The Spectrum Vol. 68 No.35 by The Spectrum Student Periodical

THE SPECTRUM VOL. 68 NO. 35 | MARCH 4, 2019

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

News: Campus Dining & Shops introduces new lids to promote straw alternative > SEE PAGE 2

UBSPECTRUM

Editorial: UB administrators need to hear black students’ cries for help

Sports: What are you cheering for? Terrell Richardson and Bobby Lundy discuss what its like being the only male cheerleaders

> SEE PAGE 3

> SEE PAGE 8

Protesters demand support for UB’s African and African American Studies Program Students rally in Student Union on Friday TANVEEN VOHRA, JACKLYN WALTERS CO-SENIOR NEWS EDITORS

Students protested for the African and African American Studies Program Friday afternoon in the Student Union. Over 50 students and faculty members gathered to join or watch the demonstration, as students demanded UB administration increase funding and resources toward the Educational Opportunity Program and the AAS program. The students also demanded structures named after 13th U.S. president and UB founder Millard Fillmore be renamed to honor activist Frederick Douglass. The students chanted

phrases like “More money for EOP, More Black faculty” and held signs that read “End white supremacy,” “More funding for EOP” and “From Millard Fillmore to Frederick Douglass.” The Pre-Law Chapter of the National Black Law Students Association organized the demonstration, which started in the academic spine as the protesters marched into the Student Union. UB merged the AAS program with the Transnational Studies Program nine years ago. UB’s past Distinguished Speaker and political activist Angela Davis suggested at her speech on Wednesday that AAS students should create a petition advocating for the program’s independence. Ph.D. student James Ponzo said Davis’

JACKLYN WALTERS | THE SPECTRUM StudentS gathered in the academic Spine Friday aFternoon to proteSt ub’S treatment oF the aFrican and aFrican american StudieS program. the proteSterS marched to the Student union to Speak out againSt the “war” on aaS.

Black Explosion 3067 showcases a ‘thriving’ post-apocalyptic world from curating their own clothing lines last second by thrift shopping and “pulling pieces” from their personal wardrobes. The 51st annual event, Black Explosion 3067, took place at the Conference and Event Center in Niagara Falls on Saturday night and gave independent designers CIAN GONZALEZ STAFF WRITER from UB an opportunity to showcase their work. This year’s theme was BSU’s “take A few hours before the Black Student on what a thriving post-apocalyptic world Union’s Black Explosion fashion show, would look like.” Models grouped togethone designer missed their flight due to er to form “territories,” where their clothairport complications and another ing represented ice and fire, along with could only bring three pieces two of Earth’s habitats: the swamp and of clothing after a baggage desert. BSU President Ayenoumou Barry issue. said each territory was distinct in “culture, But that didn’t demeanor and lifestyle.” The club’s goal stop members was to showcase this through fashion and of BSU and performances, according to Barry. local deBarry said the club chose “3067” s i g n - as homage to BSU’s founding year, 1967. ers BSU spent roughly $29,000 on the event, according to the Student Association General Ledger. BSU spent roughly $34,000 on the event in 2018. Barry, who assisted in backstage production for the event, said she thought the event was still a success even after designers’ last second travel JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT MEETING issues. ON MONDAY, MARCH 4 AT 7 P.M. IN CAPEN 310 “DeWE’RE LOOKING FROM ANCHORS, VIDEOGRAPHERS, PRODUCERS, WRITERS & MORE.

BSU gives independent clothing companies opportunity to shine at annual fashion show

THOMAS ATEHORTUA | THE SPECTRUM StudentS demonStrated in the Student union Friday aFternoon and demanded ub change the name oF buildingS named aFter millard Fillmore, increaSe black Faculty and proVide more Funding For eop.

American in a particular field, the numbers are much smaller, and we have to go back and think how many [black people] are actually going through college and finishing high school,” Tripathi said in 2016. Ali said the quote was used in full during her speech and she said the statement supported a “racist narrative.” DellaContrada said the quote was referring to Tripathi’s “support” for programs that increase the number of African American graduates. “The president’s statement from 2016 was actually in reference to how UB and other universities nationwide should and can help to increase the number African American students who graduate with PhDs,” DellaContrada said. “Doing so will help increase the number of African American faculty at our nation’s universities.” Ponzo said representation at UB is “essential.” “When [people of color] come to a PWI –– a predominantly white institution –– school is very stressful,” Ponzo said. “So when you find students that look like

advice motivated the protest on Friday and the group’s petitions, which they distributed during the demonstration. Ponzo said the protest is important in getting the attention of the administration. Asli Ali, a senior AAS major said she reached out to administration and invited them to the group’s discussions, but they didn’t respond. UB spokesperson John DellaContrada wrote in an email that cuts to the EOP program were decided on a state-level but that it was “a high-advocacy priority” for UB. “Whenever there have been cuts to the EOP program in the governor’s budget, SUNY and UB have strongly advocated for the restoration of the program budget,” DellaContrada wrote. “We are extremely proud of the program and advocate for its ongoing support at every opportunity.” Ali spoke at a podium during the protest and quoted UB President Satish Tripathi’s comments on black students in academia, which were taken from a 2016 Spectrum interview with Tripathi. “If you look at how many Ph.D. students are coming out that are African spite all the complications we faced before the show, we were able to pull together and provide for our audience with a layered experience of year 3067,” Barry said. Independent designers showed their style at the venue prior to S S ’ b the show. The clothing ranged from crocheted garments to streetwear and hoodies. Models who wore “ice territory” garments displayed glittering white dresses, bow ties and fur sleeves. A violinist wearing a sparkling white dress to represent the “ice territory” played various hip-hop songs like “Rockstar” by Post Malone and “God’s Plan” by Drake as the models walked across the stage. Models wearing green camouflage jackets and black skirts repped the “swamp territory,” while the “desert territory” walked across the stage with brown cargo pants and coats. Both swamp and desert models had dancers hype the crowd up. The “fire territory” ended the show with an acrobatic performance and a confident line of models wearing red dresses and orange two pieces shimmering in the light. “This is actually my first fashion show, so this [is] great stuff for me,” said Jashon Miller, an independent designer at the tudentS model clothing at

aturday S

lack

> SEE PROTESTERS | PAGE 5

VINDHYA BURUGUPALLI | THE SPECTRUM eXploSion FaShion Show. the black Student union’S annual eVent high-

lighted clothing lineS From independent artiStS.

venue. “I plan on going to another fashion show soon.” Miller’s fashion line, Outlandish Provokator Clothing, is marketed toward self-expression. Models showcasing the brand wore hoodies with an image of a panda riding a skateboard. Another model showed off an imitation of a bulletproof vest over his hoodie. Miller said his brand is aimed toward helping people show their “true colors” and making people comfortable with who they are. One of his favorite pieces was the mock bulletproof vest, which he said evokes what the clothing brand is all about. “It actually has a meaning behind it, and it’s to protect [the] inner you,” Miller said. “So it goes along with what I do.” Jessica Ajayi, a freshman math major, modeled at the show and wore one of the Outlandish Provokator hoodies. She said wearing the clothes felt “cool” and made > SEE BLACK

EXPLOSION | PAGE 5

NEWS

2 | Monday, March 4, 2019

Students concerned with parking, counseling services in broad-based fee survey results Survey results show students’ displeasure with ‘hefty fees’ JACKLYN WALTERS CO-SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

Seventy-five students filled out a UB survey last month and wrote that they’re unhappy with their broad-based fees. But UB never heard back from roughly 30,000 other students who could have taken the survey. UB sent a 13-question broad-based fee survey to the entire student body in February and asked students about their fees and the services the fees fund. Although

Campus Dining & Shops introduces new lids to promote straw alternative Students are mixed about new ‘drink-thru’ lids as environmentalist movement calls for ‘straw-free’ changes BENJAMIN BLANCHET EDITORIAL EDITOR

Campus Dining & Shops is clearing the way toward the future of drinking soda on campus. CDS has introduced new “drink-thru” lids this semester at all of its retail dining locations, according to CDS marketing manager Ray Kohl. The new lids, which shy away from the common lid with center straw holes, fit in line with environmental initiatives nationwide to reduce plastic waste. Students said the new lids are a small change for the better but feel like more can be done toward sustainability at UB.

one student said they used all UB services, 67 students said they used only a portion or none of the services that their money pays for. Students each pay roughly $1,200 in UB fees, according to past Spectrum research. The fees fund services ranging from Student Association events to counseling services on campus. While students can waive some of the broad-based fees, the College Fee, Technology Fee and Transcript Fee are mandatory. More than half of the surveyed students said parking and technology are important to their student experience. Forty-two stuCDS’ new lids come amid a nationwide “straw-free” movement. Plastic products make up roughly eight million metric tons of plastic that flow into oceans, according to National Geographic. But a number of scientists don’t see straw bans as an allencompassing solution to waste reduction, with some estimating roughly 2,000 tons of straws make up yearly plastic waste. The movement has spread on social media and affected a number of businesses’ practices, such as Starbucks and Alaska Airlines. A number of people criticized the movement, however, for ableism and faulty statistics on straw usage. CDS’ new lids resemble those introduced by companies such as Starbucks last year. Kohl wrote in an email that the new “drink-thru” lids are recyclable along with the cup “whereas straws are not.” One new lid costs CDS two cents more than the old lids, Kohl wrote, and fits CDS cups “per manufacturer specifications.” Kohl wrote it is too early to assess a reduction in straw usage, but CDS does see “many guests using the ‘drink-thru’ lids and has heard some positive feedback.” The decisions have not affected CDS partners, such as Tim Hortons, but Kohl wrote that CDS is currently working with franchise partners to explore strawless al-

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dents rated intercollegiate athletics as “not important at all,” despite UB Athletics’ overall success in the past two seasons. Surveyed students said the highest priorities for fee money were student health, wellness and counseling services, academic and co-curricular personal development, bus/shuttle services, parking services and electronic library materials. Surveyed students chose intercollegiate athletics, student engagement, official transcript services, recreation and intramurals and strategic investment initiatives (such as Lockwood Library and Capen Hall student service facilities) among the services that warrant the least funding. A number of students also shared their opinions through short-answer questions, many of which referenced parking issues on campus. “Parking is such a problem on both ternatives. “Our retail dining locations [at CDS] are currently working through their existing stock of straw lids and will have the ‘drinkthru’ lids available once their inventory is depleted,” Kohl wrote on Friday. “We anticipate most if not all locations should be into the new lids by the end of next week.” Students such as Grace Sheckler* said CDS’ move is a “small step in the right direction” but imagines that straws are a “very small part” of single-use consumption habits. “I think that the initiative is good in the sense that it shows that people want to make a change, but I would say that overall, it will have little to no impact,” said Sheckler, a sophomore environmental engineering major. Sheckler said she doesn’t want to discourage any type of sustainable improvement like CDS’ but encourages UB to look at other environmental issues beyond straws. Alex Poland, a junior civil engineering major, said he personally does not use straws at CDS locations and perfers to drink his beverages without lids. He has seen a number of lids fall off students’ cups in the Student Union. “As long as [CDS] can [make sure] the

[campuses], it’s absurd,” one student wrote. “There are all sorts of fees to park then there’s tickets to pay when you park in a spot. … Let us fight for spots while there’s upwards of 100 open in a different lot that you’re not allowed to park in.” Other students responded with concerns about UB mental health service waitlists. “Services at the counseling center need to be expanded; when wait times for an initial appointment for individual therapy are over a month, it is time to hire more counselors and support staff,” one student wrote. “This would also enable the center to offer more group therapy options, as well as greater engagement with the campus (and remote) community regarding mental health.” Email: jacklyn.walters@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @JacklynUBSpec

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY BENJAMIN BLANCHET | THE SPECTRUM

StudentS think new ‘drink-thru’ lidS are a Start For ‘Straw-Free’ changeS

lid is on correctly and it doesn’t slide off, this is fine,” Poland said. “I know a lot of people who don’t like it but if CDS can re-evaluate the lid again, that’d help a lot. But I can see why some students prefer the older lid.” Jason Gore, a freshman psychology major, said if students “really want to make a change” they can ask for biodegradable cups in the future. “I’ll use what is given to me as a cup,” Gore said. “I feel like [the change] doesn’t make sense, if [CDS] wants a change to happen why not remove the plastic all together instead of reshaping the cup design?” *Grace Sheckler has contributed articles to The Spectrum. Email: benjamin.blanchet@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @BenjaminUBSpec

Ash Wednesday March 6 North Campus Mass Student Union Flag Room Noon

South Campus Prayer Service Harriman Ballroom (Rm 105) Noon

Additional Times to Receive Ashes

Newman Center (North Campus) 495 Skinnersville Rd. Amherst, NY 14228 (Across from Creekside Apts.)

5:00pm

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St. Joseph University Parish (South Campus) 7:00am 3269 Main St. 8:30am Buffalo, NY 14214 Noon (Adjacent to Townsend Lot) 7:00pm

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OPINION

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Monday, March 4, 2019 | 3

THE SPECTRUM Monday, March 4, 2019 Volume 68 Number 35 Circulation: 4,000

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Hannah Stein

CARTOON BY ARDI DIGAP

MANAGING EDITOR Brenton J. Blanchet CREATIVE DIRECTORS Caitlyn Di Vita Grace Klak COPY EDITORS Savanna Caldwell Cassi Enderle Lauryn King Cherie Jacobs, Asst. NEWS EDITORS Tanveen Vohra, Co-Senior Jacklyn Walters, Co-senior FEATURES EDITORS Thomas Zafonte, Senior Isabella Nurt, Asst.

ARTS EDITORS Brian Evans, Senior Samantha Vargas, Asst. Julianna Tracey, Asst. SPORTS EDITOR Nathaniel Mendelson, Senior

EDITORIAL EDITOR Benjamin Blanchet MULTIMEDIA EDITORS Shubh Jain, Senior Davila Tarakinikini, Asst. CARTOONISTS Ardi Digap

PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Ayesha Kazi GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGERS JuYung Hong

ABOUT THE SPECTRUM The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Opinion section of The Spectrum do not necessarily reﬂect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum ofﬁce at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address.

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JOIN OUR STAFF Do you have an interest in journalism, graphic design, photography, social media, advertising, cartoons or copy editing? The Spectrum is always looking for enthusiastic students who want to be part of our team. Join our 45-time award winning independent student newspaper for hands-on, real-world experience in your ﬁeld. Anyone interested in joining The Spectrum’s editorial staff can email Hannah Stein at: eic@ubspectrum.com. Anyone interested in joining The Spectrum’s professional staff or advertising team can email Helene Polley at: hapolley@buffalo.edu.

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UB administrators need to hear black students’ cries for help EDITORIAL BOARD

UB says it’s a “diverse” and “inclusive” learning environment. But the number of black tenure-track faculty has decreased 49 percent since 2008. The Educational Opportunity Program’s future is in question. And the African and African American Studies program is struggling and virtually hidden on the top of Clemens Hall. UB administrators need to address and fix these glaring problems instead of pretending they don’t exist or making excuses. On Friday, the UB Black Law Students Association Pre-Law Chapter took a stand in the middle of the Student Union. Students demanded UB allocate more resources to EOP. They also demanded UB pay more attention to the AAS program and make AAS classes mandatory for new students. They called on UB to hire more black faculty and for UB to remove the name of Millard Fillmore, who signed the controversial 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, from campus. The Spectrum stands with these students. The demands they made mirror those of student demonstrators in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Fifty years ago, students fought to create the Black Studies department (now the African and African American Studies program); now they are fighting to keep it. The Spectrum has covered these issues for

programs and institutions that increase the number of black graduates. Still, demonstrators were appalled Tripathi got away with saying this. We’d like the chance to discuss this topic with Tripathi and hear him clarify his views. We believe thousands of people of color are qualified to be faculty members at UB. The English department just hired two. The solution shouldn’t be increasing graduation rates, it’s hiring tenure-track black faculty. The Spectrum also thinks mandatory AAS classes would be a great resource for students, but only if UB correctly manages its diversity curriculum. Last April, The Spectrum wrote about the Pathways curriculum, a curriculum which allowed STEM majors to take “Communication Systems I” –– a course about transmitters and receivers –– toward an “Understanding Racism” requirement. This is absurd for a campus that bolsters diversity. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state legislators have a responsibility to allocate funds to economically disadvantaged EOP students, too. These students bring immense value to the university and we would like to see the UB community engage with Buffalo’s high schools more often. If UB administrators really care about diversity and inclusion, they should campaign harder to increase funding for EOP.

Honoring Arthur Eve — who pushed to create the EOP program in 1969 — with a building isn’t enough. UB must also honor his vision and commitment to economically disadvantaged students. The Spectrum also agrees with the demonstrators’ demand for the Fillmore name to leave campus. Fillmore said he detested slavery, but his approval of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act said otherwise. Fillmore was UB chancellor when he signed the act, which required northerners to capture and return black people to southern slave owners. UB administrators should seriously consider a new name, perhaps of a person of color with a strong UB or Buffalo connection. The Fillmore issue, and the other issues, are not just a “black” concern. They should be UB’s concern. They should be Student Association President Gunnar Haberl’s concern, since SA’s logo appeared on the student demonstrators’ flier. They should be the concern of President Tripathi, the only person of color in history to be UB’s leader. The Spectrum applauds Friday’s demonstration and wants UB to care about its students of color as they cry out for help.

responsibility as scholars, critics, students and agents in the world is to imagine better a better world, a better future, a better life. It’s sad that even in this institution of higher education there are those whose understanding of knowledge is so caught up in the instrumental notions of optimization, efficiency and general pragmatism that they’ve forgotten the imagination and vigor UB had in the 60s and ‘70s when it was briefly the “Berkeley of the East.” It was during this brief period that Angela Davis visited our campus the first two times. I can only hope her revisiting heralds a return to a better, more politically organized student body and

faculty. Throughout her talk last week, Davis emphasized the importance of imagination for social and economic justice movements. Imagination convinces us that we can all be agents of change. Of course, a living wage for graduate students and debt-free education for all levels of postsecondary study is not a pipe dream. Just ask every other developed nation in the world how they manage. And it’s not impossible in this country either. UB is a rich school with the ability to fundraise and campaign for what its administration values. If we can build a $375 million medical campus, a new $18 million football field house and plan a 50,000

square foot addition to Capen just because North Campus lacks a “front door,” then I imagine we could scrounge up a living wage for those fulfilling the mission of the university. I hope the students of our university are more inspired by persistently positive thinkers like Angela Davis than those 12 unimaginative members of our faculty. Never forget that aspirations matter: they teach us what’s possible before we know how to achieve it.

I was under the impression for most of my life that I had to be a “good girl” and that I had to bury myself in order to fit into societal and cultural standards. My parents sent me to an all girls high school under the guise that “all boys were the devil” and I didn’t need any distractions. The funny thing is that I wasn’t concerned with them. I studied, yes, but I was too busy looking at the girls. I was raised to live as a strict Christian where heteronormativity was the only acceptable standard. Sexuality wasn’t something that we discussed. There was

only talk of the duty to get married and procreate, never pleasure or satisfaction. I was told I had to keep myself chaste for my future husband. Being queer was never allowed. Coming to terms with my queer identity, just like my blackness, has been a journey in itself. I was raised in a home run, by a Caribbean immigrant from Trinidad and Tobago. I felt like I was living in another version of my mother’s childhood home, despite being in the Bronx. I’m a daughter of both a Caribbean immigrant and a Black American father who was a descendant of

slavery, and it brought about different displays of what blackness was and should be. It became rather confusing over the years to figure out how to tap into my identity as a black woman in a way that resonated with me fully. There was no talk of the racism or oppression I experience as a black woman when I lived with my mother. She only stressed hard work in order to achieve success. I have been able to engage in discourse about my day-to-day experiences as a black woman with my father, without feeling

two years, but there’s been little response from faculty. UB administrators have flocked to Alumni Arena to enjoy the recent success of the majority-black UB men’s basketball and football teams. Will UB administrators show the same dedication toward our black community off the court? We haven’t seen it. Transnational Studies department chair Cecil Foster told The Spectrum that his department came up with an idea for a diversity education and training program. He said UB administrators went to SUNY and proposed funding for a new diversity program soon after but now, the department isn’t part of that program. We think this is sad and speaks volumes about how UB treats the department. Student demonstrators on Friday exploded with pent-up, unsolved issues. From 2008-17, UB’s black tenure-track faculty fell from 61 to 33. In 2018, it fell to 31. Demonstrators cited a Spectrum interview with UB President Satish Tripathi from 2016. Tripathi said UB’s number of black faculty in 2016 was “not a good situation” and said hiring is dependent on the pool that’s available. He added we should think about “how many [black people] are actually going through college and finishing high school.” UB spokesperson John DellaContrada said the quote was referring to Tripathi’s “support” for

Letter To The Editor

Last week the Faculty Senate Executive Committee voted down a resolution to support a living wage for graduate assistants. The 12-3 vote was largely based on two objections: that faculty should not tell the administration to fund something they clearly do not support, and that graduate students’ expectations for debt-free education are unrealistic. Those 12 “no” votes are a great disappointment to me and thousands of other graduate assistants struggling to meet their basic needs. But even more than disappointment, I feel pity for those 12 faculty members who have forgotten or perhaps never fully understood that part of our

My journey back to harmony

CHERIE JACOBS ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR

Email: opinion@ubspectrum.com

--Macy McDonald Graduate Teaching Assistant University at Buffalo

> SEE MY

JOURNEY | PAGE 5

4 | Monday, March 4, 2019

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NEWS

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Clinton said Fillmore’s involvement in the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 — which called for escaped black slaves as well as free black people to be sent to the Southern states — was insensitive toward black students. “By honoring him, we are honoring white supremacy. We are devaluing the lives of our black students,” Clinton said. DellaContrada said the conversation about removing Fillmore’s name from UB spaces is “a conversation the UB community should continue to have.” He said events such as Wednesday’s DifCon, where community members discussed campus namesakes like Fillmore, “showed the value of bringing people together to examine the difficult legacies of historical figures and discuss how they affect students and other members of the university today.”

DellaContrada directed The Spectrum toward UB’s website, which details UB’s stance on Fillmore’s commemoration on UB’s buildings. “The university’s recognition of Millard Fillmore is based on his role in helping to found the university and serve as its first chancellor,” the post reads. “This recognition is not an endorsement of his policies or legacy as president of the United States.” Clinton disagrees with this stance. “I understand [Fillmore] has something to do with the university but it’s like, should we honor Adolf Hitler for his contributions to science in Nazi Germany?,” Clinton said. Ali said the movement “isn’t going to end” with Friday’s protest, and she ended her speech with words to motivate the

my skill … and also really get myself out there so people know about who I am and what I do,” Adesina said. Enitan Bankole and Steven Dare are both UB students who share a clothing brand named Faceless New York. Bankole, a junior finance major, has attended Black Explosion shows since his freshman year. He and Dare are now using it as a platform to show off their style. “I never would have thought [my] freshman year that I would be a designer at this

point,” Bankole said. “It’s just amazing that we’re here.” Faceless New York already has an Instagram, but the pair plans on launching a website and a new fashion line for the spring. Both Bankole and Dare are of Nigerian descent and draw inspiration from African culture and streetwear into their design. Dare’s favorite piece of clothing is a shirt that embodies Fela Kuti, a musician from Nigeria who is considered to be the “god-

FROM PAGE 1

PROTESTERS you, when you see faculty that look like you, when you even see workers that look like you, it’s very important in encouraging you and helping you with the daily rigours of academia.” Jeffery Clinton, an English major, held up a sign at the protest calling for UB to remove Millard Fillmore’s name from UB buildings and replace it with Frederick Douglass’ name. Clinton said Douglass should be honored because of his contributions to the abolitionist movement, women’s suffrage and “social equality in general.” Clinton also cited Douglass’ ties to Western New York, as Douglass and Henry Highland Garnett held a convention for black leaders and abolitionists in the area in 1843. FROM PAGE 1

BLACK EXPLOSION her feel as if she was the “center of attention.” Temitope Adesina, a freshman computer science major, displayed her yarn-based clothing line “Temtris.” Adesina started crocheting in seventh grade before looking up different patterns to hone her skills. Now she markets herself as an independent business woman. “The next step is definitely to work on

Monday, March 4, 2019 | 5 crowd moving forward. “Stay angry and stay hungry and demand change,” Ali said. Brittany Gorny contributed to this story. Email: news@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @TanveenUBSpec and @JacklynUBSpec.

THOMAS ATEHORTUA | THE SPECTRUM Students hold signs during Friday’s demonstration in the SU.

father” of afro beats, according to Dare. He says that Kuti is important to their culture and is grateful to show their culture through their fashion. “We appreciate BSU for the opportunity to help us display our clothing and give ourselves a big outreach to Buffalo,” Dare said. Thomas Zafonte contributed reporting to this story. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

OPINION FROM PAGE 3

MY JOURNEY shame or the need to become someone else in the attempt to achieve Eurocentric standards. I remember feeling so constricted and restrained for years because I felt like I couldn’t show up fully as my true self. There was always something I had to do for others, especially family or being in the church, in order to be considered acceptable. There was never anything I could do for myself. I grew tired of parading through the years as the set identity others created for me. It wasn’t until the practice of performativity had taken its toll that I had to

reach out about experiencing issues with mental health. Going to therapy, practicing mindfulness and engaging in yoga taught me to listen to my emotions and my body. It became apparent how much of my authentic self I was hiding within and my body just wouldn’t allow me to do so anymore. I learned that my existence does not have to be a reflection of the cookie-cutter ideal that I’ve been presented and led to carry out from birth. I know many like me have to bury our true selves out of fear; fear that if we don’t conform to the standards set by family, the culture, faith or community we belong to, we will be disowned and no one will love us. We’ve been led to believe that embody-

ing our authenticity will lead to our demise, when actually, it is the key to us embodying our freedom. I’ve learned the emotions I have –– in addition to my feelings –– are important and valid. There is no need to live with them alone. Living through traumatic experiences and confusion doesn’t have to be the only mode of existence I have learned. Reaching out for mental health services and making choices to unlearn messaging that reinforces conformity is crucial. Only acting in ways which celebrate one’s true nature can be beneficial for everyone, especially members of the black community. The cyclical modes we have learned over time truly aren’t beneficial. Being taught to conform through fear, never discussing

sexuality, the pressure to have it all together by a certain age and never discussing emotions or passions is reductive. These modes and other things we have been doing for generations are things that we have worked to uncover and release ourselves from. We don’t have to do it alone though. There is always someone we can reach out to for help. I want to shed light on my journey toward embracing my own authenticity. I learned, through therapy, how I could be myself and show up fully even if that means rejecting the set standards others place on me. Email: opinion@ubspectrum.com Email: features@ubspectrum.com

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6 | Monday, March 4, 2019

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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‘Julius Caesar’ opens on the CFA Mainstage UB’s production of ‘Julius Caesar’ presents updated look at the Shakespearean tragedy JULIANNA TRACEY, ANASTASIA WILDS ASST. ARTS EDITOR, STAFF WRITER

UB’s production of “Julius Caesar” took a modern twist on the classic Shakespearean play. The production, which ran from Friday to Saturday in the Center for the Arts Mainstage, changed the play’s ancient Roman setting to a college campus. The actors performed as university students who are reading through the play. “Julius Caesar” tells the story of the fall of the Roman Republic and the death of the play’s titular character. Conspirators convince Caesar’s friend Brutus to join in their assassination attempt to prevent Caesar from gaining more power. The group kills Caesar on the Ides of March, resulting in a war with Caesar’s supporter, Mark Antony. The production takes place at a university, so Danielle Rosvally, the director and professional fight director, wanted to figure out a way to portray violent scenes without promoting violence on campus. The actors, to show Caesar’s death without showcasing violence, dipped their hands into a bucket of fake blood and stain his scarf. The red handprints dirtying the scarf symbolized Caesar’s death without an aggressive encounter.

Cassius and Brutus, instead of stabbing themselves as they do in the original play, stab 12-by-12 frames covered with vellum. This allows the actors to show the action of stabbing without actually stabbing themselves. Audience members said they appreciated the inventive fight scenes. Irem Ersan, a junior theatre performance and psychology major, thought that the fight scenes were well-excecuted. “The fight choreography looked really realistic,” Ersan said. “Especially [the scene] when they dragged people on the floor. It was super realistic and my favorite part of the show.” The play was edited down to a 90-minute version, with no intermission. Emily Bassett, a junior theatre major and the actor who played assassin Casca, said the shortened script made the actors aware of the parts that have been taken out. “It was cut wonderfully, everything made sense,” Bassett said. “But there’s still those small things that aren’t in there that we have to be mindful of. We have to make sure that we’re aware of what’s not in the script, and that we can bring that depth to it as well.” The actors didn’t use microphones, so they had to project the Shakespearean language to the audience. Bassett said that the large space made this even more of a challenge, especially since this is the first time the UB Theatre Department is performing in the Mainstage Theatre.

ANASTASIA WILDS | THE SPECTRUM ub’S production oF “JuliuS caeSar” took an updated and modern look at ShakeSpeare’S claSSic tragedy. the production waS the ub theatre and dance department’S FirSt perFormance on the cFa’S mainStage.

“So, [the language] combined with the very large space we were in, created a challenge, but it was a challenge that everyone in the ensemble took in stride” Bassett said. “Because the language is so important [the main focus was] making sure that we were heard, and, most importantly, understood.” The show was a success, according to Bassett. While she wishes that the crew had more time to work in the large space, she understands that the Mainstage Theatre has been “graciously gifted” to them. “We can sit back from it and honestly say that we did a good job,” Bassett said. “I was so impressed by what some of my classmates did, and the work that they put out. … I think it was a great run, and I’m just so proud of everyone.” The play focuses on corruption in politics and government and Bassett said that it is important to think about the world we live in. “Each of us had something that we were thinking of when we went into this process of like ‘what political thing are we thinking of,’” Bassett said. “Mine was the

AIDS crisis in the 1980s, and there were others whose were much more recent or long, long ago, some that were very, very personal and close to them. And I think that when you make art, you have to think about the effects that it’s going to have. I think that this production did that and took that in stride, and I hope made an impact.” Anna Seidl, sophomore theatre and psychology double major played Julius Caesar and had her own perspective on the importance of the play. “Many people, when they look at the show they say, ‘Oh Caesar was a tyrant and then this is why he got what he deserved.’ But, when you actually really look at the text, Brutus and Cassius don’t have a real reasoning, they just say he was ‘ambitious’” Seidl said. “So, it’s talking about when people [lie or gossip] you cannot believe it and you need to take your own perspective and you need to look at what is right.” Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

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SPORTS

8 | Monday, March 4, 2019

‘We are enough’ Women’s basketball senior day leaves little to the imagination NATHANIEL MENDELSON SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

NATHANIEL MENDELSON | THE SPECTRUM Senior guard Cierra Dillard goes up for a shot. Dillard recorded 31 points and 8 assists during the Bulls’ senior day win against the Miami (OH) RedHawks.

“We are enough.” The back of every shirt UB women’s basketball players wore on Saturday had those words. The Bulls defeated Miami (OH) by 25 points, but the victory wasn’t the most important part of the performance. Buffalo celebrated senior day in front of the largest crowd they’ve had all season. Seniors Cierra Dillard, Autumn Jones, Ayoleka Sodade, Brittney Morrison and Courtney Wilkins were all honored afterward. They all scored a basket. “What a powerful day. I am so proud of these young ladies,” head coach Felisha Legette-Jack said to the crowd after the game. “Courtney, Leka and Brittany bought into what we teach. They had a chance to walk away but to stay and compete, I’m eternally grateful. And then to add AJ and Cierra to solidify our senior class, I just want to keep winning more games so the world can see how far we have come. We are a better team because these seniors came through Buffalo.” The Bulls sit in third place in the MidAmerican Conference behind Central Michigan, Ohio and Miami (OH). They beat Ohio and Miami by a combined 55 points this week. Not many would have expected the Bulls to be in this situation this year. Some thought the Bulls wouldn’t be enough but they have proven their doubters wrong time and time again. Buffalo lost three starters from a year ago, Stephanie Reid, Cassie Oursler and Katherine Ups. The Bulls lost five seniors in total. Teams that lose five players and three starters typically aren’t in a position to repeat what happened last year. But these Bulls are different. Dillard was knocked down and appeared to hurt her shooting elbow. She didn’t ask to come out of the game and certainly wasn’t going to be afraid to play her game. Dillard torched the RedHawks for 31 points and found open teammates time and time again leading to her eight assists. It’s that kind of attitude that makes her a WNBA prospect. The Bulls are still a young team and have struggled to find the same consistency they had last year. Buffalo made it to the Sweet-16 last season and accumulated only six losses all year in 35 total games. This year’s team already has eight through 27. The reality is that the program might not make it back to the Sweet-16 or even the NCAA tournament this season. Buffalo will probably have to win the MAC Championship this season to have a chance and conquer the one team it has beat only once over the past two seasons, Central Michigan. Legette-Jack’s teams aren’t defined by the postseason success they might have or the accolades they accumulate, they’re defined by the quality and character of the person leaving the team. Legette-Jack said she is incredibly proud of her team this year and every year.

ubspectrum.com

Jackson shines at NFL combine SPORTS DESK

The 2019 NFL Scouting Combine took place over four days in Indianapolis this past week. Two UB football alumni, quarterback Tyree Jackson and wide receiver Anthony Johnson, each took to the field in Lucas Oil Stadium to perform. Jackson’s choice to enter the draft initially came as a surprise to many. Jackson was in the NCAA transfer portal with his sights set on leaving Buffalo. Many thought he would need another year in college to refine his skills. Jackson proved some doubters right during the combine and was criticized by former NFL wide receiver Steve Smith for throwing the ball too hard during drills. Jackson also struggled with locating the ball to the receivers. His physical attributes were encouraging for him. Jackson stands at 6 feet 7 inches and is the tallest quarterback in this year’s draft. He wowed scouts and showed flashes of potential. Jackson ran a 4.59 in the 40-yard dash, the second fastest time for all quarterbacks. He also recorded the highest vertical at 34.5 inches and highest broad jump at 10 feet. Jackson was fifth in the threecone drill at 7.09 seconds and fifth in the 20-yard shuttle at 4.28 seconds. Jackson weighed in at 249 pounds, his hands measured at 10 1/4 inches, his arms 34 1/4 inches and wingspan of 83 3/4

JACK LI | THE SPECTRUM Tyree Jackson sets for a throw during the MAC Championship game. Jackson blew scouts away with his physical attributes during the NFL combine this weekend.

inches. All were the top measurements at his position. He has been compared to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen because of his size. Jackson has been working with the same trainer as Allen, Jordan Palmer. “Just continue to prove that I’m a great player and that I’m ready to play in the NFL,” Jackson said at his Friday press conference. “For me, it’s all about competing, so I’m going to do every single drill. I’m going to throw. I’m going to do it all. I’m just a competitor and I want to show that.” Johnson didn’t make nearly as much of

a splash as Jackson. Johnson is a big, physical receiver at 6 foot 2 inches and 209 pounds and used that size to put up eye-popping numbers of 133 catches for 2,367 yards and 25 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Johnson did not run the 40-yard dash. A good time could solidify him as an early pick. Johnson says he will run it on UB’s proday on March 13. Johnson finished eighth in the bench press with 18 reps and caught every pass during the wide receiver gauntlet. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com

W h at a r e y o u c h e e r i n g f o r ?

Terrell Richardson and Bobby Lundy discuss what it’s like being the only men on the cheer team ANDREW FITZGERALD STAFF WRITER

Over 6,600 fans are in attendance watching the nationally ranked UB basketball team take down Kent State. The Bulls are up by 11 and CJ Massinburg just hit another three-point shot. Terrell Richardson and Bobby Lundy rush down the court to try and find a lucky fan to launch a T-shirt at as the PA announcer yells out “Tees for threes.” Richardson and Lundy find a fan and retreat back toward the student section with smiles on their faces. The fans’ cheers aren’t just for the team, they’re also for them. Positive energy and support from the crowd has kept Richardson and Lundy cheering for the past three years. Neither originally had any plans on joining the

cheer team; coincidentally they joined on the same day. Richardson, a senior economics major, never cheered before joining UB’s team. He had some background in diving and worked at SkyZone for the past six years, however, he was kept away from the sport. “My dad would have never approved of it honestly,” Richardson said. “He was one of those dads that made me play football for seven years. But he’s cool with it since I’m my own person now.” Lundy, a senior civil engineering major, is originally from Atlanta, where cheer has a much larger presence than in the Northeast. Lundy said, when he was in middle school, he would be out in his backyard, teaching himself how to do different flips. He ended up getting into tumbling after he learned to do a variety of flips. Someone in high school then recruited him for the cheer team, which is where Lundy got his start in cheerleading. Men are still joining competition teams in the Northeast, but there aren’t as many on the teams performing at sporting events. “Down in places like Georgia, there is

Email: nathaniel.mendelson@ubspectrum.com

COURTESY OF TERRELL RICHARDSON Bobby Lundy, (left), and Terrell Richardson pose with UB mascot Victor E. Bull. Lundy and Richardson never in-

more of a demand for guys in cheerleading,” Lundy said. “Legally and physically, you need guys for some certain stunts. Think about going to a UB football game. You aren’t going to see the No. 1 football team in the country, nor are you going to see the No. 1 cheer team in the country.” There are only a couple men on the cheer team right now, but both believe that if the sports teams start having more success, the cheer team will grow as well. This growth would naturally make more men interested in joining the team. Even some of the girls on the team wish more men would join, as it has a positive impact on their growth as a team. “The guys on the team are more athletic, so when it came to conditioning, I felt more motivated to run faster and try to keep their pace,” said first-year MBA student Dani Hockwater, who is now a UB cheer alum. “Another difference is with all girl stunts, you need two to three girls, but when you have men, you can have one guy and one girl. So we were able to challenge our pyramids and stunts at games.” The girls aren’t the only ones that like having the men on the team. The community seems to love seeing the men perform as well. Both Richardson and Lundy explained that, for as long as they have been cheering, they have pretty much always received positive feedback and no negativity. They’ve had people from the community tell them how great it is to see them perform throughout football and basketball season. The only real misconception they have experienced is people thinking they joined the team only to hook up with the girls. Lundy explained being approached by someone at a McDonald’s who expressed his concerns about him and Richardson being on the cheer team with the “#Me Too” movement going on. “That would never have even been a thought for me and Terrell,” Lundy said. “In general, there’s never been that type of energy or concern.” Instead, they have a different reason for continuing to cheer. “We get so much love from the fans because of our high energy,” Richardson said. “People are always coming up to us and telling us how much we pump up the crowd and how they are always looking for us. That’s the reason why I love being on the team.”

tended on joining the cheer team but coincidentally joined the same day.

Email: sports@ubspectrum.com