The Spectrum Vol. 67 No. 38

THE SPECTRUM THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, SINCE 1950

UBSPECTRUM.COM

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018 PAGE 3 Student journalism matters and must be protected Lawmakers should be applauded for working to protect student journalists with Free Speech Act

VOLUME 67 NO. 38

PAGE 4 Local SPCA president speaks at UB Gary Willoughby talks about dangers, cruelty of puppy mills

UB officials announce support for students protesting gun violence The latest mass shooting raises questions about protests and safety on school campuses

PAGE 6 ‘This ain’t no Mudd Club or C.B.G.B.’: David Byrne plays at the CFA Former Talking Heads frontman plays mix of classics and newer collaborations

Graffitied hate-speech found in residence halls Six incidences of ‘racist graffiti’ reported this semester

HARUKA KOSUGI ASST. NEWS EDITOR

UB has joined dozens of universities across the country in announcing it will not penalize prospective students who choose to peacefully protest gun violence.

Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the site of a mass shooting on Feb. 14 that left 17 people dead and 16 more injured, have rallied behind the #NeverAgain movement, calling on legislators to enact stricter gun laws. Taking to Twitter and town halls, students have been at the center of the anti-gun violence movement, which appears to be gaining momentum in an unprecedented way.

On Tuesday, UB’s Faculty Senate unanimously passed a resolution supporting current and prospective students who partake in peaceful protest. The resolution calls for faculty to support all students who choose to participate in the national walk-out on March 14. Students and faculty across the country plan

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UPD responding to the last gun-related incident to happen on campus. UPD Chief Deputy Joshua Sticht said students should keep themselves safe by signing up for UB Alerts on their phones.

to walk out of classes for 17 minutes in honor of the 17 Marjory Douglas shooting victims. On Monday, the university released a statement through spokesperson John Della Contrada, saying it would not penalize students for peaceful protest.

“The full context and circumstances of students’ activity are always taken into consideration,” the statement read. “Using this approach, UB has not rescinded admissions decisions for students exercising their right

to peaceful advocacy or protesting.”

The weeks following the Parkland shooting have also raised questions about school preparedness and whether or not schools should do more to protect against potential shootings. One proposal calls for schools to pay more for more “highly-trained” and armed teachers. President Donald Trump is among those who have proposed the idea.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

More UBF fracking investments revealed SARAH CROWLEY SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

Forward Summer Hemphill discusses family, accomplishments and growing up in Buffalo THOMAS ZAFONTE SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

It’s hard to stand out on a team with 25 wins in the regular season and a roster stockpiled with talent. With names like Sarah Reid, Cassie Oursler, Katherine Ups and Cierra Dillard already on the women’s basketball roster, strong performances can come from any player on any night.

But the talent of Summer Hemphill has everyone on the team talking.

MADISON MEYER, THE SPECTRUM

For family and nation

Hemphill, a sophomore forward, has become one of the Bulls’ (25-4, 16-2 Mid-American Conference) strongest players, already setting school records this season. Hemphill, who has lived in Buffalo all her life, showed early promise in basketball and has only improved as time went on. With two years left at UB, the Seneca Nation member has players, coaches and family talking about how much she can still improve.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

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The UB Foundation has invested in at least six fracking-related firms, according to its most recent tax documents.

Last November, leaked documents revealed UBF investments in an off-shore firm focused on fracking and other fossil fuel related activities. The news broke in the midst of a two-year-long effort from student climate activists, lobbying the university and the foundation to divest all funds from fossil fuel related industries. UBF Executive Director Ed Schneider previously told the students the foundation had no “direct investments” in fossil fuel related entities.

On Monday, watchdog group LittleSis reported at least five new investments in private equity firms found in the foundation’s most recent 2014-15 990-T filings. UBF is required to file these forms annually with the IRS to maintain its nonprofit tax status.

The form showed the foundation had stakes in five funds related to fossil fuel activities: EnCap Energy Capital Fund VIII, EnCap Energy Capital Fund IX, EnCap Flatrock Midstream Fund II, Denham Commodity Partners Fund VI and IFM Global Infrastructure Partners (US).

A sixth investment, EnCap FlatRock Midstream Fund III-C, was reported by Investigative Post from the Paradise Papers and does not appear in the 2014-15 filing.

The foundation has not said it will divest from fossil fuels, but Schneider said he and other foundation officials are listening and trying to learn about fracking issues to better form a position. email: sarah.crowley@ubspectrum.com twitter: @crowleyspectrum

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Campus Living reported “racist graffiti” found in both Goodyear and Spaulding residence halls.

The racist graffiti in question is a combination of “racial slurs” directed at African Americans and “hate images” like swastikas, said UPD Chief Deputy Joshua Sticht.

The incidents in Goodyear and Spaulding were reported on March 1 and March 4, respectively, and are the fifth and sixth incidences of racist-graffiti this semester, according to Sticht.

The perpetrator of the crime, if caught, could face charges of criminal mischief and aggravated harassment, on top of being referred to Student Conduct and Advocacy.

There has been an increase in reported acts of racist graffiti in UB’s residence halls, wrote Elizabeth Lidano, interim director of Campus Living, in a residencewide email sent on Wednesday.

“I want to assure you that words and actions meant to hurt and discriminate have no place on our campus. We condemn these individuals’ actions and are committed to doing everything we can to stop them,” Lidano said.

UPD is currently investigating the case and is looking for anyone with information to contact them at 645-2222.

Students concerned about hate-speech on campus can contact The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for support and one-on-one meetings. email: news@ubspectrum.com

Dr. B no longer a UB employee Beloved professor’s employment ended as of January

MAX KALNITZ, THE SPECTRUM

Former UB Professor Kushal Bhardwaj was honored as Erie County Educator of the Month in February.

MADDY FOWLER EDITORIAL EDITOR

After being removed from the classroom last semester amid allegations of misbehavior, Dr. Kushal Bhardwaj is no longer a UB employee as of Jan. 10, according to UB spokesperson John Della Contrada.

Della Contrada could not provide any information about the circumstances surrounding Bhardwaj’s “appointment ending” because he said the university does not discuss personnel matters.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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NEWS

Page 2 | The Spectrum

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Retired media study professor Roy Roussel dies DAVID TUNIS-GARCIA MANAGING EDITOR

COURTESY OF BRUCE JACKSON

Retired UB professor Royal Roussel died on Feb. 24, 2018. Pictured here on South Campus in 1972, Roussel started at UB in 1967 as an English professor, chaired the media study department 2000-13 and returned to teaching DMS before retiring in June 2017.

Royal Roussel, a retired professor in the media study department, died Saturday, Feb. 24 after a long battle with cancer.

Roussel came to UB in 1967 as a professor in the English department before switching to media study in 1996. He served as chair of the department from 2000-2013 before stepping down. He continued teaching until he retired in June.

Tanya Shilina-Conte, an assistant professor in media study, said she knew Roussel for roughly 10 years and remembers his dedication to teaching.

“Roy was on one of DMS’s doctoral student committees, along with Professor Carine Mardorossian and me. In May

2017, having already been diagnosed with a terminal illness and undergoing a series of treatments, Roy found it in himself to still Skype into the qualifying exam meeting for this student,” Shilina-Conte said in an email. “He was working until the moment he had to turn and fight for his own life. He nurtured and inspired generations of students and they will all remember him fondly.”

Barbara Bono, an English professor, met Roussel when she joined the UB English department in 1984. She remembers Roussel as a “smart and shrewd administrator,” who held together an “understaffed and battered” media study department. She said he was “a sometimes curt, and even cynical man” but cared about his classes and students.

UB officials announce support for students protesting gun violence CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

University Deputy Chief of Police Joshua Sticht said he doesn’t think arming teachers is a solution.

“The fact that someone has a concealed-carry pistol permit in no way indicates they are such a good shot that they are going to be able to go out and safely engage an active shooter,” Sticht said.

Allowing teachers to carry firearms would create confusion in identifying the shooter, which would create a “strong possibility” of a teacher being shot accidently, Sticht said. It’s better for teachers to provide leadership to students on how to stay safe during a shooting rather than engage the shooter, according to Sticht.

Currently, New York state law permits only university police officers or officers from another agency working with UPD to have firearms on campus. It also prevents concealed carry permits from apply-

ing on campus which helps UPD from an “enforcement angle,” Sticht said.

In August 2016, Texas passed what is called the Campus Carry Law, allowing permit-holders to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds and in university buildings.

Sticht said a similar law is unlikely to happen in New York State because of its strict gun laws.

“If we come across someone with a gun, we are arresting them then and there for that,” Sticht said. “Even if they have a legal permit, once they cross the road and come onto campus, they are committing a crime.”

UPD has bolt cutters, body armor and battering rams in the event of a shooting. UPD officers train under experts to learn from previous shootings at the New York State Preparedness Training Center operated by Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

Sticht said the most important thing

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students can do to keep themselves safe from school shootings is to sign up for UB Alerts on their phones, be aware of exits and to tell somebody if they see concerning behavior. Prevention is as important as response training when it comes to school shootings, he said.

Part of UB’s prevention effort involves a committee to identify students who might be in danger of a mental-health crisis. The Students of Concern Team acts as a central body to connect departments such as Campus Living, University Police and Student Health Services.

“The pressures on college students now are just a lot harder to deal with,” Sticht said. “So we want to make sure we provide support to those students that are getting stressed out by what’s happening.

Not to just protect the whole community, but to help them.”

UPD will hold active-shooter training

“I know because I frequently taught just before or after him in the CFA Screening Room and saw him welcoming his students in and sat near him when he cried at a student award ceremony,” Bono said in an email.

Roussel’s wife, Leslie, asked their friend and assistant DMS professor Paige Sarlin to share the news of Roussel’s death with colleagues, which she did in an email sent out last Monday, according to Bono.

Sarlin did not respond to requests for comment for this article. email: david.garcia@ubspectrum.com twitter: @davidUBspectrum

sessions Wednesday from noon to 12:45 p.m. and Friday 3:30-4:15 p.m. in 330 Student Union.

The university treats shootings among its top emergency priorities, said Jay Roorbach, UB’s senior emergency planning coordinator.

Evacuation and accurate communication are the most important things during a shooting, according to Roorbach.

“Especially if we are talking about an active shooter situation, if there is a piece of information out there that’s incorrect and pushes people to an area where they might be in danger, [that could] propagate the potential of people getting in harm’s way,” Roorbach said.

He said the current communication system using UB Alerts works well, but he is always looking for ways to improve it.

Sarah Crowley contributed reporting. email: haruka.kosugi@ubspectrum.com twitter: @KosugiSpec

OPINION

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF

Hannah Stein

MANAGING EDITOR

David Tunis-Garcia EDITORIAL EDITOR

The Spectrum | Page 3

Student journalism matters and must be protected Lawmakers should be applauded for working to protect student journalists with Free Speech Act

Maddy Fowler COPY EDITORS

Dan McKeon, Chief Emma Medina Cassi Enderle, Asst.

Lauryn King, Asst.

Savanna Caldwell, Asst.

NEWS EDITORS

Sarah Crowley, Senior Max Kalnitz Haruka Lucas Kosugi, Asst.

Anna Savchenko, Asst.

FEATURES EDITORS

Benjamin Blanchet, Senior Erik Tingue, Asst.

Wanly Chen, Asst.

ARTS EDITORS

Brenton Blanchet, Senior Brian Evans, Asst.

SPORTS EDITORS

Thomas Zafonte, Senior Daniel Petruccelli MULTIMEDIA EDITORS

Allison Staebell, Senior Elijah Pike, Asst.

Jack Li, Asst.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Pierce Strudler CARTOONIST

Ardi Digap

Professional Staff OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Helene Polley

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Ayesha Kazi GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGERS

Stephen Jean-Pierre JuYung Hong, Asst.

EDITORIAL BOARD

Within the past year, The Spectrum broke the news of former UB Vice President Dennis Black’s embezzlement. We reported on the UB Foundation’s investment in fracking, UB cutting four sports teams and revealed that our SA president is not logging sufficient office hours.

Our coverage of international students being poorly integrated prompted the university to conduct a study on how to improve campus life for international students.

Our reporting has also brought awareness to low TA stipends and a lack of diverse faculty. We’ve reported on the lack of oversight for SUNY foundations and the ongoing battle of private-public partnerships on campuses.

We were able to bring this information to students because, as a fully independent student newspaper, we have complete editorial freedom. That means the school administration cannot dictate or censor our content. But this is not the case for all newspapers at public colleges and high schools.

We cannot imagine what our newspaper would look like if we

CARTOON BY ARDI DIGAP

did not have editorial freedom.

We likely would not be able to publish our perennial-favorite sex issue, or report on the unfavorable behavior of UB officials, the SA and other UB organizations. Providing this information is a vital service for students and the community.

That’s why The Spectrum supports the New Voices Act, which is under consideration by the New York state legislature.

The bill would ensure that high school and college newspapers could not be censored by school administrators.

At a college or high school, as in any community, watchdog journalism is essential to keep those in positions of power accountable, and to ensure that the public has access to consistent, quality information about what is

THE SPECTRUM Thursday, March 8, 2018 Volume 67 Number 38 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.

Come as you are My achy breaky vagina BRETT ASHLEY

For information on adverstising with The Spectrum, visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at 716-645-2152

About a year ago, sex started to hurt. There’s a small spot just inside my vagina about the size of a pencil eraser that has been giving me hell for far too long. I can barely remember what normal sex feels like.

I dismissed it at first, but it started to hurt so badly that I had to tell my boyfriend to stop.

While the pain was inconsistent and dulled after a few days, it seriously affected my sex drive.

I didn’t want to have sex. I felt like I was broken, and my boyfriend felt down about it too. He felt like he was hurting me.

The first thing I considered was a bacterial infection. I’d had one of those before, and sex with a sick vagina felt like I was rubbing a blister. That time, I went to my gynecologist and she prescribed me an antibiotic and I felt better within a week.

When I went to the gyno for this particular bout of painful sex, I ended up seeing the nurse practitioner. She swabbed my vagina for bacteria and yeast, and

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OPINION DESK

sent me home.

The next day, I got a call from one of the nurses at the office.

She told me all my cultures were negative.

I was confused, but decided I had injured myself and hadn’t let the wound heal. I abstained from sex for over a week, while my boyfriend and I took separate vacations to different ends of the country.

The pain didn’t go away. It still hasn’t.

I called my doctor’s office again, wanting to make an appointment with my actual doctor.

They set up an appointment with the nurse practitioner again.

Again, she shrugged her shoulders with an apologetic frown and told me she wished she knew what was wrong with me.

I made an appointment, hoping to see my doctor, and she’d notice something the nurse practitioner hadn’t. The day before the appointment, a nurse called and said my doctor wanted to cancel. Instead, she wanted me to get an ultrasound to rule out pelvic congestion.

Naturally, I Googled it and discovered it meant varicose veins in the lower abdomen.

Pelvic congestion often affects women who have given birth

happening in their communities.

Without The Spectrum, the only news students would have access to would be one-sided, exclusively positive information, presented as public relations to improve the image of the university.

UB is a huge community and it is larger than many cities. That means without diligent coverage, important stories are missed. The mainstream media tends to overlook stories unfolding on college campuses. In fact, only 1.4 percent of mainstream media is devoted to education news, a Brookings Institution survey showed.

The fact that you are reading this article right now, whether in print or online, shows that you recognize on some level the importance of student journalism.

And studies have shown that people tend to develop lifelong intellectual habits like newspaper

to multiple children and causes chronic, constant dull pain. I am in my early 20s, have never been pregnant and feel sharp, burning pain when something pokes at a very specific part of the inside of my vagina.

Despite my skepticism, I made the appointment. I went to the office. I let them put their lubeslathered transducer inside me.

I felt like I was being probed by aliens. And as I expected, my pelvis looked pretty normal.

I felt triumphant until the nurse read a note from my doctor. It said if results came back normal, I was to see a specialist for pelvic pain. I couldn’t believe my doctor was communicating with me via nurse practitioner from another doctor’s office. I felt dejected and worthless.

I cried. I cried for my wasted time. I cried for my boyfriend. I cried for my diminished confidence. I cried for my medical bills.

I cried because I was still in pain.

I saw the specialist and she was at a loss, too.

She shrugged and threw the word “vulvodynia” at me: Chronic vulvar pain without a specific cause. Millions of women suffer from it, but many do recover.

My pain was inside my vagina, not in my vulva.

I went to my mom’s gynecologist the other day. He’s an old guy, which initially skeeved me out, but my mom talked him up so much that I decided I’d give him a shot.

I put my feet in the stirrups and tried to direct the doctor toward the part that hurt. “Does it hurt here? How about here? No? Here?”

After finding the area of pain

reading in college –– more than 90 percent of students surveyed believed that reading newspapers is important to their education, according to the 2015-16 Campus Life Fee Report on the Student Accounts website.

Studies also show that the best way to teach civics is for students to discuss contemporary political issues in classrooms and on campuses. Censorship prevents this. Students who work in newsrooms emerge more engaged citizens and more supportive of press freedoms as adults, according to research by the University of Kansas.

The Spectrum shows what can be accomplished with editorial freedom, and we believe students everywhere should have the same autonomy with what they can publish.

Young people have always started revolutions, and now it is our turn to be the watchdogs for the powerful. Democracy cannot function without a free press.

Students at public schools should have the right to uncensored information as much as any citizens in this democratic country, which is why the New Voices Act is vitally important and fully endorsed by The Spectrum. email: opinion@ubspectrum.com

and checking for anything weird or cancerous, he told me I could sit up. He told me about dyspareunia –– pain during intercourse — and vaginismus — involuntary tightening of the vaginal muscles. He assured me that I had no diseases, no tumors, no weird lumps or bumps. I was healthy, but I needed to relax.

He told me to track my pain to look for a pattern. He told me to use lube, take it slow and make time for foreplay. He told me to drink a glass of wine before sex.

I cracked a smile, but he said he was serious.

When he walked out of the room, I wanted to cry again.

But I wasn’t sad. This was the first time a medical professional hadn’t made me feel like I was lying or the pain I was feeling wasn’t real. I felt hope for the first time in almost a year. This doctor wanted to help me and he was going to.

Even though my pain hasn’t gone away, and I’m not expecting it to any time soon, there are a few takeaways here. Firstly, sex isn’t supposed to hurt unless you want it to. Use lube, and see a doctor if you’re experiencing any abnormal pain. It could be an infection.

Second, if your doctor sucks, find a new one.

Lastly, if you’re experiencing causeless pain during sex, I feel you. It’s frustrating and demoralizing — and worst of all, it hurts.

But you’re not alone.

For now, I’m going to have to go easy on myself and revel in the fact that my doctor prescribed me foreplay and wine. I’ll take it. email: opinion@ubspectrum.com

FEATURES

Page 4 | The Spectrum

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Albright-Knox Gallery collaborates with Google Arts and Culture Pieces and collections now accessible all over the world

COURTESY OF ERIE COUNTY SPCA

BRIAN EVANS

Dogs, including those above, are available for adoption at the Erie County SPCA. SPCA president and CEO, Gary Willoughby, spoke at O’Brian Hall on Monday about the dangers of puppy mills and his non-profit organization’s mission. Note: None of the above dogs can be confirmed as raid rescue dogs.

ASST. ARTS EDITOR

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery now has seventy-six masterwork pieces available online in high definition in a collaboration with Google Arts and Culture. Some of the pieces taken from the gallery include Orange, Red, Yellow by Mark Rothko and La maison de La Crau by Vincent Van Gogh.

The museum allows users all over the world to explore some of the gallery’s pieces, viewable through a virtual exhibition open to all on the Google Arts and Culture site, according to a press release.

Google Arts and Culture is a web-based system that allows viewers to access some of the pieces of artwork through collaborations between Google and partner museums. The software allows users to take virtual tours of galleries and museums, examine physical and general information of the artwork as well as employ a walk-through feature taken from Google’s Street View software seen on other platforms such as Google Maps. email: brian.evans@ubspectrum.com twitter: @BrianEvansSpec

Local SPCA president speaks at UB Gary Willoughby talks about dangers, cruelty of puppy mills BENJAMIN BLANCHET SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR

Law school students discussed their concerns, with puppy mills in O’Brian Hall on Monday.

The discussion, hosted by the law school’s Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, featured Gary Willoughby, CEO and president of Erie County’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

In a 30-minute speech, Willoughby talked about his non-profit organization’s history and his experiences dealing with puppy mill raids.

Puppy mills are large breeding sites for dogs where thousands are conceived annually. There are estimated to be 10,000plus puppy mills in the United States, ac-

cording to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

As a result of mass breeding, puppy mill dogs can have a number of diseases and conditions such as heart disease, epilepsy and musculoskeletal disorders.

After explaining the effects of breeding at puppy mills, Willoughby showed a video from a puppy mill raid in Edgefield County, South Carolina. The mill had over 200 dogs in cages, according to AnimalSheltering.org.

Remains of deceased dogs were scattered on the grass of the mill’s property and caged dogs were rescued, some not able to walk and others covered in excrement.

Willoughby adopted one of the dogs from the raid that had no fur and was frightened by sights and sounds.

Willoughby, who has been the Erie County SPCA president since 2016, said places like pet stores and Internet advertising sites can hide the origin of breeders, deflecting future pet owners from responsible breeders.

“I really encourage the public to do their homework. Even if you adopt from a rescue; at ours, people walk in every day and you can see the facility to learn how the animals are treated,” Willoughby said.

“If you’re dealing with a rescue group, ask questions too. Not everyone is going to adopt from a shelter, … but just doing your homework before you adopt is the best advice I can give someone.”

Willoughby said prospective owners

should be skeptical about where they meet pet sellers and if the seller is being transparent about an animal’s origin.

New York State Senator Michael Gianaris introduced a bill in February that would require stores to get pets from licensed dealers, according to NBC New York. The bill calls for organizations to keep animals who aren’t adopted.

Similar legislation passed in California last fall, making the state the first in the U.S. to ban pet stores from selling puppy mill dogs.

Willoughby said it’s hard to judge the impact of California’s legislation given its newness.

“We’re focused on other things right now, but I love the concept,” Willoughby said. “But we just want to make sure people are responsible and aware when they acquire a new pet.”

At the end of his address, Willoughby, along with Aaron Kandefer, SPCA’s director of animal cruelty and animal rescue, answered students’ questions about search warrants and how SCPA deals with offenders.

Breanna Reilly, a law student, is the president of the UB’s SALDF chapter.

Since being chartered last year, Reilly said SALDF follows and offers their opinions on state legislation.

Reilly said her fund is opposed to puppy mills and would do anything to enforce their shutdown as well as regulation.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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NEWS

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Dr. B no longer a UB employee

Fossil Free UB students honored at third annual shared governance day Students awarded for divestment work, more reports on UBF’s fracking investments SARAH CROWLEY SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

Students of Fossil Free UB were awarded Tuesday for their commitment to working with faculty and administrators across the university throughout their divestment campaign.

For the last two years, the student-led group has pressured the university and specifically the UB Foundation to divest all fossil-fuel related holdings to live up to UB’s sustainability goals. Last spring, the Student Association, Graduate Student Association and Faculty Senate passed a resolution presented by students from Fossil Free, calling on the foundation to divest all funds from fossil fuels.

UBF is a private nonprofit that manages the university’s $1 billion endowment. It is the largest foundation in the SUNY system. Last fall, leaked documents revealed the foundation invested in an off-shore firm that funds fracking, a practice of ex-

tracting oil banned in New York State because of its hazard to the environment.

On Monday, a local watchdog group reported the foundation had invested in at least five other fracking-focused private equity funds.

Alexa Ringer, a sophomore environmental design major, accepted the award alongside a few other group members.

Ringer said she was grateful for the opportunity to work with Faculty Senate Chair Phil Glick, other administrators and foundation executives. She said faculty members should email the foundation officials and ask them to divest.

The recognition is encouraging, but the latest reports of UBF’s investments in fossilfuel related activities are proof the group’s work is not done, Ringer said in an email.

Ed Schneider, executive director for UBF, has not publicly agreed to divest, but said he and other foundation officials are listening and trying to learn more about the issues in order to form a public position. Last month, Schneider attended a workshop held by Fossil Free UB, where a financial adviser discussed ways to invest in “socially conscious” industries.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Local SPCA president speaks at UB CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

“I don’t think people know what it entails, so I think [Willoughby] speaking today will give people more of a perspective when they’re going to buy puppies at a pet store, or Craigslist,” Reilly said. “If you see something happening, there’s always the option of putting in a complaint and reporting the matter, even if you do it anonymously. People that turn a blind eye toward the issue are just as bad as the people with [puppy mills.]”

Derek Hafner, another law student,

said he attended the address because he thinks the SPCA is out to make the world better.

“The things they do in the community are overlooked, so based on the speech today, I think that putting down puppy mills helps increase the number of no kill shelters and helps remove the need for euthanasia,” Hafner said.

SALDF will host a Vegan Outreach table on March 13 in the law school lobby. email: benjamin.blanchet@ubpsectrum.com twitter: @BenjaminUBSpec

The Spectrum | Page 5

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The Spectrum reached out to Bhardwaj for comment but he did not respond by time of print.

Bhardwaj, known to students as “Dr. B,” was removed from his African American Studies 100 class in October. He allegedly spoke to a female student in a combative manner and made defensive remarks toward students who submitted complaints about him, according to students and other UB sources.

Bhardwaj’s classes were a favorite among students, and his African American Studies courses always filled up quickly. Students had to be force registered into full classes, and former students would come back and attend his classes just for fun.

He is a three-time winner of the students’ choice Milton Plesur Excellence in Teaching Award. Bhardwaj also ranked as a top African American Studies professor by Rate My Professors in 2017. Most recently, he was honored as the Erie County Legislature’s Citizen of the Month for Feb. 2018.

“He truly treats his students like family,” Kevin Wu, a senior computer science major, said of Bhardwaj. “He provides the classroom with a family-like atmosphere with his humor where students aren’t afraid to speak up, and every voice is heard and respected.”

Chynna Brown, a senior nursing and psychology major, said she feels the way UB has handled the situation with Bhardwaj is unfair and disrespectful to his former students.

“I felt it was unfair to vindicate him and tell him he wasn’t guilty of the allegations he was accused of, and then be fired for no reason,” Brown said. “It’s disrespectful that the university isn’t being vocal about what happened to him. Not telling us, it just disrespects you as a grown person able to handle the information.”

Brown is a transfer student from Niagara University, where she said she felt discriminated against because she is an African American woman. She always wanted to come to

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UB because she felt it was more diverse. That is why she liked Bhardwaj’s classes –– they were diverse and provided a “comfortable” platform to discuss social issues, Brown said.

“Dr. B’s class was the first class where I saw white men and Asians ask questions about African Americans and diversity,” she said. “Everybody had a platform to speak and be highly respected.”

She said it is hard to believe the allegations that Bhardwaj discriminated against someone or made them uncomfortable because of the open environment of his classes. She described Bhardwaj’s classes as being like A.A. meetings for African American Studies.

Brown said she felt like Bhardwaj brought a “new aspect” to African American studies beyond just African Americans being vocal on the issues they face.

“He’s gone through so many things, the struggle to even become a professor based on personal things that happened with his family and was still able to prevail and become a professor,” she said.

She said the university’s decision to remove Bhardwaj feels like a “stolen legacy.”

“He has like a gravitational ability,” Brown said. “Previous students came out to support him not being fired. You can really see the reputation he has among students and people he taught.”

Wu said he feels surprised and saddened

by Bhardwaj’s departure.

“It’s sad knowing that there will be thousands of students missing out on experiencing a Dr. B class,” Wu said. “I think it’s a little weird that his dismissal from the school was so sudden and kind of kept under wraps, especially for such a popular teacher.”

Brown said she finds Bhardwaj’s dismissal especially shocking given the unusually large amount of support he has from the student body.

“Over 5,000 students have posted on websites like ‘Rate My Professor.’ There’s just been this outpouring of support for him,” she said. “That doesn’t really ever happen for a professor, it’s kind of crazy. I’m just really disappointed that we don’t know full story or reasons. I feel it’s unfair.” email: maddy.fowler@ubspectrum.com twitter: @mmfower13

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‘This ain’t no Mudd Club or C.B.G.B.’: David Byrne plays at the CFA

COURTESY OF FLICKR USER ALTERNA2

David Byrne plays at a previous show. Byrne and his band played a mix of solo material and Talking Heads songs at the CFA on Saturday, trying out movements live in an effort “to work the bugs out” of their new tour.

Former Talking Heads frontman plays mix of classics and newer collaborations

DAN MCKEON COPY CHIEF

After taking their bows following a lively performance of the Talking Heads’ “The Great Curve,” David Byrne and his backing musicians headed back on stage for one last number: Janelle Monáe’s 2015 protest song “Hell You Talmbout.”

The song lists the names of AfricanAmerican men and women killed in acts of racial violence — many by police officers. The names included Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Eric Garner. The cov-

er was a powerfully stark, if not unexpected, ending to a night that covered Byrne’s over-40 year career.

Byrne, the new wave veteran who fronted the Talking Heads as well as working with Brian Eno, St. Vincent, De La Soul, Fatboy Slim and others throughout his solo career, played at the Center for the Arts on Tuesday night to a soldout crowd. The 21-song show was the third stop of a six-month tour to promote his first proper solo album in 14 years, “American Utopia.” The band featured 11 touring musicians in addition to Byrne himself. Half of them were percussionists, giving each song a fully fleshed-out rhythm section that the remaining musicians could play and groove with.

Though the show concluded with a strong political anthem, it began calm-

ly and casually, with Byrne walking out barefoot with the house lights still on. He looked at the crowd, said, “Hi,” and received a standing ovation.

“This is not how a show starts. I’m not going to do a comedy routine or something,” Byrne said to the crowd. He paused, smiled and joked that maybe he should try starting with some stand-up comedy.

Byrne said because the show was so early in the tour, there would be “some stuff that will probably get cut,” and the crowd at the CFA was “seeing it before anyone else.”

Byrne employed the type of choreography and set design he’s used throughout his career, but with a fresh approach that kept it from being a simple carbon copy of the famous “Stop Making Sense” concert film from 1984. The film captured what is considered by many — including Byrne himself — to be the most ambitious show of his career and introduced what would become iconic images of Talking Heads: big suits, herky-jerky choreography and an ever-building stage set designed to show the audience how the live sound was constructed.

The music started with three rows of beads slowly rose out of the floor, lit up to create a wall of light around the stage. Byrne sat alone at a table, singing “Here,” a song about the mind’s connection to music, to a model of a brain. One by one, the band walked in through the wall of light, barefoot and wearing grey suits, matching Byrne’s outfit.

Instead of building a set for the musicians to play on, Byrne created a flowing, moving stage of sound. Every member carried their instrument — the tradi-

Thursday, March 8, 2018

tional drum-set deconstructed and spread among six players — and mimicked Byrne’s sporadic movements.

Each song had its own setup of props, lights and movements. In “I Should Watch TV,” a song from his album with St. Vincent, a square white light shone out from the bead wall. Byrne stared in wonder at the implied television set as the band stood back, watching him interact with the light. At the end of the song, Byrne stepped through the bead wall and into the television.

Other pieces had setups that weren’t so directly symbolic of the lyrics, instead simply adding a visual element. On the Talking Heads’ song “Blind,” a strong light sitting on the front of the stage faced the band, creating a shadow silhouette on the back wall. Whoever stood closest to the light would cast the biggest shadow.

The musicians continuously shifted position. Byrne stood in front while he was singing, a drummer stood in front during a solo and the dancers stood in front during a breakdown.

While Byrne didn’t play some of Talking Heads’ biggest hits like “Psycho Killer” or “Take Me to the River,” he did perform crowd pleasers like “Once in a Lifetime,” confusedly stumbling around stage in homage to the famous music video, and “Burning Down the House.” Both songs were met with standing ovations and aisles full of dancing fans.

Byrne’s new album, “American Utopia,” comes out this Friday. His next show is on the same day at Palace Theater in Waterbury, Connecticut. email: dan.mckeon@ubspectrum.com twitter: @Dan_McKeon_

Fossil Free UB students honored at third annual shared governance day

Lights illuminates downtown Buffalo Pop star brings energy, synth pizza and marriage proposals to Buffalo

Members of Fossil Free UB are presented with shared governance award. For two years, Fossil Free UB has asked the university to divest its fossil fuel-related holdings.

BRENTON J. BLANCHET SENIOR ARTS EDITOR

Lights opened a pizza box on stage Tuesday night in Buffalo, revealing a keyboard she used to dive into one of her explosive pop tracks. A pizza box with a synth keyboard is the perfect metaphor for the unconventional coolness of the popstar.

The award-winning Canadian musician took her “We Were Here Tour” to the Town Ballroom where she showed off songs from her most recent “Skin and Earth” album and cuts from the early end of her discography. The audience sang along to stripped-down sets and let loose during an array of high-energy pop anthems. The singer played the keys, synth, electric and acoustic guitars for the roughly 500 in attendance.

The show’s visuals were captivating and refreshing, especially during high energy tracks like “Skydiving.” Before Lights returned to the stage to perform the track, glimpses of her “Skin and Earth” comic book series flickered on the backing screen. Fans screamed as they saw familiar faces from the comic books and screamed even louder when the series’ creator hit the stage.

During her interview with The Spectrum last month, Lights explained what she was hoping to accomplish with the show’s visuals.

“This is the first tour that I’ve been able to really build a cinematic crescendo of a set. There’s a definitive theme to the first half of the story and a definitive theme to

BRENTON BLANCHET, THE SPECTRUM

Pop star Lights performed at Town Ballroom Tuesday night, playing cuts from her recent “Skin and Earth” album along with fan favorites.

the back half of the set … I think it’s my best show I’ve ever put on,” Lights said.

Once the singer came out to join her three-piece backing band in “Skydiving,” audience members immediately sang along with her, echoing the song’s lyrics through the venue. The backing visuals turned into an image of a woman with futuristic body paint, moving to the beat of the track.

During the chorus, Lights didn’t need high-intensity choreography. She bounced around stage sporadically and managed to get the crowd involved without having any rehearsed or formulated dancing.

The crowd was head-bobbing along to the pop star’s high intensity performance of “Kicks,” as background visuals of “Sailor Moon” took the place of the usual fire, clouds and comic characters during the show.

The concert wasn’t just about the music. It was about the star’s personal touch.

During “Follow You Down,” the singer slowed the show’s mood and made way for her vocals. Members of the audience clapped along as Lights showcased her acoustic skills during the emotionally-raw performance.

Lights dedicated the performance to a couple who got engaged during her preshow meet and greet, inspiring the crowd

to applaud the pair.

During this stripped-down acoustic set, Lights still had help from her backing band, but the stage featured a new eye-popper. A keyboard stand filled with lit candles brought out the best of Town Ballroom’s intimate vibe and kept mood calm.

Afterward, the visuals prevailed again.

“Giants” didn’t only have the crowd singing along; it had some members of the crowd stare in amazement at the stage background.

The backing screen put viewers on a journey through the clouds. As the image showed off the sky, Lights’ intention to make viewers feel like “Giants” became very clear.

Lights set was followed with an encore.

The crowd chanted “one more song” but the singer surprised fans with two.

The tour’s titular track, “We Were Here,” served as a solid send off, with black and white clips of flames and some closing keyboard flourishes by the pop singer. email: brenton.blanchet@ubspectrum.com twitter: @BrentBlanchSpec

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Schneider told The Spectrum divestment is “not that simple and even [Fossil Free students] know it’s not that simple.”

Climate change activists have increasingly targeted institutions like universities with major endowments in their divestment campaigns. They have also gone after pension funds, banks and other major capital investors to some avail. Last December, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced he would look into divesting New York state pension funds from fossil fuel-related holdings.

Several colleges and universities have promised to divest from climate-change related industries, including Stanford University and University of Dayton.

Anthony DeFeo, a junior film studies major and member of UB Fossil Free, said he is “very proud” to receive recognition for the group’s efforts.

“Members of Fossil Free UB have gone door-to-door, in-person, to rally support from all corners of the university. That’s what it takes for a movement like ours, which started out small, to achieve success: in-person relations that span levels of governance,” DeFeo said.

The award was presented as part of UB’s third-annual shared governance day, which celebrates collaboration between the five pillars of the institution: faculty, administrators, staff, students and councils. email: sarah.crowley@ubspectrum.com twitter: @crowleyspectrum

Thursday, March 8, 2018

FEATURES

The Spectrum | Page 7

UB club gets cryptic Students embrace increase in blockchain technology WANLY CHEN ASST. FEATURES EDITOR

Cryptocurrency -- digitalized money or assets -- is unique in the financial market because its value is not backed by any banks or government.

With a current frenzy for cryptocurrency, UB Blockchains & Cryptocurrency Club is bringing interested students together. Members of the club are taught cryptocurrency’s financial impact and the technology behind how the currency obtains its value.

Bitcoin, the first cryptocurrency, was introduced in 2008 with the aim to create direct peer-to-peer transactions.

The club president’s Ralph Ades said having no mediator between transactions is what attracts users to cryptocurrency.

“It’s slowly becoming more and more reputable as a source of income and as just a currency itself,” said Ades, a sophomore business administration major. “A lot of people are fed up with the government controlling currency. So, people want to move away from and take control for themselves.”

The club is recognized by UB’s School of Management, but Ades said it isn’t just for business and economic students. By

PHOTO BY EMILY LI, THE SPECTRUM | GRAPHIC BY PIERCE STRUDLER

(left) UB students forms new club on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Members discuss how cryptocurrency and blockchain technology looks to change the way the financial world runs.

combining both the interests from cryptocurrency and the blockchain technology, Ades hopes to attract students from other majors.

“Every knowledge base is valuable so the more we can figure out, the better advantages we will have,” Ades said.

The club held its first meeting Feb. 23, with roughly one hundred attendees. Sajid Khan, a graduate student in the computer science program, said he attended the meeting to learn more about the blockchain technology.

“As a computer science major, you have to know about the new technology,” Khan said. “With blockchain being this new technology that not a lot of people know about, learning about it gives you an advantage over competitors when you’re looking for a job.”

The transactions made by cryptocurrency are backed by cryptography, the writing or solving of codes. Bina Ramamurthy, a computer science professor, said the complex algorithms involved in cryptography provide a secure network for monetary transactions.

A cryptocurrency transaction is a peer sending currency to another peer, Ranamurthy said. Several transactions make a block, and then miners collect the

transaction, verifying and validating it.

“If someone goes and changes something in the block, the link is going to be broken,” Ranamurthy said. “It [will] be invalid, and no one will accept that.”

Ades said it is important to start discussing the impact cryptocurrency will have. He said he believes cryptocurrency and blockchain technology will be important in the financial future.

“There are already platforms that are making [cryptocurrency] a worthwhile thing,” Ades said. “The more willing people are to hold them, the more credibility they get.”

In Dec. 2017, Bitcoin peaked at $19,783.

Today, the current value of one Bitcoin falls below $12,000, according to The Economist. Brian Wolfe, a UB finance professor, said this extreme change is due to cryptocurrency’s novelty and advises students to be cautious when investing in the market.

“It’s a very popular investment for students, but because it is new, it’s really dangerous and has the potential to be very lucrative as well as very risky,” Wolfe said.

“When you buy into an equity share or when you buy something like cryptocurrency, it can go to zero.”

Scott Arilotta, the club’s vice president of technology, said he is not afraid. Arilotta, a junior management information systems and finance major, said he sees cryptocurrency as the cash of the future and isn’t worried about recent fluctuations.

“Each time the market goes back down, people try to get out of the market,” Arilotta said. “It’s definitely the most volatile market, but because I know and understand the technology, I know this is going to be used in the future.”

He said he is going to make a “decent amount” off of cryptocurrency, so he is willing to hold his investment for two to five years.

Arilotta is excited for the club. He hopes it will be informative for those who are newly interested in cryptocurrency and hopes it becomes a common space for those that share his passion.

“For a school this big, I can’t believe this club hasn’t already been made,” Arilotta said. “Just talking about cryptocurrency gets me excited, and I know there are people in UB who need an outlet just as much as I do.” email: wanly.chen@ubspectrum.com twitter: @wanly_chen

News Briefs

CAMPUS

LOCAL

NATIONAL

GLOBAL

UB to hold free ‘repair fair’ next Monday in Student Union

Town of Amherst joins opioid lawsuit

Nashville Mayor resigns after felony charge

Ex-Russian spy and daughter critically ill

UB STEM is hosting a free repair fair next Monday from noon to 3 p.m. in the Student Union lobby. Expert volunteers will try to fix items like jewelry, bikes and appliances. After the fair, there will be a “TEDstyle” speaker series in the Student Union Theater from 4-5:30 p.m. where a panel of experts will discuss approaching changes in sustainability and manufacturing, according to UB’s website.

The Amherst Town Board announced its plan to file a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies Monday during a meeting, according to WGRZ. The town is joining other local counties who are tired of deaths related to opioid painkillers.

The driving force behind the suit is to recover costs for town police and other services that help individuals fight their addiction. Local police said they’re receiving calls daily, having to use Narcan more frequently and are seeing more overdoses than before.

Erie County filed a similar suit last February after 11 manufacturers misled doctors about the addictiveness of opioid painkillers.

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry announced her resignation at a press conference Tuesday morning after pleading guilty to stealing over $10,000 of property, according to CNN. She’ll pay the city of Nashville $11,000 in restitution and serve three years of probation.

The resignation comes after Barry admitted to having an affair with her former head of security detail Rob Forrest in January 2016.

Forrest also pleaded guilty to the same charge and agreed to pay $45,000 in restitution to the city of Nashville and serve three years probation.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, are in critical condition after being found unconscious on a bench outside a shopping center Sunday, BBC reports.

UK police are investigating what “unknown substance” harmed the father and daughter.

UB medical school to host ‘Genome Day’ for Buffalo public school children

On Thursday, 400 eighth-grade students from Buffalo public schools will head downtown to the medical school to learn about genetics.

The fourth-annual event will begin at 10:45 a.m. with Keynote speaker Eric Spana, Ph.D, a Duke University biology professor, delivering the keynote address, “Wizard Genetics of Harry Potter,” according to UB Now. Students will learn more about genetics with activities, including the chance to extract their own DNA to take home in a necklace.

Buffalo Police Dept. elects new chief

The common council unanimously voted Byron C. Lockwood as Buffalo’s new police commissioner, according to The Buffalo News. Lockwood, a 44-year department veteran, assumed the role of interim chief on Jan. 17 after former commissioner Daniel Derenda abruptly retired to pursue a job in the private sector.

Lockwood is the 41st person to lead the department. He said his three goals are to get the department accredited by the state, incorporate the regular use of body cameras and do more public policing.

Striking West Virginian teachers get deal

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice signed a bill Tuesday morning giving all state employees a five-percent pay increase, according to CNN. This includes all teachers and school employees who have been on strike the last nine days.

Last Tuesday, the governor and union leaders announced a five-percent raise for teachers but only four percent for state employees. This elongated the teachers’ strike, which started on Feb. 22 when nearly 20,000 teachers walked out of schools in the state.

Taxes will not be increased in the state, but there will be $20 million in cuts to Medicaid and general services.

Sri Lanka in State of Emergency after attacks on Muslims

Sri Lanka’s government declared a state of emergency on Tuesday after mobs attacked the Muslim population in the district of Kandy.

The attacks started on Sunday as members of the Sinhalese ethnic group attacked Muslim businesses, houses and mosques. The mob attacks highlight the country’s internal ethnic strife after decades of civil war, The New York Times reports. email: news@ubspectrum.com

SPORTS

Page 8 | The Spectrum

Thursday, March 8, 2018

For family and nation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

THE JOURNEY TO UB

MADISON MEYER, THE SPECTRUM

Sophomore forward Summer Hemphill in action at Alumni Arena. Hemphill is considered one of the Bulls’ top players who has potential to grow even more at UB.

Hemphill played sports other than basketball growing up, but that didn’t stop her from excelling at an early age.

“The thing is with Summer, if she is going to try something you just have to expect her to be good at it,” said her mother, Tina Kettle. “She has just always been able to pick up on anything and have a natural talent for it. She didn’t even start playing basketball until she was 10.”

Hemphill started her basketball career in fifth grade when she was attending the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, a school for students in grades five through 12. Kettle said when her daughter started playing, she could tell Hemphill was talented and tried to push her to pursue the sport further.

By the time Hemphill was in eighth grade, she had already joined the school’s varsity team, but said she didn’t take basketball seriously until she transferred to Cardinal O’Hara after sophomore year.

Hemphill led the Hawks to a Monsignor Martin Association Championship and was named the All-Catholic player of the year as a senior. She was also named to the AllWestern New York teams in both her seasons at Cardinal O’Hara. She said her time at O’Hara turned her into a player who could attract the eyes of college recruiters.

But the first time Bulls head coach Felisha Legette-Jack saw Hemphill play in person, she was unimpressed. She was not recruited for the 2016-17 season.

“The first time I went out to see her play, I just didn’t see it,” Legette-Jack said.

“My coaches went out to see her, too, and they didn’t push to sign her either.”

Legette-Jack continued recruiting. In February, she decided to reconsider Hemphill after talking to her high school coach-

es. Legette-Jack attended one of Hemphill’s final games of the season in a sectional against the Bishop Kearney Kings.

Something had changed, according to Legette-Jack.

“I watched her play, and there is something so magical about her,” Legette-Jack said. “The way she went out on the court, the way she played, the way she demanded from her teammates. I just thought, ‘I need to have this kid. This kid is the one.’”

It was a performance Hemphill remembers vividly. She said she made it her mission to have a strong game.

“My high school coach just told me that coach [Legette-]Jack was going to come and watch me play at Bishop Kearney and that I needed to do what I do best and just go allout, and that’s what I did,” Hemphill said.

After the game, Legette-Jack went to Hemphill’s coaches and discussed bringing her to UB despite it being late in the recruiting process. A few days later, Hemphill called Legette-Jack to let her know she was interested, and from there, Hemphill became a Bull.

Hemphill now holds the school rebound record for a single game and has had performances “on the same level as the U.S. national team,” according to Legette-Jack.

BEFORE BASKETBALL

Hemphill was born and raised in Buffalo and grew up in the house her grandfather, Alvin Walker, built near Martin Luther King Jr. Park. She was the second-youngest in a family of 10 and developed a close relationship with her younger brother, Justin.

“They were always competitive growing up,” Kettle said. “They would always be outside doing something. You have to remember that Summer was three years older, so she took the older sister role very seriously.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

[ UB STUDENTS SHARE YOUR TALENTS! ] Sign up to perform by emailing info@ubcfa.org

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The Spectrum | Page 9

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SPORTS

Page 10 | The Spectrum

MEN’S

Thursday, March 8, 2018

WOMEN’S*

2018 MAC Basketball Tournament Bracket

Quarterfinals 3/8 NO. 1

Quarterfinals 3/8 Semifinals 3/9

BUFFALO BULLS

NO. 1

(23-8, 15-3 MAC) NO. 8

Finals 3/10

NO. 9

BALL STATE CARDINALS

NO. 4

NO. 5

TOLEDO ROCKETS

NO. 2

NO. 10

BUFFALO BULLS KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (13-18, 5-13 MAC)

EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES

NO. 3

BALL STATE CARDINALS (24-5, 13-5 MAC)

(20-11, 11-7 MAC) NO. 11

OHIO BOBCATS

(25-4, 16-2 MAC)

MIAMI (OH) REDHAWKS (16-16, 8-10 MAC)

NO. 3

MIAMI (OH) REDHAWKS

(16-14, 9-9 MAC)

(21-10, 13-5 MAC) NO. 7

Finals 3/10

(20-9, 12-6 MAC)

KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (16-16, 9-9 MAC)

NO. 2

EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES (11-19, 6-12 MAC)

(19-12, 10-8 MAC) NO. 5

Semifinals 3/9

(25-4, 17-1 MAC)

CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS (19-13, 7-11 MAC)

NO. 4

CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS

AKRON ZIPS

NO. 6

(14-17, 6-12 MAC)

WESTERN MICHIGAN (17-14, 9-9 MAC)

GRAPHIC BY PIERCE STRUDLER | PHOTOS BY MADISON MEYER

It starts DANIEL PETRUCCELLI SPORTS EDITOR

The Bulls will be walking in to Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday as the MidAmerican Conference regular season champs for the first time.

Cleveland will host the MAC basketball tournament for the thirteenth straight season. The Bulls (23-8, 15-3 MAC) enter the tournament in the midst of one of the best seasons in program history. They are the sixth highest scoring team in the na-

tion at 85.2 points per game, a program record.

“We were kind of dominating the league when we were 8-0,” said Bulls head coach Nate Oats. “We had a few hiccups.

It’s bound to happen. I think human nature kicks in a little bit and they get a little arrogant maybe, full of themselves. I think we’ve got off that.”

Buffalo is the No. 1 seed this year and secured a victory over every school in the conference. They were able to avoid Monday’s play-in game for being a topfour seed. The three teams they lost to all had to play their way in on Monday, with the Miami (OH) RedHawks (15-16, 8-10 MAC) and the Kent State Golden Flashes (15-16, 9-9 MAC) moving on to Thursday.

Four players on the Bulls have been averaging more than 14 points per game.

The team said there has been a focus on

For family and nation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Hemphill said she would beat her brother in every game they played. She credits those early days playing sports with her brother for her competitive drive. Hemphill said growing up in Buffalo was a great experience and feels blessed to be able to stay in the area for her college career.

“A lot of my family and friends come out to all the home games, and that support is invaluable,” Hemphill said. “I see a lot of the other players who can’t have family here, … but I am blessed to have all these family and friends make it to all the games.”

Family support has always been a constant for Hemphill. She grew up near members of both sides of her family. Kettle recalled coaches from multiple sports complimenting Hemphill on her natural ability, even at a young age.

“They were going to have Summer play football because the coach thought she just had the natural arm for it,” Kettle said. “They didn’t have girls on the team, and they wanted her for quarterback.”

That natural ability didn’t stop at sports.

She even pursued dance early in her life.

“Just one day she wanted to try dancing. … We signed her up for a recital and I got her the outfit she needed,” Kettle said.

“When she was done, they wanted her for the program. They couldn’t stop talking about the way she moved.”

In the Bulls’ practice on Monday, Hemphill did pirouettes when not involved in drills.

SENECA HERITAGE

Hemphill and Kettle are enrolled members of the Seneca Nation. Kettle said that while raising Summer, she would stress the importance of her heritage and tell her to take pride in where her family came from.

“The whole Seneca Nation is rooting for Summer,” Kettle said. “Everyone is just so excited with what she is doing.”

This past summer, the Bulls held a combine on the Seneca Nation reservation for kids interested in playing basketball.

Hemphill said she feels family isn’t just an important value, but important to her growth as a person. She said without her family, she would not have the drive to to play every game to the best of her ability.

“I feel like my game represents my family on both sides,” Hemphill said. “They are really proud of what I am doing and want me to keep going.”

Hemphill stressed that she tries to represent friends as well as blood relatives.

She said she feels all the people who have helped her in her basketball career are now part of her family. The growth Hemphill has experienced while playing basketball, she added, has been the most important of her life.

GROWING AS A BULL

Upon Hemphill’s arrival, the coaching staff had plans to establish her into the team’s fold. Legette-Jack said Hemphill struggled to find confidence early on, playing only a few minutes in her first games as a Bull.

Hemphill said she lost her confidence from high school when she first arrived at UB. She said it was hard to find time between practice, classes, a mandatory 10 hours of study hall and seeing her family.

Hemphill still managed to impress in her freshman year, starting in 10 games last season. Hemphill said as time went on, things became easier for her when she began “just trying to fit in and go with the flow.”

“With coach [Legette-]Jack always pushing me to be better, I feel like it started to come back,” Hemphill said. “Even now I still feel my confidence is growing.”

This season, however, Hemphill took her game to another level.

Hemphill had 23 rebounds Feb. 24 against the Ohio Bobcats –– the most rebounds recorded by a male or female UB basketball player in a single game since

*as of print teams have not competed in the semifinals

analytic basketball and taking shots with higher expected values this year. Junior guard Nick Perkins said this new focus had a big impact on his game.

“My freshman year he didn’t talk about it too much, but these last two years he’s really embracing that,” said Perkins.

Perkins has been averaging 18.2 points per MAC game.

The Bulls’ biggest issue in their three losses and the latter half of conference play was their defense, especially in the second half. They had a streak of nine games during the season where they were outscored in the second half. They finally broke the streak in the first of their final three wins. Bulls hold their opponents to less than 70 points in the final two games.

The Bulls will be starting Thursday’s game at noon when they take on the Cen-

UB joined Division I. Hemphill was putting strong numbers up all season, averaging 10.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. It was her play in February that elevated her profile, as she improved to 12.5 points and 9.3 rebounds a game during that month.

The success Hemphill has was something she never expected.

“Coming out on the court, I am just grateful I can play and try to take advantage of it,” Hemphill said. “The thoughts had never come across my mind that I would be starting or getting that many boards.”

When she broke the record, Hemphill said she thought she only had 10 rebounds until the game was over and she saw the actual number.

The Bulls have had a strong season to match Hemphill’s, already setting the program’s record for wins in a season and winning the MAC East division. The team is in the MAC tournament, which began Wednesday and ends Saturday.

Hemphill’s teammates believe her full potential remains untapped.

“She is just incredible. I have never met somebody with such God-given talent,” said senior guard Stephanie Reid. “I know that with even more hard work, she will prove to be amazing.”

Her teammates have not just praised Hemphill for her talent, but also for her attitude off the court.

“I love Summer. She is a great person and a great teammate,” Reid said. “Her laugh is just infectious, and her sneezes are so loud they will wake the whole bus up in the middle of a trip.”

Hemphill said she felt the team become closer over the summer, growing not just as players but as people. She said the team wants to do the best for each other now, which has been the biggest change from last season. It is a sentiment shared by senior center Cassie Oursler, who considers Hemphill “somebody everybody has to look out for.”

“I don’t think she fully knows how good she is or can be,” Oursler said. “She is unstoppable when she is on her game. I envy that.”

Oursler said she is unable to fathom

tral Michigan Chippewas (19-13, 7-11 MAC). The Bulls have already recorded a victory over the Chippewas this season with a score of 88-82.

The Chippewas have four scorers in double-digits this season. Despite the previous win, it will be a tough matchup for the Bulls. Central Michigan may have entered as an eighth seed, but they have the number three scoring offense as well as defense and the second-best average scoring margin.

If the Bulls can defeat Central Michigan, they will take on the winner of the game between the Ball State Cardinals (19-12, 10-8 MAC) and the Kent State Golden Flashes. email: daniel.petruccelli@ubspectrum.com twitter: @DanP_Spectrum

MADISON MEYER, THE SPECTRUM

Sophomore forward Summer Hemphill in action at Alumni Arena. Hemphill is considered one of the Bulls’ top players who has potential to grow even more at UB.

how good Hemphill could be after two more years learning from Legette-Jack.

Hemphill looks at her time at UB as part of a bigger learning experience. She said her experience at the university has started her transition to adulthood.

With a strong season behind Hemphill, Leggette-Jack said it is now about trying to help Hemphill reach her potential.

“You can already see how good Summer is. We are trying to get everyone to see how great she can be,” Legette-Jack said. “I’ll tell you — look at these next two years. This is one of the best talents to walk into this school, and we now have a chance to see this young woman grow and do great things.” email: thomas.zafonte@ubspectrum.com twitter: @Thomas_Spectrum