The Spectrum Vol.69 No.14

THE SPECTRUM VOL. 69 NO. 14 | OCTOBER 14, 2019

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

Shoeless and shameless

“Halloweentown” hits

Continuing tradition

‘Barefoot Longboard Guy’ proves his toughness, defies social norms

The definitive ranking of the most important Halloween movie series, ever

Head men’s basketball coach Jim Whitesell’s journey to his new position

> SEE PAGE 5

> SEE PAGE 6

> SEE PAGE 8

Young the Giant brings high energy to Fall Fest New and returning performers impress at indie rock show

BENJAMIN BLANCHET

ASST. WEB EDITOR SENIOR ARTS EDITOR

ENGAGEMENT EDITOR

AlexAnder BroWn | The SpecTrum Sameer Gadhia, lead SinGer of YounG the Giant, performS at the center for the artS SaturdaY.

their tickets from the SA Box Office –– numbers which fall below half of the CFA Mainstage’s 1,700-person capacity. Marc Rosenblitt, SA entertainment coordinator, said the show cost roughly $170,000 total, with production costs approximated at $70,000 –– covering staffing, CFA rentals and other equipment rentals –– and talent costs at $100,000.

UB opens first biorepository facility in Western New York UB holds event Friday to celebrate facility opening BRITTANY GORNY SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

State audit report finds roughly $900,000 of ‘questionable’ UB transactions University says report ‘overstates’ findings’ impact

REILLY MULLEN, JULIANNA TRACEY

Fall Fest was Verzache’s first time performing for a live crowd. Ever.

And although Young the Giant has performed at UB before, Saturday was the first time students bowed at the lead singer’s feet.

The night of firsts wasn’t shaky, however, as fans and newcomers alike put on a stellar indie-themed Student Association Fall Fest at the Center for the Arts.

Young the Giant’s lengthy and vivacious set was part of the second show in this year’s concert series. The band’s high energy, “indie-rock” performance –– its second at UB after Spring Fest 2015 –– was a sharp mood change from the mellow and wholesome opener, Verzache. But both performers brought out roughly 500 students of the roughly 700 who collected

UBSPECTRUM

tory is essential in advancing biomedical research.

Roughly 100 faculty members and researchers attended the opening event Friday to hear how the center will benefit UB and the rest of the community.

“There’s no doubt that this centralized comprehensive biorepository will set UB and Western New York apart when it comes to attracting and recruiting experts in translational science and precision medicine,” Michael Cain, vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said.

General labs allow for conducting similar research, but the biorepository ensures samples are quality-controlled, barcoded and “more stable.”

UB opened its new biorepository facility Friday, providing “state-of-the-art” storage for research samples at UB’s Clinical and Translational Research Center.

The UB Biorepository is a mechanized facility that collects, processes, stores and distributes millions of biological samples and keeps them in the lab at a constant -81 degrees Celsius. Committees have been working on creating UB’s “vital” biorepository for seven years. Now, UB is the first SUNY college to have a biorepository. It is open to UB researchers as well as researchers from other public and private colleges and universities, research centers and industry partners.

The facility is the first UB research lab using barcodes –– instead of handwritten labels –– for patient samples, removing the “possibility for human error in sampling” and speeding up the process, according to Nina Johnson, research support specialist for Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships. Andrew Brooks, chief operating officer and director of technology development at Rutgers University and a consultant to the biorepository, says having BrittAnY gornY | The SpecTrum a centralized bioreposi- hamilton Star automated liQuid handler.

Throughout the show, Young the Giant exuded seductive confidence as the band worked the stage. Lead singer Sameer Gadhia was a firecracker, as he thrashed, jumped and danced around, taking the crowd through the group’s energetic set.

Gadhia’s eccentric outfits –– which at one point included a cloak –– and captivat> SEE FALL FEST | PAGE 4

“[All sampling] is going to be done the same way, there is no question of anyone doing it differently than anybody else,” Johnson said. “Regardless of who puts a sample on, the programs are never going to change, everything is going to be handled the same way.”

The biorepository also makes the sampling process much faster, according to Johnson, since everything is mechanized.

“Instead of a person sitting there and eloquating serum samples repeatedly … now that everything is automated it’s all going to be the same,” Johnson said.

UB’s biorepository has 14 machines in the facility, including environmental monitoring and storage systems, quality assurance machines, liquid handlers and nucleic acid isolation and tissue culture hoods.

“What we have created, and will continue to cultivate, is truly an exceptional research [facility] for all of us,” Cain said.

Email: brittany.gorny@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @BrittanyGorny

Roughly $900,000 of “questionable” UB transactions are the center of a new audit report issued by the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) Friday.

The report focuses on roughly $368,000 in transactions between UB and the UB Foundation (UB Foundation Activities, Inc.) and roughly $338,000 in transactions between UB and Corr Distributors, Inc. (custodial equipment maintenance). The audit reviewed transactions from April 2016 and Sept. 2018. The report’s key findings criticize UB’s business services for “poor monitoring of spending and contracting practices” which “resulted in potential lost savings and cost avoidance,” among other things.

The report recommends UB follows procurement procedures, appropriately documents purchases and improves aspects of its contract-awarding/monitoring process. The report also criticizes UB for not getting “all information” to “ensure true lowest cost” in its contract-awarding process with Corr.

The OSC’s report on Friday comes after its 2018 report which identified “questionable” transactions and detailed UBF’s lack of “documented policies and procedures for obtaining contracted services.”

The university, in a statement updated on Saturday, said it appreciates the opportunity to review and respond to the OSC’s report and agrees with “some recommendations.”

However, the university has “raised concerns that the draft report overstates the impact of some of the OSC’s findings,” the statement read.

The university said while there “is an opportunity to improve documentation and internal processes, all identified purchases” indicated in the report “benefited UB and the UB community.”

“There is no evidence that the purchases were inappropriate or fraudulent,” the statement read.

The report reviews roughly $368,000 in UBF transactions and points to “internal control weakness” like “no formal agreement” being in place for purchases. The report states UB’s agreement with UBF did not cover “research-related administrative services.”

UB, in a statement, noted the school interpreted “research-related administrative services” as being in its agreement with UBF and “believed that the OSC shared a similar understanding” due to its OK of $368,622 in “research-related administrative transactions” without an additional agreement. UB, according to the report, categorized UBF as the “sole source” for research-related administrative services. It changed this to “single source,” following OSC’s report.

The report also highlights a “potential conflict of interest” with a UBF employee benefiting from “payments ... reimbursing > SEE AUDIT | PAGE 2

NEWS

2 | Monday, October 14, 2019

ubspectrum.com

Student Association Assembly asks UB to ‘divest’ from fossil fuel industry Assembly passes resolution directed toward UB Foundation, UB Council, president and interim provost ALEXANDRA MOYEN ASST. NEWS EDITOR

vesting to try and make us this world class premier university,” Gise said. “President Tripathi, he wants us to be the UCLA of the East Coast. Will it even matter if we don’t have a planet and we’re investing in these fossil fuels that are killing us?”

Gise’s comments come after the 2017 Paradise Papers’ leak which found UBF –– a tax-exempt nonprofit and private entity that handles donations to UB and manages the university’s endowment –– invested in the fossil fuel industry. The leak did not involve UB’s investments.

The Spectrum found no record of Tripathi

The Student Association Assembly passed a resolution on Thursday calling on UB to “divest” from fossil fuels.

Although there is no proof that UB is investing in the fossil fuel industry, the resolution asks the UB Foundation, UB President Satish Tripathi, Interim Provost A. Scott Weber and the UB Council to direct “adequate attention and militant resources” toward “divesting” all UB funds from fossil fuel industries. SA Board of Directors Chair Hayden Gise introduced the resolution to the BOD on Sept. 25, but the board rejected adding it to the agenda and therefore did not discuss it. Since the assembly passed the resolution, Gise said copies of the resolution will be sent “immediately” to those being asked to divest.

“It’s a real slap in the face for a lot of students to see the money the university JAHAnvi CHoprA | The SpecTrum is spending and in- michael montoro diScuSSeS reSolution at an Sa aSSemblY meetinG. FROM PAGE 1

AUDIT

the employee’s salary,” as well. The report states this employee is involved in internal UB “payment requests for UBF” and a “point of contact for any questions relating to payments and their support.”

Aside from UBF, the report identified “multiple issues” in roughly $338,000 in payments to Corr. This includes “potentially avoidable repair work and costs for parts and materials,” the report says.

The report concerns itself with UB’s failure “to obtain all information needed to ensure true lowest cost” through the contract-awarding process. It says Corr charged UB higher prices and “for a majority” of its review period, “more than 65% higher.”

A past UB contract with Corr lasted from Sept. 2013 to Aug. 2018, yet UB paid for services past the contract’s full $655,000 in expenses, the report says.

Aside from Corr, the report found nearly $189,000 in purchases which it

could not determine a “reasonableness of price,” transactions which are unallowable by policy or “lacked a business need.”

UB, in a statement Saturday, said the OSC did not take shipping, handling and sourcing prices by Corr into consideration during its cost evaluation. UB said it rebid for a custodial maintenance services vendor this year and Corr won versus others.

The university noted a two-year rebidding delay regarding custodial services along with the upcoming procurement system Shop Blue, which UB hopes will “lead to significant savings by standardizing the procurement process.”

“The university is always cooperative when agencies review our programs and policies. UB will consider identified recommendations, and make any necessary improvements,” the statement read.

Email: @BenCBlanchet Twitter: benjamin.blanchet@gmail.com

mentioning UB’s desire to be the “UCLA of the East Coast.”

UB Council Student Representative Michael Montoro said UBF “isn’t transparent” with its investments and how it allocates its money, therefore making it unknown if UB is investing in the fossil fuel industry. He believes this resolution will give students that information, while providing the opportunity to call on UBF to divest.

“In order to curtail climate change, you sort of think about what we all can do and this [resolution] is [that] kind of thing,”

Montoro said. “Putting pressure on [UBF] to take millions of dollars potentially out of the fossil fuel industry is something which has a major impact. And even putting a little bit of pressure on the foundation to do something like that is incredibly impactful.”

Gise hopes the resolution will encourage UB to invest elsewhere.

“We as students have to pay tuition, we have to pay fees, that money goes toward these investments and we have no idea what the portfolio looks like,” Gise said.

“I believe fundamentally the same way the tobacco industry causes issues to our health, investing in fossil fuel companies is the same way. It’s unethical to me.”

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

Open House SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26

Baldy Hall | 10:30 am - 1:00 pm Meet with faculty, students and alumni from the academic disciplines of counseling | information | leadership | teaching Learn about our master’s degrees and advanced certificate programs, the admission and financial aid process, and the overall student experience.

REGISTER ONLINE: ed.buffalo.edu/openhouse Questions? 716-645-2110

OPINION

ubspectrum.com

We can’t give hate speech a platform EDITORIAL BOARD

On Thursday afternoon, a man with no known UB affiliation stood in the spine for roughly three hours shouting xenophobic and homophobic opinions.

This quickly garnered the attention of roughly 150 students, with large crowds filing around him in between classes.

His message wasn’t clear, but rather just a combination of his views on Jeffrey Epstein, religion and free speech. He yelled out slurs and recorded footage of the crowd of students that circled around him to watch and debate him.

University Police were on the scene to ensure no violence ensued but didn’t remove the man from campus, as UB couldn’t prohibit him from practicing his first-amendment right.

And you’ve probably noticed news coverage of this event isn’t featured on the front page of today’s paper.

It didn’t appear on our website, website.

And the only time we mentioned it on social media was when our editor identified the man on Twitter Thursday.

But don’t expect us to use his name in this editorial.

As an editorial board, we chose not to report on Thursday’s events. Editors were on scene, but we decided not to give the hateful opinions an unnecessary platform with news coverage.

We are shocked alone, students have begun to elicit change and saddened by the across the university via protests and petiwords the man used. tions.

We are also wonderBut maybe our easiness to entertain ing how the crowd makes us complacent. built up to the magniThere is an entertainment factor to situtude that it did. ations such as Thursday’s, but as a campus And this left the community, we should not “feed the troll,” students there won- as one Twitter user suggested. dering what the UB community can do We feel the best way to combat hate about hate speech on campus. speech is with education, not by yelling at The short answer: nothing. bigots in the spine. Because at the end of All UB can do is uphold its diversity val- the day, he went home satisfied, with a nice ues and have police stand by to make sure YouTube video to upload, and we all went these situations don’t turn violent. As a public entity, UB cannot legally remove a person from campus for stating unpopular or unfactual opinions.

But we do feel more should be done to make our campus feel more like a safe space, rather than a place where a random man can yell out obscenities as we walk to class.

And that may be up to us as students.

Over the last two semesters Brenton BlAnCHet | The SpecTrum

Monday, October 14, 2019 | 3 home angry and confused.

It is up to us –– editors, students and the UB community at large –– to refuse to give hate an audience on campus. And while we wish UB could do more, we understand the complex balance between protecting first-amendment rights and the feelings of students.

We all have a part in creating a diverse and educated community, and we should think critically before crowding around bigots in the spine. Because if no one is listening, maybe they’ll just go home. opinion@ubspectrum.com

StudentS Gather at the academic Spine on thurSdaY.

These men need to be held accountable The sexual harassment I experienced at work

BRITTANY GORNY SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

I remember clear as day the way he looked at me.

Precisely the way no girl wants to be looked at, especially by a 50-year-old married man.

He didn’t see me. He saw a young, naive girl he thought he would be able to have his way with.

I was angry, I was so angry. And for years I wanted to turn to social media to tell my story.

As a freshman in college, I got a job at LA Fitness. And four months into my job, one of the district managers started harassing me.

I was 19 at the time, so it’s been almost three years now since it happened. But it’s something I have to carry with me for the

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 VOLUME 69 NUMBER 14 CIRCULATION: 4,000

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, realworld experience in your field.

Anyone interested in joining The Spectrum’s editorial staff can email Brenton J. Blanchet at: eic@ubspectrum.com.

Anyone interested in joining The Spectrum’s professional staff or advertising team can email Helene Polley at: hapolley@buffalo.edu.

rest of my life.

I can’t help but wonder how a man in a corporate position at the company I work for could sexually harass me on multiple occasions and yet, HR chooses to keep him employed.

When the harassment first started, I didn’t think a man with a lot of power took an interest in me because of my physicality. I knew I was a great employee.

I figured he noticed.

But I knew the second it went too far.

Maybe I played into it a little more than I should have. But secretly, I liked the attention from someone with so much power in the company that, at the time, I loved working for.

I’m glad I never let it get as far as it could have.

The first encounter happened when I was standing at the front desk. I work in a gym, so naturally, leggings are a part of my uniform.

He looked me up and down, in the most disgusting and degrading way. Like I was his prey, he bit his lip and proceeded to say, from behind me, “Those leggings are nice.”

I didn’t want to hear he was staring at me from behind, admiring my “leggings.”

And things only got worse from there.

In the following weeks, he invited me

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 142602100

out to dinner, asked me for nudes, casually brushed up against me at work and made constant inappropriate sexual remarks.

He’s a district manager, so he travels to each location in the Buffalo area periodically. I only saw him once or twice a week, but I remember dreading the days I thought he might be coming in. I never wanted to go into work those days.

He texted me a lot throughout those few months. Some of them reading: “U ever want to do something outside work?”

“Where u at? You ok? Dinner?”

And one day, after seeing me: “The sweatshirt you were wearing wasn’t doing much of anything for me.”

After these texts, and more, I felt so vulnerable.

I felt like I was chosen as an easy target for this older, powerful man who thought he could take advantage of me.

So, after months of dealing with his remarks, I finally came forward to my manager and HR. I recounted my story and sent all the text messages between us.

After HR spoke with me, they came to a decision: He wasn’t going to be able to visit my location on the days I was working.

This lasted for a year.

But then, when my favorite boss was transferred, I asked to switch locations to continue working alongside her.

HR said the only way I could switch was if I agreed to be in the same club as my harasser again.

So I did agree.

But my decision to again work alongside the man who harassed me doesn’t change

his wrongdoings or HR’s negligence in continuing his employment in an environment where he can easily do this to other women.

Many women are beginning to find their voice to come forward about sexual abuse.

But, like in my experience, these companies often decide to cover up abuse rather than support the women coming forward.

My company knew what he did, and had proof, but somehow it fell back on me to agree to be in the same location as him again.

HR sent me a letter saying he was “seriously reprimanded.”

I don’t believe or accept that.

Because only months after coming forward, the company knew he was sleeping with another employee.

He should have been fired in the first place, to prevent countless other girls from experiencing what I had to, or worse.

But the company didn’t care. He sells deals for the gym and that’s all they care about, he’s making the business lots of money.

And I still have to see him at least once a month.

I am constantly reminded of what a district manager made me endure at 19 years old. We need to do better, hold abusers accountable and prioritize women’s safety over profit.

But until then, my harasser works freely alongside his victims, and the company willfully allows it.

Email: brittany.gorny@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @BrittanyGorny

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

4 | Monday, October 14, 2019 FROM PAGE 1

FALL FEST

ing vocals added to this energy. His voice ranged from a rough, rock sound to a sweet falsetto, marked by seamless transitions between the two.

The band’s set had an equal balance between explosive rock ballads, like “Cough Syrup,” and heartfelt, soulful tunes, like “Titus Was Born.”

The atmosphere of the CFA further electrified the set. The stage lighting flashed to the beat of the music, nearly sending audience members into a hypnotic trance.

Patrick Quealy, a freshman business administration major, was impressed with the band’s energy.

“I’ve loved these guys for years and it was awesome getting to see them live because all their shows were in places that I couldn’t get to. So this is great,” Quealy said. “[Gadhia’s] voice sounds exactly the same live as it does recorded. I think that’s huge for an artist.”

The band returned to the stage with Gadhia donning a blue and silver cloak.

The band sang two of its most anticipated songs, “Silvertongue” and “My Body,” to the now-bowing crowd.

But opener Verzache didn’t need a cloak, or any stage experience for that matter, to entertain the crowd.

And it was his first performance.

ubspectrum.com

The singer performed a mellow, laid-back set and opened the show with his song, “What Happened,” which managed to bring the sitting audience to its feet.

During his set, Verzache responded to the yelling audience, which praised the young performer with verbal wedding proposals.

The singer, relatively unknown to the UB crowd, owned his spot on the stage and won skeptical viewers over.

“I never heard him before. And this was flippin’ great,” Maddy Ginter, a freshman biomedical sciences major, said. “10/10 recommend.”

The performer was on top of his audience-engagement game, making sure to address his new fans between every song.

Although his set created an undoubtedly different type of energy than Young the Giant’s, audience members were still captivated by the shy, yet sweet charm Zach

Farache oozed. “[My favorite part was] when I screamed, ‘I love you’ and he giggled,” Winner Evu, a sophomore communication major, said. “Oh my God, that was my favorite part for sure.”

The fresh singer was obviously nervous throughout his performance, fiddling with his earpiece and awkwardly jumping intermittently during a few songs, but the crowd’s reaction kept him rising above his first-show jitters.

Alexis Heng | The Spectrum Verzache, a solo artist from Toronto, Ontario, performs at fall fest.

Alexis Heng | The Spectrum Sameer Gadhia, frontman of Young the Giant, plays a tambourine during a few songs while performing at

UB’s Fall Fest.

For those who aren’t a fan of the hiphop direction that Fall and Spring Fests have taken in recent years, Saturday’s concert delivered on wishes for the inclusion of indie-rock. And Verzache and Young the Giant did not disappoint.

Email: arts@ubspectrum.com

Student Association and LGBTA club hold annual drag show at UB Friday show a part of Pride Week celebration ERIN TUCKER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Roughly 100 students gathered in the Student Union as three drag queens captured the attention of passersby on National Coming Out Day Friday.

The LGBTA club and the Student Association held the drag show as a part of Pride Week, which featured various events across campus. Other events included coming-out post-it notes –– where students wrote their coming-out stories on post-it notes and created a wall of the stories –– and an LGBTQ dinner crew with the Intercultural Diversity Center. But the drag show –– including performers Victoria Jenkins and Christian Gaye –– wrapped up the week and featured UB students and alumni. Alice Raige, the main performer, contributed to the drag show for the past two years. LGBTA President Lesly Gon-

zalez said she hopes the events show LGBT students that there is a “safe space on campus” for them.

Gonzalez said drag has become a part of mainstream culture and is a “stepping stone” to get involved in the LGBT community at UB. “We have examples like drag racing in the U.S. and U.K. now, so with these sort of drag personas and drag shows, it kind of brings a friendly face to the LGBT community for those who might not know a lot about the LGBT community,” Gonzalez said.

Mary Peters, a senior

Jahanvi Chopra | The Spectrum Students share their coming out stories on a piece of paper as

part of

‘Coming Out Week

nursing and psychology major, has been on the executive board of LGBTA for three years now and knows one of the queens who performed in the show.

“When the club said they needed to get in contact with a queen, I referred them to Alice [Raige] because she knows how to plan drag shows and get into contact with other queens,” Peters said.

Alice Raige helped organize the show and has contributed to the event for the past two years.

“There are so many different ways to perform drag, usually in a nightclub, but lately drag shows have been represented not only in gay bars but

Chris Yang | The Spectrum Victoria Jenkins performs at the drag show.

also bars that aren’t necessarily geared toward the LGBT community have still been welcoming to gay events,” Raige said.

Raige emulates her drag persona on stage but said she also does it for “attention and recognition for the [LGBT] community.”

“We finally are having more representation in the media, home towns, television and our stories are being told,” Raige said.

“When there are people going out there and being on stage and being themselves, this encourages people to be themselves without worrying what the public may think,” Raige said. “This whole day is about being true to yourself and not hiding who you are but living your honest truth.”

Email: news@ubpsectrum.com

FEATURES

ubspectrum.com

Monday, October 14, 2019 | 5

Shoeless and shameless ‘Barefoot Longboard Guy’ proves his toughness, defies social norms JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA ASST. FEATURES EDITOR

Matthew Romanyk’s longboard is the only thing separating his bare feet from the pavement and a terrible brush burn when he weaves his way between students, down Putnman Way and toward the Student Union.

As he approaches the dense crowd gathered around the SU, Romanyk needs to come to a stop without using his feet to slow himself down. Instead, he jumps off while simultaniously flicking his board into his hands. Romanyk lands on his two, bare feet and there isn’t a scratch on them.

At this point, they’re too tough for that.

psychology and childhood studies double major, claims that Romanyk’s barefoot habits don’t end after he leaves campus.

“His barefoot thing goes so far,” Tschopp said. “We went to a frat party the other night and he didn’t even wear shoes to that.”

Going barefoot and feeling cold and hot and rocky pavement under his feet helps him explore the limits of his tolerance, he said. Getting through his day without shoes is like a little personal battle.

“I just like to figure out how much I can handle,” Romanyk said. “It’s nice to show yourself what you can do, whether it’s carving a big hill … or walking around barefoot to toughen your feet up.”

Romanyk finds parallels between his barefoot journey and the journey of the fictional Alessandro Guiliani, who was

Benjamin Blanchet | The Spectrum Romanyk, who stopped wearing shoes at the beginning of the semester ers him by helping “build his toughness.”

Although Romanyk isn’t forced to climb mountains for survival, he still believes he needs to be tough to achieve his goals: mainly “making it” as a photographer, a hobby he pursues even while longboarding. His goal is to photograph musicians and bring awareness to their unseen daily lives.

Romanyk said the UB community, which sees his bare feet atop his longboard daily, has so far been accepting of his barefoot lifestyle. Romanyk goes barefoot all over campus, including inside buildings and hasn’t received any criticism from UB employees, faculty or peers.

“That’s what I like about campus so much,” Romanyk said. “It’s a college campus. Everyone is so accepting.”

The comments on UB’s subreddit also serve as confirmation that the UB com-

after seeing another student riding his longboard without shoes, says going barefoot empow-

Students across campus have labeled the forced to march across mountains in orfreshman undecided major and Syracuse der to survive. native “Barefoot Longboard Guy.” “[Guiliani] is like, ‘If your feet are tough Romanyk, who stopped wearing shoes you’ll make it, and if they’re not you’ll fall at the beginning of the semester after no- behind,’” Romanyk said. “That’s kind of ticing another student riding his longboard how it feels even when you’re making the without shoes, says going barefoot em- march from your friend’s house to your powers him by helping “build his tough- car.” ness” –– literally and metaphorically. UB community members noticed a white man with brown hair frequently barefoot longboarding and holding a camera near the Student Union, and rumors spread about “Barefoot Longboard Guy” in September.

Photos on UB’s subreddit came next, identifying Romanyk’s face with the rumored barefoot longboarder.

“I’d imagine [the photos] just put a face to this anomaly,” Romanyk said.

Romanyk’s bout of fame peaked when a Reddit user posted a selfie with Romanyk, which quickly earned a spot in the subreddit’s top posts of the month, earning 147 upvotes.

But all stars –– even the shoeless ones –– start somewhere.

Romanyk moved to Buffalo from Syracuse last spring and spent the spring semester at SUNY Erie Community College before coming to UB this fall, where he began his barefoot lifestyle.

On Romanyk’s second day at UB, he noticed a student longboarding across campus without shoes.

Since then, he’s rarely worn shoes. Benjamin Blanchet | The Spectrum His friend Anna Tschopp, a junior Romanyk bares his feet in front of the Student Union.

munity “accepts” his lifestyle.

“I like Barefoot Longboard guy. Doesn’t disturb the peace and isn’t obnoxious,” a UB subreddit user wrote and 59 others upvoted. “Sometimes the best heroes go unnoticed.”

Raymond Kohl, the marketing manager for Campus Dining and Shops said that

UB’s environmental health and safety departments advise customers to wear shoes in campus dining areas f o r sanitary purposes. But there is no written policy on footwear.

“While it is not currently a universitywritten policy, it is a basic principle of food sanitation that bare feet can carry bacteria that could be harmful if exposed to food preparation areas or where food is consumed,” Kohl said. “UB’s environmental health and safety department advises that no bare feet are allowed within food preparation, support or eating areas for reasons of health and sanitation.”

Still, Romanyk hasn’t had anyone tell him to put on shoes.

Off campus is a different story. Romanyk lives in downtown Buffalo, on the west side, and said he experiences more criticism about his bare feet in the city.

“People downtown are rough about the whole barefoot thing,” Romanyk said. “I’ll go into a convenience store and some of the older heads will get on my case about it like, ‘You can’t be barefoot in here.’”

The state health code doesn’t include restrictions on customers’ footwear, or lack thereof. But some businesses establish their own dress codes, and Romanyk said he adheres to codes when he notices them.

Romanyk said Walmart gives him particular trouble for his bare feet and he’s repeatedly criticized when he leaves the store.

Walmart has a sign that specifies customers must wear shoes upon entry, and a Walmart employee once told Romanyk he wouldn’t be allowed back unless he wore shoes.

“She said, ‘That is against New York State law.’ Bro, no it’s not,” Romanyk said.

“You think I walk around in buildings without shoes on and [don’t] know what’s law and what’s not law? Get off my case.”

Romanyk argues that his bare feet are not a big deal, and he should be able to do as he pleases.

But Romanyk will soon have to curtail his habit.

His feet are toughened, but not enough for a Buffalo winter.

“When it’s cold out, you feel more of the ground. You feel every single crack,” Romanyk said.

He knows the return of shoes may bring an end to the attention he’s earned from the campus community.

“When it really starts to ache, I’ll just start wearing shoes again and I’ll fade into obscurity.”

Email: Julian.Grmela@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @GrmelaJulian

6 | Monday, October 14, 2019

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT birthday. Do you want to start off by talking about that?

‘The Sun’ talks new album, limits of science and Sun Ra JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA ASST. FEATURES EDITOR

Mavi was released from the hospital on his birthday last year.

His illness and surgery disrupted his career, as the Charlotte rapper was preparing to take his “first big step onto the main stage.”

This year, he celebrated his birthday to the tune of his debut album “Let the Sun Talk.”

“When I got out of the hospital, I knew I had to do it now,” Mavi said.

Mavi –– born Omavi Minder –– currently resides in Washington D.C., where he studies biology and psychology at Howard University. He released the album,“Let the Sun Talk” on Oct. 7 as a passion-project about identity, community and initiating material change. He creates a universe where he’s the center: he’s the sun.

Currently, the album is available on SoundCloud and on letthesun.one. The two platforms present the album differently. On SoundCloud, the album is released as a unitary, thirty minute track, but on the website, the album is broken into 13 different tracks. Mavi said the album will be available on major streaming sites soon.

We caught up with Mavi after his album release to talk about “Let the Sun Talk,” his inspirations, his relationship with Earl Sweatshirt and “magic.”

The interview, lightly edited for style and length, follows below: The Spectrum: Last monday was a crazy day for you. Not only did you just release your album, but it was also your

Mavi: My weekend was super celebratory. I threw a party. I had all the people I love at my house.

As for my birthday, it mostly consisted, on the night before, of me stressing out over putting out my album and feeling super exhausted that morning. I felt like I threw up, and s––tted and diarrhea’d and bled out all at once. [Releasing the album] was a weight off of me. I felt like I let off a spiritual load.

S: What do you mean by “weight?”

M: The weight of the album is heavy in the message. I think people are thinking that “Let the Sun Talk” is about me being sad or depressed or anxious or about me overcoming [obstacles]. It’s not really. I’m a character in “Let the Sun Talk.” I’m the sun. … A lot of the real weight of the album comes through in the interludes and a lot of it is very quietly [spread throughout] the album. … Basically, the album is kind of about being God insofar as being the sun: the central energetic force. It’s about putting yourself at the center of the universe.

M: I’m a biology student so I believe this: there is randomness in the world.

When you conduct an experiment that aims to identify causes and effects, the observable stimuli are never certainly the cause. It is always only results in a probability of 99.999%. That [percentage of uncertainty] is randomness. It is godliness. It is immeasurability. That part of the world that we cannot access by manipulating the forces of nature is where godliness is held and stored.

S: Who are some of the philosophers you look up to?

M: Sun Ra is one of my favorite philosophers of all time, even though some people would call him a jazz musician. He used to want to convince black people of their exceptionality. In his poetry, he would choose common phrases that black people used in the day, replicate them in the poems, and then move the letters until it becomes something completely different. …

While that’s not a framework for under-

S: What do you mean by ‘magic?’

flies on a romantic broom ride to a Jesse McCartney song, so there’s that.

3. “Halloweentown High” A witch, a warlock, a troll and an ogre

JULIANNA TRACEY SENIOR ARTS EDITOR

As spooky season descends upon us, more people have been getting in the mood for Halloween movies, with one of the most popular franchises being Disney’s “Halloweentown.”

“Halloweentown” has defined many of our childhoods. But with several sequels, it is time to answer the age-old question: Which is the best “Halloweentown” movie?

4. “Return to Halloweentown” It’s safe to say this is the worst movie in the “Halloweentown” franchise. After all, you know a movie isn’t going to be the best when you have to replace the main character. While Sara Paxon does her best with the role of the now-beloved witch, Marnie Piper, Kimberly J. Brown will always be the true Marnie.

The movie’s plot also tries to cover a lot of ground, ending up an incoherent mess.

Marnie decides to attend college in Halloweentown at Witch University. Despite attending a school for witches, the students are not allowed to use their magic.

Marnie then must travel back in time to get the help of one of her ancestors to prevent the villains –– the Dominion –– from gaining the magic of a necklace to control Halloweentown.

Objectively, the best part of the movie is when Ryan from “High School Musical” (Lucas Grabeel, in this movie as Ethan)

cOurTeSY OF tYingHe Fleming “[releaSinG the album] waS a weiGht off of me. i felt like i let off a Spiritual load.”

standing truth, it definitely is a framework for manipulating magic. It’s about playing with the feelings, colors and textures of words as much as the words themselves.

That’s why he’s one of my favorites.

S: Your lyrics are transcribed on your website. Is there any intention behind

In the third installment of the “Halloweentown” series, Marnie tries to create a stronger connection between the human world and Halloweentown. She sets up an exchange program between her high school and the monster high school, Halloweentown High. Antics ensue as the teenage monsters try to cope with the human world and avoid the threat of the Knights of the Iron Dagger, a group of knights trying to destroy magic.

The movie has fun and creative moments, with Debbie Reynolds stealing scenes (as always) as grandma Aggie Cromwell, trying (and failing) to teach humans academic subjects while having a budding relationship with the mortal school’s principal. Also, the ending Halloween carnival certainly made every student bitter that their school didn’t have one.

Despite these shining moments, the movie’s plot wasn’t as exciting as the ones that came before it.

2. “Halloweentown”

the town SQuare of the 1998 film, halloweentown.

CourtesY oF FliCKr user niCCisCHu79

walk into a human high school. That’s it.

That’s the plot of “Halloweentown High.”

M: Yeah, I basically kept the original spacing of my writing just so my listeners can get an idea of what kind of trails I’m trying to draw physically and visually with my words. Sometimes people don’t even recognize my lines as lines. I wanted people to hear my complete thoughts.

S: On the SoundCloud version of your album, the album is one long track.

But you name and separate the different tracks on your website. What’s the rationale behind unifying the tracks on SoundCloud?

M: My album was made really specific.

We were changing [minute details] on the album and adding little stuff just to make it feel like an environment. The rationale for SoundCloud was basically forcing the listener to take the pace that I set for the album. On streaming, there are different playback times between tracks. I just wanted people to hear my album as it was written.

M: We are going to get some more. He just sent me some. … It’s not a long time that you’re going to have to wait for this thing. … That’s my brother, I love that man for life. He really looks out for me.

He’s like a sparring partner intellectually and scientifically and artistically.

‘Halloweentown’ hits The definitive ranking of the most important Halloween movie series, ever

the shapes the lyrics are presented in?

S: There were some tweets hinting that you and Earl Sweatshirt might release a collaboration soon. He helped produce the track “Sense” on “Let the Sun Talk.” Was “Sense” the collaboration that was hinted at? Or is there something else to come?

S: You rap professionally now, but you’re also enrolled at Howard. How do you balance your career and education?

M: I acknowledge that art and science are two sides of the same coin. I balance by knowing that you can’t do one without the other. Rappers that don’t read are going to get exposed real soon. Studying rap and studying school are the same. Progress in school and progress in my career feel equally gratifying as far as the way I am improving myself as a man. For improving myself as a man, it is necessary that I’m an artist and a scientist because that’s magic.

ubspectrum.com

It was a hard decision to place the original movie in the second-place spot. The first movie introduced us to the colorful world of Halloweentown, with its friendly monsters and iconic giant pumpkin in the middle of the town square. The movie also featured an interesting plot, with the

S: Do you have anything else you’d like to add?

M: I love everybody who reached out and reached past their comfort zone to listen to the album. I love everybody who put the album in their comfort zone. I’m just glad that after sharing this I don’t feel remorseful, I don’t feel bad. I feel welcome, heard and acknowledged.

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

residents of Halloweentown slowly and mysteriously disappearing.

To save the town and her family, Marnie and her siblings, Dylan (Joey Zimmerman) and Sophie (Emily Roeske), must gather ingredients for a potion, interacting with the quirky citizens of Halloweentown along the way.

Though the plot is simple, it has a lot of heart, as the Cromwell/Piper family learns to join together and accept their true identities. This 1998 classic will always hold a special place in everyone’s hearts.

1. “Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s

Revenge” “Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge” really raises the stakes for the protagonists in the franchise.

In this film, Marnie has to reverse the “Grey Spell” that has cursed Halloweentown. The spell was brought on by the first movie’s antagonist’s son, Kal (Daniel Kountz), who turns the residents into grayscale, mundane humans as revenge for defeating his father. He also has plans to turn the human world into a nightmare scenario where real people become whatever they are dressed as for Halloween.

This movie brought interesting ideas and visuals to the table, with beloved characters switching from monster forms to human forms and vice versa. The protagonists move to interesting locations, like the lair of Gort (the monster who hordes all lost items). Plus, the threat of the mortal world and Halloweentown being permanently and drastically altered provides a credible threat for Marnie to fight. Kal proves that he certainly has better schemes than his father ever did.

Email: Julianna.Tracey@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @JTraceySpec

ubspectrum.com

CLASSIFIEDS

Monday, October 14, 2019 | 7

HELP WANTED Part-Time Positions Available. Lasertron Family Entertainment Center is currently hiring for general customer service. Working at a fast, detail-oriented pace and having excellent customer service skills is a must. Starting at $12-$14/ hr, must be available nights and weekends. Stop in and complete an application at Lastertron, 5101 North Bailey Avenue, Amherst, NY. Restaurant NOW HIRING dishwashers/cooks apply at Eagle House, 5578 Main St. 10 mins from both campuses.

HOUSE FOR RENT OUR NICEST HOMES/ APARTMENTS RENT NOW!!

Newly remodeled 4-8 BDRM homes/apartments on W. Winspear, Englewood, Tyler Heath & Merrimac. Amenities include jacuzzi bathtubs, new ss appliances, free laundry, parking, snow removal & valet garbage! Live the Sweethome life on South!! Visit www. ubrents.com or call/text 716775-7057 to schedule an appointment now!

SERVICES

at all. t a e h c ’t n o ourself. D y t a e h c ’t n Do

integrity ACADEMIC

STARTS WITH YOU. Academic integrity is the honest and

This is what academic integrity looks like:

fair completion of your work. When you commit to your own learning and stand up to cheating when you see it, you ensure your degree means something. Learn more at academicintegrity.buffalo.edu.

• Honesty • Trust • Fairness • Respect • Responsibility • Courage

Oct. 16 is International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating and Global Ethics Day. FOLLOW ALONG TO SEE HOW OTHERS EXCEL WITH INTEGRITY.

City A1 drivingschool.com Beginners & brush-up driving lessons. 5hr class $30.00 716875-4662

Cheat. e h T t a e f e D Bull. # Be a better Contact Us: Office of Academic Integrity 255 Capen Hall 716-645-2111 academicintegrity@buffalo.edu

DAILY DELIGHTS * YOUR SPONSORSHIP HERE * - Call us at 716-645-2152

SPORTS

8 | Monday, October 14, 2019

Continuing tradition Head men’s basketball coach Jim Whitesell’s journey to his new position ALEX LENNEBERG CONTRIBUTING WRITER

When former men’s basketball coach Nate Oats left for Alabama in March, many were unsure about the future of the program.

Fans didn’t know if UB would hire someone from outside the school. They didn’t know what impact Oats’ departure would have on the 32-4 team.

After a little over a week, however, the program decided the best man for the job was someone who helped push the Bulls to become a top-25 team in the country last year.

A new era of Bulls basketball began when UB hired former assistant coach Jim Whitesell on April 6; an era defined by past growth and tradition.

Whitesell was the associate head coach under Oats for four years before being promoted to his head coach position under a five-year contract. He has grown up with, taught and loved the game of basketball since his early days growing up in Iowa. He hopes to continue the Bulls’ success –– and its blue-collar mentality –– and bring another championship to Buffalo. Some players say Whitesell, who many have worked with from their start at UB, has positively impacted their lives and that he cares about them as people, not just athletes.

And they’re learning from someone who says he doesn’t remember life without basketball.

Whitesell grew up in a small Iowa town with a large family: five brothers who always played pickup basketball together.

He played in high school, where he started to really appreciate the game and went on to play Division-III ball at Luther College in Iowa. Whitesell attributes his success and where he is today to his experience at Luther, claiming he gained a passion for coaching during his time there.

“I really enjoyed the learning part of it and comradery of the team,” Whitesell said. “So it made me think, ‘Hey look, I want to be a teacher [or] coach and do this in college.’”

Soon after, he attended the University of North Dakota for graduate school and became an assistant coach there in 1982.

Whitesell says he never had any doubts about becoming a basketball coach.

“I pretty much knew [straight out of college],” Whitesell said. “The biggest thing for me was whether to be a high school coach and teacher, or to try up at the college level. … Those were the only things I was trying to figure out.”

Whitesell has since coached at Minnesota State–Mankato, St. John’s and Loyola.

Now, ten teams into his coaching career, Whitesell seems to have “figured it out” and found a home in Buffalo.

“Every school has its different challenges,” he said. “You’re always looking at the different obstacles each place has.”

Whitesell coached the Loyola-Chicago men’s basketball team from 2004-2011 and in 2017, watched as the Ramblers made it to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. Although Whitesell wasn’t with the team at the time, he “couldn’t have been happier” for them.

But he knew he belonged in Buffalo and says Oats was the reason he came here in the first place. Oats had just been promoted to head coach and needed an experienced assistant to help continue the success former head coach Bobby Hurley brought the team.

Whitesell, an assistant coach at St. John’s in Queens, New York at the time, got a call from Oats in 2015.

“He said, ‘Look, I need someone with

experience to be on my staff here and help out,’” Whitesell said. “I came up here, visited and really loved the place.”

He went on to help the Bulls win two NCAA tournaments and three Mid-American Conference Championships in his four years as assistant.

Fans have great expectations for Whitesell given his previous success.

He will face a difficult challenge in replacing graduated seniors Nick Perkins, Jeremy Harris and CJ Massinburg. But Whitesell isn’t focused on the past.

“Those guys are hall-of-fame players. …

We lost great experience but it’s going to be a great challenge to build our guys up,” Whitesell said. “We’re not going to replace those guys, but instead improve the players we have now.”

And he plans on expanding on what the Bulls have been doing.

“We worked together in terms of playing blue-collar, playing tough defense, runoriented and exciting to watch,” Whitesell said.“We want to continue that [blue-collar] tradition.”

As this era of Bulls basketball begins, Whitesell is confident in his team and trusts the upperclassmen to use their experience to help the team grow.

Gordon Myers | The Spectrum The Bulls gather around coach Whitesell

ubspectrum.com

Gordon Myers | The Spectrum Coach Whitesell takes aside Davonta Jordan advice and encouragement after practice.

for

The Bulls bring back seven guys: a mix of returning starters, role players and transfers. This core of returning players is excited about the new head coach, who prides himself on building relationships with his players on and off the court.

Whitesell recruited redshirt junior center Brock Bertram four years ago and they’ve since become close.

“He’s had my back since day one,” Bertram said. “He works me hard and is always helping me improve my game … He cares about me, always makes sure I’m getting my academics done, he always asks me about my family and how I’m doing too … It really excited me [when he got the job].”

Junior guard Jayvon Graves, who’s also been around Whitesell for a few years, remembers when Whitesell called him after he got the job.

“As soon as he got the job, we had a great conversation just building our relationship.”

Whitesell signed a five-year contract back in April and he has many hopes for the Bulls program over that span.

“I want to continue the high success we have. … We want to play at a championship level every year.”

Although his job is to coach the team on the court, Whitesell said he passes down one lesson to his players off the court: “Enjoy the college experience and get everything out of it. Own your education. … College is one of the most incredible times of your life, so make sure you get the most out of it.”

Email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Volleyball loses heartbreaker in five-set match SEAN STANTON STAFF WRITER

The Bulls volleyball team (5-13, 1-5) lost to the Ohio Bobcats (12-7, 4-2) in a grueling five-set match Friday.

The Bulls came out strong in the first set, but after back-and-forth play in the remaining sets, UB ended up on the losing end of the battle, finishing the match 2514, 24-26, 21-25, 25-21, 14-16.

After starting with a 21-8 lead in the first set, their biggest lead of the match, the Bulls were able to close out the set 25-14.

Their ability to get kills and limit the Bobcats defensively allowed the Bulls to win the set so decisively. The Bulls had a total of 17 kills in the first alone, compared to eight for the Bobcats.

But just as quick as the Bulls started the match, they slowed back down, dropping the next two sets.

Offense wasn’t the issue for the Bulls.

They maintained their offensive pace across the first three sets, putting down 17 and 16 kills in the second and third sets, respectively.

But their defense let up and in the second set, the Bobcats were able to put up 16 kills, eight more than the first set. This, paired with four blocks, allowed them to squeak by the Bulls, winning the second set 26-24.

The Bobcats were limited on offense again in the third, only putting down 11 kills. However, nine attack errors by the Bulls ultimately led to UB dropping a second consecutive set 25-21 and gave the

Bobcats a 2-1 set lead.

The Bulls stormed back in the fourth set. Backed by a stellar defense, which only allowed 10 kills from the Bobcats, the Bulls were able to even the match at 2-2, winning the set 25-21.

After a back-and-forth match, the Bobcats ultimately won the fifth set 16-14.

The fifth set was tied 14-14 after the Bulls

Siddharth Bandhu | The Spectrum Setter Scout McLerran sets the ball.

came back from a 13-9 deficit. Two costly UB errors allowed the last two points for the Bobcats, and ultimately led to loss.

Even though the Bulls lost, many players stood out.

On the offensive end, senior Polina Prokudina led the team with 19 kills, her season high. Senior Scout McLerran put up an impressive 62 assists with only one

error, a season high for her as well. On defense, sophomore Paige Beck led the team with 20 digs, followed by McLerran with 15 digs.

The Bulls will stay at home to face Western Michigan (11-7, 2-4) on Friday.

Email: sports@ubspectrum.com.