T H E I N D E P E N D E N T TSHTEU D NETP E PN UD BE LN I CTA S TT IO NA I VTEI R Y FA T T HBEU U FF E T1 B 9U 50 I NED UN D EO NFT TPH UEB LUI C OSNI T O NA I VLEOR,S S I TI N Y CA FFALO, SINCE 1950
ubspectrum.com
Wednesday, december 9, 2015
Students celebrate Hanukkah despite stress of finals
Volume 65 No. 40
UPD investigates ‘racist and discriminatory’ letter sent to BSU president
TORI ROSEMAN SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR
For Rachel Gersten, celebrating Jewish holidays can be difficult. Instead of exchanging gifts and taking part in her family’s Hanukkah party, Gertsen will be cramming for finals. “Usually the holidays are tough for me to be away since my grandparents host them – they’re getting older and they’re not going to be around forever,” Gersten, a sophomore sociology major, said. While many students remain packed in the library preparing for their final exams this week, Jewish students are still finding time to celebrate Hanukkah – the Festival of Lights – with campus organizations like Hillel of Buffalo and Chabad House of Buffalo puttig on celebrations. Though the eight-day holiday officially began on Sunday, the Chabad House had a unity Shabbat, with a dinner and a service that combined members of Hillel, Chabad and the local community. Students like Lily Weisberg, a junior business major, like to go to the Chabad House, located right off North Campus, as a taste of home. “I feel comfortable there and I love getting a classic home cooked meal, just like my grandma’s cooking,” Weisberg said. The Chabad House hosts dinner every week for Shabbat and the holiday dinners tend to be more crowded. Chabad House held a toy drive last week, collecting toys and money to buy toys for children with cancer. The toys will be donated through Chai Lifeline, a New York Citybased non-profit organization. The Chabad House hosted an event in the Student Union on Monday to celebrate all of the toy donations and to allow students to celebrate the second night of Chanukah. “We had so many people at the Chabad Friday night and we’re happy so many people came to the Student Union event,” said Rivka Gurary, wife Rabbi Moshe Gurary of the Chabad House. Gersten said her sorority Alpha Phi donated a large portion of the toys and wanted to pay her respects to Rabbi Moshe and Riv“I wanted to show my face because it was a nice donation made on our behalf,” she said. The event featured latkes – potato pancakes – doughnuts and soda for those who stuck around for the menorah lighting. Weisberg said she attended Monday’s event to “stay connected” with the holiday despite being at school. “It isn’t that easy to light a menorah for eight days at school, especially during finals,” Weisberg said. At the event, Rabbi Gurary and his children gave students menorahs, candles and gelt, which are chocolate coins, so they could still celebrate throughout the week. Rabbi Avroham Gurary of the Chabad House went around to houses on South Campus Monday night to help students celebrate the first night of Hanukkah. Whether it’s the Chabad House of Buffalo, the Hillel or any other outlet, Jewish students are finding a way to stay in touch with their faith and celebrate the holidays. email: features@ubspectrum.com
Oliver believes letter is response to ‘progress’ BSU has made on campus GABRIELA JULIA SENIOR NEWS EDITOR University Police is investigating a “racist and discriminatory” letter sent to Black Student Union President Micah Oliver on Thursday. The letter uses racial slurs and accuses several organizations, like the NAACP and the Black Lives Matters movement, of being racist. Although UPD says the letter does not pose a direct threat to Oliver, it has run a number of assessments regarding the text of the letter, fingerprints and the physical letter itself. And as a precaution and per protocol, UB has shared the letter with the Federal Bureau of Investi-
KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM
BSU President Micah Oliver received a letter Thursday containing racial slurs and accusing colored organizations of being racist. Oliver believes the letter is a result of the progress BSU has made on campus this semester..
ter was sent to numerous organizations because of the address that was used and errors within the text. Oliver said the sender’s motive may have been to “shake up” BSU. “I’ve been very active in the public and with students, maybe on a level that most BSU presidents haven’t been,” Oliver said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
MORE THAN
A GAME Iowa State fans raise more than $12,000 for Nate Oats’ wife JORDAN GROSSMAN SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
For two hours on Monday night, the Buffalo men’s basketball team and Iowa State were rivals. But outside of those two hours, the two teams have worked together for causes bigger than a basketball game. In just four days, Iowa State fans have helped raise more than $12,000 for Bulls head coach Nate Oats and his wife, Crystal, who is currently battling double-hit lymphoma. Chris Williams, a publisher of Iowa State fan site CycloneFanatic.com, created the GoFundMe page, which has already met its $10,000 goal to raise funds for the Oats family’s medical expenses. “I felt like what the fans in Iowa did here for me and my family was just really special,” Oats said after Buffalo’s 84-63 loss to Iowa State in Ames, Iowa on Monday night. “For Cyclone nation to raise
PAGE EDITORIAL: Donald Trump’s comments have gone too far
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gation (FBI). “The sending of the letter is not a crime under NYS [New York State] law,” said UB Spokesperson John Della Contrada in an email. “However, racist and discriminatory behaviors or conduct have no place at the University at Buffalo and will not be tolerated.” The letter, though mailed to Oliver, addresses the University of Missouri board of trustees and was sent from an O’Fallon, Missouri address. The letter is signed with the name Richard Ganter, but UPD said it could not trace the letter back to that name. UPD has been in contact with University of Missouri Police and O’Fallon Police. Oliver and UPD believe this exact let-
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YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM
Buffalo head coach Nate Oats looks on from the sidelines during a Bulls game earlier in the season. The fans of Iowa State, who Buffalo played on Monday night, donated more than $12,000 via GoFundMe for Oats’ wife Crystal who is battling lymphoma.
over $10,000 to help us for whatever we need help with from just random fans that welcomed us with open arms. They realize it’s just a game and there’s more to life than just a game.” Oats has quite a few connections to Iowa State. Iowa State assistant coach T.J. Otzelberger is a longtime friend of Oats, dating back to their Wisconsin-Whitewater days. Oats considers Otzelberger a mentor to his coaching career, saying they’ve been there for each other through the highs and lows of their careers. Iowa State assistant coach Charlie Henry was Oats’ assistant at Romulus High School during the 2009-10 season, where
Five holiday cookie recipes to spread Christmas cheer
the team went 21-2 and was ranked as high as No. 22 in the nation. Iowa State graduate assistant Nate Schmidt was a volunteer assistant under Oats from 2011 – 13. Oats even coached former Cyclones Dominique Buckley and Will Clyburn at Romulus. “I have strong ties to the program,” Oats said. “I know it real well. It was special in that way to come back.” Oats was surprised to see the overwhelming support from Iowa State’s fan base. In response to the support, Iowa State and Oats worked together to release a YouTube video on Monday afternoon to formally thank the members of “Cyclone nation.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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UB students react to 2016 Grammy nominations
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NEWS
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
THE SPECTRUM
UPD officers recognized for excellence UB officers at recognized at SUNY Chiefs Association Awards THANYA THEOGENE STAFF WRITER
The SUNY Chiefs Association recognized three University Police officers for excellence last month. UPD Lieutenant Scott Marciszewski, Officer John Sindoni and Communications Officer Robert Adamski all received awards for professionalism on campus. The SUNY Chiefs Association Awards are held annually in Albany, New York to recognize the work university police departments within the SUNY system. The event presents officers with awards for heroism and professionalism. “For our job, we make sure to provide a safe environment for everyone,” said Lieutenant Gregg Gamble. “We make sure to keep in communication with everyone on campus as feedback.” There are currently 40 sworn-in officers employed at UB and at least five officers and one lieutenant must be working at all times when school is in session. “I always see a lot of officers around campus, so generally I feel safe,” said Riley Walsh, a junior computer science major. Marciszewski received his award for his work as UPD’s accreditation manager, helping UPD become the only police department in the state to be accredited through the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement and the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
Sindoni was the first officer to administer Narcan on a SUNY campus last April. Narcan is used as an opioid antagonist that counteracts the effects of opiates, such as heroin. UPD receives official training to learn how to administer the drug, which saved the life of the individual. Adamski’s quick work helped save the life of a UB student overdosing on heroin in February. After the student’s father called UPD concerned about his son’s safety, Adamski quickly notified security at the Collegiate Village apartment complex where the student lived. The student was administered Narcan and survived. “Our training is very important,” Gamble said. “In all situations, whether it’s an emergency or a dispute, we rely on our training to diffuse any potentially dangerous situations.” The rigorous training that all UPD officers receive keeps them prepared both mentally and physically to deal with the things that happen on college campuses.
SPECTRUM FILE PHOTO
UPD officer John Sindoni administers Narcan on a dummy last April. Sindoni was one of three UPD officers recognized at SUNY Chiefs Association Awards last month.
“We train every year and go through drills for things such as an active shooter on campus,” Gamble said. Mary Connors, a junior health and human services major, said that although she’s normally a paranoid person, she feels safe on campus. “I really appreciate all that the university police [do] to keep the campus safe,” Connors said. UPD is also trying to make UB a more inclusive university. UPD reached out to students and staff and held a panel to not only discuss police brutality and give feedback to UPD officers. A new student panel works with UPD to provide feedback to the officers from them-
selves and the student body. “In cases of protests and things like that, we make sure to keep everyone safe, but we also make sure to respect the opinions and feeling of the people involved,” Gamble said. Connors said she had a friend who was present on campus when it was believed a gunman was spotted in Lockwood Library in 2010. She said her friend told her the campus was “swarming with officers that day.” Connors said this makes her feel like UPD takes their job seriously. “I know that the university police is equipped to deal with any issues that could happen,” Walsh said email: news@ubspectrum.com
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OPINION
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
THE SPECTRUM
Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF
Tom Dinki
MANAGING EDITOR
Alyssa McClure
Not-so-triumphant Trump Trump’s comments have crossed the line
COPY EDITORS
Kayla Menes Renée Staples NEWS EDITORS
Gabriela Julia, Senior Ashley Inkumsah Marlee Tuskes FEATURES EDITORS
Tori Roseman, Senior Dani Guglielmo ARTS EDITORS
Brian Windschitl, Senior Kenneth Kashif Thomas Tomas Olivier, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS
Jordan Grossman, Co-senior Quentin Haynes, Co-senior PHOTO EDITORS
Yusong Shi, Co-senior Kainan Guo, Co-senior Angela Barca . CARTOONISTS
Joshua Bodah Michael Perlman CREATIVE DIRECTORS
Kenneth Cruz Pierce Strudler, Asst.
Professional Staff OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER
Nicole Dominguez Lee Stoeckel, Asst. Zach Hilderbrandt, Asst.
There’s one presidential candidate that’s been the talk of every major media outlet since announcing his campaign: Donald Trump. His most recent controversial comments are about Muslims yet again and how he would ban all Muslims from entering the country. Excuse me? These outlandish comments aren’t funny anymore. They’re not indicative of Trump’s wild approach to politics. They’re outright offensive and it’s time we take his words more seriously. Masses are supporting his provocative words, defending his position that in reality should never feasibly happen. Trump is encouraging racism and religious intolerance across America and putting our country in danger. Trump has been compared to Hitler on social media, citing similarities such as supporting mass deportation, labeling a group of
Eddie’s Chophouse impresses with crisp quality of Asian cuisine
ADVERTISING DESIGNER
Derek Hosken
THE SPECTRUM Wednesday, December 9, 2015 Volume 65 Number 40 Circulation 7,000
TYLER WALTERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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 The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 142602100
people and finding specific citizens through their employment. The comparison is frightening and acts as a comment on our political system as a whole – how could we possibly allow someone who uses crisis and tragedy as a tool in his campaign to run for president of this country? It was only a matter of time before Trump crossed the line – not to say his previous comments were any more or less horrible. His position on immigration and women have already put him in hot water, but these more recent reflections show us another side of Trump – an extremist side. His entire campaign is based around his thoughtless spewing because it gets him the media attention every other candidate dreams of. He doesn’t have to spend money on this part of campaigning because it happens naturally; news outlets and social media naturally flock to his political
One of the great aspects of Asian cuisine is its simplicity, as opposed to American cuisine, which is cinematic. American entrée descriptions on menus end up looking like short stories after all of the ingredients have been listed – look at the Griffon Gastropub menu if you want to see what I mean. Don’t get me wrong – I enjoy a burger the size of my face with a description that seems like Shakespeare’s direct descendant wrote it. But I believe food can be a lot like writing: an idea should be expressed in its simplest form. I’m much more excited about a dish that can have the same flavor with a few ingredients than another that requires a list of ten. Eddie’s Chophouse, a Cantonese barbecue joint located on Main Street in the University Heights just west of UB’s South Campus, embodies this succinct quality of Asian cuisine. The shop itself resembles a fully realized Singaporean hawker stand with a sheet-metal counter and wooden stools that sit opposite a wall lined with tables. This wall leads your eye to the roast-rack, which showcases the stars of Eddie’s Chophouse: its meats. You’ll find five different varieties of meat in Eddie’s roastrack – roasted pork, roasted duck, chicken, crispy pork and BBQ spare ribs. The Two Meat Combo offered me the chance to sample the chicken and roast pork
served over a bed of rice and a side of steamed cabbage. For those of you who haven’t already had the pleasure of chomping into chicken or duck served Cantonese style, be warned: they leave the bone in. Who’s ordering a dish at a restaurant saying, I hope they leave those pesky bones in? Don’t let it ruin the experience though. The chicken was ridiculously juicy and perfectly cooked with a very light soy-sauce taste. But the roast pork stole the show for me. Its sweet marinade caramelizes when exposed to flame, leaving the pork charred, tender, crunchy and sweet. A few weeks later I went back to Eddie’s Chophouse. This time I tried the Two Meat Combo Noodle Bowl with rice noodles, roast pork (again) and crispy pork. The roast pork was as good as before, but the crispy pork became my favorite. The crispy pork is a fatter cut of meat. The fat is fried to a crisp while leaving the rest of the cut juicy and salty. The noodle bowl itself sits in a tasty chicken broth with sliced scallions. Two for two at Eddie’s and I’ll definitely be back for more. My only gripes are that I ordered my dinner to go and the meat was only wrapped in tin foil. By the time I got home, it was already cold. Also, I wish Eddie’s had a bigger selection of condiments to go with its dishes. Chili pepper sauce, pickled jalapenos and soy sauce would be preferred to the Sriracha placed at each table. Eddie’s Chophouse is another welcome addition to the food scene on UB’s South Campus. Its quick meals, awesome meats and cheap prices – $6 for the most expensive Rice Box and $7.50 for the most expensive Noodle Bowl – offer a unique and healthier option for those looking for “fast food.” email: features@ubspectrum.com
jargon because it’s so divisive. In a time where political correctness is everything, Trump is running the other way, choosing to instead make overarching, dangerous and offensive remarks for attention. The GOP can’t afford to drop him though – its presidential campaign would completely fall apart. The two people trailing Trump are Ben Carson, who may be the only person less qualified than Trump, and Ted Cruz, who is notoriously hated by everyone who has ever worked with him. According to The Washington Post, most of Trump’s support comes from white, middle class American Republicans with a high-school diploma or less. This majority has skewed the polls and put Trump in a position to succeed. As if the Islamophobia in America right now isn’t bad enough, Trump’s support of the anti-Muslim movement is only justifying the present prejudice. The only
way to stop this movement is education and acceptance that not all Muslims are affiliated with ISIS. Trump uses American fear of ISIS as a weapon in his campaign, which is a dangerous precedent. No one expects Trump to win the nomination. In theory, he has no chance – his lack of experience, controversial commentary and brash attitude make an imperfect president. But he’s still leading the polls. He’s still the Republican front-runner. While the Democrats have two strong candidates in Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, could they really defeat someone who has such massive support? We’re just going to have to wait and continue listening to Trumps nonsense until the nominations are officially announced. For our own future, we can only hope that Trump isn’t among them. email: eic@ubspectrum.com
Master of all Aziz Ansari’s new series nails what it’s like to be a millennial
TORI ROSEMAN SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR
When a comedian comes out with a television series, there’s a level of wariness viewers must consider. If the comedian was typically associated with stand-up, it can be difficult to enjoy their humor in an everyday setting. Aziz Ansari’s new series “Master of None” blows these concerns out of the water and providers Netflixers everywhere with 10 episodes of comedy gold. A combination of a good, small cast and a dose of realistic humor make this show a must-see. The show is centered on Ansari who plays Dev, a small-time actor looking to make it big in New York City. Though he’s done commercials that he’s received some fame for, he’s looking for a big break to launch his career. His friends Arnold (Eric Wareheim, “Tim and Eric’s Bedtime Stories”), who is delightfully uncomfortable and Denise (Lena Waithe, “The Comeback”), a tough, honest lesbian, encourage him to continue fighting for his hopes and dreams. Viewers watch Dev go through everyday life and experience the usual dilemmas – his friends are starting to have kids, his parents are driving him crazy and his love life isn’t exactly existent. The way the show approaches these issues doesn’t feel contrived and focuses on both the negative and positives of each relationship formed. While Ansari delivers a performance that is both witty and memorable, it may be Noel Wells (“The Awesomes”), who plays Dev’s love interest Rachel, who steals the limelight. Her performance as the female counterpart to Dev’s bumbling missteps is honest – I’d go so far as to call her a more humble Zooey De-
schanel. Their relationship is imperfect and her emotions are appropriate. There is never any point where you feel like she’s acting too much and there are times when her emotions feel too real. Dev and Rachel’s relationship progresses through the show at the right pace too – they do not immediately become enamored with each other, which isn’t how most relationships work anyway. Many of Dev’s relationships are this way, whether he argues with a friend once in a while, disagrees with what someone says or calls upon friends for support. Each episode is only 30 minutes and usually surrounds four characters at a time or less. This allows character development to happen quickly and effectively, which makes the viewer feel like they know the characters well though they aren’t exposed to them for long. Some characters are returning, like Ansari’s friends while others are only seen in one or two episodes, like Ansari’s parents. It’s an easy show to binge on because it’s simple. Shows like “Game of Thrones” require you to pay close attention to detail and invest a lot of time into keeping up with the episodes. Though the 10-episode series does move chronologically, it’s light enough to watch quickly and understand what’s going on. Scenes take place in casual locations, which only adds to the show’s relaxed vibe. The conversations between characters are feasible lunchtime talk or friendly chatter, never anything overbearing or overwhelming. While I’ll refrain from revealing spoilers, the ending is dramatic and satisfying in a way that reminds you why you started watching the show in the first place – to relate to this man who is just beginning to get his life together and struggle alongside him. The series is only available on Netflix, so if you’ve been living under a rock and don’t already have the popular streaming service, download it. It’s worth the five hours of time to get some realistic, politically correct humor. email: tori.roseman@ubspectrum.com
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FEATURES
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
THE SPECTRUM
The best way to spread Christmas cheer is baking cookies for all to share Five cookie recipes to celebrate the holidays ALYSSA MCCLURE MANAGING EDITOR
Arguably the best part about the holidays is the food – and what’s better than an excuse to eat all kinds of holiday-themed desserts. Baking cookies at Christmastime is a great way to spend time with friends and family, get in the holiday spirit and end up with some sweet treats to enjoy until New Year’s. Here are five recipes to consider adding to your holiday baking list. Grab an apron, crank up the Christmas music and get baking! email: alyssa.mcclure@ubspectrum.com
CUTOUT SUGAR COOKIES
SNICKERDOODLE COOKIES Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup shortening 2 eggs 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup granulated sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Ingredients: 4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 eggs 3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks) 2 teaspoons vanilla extract A small bowl of extra flour Cookie cutters Various kinds of sprinkles Separately: 1/2 cup confectioners sugar 1 1/2 tablespoons water Several colors of food coloring
This cookie is super easy to make and is a crowd-pleaser. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix your sugar, butter, shortening and eggs in a large bowl. Separately, mix flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt together. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and mix until the dough is well incorporated. Scoop out spoonfuls of dough and shape into oneand-one-quarter-inch balls. In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup granulated sugar and the cinnamon. Roll your cookies in the cinnamon-sugar mixture and then place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake the cookies for eight to 10 minutes and then remove from the oven. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool. Sprinkle additional cinnamon-sugar on top if desired.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and assemble your ingredients. In a bowl mix together your flour and baking powder. In a second bowl, beat the butter with sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy and then beat in the eggs and vanilla extract. Gradually stir in the flour mixture to make a stiff dough. You can refrigerate your dough for a few hours if it is too sticky to work with right away. Sprinkle some flour on a hard surface and, taking small sections of the dough at a time, roll out your cookie dough until it is about 1/4 inch thick. Using your cookie cutters, cut out cookie shapes and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake about 10 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through baking time. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack. While the cookies are cooling, make your frosting. In a small bowl, mix sugar and water to form a thick, smooth icing. Divide your white icing into several smaller bowls, and stir in a few drops of different colored food coloring until the icing becomes the color you desire. Use the icing and sprinkles to decorate your cooled cookies, then enjoy. ALYSSA MCCLURE, THE SPECTRUM
COURTESY OF FLICKR USER MALLORY DASH
Recipe from Food Network
Recipe from Martha Stewart
PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS Ingredients: 48 Hershey’s Kisses Brand milk chocolates, unwrapped 1/2 cup butter, softened 3/4 cup peanut butter 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar 1 egg 2 tablespoons milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup additional granulated sugar for rolling Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and remove the wrappers from the Hershey’s kisses, placing them in a bowl. Beat the butter and peanut butter in a large bowl until it is well blended. Add the granulated sugar and brown sugar until the mixture is fluffy. Then add the egg, milk and vanilla and beat until well incorporated. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda and salt, and then add this mixture into the peanut butter mixture. Once you have your dough, scoop out spoonfuls about the size of a tablespoon and roll the dough into one-inch balls. Roll the cookies in the bowl of granulated sugar so that the entire ball of dough is covered. Place the cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for eight to 10 minutes. The cookies should be lightly browned when you take them out of the oven. Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, take the Hershey’s kisses from your bowl and press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie. The cookie will crack around the edges and the chocolate may appear melted at the base – this is OK. Then transfer your cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
THUMBPRINT COOKIES Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 sticks unsalted butter 1 cup sugar 1 large egg 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup apricot jam 1/2 cup raspberry jam You can make several different varieties of this type of cookie, which makes it great for the holidays. This version is made with apricot and raspberry jam, but you can also use chopped nuts, chocolate or another flavor of jam. Whisk together the flour and salt in a large bowl. Using a mixer on medium-high speed, beat the butter and granulated sugar until it’s pale and fluffy, and then beat in the egg and vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and then add the flour mixture and beat until it’s all combined. Stick this dough in the refrigerator overnight to make it easier to work with. When you take the dough out to make the cookies, be sure to preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Roll your dough into one-inch balls. If you’re using nuts, roll the dough in nuts before placing it on the cookie sheet. For this jam variation, place the cookie on the parchment-lined cookie sheet and using your thumb, press a well into the center of each cookie. Bake the cookies for about seven minutes and remove them from the oven. Use the handle end of a wooden spoon to press down the center of the cookie again. Then put them back into the oven for another seven to nine minutes before removing and transferring to a rack to cool. Once cooled, fill the middle of the cookie with apricot or raspberry jam.
MOLASSES COOKIES Ingredients: 1 cup packed brown sugar 3/4 cup butter, softened 1/4 cup molasses 1 egg 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons granulated sugar Assemble all of your ingredients and preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Using a mixer, beat the brown sugar, butter, molasses and egg on medium speed in a large bowl. You can also use a spoon to mix the ingredients together. Gradually stir in all of the remaining ingredients except the granulated sugar – put that in a small bowl off to the side. Once you have your dough mixed up, scoop out spoonfuls using a tablespoon. Roll the dough into roughly one-and-a-half-inch balls and dip the top of the balls into your dish of granulated sugar. Place the cookies, sugar side up, on an ungreased cookie sheet. You can use your thumb to push down the tops of the cookies to make them flatter. Leave enough space between the cookies so that they can spread out when they cook. Bake the cookies for 13-16 minutes. When they are done, the tops of the cookies will appear cracked. Take them out of the oven and transfer them from the cookie sheet to a cooling rack. If desired, add red or green sugar crystals for a festive flair.
ALYSSA MCCLURE, THE SPECTRUM
COURTESY OF FLICKR USER ALICIA
ALYSSA MCCLURE, THE SPECTRUM
Recipe from Hershey’s
Recipe from Betty Crocker
Recipe from Betty Crocker
5 And the Grammy nominees are…
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
THE SPECTRUM
UB students weigh in on their picks for 2016 Grammy awards
GABRIELA ORTIZ STAFF WRITER
As 2016 approaches, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences rallies together and reviews the last year in music. After carefully selecting artists based on talent – and arguably popularity – a list is compiled: the nominees for the music industry’s highest accolade, The Grammys. Set to air on Feb. 15, 2016, the nominees for the awards were released Monday. While the Grammys are not meant to award artists based on commercial success, its impact on popular culture remains prevalent and every year millions of people tune in to watch their favorite artists win. “I always watch the Grammys. It feels good when you see someone you admire become successful, especially when they’re a new or little known artist, like the time Frank Ocean won two Grammys,” said Anita Boateng, a sophomore nursing major. A majority of those watching the Grammys look out for the major categories like Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist. Nominees for Album of the Year include Alabama Shakes’ Sound and Color, Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly, Chris Stapleton’s Traveller, Taylor Swift’s 1989, and The Weeknd’s Beauty Behind the Madness. “For Album of the Year I’d want Kendrick Lamar to win. To Pimp a Butterfly was amazing,” said Rasheeda Bull, a sophomore exercise science major. For Song of the Year the nominees are Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright,” Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space,” Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush,” Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again,” featuring Charlie Puth and Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.” “I don’t really think my opinion matters when Taylor Swift is involved. Her music may be overrated but she will probably win anything she’s nominated for,” said Krystal Gonzalez, a freshman undecided major.
COURTESY OF FLICKR USER PEMBERTON MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Grammy nominations for 2016 were announced on Monday. From Madonna and Prince’s snubs to Kendrick Lamar’s (pictured) 11 nominations, next February’s award ceremony is bound to be entertaining.
While the major categories are most popular, UB students still make sure to look out for the categories of the genres they love most. Tiffany Barlow, a sophomore legal study major, was pleasantly surprised by one of the nominees for best Urban Contemporary album. “Kehlani at the Grammys,” she said. “Wow! I love her and she’s so young. I don’t think she’ll win but she really should.” Barlow also shared her excitement about J. Cole as a nominee for Best Rap Album. “J. Cole, J. Cole, J. Cole! I don’t want to
hear anyone else,” she said. One of the biggest newsworthy stories is how Drake’s diss track, “Back to Back,” was also nominated for a Grammy. “Drake is nominated for best rap performance for his diss track “Back to Back,” Bull said. “I’m definitely looking out for that because that would have to be the first time that has ever happened – imagine being Meek Mill?” Of course, there are many who say that the Grammys are nothing more than fan service and not entirely representative of
the “best” music of the year. There are many more who only watch the award shows for the latest and greatest in newsworthy gossip. “I don’t care about who wins – all I care about is what Kanye West will do next at the Grammys,” said Deval Chantilou, a sophomore engineering major. Whatever you watch The Grammys for, the awards are a staple in pop culture and are sure to reel millions of viewers, as it always does. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Third voyage into space rock pushes Yuri Gagarin to new territory At the Center of All Infinity probes lofty themes and atmospheres
LUKE HEUSKIN STAFF WRITER
Artist: Yuri Gagarin Album: At the Center of All Infinity Release Date: Dec. 2 Grade: B+ Naming your band after the first man in space sets the bar undeniably high. On its second full-length album At The Center Of All Infinity, Swedish space rockers Yuri Gagarin leave no doubt that it lives up to its namesake. Coming on the heels of the excellent self-titled debut and 2015 single Sea of Dust, the band’s most recent effort is already taking off in the psychedelic rock scene. A heavy slab of instrumental space rock, Yuri Gagarin’s newest release achieves tremendous atmosphere and melodic sophistication on every track. When space music relies too heavily on textures and slowly undulating soundscapes to create a sense of ambience, listeners are forced to meander through compositions that feel expansive but get lost in the maze of their own sound. Yuri Gagarin avoids this pitfall common to its genre by putting emphasis on fiercely melodic instrumental displays that cut clear over epic atmospherics. The album’s headspace is alien and icy cold, riffs and lead parts played with crystalline precision and carrying over a base of fuzz and distortion. The background noise of howling winds becomes a motif throughout the album, reminding the listener of the vastness of space and the mystery of man’s place in the
grand scheme of the cosmos. At the Center of All Infinity has more than a touch of the mystical, instrumental dives into celestial metaphysics readily making up for what is lacked in lyrics. The overall mood of the album is dark as night. Guitar effects become analogs for forces of nature, evoking visions of desolate extraterrestrial landscapes, solar storms and vast tracts of freezing space. The first track “The New Order” brings together psychedelic Eastern melodies with blistering guitar solos to make a spectacular opener. The second track “Cluster of Minds,” starts off with all the fury of a solar storm, punishing riffs pay tribute to the band’s home city of Gothenburg, the capital of Sweden’s metal scene. The album’s existential bent is best realized in “I See No God Up Here,” a bleak ambient soundscape that drones and creaks like the bones of a dying planet. The shortest track on the album, it segues perfectly into the epic title track in an effective play on dynamics. The inspiring keyboard work on the outro of “Oblivion” is arguably the high point of the experience. If any criticism is reserved for At the Center of All Infinity, it’s that the songs tend to blend together during initial listening. All tracks draw inspiration from the same cosmic subject matter and have similar production, guitar and synth tone, rhythms and emotions. Major differences between songs only begin to reveal themselves after several attentive listens. This complaint is minor, however. If the release suffers from uniformity, it must also be said that it is executed in uniform quality with top-line musicianship and
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Yuri Gagarin’s latest album sees the up-and-coming band eschew its previous style for a newer, sleeker metal rock.
production. Insofar as it departs from the Djent-oriented style dominating the progressive instrumental scene, At the Center of All Infinity marks itself as separate from the highly technical, mechanistic excesses that render the subgenre stale in its less inspired forms.
Inhabiting a similar niche to virtuoso metal fusion projects like Sithu Aye and Chimp Spanner, Yuri Gagarin’s latest release is a worthy and distinct offering into the expanding world of heavy space music. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
6 MORE Wednesday, December 9, 2015
SPORTS | NEWS
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UPD investigates ‘racist and discriminatory’ letter sent to BSU president
A GAME KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM
Black Student Union members protest President Satish Tripathi’s annual State of the University address in October. BSU President Micah Oliver believes the letter was sent to him and BSU in part because of the actions BSU has taken this semester in light of the “White Only” art project.
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Back in October, Oats received a phone call from Crystal saying she had been diagnosed with double-hit lymphoma, a rare form of the cancer. So far, Crystal and the Oats family’s battle has made its way around the national circuit. During both the Duke and Iowa State matchups, ESPN commentators shared Crystal and Oats’ story on national television at points throughout the matchups. The GoFundMe page is a welcoming sight for the Oats family, to see the heart-warming notes from people they’ve never met. “It was big. It was nice. My wife was pleasantly surprised,” Oats said. “Leaving all of the messages for her on the GoFundMe page. It’s special for people to do that when you’re going through a trial like this.” Crystal posted on Facebook Sunday to thank all those who have supported her and the Oats family. “So many people I have never met have donated money to us and I have been truly awed by everyone’s generosity,” she said in the post.
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Oats watches as the Bulls run a play during a game earlier this season at Alumni Arena. Altogether, the Oats family received over $23,000 in donations via GoFundMe, an online donation platform, after Nate Oats’ wife was diagnosed with lymphoma.
Iowa State isn’t the first school to offer support to Oats this season. In Buffalo’s matchup against Duke this past Saturday, Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his coaching staff donned a “hope” pin for lymphoma awareness in solidarity with Oats and the rest of Buffalo’s coaching staff. Oats and the Buffalo coaching staff are wearing the pins throughout the season. Crystal’s brother-in-law, Eddie Washetas, created a GoFundMe page more than month ago that has raised more than $11,000 for the Oats family. “That makes you realize how some people still care in the world,” Oats said. email: sports@ubspectrum.com
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“So I’ve made myself intentionally accessible for things like this because that has been BSU’s strategy for making the progress that we have this semester.” Since the “White Only” art project controversy in September, BSU has held an open forum to discuss diversity on campus and the university’s policies regarding the project, as well as a peaceful protest at President Satish Tripathi’s annual State of the University address. The organization also staged a walkout in support of the black students at the University of Missouri after racial tension sparked protests there last month. “[BSU has] kind of set a new standard for student associations at this university,” Oliver said. “But what comes with embarking on new territory are new challenges as well and that’s what we’re seeing.” The letter was originally sent to Capen Hall, as that was where it was addressed. It was then sent to the Student Association office because the letter was addressed to “Micah Oliver President Black Student Association.” Mark Sorel, SA administration director, opened the letter and called Oliver to the office to explain the content of the letter. “I think it was responsible that they called me and told me they had opened the letter although my name was on it,” Oliver said. “I take no offense to that.” Oliver said he chose not to read the letter Thursday and opened it Friday. According to Della Contrada, UPD was notified Thursday and started an investigation immediately. Deputy Chief of Police Joshua Sticht and Investigator Timothy
Thompson reached out to Oliver, who was given the case number that night to check the progress of the case at any time. Della Contrada said UB will respond promptly to protect the safety and well-being of the entire campus when “acts motivated by hatred, discrimination or bias occur.” “Diversity, inclusion and mutual respect are strongly held values of our university,” Della Contrada said. “We are committed to upholding these values at all times so that everyone in the UB community can study, teach, work and conduct research in an environment free of discrimination and bias.” Oliver said his next step after reading the letter was to “be transparent” with the general student body. He said it felt right to share the letter and it was not an effort to “be progressive” or receive any personal satisfaction. BSU posted the letter on social media and people immediately responded and reached out to Oliver concerned for his safety. But Oliver said he’s never felt unsafe at UB and has never felt the need to request special accommodations. He said UPD and SA’s first concern was his safety when the letter was brought to their attention. “I have been comfortable and I’ve felt very normal through this experience,” Oliver said. “And I hope it’s not because I’ve become desensitized to these things but because I am confident in my safety on this campus.” He said that when speaking to other news outlets across the country regarding the letter, he realized there are other organizations similar to BSU that received a similar letter. Oliver said he wants all students who want to feel welcomed and included at UB, to recognize that this letter is a “societal response” to the work BSU and other students on campus have done to create an inclusive environment. email: news@ubspectrum.com
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SPORTS
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
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Late surge guides Iowa State past Bulls Buffalo hangs tough but No. 2 Cyclones dominate second half QUENTIN HAYNES SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
For about minutes 30 minutes Monday night, the Buffalo men’s basketball team hung tough with the No. 2 team in the country and was in striking distance of what would have been one of the biggest upsets of the young college basketball season. But as head coach Nate Oats said after the final whistle, playing well for 30 minutes doesn’t win the game. “We showed that for 30 minutes we could play with the No. 2 team in the country, but 30 doesn’t win you a college basketball game – 40 minutes does,” Oats said. “Until we figure out the game plan for 40 minutes, we’re not going to beat good teams like that.” Iowa State (7-0), ranked No. 2 in the entire country in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll, defeated the Bulls (4-5) 84-63 behind a late second-half surge at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa Monday night. After Buffalo pulled it to a one-point game with 13:21 remaining in regulation, the Cyclones finished out the game on a 37-17 run to close out a pesky Bulls squad. Buffalo has now lost three straight including its past two games against two of the top-10 teams in the country. After a 34-25 halftime deficit, the Bulls went on an impressive 21-13 run to open the second half and cut the deficit to just 4746. But it was the closest the Bulls would get after Iowa State took control of the game, thanks in part to Georges Niang, a potential All-American selection who finished with a career-high 31 points with 12 rebounds. While Oats was impressed with his defense, remarking he thinks the Bulls “showed the capability to defend anyone in the country,” he said the offense has to move the ball better. “We’re down, we’re not moving it. Part of it might be on the coaches and figuring it up what works,” Oats said. “At times the offense looks good, at times we look selfish
and don’t want to move the ball. We’re still working on it.” Buffalo shot just 34 percent from the field and missed 22 three-point shots, as it hit just 8 of 30. There were some positives for the Buffalo offense, however, in particular the play of senior guard Jarryn Skeete in the second half. Skeete scored all 16 of his points after halftime, including 11 within the first six minutes of the second half to help Buffalo close in on Iowa State’s lead. The senior has struggled to score consistently this season, including a rough two-game stretch before Monday’s game in which he shot just 2 of 15 from the field. But Oats expressed confidence in Skeete, while admitting that he wanted to the guard
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Senior center Raheem Johnson (31) attempts to block a shot in Buffalo’s 84-63 loss to Iowa State Monday night. Johnson, who missed the Bulls’ first eight games with a foot injury, returned to the lineup Monday to score four points and grab seven rebounds.
more touches offensively. “People were asking if I was worried about him and I was, ‘No, I’m not worried about Skeete,’” Oats said. “He’s one of the best shooters I’ve ever coached. Great teammate and a leader and when we needed scoring, he stepped up and scored it well.” Sophomore guard Lamonte Bearden finished with 11 points and three assists, while freshman forward Nick Perkins had nine points and four rebounds. After missing the team’s first eight games with a stress fracture in his foot, senior forward
Raheem Johnson returned to play 16 minutes, score four points, grab seven rebounds and block a shot. Oats said Johnson is still not 100 percent and was hurting Monday, but was impressed with his play. Oats called Johnson’s return “big,” as it allows the team to play a different style with Perkins playing more of a power forward role. After its two-game road trip against No. 8 Duke (8-1) and Iowa State, the Bulls return home to Alumni Arena to face Binghamton (2-6) on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Bulls on the right track despite losses to Duke, Iowa State Buffalo has the rotation and defense, now it needs offense to click
QUENTIN HAYNES SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
On paper, the results weren’t pretty for the Buffalo men’s basketball team last week. The Bulls (4-5) have lost three in a row, including a closer-than-you-think game against No. 5 Duke and a first half back-and-forth affair against No. 2 Iowa State. But if you watched the games, you saw the Bulls begin to make strides as they head into the final stretch of non-conference play. Defensively, the Bulls appear to be a different team – one that can matchup with some of the best teams in the country. They entered the season with size from their forward positions, as guys like junior wing Willie Conner, senior forward/guard Rodell Wigginton and junior forward Blake Hamilton can help defend multiple positions. The return of senior center Raheem Johnson from injury Monday offers another element. Johnson’s ability to man the center po-
sition allows the team to have a traditional center and play a more traditional lineup – three guards and two post players. Defensively, it allows head coach Nate Oats to go and play more zone defense, which is something he mentioned after the Iowa State (7-0) loss. Once Johnson is 100 percent healthy, I expect him to assume the role of a starting defensive anchor at the rim. And through the team’s first nine games, I think we’ve seen Oats and his staff begin to figure out their bench. Hamilton is the Swiss Army knife of the group – capable of doing a bit of everything from scoring to rebounding to defending. Freshman forward Nick Perkins is still figuring out his role, but provides size in the second unit. Perhaps the most interesting thing about him is a developing three-point shot. And then there’s freshman guard CJ Massinburg. Massinburg gives Buffalo another point guard off the bench. He had a good game against Duke (8-1), scoring 17 points with some impressive finishes at the rim. He’s not shooting the ball particularly well, but he’s getting to the rim where he’s shooting 58 percent, according to hoop-math.com. He’s also a difference maker for this young team. He was the name that ESPN broadcasters brought up the most over during Buffalo’s past two games against national contenders. With Johnson’s return, it seems like Bulls
have the perfect number, nine, for their rotation. Now if they can only get the offense together. That’s really the lone problem. I think the offense could be much better and it hasn’t taken the next step yet. When Oats talks about the offense, he mentions how they need to take better shots and have more ball movement – and I agree with that sentiment. Against Iowa State, there were several possessions where Buffalo took the shot too early in the shot clock. Personally, I liked what the Bulls did against St. Bonaventure (5-2) last week in the first half. There was a bunch of ball movement and Buffalo attacked the basket more times than usual. They either got the shot off or got free throws and made the Bonnies’ room for error decrease more and more as they drew them further into the bonus. Had the three-point shot fell in that game for Buffalo – it went 1 for 13 during that game – it probably would have had a victory going into the road trip. Someone needs to start spacing the floor to get the three-ball going again. It was one of Buffalo’s strengths last season and must be rebounded once again. Senior guard Jarryn Skeete played well against Iowa State and he’s going to knock down 38 to 40 percent from beyond the arc by the time the season’s over, but the Bulls
need one more guy, possibly even two, to start hitting three’s. One of the reasons the Bulls were able to win the Mid-American Conference Tournament last season was former guard Shannon Evans catching fire from three at the tail end of the season. If someone like Conner or Perkins – preferably both – can move up toward about 33 percent shooting from three, combine that with Massinburg’s and sophomore guard Lamonte Bearden’s ability to get to the rim, that’s a dangerous offense to deal with. With new faces up and down the rotation and a new man in charge, the Bulls weren’t expected to go 9-0 and be ranked in the top25, but they weren’t expected to have the early struggles like they did against St. Joseph’s and Old Dominion. Regardless, the Bulls turned a corner this past week in games against Iowa State and Duke. With four more games before the Bulls head into MAC play, they have a foundation in place with solid defensive stretches. If the Bulls can put it together for 40 minutes, while figuring out how to work as a cohesive offensive unit, I expect Buffalo to be right there in contention during conference play. email: quentin.haynes@ubspectrum.com