VOL. 69 NO. 32 | FEBRUARY 17, 2020
UB COMMUNITY MEMBERS DISCUSS EXPERIENCES AS LGBTQ PEOPLE OF COLOR
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Quarantined students worry they may lose visa statuses, won’t graduate on time Coronavirus quarantine threatens students’ UB experience JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA SHUYI LI SENIOR NEWS EDITOR STAFF WRITER
Emily Mingxia’s* sophomore year at UB came to a halt when she was quarantined in Wuhan, China before she could return to Buffalo. Mingxia said UB was unable to offer solutions to her predicament, as she said she may graduate later than expected and might lose her student visa as a result. Mingxia said she reached out to her academic advisor after she realized she may not be able to return to the U.S. from her trip to China over winter break. She was grateful her advisor helped her enroll in online courses for the semester, but online courses won’t help her maintain her visa status. Federal regulations require UB to terminate students’ F-1 status –– a nonimmigrant student visa –– if they enroll in only online classes, according to International Student Services (ISS). Students with F-1 status have to enroll in at least 12 credits, nine of which must be in-person classes, for the fall and spring semesters in order to maintain their visa. And Mingxia may not be alone. She is one of roughly 20 students who weren’t
able to return to UB this semester following the Chinese government’s travel ban on the Hubei province on Jan. 23 to contain the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The virus has infected more than 66,000 people, and killed at least 1,523 globally. UB’s coronavirus website advised quarantined students to contact International Student Services (ISS) to discuss their “best course of action.” ISS said it will determine “the best course of action” with each student
“on a one-to-one basis.” Kathryn Tudini, assistant vice provost and director for ISS, said ISS will advocate for students who hope to reactivate their I-20 even if they’ve been outside of the U.S. for more than five months. Tudini said the Department of Homeland Security said it would consider exceptions for students who were impacted by the Chinese travel restrictions. Mingxia said she didn’t receive ISS’
email about the quarantine –– which included information about how a schedule with only online classes will impact her visa status and what her other options are, like taking a leave of absence –– until Jan. 28, five days after the Chinese government issued the travel ban and one day after classes began. Mingxia said ISS’ response was “late” and “unclear” and made her feel like UB did not care about her. “I really hoped UB could help students who have trouble and give them solutions in a timely manner, just like how they say they care about the students,” Mingxia said. Mingxia said ISS told her that she will not be able to enter the U.S. with her student visa for the remainder of the semester, and that she will lose her F-1 status because she is only enrolled in online classes. Additionally, she cannot use her I-20 –– a document indicating ‘the reason’ for her stay –– to return to the U.S. for the remainder of the spring semester. Mingxia will not regain F-1 status until 30 days before the start of the next semester she is enrolled in in-person classes, according to ISS. Mingxia says she did not know how to handle the situation and struggled to find answers from ISS. Mingxia said ISS’ email she received on Jan. 28 did not help her understand what
Puzzling Pathways: Students concerned with UB general education topics
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2018-19 UB Athletics budget shows highest revenue and expenditures since 2005 Women’s basketball ticket sales see 65% increase JUSTIN WEISS SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
UB Athletics reported its highest revenue and expenditure numbers since 2005 in the 2018-19 academic year, according to last year’s NCAA Membership Financial Report The Spectrum obtained on Feb. 12. The department brought in $45,977,952, which represents a 12.6% increase from last year. It also spent $45,933,053, a 12.68% increase. Together, that represents a net profit of $44,899 — a 37.27% decrease from the previous year. UB teams experienced an across-theboard increase in ticket revenue. The department earned about $1.4 million overall from the transactions, a 40.54% increase from 2018. Women’s basketball saw a 64.88% increase in ticket sales and outearned men’s basketball by roughly $33,000. Men’s teams brought in about $15.41 million, nearly twice as much as women’s teams. Football earned the most revenue at about $9.72 million. Men’s basketball had the second highest at about $3.79 million and women’s basketball had the third highest at about $2.42 million. No other team broke $1 million, although soccer ($999,474), volleyball ($956,945), swimming and diving ($944,474), softball ($919,765) and women’s track and field and cross country ($917,501) all came close. “Direct institutional support” was the largest revenue source at about $13.48 million. This includes state funds, tuition, tuition discounts/waivers, transfers and federal work study. UB Athletics received
about $5.2 million in donor contributions, an increase of 170.23% from 2018. These are contributions that are both provided to and used by athletics. Student fees increased for the 7th straight year, accumulating about $9.84 million. But while revenues increased to record levels, so did expenses. Support staff/administrative compensation, benefits and bonuses paid by UB and related entities were the largest expenditure at about $9.07 million. Athletic student aid represented the second largest at about $8.31 million. In April 2017, the university cut four sports teams: men’s baseball, men’s soccer, men’s swimming and diving and women’s rowing. While the university no longer sponsors these sports, it is still responsible for providing aid to the affected students. UB Athletics spent rouchly $136,000 on student aid for the five remaining students. It also spent about $7.72 million on coaching salaries, benefits and bonuses. Football led the way with about $2.83 million in salaries. Men’s basketball was second at about $1.75 million and women’s basketball was third at about $1.03 million. Email: justin.weiss@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @Jwmlb1
Revenues 13,476,173 Direct Institutional Support 9,835,072 Student Fees 6,420,505 State/Gov’t Support 5,201,383 Contributions 3,947,807 Additional 3,243,291 Distributions
Total Revenues:
$45,977,952
2,397,056 Indirect Institutional Support 1,456,665 Ticket Sales
Profit: $44,899
*All numerical values in USD ($) ** Benefits and Bonuses included
Expenditures 9,071,490 Staff/Admin. Compensation** 8,306,107 Athletic Student Aid 7,718,600 Coaching Salaries** 7,616,806 Other Operating Expenses 6,617,301 Additional 3,140,132 Team Travel 2,397,056 Indirect Institutional Support 1,065,561 Game Expenses
Total Expenditures:
$45,933,053
NEWS
intersecting d e n t i t i e s
2 | Monday, February 17 2020
UB community members discuss experiences as LGBTQ people of color ALEXANDRA MOYEN SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
Vaughn Law says they struggled to be open with their bisexuality while embracing their Hong KongVietnamese culture. Since their intersecting cultures have “similar values,” including a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to sexuality, they feared coming out. And today, only some family members know of their sexuality. But since coming to UB and being away from their parents, the sophomore communication major has felt a sense of “growth.” UB has given them a place to express who they are, but has also shown Law and other students of color that being an LGBTQ POC can set them apart from the communities they identify with. Students in the LGBTQ POC community said their intersecting identities bring different ex-
ations where you want to have that pride and be proud, it’s hard to merge those identities with one another sometimes.” Law said being a person of color and being in the LGBTQ community can make someone vulnerable to more hate, as they find themselves subject to both racism and homophobia. “Sometimes to be a person of color within this community … I think they need to be extended more resources,” Law said. “It can sometimes be so much more difficult for them to experience [the LGBTQ] community from a different nuanced identity.” And violence isn’t an unwarranted fear. The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Program found 60% of survivors of antiLGBTQ hate crimes and anti-HIV hate crimes were people of color. Just like Law, Rutuja Sawant, a senior media study major, was afraid to tell her family back home in India that she’s a lesbian. “I think white people more than people of color probably have it easier to come out to people around them,” Sawant said. “I think as people of color growing up, our values are so much based on family first, society first and then yourself.” Only her siblings and cousins know about her identity. “If I had been completely open, I think it would have just been considered that I
CoUrTeSY oF VAUGHn lAw
CoUrTeSY oF rUTUJA SAwAnT
periences, making assimilating with each community challenging at times. But students of color want other LGBTQ POC to know they aren’t alone and encourage them to come out on their own terms. Law started using they/them pronouns and identifying as bisexual after coming to UB; before, they identified as aromantic and asexual, when a person doesn’t have romantic and sexual attraction to someone. Now, Law said they feel people often see them as either Asian or bisexual, not both. “You’re unable to express this identity as much as you want to,” Law said. “In situ-
am someone who is rude, someone who doesn’t think much of their family or someone who needs help,” Sawant said. Sawant said India has been taking steps toward accepting the LGBTQ community but still said she felt more comfortable expressing her sexuality around her American friends. Even though it is easier for her to “be herself ” in America, Sawant said she still struggles with her overlapping identities. She said it is hard to feel a sense of belonging within the American LGBTQ community because of her race, and in India she grapples with feeling like “an outsider.” “When I go back home, and hang out with the LGBTQ community in India, I am still an outsider because I don’t live there, I live here now,” Sawant said. “I’m at a point where I’ve just kind of come to accept it’s always going to be like that. I’m never going to really fit completely anywhere.” When Law was back home, their parents believed their identity changes were a result of their time in America. Their parents thought “it was popular” and “the
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white people were doing it.” “I think since coming to college and no longer being under my parents’ hands, I was able to actually comfortably experience attraction to people without feeling guilty about it,” Law said. Joseph Marte, a junior public health major, said he has felt out of place within the LGBTQ community because of his race. Being from the Dominican Republic, Marte said it was hard for him to come out as well. “Because of being Latinx and also being from a country where the religion is predominantly Catholic, I have always been cautious of how I present CoUrTeSY oF ISABelle orTIZ myself in front of others,” Marte said. Isabelle Ortiz, Intercultural and Diversity Center (IDC) director, said growing up in New York City made it easier to be ISS FROM PAGE 1 open with her lesbian identity. Ortiz said she came out in 2015 and everyone apshe should do, so she tried calling ISS. peared to accept her identity. Mingxia said the staff who answered the But when she came out to her family phone “sounded frustrated” when she members who live in the Dominican Recalled. She said she knew there are some public, she realized they weren’t as acceptstaff members at ISS who can speak Chiing. nese and she wished she was able to speak “When it comes to my race and sexualwith them since English is not her first lanity, I am privileged in many ways because guage. As a result, she said it was difficult I have never feared for my life like many to understand everything ISS told her.. other LGBTQ POC,” Ortiz said. “As a “I can understand they might feel irritawoman of color, coming out to my family ble because a lot of students called them, was the hardest part for me, my family in we are not native speakers and have a lot the Dominican Republic, specifically, beof questions,” Mingxia said. “But we are cause of their religious beliefs. My experireally worried since it was our first time to ence going to DR after I came out publiface such problems and the school hasn’t cally made me second guess a bit because given any response.” being queer in DR is not as progressive as Tudini said ISS has the “resources” to it is here in the United States.” communicate with some students in ManBut life isn’t easy for LGBTQ POC in darin, but that it didn’t have enough “rethe U.S., either. sources” to translate all communications. When Marte came out as gay in 2017, he “We do have resources to communicate began openly expressing his sexual idenwith students in Mandarin when necessary tity through his style. But at UB, Marte and those resources were mobilized dursaid being a person of color sets him apart ing the past several weeks,” Tudini said. from other LGBTQ students. Marte said “Immigration regulations are complex when he came to UB, he noticed there are and difficult to navigate even for native “racially homogenous” LGBTQ “cliques” English speakers but we don’t have the rethat form, making it hard for him to make sources to translate every communication friends within the community. He rememthat is sent.” bered a time students made fun of him for Tudini said ISS was “in the midst” of a wearing an outfit that expressed his idennew student orientation at the beginning tity. of the semester, but that they tracked stu“I remember one day heading to work dents who reported coronavirus and quarand what I assume to be a clique of white antine issues by creating a “central list.” LGBTQ individuals just looked me up and “When the outbreak first started we down and started laughing,” Marte wrote. were in the midst of new student orien“That day I remember being confused and tation but we worked diligently to begin embarrassed as though I was doing sometracking students who reported issues and thing wrong and I got caught.” began to keep a central list with the help Whenever Marte feels different within of CSSA,” Tudini said. the community, he tries to “understand Mingxia said she is worried she won’t everyone comes from different backbe able to graduate on time because the grounds, cultures and knowledge.” online classes she enrolled in do not fulfill Although Law, Marte, Ortiz and Sawant the requirements for her major. She deeach have different experiences with their scribed this semester as a “waste.” race and sexuality, they all had moments “It definitely influenced my study, bewhere they felt like outsiders, whether it cause none of my major classes are availbe at home or within their LGBTQ comable online,” Mingxia said. “I may have to munity. But they don’t feel shame for who spend an extra semester to graduate bethey are and encourage other LGBTQ cause of the waste of this semester.” POC to embrace their identities, however Tudini said ISS encouraged all students it is best for them. impacted by the coronavirus travel re“It’s scary, not going to lie, it’s still scary strictions to contact and work with their for me and it’s hard, but take your time, academic departments. ISS can only assist go at your own pace, come out,” Sawant students with their immigration status, acsaid. “Straight people don’t have to come cording to Tudini. out, why should we have to come out? But that’s something that hopefully changes in the future. But for now, I think just take *Student’s name changed to protect their priyour time, assess your situation, be safe vacy. and go at your own pace.” * Student quotes were translated by Shuyi Li from Chinese into English. Email: alexandra.moyen@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @AlexandraMoyen Email: news@ubspectrum.com
OPINION
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Monday, February 17 2020 | 3
Hell hath no fury like a pink tape measurer scorned U.S. retailers needs a sizing standard for women’s fashion
SAMANTHA VARGAS OPINION EDITOR
For some women across the U.S., clothes shopping is a cathartic, fun experience. For others, it’s a nightmare. Every day, women across the country find themselves facing off against an invisible assailant; one that slowly eats away at their body image and self-confidence. The U.S. apparel market is a $341.6 billion enterprise, which is constantly changing and shaping culture, and fashion has been a pivotal aspect of self-expression since its conception. Yet for many women, teenagers and pre-adolescent girls, the exploration of fashion requires Rosetta Stone to decipher its seemingly ambiguous assortment of sizes. Many people might not experience sizing confusion with their curated H&M wardrobe, but an issue arises with the
lack of sizing standards among women’s fashion brands. There is a definitive understanding between small and large or between a size 0 and a size 26, however, in reality these distinctions are ambiguous. Aside from understanding that large is a synonym for big, there is no standard measurements for this distinction. A size 8 dress from Michael Kors measures at 26.5 inches at the waist, while a size 8 dress from Chico’s measures at a 31inch waist, according to a 2011 New York Times data collection. While four inches may not seem substantial, that amount of extra fabric would warrant a completely different dress size between these two U.S. brands. This may not seem like an actual problem on the surface. It might seem like a matter of trial and error, and ignoring the difficulties behind online shopping, I might have even agreed with that argument. But I’ve witnessed firsthand how these ambiguous numbers have torn down girls’ confidence. I recently took on a part-time job as a special occasion stylist at a well-known boutique. This shop, just like thousands of others across Buffalo, sells a variety of brands with a variety of sizing variants. And every week I see a girl cry. I see teenage girls coming in, so excited for their prom, sobbing in our fitting rooms because “they’re usually a size 10.” I see the happiness drain from the eyes of mothers-of-the-bride after the dress
she was so excited about won’t zip up. I see bridesmaids put strains on their friendships because they don’t feel confident. And there’s nothing I could say to these women that would change the number they read on the tag. A number that doesn’t mean anything. I will be the first to acknowledge that different fabrics, silhouettes and body shapes all play a factor in how an article of clothing fits. But introducing a sizing standard across retailers, based on a modern standard of the bust, waist and hip measurement, would eliminate this unrelenting authority on self-confidence. Of course I’m not implying that a standardized size would fit every person or every body type. But understanding a standard measurement would allow a standard alteration for women with diverse bodies, rather than have them guess what article of clothing would fit the best. And the idea of a sizing standard is not a new concept for women’s fashion. The National Bureau of Standards originally published sizing standards for women’s fashion in 1958, which was later abandoned in 1983. The original conception for sizing standards was based solely on white women and female soldiers following WWII, but by implementing a more diverse pooling option, the concept of a standard should not be deemed implausible. What we now face is the era of vanity
sizing; a time where thinness has equated itself with value. And while you may think times have changed with a cultural obsession with “thickness,” it’s important to remember that it still must be accompanied by a small waist to be deemed worthy. Eating disorders and self-harm still plague young men and women with the hopes that they’ll be able to reach a size 0, and the inconsistencies of sizing are not helping these cultural mindsets around body image. I am 21 years old and I have no idea what size I am. I own clothes between a size 0, 5 and 10 that all fit. I believe that standardizing clothing sizes would de-stigmatize the negative connotations around size and would only contribute to the body positivity movement. It’s time for people to understand there is nothing wrong with not being a size 0 and to strive for being happy with who they are. Email: Samantha.Vargas@UBspectrum.com Twitter: @SamMarieVargas
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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‘Changes’ secures Justin Bieber’s status as an R&B star Bugatti Bieber goes fullblown genre transition again, creates opus with fifth studio album BRENTON J. BLANCHET EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Album: “Changes” Artist: Justin Bieber Released: Feb. 14, 2020 Genre: R&B(ieber) Label: Def Jam Rating: 9/10 On Friday, Justin Bieber accomplished something that he’d been aiming for since his angelic voice first took a 180-degree detour last decade. He became an R&B singer. The Canadian pop king has hinted at the type of music he wanted to make for years. But when he showed the world he could do it, albeit when the world wasn’t as pro-Bieber as it is now, it didn’t pay attention. The R&Bieber journey, now complete with the release of Bieber’s fifth studio album “Changes,” has been one of trial and error. After the first wave of Bieber fever hit, the singer was seemingly torn on whether he’d follow the standard coming-of-age pop-star route or play around with the genre he was raised on with R&B. It was a decision he found himself making several times over, and each time –– except for once –– he took the safe pop-infused middle ground. Bieber introduced us to his (first) comeback album “Believe” in 2012, a record featuring soul-influenced tracks “Right Here” and “Love Me Like You Do;” oddities for a pop album during that time. In 2013, he gave us his best project –– until Friday –– with “Journals,” as his proper R&B debut. Tracks
IllUSTrATIon BY SArAH CHAMBerlAIn
like “All That Matters,” “Heartbreaker” and “Swap It Out” (forever and always a gift from the vocal-run gods) showed the Biebs where he belonged, but some PR slip ups and a lack of promotion left the project in the dust. Bieber then delivered 2015’s “Purpose,” featuring cuts “Trust” and “No Sense,” both of which showed him trying to be taken seriously as an R&B contender, but the project was mainly a product of the EDM-pop train of yesteryear. After a public, yet quiet, journey toward R&B, Bugatti Biebervelli’s years-long mission is complete, and the name “Bieber” is now synonymous with his genre of choice, meaning his album “Changes” can properly take its place as the crown jewel in his discography. The record, which Bieber released Friday, opens with the stripped-back “All Around Me,” featuring the first taste of Bieber proving himself as Canada’s best vocalist in popular music (sorry, Shawn). The vocal runs feel organic and the focus remains on him –– exactly where it should be after a never-ending five-year wait –– and his ode to wife Hailey Bieber shows a maturity in the former hair-flip king. Tracks two and three, “Habitual” and “Come Around Me,” are sonic day trips from Bieber’s right-hand producer Poo Bear (“What Do You Mean?”), and help listeners realize Bieber isn’t playing around with the “R&B” label. He’s actually doing it and his voice sounds slicker than ever. We then hear single “Intentions,” the introductory track to, what I like to call, the point where you realize, “Hey Justin, you could’ve done this yourself, man.” There’s only two downsides to the entire record: First and foremost, Billboard No. 2 single “Yummy” should’ve never been a lead single (and almost feels like a strange inclusion in the final tracklist, especially to be included with a Summer Walker remix, too). And secondly, Bieber’s features on here offer almost nothing to the project.
Quavo and Kehlani don’t necessarily make or break their respective tracks, but Post Malone, Lil Dicky and Travis Scott surely take away from Bieber’s best moments. A great verse from Scott would’ve made “Second Emotion” the album’s highlight, but instead Scott comes out the gate sounding like he just left the dentist. The “Forever” leak without Post Malone was, frankly, more enjoyable than the album version. And Dicky’s contribution only makes “Running Over” an automatic skip. But even with the poor choice of friends to share the tracklist with, Bieber still shines on every song. As for the album’s proper centerpiece, “Available” is exactly what the world needed from a Justin Bieber R&B album. It’s right in his range, touches on his love for his wife (as a song Chance The Rapper could learn from) and Poo Bear lurks on as the Biebs’ slaps some signature runs on top of it. The record sees other highlights in a few slow-burners. “Take It Out On Me” and “E.T.A.” prove to be the “Hold Tight” and “All That Matters” of the project, as Bieber’s usual baby-making (not “Baby”making) anthems fit perfectly within the realm of “Changes.” As the project wraps up, “That’s What Love Is” reminds fans that Bieber is happy where he is in life. The “ooh-I-lovemy-wife” moment of the album actually sounds quite beautiful, with some crisp glimpses of falsetto and touching lyrics throughout. For a first-time listener and major Bieber fan, it’s a goosebump-making machine with some lovely unexpected background vocals consuming the track’s closing half. All in all, Bieber is back. But unlike the several other times he’s been “back,” he’s now back where he should be, as an R&B star. And right now, as one of the best in the game. Email: Brenton.Blanchet@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @BrentonBlanchet
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Monday, February 17 2020 | 5
UB community shares excitement over Best Picture winner ‘Parasite’ makes Oscar history by being first international feature to win award
ISABELLA FORTUNATO CONTRIBUTING WRITER
world are celebrating the huge success for both Korea and the film industry. And even at UB, professors, students and administrators alike can’t stop talking about how exciting this triumph is. “The Korean film industry had a very small beginning and thus the Korean audience was exposed to various films from around the world,” said linguistics and Korean studies professor Hyein Amber Kim. “While there is a screen quota system for domestic films in Korea, it wasn’t unusual for me [while living in Korea] to watch Indian, Chinese, Japanese, French, Italian, and other international films in movie the-
aters.” The film industry in the U.S. has a tendency to be exclusionary and barely promote any film not produced in Hollywood. Seeing a global film in a mainstream theater is uncommon, but an internationally recognized cinematic success like “Parasite” is the perfect catalyst to insight a positive change in film diversity. Students across campus, including members from UB’s Korean Student’s Association (KSA), found the “Parasite” win exciting. Junior business major Inha Jung said she has always loved film and because of this,
More than 20 million people from different countries and backgrounds tune into The Academy Awards each year. But in over nine decades of award shows, there have only been 11 foreign films nominated for best picture at The Oscars. And the cinematic honor has never been awarded to any movie made outside of the U.S. That all changed this year. On Feb. 9, Bong Joon Ho’s dark-comedy thriller, “Parasite” made history as the first international film to win the coveted Best Picture award. On top of this unexpected win, the film won awards for Best Original Screenplay, Best International Feature Film and Best Director, making it the most decorated film of the night. The film is the first South Korean movie to ever be nominated at the Academy Awards and there’s no telling what changes this could make for the U.S. film industry and the recognition of international film on a CoUrTeSY oF dAVId FISHer | SHUTTerSToCK global scale. AdHoriz-UBSpectrum"ChiliDiver".qxp 10/22/19 11:14BAM “paRaSite ” diReCtoR ong Page Joon 1ho holdS two oSCaRS. People all over the
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she was inspired by the number of people who also fell in love with “Parasite” and its social message. “Most people say Korea is a good country to live in if you have a lot of money,” Jung said. “Many said [Parasite] was funny since there are a lot of jokes, but it is still uncomfortable to see the comparison of how people are treated differently. I am very proud to be Korean and see that more and more people are knowing more about our country.” Many people attributed the success of the film to the powerful and shocking narrative Joon Ho put to the screen. Initially, “Parasite” follows an amusing story of a poor South Korean family, The Kims, as they all slowly secure job positions working in the house of an upperclass family, The Parks, by lying, cheating and just plain playing dirty. But halfway through the film, the plot suddenly changes to reveal something much darker creeping underneath the floorboards of society today that many people of all backgrounds choose to forget about. Liz Park, curator of exhibitions for the UB art galleries, said much of the fascination associated with the film can be attributed to the approachable depth that the characters and story convey. “The Park family was as much a parasite as the Kim family was,” Park said. “I think there’s truth to that. Who feeds off of who? I think it’s a matter of perspective and who the storyteller is. The brilliance of the movie is that there were [so] many intertwining stories.” After its Best Picture win at the Oscars, there’s no telling what other changes will come to both film and perspective within the U.S. UB community members say the film has shown them that the issues they face may not be that different from someone on the other side of the world. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
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‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ defies low expectations and doubts Sega’s famous blue hedgehog stars in an actually good video-gameinspired movie ANASTASIA WILDS ASST. ARTS EDITOR
Movie: “Sonic the Hedgehog” Director: Jeff Fowler Starring: Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Jim Carrey Studio: Paramount Pictures Rating: 8/10 Films about video games have historically bombed in the box office. But sometimes all you need is a blue blur, a donut lord, a pretzel lady and an eggman. “Sonic the Hedgehog,” based on Sega’s video game franchise, is a whirlwind action-adventure comedy that focuses on an extraterrestrial blue hedgehog named Sonic (Ben Schwartz) who has the ability to run faster than the speed of sound. While living on Earth, a series of events leads to Sonic seeking help from a sheriff named Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) in order to stop Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey), who wants to use Sonic’s powers for his robots. Despite the rocky road that led up to its release, “Sonic the Hedgehog” is a fun movie filled with lovable characters, hilarious scenes and well-placed references. It is engaging throughout its 99-minute runtime and leaves the viewer wanting more. Truthfully, much of the doubt that surrounded this movie is justified. Videogame-inspired movies have a tendency to be awful. “Resident Evil” is one of the best horror game franchises, but the live action movies are hot garbage. While there have been a couple exceptions to this rule, like the recent “Detective Pikachu” adaptation, it was hard to put faith in a genre of movies that typically bombs pretty hard. Plus, “Sonic the Hedgehog” ran into some criticism before it released that seemingly signalled doom. The film was
HANNAH RIES
“My major is public health. It took me a while to come to that. I started off as a pharmacy [major] but I didn’t like the curricular plan, a lot of hard classes at the same time so I switched out of it. I went to aerospace engineering for two weeks, biological sciences, and now public health. I find it really interesting looking at health concerns on a wider population basis.”
originally scheduled to release on Nov. 8, 2019, but the CGI designs for Sonic in the original trailers were regarded as so horrifying by the general public that many people complained and made memes, and Paramount delayed the film to redo the CGI. The CGI redesign admittedly looked super cute, but it did not instill much hope. Still, the movie ended up being great. The cinematography, lighting design and comedy are top-notch. It has good pacing that remains fast while not losing its viewers in the chaos. Even though the film does not require the viewers to have prior knowledge about Sonic, it also has plenty of well-placed references for fans. Despite some initial ambivalence toward the human characters, they are easy to love by the end. Sheriff Wachowski and his veterinarian wife, Maddie (Tika Sumpter), have a great loving relationship that enhances the film. Original characters in video-game-inspired films usually feel unnecessary or easily disposable, but the Wachowskis’ relationships with each other and with Sonic elevate the movie rather than hinder it. Carrey absolutely shines in his role as Dr. Robotnik, too. It is easy to tell that he had a lot of fun with this role, as it’s arguably his best and most energetic role since he portrayed Stanley Ipkiss in “The Mask.” After “Sonic the Hedgehog” ended, the after-credits scene suggested a sequel, but only time will tell if it actually gets one.
CoUrTeSY oF PArAMoUnT PICTUreS. poSteR foR “SoniC the hedgehog”
Email: anastasia.wilds@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @AnastasiaWilds
“My major is health and human services. I want to get into social work and help people one day. I decided I wanted to do social work when I was a junior in high school after doing research and [social work] sounded like something I could do. [Having picked my major so young] feels really good. I haven’t had that anxiety of not knowing what I’m gonna do with my life.”
“I’m a third-year dental student. I chose UB since it is so close to home and has a lot of outreach opportunities. I recently volunteered in Knoxville, Tennessee with other UB dental students to provide free dental care to those in need and it was an incredible experience.”
CHRISTINE
BREINDEL
“My major is psychology and I’m on a pre-med track. I would like to minor in public health. My plan is to go to med school. I want to practice preventative care medicine, helping minority populations before they get sick because I know they can’t afford specialized care.”
DEVONTÉ TOLLIVER ANYAH CAREW
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SPORTS
8 | Monday, February 17 2020
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Jock of all trades Ronaldo Segu balances Instagram fame, key role on men’s basketball team
B
y the time Ronaldo Segu reached ninth grade, he had a scholarship offer from Florida State University and an Instagram following that numbered in the tens of thousands. And by the time he graduated high school, Segu had earned 20 Division-I offers and became something of an online sensation — videos of his signature HESI move have been viewed millions of times. But while his extensive social media following and numerous scholarship offers meant he could land at a major program, Segu decided in 2017 to take his talents to the Queen City, where he became the third-biggest recruit in UB history, according to 247Sports. Segu may have ended up in Western New York, but he is a Central Florida kid through and through. Born in Orlando, Segu grew up playing soccer, and modeled his game after his namesake, the legendary footballer Ronaldo. But he always knew he had a passion for basketball; he just needed an opportunity. In the sixth grade, Segu started putting in some serious work on the court. On days when his parents went to work early, he would ask to be dropped off at the local YMCA, which was down the street from his middle school. “I’d just be in there dribbling, shooting by myself and working on my game,” Segu said. “I’d then walk up the street to my middle school. So that’s how I got better.” Segu is a pass-first point guard who presents himself with confident humility. At 6’0”, 160 lb., he is undersized for a basketball player. Because of this, he can often walk through the halls undetected. But even though Segu often blends into the crowd, he is meant for the spotlight. In the ninth grade, Segu was working out with his trainer when he was approached about making a highlight video. Ryan Currie had been uploading videos of all the top-level high school athletes in the area to YouTube, and wanted to see if Segu was interested in getting filmed. He was. The videos — and Segu’s basketball prospects — took off. Segu started to gain traction on social media. He also received his first scholarship offer, from FSU. Segu has 136,000 followers on Instagram. His posts routinely rack up as many
JUSTIN WEISS SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
Alexander Brown | The Spectrum as 30,000 likes. His supporters come Ronaldo Segu splits two Central Michigan defenders. from all over the country — he has fans in Central Florida, Western regular season games this season, but his New York and all over the U.S., really. impact has often been understated. He Still, he remains humble about it all. provides the Bulls with constant energy “I look at it as something that I have and intensity. He ranks best on the team, worked for,” Segu said about his social meshooting 86.5% from the free-throw line. dia following. “I don’t really take mind of And over the past few months, he has takit. It’s just there. It’s a good tool to have.” en on a larger leadership role. Segu believes in “doing what’s best for
Women’s basketball drops fifth straight game Bulls continue shooting woes RICHARD LOUIS ROBERT SALISBURY STAFF WRITERS
yourself,” and in Buffalo, he felt he would have the proper support system and opportunities to do just that. Now in his second season with the Bulls, Segu thinks he made the right choice. “I have grown a lot here, in many different ways — both on and off the court. I feel like this school is going to help me in the long-run. Just more special moments to come here.” Things weren’t always easy for Segu at UB, though. He played in all 36 games last season, but for the first time in his career, he was coming off the bench. He averaged just 2.1 points and 0.9 assists per game as he struggled to find minutes behind more experienced guards. Still, he felt that sitting was an integral part of his development process, and a necessary step in becoming a more complete basketball player. “I feel like it was a learning experience,” Segu said. “It’s something that my game definitely needed. I feel like a lot of players get comfortable in certain situations. Sometimes I was out of my comfort zone, but I got comfortable being uncomfortable.” Segu has come off the bench for all 25
Alexander Brown | The Spectrum Ronaldo Segu separates himself from a defender.
“He’s got a good personality, he understands leadership,” head coach Jim Whitesell said. “We asked him to go above and beyond, and he can do that. He’s learning to be the one.” Whitesell says he has counted on Segu in more situations this season. He wants him to “fast forward” his progression, which means becoming a knock-down shooter and adding bulk to his frame. “I think him and Jeenathan [Williams], if we’re going to make that postseason run, they are going to have to elevate their game,” Whitesell said. Segu knows there is plenty of work to be done to reach the next level. He will have to gain weight, work on his perimeter shooting and become a more vocal leader. But that doesn’t faze him. If anything, it serves as motivation. “There’s a lot of stuff I can work on, but I think I’m doing a good job and I just want to keep improving my game,” he said. “I want to keep helping my teammates out.” Email: justin.weiss@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @Jwmlb1
Women’s basketball dropped its fifthstraight game Saturday afternoon in a 6958 loss to Ball State (17-7). UB (13-10) had scoring troubles early on as the Cardinals held them to 11 of 33 from the field in the first half. They kept it close until late in the game despite their poor shooting efforts. Junior forward Marisa Hamilton and senior guard Theresa Onwuka led the squad with 10 points each. Hamilton hit a threepointer for the Bulls in the first quarter, but the team couldn’t keep it up, shooting 0-7 downtown in the second quarter and 5-25 for the game. The Bulls kept on fighting and stayed busy on the offensive glass, scoring 19 of their 58 points from second chance opportunities. Twenty of the team’s 45 rebounds came from the offensive glass. Freshman center Elea Gaba gave the Bulls some life off the bench, scoring 8 points shooting 4-5 from the field. At the half, the Bulls saw themselves down only 6 points despite shooting 33% from the floor. The Bulls tried to keep it close in the second half but couldn’t seem to gain enough momentum. Ball State sophomore forward Thelma Dis Agustsdottir gave the Bulls problems all afternoon, scoring a career-high 26 points, shooting 6-7 beyond the arc. The Bulls’ shooting woes continued throughout the second half, as they shot 35% from the field and struggled to find their rhythm at the free throw line, shooting 5-14. Coach Felisha Legette-Jack understands the team is struggling and took to the mic at the end of the game to address the fans. She told everyone to ride with the team and they will continue to work hard to get back to their winning ways repeating, “Stay with us.” The Bulls look to snap their five-game losing streak on Wednesday, as they take on Akron (11-12) at Alumni Arena. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com