THE SPECTRUM VOL. 68 NO. 12 | OCTOBER 11, 2018
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, SINCE 1950
OCT. 11, 1995 - A UB bus driver refused to pick up students in the Ellicott tunnel after claiming he was threatened by a student who called him a “b---and a motherf-----.” According to UB’s Public Safety [later becoming UPD], the student threatened to hit the driver but never did. Students said that the bus driver was driving recklessly and started the argument. The bus driver refused to drive anyone until Public Safety arrived to the scene. Other bus drivers who came passed by the parked bus without > picking up any students. SEE PAGE As a result, “three busloads of students” were forced to walk to class.
UBSPECTRUM
Baseball team’s new ‘home run’ attitude
Around town: What to do in Buffalo this weekend
UB baseball club team has new mindset after 2017 Division I cuts
> SEE>PAGE SEE PAGE 8
>>SEE SEEPAGE PAGE5
UB has no plans to develop, build on 200 acres of university land
UB Young Americans for Freedom chapter hosts conservative commentator Ben Shapiro Shapiro delivers civil discourse on feminism and women’s movements BENJAMIN BLANCHET, MAX KALNITZ SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR, SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
Map by UB Comprehensive Physical Plan Graphic by PHUONG VU
Conservative talk show host, writer and political commentator Ben Shapiro delivered a fact-filled, humorous speech to roughly 670 people on Monday night. Shapiro spoke to a sold-out crowd at Slee Hall and focused his discussion on radical feminism and current viewpoints on marriage, sexual relationships and abortion. The Young America’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization for conservative youth, paid Shapiro to speak on North Campus, as part of the organization’s Fred Allen Lecture Series. UB’s Young Americans for Freedom chapter presented the event. Shapiro spoke for roughly 40 minutes and ended the evening with a 30-minute Q&A The land is composed of fields, wood- session. Audience members’ questions ranged lands, creekside plant life, the Ellicott Creek from topics such as Shapiro’s tweets about the Trailway path, a 9/11 memorial, a radio tower Middle East, how to civically engage with liberand a small New York State weather station. als, Colin Kaepernick and abortion. Animals such as turkeys and deer graze the Compared to previous YAF events, like grounds daily, but UB barely uses most of the self-proclaimed “radical Islam expert” Robert land. Spencer’s event two years ago, audience memUB said it has no plans to build on the land bers acted peacefully and did not disrupt Shap-
Land is home to recreational paths and empty fields, but students want UB to promote it BENJAMIN BLANCHET SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR
HUMANS HUMANS OF OF UB UB
A lone sign tells students to enjoy the roughly 200 acres of UB land east of the
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Millersport Highway. The sign asks students to take “the path to a better quality of life throughout the community.” But North Campus maps don’t lead students to the path, or the hundreds of acres of land the path travels through. The land — about one-sixth of North Campus — is hardly used by UB.
> SEE UB
LAND | PAGE 2
Where’s number 83? Star wide receiver attempting to play through pain NATHANIEL MENDELSON SPORTS EDITOR
Relentlessness. Commitment. Pride. These three words are plastered on every shirt in the UB Football weight room. They are a guideline for how to act and a reminder of what it means to wear blue
and white on game days. Senior wide receiver Anthony Johnson has lived up to these words. For the past two-and-a-half games, fans and opponents have been wondering where Johnson is. Johnson led the Bulls with 1,356 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Johnson was in full uniform on the sidelines against Army and Central Michigan, but recorded less than 10 snaps combined in the two contests. The team only announced it as a leg in> SEE NUMBER
83 | PAGE 8
JACK LI | THE SPECTRUM Senior wide receiver Anthony Johnson hauls in the touchdown pass. Johnson has remained sidelined the past two weeks with a leg injury, but the team remains hopeful of his status for Saturday.
> SEE BEN
SHAPIRO | PAGE 4
Record-breaking hurricane leaves catastrophic damage in Florida BRENTON J. BLANCHET MANAGING EDITOR
The third-strongest storm to ever hit the U.S. slammed Florida on Wednesday. Hurricane Michael, a Category 4 storm with winds reaching up to 155 miles per hour, plummeted through Mexico Beach, Florida as the strongest recorded hurricane ever to hit the area. The storm caused catastrophic damage, leaving over 490,000 people with power outages in Alabama, Georgia and Florida and one reported fatality as of Wednesday night, according to CNN. The hurricane hit land with just under the highest wind speed possible for a Category 4 storm at 155 mph. If the hurricane reached 157 mph, it would be considered Category 5, the highest hurricane category. As the hurricane passed through Florida, it made its way to Georgia, becoming a Category 1 storm by 8 p.m. The storm is expected to weaken as it travels through the Northeast on Thursday and it will eventually head off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean early Friday, according to a National Hurricane Center advisory Wednesday night.
email: news@ubspectrum.com
NEWS
2 | Thursday, October 11, 2018 FROM PAGE 1
UB LAND “in the near or long terms” due to its commitment to ecological sustainability, according to Kelly Hayes McAlonie, director of Campus Planning. Many students don’t know UB owns the roughly 200 acres of land. Students, such as Joey Guastaferro, said they thought UB’s land was separated by its surrounding highways. “When I see maps, I don’t see that part UB owns. I would definitely want UB to tell me that it’s there because it’d be another place to explore the university,” said Guastaferro, a freshman undecided major. “There’s more nature and bike trails most people don’t know about, so it would have been nice to know.” Alex Eisenhauer, a master’s student in real estate development, is an Outdoor Pursuits supervisor. Eisenhauer said the land could potentially house a campsite, or an outdoor recreation or education area. “Those are the main things Outdoor Pursuits can do there now because they’re pretty low cost, low budget things that you can set up,” Eisenhauer said. “Going forward, if UB wants to do something with the land, there are unlimited possibilities.” An unseen plan The 200-plus acres are between the Millersport Highway, the Ellicott Creek and the Town of Amherst’s Audubon Golf Course/ Town Park. The land is mostly woodlands and empty fields. A portion of the Ellicott Creek trailway, a path used by bicyclists, joggers and pedestrians, circles the land’s border, as well. UB spokesperson Kate McKenna said the land doesn’t appear on North Campus maps because “of scale,” and if the “entire boundary of the campus was shown, names of the buildings and used landscape wouldn’t be readable.” There is only one sign near the Ellicott Creek signifying the land is UB property, and McKenna said “there is no need for additional signage” because of the “few roads” on the land. UB has no plan to build on the land because of the 2010 UB Comprehensive Master Plan, according to Hayes McAlonie. Hayes McAlonie said the plan is the “longterm planning strategy for growing and sustaining our three campuses” and the “frame-
work on which [UB] bases all of [its] decisions regarding building and land usage.” She said the plan states the “vast majority” of the land east of the Millersport Highway is “original undeveloped land.” “The plan recommended that this area remain undisturbed to support the riparian landscape around Ellicott Creek. As such, UB has no plan to build in this area in the near or long terms,” Hayes McAlonie said. This riparian landscape (vegetated area between land and water), Hayes McAlonie said, refers to the creek’s “wetland flora,” (plant life) and “fauna” (animal life). She said there is also a “flood plain on [each] side of the creek” and UB is “seeking to ecologically sustain this area.” UB’s 2006 Comprehensive Physical Plan, as well, describes a number of “physical limitations” toward building and development on North Campus. “Despite its vast areas of unbuilt space, North Campus cannot — and should not — support unlimited development,” the plan states. The plan explains how “much of the campus is off-limits to construction, including officially designated easements around wetlands and waterways.” The plan also reserves a number of UB sites from development to protect waterfront access and natural habitat. Still, the plan proposes different uses for the land east of the Millersport Highway. The plan states the land “provides essential expansion space for recreational and mixeduse development supportive of university competitiveness.” Proposed uses include an expansion of the Baird Research Park, and a retirement community. The plan also proposes a roundabout on the Millersport Highway and a road extension through the land, between North Campus’ Webster Road and North Forest Road. UB also considered a short-term “temporary parking lot” for spaces lost to ongoing construction projects. Sean Brodfuehrer, UB Facilities’ architectural planner, said the plan is “more vague” concerning land east of the Millersport Highway, but the plan will consider development when “specific needs or demand arise.” “The key to utilizing anything over there is proper and safe access and connectivity to it,” Brodfuehrer wrote in an email. “The
ubspectrum.com PRANAV KADAM | THE SPECTRUM Deer, squirrels and other wildlife graze UB’s land every day near the Ellicott Creek. The land east of the Millersport Highway is mostly undeveloped but features part of the Ellicott Creek trailway system.
road and infrastructure would [need] to be extended first before anything could occur over there. However, investing in extending east for any development would only happen after we have exhausted development sites around the academic core and the existing [Baird Research Park] first.” UB’s plan describes the land before North Campus’ construction in the 1960s. The land, the plan states, is part of the Great Lakes Floodplain Forest and “little of this ecosystem remains in the highly developed Buffalo Niagara region.” The plan also states campus landscapes are “healthier, more resilient and less expensive to maintain” through planting ecotopes, [or environmental landscapes], “that keep land, water and its fauna in balance.” Brodfuehrer said the university’s support of the Ellicott Creek landscape considers not just North Campus’ land within a larger regional ecosystem but also UB’s role to maintain a healthy environment. An uncertain future In September, the Student Association spent $6,863.90 on a wilderness first aid training event with Outdoor Pursuits at Camp Wyomoco in Varysburg, according to the SA ledger. SA spent $300 to rent the camp, and $820 to transport students to and from the camp. SA could have saved $1,120 by hosting the event at an on-campus recreational area.
“They went quite a ways away and they had to go off of UB property to go do that training,” Eisenhauer said. “I see it as a missed opportunity for UB to force people off of your campus despite being able to provide these amenities [on North Campus].” UB does not have a recreational area or camp, unlike SUNY Fredonia and SUNY Buffalo State. For the past two years, Outdoor Pursuits has proposed programs on the land to Student Life, according to Eisenhauer, but Student Life has not hosted recreational events on the land. SA President Gunnar Haberl, who proposed a UB-sponsored campground in March, said he didn’t know UB owned the land east of the Millersport Highway. Haberl said he’d be excited to partner with Outdoor Pursuits and UB toward student recreational programming on campus. Haberl said he would look at cost effectiveness and the feasibility of those programs. “Just like developments along Lake LaSalle, UB is taking that land, expanding and using the resources there — as well as expanding kayaking hours for students,” Haberl said. “Through that action, UB is saying they care about outdoor recreation but with this land, if it can [be used for] recreation, [UB] should provide outdoor recreational opportunities for students on that and I’d be more than willing to partner with them on that.” > SEE UB
LAND | PAGE 4
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OPINION
ubspectrum.com
THE SPECTRUM Thursday, October 11, 2018 Volume 68 Number 12 Circulation: 4,000
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Hannah Stein MANAGING EDITOR Brenton J. Blanchet CREATIVE DIRECTORS Phuong Vu Chase Wilcoxen, Asst. Anh Phuong Tran, Asst. COPY EDITORS Savanna Caldwell, Asst. Cassi Enderle, Asst. Lauryn King, Asst.
NEWS EDITOR Max Kalnitz, Senior FEATURES EDITORS Benjamin Blanchet, Senior Kirsten Dean, Asst.
ARTS EDITORS Brian Evans, Senior Samantha Vargas, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS Thomas Zafonte, Senior Nathaniel Mendelson MULTIMEDIA EDITORS Shubh Jain, Senior Jack Li, Asst. CARTOONISTS Ardi Digap Taj Taylor
PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Ayesha Kazi GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGERS JuYung Hong
ABOUT THE SPECTRUM The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Opinion section 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.
Letter to the editor On Monday, Oct. 1, the UB Living Stipend Movement attempted to attend a supposedly public meeting of the UB Council to ask why graduate and teaching assistants at UB do not earn a living wage. They were largely barred from the meeting under the false pretense that allowing them in would violate university fire code. After, members of the Council meekly trotted out a back exit, shielded from the horrors of criticism and questions from less affluent folk by a locked door and a UB police officer. This blatant disregard for both the principles of public servants and New York State law regarding public meetings would be reprehensible on its own, but on that very day, UB’s “Director of Issues Management & Stakeholder Communications,” Kate McKenna, published a press release on the UB News Center. This press release begins with the claim that “[t] he university very much values the talent and dedication of its graduate students,” proceeding with statistics that purported to show how much the university cares, but without acknowledging the UB Living Stipend Movement or their concerns. “Issues Management” indeed. This is an insult to UB’s graduate and research assistants, faculty, undergraduates, and the community at large, who university management apparently perceives as a herd to be fed misinformation and so kept in line. Let’s examine some claims from the press release: “Last year, the College of Arts and Sciences implemented a process for raising teaching assistant stipends. The College of Arts and Sciences has partnered with the departments of philosophy, linguistics and English, which has,
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in particular, made considerable progress. UB’s English department has increased doctoral student stipends by $3,000 this fall. This raises the average amount of stipends awarded to teaching assistants in the English department to $18,000…” It seems that the press release would have the public conflate a supposed increase in English TA stipends with an increase in stipends across the College of Arts and Sciences. This is misleading in two ways. First, this supposed stipend increase is actually a top-up to particularly poorly compensated students within the English department alone. Second, even if this number were accurate for all students in these departments, it fails to take into account the $2,000 in mandatory fees that graduate students pay, as well as the fact that according to the MIT living wage calculator, a living wage for Buffalo is about $24,000 per year. Even if the press release was being truthful here, that would leave these stipends $8,000 short. It is worth noting that the median stipends for UB TAs and GAs are each less than $18,000 and $14,000 respectively, according to a UB report from this past May. “...graduate students who serve as teaching assistants at UB receive a total funding package averaging about $38,000 per year, which includes a tuition scholarship... a stipend[,] and health benefits. The university believes this represents a significant investment in our graduate students.” Evidently, over half of the university’s investment in graduate students is in the form of their tuition waiver. Tuition waivers are not income. Tuition waivers do not
help graduate students put food on their tables or pay bills and mandatory university fees. If this is what a “significant investment” looks like for a university with an endowment of approximately $660 million and access to over $100 million in unrestricted funds each year from the UB Foundation, it suggests how little the university values assistants who run classes, grade assignments, and perform much of the research that happens at UB during and outside of the academic year. On the topic of funds beyond student stipends, the press release provides another gem, which is an indirect, inadequate response to observations made by members of the Living Stipend Movement: “Unrestricted funds from UBF are limited in their use and they are used for specific purposes, in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. These funds are limited for use in following three categories.” [sic] Before looking at the restrictions on unrestricted funds, the discerning reader may meditate on this statement. Perhaps the press release is giving us the UB administration’s take on a Buddhist koan. If the contradiction is pondered long enough, the dedicated acolyte may reach enlightenment and so have no need for such worldly things as financial independence. What does it mean for unrestricted funds to be restricted? Certainly, someone must have the power to determine the uses of unrestricted funds. Or perhaps the power lies with a number of people… such as those who create university policy and essentially choose the university president. But these conceptual puzzles are mind-bending
Dining crasher: How I ate for free on campus for a week ISABELLA NURT STAFF WRITER
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Thursday, October 11, 2018 | 3
Have you ever crashed a networking event on campus just because you saw a lavish refreshment table or attended a club meeting you had no interest in because it had pizza? Have you ever considered donating blood just for the free chips and cookies? If so, you are not alone. I, too, am a broke and hungry college student. So, for one whole week, I tried to survive entirely on free food. I, like many part-time, minimum wage-making students, find free food a necessity at times. I have been a serial dining crasher since I started college. I know how to surreptitiously slither into a networking event in the Center for the Arts to snag an artisan pizza slice and miniature cannolis. After two years of cultivating my crash methodology, I jumped at the opportunity to see if I could survive on free food alone for a week. I started that week ready to test my abilities. I got to the Student
Union and could not believe my luck. That Monday was the day of the Sustainable Living Fair & Pride of NY event. For those of you who missed this golden opportunity, local businesses tabled and offered free food samples to students. It was only the first day and I was already off to a great start. Everything I could ever want was at that fair: cacao granola bars from Feel Rite Fresh Markets, apples from Boulevard Produce, Perry’s ice cream sandwiches, pierogies, meatballs, pastrami sandwiches, smoothies — I ate it all in the 15-minute window I had before my 11 a.m. class. It was not even noon and surely I was close to my recommended calorie consumption. The next day was not as easy. I scoured the hallways of campus, looking for club flyers that advertised “Free Pizza” at introductory meetings. I saw a few ice cream socials and pizza parties, but they had already happened in the first week of school. I finally stumbled upon the free fruit stand run by the wellness center while walking through the union. The wellness center offers free fruit on Tuesdays and vegetables on Thursdays. I stopped into the office and found out that it also offers free tea, massages and condoms. The latter two however were not edible. After pouring myself a cup of hot tea, I continued my search.
Four hours later and my blood sugar was depleting. I saw that there was a blood drive going on in the union and peered in the doorway to find a table with cookies, chips, granola bars and apple juice. I walked in and declared enthusiastically that I would like to give blood — in exchange for the refreshments. There I was, a shining emblem of charity in the community, and so close to getting my belly filled with carbs. I happily started filling out the paperwork when I read that people who had traveled to foreign countries recently were not eligible to donate blood. I had been in Poland this summer, so no cookies or chips for me. That evening I went to my babysitting job and stuffed my face with an Uncrustables Sandwich and a Cosmic Brownie. Never has processed, refined, sugary kid food tasted so delicious to me. If Tuesday was tough, on Wednesday I went the whole day without eating. While heading out from my class in the CFA, I saw a man walking outside with three pizza boxes. As a seasoned dining crasher, I knew that multiple pizza boxes could mean a free food event. I dashed out the door of the building, stealthily chasing the man with the pizza —careful not to spook him. Alas, he turned a corner by Slee Hall. I whipped around it only to find that he had disappeared. Was there ever really a man with pizzas, or was I beginning to hal-
and obviously beyond the minds of lowly students. Let us continue to the three restricted uses of unrestricted funds. “Funds to support UB schools or units, the press release stated. “These funds have no donor restrictions, but are limited in their use to a specific school, unit or program… Funds designated for investment purposes… in accordance with best practice spending policies followed by UBF… Funds that are not liquid; they represent the value of property, plant and equipment assets or fine art assets, or are reserves set aside to maintain university property, plant and equipment.” These explanations are, at best, inadequate for communicating what unrestricted funds are to be used for. In fact, this press release seems to raise more questions than it pretends to answer. It is not made clear how these funds are actually distributed or precisely how they can be used, and it does not explain how these funds being so tied up would justify the fact that UB graduate stipends rank 34th out of 34 AAU schools after factoring in mandatory fees. The university’s refusal to listen to the concerns of those who keep it running indicates that administration and the UB Council would rather sit on their hands than do the minimal work of making sure that graduate students are paid a living wage. It indicates that they intend to continue functioning without transparency, violating New York State law, engaging in self-congratulatory performances, and neglecting their duties as stewards of a public institution while graduate students struggle to support themselves. -Austin Liebers, Ph.D. philosophy student lucinate from malnutrition? Luckily, Seasons Café in the CFA usually has a plate with free samples. I grabbed three broken oatmeal cookie samples as the servers looked at me disapprovingly. On Thursday, my luck took a turn. The Honors College was having its monthly International Tea Time event. Being a member of the college, I have access to these networking events. The theme for September was Japan and there was free sushi for students and faculty. That held me over for lunch. I went to my 7 p.m. lecture in Baldy that evening, and my angel of a professor bought the class donuts. My rumbling stomach subsided as my Boston crème melted in my mouth. But I was still so, so hungry. Friday finally came and it happened to be payday. My check from work processed and I was ready to be done with the free diet. As Lil Scrappy once said, “I got money in the bank, Shawty what you drank?” “I’ll have a large Protein Berry Workout, please. Put it on my card!” I said to the cashier at Jamba Juice while speaking at too loud a volume for eight in the morning. I was so excited to finally be able to pay for food. Would I recommend the free diet to anyone? Not unless you hate yourself. The crashing life is a gamble and everyday is a lottery. One day you are rolling in free pierogi samples and the next you are chasing pizza guys and bartering human blood for a cookie. In short, just get a job. email: features@ubspectrum.com
4 | Thursday, October 11, 2018
FEATURES
FROM PAGE 1
JACK LI | THE SPECTRUM
BEN SHAPIRO iro’s talk. UPD and security outlined the theater in case any students shouted or threw anything towards the speaker. UB’s YAF chapter president Mike Powers said no matter who comes to campus, “Ben Shapiro or not,” it’s important for the UB community to give them support. “You need to do your job as a human being, and that is to help the people to the left and the right of you,” Powers said. “We need to engage in a conversation, because Joe Biden is coming to campus, Condoleezza Rice is coming to campus. What about the people from the right[-leaning] or Republican view? Go support those speakers, be supportive and impartial to a lot of things, and keep your mind open.” The event went off “without a hitch” in terms of safety, according to UPD Deputy Chief Joshua Sticht. “The only problem really was there were so many more people that wanted to get in [Slee Hall] from outside that couldn’t. As far as problems go that’s the kind you want to have with an event like this,” Sticht said. An hour and a half before the event, roughly 100 people lined up in the Student Union to pick up unclaimed tickets for the event. Prior to Shapiro’s talk, security allowed a few members of the community waiting outside the concert hall into the event to fill remaining empty seats. Senior Associate Vice President for Student Life Barb Ricotta kicked things off with a vidFROM PAGE 2
UB LAND Haberl said with any construction happening at UB, the university needs to conserve “any green space” it has on its property and effectively utilize it. Eisenhauer said he recognizes Student Life’s administrative transitions and other outside factors playing a role in past denied proposals. Whether UB uses the land for academic buildings or retirement homes, Eisenhauer said his generation is looking for outdoor experiences and opportunities without necessarily going two or three hours away. “Part of development itself is making sure the land is used in the best way possible and I think UB really needs to double down on that
ubspectrum.com
Conservative talk show host and writer Ben Shapiro spoke about his views on “radical” feminism on Monday in Slee Hall.
eo featuring members of the UB community talking about freedom of expression. Shapiro entered to a standing ovation, and then reminisced about watching Jim Kelly’s Buffalo Bills and his first trip to Buffalo from California 11 years ago to see a snowy Niagara Falls. He jumped straight into a discussion of the sexes and the recent confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. “If you listen to the media, or are on a college campus, chances are you probably think, here in the United States, we’re in the middle of a war between the sexes,” Shapiro said. “That’s particularly true following the saga of Brett Kavanaugh that we just watched, in which … the mainstream democratic party decided that belief in the presumption of innocence and the process did not apply to men.” Shapiro said feminism has been radicalized, taking a “disgraceful departure” from its origins. He calls himself an “original feminist”
and said he supports women’s rights, but values traditional relationship roles and marriages. “Feminism moved from being about achieving equal rights for women to something different,” Shapiro said. “Instead, feminism was turned into a fight over three chief ideas. One, men and women are absolutely identical. Not they have equal rights, not they should be treated with equal opportunity … Second, that every institution in American society … [is] reflective of an evil patriarchal system. And finally, we need a new standard, we need new morals to replace the old patriarchal stance.” Students appreciated the opportunity to see the speaker express his viewpoints and directly ask him questions, which often turned into fulllength conversations. Andy Kowalczyk, a freshman philosophy and political science major, asked Shapiro a question during the Q&A. He told Shapiro that he’s liberal and then
because I don’t know if they always do that,” Eisenhauer said. Outdoor Pursuits “currently does not use the land for student activities” and doesn’t “have plans for use of that space,” according to UB spokesperson Kate McKenna. Although UB said it does not have plans for the land, the Town of Amherst recently introduced plans for a park on a portion of UB’s land. Amherst Town Supervisor Brian Kulpa discussed the proposal during his State of the Town address in January. Investors proposed a $250 million development to the town at the former Westwood Country Club site, according to WBFO. The proposal, dubbed Amherst Central Park, also includes surrounding properties like UB’s
land east of the Millersport Highway. Ryan McPherson, Chief Sustainability Officer with UB Sustainability, said his office is looking at the land’s potential for “groundmounted solar systems” which would provide “100 new megawatts of renewable energy for UB and its partners.” The installations would be in tune with UB Sustainability’s Rev Campus Challenge, a “renewable energy initiative” to “invest in the region while reducing energy costs” at institutions such as UB, according to UB Sustainability’s website. Aside from environmental use, students such as Callum Richardson want UB to consider the land for parking. “Everyone is always complaining about
asked about the conservative’s thoughts on Alex Jones being banned from social media and NFL players kneeling during the anthem. Kowalczyk appreciated that even though Shapiro has different political views, he still entertained his ideas and had an in-depth conversation on the issues. “I came out tonight just to see him and to see a different viewpoint than mine. It was cool to experience that live at my university,” Kowalczyk said. “I wanted to ask a question because I have a slightly different demeanor than other liberals. His laid-back style neutralizes him. I like to talk about general issues in this country and that’s what I did tonight. I’m glad we were able to talk about things.” Matthew O’Connor, a junior mechanical aerospace engineering major, said he didn’t expect students to ask Shapiro such thoughtprovoking questions. He appreciates that UB can have speakers like Shapiro come to campus, talk about their viewpoints and interact with students in such an intimate setting. “I like to have the ability to sit in on an event like this and hear the different viewpoints UB students have,” O’Connor said. “There were some points I disagreed with, but I agreed with a lot of what he said. I really liked the way a lot of the students asked powerful questions [during the Q&A] not just ones he can breeze off. These people really showed the intelligence of the school.” email: benjamin.blanchet@ubspectrum.com and max. kalnitz@ubspectrum.com. twitter @BenjaminUBSpec and @Max_Kalnitz.
parking. If UB built a shuttle stop next to a parking spot it could bring people to the Ellicott [Complex] or the [academic] spine,” said Richardson, a freshman undecided major. Eisenhauer said no matter the project, he “desperately thinks” UB needs to create more spaces where students, faculty and staff “want to be.” “Right now, North Campus is pretty dry and if you’re there, you’re probably there for class,” Eisenhauer said. “Students’ options are the Student Union and the Commons which are what they are, so I think that UB really needs to look at creating something - an environment where people want to be.” email: benjamin.blanchet@ubspectrum.com twitter: @BenjaminUBSpec.
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With forecasts predicting highs in the 50s and calling for partly cloudy skies, here’s what you can do in town this weekend to celebrate fall in Buffalo. OKTOBERFEST ON THE ELMWOOD AVENUE STRIP ELMWOOD AVENUE, OCT. 12-14, TIMES VARY
What to do in Buffalo this weekend KIRSTEN DEAN ASST. FEATURES EDITOR
After a few 80-degree days in Buffalo this week, typical fall weather will return this weekend.
A fall celebration filled with food, music and shopping will be on Elmwood Avenue this weekend. The event begins on Friday and ends on Sunday, with different activities offered each day of the festival. The celebration kicks off on Friday at 4 p.m. with a happy hour and a shop crawl. Punch card usage begins this day, where, if festival-goers spend a minimum of $5 at a number of shops and restaurants, they receive a card punch. If a card gets filled with punches by Sunday at 6 p.m., attendees will be entered to win an “ultimate Elmwood Strip gift certificate package valued at more than $300,” according to the festival’s website. On Saturday, there will be face painting and a pumpkin patch at the Elmwood Village Farmers Market at Bidwell from
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The shop crawl will last from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Bands will play live all day at a number of bars and restaurants, as well. There will also be a free shuttle service on Saturday between six Elmwood Avenue stops from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Shuttle stops will be marked by signs, hay bales and corn stalks. On Sunday, brunch will be held at participating restaurants and bars and the shop crawl will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. HAUNTED FOOD TRUCK RODEO IRON ISLAND MUSEUM, OCT. 12, 5 P.M.
The Iron Island Museum, built in 1883, is a former church and funeral home rumored to be haunted, according to locals. The museum has been featured on paranormal television shows “Ghost Hunters,” “Ghost Lab” and “My Ghost Story.” On Friday night, the museum is opening its doors for a spooky food truck event. The museum will “be scaring you as you walk through the haunted halls of Iron Island…” according to Iron Island’s Facebook event page. Iron Island will offer museum tours for $5 throughout the day from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Food trucks including Fat Bob’s, Get Fried and Sweet Melody’s will be parked outside the museum during this “haunting” event. MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER OF BUFFALO CANALSIDE, OCT. 13, 8:30 A.M. TO 3 P.M.
The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Buffalo is an event that “raises awareness and funds to save lives from breast cancer,” according to the event’s website. The event will offer a non-competitive
Thursday, October 11, 2018 | 5
5k walk at 10:15 a.m. and a competitive 5k run at 10 a.m. The money raised from the event will go toward supporting breast cancer research, reducing breast cancer risk and discovering cancer in its earliest stages. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, followed by an opening ceremony, the runs and walks and post-walk entertainment. This event “is a celebration of survivors and opportunity to remember loved-ones lost,” according to the event’s website. FALL FOLIAGE HIKE SATURDAY, OCT. 13, 42 NORTH BREWING COMPANY, EAST AURORA, TOURS BEGIN AT 11 A.M. AND 1 P.M.
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s fall foliage hike this weekend will be in the headwater forest, a “richly diverse ecosystem where the headwaters of Eighteen Mile Creek produces, filters and contributes to local drinking water,” according to StepOutBuffalo. There will be two tours on Saturday. The hike, plus the time to shuttle to Concord Community Forest and back, will last around two-and-a half hours. Hikers will meet at 42 North Brewing Company in East Aurora. The hike is perfect timing with fall foliage and the views “will take your breath away,” according to StepOutBuffalo. On the tour, hikers will also learn about the protection of Buffalo’s headwater forests and waterways by Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper staff. Each hiking ticket will include a shuttle ride to the hiking location and a free beer, made locally, at 42 North Brewing Company. email: kirsten.dean@ubspectrum.com twitter: @KirstenUBSpec
Halloween Season Movie Guide Your collection of cinematic selections
literary creations coming to life.
SAMANTHA VARGAS
Oct. 12 The trailer for this thriller came out of nowhere. The star-studded cast each perform as motel guests, with characters searching for seperate things, playing out their own segments. The film features Jon Hamm, Chris Hemsworth, Dakota Johnson and Jeff Bridges. Throughout their separate journeys, the characters go through different trials and enmity with death around every corner. This tension-filled film is sure to appease Halloween anticipation.
ASST. ARTS EDITOR
Fans of the Halloween season wait yearround for the month of October to finally roll in. They sit around in anticipation to throw on their favorite festive classics. When “Hocus Pocus” and “Halloween” aren’t enough to satisfy your craving for spooky entertainment, here is what’s premiering during the month of October.
Venom
Oct. 5 Sony’s Marvel Universe provides the first scare of the month with the release of “Venom.” Venom, as a character, made their debut appearance in the cinematic classic “Spider-Man 3,” featuring the enigmatic Tobey Maguire. This spin-off stars Tom Hardy as the titular Venom. The film recaps the origin story of the anti-hero but with a dark twist. The twist, of course, being the atrocious CGI. The film didn’t intend to be scary, but somehow it managed to fall in line with the Halloween season.
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
Oct. 12 Is there anything better than poorly made horror films? Yes, poorly made Halloween films for children. “Goosebumps” used to reach the highest peak of cultural significance, and now it has theatrical films. This installment will draw out the most elite of Halloween fans. The self-referencing film stars Jack Black and follows the story of R.L Stine’s
Bad Times at the El Royale
Halloween
Oct. 19 The original 1978 “Halloween” is a seasonal classic, but modern Hollywood has remake money to spare. Jamie Lee Curtis steps down from ruling her yogurt empire to reprise her role as Laurie Strode, the original scream queen. Michael Myers is still dealing with his Freudian issues and aggressively violent outbursts. When he escapes from prison yet again, under ridiculous horror film circumstance, he goes after Laurie for revenge. Except this time, Laurie is ready for him.
Serenity
Oct. 19 This thriller also features a star-studded cast just in time for the Halloween season. Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway star as exes who come back into each other’s lives. McConaughey’s simple life is interrupted when his ex-wife returns, begging
him for help with her new abusive partner. Violence and murder fill the sea with this thriller, providing plot twists to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
Suspiria Oct. 26
Another horror remake graces the silver screen this month. The classic 1977 film “Suspiria,” is being remade starring Tilda Swinton, Chloe
Grace Moretz, and Dakota Johnson. Critics praised the original film for its amazing cinematography and framing, setting up the remake for a difficult follow up. The plot follows the toxic relationship between ballet dancers and a renowned dance company. Many involved will fall into the spiral that follows the company, but some will rise out of the shadows. email: samantha.vargas@ubspectrum.com twitter: @SamVargasArts
COURTESY OF AMAZON STUDIOS “Suspiria” follows the toxic relationship between ballet dancers and a renowned dance company. The film is one of many spooky selections coming out this Halloween season.
6 | Thursday, October 11, 2018
NEWS
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HUMANS OF UB HUMANS OF UB, A NEW SPECTRUM INTERVIEW SERIES, SHARES IMPACTFUL STORIES FROM THE LIVES OF YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS.
PRANAV KADAM | THE SPECTRUM
Follow us on social media to catch up with the series every Tuesday and Thursday.
“ My mother and my grandmother were diagnosed with cancer in my sophomore year [of college]. At the same time, my grandfather had dementia so he always needed someone to take care of him. It was a very stressful time for my family. I had just switched majors and I was working 28 hours a week. My brother was a full-time employee and a full-time student and my sister worked for more than 60 hours a week. Thankfully, my mom beat her cancer and for a while. My grandma seemed to have beaten it too, however, the treatment was quite rough on her and the cancer relapsed. In the middle of all this, I came home one day to the sight of police cars and ambulances -- discovering that my sister had died due to brain hemorrhage. I was broken. On Feb. 21st last year, I watched my grandma breathe her last [breath] and on the very next day, I found out that my three-year long girlfriend had cheated on me and that hurt. I descended into deep depression. I cut myself off from my family and my friends. I turned down internships and quit my job because I was just too depressed. I had become a zombie. But I refused to give up. I rapidly started working on self-recovery. I started exercising. I started running for 5 miles every other day. I started reading self-help books. I started meditating and trying new things. I began eating healthy and getting a whole lot of sleep. I began to appreciate people and started wondering why everyone doesn’t do the same. I’ve always believed that we don’t do what we can for other people. We only do the bare minimum. If a person is on your mind all day, why not shoot them a text? Your text affects that person in a positive way, that person affects other people’s lives in a positive way and this goes on. It’s crazy how one small gesture can affect life so much. There’s going to be a lot of suffering in life but we should at least limit the amount of suffering that we cause. I am a TA now and I’m graduating this year. I’m working on getting an internship and I have never been more positive. At the end of the day, life is going to happen. And if you prepare for it today and work on yourself, you can make tomorrow a whole lot better.” - Iman Abdul-Rasheed, senior, computer science major
“
I’d say I’m probably a very reserved person. More or less until you get to know me, which is like most people. The best way probably I reflect myself is through my shoes. I love wearing cool sneakers. Adidas is my favorite brand for cool shoes. I don’t think I stand out necessarily in any huge way. Definitely, like I said, reserved but I express [myself] in little ways like the shoes and the ring. I never considered myself a fashionable person, but I don’t know. I just wear what I like. So, I’m not necessarily looking at magazines or runway shows or any stuff like that. I just wear what I enjoy. And I think that I do it okay. I like what I’m wearing, and that’s what matters.” - Felicia Vanier, sophomore environmental engineer.
SPORTS
Carissima Cutrona out for year, will miss rest of UB career SPORTS DESK
UB soccer’s star senior forward Carissima Cutrona is out for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury against the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Sept. 30. Cutrona was leading the team in points, goals and assists at the time of her injury. She finishes the season with 24 points, 8 goals and 8 assists. Both points and assists are a
career high. Without Cutrona, the Bulls will need other members of the team to step up and score. It won’t be easy to replace one of the all-time program greats. Cutrona grew up just 10 minutes away from UB Stadium in Williamsville and finishes her career as one of the best offensive players in school history. Cutrona ranks sixth in goals with 28, fifth in assists with 18 and
sixth in total points with 74. Cutrona is the captain for the team and received first-team All Mid-American Conference honors her junior season. Cutrona excelled in the classroom as well and was a three-time Academic All-MAC squad member as a psychology major. email: sports@ubspectrum.com
SAI SEETHALA | THE SPECTRUM Senior forward Carissima Cutrona runs on the pitch. Cutrona suffered a career-ending injury two weeks ago against Eastern Michigan and finishes her career as sixth-overall in points at UB.
CLASSIFIEDS
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4, 5, 6, & 8 BEDROOM REMODELED APARTMENT HOUSES. 37 apartments available located at University Buffalo Main Street Campus off Englewood. Beginning June 2019: UB South Campus for @ $300-$425/ bedroom plus utilities. Washers & dryers included. Contact bradengel37@gmail.com or Shawn at 716-984-7813 check out our web-site: www.bufapt.com
4, 5, 6, & 8 BEDROOM REMODELED APARTMENT HOUSES. 37 apartments available located at University Buffalo Main Street Campus off Englewood. Beginning June 2019: UB South Campus for @ $300-$425/ bedroom plus utilities. Washers & dryers included. Contact bradengel37@gmail.com or Shawn at 716-984-7813 check out our web-site: www.bufapt.com
4, 5 & 8 BEDROOM APARTMENTS AVAILABLE NOW!!! $275$325/ bedroom plus utilities. Apartments are all located at: UB South (Merrimac, Englewood, Main). Spacious Bedrooms, noncoin Washers and Dryers. Newer appliances and Modern Baths and Kitchens. Must See!! Available NOW!!! Website: ubhousing.com Call: 716-881-3040 Email: ardobr@aol.com
SERVICES
NOW HIRING!! Experienced kitchen staff. Part-time flexible schedules. Apply in person. Eagle House 5578 Main St. Williamsville. Part-Time Positions Available. Lasertron Family Entertainment Center is currently hiring for general customer service. Working at a fast, detail-oriented pace and having excellent customer service skills is a must. Starting at $12-$14/ hr, must be available nights and weekends. Stop in and complete an application at Lastertron, 5101 North Bailey Avenue, Amherst, NY.
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Accepted Insurance Plans:
Wegmans Pharmacy flu shot clinics will be held at these locations and dates: Student Union Lobby, North Campus • Tuesday, Oct. 16, 9:30 am – 1 pm
Ellicott Dining Complex, outside of Crossroads Culinary Center (C3) • Tuesday, Oct. 23, 5 – 7:30 pm • Wednesday, Oct. 24, 5 – 7:30 pm
• Blue Cross of WNY • Empire Plan (NY State Employees) • Excellus • Fidelis (must be 19+) • Independent Health • Most Medicare Plans • UB Student Insurance (Blue Cross of WNY) • Univera • Plus many more! We unfortunately cannot accept UB International Student Insurance
For fastest service, schedule ahead at wegmansfoodmarkets.fullslate.com Quadrivalent formulation retail price is $39.99. (Flu vaccine may be available at the Michael Hall health center at a reduced cost.) Bring your prescription insurance card—your insurance will be billed. Clinics are open to ages 2 and up with responsible adult. *Wegmans received the highest score among supermarket pharmacies in the J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Pharmacy Study of customers’ satisfaction with their pharmacy. Visit jdpower.com/awards
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SPORTS
8 | Thursday, October 11, 2018
The edge:
Buffalo vs. akron A position-to-position breakdown for homecoming
SPORTS DESK
The Bulls responded from their worst offensive performance of the year by putting up 34 points against the top-ranked defense in the Mid-American Conference and gaining the program’s first-ever road win over the Central Michigan Chippewas. Buffalo (5-1, 2-0 MAC) looks to continue its success Saturday against the Akron Zips (2-2, 0-1 MAC) at home. It will be the Bulls’ homecoming game. This is Buffalo’s second home-conference game this season and third overall. Key players have been banged up in recent weeks with injuries on both sides of the ball. With a win, the Bulls will reach bowl eligibility for the second straight year.
Quarterback- Bulls Buffalo and Akron are only separated by 6 yards of total passing offense per game. Junior Tyree Jackson has averaged 221 yards per game but has completed over 55 percent of his passes. He has an efficiency rating of 151.7. With 17 touchdowns through six games, Jackson is currently on pace to break the single-season passing touchdown record of 29, set by Joe Licata in 2014. Akron sophomore Kato Nelson has thrown more interceptions than Jackson in two less games. Nelson is more likely to use his legs and scramble rather than remain in the pocket and find someone downfield. Jackson’s ability to read coverages and extend plays with his legs has produced numerous highlights this season and he should continue to shine Saturday.
Running back - bulls Akron has a stiff run defense that has only allowed 125.5 yards per game to opposing running backs. But, freshman duo Kevin Marks and Jaret Patterson are both full of big play potential and they have the ability to take over games. Marks has scored a touchdown in five-straight games, the first freshman in UB’s FBS era to do so. Akron’s quarterback Nelson has the most rushing attempts on the team and the Zips, as a unit, average only 3.3 yards per carry compared to Buffalo’s 4.5. Led by one of the best offensive lines in college football, Buffalo’s running backs should be able to break open big gains against the Zips.
wide Receivers - pick ‘em Junior K.J. Osborn has been the workhorse of the Buffalo offense this season. Osborn is averaging over 18 yards per catch and has a team leading 6 touchdowns. The Bulls receiving corps had its worst two games of the season with senior Anthony Johnson out with a leg injury. With his status unknown for Saturday, the Bulls will need players like graduate transfer George Rushing to find the endzone for the first time since week one. Akron leads a more balanced attack with four receivers having at least 100 yards and a touchdown on the season. If Buffalo can get its tight ends more involved with the passing game it will win, but the Bulls have yet to show a willingness to continually target them this season.
Coaches - Bulls Head coach Lance Leipold is looking for revenge against Akron this week. After losing in a 21-20 nail-biter to Akron last year, Leipold brings in an even more dangerous team in the rematch. Akron head coach Terry Bowden has turned the Zips into a consistent team in his 24 years with them. Bowden brings a strong defense that is coming off a pitiful 41-17 loss to the Miami (OH) Redhawks (2-4, 2-1 MAC). If Akron plays remotely like it did last Saturday, it will get bodied by the Bulls. Expect Leipold to come for blood at homecoming.
Defense - pick ‘em Akron plays a two-deep defense, according to Leipold. The Zips have depth
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Baseball team’s new ‘home run’ attitude UB baseball club team has new mindset after 2017 Division I cuts ARSH ISSANY STAFF WRITER
UB’s new baseball club team continues to electrify the diamond after a devastating cut to the Division I baseball team in 2017. The Buffalo Bulls club team, formed in 2017 after the cut, is composed of 30 student athletes who play at 550 Wheatfield St. in North Tonawanda. The Bulls started the 2018 season 1-1, but have since won six straight games to become 7-1 in the National Club Baseball Association as of Oct. 10. The Bulls are a Division II team, but they play tough against D-I club squads like Brockport and Syracuse. In September, the Bulls crushed the Syracuse Orange club team on the road and won all three games against the Orange by seven runs or more. Players, such as sophomore catcher Ian Unson, said the Bulls want to separate themselves from the pressures of the former D-I squad. “The club team has always viewed itself as being a completely separate entity from UB’s D-I Varsity program,” said Unson, vice president of the club team. “We just compete to the best of our ability and win as much as we can.” The Bulls are the only baseball team left on campus after UB Athletics cut four sports, including UB’s D-I baseball, in April 2017. A number of student athletes lost their scholarships after the cuts, while others went off to other schools to pursue their baseball careers. “The decision stunned everybody. No one expected it. There wasn’t talk about it or anything,” said Ron Torgalski, the Bulls head coach from 2006-17. “I don’t think any move when you drop programs is going to help [UB Athletics]. It’s a black eye. They dropped [around] 150 athletes with no warning.” Torgalski said the decision came at a time when the team had its “best recruiting class coming in.” Athletes and recruits had to find new programs after the cut. John Servello, 2018 Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and an outfielder for the Toledo Rockets, initially committed to UB but, after the cuts, went to Toledo. Still, in light of the cuts, the Bulls strive to form a refined identity on the field. Preparation for the 2018-19 season is a lot different from the team’s time as D-I, for
COURTESY OF THE UB CLUB BASEBALL TEAM The Bulls club baseball team gathers on the field after a game against SUNY Brockport in September. The Bulls are on a six game win streak and are currently the best team in their conference, as of Oct. 10.
instance. In D-I, a coach or trainer prepared players for games but the Bulls club team places the obligation on players to appropriately train for games. “Most of the freshman come to us after playing their last season of high school baseball and usually some kind of summer league. Some of the upperclassmen play in summer leagues while others don’t,” said Unson, a industrial engineering major. “It’s up to our guys to get in and stay in athletic shape, as we don’t have a trainer or a coach to force us into shape. As a team, we practice two to three times a week but that is mostly optional since we understand that the guys have classes that take priority.” Unson said UB bringing back the D-I team “would be a nice” but it isn’t “necessarily a goal” for him. “I think most of us really enjoy club baseball because it the perfect combination of being competitive while being laid back and relaxed,” Unson said. “If you can’t make a practice or a game because of school, no one is gonna fault you for it but at the same time this isn’t some men’s beer league that’s embarrassing to watch.” The Bulls’ goal is to make it to Kansas, where the DII Club Baseball World Series is held every year. “We’ve come just short the past two seasons winning our division only to barely lose a well fought game in the regional playoffs,” Unson said. “Other than just baseball in general, we all play for the love of the game and all of us love getting out on the diamond to play.” The club’s leaders are optimistic about the
success of the Bulls. “Our team is looking pretty good so far, we went 13-1 last season, winning the New Penn North conference and making it to the regional playoff where we defeated numberone-ranked Penn State [University],” said Vincent Alongi, a sophomore aerospace engineering major, outfielder and president of the club team. “We lost two key seniors coming into the season, but we added 11 new players and they have fit in perfectly on the team.” Alongi said he’s looking forward to Bulls’ return to the playoffs after this upcoming season. Last season, pitcher Austin Metzger tore his Achilles before the Bulls entered the playoffs in January. Alongi said this attributed to his team’s early exit in the league regional tournament. “This year we are set to make a deep run because Austin is back, we added a couple big hitters and we have a deeper pitching staff this season,” Alongi said. “We have a big senior class of about 10 guys who lead the team and I really think we have a good shot at making the NCBA World Series in Kansas this year.” Fans can see the Bulls play at home against Niagara University on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and Sunday at noon.
jury due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. “[With] Anthony it has been day-to-day, week-to-week, you know I don’t know,” said head coach Lance Leipold. “I know this, the young man is really trying. To even go through and try warmups it’s not like he’s trying to shut it down but if things don’t change then we will have to shut it down for a while and see what we can do. I know he wants to play and play badly but at the same time, we need to make sure we get him back on the field at the right time.” Johnson has been playing for more than himself this season. Johnson lost his childhood best friend 22-year-old De’Mon Davis less than 24 hours before kickoff against Temple. Johnson scored the game-winning touchdown with less than a minute remaining. Johnson’s Twitter bio features the verse Mark 11:22: “Have faith in God.” Johnson’s faith in God can be explained by his unconventional path to being one of the top wide receivers in the nation. Due to academic reasons, Johnson ended up at two different junior colleges before coming to Buffalo. When he arrived, he did not play. Johnson was a redshirt and could only watch from the sidelines as UB went 2-10 that season.
“I think all of it is frustrating,” Leipold said. “I think any player that goes through an injury after all the work they put in. In our sport, you only get 12 opportunities, you don’t get 30 basketball games, 60 baseball games whatever that is. You are limited. Every time one or two of those are taken away it bothers them, the ones that are truly passionate about the game.” When the news broke of Johnson’s struggle during Saturday’s game, he simply tweeted a heart and a dove emoji. The usually quiet Johnson spoke out about the pain he feels for the loss of Davis. Johnson caught six passes for the team leading the Bulls with 76 yards against Temple. On his 29-yard score Johnson appeared to be wrapped up when he made his catch, but the Temple defender slipped off and Johnson broke free. Like a true Bull, Johnson saw red in the end zone and ran towards it with a heavy heart. Johnson is the highest-ranked Bulls NFL prospect since Khalil Mack and his future and current success of the Bulls offense rides on his ability to play. Within the two weeks that Johnson hasn’t been able to play, Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports dropped him from 13th to 29th in his mock drafts. Trapasso said his stock has not changed much but it has shown him how much of
a “game-changer” Johnson is with the decline of Buffalo’s passing offense the past two weeks. Leipold said, “Anthony can’t worry about his draft status” and he will get his opportunity to show his ability “one way or another.” “It’s a good feeling but at the end of the day, I really haven’t been paying attention to all that stuff,” Johnson said in an interview in August. “I just come out here and work on what I need to do and helping my teammates get better.” For the Bulls and Johnson, the focus of this week remains on beating the Akron Zips. Johnson will be dressed to play, according to Leipold. Leipold knows people are focused on seeing Johnson warm up and jokes about the possibility of an Anthony Johnson and non-Anthony Johnson gameplan. When he is out there, Johnson is trying to see what he can do. Akron ranks second in the Mid-American Conference in rushing defense and makes the Bulls rely heavily on the pass. Whether Johnson is playing or not, the goal to win remains the same.
at every position which has led them to being one of the top-run defenses in the MAC. The Bulls secondary has stepped up in recent weeks and has recorded 5 interceptions the past two games. With senior cornerback Cameron Lewis healthy
and the emergence of redshirt-freshman Aapri Washington, the Bulls should be able to keep up its top three MAC pass defense. Senior Khalil Hodge will be the key to the Bulls shutting down the run and keeping Nelson in the pocket. The
Bulls’ defense has not been able to slow down mobile quarterbacks this season and Akron will look to take advantage of that.
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