Revival Get out and explore Buffalo!
Right inside South Campus is your entrance to one of the most beautiful cities in the nation. Last week Buffalo was host to the prestigious National Preservation Conference, a four-day conference to highlight historic and cultural sites throughout the city. Iconic structures underwent massive renovations for the 46 bus, walking, and boat tours that crisscrossed Buffalo. Shea’s Performing Arts Center, the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in North Tonawanda, and any other buildings had significant work done to fix them up in anticipation of the people coming to visit them, and the entire city hasn’t looked better in a long time. The city government has even shifted into gear and finally cleaned up dead trees downtown and increased garbage pickup and street sweeping. Rust belt cities across the U.S. have been searching for ways to rise up for years. Many, including Buffalo, have been hoping to turn into tourist destination for arts, architecture, and history. With this level of recognition, it looks like that may be happening. Many of us at UB, however, will never know the great things that the city has in store. North Campus has evolved into a completely autonomous entity; you can take a bus the short distance to grocery stores, live in on-campus apartments, and eat oncampus. Even when people head into the city, many aren’t there to enjoy Buffalo itself, but to experience the
many bars it has to offer. True, the Queen City does have a multitude of quality watering holes, but digging a little deeper is an extremely rewarding experience. Buffalo’s City Hall easily pops out as the quintessential landmark of the Nickel City. With its dominating silhouette over the downtown skyline and beautiful art deco styling, it is nearly impossible to miss on any trip into the city. Just looking at City Hall would leave you severely lacking in Buffalo experience, though. Delaware Park is arguably one of the most beautiful areas in the whole state. Its designer, Frederick Law Olmstead, also designed Central Park, and said that he preferred Delaware to Central.
The biggest resource that is still untapped to repair Buffalo, however, is you. If we all took an interest and developed a love for the community that UB has been built upon, a real recovery would not distant. The burden doesn’t lie completely on us, though. The city government needs to treat itself well all around the year, rather than waiting until a big event to clean up the city. Buffalo will rise again, and we can and will be a part of it.
Forest Lawn Cemetery sits right next to Delaware Park, and although somewhat macabre, it is just as amazing. From a powerful statue of Indian chief Red Jacket, to a mausoleum designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright bring a resting place to life. If you’re so inclined, the grave of funk superstar Rick James and many other famous names are interred at Forest Lawn. Events like the National Preservation Conference draw great attention to Buffalo, and do a lot to shift the view from a downtrodden city waiting to die to a vibrant metropolis on the cusp of recovering from a long streak of hard times using resources that have luckily been protected from harm.
The acts were almost as laughable as the crowd. Two out of the three bands were a joke and a complete waste of money.
But that’s exactly what they want. Holding the employee who committed the bribe accountable is good and all, but telling businesses that they won’t be in danger if that employee is caught just gives them a government subsidized patsy to allow bribery to resume with relative impunity.
Companies paint a dangerous picture where they are afraid to do business with foreign governments because the huge fines have big consequences for employees and stockholders who did nothing wrong.
They are effectively advocating for the total obliteration of the law, leaving a shell behind to convince us that everything is just hunky-dory and that they cross their hearts and promise not to do anything unethical.
The FCPA was designed to put this practice to an end by making it illegal to offer money to employees of foreign governments in return for a business advantage in that nation.
The law holds particular clout now, as Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. is under investigation for violating the law by paying off police officers for information in the UK. In cases like this, the FCPA has become an integral part of the caseload of prosecutors.
It also sets a disturbing precedent where corporations can more easily advocate for laws that allow them to partition off liability for criminal actions that their employees take.
Not only does it apply to foreign companies, but it also works to ensure that foreign businesses don’t do Telephone: (716) 645-2468 Fax: (716) 645-2766 the same thing for our government contracts. That way, the playing field Copyright 2011 Buffalo, N.Y. is totally leveled. You have to win The Spectrum is printed by contracts based on the quality of your The Buffalo News products or services instead of how 1 News Plaza much money you’re willing to throw Buffalo, N.Y. 14240 email any submissions to info@ubspectrum.com around.
It is truly incredible that corporations expect people to take this seriously. The fact that employees and stockholders will be damaged by irresponsible actions is not a real argument. As a leader of a company, it is your responsibility to act properly to ensure that you won’t damage your business or hurt your employees. You’re not going to get a free pass to commit crime.
October 24, 2011 VOLUME 61 NUMBER 24 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
The law is simple. Before it, executives would win over contracts to do business with foreign governments by simply bringing a briefcase filled with cash to the meeting and greasing some palms.
Hopefully the government doesn’t take the bait. If it lets this effective law die, lawmakers are taking a huge step toward allowing corporations to once again undermine the stability and credibility of foreign governments. Capitalism works best when it’s properly regulated, and this law has been defending that principle for over 30 years; don’t let it die, Washington.
Science and Skepticism: Irreducible Complexity Reduced MAXWELL KOOBATIAN Special to The Spectrum With the political stage heating up, naturally there has been debate over “science” issues, and once again the usual suspects have been raised including global warming, evolution vs. creationism/intelligent design (ID), and stem cell research. While scientists have managed to put these issues to rest, they continue to plague the media in a misrepresented fashion. Evolution vs. creationism is the oldest of the arguments and the atmosphere has changed over the years with advocates wanting the teaching of ID in public schools. Notable outspoken proponents of this theory and/or similar theories include Dr. Michael Behe, Dr. Duane Gish, Ben Stein, Kent Hovind and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach as well as prominent politicians.
One of the strongest arguments made by the proponents has traditionally been the origin of the bacteria flagellum, a tiny motor capable of propelling bacteria at blistering speeds. For years, ID advocates state that if any one of the parts is removed from the bacteria flagellum, it is unable to serve its purpose – similar to removing any vital piece from a car engine. This initially may sound like a solid theory. At some point, if enough is stripped away from a biological system you are left with something unable to serve any purpose, and therefore the biological complex must have been designed and could not have evolved from simpler predecessors. In other words, the individual parts that make up the flagellum have no purpose of their own. When asked directly, this particular example has often left scientists and skeptics unable to offer a rebuttal. Ken Miller, on the other hand (a biol-
ogy professor at Brown University, lead witness in the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District case), stated during the Dover trial that irreducible complexity is in fact a falsifiable theory, cannot be considered science, and therefore should NOT be taught in the science classroom. The case Dr. Miller made was the following. The bacteria flagellum does indeed have many protein complexes (about 50), and if one is removed it no longer functions as a motor. But these simpler complexes have different functions. If 40 pieces are removed (not just 1) there are approx 10 parts left spanning the cell membrane. If the ID proponents are correct, this complex will serve no purpose. Instead we are left with a complex known as the “Type-3 secretory system.” This complex is a microscope needle, capable of injecting harmful proteins into other cells. The bubonic plague, chlamydia, and food poisoning (from E-Coli) are spread using this
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This Fallfest was one of the biggest disappointments of my extended UB career. The Student Association wasted hundreds of thousands of our dollars on a show that interested no one.
It makes my skin crawl that SA held a concert where the majority of the concertgoers weren’t even UB students. SA spent a pretty penny putting this event together, and the people that paid for it had a minimal desire to go.
Businesses don’t see it quite that way, however, and are fighting back against the law. They want the law to be changed so that it is more limited and restricted in its scope. Instead of holding the business liable, companies want to ensure that the employee responsible is held accountable instead.
The Spectrum is provided free in part by the Undergraduate Mandatory Activity Fee.
Friday I wrote Fallfest article. This did not allow me to let my music critic side show.
The point of Fallfest is to give UB students a concert that can get the campus excited. A good portion of the crowd were students, but not UB students. Most of the crowd seemed to be high schoolers or older couples.
Congress should keep the FCPA intact and strong
In 1977, the Foreign Corrupt Policies Act (FCPA) did just that. Over the years it has been used to pull more than $1 billion in fines from huge companies like Siemens and DaimlerChrysler.
JAMESON BUTLER Senior Arts Editor
First the crowd at Fallfest was dismal. The audience could have fit into the Town Ballroom, which holds a thousand people. The crowd barely took up a quarter of the arena floor, and people were sporadically filling in the seats in the back.
A Briefcase Filled With Power It’s not often that the government even tries to actively combat bad corporate practices, much less succeed.
Yet Another SA Letdown
protein complex. How can we be sure this simplified complex is the same from the flagellum? The DNA coding the various proteins can be sequenced and compared. Sure enough, there is homology between the bacteria flagellum, and the Type-3 secretory system: evidence supporting the theory of evolution, and not ID. Why ID continues to be a talking point is a political debate worth having, but from a scientific perspective, this issue has actually been resolved and scientists have moved on to other fascinating and complicated endeavors. Email: mtkoobatian@gmail.com The Spectrum edited this article for grammar and clarity only. We do not edit guest editorials for content.
2 AM Club is the biggest joke of a band I have seen since I saw Metro Station four years ago. Its instrumentation is more simplistic than most pop music and the band’s sound is unoriginal. 2 AM Club sounds like Maroon 5 with a dreadful white rapper. Both singers of the band seemed more interested in securing a lady of the evening than performing their music. They even took a break from their set so one could jump down and give a girl his number…and it only cost students like 500 dollars to watch him do that. The White Panda is also a joke. Most mash-up artists are boring to watch for the simple fact that they just hide behind their computer. At least DJs make their own music, which is more than can be said for The White Panda. The “band” stood behind a screen pretty much invisible to the pit. The only time the band seemed to be visible was when one of the members popped his head out to sing the lyrics to a song he didn’t write. I understand mash-up artists have minimal creativity, but the good ones take risks in their mash-ups. The White Panda just took two songs that sound similar and already really popular and combined them. Other artists try and mash-up songs that one would not expected to be mixed together. Girl Talk is a perfect example. He uses two random songs and still makes them sound good, like “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath and “Move Bitch” by Ludacris. I have a Mac as well – if I download Ableton, can SA pay me thousands of dollars to mix songs that people already love? The tackiest thing of all is that they were playing 2 AM Club and The Fray in between sets. We are already here to listen to these bands perform these songs, we don’t we really need to hear it 15 minutes after they already played it. The Fray were surprisingly good live. While the band’s stage show was boring – only the singer seemed to get into it – the band sounded great. The only problem I have with The Fray is why are they HEADLINING a fest. I would have had no reservations if The Fray were one of the opening acts, but its target audience is not college students. The Fray almost put me to sleep with its performance because there was nothing exciting. SA put on one of the worst Fests of all time with Fallfest 2011. Here’s hoping it does better for Springfest (I know, I’m laughing as I write this). Email: jameson.butler@ubspectrum.com
Arts & Life
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ubspectrum.com
Living the American Dream
Monday, October 24, 2011
¡Viva La Dance Revolución!
DHANYATHA SURESH Freelance writer
Not many independent shop owners can stay open in a multi-day Buffalo blizzard without power. Even fewer owners are willing to continue to drive students to their store to buy products by candlelight. Taraq Khan and his brother Ashfaq, however, are willing to do whatever they can for their customers The embargo on Cuba might still be going on, but The Kings of Salsa brought a little piece of Cuba to CFA Wednesday Night. Courtesy of King of Salsa / Maximo Productions
The brothers are co-owners of Super Bazaar, a South Asian grocery store. Since moving from their native India in April 1987, America has become their new home. “We had a horrible snow storm a couple of years ago in October,” Khan said. “We had to spend six days without power. There were students calling me up and asking for food. But the snow was too thick and I could not open the store. Finally, I borrowed a truck from one of my friends and drove the students to my store.”
ELVA AGUILAR Staff Writer
Brothers Taraq and Ashfaq Khan moved to America from India in order to find better job opportunities and fulfill the American dream. Akari Iburi /// The Spectrum
Since starting a store of his own, Khan realized that the shop is a great way to get Indian foods to both longtime fans and to people new to the flavors. The store sells everything from spicy butter chicken marsala to ready-to-mix bhel puri, a traditional Indian dish with rice and vegetables in a savory sauce.
The shop, located at 3218 Sheridan Dr. in Amherst, is proof of the hard work ethic the brothers have. Coming from non-business backgrounds, the brothers started at “When I first came to the States my main the bottom and have made their way up concern was food,” said Hemanth Kumar, the job ladder. a first-year graduate student in the department of management and information At the time, business opportunities were systems from India. “I knew I wouldn’t be scarce in Kashmir, India, where the two able to adjust to just pizzas and burgers. once lived. Ashfaq, who was a lawyer, was But when I heard about this store from a not receiving any clients. Success was diffew seniors and the fact that I don’t have ficult to find and moving to America was to spend any money to get there, I was the answer, according to Khan extremely happy and grateful.” “Life was hard during those days,” Khan said. “But India has improved a lot since the 1980s. Setting up a business is not such a tedious task anymore.” Though at first American life was tough on the brothers, they eventually found their way. Starting off as a manager of McDonalds, Khan gained experience not only in running a business, but also in American culture. “There were so many things that I did not know and wasn’t aware of,” Khan said. “Until I came to the States, I didn’t even know such things as drive-thru even existed. My family too had to make a lot of adjustments in terms of new country, new people…But life here was better for them with all the good facilities and schools available.”
Super Bazaar not only provides solutions to spicy Indian food cravings, but also a solution to homesickness, according to Naga Kiran, a first-year graduate student in the department of management and information systems from Bangalore, India. To Kiran, Super Bazaar was like a dream come true. “I love the food they offer,” Kiran said. “It is of excellent quality. The best part is how the two brothers treat you. They make you feel so homely. They [also] offer a discount of 5 percent every time I shop at their store”
The Super Bazaar picks up and drops off an average of 25 students per week, according to Khan. “I was very surprised when I heard about [these services]” Kumar said. “I had never heard of such a thing before. Most students don’t have any means of transportation when they come here and they end up spending unnecessary amounts of money on bus and taxi fares.” Khan and Ashfaq are used to dealing with hardships. The brothers were born and brought up in Jammu and Kashmir, a state located in northern India with a long history of violence and bloodshed. Many people from this region decided to migrate to different countries and other parts of India. The relationship with the customers is part of the reason Super Bazaar is thriving. Khan said that because of this moving to the States has been the best decision he has made. “I believe I have changed since I came here,” Khan said. “I have learned that if one works hard, there is nothing that anybody can do to stop you from reaching your goal.” Khan now lives happily in Buffalo with his wife and two sons and has no plans to return to India permanently.
After seeing UB South Indian students struggling to carry heavy bags of rice in the cold, Khan cooked up an idea that has Email: features@ubspectrum.com helped boost their business. The brothers offer a pick-up and drop-off service to their local shoppers.
The Mainstage Theatre almost erupted at the seams after the Kings of Salsa left their mark on Buffalo. Trumpets, trombones, cowbells, and almost every type of percussive instrument infiltrated the Center For the Arts to an interactive, high-energy audience last Wednesday night.
time to introduce his band and dancers, giving them the opportunity to freestyle dance and show their talents. Chavez then took the time to thank everybody who helped make the show a success despite troubles in transportation due to international relations. “America and Cuba working together! What a beautiful thing, eh!” Chavez said as he smiled from ear to ear. The most pleasant surprise during this show, however, was the wide array of dance styles throughout the night.
“That first dance just made me want to jump out of my seat and join them,” said Estela Castillo, a senior nursing major. “I knew I’d love [the whole show] the minute they got on stage.”
One song, performed with no vocals, displayed the love between a man and a woman with a performance that can be easily compared to the end dance scene in Dirty Dancing. The couple started with normal salsa style moves and progressed into ballet, ending with the legendary leap made famous by Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze.
The Cuban group, led by Roclan Gonzalez Chavez as both the lead male vocalist and choreographer, kicked the performance off with an original salsa tune sung by Chavez and his female counterpart, Danais Valdes. Their mindblowing chemistry set the scene for their seven-person dance troupe. The group, made up of four men and three women, displayed not only the traditional and historical themes of salsa in their performance, but also a young, carefree vibe that one would not necessarily correlate with Cuban life. The Kings of Salsa used their show to give insight to Cuban history through their wardrobe. During one song, the men dressed as the indigenous Taino people and the women dressed in traditional Spanish garb to express the love-hate relationship between the two cultures when they first encountered each other in 1492.
The Kings of Salsa also showed their talents in modern dance sporadically throughout the night, and the male performers flexed their talents in swing and jazz while decked out in zoot suits. In addition to using wardrobe to keep the energy and attention high, the Kings of Salsa also had no qualms using props including flags and bandanas, as well as conga drums and claves to create onstage percussion. The Kings of Salsa seemed satisfied with the crowd as they whistled and cheered throughout the performance.
To keep a balance of the old and new, the Kings of Salsa also shared the concept of the “malecón” in their native of Cuba. “Malecón,” which directly translates into “pier,” is a popular term for a hangout spot in Cuba. Chavez and his dancers set this humble setting as Chavez took the
“It’s like a taste of home has come to visit,” said Michelle Conde, a junior nursing major originally from the Bronx. “This is the music and dance I grew up with. It helps with homesickness, especially during these midterms.” Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
The Director and Staff of the Educational Opportunity Program at the State University of New York at Buffalo cordially invites you to attend the
37
th
Annual
Arthur O. Eve EOP Celebration of Excellence and Awards Convocation
Friday, October 28, 2011 2:00 - 4:00 PM in the Student Union Theatre (Students are to check in by 1:30PM) Students Honored:
. State Wide Academic Honors (over 3.0 GPA) . High Academic Achiever Spring 2011 (over 3.0 GPA) . High Academic Achiever Fall 2010 (over 3.0 GPA) . Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges . EOP Graduates 2011
Other Honorees:
. Friends of EOP
Center for Academic Development Services
Monday, October 24, 2011
ubspectrum.com
Continued from page 1: Enhancing His Life
Continued from page 1:Preservation
Brock has been writing for as far back as he can remember. He started with descriptions of the artwork he enjoyed creating and then moved onto writing his own lyrics, poetry, and eventually stories. “Enhanced is just the next step in my growth as a writer,” Brock said, even though he wasn’t sure he wanted to become an author. “I’ve always wanted to write a book. But for a long time I wanted to be a paleontologist. Indirectly, Rex in Enhanced is the result of that desire. If you ask me today, being an author is really only part of what I want to do. You can be an author and be anything… I’m a student, and a cashier [at BJ’s], and an author.” Brock has many aspirations for himself and is ready to achieve them all. His accomplishments at such a young age is inspiring not only to his friends and family, but for other students hoping to become published authors themselves. “I’m just really glad that he’s following his beliefs and what he likes to do because there’s not a lot of people out there now a days that actually do what they want to do,” said Alex Kishkurna, a junior in the nursing program at Niagara County Community College and Brock’s good friend. “[He is an example that] anything is achievable in this age… anything is possible if you really want it, and if you really believe in something you want to accomplish.” While it may take time and hard work to write a novel, getting through the publishing process is an even bigger feat. Brock decided to go with self-publishing after he did immense research and discovered it was the best solution for a first-time author. His stepmother also decided to self-publish her own work, and together they chose the company, I-Universe. I-Universe creates an outlet in which new up-and-coming authors can market and sell their work. Because of I-Universe, Enhanced is now available for purchase at barnesandnoble.com, Itunes, can be downloaded as an E-book, and on his website, brockenhanced.com. The average price of the book comes out to about $15. Brock began Enhanced in his senior year of high school after he and his best friend, Taylor Allen, a junior history education major at Buffalo State, decided
writing novels was something they both wanted to do. Brock has received a lot of support, encouragement, and helpful feedback from his friends who have helped him throughout the three years it took Brock to complete Enhanced. “It was just something fun to do,” Allen said. “We would share work; we would read each other’s stuff. He’s an amazing writer, I’m very proud of him for getting his book done. I’ve had a hard time staying focused enough on getting it done [myself], so I’m pretty envious that he was able to stick to it, and get the whole thing done and get it out.” Brock’s Introduction to Creative Writing professor Alexander Porco is not at all surprised that Brock successfully published his novel. “I recall him being a talented and industrious young writer, one possessed with a knack for making fantastical worlds and extraordinary characters come to life,” Porco said. “I hope his book finds some welcoming readers.” For his next book, Brock hopes to explore the traditional publishing route, but said that it must feel right. If self-publishing is the way to go again, then it will be. A second book might be possible in the next couple of years and he hopes to produce a literary comic book of sorts to keep Enhanced, rather than a series, according to Brock. Currently, Brock is maintaining a blog in the perspective of Rex, one of the main characters in Enhanced. In addition, he has also written stories that take place before the book’s setting and in the years after it. “Eventually I want to see what I can do and make it network, make it interesting,” Brock said. While Brock is looking to the endless possibilities that await him in the future, he is not alone. “[Brock] can go anywhere if he keeps his mind to it and [stays] determined and continues to take good direction and listen,” Carlton Jr. said. “Who knows, the future is endless, but it’s a great beginning. As I like to say, [for] young authors to be established, you gotta get the first one in and he’s got the first one well ahead of most kids. So as he continues to develop and learn a skill, who knows.” Email: features@ubspectrum.com
Page 5
in an email. “I especially hope people not from the area or not familiar with downtown maybe see this conference as a chance to assimilate and familiarize themselves with the city of Buffalo, not just the university or town of Amherst.” One event, Thursday night’s “Museums by Moonlight,” offered tours of local museums, art galleries, and even the Richardson Olmsted Complex – a historic former mental hospital that was a design partnership between architect H. H. Richardson and landscape designer Fredrick Law Olmsted. Thursday night was the first time in over a decade that the site was open for public tours. Only a small section of the building was open to the public, as it is still in the process of being restored, but visitors were given a small peek into the former grandeur. Visitors were able to tour old psychiatric wards and were able to step inside the tiny “dorm” rooms that patients once inhabited. Refurbishing the lofty ceilings, hardwood floors, vast staircases, and beautiful mosaic tile floors are the first steps in
Continued from page 1:
Conference Highlights Buffalo’s Best
turning the former mental hospital into a luxury hotel. These small remnants of the iconic 19th-century architecture are being preserved in order to remember the past and educate future generations. The complex – and other sites in Buffalo – are in the process of being stabilized, preserved, and restored by Preservation Buffalo Niagara, Buffalo’s local arm of the National Trust. Many Western New Yorkers are pleased that strides are being made to preserve such historic sites. “I suppose I do [consider myself a preservationist], although I have never really thought to apply the label to myself,” said Peter Williams, a UB graduate student in mental health counseling and a resident of Buffalo for 13 years, in an email. “Much of it is simply common sense if you consider the alternatives. When [you] value what you have, either personally or collectively, you must endeavor to preserve it. We have seen far too many architectural wonders here in Buffalo fall into disrepair.”
Lectures and meetings highlighted issues such as the rejuvenation of Buffalo’s East and West Sides, how to reconstruct Buffalo’s public school system, and how to implement sustainable design into new and revitalized buildings. Residents of the city and Western New York appreciated what attention this conference brought to Buffalo – for historical preservation of the city itself and other cities across the country. They want to see Buffalo restored to its former glory and bring Buffalo into the modern century. “I would like to see Buffalo's legacy be one of togetherness,” Williams said. “We are a city of good neighbors, and it is heartwarming to see Buffalonians come together to help each other. I'd love to have our city become an example of how to put aside petty, nominal differences and show the rest of the country how to achieve goals that are best for the common good as opposed to political divisiveness.” Email: news@ubspectrum.com
Grain Elevators Provide a Look into the Past
Lloyd Wright houses and its Art Deco structures like City Hall, but the grain elevators are often overlooked in an architectural sense, viewed by many ordinary citizens as nothing more than another example of urban blight on the ill-used waterfront. Robert Shibley, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning, sees them in a more flattering light. “We advertised this event as ‘Inside Concrete Atlantis,’” Shibley said. “That’s a reference to a book by one of our faculty years ago, A Concrete Atlantis, that speaks about how the images of these structures found their way into all kinds of modernist architecture manifestos.” The grain elevator was invented in Buffalo in the mid-1800s, influencing architectural trends and revolutionizing American industry. Buffalo’s elevators – located directly on the Buffalo River, where ships could dock, unload, and load – were key in the production of grain products from Pillsbury dough to Genesee beer. When the Saint Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959 and rendered the Erie Canal obsolete, though, ships began to bypass Buffalo, and most of the grain elevators fell into disuse. Now, community members and UB architecture students and faculty are trying to envision a
renewal for the buildings in the future. “[The grain elevators] are pretty robust, and they’re not going to fall down,” said Chris Romano, a clinical associate professor in the School of Architecture and Planning. “Most of them don’t even have any cracks…There have been conversations about how to utilize these things in the future, and we’re just starting the conversation…The [National Preservation Conference] was the trigger. The conference was a way to bring everybody together.” Other cities – such as Akron, Ohio – have turned grain elevators into hotels, according to Professor Emeritus Lynda Schneekloth of the School of Architecture and Planning. But, she said, doing that in Buffalo would require altering the buildings so that they are no longer historically accurate. She and Shibley suggest that a “landscape park,” which would showcase the buildings as a connection to learning and remembering Buffalo’s history, might be a viable alternative. “[A landscape park] interprets history, it offers opportunities for doing things like [Friday’s event],” Schneekloth said. “How about a rave, a dance…you could start thinking about all kinds of things.” Jackson said he could envision build-
ings like Marine A being converted into performance spaces for musicians, due to the natural reverb. But he also shared the nostalgia expressed by Schneekloth and Shibley. “I’d like to see some of them remain exactly as they are, as monuments to Buffalo’s great industrial past, and some of them converted to performance space,” Jackson said. “I don’t know what else… But it deserves thought rather than just [letting them decay].” To provoke such thought, Shibley announced – to a crowd that included UB President Satish K. Tripathi and Interim Provost Harvey Stenger – that the School of Architecture and Planning would begin offering a continuing education program in sustainability and preservation in the spring. For now, Shibley and others hope that the Preservation Conference served as a jumping-off point for a revitalization of Buffalo’s buildings. “We [the School of Architecture and Planning and the National Trust for Historic Preservation] share a common goal, which is to make places like Buffalo better,” Shibley said. Email: news@ubspectrum.com
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Monday, October 24, 2011
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Visit ubspectrum.com/games for our online game of the week Also see the crossword and Sudoku answers from last issue
Crossword of the Day
MONday, October 24 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- You may not believe in miracles, but you certainly believe in luck -- and today, luck will play a key role in your affairs.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- You are likely to learn a great deal from someone you have looked up to for some time. You can carry on a fine tradition.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You’re likely to make a decision today that determines who will be your closest allies in the days and weeks to come.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You may find yourself saying things that you never though you would say -- but the reasons you have to do so far outweigh anything else.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- A growing fear that things are not what they seem mustn’t keep you from pursuing the goals that have kept you going for quite some time.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You must stay on task and on target throughout the day; don’t let distractions keep you from tending to the business that is most important to you.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You mustn’t confuse the desire to do something with the need to do it -- and today, the difference is likely to be significant, day and night.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You’re likely to be surprised by a friend’s decision to go it alone. You can be ready to step in, however, if the need arises.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Any sort of dysfunction you can identify today can surely be eased, thanks in part to your creative way of looking at the world.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Tension at home is eased only after you admit that you cannot fix everything. After that, everyone works together.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You can’t please everyone around you today, so it will be important for you to pick and choose just whom to satisfy -- and how and when.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Haste may prove quite dangerous today, and yet neither must you progress too slowly. You can and must achieve a delicate balance.
Edited by Timothy E. Parker October 24, 2011 HOT AT THE BOX OFFICE By Jill Pepper ACROSS 1 Sound made by Big Ben 5 Certain moles 10 Masterful move 14 Sheriff Taylor's boy Bret 15 "The Luck of Roaring Camp" author 16 Pearl Mosque site 17 Lion's pride? 18 Marry 19 Extend credit 20 Hot Mel Brooks classic 23 Superman's logo 24 "Affirmative" 25 Uses a spoon, perhaps 28 Ship that was double-booked? 31 Does some stevedoring 35 Female lobster 36 Requiring fast action 39 Beat a hasty retreat 40 Hot Clint Eastwood film 43 French father
44 Magician's hiding place 45 Word in a comic balloon, perhaps 46 Ripped off 48 Some shoe widths 49 Some flirty signals 51 Part of a nest egg 53 Bart Simpson's age 54 Hot WWII film? 62 Acoustical engineer's concern 63 Wrinkle-resistant fabric 64 One of seven continents 65 Brewski 66 Part of New England 67 Pinball foul 68 Spoiled youngster 69 Ponies up 70 To be, to Caesar
DOWN 1 Broadway failure 2 Australian mine find 3 One of Columbus' vessels 4 Fuddy-duddy 5 Cold-shoulders 6 Twinge of hunger 7 Purple perennial 8 James of jazz 9 Run-down in appearance, as a hotel 10 Cancels 11 Curved molding 12 Coffee containers 13 Cape Canaveral fixture 21 Edition 22 Tierra ___ Fuego 25 Titanic and Lusitania 26 True believer's belief 27 Opening lines 28 Like a ballerina 29 Actress Zellweger 30 What believers fall on
32 Not from Earth 33 Jeter at short 34 Searches for 37 "Treasure Island'' author's monogram 38 "Mazel ___!'' 41 Certain landing site 42 Not as many 47 ___ of Good Feelings 50 Existing from birth 52 Bakery byproduct 53 Whistle blowers' concerns? 54 Bakery artist 55 Ballpark demolished after the 2008 season 56 Ayatollah territory 57 Narrow opening 58 Exemplar of dryness 59 Cow-horned goddess 60 E-Street Band guitarist Lofgren 61 Boarding place 62 Tidal movement
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Sports Page 8
ubspectrum.com
Monday, October 24, 2011
Finding the Balance Between Reporting and Sympathizing AARON MANSFIELD Senior Sports Editor
By now, seemingly everybody at UB knows what happened on Saturday. It was the missed kick heard ‘round Buffalo, conjuring heart-wrenching memories of Scott Norwood. It put UB on the map; it put UB on SportsCenter. It was a missed extra point. Twenty nine-year-old senior kicker Peter Fardon hooked an extra-point to the left with 14 seconds remaining, sending the Buffalo Bulls to a 31-30 loss and a 2-6 record.
Wide Left
Bulls drop thrilling matchup on botched extra point After a memorable comeback on Saturday, a missed field goal by kicker Peter Fardon (13) cost the Bulls a chance at overtime against NIU.
AARON MANSFIELD Senior Sports Editor UB Stadium was in complete pandemonium on Saturday afternoon. Thanks to the mind-boggling play of senior quarterback Chazz Anderson, the football team mounted a tantalizing 20-point fourth quarter comeback to tie the game at 31 and send it to overtime. All the Bulls (2-6, 1-3 Mid-American Conference) needed was that 21st point. All they needed was an extra point. Senior kicker Peter Fardon couldn’t convert. The biggest play of Saturday’s gutwrenching loss occurred while most fans were busy celebrating a three-yard touchdown pass from Anderson to senior wide receiver Ed Young. With 14 seconds remaining, Fardon hooked the potential game-tying extra point wide left, sending his team to a 31-30 loss to MAC opponent Northern Illinois (5-3, 3-1 MAC). “I let my teammates, coaches, the university and the fans down,” Fardon said. “I have a job to do and I didn’t do it, and it’s inexcusable. It’s just something that I’m going to have to live with now.” The Bulls were down 31-10 in the fourth quarter and the game appeared to be easily in the Huskies’ hands. But Anderson dazzled the crowd, leading a massive comeback and a last-minute touchdownscoring drive. “Nobody felt worse than Pete,” said head
The women’s soccer team is in a furious battle for a spot in the MAC postseason. The squad traveled to Ohio on Friday and Buffalo hosted the Zips on Sunday at noon. Read Wednesday’s edition of The Spectrum for full coverage of the games.
coach Jeff Quinn. “You’ve got to stick by them and keep believing in these young men. I said, ‘Pete, you’re going to get a chance again. So hang in there, buddy.’”
gling in every facet.
Anderson completed 35-of0-3 passes for 404 yards and three interceptions, setting school records in completions and yardage and easily outplaying Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish.
The Bulls knew their squad would be altered when special teams ace Terrell Jackson went down to injury last week and was ruled doubtful for the remainder of the year. Just how seriously Buffalo would be altered, however, few expected.
Harnish – a dual-threat quarterback and one of the best players in the conference – was held in check by the Buffalo defense. He was limited to 150 passing yards and 68 rushing yards on the day. He only found the end zone once. One week ago, Harnish passed for 203 yards and ran for 229. The Buffalo defense came up huge against a Northern Illinois offense that totaled 697 yards last week, holding the Huskies to only 328 yards on the day. In opposition, Buffalo racked up 572. “I found that I have a football team that’s going to fight, and I was very proud of them,” Quinn said. The Bulls nearly swept the stat sheet, but there was one major area of disparity: turnovers. While Buffalo has struggled in almost every facet of the game so far this year, the team has been extremely consistent in holding onto the football. The Bulls had only lost one fumble when they entered Saturday’s matchup against Northern Illinois. Now it’s safe to say the Bulls are strug-
Three muffed punts (Jackson is one of the best punt returners in the MAC) assisted in Buffalo’s downward spiral on Saturday. The UB Stadium crowd of 13,370 cheered loudly and sarcastically in the third quarter when sophomore wide receiver Devon Hughes successfully fair-caught a punt. It was the first time all day the Bulls hadn’t fumbled when Northern Illinois punted. On the Huskies’ first three punts, senior wide receiver Ed Young fumbled twice and freshman cornerback Courtney Lester fumbled once. Buffalo was down 31-10 with 13 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but sophomore receiver Alex Neutz – who finished with a career-high 135 yards on nine catches – caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Anderson to narrow Buffalo’s gap to 31-17. It looked like the game was over soon after, when Anderson threw an interception, but Buffalo quickly got the ball back and drove down the field, resulting
All in all, when it comes down to it, Fardon blew the game. There’s no Meg Kinsley /// The Spectrum guaranteeing that Buffalo would’ve won in overtime, but at least the squad would’ve come all the way back (after trailing 31-10 in the fourth quarter) to in a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior send it to OT. wide receiver Marcus Rivers. From there, it just took one more stop and Buffalo had the ball back. The Bulls took over with 2:49 remaining and Anderson would not be denied, ferociously leading his offense down the field and ultimately hitting Young on third-andgoal.
Sometimes this job sucks. Sometimes, you have to go down to a press conference immediately after the game, look an obviously distressed kicker in the eyes, and listen to him talk about how he’s going to regret missing the kick for the rest of his life.
“We scored at will [in the fourth quarter],” Neutz said. “Like I’ve said before, Some reporters thrived on the opporwe’re a dangerous team and once we get tunity to write a big-time story about a huge missed PAT and they salivated started, nobody can slow us down.”
with every excruciating word that fell
The Bulls scored 20 of their 30 points in from Fardon’s awe-struck mouth. Oththe fourth quarter. The early part of this ers cringed at the thought of Fardon getting even more attention for his ballgame belonged to the defenses. Standout sophomore running back Branden Oliver didn’t find the end zone on Saturday, but he still put up impressive numbers, finishing with 101 rushing yards on 26 carries and 68 receiving yards on six catches. With four games remaining, time is quickly winding down on the careers of Anderson and the other seniors. “I said to the quarterback group at the end: ‘I will continue to give you all I’ve got because I’ve only got four [games left],’” Anderson said.
miscue, and they didn’t even think Fardon should be brought to the press conference.
I guess I’m somewhere in between. Was the loss his fault? Yes. It absolutely was. However, this team was already struggling. It’s extremely unlikely that the Bulls would’ve made it to a bowl game (or the MAC championship game) this year. Fardon lost the game for a midmajor team that really wasn’t going anywhere. It could be worse.
The Bulls’ next chance to get back in the win column will come next week at He could be Boise State kicker Kyle Miami (Ohio) as Buffalo will take on the Brotzman, who missed two potential RedHawks (2-5, 1-1 MAC). game-winning kicks against Nevada. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Bulls Confident After Collapse TYLER CADY Staff Writer The men’s soccer team had waited more than a decade for this moment.
He single-handedly halted a miracle underdog’s run to overtake the country’s major schools, and thus, he received numerous threats afterwards. He could be Jay Feely, who missed three kicks – one in the closing seconds of regulation and two in overtime – that cost the Giants a game against Seattle in 2005.
The Bulls (7-7-1, 2-2 MAC) were up 2-1 in the second half against the reigning national champions, and they just needed to hold Akron –a team Buffalo hadn’t beaten in 11 years – off for another 30 minutes.
He is neither of these players and he doesn’t play on as big of a stage. He’s a kicker for the Buffalo Bulls. Actually, he’s a converted punter who started kicking this year because the Bulls needed a kicker.
It didn’t take too long for Akron (11-2-2, 4-0 Mid-American Conference) to crush Buffalo’s hopes. The Zips scored four goals in less than 14 minutes to win, 5-2.
Let’s get down to it – this column isn’t a desperate cry like: “leave Peter Fardon alone!”
In what became a wild second half, Akron (11-2-2, 4-0 Mid-American Conference) was able to best Buffalo, 5-2. All seven goals came in the second half. Despite the three-goal victory for Akron, the game was hotly-contested, and it featured four lead changes. The Bulls were unable to stop Akron forward Darren Mattocks, whose three goals ultimately made the difference in the match. The Jamaica native showed his knack for brilliance as he finished on multiple Bulls’ mishaps. “He’s a fantastic player, and one of the best goal-scorers in the country,” said interim head coach David Hesch. “But I thought we did well enough [to contain him]. He got one off the [post], and one off the goalies back. He got some goals that weren’t the best goals in the world.”
The women’s soccer team is in a furious battle for a spot in the MAC postseason. The squad traveled to Ohio on Friday and Buffalo hosted the Zips on Sunday at noon. Read Wednesday’s edition of The Spectrum for full coverage of the games. Yeo Jung Lee /// The Spectrum
Buffalo fumbled five times – losing three – and gave away two interceptions.
It’s easy to blame Fardon for the loss, but of course his teammates didn’t do that. Sophomore receiver Alex Neutz said: “we all love Peter and nobody blames him.” Coach Quinn said his team lost because the Bulls committed five turnovers, and honestly, he had a point.
Mattocks’ first goal came thanks to a collision in front of the net. Junior goalkeeper Jonathan Viscosi came out in an attempt to play a ball in the air when he collided with a Bulls’ defender and an Akron forward. All three went to the turf as the ball skipped away, and Mattocks was able to sweep in and put the ball in the back of the net to tie the game at one apiece. Sophomore midfielder Richard Craven put the Bulls on the scoreboard first
Nationally-ranked Akron got the best of Buffalo on Friday thanks to a barrage of goals that all came within a 15-minute span. Joonbum Park /// The Spectrum
after burying a shot in the 49th minute thanks to an assist from junior midfielder Patrick Ryan. Lady luck smiled on Mattocks once again in the 64th minute. Zips forward Luke Holmes sent a shot wide off the goalpost, but the ball bounced back right onto the foot of Mattocks, who scored to tie the game, 2-2. Buffalo scored again in the 63rd minute after senior forward Andy Tiedt got fouled within the penalty box. Tiedt scored on the ensuing penalty kick to give the Bulls a 2-1 lead. Unfortunately for Buffalo, the squad couldn’t afford to relinquish two leads against one of the best teams in the country. “This is the third time this season we’ve had the lead and lost it,” Hesch said. “We’ve got to keep working hard to keep a lead.” Akron eventually began capitalizing on its offensive dominance, scoring the final three goals of the match. The Zips owned the shots advantage, 23-5, with 11 of the 23 shots coming on net. With the help of a few stellar saves from Viscosi, the Bulls were able to maintain a close grip on the scoreboard for much of the match.
Despite the loss, Buffalo still has an opportunity to secure the second seed in the MAC with the conference tournament right around the corner.
It’s just a reminder that Peter Fardon is a human being who makes mistakes, and I assure you he’s beating himself up right now. He probably felt like somebody wound up and drilled him in the stomach as soon as he missed that kick.
“We have all the confidence in the world right now to be MAC champions,” Hesch said. “We know what they have; we’re just going to rise up and take it to [Akron] the next time we play them.”
The loss is 100 percent his fault, and no words will be enough to stop his pain. He said it himself: “I have a job to do and I didn’t do it, and it’s inexcusable.”
With two games remaining on the Bulls’ schedule, the conference playoff picture is starting to take shape. Only the top four teams advance to the postseason tournament, and Hesch is making sure his team knows it is clutch time.
In the grand scheme of things, this is just football. It’s just a kicker. It’s just a football team – a subpar football team.
“In the next two games, you can expect us to come out and try to dominate the game,” Hesch said. If the Bulls win one more game, they are automatically in the tournament. They’ll secure the second seed if they sweep their remaining schedule. The Bulls will get their final games under way on the road, as they travel to Florida Atlantic (5-5-2, 0-2-1 MAC) on Saturday, Oct. 28, before returning home for senior night against Hartwick (5-5-3, 1-1-1 MAC). Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Peter Fardon, I honestly feel terrible for you; it’s my human nature. I still have to sit in the press conference with the other bloodthirsty reporters and listen to your painful words. I still have to write that you lost the game, because, well, you did. But I hope you don’t beat yourself up over this single kick for the rest of your life. This game wasn’t worth it. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com