UBSPECTRUM.COM
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017
FROM SA TO SCHUMER P.4
VOLUME 66 NO. 32
UNITY THROUGH DIVERSITY P.4
BASEBALL SEASON PREVIEW P.8
BUGGIN’ OUT UB student reports cockroaches in Sweethome apartment SARAH CROWLEY SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR
Michael Juszczak saw cockroaches crawling inside his sink, over his stovetop and across his kitchen counter in his University Village at Sweethome apartment. Juszczak, a freshman finance major and member of the men’s soccer team, and his three roommates first noticed the cockroaches in October 2016. He and his roommates told Sweethome officials about the problem and an exterminator tried to get rid of the cockroaches with pest control spray. The cockroaches returned within a few months and are still present. Others in building four, where Juszczak lived, have also seen cockroaches but did not want to speak with The Spectrum. Juszczak is no longer living at the apartment, but still pays $679 a month because he cannot terminate the lease with American Campus Communities, the company that owns University Village at Sweethome. Em-
ployees at Sweethome were unable to comment because of company policies and referred all questions to their media contact, Gina Cowart. Cowart is out of the office for the week and did not answer in time for print. “I was hoping that over winter break they would take care of it, since no one’s living there and they have a month to do what they need to do,” Juszczak said. Juszcack checked for the cockroaches again earlier this month and saw they were still crawling around his apartment. He commutes every day from his parents’ home in Buffalo for his morning practice and classes. Juszcack’s roommates are from Sweden, Vancouver and Rochester, so they don’t have the option of living at home. All three of them still live in the Sweethome apartment. Juszczak said he spoke to an attorney for roughly three hours a week “dealing with the issue.” He has tried calling the Erie County Health Department to see if the building can be deemed “uninhabitable,” which he said would be his best chance at
ending the lease. Juszczak and his other roommates first asked to move to another American Campus Communities-owned property, like the Villas at Chestnut Ridge or the Villas on Rensch, but he said the process took too long. He said he has not dealt with the same person at American Campus Communities throughout the process. Juszczak spoke to an attorney at the Sub GRAPHIC BY PIERCE STRUDLER Board I, Inc. (SBI) Legal who told him to either “stop paying and see what they do” or take the matter to a small-claims court. John Sorgi, market development representative for Erlich Pest Control, has been involved with exterminating for eight years. Sorgi said cockroaches, like bedbugs, are considered “nuisance sanitation pests” and are not known for carrying diseases. “If you have anyone with breathing problems, then there’s something that could cause asthma or something... what they’re secreting in their fecal matter is what the problem is,” Sorgi said. “So in urban areas where you see more [cockroaches], you’ll have higher numbers of asthma or breathing problems in kids.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Weber is the new Black Dr. Scott Weber discusses his transition into vice president of Student Life HANNAH STEIN SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
Dr. Scott Weber loves backcountry hiking and making gallons of his own maple syrup. He listens to Fleetwood Mac while rowing and plans to climb Mt. Vesuvius when he visits Italy this semester. But when Weber isn’t at the top of a mountain, he’s on campus. The Spectrum sat down with Weber in his Capen office full of family photos and artwork of inspirational quotes. Historical books on ancient Rome were stacked on his desk while he sipped a glass of soda. Weber, vice president of Student Life, discussed his transition into his new role and his plans for the university. He said he has always been “student centric” and he feels he is a natural fit for the job. But he said he still has “a lot to learn” in his position. Weber assumed his new position as vice president on Jan. 3. President Satish Tripathi offered the position to Weber once former vice president Dennis Black resigned after being investigated for hundreds of thousands of dollars of expenditures during his time at UB. Weber joined UB as faculty in 1983 and served as vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Education in 2010. He was later
ANGELA BARCA, THE SPECTRUM
Dr. Scott Weber sits in his Capen office. Weber sat down with The Spectrum to discuss his new role as vice president of Student Life.
promoted to senior vice provost for Academic Affairs. He said he wasn’t anticipating this job and has no set contract stating how long he will be in this position. Weber said he worked closely and had a “very good” relationship with Black. “We did a lot of work together and we had a lot of joint programs together, we met regularly, had lunch together regularly,” he said. “It was a pretty close, professional relationship.” Weber said he does not know Black’s current status. He emailed Black about his new position and Black wished him well.
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“I do think [Black] interacted extremely well with our students and I hope to be able to emulate that in this process,” Weber said. “I hope that students see me as an advocate for them as part of upper level administration and you’ll have to make the verdict later.” For many, Black was considered as the “face” of UB. Weber hopes to be “one of the faces” of UB, but he said Tripathi should be in the forefront.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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Parking problems persist Students say overcrowded campus is cause for lack of parking
SARAH CROWLEY SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR
Nick Pariso said the campus is significantly more crowded this year. The lines for food in the Student Union are longer, it’s difficult to walk the hallways without feeling cramped and on-campus housing is limited. But worst of all, he said, there are no parking spaces. Student parking is so limited that Pariso, a sophomore finance major, has paid more than $500 in parking citations over the last two years. He parks in faculty lots and carpool spaces and said if he were to look for spaces in student lots, he would be late to class. Jacob Sobilo, a sophomore electrical engineering major, said it might be because UB has the largest freshman class ever. UB admitted 3,995 freshmen this past fall, a 12 percent increase from 2015’s freshman class. The university has acknowledged students’ frustration with parking, but students feel the university should create more parking space. In 2015, there were 1,000 parking spots left at noon on Wednesdays – the campus’ busiest day – said Maria Wallace, director of Parking and Transportation. Her advice was for students to arrive to campus earlier. Pariso said he thinks the solution is to look into adding a parking garage or reduce restrictions for certain lots, rather than encourage students to live on-campus. “There’s not enough housing on-campus,” Pariso said. “When you have to subsidize housing at the Villas on Rensch for freshmen students because you don’t have enough room in Richmond, I mean come on, that is an issue.” Sobilo said he has also noticed limited space on campus. “On a whole, I just think it’s ridiculous that a state-funded university can’t accommodate parking for everyone,” Sobilo said. “This school just overcrowds in general – like dorms get bunk beds now, which is ridiculous. I’m 6’6”, 20-years old, I’m not sleeping in a bunk bed.” Alex Stojanovski, a junior engineering major, commutes from Lancaster and said the parking situation is “frustrating.” He’s never had a parking ticket, but he’s skipped class and gone home because he didn’t want to “deal with parking.” “The solution is a proper allocation of funds,” Stojanovski said. “We don’t need a painting on the side of Greiner Hall or Alumni before we take care of the bare necessities.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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NEWS
Thursday, February 16, 2017
THE SPECTRUM
Parking problems persist CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
UB issued 17,750 parking citations in 2016, said Chris Austin, assistant director of Parking and Transportation. But students feel the university should take a stronger stance on the lack of parking and not so much on giving citations. A graduate student raised concerns over parking at a town hall meeting last semester with President Satish Tripathi. “It wouldn’t be a faculty meeting without a parking complaint,” Tripathi responded with a laugh. He didn’t offer any specific answers or solutions and said the parking problem is part of a larger question of how best to transport students between the three UB campuses. Pariso said the parking problems are now affecting his classes. He had a hold on his account for a $50 parking citation from last semester and was unable to register for his classes in time. He now has to take his business calculus class over the summer. “That’s not something I can’t just cough up, it’s going to take a couple days for me to get that, whether someone has to transfer money to me or what, it’s ridiculous,” Pariso said. “And how do they expect me to get to class?” The individual ticket isn’t the problem but it becomes a problem once fees accumulate, Pariso said. Parking and Transportation will now allow a student to renew his or her permit until all of their fees are paid. If a student is unable to get a new parking permit, they are more susceptible to citations for having an expired parking pass. Parking and Transportation emails stu-
dents a week after his or her citation and informs them of outstanding citations before registration periods, Austin said. Placing egistration holds for outstanding violations is a long-standing practice at UB and other colleges and universities across the country. Sobilo said that in order to avoid the parking citations, he has to park far and deal with the commute. “I used to have to park in Special Events parking while I had classes in NSC and you get out of your car in the winter and you see Clemens on the horizon and think ‘wow Clemens is the halfway point,” Sobilo said. “It just kind of sucks, if I described my commute to you, you’d probably think I’m from Rochester or something, but I live like three minutes, .7 miles away.” email: sarah.crowley@ubspectrum.com
SPECTRUM FILE PHOTOS
Baird B lot (top) is a faculty and staff only lot on North Campus. Jarvis B lot (bottom) is a faculty, staff and student lot. Students said they park in faculty and staff lots because there are more open spaces than student-only lots.
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OPINION THE SPECTRUM
Editorial Board
Appreciate diversity
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Students have the opportunity to learn inside and outside the classroom
Gabriela Julia
MANAGING EDITOR
Tori Roseman COPY EDITORS
Saqib Hossain Emma Medina Margaret Wilhelm Grace Trimper NEWS EDITORS
Hannah Stein, Senior Ashley Inkumsah, Senior Maddy Fowler, Asst. FEATURES EDITORS
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Pierce Strudler Martina LaVallo, Asst.
The Muslim Student Association is a group of extremely brave students. They are showing the community they will not be silent, despite the prejudice they face on a daily basis. We at The Spectrum believe having Islamic Awareness Week is crucial in a college atmosphere. We are always stuck inside lifeless lecture halls with dull professors. There is a freshness when you can learn from another student. But these students aren’t teaching us textbook terms or mathematical equations. They are teaching us about their lives and the unimaginable discrimination they face without cause. They are teaching us what the religion of Islam
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THE SPECTRUM Thursday, February 16, 2017 Volume 66 Number 32 Circulation 4,000 The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Feedback, Opinion and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum, visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at 716-645-2152
means in a time of ignorance toward the Islamic faith. Islamic Awareness Week comes at an incredibly important time. There are students around us living in fear because of our president. Students have literally been banned from their own country and thankfully, have all returned to UB. But just because they are now home does not mean the discussion has ended. This is an opportunity – an opportunity for students to ask questions of those who actually practice Islam. Those who have grown up with Islam can provide a student with more information than a textbook. This is because they under-
stand a specific experience – not a neatly-worded textbook definition written by white men and women. Islamic Awareness Week brings accessibility to campus. Students don’t need to attend a meeting at a specific time or put in work – they just have to observe and listen. The awareness events last all week, which makes it easy for students to attend based upon their schedules. MSA’s event Wednesday evening was one of the most important discussions of the week. They broke down the myth of radical Islamic terrorism that shows these Muslim students are not dangerous nor a threat to this university. They are fearlessly tackling these stereotypes head-on to inform and free themselves from unwanted burdens. These informative, week-long events allow students to learn about topics and conditions that are outside the realm of their educational sphere.
American democracy is fake
Professional Staff
Alexa Capozzi Casey Ridings
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Thursday, February 16, 2017
The recent national dialogue, in the wake of President Donald Trump’s surprise victory, is one of shock and anger. Much of the backlash from the left has been directed at the Electoral College, as an impediment to the popular will. However, the discontent runs far deeper. This is not the first time the American people as a whole have felt betrayed by their democracy. There is a much larger reason for this: we don’t have one. The Electoral College is a factor of this lack of democracy. While it is essential that any president represent people across the country, the Electoral College does not accomplish that any more than a
The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 142602100
direct election would prevent it; Trump, having lost the popular vote, certainly does not have any broad coalition. Instead, the Electoral College just gives unrepresentative groups veto power over the majority. In 2013, Gallup found that 63 percent of Americans supported abolishing the Electoral College, a historically consistent result, with Republicans nearly as supportive as Democrats. Yet there have been no serious moves to reform our system. However, the Electoral College is only a small piece of the larger problem. The existence of a political elite, a ruling class, accounts for far more of our lack of representation. In 2014, Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page, political scientists at Princeton and Northwestern respectively, published a landmark study on American democracy. They surveyed Americans from all income levels over 20 years on various policy issues and then compared the survey responses with the actual results. Their findings: “When a majority of citizens disagree with economic elites and/or with organized interests, they generally lose… average citizens… have little or no independent influence.”
Gilens and Page categorized the American system as corresponding to an Economic Elite Domination model or a Biased Pluralism model, both forms of oligarchy, which is when a small group of people has control of a country, organization or institution. The authors declared in no uncertain terms “the failure of models of Majoritarian Electoral Democracy” to describe our system. Oligarchy manifests even before policymaking, as elite preferences also determine who runs for office. Competition in an election makes donors an indispensable part of the process. Bias is inevitable, as Harvard Law scholar Larry Lessig argued compellingly, with elected officials forced to maintain constant awareness of donors’ preferences. These donors are a small group indeed: Demos found that in the 2012 election, 132 people had donated over 60 percent of Super PAC money. Thus, in this past election, the more popular candidate also had decades-long ties to the financial sector, was defined by the centrism of her husband’s administration and was a foreign policy hawk. She was considered the lesser of two evils. The other candidate was a billionaire real estate tycoon.
Crisis in the DCEU DC and Warner Bros. need to get it together
DAVID TUNIS-GARCIA ARTS EDITOR
I wanted to give DC and Warner Bros. a chance – another chance – at building their DC Extended Universe on the big screen. Sure, “Man of Steel” was a boring slog that I regularly forget exists. But the casting was excellent and some of the action was cool. Sure, “Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice” was an overlong mess where characterization and logic are thrown out the window for what director Zack Snyder thinks looks cool in the moment. But I’ll be darned if it didn’t look pretty cool in those moments and Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot turned in great performances.
Sure, “Suicide Squad” was an unmitigated disaster of a film on almost every level: a rushed script, no consistent tone, flat characters, incompetent editing, etc. But heck, if I didn’t still find myself enjoying the film on some level; a level I may not be proud of, but still. Sure, I don’t have much faith in a Snyder-helmed “Justice League” film scheduled for this November, but there’s still a Flash solo movie in the works, a Wonder Woman movie being released in June and the pièce de résistance: a solo Batman film written by, directed by and starring the Oscar winning Ben Affleck. The Flash lost its writer/director in pre-production. But it got an even better director in Rick Famuyiwa who made 2015’s most under-appreciated film, “Dope.” Famuyiwa has proven he can do
heart and energy, two key ingredients in a Flash story, that’s perfect. Oh. Oh, wait. Famuyiwa left the project over creative differences. But at least you have a solid script and can bring in a journeyman director to bring the studio’s apparently strong vision to life. Just last month Warner has hired a new writer to do a page-one rewrite of the script. OK, let’s call the Flash film a loss. At least “Wonder Woman” looks promising and it is the first major superhero film to star a female character. There is no way DC would mess this one up. But in August and just this past January, two sources have separately called what they have seen of the movie “discombobulated” and “a mess.” Surely, surely Ben Affleck’s “Batman” will be able to carry this rotting carcass of a film franchise on
There is always an event in the SU. Perhaps it’s for a blood drive, or a giveaway. It’s impossible to walk through without some sort of sign or attraction to catch your attention. But why host these variety of events? Does anyone actually stop to engage in the events held for “Education Week” or is it a fruitless effort? Awareness weeks, including those for disorders, cultures or causes, are vital to college campuses. It is important students take advantage of the diversity and truly learn outside of the classroom. Depending on your major, club, team or group, you may not see a point in branching out and learning about others lives. But if these students are brave enough to speak out, be brave enough to ask questions. email: eic@ubspectrum.com
If these were the only problems, we might have been much closer to a reformation, but the same ruling class that controls policy and elections also controls the media. Noam Chomsky, one of the most cited scholars of today, attributed this to ownership and sourcing. There exist six relevant media corporations in the US; corporations because they are also tied to other sectors of industry (e.g. Westinghouse owns CBS). News outlets are furthermore dependent on government agencies and officials as sources of news, with a close relationship developing that promotes cooperation rather than criticism. The dialogue among citizens is directed by the same class that rules them. The result is what Lessig terms “conflicting dependencies,” on both the ruling class and the people. This is the antithesis of democracy. In a democracy, no privileged group can overrule the people. Yet that is precisely what has happened in this election. As we continue to endure the disastrous “presidency” of Trump, our faith in the political process and “institutions” should be nil. It is only after achieving consciousness of who is actually in power that we can begin the struggle to take it back. email: news@ubspectrum.com
its back. All last year, in interviews, Affleck spoke on how he really wanted to get this movie right and how he would only direct a movie he knew was going to be good. Cue Affleck announcing that he will no longer be directing “The Batman,” citing the stress of both directing and starring in a major action picture. He wants to be able to give everything he has to his performance as the Caped Crusader. Okay. That is a bit disappointing, but understandable. The director tapped to replace him, Matt Reeves, has turned in great work in the past with “Cloverfield” and “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” And Affleck will still be starring in the film, giving the iconic role the undivided attention it deserves and he will still be involved heavily in the production. As I type this column reports have surfaced, stating that Affleck is looking to drop out of the Batman film completely… You maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, darn you! Darn you all to heck! email: david.garcia@ubspectrum.com
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NEWS
Thursday, February 16, 2017
THE SPECTRUM
From SA to Schumer Former SA vice president resigns to work for Senator Chuck Schumer
ASHLEY INKUMSAH SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
Megan Glander was faced with one of the hardest decisions of her life when she was offered a job with Senator Chuck Schumer; she could either go after her dream job or stay at UB surrounded by the people she considered her family. Glander, former Student Association (SA) vice president stepped down from her position to work for Schumer in his Hudson Valley, NY office. Glander graduated early and now works full time for Schumer. Gina Nasca, Engineering Council coordinator, became interim vice president when Glander stepped down from the position. Nasca was officially named vice president on Jan. 31 and will serve as vice president for the remainder of the semester. Glander was offered the job as Deputy Regional Director for Schumer’s office in December after two rounds of interviews. She was an intern for Schumer in his Buffalo office for six months before she got the job offer. Glander said she struggled to decide if she was going to take the job because she met so many different people and advocated for the student body during her time at SA. Glander said “as cliché as it sounds,”
SPECTRUM STOCK PHOTO
Megan Glander resigned from her position as SA vice president after she was offered a job with Senator Chuck Schumer.
she just really enjoyed giving back to others. “I started in SA my freshman year by joining a club and doing some of our community service projects and it was wonderful growing [both] as a person and student through my various roles in the organization,” she said. “It was hard to leave because I really made my home in SA throughout my four years and considered our staff to be more than just employees but family.” Through her new job with Schumer, Glander is still able to advocate for others the same way she did in SA. Glander works with Westchester County constituents daily, helping them with “a multitude of different concerns.”
SA President Matt Rivera felt sad yet happy for Glander’s success when he learned she was stepping down. “We had been through this journey together and spent a lot of time getting closer as the year went by,” Rivera said. “Apart from being vice president, she is my friend so I was sad to know that we wouldn’t be spending as much time together. At the same time, I was so happy for her, knowing that she was going to be moving on to her dream job.” The SA constitution states when the vice president resigns, the president and treasurer pick an interim vice president who can then be sworn in by the SA Senate for permanent status.
Glander recommended Gina Nasca to fill her position because she knew she had the work ethic “to give back to the SA clubs in a way that is more than adequate.” When Nasca was selected as the interim vice president, she and Glander discussed the vice presidential duties. Glander said she explained her current projects to Nasca to ensure a seamless transition. “When Matt, Dan and I ran to be on the SA executive board, we wanted to make progress and I really believe that we have made so many strides in the right direction, and when I resigned I wanted to make sure that we had someone who would hit the ground running,” Glander said. The Spectrum reached out to Nasca, but she did not respond in time for print. Glander said SA ultimately helped her realize her passion in life is helping others with their concerns no matter how small. “SA has paved my future and I am so grateful for the people who have helped me get to where I am today within the organization,” Glander said. “Keep moving forward and keep making progress.” Glander said her work for Schumer is quite a change of pace from her work with SA. “We are always working to help the people in our area and the days fly by because there is just so much to do,” she said. “In the SA office, I was also busy, but the SA employees are ultimately students and being a student also took time.” email: ashley.inkumsah@ubspectrum.com
Unity through diversity Muslim Student Association holds Islamic Awareness Week EMA MAKAS STAFF WRITER
Muslim UB students are taking this week to break stereotypes. Muslim Student Association (MSA) is looking to unite the student body by celebrating Islamic Awareness Week. MSA is holding events every day this week to teach non-Muslim students about their culture. The theme for this year’s Islamic Awareness Week is “unity through diversity.” There are more than 200 students in MSA and members felt Islamic Awareness Week is more important now than ever. The current political climate and President Donald Trump’s travel ban executive order has influenced the club’s events this week. The Spectrum was unable to get a total number of Muslim students at UB, but there are 122 students from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. “In essence, most of the events look at the diversity within our campus; whether that be interfaith, intercultural, or even just on a person-to-person basis, and events focus to talk about Islam in a way that isn’t regarded as taboo or seen as different,” Islam said. Islam said many MSA members feel their religion is misrepresented and it is linked to terrorism. “Currently, Muslims don’t have the option of hiding from the discourse when we are the discourse,” Islam said. “It’s our time to use that voice given to us to really open up our club and invite in new people to see us as we are and not necessarily what we are claimed to be.” On Monday, MSA held a student panel in Baldy 101 encouraging students to explore different faiths. “Islam is the most diverse religion in
terms of geography and ethnicity, so it was important to us to address this quality and look critically at ourselves here in America and share our narrative or voice in it,” Islam said. On Tuesday MSA held a virtual feature of the Muslim World and local Muslim scholar Jalal Abualrub spoke about the myth of radical Islamic terrorism on Wednesday. MSA is holding a world bazaar in the Student Union Lobby on Thursday. Local vendors from different countries will create a colorful array of cultures within the Muslim tradition, Islam said. “We’ve even incorporated some traditional Muslim foods. It’s our third year running and it’s always been a pretty big hit among the campus students,” she said. Students will be marching for solidarity at 5 p.m. in the Student Union lobby on Friday. Eight clubs will join MSA and stand up against “all forms of bigotry, hatred and
discrimination,” Islam said. Senator Tim Kennedy will be attending the march and delivering a speech at the end. Hamza Aamir, a sophomore psychology major, decided to participate in Islamic Awareness Week because he wanted to share his identity as a Muslim with other students. “I want to show the positive aspects of our religion and beliefs,” Amri said. “That we promote peace [and] condemn ruthless acts of violence. I want to show the truth of our religion and not the false statements that the media or Islamophobes spread.” Aamir said the Muslim culture is rich and diverse. He wants to be able to celebrate differences and diversity. Islam said MSA held Islamic Awareness Week early in the semester, so students did not have to struggle to attend once the semester picks up.
KAINAN GUO & ELAINE LIN, THE SPECTRUM
Shk. Jalal Abualrub speaks in The Myth of Radical Islamic Terrorism. Muslim Student Association is holding Islamic Awareness week to educate students about their culture. This year’s theme is “unity through diversity.”
“I personally like that it pushes us as a club and as a team to work very hard,” she said. “Leading up to the week, we often meet on a daily basis to work things out. However, I don’t like how hectic and stressful it becomes when there’s an event every single day to prepare for. In the end it’s worth it. But it does take a lot of effort.” email: news@ubspectrum.com
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FEATURES
Thursday, February 16, 2017
THE SPECTRUM
Around Town Upcoming events to spruce up your weekend FEATURES DESK If you’re getting sick of hanging around the dorms or going out to the same bar every night, Buffalo offers a bunch of events to attend, especially on the weekends. Whether you want to ponder over something intellectual or listen to some local music, there are places to go all over the city and local area. Bonus: many of these activities offer student discounts.
Buffalo Science Museum – Guitar Exhibit The science museum may sound a little too dry for a weekend, but it’s interesting and full of new, exciting exhibits. The latest one on temporary presentation is centered around guitars – the history, famous players and fun, interactive displays. The exhibit also features live music, performed by local guitarists and bands. If you’re not into guitars, there are plen-
ty of other exhibits to see, such as the biodiversity area or artifact display. Tickets are only $9 for students – a cheap, indoor place to spend the day.
Canalside ice rink For those willing to brave the Buffalo cold, ice skating down at Canalside is perfect. Canalside has been rebuilt over the last few years and currently features restaurants, bars and shops right near the water. The ice rink overlooks some of the historical ships that sit at the edge of the canal and features options for those less coordinated – ice walkers, ice bikes and indoor activities. Bundle up and go downtown. Ice-skating only costs $6 and skates are $4, which makes it another activity perfect for those on a budget. Aquarium of Niagara Still don’t want to go outside? Enjoy the Aquarium of Niagara. The last time you went to an aquarium was probably for a birthday party or middle school class trip, so
take a blast to the past and enjoy the fish frenzy. There are daily penguin feedings, sea lion shows and a touch tank available, as well as special events that vary by day and week. If you get tired of the aquatic life, there are also plenty of great restaurants in the area including the Rainforest Café, Hard Rock Café and Legends. Tickets to the aquarium are $13.
Milkie’s acoustic show The local music scene is full of talented artists, particularly alternative rock. Milkie’s, a bar down on Elmwood, will be hosting some of these artists on Friday Feb. 17 at 9 p.m. The show features three solo acoustic artists. Two of these artists are from the psychedelic rock band, Deadwolf – a local group with a soft, funky sound and crooning, gentle lyrics. Deadwolf recently released new songs off their EP, Saint. The show is only $5, but is limited to those 21+. Sorry, underclassmen.
What’s the deal with throwback shows?
CATHERINE CAMPBELL STAFF WRITER
“Whatever happened to predictability? The milkman, the paperboy, evening TV?” Well, whatever happened to originality in TV? Millennials have more advanced technology than ever before; people often think about youthful times they used to have and wonder what it would be like to go back to those moments. Since turning 20, I have been thinking a lot about this. I have been watching the YouTube channel Clevver TV. There are many different segments including food and beauty, but the videos that always catch my attention the most are the throwback seg-
ments. The videos have titles like “11 Things You Thought Were Cool 10 Years Ago” or “Best & Worst ’90s Fashion Trends.” YouTube isn’t the only one catching on to this throwback trend. Many television shows are catching on to it as well. From sequels like “Fuller House” and “Girl Meets World,” to historical flashbacks like “The Goldbergs” and “Fresh Off The Boat,” continuations and remakes of shows are becoming the next big sensation on network television. It’s almost as if producers are running out of new ideas. This specifically can be seen in the “Boy Meets World” sequel “Girl Meets World.” The show follows Cory and Topanga from the original series and their children Riley and Auggie as they have similar experiences as their parents. In “Girl Meets World,” we see Riley go through many challenges in her young life, much like her father Cory did in “Boy Meets World.” The only difference is that Riley is going through struggles in the 2010s and
not the 1990s. In the original, Cory was concerned about things like helping his best friend Shawn find the girl who owned the lost and found purse. In the new series, Riley has problems like having her cell phone taken away by her dad. Though it may seem like “Girl Meets World” is a stretch from the original “Boy Meets World,” it is not so much so. To me, throwback programming doesn’t only mean shows that are based on or stem from older shows alone. Throwback programming can also include programs that allude to an earlier time period. This is seen in “The Goldbergs,” an autobiographical show created by Adam Goldberg about his life as a child in the ’80s. Adam reflects on his childhood living with his mother Beverly, his father Murray, his two siblings Erica and Barry and his grandpa, Pops. Not everyone grew up in the ’80s like Adam, but the show is still very relatable. Adam goes through things like relationship troubles, fitting in and dealing with a smoth-
Excision For those with quiet Tuesdays, Monday’s Excision show is a perfect way to start the week. The EDM DJ has been around for years with hits including “Bring the Madness,” “X UP” and “The Paradox.” He will be performing with Cookie Monsta, Barely Alive and Dion Timmer – three smaller DJs with big sound. Excision is not for the sensitive – his heavy bass, face-melting sound is intense and addictive. The show is for those who are looking to rage and womp, perhaps work out some stress before the week ahead. Tickets are about $43 right now and will be sold out by the weekend. Though this may be the most expensive event on the list, it’s definitely the most exciting. email: features@ubspectrum.com
ering mother. The main difference between this show and any other show from the ’80s is that it is more modern in all aspects. The set, clothes and even hair are modern versions of the ’80s. That is the great thing about “The Goldbergs” – if you are from the ’80s, the show is really relatable and makes you nostalgic. For those who didn’t grow up during that time, the show is a modern learning experience where viewers can understand and enjoy the past. I have mixed emotions about throwback shows. On one hand, it’s great to see classics being revitalized. But on the other hand, it would be nice to see fresh ideas hit the major TV networks. Even though I didn’t grow up in the ’80s, growing up in the early 2000s makes me appreciate the simpler times that these shows portray. In another sense, with shows like “Girl Meets World,” I sometimes get annoyed because people often try to compare it to its predecessor. When the current show cannot live up to the expectations of the previous show, it gets really frustrating for the viewers to watch. I feel as though throwback programming is great, but it can sometimes be a hit or miss situation. With “The Goldbergs,” we get a great piece of nostalgia from Adam Goldberg’s point of view. With “Girl Meets World,” we get a sequel to the classic “Boy Meets World” tale. Either way, if you feel nostalgic and want to go back to a simpler time in your life, watching a throwback show should do the trick. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
6BUGGIN’ OUT
NEWS
Thursday, February 16, 2017
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Sorgi said the best way to exterminate cockroaches is to use toxic bait. He said the issue with sprays is they tend to kill the cockroaches you see, but the scent sends cockroaches into hiding so they won’t be affected and the problem will continue. Sorgi recommends maintaining sanitary conditions to prevent cockroaches, such as keeping food and garbage away and out of reach. “If the conditions are conducive to that activity, that’s just going to help them breed faster. So if you’ve got college kids who aren’t taking care of their apartments –
THE SPECTRUM
food, garbage, nobody’s cleaning up – that’s a great area for the cockroaches.” Follow-up treatments are also critical for getting rid of cockroaches, Sorgi said. The process of getting rid of cockroaches is not just one treatment. Exterminators have to identify the spot of infestation so they know where to target. This isn’t the first time Sweethome has had cockroaches. In March 2014, residents reported dealing with cockroaches and in 2015, residents complained about having bed bugs. ANGELA BARCA, THE SPECTRUM
email: sarah.crowley@ubspectrum.com
A UB student reported having cockroaches in his Sweethome apartment (pictured) since October 2016.
Weber is the new Black CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Weber said UB doesn’t have any flaws, but wishes students had more school pride and affinity. “I’d like every student to be walking down with their Buffalo shirt or sweatshirt with that kind of pride in the institution. It’s not about selling the gear. It’s the identity of the institution and how proud you are,” he said. He plans to be more visible on campus by eating dinner in the dining halls and having group sessions where students voice their concerns. He said he’s only had a couple interactions with students this semester because “time goes by so fast.” Weber always feels pressure, he said. He wants to “strive toward excellence” in every department. He said he isn’t as “intimately familiar” with all of the units in Student Life, but he plans to explore more of Campus Living, student conduct and advocacy, and student wellness and dining. “I think I’m pretty visible on campus. If I walked down the hall, you’d be amazed at how many people say hi,” Weber said. But Weber misses arriving to class 10 minutes early just so he could interact with students and show them music videos before class started. Weber said he understands what it’s like being a student. He went to Virginia Tech as an undergrad and he said he didn’t do as well as wanted to. He likes that the education system allows students a “second chance.” He later received his Ph.D from
ANGELA BARCA, THE SPECTRUM
Weber sits at his desk. He feels he has always been “student centric” and is a natural fit for his new position. But he still feels like he has “a lot” learn. Weber plans to be more visible on campus and to interact with more students.
University of California, Davis. “I often share who I am, what my journey has been and everyone’s is different. Nobody’s journey is probably a smooth one,” Weber said. “We all have some bumps, some ups and downs. Stay focused, be committed, set goals, have purpose, have fun.” His past has had a great influence on where he is today. Weber grew up on a farm in Stafford County, Virginia and his father, who was a
civil engineer, inspired him. At 10 years old, he watched construction workers build the interstate highway system and realized he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. While growing up, Weber raised beef cows and sold calves every year. He said this profit helped him pay for college. “Every place that I moved I always wanted to do something unique to that place that I haven’t been able to do anywhere else I lived,” Weber said.
He said he has always had an appreciation for wildlife and nature. “I love the woods,” he said. “I love being able to sit out in the quiet and listen to the animals – chickadees flying like they could talk to you, mice come out and run across the snow – it’s an amazing thing.” Weber is one of six children and has been married for 40 years. He intermittently brings his wife to meet students. He met her as an undergraduate freshman in a chemistry class and they have two children who are both civil engineers. But his heart is set on improving student life at UB. He describes himself as an inquisitor and has a “problem-solving mentality.” He said safety of students is of “paramount importance” and he is “very sensitive” to safety issues, particularly concerning sexual assault. He said he’s thought about the living conditions in the University Heights, but doesn’t have any solutions or answers just yet. Weber thinks it’s important to have a student newspaper that’s “respected” on campus. “I’ve always tried to be a supporter and have access to The Spectrum even in my former role. It’s not only a great training ground, we also have great alumni,” he said. He expects UB to be a national leader among the top universities. “I like all ideas,” Weber said. “I’m an iterator. That’s what engineers do. It’s not like everything you do has to be successful, as long as you try it... don’t be afraid to fail.” email: hannah.stein@ubspectrum.com
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7
CLASSIFIEDS
Thursday, February 16, 2017
THE SPECTRUM
HELP WANTED
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3-8 Bedroom Houses and Apartments at UB South: dozens in prime locations on Winspear, Northrup, Highgate, and more! Most have large bedrooms, hardwood floors, off-street parking & laundry. Local, responsible landlord with maintenance staff. Call, text or email Jeremy Dunn, 585-261-6609 or email jgdunn2@msn.com HOUSE FOR RENT HOUSE FOR
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OUR NICEST HOMES RENT NOW!! Newly remodeled 3-8 person homes on W. Winspear, Englewood, Tyler, Heath & Merrimac. Amenities include jacuzzi bathtubs, new ss appliances, free laundry, parking, snow removal & valet garbage! Live the Sweethome life on South!! Visit www. ubrents.com or call/text 716-775-7057 to schedule an appointment now! 3-8 Bedroom Houses and Apartments at UB South: dozens in prime locations on Winspear, Northrup, Highgate, and more! Most have large bedrooms, hardwood floors, off-street parking & laundry. Local, responsible landlord with maintenance staff. Call, text or email Jeremy Dunn, 585-261-6609 or email jgdunn2@msn.com
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8
SPORTS
Thursday, February 16, 2017
THE SPECTRUM
Turning the corner
Wrestling resurges program DANIEL PETRUCCELLI ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
John Stutzman doesn’t just want a team that competes in the Mid-American Conference, he wants a team that can win it all. The Bulls are in the middle of a resurgence and just set a program record when they defeated Northern Illinois for their fourth MAC dual win of the season. This is the second straight season the team posted 10 dual meet wins. “You expect to be a MAC champ, you expect to be an all-American, you expect to be a national champion, you expect to be an Olympic champion, you expect to be a world champion,” Stutzman, the head wrestling coach, said. “They need to believe it, they need to think about it, they need to be all in on it and if you’re not then this is probably not the right program for you.” The team has had a lot of success, but wrestling is an individual sport and some team members stand out as exceptional this season. Several Bulls have found their way into the national rankings throughout the season. Redshirt sophomore Bryan Lantry is currently ranked in the top 25 at 133-pounds. He’s gone 4-2 against top 25 opponents, including a win against the eighth and tenth ranked wrestler in his weight class. “He has some unbelievable workout partners, he has [redshirt sophomore] Kyle Akins who’s a top 20, top 25 guy down low, he’s got [redshirt freshman] Justin Patrick who’s won a ton of matches for us he’s down low,”
ANGELA BARCA, THE SPECTRUM
Two wrestlers grapple at practice. The Bulls are in the midst of a resurgence.
Stutzman said. “We’ve done different things to jump start him but he jump started himself, he’s so competitive and so ornery and he just wants to win and whenever you have all that it’s kind of like gasoline and a match, you’re going to produce something.” Lantry and Akins came into the program together as part of the first recruiting class that Stutzman was fully responsible for. Jake Gunning and Brett Perry, redshirt-sophomores, join the two. This class has combined for 54 starts in dual meets this season. All four redshirted their first season in Buffalo because the team was banned from the postseason that year. The previous coaching staff had problems with academic ineligibility and Stutzman and crew had to pay for it. But things have come a long way since then.
“Whenever that happens you’re kind of sitting your best guys,” Stutzman said. “You’re redshirting a ton of guys and you’re not putting your best lineup out on the mat, you’re trying to preserve some eligibility for some kids and we did that and we still won five matches and the guys we put out there they competed really hard and did a good job.” Buffalo finished the season without a MAC dual win for the second straight year. Once his first class let loose on the NCAA, the class proved how good they could be. The Bulls scored two MAC wins the first year their class wrestled and registered the team’s first 10-win season since 2003-04. “I’d have to say it’s the confidence we accumulated over all those years,” said senior James Benjamin. “Starting out losing like that as we did it’s hard to keep that confidence in yourself and in the team even
though we worked harder than probably anyone in the country. The fact that we were able to come from that and eventually start realizing we have what it takes to win and then push yourself to get to that.” Benjamin feels the growing pains this team went through. His freshman year was Stutzman’s first in Buffalo as well. Stutzman knows that as good as the third year class has been, it would be nothing without the group of seniors that has led them. He mentioned wrestlers like Benjamin as well as redshirt senior Tyler Rill and senior Colt Cotten, among others, as leaders. “Those guys have been here for four years and they’ve really helped jump start this place,” Stutzman said. w“I think it’s important to give those guys a lot of credit moving forward… they’ve helped us rebuild this thing from the ground up.” No matter which class the wrestlers are in, they’re all there to compete. That’s part of the attitude Stutzman brings to the wrestling program. “He wants this team to be ultra-competitive, always competing with each other,” said redshirt freshman Nate Rose. “Even when a freshman comes in he wants them to beat us and then he wants us to give them the work. That’s one thing that makes us better, we’re always competitive and always going at it so we make each other better every day.” The team will be in for a test of their competitiveness. With one dual left in the season they’ll be gearing up to head to Iowa soon to compete in the MAC championship tournament. Stutzman is confident in his team and expects double digit numbers heading into the national tournament. email: daniel.petruccelli@ubspectrum.com
Baseball season preview The Bulls look to surprise with a stronger, cohesive team THOMAS ZAFONTE ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
The UB baseball program has had a tough run the past few seasons. Last season, the team finished 21-31, 8-16 Mid-American Conference, after struggling through growing pains and injuries. The Bulls have not had a winning season since 2013. Head coach Ron Torgalski knows things have to be different and he’s made several changes within the program. He does not want to lose another promising season to injuries again. The Bulls hired a new trainer during the off-season. Players have increased the amount of time they have put into the weight room to stay in top form. “Our goals were to train hard, get stronger and stay healthy,” Torgalski said. The team has also introduced an arm care program after a number of arm-related injuries last season. Senior outfielder Vinny Mallaro, the team’s best hitter last season, suffered an arm injury that required Tommy John surgery. He could not start practicing until a month ago with the Bulls due to recovery. Now in the designated hitter role, Mallaro will look to have another strong season after becoming one of the team’s top hitters last year. While Mallaro adjusts to the new role as designated hitter, he feels the team can improve and that they are already in a better place than where they left off last season. “One through nine, we are a lot stronger then we have ever been in my career here,” Mallaro said. “We got a lot of seniors and guys with high level experience so we have
TROY WACHALA, THE SPECTRUM
Sophomore outfielder Eddie Edwards III stands in the batter’s box. The Bulls are hoping to exceed expectations this year.
definitely improved one through nine.” Mallaro feels the team needs to work on reducing the number of strikeouts. Mallaro admits he needs to improve too, having struck out 48 times last season. Torgalski has higher expectations for this more experienced team as well; players often have breakout years in their later seasons. “It’s a part of building a program,” said senior pitcher Alec Tuohy. “Guys come in as freshman and they are not ready. They aren’t strong enough, not enough bat speed, power. As they get through the program they start to grow and the experience all comes together and we start seeing real good results in the second and third year of the program.” The starting pitcher rotation is one of Tuohy’s main focuses.
Last season, Tuohy had a breakout year with 69 strikeouts and a 2.98 Earned Run Average. This year Torgalski believes they have the talent to have a strong starting rotation with junior Charlie Sobieraski and Tuohy. “I thought all three of our Friday, Saturday, Sunday guys looked really good last year... I think having another year under their belts will help them to be more consistent,” Torgalski said. “Tuohy’s our guy, I expect the same thing I saw last year. He is a great player to have.” Senior infielder Chris Kwitzer has also noticed improvement within the Bulls this year. He sees a more determined team, ready to pass expectations. Kwitzer feels the team has become well rounded during the offseason. He has seen an improvement in hitter consistency and
confidence in pitching. “Our mental toughness is stronger than ever. I feel like we are going to shock some teams. I don’t think anyone is going to expect us to be this good,” Kwitzer said. The injury prevention measures the staff has implemented will be tested as the season continues. If the team can stay healthy, the Bulls may have found the solution to one of the team’s lingering issues. email: thomas.zafonte@ubspectrum.com