The Spectrum Vol. 64 No. 78

The S pectrum Commencement issue

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Volume 64 No. 78

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY YUSONG SHI, JENNA BOWER, KENNETH CRUZ

On a sunny Friday morning, President Satish Tripathi has the black and red robe he wears for commencement ceremonies laid out on a chair in his office on the top floor of Capen Hall.

It’s for the School of Medicine graduation – the first time of at least nine he’ll don the garb this month, as the 2014-15 academic year ends.

“This is the time of the year there is so much excitement and you can see the achievements of the students and you can see them succeeding,” he said.

As this year wraps up and students prep to shake Tripathi’s hand as the hallmark end to their college education, he sat down with The Spectrum to talk about some of the biggest topics on campus. From the future of South Campus to the athletics department and how he views his own presence and relationship with students on campus, Tripathi spoke candidly to Spectrum Editor in Chief Sara DiNatale. It was the first time he has sat down with The Spectrum since 2012, but he said last week he would meet with The Spectrum annually.

President Satish Tripathi sat down with Spectrum EIC Sara DiNatale last week to talk about some of the bigger topics facing UB.

Tripathi became the president of the university in 2011, after serving as UB’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs starting in 2004.

He said since he’s come to campus it’s been his goal for students to “improve the quality of experiences students have.” He said he’s worked to ensure UB’s Academies, an on-campus community that connects students with similar interests, make UB’s massive campus seem smaller. He said he’s strived to give undergrads, not just graduate students, opportunities to work with professors on research. He’s also proud of UB’s new general education requirements – which he said focuses more on themes like social justice and entrepreneurship and less on checking off requirements.

“It took almost a year but we have one of the best, forward-looking gen ed programs,” Tripathi said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Business, science majors dominate UB as humanities lose enrollment TOM DINKI

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

Matt Lanz will graduate from the UB’s School of Management with a degree in business administration – and he’s far from alone.

The business major attracts the most students out of any other major at UB. Eight hundred and forty students will walk across the Alumni Arena stage to receive their diploma during the School of Management’s graduation on May 16.

Business is the largest major at UB with 3,166 students registered in the fall of 2014, which beat out engineering for the largest major at UB by 54 students. While UB has had enrollment increases of over 40 percent in the fields of engineering, biological and

3,166 3,112 2,611 2,010 1,902 1,466 1,046 598 550 398 391 249 243 196 136

CHANGE SINCE 2004

KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM

EDITOR IN CHIEF

ENROLLMENT

SARA DINATALE

MAJORS

The Spectrum sits down with President Tripathi

1. Business 2. Engineering 3. Biological and biomedical sciences 4. Health professions 5. Social sciences 6. Psychology 7. Communication and journalism 8. Visual and performing arts 9. Computer and information sciences 10. Architecture 11. Physical sciences 12. English literature 13. Mathematics and statistics 14. History 15. Foreign languages and linguistics

+17 percent +47 percent +50 percent +3 percent -8 percent +1 percent +28 percent -46 percent +41 percent -18 percent +7 percent -63 percent +29 percent -61 percent -47 percent

COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO

What’s in a major?

biomedical sciences and computer sciences in the past 10 years, liberal arts like English literature, foreign languages, history and the visual and performing arts decreased by around 40 percent, according to statistics the university gave to The Spectrum.

A. Scott Weber, senior vice provost for Academic Affairs, said UB’s enrollments are following national trends, which have shown an increase in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields and a decrease in the humanities.

Business was the most popular degree in the country in 2011-12, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.

Nearly 80,000 more people graduated with degrees in business than all degrees in the humanities.

“I think this is the national question that people are asking across the nation: Have we, as a university and as a profession, done an adequate job describing the value of a liberal arts to a life long commitment to learning and exploration and economic prosperity?” Weber said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

ubspectrum.com

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015

The Spectrum sits down with President Tripathi

COURTESY OF UB PHOTO DATABASE

President Tripathi, photographed at last year’s commencement, will speak at nine graduation ceremonies this month.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

But what Tripathi sees as one of his biggest – and yet to be completed goals – is to “revitalize” South Campus.

In 2017, UB’s medical school is moving downtown, leaving some to question: What’s going to happen to South Campus and the troubled University Heights district?

Tripathi said the now North Campusbased School of Social Work and Graduate School of Education will move to South.

But Tripathi said that won’t happen without improvements to infrastructure to the South Campus buildings. Tripathi said UB would also be getting rid of the campus’ “temporary” buildings – though not meant to stand for long, structures like the Acheson Annex were erected in 1965 and are still used today.

Tripathi said he envisions the campus being restored to its “E.B. White” days – an homage to the architect who drew up South’s original campus plan. Tripathi said Hayes Hall is undergoing $50 million in renovations, which will be done in about a year.

Most of the buildings on South Campus are old and need work – but so does the surrounding area.

In 2012, there were 523 crimes in the University Heights district where a large number of UB students live, including 272 larcenies and 118 burglaries.

A Spectrum poll in 2013 showed that out of 787 students polled, 428 did not feel safe in the Heights. Of 760 students polled, The Spectrum found that 82 percent of students

felt UB needed to do more to improve living conditions for students in the Heights.

Tripathi said he feels the campus is taking an “active role” in the Heights. He said he’s meet with Common Council member of the area Rasheed Wyatt and said he plans to meet with him again. He also mentioned UB bought security cameras for the city and that continuation of “housing blitzes,” in which OffCampus Student Services coordinates inspections of South Campus homes, as things UB has done to assist the Heights.

“The city doesn’t have enough people to inspect the houses because unless you get inspected and get cited, it’s hard for actions to be taken, so we’ve worked on that as well,” Tripathi said.

UB reimburses the city for the inspector’s overtime because the blitzes usually happen on weekends.

Alums, he added, remember South “being where the campus ‘was,’” and he said he wants to bring that back – though he admits

it will be a long and slow process.

Tripathi said UB will need to work with the city’s stakeholders and the area’s the real estate developers to “make sure we really restore that area.”

Tripathi – though clearly a busy UB president – says he feels like he has a strong presence on campus and among students. Some students say they’ve never seen Tripathi, but Tripathi said that can come down to perceptions.

“Perceptions are important but they’re just perceptions,” Tripathi said. “I’m on the campus, multiple events every week, where there are some students there. I’m in the Commons, in the Student Union building having lunch …

But I’m meeting with student groups all the time actually, and I think it’s important for me to talk to students to find out what their concerns are.”

He said he’ll be at the senior brunch Friday and has already attended a series of luncheons and student award ceremonies.

“You studied here, you got your education but don’t be afraid to take risks,” Tripathi said.

He said he’s proud of UB’s athletic teams who for the first time ever had three separate teams get NCAA Tournament berths in one year. Tripathi described himself as a “cheerleader” for the program, adding he hopes Athletic Director Danny White is successful in fundraising enough money to build a field house on North Campus.

“I’m not into hiring coaches or getting games, but as a president, I’m supportive of the athletics, I think its important experience for the students – not only for the student-athletes but the whole student body here,” Tripathi said.

Tripathi mentioned the UB Foundation will be unrolling a new website this month to foster transparency, which the private foundation that handles UB’s nearly $1 billion in donations is accused by some faculty for not having. He said the separation between the UBF as a private entity and UB as a public one is important.

“It has the donors money and the donors will not give money if they believe it is going to be part of the state fund because a lot of the donor money is forever, to create an endowment that really is forever so [UBF] really believe[s] in that kind of separation,” Tripathi said.

But Tripathi mainly focused the interview on his main goals for his tenure, which includes ensuring students during their time at UB. Whether they’re interacting in a global community or with UB’s international students, Tripathi said the campus offers students an environment to grow.

His biggest piece of advice for the graduating class?

Take risks – because you don’t know when “pushing the boundaries” will lead to the next big invention or breakthrough.

“You studied here, you got your education but don’t be afraid to take risks,” he said. email: sara.dinatale@ubspectrum.com

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015 ubspectrum.com

Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF

Sara DiNatale

MANAGING EDITORS

Rachel Kramer Emma Janicki, Asst.

OPINION EDITOR

OPINION When it comes to choosing majors, UB students are all business Popularity of degree reflects students’ sensible approach to post-graduation goals

Tress Klassen COPY EDITORS

Alyssa McClure, Copy Chief Anne Fortman Emma Fusco Natalie Humphrey NEWS EDITORS

Tom Dinki, Senior Ashley Inkumsah, Asst.

Charles W Schaab, Asst.

FEATURES EDITORS

Gabriela Julia, Senior Dan McKeon, Asst.

James Battle, Asst.

ARTS EDITORS

Tori Roseman, Senior Brian Windschitl SPORTS EDITORS

Jordan Grossman, Senior Quentin Haynes Bobby McIntosh Asst.

PHOTO EDITORS

Yusong Shi, Senior Kainan Guo Angela Barca, Asst .

CARTOONISTS

Harumo Sato Joshua Bodah

CREATIVE DIRECTORS

Jenna Bower Kenneth Cruz, Asst.

Professional Staff OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

ILLUSTRATION BY HARUMO SATO

Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER

Kevin Xaisanasy Alex Buttler, Asst.

Melina Panitsidis, Asst.

ADVERTISING DESIGNER

Tyler Harder Derek Hosken, Asst.

THE SPECTRUM Wednesday, May 6, 2015 Volume 64 Number 78 Circulation 7,000 The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Feedback, Opinion and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length.

If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address.

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For information on adverstising with The Spectrum, visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at (716) 645-2452.

The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 142602100

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As students prepare to finish their studies at UB, about 15 percent of those graduates will be leaving with a degree in business.

The major’s consistent popularity indicates the practical outlook many students are taking.

Even as engineering and biology, which follow business in the rankings of popular majors at UB, gained traction over the past 10 years, more undergraduate students major in business than any other field of study.

It’s a sign of sensible decisionmaking among students, who clearly want to graduate with a versatile

degree that offers employment opportunities in a variety of fields.

Majoring in business is a popular choice nationwide, ranking first among all majors in terms of students enrolled.

Clearly, students at UB have the right idea. Studying business allows students to learn important concepts about economics and marketing, which can be applied in various workplace settings.

Not only do the skills acquired with a business degree prove relevant across multiple fields, but the lessons learned about advertising and promotion can also help stu-

dents promote themselves as they head out on their job searches.

And for students without a particularly strong subset of skills or interests, like science or art, business is an accessible field to enter.

It’s also a boon that UB’s School of Management ranked 40 out of 680 programs nationwide, according to Forbes Magazine’s 2013 rankings, putting the business school in the country’s top 10 percent.

Students at UB are smart to enroll in a standout program that has name recognition, which can be a plus in job interviews – not to mention that the high ranking is of

U.S. Education Department must live up to its name As student loan debt continues to plague graduates, the department that acts a debt collector should also serve as an educator New college graduates should feel that their opportunities are endless, with expanded career options and a plethora of choices at their fingertips – not burdened by thousands of dollars of loans to pay off.

Students at UB generally have a manageable amount of debt, if any, upon graduation – ranked by U.S. News as 19th nationwide in graduating students with the least debt, UB sends more than half of its students off into the real world without any debt at all.

The average debt owed by UB students upon graduation is $17,440.

That number is significant, to be sure, but pales in comparison with the staggering sums owed by college graduates who attend schools that are less affordable than UB.

Students who head off to pricy private universities and take on life-altering loans in order to pay tuition, which at private non-profit universities averaged over $31,000 this year, often do so unwittingly, without much of an awareness – if any – of the long-term ramifications of the debt they just took on.

And while that scenario is troubling enough, it’s exacerbated for students who now feel that the loans they took out helped fund a worthless degree from a fraudulent program.

Such is the predicament of students who attended for-profit schools run by Corinthian Colleges.

An education company that bought over a dozen vocational and online colleges, Corinthian has now been shut down by the Edu-

cation Department, after years of accusations regarding false graduation and job placement rates to lure students into enrolling in the pricy programs.

For-profit programs like Corinthian are shady to begin with – students at these institutions end up defaulting on their student loans more often than their compatriots at nonprofit universities.

Almost half of all students who default on their loans come from for-profit schools – clearly, these types of programs are an option students should immediately dismiss as they debate their college selections.

But many students simply don’t know any better.

With a lack of basic knowledge surrounding finances – as seniors in high school, students haven’t

course indicative of a superior level of education being offered.

Of course, the popularity of the business major also comes with a cost – namely, the declining enrollment in the humanities.

Along with the rest of the nation, UB has seen reduced numbers in majors like English, history and philosophy, which are all down by at least 60 percent from 2004, as well as foreign language, which has 47 percent fewer majors, according to a January Buffalo News article.

Skills learned in humanities courses like communication, writing and critical thinking are also relevant in the workplace.

And as business and STEM degrees flourish, so too does the competition, as more and more students end up competing for the same jobs.

Although it’s wise for students to major in a field that boasts reassuring job placement numbers, it’s equally important that undergraduates use their time at UB to study a topic that they’re passionate about.

Making money is important, but a high-paying job can all too easily be marred by dissatisfaction.

Getting a job seems like the final hurdle for college graduates, but in reality, that hurdle is typically followed by a 40-hour-a-week commitment – that time should be spent pursuing an interest rooted in passion, not just financial need.

Ultimately, for students without a specific focus, it makes sense to enroll in whatever major seems most lucrative on the job market.

But it would be a shame if students who are passionate about literature or history or other fields in the humanities turn away from their interests out of fear of unemployment. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

had the chance to learn about how loans work – and surrounded by misleading information provided by universities that want them to enroll, it’s no surprise that so many students end up in desperate financial situations after graduating.

The student loan epidemic shows no signs of faltering, and it’s time for the Education Department to step up.

Students who owe money on their degrees from Corinthian-run universities are rightly demanding that the Education Department offer them loan discharges, essentially erasing their debt.

The department didn’t shut down Corinthian as quickly as it could have, and allowed students to continue enrolling even as it investigated the schools.

Moreover, the Education Department acts as debt collector when students aren’t able to pay back the loans the department offered them in the first place – loans that never should have been made available for fraudulent schools like those under Corinthian’s supervision.

And on a larger scale, unless the Education Department is willing to start considering more widespread loan forgiveness – a doubtful prospect – more must be done to educate students about the risks of taking on debt before they even enroll in their first college course. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

ubspectrum.com

4

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Preparing for the job hunt

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KAINAN GUO

Career Services provides tips for getting a job after graduation DANIEL MCKEON FEATURES EDITOR Graduating from college is an exciting time – until the realization of how hard finding a job is sets in.

UB Career Services provides tips for students on how to build a résumé, how to do well in a job interview and start a career.

Jenna Smith, coordinator of assessment and marketing for Career Services, takes a positive approach in educating students in ways to get a job.

Smith said Career Services tries to frame all of their advice in a positive way so students remember what to do during an interview, not what they shouldn’t be doing. She said students are prone to remembering the negative things and then will end up doing that in an interview, rather than what they should be doing.

The following tips are given by Career Services to help students in the job search.

Know your code The Holland Code was made by psychologist John Holland on the premise that you could identify someone’s ideal career options based on six personality types, each represented by a letter. The codes are made up by choosing three of the personality types and using the combination of letters to identify personal strengths.

The personality types are realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising and conventional. Understanding a personality type can be key when choosing a career. According to the Holland Code, following one’s personal code can lead to happiness and fulfillment.

Make your résumé specific An employer spends an average of 15 to 20 seconds reviewing a résumé so having a good one is important. The key to standing out is making sure the résumé isn’t bland.

Focusing on extracurricular activities such as honors, studying abroad, leadership skills

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and technical skills help make applicants look well rounded – an attractive feature to any prospective employer.

Use specific accomplishments and results in each entry in experience can help quantify experience more than simply writing it down. Career Services also provides a list of words that make résumés stand out more, including “administered,” “excelled,” “rationalized” and “spearheaded.”

Consistent formatting is also crucial to giving a professional feel to the résumé.

Differentiate your cover letter from your résumé A cover letter is a one-page letter that is essentially the first impression an employer will have of a candidate for a job.

It shouldn’t be your résumé in paragraph form. The cover letter should be clear and to the point, highlighting specific examples of relevant experience to the job.

In addition to proofreading, customize each letter for the job you’re applying for.

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email: features@ubspectrum.com

Department of Geography

Summer 2015 Courses

Session J (May 26- July 3, 2015) GEO 101* Earth System Science 1 M-F 9:40am - 10:55am

Parents of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis are invited invited to participate, as well as young adults who have worn a brace within the past 5 years. Eligible participants will be paid $125 for this 2 hour discussion group. It will be held at WNY Independent Living, 3108 Main Street, in Buffalo on Tuesday, June 2 at 6:00PM.

Keep your feet on the floor The interview is the most crucial part of landing a job and should be well prepared for. It’s important to have a good posture while speaking to a potential future employer so Career Services suggests keeping both feet firmly planted to the floor. This will help you to sit up straight and make a good first impression.

It’s also important to offer a firm handshake, make plenty of eye contact, smile, answer questions completely and ask thoughtful questions.

It’s also valuable to think about the potential questions you’ll be asked before the interview. Questions could include “Tell me about yourself,” “What are your strengths?” and “What are you weaknesses?” But whenever describing a weakness, be sure to include how you are working on it and what progress is being made.

Use the “STAR” method In an interview, you’re sure to be asked a question that starts with “Tell me about a time when…” It’s important to be prepared to fully answer this question in entirety.

Start with the situation (S), explain the task at hand (T), talk about the actions (A) you took to accomplish your goal and finally be sure to include the results (R) of the situation including what you learned or how the situation worked out.

Make a LinkedIn profile Networking is one of the most important ways of finding jobs and LinkedIn is the Facebook for business professionals. Be sure to upload a professional picture of yourself and make your profile look similar to your résumé. Have friends, family and past employers add you and endorse your skills.

“You should only connect with people you know,” according to the Career Services Career Guide. “When sending an invitation to connect, always personalize your invitation. Indicate why you want to connect with this person or refer to the last conversation you had with them.”

Career Services provide services such as help writing a résumé and practice interviews to prepare students for entering the job market. Graduation can be an exciting and stressful time, but with the right preparation, getting a job can be just another step along the way.

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GEO 103 Geog. of Economic Systems Online GEO 334 Intl. Env & Comm Problems Online

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Session M (July 6-August 14, 2015) GEO 106* Earth Systems Science 2 M-F 9:40am - 10:55am (Lecture) T R 11:00am - 12:30pm (Lab)

*sequence satisfies General Education’s Natural Sciences requirement

GEO 333 Bases of World Commerce Online

GEO 481 (Undergraduate) or GEO 506 (Graduate) Geographic Info Systems T R 6:30pm - 9:40pm (Lecture) T R 5:00pm - 6:20pm (Lab)

Further details visit department website: www.geog.buffalo.edu

ubspectrum.com

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Road to recovery UB student regains identity after overcoming drinking problem

MARISSA FIELDING STAFF WRITER

Lex could not control her body from shaking as she finally stepped into the room with several other recovering alcoholics sitting in a circle. This was the moment where she was finally going to turn her life around.

She had stepped into her first Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting.

Lex, a junior English major, is one of the many teens struggling with an alcohol addiction. She asked The Spectrum to not publish her full name due to the possible interference with future employers. Around 5,000 people under the age of 21 die each year from alcohol related incidents, such as car crashes, alcohol poisonings and even suicides, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

After a few wake up calls and a glance into her future, she knew she had to turn her life around. But with the memories from her past and easy access to alcohol, it hasn’t been an easy process.

Lex felt her first buzz from a wine cooler when she was 14 years old. Since then, she turned to stronger alcohol.

Lex said there have been many times she hit rock bottom from drinking. It was not until she found herself in the middle of the road on Elmwood Avenue waiting for a car to strike her dead that she wanted to start her journey to sobriety. Luckily, she made a phone call to an ex-girlfriend who came to her aid.

“I remember vaguely standing in the middle of the road at 3 a.m. just praying for a car to come hit me,” Lex said. “My ex-girlfriend showed up and I woke up the next day in her bed. I knew that enough was enough because I was starting to bring other people into it and I didn’t want to hurt anyone anymore.”

About 190,000 young adults under the age of 21 visited the emergency room with alcohol-related injuries in 2008, according to NIAAA. And 50 percent of 15-year-olds

will have had at least one drink in their life.

At least 90 percent of young adult’s alcohol is consumed through binge drinking.

Lex took a step back and thought about what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. She planned on joining the police academy and working her way up to becoming a detective. In order to do so, she knew she had to make some changes.

Three months ago, Lex entered the Wesleyan Church of Hamburg to join an AA meeting. They spent an hour discussing her experiences, one of them being the reason she ever started drinking in the first place.

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ance against drinking.

“Helping others has been a big part of my sobriety,” Koster said in an email.

Koster has been sober since Oct. 1, 2013 and a sponsor to others for nine months.

People like Lex are what help build her strength to continue her path of sobriety.

“With this role, it has changed my life in many different ways,” Koster said. “It helps me stay sober just as much as it helps Lex or the other women I sponsor. It is a wonderful gift and I’m truly grateful.”

Koster advises anyone with questions or

on young adult drinking Jennifer Read said alcohol is not a bad drug unless abused, something Lex has experienced while taking advantage of the buzz that comes with drinking.

Read said alcohol has a great effect on people’s mood and can help them feel more relaxed. That’s why it’s used by so many cultures around the world. At the same time, alcohol is still a highly toxic drug.

Although alcohol is not completely dangerous, it can cause damage to the body, such as liver damage, according to Read. If there is constant intake, it normally exceeds the safe blood alcohol level. The body can usually manage the effects of alcohol, but the damage most likely will come after long periods of time.

“It often takes a while for those effects to catch up,” Read said. “On average, bodies can be pretty resilient.”

Read advises students to pace themselves when they drink, such as having only one drink an hour. Students should make good judgments about their social setting, whom they hang out with and if that could factor into how much they are drinking, she said.

Turning to others for help can also make a difference in recovery – the Psychological Services Center at UB in Park Hall offers counseling services.

“It doesn’t have to be a professional,” Read said. “It can also be a friend that you enlist to help you.”

VIDEO STILLS BY STEPHEN GUETTI

Lex, a junior English major, struggled with alcohol since the age of 14. After stepping into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting for the first time, Lex is getting her life back on track.

“My whole entire life feels like a roller coaster,” Lex said. “My parents split when I was in the seventh grade and I was around 13. That took a toll on me.”

Lex used other methods to release her stress over her parents’ divorce. But alcohol felt like it was working better than everything else.

“I let it out in other ways, but it wasn’t until my grandma died that my drinking really took off,” Lex said. “I felt it and it made all of those other coping mechanisms go away. I didn’t feel that need to use them anymore because I found what worked for me.”

Lex’s drinking worsened this past fall semester when she spent her time at a Disney internship in Orlando, Florida. She went out with people who did not bother her about her condition.

“My roommates would get up for work and I would still be at the kitchen table drinking,” Lex said.

Lex knew that her drinking was more than just a little way to unwind every now and then. It was becoming more of a dependency.

After some discussions with her friends, she had an open mind about visiting an AA meeting. This is where she met her sponsor, Katy Koster, who became a major figure in her life while she became sober.

As her sponsor, Koster is there ready to answer her calls at any hour of the day whenever Lex feels she needs some guid-

seeking advice to go to an AA meeting. The group meetings help guide anyone battling alcoholism to follow the steps toward sobriety while not feeling alone on their journey.

“It’s not so much overcoming, it’s recovering,” Koster said. “By going through the steps we can recover from this illness. My role is to take [Lex] through the steps and that’s how we recover.”

Every journey towards recovery is different, according to Koster. There are different reasons why people grow dependent on alcohol and different experiences that drive a person to seek out recovery.

“I feel like we all have our journeys in life and I had to go through mine as Lex had to before we had enough pain to not live the way we were living anymore,” Koster said.

Lex had another wake up call during an encounter with a bartender a week before the car incident.

“It wasn’t until a week before I stopped drinking when I went to Fridays and the bartender came to refill my drink and said, ‘It looks like we found the alcoholic of the group.’ I looked at him and said how could you say that to me?” Lex said.

UB psychology professor and researcher

Lex’s decision to seek help from an AA group guided her away from a dangerous lifestyle of alcohol dependency, one that was overtaking her identity.

One of Lex’s biggest regrets is letting time slip away from her.

“I spent so much time not remembering things because I was completely blacked out,” Lex said. “I’ve missed such important moments in the past three years. I regret not being able to tell what happened.”

Lex has altered her life in other ways outside of AA, such as making schoolwork her main priority as well as getting a new job to avoid people she felt encouraged her drinking.

In order to move forward with her sobriety, Lex has gained new friends and lost the ones who only wanted to be around her when she was drunk, she said. She’s focused on helping other people and learning how to listen and be a good friend, daughter and sister again.

“This program is saving my life everyday,” Lex said. “I feel like I’m getting to know myself every day. I feel hope that I can eventually be happy again.” email: features@ubspectrum.com

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6

What’s in a major?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The English Department at UB has seen the largest percentage decrease in enrollment in the past decade, going from 678 students in the fall of 2004 to 249 students in the fall of 2014. History is second with a 61 percent loss.

The English Department recently announced changes in its degree requirements, including allowing more 200-level courses and dropping the foreign language requirement in effort to make the major more attractive.

Weber said he feels UB puts a high value on liberal arts, and that the drop in students in the liberal arts is more reflective of the market and student interest. He said during economic challenges, people, generally, tend to select majors such as engineering and business.

“I think it’s much easier for people to see the direct link that if you go into engineering and you go to work as an engineer, versus maybe having a terrific experience at English at UB and your career might take different paths,” Weber said.

Madeline Bartels, a biology and psychology senior who is graduating next week, said she has a couple of friends who chose to study nursing because they figured, “you’re always going to need someone like that.”

Bartels wanted to go into a field such as optometry because she knew where there would be job security and she would be able to support herself after graduation.

“I didn’t want to have to rely on being married or on someone else so I definitely wanted a secure job,” she said.

Lanz always knew he wanted to do business, but didn’t decide on accounting until he discovered that many professional sport teams’ CFOs were certified accountants.

“For accounting, there’s always a huge need for them. That really helped pushed me toward it,” he said.

Sean Lyke, a senior media study major, grew up making characters and videos with a web cam. He loved movies and cameras and didn’t think he “should steer away from that at all.”

The visual and preforming arts has had the third largest enrollment decrease (46 percent) at UB since 2004.

“As far as friends go saying, ‘The film business is a dying business, or it’s hard to get into,’ but for anyone out there that’s thinking, ‘Maybe I should do this, maybe I should switch to that,’ I’d say I did what my heart told me,” Lyke said.

Lyke said he thinks a lot of students worry about what major their parents want them to be.

He hears people say, “‘They want me to do this or they want to become a doctor or a busi-

nessman,’” Lyke said. “I think some kids do get steered in the wrong direction because their families tell them what to do or they feel that being an actor or director is not a reasonable goal.”

Both of Lanz’s parents are accountants, but he said his parents didn’t push him toward business. Weber said it’s common for students to pick a major that may not be their strength, but that they go into a field they think will give them job security.

“You have to do what you love to do, which is kind of our philosophy for our students,” Weber said.

Weber said a lot of students discover a certain major is not for them after taking the courses, and that UB has a “relatively flexible policy” when it comes to students transferring.

The large increase in engineering, biological and biomedical sciences and mathematics have put stress on the departments to meet the demand and needs of students, according to Weber. But he said he believes UB has done a good job in “accommodating that need,” in part with the help of Finish in 4.

Finish in 4 is UB’s initiative that aids students in completing their degree in four years, and Weber said it has allowed UB to better accommodate students in fields with large populations with larger class sizes and more professors.

UB recently made changes to its general education requirements, which will include seminars for freshman and transfer students that will allow “many departments to highlight what they do, that may not be in students’ minds in high school,” and attract students to the departments that may be decreasing in enrollment, Weber said.

Weber said he’s “been in it long enough to know things go up and down” in terms of trends for majors. He said that when he went to college for engineering in 1972, engineering was supposed to be dying. He said universities have to decide if the shift away from the humanities is a longer-term shift or a shorter term one.

“We tend to get very caught up in the trend of the day,” Weber said. “We try to look more longer term.”

Lyke said students should put more emphasis on their own skills and passions rather than the job market when picking a major.

“I think people should just go with what they love,” Lyke said. “Because in the end it’s what they’re doing that’s going to make them happy.

If they graduate with a degree, and it’s something they’re interested in, yeah, they’re going to make money but in the end having a job where you’re happy is more important than a job where you make a lot of money.” email: news@ubspectrum.com

Lee, a Geography graduate student, at the Statler Commissary.

STAY LONGER ADVANCE FURTHER Did you know that graduate programs across UB’s College of Arts and Sciences are nationally ranked as best choices given their academic reputation? The depth and breadth of the College provide an environment that strongly encourages interdisciplinary study and research. Earning a master’s degree in the arts and sciences from UB can help you achieve your career goals and increase your earning potential. WHEN YOU LEARN MORE, YOU EARN MORE. The College offers high quality programs at an exceptional value given our affordable tuition and one of the lowest costs of living in the country! Pursue your master’s degree at UB and experience the full momentum of Buffalo.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: www.cas.buffalo.edu/learnmore

THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Faculty Senate unable to pass textbook regulations amid low voter turnout Proposed policies would regulate professors assigning own textbooks

GABRIELA JULIA SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR

Despite debating the topic in faculty meetings for an entire semester and forming a committee to draft a policy, UB may still not be regulating professors assigning self-published textbooks and accepting cash from their students when classes start next fall.

And, such as the common theme with the Faculty Senate, it will be because not enough faculty showed up to vote.

The Faculty Senate could have passed regulation on professors assigning their own textbooks on Tuesday, but the vote was not held because only 39 out of the required 44 voting members were in attendance. The Faculty Senate Executive Committee may decide to vote on the matter themselves on Wednesday in place of a full faculty vote. If not, the policy won’t be voted on until next semester The executive committee drafted the policy and began discussing the issue after an article published in The Spectrum in November detailed UB’s lack of policy on professors assigning their own textbooks and accepting students’ money for the books in class. Both faculty and students have taken issue with professors assigning their own textbooks, citing ethical issues with professors profiting from students and accepting cash from students in the classroom.

“If you’re in a class taught by a professor, certainly you’ll want the best material and best education you can get but I have a problem with that professor mandating their own textbook and receiving a profit off of that,” said Michael Chaskes, a professor in the Department of Medicine.

Ezra Zubrow, who is stepping down as Senate Chair after this semester, said he was hoping the Senate could have quorum so the policy could be in place for the upcoming fall semester.

Low attendance at Senate meetings has been a reoccurring issue. The executive committee nearly voted on UB’s new decanal review policy themselves in March after the Senate did not have quorum, but the committee eventually gave the Senate another opportunity to vote. The Senate had quorum in its April meeting and passed the new decanal review policy.

Faculty in the past have voiced concerns that the executive committee’s voting on matters themselves may be violating the general body’s bylaws.

The proposed regulations, that were unable to be voted on, declared that faculty

GABRIELA JULIA, THE SPECTRUM

Michael Chaskes, a professor in the Department of Medicine and Faculty Senate Chair Ezra Zubrow speak at Tuesday's Faculty Senate meeting. The Senate was unable to vote on new self-published textbook regulations because it did not have quorum.​

must allow students alternatives for buying the texts and that professors must justify the fee they charge students in comparison to other textbooks.

One of the largest issues that students and some faculty have raised was in regard to professors taking cash for textbooks inside the classrooms. The proposed policy declares that if professors assign their own textbooks, a third party has to collect and process the money.

The policy also urges “all campus administrators, faculties and libraries to explore ways to increase knowledge of the no-cost or lowcost textbook alternatives,” Zubrow said.

The Senate debated several amendments to the policy before realizing it did not have enough members to vote.

Chaskes proposed an amendment that would not allow faculty to receive royalties on the textbooks they assign unless they provide opportunities for no-cost reserve books or reserve electronics resources, or make a documented charitable contribution equal to the profits to a fund established by UB Libraries, UB Foundation or the Student Association.

After Chaskes proposed his amendment, the floor was open to questions and responses from other faculty members.

Jim Jensen, a civil engineering professor, said Chaskes’ amendment was “impractical” and he didn’t understand how it would be possible to trace royalty statements and calculate a number for the charitable contribution.

“You would get the royalty payments six months later and you don’t know who bought the books whether they were bought from the bookstore or from Amazon,” Jensen said.

Other faculty members expressed their concerns with Chaskes’ amendment and the overall policy but were unable to vote to make a final decision.

If the executive committee doesn’t come to a decision on Wednesday, the topic will not be revisited until the fall semester. email: news@ubspectrum.com

ubspectrum.com

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

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ubspectrum.com

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Fused together Two UB best friends win Chemical and Biological Engineering award GABRIELA JULIA

SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR

Not every freshman meets his or her best friend on the first day of college. And if they do, it’s rare to spend the following four years going to OneRepublic concerts and pushing each other toward a chemical engineering degree.

For Lindsey Kehl and Steve Vitello, it all started their freshman year in an EAS 140 class. They introduced themselves to each other and were enthralled with the fact they had the same exact schedules. They’ve been inseparable ever since.

Kehl and Vitello are senior chemical engineering majors and winners of the Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE) Academic Excellence Award. UB’s Department of CBE placed in the top 10 nationally in several key research measures, according to its website. Kehl and Vitello have managed to prove their candidacy by excelling in the chemical engineering department and landing jobs in the field fresh out of college.

“We’re definitely the most outspoken out of the chemical engineers here,” Vitello said.

Although they both wound up walking the same path at UB, they took different approaches when choosing their major.

“During my junior year of high school, I knew I wanted to follow after my dad because he’s a chemical engineer,” Kehl said.

She was always interested in math and science but seeing him work firsthand made her realize a chemical engineering major was a good choice. Kehl is now the vice president of American Institute of Chemical Engineers at UB. Vitello, on the other hand, chose chemical engineering when he was filling out his college applications.

“I loved physics and didn’t know enough about chemistry so I just chose it so I can learn more,” Vitello said.

Ever since the two met, they’ve spent long nights studying in Lockwood Library and partnered together in team projects. They saw their hard work pay off when shopping for Hawaiian shirts and other spring break attire for an epic Cancun spring break trip.

Kehl and Vitello were at Kohl’s department store when they both received the email saying they won the CBE award.

“First I got an email and was like ‘Hey, I won an award,’ then she checked her phone and was like ‘Hey, me too,’” Vitello said.

Kehl and Vitello were two of the five winners of this year’s award. Each winner received a $200 award and their name on a plaque.

But $200 doesn’t compare to what they’ll be making once they leave UB. With just a couple more weeks until graduation, they are already on their way to two successful jobs.

Kehl has had internships at Praxair and FMC Corporation that prepared her for life after UB. Kehl started applying for jobs in September. By December she made the decision to work at UOP, a petroleum industry company in Chicago. She’s starting off with a $75,000 salary and will travel the world for three years setting up oil refineries.

“I’m doing something completely different and it doesn’t sound as glamorous as her job,” Vitello said.

Vitello will be a sales engineer for Keyence in Cleveland selling 3D scanning microscopes. He had two internships with IsleChem and Niacet, both companies in the chemical engineering industry. But he realized he wanted to go into sales so he could travel and speak with people.

Vitello has a base salary of $53,000 with a commission and bonus structure but by his third year, he should be making six figures, he said.

Kayleigh Miller, a senior biomedical engineering major and Kehl and Vitello’s best friend, said the fact they have jobs after col-

lege shows they did something right in their past four years.

“They are both very hardworking and strive to do well in school,” Miller said. “I think they will do well in their career in the real world.”

Both Vitello and Kehl stressed school isn’t everything and students need to take the time to have a social life.

Organic chemistry and cell biology were some of the highlights of Vitello’s four years but some of the best times were spent with his best friend Kehl.

Camping at Allegany State Park, spring break in Cancun, Oozefest, OneRepublic concerts and Drake concerts at Darien Lake highlighted Kehl and Vitello’s college years.

“But some of those memories can’t be remembered,” Vitello said.

Between soccer, basketball, parties and making frequent trips to Wegmans, they still manage to find time to get everything done.

“I take it day-by-day but [Vitello] plans his entire week out on Sundays,” Kehl said.

Although Kehl and Vitello are going their separate ways, their paths don’t stray far from each other. While Kehl is living in Chicago, Vitello will be in the windy city for a 10-week training.

Kehl and Vitello plan on living close to each other in the future.

“My headquarters is also in Chicago so we’ll definitely be meeting up for dinner,” Vitello said.

Kehl said she’s had the best four years of her life at UB and can’t believe it’s over. Vitello agreed.

From looking in on the outside, Miller said Kehl and Vitello are two of her favorite

COURTESY OF LINDSEY KEHL

Lindsey Kehl and Steve Vitello are senior chemical engineering majors and winners of the Chemical Biological Engineering Academic Excellence Award. The two have been best friends since their first day of college.

people.

“Everyone that meets [Kehl] loves her, she is very outgoing and friendly,” Miller said. “[Vitello] is the most down to earth and genuine person I know and he is very easy going and goofy most of the time but when it comes to schoolwork, he’s hardworking and organized.”

Vitello’s parting words to people pushing through to the finale is to learn how to have a mind, body and soul balance.

“And you definitely need a whacky sidekick,” he said. email: features@ubspectrum.com

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ubspectrum.com

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

FEATURES DESK Every academic year, outstanding seniors in the University at Buffalo’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) are recognized for their service to the university and their high GPAs. The 26 recipients will receive a personalized medal and certificate, which will be presented to the students at the CAS commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17 at 10 a.m.

The Spectrum reached out to all 26 recipients. Some of those who responded are below. Check out the rest at ubspectrum. com.

9

Outstanding seniors

Samantha L. Romand Fine art major “Get an independent study and curate shows, create designs or assist a professor on a large project and network,” Romand said. “Remember that your classmates will always understand your struggles. Support each other and everyone will reap the benefits.”

Justin Imiola Environmental sciences and economics “Everyone at UB has been accommodating and has continued to push me to do more and grow beyond my previous capabilities,” Imiola said. “If at another school, I’m not sure how things would have turned out. The opportunities at UB are unparalleled.”

Ronald Bola Biomedical sciences major “My major allows me to look at the most fundamental aspects of what makes us human and that perspective is something that I really appreciate.”

Nathaniel Sundholm Speech pathology major “I’m a little bit nervous about where life is going to take me, but I am extremely excited for all of the opportunities that are coming my way,” Sundholm said. “I would be lying if I said my heart didn’t skip a beat every time I think about hearing my name called at commencement.

Victoria Kent Psychology major “Psychology is much more than just sitting on a couch and listening to people’s problems or treating someone who is mentally ill,” Kent said. “There are a lot of options with psychology because human behavior affects every aspect of life.”

LIBERTY YELLOW

Sean Bearden Physics major “[Physics] is a major that will require more of your time than most other majors,” Bearden said. “Many of your friends will not understand why you are always busy, but in the end the hard work will pay off.

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015 ubspectrum.com

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Make personal changes that will reflect the image or attributes you want to emphasize.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t overreact to thoughtless comments or emotional manipulation. Take a step back and weigh the pros and cons.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): An offer will not turn out as it’s hyped up to be. Ask questions and negotiate on your own behalf.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Offer a different point of view or take the initiative to be original in whatever tasks you perform.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Keep your thoughts to yourself if you want to avoid conflict with someone you deal with daily.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Pay attention to what everyone else is saying and doing. The more knowledge you have, the easier it will be to encourage others to see things your way.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t wait for someone else to do things for you. It’s up to you to further your direction in life, whether it’s professional, personal or otherwise.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A hasty decision will lead to complications. Take your time and let your emotions settle before you decide to share your thoughts or make a move.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Problems with government agencies, institutions or authority figures will arise if you haven’t been completely transparent about personal or business matters.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Your professional life will need some positive adjustments.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put more time and effort into accomplishing your professional goals and less into emotional matters that you cannot change.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Look over contracts, negotiate deals, settle pending problems and take a second look at an investment. Don’t be sidetracked by what others do. Follow the path that seems most reasonable and accessible to you.

ACROSS 1 Book of legends 6 “___ Karenina” 10 Four inches, to an equestrian 14 Respond to a provocation 15 “Sanford and Son” producer Norman 16 Iris holder 17 Eagerness 19 Suburbanite’s pride 20 Cling 21 Friend 22 Fudged facts 23 Apply gently 25 Within the law 27 First set of wheels, often 32 It may be running in a bar 33 One for the road 34 Not yours alone 36 Hors d’oeuvre spreads 40 Footnote word 41 Sobs 43 Hot issue?

44 Auxiliary proposition, in math 46 Bagpiper, often 47 Beasts of burden 48 Timeworn 50 Galapagos giant 52 Olympics event 56 Air-traffic control org.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 ubspectrum.com

12

SPORTS

The next chapter Alexis Curtiss’ softball career is coming to an end, but the life it shaped is about to begin MICHAEL AKELSON STAFF WRITER

Eleven-year-old Alexis Curtiss was “the featured presentation” on her prestigious, championship-winning San Diego Buccaneers baseball team, according to her former teammate Callan McClurg. Players on opposing teams “bowed down” to her in unworthiness and chanted her name.

Not only was she the only girl on the team, she was the only girl in the league. And yet, she batted third and started at catcher.

Nearly 12 years later, Curtiss is about to graduate from UB as the softball program’s career leader in hits (198) and as a two-time All-MidAmerican Conference First Team member.

Curtiss is done playing competitive sports, but her competitive nature is still present.

“I’m probably one of the most competitive people,” Curtiss said. “I love to win, I love to just compete against others and compete against myself. I think it’s always been in me to compete. I want to be the best. I strive to be the best. If I’m playing a team and the girl in the other dugout gets a hit, I go out there with the mindset like, ‘Well if she got a single, I’m gonna get a double. You did a good job, but now I’m gonna outshine you.

I’ll show you why I’m the best.’”

The former field hockey, soccer and softball athlete is speechless when thinking about the biggest moment in her life outside of sports. She yearns for a new outlet. And she may have found it.

Her new passion won’t include a ball. It will, however, include a new uniform on a new team.

ANGELA BARCA, THE SPECTRUM

Senior Alexis Curtiss takes a look at the softball field one last time.

Curtiss finished her career with 198 hits - a career high.

“I’m thinking about going into the Air Force as an officer,” Curtiss said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do my entire life. I have a lot of military in my family. I just love the fact that it’s structured, all about discipline, kind of like what I’ve been used to for the past four years.”

Curtiss said she loves the setup of the military and thinks her time as an athlete has prepared her for it.

“Obviously it’s different, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction towards [the military],” Curtiss said. “We get up at 6 a.m., we have weights, then we have practice and we’re up all day not getting the chance to go back home and sleep. Practices are tough. It’s not soft. It’s pretty intense, so I would say it’s obviously gonna be different, but I think this has definitely prepared me for that.”

Curtiss grew up in San Diego, California and decided to play baseball before high school instead of softball. She started for the Buccaneers, a team that toured the country winning tournaments. The team was so dominant while she was on it that the city of San Diego now has two days they recognize as “San Diego Buccaneers Day.” “I don’t think there was enough competition for her in softball,” said Bill McClurg, her coach on the Buccaneers. “She wanted to compete against the boys and really push her talent to the limit.”

McClurg and his son, Callan, recalled a game when a big kid on the other team ran her over at home plate and screamed, “baseball’s for boys, not girls.”

Curtiss, who was also pitching in the game, wanted to show the kid that she wasn’t an average girl. She intentionally walked the next person she faced just to get the opportunity to face the kid that insulted her at home plate. Curtiss hit him in the ribs with her “trademark fastball,” according to Callan, and knocked him to the ground and out of the game.

“Sometimes, I don’t think female athletes get the respect they deserve,” Callan said. “And she’s the perfect example of a girl not letting anything or anyone stand in her way at all.”

Her father, Tim, played football and baseball in high school. Her mother, Penny, is a personal trainer. Curtiss has always been around sports and her father said she “grew up in a surfboard factory,” that he owns.

And like her parents, she always had a knack for competition, even in the most miniscule moments.

“We were always playing catch when she was little, always hitting whiffle balls,” Tim said. “And it would always turn into some sort of argument between the two of us. She was so competitive – always has been.”

Curtiss, a three-time league and county champion in high school at University City High School and two-time high school Division-III Player of the Year, has excelled at nearly every level of competitive sports. During her senior season of high school, she batted .504 and was a co-captain on her championship-winning team.

Her competitiveness fostered itself off the field as well, accumulating in a 4.0 GPA in high school before going on to major in psychology at UB. “When you had to have somebody set an example in practice because people aren’t working hard, she was the kid I always used,” said Mike Fox, her high school travel softball coach. “You want somebody to lay out for a ball, dive for a ball, jump three feet in the air for a ball. She’s the kid that would do it. She just had no limits.”

Her competitiveness, toughness and skills culminated when she arrived at Buffalo in 2011-12. She hit .379 as a freshman – the

third highest batting average in school history at the time and tied for the team lead in home runs and RBIs. She became just the third player in the history of the program to be named All-MAC first-team, and did it as a freshman.

But her first three seasons shadowed her impressive senior season. According to Curtiss, her final year as a Bull was her best year of competition.

As a senior, she hit .429 – the second highest batting average in team history and ninth highest in the history of the MAC. She set a program record with 22 doubles, second in conference single-season history. She also tied for the team lead in home runs and RBIs despite batting leadoff for most of the season. But she was most satisfied with 72 hits, exactly the amount she needed to break UB softball’s all-time hits record after a broken hand set her back her junior season.

“I think I had a great career. I left it all on the field. I have no regrets,” Curtiss said. “I’ll definitely miss it, but knowing that I left it all on the field, it’s easier to deal with … I just feel like all my hard work from high school, before that, throughout these four years, all the extra hitting it just finally paid off.”

Curtiss arrived at UB with promise, and finished her career as one of the most impactful players in program history. For a person whose life has been structured around an intense schedule of sports, college was easy.

Her next challenge is what comes next. email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Alexus Malone transfers to Louisiana Tech Sophomore forward to transfer after two seasons in Buffalo

YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM

Sophomore Alexus Malone tries to move around a defender in an 87-80 win over Akron on Feb. 28.

Malone averaged 10.5 points and 7.7 rebounds in 32 games for the Bulls last season.

JORDAN GROSSMAN

SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

The women’s basketball team lost its top-two scorers from this past season due to injury and graduation.

Now the team has lost its third-leading scorer due to a transfer.

Sophomore forward Alexus Malone announced on Friday she is transferring to Louisiana Tech – ending her two-year stint with the Bulls. She will have to sit out the 2015-16 season due to NCAA eligibility rules.

Malone is a native of Oxford, Mississippi, which is roughly 300 miles from the Louisiana Tech campus. Malone was pondering transferring when the team was still in the midst of conference play, but decided to finish out the season with Buffalo.

It was the Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio that made her decide to officially transfer.

“When we went to the MAC Tournament, my family was there,” Malone said.

“They’ve been really supportive and I really missed them being at my games and them cheering me on.”

Malone’s family did not attend Buffalo home games, but attended the conference tournament in Cleveland, where the Bulls lost in the quarterfinals against No. 1 seed Ohio. During the tournament, Malone realized she wanted to have her family “physically” root her on, not “emotionally.”

“The main thing was I wanted to be closer to home,” Malone said. “My family could come watch me play and be there physically … I’m very family-oriented. We all do sports stuff. My mom and dad were really

good in sports and were really involved.”

Malone told head coach Felisha LegetteJack about her decision last Friday. Malone said Legette-Jack told her she supported her decision to leave the program, but wished she would stay for her final college seasons.

Malone also told her teammates about the decision and said they were accepting about her choice to leave UB. “I know when you transfer from a program, it’s very touchy,” Malone said. “You don’t want to keep getting reminders about

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leaving a program that you’ve been at for more than a year. You’re so much in the program.”

Malone is the second player to transfer from the program in the past four months, as sophomore forward/guard Rachel Gregory left the team in the middle of the season.

She later transferred to Coastal Carolina.

Buffalo has now lost its five-leading scorers from this past season including Malone and Gregory. Senior forwards Kristen Sharkey and Christa Baccas graduated and junior guard Mackenzie Loesing announced last week she will sit out the entirety of her senior season due to a chronic ankle injury.

Malone finished her sophomore season with 10.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 28 minutes played per game and was an integral part of the teams’ late-season success. She made the All-MAC Freshman team in 2014.

Malone thanked the Buffalo community for her two years as a Bull.

“Thank you for all of the support and the encouragement in my seasons here at Buffalo,” Malone said.

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