THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
Offense Points per game: 22.8 Passing yards per game: 210.5 Rushing yards per game: 169.0 Defense Points allowed per game: 19.8 Passing yards allowed per game: 115.5 Rushing yards allowed per game: 230.0
FOOTBALL ISSUE
VOLUME 67 NO. 9
FOOTBALL
player STATS Tyree Jackson: 960 yards and 7 total touchdowns Anthony Johnson: 22 catches for 369 yards and 3 touchdowns
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Tim Roberts: 22 total tackles, 1 tackle-for-loss Chris Ford: 10 total tackles
James O’Hagan
83
Tyree Jackson
Anthony Johnson
58
Chris Ford
22 FOR SOLO Tim Roberts
GRAPHIC BY ARIELLE CHANNIN & PIERCE STRUDLER
The Spectrum’s Q&A with Athletic Director Allen Greene
UB football honors Solomon Jackson by honoring his number DANIEL PETRUCCELLI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
The UB football team was struck with tragedy about a year and a half ago. Their teammate, Solomon Jackson, passed away one week after suffering a medical emergency during spring practice. His teammates hold him in high regard and, at the request of the Jackson family, the program is honoring his memory by allowing a player to don Jackson’s number, 41. The tra-
Spiders in South Lake Students find a persisting spider problem in South Lake Village
dition began last year with former Bulls cornerback Boise Ross, who was Jackson’s roommate. This year, senior linebacker and team captain Jarrett Franklin is carrying on the tradition of wearing Jackson’s number. “Jarrett is a fine young man,” said Jackson’s father Steven. “I was honored that he was about to wear it. It’s an honor to the family for such a young man with such character to want to wear it. He was a great friend of Solo’s and that meant a lot to me and my family.”
DANIEL PETRUCCELLI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
UB’s athletic department recently announced plans to begin building a field house on campus. The facility will be a total of 92,000 square feet and cost $18 million. It will be located just past the north end zone of UB Stadium. The athletics department announced Sept. 15 that LeChase Construction would be the contractor on the project. The architect will be CHA, a company based in New York. The project will be paid for
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Students, faculty hold rally demanding fair graduate stipends Demonstrators march from Student Union to administrative offices
MADDY FOWLER ASST. FEATURES EDITOR
ELIJAH PIKE, THE SPECTRUM
Students and faculty marched from the Student Union to the administrative offices on the fifth floor of Capen Hall on Monday to advocate for a living stipend for graduate student instructors.
MADDY FOWLER ASST. FEATURES EDITOR
Many TAs and GAs struggle to put food on the table and rely on food stamps because their stipends are too low. Roughly 100 participants rallied for living TA and GA stipends Monday afternoon. Participants marched from the Student Union to the administrative offices
on the fifth floor of Capen Hall. The purpose of the march was to present a petition entitled “Petition for TA Living Stipend,” which calls for $21,310 minimum stipend. The UB Living Stipend Movement organized the march. The petition had 885 signatures from TAs, GAs, undergraduate students, faculty and community members when it was presented, according to the UB Living Stipend Movement.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
ubspectrum.com
UB staff, students discuss changes in campus sexual assault policy Title IX coordinator and students react to reversal of Obama-era campus assault policies
LINDSAY GILDER ASST. FEATURES EDITOR
Briana Szpilka has been living in South Lake Village for over a year and still can’t find a permanent solution to her apartment’s spider infestation. Many South Lake Village residents have consisitently seen spiders in their apartments. The residents put work orders in to address the problem, but have been told conflicting information from maintenance and Campus Living regarding a permanent fix. Szpilka, a senior pharmacy major, and her suitemates tried to address the problem last fall when one of them started finding spider bites all over her body, but it has continued into this year. “Obviously [with] our roommate it wasn’t like really bad bites, but as soon as I saw one in my room this year, I put in the work order,” Szpilka said. “The exterminator came the next day, which was really good.”
through philanthropy and football revenue, according to the press release. Construction will begin next month with completion expected to be in spring 2019. The facility will feature a full-sized football field. It will also have 6,000 feet of rubber sprinting tracks and pits for jumpers and pole vaulters for the track and field team. The softball team will have motorized hitting tunnels in the field house as well. The Spectrum interviewed Athletic Director Allen Greene about the field house announcement.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced on Friday she was reversing Obama-era campus sexual assault policies. As part of the changes, DeVos rescinded a “Dear Colleague” letter issued by the Obama administration in April 2011 and a Questions and Answers on Title IX Sexual Violence from April 2014. The documents were withdrawn because they did not adhere to notice and comment period requirements and created a system that “lacked basic elements of due process and failed to ensure fundamental fairness,” according to a statement issued by the Department of Education. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
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NEWS
Thursday, September 28, 2017
THE SPECTRUM
Students, faculty hold rally demanding fair graduate stipends
2018
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Study here — or anywhere in the world — and earn UB credit. Enroll in UB’s three-week winter session and catch up, get ahead or pursue a special interest. Online and on-campus courses begin Jan. 4.
ELIJAH PIKE, THE SPECTRUM
Demonstrators rallied for living wage on thursday. They held signs that read, “your teachers can’t pay for food” and “living stipend now.”
of BU’s equivalent to the UB Foundation. “UB has the means to do it [too], they just don’t have the willpower to mobilize,” Hall said. Zukoski said all the money that goes into the UB Foundation is determined by the donors. “Raising money philanthropically is nothing but a good idea,” Zukoski said. “We want to work together,” Hammill said, “No one wants to see students starving.” Lowman and Hall participated in a followup meeting in a room at 1Capen guarded by eight police officers on Tuesday. Hammill, Schulze, English Department Chair Rachel Ablow and Director of Institutional Analysis Craig Abbey participated in the meeting. Two armed officers escorted Lowman and Hall to the conference, where they had to be screened at a security desk before being admitted. “I don’t feel like anybody was trying to totally blow us off,” Lowman said, “But at the same time, that message has been heard many times before and things are still pretty much the same.” Lowman suggested that the university “leverage” the UB Foundation in order to bring stipends up to a “livable level.” “If the administration were actually be-
Sarah Crowley and Dan McKeon contributed reporting. email: maddy.fowler@ubpsectrum.com
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hind increasing stipends I think that they would be able to make a compelling case for it,” Lowman said Beyond being an ethical claim, she explained, it “behooves” the university to encourage UB Foundation donors to sponsor higher stipends because it would attract graduate students that otherwise might go to another school. Lowman and Hall also suggested eliminating one of the fees that graduate students pay as one possible partial solution. Lowman is “cautiously optimistic” after Tuesday’s meeting. “That is a first step in building a trustful relationship where we can work on these problems, but it doesn’t solve the problem,” she said. “We can have piles of information, but that doesn’t change the situation.” Lowman and Hall are expected to have another follow-up meeting with Provost Zukoski and other administrators. A date for the meeting has not yet been set.
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A small group of the demonstrators met briefly with Provost Charles Zukoski and Graham Hammill, vice provost for the Graduate Education and dean of the Graduate School. Zukoski and Hammill offered seeking charitable donations from the UB Foundation donors and downsizing departments as possible solutions to students’ fair pay concerns. Hammill and College of Arts and Sciences Dean Robin Schulze had a follow-up meeting from the Living Stipend Movement Tuesday afternoon. A follow-up meeting was held between Nicole Lowman and Joseph Hall, both English graduate students, and members of the administration on Tuesday. Demonstrators carried signs that read “affording food is not a luxury” and “living wage now.” They chanted “UB works because we do” and “here is how, fair wage now.” When the protesters arrived on the fifth floor of Capen Hall, President Tripathi did not make an appearance. His Chief of Staff, Beth Del Genio, and Provost Zukoski accepted the petition in his stead. “We’re hungry, this is ridiculous,” one protester yelled out. “It is difficult for me to reach in at the provost level and just say, ‘pay them more,’” Zukoski explained to the visibly frustrated crowd. The demonstrators erupted with cries about the $15 million football field house and President Tripathi’s $696,970 salary. Hammill and English graduate students Christopher Bomba, Nicole Lowman and Joseph Hall participated in a private meeting with Zukoski following the march. The stipend the university provides to graduate instructors is “well above” a living wage when broken down into an hourly wage, according to Zukoski. According to UB Spokesperson John Della Contrada, the average TA stipend is $17,343 and the average stipend for English TAs is $15,136. The stipend range is $9,385 and the
union contractual minimum is $32,000. Stipend levels are set by the individual departments. UB’s stipend payments have grown from $2.4 million to nearly $25 million over the past four years, Della Contrada said in a statement. Lowman asked why there was such a discrepancy between the Graduate Student Employment Union’s numbers and the university’s numbers. The discrepancy exists because the university includes research assistants when calculating the median stipend for TAs and GAs. If RAs are not included in the calculation, the average stipend for TAs and GAs is just $13,100, according to Juhi Roy, an officer for the Graduate Students Employee Union. “When we recruit [graduate] students, we are recruiting students, not labor,” Zukoski said “We offer merit scholarships and in return students get their studies done and a degree is conferred. The money is not meant to be a wage – it is meant to defer costs.” While it might not be intended to be used as a wage, it acts as one, Bomba said. Bomba grew frustrated with the negotiations and felt the administrators were not giving concrete answers. “The thing is, landlords don’t wait. Cops don’t wait to evict you. Your stomach doesn’t wait,” Bomba said. He pulled out a blue SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) card—more commonly referred to as a food stamp card. “Do you know what this is?” he asked Zukoski. “Um…I’m not sure…it it some kind of ID? Your driver’s license?” Zukoski said “This is a food stamp card. This is your management strategy,” Bomba said. Bomba asked Zukoski if the university needed to downsize in order to pay graduate instructors a fair stipend, suggesting it might make more sense ethically to do so. Zukoski said downsizing is “on the table.” Binghamton University instituted stipend increases for TAs across the board in 2015, according to Hall, who said the money came out
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OPINION
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Thursday, September 28, 2017
THE SPECTRUM
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Trump’s response to crisis in Puerto Rico insufficient U.S. territory receives minimal support from U.S. government and citizens in wake of disaster
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The devastating aftermath of Hurricane Maria is affecting 3.4 million Americans in Puerto Rico. But the humanitarian crisis hasn’t received nearly as much political attention or aid as Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey. In lieu of offering support or aid, President Trump took to Twitter to tear down the American territory, blaming the island’s inhabitants for their own misfortune. Trump tweeted that Puerto Rico’s electrical grid was already in “terrible shape.” He added that Puerto Rico owes billions to Wall Street “which sadly, must be dealt with.” Following the Category 4 storm, most of the island remains without electricity. Only 11 out of 69 hospitals have power. All but 240 of their 1,600 cellphone towers are down after 150 mph winds ravaged the Commonwealth. Crops
are destroyed and citizens lack access to clean drinking water. Only 54 percent of Americans realize that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, according to a recent poll by The New York Times. It is unclear if Trump is aware of the fact that Puerto Rico is an American Territory; he speaks about the crisis as though it were a foreign issue, not a domestic one. “This is an island sitting in the middle of an ocean. And it’s a big ocean, it’s a very big ocean,” the president said ahead of a meeting with the House of Representatives on Tuesday. A direct flight from Miami to San Juan is a little over two hours. But the way Trump talks about it, you’d think Puerto Rico was on the other side of the world. On Tuesday, Trump finally announced that he will visit the is-
Biting my tongue
lying on a receiver we didn’t have last year. The addition of junior Anthony Johnson this year has been crucial. He single-handedly jump-started the long ball week one and that was the biggest thing this offense needed. Last year, the team struggled to throw deep week after week, this year they have at least one 40-plus yard pass in three of four games. The run game has opened up a lot offensively the last two weeks and while I wouldn’t put it on the same level as it was under Simon’s tutelage, it has at least become a contributor. The defense doesn’t feel anything like last year’s unit that got gouged by every team with a quarterback who could run the 40 in under five seconds. The pass defense is statistically similar to last year, but they have been tested a lot more with the run not being as easy of an option this year. Cameron Lewis and Tatum Slack have both had some impressive pass break-ups that involved reading the offense prior to the snap. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Tyree Jackson has been the brightest light this year. He dominated his first three and a half
The UB football team is better than I expected
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THE SPECTRUM Thursday, September 28, 2017 Volume 67 Number 9 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. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum, visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at 716-645-2152 The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 142602100
CORRECTION:
DANIEL PETRUCELLI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
Prior to the start of this season, I was critical of the UB Bulls football team and more specifically their coaching staff. But four games in, I have to say I think I was wrong. This team has impressed me all four games this year. I thought the offensive play calling was problematic, but in reality it was just re-
Precedent over all else Do other field houses justify the cost of UB’s new one?
VOL. 67 NO. 8 An article in Monday’s edition entitled “Textbook trapping” stated President Satish Tripathi signed the Faculty Senate’s textbook resolution in 2015 when he has yet to sign it.
THOMAS ZAFONTE SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
Why does UB need a new fieldhouse and why is the university willing to spend so much money on it? I spoke with students, faculty and people throughout Amherst about this and the common defense was that we look bad without one. To be clear, they aren’t saying that the school looks bad aesthetically or is less of a school for not having one. Instead, it seems this
issue is more about a precedent that people feel exist from being a SUNY school or being in the MAC conference. But is precedent a good enough reason for the university to spend $18 million on a field house? Other schools in the SUNY system - SUNY Oneonta and SUNY Plattsburgh - have fieldhouses. However, these are not for football. They are practice centers that house an indoor track and basketball courts. UB will be the first SUNY school to have a field house that has an indoor turf field. There is no precedent for us as a SUNY school to get a fieldhouse. This becomes increasingly more clear once you realize that other SUNY fieldhouses offer what UB has at Alumni Arena. The MAC is a different story, only four teams in the conference don’t have an indoor football field, UB included. This is an issue, as indoor fields give a team a strong advantage when it comes to training in the winter. The facility itself would make the Bulls football program more competitive with other
land on Oct. 3. He claimed this is the earliest he can go because he didn’t want to disrupt relief efforts. He also increased the amount of recovery funds as part of the announcement. But this response is too little too late for the millions of Puerto Ricans left without power, shelter or water. The storm hit over a week ago. It should not have taken the president that long to address the crisis. Especially considering he visited Texas and Florida within four days after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma hit. A desire to stay out of the way of first responders is an insufficient excuse. He didn’t need to go to the Puerto Rico to increase relief efforts; he could have asked Congress to pass a relief package and allocate more money to FEMA. While over 2,500 National Guard members are on the ground in Puerto Rico and FEMA has 500 people assisting with relief efforts, this is not nearly enough for an island with a population of over three million. By contrast, 31,000 federal employees were on the ground in Texas following Hurricane Harvey. And over 40,000 fed-
eral employees were sent to Florida after Hurricane Irma. Donations from private citizens and corporations to Hurricane Maria relief efforts are also much lower compared to donations for Irma and Harvey. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Donations for Irma relief efforts totaled $222 million. $157 million was raised in the wake of Harvey. But Maria only received about $8 million donations. Even the pop star Pitbull has offered support to Puerto Rico. He sent a private plane to transport cancer patients to the U.S. mainland so they could receive chemotherapy treatments. It is a sad state of affairs when a celebrity is doing more to help relief efforts after a national disaster than the president. Puerto Rican citizens are Americans, too. They deserve as much help and support as Texas and Florida have received. It’s time for both the President and ordinary American citizens alike to step up to the plate for our fellow American citizens in Puerto Rico.
games of the season. He already has 960 total yards and seven touchdowns. But he went down last game after a sack and didn’t return for the second half. His injury leaves this team’s future up-in-theair. His status is uncertain for this week and isn’t any more clear for the rest of the year. But if one half of Drew Anderson football is any indication, this team will be able to keep winning games. Anderson composed himself amazingly for jumping in at half. He was a huge part of pulling out the win against FAU. He completed his first six passes and completed 78 percent of his passes. He also had his first career Division I touchdown. The coaching staff ’s ability to get over the injury was huge. I thought Leipold and staff called a fantastic second half offensively to allow Anderson to be successful. They cut down on the quarterback runs and went with more running back carries. Through the air they worked towards more short passes and got some good ball movement. Defensively, the coaching staff really excelled against FAU. Bri-
an Borland and his defense mostly contained Lane Kiffin and his national championship winning offense. They were smart about rotating the big men upfront on the defense and the team never seemed to wear-out against a milea-minute offense. I think this team is entering MAC play in a great place–exponentially better than last year. They are only .500 but they easily could be 4-0 if a couple things went differently in the first two games. I think they are going to do some damage in the MAC. This team should be able to beat Kent State, Miami (OH), Akron and Bowling Green. Ohio and Western Michigan will likely beat UB. Ball state and Northern Illinois are up in the air. I predict that this team will go 4-4 if Jackson is injured for an extended period, but if he plays most of the conference schedule this team will finish above .500 and go 5-3. Either way this team should be able to qualify for a bowl game this year.
teams in the MAC. For me, this justifies the field house. If the Bulls are ever going to become a consistent program they need to be on an equal playing field for conference games. Yet the price still seems steep for what we are getting. Bowling Green State University has the Perry Field House, which was built in 1993 and costs $8.7 million. The field house involves two wings, one has two turf fields and the other has four basketball courts and an indoor track. UB’s initial plan for the field house call for a full turf field, long jumping and pole vaulting pits and a softball batting tunnel. I’m left wondering how much each of these facilities cost, as Eastern Michigan University built their indoor field in 2010 for $3.9 million. At that price, UB could pay for an indoor field with the donations they currently have for the field house alone. Most students I talk to about the field house only seem upset. It boils down to students not wanting to see more money put into football when they see issues on campus that need to be resolved. It’s hard not to wonder what $18
million can do for the university. It could solve the school’s parking situation while circling parking lots for a spot. Yet, the school has confirmed the money involved isn’t coming from students or state funding. The school has implemented a 15 year payment plan that will make the field house possible through donors and the school’s yearly college playoff funds. This feels like a silver lining; Athletics won’t have to make any more cuts because they will have the means to pay for the field house as long as we stay in the NCAA. But I’m still left wondering why UB isn’t trying to build a cheaper facility. It seems very possible to do this project for a lot less and still get a similar end result. People still have UB’s decision to cut four athletic teams last April fresh in their minds. So why isn’t the athletic department spending like it is underfunded? If we are trying to be like teams in the MAC, why not actually be like them and build a cheaper field house?
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email: thomas.zafonte@ubspectrum.com
4
NEWS
Thursday, September 28, 2017
UB staff, students discuss changes in campus sexual assault policy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The department is working to create a more formal replacement for the Obama-era guidelines after a notice and comment period, which gives stakeholders and members of the public the opportunity to weigh-in on the proposed changes. In the meantime, the Department of Education is giving universities the option to use a higher standard of proof in sexual misconduct cases. SUNY Council is going to analyze the proposed mandates and issue guidance to campuses accordingly, according to Sharon Nolan-Weiss, UB’s Director of Equity and Inclusion and Title IX Coordinator. Once SUNY Council issues the guidelines, Nolan-Weiss will meet with University Police and Student Life to ensure UB’s policies incorporate everything the new guidance requires. Many UB students are concerned with the policy changes. “If we do make any changes, it’s likely to just be fine tuning things at this point,” Nolan-Weiss said. “Our offices work very closely to make sure we’re balancing everyone’s rights, handling sexual assault effectively and complying with whatever guidance is given to us.” The new guidelines give universities the option of using “clear and convincing evidence,” a higher standard of proof, for sexual misconduct cases. The “Dear Colleague” letter required a lower standard of proof: “preponderance of evidence.” UB uses the lower standard for all misconduct cases— not just sexual assault. This has always been UB’s policy, even prior to the “Dear Colleague” letter, according to NolanWeiss. Under this standard of evidence, the plaintiff needs to prove there is more than a 50 percent chance that the defendant is guilty, using both testimonial and physical evidence. “So now they’re telling us we can still use that standard, or we have the option of using a higher standard, which is ‘clear and convincing evidence,’” Nolan-Weiss said. “So we are talking about a difference between, say, a 51 percent chance and a 75 percent chance.” There is a possibility that the Department of Education could make the “clear and convincing evidence” standard mandatory, which would result in a change in UB policy, Nolan-Weiss explained. Nolan-Weiss is concerned that the new guidelines are pushing a narrative that universities have gone “too far in the other direction” and making unfair accusations. “You see a lot of language about kangaroo courts and that people aren’t allowed to
Spiders in South Lake CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Szpilka said since they’ve put down spider traps, she’s noticed a slight improvement. “They put a spider trap in my room which has nothing in it, so that’s good,” Szpilka said.
THE SPECTRUM
Breakdown of Betsy DeVos’ changes to
CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICY Rescinded a “Dear Colleague” letter issued by the Obama administration in April 2011 and a Questions and Answers on Title IX Sexual Violence from April 2014.
Guidelines give universities the option of using clear and convincing evidence— A HIGHER STANDARD OF PROOF—for sexual misconduct cases.
The “Dear Colleague” letter required a preponderance of evidence, a LOWER STANDARD OF PROOF.
UB uses a preponderance of evidence for all misconduct cases, not just sexual assault. New guidelines would give UB the option of requiring a HIGHER STANDARD OF PROOF.
Specific 60-DAY mandated time period for cases rescinded—new requirements less specific, only call for “reasonable” amount of time.
SUNY Council will review guidelines before UB implements any formal changes after proposed guidelines a undergo a notice and comment period.
GRAPHIC BY PIERCE STRUDLER
speak about the hearing. That’s actually not our policy,” Nolan-Weiss said. “We desperately want to get these cases right, getting to a right answer, a fair answer.” That means looking at the evidence and considering what both parties have to say, Nolan-Weiss said. “We don’t want a victim of sexual assault to feel like their issue wasn’t addressed appropriately,” Nolan-Weiss said. “But we also don’t want to see someone who feels they were unfairly accused where there is not enough evidence charged with a violation that could end their academic career.” Nolan-Weiss also expressed concern about interim measures. When someone reports a sexual assault or misconduct, there is a gap between the time they make the report and the time the hearing happens. Schools have always struggled with what to do in the meantime because the accused person could be a danger to the campus community, Nolan-Weiss said. But on the other hand, the accused individual is entitled to due process, she said. “You don’t want to do something that is going to railroad their education if they’re not responsible for something,” NolanWeiss said. The previous “Dear Colleague” letter supported universities taking action that might affect an accused student. The new mandate emphasizes the importance of looking at
each case individually and making sure neither party’s education is interrupted, according to DeVos’ interim guidelines. The “Dear Colleague” mandate also recommended the entire sexual misconduct judiciary process occurs in 60 days. The new guidelines relax this requirement, which Nolan-Weiss believes could be a good thing. “Due to the complexity of these cases, it was often very challenging for us to have these done in 60 days,” she said. Both parties have the option to bring an adviser, such as a parent, to their hearing, and the short time frame can make this difficult, according to Nolan-Weiss. “You have to coordinate everybody’s schedules and sometimes we were kind of placed in a position to choose,” she said, “Do we want to force this to happen sooner and maybe tell somebody they can’t have someone present or do we want to extend it out and make sure everyone has their adviser in the room.” Sophomore environmental design major Sophia Rogillio believes the extended time period elongates victims’ trauma, and also allows the perpetuator to potentially escape discipline. She is also concerned DeVos is trying to change Title IX rules in order to give power back to the perpetrators of sexual violence. “Now the burden of proof is placed on the victim, who is already going through a lot of
trauma and coping, all while trying to balance their other responsibilities,” Rogillio said. She feels the “clear and convincing evidence” standard is “absurd” because often the only physical evidence a victim has is emotional trauma. “Victims endure extreme emotional strain after events of sexual assault and rape, and rarely get rape kits,” Rogillio said. Rape kits aren’t able to prove some types of sexual assault, Rogillio pointed out, such as digital penetration, oral sex and anal sex. Rape kits can be inaccurate, she said, especially if condoms were used or the women was menstruating. “Even things like forced stripping and groping would be extremely hard to prove under DeVos’ new rules,” Rogillio said. “The era of colleges sweeping sexual misconduct and assault under the rug has been a long battle, and [Devos’] new rules on handling these cases is reverting the hard work of victims and advocates trying to achieve justice.” SA President Leslie Veloz is also disappointed with the proposed policy change. “Not only will it make college campuses less safe but it sends a dangerous message to campuses to not believe its victims,” Veloz said. “Students will be discouraged from reporting assaults if they don’t have ‘clear and convincing’ proof of their attack.” email: maddy.fowler@ubspectrum.com
Szplika’s suitemate, Hannah Mechanic, a junior health and human services major, is unhappy with the situation in their appartment. She said they began seeing spiders in their apartment two weeks after she moved in. “[The spiders are] pretty disgusting and scary,” Mechanic said. “[Maintenance] put spider traps in the kitchen and bathrooms and said if it’s not fixed or better in a week, we should call again. I haven’t noticed a difference yet.” Another South Lake Village resident, who wished to remain anonymous due to an af-
filiation with Campus Living, felt that maintenance didn’t treat the problem well. “I put in two work orders last year for the window because there is not only moisture, but black mold growing in there,” the resident said. “I was told that they will not replace it until all the windows are doing the same thing, regardless of how bad it is.” Albert Mirzakandov, a junior electrical engineering major, noticed some spiders when he first moved into his apartment, but said he isn’t bothered enough to address the problem yet. “I have noticed a couple of spiders by the windows, but they aren’t a problem,” Mirzakandov said. “I also found one in the bathroom about a week ago, which really scared me; it was big.” Mirzakandov hasn’t submitted a work order for the spiders, but says that if the situation gets any worse he would take action. “At the moment I don’t think [I’d submit a work order],” Mirzakandov said. “But if it becomes a bigger problem, I may.” Ethan Dicken, a junior electrical engineering major, has also seen spiders but isn’t bothered. “If I was being bitten then it would be a problem, but it’s not often enough where it’s a problem,” Dicken said. “I just kill the spider and move on with my day.” Michael Yates, the assistant director for University Apartments, said in an email that there was no bug or pest problem in South Lake Village. “With the rise in temperatures outside we have seen a small increase of students that have submitted work orders requesting support for common household pests.” Yates said. “Campus Living works directly with
professional exterminators for prevention and treatment of problems.” Logan Bennett, a senior theatre major, lived in the complex last year, and said she never had a problem with spiders or any other pests but wasn’t surprised to hear about the problem. The South Lake Village complex was completed in August 2000 at which time it was opened to students. “Some of the buildings are pretty old, and definitely need to be updated,” Bennett said. “I got lucky and was in a newer building, so I didn’t really have any issues.” South Lake residents were told by maintenance that the main issue lies in the windows but were also told that the window wouldn’t be repared until the issue was more widespread. “We had the exterminator come and he said that our front window is totally rotted away with a big crack in the wall and that is how they are getting in,” the resident who wished to stay anonymous said. Mechanic said maintenance said they can’t replace the window until all of the windows in South Lake Village are rotting. Yates said in an email that this was not the case. “We will and do repair and replace windows if there is deterioration,” Yates said. “We do encourage students to alert Campus Living of any maintenance concerns within their apartments so they can be addressed.” Work orders can be submitted online or inperson through Campus Living at any time, or maintenance can be contacted for immediate assistance 24 hours a day at (716) 645-2025. email: lindsay.gilder@ubspectrum.com
FEATURES Moving troubles: Medical school staff concerned over parking options downtown
Frustration with lack of answers precludes excitement for some staff SARAH CROWLEY SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
Kara Rickicki feels as though she’s been kept in the dark about information on her future job site, the downtown medical campus. UB is scheduled to open the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences this winter, but UB has not finalized a plan for transporting employees to the new medical campus Members of the United University Profession (UUP) are working alongside “multiple UB units” to find a solution for students and faculty who will be working and studying at the new campus, according to UB Spokesperson John Della Contrada. “We know absolutely nothing,” Rickicki, a graduate programs coordinator for the department of physiology and biophysics, said. “We are scheduled to move Nov. 20. That’s two months away and we have absolutely no idea where we’re going to park because I’ve looked into it and it’s very limited–or how we’re supposed to afford to park.” Rickicki said she understands the excitement about the school’s big move, like many of the school’s faculty and staff. She knows what it means for Buffalo and the rejuvenation of the city, but she feels as though administrators have neglected the finer details of such a big move.
COURTESY OF UB PHOTO DATABASE
The new home for UB’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical sciences is located in Downtown Buffalo. Staff and faculty are excited for the move, but affordable parking has raised some concerns.
Other staff members shared her concerns, but many did not feel comfortable speaking on the record. Eleftherios Mermigas, an executive board member of UUP, said the move leaves many staff members in limbo. The last proposal encourages employees to park on South Campus and take UB buses or shuttles downtown. Then administration realized it would be too expensive to hire the necessary drivers, Mermigas said. Other ideas floated include riding the metro from South Campus to downtown. Rick-
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Thursday, September 28, 2017
THE SPECTRUM
icki said the cost of a NAFTA monthly pass would be $75, only saving her $15 a month. There is also parking downtown, which is limited and expensive, Mermigas said. Parking garages near the medical corridor cost between $99 and $150 per month, which would conflict with the UUP contract, Mermigas said. “My cable bill is $90. Right now, unfortunately, I have student loans and all sorts of stuff, I’m in the beginning of my career,” Rickicki said. “Taking on another weight like that, it’s just not feasible for me, and I know that I’m speaking for lots of other people, it’s
just not possible financially for many of us.” UUP members already pay roughly nine dollars annually to park on South Campus, according to Mermigas. “If you have a car, you want to use it the way you want to use it, drive it from your house to work,” Mermigas said. “You pay for cars, you pay for insurance. So for me, it would make no sense for me to have a car if I’m taking a bus all the way downtown and back every day.” The move impacts personal lives also. Most staff members moving to the downtown campus were hired to work on South Campus. Rickicki said she will have to double her commuting time from Tonawanda. “At the end of the day, I go to the gym, and if I’m downtown, that’s not really gonna be an option anymore. I go home or run errands on my lunch hour. I can’t do that downtown,” Rickicki said. “I know it sounds simple and kind of stupid, but it’s our day to day life. It’s changing a lot.” Martin Pugliese, a senior staff assistant in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, said there is some anxiety over space issues, mainly for research departments. The new medical campus is smaller than its South Campus counterpart, by 272,000 square feet, and will be home to UB’s largest medical class yet. Pugliese said he is excited about the move downtown, but knows the lack of information, especially regarding parking, is a source of frustration for his co-workers. He’s heard rumors of a parking garage that UB faculty members would have access to, but there is no official plan. “Residents of the city are already bracing themselves for the influx and there are some neighborhoods who are getting parking permits for their own blocks, so I think it’s going to get tighter still,” Pugliese said. “I don’t know what the solution is other than to get this ramp completed and to make sure there’s enough spaces. I think even if there is a ramp, there probably won’t be enough space.” There are logistical questions too that remain unanswered, Rickicki said. Her department will still need to meet on South Campus several times a month, but their building is set to be repurposed. They have figured out some things as a department, like where will they print papers and exams to be distributed on South Campus. “We’re flying in the dark here. We don’t have a future plan, and for someone who’s personally a planner, that’s a problem,” Rickicki said. “And it’s not my department, it’s not my bosses. This goes way over their heads.” email: sarah.crowley@ubspectrum.com
UB community welcomes new Asian market Asian Food Market opens in Amherst WANLY CHEN STAFF WRITER
A stone buffalo and two Chinese stone lions, a traditional symbol of protection, stand in front of Asia Food Market to welcome its new customers. Asia Food Market, now the largest Asian market in the region, is stirring excitement within the Asian community at UB. The market, which opened Sept. 21, occupies most of the old Walmart on Niagara Falls Boulevard. The Buffalo location is the owners’s third and largest store. His other locations are in Syracuse and Rochester. Variety and access to Asian food have contributed to the market’s success, according to Rocky Ren, owner of Asia Food Market. “This supermarket matches customers’ lifestyle,” Ren said. “When I moved to Rochester, there was no market selling live fish, seafood or the produce that I wanted. I wanted to change that and now I see people are happy with my supermarkets.” Until this point, Tianyi Asian Market and Ni Hoowa Supermarket have been the most convenient Asian stores for students living on North Campus, but students feel these stores lack variety and freshness. Chains like Wegmans and Walmart have attempted to offer items found in Asian markets, but their higher prices push students away.
JOE BANNISTER, THE SPECTRUM
The recently opened Asia Food Market offers UB students an authentic international grocery experience.
Asia Food Market offers a wide variety of Asian grocery products at an affordable rate. Students took Ubers and Zipcars to see the buzz for themselves. They were not disappointed. Nathan Gozar, a senior accounting major, praised the new market, noting its competitiveness against other stores. “It’s a lot more spaceous and clean compared to other markets, “ Gozar said. “It also has a lot more products. It’s not like the other markets where there’s a box of groceries that vary each day because of the supply. This place is actually well-stocked.” For other students, Asia Food Market is
already their go-to grocery store. The market hasn’t even been open for a week, but Janet Lin, a sophomore accounting major, has already visited the store twice. “I bought regular groceries the first time I was here,” Lin said. “I like how it has different brands. It took me forever to find [them in Buffalo], but they have this brand of Korean noodles that I love.” Asia Food Market helps the Asian community feel at home in Buffalo. Shoppers from the New York City area mentioned how similar the new location felt to markets back home. The students said the fish tanks give the market an authentic feel. “The fish tank is important to me. I’m
from New York City and Asian markets there all have fish tanks.” Gozar said. “Having one in Buffalo makes it feel like I’m back in the city again.” In Asian cultures, having the word “fresh” doesn’t cut it. Typically, customers would select the fish from the tank and a fishmonger would then prepare it in the back. Fishmongers sell the customers these freshly killed fish. Ren said the fish are sent in from Brooklyn four times a week to ensure his stock stays fresh. Yihang Zeng, a sophomore mathematics major, appreciates Ren’s devotion to his customers. “I used to shop at Tianyi and by the end of the week, the produce was already going bad,” Zeng said. “Shipments that come in multiple times a week means fresh produce and I need that.” This opening, already being met with warm approval from UB Students, is just the beginning. By next year, Ren plans to add a bakery and food court, selling Chinese favorites like xiaolongbao – a type of steamed Chinese bun - and egg tarts. Zeng is from Flushing, a predominantly Chinese neighborhood in NYC. He is excited that Buffalo now has a market where he can get a taste of home. “If they add a bakery and food court, I would be so hyped,” he said “It would be a mini Flushing and that would feel like home.” email: features@ubspectrum.com
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FOOTBALL ISSUE
2017-18 BULLS LINE-UP
Thursday, September 28, 2017
THE SPECTRUM
BULLS OFFENSE 86 67 61 77 65 76
WR LT LG C RG RT
Kamathi Holsey Evin Ksiezarczyk Brandon Manosalvas James O’Hagan Tomas Jack-Kurdyla Jacquis Webb
81 12 29 15 83
TE QB RB WR WR
Tyler Mabry Drew Anderson Emmanuel Reed Jamarl Eiland Anthony Johnson
#3 TYREE JACKSON
#4 KHALIL HODGE
BULLS DEFENSE 91 58 90 92 41 4
DE NG DT DE OLB ILB
Demone Harris Chris Ford Justin Brandon Chuck Harris Jarrett Franklin Khalil Hodge
25 14 22 26 39
OLB CB SS FS CB
Jordan Collier Brandon Williams Tim Roberts Ryan Williamson Cameron Lewis
#77 JAMES O’HAGAN
BULLS SPECIAL TEAM 30 19
P PK
Kyle DeWeen Adam Mitcheson
#12 DREW ANDERSON
*this is the expected starting lineup for Saturday's game against Kent State
GRAPHIC BY PIERCE STRUDLER
The Spectrum’s Q&A with Athletic Director Allen Greene CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
THE SPECTRUM: The website said the
$18 million will be paid for through philanthropy and football revenue, what percentage does philanthropy make up of that? Can you provide a more detailed breakdown of where the funding is coming from? ALLEN GREENE: The Blue and White Fund, which serves as the fundraising arm of UB Athletics, secured approximately one third of the cost in private support to help fund the field house. It’s important to note that these funds were specifically earmarked for the field house by donors. The remaining funds came from the College Football Playoff revenue distribution, which is only possible by participating in Division I football at the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) FBS level. Q: The press release stated that no state funds will be used, are student fees considered state funds? Is any money from UB students contributing to the field house? A: Student fees are considered state funds and will not be used to fund this project. Q: Does the school already have the money for the field house or will it be financed? If it will be financed, how will that be done and for how long? A: The field house will be financed over a
15-year period and the athletics department is responsible for loan payments during that time using donor money and revenue from the College Football Playoff. Q: Did the field house play any part in the school’s decision to cut programs last spring? Is any money saved from the cut being reinvested into this project? A: The field house project has been a priority for nearly two decades and serves student-athletes in the same manner as classroom space, libraries or labs for students. This indoor practice space plays a critical role in helping student-athletes prepare for competition and has a direct impact on recruiting the future Bulls. The decision to discontinue sport offerings was in no way tied to the fieldhouse, whatever savings realized from the discontinuation of sports will be accounted for in the university’s financial plan and not used for athletic purposes. Q: Do you feel the announcement of the field house was done too quickly after the decision in the spring? A: The announcement of the field house and the decision to discontinue sport offerings are two, mutually exclusive events. We operate on a vibrant campus that has a mul-
titude of things happening simultaneously on any given day. As such, we do our best to manage a wide variety of circumstances and options when making public decisions. That said, this is a milestone project for UB Athletics and our campus. It is something we should be extremely proud of accomplishing and we should continue the purpose of providing a positive and championship experience for student-athletes. Q: How will the addition of the field house help Buffalo athletics grow in the future? A: Unlike any other entity on campus, successful athletics programs build pride for the Buffalo community. In order for this to occur, we have to provide a competitive product on the field and courts of play. Having an indoor practice facility allows our student-athletes to train year round, in a climate-controlled environment without distractions from the elements. Construction of such a facility also signals to potential student-athletes that UB is serious about being competitive in the Mid-American Conference as we continue our pursuit of more MAC championships. Q: What university events will be held in the field house? What kind of student programming and intramural’s will be held
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
TROY WACHALA, THE SPECTRUM
ANGELA BARCA, THE SPECTRUM
Redshirt senior linebacker Jarrett Franklin wearing the no. 41 jersey (left). He has been awarded the jersey to honor the memory of Solomon Jackson (right).
to the field, that means you’re gonna have a bad practice… if you come out with a smile on your face, you’re gonna approach practice more joyful and happy to be there.” Franklin is now in his fifth year at UB and said the honor of wearing 41 has motivated him to become a leader on the team. He directs the team’s post-practice stretches and is a big leader on the field during games. Franklin feels everyone on the team has been stepping up to help each other out. Bulls head coach Lance Leipold said Franklin is deserving of the honor and the Jackson’s decided Franklin would wear the uniform. They felt his closeness to Solomon made him the best choice.
Q: What factors went into selecting a contractor and architecture firm? What other major projects have they been responsible for in the past? A: Both the designing firm (CHA) and the construction firm (LeChase) were selected through the normal New York State request for proposal process, which selects the lowest bidder based on qualifications including technical/experience categories. That said, both firms had experience in designing and constructing facilities similar to ours. Most notably, CHA has designed indoor facilities for the University of South Carolina, University of Louisville, Miami University (OH), SUNY Oswego and SUNY Cortland, so we feel very confident in the final design. email: daniel.petruccelli@ubspectrum.com
FOR SOLO Steven talked about how close Franklin and his son were off the field. Since both were from out of town, they spent their holidays together. Steven said that Franklin and Jackson would head to Rochester to visit with the family of Franklin’s girlfriend. He appreciated knowing that Solo had people that were like family to him that he could be with on Holiday’s. Franklin appreciates the honor that Jackson’s family has given him by choosing him to represent this legacy. “It’s a blessing, Solo wore it with pride,” Franklin said. “It’s a great honor to represent everything he stood for. I’m happy to be out here and showing pride in the program and everything he did.” Jackson was a hard worker who brought a great attitude to the game every time he stepped on the field, Franklin said. His goal is to bring Jackson’s approach to the game every day he wears the 41 jersey. Franklin hopes to capture Jackson’s attitude not just for himself but for his teammates as well. “What we’re trying to instill is everything you do in life and especially football, it all depends on your attitude,” Franklin said. “And if you have a bad attitude, it’s gonna correlate
there and what level of access will regular students have? A: The fieldhouse will be an asset to the entire university community as it will also be utilized by intramurals and sports clubs as well as the general student population. Once the facility is built we will work on a schedule that will best benefit everyone. As an asset to the entire university, the field house is expected to serve the university community. Discussions about utilization will occur throughout construction of the facility.
“It was my recommendation of a few different names, but ultimately the Jackson family made the final decision,” Leipold said. “They want the number to live and to live on the field on Saturdays, much like Boise Ross wore it last year…I thought it was a great decision because in the first two years, Boise Ross and Jarrett Franklin were the two people who spoke at Solomon’s memorial service, so it was very fitting.” Ross wore the jersey last year after rooming with Jackson during their entire time together in Buffalo. Leipold felt he represented himself well in the jersey. Ross was the top corner on the defense and a major vocal leader in the games.
Franklin is following in Ross’ footsteps this year and leading the team by example. The defense has improved tremendously this year. Franklin’s teammates recognize the leadership he demonstrates on the field and acknowledge he’s the best player to represent the 41 jersey. “He’s a great leader,” said senior safety Tim Roberts. “When I came from [junior college] here to buffalo he was one of the first people that showed me the ropes and how everything was done. He’s one of the smartest people I know and they couldn’t have chosen a better person to wear 41. By watching [Franklin] lead in the way that he does, it made me the great leader that I am today.” The plan is to continue the tradition moving forward. “That’s what our intentions are, we want to keep Solomon’s legacy alive, we want to keep Solo’s legacy alive,” Mr. Jackson said. “He was such a great person, he did a lot for so many different people that’s why they came up with all four one because he was one for all.” Franklin said it’s not just about the number, it’s about honoring his friend. He remembers Solomon as one of the happiest guys he’s ever met and uses his memory to help him not get down on himself. “There was a not a time that you couldn’t see him smiling, you could even barge into his room and he’s just there smiling,” Franklin said. “Even if he’s working hard on something or playing videogames, or film or at practice, he’s always smiling.” email: daniel.petruccelli@ubspectrum.com
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CLASSIFIEDS
Thursday, September 28, 2017
THE SPECTRUM
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Thursday, September 28, 2017
FOOTBALL ISSUE THE SPECTRUM
Undersized is the
perfect UB running back Emmanuel Reed keeps proving critics wrong on the football field
size
ALLISON STAEBELL, THE SPECTRUM
Redshirt sophomore running back Emmanuel Reed runs in last Saturday’s blackout game. He is coming off back-to-back 100+ yard games.
JEREMY TORRES ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Emmanuel Reed wasn’t supposed to be able to rush for over a hundred yards. Reed wasn’t supposed to be a Division I athlete. At eight-years-old, Reed wasn’t even supposed to be a running back. But Reed has been proving critics wrong his entire life. In youth football, Reed was too overweight to be a running back, too short to be a lineman, but too talented to be left off the field. His three older brothers teased him, “You’ll be the smallest linemen ever.” What his brothers didn’t know is they were only motivating the young, small, overweight kid from Crestview, Florida. His father, Pastor Earl Reed, knew his youngest boy of eight kids had a heart that wouldn’t give up. Reeds father challenged him by buying him a treadmill to place in their two-car garage. “I said, ‘man, just take your little time, do a little walk, do a little exercise don’t rush it,’” Pastor Earl said. “Every night, God as my witness, he would get on that tread-
mill and he would walk and walk… From that day fourth, he is self-motivated. I don’t have to tell him much. From that experience all the way through high school, the worst thing to tell Emmanuel is he can’t do.” Reed is a redshirt sophomore seizing the moment, something his father instilled in him since he was young. Prior to this season, Reed hadn’t rushed for more than fifty-yards total. This year, Reed is the leading rusher on the team, amassing 240-yards in the Bulls first four games. Reed has been forcing his way into getting touches his entire life and coming to Buffalo was no different for him. A high school star, Reed was under recruited compared to his older brother, Micah Reed. Micah received 30 scholarship offers and chose to attend the University of Central Florida out of high school. Micah, now a senior running back at Kennesaw University, has been raising the bar for Reed since they were young, competing and motivating Reed every step of the way. It wasn’t Reed who garnered all the attention growing up–it was Micah, with his sixfoot, 205-pound frame. Micah recalled a game in which Reed was
fed up with being overlooked. Reed was a sophomore in high school and Micah was a senior. They were playing against a highly touted team from Jacksonville, Florida. The coach for Jacksonville prior to the game told the local papers “If we stop number four (Micah), will win the football game, that is it, that’s the only person they have on their team.” Reed, angered, slipped into his thoughts, quietly fueling himself, only telling Micah “They aren’t respecting me, man. I’m gonna show them.” Emmanuel scored on an 89-yard touchdown on a reverse to set the tone and amassed over 250-yards that game. The Jacksonville coach made a mistake, something many have made. Reed is small, but he isn’t at a disadvantage. For Reed, his size is an advantage, something his father always told him. “I don’t say he is undersized, I say he is the perfect size,” Pastor Earl said. Oftentimes, by the time the defense can recognize the run, Reed is breaking into the secondary. An elusive back, a safety must deal with the low-pad-level, as well as the
The running back hunter UB safety Tim Roberts brings his southern roots to Buffalo DANIEL PETRUCCELLI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
He sits with his fishing pole waiting on his big catch of the day. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees an alligator standing on the bank of the water. He closes in. And snatches the gator up. He sits behind the defense waiting on the ball to come his way. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees a running back coming around the tackles. He puts on his best Troy Polamalu impersonation and starts hunting. He pursues him around the edge until collision becomes inevitable. And then he levels the hit on the running back. He is Tim Roberts, a starting senior safety for the UB Bulls. He hails from Des Allemands, a small town in southeast Louisiana with a population of about 2,500 people. He was a standout three-sport athlete at Hahnville High School. The small town product had a long journey to Buffalo but he’s leaned on his faith, family-values and country upbringing to help him keep moving forward. “I was a very outside type of person, I was going outside in my bare feet going to catch lizards, frogs, country-living man,” Roberts said. “A bayou is one minute up the road, me and my guys go swimming in the bayou, go hunting, fishing, you name it, just na outdoor type of life.”
ALLISON STAEBELL, THE SPECTRUM
COURTESY OF TIM ROBERTS
Senior safety Tim Roberts runs on the field against FAU. Roberts is a Louisiana native who transferred to Buffalo two years ago after playing junior college football in California.
Pictured is Roberts with an Alligator he caught. He tried to keep the alligator as a pet before his mom made him put it back outside.
That bayou is where Roberts found the foot-long baby alligator he caught. Plenty of parents worry that their child will randomly try to bring home a kitten or puppy. For Roberts’ mom, Yvette, she came home to a gator inside. “He had a frog the size of your head and that got out in the house,” Yvette said. “He had snakes, he had so many pets and he loved every one of his pets but that alligator is the one that had to go. Snakes I could deal with but that alligator got out and we searched and searched and I ended up saying ‘hey, he has to go.’” Roberts comes from a tight-knit family unit that includes his mother, father and two brothers. Paul, his father, said church and family dinners together brought them closer. Religion has always been a huge part of Roberts’ life. His mother Yvette said Roberts took to church early and she never had to drag him there. God is intertwined with everything the family does. “Everything I do now is for my fami-
ly,” Roberts said. “Just going out there each and every day. I have a why, that’s my why, my family and my future family, I do it for them, my biggest motivation is them.” Family is his driving force, but football is his passion. After being a star for Hahnville, Roberts didn’t receive any scholarship offers for Division I. He was forced to head to California where he played junior college football for Fullerton College. Yvette said Roberts was disappointed and frustrated at first, but she also saw it motivated him. Roberts’ willingness to go after his goal of playing Division I football impressed Leipold. Leipold said that was big factor in what led to his recruitment. “He was a young man that was physical, could run and hit,” said Bulls head coach Lance Leipold. “A young man from just outside of New Orleans, going all the way to Fullerton, California to come to Buffalo. Football was definitely something that he was passionate about, it’s important to him, as well as getting his degree so we knew we
shiftiness that Reed brings to the table. “Most people can’t see me back there so it is definitely an advantage,” Reed said. “When you have big guys that are blocking for you, you are able to squeeze through smaller holes… I definitely try using my size to an advantage rather than handicap me” In football, the low-man wins, something Reed has learned from his role model– NFL running back Darren Sproles, who like Reed, is around five-foot eight-inches. Size has never been a chip on Reeds’ shoulder as many would think: he has enough drive himself. From his strong Christian family beliefs, that can be seen through the tattoos on his body, to his personal motivation to strive on the football field and as a student-athlete. Growing up, it was not only football that flowed through the Reed family blood; it was the drive to achieve academic excellence. Both Reed’s father and brother motivate him frequently, his father tells him he is his biggest fan and his brother tells him to keep working on and off the field. “We always stay on top of each other with everything we do, we always work hard together,” Reed said. “Even when it’s in the classroom, he’s just always sending me text messages, always trying to encourage me… I’m grateful for that part, too.” Reed has a lot to be grateful for, having a close-knit family, between his father, mother and seven siblings, to his close-knit Bulls football family. The transition from Florida to Buffalo has been an easy one for Reed, in spite of the change in weather. UB gave Reed a chance to continue playing the sport he loves. “Coach Ianello called me on the phone and he said that they were really interested in me,” Reed said. “I came down on a visit and I loved everything about UB and I just committed on the spot.” Since then, Reed hasn’t looked back. Reed has worked his way into playing a prominent role for the Bulls, something he has done his entire life. His father reminds him not to rely on his “God given-talent,” but to use it to propel himself further. Reed hopes to use his natural swagger to lead the Bulls. “He has a heart of gold, he would give you the shirt off his back, that’s the kind of kid he is,” Pastor Reed said. “He would always take time for the younger kids… They would scream ‘Emmanuel,’ ‘Emmanuel’ and he would say ‘if I could do it, you can do it.’” email: jeremy.torres@ubspectrum.com
had ourselves a special young man.” But Yvette was hesitant when Roberts first said the Bulls coaches were coming to visit him. All through high school she made sure Roberts placed a high value on academics. “Academics was first and foremost,” Yvette said. “I would have yanked him off the team if his grades had fallen but he made sure that they didn't.” Roberts valued academics and was on honor roll all four years at Hahnville. Between his experience in junior college football and growing up in a small town, Roberts knows how important his education is for life after football. “My momma motivated me to get B’s and A’s and I really hold myself to nothing less,” Roberts said. “I know what I can do, I mean, I’m not the smartest kid in the world but I always apply myself. I always did the work, always did the extra work, always stayed up studying and just like football I'm trying to get more intelligent on the field by studying and applying myself each and every day.” The UB coaches flew to Louisiana to speak with Yvette and Roberts and assured them that Roberts’ academics would be valued. Yvette said she was still hesitant but after praying on it with Tim and the rest of the family she decided “he needed to follow his heart.” Roberts’ goal is to play in the NFL, but he knows he needs a backup plan. He doesn’t want to squander all the work he’s done to be here at Buffalo, and he knows that his degree will open doors. “I grew up with so many people that are nothing now basically just walking the streets and doing nothing with their life and this is the opportunity of a lifetime and I’m gonna put my foot forward and keep going till I can’t go no more,” Roberts said. email: daniel.petruccelli@ubspectrum.com