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International student applications decline, dean signs letter to reform H-1B visa program, create Heartland visa BRITTANY GORNY SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
International student Himangini Banwari came to the U.S. with “low expectations” of working here after graduation. Immigration and visa policies have made it increasingly difficult to do so, according to Paul Tesluk, dean of the School of Management. Tesluk has now joined 69 other business school deans and CEOs from across the country by co-signing a letter, asking U.S. government leaders to re-examine current visa and immigration policies. He says they wrote the letter because of “outdated” laws, students’ immigration status concerns, the “difficulty” of getting an H-1B employment visa –– which allows students to have careers in the U.S. after graduation –– and “safety” in response to “anti-immigrant rhetoric” in recent policies. The letter says these concerns close “the door to the high-skilled immigrants” who the economy “needs to thrive.” U.S. business schools have seen a 13.7%
Lynne Dixon and Mark Poloncarz differ in vision, approach
JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA FEATURES EDITOR
Local elections have never been as popular as the presidential election, but local government has a tangible impact on the local community. Voters can impact the future of important local issues on Election Day Tuesday. In Erie County, open positions include Justice of the Supreme Court, County Legislator –– for several districts –– and County Executive. On Tuesday, County Executive Mark Poloncarz runs for a third four-year term against County Legislator Lynne Dixon. County Executive is the Chief Executive Officer of the county government. Their responsibilities include supervising departments within county government as administrative head and handling the county’s budget as Chief Budget Officer of the County. We explained the major aspects of the candidates’ campaigns to help eligible students choose which candidate is right for them. Lynne Dixon County Legislator Dixon is representing the Republican, Independence, Conservative and Serve America Movement parties on the ballot. She has served in County Legislature since 2009 and has represented a variety of communities. Dixon grew up in Amherst and prior to her political career, was a WGRZ reporter for 12 years before her political career..
decline in international applicants in 2019, the largest decline in the world, according to the Graduate Management Admission Council’s Application Trends Survey Report. UB’s business school applications declined by nearly two-thirds in the past three years, according to The Buffalo News. Net migration to the U.S. is down 12% from 2017 to 2018 and wait time for visas has nearly doubled, according to Fortune. “It’s a function of the immigration policy and the rhetoric from Washington and the Trump administration,” Tesluk said. “Visa processing has slowed down dramatically, denial rates of employment visas have increased significantly. It’s become more and more difficult for high-skilled talent to be able to have employment opportunities in the U.S.” The Supreme Court passed the Trump administration’s Executive Order 13769 in December 2017, which imposed a travel ban barring immigrants from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea and Venezuela from entering the U.S. Between 2017 and 2018, immigration from these countries decreased by 72%,
Dixon said she is running for county executive because “taxes are too high” and the “government spends too much.” Dixon criticizes Poloncarz for borrowing money for construction on county roads, bridges and parks which she says rests unspent. Dixon says she intends to do a “better job” with long-term planning and maintenance if she is county executive. Dixon said she will not push a political agenda if elected. “I’m an independent and I don’t care about party labels or parties and politics,” Dixon said. “I only care about doing the right thing and the right ideas.” Dixon typically votes in accordance with her Republican colleagues, according to The Buffalo News. Poloncarz criticized her for voting alongside former representative Chris Collins and attempted to associate her with Collins, even though some of her votes opposed Collins’, according to The Buffalo News. Dixon says if the economy is “doing well” and the county begins to receive more sales-tax revenue than expected, she will support a property tax relief, according to The Buffalo News. Dixon opposes recreational marijuana and would not “opt in” to legalizing it if the state does. Still, she supports the decriminalization of recreational marijuana and the legalization of medical marijuana. Dixon opposes implementing a fivecent fee for paper bags after the plastic bag ban in March. Internal Republican polling indicates Dixon has a “surprisingly high” level of support although her campaign has roughly half the money of Poloncarz’s, according to Rebublican leaders.
according to the Migration Policy Institute. The H1-B visa is a temporary work visa that allows professionals to work in the U.S., according to SGM law group. Applying for an H1-B visa requires an employer’s sponsorship and the applicant to go through a lottery process. The U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services randomly selects applicants. The letter asks government leaders to “reverse additional steps that have been imposed on international students applying for H-1B visas,” according to Tesluk, which he says have become more “restrictive” and “debilitative.” It also calls for a Heartland program which would give incentives to organizations that employ international students after graduation. It would also help smaller regions in attracting international talent. John Wood, interim vice provost for international education, wrote in an email that the letter is a “timely intervention.” “The letter addressed legitimate concerns about the current posture of the U.S. and how that limits our ability to attract and retain global talent to fill critical needs in our workforce and economy,” Wood wrote in an email. Wood wrote international students’ applications were increasing until this fall,
Mark Poloncarz County Executive Poloncarz is representing the Democratic and Working Families parties on the ballot. He is the current county executive, now in his second term. Poloncarz grew up in Lackawanna and served as county comptroller for six years before serving as county executive. Poloncarz is seeking a third term and his ongoing goals include “a balanced county budget, without raising taxes; better parks and libraries; a stronger [Erie County Medical Center] and a new clinic; and the best economic climate in decades.” Poloncarz proposed a tax increase in his first budget in 2013, which was rejected by the county legislature. He has not proposed a tax-rate increase since. Although tax rates have not increased under Poloncarz, tax levy –– the actual amount of money raised –– has increased by 24%. He boasts lower tax rates and increased investments in “county roads, parks, libraries and cultural organizations.”
but some programs have been decreasing prior. “A more challenging immigration environment has contributed to this, but it is not the only factor,” Wood wrote in an email. “Nationally, we have seen a decline in total new international enrollment each of the past three years, and that is not a good trend.” Tesluk said less international student enrollment “dramatically decreases diversity in academic programs” while “the world is only becoming increasingly more diverse.” He said many companies are having trouble finding the right applicants, which will only get more difficult, since companies are trying to find high-tech business-related skills that a lot of immigrants have. Claudia Cabrera, a sophomore economics major, came to UB from Peru and visited the U.S. when she was seven years old, which is when she decided she wanted to make it her college destination. In Peru, college is “just a building” where students go to study and go back home, she said, but she fell in love with campus life in the U.S. Still, she said applying for a visa was “really scary,” because she’s seen so many people get denied after being accepted to a university in the U.S. and having all the right documents. “I decided to take the risk, because I like how college works here,” Cabrera said. She now works as an international admissions ambassador, where she said she > SEE IMMIGRATION POLICY | PAGE 2
alexis henG / the sPectrUm erIe coUntY execUtIve’s offIce.
Dixon criticizes Poloncarz for taking “too long” on construction projects and not using all the money he allocates to those projects. Under Poloncarz, roughly 60% of borrowed money that was allocated to maintenance and improvements of park shelters, restrooms and roads was unused, according to The Buffalo News. Poloncarz said the figures must be due to negligent bookkeeping practices by the counties Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, according to The Buffalo News. Poloncarz does not have a definitive stance on recreational marijuana. Poloncarz has supported banning plastic bag distribution by retailers “in many situations,” according to The Buffalo News. He expressed support for a five-cent fee for paper bags, an initiative the county legislature has not acted upon. Email: Julian.grmela@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @GrmelaJulian
2 | Monday, November 4, 2019 FROM PAGE 1
IMMIGRATION POLICY
sees a lot of students get accepted and then aren’t able to come because they get denied a visa. Cabrera said when she applied for a visa, the Peru embassy wanted to “make sure” she was going to be returning to her home country after her education. “I think that’s why people interview students, they want to really make sure the only reason they’re coming [to the U.S.] is for study,” Cabrera said. “And after that, you’re set and then you’re going back home.” But many students stay in the U.S. for work after graduation. From 2004-2016, 1.5 million graduates of U.S. colleges and
NEWS universities were approved to stay and more than half of these students were from STEM fields, according to Pew Research Center. Banwari, a senior business administration and psychology major, plans to stay in the U.S. after graduation. She said getting a student visa isn’t difficult, but has “low expectations” for obtaining an H-1B visa, which would allow her to work in the U.S. “It has become more difficult for me to find a job as the H-1B visa has become more difficult to obtain,” Banwari said. “I am [facing] and will face challenges working here, as an immigrant it’s disappointing to hear about these policies.” Neeraj Thirumoorti, a senior business administration and international trade stu-
UB celebrates faculty and staff academic excellence UB holds ceremony Thursday, presents UB and SUNY awards ERIN TUCKER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
UB recognized 54 faculty and staff members Thursday for accomplishments in research, teaching, mentoring and professional and workplace service. Roughly 100 UB community members attended the 16th annual Celebration of Faculty and Staff Academic Excellence in Slee Hall. Interim Provost A. Scott Weber and President Satish Tripathi spoke at the beginning of the ceremony, congratulating faculty and staff receiving awards and acknowledging previous award recipients. SUNY recognized five distinguished professors, from civil, structural and environmental engineering professor Michel Brunea, microbiology and immunology professor Anthony Campagnari, community health and health behavior professor Gary Giovino, law professor Errol Meidinger and chemistry professor John
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dent, said he isn’t planning to stay in the U.S. after graduation, but knows the process of getting an H-1B visa is “very hard” since it’s completely random. “I haven’t witnessed any anti-immigration here, but I have seen videos of people asking immigrant families to go back to their country in not a nice way,” Thirumoorti said. “It makes me sad to see or hear things like this, especially from the U.S. who has to be an example for others. Nothing is wrong with putting Americans’ jobs first, but it’s the way it’s been put across.” Tesluk said it’s difficult to make progress in the current “polarized” and “divided” environment but hopes the letter will bring attention to the “importance of
skilled immigration.” “If we care about economic development, if we want to be able to see companies successfully innovate, if we care about supporting new businesses then we should all be supporting making adjustments to our high-skilled immigration policy,” Tesluk said.
briefly recognized at the ceremony for their attendance and for supporting this years’ honorees. Jim Atwood, a chemistry professor, was an honoree in 2013 for SUNY distinguished teaching for his roughly 35 years at UB. “I feel that it is part of the duty to continue to recognize excellence, so I come out for that,” Atwood said. “After I won the award I just kept doing what I was doing and helping students.” SUNY recognized Erin O’Brien, assis-
tant dean and chief enrollment and marketing officer for the School of Management, for her professional service and efforts as director of graduate programs. “This award is so important because it recognizes how hard we work for our UB students and how much effort we put into making sure [students] have an excellent academic program and experience and it recognizes how much we really care,” O’Brien said.
Richard. UB also recognized faculty members who have served for over 50 years. The ceremony included a performance from music professor John Bacon, who teaches percussion and coaches ensembles. English professor David Schmid was one of the faculty awarded with the President Emeritus and Mrs. Meyerson Award, which recognizes “outstanding faculty mentorship.” Students wrote on Schmid’s behalf, which he said “meant a lot to him.” “We have relatively few ways of knowing for sure if we have made a difference. Schmid said. “Ironically, I have to leave early today to meet with more students. That’s what I love to do.” SUNY recognized 26-year UB physiology, biophysics and medicine professor Michael Duffey for his curriculum development in the graduate and medical schools. Previous honorees were Courtesy of University Events
Email: brittany.gorny@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @BrittanyGorny
Email: news@ubspectrum.com
Interim Provost A. Scott Weber (far right) and President Satish Tripathi (far left) stand with 2019 SUNY Distinguished Professors.
OPINION
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Free speech vs. revenue: The fight between what’s right and what’s profitable
ALEXANDER POLAND CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Americans pride themselves on the First Amendment –– freedom of speech, freedom to protest –– protecting citizens from governmental consequences. But private American corporations are showing less support for these concepts than ever before. Even though these companies have no obligation to the First Amendment, people should be able to voice political opinions without losing their jobs. Throughout the last month, many Americans have criticized the Chinese government over the ongoing Hong Kong protests, in which citizens of Hong Kong –– whose autonomy has been historically debated –– are demanding more democracy and self-rule separate from Chinese jurisdiction. China has a lot of economic power and can use it to dictate what corporations can and can’t say. One bad word against the government and China can threaten a large loss of profit, harming the business in the process. This has shown in the NBA, which has taken the spotlight for its handling of free speech and profit.
It all started when Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted in support of the Hong Kong protests. This tweet was a simple image, declaring support for Hong Kong with no text attached. China has a massive basketball market and contributes to a large part of the NBA’s revenue. Players also have endorsement deals in China, so speaking out against the Chinese government will more than likely lose them a lot of money as well. So it was no surprise that many NBA players, owners and coaches chastised Morey’s tweet. Even companies like Nike and Adidas rely on the Chinese market to make massive profits, so major endorsers wouldn’t dare speak out and risk losing massive shoe deals. The influence China has over professional basketball makes it hard for many figures to back up Morey’s opinion and show support for Hong Kong. Even LeBron James, who markets himself as “more than an athlete,” said Morey was “misinformed.” Statements like this hurt U.S. fans, as many feel China has used its economic power to interfere in different outlets like sports and gaming. Many fans also feel the NBA should do more about the situation and athletes should speak up and not allow China to silence them. James and many of these players are being hypocritical, as they are social warriors until money and status are on the line, then they fall silent. But this is not just a basketball problem, it has also affected the esports community. Like the NBA, gaming companies like Blizzard have a lot of fans in China and generate a large amount of revenue off of the country’s overwhelming gaming popu-
Commander-in-beef (cake) A collection of the hottest U.S. presidents SAMANTHA VARGAS SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR
This is a satirical column. Discussion of past commanders-inchief typically surrounds their background and policy stance. But the important question is… how hot are they?
Barack Obama 44th President
Obama is probably the hottest president on this list. He’s 6’1” and was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Obama’s warm smile and friendly eyes set him apart from the rest. The 58 year old’s hair started to turn grey during his first term, but it didn’t do much to impact his hotness. Obama aged well. Obama is a dog person, an athlete and an eloquent speaker.
Rutherford B. Hayes 19th President
MONDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2019 VOLUME 69 NUMBER 20 CIRCULATION: 4,000
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Rutherford B. Hayes doesn’t get the credit he deserves for being a hot president. Although seeing photos of him during his term may seem unconvincing, he was definitely a hottie during his youth. Born on Oct. 4, 1822, Hayes was the 19th president of the U.S. He looks very similar to actor Eddie Redmayne, standing at 5’9” with thick hair and big eyes. Although the photo of a young Hayes alone is substantial evidence of his attractiveness, his intelligence is also quite damning. Unlike other presidents, Hayes was a lawyer who graduated from Harvard Law School in 1845. His successes in law and opposition to slavery is what led him to the Republican Party, and eventual presidency.
Theodore Roosevelt 26th president
Big arms. Thick mustache. Hardcore environmentalist. And I’m not talking about the Brawny man. Theodore Roosevelt is quite the man’s man, but that doesn’t stop him from having a soft side. Nothing is cuter than a teddy bear, except maybe the president
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lation. With the conflict in Hong Kong, more people in the gaming community are speaking their minds and showing support for the protesters. When professional Hearthstone player and Hong Kong native Blitzchung showed support for his home after a championship victory, Blizzard banned him from competing professionally for a year and took away his $3,000 prize (later returning the funds and reducing the ban to six months). The backlash against Blizzard was strong as a result, with many threatening boycotting and to stop playing the company’s games in general. These massive entities only care about making money and it is time to hold them accountable when issues like this arise. If they want to silence free speech from people living here in the U.S., the American people should fight back by not supporting their teams or buying their jerseys. Fight back by not buying into their games or using money toward in-game items. Hit them where it truly hurts, not in their mind or their heart, but their wallets. Email: opinion@ubspectrum.com
that teddy bears are named after. Roosevelt took the world by storm when he defied death through the sheer force of his own muscles. The stud was shot in the chest while touring for his presidential campaign, but his chest was so muscular that the bullet could not penetrate him.
John F. Kennedy 35th president
Here’s the one you’ve been waiting for. It’s obvious that someone is the epitome of attractive when their name is synonymous with being a top-tier bachelor. Kennedy was so suave and respected by U.S. citizens, that he is still the most admired post-World War II era president to this day. His entire family was beloved and celebrated, especially his marriage with fellow hottie Jackie O. This is the same man who was rumored to have had an affair with Marilyn Monroe –– not hot. The Democrat stood 6’, with thick, dark brown hair. He was also rumored to have eyes so blue you could drown in them. Email: opinion@ubspectrum.com
Monday, November 4, 2019 | 3
Letter to the editor:
My name is Arianna Rothfuss and I am a chemistry grad student here at UB. UBIT has recently put out requirements for students to sign up for DUO two-step verification, a process that is by no means justified and is simply an added annoyance to college students. I am writing to you in hopes of it being put in The Spectrum as complaining to UBIT will do no good. With the new rollout of the 2-step verification for logging in to UB websites, such as UBLearns, I have come to realize that it is not only cumbersome to do so, but is a major inconvenience for those of us who go to UB. I find it odd that UBIT is forcing students to download yet another app (Duo Mobile) just to login for what seems like an arbitrary increase in safety. Google accounts only send notifications when you log in on a new device. UBIT could have implemented something like this to increase safety, rather than a new 2-step verification process. There are some people who do not have phones with recent enough updates to even download this app that is now required to be able to login to their UB accounts. There are also some people (although very few) who still do not have smartphones. What are they supposed to do? When you go through the enrollment process, it says you need a phone, tablet, or security key. Without being able to download the app, are students supposed to carry around a small flash drive to plug in whenever they need to use UBLearns or their HUB? Instead of making things increasingly annoying and cumbersome to log into, they should fix the login issue that has existed for years. Where if you don’t get your password correct on the first try, you have to refresh the page or close and reopen the tab to try again. Any normal login just gives you an error explaining how the login information was incorrect and you should try again. Also when logging in, there are times where it just attempts to load, only to never succeed and then you have to either refresh or close and reopen the tab again. Fixing this would have been much more sensible than implementing some 2-step verification. This feels like a marketing ploy so they can say “look at how much we care about security” while not actually thinking about ease of use and practicality. There are ways to increase security that do not inhibit functionality, and UBIT really missed the boat on this one. Sincerely, Arianna Rothfuss
4 | Monday, November 4, 2019
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‘Running through the six with my votes’ Everything you need to know about the Canadian election REILLY MULLEN ASST. FEATURES EDITOR
While Americans watched the umpteenth Democratic debate, a monumental faceoff was happening just a few miles north of Buffalo. Oct. 21 marked Canada’s 43rd parliamentary election, complete with the drastic approval ratings, controversies and seat changes. Similar to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senatorial elections, Canadian elections decide which party gains more seats in Parliament. But unlike the U.S., whichever party has the most seats will see its party leader “crowned” prime minister. And tension arose among our northern neighbors this election cycle. Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau –– PM since 2015 –– saw his party take victory, but the prime minister lost a significant amount of support due to his controversial plans for a new cross-country oil pipeline, 2001 photos in brownface, cabinet corruption and alleged sexual assault. This culminated in the Conservative Party gaining 26 seats and the Liberal Party losing 20, falling just 13 seats short of a majority. Canadian Parliament’s 338 seats are now split between six main parties: the Liberal Party with 157 seats, the Conservative Party with 121, the New Democratic Party with 24, the Bloc Québécois with 32 and the Green Party with three. According to UB professor Munroe Eagles, an expert in Canadian politics and a Canadian himself, minority governments –– governments where the winning party holds the most seats in Parliament but without a 170-seat majority –– are notorious for being short-lived with an average a lifespan of roughly two years. If a minority government is established, the runner-up party can propose a coali-
uled date. “Now Justin Trudeau can’t just say to his Liberals ‘Support us, support your government,’ and that would be enough to get legislation through,” Eagles said.
tion government, where cabinet positions and Canadian voters alike. are split between majority and minority If Trudeau doesn’t gain the support of parties. his non-Liberal Parliament colleagues, Eareilly.mullen@ubspectrum.com These governments are rare, and Cana- gles said it is likely that Liberals will lose Email: Twitter: @ReillyMMullen da has only had one national coalition in the confidence of the house and that we its entire 152-year sovereign history. will see another election before its sched The Conservative Party motioned to form a coalition, but Trudeau rejected. Eagles said this could be “dangerous” because the liberals could lose the “confidence of the house,” since they are unwilling to compromise. “If you lose what’s called the confidence of the house, then the government can’t govern anymore and another party gets to try to form a government,” Eagles said. “Or you go back and have another election.” Although Canada doesn’t have term limits, elections are typically held every two to four years. But Parliament can force an early election if a party loses the confidence of the house. Trudeau’s recent controversies have caused his approval ratings to drop from 72% in 2016 to 46% before this election, according to a Gallup poll. This comes after allegations from former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister of Veterans Affairs Jody Wilson-Raybould, who said Trudeau pressured her not to prosecute the Canadian engineering firm SNC-Lavalin for claims of corrupt contracts with Libya. Wilson-Raybould claims that upon pushing back, Trudeau demoted her from her positions and eventually resigned from the cabinet altogether. Many saw this as Trudeau rejecting his own cabinet in favor of “shady deals” with foreign countries, leading to a decline in sup- Courtesy of Simon Fraser University Liberal party leader Justin Trudeau hopes to win back the support of Canadian citizens following his recent port from Liberal Party members controversies, including brownface, corruption and alleged sexual assault.
UB gamers show mixed feelings toward Blizzard’s Hong Kong controversy an interview to show solidarity with Hong Kong natives looking to retain autonomy from maintain China. Chung, during a post-game stream, said –– translated in English –– “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times.” The stream, which intended to show a recap of Chung’s victory, ended after that. Hearthstone’s news page wrote that the interview was a “competition rule violation” and “resulted in the removal of the match VOD replay.”Blizzard consequently revoked Chung’s $3,000 prize money and banned him from professional Hearthstone play for 12 months. The company also fired both casters who were present for Chung’s post-game interview. This sparked outcry across the internet. Critics accused Blizzard of censoring Chung’s statement for monetary reasons, as Chinese corporation Tencent has a
5% stock in Activision Blizzard. Chinese Overwatch character Mei became a symBlizzard’s reaction to bol of protest support, and people began Blitzchung, UB gamers’ boycotting Blizzard’s products and orgaresponses nizing protests in advance of its 2019 convention, BlizzCon, which ended Sunday morning. ALEX WHETHAM UB eSports President Jake Nowak, a seASST. ARTS EDITOR nior technical theatre major, said he hasn’t One of the gaming world’s beloved noticed a decrease in the team’s Overwatch players but said he wouldn’t blame players companies is facing criticism for its reif they quit. sponse to a top gamer who showed sup“That’s their own choice and their preport for Hong Kong. On Oct. 8, Blizzard, creator of games rogative. If they believe that that’s right for like World of Warcraft and Overwatch, what they’re doing, then by all means,” said Nowak. “I do not play Blizzard games, so announced it would ban and revoke prize I don’t have a fully-fledged opinion one money from Hearthstone pro and Hong Kong native Ng Wai Chung (username way or the other, but again, it comes down Blitzchung). Chung, who won the comto their choice.” pany’s Asia-Pacific Hearthstone GrandBlizzard later released a statement agreemasters Tournament, wore a mask during ing to return Chung’s prize money and reduce his ban to six months. D u r i n g the opening BlizzCon ceremonies on Nov. 1, Blizzard president J. Allen Brack addressed the situation, without directly mentioning Hong Kong or Chung. “When I think about what I’m most unhappy about, there’s really two things,” Brack The Guardian- Screen Capture from livestream said. “The first Screencap from Oct. 6 livestream where Hearthstone player Blitzchung voiced support for protests in Hong Kong.
one is we didn’t live up to the high standards that we really set for ourselves. The second is we failed in our purpose, and for that, I am sorry, and I accept accountability.” At UB, reception of the controversy has been mixed. Brian Fenster, a senior computer science major and former officer of UB gaming organization Strategists and Role Players Association, said he doesn’t blame Blizzard for its decision. “I am not pro-China. That being said, Blizzard was fully within its rights, and its share price, while dipping down a bit, is not really showing a negative reflection,” Fenster said. “The mass majority of people are already over the issue.” Some players on UB’s rising esports team feel stronger about Blizzard’s reaction but have not formally decided to boycott. The team does not currently have a Hearthstone team, but it does have an active Overwatch team. Tyler Walter, a senior media studies major and Overwatch team member, stopped playing the game for a week after Blitzchung’s ban. “People saw how quickly Blizzard would silence people out of fear of offending China,” Walter explained. “Personally I see it as karmic justice that in an attempt to not lose money, Blizzard only got themselves a huge controversy and still lost lots of revenue.” Walter has since returned to playing Overwatch for UB eSports. Sophomore environmental design major and Overwatch team member Eric Hourigan said Blizzard’s reaction to Blitzchung was “terrible.” “I love Blizzard games. I played [World of Warcraft] religiously when it came out and the same with Overwatch,” Hourigan said. “I will personally not be [financially] supporting Blizzard until it makes amends.” Email: alex.whetham@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @alexo774
NEWS
6 | Monday, November 4, 2019
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POLITICS IN PERSPECTIVE Below are the results of a random 100-person sample of The Spectrum’s 2019 Political Survey.
79% 21%
STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS POLL:
of UB students are registered to vote.
senior freshman
of UB students are not registered to vote.
graduate student
junior
STUDENTS WHO PLAN TO VOTE IN THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION:
sophomore
of UB students have voted before.
of UB students have not voted before.
68% } 32%
STUDENTS WHO PLAN TO VOTE IN UPCOMING LOCAL ELECTIONS:
yes
VERSUS
no
VERSUS
no
STUDENTS ON THE ISSUES:
51% 49%
yes
86% } 14%
MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION ABORTION COLLEGE TUITION AND DEBT GUN CONTROL HEALTHCARE CLIMATE CHANGE MOST IMPORTANT TO LEAST IMPORTANT
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Monday, November 4, 2019 | 7 minor political party in New York State.
A rundown of New York State’s political parties ANASTASIA WILDS ASST. ARTS EDITOR
Everyone has heard of political parties, but some don’t know what they actually mean. What makes a Democrat different from a Republican? And what the heck is a libertarian? You could feel overwhelmed by political parties and jargon. There are roughly 224 political parties in the U.S. and the list grows and changes each year. But America is a two-party system, which means two main parties –– Democratic and Republican parties –– have more power than the rest. We broke down the eight parties New York State voters can register with and their main ideologies to help new voters navigate the upcoming elections. Democratic The Democratic Party is the majority political party in New York State, with 50.38% of New Yorkers registered to the
WORKING FAMILIES & GREEN PARTY
party. Typically, this party is on the liberal side and believes the federal government should play a more active role in Americans’ lives. Republican The Republican Party –– also known as the Grand Old Party or GOP –– is the minority party in New York. The Republican Party is typically on the conservative side and prefers a more laissez-faire approach, preferring little government intervention with the American people. While New York State is considered a Democrat or “blue” state, upstate New York does have a large Republican population. Conservative New York’s Conservative Party is a right-wing –– or conservative-leaning –– party that supports “individual freedom, individual responsibility and individual effort,” according to the official website. While this is not one of the main parties, it does have a large number of voters with 1.24% of New Yorkers registered to the party –– the fourth most popular party after the Independence Party. Working Families The Working Families Party is a left-
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
IDEPENDENCE & SAM PARTY
SAM The Serve America Movement is the newest political party on this list, starting in 2017. This centrist party’s focus is on fixing America’s political system, which it says has been “corrupted by mainstream parties,” by making the voting process more “fair.”
wing –– liberal-leaning –– party that focuses on working- and middle-class family issues including minimum wage and paid sick leave. Because the party shares similar views with the Democratic Party, the Working Families Party often endorses Democratic candidates.
Email: anastasia.wilds@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @AnastasiaWilds
NEW YORKER PARTY REGISTRATION
Green The Green Party of New York State is left-wing and prioritizes the environment and supports environmentally-conscious candidates. Along with its strong focus on the environment, the party is against all forms of violence and believes in wealth distribution. Libertarian The Libertarian Party is the third largest party in America and is culturally liberal and fiscally conservative, meaning it follows Democratic social ideas and Republican economic ideas. This party prioritizes civil rights and low government intervention.
50.46% DEMOCRATIC PARTY
22.03% REPUBLICAN PARTY
21.75 % NOT IDENTIFIED WITH A PARTY
Independence The Independence Party is a centrist political party that supports candidates who are not influenced by certain political party ideals or interests. This party is the largest
LIBERTARIAN PARTY
5.76% OTHER PARTIES
CONSERVATIVE PARTY, LIBERTARIAN PARTY, WORKING FAMILIES, GREEN PARTY, INDEPENDENCE, SAM PARTY
REPUBLICAN PARTY
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SPORTS
10 | Monday, November 4, 2019
Bulls blow past Lakers in exhibition game Women’s basketball wins 96-44 against Mercyhurst MYAH GONZALEZ SARA HOLLAND ASST. SPORTS EDITOR STAFF WRITER
five for five from behind the free-throw line. The freshman said she is adjusting by “getting the feel” of her teammates. Fair wasn’t the only rookie to put points on the board for UB. All four freshmen contributed to the win — center Elea Gaba (4 points), forward Loren Christie (5 points) and guard Jessika Schiffer (10 points). This output from the younger members shows promise for the new roster. “We have a great freshman class coming in [and] the sophomores are stepping up
so everyone is doing what they have to do every day,” senior guard Theresa Onwuka said following the victory. The returners are not phased by their leadership roles. One of only two returning seniors, Onwuka showed her comfort on the court on Friday. She went six for seven in field goal attempts, earning 12 points, and tied sophomore forward Keowa Walters with the second-most points scored for the night. Junior guard Hanna Hall is another returner looking to uphold the team’s presence in the MAC. Hall had 11 points, 4 as-
The women’s basketball team may have the youngest roster in the Mid-American Conference this year but they aren’t playing like it. It seemed the Mercyhurst Lakers had no chance against the Bulls, who held a substantial lead for the entire introductory 9644 exhibition at Alumni Arena on Friday night. Their strong offense stretched the lead to as many as 52 points by the end, paired with a defense that forced 27 turnovers. The defending MAC champions showed off a new lineup following the graduation of five seniors last season — most notably guard Cierra Dillard who led the team in scoring last season and went on to enter the WNBA draft. UB showed its roster’s depth throughout the victory, as 12 different players contributed to the team’s 96 points. Freshman guard Dyaisha Fair made her presence known in her debut game for the Bulls, earning her spot as leading scorer for the lexander Brown / The Spectrum night. Fair put up 18 points and was A Senior Guard Theresa Onwuka… at the Alumni Arena on friday.
sists and 3 steals on the night. She ended her sophomore season earning All-MAC tournament honors after starting in 27 games and will move into an even larger role in her third year for the program. With Friday night’s performance, Coach Felisha Legette-Jack is hopeful for the season and is always looking for areas her team can improve. “Our defense has to get a little bit better but it looks like we can score the basketball, so I’m really excited about the future of this women’s basketball program,” Jack said. The Bulls will be in action again Tuesday night at Alumni Arena as they take on Central Connecticut State for their season opener. Wayne Penales / The Spectrum Junior Guard Hanna Hall… at the Alumni Arena on Friday.
Wrestling is back in action UB starts 2019-20 season after last year’s success MYAH GONZALEZ ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
The Bulls wrestling team was back on the mat this weekend. Coming off one of their best seasons in recent program history, the Bulls have high hopes for the 2019 campaign. Last year, the senior-heavy team consistently put up strong performances, earning a second-place finish in the Mid-American Conference. On Saturday, Buffalo finished second in the freshman/sophomore 197-pound weight class and fourth in the freshman/ sophomore 157 and 174-pound weight classes. The Bulls’ freshmen showed out in East Lansing, MI, for the Michigan State Open. Freshman Sam Mitchell earned a second-place finish in the 197-pound bracket after defeating competitors from Rochester University and Central Michigan. Freshman Hunter Shaut finished fourth in the 157-pound bracket, after beating opponents from Northern Illinois, Ohio, Michigan State and Tiffin University. And freshman Bryson Alsteen placed fourth in the 174-pound bracket, after defeating opponents from Ohio and Rochester. Seventh-year head coach John Stutzman was excited heading into the Michigan State tournament.
“It’s a new team so it’s always interesting to see how we start out,” said Stutzman. “It’s a nerve-wracking time because I don’t know what we have yet. Saturday will be a test for us.” Stutzman was named the 2019 MAC Coach of the Year. He knows that the Bulls have a good product. Now, he wants people to take notice. “We’ve always had success, it’s just a matter of people paying attention,” he said. Last year, the Bulls more than doubled their winning percentage from the previous season, finishing second in the MAC with 113.5 team points. Buffalo also brought home two individual championships.
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Senior Troy Keller defeated Ohio wrestler Colt Yinger in the 165-pound finals. Redshirt senior Brett Perry earned the 197-pound title after beating Old Dominion’s Timothy Young in the finals. The Bulls’ experience showed last season, but that dynamic has changed this year. While Buffalo welcomes back two returning national qualifiers and one MAC champion, they graduated eight seniors — six of them starters — and enter the 2019 campaign with a younger roster. True to form, the Bulls had four freshmen place at Saturday’s tournament. “I think we’re going to be pretty good this year,” says Stutzman. “It’s just a matter of getting to the end.” The Bulls return to the Center for the Arts for their first home match of the 2019 season Thursday. There, they will take on the favored Wisconsin Badgers. Email: myah.gonzalez@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @myahgabriela
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Stampede stats: Bulls dominate for third-straight win UB football wins 43-14 in Ypsilanti SEAN STANTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
On Saturday, the Bulls (5-4, 3-2 MAC) earned their biggest win of the 2019 season when they blew past the Eastern Michigan Eagles (4-5, 1-4 MAC), 43-14. Buffalo is now just one win away from becoming bowl eligible for the fourth time in program history. The Bulls had their most complete game of the 2019 season, doubling the Eagles in total yardage and having a nearly even split in the passing and running games. It was the first time in program history that the Bulls defeated Eastern Michigan at Rynearson Stadium. Running back Jarret Patterson rushed for 160 yards and 2 touchdowns to help the Bulls reach the 43-point mark for the second straight week. Quarterback Kyle Vantrease completed 15-of-23 passes for one touchdown and zero interceptions. Here’s everything you need to know about the Bulls’ week-nine win in Ypsilanti:
What led to the win
The first quarter was a struggle for the Bulls, who trailed 7-2 after 15 minutes of play. Their defense showed up, held the Eagles to a single score and forced a safety, their first of the year. As the second quarter came along, the Bulls’ offense exploded, tallying 4 touchdowns. Sophomore running back Kevin Marks earned the first 9-yard touchdown, followed by 2 more touchdown runs by Vantrease. The fourth and final touchdown of the quarter was a 10-yard pass to junior wide receiver Antonio Nunn. The Bulls never looked back, as Patterson ran for two more touchdowns, finishing with 43 points. After the Eagles’ first-quarter score, the Bulls’ defense limited them to only 126 total yards through the rest of the game.
Who showed out
Quarterback Kyle Vantrease was very effective, particularly with his legs. He ran for 2 touchdowns and threw for another, as he once again led the Bulls’ offense to new heights. On the ground, Patterson and Marks combined for 250 yards and three touchdowns, as they both continued their ascent up the school record books. Experienced offensive tackles Evin Ksiezarczyk and Tomas Jack-Kurdyla held their own against the Eagles’ pass rush. On the other side of the ball, defensive tackle Chibueze Onwuka led the way with five total tackles and one sack. Fellow defensive tackle Tyrece Woods Jr. complimented him with three tackles and 1.5 sacks. In his third-straight start at punter, freshman Jackson Baltar averaged a season-best 42.3 yards per punt, including one that traveled 52 yards.
What’s next
After a rocky start to conference play, the Bulls seem to have found their stride, winning their last three games by a combined 73 points. The Bulls look to extend their winning streak when they travel to Kent, OH, to take on the Kent State Golden Flashes (3-5, 2-2 MAC) Thursday night. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Siddharth Bandhu / The Spectrum Wrestlers practice their drilling positions during warmup at Alumni Arena on thursday.