The Spectrum, Vol.68 No.48 by The Spectrum Student Periodical

THE SPECTRUM VOL. 68 NO. 48 | MAY 2, 2019

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

May, 02, 1994 - On this day, The Spectrum reported…. UB hosted Algonquinpalooza, a musical festival with mostly local bands, in Alumni Arena’s triple gym. The concert was meant to replace the Student Association’s Spring Fest. Students were upset that there would be no Spring Fest after SA went over budget for the 1993 Fall Fest. That year’s Fall Fest > SEE PAGE featured acts such as Iggy Pop and Digable Planets.

Vampire Weekend rocks downtown Buffalo

UB considering removing Steven Butcher from Athletics Hall of Fame following fraud scheme

> SEE PAGE 6

> SEE PAGE 8

May Day rally: Students and faculty protest wages on International Workers’ Day Students leave coffin and petition for President Tripathi TANVEEN VOHRA CO-SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

Roughly 50 protesters marched to UB President Satish Tripathi’s office on Wednesday afternoon, leaving a coffin and a petition at the front desk. The protesters, led by the Graduate Students Employees Union, marched to the fifth ﬂoor of Capen Hall following a series of speeches on the field between UB Commons and Clemens Hall. The group consisted of faculty members, undergraduates and graduate students, protesting on campus wages, stipends and job security on campus. The GSEU held the rally to commemorate International Workers’ Day and the “Petition for TA Living Stipend,” which the group left at the front desk of the administrative offices in Capen Hall, had over 1,500 signatures on it, according to Willis McCumber, the media coordinator for the Living Stipend Movement. Graduate students first presented the petition to UB administration last February. UB responded to the protests, saying it was a “fundamental value of UB that all members of the university community have a right to peacefully protest and express their views and opinions.”

TANVEEN VOHRA | THE SPECTRUM Protesters march from Clemens Hall to Capen Hall carrying a coffin made of plywood.

ternational students’ financial situation. “International students are barred due to visa restrictions from having a second job,” McCumber said into a megaphone during the THOMAS ATEOHORTUA | THE SPECTRUM rally. “So we have interEnglish Ph.D. student Willis McCumber speaks to a crowd of over 50 students and faculty during Wednesday’s May Day rally. national students in Buffalo [living] on $14,000 a Tripathi was not in his office during the year. That’s not a living wage.” rally, as he is out of town, according to UB Katie Tudini, the assistant vice provost officials. The group gathered on the field next to and director for International Student UB Commons at 12 p.m. while graduate Services, wrote in an email that the fee is students, LSM members, English profes- covered by international students’ medical sor Jim Holstun and undergraduate stu- insurance through United Healthcare. “The international student medical indent Phoenix Cherny, gave speeches about surance covers both medical coverage their experiences at UB. A coffin made out of plywood which as well as repatriation and evacuation, as read “END THE DEATH FEE,” sat on mandated by SUNY,” Tudini wrote. International student Garvita Agarwal, a the field next to the mass of protesters. physics Ph.D. candidate, said she took out Michael Morse, a Ph.D. candidate, built the coffin himself and said the “death fee” loans in India, her home country, but has is a reference to a medical repatriation fee struggled to pay them back due to graduinternational students pay. The fee covers ate and international student fees. “The only way I’ve been able to [pay the the cost to send students’ bodies home if loans] has been through extra scholarships they die in the U.S. I apply to,” Agarwal said. “Which again, McCumber called the fee “deeply discriminatory.” During the rally, he discussed are not available every semester and not how this fee, along with visa restrictions available to everyone.” and graduate student stipends, affects in> SEE MAY

UB religious leaders discuss unity and increased security following Poway attack BRITTANY GORNY ASST. NEWS EDITOR

The Jewish community is focusing on strength and unity this week following the shooting at the Chabad of Poway in California on Saturday. A college student with anti-Semitic views opened fire on the synagogue, killing one and injuring three, during the last day of Passover, a commemoration of freedom and liberation from slavery. The shooting came six months after a gunman opened fire at Pittsburgh’s oldest synagogue, Tree of Life, killing 11 and injuring six people. In March, a shooting at two New Zealand mosques resulted in the deaths of 50 people and a recent bomb blast at a Sri Lanka church on Easter Sunday resulted in the deaths of 253 people. These attacks at places of worship have brought about concerns over security, but Rabbi Moshe Gurary from Chabad of Buffalo said there should be a middle ground when it comes to security measures in places of worship. “I think places of worship should remain open to everyone, although there should be security measures implemented to ensure the safety of attendees,” Gurary said. The Chabad House will be holding a special Shabbat event this weekend to show “solidarity” and that “the forces of darkness will not break them.”

Gurary said the current rise of antiSemitism is taking a “painful toll” on the Jewish community, but said this can be transformed into progress. “Grief and tragedy need to be turned into more positive action,” Gurary said. “Every step back can, and must, be a giant leap forward.” The number of anti-Semitic incidents in 2018 was 48% higher than in 2016, and 99% higher than in 2015, according to the 2018 Anti-Defamation League’s annual audit. “Anti-Semitism is a big problem right now, just like other hate crimes,” said Rabbi Sara Rich of Hillel. “I think the last day of Passover, and the whole week itself, allows us to think about freedom, not just for ourselves, but for everyone.” Rich said hearing about this tragedy may make students more concerned for their safety in places of worship. “Normally students wouldn’t think twice about going to a Jewish program or event, but I think some students may be feeling more vulnerable,” Rich said. Hillel of Buffalo members decided to reﬂect on the attack at Chabad of Poway by the “inspiring” words of Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein from Poway, who wrote in a message that “light and positivity” are the way to combat hate. Students from Hillel said they have de> SEE

RELIGIOUS SECURITY | PAGE 4

UBSPECTRUM

DAY | PAGE 4

Unclaimed Spring Gala tickets to become available Monday

Student Association president says he expects another sellout gala BRIAN EVANS SENIOR ARTS EDITOR

Any Spring Gala tickets that are still unclaimed by Friday at 5 p.m. will be made available on Monday at 10 a.m. on a “firstcome-first-serve” basis at the SBI ticket office, according to Student Association President Gunnar Haberl. SA used its ticket reservation system for this year’s event as opposed to last year’s Spring Gala, which required students to line up outside of the SBI ticket office. Students originally reserved all 775 tickets within eight minutes of registration opening on April 2. As of Tuesday, 258 tickets have been picked up and paid for, Haberl wrote in an email. Haberl did not provide information as to how quickly or slowly tickets sold out for Winter Gala, which reached capacity, but said he expects Spring Gala to do the same. Spring Gala takes place on May 11 at Samuel’s Grande Manor. A valid UB ID is required for ticket pickup. Email: brian.evans@ubspectrum.com Twitter:@BrianEvansSpec.

Previous Love: UB band makes it big in Buffalo Members of alt rock band discuss their music, the Buffalo scene TANVEEN VOHRA CO-SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

validation” of simply creating music that echoes what they feel. “There’s a total catharsis just to performing and writing in general,” Sheedy said. “It’s a sort of personal self reﬂective kind of meditation.”

The music Moody lyrics, angsty rhythms and tranPrevious Love’s genre is hard to descendent vocals engulf the members of scribe. Members classify the group as Previous Love as they practice in a sound- an alternative rock band, but the sheer proof basement in their own world. number of inﬂuences they attribute to Gary Sheedy, a senior English major, its soundmakes it difficult to categorize it Steven Browne, a senior accounting ma- into any concrete box. jor and John Perdue, a junior psychology The band’s sound is inspired by the major, formed the alternative rock band jangle-pop, post-punk rock bands from Previous Love in their early teens. Their the ‘80s, with an edge of ‘90s grunge. The music has found its way from Grand Is- heavy guitar says Blink-182 and the eerie land to Germany through curated Spotify disdain coupled with snappy, consistent playlists that have now earned them over drums screams The Cure. Members say 20,000 listens on the streaming platform. The Smiths also hold a special place in And instead of opening for bands at their music education. The Forvm, which no longer exists, PrePerdue is the devoted drummer, workvious Love is selling out standing-roomonly shows at Mohawk Place. But the numbers, while motivating, are of little importance to a band THOMAS ATEHORTUA | THE SPECTRUM that is primarily John Purdue, Gary Sheedy and Steven Browne sit in the basement where they concerned with have been rehearsing since high school. The UB students have been juggling touring and classes this year after the success of their first EP and singles. the “intrinsic > SEE PREVIOUS

LOVE | PAGE 5

NEWS

2 | Thursday, May 2, 2019

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Contractors ask for student input on future Student Union CIAN GONZALEZ STAFF WRITER

The Student Union is undergoing a transformation that may include new lounge spaces and outdoor areas after this semester. The building’s future design was up for debate Wednesday in the SU lobby, as students gave feedback to an outside development advisory firm. Representatives from Brailsford & Dunlavey, who are tasked with the Student Union Master Plan, stood by the main entrance with posters

set up to showcase their ideas. The master plan will dictate students’ future use of SU and South Campus’ Harriman Hall. Their ideas included active and quiet lounge spaces and outdoor areas. Students, faculty and Student Association members attended to give their input and provided feedback with stickers and comments. Some comments featured unique ideas for the space while others weighed in on the concepts presented. Many students commented that individual and group study rooms would be unneces-

UB students starting program to teach free business classes in low-income areas Business Academia to hold its first event on Sunday THOMAS ZAFONTE SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR

Asifur Rahman and Evan Chefalo aren’t waiting to graduate to make a lasting change in the Buffalo community. The business administration majors recently launched Business Academia, a program to teach college-level business education to young people. They said the program allows them to teach weekly sem-

sary in the SU, as the Silverman Library in Capen already has similar rooms. The representatives’ planning concludes this semester and UB will begin implimenting these ideas after, according to Di-

rector of Student Unions Maria Wallace. Brailsford & Dunlavey did not comment on the price of the master plan rennovations. Email: features@ubspectrum.com

CIAN GONZALEZ | THE SPECTRUM Representatives from Brailsford & Dunlavey allowed students to voice their opinions on the future of the Student Union with stickers. They held an event early Wednesday to get feedback on ideas for the future renovations of the SU.

inars based on finance and investments, marketing and sales, human resources, entrepreneurship, social psychology and the drive behind success. Business Academia will hold its first event, a keynote meeting, Sunday at 3 p.m. in Knox 20. The program is in its early stages with Rahman and Chefalo as the only current active staff, but they hope to recruit more people at the keynote. The keynote will go until 4 p.m. and include guest speaker Peter Simpson, a principal at xsperient, a marketing research company located in Tonawanda. Rahman said the program is open to all,

but they want to focus on building rela- gram will look for spaces around Buffalo tionships with community leaders in areas to hold seminars. they think need it most. “We want to show students what we are “[Business Academia] is specifically tar- trying to do and have them come in, even geted toward people who can’t afford to if they don’t have business experience, and go to college,” Rahman said. “People like see what ideas they have and what we can refugees, people who are in the disadvan- turn this program into,” Rahman said. taged communities and local buffer areas. Chefalo said he and Rahman are conSo for them, they need some sort of busi- sidering making the company a nonprofit, ness backgrounds to succeed.” but they are waiting to see what would be The program will focus on visiting the best approach for the program after high schools to teach young people about the keynote. “modern business skills,” according Adm_SUNYBuffaloAd_002_FA18.pdf 1 1/24/19 to 2:03 PM Email:Thomas.Zafonte@ubspectrum.com Rahman. Twtter @Thomas_Spectrum. Rahman said after the keynote, the pro-

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OPINION

ubspectrum.com

THE SPECTRUM Thursday, May 2, 2019 Volume 68 Number 48 Circulation: 4,000

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Hannah Stein 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.

Thursday, May 2, 2019 | 3

Student Association should ensure better communication before next budget vote EDITORIAL BOARD

The Student Association executive board and senators were disappointed with the tone of Friday’s senate meeting. So were we. The meeting’s procedure revealed more than personal gripes between SA officials. We believe the budgetary process overall, along with SA’s lack of publicity for senate meetings, deserves greater attention. Senators decided on how SA would allocate its $4.5 million for the 2019-20 year on Friday. Senators also voted to raise stipends a combined $2,250 for next year, split between the incoming president, vice president and treasurer. SA e-board stipends have increased $17,250 total — $5,750 each — from the 2014-15 stipends, according to Spectrum records. That’s a lot of money and the increase alone is $3,000 more per year than the average UB teaching or graduate assistant’s net stipend. The increase came after an al-

ternative proposal that contrasted current SA treasurer Tanahiry Escamilla’s proposal to keep stipends the same. SA senator and 2019-20 VP-elect Kendra Harris helped present the increase and cited her passion for helping students with low incomes sustain themselves if they are working 30 to 40 hours a week. Indeed, this is important and would incentivize those in lower socioeconomic classes to participate in their student government. Yet we hope SA looks at this and advocates for causes beyond its own government’s pockets next year, since most students don’t make $17.50 an hour for a 30hour work week. But SA treasurer Tanahiry Escamilla indicated that Harris, along with SA president-elect Yousouf Amolegbe, met with her two hours before the meeting on the stipend topic. If this is the only communication they had, we’re disappointed in our student government and hope officials better communicate on how SA spends the money of 21,000 students.

We also think senators (some who double dip and make up the finance committee) could have had a public hearing in addition to its budget vote. Municipalities like Erie County have public hearings as do other government bodies, so why not SA? After all, students will pay their $109 activity fee to fund SA in the fall. Even if student government participation continues to decline, students should still have a say in where their money goes. One thing SA could do to buck the trend of decreased participation is through transparency. Escamilla said she did not send the proposed 2019-20 budget to senators before the meeting in case it would be misunderstood or posted online. Senators could have discussed the budget with Escamilla before Friday’s meeting, but this still gave SA senators just a few hours to officially decide on $4.5 million of your money among themselves, since senators said SA officials never sent them the meeting’s agenda or budget prior. This isn’t OK.

Our staff agrees that we wouldn’t misinterpret this budget in an article. We know it’s a proposed budget and the budget is not final until after the senate’s approval process. We also hope senators know this, too, before they share it. But, at the end of the day, we were shocked by senators’ behavior in the meeting. A number of senators, who have a responsibility for 21,000 undergraduates’ money, decided to use the meeting’s four hours to check social media and throw out personal slander. If the meeting was such an important meeting, all senators should have treated it as such. SA senate chairperson Eric Weinman said the meeting was not about the budget itself but about the complaints people had. We couldn’t agree more. But SA officials should communicate their concerns and their budget desires well before a Friday night at the end of a semester. Email: opinion@ubspectrum.com

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

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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.

Detained in Boston Logan International A lesson in triplechecking your travel documents

KIERAN POWER STAFF WRITER

I was detained for the first two hours of my year-abroad experience. I sat in the Boston Logan International holding area, away from my family, waiting to hear if I would be let into the U.S. Eventually, after a nervewracking wait, the immigration officer told me I would be permitted entry, adding the ominous words, “Consider this your one favor from the United States; next time you will be removed.” OK, it’s not quite as dramatic as it sounds. The reason I was held at the airport was entirely my fault. I neglected to bring the DS-2019

form required to enter on a J-1 (student) visa. I wrongly assumed the visa printed in my passport, which I got from the U.S. embassy in London, would be enough to enter. That was a mistake. When I landed in Boston with my family for a short vacation before the semester started, they went to the immigration area for tourists and I went to the section for those with visas. The immigration officer looked at my passport, took my fingerprints and asked to see my DS-2019 form. Uh-oh. I told him I didn’t have it on me (believing it to be in my luggage) and he told me to wait at the window while he radioed someone. “Tango 39, Tango 39.” I assumed it would just be a second immigration officer who would double-check my passport and look for my name in the system, or something similar. So the sight of a 250-pound police officer standing 6-feet8-inches tall and wearing a bulletproof vest did not reassure me. When he told me to follow the long painted blue line on the

ﬂoor, you better believe I did just that. He led me into a small holding room near the baggage reclaim area. I passed my family on the way and was able to tell them that I might be a short while and not to worry. Admittedly, telling your mom not to worry is a fool’s errand. I sat there for what seemed like forever, waiting to hear my name called by someone on the desk. There were quite a few people there already and they weren’t exactly rushing through. The room was covered in posters that said, “no cellphones”. No one was talking. Most people just looked tired, others nervous. It was nighttime so there was no natural light, only the ﬂuorescent ceiling lights. I think there was a small TV playing a cable news channel to act as a distraction. Finally, I heard my name called and went up to talk to the immigration officer. I told him what had happened. I explained I was an exchange student entering the U.S. on this visa for the first time, and had just forgotten a document.

He seemed like a disapproving school principal at best and like he didn’t believe a word I was saying. Up until this point, I had mostly viewed the evening’s events as an inconvenience. But when this guy started using phrases like “deny you entry” and “return you to your home country,” I started panicking a little. He offered me the chance to root through my luggage to look for the document, but by that point I knew it wasn’t in there. I started to look for an email confirmation on my phone (I was granted permission to use my phone). My heart was beating slightly faster. Luckily, at this point the officer spoke up and said he was going to let me enter the U.S. on this occasion, with those ominous words from before sticking in my mind. I left the room, met up with my family, and headed to our hotel exhausted. I’m triple-checking my documentation every single time from now on. Oh, and after all that, Boston was lovely. Email:opinion@ubspectrum.com

HAVE A QUESTION, RESPONSE OR IDEA? SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR TO HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD ON CAMPUS. ALL SUBMISSIONS SHOULD INCLUDE THE AUTHOR’S NAME, TITLE, EMAIL AND PHONE NUMBER. THE SPECTRUM RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EDIT THESE LETTERS FOR STYLE AND LENGTH. SEND YOUR LETTER TO EIC@UBSPECTRUM.COM

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FROM PAGE 1

MAY DAY

Faculty members were also present at the rally, with Holstun giving a speech on the history of May Day and labor movements. History professor Susan Cahn also attended the rally, and said she came out because she’d “like to see graduate students get a living wage.” Cahn said graduate TA stipends are related to wages for adjunct faculty as well. Cahn said graduate TA stipends are related to wages for adjunct faculty as well, and said this is due to a university shift away from tenure-track faculty towards “contingent labor” The university paid adjunct faculty an average of $9,200 per semester in 2016, with “variation” across disciplines, according to UB’s website. Cahn said she was pleased to see graduate and undergraduate students working together. “I was glad to see that graduate students were beginning to work with undergraduate students about issues of living wages

FROM PAGE 1

RELIGIOUS SECURITY

cided to “focus on the positive” by raising money for Oishei Children’s Hospital this week, including a “Painting for Patients” event on Wednesday night. Alexa Zappia, a volunteer at Hillel of Buffalo, said tragedies like this make the Jewish community feel even more connected to Judaism. She said students came into Hillel on Monday wanting to carry on their lives “with intention.” “Unfortunately these things happen and we have to remember them, but we can’t let them hold us back from carrying on our daily lives,” Zappia said. “Instead of observing something that just happened, we’re passing on a kind act this week.”

for workers on campus,” Cahn said. McCumber, who stood in the Student Union last week, asking people to sign the Living Stipend petition, also spoke about undergraduates’ support for the rally. “You just explain to [undergraduates] what the situation is and they’re like ‘Oh, yeah, that makes sense,’” McCumber said. “It’s quite heartening because they follow it, they care about it and they know about it.” Cherny, a senior computer science major, is a member of UB’s chapter for Young Democratic Socialists of America, and said they participated in the rally to show solidarity for graduate students who are paid “poverty wages.” “As undergraduates, knowing that the people providing your education are being neglected … it’s disrespectful,” Cherny said. “We’re talking about excellence while paying people poverty wages.” Other SUNY GSEUs have held similar rallies or plan to voice discontent with graduate stipends and fees this week.

Justin Weiss, a member of Hillel, said he wasn’t surprised when he heard about the shooting. But moving past this tragedy, Weiss said, means recognizing these hate crimes are going to persist. “Just being able to move past the idea that there are people who want to harm others because of what they believe in and their religion or because of the way they dress, it’s really sad,” Weiss said. Sarah Farnett, assistant at the Catholic Newman Center, said it’s important for religious communities to come together during times of tragedy. “These acts of terror come from places of hatred and try to divide us,” Farnett said. “We should be doing the exact opposite and come together.” Farnett said it can be “frightening” be-

THOMAS ATEHORTUA | THE SPECTRUM Protestors carry a coffin while marching to Capen Hall.

Caroline Propersi-Grossman, the chief steward for the SUNY Stony Brook GSEU, said the group also organized a protest that had a turnout of over 400. Stony Brook’s protest focused primarily on graduate student fees, in addition to graduate stipends.

ing in a public congregation. She said in her time working in the Newman Center, police presence has been at large, and she’s never felt unsafe. “I think these people want us to be [afraid],” Farnett said. “I think that’s their goal, and we don’t want to give in to that negative, catastrophic thinking.” On April 10, after the Christchurch mosque attacks in New Zealand, the country passed a reform bill to improve gun laws. “There will always be vulnerability to any religious group when they are practicing in private or in public,” George Kfouri, President of Organization for Arab Students, said. “As a country we need to fight this.” Kfouri said with the amount of attacks

Samantha Rider, the business agent for the SUNY Albany GSEU said the group planned to attend a meeting on Friday to ask their administration about the university’s budget. Email: tanveen.vohra@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @TanveenUBSpec

in the U.S. over the past several years, they have become “normalized” in society. “Everyone forgets about the victims and focuses on the attacker,” Kfouri said. “There should always be vigils for anyone who lost their life in an attack like this.” Rich said the attacks are a shared concern between religious groups and should bring together students of all religious backgrounds on campus. “It shouldn’t be something that any one group is dealing with alone, these are all related issues,” Rich said. “It’s not just attacks on Jews that bother us, but an attack on any religious group. If you attack one of us, it’s all of us.” Email: news@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @BrittanyUBSpec.

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FROM PAGE 1

PREVIOUS LOVE ing up a sweat in the corner of the room, beating away with a dramatic fervor that devours his entire body. He’s a core member of UB’s all-male a cappella group, the Buffalo Chips. His soundproof basement is where the band regularly gets together to practice. Sheedy is the introverted guitarist who wanted to be a “singing ambulance driver” at the age of five, combining both his love of helping people and singing. He occasionally hides behind his beige hat but is incredibly easy to talk to. While on stage, his reticent personality is magnified 10 times over. “I feel naked if I’m not wearing a hat on stage,” Sheedy said. “I always make it a point to keep it down low. So people can’t see my eyes, but I can still see, you know.” Browne, the bassist, is the band’s certified “business guy” who tracks the band’s Spotify statistics and talks about almost everything in terms of numbers. Despite his logistical nature, he engages in the creative abstractions of the art he is so deeply involved in. “As soon as fall hit, our numbers doubled,” Browne said. “We have kind of a more brooding, eerie and sometimes angry sound so it’s not exactly fit for a great happy summer day when it’s 90 degrees.” The band that almost wasn’t Sheedy, Browne and Perdue, along with former member Charles Campanella, got together when they were in their teens and covered Blink-182 songs in their basements before deciding to create a band. Born out of a “really young passion” for music and performing, Previous Love — then called Creek View after the street they grew up on — went on an indefinite break when Browne and Sheedy went away to college in Albany and Florida, respectively. But Browne wasn’t happy, weighed down by a decision he felt was the result of an “obligation” to move away from home for college and “do that little thing.”

He soon moved back to Buffalo, along with Sheedy, who transferred out of Florida State University due to logistical issues with his program. Both became students at UB, along with Perdue, who is a year younger than them and never had any plans to move away from Buffalo to begin with. The band was back together. But soon after, Campanella who had “responsibilities he needed to take care of,” left the band. “There were never any real hard feelings,” Sheedy said. “We just wanted to support him.” The Buffalo scene The band is clearly in love with the Buffalo music scene, taking every opportunity to plug other local bands like Carpool, Ghostpool and Super American amid a chorus of eager “check them out” and “great Buffalo band.” A friend of a friend was in a band called Head North. Perdue emailed to ask some “words from the wise,” only for them to offer Previous Love its first real gig opening for their band at The Forvm on Maple Road. From then on, Previous Love followed in Head North’s footsteps. “We did literally everything they did starting up. They gave us the name of who they recorded with and we went to them. They gave us their old amp so Charlie could play guitar,” Perdue said. “They were just so kind and they put us on so many shows.” Despite the help Previous Love members got when they started out, the band still faced issues finding venues to perform in. Mohawk Place had shut down, but later reopened, and other venues like Town Ballroom usually hosted “larger” acts and national tours. “For smaller acts … going through them is tough,” Browne said. “Sometimes just because there’s not as many shows available.”

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THOMAS ATEHORTUA | THE SPECTRUM John Purdue plays the drums at a Previous Love show at Mohawk Place

Browne said Greg Burt from For the Music Productions helped local bands like Previous Love get booked at venues. It was a struggle for a while, but the shows they played with other small bands remain some of their favorite memories. Browne said those bands were some of Previous Love’s “first fans.” “Sometimes, those other bands are the only people you really play for,” Sheedy said. This was especially true when people would show up to see their friends in other bands perform and leave immediately after. But they didn’t really mind. Sheedy said it helped them form friendships with the acts they performed with, like Buffalo band Worse Things. The band has grown in presence since its days performing at The Forvm, and recently performed at Mohawk Place to a crowd so large, the venue room couldn’t fully accommodate it. “The crowd itself was so big that there was standing room only. You had to go to the next room over,” Hunter Ford, a junior marketing and finance major, said. Ford is a fellow Buffalo Chips member and met Perdue when Previous Love “was starting

to blow up.” Although he wasn’t previously a fan of alternative rock music, Ford still shows up to concerts to support the band, and in the process even began to explore more groups. “They draw huge crowds. And every single time that I’ve seen them, they’ve never failed to impress me,” Ford said. Despite their growing success, band members are adamant not to let the pursuit of stardom take over their lives. All three have jobs and school to worry about and Browne even has a job waiting for him at a local accounting firm once he graduates in May. This “realistic” mentality the band has adopted was born from an early realization that being a “starry-eyed dreamer” doesn’t always lead to a glamorous lifestyle. Success and fame can be elusive, the group members said. “Some advice that I got was along the lines of like, the happiest musicians are people who don’t have to rely on it in order to survive and feed their family,” Browne said. Email: Tanveen.Vohra@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @TanveenUBSpec

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6 | Thursday, May 2, 2019

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

V a m p i r e Vampire Weekend kicks off ‘Father of the Bride Tour’ Tuesday JACKLYN WALTERS CO-SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

Vampire Weekend fans didn’t want to leave Tuesday night’s show and neither did the band, which performed for an additional 30 minutes after running through the setlist. At the end of the show, band members came back on stage for a six-song encore, including audience requests for “Giving Up the Gun” and “The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance.” A smoky stage, ﬂashing red and blue lights and extended periods of jam sessions took Vampire Weekend and 1,000 fans effortlessly across a 19-song set. Opening with “White Sky,” the group mixed old hits with new cuts to ensure a night of variety. Vampire Weekend kicked off its “Father of the Bride Tour” Tuesday at Asbury Hall. Ezra Koenig, the band’s lead vocalist, said the last time the band performed in New York was its 2014 show at the Buffalo Outer Harbor, besides an appearance at a 2016 Bernie Sanders rally in New York City. The tour is in support of the upcoming “Father of the Bride” album, which drops on Friday. The album is Vampire Weekend’s first album since 2013’s “Modern Vampires of the City.” The band already released singles “Sunﬂower” and

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W e e k d a y

go-lucky energy and bestfriend-like bonds between Koenig and touring guitarist Brian Robert Jones. Bassist Chris Baio was in a trance, dancing vehemently along to both the lighthearted and deeper-cutting tracks, like “Hannah Hunt” and “Step.” The band matched the former sanctuary’s stainedglass ambience with a churchlike transition from “2021” to the would-be last song, “I Think Ur A Contra.” The near-religious experience left the audience wanting more, leading the band to come back and play hits “Campus” and “Oxford Comma” before asking for audience input. Multiple people shouted requests for “Pizza Party” –– a track from KoeJACKLYN WALTERS | THE SPECTRUM nig’s days as a member Vampire Weekend performs at Asbury Hall. The band mixed old hits with of L’Homme Run –– but new cuts to ensure an enjoyable night. Koenig ultimately accepted requests for “Giving Up “Big Blue,” which were staples at Tuesday and enjoyed the “jivey” danceability of night’s performance. newer singles such as “Unbearably White,” The Gun” and “The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance.” Although some concert-goers were the song’s live debut. Koenig joked with the audience before less familiar with the new singles, Angela Seth Klemenich, ‘18 Geneseo alum, said Blersch, an ‘01 UB alum, said she mostly he has wanted to see Vampire Weekend playing “Giving Up The Gun,” as someenjoyed hearing the band’s new songs and since he was 15. Klemenich’s favorite part one asked if Joe Jonas would be making sent a video of “Sunﬂower” to her 4-year- of the show wasn’t hearing 2008 classics an appearance, referencing the song’s starold daughter. like “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” or “A- studded music video. The band ended its six-song encore “It’s great music, fun to vibe to and Punk,” but the band’s cover of Fleetwood with “Ya Hey,” leaving audience members dance to.” Blersch said. “This is just an all Mac’s “Everywhere.” with the sound of Koenig’s ethereal howls around awesome band and it transcends “Definitely when they played ‘Everythe ages, from my 4-year-old daughter to where,’ that was the best,” Klemenich said. echoing through their minds all the way her 40-year-old mother.” “I almost died a little. I had no idea they home. Audience members –– ranging from teenagers to middle-agers –– sang along to bops like “Diane Young” and “Cousins,”

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SPORTS

8 | Thursday, May 2, 2019

ubspectrum.com

Sports briefs UB Athletics highlights of the week NATHANIEL MENDELSON SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

Jeremy Harris selected for Pro Basketball Combine Senior forward Jeremy Harris will take part in the Pro Basketball Combine, May 21-22 at the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California. Harris is the second UB player to participate after Wes Clark performed in it last year. The Professional Basketball Combine is a secondary draft combine designed to give players an opportunity to showcase their talents in hopes of being selected to play professional basketball. Each player who attends has the opportunity to participate in private workouts and scrimmages, combine testing, and interview for NBA general managers, NBA scouts, G-League personnel and has overseas opportunities, according to the combine’s website. Harris spent two seasons at UB after transferring from Gulf Coast State College where he was the second-best JUCO

player in the country. He has averaged 14.8 points per game, six rebounds and 2.6 assists in his career with the Bulls. Harris made the secondteam All-Mid-American Conference for the second-straight year and eclipsed the 1,000 point mark this season. Currently, no other Bull has been announced their participation in the Combine. Seniors CJ Massinburg and Nick Perkins each participated in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament that ran from April 17-20 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament consisted of the top 64 senior college basketball players in the nation and is considered a prime opportunity for players to maximize their visibility and skills. The MAC named Massinburg Player of the Year and Perkins was named MAC Sixth Man of the Year for the third consecutive season. Both were All-MAC firstteam selections as well.

VINDHYA BURUGUPALLI | THE SPECTRUM

Jeremy Harris lays it in during the MAC Championship in Cleveland, OH. Harris will participate in the Pro Basketball Combine on May 21-22.

THOMAS ATEHORTUA | THE SPECTRUM

Cierra Dillard lays it in against Kent State. Before leaving for WNBA training camp, Dillard made a visit and donation to the Kids Escaping Drug facility in West Seneca.

The 2019 NBA Draft Combine full participant list has yet to be announced and is expected to be revealed on May 4. The Combine will take place in Chicago from May 15-19 if any Bull is selected. Cierra Dillard makes donation to Kids Escaping Drugs foundation Cierra Dillard is busy packing up boxes for the WNBA training camp that begins on May 5, but she still had time to give back to her community. Dillard visited the Kids Escaping Drugs facility in West Seneca Monday and brought some items with her to give to the facility for an upcoming auction they’re holding. She brought a signed picture of the UB team that went to the Sweet 16 two years ago and a shirt she wore that says “reclaim and advance.” In addition, Dillard donated the shoes she wore from this year’s

NCAA Tournament. “I didn’t have everything growing up. I saw the poverty, I’ve seen the drugs, I’ve seen being a statistic, and making it out ... that was my biggest goal,” Dillard said. “And I see the kids ... they have the same dreams too, they have the same dreams and aspirations to do the same thing that I do. All they’re looking for is the opportunity. I just want to tell them, ‘You can get that opportunity if you work hard, you dedicate yourself, there are things you’re going to have to sacrifice, but if you want that dream, you can get that opportunity as well.’” The Kids Escaping Drugs foundation is dedicated to ending the drug epidemic in Western New York. Its goal as the only residential treatment facility for adolescents aged 12-23 is to empower families to live a life free from the disease of addiction through community outreach and education. Dillard has remained with the Bulls throughout the process to leaving and participated in pick-up games with members of the team and coaching staff on Tuesday. Email: nathaniel.mendelson@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @NateMendelson

UB considering removing Steven Butcher from Athletics Hall of Fame following fraud scheme THOMAS ZAFONTE SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR

Steven Butcher, a UB Athletics Hall of Fame inductee ‘07, has a sentencing trial set on June 12 after pleading guilty to $45 million of insurance fraud in New Jersey. Butcher, the all-time leading scorer in UB men’s soccer history, may not be in the hall of fame for much longer. Butcher was operating a large fraud scheme that saw his then-company, the Niagara Falls-based MedMax, target New Jersey residents into buying unnecessary prescriptions, according to the conviction documents. UB is in the “process of discussing the status” of Butcher’s hall of fame inclusion on Wednesday, according to UB spokesperson Kate McKenna. UB still lists Butcher in the hall of fame online and Butcher’s men’s soccer records still stand in the record books. His name is still listed in the Dr. & Mrs. Edmond J. Gicewicz Family Athletics Hall of Fame wall in Alumni Arena. There is no mention of the fraud scheme in any of the records. Butcher pleaded guilty shortly after his conviction, which had forefeit close to $4.6 million in “criminal proceeds” and pay restitution of at least $45 million. The UB alum ’99 is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and violating of the Anti-Kickback Statute, a healthcare fraud and abuse statute.

“It’s not limited to Steve or anybody working with him,” said his lawyer Herbert Greenman at the time of conviction. “There are parts of it where he had gotten involved through other people, that he knows he shouldn’t have been involved with and that’s pretty much the reason he decided to take the plea.” The Spectrum contacted Greenman’s office, but he did not reply in time for print. This isn’t the first time notable alumni were charged with fraud. UB donor and former UB Foundation board member Stephen Walsh was charged with defrauding $500 million in client investments in 2009. Walsh was a former co-owner and CEO of the NHL’s New York Islanders. In 2001, Walsh “pledged $250,000” to UB Athletics and UB named the basketball office complex after him. After the donation, Walsh agreed to chair an athletics donation campaign committee for UB’s $250 million fundraising campaign says UB’s website. UB Athletics removed his name from the complex in 2011, according to UB spokesperson Cory Nealon. Nealon said “the removal took place following his conviction and return of the donated funds to the plaintiffs.” Butcher’s sentencing has been moved four times due to lawyers’ and officials’ continued negotiations following the plea,

according to New Jersey court reporter Lisa Larson. The proceedings will continue at the Newark, New Jersey district court.

*Benjamin Blanchet contributed reporting to this story. Email: thomas.zafonte@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @Thomas_Spectrum

THOMAS ZAFONTE | THE SPECTRUM

Steven Butcher’s name on the UB Athletics Hall of Fame wall. Butcher will have his sentencing trial on June 12, after pleading guilty to $45 million in insurance fraud.