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
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016
VOLUME 66 NO. 4
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ROCKSTAR saves UB Fall Fest
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Although Fall Fest admission doesn’t go as planned, Travis Scott’s performance saves the show KENNETH KASHIF THOMAS AND MAX KALNITZ SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR AND SENIOR ARTS EDITOR
Although SA put more money into this year’s lineup, many students were unhappy with the change in the admission process and the zones inside of the arena that placed students in designated seating areas. Travis Scott, Rae Sremmurd, Lil Yachty and D.R.A.M. were featured in this years’ concert that packed Alumni Arena at the start of Saturday’s show. Fall Fest cost the Student Association roughly $350,000 on the total production of the show, according to SA President Matt Rivera. The total cost included added security measures, zone barricades and food and hospitality for the artists. Approximately $190,000 was spent on talent compared to the $163,000 spent on last year’s show. Fall Fest and Spring Fest are funded by the mandatory student activity fee of $104.75 per semester. Saturday’s projected weather forced SA to move the concert from outside at Baird Point to inside Alumni Arena. The new ticket policy, which required students to reserve tickets in advance, led to a smaller crowd and complications from the different colored zones. SA reserved 6,194 tickets and 500 additional tickets were purchased for guests. Rivera was unable to give the exact number of how many people were in attendance because not all tickets were scanned during admission. The line to get into the show began to form at 4:30 p.m. and doors opened at 5 p.m. Once the thunderstorm approached, all procedures went out the window as staff tried to hurry as many people inside as they could. It added to the chaos as students used this as an opportunity to skip the line, which
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caused a further backup. But to some students, the final act may have made the hassle to get in worth it. Dressed head to toe in black, Travis Scott proved to be the highlight of the night, playing track after track to a much smaller than anticipated crowd, since the majority of concertgoers left after Lil Yachty’s performance. Students flocked to the arena to see the trap-themed show. Scott entered the stage and began to perform heavy metal rap, which was much different than the trap sounds from the earlier performers. Before starting his set, he put out a warning for those in the crowd. “If anyone is afraid of what’s about to happen in the crowd for the next 40 or 45 minutes, I suggest you get out right now,” Scott said. “If you’re not gonna rage, get out right now.” D.R.A.M took the stage at 6:40 p.m. and told the crowd to yell “yea” if they “loved their mommas.” It seemed as if the D.R.A.M’s song selection, accompanied with the sounds system, didn’t do much to get the crowd going past his first two songs, “Cash Machine” and “Cute,” respectively. After performing his most recent singles, D.R.A.M performed tracks off of his Gahdamn! album, such as “Signals (Throw it Around)” and “$,” as well as hit song “Cha Cha.” Students in the red and blue zones – which were directly in front of the stage – enjoyed the performances, but others thought the zones were inconvenient. “If you’re going to have different sections you should have bigger ground levels, everyone is squeezed into the bleachers,” said Elizabeth Humphrey, a sophomore business major. It wasn’t long before students began
jumping the barricades between the green and red zones. Some students got through, while security guards pulled others away. During Lil Yachty’s set, the bass of the sound system overcame everything else, to the point where he could not be heard over the bass. During “One Night” and “Minnesota,” the crowd was excited to hear it, but when Yachty turned the microphone to the crowd to sing along, the crowd couldn’t even mumble the tune of the song. “He’s original, he doesn’t care about the raps and brings a lot of energy to his performances,” said Benjamin Asamoah, a sophomore health and human services major. Though many were unfamiliar with his music, the crowd loved Yachty’s energy and interaction. “I liked it a lot, the high energy got the crowd going,” said Ethan Smith, a freshman bio engineering major. “I enjoyed it with the way the music was, but with the heavy bass it was hard to understand what he was saying.” Many students were surprised that Lil Yachty performed “Broccoli” without bringing D.R.A.M out and that D.R.A.M performed the song earlier on his own. Lil Yachty left the stage and tension rose between students in the floor section. People from the outside color zones were hopping over barriers to get a better view of Rae Sremmurd. Fights broke out as students looked for somewhere to stand. Will Conklin, a freshman chemical engineering major, said he was in the front row of the pit and two guys were fighting behind him. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
8 1 ANGELA BARCA, THE SPECTRUM
5 KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM
Travis Scott takes the stage as the headliner of this year’s Fall Fest.
D.R.A.M. takes the stage as he opens Saturday night’s show.
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Students pack into Alumni Arena on Saturday night before D.R.A.M. performs.
Rae Sremmurd takes the stage as the third performance of the night.
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7 ANGELA BARCA, THE SPECTRUM
Lil Yachty takes the stage as the second performer and raps to the crowd .
Students standing front row take photos of D.R.A.M. as he performs.
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Students stand front row while waiting for fall fest to begin.
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Students stand front row while Lil Yachty performs.
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NEWS
Monday, September 12, 2016
THE SPECTRUM
ROCKSTAR saves UB Fall Fest
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Students stand front row while Lil Yachty performs as the second act in this year’s Fall Fest in Alumni Arena on Saturday night.
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He was disappointed in the lack of security to break up the fights and felt bad for the surrounding girls who were accidently injured. “There were these two guys fighting behind me and no one did anything about it,” Conklin said. “I was expecting a security guard or an event staff to come over and remove them for fighting, but they just kept at it.” The crowd grew increasingly rowdy and the emergency staff on hand became busier. Some students were carried out with bloody noses. Once Rae Sremmurd took the stage, the arena erupted with excitement. They played hit singles such as “No Type,” “Throw Some Mo,” and “Look Alive.” Slim Jimmy ran onto the stage in a pink fur coat jacket, while his counterpart Swae Lee got the crowd going.
The crowd exploded at the first beat of “No Flex Zone,” and the rap-duo played for just over an hour before Scott took the stage. Even students that didn’t know Scott before the show appreciated his energy. “It was dope, I felt he got the crowd more alive than Rae and Yachty, I didn’t know him prior to this, but it was pretty chill though,” said Joshua Stlouis, an undecided freshman. Scott performed his hits like “Antidote” and “Upper Echelon,” and his newer singles, “A-Team” and “Pick up the phone.” He kept the energy going throughout his entire performance, but he used the intro to Kanye West’s “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1” as a break before raging once again.
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OPINION
Monday, September 12, 2016
THE SPECTRUM
Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF
Gabriela Julia
MANAGING EDITORS
Tori Roseman COPY EDITORS
Saqib Hossain Emma Medina Margaret Wilhelm Dan McKeon Grace Trimper NEWS EDITORS
Hannah Stein, Senior Ashley Inkumsah, Senior Sarah Crowley, Asst. FEATURES EDITORS
Kenneth Kashif Thomas, Senior Evan Grisley ARTS EDITORS
Max Kaltnitz, Senior David Tunis-Garcia, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS
Michael Akelson, Senior PHOTO EDITORS
Kainan Guo, Senior Angela Barca Troy Wachala, Asst. . CREATIVE DIRECTORS
Pierce Strudler Anthony Khoury, Asst.
Professional Staff
Although SA made huge effort to control Fall Fest admission, other parts of the show seemed unorganized When the Student Association first announced the Fall Fest lineup, students were skeptical about another rap-heavy show. Once the concert was over, it was clear SA should focus more on quality rather than quantity. SA spent roughly $350,000 on the total production of this year’s Fall Fest and $190,000 went to the lineup, according to SA President Matt Rivera. Fall Fest is funded through the $104.75 each student pays as part of the undergraduate mandatory student activity fee. The lineup, which consisted of four Southern rappers and lots of trap music, left some students feeling less than satisfied. Our editorial board feels SA should have focused on bringing one or two bigger artists rather than four artists that not many students are familiar with. Last year’s Fall Fest, which cost approximately $160,000, brought in two well-known artists in addition to two smaller artists. With Big Sean’s rap and Jeremih’s R&B,
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STAFF WRITER
Monday, September 12, 2016 Volume 66 Number 4 Circulation 4,000
Last Thursday marked the start of football season. The two teams who made it to the last Super Bowl, Broncos and Panthers, were facing off again. The game started like any other game would. The national anthem was playing and everyone stood up except for one: Brandon Marshall. As a result, he lost an endorsement deal the Air Academy Federal Credit Union and faced immense public backlash. This movement started with Colin Kaepernick, who didn’t stand for the national anthem during preseason games and most recently before the 49ers’ loss to the Green Bay Packers last week. Kaepernick refused to stand as a statement in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
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front and jumping over barricades to switch zones. There were other parts of the concert that were also problematic. As students walked through metal detectors, security confiscated many students’ lighters. But as the concert went on, clouds of smoke formed in the arena from students smoking marijuana. It was evident that security spent more time trying to put people in their specific zone and less time on the students fighting in mosh pits and smoking during the show. We at The Spectrum understand that a lot of the issues are outside of SA’s control, such as the weather and how intoxicated students are. We understand students come out and rage and there is little you can do to stop that. But with all of the major planning that went into restructuring this year’s ticket policy, the focus should have been on other parts of the event. email: eic@ubspectrum.com
Colin Kaepernick’s actions tell his message loud and clear
Helene Polley
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known artist, the concert would have been much more enjoyable and the cramped arena would have been more tolerable. Aside from the lineup, we applaud SA for making an effort to improve student safety. Last year’s Fall Fest line was a safety hazard, with drunken students falling over barricades while waiting in line for over three hours. Although the new ticket reservation policy was created to prevent this from reoccurring, it was clear it did not go as planned. Tickets were linked to each student’s UB ID card, but many students got in without having their ID checked. Once the thunderstorm hit, students weren’t able to wait outside, forcing them to come through different entrances in the arena, which meant some tickets weren’t scanned at all. Student tickets were also assigned to a specific colored zone in the arena, but it didn’t stop students from pushing to get to the
Where do you stand?
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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.
there was more variety compared to this year’s trap concert. It was clear the majority of the students went to Fall Fest for the experience and not so much for the artists. Before and after the show began, many students admitted to not knowing any of the artists that performed aside from headliner Travis Scott. When Lil Yachty performed one of his more popular songs, he cut the music to let the crowd finish the verse. Instead, Alumni Arena was silent. Students knew more lyrics to the songs played in between each act than the songs each artist performed. This doesn’t mean the concert was a total fail – those who waited long enough for Scott to perform felt his performance was one of the best thus far. But the fourhour wait in the 85-degree arena caused many students to leave early and miss out on the best performance of the night. If Scott was scheduled at an earlier time along with one more well-
Kaepernick has also been spotted wearing socks that depict police officers as pigs. Whether or not you think that Kaepernick was just looking for attention or it was uncalled for, I support Kaepernick’s decision to not stand. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag or country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said in an NFL Media interview. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies on the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” Kaepernick is a public figure that has the attention of millions of people. He is passionate about an issue and he wants to show his passion in the form of peaceful protest. Kaepernick risks losing future or current endorsement deals and loyal fans. There are videos online of people burning his jersey and commentators condemning his actions. The 49ers’ quarterback is not merely riding on the coattails of a movement. He donated $1 million to organizations that focus on racial
issues. He is donating all of his jersey sales back to underprivileged communities. His protests and passion is genuine. It is more than him not standing, it is taking real action to make a difference. He acknowledged that the issues in this country are something that’s bigger than the sport he’s been playing his whole life. Many are calling Kaepernick unpatriotic. The national anthem is ingrained into our every day lives with elementary and high schools reciting the anthem daily. It may be unpatriotic to not stand for the anthem, but to limit someone’s right to speech is even worse. Freedom of speech and protests are basic principles this country was founded upon – so how can we deny them to our citizens? Others argue that Kaepernick is being paid millions to play a sport he loves and most can only dream to be in the position he’s in. America is one of the few countries Kaepernick can have this job – if he doesn’t like this country, he should leave. The problem with this argument is that it’s Kaepernick’s status as a rich and privileged individual that gives him this platform to speak about
what he believes in. Other athletes including Carmelo Anthony and Dwayne Wade have also used their status to speak on the matter, so why can’t Kaepernick? Just because the quarterback is now a famous athlete, doesn’t mean that he hasn’t faced racial profiling or anything of that sort in the past. The president of our country has spoken about how he has been racially profiled in the past. It doesn’t matter where Kaepernick is now, his experiences matter and he knows he can’t forget about them. One of the last arguments that people make is that Kaepernick is disrespecting people who have fought or are fighting for our freedom – this is a valid argument. However, there are people who are fighting and have fought for our right and one of those rights is free speech. Kaepernick is not trying to insult veterans or those still serving, he is trying to make a point in the best way he knows how. Kaepernick’s simple action caused an outrage that had people talking about whether it was disrespectful or not and if racial issues need to be spoken about more openly. I’m in full support for Kaepernick to take a stand by not standing. email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Money Talk: Incentives trump ethics for Wells Fargo Wells Fargo fires thousands of employees after fraud scandal
KENNETH KASHIF THOMAS SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR
To add to the list of infractions, Wells Fargo was just fined $185 million dollars in civil penalties and fired over 5,000 employees after they opened millions of accounts under customers’ names without their permissions. Wells Fargo agreed to pay $100 million in restitution to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for victims, $35 million in penalties to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and $50
million to the city and county of Los Angeles. This scandal, which unfolded over this past week, has many customers upset over the breach of trust, but more importantly, the financial effect this had on victims’ pockets and credit scores. In February, Wells Fargo paid $1.2 billion for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insurance claims between 2001 and 2010, to settle complaints from the Dept. of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and Housing and Urban Development. Neither of these were the first of their infractions, nor does it seem as if it will be the last. What this latest infraction suggests is that there seems to be a culture within the institution that foregoes ethics in the name of profit.
“Employees opened up over 1.5 million deposit accounts that may not have been authorized,” according to current reports from CNN Money. Wells Fargo hired an unnamed analyst that said employees transferred funds from customers’ existing accounts to the newly created ones, without the customers’ knowledge or consent. It was also found that employees of the institution submitted 564,443 credit card account applications, also without customer knowledge and consent. Wells Fargo is the biggest U.S. bank by stock market value, but their boldness is concerning, especially the rate at which they get caught in scandals. If the scandals continue, it’s questionable how they’ll continue to operate as a company. To make matters worse, customers would get charged late fees among other fees from these ac-
counts they didn’t sign off on. No one is sure how widespread the scandal goes, a scandal of this magnitude does not go on without some kind of backing from management. It also shows that Wells Fargo has toxic incentive strategies and doesn’t seem to be impeded by financial consequences. Since information on the scandal is still being released, it has people in the industry asking questions about the culture and sloppiness of the bank. With this being their fifth problem, they definitely are not the only bank that has been caught taking advantage of customers before. But one thing is for sure: Wells Fargo can’t afford another scandal. email: kenneth.thomas@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @KenUBspec
4 Get on board with the newly
NEWS
Monday, September 12, 2016
THE SPECTRUM
revised UB Stampede schedule Modifications include an expansion of the ‘Fun Run’ and rebranding routes
HANNAH STEIN SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
UB Parking and Transportation services has revised its bus schedule that started the first day of the fall 2016 semester. Some students are happy, while others wish changes were made sooner. The modified schedule includes new route names, a “fun run” and a revised weekend schedule to better address the larger population of students, said Chris Austin, assistant director of Parking & Transportation Services. Austin said rebranding the routes will help new and returning students identify which bus is which based on destination. The green line runs from the Center for Tomorrow lot, Crofts Hall, Flint Village and Flint Loop. The blue line runs to South Campus and the red line is the Lee-Ellicott express service. The evening service on Friday and Saturdays has been reduced to a bus service every 15 to 20 minutes from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and every 60 minutes after 2 a.m., according to Austin. On Aug. 31, Parking and Transportation services introduced the Stampede Fun Run, which features “Maple Road entertainment options” and transports students to places such as Anchor Bar, AMC Theater and Planet Fitness.
EUN-JI ESTHER SONG, THE SPECTRUM
UB students board the South Campus bus at Lee Loop. UB Parking and Transportation services revised its bus schedule for the fall 2016 semester.
“We’re really looking to provide students with services that take them out, whether it’s to eat, play, watch sports, catch a movie – whatever type of entertainment we can get students to as opposed to the evening late night service that has transported many students in the past to UB’s South Campus,” Austin said. The Stampede is the busiest from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, according to Austin. That is the Stampede “peak time.” Austin said when there is more of a demand, more buses are sent out. There are 28 total Stampede buses with 75 bus drivers who work through First Transit, a national
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bus company in addition to 24 shuttle bus drivers who work directly through UB. Austin said Stampede buses and shuttles are tracked via GPS units and were upgraded to 4G over the summer. He said the system updates vehicle locations faster and with increased accuracy. According to Austin, students can follow buses and shuttles real time by accessing the Transportation Tracker via UB Mobile and clicking on the “Transport” tab. Austin said Parking and Transportation services will be able to compare and contrast the new routes to measure its success. He said the Stampede has several mechanisms for tracking how many students board the
GLOBAL
bus each time. There is a swipe card access that tallies the number of UB students and faculty who board the bus as well as an automated passenger counting system that tracks how many passengers get on and off. Some students wish these changes had been made sooner. Andrew Meyer, a junior business administration major, said he wishes the Fun Run service was around when he was a freshman. Jenny Simon, a sophomore English and linguistics major, said she takes the Stampede every day to class. She hasn’t taken the Fun Run service yet, but she said she most likely will use it to go to the Galleria Mall. Other students are still unhappy with some of the bus services. Gabriel Sturdivant, a sophomore undecided major, said he thinks the drivers are all “very nice” but “whoever does the dispatching needs to step it up” and feels the bus schedule favors North Campus more than South. Sturdivant said he waited for the Stampede for almost an hour at the Flint bus stop because the buses skipped his stop three times since they were all full. Austin said transportation services take passenger “overloads” and “under loads” into consideration. He said he can decrease or increase bus capacity if necessary. “Our biggest goal is to move students within and between the two campuses as quickly as we can in a safe manner and to meet their transit needs and to get them where they need to go when they need to get there,” Austin said. email: hannah.stein@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @HannahJStein
NATIONAL
News Briefs
DNA used to wrap up 1983 Buffalo murder
North Korea launches most powerful nuclear test
Wells Fargo fined for illegal credit card practice
A Buffalo woman has been charged with the murder of 92-year-old World War I veteran, Edmund C. Schreiber, 33 years after the murder occurred. Saundra Adams, a 50-year-old librarian, was charged on Wednesday morning and police believe she acted with one other person, according to The Buffalo News. Schreiber was found strangled in his home with his own neck-ties and Adams’ DNA was found on the neck-ties in 1983. Judge David W. Foley denied defense attorney Susan Karalus’s request for bail stating the length of time between the murder and the charge should be considered an aggravating factor and not mitigating, given the “brutality of the crime.”
North Korea carried out its fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9. This test caused a 5.3 seismic earthquake, which was the greatest explosion yet, according to CNN. World leaders from the U.S., Japan, China and South Korea have condemned the nuclear tests. Obama called the tests a “grave threat to international security.” North Korea has still not achieved its goal of mounting a nuclear warhead to a ballistic missile, according to CNN. Officials still fear the regime is progressing faster than previously expected to weaponizing the missiles.
Wells Fargo was fined $185 million in fines on Sept. 8 after the national bank’s employees had secretly opened credit cards for customers without their consent. Regulators estimated 1.5 billion bank accounts and 565,000 credit card applications were created fraudulantly according to The New York Times. Customers became suspicious after receiving unexpected fees and receiving credit cards they never applied for. The bank said it would refund about $2.6 million in fees. The bank fired roughly 5,300 employees involved in the fraud, according to NPR.
Buffalo urban planners looking to develop Outer Harbor area by summer 2017 Urban planning experts hope to re-ignite progress on the development of Buffalo’s Outer Harbor by summer 2017. Tim Tielman, an expert in urban planning, proposed a plan to develop the Outer Harbor. Tielman proposed several new “light” features, including: two ferries to go between Canalside and the Outer Harbor, barbecue area, bar cafe and lifeguard-style chairs, which would allow people to watch the sunset over Lake Erie. The project would cost around $5 million.
Facebook lifts ban on iconic “Napalm Girl” photo Facebook received international criticism after it censored a Nobel-prize winning photograph, according to CNNMoney. The photograph features a Vietnamese naked young girl running from a napalm attack and was banned because of the child nudity. Facebook decided to publish the photograph stating its historical significance outweighed its violation of Facebook’s community standards. Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company will “continue to improve polices to make sure they both promote free expression and keep our community safe.”
Gary Johnson makes Allepo gaffe Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson’s flub in an interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Thursday has made national news. When Johnson was asked what he would do about the situation in Aleppo, Johnson responded, “And what is Aleppo?” Aleppo is a major city in war-torn Syria, the center of the humanitarian crisis, according to ABC News. Johnson later issued an apology for his lapse. Johnson said that he is “human,” but as president, he would surround himself with well-informed experts to fill the gaps in his knowledge, according to The New York Times.
5 Best high quality gadgets under ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Monday, September 12, 2016
THE SPECTRUM
$30 this month MAX KALNITZ SENIOR ARTS EDITOR
From cell phone accessories to wearable technology, our generation has assimilated all sorts of gadgets and gizmos into our daily lives. But, with all the growth in its respected field, there comes a challenge. How do we know which products to buy? Sifting through the countless pages of Amazon Daily Deals and sponsored advertisements can become tedious, but we’re here to help. The Spectrum’s monthly list of affordable tech should help you choose some great items that won’t cost too much money, but still offer great quality and optimal usage in your day-to-day life.
iPhone 6/s leather wallet case Sheildon: $23.99 This wallet case is a steal at more than half off the original $51.99 price tag. It features three credit card slots, a secret pocket for dollar bills, as well as a foldable front and back cover to create a kickstand for your phone, which is perfect for watching YouTube videos or playing games. After roughly two weeks of daily usage, the case has replaced my wallet completely. I was skeptical when I first opened the packaging to see a measly three card slots. I carry my credit card, student ID, driver’s license and some cash and I’ve run into no problems. If you’re looking for a stylish phone case, or a substitution from the bulky wallet taking up precious space in your bag, I highly recommend trying out this wallet case. It also comes in plus sizes for the bigger iPhone.
Beta 13,000 mAh portable charger Expert Power: $17.54 Most people are glued to their cell phones and for the average person, one charge doesn’t last a full day’s worth of activities. It can be annoying to have to track down a wall outlet and charging cord to re-juice multiple times throughout the day.
The Beta portable charger has a 13,000 milliamp battery, which is enough to charge the average smart phone an extra three to four times. For only $15, you’d be crazy to not want one. The feature I found the most useful was the two USB ports. One is a regular port that will charge your phone like it’s plugged into a wall. The other one is a fast charge port that will charge your device almost twice as fast as a regular outlet. Best of all, it’s very sleek and weighs almost nothing compared to other batteries of the same capacity. If you buy the white colored batter, it’s currently marked down from $25, making it considerably cheap, but still of high quality. MAX KALNITZ, THE SPECTRUM
8pin iPhone HDMI adapter FastDisk: $19.49 Have you ever watched a YouTube video or seen something funny on Facebook and wanted to show it to your friends? It can be annoying when four or five people all hover over your shoulder to watch a video on a five-inch screen. With this iPhone HDMI cable you can plug directly from your phone into a TV and play videos from your phone on a bigger screen. If your iPhone is 3G/4G compatible (all models from the 5-up are), you can plug the 8pin into the phone and the HDMI and USB into a compatible TV, then turn on your hotspot and you’re good to go. This can be especially handy for long road trips or parties where you want to play music or watch videos on a bigger screen.
4 ft. left angled braided iPhone cord CableCreation: $12.59 This cord solves the age-old problem that the standard Apple charging cord just can’t seem to fix. If you bend a regular cord too much, it will rip and essentially be useless. This cable features a left angled USB port so you no longer have to bend cords around laptops or desks to charge your phone.
Grid-It organizers, iPhone HDMI adapters and iPhone 6S leather cases are just a few of the must-have gadgets under $30.
On top of that, the cord is reinforced by braided cotton, so you’ll have a tough time breaking it. Compared to other standard rubber cords this is much cheaper, sturdier and stylish than the average iPhone cord.
Grid-It organizer Cocoon: Starting at $10.79 One of the main problems students can have is organization. If you’re like me and have a Herschel Backpack, there are few to no pockets and no built-in organizers. The Grid-It has solved all of my problems. It’s a 12x12-inch grid with rubber straps scattered across the board. On each strap there are rubber rivets to keep your items locked tight in place. I can fit between four to six items on my Grid-It. I have my portable battery, external hard drive, charging cable and wallet on my grid. There’s also a pocket on the back that can be used for tablets or extra cords. Depending on which model you buy you can spend between $10 and $30. The more you pay, the nicer the model. As you go up in price, you get more storage, leather accents and more color options. The Grid-It has now become a staple in my backpack.
Microfiber screen cleaners i-ScreenClean: $14.99 One of my biggest pet peeves is a smudgy screen. I hate it when my phone or laptop has fingerprint marks or residue on the screen and it’s inconvenient to keep a cleaning cloth in my bag. These screen cleaners are the perfect solution for anyone who likes to keep their tech looking brand new. The screen cleaners come in a pack of three. Shaped like a ball, on one side of the cleaner is a microfiber cloth and on the other is a regular cloth. There are two sizes, one regular, one mini and one mini on a keychain. I keep the mini sized one in my glovebox, the regular in my desk at home and they keychain on my lanyard. Now wherever I go I can have access to a cleaner if my screens get dirty. They are currently $5 off from their original $20 price tag. Although they’re a little cheesy they do come in handy if you’re conscious about keeping your devices looking new. email: max.kalnitz@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @mkalnitz
The grapevine Your weekly collection of Buffalo’s sonic selections BENJAMIN BLANCHET STAFF WRITER
This week, up-and-coming indie rock, country and psychedelic rock takes the main stage from stages as large as First Niagara Center, to one of Buffalo’s favorite dive bars: The Mohawk Place. With Fall Fest’s rap-centered lineup now in the books, many non-hip hop fans at UB may be looking for something more out of their region’s offerings. Luckily, Buffalo’s music scene provides just the right fix of legends and new artists alike. If turning up to trap isn’t your thing, grab a friend and take your mind off of class with these impressive artists performing in the area.
Monday, Sept. 12 Mystic Braves & The Dream Ride – Mohawk Place New age psychedelic-rockers Mystic Braves are making a stop at Niagara Falls’ Mohawk Place. Hailing from California’s music central Los Angeles, Mystic Braves have a distinct west-coast rock sound that
is sure to bring Buffalo fans right to the beaches of Southern California. For anyone who is looking for a group with a colorful, trippy flavor Mystic Braves are a must see.
Wednesday, Sept. 14 Sean Hayes – Babeville The ever-so mellow and folksy Sean Hayes is set to rock Babeville on Wednesday night alongside Charley Crockett and Tim Carr. Having toured with acts such as Buffalo’s own Ani DiFranco in the past, Hayes’ grainy vocalized soul is as unique as his blues-like approach to rock. Fresh off the release of his newest album Low Light, Hayes is destined to bring down the house with some of his most recent music. His style is one of a kind and will be a treat for fans and Buffalonians alike. Thursday, Sept. 15 Parsonsfield – Babeville Formerly known as Poor Old Shine, Parsonsfield is coming to Buffalo on Thursday. Parsonsfield has been known to make for a grand old time, especially live. With their analog approach to a bluegrass/folk sound that includes banjo playing and acoustic guitar strumming. Parsonsfield’s latest effort, Blooming Through Black, was released less than a week ago and is sure to get some love from the Upstate crowd.
Saturday, Sept. 17 John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers – Old Falls St. (Niagara Falls) Blues legend John Mayall is dropping by the area for a historic evening in Niagara Falls. As part of the Niagara Falls Blues Festival, Mayall and his team of rock stars The Bluesbreakers featured all-time acts such as Eric Clapton and John McVie. Having shaped the genre for five decades with his contributions to blues rock, Mayall’s free performance on Old Falls St. is a must see show for blues and rock fans. Saturday, Sept. 17 Dixie Chicks – First Niagara Center The legendary country group and highest selling all-female band in the U.S. is making a stop at the First Niagara Center Saturday night. Known for country hits like “Wide Open Spaces” and “Cowboy Take Me Away,” the Dixie Chicks are back with their MMXVI tour and making a stop in the Queen City. Tickets are still available for the show so don’t miss out on seeing Texas girls rock out. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
6 UB joins the Buffalo community
FEATURES
Monday, September 12, 2016
THE SPECTRUM
on Suicide Prevention Day Out of the Darkness walk raises awareness on sucide prevention and self-harm ELIZABETH SILBURN STAFF WRITER
Alexis Kennedy, a resident of Cheektowaga, said she has struggled with suicidal thoughts and has resorted to self-harm in her past. Since then, Kennedy has found ways to not only deal with those thoughts, but to raise awareness on the severity of self-harm. Kennedy formed a team and participated in the Out of the Darkness walk On Saturday. The UB Student Wellness team and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) participated in the community walk in Delaware Park. “This is our second year walking,” Kennedy said. “This team is mostly raising awareness and supporting others, but this is mostly for me.” National Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 5 to 11 and National Suicide Prevention Day is Sept. 10. Carissa Uschold, a licensed clinical social worker, suicide prevention coordinator and eating disorder treatment team coordinator at UB, led the Student Wellness Team, UB Walkin’, in the suicide prevention event. The walk started in 2007 and the Student Wellness team and UB Walkin’ have participated since then. Uschold has walked and volunteered for nine years and has been the chair of the walk for five years. The UB Walkin’ team raised a total of $8,598, which is $600 above the team’s goal. The team also ranked third in fundraising
out of all of the teams that participated this year. According to the AFSP website, the money that is raised for and during these events goes directly to research, educational programs and to families that have been affected directly by suicide. Raising money is just a fraction of what these walks do for the communities. “These events bring communities together, providing hope, inspiration and support,” Uschold said. “They also help decrease the stigma of suicide and mental health.” UB has been an active participant in the fight to end suicide. This year UB Walkin’ had a total of 32 members on the team. Sharon Mitchell, PhD Director at UB Counseling Services, has been involved with the AFSP and the “Out of the Darkness” events. She has been walking with UB for 10 years.
“It allows us to have a campus-community partnership,” Mitchell said. “It allows us to learn more about the resources in the area, so it will be helpful for students as well. It also lets us to be more visible to UB campus and bring attention to suicide as a very preventable situation.” Many gathered on Saturday morning wearing shirts with names of whom they were walking for. Several groups went around giving advice and encouraging those who struggle with suicidal thoughts and for everyday life. Olivia Retallack, coordinator of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Erie County, has participated in this walk for three years. “One of the best things about being out at this walk for us is we are able to be out,” Retallack said. “It’s an unfortunate time because so many people have lost somebody to suicide, but it’s an opportunity for the community to come together for a time of
TROY WACHALA, THE SPECTRUM
People in the Buffalo community hold signs in rememberance of those who committed suicide. People gathered in Delaware Park on Saturday for the Out of the Darkness walk to raise awareness on suicide prevention.
healing. A time of remembrance and a time to spread the word that there really is help available. There is hope, and then collectively we can go out into the community with the available resources and try to continue to prevent suicide.” There are counseling services at UB on both campuses if necessary: in Richmond Quad on North Campus and on the second floor of Michael Hall on South Campus. “Keep fighting, even when you don’t want to fight anymore,” Kennedy said “It’s definitely worth it.” email: features@ubspectrum.com
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8
SPORTS
Monday, September 12, 2016
THE SPECTRUM
Finding the answer Former UB pitcher Blair Lakso went from struggling college arm to soughtafter MLB prospect in one summer
MICHAEL AKELSON SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
At the beginning of this summer, UB head baseball coach Ron Torgalski knew he was going to have to prepare himself for the loss of one of his top back-of-the-bullpen arms. Mike Kaelin, a 5-foot-9 power pitcher who dominated in the closer role for most of his time at UB, was expected to be selected in the MLB draft when he became eligible following his junior season. However, what Torgalski, or really anyone for that matter, did not anticipate was that he was actually going to be losing two power arms from his bullpen to professional organizations this summer. Rising fifth-year senior Blair Lakso is the second pitcher from Buffalo to sign a pro contract this summer. Lakso struggled so mightily last season that he appeared to be left for dead in Buffalo’s bullpen as he entered his senior season. In 19.1 innings pitched last year, Lakso gave up 27 hits, walked 21 batters and held an ERA of 8.84. In baseball, a sport so defined in the lower levels by tools and projectability, it seems near impossible that someone like Lakso could fall completely off the radar. A six-foot-two righty with a mid-90s fastball and a wipeout slider, Lakso had long flashed big time potential, but never consistency. As a 22-year old going into his graduate year, most people seemed ready to write off Lakso as just another guy with an electric right arm and none of the other attributes it takes to be a great pitcher. As his career bottomed out, Lakso grew frustrated, but never once deterred, as he searched for what he calls “the answer.” “I was always a click or two away from putting it all together,” Lakso said. “That’s what all these scouts would tell me, is that I have all the natural ability, but I just didn’t find that answer.” Lakso, a Hamburg native, began his career at St. Bonaventure University, but left the school after one semester because they didn’t have a pitching coach that was there consistently. He transferred into Erie Community College, where he pitched two seasons before spurning other offers to play at local UB. “I just thought it would be cool to play for a team in the city I grew up in,” Lakso said. Since he arrived on campus in 2014, Lakso often showed flashes of putting it together, but he could never sustain his success. “One day at practice he’d look great, then the next day he’d be all over,” Torgalski said. “Same thing in the spring, he’d come in for an inning and you’d say ‘wow, he showed some flashes there of being a great pitcher,’ and then the next day out he’d be back the same way.” Lakso struggled to make adjustments as he and his coaches attempted to figure out why any given day he could flirt with either brilliance or disaster. In a stacked Buffalo bullpen, Torgalski was unable to get Lakso consistent innings as his control faltered. His problems ballooned and he didn’t have reps to work out the kinks. “I’ve always had confidence, it was just actually finding the answer,” Lakso said. “I knew I could go out if my stuff was on and get anyone out, but it just became frustrating. It wasn’t that I didn’t have confidence, it was all constantly searching for an answer, to figure out why it was inconsistent.” Things got so bad for Lakso after last year that he nearly lost his invite to the Northwoods League, the summer collegiate baseball league that saved his career. The Northwoods is one of the most elite college summer baseball leagues in the country, frequently churning out future top draft picks.
(TOP)COURTESY OF UB ATHLETICS
Blair Lakso throws pitch in UB baseball game. Lakso is the second pitcher from Buffalo to sign a pro contract this summer.
For many players, performance in a summer league like the Northwoods can be the difference between thousands of dollars in draft signing bonus. For others, it can be the difference between making it to the next level at all. “After our season they were looking at his numbers and they were calling us saying ‘jeez, well we’re not sure we want to bring him out here,’” Torgalski said. “Our pitching coach [Steve Ziroli] basically had to talk them into bringing him out there and giving him the opportunity and seeing what he can do.” At the urging of Torgalski and Ziroli, Lakso was given a 10-day contract by the Wisconsin Rapid Rafters. Presumably, Lakso was to be sent home after being used as nothing more than a depth arm for the Rapid Rafters in the first two weeks of the summer. “I was on a temporary thing and so I had to prove myself from day one since I got there, to be able to stick around all summer,” Lakso said. However, once he arrived in Wisconsin, it didn’t take Lakso very long to finally find “the answer.” His pitching coach for the Rapid Rafters, John Halama, who pitched nine years in the MLB, noticed major flaws in Lakso’s mechanics on only the second pitch of his first workout for the team. “I saw a kid with a good arm, but I also saw a kid with a lot of things that don’t match up,” Hamala said. Two things Hamala noticed right away were problems with Lakso’s arm slot and hand positioning. “The biggest thing I saw with him was his arm slot, it needed to be a little bit higher,” Hamala said. “He was low on the slider, which created some differences with the fastball and slider arm slot. Also, his hand positioning - he had his hand on his back hip, which caused him to be longer at the back end of his arm and never really got him into proper throwing position consistently. I think once he changed his hand slot, it took over and made everything else fall into place.” Other things Lakso worked on included staying over the rubber longer and getting the ball out of his glove quicker. The true turning point for Lakso finally came during his first game. He came in and walked the first batter, then gave up a double to the next batter. With runners on second and third and nobody out, Lakso stepped off the rubber and pondered the situation. This was his last chance at making his dream come true and he was at risk of being sent packing
(BOTTOM)COURTESY OF BLAIR LAKSO
Lakso throws a pitch for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. Once Lakso arrived in Wisconsin, it didn’t take long for him to find “the answer.”
at the end of his 10-day contract. “I remember just stepping off and kind of clearing my head and being like ‘OK, well John Halama gave me those couple of things to think about and I thought about those real quick,” Lakso said. “And I got back on the mound, took a deep breath and struck out the next six in a row. That was kind of the breaking point, like wow I finally made a breakthrough.” Lakso finally found the answer he had searched for so long and the Rapid Rafters signed him for the rest of the summer. He dominated, going 6-0 with a 1.40 ERA and a 40:12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 32 innings. “Two weeks later they’re saying ‘hey, this guy ain’t going anywhere,’” Torgalski said. “They sent someone else home. It just happened to work out for him.” Scouts had long been intrigued with Lakso’s natural abilities, so when it finally clicked for him on perhaps the biggest stage of his life, MLB organizations were lining up to lure Lakso away from his senior year at Buffalo. Lakso’s first offer was $1,000 from the Los Angeles Angels, an offer he was prepared to turn down in favor of returning to school for his senior year. Torgalski says 12-15 teams showed interest in signing Lakso, but ultimately he decided on the Minnesota Twins. “It was a comfort thing, it was how they treated me and how they respected my way of how I went about the process,” Lakso said. “I wanted to hear every team out, I was a man of my word, I wanted to see which team pursued me the most and the Twins got right after me, within two days they had an offer and I took that.” Lakso signed with the Twins only two days before school started this year. Torgalski said that following his performance
over the summer, Lakso would have been in consideration to replace Kaelin in the closer role had he decided to return for his senior season. Junior Logan Harasta will now get the first crack at being the closer for UB. Four months ago, Lakso thought he was headed back to school this fall for what seemed to be his last hurrah in the game he had dreamed of playing at the professional level since he was four years old. He would have had a lifetime to think about his ability to play at the next level, but none of the mental or mechanical polish. Now, for the first time since he arrived on campus at UB, Lakso has found answers. Only now, at the age of 22, is Lakso truly beginning to get a good feel for pitching. “It’s just a matter of a feel for the game of baseball and to be honest, I can’t teach them that,” Hamala said. “They have to learn that on their own because that’s just that gut feeling you have inside.” Based on his arsenal, along with the fact that he just dominated against some of the best college baseball players in the country, Torgalski says the ceiling for Lakso is “high as can be.” “It’s not often you’re gonna find an arm that’s a mid-90s arm with a filthy slider,” Torgalski said. As for the confidence? Well, that’s one thing that never went away. “I’m not satisfied by any means,” Lakso said. “I feel like I’m just scratching the surface.” email: michael.akelson@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @mikeakelson