THE SPECTRUM VOL. 69 NO. 13 | OCTOBER 10, 2019
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, SINCE 1950
Pinnacle Community Services organizes October events for domestic violence awareness > SEE PAGE 4
UB president talks provost search, climate protest and school ranking Satish Tripathi sits down with The Spectrum for fall semester interview BRENTON J. BLANCHET EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
UB President Satish Tripathi’s lunch preferences may seem incomplete ––for instance, ordering a Garden Burger with no buns –– but he assures his vision for the campus isn’t. When The Spectrum sat down with Tripathi Tuesday at the Tiffin Room, we discussed what his vision entails: master plans (a term which he joked could be used about redesigning your house), finding someone to fill the shoes of departing provost Charles Zukoski and bringing the school closer to a No. 25 public university ranking in the US News and World Report before he retires. He says he won’t be retiring soon, either. But not everything we discussed was a footnote in his State of the University Address last week. We went over his thoughts on student climate protests –– and the UB Foundation’s investments, which students have recently voiced concern over –– and how he feels the College of Arts and Sciences dean and interim provost addressed faculty concerns about Ph.D. stipend funding. Our conversation with Tripathi, lightly edited for content and clarity, fol-
lows: The Spectrum: During the State of the University Address, you discussed the school being named the No. 31 public university in the U.S. In 2011, when you took office, UB was ranked at No. 54. What do you hope this says about your impact on the school? Tripathi: It’s a collective work, we had a vision. We wanted to build an institution. As I said in my State of the University, it was a great institution. It needed focus, needed really honing in on how to improve the student experience, because that actually is a main focus: how to improve the graduation rate. Remember, the four-year graduation rate I talked about, was more like 30-something percent and now we’re 60%. Yeah. Think about the impact of the research and kind of research going on, if you look at the students getting awards … And I think that shows that it’s not [just] me personally, it’s really the impact of the institution. TS: Some of the biggest news this month –– and some of our most read articles –– were those on the funding of Ph. D. students in the College of Arts and Sciences. What do you think about the provost’s decision to extend 100% bridge funding for an additional year, after the dean’s initial announcement, and how do you feel the dean and provost addressed faculty concerns?
Writing her own story Aspiring journalist Gabriella Hall wins scholarship, addresses race and injustice in her writing ALEXANDRA MOYEN ASST. NEWS EDITOR
feel more included in the black community. Hall said, because she is biracial, she was “afraid” applying for the scholarship would take the opportunity from “fully black” students, but she was “shocked and pleased” when she won. Finding and accepting her identity has been part of her journey. Hall said being
Gabriella Hall didn’t consider race a “big deal” growing up. But she still felt “different” from her peers. She said she was the only black person in her prestigious International Baccalaureate program at City Honors High School. She didn’t understand why, but moments like these inspired her to explore racial injustice. This year, Hall, a freshman communication major, won the Carl R. Allen Memorial Scholarship for her independent research on black farmer land loss. Hall also examines the Massachusetts Avenue Project through UB Food Lab and researches how racism has influenced food distribution in Buffalo. Through the lab, she co-authored a chapter in a book on Buffalo’s Black Food Movement. Hall, who just turned 19, says the scholarship infused her with confidence to pur- WAYnE pEnAlES | The SpecTrum sue journalism helped her STudenT gaBriella hall in The Su loBBy.
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Get your head in the game UB gamers compete against each other, other schools on new esports team
Women’s basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack talks 2019-20 season
> SEE PAGE 5
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UB hosts panel Puzzling discussion on PathChild Victims Act ways:
T: If you look at, right now, the deans are working together and coming to the provost, saying, “This is the minimum we want so we can attract the best students.” Nationally, if you look at Ph.D. programs, and read the educational material on the programs, people are really looking at [if we’re] providing the kind of education they need … So this is a national thing. … Now that we have decided to pay, the deans have decided and the provost is supporting to pay one of the best stipends in the country at public universities. We should be able to attract the best students … So that’s a really great thing. I mean, this is really fantastic for the Ph.D. program. And it’s always good to really reevaluate those things, and the deans are doing that. And the dean of arts and sciences needs more time to go through the faculty process, and so on. So I think it’s a good thing that the provost has come up with a little extra money to support that process so we do the right thing and we come up with the right
> SEE TRIPATHI PAGE 2
biracial caused her “strife” as a young person because she always felt like she looked different from other kids. She said she was never able to fully identify as black or white, and people often thought she was Hispanic. “That’s something I’ve been making peace with for a really long time of feeling more connected to my community and [receiving the scholarship] was just a moment of like, ‘I am, I am,’” Hall said. “It was just a moment of clarity. The world sees me this way, I see myself this way, we’re finally in unison.” It was clear to Rod Watson, president of the Buffalo Association of Black Journalists and a columnist and urban affairs editor at the Buffalo News, and the fivemember scholarship committee that Hall was a “clear standout.” “Gabriella’s research work really stood out, both in terms of its quality and what it says about her commitment to [use] journalism to spotlight issues of particular concern to under-covered communities,” Watson said. When she decided to pursue journalism, Hall says she made a “beautiful marriage” between writing and her passion for racial justice. When Hall started interning for the UB Food Lab, Samina Raja, a professor of urban and regional planning who leads the lab, told Hall about black farmer land loss –– the injustices black people faced in losing farmland they earned through reparations. Hall needed to know more, and decided to research this history. Hall intended to write a series of blog posts, but her work soon became a 14page research paper she spent a year producing. “I found so many stories within stories,
Former Olympic speed skater Bridie Farrell discusses her childhood abuse to spread awareness of newly passed legislation DONOVAN NEWKIRK STAFF WRITER
UB held a panel discussion on Monday to raise awareness for child sex abuse and discuss New York State’s recent Child Victims Act. New York State Senator Brad Hoylman (D/WF-Manhattan) proposed the bill in January, but similar bills have been introduced as early as 2006 and continuously voted down. The New York State Assembly and Senate passed the bill early this year and Governor Andrew Cuomo signed it into law on Feb. 14. The act extends the statute of limitations for criminal cases of childhood sex abuse until the victim is 28 years old and for civil cases of childhood sex abuse until 55 years old. Victims who feel they were time-barred now have a one-year window to file a lawsuit. Olympic speed skater Bridie Farrell, UB associate law professor Christine Bartholomew and NYS Assembly members Sean Ryan and Monica Wallace spoke to roughly 40 attendees for the one-hour > SEE CHILD VICTIMS ACT | PAGE 2
I found so much history, I found so much passion in the history that I was finding,” Hall said. “It got too long and I was like, ‘It’s clear, this is not going to be a blog post, I don’t feel comfortable with it being a blog post.’” In October 2018, UB Food Lab was commissioned to write a book in honor of food systems planner Jerry Kaufman. When a researcher was looking for someone to co-author a chapter, Raja suggested Hall. “I was like, ‘I should immediately accept the opportunity because I want to be a writer,’” Hall said. “I mean, that’s lifechanging at 18 years old.” Hall, in the chapter, wrote about Uncle Adam’s Food Market, the convenience store her grandmother owned on Buffalo’s East Side in the ‘60s. Her grandmother’s store was among the few places people on the East Side could safely get food. “It was actually like a safe haven, there was no violence, nothing,” Hall said. “There were other convenience stores down the street, where they were constantly being robbed, people were being murdered, [but] nothing ever happened to her store because people felt so comfortable.” Last summer, Raja made Hall the lead researcher on the Massachusetts Avenue Project, a non-profit organization and urban farm located on Buffalo’s West Side. Hall and her team’s job is to document “how well [MAP] serves youth and residents through its services.” Although this was a proud moment for her, Hall couldn’t understand why she, an 18-year-old undergraduate, was chosen as the lead over graduate students. “I was completely shocked,” Hall said. > SEE GABRIELLA | PAGE 2
NEWS
2 | Thursday, October 10, 2019 FROM PAGE 1
CHILD VICTIMS ACT
event to examine the impact of the recent act. Farrell discussed her experience as a child Olympian, where she said she endured “countless instances of molestation” at 15 years old. Farrell specifically addressed her experiences with speed skater Andrew Gabel, and how she came forward in 2013 and said Gabel molested her while preparing for the 1998 Olympic trials. At the time of the alleged assault, Gabel was 33 years old. “One in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused by the [age] of eighteen and [don’t] tell anybody,” Farrell said. “I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t think people would take my word over his.” In 2013, Gabel admitted to having an “inappropriate relationship with a female teammate,” but said this did not include sexual relations. He issued a public apology and resigned from both U.S. Speedskating and the International Skating Union. “Everyone deserves the same right I have, to hold a microphone and tell their horrific story, no matter what their story
may be,” Farrell said. “Even if it’s their addiction to sports, education, a bottle or to a needle, it’s their right to talk.” Wallace discussed the recently proposed CARE Act, or Child Abuse Reporting Expansion Act, which will mandate any adults in direct contact with children to report known instances of abuse. “What the CARE Act does is ensure that certain classes of individuals, including clergy, are required to report any child abuse known to them,” Wallace said. Bartholomew said the Child Victims Act is a “step in the right direction,” but said there is still work to be done to close the “loopholes that currently exist.” “Now we need to ensure that the victims have the ability to win these cases when litigated,” Bartholomew said. “The proposed CARE Act is a crucial component for these cases to succeed because it will provide essential information that is otherwise withheld, typically.” Bartholomew said she believes the CARE Act will prevent clergy from using “penitent privilege” in order to cover up wrongdoings institutionally. At the end of the panel discussion, Farrell urged audience members to “tell
chriS yang | The SpecTrum (lefT To righT) nyS aSSemBly memBer Sean ryan, iT happened To alexa execuTive direcTor kaTe fowler and former olympian Bridie farrell diScuSS The child vicTimS acT aT uB.
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three people” about the discussion to help spread awareness and start a conversation. Madison Nash, a first-year law student, said the discussion was a great way to talk about a sensitive issue and described the event as “eye-opening.” “I thought it was great to hear about all of the changes that the state legislature has made, and is continuing to make, in favor of children and prior individuals who have been subjected to sexual abuse,” Nash said. If you or someone you know fear or have experienced sexual assault, you can make an anonymous report on UB’s website, UPD (716-645-2222) and the New York State police sexual assault hotline for college campuses (1-844-845-7269). Email: news@ubspectrum.com
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GABRIELLA
“I didn’t feel qualified in any way.” Yet, Raja felt differently. She saw Hall as a “good writer” and “thinker” and knew Hall was the perfect fit for the role. “I always sensed that [Hall] has more potential than she gives herself credit for,” Raja said. “So one way to test that out, or to let people feel that, was to actually put them in those roles and that’s why I picked [her].” But Hall couldn’t help being self-conscious, as this wasn’t the first time she has struggled to recognize her capabilities. After high school, Hall was accepted to Boston University. For Hall, college was always the “end goal.” Her parents didn’t go to college and she wanted to make them proud. She also wanted to show off her success to everyone who said she was only accepted because she’s black. “There were a couple people who didn’t get into the school and somehow [found] a way to make sense of what happened: why they didn’t get in, but I got in,” Hall said. “Someone literally came up to me and told me that it was affirmative action.” But Hall couldn’t attend because she could not afford BU’s $54,720 tuition, so she instead took a gap year for 2017-18. She felt like she had missed her dream. She thought BU was her only chance at a career in journalism, as it has one of the top journalism schools in the U.S. The gap year paid off as she used it to come to UB and work for the lab. Now, Hall has a new ticket: self-confidence. Because of Raja, Hall honed her research interests and gained self-confidence by leading her team. “[Raja] has entrusted so much respect, ability and so much faith in me that now I just feel full of it,” Hall said. Awarding Hall with the scholarship was “gratifying” for Watson, not only because of Hall’s quality work, “but because of her humility.” “She kept saying how honored she felt to be selected,” Watson said. “That attitude is an indication that she will continue to work hard, not take anything for granted and be the type of journalist we can all be proud of.” After being so self-critical, Hall is proud of her accomplishments, especially her scholarship. “I’ve looked at myself as a research assistant [and] I felt like a journalist last year, but I never really called myself one,” Hall said. “To win a scholarship that basically says, ‘You are a journalist,’ was humbling and affirming, in a weird way. That’s like, ‘Wow, I guess this is the role I’m starting to settle in.’” Hall is setting the bar high for herself. She hopes to intern at NBC, continue doing research and to either have her own column or work for “a diligent, wellrounded news source.” “I just want to keep writing pieces, particularly [covering] women of color, people of color and I’m not afraid of saying that’s my focus,” Hall said. “I know people are like, ‘I don’t know if you should say that’s your focus,’ and I’m like, ‘Well, someone, somewhere is going to have to write about these things, because they’re important,’ and I would like to be one of those people.” Email: alexandra.moyen@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @AlexandraMoyen
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TRIPATHI
[solution] where the faculty are involved. TS: With Provost Charles Zukoski leaving and A. Scott Weber taking over as interim provost, when do you expect to get to the final pool of candidates in the provost search? T: I hope earlier than later. You can never predict the process. Sometimes it takes a whole semester, sometimes more than a semester. We’ll just follow as it goes. You want the best person, not necessarily just to shorten the process. I mean, I know it takes anywhere from three to six months into it. But it depends. Sometimes you have somebody you want and it takes time to negotiate. But my goal really is to get the best person for UB in the position, as opposed to getting them the earliest. TS: On Sept. 20, students protested the fossil fuel industry [–– specifically the UB Foundation’s investment in EnCap Flatrock Midstream, which The Investigative Post wrote about in 2017]. I know you weren’t in your office when the students reached the fifth floor in Capen, but what message would you like to give to students who participated and voiced concern? T: … With respect to the investment at the UBF, we definitely are looking –– and they are working on –– looking at the norms that have been defined by what is called the Environment Social Governance. One of the things we have to look at is, most of the investment, a lot of investment, might be investment and investment and investments. We have to figure out, what is the impact? And they provide an independent way to look at your sort of footprint in the areas … So we are working with that now. And we are on the right track. It’s not a one-day thing that we can do and say it’s done. TS: The wellness center master plan is currently underway and I know UB was using surveys to determine what students want from it. How is this coming along? T: I think it’s important, like thinking about One Capen and all the facilities in one place on the wellness, we want a place students can come in. And again, if you haven’t seen the committee’s initial thinking about it, you should. It’s important for us to have a place for students to go for the needs in terms of their values. And they can also go and do the torturing of the bodies and do the exercise there. And I’m really liking that. I mean, just really sharing that with [UB] Athletics. What we have found is a support from the students. I don’t know how the survey’s going to come. But you know, in the past, at least, we thought students have to be involved in developing it, designing and so on. So it’s really a student-driven initiative. TS: You’ve held the role of president for nine years this April. According to Inside Higher Ed, the average tenure of a college president in 2016 –– the latest year I could find –– was 6.5 years. Do you think retirement is on the way for you, or are there some things you’d still hope to accomplish before then? T: I will continue to work as long as I am able to make a difference. And, you know, I’m not close to retirement yet. And I’m excited about our campaign that’s going on for fundraising, Boldly Buffalo, and we are making progress on that. And that would make and continues to make a difference on how we help the students and faculty to achieve their goals. And definitely as we move toward [the] top 25 [institutions], there’s a goal to work on as well. So I’m not thinking about retiring. If you have any questions for Tripathi throughout the semester, email eic@ubspectrum.com or tweet @BrentonBlanchet or @UBSpectrum for a chance for your question to be featured in our spring interview with the president.
OPINION
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Thursday, October 10, 2019 | 3
A letter from the former fat girl I did the freshman minus 60
AMAL ELHELW STAFF WRITER
I was always the resident fat girl, and I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t trying to get rid of that title. So, coming into my second semester of my freshman year (spring 2018), I decided to start living a healthier lifestyle. I started counting my calories, going to the gym daily, attending cycling classes and limiting my food intake. My efforts were actually working this time, as the number on the scale got smaller every week.
The only thing that was different this time was not living under my parents’ roof. I moved out to Buffalo for school and was living alone in an off-campus apartment. I was in charge of my own life in ways I never had been before. By the summer, I had lost about 30-40 pounds. And since then, I’ve continued my good habits and shed more weight. I currently weigh 60 pounds less than I was when I started at UB two years ago. While this very exciting and rewarding experience has been great for me, it also revealed some horrors of the world I’m not sure I would’ve found if I hadn’t lost the weight. Horrors that revealed themselves not through strangers on the internet, but rather through the good intentions of friends and family. I don’t post too often on social media, mostly because I simply don’t have the time. After last spring semester, I took time off work to go visit my family abroad. I figured this was a good time to come out of my social media hiding and post an “I’m back!” photo. I hadn’t posted since the end of October 2018, a photo that didn’t really capture
my body in its entirety, so no one really knew I had lost weight. Then, I posted a photo at the end of May 2019, wearing a tighter top and baggy jeans, fully displaying my whole self. Personally, I can’t tell a difference of weight in either of the photos but my friends and family certainly did. Ten people commented on my photo with admiring emojis and compliments. Some who saw the photo even mentioned my weight loss to my mom, asking what it was all about. Two of those commenters mentioned my happiness, saying “You look so happy and beautiful.” An old friend even took the time to text me directly saying, “Omg you look so happy in your post.” Besides the overwhelming slew of generous comments that I don’t usually get, the comments referencing my happiness are what wigged me out the most. Nobody has ever referenced my happiness from a photo. Yes, I was smiling in the photo but I’m also smiling in all my other photos. The only difference was my appearance, my size, my weight. This made me realize that society associates happiness with your appearance.
I never would have realized this on my own, but I watched first-hand how a group of people, my followers, associated my happiness with my weight loss. The funny thing is, I was probably the furthest from the word “happy” as I had ever been. I’d just come out of finals week, my grandmother was in bad health and my mental health was not where it should be. Happiness was not in my vocabulary at the time. But, my friends and family plastered it over me as if I was radiating it across the globe. So, from the former fat girl: My number on the scale does not translate to happiness. My pant size does not exude happiness. My BMI does not equal happiness. My appearance does not affect my happiness. So stop assuming it does. Email: opinion@ubspectrum.com
Halloween isn’t the only reason there will be blood in October Why hunting is needlessly cruel
LIAM REDMOND STAFF WRITER
October is here! With it comes spooky vibes, falling leaves and the beginning of another season of massacring animals. Although it was once a necessary part of progression and preservation of human life, hunting has evolved into the needlessly cruel annihilation of wildlife. Each year, numerous animal species are driven closer to extinction, largely due to hunting and environmental interference. According to a study done by biologist E. O. Wilson of Harvard University, 30,000
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 VOLUME 69 NUMBER 13
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different species of animals are driven into extinction globally each year. Delaware Action For Animals has found that here in the U.S., we kill a minimum of 100 million animals through hunting, annually. Many of these animals don’t go down quickly or painlessly. Instead, they are often shot, stabbed and battered several times before being finished off. The lucky ones may manage to escape injured, where they will proceed to struggle to feed and shelter themselves as they painfully await death. The worst part is that the overwhelming majority of us are already aware of this. Scientists have been forewarning us of the dire situations we have been forcing animals into for decades, but we cast a blind eye. We morally justify our selfishness by assuring ourselves that someone else will come up with a solution, or that the entire topic is too depressing to think about, and then continue about our lives. I, too, am guilty of this. Some of us probably even say, “Well, it doesn’t affect me, so I don’t care,” and they couldn’t be more wrong. When people over-hunt, as they often do, the entire surrounding ecosystem and environment are negatively impacted.
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Food cycles are disrupted, leading to starvation and death of other animal populace. These eliminated populations are frequently responsible for the dispersal of vegetation, according to Yale’s School Of Forestry & Environmental Studies. Without these animals around to contribute nourishment to their surroundings, extensive environmental degradation is likely, the study says. Although I’m not vegan and thoroughly enjoy consuming meat, no living being should be treated the way these animals are treated. Imagine that some extraterrestrials arrived on Earth and started to hunt and eat us. We’d view them as evil and savage-like. Yet, we are no different than that to the animals who are minding their own business and being slaughtered. To me, justifications like, “it’s a family tradition” and “we’re regulating overpopulation,” aren’t acceptable excuses for butchering entire families. Similarly, just because you eat what you kill, doesn’t mean you need to. If you have a fridge full of food, or can afford to go grocery shopping, there is no demand for you to resort to hunting.
Killing for food out of necessity and killing for mere “enjoyment” are two very different things and, unfortunately, the latter happens far too often. I hope one day soon, we’ll put aside our differences and stop wasting our breath fighting over which political party can save us the most money, and focus on preserving life on this planet. Having all the money in the world will not save you when life on this planet is no longer sustainable. Email: opinion@ubspectrum.com
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Pinnacle Community Services organizes October events for domestic violence awareness Buffalo community members march to raise awareness for domestic violence Tuesday ERIN TUCKER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Buffalo community members gathered at Third Street in Niagara Falls on Tuesday to march against domestic violence and hang purple ribbons on trees to show support for victims. Roughly 50 community members participated in the event, which featured artwork displays in the Wine on Third restaurant. Pinnacle Community Services held the walk to raise awareness for women and families who have dealt with domestic abuse and to highlight Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Passage House shelter, which helped with the event, is part of Pinnacle Community Services and provides shelter for abused women and their children. Passage House provides services such as applying for housing to get out of bad situations, transportation services, legal assistance and counseling to those who are survivors of domestic violence. The sixth-annual march’s theme was “resilience” and gave survivors a place to reflect through art at the event –– one of many that Pinnacle Community Services will be hosting throughout the month. Passage House Director Larissa Bachman said the artwork is a “survivor highlight” that tells a story of what these families have endured. “I have been affected personally in my life as I have someone close to me who is a survivor,” Bachman said. “[I] just want to work with individuals and help empower [them] to find their voice and choice in life.” The event is built upon giving survivors an outlet to alleviate stress through artwork, expression and raising awareness. Families displayed painted stones with images and words at Wine on Third to reflect on times when they needed strength.
Caleigh Ames, community advocate coordinator at Passage House, works with survivors of domestic violence and helps raise awareness in the community. Ames is responsible for community awareness and education, like the walk, and does one-onone advocacy work with survivors. “When you look at the artwork more, it makes you wonder why they chose those types of colors and what it means,” Ames said. “There’s really so much depth in it and the resiliency stones [that] the children of the survivors worked on show that everyone can build resilience which is very inspiring and eye opening.” Eileen Wrobel, engagement coordinator at Pinnacle Community Services, works
Erin Tucker | The Spectrum Buffalo community members tied purple ribbons to
with women and children in helping them use art as a healing tool to get through their “survival journey.” “I have been working in this field for about ten years now, and it really resonates with me to work with these people and be involved,” Wrobel said. Pinnacle Community Services will take part in “Wear Purple Day,” on Oct. 24, encouraging staff and the community to wear purple for domestic violence. Pinnacle will also host a domestic violence simulation called “In Her Shoes” on Oct. 24. This is an “interactive presentation” on survivors’ stories. “[In Her Shoes] is to help people realize what it’s like to be a survivor, to get
through the process and different barriers [survivors] face to really know what it is like to be in their shoes,” Wrobel said. If you or someone you know have experienced assault, there are a number of local resources. Students can make an anonymous report on UB’s website, through the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (716-645-2266), Crisis Services of Erie County (716-834-3131) and UPD (716-645-2222). For off-campus emergencies call 911, Amherst PD (716-689-1311), Buffalo PD (716-851-4444) or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (1-800-799-7233). Email: news@ubspectrum.com
show resilience for domestic abuse survivors.
Fall Fest playlist: A quick guide to Young the Giant and Verzache Get to know the bands playing Saturday ALEX WHETHAM STAFF WRITER
The Fall Fest Concert Series continues Saturday with its “Indie-Rock Showcase,” the second show of the three-part series. Rockers Young the Giant –– who headlined Spring Fest 2015 –– will headline the show as relaxed crooner Verzache opens the show. To get hyped up for fest, here’s a list of seven songs (three by Verzache and four by Young the Giant) to familiarize yourself with before heading to the Center for the Arts Saturday night.
Young the Giant “My Body”
“Young the Giant” 2010 You’ve probably heard this song before. The vocalist’s war cries of “My body tells me no! But I won’t quit ‘cuz I want more, ‘cuz I want more,” are embedded deep in the generation’s eardrums. Even if it’s a bit overplayed, this is still a triumphant and upbeat track with great melodies and vibes for a good day.
Verzache “Needs”
N/A, 2018 Opener Verzache’s “Needs” is their biggest hit and showcases the group at its sleekest and smoothest. With a deep kick and catchy bassline, it sounds like Tame
Impala producing a James Blake track in the best way. Summer may be over, but this song makes it sound like the sun is beating down in August.
Verzache - “Waiting for You”
“D97” EP, 2017 Compared to “Needs,” “Waiting for You” is a whisper. Verzache croons “I don’t feel the love no more, I’ve been waiting for you on the dance floor” over an instrumental that sounds like “lo-fi beats to chill and study to,” but the vocal melodies have an Alt R&B Joji-style quality. It makes for a sweet but melancholic and mellow four minutes.
Young the Giant “Cough Syrup”
“Young the Giant” 2010 This is arguably Young the Giant’s biggest hit, but it sees the group calming down and channeling The Killers. It doesn’t sound like them, and part of the reason for this is because the song predates the band itself. The song was recorded back in 2008 when the band was going by the name The Jakes. Regardless, it is an emotional and catchy ballad with an irresistible vocal melody.
Verzache “I Don’t Wanna Be Nothin’”
N/A, 2019 Verzache’s newest single is one of his calmest yet. It sees him going in an indiefolk direction a la Bon Iver, but it never
The Spectrum Archives Young the Giant performing at Spring Fest 2015.
devolves into copycat-isms. There is a deep rumbling bass in the low end that grounds this otherwise lightweight and relaxing tune. It’s good for quiet nights and introspection.
Young the Giant “Silvertongue”
“Home of the Strange” 2016 This song finds Young the Giant at their poppiest and most concise. The lead singer’s yelps of “Oh, girl, I’ve got that silver tongue, got, got that silver, silver tongue,” on top of the bouncy beat makes for an addicting combo. It may sound a little dated today but turning it on will take you back to the summer of 2016.
Young the Giant “Superposition”
“Mirror Master” 2018 To close out this playlist, try the opening track from Young the Giant’s newest album. The thumping drums take up the most space in the mix, but the guitars contrast them with their very light and folky strums. It showcases them at a midpoint between the mellow stylings of “Cough Syrup” and the more upbeat “My Body.” Expect to hear quite a few songs from their new album, and there is no better entry point into the band’s updated sound than this cut. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Get your head in the game ubspectrum.com
UB gamers compete against each other, other schools on new esports team ERIN TUCKER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Most students go to UB Stadium to watch football, but for those who prefer esports, the opportunity to see a SUNYwide esports tournament at the stadium may soon be a reality. UB’s new esports team allows students to compete against other universities in various video games, with the goal of someday hosting a “massive” tournament at the UB Stadium. The Student Association recognized the team –– which previously met as Overwatch Club –– on Sept. 23 and roughly 50 students have joined since the transition. The club has expanded to playing several video games since the switch, including League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm and games through Tespa, a North American collegiate esports organization. Unlike many UB clubs, students don’t have to attend club meetings to become members, as they can compete remotely from any location. Jake Nowak, a senior theatre design major and president of esports, said anyone can play, regardless of skill level or physical barriers. “Traditional sports are great for people to go support and watch, but not everyone is able to play,” Nowak said. “Esports are open to everyone. It doesn’t matter if you have a hip or a knee problem, you can compete here.” Community teams often come together for tournaments, which any student can enter regardless of skill level. But the club isn’t just for gamers. William Nicholson, a sophomore computer science major and co-founder and
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treasurer of esports, said students can volunteer to commentate on the games and can tune in to Twitch.tv, a streaming platform, to watch and support the students competing. He said he hopes to publicize competitions and hold them in easily accessible lo-
skills. And you have to critique yourself in order to get better and get up there and realize what you did wrong. The community aspect is really what is special about it.” Esports currently has players for three games, and Nicholson “hopes to cover six or seven” by the end of next semester.
Alexis Heng | The Spectrum Students play Super Smash Bros. UB’s new esports team allows students to universities in various video games.
cations so everyone can support the team. Nicholson said the team is a “tight-knit gaming community” where students come to compete, but learn valuable life skills in return. “Community is the foundation that [esports] is built upon, it is not all competitive,” Nicholson said. “I see people grow as leaders, making shots, setting up routines, [learn] better time management
compete against other
Matthew Welch, a sophomore communication major and esports’ social media coordinator, said gaming competitions have been “rapidly growing” over the last decade and believes the club serves student interests. “For as large of a school as we have, we believe that we can get a wide range of skilled gamers from many genres of games and be successful at a high level of
Thursday, October 10, 2019 | 5
gameplay,” Welch said. Esports typically holds competitions on Sunday evenings, and hopes to create a calendar of upcoming games so students can plan, form teams and compete. Nowak’s goal for esports before the end of this year is to have full rosters under every major
game in esports. “This will start getting UB recognition among other schools, as UB is one of the last SUNY schools to finally branch into esports,” Nowak said. “One day I would love to see the SUNY-wide esports tournament. I believe this can be accomplished if we work as hard as we have for the past year on the validity of this club.” Email: news@ubspectrum.com
From ghosts to 1980s China: The best upcoming video games Games to look forward to in the coming months for Switch, Xbox One, PS4, Windows ANASTASIA WILDS ASST. ARTS EDITOR
Video games can be a welcome distraction from university life, whether you game alone or with friends. Some people turn to the classics: Mario Kart, Dark Souls, Halo. But for those who are bored of their usual gaming go-tos, some interesting titles are hitting shelves soon. We’ve compiled a list of the most anticipated upcoming games to help deal with stressors for both avid and casual players.
over the role of Gooigi, a green slime copy of Luigi. The multiplayer mode, ScareScraper, even allows up to eight players.
Death Stranding Nov. 8, Playstation 4
After Hideo Kojima’s iconic return during E3 2016, people have been eagerly waiting to play Kojima’s first game since he left Konami. Luckily, the wait is almost over. On Nov. 8, “Death Stranding” will release for the Playstation 4. The game features some well-known actors such as Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen, and
the concept of life and death, and also focuses on the idea that humans need to be connected to survive.
Pokémon Sword and Shield Nov. 15, Switch
It’s time to once again become the strongest Pokémon trainer in the latest games in the Pokemon franchise, “Pokémon Sword and Shield.” In the games, the player embarks on a journey to catch Pokémon and become the strongest in the Galar region, which is an area inspired by Great Britain. The Galar region brings the player to
Shenmue III
Nov. 19, PS4, Windows
Oct. 31, Nintendo Switch If you want to encounter some real ghosts in Halloween, pick up “Luigi’s Mansion 3” for the Nintendo Switch. In the latest installment of the Luigi’s Mansion series, Luigi and his friends are invited to a luxury hotel. But the vacation turns out to be a ploy by King Boo to capture the protagonists. To save Mario, Princess Peach and others, Luigi must explore the enormous hotel and fight ghosts using the new Poltergust G-00. By changing the setting from a mansion to a hotel, the game attempts to give players the opportunity to explore rather than be locked into a linear path. The game also introduces new gameplay mechanics added in by the Poltergust G-00. And if you don’t want to tackle the haunted hotel alone, a second player can join and take
want to buy a game on Nov. 15, then “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” might be right up your alley. The single-player action-adventure game follows Order 66, as people in the Jedi Order are being hunted and killed across the galaxy. While Jedi Padawan Cal Kestis is in hiding, he uses the force to save a friend. But an Imperial Probe Droid caught footage of the act and the Second Sister inquisitor hunts him down. During the game, players will get to meet known “Star Wars” characters and worlds as well as new ones.
Courtesy of Nintendo Poster for Luigi’s Mansion 3.
the famous director Guillermo del Toro. During the game, the player controls Sam Bridges as he attempts to reconnect mankind after supernatural events threaten to destroy the world. Similar to Kojima’s older work, “Metal Gear,” Kojima says that “Death Stranding” will create a whole new genre of gaming. The game seems to be an open-world action game that places an emphasis on
an open world filled with sprawling countrysides, steampunk cities and plenty of new Pokémon. There are also some new gameplay features such as the ability for Pokemon to become incredibly large using Dynamax and Gigantamax.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Nov. 15, PS4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows If Pokémon isn’t your thing but you still
The long-awaited sequel to the first two Shenmue games has arrived. This iconic Dreamcast series continues with Shenmue III on Nov. 19. The games take place in 1980s China and follows teenage martial artist Ryo Hazuki as he tries to find his father’s killer. In 1999 and 2001, the first two Shenmue games were released for the Sega Dreamcast and the series is considered to be one of the pioneers of open-world RPGs. Even though the director, Yu Suzuki, planned to have more games in the series and the games gained a cult following, the large budget led to the games not making enough profit and the series stalled for years. After a Kickstarter campaign launched by Suzuki in 2015, Suzuki’s company, Ys Net, raised enough money to make “Shenmue III.” Suzuki also received Guinness World Record for the fastest $1 million and $2 million pledges for a crowdfunded video game. Email: anastasia.wilds@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @AnastasiaWilds
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6 | Thursday, October 10, 2019
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PHOTOS BY WAYNE PENALES | THE SPECTRUM
“Coming from Rochester, New York, there wasn't that much diversity in my high school. Since I'm Puerto Rican, the Hispanic community there was not big at all. It was just me and one other kid in my entire high school. I was looking for diversity when I was choosing which college I wanted to go to. In the UB club fair, I saw that LASA had a table set up. I went over and I looked through it and saw what they had going on. It got me re-
A collection of easy crock-pot meals for the fall
us to learn about our culture. I want to say we're very cultured. For the main part, my mom always made sure that we always knew our roots. And she always said she doesn't want to have kids that don't speak Spanish. She was like, ‘No, you need to learn Spanish, like fluently. And you teach your grandkids Spanish.’ It was my first language. I'm not gonna forget it. And even now that I'm in Buffalo, I try to stick to my roots, which is why I like LASA a lot. When I joined I was like, ‘wow.’ Once you join a community, you can start seeing more and more [people like you]. And that's kind of what I like, because I'm able to stick with my culture. And then I'm able to speak Spanish and they speak Spanish a lot in there.”
“I'm a junior right now. I came from the Bronx. I was born and raised in a family of Dominicans and grew up around the Dominican culture so I've never really felt out of touch [with my culture]. Coming here was very different. It was a culture shock for me because you don't see the Hispanic community represented all that much here on this campus. It took me a while to find Pan American clubs or organizations. For the first few weeks, I felt really uncomfort-
able –– like out of touch with my Hispanic culture. I couldn't find a place here until I had a friend introduce me to LASA. From there, that's where I took off as I started to get more involved. I started dancing, I learned a lot more about my Hispanic culture and cultures that I didn't know before. It was something that kind of really helped me grow as a person and to be who I really am now.”
ally excited. So I decided to go mainly just to surround myself with more Hispanic people that I didn't have [back home]. I didn't realize LASA was also a dance club. I'm not a dancer. I decided to also take on something new. Now, I'm on two other dance teams for bachata and hip-hop, and just kind of throw myself into everything they've got going on, which is really exciting.”
eight hours. Add the last two ingredients at the end and allow them to cook for upward of 30 minutes or until the tortellini is fully cooked.
SAMANTHA VARGAS SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR
Many students come to college without knowing how to cook for themselves. The process can seem overwhelming, but the answer to salvation is sitting somewhere in the Christmas Tree Shops. The crock-pot has been around for over 70 years, and it’s time to start making warm, hearty meals and accept slow cooking as one of the most rewarding cooking techniques. To help you learn the ways of the crock, we’ve compiled a list of easy crock-pot recipes that require less than ten ingredients and yield amazing results.
Tomato tortellini soup Six ingredients Tomato soup is a seasonal classic, and this recipe kicks it up a notch. It includes tortellini and Italian sausage, which add contrasting textures and flavors. It only calls for three steps, which definitely makes it a beginner’s recipe. It makes eight servings and should take roughly eight hours to make. The recipe calls for four cups of chicken broth, one 28-ounce can of diced tomatoes, two 10-ounce cans of tomato soup and two 8-ounce containers of chive-flavored cream cheese. It also calls for one pound of Italian sausage, which will need to be browned in a skillet before adding it to the crock-pot. The recipe suggests using cheese-stuffed tortellini. All ingredients, except for the cream cheese and tortellini, should cook on the low setting for
“My heritage is Mexican. My mom and my dad are both Mexicans. I'm from Brooklyn, New York. My family doesn't really have a long history here at all. There were struggles because both of them were immigrants. They only knew Spanish. It was kind of hard for them to find good jobs. When they did find jobs, people underpaid them, because they know how that [my parents] can’t talk and [they] can't speak up for yourself. At six, my mom separated from my dad. This wasn't uncommon for Mexicans –– I had a lot of friends where their moms and their dads got together at young ages. My dad left or got imprisoned. He became a bad dad. My Mom, would tell us that she just wants us to do our best. One of the most important things she said was that she always wanted
SAmAnThA vArgAS | The SpecTrum loaded Baked poTaTo Soup.
Loaded baked potato soup
Seven ingredients, vegetarian Loaded baked potato soup seems too good to be true. But by God, the wizards at Pinterest did it, and it was good. Against all odds, loaded baked potato soup does taste like a baked potato, as thick, starchy soup with a hint of sour
cream tang. The dish is incredibly easy to make and is also customizable with different toppings. Any topping you might put on a baked potato would be a great addition to the soup. It should take about eight hours on the low setting and four hours on high and should yield about eight servings. The recipe calls for 2.5 pounds of baking potatoes, one small chopped onion, two cups of chicken broth and four cloves of garlic. You should wash the potatoes and cut them in half. After the cooking time is up, the potatoes should be soft enough to mash and blend into the soup. Then you’ll need to add in 8 ounces of cream cheese, one cup of sharp cheddar and 1.5 cups of heavy cream. The crock-pot should be left on long enough for the cream cheese to soften and blend into the soup.
Autumn squash soup Ten ingredients, vegan Autumn squash soup is the pumpkin spice latte of the soup world. Based off of the Panera Bread recipe, the soup is full of classic fall flavors and is perfect for brisk fall nights. Although this recipe calls for a little more expertise in the kitchen, the result is definitely worth the effort. Rather than spending upwards of $6 on a single bowl of soup, you can make four servings with only 10 ingredients. It takes roughly five hours to cook on the low setting. The recipe calls for three cups of veg-
etable broth, one chopped yellow onion, one peeled and cubed butternut squash, two or three peeled and chopped carrots, 7 ounces of pumpkin puree, two teaspoons of brown sugar, half a teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg. All of these ingredients can be added to the crock-pot until the cooking time is finished. You must blend the ingredients with a hand mixer or in a blender until smooth. Then add in half a cup of heavy cream.
Slow-cooker lasagna Eight ingredients Lasagna isn’t a typical crock-pot meal, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible to make it with one. For all those people who are missing their Italian mom’s home-cooked pasta but don’t want to settle for a frozen lasagna dinner, this is for you. Granted, this recipe won’t result in the crispiness of an oven-baked lasagna, but it’s still good and far superior to the frozen options. This recipe should yield ten servings and should take four and a half hours to cook. The recipe will begin by spraying the crock-pot with cooking spray and spreading a layer of a cup and a half of pasta sauce, followed by a layer of non-boil lasagna noodles. The next layer should be roughly a cup of ricotta cheese, then half a cup of shredded mozzarella and two teaspoons of parmesan cheese. The next layer calls for 1/3 lb of ground Italian sausage, which should be browned in a pan, followed by a layer of chopped spinach. Another cup of pasta sauce should be layered on top. Repeat these steps on top of the sauce and cook for four hours or until the noodles are tender. Email: Samantha.Vargas@UBSpectrum.com Twitter at @SamMarieVargas
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SPORTS ubspectrum.com Is it hard to see seniors as such Women’s basketball head coach Felisha asQ:Cierra Dillard and Steph Reid leave and prepare the team for the next seaLegette-Jack talks 2019-20 season son? 8 | Thursday, October 10, 2019
‘We just got to see how the movie becomes’ ZACH MCADOO STAFF WRITER
Felisha Legette-Jack is entering her eighth season as the women’s basketball head coach, with 28 years of coaching college teams under her belt. In her eight seasons as the Bulls head coach, she has successfully led them to a 143-86 record (.601 win percentage). In those 143 wins, Coach Jack has led the Bulls to their first three wins in the NCAA Division I tournament as well as their only MAC championships. Don’t mistake that though, LegetteJack is only looking to the future with her young team, composed of mainly freshmen and sophomores. The women’s basketball team looks to defend its title this year when they kick off the season with an exhibition against Mercyhurst University in Alumni Arena on Nov. 1. Q: What are your thoughts on the schedule? A: It’s always great, there’s always a chance to get out there and show who we
are. Every team is so good from the first game against Central [Connecticut State] to the last game. We are so young this year, we are so excited about trying to see this clay that we got in our hands, and mold it to what is supposed to become, and this year is going to be way different than it has been in the last four years. But it’s neat, because talent wise it’s very good. We just got to see how the movie becomes. Q: Now, what are your expectations for the season going off of what happened last year? A: Oh, it is not about last year. It’s about what they present to me. And they present to me that they want to be great, too. And they got dreams, too. And they want to show people that Buffalo is alive and well. The women’s basketball team is going to have a piece in the story that’s being told about the University at Buffalo. We have amazing kids from all over the world, from Germany, from Nigeria, from Canada to all over. And nobody really cares until you make them care. How you make them care, you keep them quiet. How you keep them quiet, you win enough games where they put you in a podium.
Alexis Heng | The Spectrum Felisha Legette-Jack, head coach of the women’s basketball team at UB, talks about her expectations for the team and its growth this season.
Swiss army knife UB football player Alain Schaerer makes the most of his opportunities
JUSTIN WEISS STAFF WRITER
At age three, Alain Schaerer began playing soccer. At age four, he started playing tennis. Over the next few years, he took up martial arts, sailing and bodybuilding. It wasn’t until he turned 16 that his friends introduced him to a different kind of football — American football. As a student from Zurich, Switzerland, American football wasn’t always a part of his plans. But once Schaerer took the field for the first time, it was hard to look back. Schaerer took his military-institute education and desire to bodybuild and became a sophomore offensive tackle for the Bulls, where he impresses coaches with his smarts, athleticism and versatility. Schaerer first tried American football when a friend encouraged him to join practice at the local football club. He was roughly 240 pounds at the time with “a lot of muscle,” and his friend figured he’d be a good fit for the team. Schaerer enjoyed the sport, but was afraid it would interfere with bodybuilding. He wanted to build as much muscle as possible and wasn’t sure he would be able to playing football. “But then I started watching college football highlight videos, and I was like, ‘I want to play at that level at some point,’” Schaerer said. “That’s what made me start
Q: How do you follow up the success of winning the MAC and going to the second round of the NCAA Tournament from last year? A: We don’t worry about what we’ve done last year. So what we do now, it’s always about what we leave today, I think we won today. I thought practice was intense. We made some mistakes, we raise our hand, we got back after it. And I just love the fact that everybody felt really mad. But they had to get focused … And this young team is growing up before my eyes. I’m really excited about it. Q: How do you go about coaching a team this young? A: That’s why I’m 53 years old. And I have been locked into the age of 17 to 22 for the last 31 years. And this year is no different. And they’re young, but I give them the same medicine they’ve given the other teams throughout the years, and how they receive it, how they digest it, how they let it go marinate in their spirit is going to be how they become older and more mature. Q: With the team having more international students than Americans, how successful do you think the international recruitment process has been for this team? A: You know, it’s so funny. I don’t even realize that we’re what we are until somebody brought it to my attention. I just love to coach people that want to play for me, want to play for Buffalo, want to tell their story. And it just so happens to be that this particular year, that majority of come from all over the world. You know, Jessika Schiffer recruited me. And it’s really neat that somebody from Germany saw how I coach in America. And she really said this is the kind of coach I want to play for … And it’s recruiting that has become easier now that we got ourselves on TV. And I don’t see it as Jessika is different from Summer [Hemphill] because she’s from Germany, and Summer is from Buffalo. They are all my kids and they all are going to be intertwined together, the experiences might be a little bit different.
rer struggled with his play. He concedes that he “wasn’t coachable enough,” and he often made decisions that conflicted with his coaches’ orders. But Schaerer grew and played well during the spring, earning scholarship offers from UB and University of Massachusetts Amherst. Ultimately, he chose Buffalo on the strength of its program and coaching staff. “I think it’s a better football team,” Schaerer said. “Better facilities. I like [Offensive Line] Coach [Scott] Fuchs a lot. … He’s more of a teacher than a drill sergeant. That helped me make my decision.” “We think he’s a kid that needs to get a little more size on him,” Fuchs said. “That said, [he’s] very athletic. He has the ability to play tackle or guard for us. He has done a nice job — whether it’s in the meeting room or out on the field — of picking
A: I don’t look at them as leaving, I look at them as being ready to merge into the phenomenal women that we presented to them three years ago, four years ago, five years ago. And I see an evolution of something really beautiful happening for those young people and their dreams coming true. And yes, you have to replace them. But it’s not in a bad way is that they’re ready to go … I don’t like to see them leave, because they’re my kids, like my son had to go back to school and I want him to be here, but I know that he’s ready to fly and find his own wings and the other people I get to coach have to be ready, and I think they are.
Q: What are your expectations for attendance here at Alumni Arena? A: Anything less than a sellout is less than my expectation. I really think that we have a product for this city to really jump behind. Anybody can jump on us when we’re in the Sweet 16, who’s willing to now see that we’ve done the work, we’ve done the work, we’ve done the work, we are winning, we went further than the entire SUNY system. We’re talking men’s and women’s basketball, we went to the Sweet 16 and nobody in the SUNY system has done that, but us. And now it’s time to say, ‘Okay, we’ll do the work and I need you to come, I need you guys to jump on this young team and be the foundation that they stand on. So they can fly because they’re going to be good and we’re going to win games.’ Q: Is there anything else you want the UB students to know? A: The students they should come and support as we’ll do a great job of supporting our program [and] student population here. And I hope that they see now that we’re also a viable option as well. We’re going to keep playing, my prayer is that they will come. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
[things] up.” Other European players — including Jordan Avissey of France and Fabian Weitz of Germany — have credited this teaching approach to helping them feel at home in the Queen City. For Schaerer, the number of foreign players in the 716 has made him feel more comfortable. Schaerer intends to make his playtime matter. Since arriving, Schaerer said he’s been focused on learning from the older players on the offensive line, particularly seniors Evin Ksiezarczyk, Paul Nosworthy and Tomas Jack-Kurdyla. He hopes to have more of a role in the future.
to take it seriously.” In 2017, after his last Under-19 season in Switzerland, Schaerer sent his film to Björn Werner, the owner of recruiting service, Gridiron Imports. Werner sent the tape to junior colleges across the country. Schaerer wasn’t NCAA eligible after failing to complete his computer science degree, but New Mexico Military Institute, which ended up being his only offer, picked him up. Schaerer played in all nine games for the Broncos and paved the way for an offense that averaged nearly 200 rushing yards per Email: sports@ubspectrum.com game. But Schaerer had no idea what awaited him in the Land of Enchantment. “I thought it was only formations and uniforms before I got [to the military institute], and that’s it.,” Schaerer said. “But then I got there, and it’s like, ‘Where the f––k am I?’” At the military institute, Schaerer said he was treated like a soldier in training. “It’s pretty much like 24/7 military — you have formations, you have a merit/ demerit system, you get smoked if you do something bad. You have parade practice,” Schaerer said. “In the first six months, you can’t even walk normally. You have to pivot wherever you go.” Over the course of the hris Yang | The Spectrum nine-game season, Schae- C Buffalo Bulls offensive lineman, Alain Schaerer (58) discusses his journey through his football career.