The Spectrum Vol.69 No.27

VOL. 69 NO. 27 | JANUARY 30, 2020

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, SINCE 1950

UBSPECTRUM

A ‘Best New Artist’ from forever ago: Outtakes from our 2018 interview with five-time Grammy-winner Billie Eilish PAGE 4

Students express concerns, difficulties despite ‘low’ local risk of coronavirus Students traveling from China take extra precautions, 20 students delayed in China JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

Bella Chen* notices when people glare at the surgical mask she started wearing after her trip to the Hubei province in China this winter. She says the looks are hurtful and add to what is already a stressful situation.

Chen, a UB student, traveled to the province to visit family this winter. She returned just before the Chinese government ordered travel restrictions that quarantined over 56 million people in order to contain the novel coronavirus (2019nCoV), according to Al Jazeera. So far, 2019-nCoV –– which shares similar symptoms to the common cold –– has infected over 7,700 people and killed 170 people in China, as of Wednesday night. There are five confirmed cases in the U.S. but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the coronavirus poses a “low” risk to the American public.

Chen’s friend from UB couldn’t leave China, and is one of 20 students who are delayed in the country because of the Hubei travel restrictions.

UB is assisting students stuck in China “on a one-to-one basis” to determine how they can continue their studies, according

to UB spokesperson John DellaContrada.

Some students are taking online courses and planning to return to campus later in the semester.

Chen worries about her family and friends who live in Hubei, but she’s also worried about herself and the UB community. Chen says she started wearing her mask as a precaution in case she was infected with the virus and her symptoms are yet to come.

“Right now I wear a mask because, personally, I am still kind of concerned that I might have [the coronavirus] on me so I was wearing a mask to try to protect the public,” Chen said. “But people give

you side eyes, people stare at you because you’re wearing a mask. It’s kind of weird.

It’s probably safe and we are just trying to help.”

Chen said paranoia about the virus is contributing to how other students treat her on campus. She said students avoid her when she wears her mask and wishes they would stop.

“Please don’t be afraid of us,” Chen said.

“When you see people with masks on the street just trying to help, don’t give them weird looks because it kind of hurts.”

DellaContrada said discriminatory beSEE VIRUS PAGE 2

Wayne Penales | The SpecTrum students wAlking in tHe student union on wednesdAy.

‘Every kid wanted to be like him’ UB men’s basketball coaches, players react to Kobe Bryant’s death JUSTIN WEISS SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

On Sunday afternoon, former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant died after his helicopter crashed near Calabasas, CA, killing all nine people onboard, including his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.

Bryant was traveling from his home in Orange County, CA, to his youth basket-

ball academy northwest of Los Angeles, where he coaches Gianna. The helicopter went down in foggy conditions, but authorities are still investigating the cause.

Victims of the crash include John Altobelli, a college baseball coach, along with his wife Keri and daughter Alyssa; Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton; Christina Mauser, the assistant coach at Bryant’s basketball academy; and Ara Zobayan, the pilot.

The UB men’s basketball team was in a film session when members of the coaching staff were notified of his tragic passing. Everybody — players, coaches, sup-

alexanDer BroWn | The SpecTrum tHe Bulls’ lineup returns to tHe floor AgAinst kent stAte following A timeout.

port staff — was puzzled.

Once assistant coach Jamie Quarles had confirmed the news, he informed the team.

“My heart just dropped,” Quarles said during Wednesday practice. “That was the consensus in the room. It was just a tough day.”

In the days following his sudden death, Bryant, 41, has been remembered as a transcendent figure. Lakers star LeBron James said he was “heartbroken and devastated.”

Former teammate Shaquille O’Neal me-

SEE KOBE PAGE 8

Iranian students fear immigration hardships may amplify during political tension Students worry weeks of military escalation will make travel even more difficult JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

Graduate student Gheysar Jebelli* tries to avoid news stories about his home country, Iran. They upset him and distract him from his academic studies.

But when his friend texted him on Jan. 8 that Iran had fired missiles at an Iraqi airbase housing U.S. troops in retaliation for the U.S.’ assassination of General Qasem Soleimani, Jebelli became distressed. He kept his eyes glued to the headlines.

Jebelli dreaded the worst: war.

He also feared for his safety and worried what would happen to him and the 102 other Iranian students at UB. “I was terrified, shaking and worrying about my family and Iranian people in the region, as well as myself here [in the U.S.],” Jebelli said. “I was thinking about the chances of someone coming to my home or office, taking me or asking me questions, investigating my belongings or files. I was reading about my rights, even though I knew it might not be respected.”

He wanted to know how to protect himself if he was detained or searched.

He feared U.S. authorities might mimic their displacement and detention of people of Japanese descent during World War II. In January, more than 100 Iranian Americans were “delayed” at the Canadian-American border in Washington. Some were questioned about their opinions on the military escalation, which reached a high point in early January after Trump ordered a drone strike that killed Soleimani, the former commander of Iran’s Quds Force. The assassination was followed a military escalation that began when an Iranian-backed militia fired rockets at an Iraqi military base and killed an American contractor.

Coming to the U.S. has never been easy for Iranian students and it’s become increasingly difficult since June 2018, when President Trump initiated restrictions as part of Presidential Proclamation 9645, commonly referred to as the “travel ban.”

January’s military escalation between the U.S. and Iran may make travel even more difficult.

Iranian students say they have a particularly difficult and long time attaining the visas they need to study in the U.S., which prevents some from completing their academic programs. Many can’t see their family members until their academic program is over because travel between the two countries is too difficult.

While most UB international students wait between one and 30 days for their student visas, Iranian students usually wait between 60 days to one year to get visas, according to Kathryn Tudini, assistant vice provost and director for International Student Services. The “travel ban” subjects Iranian students to “enhanced screening and vetting requirements” that are often time consuming. Iranians also need to travel to another country in order to apply for a visa since there is no U.S. embassy in Iran.

Tudini says if students wait longer than 60 days for their visas, ISS begins to “adSEE IRAN PAGE 2

NEWS

2 | Thursday, January 30 2020 VIRUS FROM PAGE 1

havior regarding the virus will not be tolerated on campus.

“Attitudes of understanding, empathy and acceptance represent what UB really is,” DellaContrada said.

UB created a website to ensure the community is informed about the coronavirus.

Like many other viral illnesses, 2019-nCoV’s symptoms include a runny nose, headaches, coughs, sore throats and fevers. The Erie County Department of Health reports there are no confirmed cases in Erie County, but said there are three pending cases in New York State.

John Sellick, a professor of medicine, said although he cannot be certain, the risk of the coronavirus coming to UB seems small.

“The risk seems small given the heightened sense of concern, screening, etc,” Sellick said. “By comparison, UB did not have any SARS cases in 2003.”

But students aren’t just worried about safety on campus.

Chen said some Chinese students have family and friends in the Hubei province who they need to worry about. “[People from the Wuhan area] are fighting the virus ourselves, we have to worry about our families,” Chen said. “I have friends who are in the front-line of the medical team [in Wuhan] and we are really worried about them.”

There are about 1,500 Chinese international students at UB, but UB does not know how many returned to China over break, according to DellaContrada. He wrote that people who returned from China recently were “likely screened” at the airport.

In accordance with guidance provided

by CDC, UB is not excluding students or faculty who’ve recently been to Wuhan, the city where the virus emerged, from normal activity “based solely on their travel activity.” UB’s Confucius Institute cancelled its Chinese New Year events scheduled for Jan. 25 “out of an abundance of caution,” according to Bruce Acker, associate director of the Confucius Institute.

Susan Snyder, director of Health Servic-

es, said UB community members should continue to monitor their own health even if they pass screenings because it is possible to be infected with the virus without showing symptoms at the time of the screening.

“While screenings are helpful, they are not the only action needed,” Snyder wrote in an email Monday. “Because there is typically a delay between exposure and active symptoms, we need students who have traveled in China within the past 14 days to be actively monitoring their health and if relevant symptoms occur, they need to self-isolate and call Health Services. This is an important line of defense in curbing the spread of the virus.”

UB is working with county and state health departments and following guidelines and information regarding 2019nCoV provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to UB’s coronavirus website. Additionally, a UB team of “very experienced professionals,” who represent administrative areas of the university, is monitoring and responding to updates.

“Active and consistent communication is an important component of UB’s efforts to keep the community safe and informed, as well as control of rumors and managing fear,” DellaContrada wrote.

UB’s coronavirus website states if a student is possibly infected, UB Student Health Services is prepared to isolate and monitor that student and work with local and state health authorities. If a student or employee meets the criteria for possible infection, the university will coordinate with local and state health authorities.

UB recommends community members regularly wash their hands with some form of disinfectant; avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; avoid close contact with people who are sick; stay home when feeling sick; cover their cough or sneeze with a tissue; and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. *Student’s name was changed to protect their identity.

Email: julian.grmela@ubspectrum.com Twitter @GrmelaJulian

IRAN FROM PAGE 1

vocate” for the student by collecting information about them –– such as their research interests, faculty relationships and funding sources –– and sending it to the consulate where the student’s visa is being processed.

“We work with the academic departments to gather information regarding a student’s research interests, faculty relationships, and funding sources to develop a holistic petition,” Tudini said.

ISS encourages Iranian UB students to remain in the U.S. during their program to avoid immigration delays that may prevent them from finishing their education. This happened in fall 2018, when 19 accepted UB students couldn’t get visas in time to start classes. That left only 10 of 29 accepted Iranian students able to attend UB. Over the past three years, two Iranian students were unable to finish their programs at UB after traveling out of the country because they were either “denied at the port” or were denied a new visa, according to Tudini. At least 16 Iranian students at U.S. universities were denied entry to the U.S. at the border after receiving their visas since August, according to The New York Times.

“Every decision to leave the U.S. comes with a risk that they may be denied re-entry in the future,” Tudini said.

The Spectrum interviewed three Iranian students, all of whom feared political retaliation against themselves or their families if they used their names in print. They said the travel restrictions leave prospective Iranian students uncertain if they can come to UB to study and prevent current Iranian students from returning home or being visited by family.

“We feel imprisoned,” Jebelli said.

Jebelli has not seen his family for four years, even when one of them passed away, because he was too afraid that if he left the U.S. he wouldn’t be allowed back to finish his studies.

“The only effect that I got to see from the ban was tearing families apart, mak-

ubspectrum.com ing students even more stressed and depressed,” he said.

Ashkan Darbandi,* a graduate student, says he won’t be able to see his parents until he leaves UB and describes the experience as “living in limbo.”

“I have only to wait until I graduate, or anything special happens so I can meet my parents,” Darbandi said. “I just hope they are safe until that day. It is like living in limbo. You are afraid that something happens, but what can I do besides having hopes and fears?”

When the “travel ban” was first ordered in 2017, ISS reached out to Iranian students with “words of support and encouragement” and offered students “an opportunity” to meet with ISS’s former director.

Ramin Asadi,* a graduate student, wishes groups dedicated to helping international students, like ISS, did more to help Iranian students share their concerns.

“We received some sympathy emails from ISS, but in my opinion that’s not enough,” Asadi said. “They could do much better after the travel ban. Iranian students expect ISS, or any organization involved with international students, to support us.

This is the most basic human right that we want to see our families and we have not seen any strong effort to spread our voices.”

January’s military escalation may cause immigration authorities to be particularly cautious during their “screening” and “vetting” procedures, which may increase the time Iranian students need to wait for their visas.

“I would suppose everyone would be on high alert and the highest level of security screening,” Jim Campbell, a political science professor, said.

Multiple Iranian students said the visawait makes it hard for prospective Iranian students to plan their futures, and that they feared UB would revoke their admission because they took too long to get their visas. Some prospective students at American universities worry they won’t get their visas before the start of their academic program.

SEE IRAN PAGE 6

OPINION

ubspectrum.com

Thursday, January 30 2020 | 3

Kobe Bryant: The true impact of a legend How the death of one basketball player touched the lives of millions around the world

ALEXANDER POLAND CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Growing up in Albany, it would be hard to see why I’m a Lakers fan.

My dad gave me an old Shaquille O’Neal jersey when I was young. I remember putting it on for the first time and my disappointment when the jersey engulfed me, hanging to my feet. Still, I wore it everywhere, to school, to basketball games. And one day, it fit me perfectly.

But as I grew into my Shaq jersey, the Lakers grew into my identity.

Purple became my favorite color, watching the Lakers games became my favorite thing to do, and Kobe Bryant became my favorite basketball player.

I remember the clutch shots.

I remember the tough playoff losses.

And I will always remember watching

Bryant and the Lakers lift two titles while my dad and I celebrated.

After driving back to Buffalo Sunday and unpacking all of my belongings, I laid down to rest.

But then I got a text from my girlfriend.

“Wait Alex, I think Kobe died…”

I couldn’t believe or even comprehend what truly happened. It took a few long minutes for my mind to process the full weight of the situation.

When Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash Sunday morning, the whole world was shaken by the news. With a massive international fan base and with his status as one of the most famous athletes of this millennium, the news spread quickly and affected those who grew up watching him play.

I was one of them.

I cried, and I know many Lakers fans and basketball fans did too.

When I was younger, I didn’t understand why people were so hurt by celebrities’ deaths, as it’s rare to truly know them.

After this, I understand.

While many actors, musicians, athletes and other celebrities do not truly know us –– their fans –– there is a sort of bond, a connection that is built between fans and their idols, especially over time.

And Bryant was no exception, he truly had an impact on people.

When thinking about Kobe, I think about his legacy, his athletic ability and all

the people who have watched and supported him as much as they could.

I think of all he did for Los Angeles, the sport of basketball and for the fans all around the world.

But most of all, I think of my past.

I think of my username “KobeBryant24” on different websites or trying to imitate him when shooting the ball.

I think of how he shaped my childhood and teenage years.

Still, celebrities and legends are people too, and Kobe has a controversial past.

In 2003, Bryant was charged with felony sexual assault but prosecutors dropped the case and Bryant gave the woman a settlement. The accusation did little to affect his career trajectory, but when talking about Bryant, this case needs to be considered.

But it doesn’t necessarily mean the accusation should define the legacy of someone who accomplished so much on and off the court.

Because when I’m hanging with my dad, the conversations always come back to basketball and the Lakers. Watching Kobe dominate and win with the team was a big part of my life and nothing will ever replicate that feeling.

For anyone who’s upset and grieving, I suggest trying to celebrate Bryant for what he was able to do both on he court. This will help commemorate his history of playing great basketball.

Thank you, Kobe, for all you did for me.

You helped me bond with my dad and ap-

preciate the sport of basketball.

If anyone has any great Kobe memories or thoughts, please feel free to email me at ajpoland@buffalo.edu so we can remember the joy he brought to us.

Email: opinion@ubspectrum.com

Letting the cat out of the bag on veterinary scams How I lost over half my savings by being uninformed on fear mongering

SAMANTHA VARGAS SENIOR OPINION EDITOR

On Aug. 25, I began to lose over half of my savings.

But it wasn’t the result of a gambling problem or a bad investment, it was to the person who I thought was saving my cat’s life.

My veterinarian.

My vet charged me $850 in less than an hour and in a state of emotional distress, I paid it. My cat, Simon, was only one year old and never had any previous health problems, yet the vet said he was going to die. It took three more appointments and an additional $600 bill before I considered getting a second opinion.

In the middle of medication trials, the restaurant I worked at unexpectedly closed. I was suddenly unemployed and

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still searching for answers, and my savings continued to disappear.

It all started when I brought Simon in for a preliminary appointment the day before the fall semester began after I noticed him shaking, assuming it was a pulled muscle.

They asked my permission to run “a few blood tests” after testing his motor skills for roughly ten minutes, but before any results came back, they confidently told me Simon had kidney failure.

I knew that was a death sentence.

I went home and waited for the inevitable call, spending the rest of the day crying. Yet when the test results came back, there was nothing wrong with him. Every single one of his tests came back normal.

I returned days later for a follow-up appointment, but the team of veterinarians still did not have any answers for me on Simon’s illness. They sold me a cocktail of different medications throughout the month to address his tremors, but nothing worked.

And while I now realize I should have been more assertive, I assumed these professionals were doing what was best for my beloved pet. I assumed we were all on the same page, and that Simon was facing some rare disease or genetic condition.

Yet after a month of stress and bills, it only took my newfound –– and current –– vet one appointment to diagnose and medicate Simon for under $100.

They diagnosed him with toxoplasmosis, a common disease which can be treat-

The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Opinion section of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board.

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ed with a few rounds of antibiotic and statistically is experienced by 30-50% of domesticated cats, according to veterinarian Paul Allen.

Throughout my time working with this prominent Amherst clinic, not a single person could give me a straight answer on what routes they were taking with his diagnosis and treatment.

But after months of research and consultation, I realized I was wrong. There’s no excuse for the continuous misdiagnosis of a common disease by trusted medical professionals.

And this incident is not an isolated case across Amherst veterinary clinics.

I adopted Simon in August 2018 and wanted to give him the best care possible.

I had made a 20-year commitment to this little orange kitten, and I was prepared to follow through with anything he might need. This included finding the best local veterinary office in the area. I scoured Yelp and Google reviews and even did a few drive-bys of all the different options nearby.

To this day, the office I initially chose continues to uphold impressive scores from different rating sites. Yet scattered throughout the superficial, non-specific positive reviews from longtime clients is the same message: the staff pushed unnecessary treatments and significantly overpriced medications.

It has been almost half a year since this ordeal, and I have not been able to regain the same financial security I had in the

summer. I had to work three different jobs throughout winter break trying to dig myself out of credit card debt to cover the cost of vet bills.

It’s time for people, myself included, to start protecting their finances from predatory situations. Everyone knows the selfserving stereotypes around car salesmen and lawyers, but it’s important to know that there are tactless individuals in every profession. This could happen to anyone, and for many pet owners it could lead to worse than just credit card debt.

And while I trust my current veterinarian, I’ll never allow myself to be uneducated or vulnerable again.

Email: Samantha.Vargas@UBSpectrum.com Twitter: @SamMarieVargas

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

CREATIVE DIRECTORS

ARTS EDITORS

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley

Paolo Blanchi

Alex Whetham, Sr. Anastasia Wilds, Asst.

ADVERTISING MANAGER Nathan Stutz GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGER Nicholas Meurer

MANAGING EDITORS Jacklyn Walters Lauryn King, Asst.

NEWS EDITORS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Brenton J. Blanchet

Julian Roberts-Grmela, Sr. Alexandra Moyen, Sr. Reilly Mullen, Asst.

WEB EDITORS OPINION EDITORS Savanna Caldwell, Chief Cassiana Enderle, Chief Nicole Waddington, Asst.

Samantha Vargas

ENGAGEMENT EDITORS Benjamin Blanchet Nicole Waddington MULTIMEDIA EDITORS Vindhya Burugupalli, Sr. Wayne Penales, Sr. Alexander Brown, Asst.

Alexis Heng, Asst.

SPORTS EDITORS Justin Weiss, Sr.

4 | Thursday, January 30 2020

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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A ‘Best New Artist’ from forever ago Outtakes from our 2018 print interview with Grammy-winning superstar Billie Eilish BRENTON J. BLANCHET EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

In honor of Billie Eilish’s generalcategory Grammy sweep on Sunday, we’ve decided to share some outtakes from the original print version of my March 2018 phone interview with 2020’s “Best New Artist.”

Eilish’s popularity was ever growing at the time of our chat, which — on my end — took place during the middle of a mandatory editor’s meeting and — on her end — took place right before she hit the stage at SXSW 2018. But nobody, not even The Spectrum’s totally nervous pop lover extraordinaire, could’ve predicted what was to come for the 16-year-old singer.

My favorite aspect of our conversation will always be how real it felt; the f-bombs, the “dude” drops and the humility really shined. Billie was and still is a perfect example of an artist being unashamedly themselves and, whether she would have agreed with it or not, it was no question that she’d be our “Best New Artist.”

On her earliest memory with her brother Finneas: Billie: Well, jeez. I don’t know. I think it’s like, I’ve always sung [and] he’s always sung. He started writing when he was 11 or 12, and I started writing when I was 11 or 12. Since we’re four years apart that was obviously also four years apart. After I started writing –– and he’d been writ-

ing forever and was a genius at it –– we were kind of just like ‘why the f--k aren’t we doing this together? We live three feet away from each other so we could just do it as one.’ And we sort of did and it was not really like, there was no expectation, it just was totally what we “I don’t even know. When people win wanted to do because Best New Artist [at the Grammys], it’s we could do it so we people I’ve been listening to for years just did it for us. We and have been making music for years.” had no expectations, no hopes. It just kind of was what we wanted so we did it. On fashion, her recent collab, in-

dividuality:

On her feelings earning her worldwide attention: Billie: Dude, it’s so f-----g weird.

The Spectrum: Yeah?

Billie: Like, it’s so weird to think about and do over and over again. I can just think of something in my head that nobody else can hear or know or anything. And I can write it down on a little piece of paper in my room and just writing this on a little tiny page in the middle of this house in Hyland Park can become art and sometimes have thousands of people listen to it and relate to it and hear it and feel it which is just f----g insane to me. Like what? I don’t even know.

Billie: Thank you, first of all. The Joyrich collab is f-----g so tight because I’ve been a fan of that brand forever now. Let’s just say, honestly, when they first started being –– well they started a long time ago and they’re sort of just now getting big, which is f-----g crazy because they’re amazing. I met the designer and he’s just such a genius. I feel like we think the same things about a lot of things and get a lot of our ideas from the same types of inspirations and everything. We just freakin’ talked and we made up all this stuff and created stuff.

My biggest inspirations have been–– I don’t know, I really like Bloody Osiris, and there’s this other dude, I don’t even know what his name is but his username is like “Itsmurda555” or some s--t. He’s really tight. I’ve always loved Tyler, The Creator. He’s such a gem as a human and as an artist in general. I respect him so much. It’s all over the place really. It’s kind of everything.

I get inspiration from everything.

I can deadass look at somebody’s squished gum under their shoe and be like ‘oh my god, that looks like something that I can make into this.’

On touring the world at 16: Billie: I’ve never in my life thought that I’d be going to like freakin’ Singapore. Like I was just in Singapore and all over Australia and then all over Europe and then now I’m all over the U.S. It’s just so insane to me. We got to Milan, Italy. Never in a million years did I think I’d go to Milan, Italy. Like, why would I ever go there? Going there and having supporters and people that like my art –– the thing that I make because I like it, to show up at the airport

and stand outside and wait in line for hours and hours and hours –– this is so insane to me. Like, what in the …

I don’t even get it.

On developing as a young artist in the spotlight like Justin Bieber: Billie: Yeah, dude. I was even just talking about this. Since I’m young and obviously when you’re a teenager, it’s when you change the most.

We’re all changing no matter how old we are, but especially when you’re 15 and then 16, you know what I mean?

Especially voices and stuff. Justin Bieber got big when he was 11 and his voice was like a little baby. Now, he’s not a little baby. Just watching the journey of all of the different phases of him is freaking insane.

The thing that I was talking about earlier was I’m excited to see what I make. Because I’m always changing and I’m always thinking differently about things and writing differently and liking different things. I’m kind of excited to see what comes out of that and what I like in three months and what I hate in three months and, you know, what my voice sounds like in a year. It’s kind of really interesting to watch happen.

On what it means to be a “Best New Artist:” Billie: I don’t even know. When people win Best New Artist [at the Grammys], it’s people I’ve been listening to for years and have been making music for years. When SZA was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys, I was like “what?”

I’ve been listening to her since her album “Z” came out years and years ago. Recently, everybody loves her which is so tight and really sick for her, but she’s been like a god forever.

I just think that’s so whack to me.

Yeah, she’s the best artist but she’s not new. She’s been making amazing music forever. I don’t know. It’s all new to me still even though I’ve been doing it for a while. Music is not new to me but I think this whole world is definitely new. Even though it isn’t really, but it is. I don’t know, that’s a hard question.

TS: That’s all I have for you today but I wanted to thank you so much for your time. I’m really excited for what’s to come for you, dude.

Billie: Dude, thank you so much. I appreciate that.

Email: Brenton.Blanchet@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @BrentonBlanchet

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ubspectrum.com

Thursday, January 30 2020 | 5

Construction ‘confusion’ Volunteers help students navigate, Silverman Library printing station moved for One World Café construction ALEXANDRA MOYEN SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

Navigating North Campus has left some students “confused” during syllabus week, as the on-going One World Café construction, which began May 20, has led to certain areas being closed off.

The construction of the 50,000-squarefoot café is taking place between North Campus’ Capen Hall and Norton Hall, causing congestion in the spine. CannonDesign, a Buffalo-based design firm handling the café’s construction, has temporarily closed entrances to Capen and

Norton under the first-floor overhang and the Norton entrance near Founders Plaza.

The elevator and staircase in Knox Hall and the staircase leading to the first floor of Capen are also temporarily closed, as Silverman’s first-floor printing station has been moved to the second floor along with roughly 50 computer stations.

University Facilities has placed at least 100 signs in and around the areas affected by the construction to guide students, created a One World Café construction website for updates and renamed elevators in Capen to “simplify” getting to Silverman Library and administrative offices.

Facilities has also placed roughly five to seven volunteers near closed off areas to help students find their classes during syllabus week.

Robert Baril, a senior psychology and Spanish major, is one of the volunteers.

He said he typically takes tunnels to get to his classes but now walks outside to avoid the “confusion and crowdedness” inside.

“It’s just been a lot of busy work because a lot of people are confused about why there are no stairs and why there is no elevator access,” Baril said. “But usually when they hear about the redirecting, they get kind of confused and kind of upset.”

Jennifer Markee, strategic operations manager for 1Capen, said the volunteers stand near Capen, Norton and Talbert Halls “to help members of the campus community find their way.”

“We are not waiting for students to come to us; we approach them as they walk by if they look confused, and proactively offer support,” Markee said.

But students have to adapt to walking to the new temporary printing station on the second floor of Capen. UBIT said its Tech Squad hasn’t received any student complaints about the new station location, but has received questions about the changes.

“Mostly, people want to know why things are changing, and how to find what

they need around campus,” UBIT representatives wrote in an email. “Everyone is still getting used to the changes while also navigating a new course schedule, which can definitely be challenging.”

The current location is temporary, according to UBIT, which has hired more staff for its Tech Squad on the third-floor service desk in Silverman in order to serve students during construction.

UBIT wrote in an email it is working with a UBIT Student Advisory Group and surveyed over 4,500 students last fall to find ways to improve students’ printing experience. It plans to place more printing stations across campus and kiosks in some residence halls to allow students to print 24/7, according to the email.

Students should become accustomed to the new North Campus layout, as One World Café is expected to open in 2021, according to its construction website.

Email: alexandra.moyen@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @AlexandraMoyen

Wayne Penales | The Spectrum A sign outside of Capen Hall redirecting students.

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NEWS

6 | Thursday, January 30 2020 IRAN FROM PAGE 2

“Some of us have been waiting for more than seven months, and there is no indication of how many more months this process would last,” a group of 212 Iranian students and academic researchers from multiple universities currently waiting for visas to the U.S. wrote in a petition created to “speed up the process” so that they can get their visas before enrollment deadlines.

“We are wondering that we may not be able to arrive on time for our check-in processes in our universities, or even worse, may lose our admissions and scholarships,” the petition reads. “The uncertainty has led to tremendous [suffering] and distress in our personal and professional lives and also has made planning for the future almost impossible.”

Iranian students face further hardships after entering the U.S. because many must stay inside of the country through the duration of their academic programs, which often last multiple years. They typically receive “single-entry” visas, meaning their visas expire after they leave the country and need to apply for a new visa if they decide to leave, which may mean another long wait. Many are unable to return home to visit their families without risking their educations.

“After the travel ban, we have been stuck here like a prisoner with no visitor,” Asadi said.

Trump said he will expand the “travel ban” soon to implement further visa restrictions, with seven additional countries on the potential list. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that the House of Representatives will vote on a bill in the coming weeks that would limit the “travel ban” by requiring the U.S. government to provide evidence of threats to national security or public safety before they can restrict travel.

ubspectrum.com

A. Scott Weber prepares for provost role, talks diplan on tightening restrictions?

W: No, that’s something that’s not part versity, student retention of the provost’s purview. That’s in Student REILLY MULLEN

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Students have questions for A. Scott Weber as he transitions into his role as the second-highest ranked UB official.

But they mainly want to know one thing: What does the “A” stand for?

UB named Weber provost and executive vice president for academic affairs on Jan. 9. The decision came after four months of Weber acting as interim provost following Charles Zukoski’s Oct. 1 move to the University of Southern California. During his campaign for the position, Weber presented several plans to improve the UB community, including increasing faculty diversity and student retention rates.

Weber was previously UB’s vice president for student life and senior vice provost for academic affairs.

Students on Reddit shared some concerns they’d like the new provost to address. We sat down with Weber to discuss it all.

Our interview, lightly edited for length and style, follows below.

The Spectrum: What do you hope to address in your new position that you might not have been able to in previous positions you’ve held at UB? W: What’s different about this position?

I think one of the most important parts of the position is that you’re really making recommendations on the promotion and tenure. It’s really a privilege to be able to review almost 100 cases this year for faculty coming up for promotion and tenure.

TS: During your provost pitch you referenced a plan to increase the diversity level of UB faculty from 5% to 10%.

Can you explain this plan and when do *Students’ names have been changed because you anticipate its implementation and they fear retaliation. how long do you expect a plan like this to take?

Email: julian.grmela@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @GrmelaJulian W: It’s already beginning. Last year we added 17 faculty members through the New York State prodigy program. It’s re-

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ally important that our faculty represent [the student body] so that we have role models. With that being said, I think there are some things that we need to do that are more central. If you think about our search process and how we’ve become more intentional in our search process, right now if you look at the pool of underrepresented minorities, or nationally, we actually hire at higher levels than that.

So we’re actually doing a pretty good job.

Part of the problem is the [pool of applicants], so the number of underrepresented minority faculty that are in the [pool of applicants]. And the other challenge for us, of course, is that almost every school in the nation has the same ambition, and rightly so, to increase the diversity of their faculty. So there’s intense competition.

TS: Also during your pitch, you referenced UB’s student retention rates citing that other top-25 research universities see retention rates on 90% or higher, whereas UB sees rates hovering around the mid 80%. Do you have an established plan to promote student retention?

W: When I was the senior vice provost for academic affairs, we made a decision that we wanted to increase our four- and six-year graduation rates. So we started the Finish-in-Four program, and over the last eight or nine years [it] has really changed the trajectory of the graduation rates in the university’s undergraduate population.

We’ve gone from about 40% to around 60%. But the most important part of that was the changing of culture across the campus, that it became the expectation both for our students, our parents, that we’re supporting our students, and our faculty and staff, deans or whatever. So I think the most important part of that is changing the culture and integrating the students into that culture.

TS: Do you plan on still overseeing Greek Life in your new role? Do you

Life.

TS: Students have presented concerns about the Capstone requirement, citing its relevance to their education and degrees. How would you express to students why you feel this is important to their academic experience?

W: So I think capstones [are important]. I think the ability to synthesize and bring together material from a multitude of sources and experiences across the campus is one of the most essential elements of a student’s education. So while we might like students to do that on their own, I think having a process that allows a platform by which they can do that in an organized and systematic way and receive feedback to that is incredibly important, I think one of the real goals.

TS: Reddit wants to know this one: What’s your favorite chicken wing place in Buffalo?

W: That’s super easy for me because I don’t eat chicken wings. But if I had to pick a favorite, I love history and I love tradition, I would pick the original Anchor Bar. Email: reilly.mullen@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @ReillyMMullen

siDDharth BanDhu | The SpecTrum A. sCott weBer disCusses How He HAs Begun to implement tHe plAns presented during His proVost pitCH.

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8 | Thursday, January 30 2020 KOBE FROM PAGE 1

morialized him as “so much more than an athlete, he was a family man.” Figures from Michael Jordan to President Donald Trump paid their respects to the “Black Mamba.”

Bryant’s legend extended to UB, where student-athletes and coaches recall his im-

| flickr Kobe Bryant makes his way to the basket

Antwain Johnson, UB men’s basketball guard: “Growing up, my dad was a huge Kobe fan. He was a Laker fan, and that was around the time that Kobe and Pau Gasol were winning championships. Kobe’s always been an inspiration for me. I’ve always wanted to model my game just like

paulvincent_romero

uncontested for an easy layup.

pact on their careers.

Jim Whitesell, UB men’s basketball head coach: “When we got the news, we were in practice. He’s Antwain Johnson’s favorite player. When we recruited him, we asked him who his favorite pro is. It was really in my head that he was AJ’s favorite guy. So we got into a circle and AJ said a prayer.

It’s just incredibly difficult to see a guy you admire so much [pass away unexpectedly]. It also shows how precious life is and how we should appreciate every day.

It’s just a really hard reminder.

For our players, he’s probably a great role model for how to play the game. Just the work ethic you hear about. You hear about how good a father he was to his kids. It’s tough. Just one of the all-time greats and a really tragic loss for the game and the city of Los Angeles.”

ubspectrum.com

lot. He’s the reason I play fired up. How he worked out. How he went about the game.

How he went through extra workouts. So that’s where I get all that stuff from.”

Davonta Jordan, UB men’s basketball guard: “It seemed like it was fake. I couldn’t believe it. It’s something that’s going to stick with me forever.

Kobe was a man that every kid growing up wanted to be like. Personally, I thought Kobe was a person who went hard in the gym. He [inspired] me to work on my game and my craft and get better. There was just something about Kobe that a lot of people don’t have, and that’s that dog mentality, where you can go out and play and not care who you’re playing against.”

Gabe Grant, UB men’s basketball forward: “We just got out of film [session]. It didn’t feel real. It was surreal at first. I thought it had to be a dream, or a nightmare. I just feel bad for the family. It’s tough to even talk about.

Kobe was a sports figure for everybody,

even those who didn’t play sports. I feel for Vanessa Bryant and her family. You can’t grieve enough. You feel bad for them. I’m sending my prayers and my condolences.

For them to wake up in the morning and not have their father, that’s a big loss.”

Jamie Quarles, UB men’s basketball assistant coach: “Kobe meant the world to me. I’m 33, so I grew up right at the end of Michael Jordan’s [career] and Kobe was my guy. I followed his career. I have all his shoes. [I] stayed up late at night to watch the Lakers all these years. It was devastating.

Being a basketball guy, being a part of that fraternity, made it hit home a little more. It’s been a tough couple of days. I keep hoping it’s not real.

It puts some things into perspective.

Cherish the days you have here. Call people and tell them you love them. Accolades mean nothing when it’s your time to go.

We learned a lesson here, and we grieve for his family and for all the lives lost.”

Email: justinweiss@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @Jwmlb1

him.

I loved watching Kobe in the playoffs. [I love] how he competes. He’s just so clutch.

Whatever you need done, he would get it done.

It’s tough, as it is for everybody. Kobe did so much for the basketball world. I just don’t take any games for granted. You never know when your last game is.”

Ronaldo Segu, UB men’s basketball guard: “It was crazy, because I had my phone on during film [session]. My phone kept buzzing and buzzing. I thought it was an emergency back home. But I found out it was Kobe. I still don’t believe it.

It’s tough, because growing up, he really changed my mentality. He made it cool to not be friendly on the court, always going at it with players. I’ve been watching him since I was little — I just grew up on him.

It’s really tough, because he inspired me a

chunnin1103

| flickr Kobe Bryant pictured after winning his fourth Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Demone Harris heads to the Super Bowl Former UB star earns trip to Miami with the Chiefs JUSTIN WEISS SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

Demone Harris is capping off a storybook season with a trip to the Super Bowl.

The former UB star linebacker will have a chance to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy when his Kansas City Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday.

But his journey to the Magic City has been anything but ordinary — the 24-yearold Buffalo native has bounced around three teams on his improbable trek to Kansas City.

Harris began the season on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad, before getting released and subsequently losing an engagement ring, as The Spectrum reported in October. The Baltimore Ravens picked him up and he proposed to his fiance before the Chiefs signed him to their 53-man roster.

Harris graduated from Bishop TimonSt. Jude High School in 2013. He was a walk-on at UB, working his way up from a reserve to a semi-regular starter to a full-time gig. In his senior year, he earned 5.0 sacks and 9.5 tackles-for-loss. He was named second-team All-MAC for his efforts.

He told The Spectrum he wanted a storybook ending after his engagement-ring fiasco. He may get it on Sunday.

Email: justinweiss@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @Jwmlb1

Courtesy of UB Athletics Three months ago, former UB football star Demone Harris was released Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

from the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On Sunday, he will take the field for the

Felisha LegetteJack becomes winningest coach in program history JUSTIN WEISS SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

Felisha Legette-Jack became the winningest coach in UB women’s basketball history with a 57-44 victory over Kent State at the MAC Center Saturday.

With her 156th win, she passed Sal Buscaglia for sole possession of first place.

Legette-Jack is in her eighth season as head coach for the Bulls. She has a 156-91 record at Buffalo and a 297-255 all-time mark. She has guided the Bulls to six-consecutive winning seasons, back-to-back NCAA Tournament wins and two MAC titles.

The Bulls currently sit at 13-5, good for second place in the MAC East.

Alexis Heng | The Spectrum Felisha Legette-Jack, head coach of the women’s basketball team at UB, talks about her expectations for the team and its growth earlier this season.

Email: justinweiss@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @Jwmlb1