THE SPECTRUM VOL. 68 NO. 18 | NOVEMBER 1, 2018
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, SINCE 1950
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‘Buffalo in the House’ Presidential sites located in Queen City
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Survey indicates only half of registered UB students will vote Young voters could make historic number of midterm votes MAX KALNITZ SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
Almost 84 percent of UB students said they are registered to vote, but only 43 percent said they will vote in Tuesday’s midterm elections, according to a survey by The Spectrum. That’s slightly higher than the national average. As Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government found, 40 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds say they will “definitely vote” in the midterm elections. While this number seems low, if 22 percent of this group votes, –– nearly half of the predicted turnout –– it will be the highest midterm turnout for young voters in at least 32 years, according to The Atlantic. But still, more than half of UB’s students won’t make it to voting booths on Nov. 6, according to The Spectrum’s survey. Many of the 255 students surveyed said they care about the elections, but don’t know about state-wide registration deadlines or where to receive an absentee ballot. Students also said they feel disassociated from candidates, who tend to target their campaigns toward > SEE POLITICAL
Donation data reflects political differences between UB employees and Council members UB Council members have donated $902,700 to political causes since 2008 BENJAMIN BLANCHET SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR
A number of deans, faculty and staff donate primarily to Democrats, according to political donation data –– a stark contrast to UB Council members, who give money across party lines, records show. The UB Council — which consists of eight governor-appointed members — has donated roughly 28 times the amount as UB’s most politically active high-profile employees. UB employees have donated at least $31,400 to political campaigns and political action committees since Jan. 1, 2008, according to public records. The Spectrum found the
majority of UB employee donations went to Democratic candidates and interests. Members of the UB Council, the university’s oversight board composed of eight governor-appointed businesspeople and one student, have donated roughly $902,700 from Jan. 1, 2008 through Oct. 31, according to federal and state election filings. That amount of money would cover the entire cost of tuition for 22 UB undergrads at the current rate of tuition. Council members have donated thousands to Republicans and Democrats, according to donation data. For instance, UB Council chair and Delaware North chair Jeremy M. Jacobs donated $100,000 to then-Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump’s campaign in 2016. Jacobs, one of Western New York’s richest residents, also owns the Boston Bruins hockey team. New Era CEO and UB Council member > SEE DONATION
DATA | PAGE 2
SURVEY | PAGE 2
Midterm UB community holds vigils to ‘Brainwashed from the breakdown commemorate the losses at obvious’ A guide to upcoming local, Pittsburgh synagogue massacre UB professor details statewide and federal races
SHUBH JAIN |
THE SPECTRUM
JACKLYN WALTERS ASST. NEWS EDITOR
On Tuesday, New York State voters will select candidates for governor, the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, State Senate and State Assembly. In local races, voters will choose municipal government officials and school board leaders. With federal, state and local elections on the line, The Spectrum has prepared a comprehensive guide to voting in the midterms.
U.S. Senate
In New York State, incumbent Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand will defend her seat against Republican candidate Chele Farley for the U.S. Senate, one of two bodies making up the federal legislature. Gillibrand has been New York’s state senator since 2009. During her time in the Senate, Gillibrand has supported initiatives to repeal > SEE MIDTERM BREAKDOWN | PAGE 6
Students recite prayers from the Torah on Monday at Hillel of Buffalo. The on-campus organization held a vigil for the 11 victims of the Tree of Life synagogue massacre.
Hillel of Buffalo and Chabad of Buffalo hosts memorial services to honor victims JACKLYN WALTERS ASST. NEWS EDITOR
UB community members lit eleven candles on Monday night to commemorate the lives lost at the Tree of Life massacre on Saturday.
Both Hillel of Buffalo and Chabad of Buffalo held vigils where community members of various races and religions gathered to mourn the losses of their Jewish brothers and sisters who were targeted at the Pittsburgh synagogue on Shabbat. Despite the tragic circumstances, the conversation was positive with discussion focused on building community and solidarity during the time of distress. Both organizations offered prayers, songs > SEE UB
HOLDS VIGILS | PAGE 2
research and theories concerning hidden information about 9/11 THOMAS ZAFONTE SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
Paul Zarembka has taught at UB for over 40 years and currently works in the economics department. Zarembka is also the co-author and editor of “The Hidden History of 9-11-2001.” Zarembka has written about possible insider trading surrounding the airlines involved, the collapsing and number of towers that fell on the day and has openly called into question the federal investigation done after the attack. Zarembka has dealt with both criticism and praise following the book’s release, but stands by his work. “I don’t care if people call me a conspiracy theorist, go ahead,” Zarembka said in an interview. “The idea of discrediting those who don’t follow the known > SEE BRAINWASHED | PAGE 4
THE SPECTRUM WILL BE INTERVIEWING UB PRESIDENT SATISH TRIPATHI ON MONDAY. WHAT QUESTIONS WOULD YOU LIKE FOR US TO ASK HIM? EMAIL US AT EIC@UBSPECTRUM.COM
NEWS
2 | Thursday, November 1, 2018
ubspectrum.com
FROM PAGE 1
DONATION DATA
Christopher H. Koch donated $10,200 to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in 2015. The Spectrum initially focused on UB administrative donations, but our research expanded after we could not find a single political donation from UB’s top 11 administrators between Jan. 1, 2008 and Oct. 31. Of the 12 deans listed on UB’s leadership page, three deans donated roughly $15,700 overall to political causes since Jan. 1, 2008, according to donation data. The three deans primarily donated to Democratic candidates and PACs. Aviva Abramovsky, dean of the School of Law, has donated to Democratic candidates, including $1,800 to Joe Nicoletti and $1,000 to Stephanie Miner in 2009. Nicoletti and Miner were both mayoral candidates in Syracuse that year. Other big donations from Abramovsky include $9,100 given to former Democratic U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei between 2008 and 2009, according to donation data. Jacobs, UB Council chairman, donated almost $560,000 to political campaigns or PACs from Jan. 1, 2008 through Oct. 31, according to donation data. Jacobs’ donations count for roughly 62 percent of the current UB Council’s overall political donations since 2008, according to donation data. Aside from Jacobs’ $100,000 Trump cam-
FROM PAGE 1
UB HOLDS VIGILS
and readings from the Torah to honor those killed and injured. Rabbi Moshe Gurary of Chabad said that the best way to honor the victims is to “do something spiritual for them.” “One of the good things about living in this world is the opportunity to do good deeds,” Gurary said. “Doing good deeds in their memory is as if they are doing them [themselves].” Sasha Shapiro, a junior computer science major acknowledged the need to focus on the specificity of the attack, emphasizing the underlying motives of white supremacy and anti-Semitism. “This is an absolutely terrifying reminder that we as a Jewish community are directly in
paign donation in 2016, Jacobs has donated thousands to both Democratic and Republican campaigns in the past decade. Jacobs donated $33,400 to the Republican National Committee in 2016. That money could cover a UB student’s 19-per-week meal plan for an entire four-year academic career,
and roughly three additional semesters. Jacobs has also donated $15,000 and $10,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Hillary Clinton, respectively. Koch’s donations are also split down the aisle.
the path of that,” Shapiro said. Shapiro also expressed his dismay with President Donald Trump’s response to the tragedy. Trump offered a political and militaristic response to the shooting. “If they had an armed guard inside they would have been able to stop him immediately,” Trump said. “I think that it’s too little too late,” Shapiro said. “When the alt-right and Nazis marched in Charlottesville a year ago and chanted ‘Jews will not replace us,’ [Trump] called them very fine people, and I’m not going to forget that.” Hillel’s Rabbi Sara Rich said that she is concerned with the variety of channels in which people can promote anti-Semitism. “It seems like it’s more acceptable to ex-
press it,” Rich said. “It’s just shocking to me, it should be the opposite. We should learn our lessons by now. The only way to regain our footing is to grab hold of each other.” “Hillel of Buffalo really strives to be a partner on this campus in making Buffalo a better place and hopefully making the world a better place,” she said. “We don’t want to do it alone. We want to work together, we know we can get more accomplished that way.” Moving forward, Logan Woodard, an adjunct instructor and staff member at the Office of Campus Ministries said that all students are welcome at Hillel of Buffalo. Woodard said students are welcome to stop by the office any time to discuss current issues such as gun violence and anti-Semitism, and any ways that the shooting has affected them.
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Koch donated $50,000 to 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney during his election year. He also donated $8,500 to Republican state Sen. (and Jeremy Jacobs’ nephew) Chris Jacobs of Buffalo. Koch has also donated to Democratic candidates, including Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (DNV) and U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.). Scott E. Friedman, UB Council member and Chairman and CEO of Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP, donated $5,000 to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2010. Friedman has also donated $2,000 to U.S. Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.). Collins, who is running for re-election on Tuesday, was arrested by the FBI in August. Collins was charged with insider trading and making false statements to the FBI. Nancy Smyth, dean of School of Social Work, has donated to Democrats outside of her district, according to donation data. Smyth, according to FEC data, has donated to ActBlue, a PAC dedicated to Democratic and progressive political interests. Since May 2008, Smyth has given $1,475 overall to Democratic campaigns, according to donation data. Donations include $500 to now-Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul and $250 to former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. email: benjamin.blanchet@ubspectrum.com twitter: @BenjaminUBSpec
“If they want to just sit down and get away from things or speak to any of the staff members here they are certainly welcome to do that,” Woodard said. “They can use this as a safe space for sure.” Rich emphasized that members of the Jewish community should not allow the tragedy to intimidate or deter them from expressing their faith and attending places of worship. “My hope is that people will not be afraid to go but will make a point to go,” Rich said. “If for no other reason than to say that we are not going to be scared away from doing what’s right.” email: news@ubspectrum.com
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OPINION
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The Spectrum Thursday, November 1, 2018 Volume 68 Number 18 Circulation: 4,000
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Hannah Stein MANAGING EDITOR Brenton J. Blanchet CREATIVE DIRECTORS Phuong Vu Anh Phuong Tran, Asst. COPY EDITORS Savanna Caldwell Cassi Enderle Lauryn King NEWS EDITORS Max Kalnitz, Senior Jacklyn Walters, Asst. FEATURES EDITORS Benjamin Blanchet, Senior Kirsten Dean, Asst.
ARTS EDITORS Brian Evans, Senior Samantha Vargas, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS Thomas Zafonte, Senior Nathaniel Mendelson MULTIMEDIA EDITORS Shubh Jain, Senior Jack Li Pranav Kadam, Asst. Wayne Penales, Asst. CARTOONISTS Ardi Digap Taj Taylor
PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Ayesha Kazi
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
On behalf of the entire University at Buffalo community, my thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families and friends of the shooting victims at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. As well, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the victims’ extended family among our Jewish students, faculty, staff and community members. Our hearts are very much
The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100
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that there are campus resources available to you if you are struggling through this tragedy. These include University Counseling Services and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). As I have always said, UB’s shared values of inclusiveness, diversity and mutual respect for all form the bedrock of our university. Today, and every day, tolerance, acceptance, compassion
SATISH K. TRIPATHI UB PRESIDENT
Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government found 40 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds say they will “definitely vote” in the midterm elections. And even here at UB, 84 percent of students surveyed in The Spectrum’s political survey said they registered to vote, while 43 percent said they will vote. These numbers are improving, but they can be better. We at The Spectrum think the university and the Student Association can spend more time and money thinking about ways to motivate students to vote. It’s not just up to celebrities and politicians –– like Hillary Clinton telling us to “Pokemon-Go to the polls” –– to push non-voters. Our educators, school administrators
and student leaders should also work at it. We don’t get a day off school to vote and many of us work jobs and other responsibilities that make voting inconvenient or impossible. If the university and the government is serious about getting college students to vote, it should make voting days holidays. Then we’d have no excuse for not showing up. Our undergraduate Student Association can reach 20,000 students, with many being voters. The SA homecoming carnival attracted hundreds of students students. Fall fest often brings out thousands. On Wednesday, students crowded around a Student Union stage for a pie-eating contest. Not one of these events promoted midterm voting.
But they could, and it wouldn’t take much. A short video or even flyers would be enough. It is imperative to get young people out there. Some colleges–– including one formerly attended by a Spectrum editor –– give T-shirts and prizes to students who displayed “I voted” stickers on Election Day. This is the type of engagement UB needs. We could be the swing vote this year and every year from now on. We have to do our part. We at The Spectrum will be voting and we’ve tried to convince our fellow students their vote matters. We’d like to see our school and its leaders do the same.
Tree of Life shooting is a wake-up call
I was stunned. I also felt for my people and strangely, I felt a part of my people in a way I hadn’t before. I was indignant and angry. I was and still am shocked that Jews, who are among the most assimilated minorities in the world, are still the targets of these malicious acts, particularly in the U.S. But statistics show that anti-Semitism has been quietly increasing. Last year, the Anti-Defamation League reported a 57 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. in 2017 compared to 2016. There was a 94 percent increase in incidents in K-12 schools and an 89 percent increase on college campuses from 2016. This is appalling. Anti-Semitism showing its face in Buffalo is evidence of these statistics, and that’s not OK. Growing up, I always thought that Buffalo was a relatively accepting place. There’s a large community of Jews, and a myriad of other ethnicities and religions are represented across the city. Buffalo is supposed to be the city of good neighbors, and hate isn’t welcome here. Some Democrats and members of the Jewish community argue that President Trump’s harsh rhetoric and embrace of far-right advocates like Breitbart executive chairman Steve Bannon and former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke has egged these groups on and empowered them to become more vocal and demonstrative. But others will argue that Trump’s close friendship with Israel and his daughter Ivanka’s conversion to Judaism protects him from charges of anti-Semitism. I don’t know the answer. I do know that what happened Saturday evidenced the sort of hatred that has plagued Jewish people for centuries. As a Jew, even though I’ve been distanced from my religion, the massacre in Pittsburgh broke my heart. It made me feel guilty that I’m not more involved with my faith and reminded me of the struggles my people have endured for centuries. Before I came to college, I was indifferent toward my Jewish identity. I hadn’t really done anything regarding
Judaism since my Bar Mitzvah eight years ago. If someone made a Jew joke, I’d laugh it off and just pretend it didn’t happen instead of defending my religion. But over the years I’ve realized that if I don’t stand up in those instances, these negative stereotypes and hatred toward Jews will always continue. Through Jewish speakers and events I’ve attended at Hillel, I’ve come to terms with my Jewish identity and have learned to not be such a stranger toward my Jewishness. These horrible acts have moved something deep inside me and caused me to feel more connected to my people, to my past and to humanity in a way I’ve never felt before. Monday I did something I probably wouldn’t have done before this tragedy happened. Hillel held a vigil for the Tree of Life victims, and even though I had no connection to any of them, I went and mourned. I recited texts from the Torah and sang in Hebrew for the first time since my Bar Mitzvah. When everyone started singing the Tree of Life prayer, I was mad at myself that I had forgotten it and that I let myself forget the Hebrew prayers I spent so much of my young life memorizing. This has been a wake-up call for me. I used to tell myself “there’s no way I’m making my kids go to Hebrew school or go to synagogue,” but now I’m thinking otherwise. It’s more important than ever to embrace my Jewish religion and heritage and pass these teachings on to the next generation. I’m not going to stand in the background and watch these hateful acts happen anymore. If someone says something hateful, I’ll speak up. When Hillel hosts Friday night or holiday services, I think I’ll actually go. I feel uneasy that I’ve been neglecting my Jewishness for so long. Eleven innocent Jews died Saturday. I feel it’s my duty to speak up against antiSemitism and hatred toward Jews to make sure tragedies like this never happen again.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Young people aren’t projected to have a big effect on midterms on Nov. 6. But we could. By next year, the U.S. Census Bureau says we will be the largest living adult generation, bigger than Baby Boomers, the World War II babies who have held that title for decades. Sadly, not enough of us vote to make our voices significant. This is nothing new. In 1986, less than 20 percent of people 30 and under voted in the midterm elections. In 2002, less than 20 percent of people 30 and under voted in the midterm elections. 2014 was the same and 2018 may be different.
Remnants of antiSemitism in America need to be addressed
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with you as we mourn—along with the nation and world—this terrible and senseless loss. Bigotry, racism, intolerance and discrimination have no place on our campus or in our society. As a campus community, we must denounce such vile sentiments and actions in the most unambiguous terms. Whether you are a student, faculty or staff member, know
and generosity of spirit must be cherished and upheld. As president of the University at Buffalo, I pledge to uphold these values in the strongest of terms. I encourage our entire university community to stand with me in solidarity to reaffirm these values, and in support of the victims of this unconscionable crime – and all hate crimes.
More young voters isn’t enough
GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGERS JuYung Hong
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.
Thursday, November 1, 2018 | 3
MAX KALNITZ SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
I’ve seen it scrawled across UB’s bathroom stalls: “F––k the Jews.” I’ve heard it casually spoken in campus hallways as I walk to class: “Come on bro, don’t Jew me.” I saw it in my neighborhood last year when an Orchard Park woman found swastikas spray-painted on her van. Now I see it on a national level, a massacre of 11 people – with six others wounded – at the Tree of Life synagogue by a deluded gunman who said he wanted “all Jews to die.” Anti-Semitism is – unfortunately – thriving in the United States, Europe and South America. It happens at rallies and marches, in the form of chants, hate crimes and graffiti. When I was younger, I believed anti-Semitism died with Hitler and the Nazis. I always knew Neo-Nazis and white supremacists lurked in the dark margins of society, but I had always considered them insignificant, a subclass of disgruntled extremists and unhappy people on the fringe. No longer. Now I know they are among us, even here on campus. That scares me. And now, those small, off-hand comments or stupid bathroom scrawls no longer seem innocuous or the work of marginal, angry outcasts. In my lifetime, Jews have lived comfortable lives in the U.S. I never
considered that hate crime could pertain to me, an assimilated, notterribly-religious Jew. It was part of the lives of half-forgotten ancestors I learned about in Hebrew School or from literature and history books. I believed anti-Semitism in Europe was a part of an ugly Germany that once was, not the booming center of the united Europe that currently is.
And yet. Over the last few years, anti-Semitism has flared and, stunningly, bigots have started once again flaunting their hate openly, somehow certain they will be welcomed rather than shunned. Last year in Charlottesville, Va., several hundred white supremacists carrying torches chanted, “Jews will not replace us.” Marchers openly held banners emblazoned with swastikas and shouted slogans like “blood and soil,” a phrase drawn from Nazi ideology. I’ve read about the 1978 Neo-Nazi planned march in Skokie, Ill. – it eventually happened in Chicago. But this was the first time I’d seen anti-Semitism playing out on live TV in a mass form. Also, in 1978, huge swathes of the population, including journalists and politicians, expressed outrage and questioned the legality of the march. The decision eventually went to the Supreme Court. The point is, civility and politics of inclusion were given in a way I don’t feel they are today. Sure, there were protests in Charlottesville. But after the rally – in which 32-year-old Heather Heyer died and 19 others were injured – President Donald Trump did not give a speech decrying bigotry and insisting on civil discourse. Instead, he defended those who gathered to protest the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue and said “I think there is blame on both sides.” He said he’d condemned Neo-Nazis in the past, but argued that not every protestor was a white supremacist or Neo-Nazi. He didn’t explicitly address the anti-Semitic remarks. He tried to justify what happened.
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FEATURES
4 | Thursday, November 1, 2018 FROM PAGE 1
BRAINWASHED narrative was around back when [John F.] Kennedy was killed. It is just the term we have for it today. You can say I am pushing a narrative, but you could also say George Bush pushed a narrative after 9/11 too.” 9/11 is considered by many to be the worst attack on the U.S. since World War II. Four passenger airplanes were hijacked throughout the Northeast Region, with two being flown into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon and one that crashed in Pennsylvania. The event is still a sensitive subject in America, with many finding questions of the validity insulting. Zarembka said it is not his intent to “relive” the event, but instead discuss much of the questions that still surround 9/11 years later. “It felt for a long time and still feels that certain things are not OK to talk about,” Zarembka said. “That only leaves more questions unanswered, it limits the information people get.” Zarembka began questioning the attacks after attending a conference in Toronto about the JFK assassination shortly after 9/11. As a Marxist, Zarembka said he was used to looking at pre-established social notions and questioning them. Zarembka’s questions would only increase after the release of the 9/11 Commission Report on the attack. Former President George Bush formed the commission a year after the attack to make a full report on what happened. The report includes over 1,200 interviews and is considered by many to be the official narrative. Marxism helped him question the world around him with a “non-predominant” point of view, according to Zarembka. Zarembka can remember the lack of clarity around Kennedy’s death being echoed by the commission report. This made him read the report himself and come to a different conclusion that angered him. Two of Zarembka’s concerns come from a lack of investigation. According
to Zarembka, the report does not prove that there were exactly 19 hijackers on the plane or discuss the collapsing of 7 World Trade Center. It was the third building to collapse on Sept. 11 and fell because of debris from the other towers landing on it. This started a fire that caused the structural damage leading to the building’s collapse, according to official reports. Zarembka said that a fire would not cause the building to fall the way it did. In a video, the building is shown falling straight down to its base, not leaning to any side. Zarembka said that if a fire caused structural damage, the building would have to tilt. “Most people don’t know three towers fell that day,” Zarembka said. “It wasn’t hit by a plane and the video of it looks like a controlled demolition. … The commission report mentions none of this either.” Zarembka became more curious after reading a story in the Financial Press that discussed stock moves made by American Airlines and United Airlines. Zarembka said that a large number of put options were bought in both companies. A put option is a type of stock purchase where the stock is set to a specfic price for a specific amount of time to sell. “For example, if I buy the option at a fixed price of $30 for six months, I would then have six months to either sell the stock at anytime for $30 or hold on to that stock,” Zarembka said. Zarembka said following the purchase,
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SAI SEETHALA | THE SPECTRUM Paul Zarembka stands in front of the picture of Karl Marx in his office. Despite being an economics professor, Zarembka considers himself a Marxist thinker.
they were sold off roughly a month before the attack at a rate “10 to 20 times” more than a company “regularly” would sell them for. Zarembka said that is is clear to him that somebody had to know the attack was coming to make such a move. “After the attacks happened, their stock plummeted,” Zarembka said. “It is far more probable that someone knew of the attack, prepared for massive loss and stocked on assets that would soon be worth less. It is far more unlikely someone did this not preparing for it.” Zarembka admits that it is still probable, but he said his research and statistics are alarming. He points specifically to the American Airlines sales as being “not accidental” based on the rate and amount of options sold. According to Zarembka, articles detailing the information in his essay were released only a month after 9/11. Zarembka said that this information was not
well-known because it did not support the “narrative” that Osama bin Laden bought the options in the company. The information in the “The Hidden History of 9-11-2001” suggests that bin Laden and Al Qaeda did not act alone and information was known within the U.S. about the attack, according to Zarembka. He said that UB did not help in publishing his works and it was his own effort. “You can ask economists in the country, these aren’t made up facts,” Zarembka said. “What I think happens is that people are brainwashed from the obvious and don’t feel the need to look into things themeselves. The people who first reported on it must have been told to stop by somebody. My guess is that someone saw the information they had and knew it would not collaborate with what was being told.” email: thomas.zafonte@ubspectrum.com
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POLITICAL SURVEY
older voters who are guaranteed to show up on election day. Jacob Homer, a senior biological sciences major, registered to vote and plans on voting Tuesday. He said young people need to show up and vote on Tuesday to let politicians know that our generation cares about politics. He said if the turnout is historically high this year, future candidates may make more of an effort to appeal to younger voters. “Yes, we’re statistically the least likely [group] to vote, whereas older people are very likely to vote,” Homer said. “[Candidates] cater to them as if there’s an effort to keep people our age from voting. The only way to fight that is to register, vote and show these politicians that we care and want to interact with them.” Antoine Yoshinaka, an associate political science professor, said he’d be impressed if 43 percent of students vote Tuesday. “For a presidential election that’d be low, but for a midterm election, it’s actually a little higher than what we’d expect,” Yoshinaka said. “One of reasons that [student voting] is low is because turnout tends to increase with each age range. Eighteen to 24-year-olds tend to be lowest group of all. But their participation increases throughout adulthood.” Forty-four percent of the 255 students said they are first-time voters and only 32 percent said they voted in the 2016 presidential election. Yoshinaka said registering to vote in New York State requires students to jump through a lot of hoops, which can be difficult for first-time voters to juggle in addi-
tion to schoolwork. “This is the first election for a lot of students, many of which might not know what district they’re in or how to register,” Yoshinaka said. “The registration deadline sneaks up fast so if students don’t [plan ahead] they might miss out. There’s also no day-of registration, which is unfortunate. If folks are busy with school, getting off campus and voting on a Tuesday isn’t number one on their priority list.” This was true for sophomore political science major Fisher Filippazzo, who said he won’t be voting on Tuesday because he didn’t fill out his forms in time to register.. He said it’s hard to find time to think about the elections when dealing with the day-today stresses of school. “I just didn’t find the time to register, and before I knew it, it was too late,” Filippazzo said. “I think it’s really important for us to vote because our views impact the future. I definitely wish I could have registered in time.” Many students also said they felt their vote didn’t matter. New York State has traditionally been a democratic state, causing many students to think the outcomes of elections are already determined. This upsets Faculty Senate chair Philip Glick, who has been vocal in trying to get students to register and vote. He said young votes matter, especially since there is legislation that directly affects UB that will likely be voted on if Democrats retake the senate. Among others, Glick said resolutions that would make all SUNY campuses tobaccofree, require all SUNY campus foundations to allow faculty and professional staff representation and enforce the NYS Clean Air Act will likely move out of committee and
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onto the senate floor for a vote. “Eighty-five percent of students, faculty and staff on campus want the right to breathe free air,” Glick said. “The likelihood of the Democrats retaking the floor is very high. Students are typically democratic, so go out and express your right to vote. If the senate flips again, if the kids get out and vote, it’s very likely that SUNY will make an effort to try and change [some of its policies].” Glick said if people are registered, there’s no excuse not to vote. If students missed the cutoff this year, he hopes they’ll be more prepared for future midterms and especially the 2020 presidential election. Regardless, he views UB’s students as a voice of change that can largely influence the state’s politics. “We need to get them all of our students out to vote,” Glick said. “There’s no excuse if people don’t show up on Tuesday. There are over 21,000 undergraduates here. A rough guess is that 70 percent of them are domestic students. That’s a huge chunk of potential voters that could have a real impact on some of these elections.” In The Spectrum’s survey, students said the economy, healthcare, the environment, gun control and race relations were among their top concerns. Rhett Boswell, a junior history major, said he is registered and looking forward
to voting on Tuesday. He said all of these issues are important to young people because they directly affect our future. He said we have to deal with the consequences of these things, so voicing opinions now will only benefit us later in life. “We’re probably the largest voting populous in the U.S. right now because a lot of the baby boomers are dying off,” Boswell said. “We’re what’s next and if we don’t vote, we’re ruining our future.” Yoshinaka said voting is a learning experience that can take time to get right. He urges all students who missed the registration deadline this year to educate themselves on the process so they’re ready to participate in the next election. “Voting tends to be one of these political things that once you learn the process, it becomes a habit,” Yoshinaka said. “Like any habit, if it’s your first time, you aren’t accustomed to it. Things like requesting absentee ballots or remembering to vote become easier as people get older because they become more ingrained. That’s why [voting] increases as people get older. It just takes time for young people to figure out –– there are a lot of hoops to jump through.” email: max.kalnitz@ubspectrum.com twitter: @Max_Kalnitz
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NEWS
6 | Thursday, November 1, 2018
COURTESY OF U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEER Congressman Brian Higgins will attempt to secure his seat in the U.S. House against Republican Renee Zeno in Tuesday’s election.
FROM PAGE 1
MIDTERM BREAKDOWN
the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, which banned gay people from serving openly in the military and she fought to provide 9/11 first responders and community survivors with permanent healthcare. She’s also worked to pass legislation to prevent insider trading in Congress and is working to reform the justice system for sexual assault survivors in the military and on college campuses, according to Politico. Gillibrand is widely considered a progressive Democrat, an outspoken supporter of the #MeToo movement and among a few public officials who has called for the abolishment of ICE. Farley, a partner at a private equity firm in New York City, has campaigned on “putting New York first,” ending the opioid epidemic, strengthening global security and standing with Israel, according to her website. As part of her “Put New York First” proposal, Farley said she would fight for federal funding to rebuild infrastructure and public transit systems across the state, according to Politico. If elected, Farley said she will combat the over-prescribing of opioids and increase access to long-term treatment facilities. She said she plans to strengthen global security with an emphasis on “putting American interest first.” She also supports the antiBoycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which opposes the Palestinian-led movement to end Israel’s occupation in
Arab lands, according to the BDS website.
U.S. House of Representatives
Democrat Brian Higgins represents Buffalo in New York’s 26th congressional district and is running for re-election against challenger Republican Renee Zeno. Higgins, who has served since 2005, has fought for improvements in domestic infrastructure, advocated for environmental measures such as waterfront revitalization and emphasized working toward environmentally sustainable energy during his time in Congress, according to Politico. He supported the act to provide affordable health care, which was passed in 2009, and voted against banning health coverage that covers abortion. Higgins has advocated for increased math, science and workforce training programs to help give all students “an equal chance to succeed,” and said he hopes to reduce the U.S.’s dependence on foreign oil and increase implementation of clean energy technologies made domestically. Zeno has emphasized her support for President Donald Trump “from the very beginning.” If elected to Congress, Zeno will fight for the free market and limited government spending, increase national security, support the second amendment right and fight for the “sanctity of life,” according to her website. During her previous work as a U.S. cus-
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toms auditor, Zeno recognized the inequalities of trade agreements and hopes to diminish these imbalances to further benefit the U.S. economy. She prioritizes keeping American citizens safe and securing U.S. borders, renounces the limiting of rights with gun control legislation and is against abortion, supporting “adoption and education [as] sound and moral principles” to resort to instead. For District 27, which also encompasses parts of Erie County, the race is primarily between incumbent Republican Chris Collins and Democrat Nate McMurray, with Reform Party candidate Larry Piegza. Collins, who has served as Congressman since 2013, was recently indicted for insider trading, making his re-election campaign shaky. During his time in office, Collins showed support for traditional marriage, drug reform campaigns and opposed public abortion and birth control funding. McMurray said that he plans to “break the party machine” that has allowed Collins to be the district’s representative, according to WIVB. During his time as Grand Island town supervisor, he helped turn a highway into a trail, worked to get a visitor’s center built, implement cashless tolls and spoke out against pollution, according to The Buffalo News.
aro, said he would implement incentives to reduce property taxes, invest state funding in opioid treatment and hold the government accountable by increasing transparency if elected, according to Politico. He plans to cut New York property taxes by 30 percent by opposing the cap of state and local tax deductibility. Molinaro said he plans to increase funding and access to behavioral health services to veterans in New York, which has the fifth-largest veteran population in the country. The candidate said that he would also increase inclusivity within the state by ensuring protection of the rights of citizens with disabilities and by improving accessibility of public transit services. UB alum Stephanie Miner, of the Serve America Movement party, wants to help fight corruption in statewide politics and increase education funding, according to Politico. If elected, she said she will propose solutions to infrastructure that effectively utilize taxpayer dollars, re-examine the Public Meetings Law and help to reduce homelessness across the state, according to her website.
Governor
The State Senate is comprised of 63 members who draft and amend state laws. Erie County residents vote on candidates for District 26, which includes Working Families Party’s Brian Kavanagh, Republican Anthony Arias and Stuart J. Avrick for the Conservative Party. The New York State Assembly has 150 members. Candidates for District 26 include current Democratic seat holder Edward Braunstein and Republican David L. Bressler. Local municipal government elections include Buffalo city judge and Erie County clerk, County judge and family court judge, along with school board elections taking place at Lackawanna City School District.
Although there are five candidates running for the highest governmental office in the state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s seat, Cuomo is expected to win by a great majority. During his eight years as governor, incumbent Democrat Cuomo has successfully increased minimum wage, passed gun control legislation and capped local property taxes for New York citizens, according to Politico. He has denounced offshore drilling in New York and banned natural gas hydrofracking in the state. If re-elected, Cuomo plans to increase transparency by regulating political ads on social media, improve public transit systems and “bridge the gap” of opioid legislation between the State Senate and Assembly, according to Politico. The Republican canidate Marcus Molin-
State Senate and Assembly and local elections
email: news@ubspectrum.com
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‘Buffalo in the House’ PRANAV KADAM | THE SPECTRUM
Former President Millard Fillmore is buried in Buffalo’s Forest Lawn Cemetery. Fillmore built a house in the Southtowns and lived in Buffalo before he took office in 1850.
Presidential sites located in the Queen City KIRSTEN DEAN ASST. FEATURES EDITOR
Buffalo may be roughly 400 miles away from Washington, D.C., but you don’t have to travel to the nation’s capital to find pieces of presidential history. The Nickel City is home to more bits of political yesterday than you may know. Here are some spots around town that pay homage to some of our nation’s past presidents.
Millard Fillmore house and grave
Millard Fillmore was the 13th president of the U.S., from 1850 to 1853. Before he moved to the nation’s capital, however, he called Western New York his home. In 1826 in Buffalo Southtowns, Fillmore built a one-and-a-half story house in the town of East Aurora after he and his
wife, Abigail, married. It was built on Main Street and according to the National Park Service, the Fillmore family had their only son in the home and lived in it until 1830. Fillmore rose in popularity and was elected to the New York State legislature in 1828. In East Aurora, he began his famous association with Thurlow Weed, the leader of the Anti-Masonic and Whig political machines in the state. Fillmore moved to Buffalo in 1830 and started his service in the U.S. House of Representatives two years later. In 1846, Fillmore helped found the private UB and was the school’s first chancellor. Later, Fillmore served as Vice President of the United States under President Zachary Taylor, until Taylor’s death in 1850, when he assumed the role of President. Fillmore is most known for signing the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, however, a controversial piece of legislation which called for the return of fugitive slaves to their owners. The Fillmore home was purchased in 1930 by Margaret Price in a deteriorated
state. She then moved the house to 24 Shearer Avenue. While Price converted the house into an artist’s studio, the “original floorboards, plain interior trim and most of the windows survived,” according to the National Park Service. In 1975, the Aurora Historical Society bought the house and converted it into a historic house museum. The home contains Fillmore’s bed and other relics from circa 1830. Fillmore called Buffalo his home and he was buried right in the city. The body of the 13th president rests in Forest Lawn Cemetery. He died on March 8, 1874 after suffering from a stroke.
William McKinley assassination site
Theodore Roosevelt inaugural site
In 1901, the Pan-American Exposition was held in Buffalo. Then President William McKinley was set to visit the event for two days. However, on Sept. 6, 1901, former steel worker Leon Czolgosz fatally shot McKinley, making him the third president to be assassinated. The president’s visit to Buffalo was the highlight of the exposition and on Sept. 5, he gave a speech that drew a record crowd of 116,000, according to the History Channel. That night, pyrotechnics displayed “Welcome President McKinley, Chief of our Nation and Our Empire.” McKinley was scheduled to give his last speech of the event the following day after a meet-and-greet at the Temple of Music theater. Presidential staff members tried to cancel the event twice, in fear of an assassin taking advantage of the public outing, but McKinley refused. The meet-and-greet began and near the front of the line of people waiting to talk to McKinley was Czolgosz. He traveled to Buffalo a couple days before and purchased a .32 caliber revolver, according to the History Channel. Around 4:07 p.m., Czolgosz fired two
UB Theatre and Dance prepares for its rendition of ‘The Cherry Orchard’ SAMANTHA VARGAS ASST. ARTS EDITOR
COURTESY OF LIBBY WALKER Libby Walker (left) rehearses for UB Theatre and Dance’s production of “The Cherry Orchard.”
identity and the subversion of expectations. Although the play originally debuted in 1904, these themes are still prevalent in modern society. The story is often regarded as both a comedy and a tragedy. The dialogue is full of dark humor, which contrasts the melancholic plot. “The story is definitely character-driven instead of story-driven. The story is intertwined but without the characters, it wouldn’t have the same effect,” Walker said. “I’d definitely consider the play a comedy over a tragedy. My character has to deal with a crazy amount of trauma and problems, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be humor. Some of the dialogue is just plain hysterical and it comes from the characterization.” said Walker.
HUMANS OF UB, A NEW SPECTRUM INTERVIEW SERIES, SHARES IMPACTFUL STORIES FROM THE LIVES OF YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS. shots at McKinley after McKinley extended his hand to a person in line. Czolgosz was tackled by a bystander before he could fire a third shot, but it was too late. He shot the president in the stomach and taken to the exposition’s hospital, according to the History Channel. A gynecologist, the only qualified doctor on hand, performed emergency surgery and sutured the wounds, but could not locate one of the bullets, according to the History Channel. By Sept. 14, McKinley slowly lost consciousness and died at 2:15 a.m. McKinley’s body is buried in Canton, Ohio. The Temple of Music building, built for the exposition, was torn down after the event’s end. Today, a stone marker in a Fordham Drive traffic divider marks the speculated spot of the theater and assassination site.
Family and familiarity Libby Walker has to keep her emotions ready to change at any moment. In order to properly play her character, she has to be able to break down and cry at the flip of a switch. Walker, a junior theater major, has been working on her acting fluidity for months. She was casted as the lead in the UB Theatre and Dance production of “The Cherry Orchard.” Walker plays Madame Lubov Ranevskaya, a landowner and emotionally stunted aristocrat who struggles with reality. The character has to deal with her intense focus on materialism in order to fill the void of her deceased son. This causes her to disassociate from the reality of her cherry orchard being sold. “This role has been a challenge in the best of ways. I love playing someone who has so many layers. She has to go through so many struggles. When a mother loses a son, that’s something no one can understand. There are moments where people can’t relate to that kind of pain,” Walker said. “The Cherry Orchard” has decades worth of significance within the theater community. It is highly regarded as a 20th century classic and continuously influences other popular playwrights. The production adds a commentary about social change,
Thursday, November 1, 2018 | 7
Walker’s character jumps between aristocratic euphoria and deep, dissociative depression. She is constantly teetering on the edge of another depressive episode. The concept of grief and the use of coping mechanisms are uniquely touched upon within the story. Ranevskaya is able to distract herself from her pain by throwing lavish parties and other privileged amusements. “I hope the audience ends up liking my character despite her denial. I hope that they understand her layers. It’s important to ask how does it feel when you love so much you let them go. What does it mean to people? How do you let go?” Walker said. “When I’m in character, I have to remember these layers. I have to understand the concept of being completely in denial.”
After the assassination of 25th President William McKinley, his Vice President Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President. Roosevelt became president in Buffalo, where McKinley was shot, in 1901 at the Ansley Wilcox home. After the shooting, while McKinley’s condition was seemingly getting better, then-Vice President Roosevelt left for an Adirondacks camping trip, according to the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site. When McKinley’s health declined, Roosevelt traveled back to Buffalo and was sworn into the presidency on Sept. 14, 1901, the day McKinley passed away. President Roosevelt stayed as a guest in the home of his friend, Ansley Wilcox, a local attorney. This home is where Roosevelt later delivered the oath of office. The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site is located at 641 Delaware Ave and is a National Historic Site through the National Park Service. email: kirsten.dean@ubspectrum.com twitter: @KirstenUBSpec.
But the audience has to decide for itself whether or not it understands the emotional toll and sacrifice being made with the sale of the cherry orchard. Although the sale will hurt Ranevskaya and the audience has witnessed the impact of her existing trauma, the sale will pull her out of debt. “In life there’s moments where we don’t want to believe the truth because we’ve gone through so much,” Walker said. “What do you do when the one thing you love is gone? The one thing that’s keeping you going, that balances everything together.” Many characters want to help Ranevskaya with her denial and her other problems. Lucian Visone, a junior theater major, knows how difficult it is to lead a production with such a significant background. Visone plays opposite Walker as Yermolai Alexeyitch Lopakhin, another wealthy character who has to fight against societal pressure as a representative of the middle class. “I started doing research in the middle of summer. [I was] looking into the time period, themes, differences in the core attributes of each character and how they all contrast with each other. I was terrified by this role because of how large it was,” Visone said. “I kept pushing myself at night, to the point of pushing myself too hard and losing sleep over the show.” The emotionally driven production offers a compelling look into the relatability of grief. The show is sure to bring both laughs and tears to the audience. The production will have a short run from Nov. 2 to Nov. 4 in the Katharine Cornell Theatre email: samantha.vargas@ubspectrum.com twitter: @SamVargasArts
8 | Thursday, November 1, 2018
NEWS
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SPORTS
10 | Thursday, November 1, 2018
Keep the coach, embarrass the school Maryland football needs to seriously examine its priorities
NATHANIEL MENDELSON SPORTS EDITOR
Two and a half million dollars per year. That’s the amount University of Maryland football head coach D.J. Durkin will make this season. Seven hundred thousand dollars per year. That’s the amount Maryland athletic director Damon Evans will make this season. Zero dollars per year. That’s the amount 19-year-old offensive lineman Jordan McNair made while playing for the Terrapins. McNair passed away on June 13th. Two weeks after he registered a body temperature of 106 degrees and was rushed to the hospital. “There were multiple people that said, ‘Wow, Jordan looks f----d up, he doesn’t look all right,” an anonymous player told ESPN. Following the 10th 110-yard sprint, longtime Maryland athletic trainer Wes Robinson yelled “Drag his ass across the field!” Robinson was placed on administrative leave. Since McNair’s death, an investigation launched by the University System of Maryland Board of Regents looked into the culture and environment that is Maryland football. Maryland football was found to be a “toxic” environment dating back to when former athletic director Kevin Anderson was in charge and nothing changed under the guidance of Durkin and Evans, according to an ESPN report. A parent letter sent in 2016 raised concerns about the program, describing Durkin’s actions as “extreme and outrageous.” The parent went so far as to say Durkin is “the sole cause of emotional distress.” Durkin had the support of many highlevel boosters but did not have the support of his athletes. He had an “open door” policy but players who did not align with his views felt this did not extend to them. Players and coaches at Maryland were hesitant to voice concerns for Durkin and feared for retribution against them. Yet, Durkin was still reinstated to return to the sidelines this Saturday as the Terrapins take on Michigan State. “The board has no authority to hire and fire a football coach, but they made clear that returning DJ [Durkin] to the field was their highest priority,” a source close to the situation said to The Washington Post. It is also believed that if Maryland President Wallace Loh wanted to keep his position, he would keep Durkin as the coach. Loh is retiring in June. This is a failure of college athletics. While not all the blame can be placed on Durkin for the state of his football team the fact that he did not report the abuse going on should lead to his dismissal. The University of Maryland sacrificed its integrity for a coach that has brought nothing to it. UB is currently in a weird middle ground. The university, students and community are not fully committed to football but with the recent success of athletic programs as a whole, they must decide what side to put their wallets on. Durkin remained in power because Maryland was too afraid to upset its donors. Donors can provide a lot to a university and for athletic teams, they can help buy new equipment and help with recruiting. The Bulls this season have launched crowdfunding campaigns for multiple teams, including football. Buffalo raised $7,765 beating its $6,000 goal. Donors were mostly anonymous and that is where the issue lies if scandal ever arises. Who are the ones giving money to a team in gross amounts when it is not an announced project? UB is a public institution so we should have the ability to know who the donors are. What UB can’t have is a situation like Maryland. The option of anonymity leads to too many questions. Who has influence on our university’s athletic decisions? The UB Council is made of multiple professionals in the athletics field. Jeremy M. Jacobs owns the Boston Bru-
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Non-conference breakdown: women’s basketball The matches to watch before MAC season begins
JACK LI | THE SPECTRUM Junior guard Theresa Onwuka breaks down a Delaware defender. The Bulls will need her to play well as they take on highly touted programs in their non-conference schedule.
THOMAS ZAFONTE SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
The Bulls are looking for big wins this non-conference season when they take on Western New York schools and highly touted programs. Coming off last year’s historic Sweet Sixteen appearance and record breaking season, expect women’s basketball to get the buzz around the team going early in November and December.
Niagara Purple Eagles - Nov. 14
The Bulls may start their season on Nov. 11, but its home debut will be Buffalo’s first must-watch game of the season. The Purple Eagles are coming off an underwhelming season and lack the depth that Buffalo has. Expect the Bulls to show out and share the ball to give more reps to talent. If the Bulls show up with multiple shooters early this season, the game could be over early.
Oregon Ducks - Nov. 18
The Ducks are one of the most talented opponents the Bulls will play this season. Oregon ended last season 33-5 and ranked fifth overall in the nation. Given that the Bulls will be on the road, Buffalo will find itself looking to repeat what it did earlier this year: winning road games in this year’s NCAA Tournament against higher ranked teams. The Bulls have done it before and seem ready to continue their success. So does Oregon. The Ducks have been selected to win the PAC-12 Conference this season and have mostly returning players. If Buffalo wins, it will be one of the highlight victories in school history.
South Point Thanksgiving Shootout. The Bulls went to Daytona Beach, Fl. last year for the San Juan Shootout and left the weekend with 2 wins over big conference teams. The Bulls will have that chance again with the Georgetown Hoyas coming in from the Big East. The Hoyas were a .500 team in both non-conference and conference play and should help build the teams NCAA Tournament resume early. The South Dakota State Jackrabbits will be the Bulls’ other matchup for the weekend. South Dakota comes in off a very impressive 26-7 season last year. Expect the Jackrabbits to be the tougher test on the weekend for Buffalo.
Canisius Golden Griffins - Dec. 4
The Western New York rivalry games continue with the Griffins. The Bulls whooped the Griffins last year, but Canisus should hope that Buffalo is still working things out come December. Much of the Bulls’ season depends on when the team starts synchronizing. Freshmen make up over a third of the team, and non-conference success rests heavily on them being ready for the higher level of play. With Canisius only having 10 wins last season, the Bulls should pick up the win, regardless of if they have any issues.
South Point Thanksgiving ShootDayton Flyers - Dec. 7 out - Nov. 23, 24 The Bulls are heading to Las Vegas, Nevada following turkey day for this year’s
If Felisha Legette Jack and the coaching staff deserve credit for something out
Anthony Johnson breaks records
Buffalo football played lights out Tuesday night. UB Stadium shut down as the Bulls celebrated their eighth win of the season. Luckily, there were two shining stars on the field. The Bulls (8-1, 5-0 Mid-American Conference) defeated Miami (OH) (3-6, 3-2 MAC) 51-42 Tuesday night. The game featured almost zero defense between the teams, combining for over 900 yards of offense and 13 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Tyree Jackson and senior wide receiver Anthony Johnson connected for three touchdowns as Johnson broke the school record for receiving yards in a game. “When AJ is healthy, he’s the best receiver in college football in my eyes,” Jackson said. “Having a guy like that on your team is awesome. He makes great plays and it’s a blessing to play with him.”
Johnson was dominant all over the THE SPECTRUM field against the RedSenior wide receiver Hawks. On the Bulls’ Anthony Johnson second play of the walks off the field. Johnson broke a game, Johnson and 37-year-old record Jackson connected Tuesday night with 238 receiving yards for a 75-yard touchon 8 catches. down – the longest pass completed by the Bulls this season. “He’s Anthony Johnson,” head coach Lance Leipold said in response to the star senior wide receiver breaking a school record Tuesday night. Johnson finished the game with 8 catches for 238 yards and 3 touchdowns, passing Joe D’Amico who put up 218 yards against Cortland in 1981. Johnson says he woke up “feeling good” and knew he would play well. It has been a struggle for Johnson this season after suffering a hamstring injury against Rutgers on Sept. 22. He missed two games and only had six receptions in the two games he was healthy enough to play in. Luckily, the Bulls were 4-1 without him. “I know when I’m healthy, I can make good plays for this team,” Johnson said. Jackson finished with 358 yards, 3 passing touchdowns and 3 rushing touchdowns. He is the second quarterback to have 3 passing and rushing touchdowns in the same game this season. In the two games witout Johnson, Jackson averaged only 139.5 yards passing and a 45.85 completion percent. “Me and him have a great connection,” Jackson said. “I understand what he’s going to
ins, Jonathan A. Dandes is the owner of Rich Baseball Operations and Christopher H. Koch is the CEO of New Era Cap who UB Athletics has advertising deals with. How much money are they giving to UB and how much control do they have? Will they have a
say on the future of Lance Leipold here? With this season’s football success, Buffalo will have to decide whether to listen to the donors or listen to its athletes if a scandal ever arises. Hopefully a head coach means less than a student dying.
WAYNE PENALES |
UB beats Miami (OH) in 5142 victory NATHANIEL MENDELSON SPORTS EDITOR
of this schedule, its the top tier opponents they have set games up with. Dayton bounced early from the NCAA Tournament this year and finished the season 23-7. The Flyers have a deep roster of veteran players and have the luck of playing Buffalo on Dayton court. The Flyers went 13-1 at home, but had several games decided by 10 points or less.
Stanford Cardinal - Dec. 21
The Bulls will finally return home after over a month away to take on another PAC-12 team with Stanford. The Cardinal was another Pac-12 elite going 14-3 in the conference and making it to the Sweet Sixteen last season. This is the best home game of the non-conference season but will be during winter break. If you can make it to the game, it will be one of the best Bulls games to watch until the Central Michigan Chippewas come for the MidAmerican Conference rivalry game.
St. Bonaventure Bonnies - Dec. 23
The Bulls will complete the Western New York rivalry games with this home clash against the Bonnies. Given the Bonnies 8-22 record last season, Buffalo should pickup the easy win just before Christmas day. email: thomas.zafonte@ubspectrum.com
do and he kind of understands me. There are times where he might switch a route up a little different but we’re on the same page and we understand each other. He’s a playmaker.” Tuesday night was signature #MACtion – high scoring, undisciplined play and limited to no defense. The teams combined for 24 penalties for 239 yards. Senior linebacker Khalil Hodge committed a targeting penalty in the fourth quarter and is now forced to miss the first half of next week’s game. With the game tied 42-42 in the fourth quarter, freshman running back Jaret Patterson crossed the goal line from 4 yards out. Unfortunately, senior kicker Adam Mitcheson, a career 90 percent extra point kicker, failed. The Bulls would only lead 48-42. Mitcheson would get a chance to redeem himself to put the Bulls up two scores with just under four minutes remaining. From 37 yards out, Mitcheson nailed it and broke the record for most career field goals. “You’re in that spot as I said to the team, ‘It’s been a rollercoaster for Adam.’Nobody is more disappointed or frustrated sometimes than him,” Leipold said. “It was in his range and I’m going to believe in him. He’s made some clutch kicks for us this year and other years, to make it a two score game at that point was going to be critical.” With the victory, the Bulls became one of four teams in the country to have eight wins. The Bulls are 11-1 dating back to last season and the MAC East title is becoming a reality. For their final three games of the season, the Bulls play two of the worst teams in the MAC and the Ohio Bobcats (5-3, 3-1 MAC). With a win over the Bobcats, the Bulls will be able to clinch the MAC East division and head to Detroit for the MAC Championship game. The Bulls have their final home game of the season next week against the Kent State Golden Flashes (2-7, 1-4 MAC) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. email: nathaniel.mendelson@ubspectrum.com twitter @NateMendelson
email: nathaniel.mendelson@ubspectrum.com twitter @NateMendelson