THE SPECTRUM VOL. 68 NO. 28 | FEBRUARY 4, 2019
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Student Association prepares for Spring Fest, decides on May 4 date
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DAVILA TARAKINIKINI & HAO WANG | THE SPECTRUM
Ghost town UB cancels classes back-to-back days as blizzard hits BuffaloNiagara region
BENJAMIN BLANCHET, JACKLYN WALTERS, TANVEEN VOHRA EDITORIAL STAFF
Students woke up to blistering snow, cancelled classes and unforgivable winds as plows cleared UB parking lots on Wednesday and Thursday. Across the Buffalo-Niagara region, up to 24 m.p.h. winds and 18 inches of snow whistled in between Tuesday and Thursday night. And you were lucky to feel your face after two minutes if you stepped outside at all. Students faced blizzard conditions, as temperatures on North Campus felt as low as -26 degrees on Wednesday morning, according to the Weather Channel. While
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snow circled off sidewalks and roofs in dust-devils, UB officials reported motor vehicle accidents and minor electrical issues on campus. Most students stayed indoors, but a slim number of students who braved the cold winds said the weather was unmanageable. There’s been four blizzards in Buffalo since 2014, according to WGRZ. But for some international students, the storm was their first “real” run-in with snow. Nikki Kaur, an international student from the Singapore Institute of Management, grew up in England. She said winters in England are “wet” and ice is “very thin,” whereas Buffalo students layer up and dress in snow boots. “I was happy for five minutes with the weather. I like the winter-wonderland look out of my window in South Lake Village, but the moment you step out, you want to go back in,” said Kaur, a senior psychology and sociology major. Kaur said she experienced frostbite on
Blizzard Boys An inside look at four students’ North Campus ski adventure BRENTON J. BLANCHET MANAGING EDITOR
ISABELLA NURT | THE SPECTRUM Father Roy Herberger stands in the congregation space at the Newman Center. Herberger recently returned from a suspension from the Buffalo Diocese after being exonerated from a sexual abuse complaint.
Priest cleared from sexual abuse accusation returns to UB’s Newman Center ISABELLA NURT ASST. FEATURES EDITOR
Father Roy Herberger, a priest at UB’s Newman Center, returned to active ministry in December. He returned to a warm welcome in light of a six-month suspension, caused by a sexual abuse claim. “The only way that I could say mass was by myself in my residence,” Herberger said. “Because if I went into a church, someone could recognize me and say ‘Oh there is that priest, why is he allowed to be here in the pews where we have children?’” Bishop Richard Malone suspended Herberger after a sexual abuse claim surfaced in June, according to Herberger. A person, whose name was not released > SEE
CONTROVERSY | PAGE 4
her hands already and made sure to keep her skin moisturized. She said the blizzard complicates activities, like smoking outside. The blizzard bumped up January’s snowfall total to 63.4 inches by Friday — Buffalo’s fourth-snowiest January on record, according to the National Weather Service. January’s snowfall, however, did not eclipse the brutal January of 1977 (and its respective blizzard) where 68.3 inches of snow fell on the Buffalo area. The Buffalo News also reported three local deaths due to blizzard-related causes, including Lawrence “Larry” Bierl, a well-known homeless man in Williamsville. The harsh winter conditions caused the majority of students to stay indoors but a few who made the journey to academic buildings faced setbacks. On Wednesday evening, students had to squint to spot the Stampede as it made its way through the fog into Ellicott Complex. Thursday was brutal, too, with temperatures reaching a high of 7 degrees across North and South Campus areas, according to Accuweather. UB spokesperson Kate McKenna, in an email Wednesday evening, wrote that UB’s top priority during the severe weather was
One was driving. One was filming. One was there for the ride. And one was skiing off the back of the car. Over 100,000 others watched. Ben Meister, Ethan Pitts, Michael Herrick and their Jeep-driving friend Grady became the most popular guys on campus Wednesday; after Barstool Buffalo shared a video of them shredding across campus on Instagram. University Police reported three incidents of illegal car-rear skiing on Wednesday. The freshman group’s ski trip was a product of YouTube inspiration, 10 years of skiing experience and having a friend with a car –– something not all freshmen are used to. Pitts, a business administration major, said the group came to the decision during a dining hall brainstorm. “We were together in the morning. We went down to C3. We were like, ‘How can we take advantage of this snow?’” Pitts said. “And we remembered that our friend Grady has a jeep, which is probably the only vehicle best fit for the weather right now. We were like, ‘OK, let’s sled behind it. That’ll be hilarious right?’” The crew collectively took the idea to shred UB’s roadways from Casey Neistat; a 37-year-old YouTuber whose 2016 video “SNOWBOARDING WITH THE NYPD” gained traction a couple years
back. Neistat appears in the video wearing white sunglasses and a red and white outfit skiing the roads –– and becomes a highfiving spectacle –– during a New York City snowstorm. The guys saw the snowstorm as an opportunity to replicate the famous video. They went out to Walmart and got a sled, some ropes and something to do on the snowy day. But then they realized that Meister, a business major, has been skiing for over 10 years. So they had a game plan. “We were like ‘let’s get him to ski behind it and we’ll go around campus, go past SU, past all the important landmarks and just COURTESY OF ETHAN PITTS Freshman Ben Meister skis behind his friend’s jeep on North Campus. Meister and three of his friends became internet famous after their ski adventure during Wednesday’s snow day.
get a video of it and see if Barstool would take it,” Pitts said. “That would be awesome.” They started their journey at Wilkeson Quadrangle and made a 15-minute loop around North Campus. “We planned on setting up a few shots where I was in front of SU and they’d go by or like build a jump or whatnot, but then it kind of came into question of how much time we had until UPD comes over and stops us,” Pitts said. “I’d rather be stopped in Ellicott in the parking lot than in the middle of the street because that would’ve been not too great. But it would’ve been way, way funnier.” Meister compared the experience to water skiing, but on solid ground. “There was so much snow on the road > SEE BLIZZARD | PAGE 2
the safety of students, faculty and staff — on and off campus. “We do not recommend that students come to campus. We also strongly recommend that students who reside on campus stay indoors because of the severe wind chill and low visibility,” McKenna said. McKenna, on Wednesday, wrote that UB Facilities, University Police, Parking and Transportation and Environment Health & Safety were working “around the clock” to ensure campus safety, clear lots, roads, sidewalks and to keep shuttles moving “as efficiently and safely as possible.” Kimberly Navarroli, senior associate director of residential facilities, wrote in an email that residence halls reported “no major maintenance concerns” as of late Wednesday night, and Campus Living areas and village offices remained open “during business hours and residential facilities staff [were] onsite to address any immediate needs.” UB Facilities received “a few complaints in general” but the department was active and prepared with three winter shift crews working throughout the storm, according to Chris Donacik, UB Facilities’ assistant > SEE GHOSTTOWN | PAGE 5
John Mulaney to headline SA’s 18th Annual Comedy Series Student Association to bring stand-up and ‘Big Mouth’ comedian Feb. 16 BRIAN EVANS SENIOR ARTS EDITOR
Stand-up comedian John Mulaney will be headlining the 18th annual SA Comedy Series on Feb. 16, Student Association president Gunnar Haberl announced on Friday. “After reviewing the student-wide survey this winter break, it was clear that John Mulaney was the student body’s first choice,” Haberl said. “I am thrilled that once again SA will be providing a high-caliber comedian that relates directly to college students in continuing with the tradition of the series.” The Chicago native is best known from an exceptional body of work throughout the stand-up comedy circuit. Mulaney also found work writing for Saturday Night Live and received a Primetime Emmy Award in 2018 for his special “Kid Gorgeous.” Mulaney transitioned more heavily into writing and voice acting with the Netflix hit “Big Mouth,” which has been renewed for a third season. Mulaney also provided voice-over work on “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” serving as his feature film debut in 2018. Mulaney will have two performances at the Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Undergraduate students can reserve tickets beginning Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. on the SA website. Haberl said tickets for the general public will be made available if any unclaimed tickets remain by Feb. 9. Guest tickets will be made available in the event of extra seats beginning Feb. 14. email: brian.evans@ubspectrum.com
NEWS
2 | Monday, February 4, 2019
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Student Association prepares for Spring Fest, decides on May 4 date
SHUBH JAIN | THE SPECTRUM Students crowd in front of the stage at last semester’s Fall Fest Concert Series. The Student Association is planning this semester’s Spring Fest as one show on Saturday, May 4.
SA plans concert after survey results show push for hip-hop BRENTON J. BLANCHET MANAGING EDITOR
Spring Fest will feature hip-hop performers on Saturday, May 4, according to Student Association President Gunnar FROM PAGE 1
BLIZZARD that it was like riding with skis on flat ground,” Meister said. “So I could still fully turn and stop and stuff. It really felt normal, just beside the fact that you’re getting cold. … When I would see stuff, I would just try and do something on it. I do freestyle [skiing]. So I just saw it and was like, ‘I’ll try.’” And he succeeded. For 15 minutes. The freshman group’s ski trip, which was cut short by a UPD stop, was a prod-
Haberl. Over the winter, Haberl and SA Entertainment reviewed student survey results to decide the genre. Students completed roughly 1,000 surveys about future SA programs last fall, Haberl said, and students were “pretty clear” about wanting hip-hop artists. “My goal of this fest is to really listen to the student voice and provide that final
experience that people will be able to look back and remember. [I’m] excited for what it can be,” Haberl said. Sandeep Chakravarthy, SA entertainment director, said the student feedback was typical for the SA program. Chakravarthy said he wants an outdoor festival this year if weather permits. He said he hopes to have the lineup finalized by the end of February to mid-March.
uct of YouTube inspiration, 10 years of skiing experience and having a friend with a car –– something not all freshmen are used to. Pitts said UPD warned the group that if they saw them skiing on the back of a car again, they’d be “slapping tickets” on their windows. Pitts said the police “were just doing their jobs.” Meister said it would have been a “sick” ticket. But the day didn’t end when the group put the skis away. Barstool Buffalo uploaded their video to Instagram with the caption “Shredding North Campus.”
Comments of “THATS MY ROOMMATE AYEEEEEE,” “Way to represent,” and “I see you out here” started pouring in. But the guys aren’t letting the fame get to their heads. “For me, personally, I didn’t do it for the clout,” Meister said. “I just thought it was cool.” The Spectrum asked the group if they’d ever consider repeating their viral moment, and Meister made it clear he’s always up for an adventure, but will be cautious about how he goes about it. “I’m going to say I’m not necessarily go-
SA hasn’t held an outdoor music festival since the 2017 Fall Fest at Baird Point. SA has held its biannual fests in different locations. Last year’s Spring Fest was in Alumni Arena, while last semester’s Fall Fest performers played in the Center for the Arts. SA broke up last semester’s Fall Fest into the Fall Fest Concert Series and opted for three genre-specific shows instead of one concert date. Haberl said Spring Fest will be returning to the single-show format, but he still hopes to bring something new to the stage. “I challenge the [SA] Entertainment team with what we can do differently in the show to have that student experience be better. So, can we do a giveaway for the first however many students that come to the show? Can we have a host DJ come in so there’s not too much dead space in between acts? Things like that,” Haberl said. Haberl said he hopes to make the show announcement “earlier” in the semester. SA’s entertainment team already reached out to artists and has been negotiating contracts as of Jan. 7, according to Haberl. email: Brenton.Blanchet@ubspectrum.com twitter @BrentBlanchSpec
ing to not do it again,” Meister said. “We’ll be careful. I don’t need to have another run-in in the next week though.” Pitts said the experience, paired with Playboi Carti’s “Old Money” blaring in the background, had a deeper meaning. “You can only really be young and dumb for so long,” Pitts said. “So just take advantage of it when you’re young.” email: Brenton.Blanchet@ubspectrum.com twitter: @BrentBlanchSpec.
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OPINION
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Monday, February 04, 2019 Volume 68 Number 28 Circulation: 4,000
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Hannah Stein MANAGING EDITOR Brenton J. Blanchet CREATIVE DIRECTORS Phuong Vu Anh Phuong Tran, Asst. COPY EDITORS Savanna Caldwell Cassi Enderle Lauryn King NEWS EDITORS Jacklyn Walters, Co-senior Tanveem Vohra, Co-senior FEATURES EDITORS Thomas Zafonte, Senior Isabella Nurt, Asst ARTS EDITORS Brian Evans, Senior Samantha Vargas, Asst. Julianna Traley, Asst. SPORTS EDITOR Nathaniel Mendelson, Senior EDITORIAL EDITOR Benjamin Blanchet MULTIMEDIA EDITORS Shubh Jain, Senior Davila Tarakinikini, Asst. Pranav Kadam, Asst. CARTOONIST Ardi Digap
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ABOUT THE SPECTRUM The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Opinion section 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.
Political issues matter but shutdowns aren’t the answer EDITORIAL BOARD
None of the Spectrum editors’ families were majorly affected by the recent government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. But we’ve heard the stories. The shutdown, which halted funding for roughly one quarter of the federal government, lasted 35 days. It impacted roughly 800,000 federal workers, some who live paycheck to paycheck. And it can happen again. All because of border security. It’s not worth it. Some of the workers do thankless and tiresome jobs, like picking up trash at our national parks or ensuring safety at airports. Some of those people received back pay for their work but only after five weeks without pay. Others couldn’t work at all. Still, thousands of contracted employees, including custodians and security guards at museums in D.C., spent most of December and January working for free. And most are expected to not receive a single cent in back pay for it. This is horrible to us and we can’t imagine what this feels like. We are also disturbed by the increasingly common use of this devastatingly disruptive “nuclear option” by politicians. The U.S. went 17 years without a shutdown before the October 2013 government shutdown under President Barack Obama. There have been three shutdowns, including two which furloughed (or temporarily laid off) federal workers, under the Trump administration. In October 2013, the Republican-majority House did not agree with Obama and Democrats on funding for the Affordable Care Act. They also couldn’t find common ground on raising the debt ceiling. The shutdown impacted
How a lack of sources leads to a lack of news JACKLYN WALTERS CO-SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
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federal workers for 17 days. The recent shutdown, which ended Jan. 25, involved politicians disagreeing on funding a southern border wall. Not to mention the shutdown failed to fill President Donald Trump’s intent to have a fully funded, $5.7-billion border wall. Will politicians continue to impact hundreds of thousands of lives to get their political needs or fulfill their campaign promises? We hope not. But it may happen again, as both Republicans and Democrats work toward a resolution on border security before the same portion of the government runs out of funding again on Feb. 15. While we recognize border security is a political issue, we don’t think it’s worth making 800,000 government workers go without pay for weeks. The U.S. undocumented immigrant population has decreased from 12.2 million in 2007 to 10.7
million in 2016, according to the Pew Research Center. There has also been a 93-percent decrease in undetected unlawful border entries at the southwest border between 2006 and 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Numbers don’t lie. As one Spectrum editor said, the numbers tell one story, President Trump tells an entirely different one. His story falls in line with fear, the editor said, a fear that he instilled to get a political victory as he claimed drugs were “pouring into” the United States from Mexico. Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell flipflopped to President Trump’s side in the midst of his fear-based claims. Democrats, led by Senator Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, tried their best to find bipartisan solutions but ultimately disagreed on fund-
ing a wall altogether. At the end of the day, the shutdown cost the U.S. at least $6 billion, according to a recent S&P Global Ratings analysis. This is more money than President Trump’s proposed $5.7 billion border wall, which never came close to funding after 35 days of political back-and-forth. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported that the shutdown cost about $11 billion, with at least $3 billion being a permanent loss. The shutdown was a failure and a stain on Trump’s legacy. It’s also a failure on our entire political system. And we’re less than two weeks from it happening all over again. Now we can only hope Washington comes to its senses and avoids making a “Groundhog Day” out of federal workers’ lives. email: opinion@ubspectrum.com.
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Monday, February 4, 2019 | 3
When I signed up for The Spectrum’s writing course, I was excited for all the things I would learn: how to write, report and conduct interviews. I thought that, maybe one day, I’d even be good enough to be an editor. But the one lesson I wasn’t anticipating –– the one I now face every day –– is how to deal with rejection. “You need at least three sources for every story,” our adviser, Jody, said. So I was determined to find three sources. This task was easier said than done by the time I wrote my second article. “I can’t talk to you about that,” and “We aren’t allowed to speak with The Spectrum,” have become regular parts of my conversations.
For every interview I conduct, five people turn me down. On one hand, I completely understand. Before writing for The Spectrum, I probably wouldn’t have wanted to talk to us either. But I have always believed in speaking your mind and speaking out when things don’t seem right. This is especially important when it comes to institutional issues. If no one ever spoke up about problems at UB, they would never be solved. The Spectrum’s reporting has prompted increased inclusion of Native American community members at UB, the planned demolition of a dangerous old ropes course and changed UB’s photo policy to protect students. What better platform to broadcast suggestions than in a student-run newspaper? The Spectrum is made by students and for students. Our primary goal is to inform the UB community on issues pertaining to campus life. It is my job as a journalist to inform the public of current events and breaking news. This typically involves asking people who don’t want to talk to the press questions they don’t want to answer. The problem is, without the help of the public, we can’t tell these stories. I need your knowledge, your insight and your expertise to bring these stories to life. Because no matter how much research I do, I’m not an expert on every topic and my experi-
ences may not provide enough insight. That’s where sources come in. So why are so many reluctant to speak with us? It is particularly frustrating as a student journalist when faculty and administrators say they are unable to answer my questions. And this happens on all levels. Students involved with clubs, staff members at service offices and even RAs feel they can’t talk about UB events or even dining locations on the record. When the public is no longer allowed or willing to speak to the press, where are we supposed to get information? There is no possible way for news outlets to inform the public without sources. Again, I understand. I understand people have jobs and I understand no one wants to say the wrong thing to the press. I even understand apprehension to talk to me — my 5-foot4-inch self can be quite intimidating. But for anyone worried about things like these, just let me know. Admitting you are afraid to say the wrong thing simply opens the conversation. I am not malicious nor am I trying to make people lose their positions with the university because they spoke with The Spectrum. Because without sources, stories don’t matter. The news should never just be about an event, it should be about the people it affects. The reason
we care about news is because we care about people and want to know how we are affected by the things going on around us. And that’s all I really want to know. What issues do you face and how can they be fixed? So I apologize if I have come off as confrontational or aggressive, that is not my intention. I am simply enthusiastic about telling people’s stories. I want to make a change and I want to do the best job I can. If no one is willing to give me information, I will not be able to adequately do my job. I fear I will fail as a journalist. So to all who have refused to speak with The Spectrum, I pose this question: Why? I am here to share your stories and listen to your pride and problems with the university. When things are going great, I want to report on UB’s success and when things go wrong, I want to publicize proposed resolutions. Please reach out to me; help me better cover UB news and let us put professional differences aside and work to make the university a place to be proud of. And yes, I did ask a lot of rhetorical questions in this column. It’s because no one will answer them in person. email: jacklyn.walters@ubspectrum.com twitter @JacklynUBSpec.
NEWS
4 | Monday, February 4, 2019 FROM PAGE 1
CONTROVERSY by the Buffalo Diocese, claimed that Herberger assaulted him when he was a student at St. Anne’s Parish in Buffalo during the 1980s. No lawsuit was filed, but the Buffalo Diocese conducted an internal review. The Diocese lifted the suspension after reviewing investigative reports. But sexual abuse claims against priests are arising throughout the United States over the past two decades. Just a month ago, the Jesuit West Province order released 11 priests’ names tied to sexual abuse claims in the Sacramento area, according to The Sacramento Bee. In August 2018, a Pennsylvania grand jury reported over 1,000 identifiable sexual abuse victims with claims against over 300 priests, according to The New York Times. Buffalo has also had its share of controversy. Over the summer, a whistleblower within the Diocese released confidential
documents that revealed Bishop Malone covered up dozens of sexual abuse cases. Since then, a growing list of 118 clergy were named with substantiated claims of sexual abuse, according to WKBW. Herberger, prior to the claim, was assisting Father Patrick Keleher at the Newman Center. Herberger was forbidden from performing any of his priestly duties while on suspension and he could not enter any church property to attend masses. The accuser, Herberger said, claimed he was abused when he was a student at the Parish school of St. Anne’s during the 1980s. “I was never at that parish during the time that this abuse apparently took place,” Herberger said. “I came to St. Anne’s in 2010, [which was] years later.” Herberger said he met the accuser a few times incidentally when he was helping his father. The accuser’s father, Herberger said, was addicted to drinking alcohol. Herberger would drive his father to and from rehabilitation services.
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“If I saw the boy, [it was] maybe three times in passing, never outside the house and never without his parents,” Herberger said. Herberger wrote to family, friends and parishioners he knew and denied the claims of abuse following his suspension. The Buffalo News published details of the letter in June. “As crass as this may sound, I want everyone to know the following: I have never had anal or oral sex or even normal sexual intercourse with a woman, a man or any female or male child,” Herberger wrote. “I am a 75 year old virgin who is proud to say that I have never broken my vow of celibacy.” Herberger also wrote that he was willing to undergo a lie-detector test to prove his innocence. The Diocese notifies the district attorney after receiving a sexual abuse claim. The district assigns an investigator to interview both parties and recieve any respective evidence, according to the Diocese Communications Director Kathy Spangler. Once the investigator completes the report, it is presented to the Diocesan Review Board. The independent board then makes a recommendation to the Bishop based on the claim. “If the claim is substantiated, then the priest remains on leave, and the diocese begins canon law proceedings to remove the priest from ministry,” Spangler said. “If not, then the priest is returned to ministry.” Herberger, after being accused, hired Buffalo lawyer Kevin W. Spitler. Herberger used his savings, along with donations from friends and family, to pay for Spitler’s services. “I have reason to believe that this individual was mistaken,” Spitler said. “Roy and I don’t take the position that [the accuser] was not abused, it’s just that it wasn’t [Herberger].” The Spectrum reached out to 14 Catholic students, but only two agreed to comment. Junior mechanical engineering, Mari-
anne Cites, said she was disturbed when she heard about the abuse case at the Newman Center, but she is glad the priest has been cleared. “I am glad that the priest was absolved of the sexual assault claims against him, and I just hope that everything was resolved with the individual that came forward,” Cites said. “I am glad that it turned out that [sexual abuse] wasn’t happening, and I am hoping that is true.” Father Patrick Keleher, mostly known as Father Pat, is a campus minister at UB’s Newman Center. Keleher has known Herberger since they were students in the Christ the King Seminary. Keleher said he was shocked when he heard the news of Herberger. “I always say that there are two saints in our class in the seminary, and Roy was one of them,” Keleher said. Herberger was known for his community service. He spent part of his ministry as a chaplain in a prison, volunteers as a driver for Meals on Wheels, and regularly visits elderly in nursing homes, Keleher said. Herberger arrived at the Newman Center’s Sunday mass after his vindication in December to announce he was returning to active ministry. Parishioners applauded at the news, according to Keleher. “They all jumped up and gave him a long standing ovation,” Keleher said. “Everyone was gracious and welcoming.” Herberger said returning to the Newman Center was like coming home. “It was quite emotional for me,” Herberger said. “I am very happy to be back.” Herberger said he will continue to assist Keleher at the Newman Center along with regular, weekly masses. email: isabella.nurt@ubspectrum.com twitter: @Nurt_Spectrum.
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HAO WANG | THE SPECTRUM Students walk on North Campus during the snowstorm.
FROM PAGE 1
GHOST TOWN director of operation. “Unfortunately, it’s probably not up to certain people’s expectations because they would rather see [roads] down to the bare pavement but right now, I think it’s been
very positive.” The UB Stampede operated during the storm on its Saturday schedule and the North Campus Shuttle on its weekend schedule. Donacik said buildings’ pipes can freeze during extremely cold temperatures, but
pipe breaks occur as temperatures warm and the “thawing process” begins. Pipe breaks have historically affected apartments in Flint Village and South Lake Village specifically, according to Joshua Sticht, UPD Deputy Chief. Donacik said facilities’ employees are monitoring building conditions even as temperatures increase into the weekend. Most activities were cancelled or postponed on Wednesday and Thursday, but some events went on as planned. On Tuesday night, the No. 18 UB men’s basketball team defeated the Ball State Cardinals 83-59, a performance that was — momentarily — “lights out.” During the game’s intermission, Alumni Arena experienced a partial power outage, which lasted about 20 minutes but didn’t deter the Bulls from draining practice buckets on their home court. Sticht said the issue was due to a power trip that was an easy fix for UB Facilities. Elsewhere, Campus Dining & Shops kept their dining halls open from 8 a.m.— 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Hubie’s and Au Bon Pain eatery remained open but with reduced menus. The Elli also remained open. With the blizzard impacting students’ schedules, UB extended the spring semester drop/add deadline to 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7, according to a UB alert. UB officials reported and responded to a number of snow-related events and emergencies during the blizzard. Snow got into an electrical transformer at Furnas Hall on Tuesday, according to Sticht. The power outage was a larger issue than the one at Alumni Arena, Sticht said, but UB Facilities addressed the problem and restored power through a back-up transformer. UPD performed services for people who called dispatchers due to weatherrelated emergencies, such as lack of transportation. Specifically, Sticht said UPD transported people who waited at bus stops for UB shuttles, which ran in reduced capacity due to the weather conditions. Twenty-eight motor vehicle accidents
Monday, February 4, 2019 | 5 occurred throughout UB between Tuesday and Thursday, according to Sticht. Sticht said only one of those accidents resulted in injuries, which were minor. “We had three reports of people skiing while hanging on to the rear of moving cars, [which is] illegal in New York, on North Campus,” Sticht said. “These drivers were advised against this activity.” Spectrum editors witnessed a driver who hitched a sled to the back of their van in the Student Union parking lot. And, while the first week of classes usually brings hundreds of students from the residence halls to the Student Union, The Spectrum only found one student in the SU lobby by mid-day Wednesday. Kevin Meloni, a junior psychology major, was alone and working on his laptop in the SU lobby. Meloni, a wrestler on the UB wrestling team, said he’s faced tough battles before. Wednesday was no different. “I took the bus because [there] was no way I was going to walk [in] this,” Meloni said. “I’m from Long Island [and] it’s never like this.” Ellicott resident Michael Navarro said his Wednesday snow day started with a fire alarm in the negative-degree weather. He was glad his RAs had him wait inside the Ellicott Complex, and not outside during the alarm, but still said the temperatures were unlike anything he was used to while living in New York City. “Cold is cold, but now, going outside with the wind pushing against you [makes it] kind of hard to breathe so you have to limit your time outside.” His only time outside on Wednesday, all “two seconds” of it, was spent leaving his dorm for food at Au Bon Pain. He, like many other students this week, was breathing heavily and rubbing his hands together during his seconds-long journey. email: news@ubspectrum.com twitter: @BenjaminUBSpec, @JacklynUBSpec and @TanveenUBSpec.
Brenton Blanchet and Nathaniel Mendelson contributed to this story.
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FEATURES
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Best classes to join during add/drop period A guide to help fill out your schedule for Spring 2019 THOMAS ZAFONTE SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR
Spring is here, but that doesn’t mean you’re not still panicking to figure out your schedule. Most students may have a heavy workload already and are looking for classes that are more enjoyable rather than tedious. We’ve compiled some classes that are not only worthwhile to take, but won’t feel so burdensome once midterm and final exams season hits. This list should come in handy after UB extended the spring semester add/drop deadline to 11:59 p.m. on Thursday.
MUS 265: Rock Music Is “Wonderwall” your favorite song? Do you still think Steely Dan is a progressive artist? Do you hate modern pop music and wish there were more power chords on the radio? Don’t worry, UB has the course for you. Rock Music, a three-credit course, takes place in Knox 104 this semester. It covers everything from genre influences, subcultures, rock aesthetics and more. The course covers a wide variety of topics from pioneers like Chuck Berry to the fashion of T. Rex and David Bowie. The class acts as a great starting point to get familiar with the wide array of music the genre offers, even for those unfamiliar with rock. Associate professor and music department chair Jonathan Golove teaches the class this semester. It meets Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 9:40 p.m..
COM 492: Sexual Communication Marvin Gaye once said, “Let’s get it on.” Now it’s your chance to truly understand what he meant — with COM 492. In what has famously been dubbed by UB students
SHUBH JAIN | THE SPECTRUM Students taking notes during a large lecture in 170 Fillmore Hall. Students have extra time this semester to add a class to their schedule, after the add/drop period was pushed back following last week’s storm.
as “sex com,” students are offered a chance to look at how sex is communicated in society. The class looks at a wide range of subjects, from different types of porn to methods people use to communicate sex. The unique subjects help to make a more unique and engaging class. The three-credit course is online this spring and associate professor Lance Rintamaki teaches it.
SOC 211: Sociology of Diversity If studying how different races, genders, religions and cultures interact sounds interesting to you, look no further. SOC 211 discusses material from diversity of thought, gender, race, religon, disability and etc. The class opens the conversation on current diversity issues, while using more modern course like Ted Talks and music videos. The course goes into an array of topics in an attempt to discuss diversity in a more detailed light. The threecredit class is offered on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. and Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from
11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. Associate professor Brenda Moore and graduate assistant Shiyue Cui are teaching this course.
ENG 381: The Buffalo Film Seminars If you ever wanted to go to a movie theater, watch a whole movie and somehow earn class credit, this class is for you. The Buffalo Film Seminars have been going strong for over a decade, showing films at the Amherst Theater near South Campus. Distinguished professors Bruce Jackson and Diane Christian teach the three-credit class. The class consists of film accompanied by an opening and closing discussion on the film every Tuesday night at 7 p.m. This semester’s series includes “Elite Squad,” “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “Vagabond” and more. Class members have an admission card for the seminar, with response papers due for each movie throughout the semester.
DMS 410: Non Fiction Film Are the superhero movies coming out of Hollywood just not doing it for you anymore? Maybe you should try a class that studies film that comes from everyday life. DMS 410 offers a strong lineup of documentaries for students to examine in terms of the art form and how social knowledge is shared. The course focuses on films from the 1970s to the present, giving a unique look into how visuals provoke awareness. English professor Daniel Colleran is instructing the four-credit course, which meets Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. in the Center for the Arts. email: thomas.zafonte@ubspectrum.com twitter @Thomas_Spectrum
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FEATURES
Monday, February 4, 2019 | 7
The Spectrum remembers Thomas Halleck Colleagues share memories of former editor and friend, who died on Jan. 9 TANVEEN VOHRA CO-SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
Thomas Halleck was a “fireball.” He was the kind of guy who lit up every room he entered. Sometimes with his infectious passion for journalism. Other times with a couple of pizza slices, a hula hoop and a toilet paper roll in hand. Halleck, a former news editor, managing editor and editorial editor at The Spectrum, died at the age of 31 on Jan. 9 after battling mental health issues and alcoholism. He worked at The Spectrum between 200607 and, after graduating from UB, went on to work at the International Business Times as a staff reporter between 2013 and 2015. Halleck’s former colleagues at The Spectrum remember him most for his cheerful personality. Halleck met his wife, Jackelyn Dee Arnone, while attending UB. She described The Spectrum office as Halleck’s “happy place.” She said he “showed off ” the office to her when he first got the job. She felt proud when she read the articles he wrote. “I would look for his articles and get butterflies with anticipation. It was like dating a famous person, everyone on campus read The Spectrum and my man was in charge,” Arnone said. Halleck, aside from journalism, worked as a sales and design consultant, as well as a business development manager. Fellow Spectrum alumni who worked with Halleck remember him most for his gregarious personality and warm presence
COURTESY OF DAVID JARKA & JACKELYN DEE ARNONE Thomas Halleck with his son Peter. Halleck was a former Spectrum editor who died on Jan. 9.
in the newsroom. “I knew I was in for a good day if I saw his blonde hair at our desk clump. He was that kind of person.” said former news editor Rebecca Reeves. “Tom was a good soul. He cared about people and understood them. He made you feel at home in the kindest, funniest way possible,” said Rachel Bellavia, a former managing editor. David Jarka, who worked as a sports editor at The Spectrum similarly described Halleck as “happy-go-lucky.” Other former colleagues also recalled the integrity and passion Halleck had as a journalist. In fact, Jarka credited his decision to pursue professional journalism outside of UB to Halleck’s passion for the field — which he said was infectious. “What really always struck me about him . . . was just his enthusiasm about journalism in general and the act of presenting information to the public,” Jarka said. Halleck’s former peers all remember his
sense of humor, which never failed to lift the spirits of everyone he knew, and often included dance routines. “His humor was on-point, random and truly one of a kind,” Reeves said. Bellavia recalls how Halleck once came back from an interview, and after finishing his article, he proceeded to perform an interpretive dance using “toilet paper, a hula hoop and two slices of pizza.” Jarka also reminisced about the times he and Halleck would blow off steam by “goofing around” — playing basketball, throwing darts and “taking it to the tree line,” where the guys who worked at The Spectrum would wrestle each other if they had a heated debate. He was caught off guard by his friend’s ability to put him in a choke hold. Halleck’s colleagues were upset about the circumstances of his death, saying they never would have imagined Halleck was battling mental health issues. Halleck worked hard to overcome his illness for the sake of his wife and two chil-
dren, but was ultimately unable to do so, according to his sister-in-law Ali Arnone Case. Case also wrote in a Facebook post that Halleck’s death may have been prevented if there was greater awareness and acceptance of mental health issues. The Arnone family set up a Gofundme account to provide funding for Arnone and Halleck’s children, Clara and Peter. The Gofundme page raised over $28,000 so far, surpassing its $100 goal. Halleck leaves behind a legacy of kindness, passion and good humor. “The Spectrum was lucky to have him. Anyone was lucky to know him,” Reeves said. If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health or substance abuse issues, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). email: Tanveen.vohra@ubspectrum.com twitter: @TanveenUBSpec.
Professors weigh in on government shutdown JACKLYN WALTERS CO-SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
Law professor James Gardner said the government shutdown –– the 35-day standoff over border funding that left roughly 800,000 government employees without pay –– has been a national embarrassment. “It reveals to the world a certain kind of incompetence within the American government,” Gardner said. “And that only weakens us; it weakens our standing in the world.” The government reopened Jan. 25, after both Democrats and Republicans refused to come to an agreement over funding for border security. President Donald Trump initiated the partial government shutdown Dec. 22, the third shutdown of his presidency. It has been widely viewed as a political failure for Trump, who was unable to secure funding for a southern border wall –– a centerpiece of his 2016 campaign. With the possibility of another shutdown if Congress doesn’t make a deal on border security by the Feb. 15 deadline, professors weighed in on the shutdown. They said polarization allowed the shutdown to persist and the longer the shutdown continues, the more citizens will feel its effects. Experts agree the exact impacts of the shutdown are difficult to quantify, but the nonpartisan federal office in charge of analyzing the national budget estimates the partial shutdown will cost the U.S. $3 billion. This is the third shutdown during Trump’s presidency. He initiated a threeday shutdown on Jan. 20, 2018 over immigration laws, which led to a second shutdown on Feb. 9 last year. James Campbell, a political science professor, said the shutdown doesn’t seem to be hurting the economy, but we may start to see its effects closer to home. The FDA stopped routine inspections, national park services halted and Environmental Protec-
INFORMATION COURTESY OF ABC NEWS GRAPHIC BY PHUONG VU
tions sent 95 percent of employees home. “The government has its fingers in most of the things that we do and that will start affecting us in many different ways,” Campbell said. “Some of them won’t be glaringly obvious but we’ll feel the pain.” Campbell said the gridlock in Congress that led up to the shutdown stems from an attitude where both sides want a total
win: If Congress passes a bill with funding for the wall, Republicans “win” and if not, Democrats “win.” “The ultimate resolution has to be something both sides can live with and won’t feel that it’s a loss on their side,” Campbell said. “It can’t just be us versus them; we’re all Americans.” Trump and Democrats each proposed a
bill to Congress on Jan. 24. Trump’s bill included wall funding and temporary protections for undocumented immigrants while the Democrats’ bill did not include funds for the wall. Neither received the required 60 votes to pass; Trump’s received 50 “yes” votes and the Democrats’ received 52. Sociology professor Jordan Besek said the conversation about Trump’s wall is indicative of deeper problems in the U.S. “The wall is a proxy for larger issues. The wall is not about the wall,” Besek said. “The wall is about the changing demographics and culture of this country. It’s not about a physical barrier, it’s very much larger than that.” “There are many different ideas or goals for this country and maybe [the shutdown] will provide some clarity regarding what will happen,” Besek said. “But you can’t look at the shutdown by itself. It has to be seen within the broader political context.” Trump paired the announcement to reopen the government with threats to declare a national emergency at the border if the shutdown continues. This would allow Trump to bypass Congress’ approval to begin construction of the wall. Gardner said declaring a national emergency would be a mistake on Trump’s part. “That would be an extremely dangerous step,” Gardner said. “[It would be] dangerous to our constitutional order as it has been understood for more than 200 years. And I imagine it would make impeachment seem something more worth exploring.” Congress has until Feb. 15 to reach an agreement on border security before the possibility of another government shutdown. email: jacklyn.walters@ubspectrum.com twitter: @JacklynUBSpec.
8 | Monday, February 4, 2019
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SPORTS
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Bulls don’t want to be this year’s Loyola Chicago Buffalo won’t be another ‘flash in the pan,’ according to head coach NATHANIEL MENDELSON SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
Loyola-Chicago, as an 11 seed in the NCAA March Madness tournament, made a magical run to the final four last season. The Ramblers took over the television screens of millions of Americans, who watched in awe as the unknown school and its 99-year-old mascot Sister Jean stole hearts and produced one of the best underdog stories of the year. The question surrounding college basketball this season has been ‘Who will be this year’s Loyola-Chicago?’ The answer, for the most part, has been Buffalo: a team with five seniors, an upset win in last year’s tournament and its own eccentric mascot — UB Naked Guy. But the Bulls don’t want to be a one-hit wonder. They want to be a legacy. “A lot of mid-majors have gone in and upset somebody in the tournament,” said head coach Nate Oats. “[They’re] kind of like a ‘flash in the pan’-type deal and make a run to the final four or whatever and follow up with a bad year. We won a game in the tournament and followed it up being ranked in the Top-25 most of the year. We’re not a ‘flash in the pan.’ We’re going to keep this thing growing.” Buffalo broke a 50-year record in the MidAmerican Conference last week. The Bulls are the first MAC team to be ranked for 12 consecutive weeks in the Associated Press Top-25 poll.
MADISON MEYER | THE SPECTRUM The Bulls celebrate their third Mid-American Conference championship in four years. Head coach Nate Oats wants to build a great program not just a great team.
Bowling Green was ranked for 11 consecutive weeks in 1961-62. Still, there has been doubts about UB being able to maintain a Top-25 ranking. The Bulls lost on a last-second shot to Northern Illinois and many thought that it could be the end of UB being ranked or drop them into the 20-and-below range of the poll. Instead, Buffalo went from a tie with Texas Tech at 14 and slipped just four spots to 18. Buffalo dropped seven spots after losing to Marquette earlier this season. “Nobody predicted” where the Bulls would be today when Oats and current Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley took over the program six years ago, according to Oats. “To make our first NCAA tournament four years ago, to winning a game last year, to being ranked for 12-straight weeks kind of speaks to every year we’ve been able to grow this thing,” Oats said.
Buzzer-beating leadership Summer Hemphill’s success this season after a rocky start NATHANIEL MENDELSON SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
Summer Hemphill found herself wide open in the closing seconds against Western Michigan. Senior guard Cierra Dillard launched a full-court pass and found Hemphill for the buzzer-beating layup, giving the Bulls a 61-59 win and a spot on ESPN’s top-10 plays. Most importantly, Hemphill, a junior forward, found more than a highlight reel play –– she found redemption. Hemphill was unable to uphold UB academic standards to compete and was forced to sit out the 2018 fall semester leaving the Bulls in a precarious situation. UB student-athletes must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 and need to pass at least six credit hours a semester. Student athletes placed on academic probation are no longer considered to be in “good academic standing” and are considered by UB and the NCAA to be ineligible for competition, according to the UB student athlete handbook. UB athletics did not state the specific violation Hemphill committed. The Bulls were without their leader. “She’s been in the gym everyday and she was so disappointed that she couldn’t be out there to help us,” said head coach Felisha LegetteJack. “That fire was in her body to help her get
THE SPECTRUM ARCHIVES Junior forward Summer Hemphill converts the tough layup. The Bulls, without Hemphill, lacked their best athlete on the court.
through those long nights and she knew that when she gets out there, she’s going to be ready.” Hemphill played for the first time since the NCAA tournament in March against Dartmouth on Dec. 18. The nine months without competitive basketball is the longest stretch of her career. All of her bottled-up energy came out as Hemphill dominated with 24 points and 14 rebounds. “I was super happy, oh my God I was ecstatic to be out there with the team again,” Hemphill said. “You can probably tell by my stats that I
No. 18 Bulls fall to Bowling Green JACK LI |
THE SPECTRUM Senior guard Dontay Caruthers picks up his dribble in the corner in a previous game. Caruthers had a career-high of 28 points in UB’s loss against Bowling Green.
SPORTS DESK
Bowling Green is now the top team in the Mid-American Conference. The Bulls (19-3, 7-2 MAC) found themselves in front of a sold-out Bowling Green crowd Friday night to take on the Falcons (15-6, 7-1
MAC). The 5,000 attendees snagged shirts with “Beat Buffalo” written on them and the prophecy came true. The Falcons outscored UB by 12 points in the second half and won 92-88. The Bulls shot well, they were able to run in transition and out-rebounded the number-one
Along with the coaching staff, senior guard CJ Massinburg and senior forward Nick Perkins have been program changers. Massinburg and Perkins are both among the top 10 all-time scorers. But it takes more than two players to build a Top-25 team. Senior guard Dontay Caruthers transferred to Buffalo after a year at Midland Community College under current assistant coach Bryan Hodgson. Caruthers’ cousin is Javon McCrea, UB’s all-time leading scorer. Caruthers, unlike Oats, was confident the Bulls would be a Top-25 team. “They had great guys when I was coming in with Blake Hamilton, Willie Conner, and David Kadiri. Those were guys that went to the tournament,” Caruthers said. “So me coming in and knowing whenever it’s my chance to lead then we can be something even more. I always knew this was a great school for me to come to.” Senior forward Montell McRae didn’t have
the same mentality as Caruthers when he transferred to Buffalo from South Plains Junior College. “I knew that I wanted to get to the tournament and Buffalo was the best possibility for me, but a Top-25 team is like a dream come true,” McRae said. “I never expected us to be a Top-25 team.” But college basketball success is mainly determined by performances in the postseason. Legendary runs by mid-majors like Loyola-Chicago and MAC teams like Kent State and Ohio in the tournament motivate the Bulls toward postseason success. Oats believes that, as a coach, you realize it is harder to sustain success over a 31-game season rather than a few games in the NCAA tournament. But he said he understands the importance of tournament success. Still, Buffalo tries to not be distracted by the polls and recognition. “That’s not going to save us on the court,” Caruthers said. The Bulls have Caruthers’ infectious confidence that they’re going to be able to keep the success going even as their five seniors graduate. “We got guys here sitting out, the freshmen in the program and our recruits coming in are going to keep this thing growing after this year,” Oats said. “We’re not trying to have a great team, we’re trying to have a great program. A great program shows up like this on a yearly basis, so that’s what we’re trying to get to and I think we’ve got it to that point now.” email: nathaniel.mendelson@ubspectrum.com twitter @NateMendelson
was just happy to be out there with my sisters and run with them.” Hemphill knew that she had to remain focused in order to even get to that point. She narrowed down her attention and worked to get better in her time off the court. Hemphill had to sit idly by during games knowing she was physically able to play but not allowed to. It was frustrating for a woman who hates losing more than she loves winning. The Bulls are in a tough transition year, with the loss of five key seniors from last year’s Sweet-16 squad. Buffalo has lots of young talent that needs time to develop, yet it can’t afford to not be competitive with players like Hemphill and Dillard. The Bulls, luckily, have seen the emergence of Hemphill as a leader in the locker room. She was in a similar situation her senior year at Cardinal O’Hara. Hemphill was the star player and was leading a team of mostly underclassmen. Hemphill feels that’s when Legette-Jack saw her leadership for the first time. Legette-Jack also saw a great work ethic and selflessness –– two qualities that remain the same today. Hemphill’s work ethic is more mature, according to Legette-Jack, and her mind is set in the right place. Hemphill’s responsibilities have grown from being a “double-double machine” on the court. She’s guiding the team to uphold the standards that other players set for the program. Hemphill, like many other freshmen, had to learn to come off the bench her first year. The star high school player’s role was reduced and she learned how to win as a team, rather than relying on herself. The Bulls have seven freshmen this year —
seven former star high school players that no longer see the court during games. “I just want to be there to let them know that there is four years in college, so your freshman year may not be your best,” Hemphill said. “You have to look forward and be able to maintain a positive mindset that you have three more years to look forward to. On top of that, you’re playing with Cierra Dillard, you can learn a lot from her.” The same confidence that she inspires her teammates with won’t help her take a three-point shot. Hemphill consistently knocks down shots from behind the arc during practice but “doesn’t have the guts” to take them on in a game. But Legette-Jack says she needs her to shoot it and has a “green light.” Chemistry runs deep in the Bulls’ two stars, according to Dillard. The two are around each other a ton with team activities on top of being roommates. They play against the men’s team in the summer and are both Western New York natives. “She knows me,” Dillard said. “She knows where I like the ball. I know where she likes it. She hates losing and I hate losing too. That’s the kind of nature we are.” It’s unknown if the Bulls would have been able to complete the 14-point comeback against Western Michigan without Hemphill’s leadership and chemistry with her teammates. All it took was a simple head nod from Dillard to Hemphill to win the game. When the buzzer sounded and she was surrounded by teammates, Hemphill knew she was back.
rebounding team in the conference. Yet, 18 costly turnovers led to Buffalo’s demise. The Bulls led 47-39 at halftime. Bowling Green opened the second half on a 7-0 run to pull within one point and take away Buffalo’s halftime advantage. The Falcons took their first lead of the game 59-57 with 13:28 left in the second half. Bowling Green kept the pressure on the Bulls and capitalized with a 12-2 run. The Falcons were up 11 points, as the score reached 84-73, and never trailed the rest of the way. Buffalo had a chance to tie at the end, but senior guard CJ Massinburg was unable to replicate his West Virginia magic as his three-point attempt hit the back of the rim with 12 seconds remaining. Senior guard Dontay Caruthers continued his stretch of high-scoring games with 28 points, a new career high. But Caruthers either found himself scoring or turning the ball over each possession. Caruthers finished with six turnovers and no assists. Bowling Green Junior guard Dylan Frye was able to carve up Buffalo’s dynamic defensive
backcourt duo of Caruthers and junior Davonta Jordan for 25 points. His teammate sophomore guard Justin Turner added 22. The Bulls found themselves in tight games because of the lack of a reliable number-two option on the court. Seniors Jeremy Harris, Nick Perkins and Massinburg have not been the big three to dominate every game. Harris’ struggles remain the most alarming. Harris was 3-12 and 0-7 from deep against Bowling Green. The supposed best three-point shooter on the Bulls is just 1-18 from three over his last three games. He failed to score over 10 points in each of those games. Harris seemed to emerge from his seasonlong slump with a 34-point outing against Toledo. He has not shot over 50 percent in the seven games since. The Bulls, after losing two of the past three road games, will need Harris to become a reliable scoring option. Buffalo’s next contest is Central Michigan at home on Feb. 9 at 3:30 p.m.
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