UBSPECTRUM.COM
MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2017
BABY, PUT THAT PHONE DOWN P.3
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED P.5
UBER-EXCITED Students discuss potential advantages to having ride-hailing services in Buffalo LINDSAY GILDER ASST. FEATURES EDITOR
Jessie Miller enjoys watching plays at Shea’s Performing Arts Center downtown, but the cost of a taxi can be more expensive than tickets for a show. In the past, Miller and her friends had to take a bus from North to South Campus, then take the train from South Campus to downtown. Transportation options may be opening up for UB students since ride-hailing services are expected in upstate New York as soon as this summer, according to The Buffalo News. The announcement comes after a longfought battle in Albany between ride-hailing proponents like Governor Andrew Cuomo and the services’ opponents, such as Senate Democrats and local transportation services. In the past, many UB students have found transportation options lacking, saying taxis are expensive and not always reliable. The
VOLUME 66 NO. 42
last train leaves downtown Buffalo around midnight on the weekends. John Chorwat, a senior electrical engineering major, has had many bad experiences with cabs downtown and is excited to use Uber in the future. “It costs so much to get from North [Campus] to downtown, like $50 or something ridiculous,” Chorwat said. “We’ve been thrown out of cabs before for being rowdy and a lot of [cab-drivers] are just rude in general.” The battle in Albany looked to expand ridehailing services beyond New York City, where they have been legal for years. New York will join 38 other states to fully legalize ride-hailing. Buffalo is currently the largest city in the country without ride-hailing services. Uber and Lyft are the leading ride-hailing services. They work to locate the closest driver to the rider’s location and give customers affordable and fast transportation. UberX, the least expensive of Uber’s ser-
VOC party president, vice president and Initiative party treasurer win SA e-board election
DIABETIC HOCKEY PLAYER MAINTAINS LIFESTYLE P.8
UberX charges $1.75 per mile in NYC
North Campus to Canalside would be $27 with Uber North Campus to Canalside is $55 with Liberty Cab
International and out-of-state students need transportation to the airport
Costs $26 with either Buffalo Transport or Liberty Cab
By comparison, UberX would cost $16 vices, currently charges $1.75 per mile in New York City, putting a ride from North Campus to Canalside at about $27. The same trip through Liberty Cab, a local taxi company, costs $55. International and out-of-state students need transportation to the airport and a cab can cost $26 with either Buffalo Transportation service or Liberty Cab. By comparison, this trip with UberX would cost $16. Chorwat has used Uber in Manhattan and is eager to see them make their way through Western NY. He enjoys Uber because their vehicles are “actually nice and clean.” Allisa Roberts, a freshman pharmacy major, doesn’t go downtown often, but said she would if ride-sharing services become available. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
BENJAMIN BLANCHET ASST. ARTS EDITOR
MARGO BURGIO, THE SPECTRUM
ASHLEY INKUMSAH SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
In recent years, Student Association executive board elections had forgone conclusions, where parties ran unopposed or one party was practically poised to win. This year, the highly competitive election left many students uncertain who would be victorious. Members of the five parties running crowded the SA office with bated breath, nervously awaiting the results of the election until the winners were announced. After a close race, Black Student Union (BSU) Vice President Leslie Veloz, Latin American Student Association President Jamersin Redfern and SA head outreach coordinator Janet Austin were named SA president, vice president and treasurer respectively for the 2017-18 school year. Veloz and Redfern ran on the Voice of Change (VOC) Party while Austin ran on the Initiative Party. Aishat Keshiro, who
ran as VOC’s treasurer on a separate ticket, was just 15 votes short of being elected. While only 2,535 students voted in the election, out of roughly 20,000 undergraduates, this year’s voter turnout doubled from last year’s much less competitive election when 1,254 students voted. Veloz will be the first black SA president since 2006 and the fourth ever in SA history. Redfern will be the first black SA vice president since 2005 and the second ever in SA history. Veloz and Redfern received 853 votes while Austin received 784 votes. Veloz, Redfern and Austin celebrated together with Redfern overcome with emotion in tears after the results were announced. Redfern said although The Spectrum’s exit polls indicated that he and Veloz were in the lead during the three-day election, he was still nervous about the outcome. He said as he awaited the results in the SA office, he felt as if his heart was going to “fall out of his chest.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
ubspectrum.com
Allisa Roberts, a freshman pharmacy major, discusses the benefits to having ride-hailing services in Buffalo
International film festival comes to UB WNY Muslims presents Collective International Film Festival
Leslie Veloz (left), Jamersin Redfern (middle) and Janet Austin (right) were elected president, vice president and treasurer for the 2017-18 SA executive board.
GRAPHIC BY PIERCE STRUDLER LINDSAY GLIDER, THE SPECTRUM
Courtney Chiappone, a local high school student, wanted to present police officers in a positive light after seeing them portrayed as “bad people” due to recent shootings. In November, she began directing “Suspicion” – a film starring local dispatchers from the Town of Hamburg. She submitted the picture earlier this year for the Collective International Film Festival (CIFF) presented by WNY Muslims. “Police have a life and family, too, and that shouldn’t be taken away from them
because of what they do for a living,” Chiappone said. After more than 200 works were submitted from around the globe, Chiappone’s work took to the Center for the Arts screening room on Sunday evening. “Suspicion” is just one film that appeared at the festival’s first screening in front of more than 30 people. On Sunday, the festival showcased two films from each of its six categories. The CIFF presented films based on three categories: Living in Poverty, Identity and “Fear Me Not, I Mean Well.” Films were then judged based on the age group of directors – 13 to 18 year olds were judged separately from 19 year olds and older. In each of the categories, first place wins $500 and the best film of the festival wins a grand prize of $1,000. Chiappone is a junior at Buffalo’s Nardin Academy and heard about the opportunity from one of her teachers, Mrs. Healy. Her film is based on how police officers are unaware of what they could get themselves into on a day-to-day basis. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
LUCAS SMITH, THE SPECTRUM
Courtney Chiappone stands with her father Jack Chiappone, a police and fire dispatcher in the Town of Hamburg. Chiappone’s film “Suspicion” was one of the top entries in Sunday’s film festival.
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2 UBER-EXCITED
NEWS
Monday, April 3, 2017
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“When people are drunk and have to go home, cabs are expensive,” Roberts said. “Uber seems like a reliable way to get cheaper transportation.” Miller lives on Long Island and often flies home for shorter breaks. “I would definitely take advantage of it even if I’m just going to the airport or I just need a ride back to campus,” Miller said. Uber would also be an opportunity for
students to earn extra cash. In order to be an Uber driver in Buffalo, one must be 21 or older, have a four-door car that is a 2011 or newer, in-state auto insurance with the driver’s name on the policy, an in-state driver license, a social security number, in-state plates and must pass a background check and driving record check. Since Buffalo would be a new location, there are other requirements that may be put into effect. Officials were also concerned with the
THE SPECTRUM
safety of the service and the background checks that are conducted for drivers. Karen Ullman, a senior media study major, would use Uber if it were in Buffalo. She said she’s not worried about the drivers and would prefer the ride-sharing service to a cab. “Cabs are way too expensive and can be a pain to call for later in the night,” Ullman said. “I used to live out by New York City and Uber was such a lifesaver, as you could see the general rate before you send for it whereas with a cab, you never really know. I’ve had friends who’ve been in poor situations with Uber drivers and were reimbursed because the customer service is so accommodating.”
VOC party president, vice president and Initiative party treasurer win SA e-board election CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“My party always had it’s heart on its sleeves and in our heads we were extremely humble because all of the candidates were extremely qualified and all of them were coming from the administrative level of SA while we were coming from working directly with our clubs and especially with students,” Veloz said. Veloz said the election is a “huge step forward” for people of color and minority students. “For our freshmen, sophomores and juniors [of color] who are coming in and being able to see somebody that looks like them and being able to hold these positions will have an amazing impact,” Veloz said. Although Austin did not run in VOC’s party, she is excited and confident that she can work alongside Veloz and Redfern and form compromises, especially because they have a lot of the same ideas. Veloz said she knew it was a possibility that if elected, she might have to work with a treasurer from a different party. But Veloz said she is ready to work with Austin to advocate for the student body. VOC campaign manager Cletus Emokpae felt like a “proud dad” when the results were announced. Emokpae spent “many sleepless nights” with the VOC party helping them practice their speeches and getting students to vote. “When I say we are the party of the people we really are the party of the people because the people really came out and showed they believe that a change is necessary on campus and they believe in our candidates,” Emokpae said. Thirteen students from five parties ran for positions on the SA e-board.
MARGO BURGIO, THE SPECTRUM
Incoming SA Vice President Jamersin Redfern tears up after hearing the results of the SA e-board election. Redfern said he felt like his heart was going to “fall out of his chest” while waiting for the results.
Devasish Agarwal, Peter Jowdy and Austin ran for president, vice president and treasurer respectively on the Initiative Party. Agarwal and Jowdy came close to victory with 788 votes. Alexis Ogra, Alicia Stepniewski and Peter Pranata ran for president, vice president and treasurer on the Action Party. Ogra and Stepniewski received 528 votes while Pranata received 559. Riley Oates and Angie Quilla ran for president and vice president on the Integrity Party and received 317 votes. Ali Kaba ran for treasurer independently on the A.K. Party and received 184 votes. Some students found the numbers from the votes confusing, even raising questions about a vote recount, but SA elections and credentials chair Dan Christian said although he understands the confusion, the
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numbers are entirely correct. Christian explained that not every student who voted for a president and vice president voted for a treasurer and not everyone who voted for a treasurer voted for a president and vice president. Roughly 100 students only voted for a treasurer and roughly 200 only voted for a president and vice president. Christian said if the total votes for president and vice president are added separately from the total votes for treasurer, one could see the 100-200 vote discrepancy. Christian, a member of SA’s e-board, two SA pro-staff members, workers from Erie County Board of Elections, SA’s attorney and a member of the elections committee each independently took down the numbers from the
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Ian Carson, a senior economics major, thinks that cabs can be unreliable and expensive, especially since Liberty Cab has such a large place in the market. “I’ve used Uber before and they’re general much friendlier than cab drivers, probably because a lot of them do it for extra cash or they’re choosing their own hours,” Carson said. “So it’s not sketchy at all to me.” If Uber or Lyft make their way to Buffalo, students will have more options to travel between the two campuses and into the city, providing more opportunities to explore and connect with other students. email: lindsay.gilder@ubspectrum.com
voting machines and added them. They went over every vote total together to make sure they each had same number of votes in front of chief justice of Student Wide Judiciary. Christian said they each added the same exact numbers on the first count. Voting machines are certified by Erie County Board of Elections by registered poll workers. “The machines are automated so there’s really no need to recount the election unless there’s a reason that we believe we had some sort of major issue, which none of us believe,” Christian said. “No one who has been working SA elections for over 20 years now sees any issues with it.” Christian said if SA were to run a re-election for treasurer, they would have to find a reason to nullify the entire election results and do the entire election over again. But he says there has to be a huge “burden of proof ” of error in the election to warrant this. Christian said there were a lot of “really qualified candidates,” which he found “amazing to see.” He’s thankful for SA’s marketing team for spreading the word about the election and commended each of the candidates for their hard work. Although Ogra’s party didn’t win, she said she looks forward to working with the incoming e-board and feels they share many of the same platforms and goals. “The other campaigns did a great job as well but the defining factor was that people really related to us,” Emokpae said. “We’re not trying to sell you something. We’re not try to pretend we’re something. We’re not fake. We’re not here to sell you a dream. We’re not trying to be political with you. We’re trying to let you know that these are the people that are going to be responsible and I think the aura of our party spoke for itself.” email: news@ubspectrum.com
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OPINION
Monday, April 3, 2017
THE SPECTRUM
Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF
Gabriela Julia
MANAGING EDITOR
Tori Roseman COPY EDITORS
Saqib Hossain Emma Medina Margaret Wilhelm Grace Trimper NEWS EDITORS
Hannah Stein, Senior Ashley Inkumsah, Senior Maddy Fowler, Asst. FEATURES EDITORS
Sarah Crowley, Senior Lindsay Gilder, Asst. ARTS EDITORS
Max Kaltnitz, Senior David Tunis-Garcia Benjamin Blanchet, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS
Michael Akelson, Senior Daniel Petruccelli, Asst. Thomas Zafonte, Asst. PHOTO EDITORS
Kainan Guo, Senior Angela Barca Troy Wachala, Asst. CREATIVE DIRECTORS
Pierce Strudler Martina LaVallo, Asst.
Professional Staff OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Helene Polley
ADVERTISING MANAGERS
Priyanshi Soni ADVERTISING DESIGNERS
Alexa Capozzi
How the Voice of Change win can influence students The Voice of Change Party – the duo of outsiders who ran for Student Association presidentvice president – was elected on Thursday. Leslie Veloz is the vice president of the Black Student Union (BSU) and Jamersin Redfern is the president of the Latin American Student Association (LASA). These two students, who have less SA experience than some of the other candidates, mobilized a student population that usually would not vote in the SA election. Though their treasurer was not selected, this election proves to be a big moment in SA’s history. There is not always a race – in years past, a party of juniors within the SA ran unopposed. Last year, the Transparency party, who were also outsiders, ran against the Progress party,
who swept the election. This was one of the first times we’ve seen outsiders make a statement and attempt to break into the student government leadership. Though Transparency lost, their campaign posed the question: what if outsiders won the election? This is an opportunity for Veloz and Redfern to make tangible change. The two are clearly in touch with the student body – especially since their clubs are two of the largest on campus. Their victory proves that an outsider win is possible, but now it’s up to them to act on their campaign promises and keep close to the students. The duo has Janet Austin as treasurer. Austin also has experience working with SA clubs, but needs more experience with finances. Let’s not forget, these
students control almost $4 million of student money. People will be watching the new e-board closely and some may even be waiting for a downfall. And although this is a learning experience for all three of them, we still need change. Students have expressed their gripes on campus; it’s the same issues students have been facing for a few years. Now, Veloz and Redfern need to seek solutions for parking, for meal gaps, for SA spending and students’ overall college experience. These solutions may not immediately fix these issues, especially with parking since it will likely require UB to build more lots. The meal gap fight has been initiated, but it’s up to the new e-board to finish it. The editors at The Spectrum understand
that governmental change is not made overnight, but we want to see strides to solutions made in the next year. This new e-board may even encourage more people to engage in SA, which would create a more diverse student government. Their new position might be exactly what the university needs to bring in more minority students. We as a student body need an inclusive, representative eboard to make important decisions about spending and events to ensure the best possible experience for everyone. If this next year goes particularly well, it may inspire other students to run for student government positions and engage in change. email: eic@ubspectrum.com
ix mea is WANTFCHANGE!!! e UGH!!! FIX IT!!! WE HELP US! r e l h W time g International oney a m We need p s ! A S BLARGH!!! GRRR!!! GAH!!! AGH!!! ANNOYED!!! ? students don’t g n i better go included. parking. WE HAVE PROBLEMS!!! CHANGE!!! feel UGH!!! AH!! WE NEED THINGS CHANGED!!! ARGH!!! GRRR!! We want be spring fe tter st artists !
GRAPHIC BY PIERCE STRUDLER
THE SPECTRUM Monday, April 3, 2017 Volume 66 Number 42 Circulation 4,000 The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Feedback, Opinion and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address.
Baby, put that phone down There is a world out there beyond our phones
For information on adverstising with The Spectrum, visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at 716-645-2152 The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 142602100
SARAH CROWLEY
SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR
I’m proud to be from the “tech generation.” The access to constant information, entertainment, resources... life has never been easier or more complicated. And to think it hasn’t always been this way; a world once existed without Uber, streaming TV or Instagram. We are all involuntary actors immersed in the most rapidly changing, experimental segment of history to date. It’s easy to get caught up in the more thrilling parts of this new dynamic; every day as technology evolves, the world changes just a little bit more and we don’t even know how or why yet. But it’s important to remember, like anything new, whether it be a business or a relationship, our generation’s marriage to technology needs frequent, purposeful self-correction. What started as a hunt for a catchy song I heard on the radio, manifested into a series of mini self-realizations. I first heard
the song “Phone Down” by Emily Warren while driving and I had to smile at the lyrics; thinking what a quintessential 21st century lovesong it was; the speaker urging her significant other to “put his f**** phone down” so they could be alone. Despite its catchy hook, the song made me uncomfortable for a reason I couldn’t quite identify. Later I realized it resonated with me because I represented Emily Warren’s dude and my neglected girlfriend was the world around me. How many times had I laid in bed with my eyes glued to a screen while my boyfriend walked in the room and I didn’t even look up? In hindsight, it doesn’t really matter if I was watching a French bulldog eating an ice cream cone or reading up on what’s going on in Crimea, I was still ignoring a real person. That’s the worst part about the Internet – it can feel like we’re being productive, which makes it easier to excuse how much time we devote to it. I wish this was an isolated experience, but the next day, in Wegmans, of all places, my cringe-worthy phone habits were again made apparent. Standing in the self-checkout line, waiting impatiently for my card to process, I scrolled through Twitter. It never occurred to me, just because I technically could find a way to entertain myself through the mendacity of it all, didn’t make it necessary or appropriate. This stroke of wisdom came a moment
later when the cashier broke me from my trance, prompting me to select credit or debit. If uninterrupted, how long would I have stood there, contently waiting for my card to process, probably tweeting about how annoying chip readers are? Lmao get it together, Weggies. All the while, my own stupidity was the reason my checkout wasn’t going smoother. But it isn’t just me. Anytime I’m in public or experience any interim waiting period, everyone around me is looking down. I can’t count how many times someone’s almost ran into me walking to class because they were staring at their phone. That’s not to say people haven’t always had ways of politely ignoring others in society – in many cases, phones have simply replaced newspapers. But that in itself is problematic. Reading online simply isn’t as beneficial or as effective as reading in print. Studies have shown that our brains enter into a different, shallower mode of thinking when reading on a computer or phone screen. Researchers believe this phenomenon is a learned mechanism from all the skimming we do online casually. The scary part is, this can have real ramifications. If we don’t use the “deep reading” part of our brains often enough, which activates when we become immersed in a document or a novel, these skills begin to erode. Since my junior year of high school, I’ve read a total of three or four books that weren’t required by my classes. I’m an English major. This hor-
rifies me. I make excuses to my mom or aunts when they giddily ask what I’ve been into reading lately, “Oh, you know how hard it is with school,” and they’ll smile and say, “Oh I hear ya kid, I remember those days.” How heartbroken they will be to learn that it’s not the rigor of my studies keeping me from reading, but that I’ve wasted my limited free time scrolling through Paul Ryan/Papa Roach memes. Still, I have hope for our changing world and myself. This isn’t a fatal flaw to the tech age; it’s just the kind of hiccup we have to work through when any major change occurs. It seems appropriate to end with a few words the Internet has mistakenly attributed to F. Scott Fitzgerald, but are actually from screenwriter Eric Roth, “For what it’s worth, it’s never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start over.” In the beginning of the summer, I started to read a book that actually was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, “This Side of Paradise.” I don’t know why I stopped reading it; I most likely put it down one day to check Instagram and never picked it back up. Here I am months later, wondering despite myself, what happened to that self-involved little prick of a protagonist? I look forward to hearing from Fitzgerald himself, the old-fashioned way. email: sarah.crowley@ubspectrum.com
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NEWS
Monday, April 3, 2017
THE SPECTRUM
CAMPUS
LOCAL
NATIONAL
GLOBAL
UB School of Public Health to celebrate National Public Health Week The School of Public Health and Health Professionals will observe National Public Health week from April 3-9 with a series of public health related events. The 2017 Step Challenge is the featured event. The challenge is free and open to the public and all participants will collectively work toward a goal of taking 200 million steps. Other events will include public health seminars, a movie screening and a refugee health summit. A full list of programming is available on the School of Public Health website.
Pro-Trump rally held in Niagara Square Supporters of President Donald Trump participated in a “Spirit of America” rally at Niagara Square on Saturday. The demonstration featured speakers such as Buffalo School Board member Carl Paladino and Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard, according to WGRZ News. Roughly 150 Trump supporters attended the event, including neo-Nazi Horace Scott Lacey, who was reportedly recruiting for his group, the Aryan Renaissance Society, according to The Public. Demonstrators stated that rally advocated for issues such as bringing back manufacturing jobs, putting security above political correctness and improving infrastructure. Fifty counter-protesters also attended the rally, carrying anti-racism signs and calling for Carl Paladino’s removal from the Buffalo school board following racist remarks in the publication Artvoice.
North Carolina legislature repeals transgender bathroom bill Gov. Ryan Cooper signed legislation repealing the controversial House Bill 2 on Thursday. House Bill 2 restricted the ability of municipalities to enact anti-discrimination policies and required transgender people to use the bathroom that corresponds with the gender on their birth certificate, according to The New York Times. The new law also grants the General Assembly the power to regulate access to restrooms, showers and changing facilities. The repeal came amid a threat from the N.C.A.A. to eliminate future men’s Division I basketball tournaments in the state.
Several injured in explosion at French carnival At least 18 people were injured when a bonfire exploded at a carnival northeast of Paris on Saturday afternoon, according to BBC News. The explosion occurred at the Yellow Carnival in the town of Villepinte. Five people were injured, and a number of people suffered facial wounds. Police believe the explosion may have been caused by gas used to start carnival rides.
News Briefs
Toyota Research Institute awards UB $2.4 million for materials in science research The Toyota Research Institute (TRI) has rewarded UB $2.4 million for research to make vehicles more carbon-neutral. The award is part of a $35 million investment for several universities as well as a materials research company. The grant will help create batteries and cell catalysts for zeroemission, carbon-neutral vehicles. “Accelerating the pace of materials discovery will help lay the groundwork for the future of clean energy and bring us even closer to achieving Toyota’s vision of reducing global average new-vehicle CO2 emissions by 90 percent by 2050,” said TRI Chief Science Officer Eric Krotkov, according to UB Now.
Apartment stove fire leaves one dead A fire broke out around 1 a.m. in an upper apartment on 119 Myrtle St., according to The Buffalo News. The fire has been ruled an accident after the resident, a 39-year-old man, left food unattended on his stove. Emergency personnel transported the man to WCA hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The man’s dog also perished in the fire.
Trump University settlement approved by judge Federal judge Gonzalo P. Curiel approved a $25 million agreement to settle fraud claims against Trump University on Thursday, according to The New York Times. Curiel’s ruling sided with the class-action plaintiff ’s lawyers, who believed it was the best possible outcome for the roughly 3,730 students. The students will earn back more than 90 cents on the dollar of what they spent on tuition at the forprofit university.
Israel to improve first new West Bank settlement in years The Israeli Security Cabinet approved a Jewish settlement on the West Bank for the first time in 20 years, according to NBC News. The proposed settlement will likely cause conflict between Israelis and the Palestinians who claim the West Bank as their own. The move is awaiting approval from the entire Israeli Cabinet. The proposal was introduced despite a request from President Trump to halt any new settler developments.
Imani Roache ’15, MS ’16 Math Support Teacher Tapestry Charter School
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT THE SPECTRUM
Signed, sealed, delivered Growing up collecting autographs as a hobby
BRENTON J. BLANCHET STAFF WRITER
It was 2 p.m. on a weekday. My mom picked me up from the front of my elementary school as she usually did. When I walked in the car, she turned, looked me in the eye and said “Brenton, you got a letter from John Travolta.” No average 11-year-old boy would ever imagine getting a signed and personalized photo from a Hollywood great, but I anticipated the response. As a kid, I had a desire to keep myself occupied as much as humanly possible. I made custom T-shirts, wrote comics for my school newspaper and bought every available season of “The Office” on DVD.
I may have spent countless hours binge watching, but my favorite hobby at the time was collecting autographs. A few months prior to receiving a signature from Travolta, I pushed my prepubescent arms to the limit, handwriting letters to roughly 20 or so famous faces. It was about as spontaneous of an idea as it gets and that one idea gave me years of fulfillment. It all began when I found a database online that was home to thousands of celebrity fan mail addresses. I’d scope the site out regularly to see who was responding and in what time frame. The website, fanmail.biz, gave me something to look forward to every day and sparked my continued interest in writing. I’d dish out about five to 10 letters per week to famous faces like Steve Carrell, Peyton Manning and Amanda Seyfried. I made sure to send to celebrities who were known to respond to fan mail, so I was always expecting a response. I would send self-addressed stamped envelopes, or SASEs. I’d write my letter, throw in something to be signed and put in a separate envelope, addressed to me, on the inside so these celebrities can easily reply. This tactic is beneficial, as I now have well over 50 autographs in my collection. I still make sure to keep my collection going today, as I sent out about 25 more requests
this past January. When I got my first response from John Travolta, I felt a great deal of success and I still feel that when I get responses now. As exciting as it was to get a response from someone like Travolta, my favorite signatures are from those I personally admire. A personalized Star Wars DVD cover from James Earl Jones, a signed Justin Bieber album cover and two Ariana Grande signatures from 2012 sit at the top of my collection. Hearing back from your favorite star is one thing, but getting back a personalized message always makes the experience worthwhile. After some time of just getting back regular signatures, I tried to make it more interesting my sending little question and answer index cards to celebrities. At one point I asked Betty White to name one of my cartoon characters that I used to draw as a kid. She gave him the name “Lefty,” due to the fact that he was giving a thumbs up with his left hand. One of my favorite personalized responses came from Gloria Estefan. She answered my questions and sent me a holiday greeting. It meant an awful lot to me as her response is something only her and I share. Despite the great feedback I’ve gotten, the hobby doesn’t come without downsides. I recall Lil Wayne was answering fan mail through jail when he served time behind bars years back. I was so stoked to hear back from one of my favorite rappers, but before I heard back from Wayne, he was put in solitary confinement for sneaking an iPod into his cell. Fan mail wasn’t allowed at that point.
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Monday, April 3, 2017
I’ve received plenty of pre-printed or stamped autographs in my time collecting and it’s definitely a hassle when you aren’t sure of the autograph’s authenticity. Occasionally, I’ll receive an autograph that looks like it was signed by a secretary, which is worse than getting no response at all. That’s where people doubt this hobby. I often get peers asking me how I know if my collection is even legitimate. Often times I just check online to evaluate the authenticity myself. But when I look back at my collection and see autographs from deceased stars, like Gene Wilder, or signatures from a former U.S. president, it’s best to get those evaluated by an expert. What I truly enjoy about collecting autographs is the importance of the hobby. When I get a response from somebody like Gene Wilder, who passed away after I received the autograph, it adds history to the hobby. The fact that a man as prominent in film as Wilder still tried to please his fans up until his death, is quite interesting. Personally, however, the hobby means far more than just historical importance. During the week of my grandfather’s passing in 2015, I received a response from one of my favorite singers, Tori Kelly. Her kindness and generosity certainly lifted my spirits during that tough time. Autograph collecting isn’t easy. It’s time consuming and takes a lot of effort. With a hobby like autograph collecting, though, the rewards outweigh the effort put into it. Opening up my mailbox to see a letter from one of my favorite celebrities is one of the greatest feelings and it’s something I recommend it to anyone looking to try something new. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Dave Chappelle returns to the stage in new Netflix specials The comedian plays catch-up after decade-long hiatus MOLLY DIETZ STAFF WRITER
Title: “The Age of Spin: Dave Chappelle Live at The Hollywood Palladium” Release Date: March 21 Studio: Netflix Grade: B Dave Chappelle stunned the world when he walked away from a $50 million contract with Comedy Central. More than 10 years later, he made one of his first public appearances as the host of SNL and signed a $60 million contract with Netflix. Chappelle is best known for his hit show “Chappelle’s Show” on Comedy Central, which lasted only two seasons before he walked away from it all. His typical easy-going body language and exaggerated voice impressions makes the audience feel like they’re back in 1998. The opening of the new special has a retroMTV feel as Morgan Freeman narrates Chappelle’s introduction. Color-splattered animations and quick clips of pop-culture references like the O.J. Simpson car chase and phrases like “Pray for Kanye” flash on the screen. He swaggers on stage in a cloud of smoke as the audience greets him with screams of excitement. “I know I’ve been gone a very long time,” Chappelle said to the crowd. After over a decade of avoiding the lime light, Chappelle gives his own take on what he’s missed. The comedian describes what he’s been up to for the last 10 years but claims he is not ready to join “Dancing with the Stars” just yet. Chappelle focused on current social events from the past few years, giving the audience his opinion in the form of welltimed, blunt punch lines. He talked about how difficult it was to admit that Bill Cosby, someone he had once looked up to, had allegedly raped 54 people. At first, he couldn’t
believe it. “Imagine if you found out that 40 years from now, Kevin Hart raped 54 people,” Chappelle said. Though Chappelle has been out of the spotlight himself, he’s kept up with the work of other comedians and has respect for what they’ve done in his absence. Chappelle described how surprised he was when his own 12-year-old son wanted tickets to go see one of Hart’s shows. Chappelle tells the story of how he and his son went to Hart’s show and was shocked to find out tickets were $125 a piece when his are only $80. “The crowd goes f***ing nuts. Thousands of people. I was furious. The longer the show went on the madder I got,” Chappelle said. Chappelle joked that after the show, his son embarrassed him when they went to meet Hart in person. Hart gave Chappelle’s son a jersey with “K Hart” stitched on the back and told him to wear it whenever his dad made him mad. Chappelle took a walk down memory lane when he told the audience about each of the three times he’s met O.J. Simpson. The first time was before the football star allegedly killed his wife, whom Chappelle described as “soon-to-be-slain.” In his prime, Chappelle never shied away from joking about social issues like race or sexuality and the same can still be said about his new specials. The aged comedian comes to grips with Caitlyn Jenner’s transition and transgender rights. “Whenever I see [a transgender person] on the street, I don’t mind them, but I’ll be like, ‘man I miss Bruce,’” Chappelle said. Chappelle joked about being jealous of “transgender people beating black people in the discrimination Olympics.” Chappelle said there would be a war in L.A. if the police shot half as many transgender people as they did black people in the last year. The comedian seemed unaware
COURTESY OF NETFLIX
After a ten-year TV hiatus, Dave Chapelle has returned with a new set of Netflix specials.
that transgender people, specifically transgender people of color, are one of demographics who experience the most violence in America. Chappelle also weighed in on same-sex marriage. He talked about how even though the same-sex marriage law was passed, it will take time for the gay community to be accepted. Chappelle joked that Brown v. Board of Education was in 1955 and people still call him the n-word. While Chappelle kept in touch with social progress, he took time to joke about his experience working in comedy again. Chappelle describes a TMZ article that claimed he was drunk at a Detroit performance and booed off stage. The comedian
held nothing back and was very open about his recreational drug use. “I wasn’t drunk. I had smoked some reefer with some rappers,” Chappelle said. With a cockiness unusual for someone who has been gone from the public eye for over 10 years, Chappelle said he refused to leave the stage after the crowd booed him. Chappelle exits the stage with a mic drop as the music plays. The crowd goes wild for a standing ovation. It isn’t until after he gives the crowd a bow and salute when he runs back on stage. “Wait, I forgot. The fourth time I met O.J. Simpson….” email: arts@ubspectrum.com
6
SPORTS
Monday, April 3, 2017
THE SPECTRUM
The Rundown UB baseball goes 1-2 against Kent State over weekend SPORTS DESK
Baseball (8-16, 1-2 Mid-American Conference) The Bulls played the Kent State Golden Flashes (17-8, 5-1 MAC) in a three-game road series, going 1-2 over the weekend. The first game was on Saturday, where the Bulls lost 9-1. Senior outfielder Vinny Mallaro had the only outfield hit. On Sunday, the Bulls came alive and beat the Golden Flashes 9-2. The Bulls got six runs during the sixth inning thanks to an early double by senior third-baseman Chris Kwitzer. Kwitzer went 3-5 in the game with a single in the second inning and a solohomerun in the ninth. The Bulls couldn’t keep the momentum going into the third game and lost 14-0 and only recorded four hits as a team. Up next will be the Bulls’ first home game of the season against the Canisius Golden Griffins
(16-10, MAAC 2-1) on Wednesday, April 5. Softball (6-28, 1-5 MAC) Over the weekend, the Bulls competed in a three-game road series against the Toledo Rockets (15-23, 3-3 MAC). The Bulls started with a doubleheader on Saturday, losing the first game 6-3 and getting shutout in the second game 7-0. The Bulls started strong in the first game, taking a 3-1 lead in the third inning but didn’t have an answer after Toledo scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Bulls were unable to get anything going in the second game, only having two hits as a team the entire game. On Sunday, the Bulls still couldn’t put it together, losing 5-1 in their first 0-3 series this season. Next for the Bulls will be a road doubleheader on Tuesday, April 4 against the Akron Zips (14-18, 3-3 MAC).
Men’s tennis (9-5, 4-0 MAC) The team started its weekend with a close 4-3 road win over Western Michigan Broncos (11-7, 2-1 MAC) on Friday. The Bulls split the single sets with the Broncos 3-3 and got the win by going 2-1 in doubles. Freshman Hao Sheng Koey and freshman Villhelm Fridell were the only Bulls who won both singles and doubles at the event. On Sunday, the Bulls played the Toledo Rockets (9-11, 0-3 MAC) beating them 6-1. This win means that the Bulls have won four out of their last five matches. Next time the team is in action is on March 19 in a road match against the Binghamton Bearcats (4-10, 0-2 MAC). Women’s tennis (6-7, 0-2 MAC) The Bulls took on the Akron Zips (192, 3-0 MAC) Friday, losing 5-2 in their first conference game of the season. The team was strong in pairs, winning its doubles but was unable to find success in singles, going 1-5. Freshman Emel Abibula won the only Bulls singles match. The Bulls continued their weekend with another road loss to the Ball State Cardinals (16-2, 4-0 MAC) losing 5-2 on Sunday.
International film festival comes to UB CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The film hits home for Chiappone, whose father is a Town of Hamburg dispatcher and assistant fire chief at Scranton Fire Department. Jack Chiappone, Courtney’s father, said the film shows there is more than one side to every story. He said it’s an honor for his daughter to be involved in the festival, especially considering there are entries from around the world. “To see people from all over the world – from Germany, Iran and Russia – and for my daughter to be included in that it’s great so I hope the festival grows bigger and bigger,” Jack Chiappone said. At the festival’s first screening on Sunday, animated films like “Elephant’s Playmate” by Ira-
nian director Hadi Tabasi and comedy pictures like “You Said That One” by British director George Velez Junior were on full display. “We have to connect at a human level with those around us and only then can we tackle the world problems,” said Faizan Haq, founder of WNY Muslims. “Otherwise, everyone is alone and things look overwhelming. Through collectiveness, you know the person on the other side of the globe is thinking the same way that I am thinking and that is what was profound and powerful for me.” Richard L. Polley II, the festival’s coordinator, said the festival could be a stepping stone as far as getting more people into the arts is concerned.
“With such an international community nowadays coming about and UB being a big hub bringing people from all over the world, we’re also trying to give people a voice,” Polley said. “We have everything that it takes to be an international hub – we’re on the rise but we’re trying to get to the top here, the Queen City that we once were.” Haq, a UB alum and former lecturer with the Cora P. Maloney College, dreamed to present the festival for years and used the platform to present inclusivity to audiences. “The more you get to know other people, the more you find out they’re like us. ‘Other’ is a made-up thing and we can undo it if we want to,” Haq said. Haq, one of the early founders of Muslim
COURTESY OF UB ATHLETICS
Senior Vinny Mallaro rounds the bases. UB baseball played in a three-game series against the Kent State Golden Flashes over the weekend.
Upcoming for the Bulls is an away match against the Western Michigan Broncos (8-9, 2-2 MAC) on Friday, April 7. email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Students Association (MSA) and Pakistani Student Association (PSA), has been part of the UB community since the ’80s. He said hosting events like the festival provide an opportunity of expression for younger people, especially in the age of Vimeo and YouTube. “This very powerful tool is in our hands, where we can capture moments in history and our viewpoints, whatever that viewpoint may be,” Haq said. “The democratization of expression has taken in our lifetime and I like to give this platform to anyone that wants to participate. When I was a young student leader, I was very active and was always doing something, so the best I can do is empower people – that’s why I’m here.” Finalists for CIFF will be announced at the festival’s awards ceremony later this year. email: benjamin.blanchet@ubspectrum.com
Celebration of Student Academic Excellence
• Poster Sessions: See how fellow undergraduates are building their resumes and helping to solve real issues. Learn how you too can become involved in faculty-mentored undergraduate research and creative activities.
• Ceremony: Celebrate with students being honored for scholarly, research and creative excellence! Enjoy a self-choreographed solo dance performance.
THURSDAY, APR. 20, 2017 | CENTER FOR THE ARTS 1 - 3 P.M.
Outstanding Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creativity Posters
3:30 P.M.
Celebration Ceremony
For more information or to register for the Celebration, visit: celebrate.buffalo.edu
7
CLASSIFIEDS
Monday, April 3, 2017
THE SPECTRUM
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SPORTS
Monday, April 3, 2017
THE SPECTRUM
Diabetic hockey player looks to maintain lifestyle Gabe Kirsch helps lead the Bulls to back-to-back national title
COURTESY OF GABE KIRSCH
Senior hockey player Gabe Kirsch takes a shot. Kirsch plays for the UB hockey club team despite being diagnosed with type-1 diabetes.
JEREMY TORRES STAFF WRITER
“Can I get a whiskey coke,” Gabe Kirsch says at the bar. Kirsch, a senior hockey player and biomedical science major, inputs the amount of carbs in his whiskey coke into his insulin pump. From there, his insulin pump does all the work, ensuring his blood sugar levels remain steady. Kirsch has type-1 diabetes. One misstep in his diet could lead to irregularities in his body. However, Kirsch does not let this disease stop him from doing what he loves, which is to play hockey. He’s part of the UB club hockey team, which has won back-to-back
Division III club hockey national titles – the first UB team to ever win back to back. “The issue I have is, what happens in your body physiologically is when you start to play hockey, you have adrenaline hormones and what those do is they mobilize your body’s glucose storage for energy,” Kirsch said. “So, for a person like me who doesn’t have the insulin to counteract, a lot of times I’ll have elevated blood glucose cells during a game.” Type-1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in children and was originally called juvenile diabetes. Only about 5 percent of people with diabetes have type-1, according to the American Diabetes Association. Those with type-1 diabetes suffer from a lack of insulin production. Insulin helps the body to absorb glucose, or sugars.
UB FOOTBALL LOOKS TO ADD DYNAMIC ATTACK WITH WIDE RECEIVERS A receiving core full of options is looking for a No. 1 to step up JUSTIN BYSTRAK
STAFF WRITER
Last season, the Buffalo Bulls entered the season without a bona fide No. 1 receiver, hoping that someone would step up and fill the void. But nobody stepped up, and freshman (rising sophomore) quarterback Tyree Jackson struggled without a bona fide top target. This season, the Bulls know they need all of their receivers to step up. They will graduate three wide receivers from last season – Marcus McGill, Malcom Robinson and Mikel Demonte. McGill and Robinson were second and third on the team in receiving yards last season. Senior Kamathi Hosley is the Bulls leading returning receiver and had just 19 catches for 189 yards last season. “Universally, the whole position has to step up,” said associate head coach and wide receivers coach Rob Ianello. “I’m not sure that you can sit here after last season and say that we tapped out. Really the only guy returning that’s had the most snaps is Holsey. We all need to step up.” The Bulls’ practice at UB Stadium this past Thursday was reminiscent of a typical midseason Mid-American Conference game. The practice featured rain and snow, high winds and gloomy skies with temperatures in the low 40’s as the coaches tried to get a better sense of their players, especially their receivers. A major problem for the receivers last season was a lack of explosive plays. Ianello says he wants to see the team take more shots downfield this year to back up the de-
fense. They also need to focus on executing shorter, timing passes and gaining yards after the catch. Holsey appears the most likely candidate to become the No. 1 receiver. Last year, he led all returning wide receivers in yards and receptions. Holsey’s height is his biggest asset at 6-foot-4. He is a true outside receiver and could play a vital role in the red zone offense. That’s where he wants his length and vertical ability to take over. “They expect me to go up and get the ball
For every two grams of carbs, Kirsch needs to pump insulin into his body. Every diabetic has a different ratio of carbs to insulin and if not done properly, it can affect everyday tasks, or even sleep. “Sometimes your sleep would get interrupted, let’s say you eat a late time snack, you give yourself too much insulin and then you start to feel hypoglycemic symptoms while you’re sleeping,” Kirsch said. “So, you have to get up and go eat some carbs.” Kirsch must always keep an insulin pen on him. His close friends and roommates all know how to use the pen in case of an emergency. Luckily, Kirsch has never had to use the pen. Kirsch’s friends know how difficult it was for the hockey player to adjust, but admire his determination to overcome the disease and continue playing. “It doesn’t really affect him, he still goes to school and plays hockey and does all the same things that he did before,” said Kelly Yazwinski, a longtime friend and senior occupational therapy major. “He’s good at hiding it but he loves to talk about it a lot. We make fun of him for it, we rip on him because he always talks about it.” Kirsch found out he had diabetes his senior year of high school after his hockey season was finished. The following season, at his former school Mercyhurst College, Kirsch sat out due to the disease. He was still adjusting to the daily work that goes into staying healthy and maintaining the right glucose balance. Jennifer Kirsch, his mother, worried he might not have been ready to start playing again. “Even for him, he was a little worried about it as well because it was such a new process,” Jennifer said. “The testing, the eating and counting carbs and all that. I think he just wanted to get a handle on it first before he played a sport.” at the highest point on fades and go routes,” Holsey said. He put most of his focus on improving his route running during the offseason. He understands that he can’t run deep on every play and must create separation from his defenders. Holsey has emphasized the need to have a stronger base and to play closer to the ground. “He’s tried to make a real conscious effort, he’s a tall guy so one of the things we identified is he didn’t play as low last year,” Ianello said. “People got their hands on him because he didn’t play as low.” The X-factor for the Bulls’ receiving corps will be senior Jacob Martinez finally being fully healthy. He missed five games last year due to injury but consistently lined up on the outside during practice. Martinez had seven receptions for 121 yards, including a touchdown, despite playing in just seven games. “He’s played quite a bit of football here.
ANGELA BARCA, THE SPECTRUM
Rising senior receiver Kamathi Hosley plays in a game last year. The Bulls will need their wide receivers to step up.
Jennifer received a phone call from Kirsch’s pediatrician one day while her son was in school, taking an exam. After testing Kirsch’s blood at a regular appointment, the results came back and revealed he had type1 diabetes. “When I went into the school [to pick him up] I was crying and he said to me ‘Mom it is going to be OK.’ He was rock solid and I don’t think the whole thing really hit him and I was a wreck and didn’t handle it well at all but he was rock solid,” Jennifer said. Kirsch remembers the situation vividly. He had a feeling something was wrong with his body. He lost 10 pounds in a matter of a couple months and never realized it until his boss at his job said something to him. Kirsch was in the hospital for four days. Doctors and nurses taught him what he needed to do to maintain his health with the disease. “That remorse for myself kind of transitioned quickly because I was in the pediatric unit and so I had all these other little kids that were maybe 10 years old that had also got diagnosed,” Kirsch said. “It was kind of eye opening in a way and I didn’t feel as bad for myself I started feeling bad for these kids that didn’t understand why every time they had to do something so normal such as eating, they had to take a shot.” Four years after his diagnosis, Kirsch hardly notices the wire that comes out of his shirt, connecting his insulin to his body. Regular checks have become routine and the hockey player has a great sense of what he can and cannot eat or drink. As for his diabetes on the ice, his teammates don’t take notice of it either. “His diabetes does not affect his gameplay at all, you could not tell he was diagnosed with it,” said Danny Edmonds, a teammate and roommate. “He was a heavy contributor to our team with his leadership as well as points.” Kirsch has been able to still do what he loves while never letting diabetes control his life. “Its definitely a controllable thing.” Kirsch said. “The first month or so there is a adjustment phase. You need to learn how to count carbs efficiently and recognize what your body is telling you.” email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Last year, he would’ve been a valuable contributor,” Ianello said. “He’s got quite a bit of experience to him.” Sophomore K.J. Osborn emerged last season to be one of the more reliable receivers as the year progressed. The Bulls will need receivers who can play both inside and outside and Osborn has that capability. He was used in many different positions during practice and the coaching staff wants to get the ball in his hands as much as possible. He has built a strong connection with Jackson; the two are roommates. “All summer since we got here, we’ve been working with Tyree, so the chemistry with us has always been there,” Osborn said. “Last year with all these different [quarterbacks], sometimes I had to go throw with Grant [Rohach, who graduated last year] because I was always throwing with Tyree.” Having a set quarterback is a major difference from last spring, where Jackson and Rohach battled for the No. 1 position up until the opening game. The continuity with the receivers was stunted because both quarterbacks had to get first team reps. “Last year you have different guys, you see different balls,” said senior receiver Jamarl Eiland. “Now with Tyree, you get used to him and his passes a lot. Him running with the one’s pretty much the majority of the time has been good for us.” The Bulls are striving for a more balanced offense this year and to “stay on schedule.” In order to achieve that, they must have more manageable downs and distances. They also need to turn the ball over less. Ianello just wants to see the routine plays made and watch the offense go from there. “There’s been a great emphasis on taking care of the little things,” he said. “If you gotta be at a certain depth, be at a certain depth. If this route converts, convert.” UB will know more about their receivers in the annual Blue and White game. The game will be on Apr. 14 at UB Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. email: sports@ubspectrum.com