The Spectrum Vol. 68 No. 27

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THE SPECTRUM VOL. 68 NO. 28 | FEBRUARY 4, 2019

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

Student Association prepares for Spring Fest, decides on May 4 date

> SEE PAGE 2

UBSPECTRUM

Best classes to join during add/ drop period:

Buzzerbeating leadership: Summer Hemphill’s success this season after a rocky start

A guide to help fill out your schedule for Spring 2019 > SEE PAGE 6

> SEE PAGE 10

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

Life after controversy

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


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