The Spectrum Vol.69 No.03 by The Spectrum Student Periodical

THE SPECTRUM VOL. 69 NO. 03 | SEPTEMBER 5, 2019

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

THE MONEY ISSUE > SEE PAGE

graphic By JESSICA SUTTON

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Billie

Homecoming king

Starting quarterback Matt Myers is fresh off his ﬁrst season win but doesn’t want hometown-hero status just yet BRENTON J. BLANCHET EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

But UB’s 38-10 win over Robert Morris Thursday was, understandably, a different type of gratification for Myers. When he looked out into the stands at UB Stadium and, among the 18,412 attendees watching on, he saw friends –– among them former teammates –– as he brought the Bulls to victory during his first NCAA start.

starting quarterBacK matt myers stands on the sidelines of uB stadium. myers, a Buffalo native, is ready to taKe on penn state saturday after his starting deBut last weeK. Brenton Blanchet | the spectrum

Matt Myers is entering his second season as a pre-written success story. He led his high school football team to a state championship and he’s been on a Bulls football team that went 7-1 in the regular season.

“It’s something that I dreamed about and wished for,” Myers said. “I definitely worked my tail off for it. The fact that it’s here and I’m living it, I will give myself a pat on the back but I’m also not done.” Myers, a redshirt freshman who recently earned his gig as UB football’s starting

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UBSPECTRUM

Burna Boy, DaBaby, more to headline Fall Fest > SEE PAGE

Student Association announces concert series in Student Union Wednesday

8 JULIANNA TRACEY, ANASTASIA WILDS ARTS DESK

quarterback, is nowhere near done. After securing West Seneca West a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class A football championship in 2017, and after a high school senior season of 2,397 passing yards and 24 passing touchdowns, Myers had to adjust to not seeing much play as a Bull last year. But this season, although he humbly won’t admit it, he’s on his way to becoming a bit of a hometown hero. Myers wasn’t a big UB fan growing up in Buffalo –– and ironically grew up in a household of Alabama fans –– but he remembers going to a couple Bulls games with his father. Before he was No. 10 on the Bulls, and around the time that he sat in the stands at UB Stadium, Myers sported No. 8 on his back during modified games. This was before he saw Robert Griffin III show off on the Washington Redskins. Once he did, from his sophomore year of high school onward, he stuck to 10. In high school, Myers transferred from Bishop Timon-Saint Jude to West Seneca West shortly before his senior season, but the new school and new number proved to work. Myers sported the No. 10 in 2017 when he brought the state championship to West Seneca West, ending the team’s sea> SEE MATT MYERS | PAGE 10

Burna Boy, Young the Giant, Gunna and DaBaby will headline the Student Association’s 2019 Fall Fest Concert Series. The Student Association e-board announced the lineup at 12 p.m. in the Student Union Wednesday. The series will include three separate shows throughout the semester, each concert showcasing a different genre. Burna Boy will headline the Sept. 14 Afro-Carribean show, with support from openers Kranium and Koffee. Young the Giant will return to UB on Oct. 12 for an indie-rock showcase, with supporting acts to be announced. The final Nov. 8 concert will feature co-headliners and trap newcomers Gunna and DaBaby –– both members of XXL’s 2019 freshman class. SA did not announce venue and ticketing information before publication. The 2019 series marks the second consecutive year Fall Fest has been split into three different shows. All artists are new to a UB fest, except Young the Giant, with this fest marking the group’s second time performing at UB after Spring Fest 2015. Students anxiously awaited the announcement in SU on Wednesday. Sophomores Osayuwame Osaigbovo and Iyobosa Ekhator, and junior MaTeenah Ige excitedly discussed their hopes for the lineup before the reveal. “I think it’s gonna be Burna Boy. I pray to God it’s gonna be Burna Boy. I’ve learned all the songs of the albums and it has to be Burna Boy,” the group said. “I pray it’s A Boogie again and PnB Rock,” another chimed in. The trio was ecstatic during the announcement, with their excited screams taking over SU. SA President Yousouf Amolegbe > SEE FALL FEST | PAGE 2

Graduate Student Association funds unavailable while ﬁnalizing contract GSA waiting on Faculty Student Association to sign contract and release funds

BRITTANY GORNY SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

The Graduate Student Association’s funds are temporarily unavailable, as the Faculty Association –– the new fiscal agent for student governments –– has yet to sign its contract with GSA. In May, UB announced FSA would replace Sub-Board I, the previous fiscal agent for student governments, effective July 1. FSA has since absorbed all student governments’ $3.2 million in investment accounts over the last three months. SBI and GSA filed a lawsuit against the university in June to temporarily restrain the

the graduate student association held their first Board of directors meeting on wednesday. gsa still has no funds to reimBurse cluBs for another three to four weeKs. vindhya Burugupalli | the spectrum > SEE GSA | PAGE 2

NEWS

2 | Thursday, September 5, 2019

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FROM PAGE 1

FALL FEST was glad to hear it. “I think the students loved it, I heard a lot of screaming,” Amolegbe said. Amolegbe said DaBaby was the student body’s top choice on the SA Entertainment Survey, and Burna Boy –– who recently dropped his fourth record “African Giant” in July –– was the top choice for international artist. Last year’s Fall Fest Concert Series saw a turnout of roughly 400 students at the first show, 600 at the second and 733 at the last show, while their venue, the Center for the Arts, had a capacity of roughly 1,700 people. But Amolegbe has high hopes for this year’s turnout. “I’m happy with how the audience reacted,” Amolegbe said. “I’m very excited for the show. I think we’re going to have a very good turnout this year.” Email: arts@ubspectrum.com indie group young the giant is set to return to the uB stage for the first time since 2015 emily li | the spectrum archives

FROM PAGE 1

GSA

removal of SBI along with all subsequent actions. On July 30, State Supreme Court judge Tracey Bannister dismissed the lawsuit, forcing GSA to cooperate with the transition. Now, a week into the academic year, GSA’s funds are still not available, costing clubs out-of-pocket expenses without students knowing when they will be reimbursed. GSA is waiting for FSA’s signature on its new contract. From there, according to GSA Vice President Connor Walters, it will take at least a few weeks to get the bank account up and running. “The transition for all other governments took the full three-month period,” Carrie Woodrow, the director of business compliance and internal controls, said. “Now that GSA will also be transitioning to FSA, we are working to expedite their transition and make funds available to

them as soon as possible.” GSA clubs also need to find money in their allotted budgets for taxes. Since GSA’s incorporation, GSA and its clubs are no longer tax exempt. Approval for tax exemption through the IRS could take up to a year, according to SA attorney Josh Korman. Walters said if SBI stayed at UB for at least another year, GSA could have worked toward getting its own tax exemption. Woodrow said regardless of the transition, student governments were going to be incorporating, and consequently would have had to apply for tax exemption Amber Rivera, vice president for GSA’s chemistry club, is paying out of pocket for club costs without knowing when she’ll be reimbursed. “We’re now on the hook for our own events, even though we have this money that’s been guaranteed to us,” Rivera said.

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“We just can’t access it and have no way of accessing it.” Abigail Snyder, president of the chemistry club, and Rivera found out they have to find roughly $400 in their roughly $3,000 budget for taxes, which used to be exempt through SBI. “We’ve been in contact with GSA, we were apart of the SBI protests and we’ve been aware of what’s going on,” Snyder said. “So we did know what was happening, we just didn’t necessarily know what the effects were going to be.” Walters said the turnaround for getting reimbursed is usually much faster. “So right now yes, if student clubs want to run events … they are paying out of pocket,” Walters said. “It would have been a much faster turnaround if we were up and running on reimbursements than there is now.” Woodrow said FSA is working to final-

ize GSA’s contract and urged students not to cover their clubs’ expenses in the meantime. “We do not encourage any student to pay for club expenses until such a time that their government has secured a fiscal agent,” Woodrow said. “This is only an issue for GSA as they did not participate in the transition during their lawsuit.” Email:brittany.gorny@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @BrittanyUBSpec

UB announces 33rd annual Distinguished Speakers Series BRITTANY GORNY SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

UB announced the 33rd annual Distinguished Speakers Series, with none of the speakers labeled as a “student-choice speaker,” which has been a longtime staple for the series. The series, announced on Tuesday, will headline Nyle DiMarco, deaf activist and winner of “America’s Next Top Model” and “Dancing with the Stars,” on Oct. 23 at Alumni Arena. The series will close out with Jeff Corwin, the host of “Ocean Mysteries,” renowned conservationist and environmental journalist, on April 1 at the Center for the Arts. UB announced five total speakers for this year’s series. Other speakers include Maggie Haber-

man, New York Times White House correspondent and Pulitzer Prize Winner, on Nov. 14 at the CFA, Yusuf Salaam, Criminal Justice Advocate and member of the Central Park Five, on Feb. 24 at Alumni Arena and Daymond John, “Shark Tank” investor, entrepreneur and FUBU CEO, on March 11 at the CFA. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning Sep. 25 and can be purchased inperson or online. Tickets for DiMarco and Salaam will be available at the Alumni Arena Box office and tickets for Haberman, John and Corwin will be available at the CFA box office. All speakers are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Email: brittany.gorny@ubspectrum.com Twitter @BrittanyUBSpec

OPINION

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THE SPECTRUM Thursday, September 3, 2019 Volume 69 Number 03 Circulation: 4,000

UB students need more meal swipes Nineteen meals a week is not enough, we demand 30

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Brenton J. Blanchet MANAGING EDITORS Jacklyn Walters Lauryn King, Asst.

CREATIVE DIRECTORS Jessica Sutton Matthew Koons WEB EDITORS Savanna Caldwell, Chief Cassiana Enderle, Chief Reilly Mullen, Asst. Nicole Waddington, Asst.

NEWS EDITORS Brittany Gorny, Senior Alexandra Moyen, Asst.

FEATURES EDITORS Samantha Vargas, Senior Julian Roberts-Grmela, Asst.

ARTS EDITORS Julianna Tracey, Senior Anastasia Wilds, Asst.

ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Benjamin Blanchet

MULTIMEDIA EDITORS Vindhya Burugupalli, Asst. Wayne Penales, Asst.

ALEXANDER POLAND CONTRIBUTING WRITER

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a satirical column, sources are not real* The greatest feeling about being at UB is ending the week with extra meal swipes. The problem is, I never feel like I have enough swipes. What if I

Ever upward, or farther downward? How the regulations of the Excelsior Scholarship affected my education

PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Nathan Stutz GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGER Nicholas Meurer

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.

For information on adverstising with The Spectrum: VISIT: www.ubspectrum.com/advertising CALL US: 716-645-2152 The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100

MYAH GONZALEZ STAFF WRITER

“Free tuition for lower-income students.” Like many young teens in America in 2017, headlines like this filled me with excitement and hope for a future that never seemed possible. Growing up in a low-income, single-parent household, I didn’t see college as the natural next step in my life. I knew it would be something I would have to fight for, and I knew it would be a hard fight. When New York State announced the Excelsior Scholar-

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.

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ship program, it promised to give people who grew up like me the chance at higher education. It almost felt too good to be true. Once I finally got to college –– one gap semester and countless financial aid forms later –– I learned there was so much more to this seemingly-golden opportunity than I thought I signed up for. Upon meeting my advisor and telling her I intended to apply for the scholarship once applications re-opened in the fall, I learned about all of the regulations associated with being an Excelsior recipient. As I sat there, a first-semester freshman, eager to learn about everything my future at UB would hold, my advisor did not mirror my excitement. The look on her face was not one of happiness or encouragement, but more a look of frustration –– not at me, but at the the program itself. She began listing off rule and after rule, each one weighing heavier than the last. No matter what, you have to take 30 credits a year. No matter what, you can’t take

Give collegiate athletes what they deserve

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want to buy three containers of queso at Moe’s? Or maybe 12 orange Gatorades from Sizzles? Students at the university need more swipes and I propose that UB makes a 30-meal-swipes-aweek plan. Nineteen meal swipes never felt like enough for me. Whenever I go get chicken tenders at Fowl Play, I always want every sauce available, especially their famous “Boom Boom Sauce.” Sadly, that ends up costing extra. Yes, maybe a few students will have extra meals at the end of the week, but the 19 meal plan also doesn’t account for dessert and a late night snack. While UB claims this 19 meal plan is the “best value,” I really believe 30 meals a week would be even more valuable to hungry students due to the amount of food you could eat if you happen to use them all. Knowing that the swipes will

SARA HOLLAND STAFF WRITER

Being a college athlete can be extremely difficult. Each day I find myself giving more than 100% effort in my school work as well as softball. From bouncing between the weight room to the field or court and then to classes, it can often take a toll on many student athletes. Yet, this is the lifestyle that many high school athletes dream of. I have always advocated for

paying collegiate athletes. As a student athlete, I’ve experienced the ins-and-outs of the NCAA and understand its expectations for those who plan on being part of an athletic team at the collegiate level. One of the expectations that is still heavily stressed is the concept of amateurism, which prohibits college athletes from profiting off their status and receiving compensation of any sort. The NCAA, according to USA Today, generates roughly $1 billion annually, and some of the highest-paid football and basketball coaches can make anywhere from $3-8 million. Essentially, colleges and the NCAA are benefitting off the talents of their athletes, and the athletes are in turn helping everyone make money but themselves. The argument on this can be frustrating. So many questions and complications would arise in order to figure out how to pay

Thursday, September 5, 2019 | 3 disappear when the week ends fills me with satisfaction. I just hope they’re going to good use. My theory is that these extra meal swipes are being fed to the geese. While geese get a very bad reputation on campus, I feel that the university sees them as our silent protectors from harm. Like Batman. Still, students may be concerned about the price of 30 meals a week, especially when they could just cook healthier food and try to save money instead by buying said food at the notoriously cheap Elli. But I feel as though students don’t pay enough to the university and there’s nothing wrong with giving just a little bit more. I asked students on campus about my proposed idea for a new meal plan. The opinions were mixed, as some saw the plan as too few meals for them. “It’s not enough to buy seven meals worth of blue Gatorades with my leftover swipes every Friday at Sizzles,” said sopho-

more business major Chad Boyardee. “If I’m trying to trade for Caden’s extra Juul pods, I need the extra Gatos.” Still, some are content with their minimalist lives. “Nineteen is just fine for me,” said freshman communication major Teddy Graham. “I know my parents are proud of me when they see my tower of Dasani water bottles reaching the ceiling of my value quad.” My proposal to make a 30-mealswipes-a-week plan could change everything. It could start a chain of events that leads to other important changes, like smoking on campus actually being enforced or finally enrolling geese into gen-egg courses. The students and geese of UB deserve better food for their brains and beaks. While nineteen meals a week sounds like a lot for any grown person, we are all UB Bulls and weigh approximately 2,400 pounds. Better food, better brains, better Bulls.

a semester off. No matter what, all credits have to be degree-applicable. No matter what, you have to maintain the set GPA. And if you mess up, suddenly that big, shiny promise of free tuition is taken away. As a new college student, the pressure of all of the regulations was a heavier load than I felt I could handle. Every “what if ” popped into my head. What if I really struggled in a class and had to drop it? Suddenly I would be below my required credits. What if there was a class I was really interested in but it did not apply toward my specific degree so I wouldn’t be able to explore that option further? What if I couldn’t afford all the other non-tuition related expenses and needed a semester off, would there be no scholarship for me to come back to? To me, there is only one thing worse than never being able to afford college. That is getting to college and finding a career to be passionate about and look forward to, only to then have one bad semester and have everything I grew to love no longer be a plausible option for me to return to. These are fears I carry with me every day. I should be discovering

what I want to do with the rest of life and exploring different options and opportunities, but now I spend more time worrying about credits, GPAs and money than I ever have. New York State should consider what kind of impact should come from this scholarship. A limit on the period of time allowed to complete your degree seems reasonable, but this should be an aid for those who need it, not an additional burden. When there are so many factors that could lead to rescinding the money provided, it becomes so much less about the education and so much more about maintaining the scholarship. If educating as many people as possible is the intended goal, then allow those people to explore that education for themselves and not on the terms that have been deemed acceptable by the state. I will continue to fight for my education as I always knew I would have to. And I can only hope that the very thing that gave me so much hope in high school will not be the same reason that dream is taken away.

collegiate athletes. Who will get paid? How much will they get paid? When will they get paid? If it was up to me, I would base pay on the success of the sport as well as the money brought in by each program. As I’ve researched this, I’ve found that many feel only football and men’s basketball should be paid. I mean, they are generally the top two programs that generate the most money for the school, so why should any other athletes get money, right? Wrong. You’re telling me that UConn’s women’s basketball team would not be paid? That the University of Oklahoma’s women’s softball team would not be paid? There are a number of schools in the country that have women’s sports teams that are far more successful than any of the men’s programs. And their athletes also deserve fair compensation. I believe that the sports that are getting paid should be the sports that generate top dollars. Many people will argue the fact that free tuition and partial scholarships are enough, and therefore

student-athletes should not be paid. But those who do not experience the lifestyle of a Division-I athlete have little-to-no room for say. There have been many collegiate athletes who have spoken about this issue who feel the dedication and devotion they have toward their sport does not allow them to fully take advantage of their educational opportunities. A study done by CBS Sports proved how hard it was for collegiate athletes to receive the value of their education. The study found 54% of athletes said that they did not have enough time to study for tests due to exhaustion. So, do collegiate athletes really get to take advantage of their free tuition? All in all, collegiate athletes are the ones that are doing to the work, yet they aren’t paid a single penny. The NCAA must recognize the lifestyle that student athletes live by, and provide compensation to those who help bring money to their schools.

opinion@ubspectrum.com

Email:sports@ubspectrum.com

4 | Thursday, September 5, 2019

Gloss Gloss boss boss Student entrepreneur starts her own company, Bad Gyal Cosmetics, as freshman

NEWS “Nobody can make enough products to serve seven-plus billion people in this world,” Nembhard said. “Knowing that and seeing other black women succeed doing that off of social media, it really just helps me stay focused so that I can do the same.” Nembhard makes her products wherever she can, whether it’s her dining room

ALEXANDRA MOYEN ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Monique Nembhard, a black entrepreneur, proud Jamaican and “lip gloss fanatic,” began finding ways to make money in middle school, with no plans to work a nine-to-five. She would walk around her middle school cafeteria selling brownies, as her friends remember. Then, as a freshman at UB, Nembhard started Bad Gyal Cosmetics in May, selling lip products to people across the world. Nembhard, a sophomore psychology major, said she saw very few, if any, UB students selling lip products, and saw space in the market for herself. She began researching, buying supplies from vendors and asking friends to sample her products throughout the spring semester. The products are vibrant and sparkly with names like “sunkiss” and “island breeze” and she even ships her products in blue boxes decorated with palm trees, hoping to give her customers a “Carribean feel.” Nembhard said she wants to make her company as Carribean as possible so it is a reflection of herself. “I wanted to create colors [and names] that reminded people of the Caribbean,” Nembhard said. “Everybody loves Jamaicans, I love Jamaica and I’m Jamaican, so I might as well reflect who I am by calling it Bad Gyal Cosmetics.” The entrepreneur said she recognizes the numerous other lip companies, but seeing other black business women –– such as Jesseca Dupart and Wuzzam Supa –– start from the bottom and create million-dollar businesses in hair and makeup, she realized the potential of her goals.

monique nemBhard, “lip gloss fanatic” and entrepreneur, discusses her eXperience of starting her own Business, Bad gyal cosmetics. vindhya Burugupalli | the spectrum

or even her residence hall lounge at UB. She takes orders in the Student Union and gives customers their products either the same or next day. And when she’s home in Queens, Nembhard receives orders in person or on Instagram and ships them to her customers. Nembhard said being her own boss comes with its struggles. When she first released her lip products, she received some negative feedback. Consumers told her that opening the lip gloss was “a bit messy” and has been told the peppermint oil she puts in her product tasted “a little bit weird.” “Any issue my consumers notice, I notice.” Nembhard said. “So when they said it, I realized I definitely had to fix that.” Allison De Leon, a sophomore at NYU and Nembhard’s friend, said her favorite lip gloss is Very Berry, because it’s “smooth” and “not sticky.” “So if my hair gets in my face, I’m not dealing with a mess,” De Leon said. “It smells really nice and has so much glitter, which I love.”

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De Leon, who Nembhard used to always yell at for not wearing lip gloss, knew Bad Gyal Cosmetics was important for her best friend and was eager to show her support. “I was actually really excited to help her. We had conversations about what kind of image she wanted for her nemBhard using Bad gyal cosmetics’ products. brand and I was like, vindhya Burugupalli | the spectrum ‘It’s gotta look really Although Nembhard had her ups and cute and professional,’” De Leon said. “So downs when establishing her business, she I helped her create the Instagram page and wants those interested in entrepreneurship I made the promo video and the logo.” to know they shouldn’t let mistakes get to Nembhard said she even has customers them. consuming her lip scrubs, literally. “Just never be deterred, because at the “I had a friend who was just like, ‘It end of the day, you have a great idea and tastes so good, I eat it raw,’” Nembhard there are other people that are going to be said. “My coworker said the same thing.” willing to support it, friends or not,” NebWith all this ambition, Nembhard hard said. “As long as you are dedicated, doesn’t plan to just stop at lip glosses and you do what you need to and you’re rescrubs. sponsible, you will definitely prevail.” “I hope to expand into lipsticks, skincare products, maybe even hair care prod- Email: alexandra.moyen@ubspectrum.com Twitter: ucts –– I am a natural girl,” Nembhard @AlexandraMoyen said. “[I also hope to] have eyeshadow palettes, highlighters, all of those things.”

Bad gyal cosmetics’ products. vindhya Burugupalli | the spectrum

NEWS

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‘SheaKing’ up UB one hair product at a time

Student entrepreneur helps UB community feel ‘good as hell’ ALEXANDRA MOYEN ASST. NEWS EDITOR

jorel cunningham, the “shea King,” holds vindhya Burugupalli | the spectrum

one was when Cunningham announced his business. “I think it was either a Black Student Union or African American Studies general meeting,” Forde said. “During open announcements he talked about his busi-

Thursday, September 5, 2019 | 5

butter and coconut oil, and then [my mom] came up with the idea of black soap,” Cunningham said. “I know there are a lot of African students here, so I was like, ‘Yeah, you know what, ain’t a lot of black soap up here either, we should definitely put that on there.’” After that, Cunningham kept thinking of other things he could add to the list. Customers have options including Jamaican black castor oil and mango soap

and out. “[For the most part], black and Asian and Latin-x students are ignored on this campus. We’re only paid attention to when the school wants to b------t their diversity politics,” Forde said. “It feels good to have another person that looks like us try for us.” Cunningham’s next goal is to add Shea Moisture to his list of products, which he said will “take everybody’s business.” He also hopes to stay in Buffalo after he graduates and open a storefront. “I’m trying to see if I can get certain things in place to where I can have a more permanent location, or somewhere that’s more established to where people can come and go, rather than me having to do deliveries,” Cunningham said. “I definitely want to try to do whatever I can to make sure everybody up here has what they need.” Originally, Cunningham was looking for products for himself, but was inspired by Jay-Z and Nipsey Hussle, who conducted business by giving back to the community. “The reason why they impacted people and made a little bit of a change is because they had businesses. And it wasn’t just businesses to make money, it was businesses to help people out,” Cunningham said. “That’s the thing about businesses, when you have one, it can’t just be about money, you have to think about not only what your customers want, but what they need.”

his products on campus.

Jorel Cunningham’s afro is rich in moisture and thickness and its sheen of oil could be seen from his roots to the very ends of his hair. Cunningham’s afro could make any afro-lover proud, but it wasn’t always affordable to maintain. “I would look online to see what places [in Buffalo] are braiding hair and it would be like $70-$80 for straight backs,” Cunningham said. “And if you wanted box braids, they would charge you like $100$200, it’s ridiculous. For your own hair, not bringing any extensions.” Cunningham, a senior Asian studies major and music performance minor, noticed a lack of black businesses offering quality hair products and affordable braiding salons catered to Buffalo’s black and Latino communities. So last May, even though he had no interest in entrepreneurship, he created The Shea King, an Instagram business intended to help students buy expensive products for less. The Shea King offers an array of products with everything from Jamaican black castor oil to black soap to choose from. “I went around to some of the stores that were selling some of the same products that I was selling and made sure I’m charging just a little bit less, or as [low] as I can,” Cunningham said. “I also made sure there were certain stores not selling certain things.” Devin Forde, a graduate communication student, remembers how surprised every-

ness, black products and the entire room gasped in amazement. Moments after, so many people were making inquiries, it was really cool.” With the help of his mother, Cunningham has his natural, brandname products shipped from his Bronx home to Buffalo. “Originally, it was just going to be shea

to choose from. Once they pick the product, they can send him a direct message or ask him in person for the item they want. Cunningham then delivers the products to dorms and certain off-campus spots. Aftr buying a bar of black soap and a bottle of coconut oil from The Shea King, Forde felt “good as hell” –– both inside

Email: alexandra.moyen@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @AlexandraMoyen

some of cunningham’s shea King products. vindhya Burugupalli | the spectrum

You are not alone.

UB OFFERS GROUP COUNSELING. buffalo.edu/studentlife/counseling

6 | Thursday, September 5, 2019

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Bankable beats A playlist of songs to make you feel richer than you are

JULIANNA TRACEY SENIOR ARTS EDITOR

When asked to describe college students, most people’s first response is “broke.” Students have to pay for tuition, meals, gas, rent, books and so much more, so it gets hard to hold on to extra cash. But if you listen to this playlist of rich rhythms, you can feel richer, even while eating ramen noodles out of a coffee mug. ABBA - “Money, Money, Money” Sugar daddies and mommas have been –– and will always be –– a hot topic. More and more people are including their Venmo or CashApp usernames in their social media bios in hopes of attracting someone who will pay them. So a song fantasizing about being in a relationship with a rich man is an appropriate entry here. Released in 1976, “Money, Money, Money,” is considered a classic ABBA song. The track is from the point of view of a woman who, despite working hard, cannot make ends meet, inspiring her search for a wealthy man. The song had critical success, reaching No.1 on the Australian Singles Chart.

The single cover to Lil Pump’s “Gucci Gang.” Courtesy of Warner Bros

Lil Pump - “Gucci Gang” One of the biggest symbols of money is fashion. Of the thousands of fashion brands around the world, Gucci is among the most high-end. Lil Pump uses “Gucci Gang” as an opportunity to brag about his Gucci products and other luxury items, like Balmains and private jets. The overplayed, outdated and always financially satisfying “Gucci Gang” was originally released on SoundCloud on Aug. 27, 2017. The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and its repetitive lyrics about carefree luxury can make any listener feel like they’re truly part of a “Gucci Gang.” Barenaked Ladies - “If I Had $1,000,000”

For many people, it’s fun to fantasize about what you could buy if you came across a million dollars. The Barenaked Ladies song “If I Had $1,000,000,” understandably, plays on this idea. The song talks about buying practical items, like a house and furniture, to more extravagant goods, like exotic pets, limousines, John Merrick’s remains. However, the song wholesomely comes to the conclusion that the best purchase would be to “...buy your love.” “If I Had $1,000,000” is one of the Barenaked Ladies’ most popular songs, charting on Canada Top Singles and UK Rock and Metal at No. 13. The song was even used as an advertisement for the New York Lottery. Donna Summer - “She Works Hard for the Money” Though it’s fun to fantasize about having money, the reality is that money comes from hard work. Donna Summer’s song, “She Works Hard for the Money” highlights this struggle. “She Works Hard for the Money” describes the life and work of a dedicated blue-collar woman. Summer based the song’s protagonist after a restroom attendant named Onetta Johnson, who was later mentioned in the song and featured on the album’s back cover. “She Works Hard for the Money” was a critical success, staying at No. 1 for three weeks on the Billboard Hot R&B/HipHop chart. The song was also hit 15 on

ubspectrum.com Billboard’s best-performing songs of 1983 chart. “She Works Hard for the Money” can also be considered as one of Summer’s signature songs. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis “Thrift Shop” Shopping on a budget may lead to valuable and fashionable purchases. Macklemore and Lewis’ “Thrift Shop” celebrates the trend of thrifting and, therefore, making affordable purchases. The song describes items that can be bought from a thrift shop, like gator shoes, brown leather jackets and leopard minks while avoiding expensive items from mainstream stores, like $50 T-shirts. Released on Aug. 27, 2012, “Thrift Shop” became a critical success pretty fast. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold six million copies in the U.S. The song also charted at No. 1 in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, France, Denmark, Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand. “Thrift Shop” also won two Grammy Awards in 2014, for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song, before Macklemore publically explained that Kendrick Lamar deserved the Grammy over him. Same. Still, the glamorization and success of affordable shopping is definitely something for students on a budget to celebrate. Email: julianna.tracey@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @JTraceySpec

Billie Essco reaches ‘musical peak’ Local rapper discusses new album, compares it to past work and future projects JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA ASST. FEATURES EDITOR

Billie Essco remembers the day he saw his creative idol live. The Buffalo rapper decided to drive down to New York City and go see Kanye West’s Yeezy Season 3 show. After the life-changing show, which featured Young Thug and Kid Cudi, Essco left the city to go stay at his friend’s place in Washington, D.C. On the drive, there was a “crazy” rain storm. But Essco was oblivious to the commotion outside. School stress followed by a day of travel and adventure –– not to mention Kanye ––brewed into a musical narrative which dominated his attention. With one hand steadying the wheel, the other desperately transcribed the lyrics. Eventually, the song would be titled “100 Hours” and selected to be a part of his long-anticipated album, “Aesthetic Raps.” The Buffalo rapper claims that “Aesthetic Raps,” his fifth record, is the “musical peak” of his career so far. “Aesthetic Raps” is where to look if you want to find out what Billie Essco is capable of from a technical perspective, according to the rapper himself. Compiled of 12 previously unreleased songs selected from several years of unreleased work, Essco does not run out of rhymes as he remains steadfast in his goal: showing the local community that talent is growing from within. The record is one of his three most recent that are now available on all major streaming sites. We caught up with the rising rapper to talk about his new album before his Sept. 7 performance at Music is Art, and discussed the album’s relation to his past work, his favorite tracks and the origins of the title. Our full interview, lightly edited for style and length, follows below. Q: In an old interview with WGRZ, you recommended that people listen to your album “CAFÉ” if they want to know what Billie Essco is all about. Now that your new album is out, do you still think “CAFÉ” is the best place to get to know you as an artist? A: As my musical career continues and

Buffalo rapper Billie Essco poses with a bicycle. Courtesy of Paul Knight

as new albums roll out, I think that each album has a little more information. I think that “CAFÉ,” was very personal because I was going through a lot of personal situations and I felt like the energy of that album really showed you the kind of person that I was. With “Aesthetic,” I think that it’s another realm for me. It’s more about the music. It’s giving the listener more of an opportunity to witness me at my musical peak, listen to me actually rap in depth, using these different words and different ways to say things. I think that with this album it just shows another room in the house. If there were a big house that I’m building, “Aesthetic” would be the room that you show off to your friends and you say, “Look at this, this is what I’ve accomplished thus far.” Q: For comparison, what room might “CAFÉ” be? A: It’s the place where you can really just sit down and delve into your thoughts and understand yourself, and also just refresh yourself. It’s about realizing who you are and refreshing those thoughts. Q: Do you have a favorite track on “Aesthetic Raps?” A: I know it’s going to change a lot because now that I am listening to it when it’s finally out, I’m listening to it from a new

perspective. When we were in the process of finishing it and mixing and mastering, I heard it so much I was just ready to turn it off. Now that it’s finally out, I can listen to it fresh. So right now I would of course say “New Ricks.” I think that is one of my favorite songs that I’ve ever made. Q: Does Buffalo have a major impact on your music? A: Yeah, man. Also, just on life. Realizing where you’re from and then understanding that you’ve been put in this place. Then, you understand what’s going on in the world and you relate to all these people but for some reason I’m from Buffalo. I think that’s one of the biggest things about me. I’m on par with what’s going on in the world, and I have connections to different places and people. But, at the end of the day, I’m from Buffalo. I’m one of the ones from Buffalo. Long before Instagram was around to teach us what to value, me and a couple of my friends were really adamant about giving back to our community. We were trying to show these kids that you can be from a place like this and still make it. It’s about showing Buffalo that we can be something. And I sacrificed some of myself to prove that point. I came back to Buffalo at a point when I was living in L.A. I told myself that we were going to build it

in Buffalo. No matter how long that took, I couldn’t let myself lose sight of that. At the end of it all, Buffalo always was the reason why I took it this far and the reason I plan to take it further. Q: Can you talk a little about the album title: “Aesthetic Raps?” A: A good friend of mine, who is also my creative director and my all-around creative partner, actually titled the album. It was going through a few name changes before that because we had this project for a while. But he kept explaining to me that the type of music I make creates its own aesthetic. One day he was like, ‘I think we should call the album that,’ and after the next couple of days, when I listened back to it, I started to pay attention to how much of an aesthetic the music brought. We figured we would make it a series, so we are doing volumes one, two and three. Q: So there are more Aesthetic Raps to come? A: Yeah, there is more to come. Honestly, I don’t want to say exactly when, but I will say that it’s coming a lot sooner than people will expect. Email: julian.grmela@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @GrmelaJulian.

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FEATURES

A beginner’s guide to the Excelsior scholarship SAMANTHA VARGAS SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR

When Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his scholarship plan to provide middle-class families with free tuition in 2017, many New Yorkers were thrilled at the thought of higher education becoming more accessible. But to truly understand the Excelsior scholarship, students need to do a little more research. Only 3.2% of NYS undergraduates have received the Excelsior award, according to a 2017-18 analysis by the Center for an Urban Future and many financial advisors attribute this to the unexpected eligibility requirements. To help you out, we’ve compiled a guide to understanding the complexities of the Excelsior award. Free college? The Excelsior scholarship does not mean students get free college.

As much as the hype around the scholarship might make it seem like a full-ride, Excelsior is a program designed to work in tandem with a student’s existing financial aid. It also only covers tuition. This means regardless of having enough financial aid to cover the tuition aspect of your bill, Excelsior is not applicable toward on-campus housing or the assorted student fees –– which amounted to roughly $1,700 for UB undergraduates in fall 2019. Before applying Cuomo and the supporting legislation introduced the plan with the requirement that students have a federal adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less, but there are multiple other stipulations students must abide by in order to receive the award. The program is marketed toward middle-class families, but is only accessible to full-time students. This disregards the low and middle-income students who are enrolled part-time. It is also only available to

NYS residents or those who have lived instate for a year prior to applying. Another stipulation students face is the requirement that current students must have previously completed 30 credits within a single academic year. This is used to ensure a student’s capability of complying with the program’s credit requirement, but prevents many students from applying. Credit requirements The largest contributing factor of rejected award applications –– 83% of rejected applications, according to the Center for an Urban Future –– is the program’s credit requirement. Students must complete 30 degree-applicable credits each academic year. This can add one to three additional classes on top of the 12-credit requirement which designates full-time students. The program will not fund summer or winter sessions, despite courses taken during these off-seasons counting towards the 30-credit requirement. Students often recieve very little or no financial aid for these sessions. This means students might have to pay roughly $300 per credit hour out of pocket to maintain their scholarship status. Another unstated stipulation is any

Department of Media Studies puts class cap on lab fee charges for semester, looks into changing fee Students now only have to pay for a maximum of two class lab fees, $125 flat rate may change depending on class ANASTASIA WILDS ASST. ARTS EDITOR

Students who have taken a media study production class know the department requires an extra $125 lab fee. Students have had to pay this fee for each production class they take –– regardless of how often the course uses the resources. But this semester, students who took more than two classes were only charged for a maximum of two lab fees. And now the department is looking into revising the $125 flat rate fee to be more reflective of the course type, according to Carl Lee, the director of equipment and facilities for the Department of Media Studies. If a student enrolls in a media study production class, they gain access to the equipment room and labs provided by the Department of Media Studies. Students can borrow video cameras, audio gear, lighting gear and other items needed for their classes form the equipment room.

They can use the gear for 48hour periods, after which they can return or extend their checkout time. Students can also borrow keys to computer lab rooms for projects. In exchange, students pay the mandatory lab fee per production class each semester to cover the cost of these resources, now with a cap of two. The department has worked to make the lab easy to access –– with a new online reservation system –– but some students still have concerns about fees, which the department is hoping to revise. Some students, like senior media studies major Catherine Campbell, say these fees are fair as they stand. “I think the media studies A student waits outside the media studies’ equipment room. lab fees are fair if you are tak- A nastasia Wilds | The Spectrum ing a lab class like Basic Doc, “I took classes where the fee was reBasic Video and Intermediate Video,” quired, but I didn’t need to use anything Campbell said for the equipment room,” Dudzinski said. But other students say the fees are unfair “And then last year, I took a basic proand too expensive. Jennifer Dudzinski, a gramming course … I had a friend who senior media studies major with a concenhad to pay twice that because she was taktration in production, disagrees with the ing two classes.” current system.

Thursday, September 5, 2019 | 7 classes students repeat will not count toward the 30-credit count. This includes any course a student has taken throughout their entire academic career, regardless of whether they failed the course or received a scholarship at the time. The degree-applicable credit requirement, another setback for some, is designed to ensure students remain on track to graduate within two years for an associates degree and four years for a bachelor’s degree. Statistically, one in three students change majors at least once. This may prevent students from exploring their interests through a variety of classes, stifling their accessibility to higher education. Students with dual or double majors face a unique challenge because the program doesn’t acknowledge the pursuit of multiple degrees. A student must choose a designated program to pursue each semester because the scholarship doesn’t count courses that are applicable to two unique majors. Students pursuing two degrees are unable to balance classes within a single semester from each program they are enrolled in, in order to receive the scholarship. Email:Samantha.Vargas@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @SamMarieVarga

Alyssa Mariani, an ’18 UB media studies alum, said she felt the fees were a financial burden when she was at school. “If you’re in multiple [production classes], that’s a huge hit financially. It wasn’t fair when the class instructor would have you use equipment once or twice and money was wasted,” Mariani said. “I believe pro-

fessors should still be able to charge the fee if they promise to allow access and utilize resources for the students.” Lee explained what the lab fee pays for. “We get new equipment every year,” Lee said. “We definitely go through the budget every year.” Last spring semester, the department added a new online system called “connect2” where students could reserve equipment online instead of having to reserve at the equipment room itself. Lee also explained that the department is assessing the new fee cap and also looking at the $125 flat rate, and that the twocourse fee cap may be temporary until the department decides on the new rates. “Currently, they’re revising how lab fees are assessed and calculated. [The lab fee] will no longer be a flat $125 lab fee,” Lee said. “It will depend on the type of course you’re taking. However, they are going to calculate the new lab fees coming from above.” Lee said a student in a programming production course is probably going to use the computer labs but not the equipment room. Because of this, that programming student should not have to pay a fee that covers both the computer labs and the equipment room. Dudzinski agreed with the new ideas. “I think [the new lab fees] would make a huge difference,” Dudzinski said. Other members of the media studies department did not comment in time for publication. Email: anastasia.wilds@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @AnastasiaWilds

FEATURES

8 | Thursday, September 5, 2019

Skirting unnecessary costs A guide to saving money on campus JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA ASST. FEATURES EDITOR

Being a student is really expensive. UB students might get a better deal than those who opted for private colleges, but instate undergraduates still pay upwards of $7,000 per year on tuition alone. Out-ofstate undergrads, graduate students and professional students pay significantly more. But tuition is only one aspect of the cost of student living. Housing, food and additional fees pile onto what is already a steep bill. So if there are ways to make life at UB cheaper, students deserve to know. Lucky for you, we compiled a guide to help you avoid some costs of life at UB. Avoid summer and winter course Courses offered during the summer and winter terms are tempting options for students looking to alleviate some of the weight of their upcoming semester, or serve as options for students who need to catch up on their credits in order to graduate on time. Although they seem convenient at first, students may need to consider the cost. During the summer and winter terms, students are charged almost $300 per credit hour in addition to supplementary fees. An average 3-credit course can end up costing a student nearly $1,200 out of pocket. Think before you register. A lot of the time, students can benefit from saving the extra cash and instead adding an extra course to their upcoming semester’s schedule. Wait to buy the textbook Textbooks can come as a shocking additional cost. After paying the tuition and fees necessary to make your way into a course, nothing is worse than hearing a professor declare that all students will also need a $300 textbook. Okay, one thing is worse: realizing that the book isn’t really necessary once you’ve already bought it. Hesitate before you listen to your pro-

fessors on this one. Ask students who have taken the course to make sure you’ll actually need the book before you buy it. Read through the syllabus carefully to see how often the professor assigns readings or work that can only be accessed via the textbook. If it isn’t that often, there may be alternatives to paying the full price. Check online to see if the readings as-

cheaper to pay for one textbook than to spend another semester paying tuition and fees at UB. Pick the meal plan that is right for you Freshmen living on campus are limited in their meal-plan options. They can choose either the “Any 19 Plan” or the “Any 14 Plan.” The 19 plan provides students with 19 meals per week, plus 250 dining dollars and three guest meals to use throughout the semester, while the 14 plan

signed in the textbook can be found on sites. UB Libraries is a great place to start the search for online and physical textbooks. If the readings are unavailable online or in the libraries, but sparse enough to make buying the whole book seem like a rip-off, ask a classmate if they would be interested in purchasing the book together. Always check if the book is on sale for cheaper than at the bookstore. You can often rent used options online for a better deal. But if you know you’ll need the book to get a good grade, buy the book. It’s

A guide to off-campus restaurants to keep your belly happy without breaking the bank on cab services

gives students 14 meals per week, 340 dining dollars and three guest meal passes to be used throughout the semester. It’s important to remember the value of a meal swipe depends on the time of day. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-10:30 a.m., one “meal” is worth $5. Lunch, dinner and weekend brunch are each worth $9.80 until 8:30 p.m., then late night swipes are $5.85. These options come at a high price –– the “Any 19 Plan” costs $3,055 per semester and the “Any 14 Plan” costs $2,890 per semester –– and can leave students unsatisfied due to the time constraints limiting students’ ability to use their meals

week begins. Students living on campus can explore other meal options after freshman year which may be more valuable. Students can also avoid meal plans altogether and fill up their accounts with Dining Dollars –– which are not taxed –– to save money and allow for more freedom.

Effect offers all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner. Prices for most dishes range from roughly $10 to $20.

North Campus Pho 54- 1280 Sweet Home Rd. #101 Pho 54 offers Asian cuisines including Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese (specifically sushi). The pricing of the menu ranges from the lowest at $6 to the highest at $30. Take the UB Stampede from Ellicott or Lee loop to Hadley Village to get to this one. There is no designated stop at Hadley Village, so students have to pull the string to request the stop. Once at Hadley Village, it is a 10-15-minute walk to Pho 54.

Wholly Crepe- 3292 Main St. This hot spot specializes in crepes and offers a wide variety of savory and dessert crepes. In addition, it offers coffees and smoothies. In terms of price, it is quite reasonable –– the average price is $6.

Tea Leaf Cafe- 4224 Maple Rd. #124 This is an ideal spot to hang out with friends or for study dates. It is most known for its wide range of customizable bubble. However, Tea Leaf serves a variety of coffees, teas and other beverages as well. Take the same Stampede route to Hadley Village to get here, from there it’s a 15-minute walk .

VINDHYA BURUGUPALLI ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

South Campus Students can access restaurants on Main Street –– across from South Campus –– by taking the Stampede to the Main Circle stop on South Campus. It is roughly a 20-minute bus ride and all places listed below are an average five-minute walk from the Main Circle stop. Amy’s Place- 3234 Main St. Amy’s is a laid-back diner that offers all-day breakfast and a fusion of Middle Eastern and American dishes. There are many vegan and vegetarian options and most items on the menu can be customized to dietary requirements. The stop is pretty affordable with most dishes costing below $10.

whenever. Students who prefer their more expensive meals in the morning need to supplement their meal swipe with another swipe or another form of payment. For those who only want something small in the afternoon, they may have to use a meal swipe worth more than the food they’re buying. Students are also only allowed to use two meal swipes per time slot. This can leave students with extra meals at the end of the week that they lose once the new

photo By wayne penales | the spectrum

No car, no problem

Are you tired of the same old food oncampus and itching to expand your taste buds? Many students don’t own a car and it becomes a hassle to access places off campus that aren’t walking distance. But there are a few great options off campus students can access without a car by using the UB Stampede –– a service most students pay for –– to get to restaurants around North Campus and on Main Street. The options around North Campus are relatively limited and harder to access using the UB Stampede compared to South Campus. Main Street has better-known authentic restaurants that carry some delicious dishes.

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SATO Ramen- 3268 Main St. SATO offers a variety of ramen, Japanese curry and rice dishes, a fusion of Asian appetizers and desserts. The average price range for main course dishes is around $12 and $6 for appetizers and desserts.

photos By vindhya Burugupalli

Tandoori Hut- 3171 Main St. Tandoori Hut is an Indian restaurant that offers both South and North Indian dishes. Look out for the lunch and dinner buffets which typically cost around $14. Lake Effect Diner- 3165 Main St. Travel back to the ‘50s in this quaint, neon-lit diner, serving classic All-American food. Craving breakfast at 6 p.m.? Lake

Kalypso- 12 Winspear Ave Kalypso serves a fusion of Jamaican and American cuisine. It offers lunch specials at only $5. The price range for most nonspecial dishes is between $7 to $15.

Email: julian.grmela@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @GrmelaJulian

Zetti’s Pizza and Pasta- 4621 Maple Rd. Zetti’s serves a range of pizza, pasta and calzones and is right across from Flint Village. The price range for most dishes lies between $4 and $20. Take the UB Stampede to the Center for Tomorrow. It is approximately a 10-minute walk from there using Google Maps. You can also get to the restaurants using the UB Bikeshare service or for free on your own bike. Bonus Boulevard Consumer Square On Saturdays, the Stampede takes students on a mall/market ride from Flickinger, Ellicott and Governors to the Boulevard Consumer Square. While there, check out restaurants like Naan-tastic, the Halal Guys, Blaze Pizza and Chipotle, along with other chain restaurants and cafes. Email: vindhya.burugupalli@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @moonhorizon_

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SPORTS

10 | Thursday, September 5, 2019 FROM PAGE 1

MATT MYERS son with a perfect 13-0 record and garnered national attention. “It was just a long time coming after everything that happened over the summer and having to transfer there unexpectedly,” Myers said. “It was a big relief to be honest, and just the icing on the cake after everything that happened.” The next step for Myers was college ball, and he committed to playing with the Bulls after visiting 15 camps across the country. “It’s fun but it’s a stressful recruiting process,” Myers said. “I always had UB on my mind. I, just as anyone else, was looking for more. But at the same time knowing what you have, and it’s still a good school to go to.” He admits he was hoping to go away for school, but UB’s interest before his senior season made him feel like a priority. And remembering that he already had a local fanbase of loved ones gave him the extra push. Myers only played in one game last

season against Bowling Green but the then he didn’t attempt a pass. Since then, and after recovering from a spring injury, he spent his summer training intensively to earn this year’s starting position after QB Tyree Jackson opted for the NFL, competing for the role against guys like Dominic Johnson and Kyle Vantrease. “I thought all the quarterbacks are going

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QB Matt Myers goes for the pass at practice. Benjmain Blanchet | The Spectrum

Myers preps for a play at practice. Benjamin Blanchet | The Spectrum

to do things, when called upon, that will win football games for us,” Head Coach Lance Leipold said during the last preseason practice this year. “But in the overall evaluation, we thought Matt had the best camp and is going to give us the best opportunity.” Myers only attempted 10 passes in his first start against Robert Morris last week but his 69 passing yards led to two touchdowns and his 47 running yards led to a touchdown as well. One game can’t define a player, though, and Myers has 11 left

this season –– and a whole college football career ahead of him –– to prove himself as a Bull. His next stop Saturday at Penn State’s Beaver Stadium, where attendance can reach over 106,000, isn’t worrying him too much. He attended Penn State’s Nittany Lions camp in 2016, but still never played for a crowd of that magnitude. “It’s just another game of football,” Myers said. “There’s going to be a difference of crowd that I haven’t played in before but at the end of the day, it’s still football.” But Myers, even if he pulls off the win against Penn State, doesn’t see himself as a hometown hero. “Nah, I’m just a guy. A normal guy. If that’s what they call me, that’s what they call me. ” Email: Brenton.Blanchet@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @BrentonBlanchet

Preparing for Penn State The Bulls look to pull off an upset against the No. 15 ranked Nittany Lions Saturday ALEXANDER POLAND CONTRIBUTING WRITER

will look to have similar success against UB. While Penn State’s offense looks to impress, its defense is talented as well, especially against the run. The Nittany Lions only allowed four yard rushing for the entire game versus Idaho and it will be difficult for the Bulls to have similar success on the ground as they did against Robert Morris. UB quarterback Matt Myers will look to throw the ball more in this game and will look to handle a solid Penn State sec-

After a resounding 38-10 victory against Robert Morris last Thursday, the Bulls football squad will now head to State College, Pennsylvania to face No. 15 The Bulls huddle up during last week’s Robert Morris game. Penn State (1-0) on Saturday. Wayne Penales | The Spectrum This will be the Bulls’ most difficult game of the season as they play at Beaver Stadium, which can hold up to 106,572 spectators. While the Bulls played a great game against Robert Morris, the level of talent separating Robert Morris and Penn State is massive and UB will have to play a perfect game to have a chance at a victory. Penn State started its season with an absolute dismantling of Idaho, winning 79-7 at home. Both their offense and defense played phenomenally in the opener as they had 673 yards of total offense while only allowing 145 yards from Idaho. They seem to be a balanced team as they ran and threw the ball at a very similar rate. Coach Leipold and the UB football staff have a lot to prepare for Saturday night, especially with the amount of talent in the backfield for the Nittany Lions. Five running backs scored at least one touchdown against Idaho and Penn State coach James Franklin

ondary. Myers only threw 10 passes in the win against Robert Morris, but he will get more opportunities to show off his arm on Saturday night. This will be the most intimidating and difficult game for the Bulls on their schedule this season. Playing at Beaver Stadium will be a completely new experience for many players on the team as not many MAC schools will be going on the road against a college football powerhouse this season. The Bulls will have to be excellent on

Saturday night to leave Beaver Stadium with a win, as both the Nittany Lions offense and defense seem to have some of the most talented players in all of college football. While things will look like a classic David vs. Goliath battle, it won’t be hard for the UB coaching staff to motivate players, as they still have a chance to do the unthinkable. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com