VOL. 69 NO. 33 | FEBRUARY 20, 2020
Megan Thee Stallion, Post Malone, Young Thug among students’ top choices in Spring Fest survey
UBSPECTRUM
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Students demand UB Foundation ‘divests’ from fossil fuels UB Divest holds phone-banking drive Wednesday, calls UBF over 100 times JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
Students called the UB Foundation (UBF) over 100 times Wednesday, urging it to “completely divest” from all investments related to the fossil fuel industry. UB Divest organized the phone-banking drive to ask UBF to “stop investing” in unsustainable energy. UBF, a private nonprofit organization independent from UB, manages the university’s roughly $1 billion endowment. UBF’s endowment “consists primarily of funds donated for UB through the years,” according to UBF’s website. As a private
entity, UBF doesn’t have to publicize its specific investments, so it is unclear if it holds current investments in the fossil fuel industry. But a 2017 document leak, commonly referred to as the “Paradise Papers,” revealed that UBF was a shareholder in a fund run by EnCap Flatrock Midstream, a company that invests in “opportunities in natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil,” according to its website. Roughly 30 students met in Student Union 317 to participate in UB Divest’s –– a student-led coalition composed of organizations like UB College Democrats, UB Young Democratic Socialists of America and UB Environmental Network –– event. Participants in UB Divest’s phone-banking drive said they believe UBF still has investments in the fossil fuel industry because it never made a statement declaring that it doesn’t. Brandon Hoolihan, president of UB
College Democrats, criticized UB’s public commitment to sustainability and UBF’s alleged investments. “It is impossible to truly be committed to sustainability when financially supporting industries that threaten environmental sustainability,” Hoolihan said. “The university’s silence on the foundation’s continued use of university funds to support fracking companies is hypocritical in and of itself.” Students each called the offices of six UBF directors once and recited a prepared script when a UBF receptionist answered their calls or directed them to voicemail.. UBF Executive Director Ed Schneider wrote over email that UBF is “developing a responsible investment statement” that will “define the approach for consideration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors within UBF’s investment strategy.”
Schneider wrote that, while UBF provides support for students in the form of scholarships, fellowships, awards and through other ways, UBF “doesn’t comment on specific investments in its portfolio.” “UBF is very focused on developing responsible investment strategies and practices, that includes taking into consideration environmental, social and governance factors,” Schneider wrote. Hayden Gise, chairperson of the Student Association’s board of directors, said when they called UBF’s main office, the receptionist “criticized” and “questioned” them about their lifestyle. “I was met with criticism, critique and was questioned on my own lifestyle and how I reconcile with my own carbon footprint,” Gise said. “I feel that is not reSEE UBF PAGE 2
VindHyA bUrUGUPALLi / The SpecTrum SophoMore brendan kelly and ub college deMocraTS preSidenT brandon hoolihan aT The phone banking drive (lefT To righT).
Suspect connected to South Campus thefts to face charges Repeat offender stole key to enter building, laptops and personal property KATHERINE THOMAS STAFF WRITER
A woman banned from UB on Jan. 14 is facing charges after University Police connected her to five thefts on South Campus. UPD is working with the Erie County District Attorney’s office to indict Wright, looking to secure a plea bargain covering all the thefts. Buffalo resident Destiny Wright is connected to five thefts on UB’s South Campus beginning as early as Sept. 2019, according to UPD Deputy Chief Joshua Sticht. She allegedly stole faculty credit cards, IDs and personal property, along with a university key to Squire Hall and two laptops. She stole from other buildings, too, according to Sticht.
The SpecTrum ArCHiVeS SQuire hall on SouTh caMpuS
UPD charged Wright with third-degree burglary with the intent to commit a crime, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, fourth-degree grand larceny and six other charges. Wright took the key from Squire Hall after it was left unattended, according to Sticht. A faculty member reported two laptops and personal property were stolen from her Squire office on Jan. 8. Later on sev-
eral staff members in Squire called UPD on Jan. 14 around 6:30 p.m. about a suspicious woman who matched Wright’s description. Through surveillance footage UPD spotted Wright and directed the dispatched officers to her location. Sticht says she was found with the stolen property from Jan. 8 and some narcotics. UPD shared Wright’s image on its “Do You Know This Person?” website on Oct. 15. Video from one of the Septem-
ber thefts allowed UPD to easily identify Wright in January. They did not recover the two laptops. Wright was arraigned in Buffalo City Court the next morning. She was served a “persona non-grata,” banning her from all UB campuses and buildings. Wright did not reply to comment for the story. UB has not made an official statement regarding any of the thefts. “[Students and staff] should lock their doors whenever possible” Sticht said. “Every time [Wright] committed a theft, she found an open, unattended room in which she entered and picked up any property that she could easily carry away.” Sticht recommends that people “report suspicious people to us right away when they see them.” For any emergencies on campus, UPD asks students to call 716-645-2222. Email: news@ubspectrum.com
NEWS
2 | Thursday, February 20 2020 UBF FROM PAGE 1
ally productive to the conversation. … It was just kind of sad to hear that that was [UBF’s] response to hearing how they can do better: to try and say that we, the students, are s--theads.” At least two other callers reported similar responses. Sasha Shapiro, a computer science student who participated in UB Divest’s phone banking drive, said it was not appropriate to “draw an equivalence” between students’ lifestyles and UBF’s alleged investments in the fossil fuel industry. “I think it’s funny and childish that the people we are calling keep trying to draw an equivalence between college students buying clothes or driving to class, and UB investing in fossil fuel companies and hydrofracking,” Shapiro said. The UBF main office receptionist, who did not wish to disclose her name, said the amount of calls she received Wednesday was “uncalled for.” “We are getting inundated with many, many calls,” the receptionist told The Spectrum. “It’s not just one or two calls. It was like a robocall. I have received 26 calls in 13 minutes and that’s uncalled for. My response to them is if you’re going to preach to me, you better live that life. If [you] talk
VindHyA bUrUGUPALLi / The SpecTrum preSidenT of environMenTal neTwork and STudenT aSSociaTion direcTor of environMenTal affairS Sadie kraTT calling The ub foundaTion.
tion, including Provost A. Scott Weber, are non-voting members of UBF’s board of directors. UB spokesperson John DellaContrada said UB has demonstrated “a real and true commitment to sustainability.” “The university is far from silent on the topic of sustainability,” DellaContrada wrote in an email. “In fact, UB is a national leader in sustainability, as demonstrated by the fact that 100% of the electricity that UB uses comes from clean, renewable sources and that UB has decreased its overall carbon footprint by 35% over the past 10 years. ... Even with this progress, the university recognizes that more needs to be done. We will keep moving forward to become even more sustainable, in collaboration with our students and faculty and staff, in orVindHyA bUrUGUPALLi / The SpecTrum der to address one of ub diveST organized a phone banking drive To encourage The ub foundaTion To ceaSe inveSTMenTS in The foSSil fuel induSTry. the talk, walk the walk. And that was my response to them.” UBF has faced criticism from students in the past, most notably in 2015, when UB Fossil Free formed to urge UBF to “divest” from the fossil fuel industry. Although UBF is independent from the university, UB President Satish Tripathi serves on UBF’s board of trustees and four other members of UB’s administra-
ubspectrum.com the most pressing challenges of our time.” Hoolihan said that even though UBF is separate, UB should still be accountable for UBF’s investments and if UBF is investing in the fossil fuel industry, that would undermine UB’s commitment to sustainability. “[UBF] is investing UB’s endowment, which is UB’s money,” Hoolihan said. “So if you’re investing UB’s money into fossil fuels, that is essentially the same thing as UB investing in fossil fuels. The only difference is that they are going through one extra step of having a different organization do the same exact thing.” Hoolihan said UBF receptionists did not listen to all of the students’ requests but he thinks UB Divest was able to convey its message. “Personally I think this is actually a good thing,” Hoolihan said. “It shows that this is successful and that the UB Foundation is getting the message and that they’re understanding that we are going to keep calling them.” Sadie Kratt, president of UB Environmental Network and SA’s director of environmental affairs, said she thought phone banking was an effective method of activism because it allowed UB Divest to “directly interact” with UBF’s board. Kratt said she expects that Wednesday’s phone banking drive had a more significant impact than protests that took place in the recent past. “While these kinds of events like phone banking and email banking don’t get as big of a turnout and it doesn’t seem as dramatic as a protest, it really does a little bit more because you directly interact with the board,” Kratt said. Kratt said “divesting” from the fossil fuel industry is an important step in the effort to combat climate change. “If the fossil fuel companies don’t have the money to keep going that’s how you make a change and stop the whole system.” Email: julian.grmela@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @GrmelaJulian
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OPINION
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Letter to the editor: EDITOR’S NOTE: The UB Foundation has not released its list of current investments and, when asked Wednesday, did not comment on if it is investing in fossil fuels. UBF Executive Director Ed Schneider wrote in a statement that UBF does not comment on “specific investments in its portfolio.” This letter was not edited for grammar. The scientific consensus that human activity drives climate change is one that is only seriously contested in the arena of politics. Fortunately, the debate has essentially already been won in terms of America’s younger population. According to cbsnews.com 70% of Americans between the age of 18 to 29 already view climate change as a serious problem or crisis and even a 52% majority of Millenial and Generation Z Republicans think that the government is not doing enough to battle climate change per Pew research . The question that we as young people face then is not whether or not we accept climate change to be real, but rather how exactly we should go about preventing its progress and mitigating its effects. A rather simple first step in preventing its progress is to stop investing in the fossil fuels that contribute to climate change. Unfortunately, our University has failed to take the necessary action to achieve this basic first step. For years, millions of dollars in university funds have been spent on fossil fuel investments. These investments include holdings in crude oil, natural gas, and fracking firms as reported by watchdog group littlesis.org. Some of these investments include private equity firms such as Encap Flatrock Midstream which financially supports smaller crude oil compa-
nies to grow their operations per reporting by the Investigative Post . This means that our University’s money has been spent to support the growth of new crude oil operations. It would be unethical enough if our University’s money was simply being invested in established oil operations, but to financially back the creation and growth of new oil operations makes UB directly responsible for the new carbon emissions those operations produce. We are not simply profiting off of an industry that contributes to climate change, we are directly accelerating the process of climate change itself. This raises an obvious question: how can a university that is so ostensibly dedicated to sustainability also financially support a process that directly threatens environmental sustainability? UB does this by having a private organization known as the UB Foundation invest and manage our endowment. The Foundation is an independent organization that has its own separate Board of Directors and Trustees that determine how our university’s funds are managed. For years, millions of dollars in university funds have been spent on fossil fuel investments. These investments include holdings in crude oil, natural gas, and fracking firms as reported by watchdog group littlesis.org . Some of these investments include private equity firms such as Encap Flatrock Midstream which financially supports smaller crude oil companies to grow their operations per reporting by the Investigative Post . This means that our University’s money has been spent to support the growth of new crude oil operations. It would be unethical enough if our University’s money was simply be-
Surviving the centipede Making a case for ‘disturbing’ horror films
SAMANTHA VARGAS OPINION EDITOR
Let’s just get this out of the way. This is the column where I come out in support of “The Human Centipede.” After studying film for four years, I support its right to exist, people’s right to view it, to be critical of it, but most of all I support how director Tom Six was able to cross the line of the type of content that succeeds in the horror genre. The 2009 film explores the story of a modern mad scientist, except instead of trying to take over the world, he wants to surgically connect people mouth-to-anus. Simple, right? But, of course, I’m not going to deny that the mere thought of being force-fed someone else’s s--t, while experiencing the physical torture of having your lips removed and sewn into someone else’s anus would cause a physical reaction. I’m not
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a crazy person. It’s completely valid to be utterly disgusted by this movie, but that’s the point. Following its theatrical announcement, the film immediately garnered the attention of everyone in a 2-million-mile radius. Some people couldn’t wait to see it, more people adamantly did not. Some wanted it outright banned and some even sent the director death threats. But jumping on the censorship bandwagon should not have been the unanimous response. “The Human Centipede” trilogy, while gruesome and difficult to watch, is still art. The films shouldn’t be banned just because people feel uncomfortable with them. The first two films capitalize off the markers of horror; a tightly formatted combination of shot framing, an impressive soundtrack and strong performances from the small casts. The third film takes a different angle to the popularity of selfaware horror like the cultural sensation “A Cabin in the Woods.” But maybe I’m biased. I spent my adolescence exploring horror, beginning with the iconic “Goosebumps” series, and have always respected the genre’s innovation. But within the last few years, there has been a steady decline in the quality of horror films backed by major production companies. It’s hard to watch trailers for another Blumhouse release starring Lucy Hale and
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Thursday, February 20 2020 | 3
ing invested in established oil operations, but to financially back the creation and growth of new oil operations makes UB directly responsible for the new carbon emissions those operations produce. We are not simply profiting off of an industry that contributes to climate change, we are directly accelerating the process of climate change itself. This raises an obvious question: how can a university that is so ostensibly dedicated to sustainability also financially support a process that directly threatens environmental sustainability? UB does this by having a private organization known as the UB Foundation invest and manage our endowment. The Foundation is an independent organization that has its own separate Board of Directors and Trustees that determine how our university’s funds are managed. An understandable counter-argument to divestment that is often iterated is that an organization such as the UB Foundation ought to be primarily concerned with profit even at the expense of environmental consideration. Even if the premise of this argument, that profit maximization ought to take priority over UB’s commitment to sustainability and concerns for the environment, is accepted then this argument still does not hold water because of the simple fact that environmental considerations do not hinder performance of investment portfolios. The most poignant example of this is the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index. This financial index includes 400 US securities meant to be a weighted fair comparison of the S&P 500 with the caveat that the MSCI excludes companies “whose products may have negative social or environmental impacts” ( msci ). It’s no surprise that this index contains no investments in the Fossil Fuel industry. However, it may be surprising to some that the
MSCI KLD 400 Social Index has actually outperformed the S&P 500 for the last 25 years. From 1990 to 2016 the S&P 500 averaged an annual return rate of 9.45% while the MSCI averaged a rate of 9.82% in annual returns. This, coupled with the fact that 20% of professionally managed investments in the United States currently follows Socially Responsible Investment standards according to the ussif , goes to show that refusing to invest in environmentally harmful industries such as the fossil fuel industry does not mean sacrificing investment portfolio performance In truth, the reason that the UB Foundation doesn’t divest from fossil fuels is simply because it’s easier not to. It’s easy to ignore the opinions of students, it’s easy to ignore resolutions from on-campus organizations, it’s easy for the Foundation’s executive director Edward Schneider to say the Foundation is “actively looking at our policies governing investments in general, including fossil fuels” ( IP ) and then do nothing in two years to meaningfully fix those policies. We hope that the Foundation has learned from our most recent actions that ignoring us will no longer be easy. Divestment is a nation wide movement that will only continue to grow in UB as more students become informed. It will no longer be easy to invest in an industry that regularly and actively lobbies all levels of government to not take meaningful steps to combat climate change. It will no longer be easy for UB’s Administration to be deafeningly silent on the Foundation’s investments. Most importantly, it will no longer be easy for the UB Foundation to disregard the values of students and faculty. Brandon Hoolihan, UB College Democrats President
it’s hard to admit that these are the films that are profiting over better, more gruesome works. The horror genre has been around since the very creation of film. Some people like to be scared. This is why cheap jumpscares are so prominent throughout the genre. But some filmmakers don’t want to explicitly show blatantly scary elements for the sake of an adrenaline pay off. They want to explore the depths of building tension with disturbing visuals. Everyone is familiar with zombies, possessions, slashers and monster flicks, but –– aside from the “Saw” or “Hostel” series –– few are familiar with the growing trend of bodily horror. The genre often consists of scenes showing extreme physical violence and torture, coupled with the everincreasing quality of practical effects and CGI. But unlike slasher or supernatural horror, these films tend to have a certain level of thoughtfulness and plot justification behind its action, rather than violence for the sake of violence. But these various levels of plot formation often go ignored. Many of these pseudo-film critics viewed “The Human Centipede” as nothing more than a blip on the timeline of cultural relevance. Many theatergoers and critics alike assumed the film’s sole purpose was to cause outrage. Yet unlike its B-list, dark-comedy style predecessors, the original film took itself completely seriously. At no point did the film’s tone fray into anything other than
confident and disturbing, which only improved in the second film. In contrast to this new era of outrageously self-aware cash-grabs like the “Sharknado” or “Rubber,” Six’s filmmaking equates to other leaders of the disturbing, bodily horror genre. The implication of bodily harm and death is present across nearly the entire horror genre, but many new filmmakers choose to test the limits of what can be shown on screen, especially in the U.S. market. And “The Human Centipede” is a prime example of that. Yet despite the effort and quality filmmakers put into the genre, it still faces a different set of barriers than other horror installments. A24 has found success with “Midsommar” and “Hereditary,” which include scenes with extreme violence and bodily harm. But for every nuanced, artistic exploration is another Blumhouse film. It’s much easier to sell another date-night, predictably forgettable film than it would be to pitch a film based around bodily horror. Films like “Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom,” “Martyrs” and, yes, even “A Serbian Film” are all known as the faces of the subgenre, and despite accolades like Criterion rerelease, they are not well known. But everyone and their mother knows about “The Human Centipede,” and it deserves to get more respect in the industry. Email: samantha.vargas@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @SamMarieVargas
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
CREATIVE DIRECTORS
ARTS EDITORS
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley
Paolo Blanchi, Sr. Jiayi Zhang, Asst.
Alex Whetham, Sr. Anastasia Wilds, Asst.
ADVERTISING MANAGER Nathan Stutz
MANAGING EDITORS
ENGAGEMENT EDITORS
GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGER Nicholas Meurer
Jacklyn Walters Lauryn King, Asst.
Benjamin Blanchet Nicole Waddington, Asst.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
NEWS EDITORS
Brenton J. Blanchet
Julian Roberts-Grmela, Sr. Alexandra Moyen, Sr. Reilly Mullen, Asst.
WEB EDITORS Savanna Caldwell, Chief Cassiana Enderle, Chief
OPINION EDITORS Samantha Vargas
MULTIMEDIA EDITORS Vindhya Burugupalli, Sr. Wayne Penales, Sr. Alexander Brown, Asst. Alexis Heng, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS Justin Weiss, Sr.
FEATURES
4 | Thursday, February 20 2020
ubspectrum.com
Hip-hop and rap artists dominate Spring Fest survey results
The Student Association’s 2019-2020 Entertainment Survey revealed students picked rapper Megan Thee Stallion and comedian Kevin Hart as their top choices in a Student Association spring entertainment survey this year. Stallion is the #1 pick amongst student choices in the SA Spring Fest poll and Hart is the #1 pick in the SA Comedy Series poll. This is the second year in a row where SA’s student poll reinforced hip-hop and rap as the student body’s preferred genres
for Spring Fest performers. Students’ top comedian choices for SA’s Comedy Series were counted as well, which showed that comedian Kevin Hart, like last year, is the majority favorite standup act. Roughly 1,000 students participated in the survey, each submitting their top three choices for artists they would like to see at the event. Not only did the “Hot Girl Summer” rapper lead the vote count for Spring Fest, but Megan Thee Stallion earned an overwhelming 222 votes. This more than triples last year’s highest vote-getter, rapper and auto-crooner Post Malone, who came in third this year with 83 votes. Tory Lanez followed Megan Thee Stallion with 91 votes. Young Thug followed Post Malone in fourth place with 76 votes, and a tie between rappers Playboi Carti and the late Juice WRLD rounded out the survey’s top five, lamenting hip-hop’s dominance.
HOTSPOTATL Megan Thee Stallion was the top
Spring Fest this year.
Megan Thee Stallion, Post Malone, Young Thug among students’ top choices, comedy series results show Kevin Hart as top choice JUSTIN WOODMANCY STAFF WRITER
student choice for
Pop artists garnered the second most votes in the survey, followed by alternative, rock, Afrobeat and Latinx artists. Jazz received the fewest votes. Eight students voted for Indie rock/pop artist Rex Orange County, whose most recent album “Pony” reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in Nov. 2019. These eight votes were the most received by any rock artist in the survey. SA is currently “in talks” with artists who ranked high on the student survey, according to SA Entertainment Coordinator Marc Rosenblitt. SA is unable to disclose
who these specific artists are until they sign contracts. Rosenblitt said SA is “a few weeks away” from releasing any additional information about Spring Fest’s performers. Hart earned 239 votes and was the most-voted-for comedian in students’ first, second and third options. Other popular choices included Dave Chappelle (106 votes), John Mulaney (73 votes) and Gabriel Iglesias (58 votes). SA has not yet announced when or where Spring Fest will take place. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
The Come Up Show from Canada Tory Lanez came in second with 91 votes
2019 Fall Fest headliner Pop Smoke dies at 20 Musical artist killed during robbery at his home early Wednesday morning ALEX WHETHAM SENIOR ARTS EDITOR
Rapper Pop Smoke died Wednesday morning after being shot in his Hollywood home in a robbery. Students are remembering the rapper, 20, and his Fall Fest performance from just five months ago The death is being reported as a result of a home invasion. As of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the suspects have not been apprehended. Pop Smoke, real name Bashar Barakah Jackson, headlined the first concert in the 2019 Fall Fest series, Sept. 14’s AfroCaribbean Fest, along with fellow artists Kranium and Koffee after previous headliner Burna Boy dropped out on the day of show. He broke out in April 2019 with “Welcome to the Party,” a song that ended up on his debut project “Meet the Woo.” He went on to collaborate with artists such as Travis Scott, Sheck Wes and Nicki Minaj. On Feb. 7, he released his second fulllength project “Meet the Woo, Vol. 2,” which featured, among others, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Quavo. It debuted at
No. 7 on the Billboard 200. Dayna Holding, a freshman social science student, was upset by Pop Smoke’s death. “It’s devastating seeing a young rapper pass away,” Holding said. “The rap industry is changing [with] every rap-industry death.” Iaisha Johnson, an African and African American studies major who was at the show, remembers the passion and confidence Pop Smoke brought to the stage. “His death is one that me [and] anyone from New York City will never take lightly,” said Johnson. “He gave me and others around me hope for being successful and leaving your environment behind.” Email: alex.whetham@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @alexo774
Courtesy of Republic Records Rapper Pop Smoke, who performed at Fall Fest last
semester, was shot dead in a home invasion.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ubspectrum.com
Thursday, February 20 2020 | 5
‘UNLOCKED’ is the creative lovechild of Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats Modern hip-hop icons team up and record album in 24 hours NICK MASTRO STAFF WRITER
hype-train with a nasty (in a good way) chorus in between. Beats’ production on the cut ranges from slowed-down boom bap on the verses to an almost hauntedhouse vibe on the chorus. The pair released the album alongside a 24-minute visualizer featuring stunning
animation from a variety of animators. Curry and Beats put on a show as the two travel through worlds to recover their music from the depths of the internet. It pairs with the sonic palette of the album immaculately. As the album progresses, it continues to
Artists: Denzel Curry, Kenny Beats Released: Feb. 7, 2020 Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap Label: Loma Vista Recordings Rating: 9/10 It finally happened. Hip-hop star Denzel Curry had the Kenny Beats treatment on his latest album, “UNLOCKED.” Like most of Curry’s recent ventures, “UNLOCKED” came out of nowhere. Teasing the project with some staged beef on Twitter, Curry and Beats have released something special with the 18-minute playground of an album. Supposedly recorded in 24 hours, “UNLOCKED” is a highlight in both artist’s discographies. The album opens with “Track 01,” which sets the cartoonish and playful tone of the rest of the project. With some clear inspirations from MF DOOM, samples of announcers swirl around the establishing beat. The song quickly cuts and Curry delivers the scratchy introduction that simultaneously prepares the listener for what’s to come and leaves them needing more. As the album continues, Beats and Curry throw a three-pointer on the appropriately named highlight “Lay_Up.m4a.” Curry brings the heat in a head-bopping, two-verse
COUrTeSy Of LOmA ViSTA reCOrdS “unlocked” by denzel curry and kenny beaTS
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Brendan Reed
“I’ve liked airplanes since I was a little kid and I joined the Air Force right out of high school. I have always been enamored with it. When I learned in high school that designing airplanes was a career path, naturally, I was drawn straight to aerospace engineering. Initially, I was very challenged by the curriculum with aerospace engineering and I dropped out two times. When I came back for my third time at UB, I found the [American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics]. And it was interfaced with seniors and juniors and people who have been there and done that and the aerospace story. And I learned that it’s difficult for everyone. And I think that that’s something that they try to say, at the administrative level in it, that it’s hard for everybody, but you don’t really get that until you hear from people that are here with you. I felt like I really wanted this degree. Just motivation.”
deliver some heavy hitters. Tribal-sounding percussions back the track “DIET_” and lay the tone in a way that’s both relaxing and exciting all at once. Curry calmly picks up the pace throughout his first verse, before calling out Logic for his lazy lyricism on his recent projects. “DIET_” ends abruptly and throws the listener into highlight “So.Incredible.pkg.” Beats and Curry outdo themselves on the track, almost traveling back in time to the birth of hip-hop. The Notorious B.I.G. would be proud, as clear inspiration from him and Tupac can be heard in this track. Beats shows off his prowess in “Track07” as he artfully lays drum over cosmic beats with echoes of Curry’s rapping from the previous song interwoven with more MF DOOM-esque old movie samples. Beats paves a clear path into the Jazz/R&B genre as this song is as smooth as syrup on pancakes. The track, unofficially labeled the interlude of the album, should be a must-add to chillout playlists. The album comes to a close with “‘Cosmic’.m4a” which is a perfect representation of the album as a whole. Curry delivers a classic verse over Beats’ distinctive production, which is all it takes to make an incredible track. Leading listeners through shades of nostalgia they didn’t know existed, “UNLOCKED” is a showcase of talent for Curry and Beats. The entire album is a must-have in every hip-hop fan’s weekly rotation and should not be missed.
Mark San Gregory
“My biggest problem with last semester was not that I had too much work to do, it was that I could never get motivated to actually do the work. And a big problem that I’ve had over my breaks, like winter and summer break, is when I don’t have a job, I just lose all motivation. So I figured maybe I’d get a job that’s structured and something I always have to go to, because classes you can sometimes skip, you don’t really feel like it’s important if you want to sleep in or whatever is going on. A job, on the other hand, I have to go to and I also get directly rewarded for doing it. Whereas with classes, sure you get a good grade back if you do well. But you don’t really see the rewards for doing well in your classes until far, far in the future.”
6 | Thursday, February 20 2020
NEWS
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Campus Dining and Shops reward points to expire ahead of new program launch Students hurry to redeem points and share suggestions before current program ends ELIZABETH NAPOLITANO STAFF WRITER
Students have until March 13 to redeem campus reward points at UB Campus Tees. After that, points awarded through dining dollar purchases, campus cash purchases and meal swipes will expire. Under the current program, students can use points at any time during their UB career, but participants forfeit all accumulated points if they have not reactivated their dining plan within 12 consecutive months. Many students, unaware of the program’s rules and restrictions, unknowingly forfeited their points by failing to redeem them before the end of the twelvemonth period. Now, students hope others will take advantage of the program before the March 13 deadline to avoid forfeiting their points, too. Campus Dining and Shops (CDS) announced the programs end on Dec. 20,
ALexiS HenG / The SpecTrum The caMpuS TeeS STore in The STudenT union.
ahead of its transition to a new rewards program. The new program’s launch date has not been announced yet. The new points program will be “completely different” from the old system, according to CDS, so students must spend or forfeit their outstanding points before they can begin earning points under the new system. Under the current program, students earned one point for every dining dollar spent at CDS owned cafes, restaurants, vending machines and convenience stores and two points for every dollar spent at Campus Tees. At the dining halls, students earned four points for breakfast meal swipes used at Main St. Market, C3 or the Governors Dining Center during weekdays. Jason Zheng, a senior finance major, hopes the new reward program will offer more options at lower point values and eliminate point expiration dates so students can save points for better prizes. “I stopped buying food at school a while ago and didn’t really know what the points were or how to view your points using the GET app,” Zheng said. “ I finally learned about the program, but I don’t have my
points anymore because I didn’t use them in time. Hopefully they’ll change the program so you can get more of what you paid for.” Students stopped earning reward points on Dec. 20, but can still redeem their existing points on select items –– including specific T-shirts, sweatshirts and crewnecks –– at UB Campus Tees. Many argue that points took years to accumulate and complain that some apparel prizes cost too many points. Zheng said he hopes the new CDS rewards program will offer more points per purchase, feature less restrictions on when and how they can spend and warn students when points expire. “There are so many rules about how you can use points, but they don’t even tell you about the program when you choose a meal plan at orientation,” Zheng said. “They should tell people, especially considering there are rules about where you can use them and how long you have them for. Hopefully the next program will be designed with student input in mind.” Students hope the new program will offer them greater point-earning opportunities and lower-priced prizes, but CDS has
not yet announced the program’s specifics. Ray Kohl, marketing manager of Campus Dining and Shops, said the new program is still in “development.” “[The new rewards program] is still in development as we are working on [the] logistics of the program coupled with integration with our vendor’s software,” Kohl said. “At this time, we do not have a timeframe for a launch.” Kenneth Zhang, a sophomore management information systems major, said he has not redeemed his points and does not think the program offers much incentive for students to renew their meal plans after their obligatory freshman year meal plans expire. “I didn’t pay attention to when I stopped gaining points, but I [had] heard about it before through an email,” Zhang said. “I don’t even think I have enough for a hoodie, so I haven’t redeemed them.” CDS did not tell The Spectrum the specific amount of points that go unused in time for publication. Currently, items that are point purchase eligible are categorized into six levels. Level one items, which cost 300 points, include stress balls, phone stickers, a Victor E. Bull plush and cap guards. Level six items, which cost 2000 points, include emboridered and sweatshirts and longsleeve crew tees. Maggie Feng, a sophomore intended nursing major who redeemed her points at Campus Tees last year said it is difficult for students to apply their points toward the prizes they want because sweatshirts and sweatpants cost “too many points.” “I know the points expire after a certain time. I was like, ‘I might as well use it.’” Feng said. “All I got was a cup because I only had so many points. It was either a cup or the card sleeve for your phone, but they give the sleeve away at campus events for free sometimes anyway.” UB requires freshmen who live on campus to pay $5,780 for an “any 14” plan or $6,110 for an “any 19” plan for their first two semesters, but many like Feng, only accumulate enough points to purchase a level one or two item by the end of their first year. Still, students hope the new reward program will offer new opportunities so they can get more with their meal plans. “You’re paying a lot of money for your meal plan, so you deserve to get everything that comes with it,” Zheng said. Email: news@ubspectrum.com
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8 | Thursday, February 20 2020
Homeward bound Jeenathan Williams grows into an expanded role ROBERT SALISBURY STAFF WRITER
Jeenathan Williams had 19 offers from Division-I programs after high school. He had the chance to go to Syracuse. He could’ve gone to Virginia. But when selecting a college, basketball wasn’t even Williams’ main concern. He wanted to come home. Williams, a Rochester native and a fourstar recruit at that point, spent his senior year of high school at Prolific Prep in Napa Valley, CA. He had all the tools to be a successful player; he just needed a school he would feel comfortable in. He found that at UB. “I just wanted to come back home and play for my father and my mother,” Williams said. “They never got to come to any of my games.” In September 2017, Williams became the highest-rated recruit in UB history — a true four-star, ranking No. 130 in the nation and No. 25 at his position. Since stepping onto North Campus in Fall 2018, Williams has steadily seen his role increase. In his freshman season, Williams played in all 36 games, but never started. This year, he has been counted on to provide energy and intensity for Jim Whitesell’s squad. “I think he has had a really big year,” Whitesell said. “He’s gone from a guy who was our eighth or ninth man to a starter playing heavy minutes. I think he has a great ceiling to get better. He loves the game.” Williams is a slasher, so he looks to get most of his points in or around the paint. At 6’5”, 200 lb., he compliments his lean, lengthy frame with a blue-collar mentality — the same mentality Whitesell and his predecessor, Nate Oats, have spoken so
Murchie family makes largest donation ever to UB women’s basketball Wealthy alum helps fund summer foreign tour to Spain JUSTIN WEISS SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
Tunney Murchie made the single largest donation in UB women’s basketball history on Tuesday. Murchie –– a 1975 graduate of UB and former player and assistant coach for the UB hockey team –– donated $100,000 to help fund the team’s summer tour to Spain. Over the 10-day tour, the team will travel to Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia and compete in three games. UB set a fundraising goal of $150,000 for the trip, so the donation will help defray the majority of the cost. “I would like to personally thank the Murchie family for their unwavering commitment to UB and this athletic department,” UB Athletic Director Mark Alnutt said in a press release. Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack also thanked Murchie for his gift and credited Murchie for “bringing notoriety to Western New York” and for putting the Queen City on the map. “He has given us more than finances, he has given us hope,” Legette-Jack said. In 2014, Murchie and his family donated $3 million to UB Athletics, which helped fund the Murchie Family Fieldhouse. The Murchie family has a history of making large donations to UB Athletics, including previous gifts that went toward the Edward L Wright Practice Facility in Alumni Arena, the Murchie Family Football Center and the men’s club hockey team. Murchie is currently the owner and president of Lackawanna Products Corporation in Clarence. Email: justin.weiss@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @Jwmlb1
season as a Griffin, leading his squad to the Section V Class AA Tournament. At the time, ESPN ranked Williams the 29th best small forward in the nation. He averaged 22 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in 2017. After his junior season, Williams transferred to Prolific Prep. He was seeking a more advanced basketball and academic experience and found it on the West Coast. “It was a safer environment,” Williams said. “It helped me and my family get a
much about. Williams works hard for his keep. He does a lot of hustling for his points. In the NBA, white-collar players like Stephen Curry are talented shooting the ball, but don’t have to get gritty and put their bodies on the line to score. Williams has to. Last season, the Bulls counted on Williams to provide meaningful minutes coming off the bench. Williams learned from senior leaders CJ Massinburg, Jeremy Harris and Nick Perkins, and finished the season averaging 3.2 points per-game. Williams has parlayed that experience into a full-time role with the Bulls this season. He is averaging 25.2 minutes per-game as a starter and has provided the Bulls with a crucial spark, taking on tough defensive assignments and shooting an efficient mark from the field. His 11.8 points per-game ranks second on the team. Williams and fellow sophomore Ronaldo Segu have both been counted on to take the next step this season. “I need them to make a jump collectively,” Whitesell said. “It’s not about shooting more baskets. Alexander Brown / The Spectrum It’s actually about all the other Jeenathan Williams driving to the basket for a lay-up. stuff.” Williams and Segu have similar recruit- better experience so I could stay out of ing backgrounds. Both were highly sought- trouble and just focus on basketball and after in high school. Both turned down get better.” numerous scholarship offers to come to Williams received a scholarship ofUB. And both have used these similarities fer from Rutgers University the summer as the building blocks to a close friendship. before his junior year. Offers from Mar“My brother,” Williams said, when quette, Niagara, Rhode Island and Proviasked about Segu. “You know I love him, dence followed shortly after. By the time and you know I got his back and he has my he had reached his senior year, he had seback and we do everything together.” cured offers from elite programs like NC Before Williams and Segu joined forces State and Syracuse. in Buffalo, Williams was a standout basketWilliams was “up in the air” until Sepball player at University Preparatory Char- tember 2017, when he committed to play ter School for Young Men in Rochester. for Oats and the Bulls. He cites being close UPrep was successful in Williams’ final to home and liking the coaching staff as
ubspectrum.com reasons why he chose to come to Buffalo. And when Whitesell took over, the coaching change didn’t hamper his development, with Williams easing into a “bigger role” under Whitesell. Even though he is surrounded by a different cast of players and coaches, Williams says the pressure hasn’t gotten to him in his second season with the Bulls. And Whitesell is confident that Williams will continue to grow into a more expansive role.
“[He has to] continue to grow in all the things that maybe the fans don’t notice,” Whitesell said. “Improving his rebounding, his individual defense, his playmaking, his assist-to-turnover ratio and his shot selection — these are things we’re on them all the time about.” With the season winding down, Whitesell is hopeful that Williams will be productive not only down the stretch, but for years to come. “He’s on his way,” Whitesell said. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Bulls defeat Ball State Cardinals in home-game rematch Josh Mballa and Jayvon Graves contribute doubledoubles in Bulls victory FINESS DICKSON ALEX LENNEBERG STAFF WRITERS
The UB men’s basketball team (17-9, 8-5) defeated MAC rival Ball State (14-12, 7-6) 72-59 at Alumni Arena Tuesday. This marked the third-straight win for the Bulls,
on both ends of the court, pouring in 16 points and grabbing 15 rebounds to help push the Bulls past the Cardinals. Mballa recently took on a new role coming off the bench, but it hasn’t impacted his play, as he embraces being the team’s new “sixth man.” “I just try to play with energy every game off the bench,” Mballa said. “I come in and try to help on defense and help my teammates win.”
Thomas Atehortua / The Spectrum Bulls forward Josh Mballa with the dunk for 2 of his 16 points
who are now in third place in the MAC East. UB got off to a slow start, shooting 1-14 in the first seven minutes. But the Bulls managed to tie the game just before halftime and went into the tunnel knotted up at 29. Bulls forward Josh Mballa was crucial
The Bulls improved their scoring with 43 second-half points, led by junior guard Jayvon Graves and sophomore forward Jeenathan Williams. Graves finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists, while Williams finished with 16 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal.
“That’s what good players do … they play [on] both ends of the floor,” head coach Jim Whitesell said about Graves’ performances. Graves and Mballa led UB’s dominant rebounding performance, as the Bulls snatched 19 offensive rebounds, and outrebounded the Cardinals 51-42 overall. Despite a close second half, the Bulls went on a 22-11 run, securing a 13-point advantage in the game’s final three minutes, claiming their victory over the Cardinals. Ball State’s Jarron Coleman had 15 points and 4 assists, but it wasn’t enough. The Bulls previously lost to Ball State 88-68 earlier this season, and Whitesell was ready to make adjustments. “We watched a lot of tape,” he said. “We saw where we needed to improve after they beat us, and we learned from our mistakes.” With the win, UB is tied for third place with the NIU Huskies (15-11, 8-5) heading into Friday’s road game against the Kent State Golden Flashes (17-9, 7-6) at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. The Flashes are currently tied with the Cardinals for fourth place in the conference. Now, the Bulls look to build momentum and continue their three-game winning streak as the MAC tournament approaches. Email sports@ubspectrum.com