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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2018 PAGE 3 Students should support referendum for North Campus health facility New facility long overdue
VOLUME 67 NO. 29
PAGE 4 Building bridges UB alum‘12 Ayla Abiad gives back to the refugee and immigrant community
PAGE 8 Focused ambition Women’s basketball team look to remain unfazed while being first in the east division
Student health and recreation center coming to North Campus Project in the works to build wellness building closer to main student population DAN MCKEON COPY CHIEF
Since the 2005-06 school year, UB has taken $3.50 from each student’s compre-
hensive fee to fund a new student health center on North Campus. Now 13 years later and with close to $2 million in the “Reserve Wellness Building”
account, the university is moving forward with a “holistic approach” to build a student wellness center. This includes both health and recreation services, as well as mental health counseling and wellness education according to A. Scott Weber, vice president for student life. Most of the planning for the project will go through the Finance and Administration Office, Student Life, and Athletics as well as significant student input. The structure would be built on Lee Road by Lake LaSalle, according to Weber. The project –– which will cost well over the $2 million raised –– will receive additional funding from other sources including Student Life and Athletics, according to UB spokesperson John Della Contrada. “Ultimately, we plan on seeking a student referendum to demonstrate support for this project and how it will serve our students,” Weber said in an email. “Students have been very positive in the past when asked to support this type of project and we will want to reaffirm this support … .”
Proposed area for health and recreation center
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UB student arrested for throwing underage drinking party MAX KALNITZ NEWS EDITOR
A University Heights resident faces charges of throwing a “large party” and serving alcohol to minors, according to a Buffalo police report. Buffalo police arrested Brandon Ferris, a student in UB’s School of Management and member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity, at 1 a.m. at a house on Winspear Avenue Thursday. Ferris’ charges include two misdemeanors; first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child and second-degree criminal nuisance, The Buffalo News cited from a Buffalo police report. This isn’t Ferris’ only association with the Buffalo police. In October 2016, Ferris and two fellow fraternity brothers stopped an alleged mugger and held him at the scene until police arrived. email: max.kalnitz@ubspectrum.com
SHUBH JAIN, THE SPECTRUM
UB Council Student Representative Mike Brown, a junior political science and computer science major, discusses the proposed North Campus medical and recreation center with The Spectrum. The project, as described by A. Scott Weber, would rely significantly on input from student leaders.
SPECTRUM STOCK PHOTO
A. Scott Weber has made a new health and recreation center a priority since assuming his role as vice president of Student Life in January 2017.
A BULL IN IN THE THE BOWL Former Bull Steven Means on the Eagles roster for Super Bowl LII THOMAS ZAFONTE
Downtown campus ushers in next era of medical training for students Emphasis on small group, “active learning,” to shape next generation of UB’s med students
SA Vice President Jamersin Redfern steps down SA President Leslie Veloz has not announced her pick for Redfern’s replacement
HARUKA KOSUGI ASST NEWS EDITOR
SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
Former UB linebacker Steven Means was on the Philadelphia Eagles roster on Sunday for Super Bowl LII. Means was listed as “inactive” for the game. He was drafted to the NFL in 2013. Means played for the Bulls from 20082011 with 185 tackles and 18.5 sacks in his time. He played alongside fellow former Bull, NFL player Khalil Mack. In his first season in 2008 the Bulls had their best season in ten years going 8-6. Means also earned both an All-MAC and All-Rookie team selections during his time in Buffalo. Means is a Buffalo native and attended Grover Cleveland High School. He played football for UB until leaving in 2012. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013 but was released in 2014. The Baltimore Ravens picked him up later that year. After getting released again and going to the Tenessee Titans practice team in 2015, he was finally signed to the Eagles at the end of the same year. During a 2013 Spectrum interview shortly after getting drafted, Means discussed his hopes for his future NFL career. He felt prepared to put in the needed work to make it in the league. Means was the 147 pick in the draft that year but was optimistic on his ability to make it. “Everyone in Buffalo has talent," Means said. "If you work hard every day, you can be a professional." email: thomas.zafonte@ubspectrum.com
ubspectrum.com
SARAH CROWLEY SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
An assortment of study spaces overlooking a bustling Allen Street is just one way UB’s new medical campus is changing how its students learn. The new campus has been built to meet the changing demands for its graduates, explained Dr. Alan Lesse, senior associate dean for the medical curriculum. The Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME), the board which accredits medical schools, is looking for schools to incorporate more active learning and team based education to help students with an easier transition into practicing medicine –– an increasingly holistic, interdisciplinary field. With an increased number of small classrooms and interactive group learning, alongside new state of the art audio-visual technology, the new campus is suited to gradually reshape the next generation of doctors. Students say they feel the difference. From smaller, group-based classes to working in close proximity to healthcare centers like the Gates Vascular Institute and Roswell Park Comprehensive Care Center, the new medical campus “feels” like med school in a way that the old campus just didn’t. “I’m blown away by the difference,” Justin Bird, a first-year medical student said. “Up on [South Campus], it just felt kind of dead and dry. It was so outdat-
@ubspectrum
BEFORE after
(TOP) EMILY LI, THE SPECTRUM
Medical students sit in a lecture hall on South Campus. The Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences made the move back to its original downtown location. (BOTTOM) COURTESY OF UB PHOTO DATABASE/ MEREDITH FORREST KULWICKI
Students sit in a lecture hall in the new Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. First-year medical students moved into the new building Jan. 8.
ed –– there wasn’t anything that made it feel like med school. The vibe here is a lot more professional. You feel ready to go, and feel like you have that extra little bit of motivation to want to do well and act professionally.”
ubspectrum
Jamersin Redfern officially resigned from his position as Student Association vice president on Friday after delivering the news in person to staff members that afternoon. Redfern finished his coursework for a psychology degree in the fall semester and is stepping down after graduating early because of “undisclosed family issues.” SA President Leslie Veloz will appoint the next vice president in accordance with the SA constitution, which states that if a vacancy opens in the SA e-board after Oct. 31, the presiding SA president will appoint the new vice president. That appointee must then be approved by the SA Senate. Veloz, who has known about the possibility of Redfern’s resignation since the end of last semester, has yet to make a decision on a replacement. She informed the student body about his resignation in a school-wide email on Saturday. This is not the first time in recent years that an e-board member has resigned from their position. Last year the elected vice president, Megan Glander, resigned during the spring semester to accept an internship position with Senator Chuck Schumer. “It’s happened before,” said Jacob Brown, SA elections and credentials chair. “I’m sure it’ll happen again and the process just keeps working.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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NEWS
Page 2 | The Spectrum
Monday, February 5, 2018
Student health and recreation center Downtown campus ushers in next era of medical training for students coming to North Campus CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Such a referendum, Weber said, will likely happen in fall 2018. The current planning started in November of last year, based around a 2014 plan for a new recreation center. The university is issuing a request for quotation (RFQ) for a professional consultant on the project, according to Della Contrada. As part of the planning process, student and university leaders will tour other college’s facilities to see how their centers operate. The professional consultant would also find current wellness centers that achieve “our more holistic vision of mind, body and soul,” according to Weber. “This project is much more than a health service office and will require significant thought and coordination from many people,” Weber said. The university has been aware of the student’s need for a new health center as well as a new recreation center, according to Della Contrada. One of Weber’s major goals has been the development of such a center since becoming the vice president of Student Life in January of last year. As The Spectrum reported in November 2017, there have been several unsuccessful plans in the past to relocate Student Health Services to North Campus. The current primary medical clinic for students in Michael Hall is located on South Campus where only one in seven on-campus students live. Most plans for a new health center ran into funding and space issues. Despite these previous problems, Susan Snyder, the director of Student Health Services, is optimistic about Weber’s vision. Weber spoke with Snyder several times since November about the project. They have discussed “essential space elements” for the structure, including exam rooms, treatment rooms and specialty clinic spaces.
Snyder hopes planning from the university combined with input from the student population will result in a “wonderful, highly utilized, multipurpose facility,” Snyder said. Weber described student input as “very important, significant and critical.” For student leaders, this is welcomed news. Student Association President Leslie Veloz, a senior psychology and English major, said she has not yet been briefed on specifics, but feels the initiative should prioritize student needs. She hopes the university will have a survey so students may provide direct input. A center with extended hours, for example, would be a “dream” for Veloz. “There would be a lot more opportunity for students to seek assistance when needed by not being deterred by a 15-minute bus ride [to South Campus],” Veloz said. Veloz is hopeful this plan will pan out as students and administrators are now both pushing for it. UB Council Student Representative Mike Brown is particularly excited about a combined health and recreation center, describing the idea as a “1Capen of wellness.” Brown said that recreation options are huge issues for students with Alumni Arena on North Campus and Clarke Hall on South Campus both failing to meet the needs of the large student population. “It’s definitely good that they’re not just going to bring Michael Hall up to North Campus but are instead offering more amenities, especially recreation,” Brown said. Looking ahead, Brown is also optimistic the project will finally happen. “It’s something that we as student leaders have always been advocating for,” Brown said. “It’s good that they’re listening and hopefully it’ll pay off.”
MADDY FOWLER, THE SPECTRUM
New state of the art technology located on the seventh floor of the new Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Here students can practice simulated surgical procedures.
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On South Campus, Bird was used to going to classes mostly in big, 30-year-old lecture halls. Not so at his new school, where many courses involve an instructor going through a case with one to two dozen students. “It feels more integrated, like actual medicine rather than just learning things,” Bird said. “We’re presenting cases in small groups and we’ve got to kind of work together to solve a problem. It’s a lot more similar to what it’s going to be like in the real medical field, rather than just presenting a case in front of 100 students, cause that’s just not realistic.” This emphasis on group learning is just one part of the medical school’s vision for
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email: dan.mckeon@ubspectrum.com
SA Vice President Jamersin Redfern steps down CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
> 95%
its new curriculum. “Active learning” is a teaching technique where students are not just asked what they know, but are asked to identify what they don’t know. The next step for students is to determine what resources or experts to consult to get better opinions and to assess and analyze the strengths and accuracy of their own knowledge, according to Lesse. This type of instruction mimics the thinking process used in everyday medicine. Some schools, like the University of Vermont, have gone all the way toward no-lecture, all group-based, active learning. That’s not the plan for UB, Lesse said.
If these mid-year turnovers become a trend, it could raise questions over whether the student body is being fairly represented when its elected officials are being replaced by an executive board appointed candidate –– particularly when the position’s primary duty is to support and oversee all the student clubs on campus through the SA. It is not exactly fair for the students, but the most important thing is to continue the vision she and Redfern had for their tenure, Veloz said in an email. She said an elected official should absolutely tell their constituents if they are planning on not finishing their whole term, however, Redfern’s circumstances were out of his hands. “I think it’s important to note that Jamersin had every intention on finishing the whole year and would have, had he not had his personal reasons,” Veloz said. The decision to resign was not an easy one for Redfern. “It was one of the hardest things I ever
had to do,” Redfern said. “ I’ve been involved with SA since I came to UB. I’m just happy I got accepted by the UB community so quickly after being a transfer student.” He said he recommended a few club leaders and coordinators as his replacement, but Veloz has the final say on the matter. His co-workers said they will miss his presence in the SA office and his work as vice president. “I think Jamersin was a good vice president,” Brown said. “He was a good boss. He cared about the people working for him, and he cared about his clubs. I’m sad to see him go, but I hope he goes on to bigger and better things.” SA is currently collecting petitions for next year’s SA Executive Board elections, which are due on March 1. The elections for the new SA president, vice president and treasurer are scheduled to be held on March 27-29. email: haruka.kosugi@ubspectrum.com
OPINION
Monday, February 5, 2018
Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF
Hannah Stein
The Spectrum | Page 3
Students should support referendum for North Campus health facility New facility long overdue
MANAGING EDITOR
David Tunis-Garcia EDITORIAL BOARD
EDITORIAL EDITOR
Maddy Fowler COPY EDITORS
Dan McKeon, Chief Emma Medina NEWS EDITORS
Sarah Crowley, Senior Max Kalnitz Haruka Lucas Kosugi, Asst. Anna Savchenko, Asst. FEATURES EDITORS
Benjamin Blanchet, Senior Erik Tingue, Asst. Wanly Chen, Asst. ARTS EDITORS
Brenton Blanchet, Senior Brian Evans, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS
Thomas Zafonte, Senior Daniel Petruccelli MULTIMEDIA EDITORS
Allison Staebell, Senior Elijah Pike, Asst. Jack Li, Asst. CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Pierce Strudler CARTOONIST
Ardi Digap
Professional Staff OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Helene Polley
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Ayesha Kazi GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGERS
Stephen Jean-Pierre Shawn Zhang, Asst.
UB is finally starting to take more concrete steps toward making a new health center a reality. The Spectrum supports this measure. Students have complained about the outdated facilities at Michael Hall for years. The building lacks an elevator and is inaccessible to disabled students. And it’s a big trek for sick or injured students to make, especially the many students who don’t have a car. Roughly 6,000 students live on North Campus, and only around 1,000 live on South. That means sick students are forced to pack onto buses with crutches and coughs, exposing dozens of other students to illnesses, not to mention the sheer difficulty of traveling to South Campus when sick or injured. The administration plans to seek a student referendum in the fall semester to gauge student interest in a North Campus medical facility, according to UB Vice President A. Scott Weber. Since 2005, UB has taken $3.50 from each student’s comprehensive fee and raised nearly $2 million toward a North Campus medical facility. Significantly more money will be needed to make the new health services building happen. The Spectrum would support another potential increase in student fees in order to raise the necessary funds.
CARTOON BY ARDI DIGAP
The new facility will offer a “holistic approach” to student wellness and will house health and recreation services in addition to mental health counseling and wellness education, according to Weber. We are pleased to see the administration taking this progressive approach toward wellness and recognizing the importance of mental health in conjunction with physical wellness. Students will no longer have to commute to South Campus when they’re sneezing or vomiting or confined to crutches or a cast. And we encourage the university to ensure the new facility is accessible for disabled students, unlike the outdated and inaccessible Michael Hall. While we wish a more concrete
plan for this vital project was set into motion much sooner — especially considering the university has been using student tuition dollars to raise money for a project that was not confirmed for over ten years — we are happy the administration is taking student concerns seriously and taking the necessary steps to finalize the project. Most of us will have graduated by the time ground is broken for the new facility, but we know our student fee money will be going toward a positive investment at our alma mater. We are excited to see our university growing and expanding with projects like the new downtown medical campus, and a North Campus health facility is an important step to that end.
Students care about where their money goes, and with ever rising tuition costs, the possibility of yet another fee increase may be understandably off-putting. However, a fee increase that could lead to a North Campus medical facility is a much needed investment in our university. A new healthcare facility on North is a positive, much-needed addition to our campus, which is why we encourage students to support the potential project. It would be investment in the health and wellbeing of future students — something everyone can get behind.
years in prison for UB dorm burglaries,” we read that 21-yearold Buffalo native Darnell Cleveland was sentenced to three and a half years for a series of burglaries. UB Deputy Chief of Police Josh Sticht was very pleased at the long sentence, given that it was for a non-violent crime. I figure Mr. Cleveland also deserved some jail time —perhaps he and Mr. Black could have been cellmates. So why the disparity in sentences for Dennis and Darnell? Shouldn’t the difference have been the other way around? After all, Mr. Cleve-
land is considerably younger than Mr. Black. He did not steal nearly as much. And he did not betray any public trust. But Mr. Cleveland is poor and black. Mr. Black is rich and white, like Judge Michalski. And there’s only so much sympathy to go around. Talking about black men in prison, comedian Richard Pryor used to say, “You go down there looking for justice; that’s what you find: just us.”
Let it go: a win for peace and a loss for society. Let it go: a win for whites and a loss for minorities. This is what society conditions minorities to do: live in silence or speak out to represent your race. Coming to Buffalo, I knew I would be entering classrooms where I would be the only Asian. For some students, I would be the first Asian they ever interacted with. So I made sure to put on a smile and to be on my best behavior because I accepted I would represent my race. On my first week of classes, a white woman told me I was her first Asian friend. A win for diversity, I told myself. But despite my efforts, it was never enough. Each new friend I made, I was told my English was too good, my name was not American enough and I got good grades because I was Asian and smart — not because I was hardworking. If I chose to not drink or smoke, or confessed that I was a virgin, it was because I was Asian and therefore, uptight and a prude. I was labeled before I ever got the chance to speak. Gala highlighted a painful truth. I know if I had spoken up, I
wouldn’t have the support of the masses. And not because I was wrong — because we were two minorities in a room that was primarily white. The privileged majority would win because they could just accuse the black man of wrongdoing. And I would have been the rogue Asian who chose the wrong crowd. It’s overwhelming to know I will live my life constantly working to break these stereotypes. When you have white privilege, you don’t live with those lingering labels or face the pressure to represent your race. Had my date and I been the ones to cause a scene, everyone would say it’s because people of our color are “just like that:” illmannered, aggressively drunk, irresponsible, stupid. The list of ignorant stereotypes goes on. Our caricature hangs in my room, but the public humiliation just wasn’t worth a cartoon with fake smiles. I learned the power of white privilege that night and for some time, I was afraid to stand up to it. Not anymore. White privilege is just a twisted reality that thrives on my silence.
email: opinion@ubspectrum.com
THE SPECTRUM Monday, February 5, 2018 Volume 67 Number 29 Circulation 4,000
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In a recent Spectrum story, “Students and Community React to Black’s Sentencing,” we read that former UB Vice President and convicted embezzler Dennis R. Black was sentenced to five years of probation and community service, with no jail time. State Supreme Court Judge John Michalski felt it would be too harsh to send him to state prison. The story adds that “The
What I learned the night of the Winter Gala
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Spectrum reached out to over a dozen professors, but all declined to comment on the record.” Here’s a comment on the record: as a civil servant who used his office to steal from his fellow New Yorkers, Mr. Black deserved some serious jail time, regardless of the jail. On the same day, in another Spectrum story titled “Buffalo native sentenced to three and a half
Learning white privilege
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Letter to the Editor: White Crime, White Time
WANLY CHEN ASST FEATURES EDITOR
At the 2017 Winter Gala, my date and I were standing in line to have our photos drawn as a caricature. It was a crowded room and there wasn’t a clear cut line for each caricature artist. As our turn approached, we stood next to a couple who also thought it was their turn. After a quick conversation between my date and the couple, my date sat down to have his portrait drawn. What happened shortly after he
sat down remains vivid in memory, but blurry in meaning. “Scum,” the man said. And then again. Scum. Scum. Scum. Scum. He’s shouting it at my date. He continues to yell this. One of his friends joins in his hateful chant. I stand watching, paralyzed by fear and shock. How is it that something so simple could have escalated to that level of taunting? I had to witness the humiliation of two white men calling a black man “scum” right before my eyes. “Nice job on finding a quality date,” the guy’s date jeered sarcastically. The guy turned from my date back to me. “You’re scum,” he spat. Stereotypes say Asians are quiet and reserved, and black people are aggressive and loud. In this incident, neither of my date nor I played our assumed role. When I finally spoke out, my date told me to “let it go.”
Jim Holstun Professor of English
email: wenly.chen@ubspectrum.com
FEATURES
Page 4 | The Spectrum
Monday, February 5, 2018
BUILDING BRIDGES UB alum‘12 Ayla Abiad gives back to the refugee and immigrant community
COURTESY OF EMILY PUMM
Ayla Abiad spoke about her experiences as a Syrian-born person living in America during the seventh annual TEDx conference in Buffalo this past fall.
BENJAMIN BLANCHET SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR
After the ongoing Syrian civil war began earlier this decade, UB alum Ayla Abiad wasn’t sure how to help. Born in Syria, she had no control in going back home. She felt handcuffed. Abiad began volunteering at Buffalo’s International Institute and began seeing Syrian families coming into the resettlement agency. She began introducing herself to families and not long after started receiving messages asking for help. Today, Abiad has answered the call for help with a non-profit foundation, which runs thanks to volunteers donating their time and money. “With everyone coming together, that’s why I believe Buffalo is a great place,” Abiad said. “Everyone wants to help and it’s a great place for newcomers and for families here because it’s so friendly, safe and everyone wants to help.” Abiad helped create the Build a Bridge (BAB) Foundation in 2015. The foundation
links a variety of volunteers to refugees and new immigrants who need help understanding mail, financial assistance and filling out job applications. Abiad came to the U.S. in 2009 on a student visa to pursue higher education. When the civil war started in her home country, her status was held and she stayed in the U.S. post-graduation. After finding an employer to sponsor her green card, she has remained put. In 2010, she began volunteering at the International Institute of Buffalo. “Kids, elderly people, they’re like a little bit traumatized because they went through a lot,” Abiad said. “To come here as a refugee –– besides the fact that you fled a war –– you stayed in refugee camps and then you went through screenings. You’re thrown literally in a city where you know nothing, you’re locked in a home and you don’t know how to pay the bills or read the mail. It’s overwhelming.” For Abiad, she looks to challenge preconceptions of immigrants with events like the seventh annual TEDx conference in Buffalo this past October.
After working with Villa Maria College student LaCherie Reid on a video documentary for the International Institute, Abiad began to consider sharing her story at the conference. “I wanted to speak up in a nice way and say, ‘Well, I come from a good family, we’re not barbarians, we’re good,’” Abiad said. “I played piano for eighteen years, I travelled the world, my father is a civil engineer, my husband is a doctor. When my professor told me that and said I should tell my story, tell people what you do with your non-profit and that people should look at us from Syria and third world countries equally.” Michelle Kearns, developer and instructor in the Digital Media and Communication program at Villa Maria College, helped Abiad with editing drafts of her TEDx talk. Kearns, a former journalist for The Buffalo News, believes Abiad has a fascinating story and is thrilled she was able to tell it. “I just think she is really charismatic, a really good storyteller, has great insight and it’s not easy to get up on stage to tell a clear idea or a clear story,” Kearns said. “To pull
people in, to be compelling, I was riveted. She’s just a natural and it’s a wonderful forum for someone who has a big heart and wants to do good in the community, it was really inspiring.” Coming to America has also altered Abiad’s preconceptions about its people. Meeting her neighbors in Buffalo has led her to see how welcoming people are in her community. “I had a neighbor, she welcomed me with cookies and tea. I made friendships here and I was wrong about the Americans,” Abiad said. “I knew Americans through a screen and I didn’t have the one-to-one human interaction, which is very important for you to break that barrier. I think it’s important for people to be aware, though, that we have preconceptions and starting to question them like ‘Where are they coming from?’” When it comes to her foundation, Abiad said its creation comes from a team of volunteers. During the process of establishing the foundation as a non-profit, everyone from lawyers, IT workers and other skilled people volunteered to help get BAB into motion. Samer Fallouh, a BAB board member and resident in Dallas, Texas, has known Abiad since childhood and recognizes the passion she has for the foundation. “When she started getting traction in terms of people not just wanting to volunteer and there was more interest from people who wanted to give money, so that was the trigger needed to make it formal,” Fallouh said. On top of BAB, Abiad currently works as an architect for Wendel Duchscherer in Williamsville. She hopes the BAB foundation will only grow, with plans to release an app in the near future. Kearns thinks in today’s time, Abiad’s idea for a phone app to connect immigrants and refugees with volunteers helps simplify the community connection process. “I can say right now that I’d love to host a family to dinner but the steps I need to take to get there are complicated,” Kearns said. “So this phone app that she has developed I think is genius, getting connected to people that can help them with all different kinds of things.” As the company maintains a presence in Buffalo, she wishes the foundation can grow beyond U.S. borders. “I’m testing [the app] on the local level and the number of volunteers and refugees are working, so I’m planning on taking it to an international level,” Abiad said. email: benjamin.blanchet@ubspectrum.com.
Downtown campus ushers in next era of medical training for students CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“We don’t think that it’s one or the other,” he said. “We still think that some lecture is necessary. Lecture is a very efficient way to deliver lots of information with few resources. But you can add to that, with things like ‘clicker questions’ to make even the lectures more engaging.” The medical curriculum won’t see any drastic changes right away, but will begin to adapt itself to the new environment this coming fall. A physical harbinger for these changes is the Sal Messenger Active Learning Center, a seminar room on the first floor which contains 24 tables with nine student seats per table, big enough to accommodate the entire first-year class of 180 students. In the center of each table are wireless ethernet cords and microphones so students can share their an-
swers to the other students in the room and display any visuals they used on one of the four projector screens on each wall. Even traditional lecture rooms include new features to accommodate group based learning. The M&T Bank Auditorium, where Lesse delivered the first ever lecture in the new building, features two rows of students in each landing, so a student can swivel around in their chair and work with the person behind them much easier than in traditional single row lectures. The technology in the new halls marks a new era for medical training, with features like a speech to text recording system which allows students to search through videos of lectures for key words in order to streamline studying. “So if I give a lecture –– this is wild –– the lecture is captured and then the content is sent to something like Amazon web ser-
vices,” Lesse explained. “The video is then speech to text translated, and I tried it out, it’s unbelievable. So if you’re like, ‘What did he say about gram negatives?’ it will take you to the ten different points in the lecture and you don’t have to go searching through the video.” Patapsco, the system used to translate the speech to text, takes roughly four hours to complete, according to Lesse. The quality and amount of space devoted to laboratory work is another improvement that included state of the art research facilities and simulation labs for students to practice patient care, surgery and more. Even for students later on in their education, like third-year student Eva Zimmerman, who won’t be taking many classes in the new building, the downtown campus offers a welcome change for study habits and routines.
Zimmerman, who works at the Buffalo General Medical Hospital, part of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, will study at the medical school after work rather than going home like she would have before. “It’s just a gorgeous facility; it harbors a work environment,” Zimmerman said. “If I have kids, someday, I would have to come show them this building. It’s something you can take pride in.” Still, there’s a twinge of longing for students who won’t get the full four-year experience downtown. “It’s hard to not feel a little bit like that,” Zimmerman said. “I live with two other girls who are in my classes in medical school and when we initially saw [the new medical building] me and the one girl joked, we would have done so much better if we were here.” email: sarah.crowley@ubspectrum.com
COURTESY OF UB PHOTO DATABASE/MEREDITH FORREST KULWICKI
COURTESY OF UB PHOTO DATABASE/MEREDITH FORREST KULWICKI
Students sit in a lecture hall in the new Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. First-year medical students moved into the new building Jan. 8.
Dr. Alan Lesse delivers the first ever lecture in the new downtown medical campus. Lesse is the senior associate dean for medical curriculum.
Monday, February 5, 2018
FEATURES
The Spectrum | Page 5
Helping hands in Buffalo Students discuss giving back to communities over break WANLY CHEN ASST FEATURES EDITOR
When spring break comes around, some UB students look forward to one thing: volunteering. Different from a tropical spring break destination, alternative breaks give students opportunities to provide domestic or international outreach to communities with social issues. These breaks emphasize the important role volunteers play in communities. UB’s office of Student Engagement echoes this vital experience. The office, located on the second floor of the Student Union, hosts alternative breaks and days of service and brings volunteerism to a local and international level. Rachel Di Domizio, community engagement coordinator with Student Engagement, believes in the values volunteering offers students at the university by exposing them to “real-world” challenges. “Volunteering helps people learn what types of environments they may want to work in, and has lead students to change their major to a field they never imagined,” Di Domizio said. Leah Nolan, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, became inspired to volunteer by watching her parents give back to their communities. Her father, a volunteer firefighter, strengthened her desire to become one as well at 16-years-old. “I think that watching my parents do so much for the community inspired me to want to continue on that,” Nolan said. “I stayed involved in student government and the National Honor Society where I helped out my school. I also joined the local fire department, where I am fortunately still an active member there.”
Winter events and festivals to check out in February DAN MCKEON, BENJAMIN BLANCHET
Nolan describes her work with Habitat for Humanity, a volunteer organization that builds homes for communities, as an eyeopener to other issues. “I lived in the same town my entire life, so in that way I became sheltered to the different kinds of problems that are out there,” Nolan said. “There really isn’t a housing crisis in my town, so working with Habitat opened my eyes to the fact that this is a real problem in other communities.” Volunteering has benefits of building work experience and connections. In a study done in 2013 by the Corporation for National and Community Service, having volunteer experience increases chances of employment by 27 percent. Volunteer experiences are impactful for students but at times, costs to attend such programs can be discouraging. To alleviate cost concerns, Student Engagement offers alternative break trips ranging from $155 alternative breaks in Buffalo to an estimated $1,600 international trips. “That’s a lot of money and I know the price tag can be a very discouraging thing for some people,” Rumfola said. “Most people pay for their own tuition and rent, and they want that money to last. If I was really interested in it, I would dig into looking for a loan or some sort of help.” Gunnar Haberl, a junior legal studies and political science major, had concerns with the high cost associated with the alternative break to Dominican Republic. His passion for education, however, led him to scholarships and funds that allowed him to attend the program. “I was in one of those situations where $1,700 was a lot, but UB gives out scholarships to help the cost,” Haberl said. “My family and friends knew how passionate I
COURTESY OF GUNNAR HABERL
UB’s Office of Engagement offers alternative breaks for students to participate in. Gunnar Haberl, on his trip to the Dominican Republic, taught local students English as a second language.
was about education and I was lucky enough to raise money from them.” Haberl encourages any students who may not be able to afford international volunteer experience to think of experiences in the immediate area. Volunteering through tutoring, advocacy and food drives are all ways to give back to the community and are needed, Haberl said. “It’s important to note that you don’t need an alternative break to give back to the community,” Haberl said. “I ran for a seat on my local board of education and won. It’s a five-year seat that I’m committed to volunteer in. We’re in such an important time in education and I knew I needed to be involved to get the changes [in education] right.” email: wenly.chen@ubspectrum.com
Winter Activities
EDITORIAL STAFF
Rich’s
As usual, the weather is becoming unbearable. If you’re looking to warm up your spirits and get in fully-frigid winter mode, check out some of what Buffalo has to offer this month.
Horsefeather’s Winter Market
Horsefeather’s Winter Market
WEDI Winterfest
346 Connecticut St. Every Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., ends Feb. 24
The Atrium @ Rich’s, 1 Robert Rich Way Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The West Side will be walking in a winter wonderland this weekend. This 10th annual edition of Winterfest is equipped with food from Rich Products alongside offerings from the West Side Bazaar. Aside from food, the evening’s entertainment should be very much in order. For your jazzily cold enjoyment, saxophonist Kelly Bucheger and What Would Mingus Do? is all set to warm up the evening with hot numbers. GA tickets for Winterfest can run your pocket around $60, so it may be worthwhile to buy VIP, which includes an open bar and a glass to remember the evening by.
Canalside 44 Prime St. Feb. 10-24, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Located in the epicenter of downtown Buffalo, Canalside is a hit no matter the weather. Every Saturday throughout the month of February will feature a variety of entertainment near Buffalo’s harbor. From 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Canalside’s lodge is the perfect
of what the 716 can offer. Players will be separated by three divisions based on level of play from beginner to advanced. The tournament begins this weekend and continues on through the 18th, with playoffs finishing up on the 17th and 18th. In addition to hockey, attendees can enjoy musical festivities, silo tower tours, rock climbing and a ninja skills competition. There will also be zip lines alongside appearances from former Buffalo Sabres players throughout the tournament. If you’re looking for something nice to do this month, come out to support Buffalo’s best non-pro hockey players.
Canalside Buffalo RiverWorks COURTESY / GOOGLE MAPS
place to keep from freezing to death. Additionally, if you like watching the grain elevators light up in the summer, you just may love to see the historic structures illuminate in Buffalo’s most popular climate. Canalside’s rink will also feature open skate hours along with public performances. The 30-minute performances begin at 4 p.m. and will features different skaters each afternoon. For a classic way to celebrate the Queen City’s shivery temperatures, make sure to
try to master the ice, even if it comes with some failure.
Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament Buffalo Riverworks, 359 Ganson St. Feb. 11-18
Nothing screams Buffalo more than hockey and beer. Next Sunday you can head on down to Riverworks and check out some of the best
Farmer’s markets are traditionally an outdoor, warm weather gathering of vendors and locals. They offer viable alternatives to supermarkets with a direct farm-to-fridge experience. But finding one in the winter can be next to impossible Horsefeather’s Winter Market - as you can tell by the name - is that elusive winter farmer’s market. Located on the corner of Connecticut and Normal Streets, Horsefeather’s Winter Market has a lineup of permanent vendors, selling things like cheese and cake pops. Farmers sell products from organic fruits and vegetables to meat and mushrooms. Other vendors sell French macaroons and truffles. There’s only three Saturdays left before you have to go back to normal outdoor farmer’s markets. Warm weather? Who needs it! email: features@ubspectrum.com.
Page 6 | The Spectrum
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Welcome back, Aaron.
fans discover my new music. It’s been awesome getting to know them, too.
Aaron Carter talks Niagara Falls show and first record in 15 years
Q: For a college-aged audience, my-
BRENTON J. BLANCHET SENIOR ARTS EDITOR
Selling 10 million albums worldwide is an accomplishment not many can celebrate. But at 15 years old, pop star Aaron Carter did just that. He had magazine spreads, concert films, his own doll and of course an unforgettable “Lizzie McGuire” appearance. Carter, now 30, is making his way back into the music industry after a 15-year studio album hiatus. With the release of his upcoming record “Love,” Carter hopes to incorporate his new look and EDM sound into his comeback album. The Spectrum spoke with the singer about his new musical direction, growing up a pop star and his upcoming March 8 concert at Evening Star Theatre in Niagara Falls.
Q: Congratulations on the success of
your new music. How do you feel knowing “Sooner or Later” has reached almost 75 million streams on Spotify?
Q: You’ve mentioned being more involved in the creative direction of your music this time around –– especially in terms of production. Is it more satisfying to share your music knowing you’ve worked on all aspects of it? A: It was really important to me that I only
talk about true experiences on this album, so I got a great team together to help bring all of these ideas to life. I’m really passionate about the record making process. I love it.
Q: You announced through Twit-
ter that you officially wrapped up your new album. Since it’s been over 15 years since your last, how do you feel putting this record out?
A: It’s about time. I’m really exciting releasing my first album in 15 years –– the fans have been asking me for too long.
Monday, February 5, 2018
self and many others remember your promotion and TV appearances from the early ’00s. Do you look back on this stuff as childhood memories or more so as work?
A: I look at my old TV and promo appearances in the past as a mix between childhood memories and work. Work was my childhood. I didn’t really know the difference at the time.
Q: Even though you’ve gone 15 years without a new studio album, you’ve said before you “live, eat and breathe music.” Would you call your most recent success a comeback, or does it feel like you’ve never really been gone? A: You can call it whatever you like, I’m just really excited to be releasing a new album this year. It’s very exciting for me.
Q: You’ll be performing in Niagara Falls on March 8 for your Love Tour. Are you looking forward to hitting the road again?
COURTESY OF SARA JAYE WEISS
He’s back. Pop star Aaron Carter is set to release “Love,” his first album in 15 years, on Feb. 16. Carter chatted with The Spectrum about the upcoming record, the satisfaction of greater creative control and his March 8 concert in Niagara Falls.
Q: How has the support been from A: This upcoming tour is really focused A: Absolutely, the road is home away A: Thanks so much. The streaming suc- fans after waiting this long for a record? from home and meeting and performing for on my new music, but I do always play some Has your fan base grown since the re-
cess of “Sooner or Later” makes me extremely proud. My fans didn’t quite know what to expect from new music last year and I’m so happy they loved it. Also, shout out to the new fans who discovered the song without ever hearing my music before.
lease of your “Love” EP?
A: There’s the super fans who’ve had my back through everything and who are always there ... but I’ve definitely noticed my fan base grow and it amazes me how many new
my fans never gets old!
Q: For your live shows, how do you balance incorporating both the new tracks and your older stuff ? What should fans expect from the show?
Nursing student makes noise Kari Quimpo balances musical aspirations and accelerated nursing program
BRENTON J. BLANCHET SENIOR ARTS EDITOR
Kari Quimpo is an accelerated nursing student and for the last year, she’s been tackling 59 class credits, intensive studying and a seemingly never-ending workload. But she still finds time for her music. Quimpo doubles as a singer-songwriter and practices an hour every day in between her 700 required clinical hours and hefty course load. “I always make sure that I play, even when I don’t feel like it in the moment,” Quimpo said. “Once I start playing the guitar I get reminded of how much I needed it and at the end of the day, it’s always a service to me and never a burden.” Her determination has led to thousands of YouTube views, open mic appearances in Buffalo and her own efforts to inspire fellow students to pursue performing. Quimpo’s first time performing in front of others was 10 years ago at a school-wide talent show. With only her guitar, her first original song and a streak of red hair, Quimpo worked up the courage to play in front of her peers. She was just twelve-years-old. “I wrote a song about what it felt like to be different and how I didn’t know how to express how lonely it felt to be different. All of those feelings you have in that adolescent stage,” Quimpo said, now an accelerated nursing student at UB. The musician didn’t see herself as a songwriter until months before the talent show performance. She was listening to the radio one day and stumbled upon a Taylor Swift interview. The then-rising country star’s words caught the attention of young Quimpo. “She said that any bad situation could be turned into a positive one if you could make something beautiful out of it. That really
ALLISON STAEBELL, THE SPECTRUM
Accelerated nursing student Kari Quimpo makes songwriting look easy and makes multitasking look even easier. Quimpo manages to play open mics around Buffalo and work through the Accelerated Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (ABS) Program, all while inspiring her peers.
resonated with me,” Quimpo said. Swift’s interview inspired Quimpo to “organize her thoughts” and write songs as a form of self-expression. Swift’s influence can still be heard in Quimpo’s sound, which is composed of feelgood acoustic tracks, love songs and honest lyricism. Her songwriting and melodies are reminiscent of an early Swift, but with less of a country feel. In “As Bad as It Seems,” the songwriter sees the positive side of things even in a difficult situation, a parallel to her bright personality and ability to stay focused on both her studies and music. But during her first semester at UB, Quimpo, then a health and human services major, didn’t think she was managing her time well. She often fled from her studies to write songs and record music. Her drive to write music and attend open mic events nearly “messed up” her freshman year academically. “I was not prioritizing really well. I wasn’t focusing on the important things,” Quimpo said. “When I realized that I didn’t have
good balance, I gave myself two years where I really just focused on school.” The student put down her guitar to keep up with her studies, but the Buffalo music scene didn’t make it easy. She slowly found herself attending open mics around the city, and was well received by her peers and show-dwellers. “The first open mic that I did in Buffalo that wasn’t school-affiliated was at Nietzsche’s in Allentown. They invited me back to do an hour showcase and they invited me to do that again this past November,” Quimpo said. “[Being asked to come back] reminds me that people are willing to listen to my stories. I’m just grateful for it because I don’t really go out of my way, and I know that’s not going to last very long.” Quimpo’s balancing has inspired her peers to pursue their passions even when it may be difficult. Isabelle Cañeda, a recent UB alum, was a CA with Quimpo at South Lake Village. Quimpo’s musical drive inspires Cañeda, a fellow performer, to stay involved with open
old school songs that the fans want to hear. Everyone will have to come to see which songs those are. email: brenton.blanchet@ubspectrum.com
mics in New York City despite now working at a record label. “Watching her really pursue music while being in not just nursing school, but the accelerated nursing program just proves that there are no excuses for giving up on music just because you’re a student or work all the time,” Cañeda said. “I really think that when she becomes famous, that’ll be the biggest message she can give to people. Demand that your strengths, talents, quirks get taken seriously ... and become a nurse for fun.” But the singer doesn’t just find joy in sharing her own music. When she was an RA and CA, Quimpo hosted her own open mic events. She encouraged residents to attend and share their talents. Residents who attended the open mics have gone on to perform at music events around Buffalo. She won a program of the year award at UB’s 2015 paraprofessional banquet. Quimpo feels proud knowing she gave the students a place to share their craft. “When I go out and I see [my old residents] at Nietzsche’s or just playing on the street, I think that it’s so amazing,” Quimpo said. “I just provided another outlet for them to practice. I gave them permission to make noise.” Julio Ramirez, a senior speech pathology major, doesn’t just see Quimpo as a former RA and friend, but as an inspiration. “It is so inspiring to see Kari pursue music while being in nursing school,” Ramirez said. “She is so talented and she is going to be an amazing nurse. I think it’s so cool that she always makes time to do the thing she loves even if she is busy with school.” As for her future in music, Quimpo has been writing a lot of music for herself and hopes to keep writing and performing in her spare time once she graduates. “There’s never going to be a point where I’m not singing or not writing,” Quimpo said. “I’m really excited to be done with school because then I’ll be able to actually have the time to figure out what I want to do with music. But I’m always going to be singing.” email: brenton.blanchet@ubspectrum.com
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The Spectrum | Page 7
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SPORTS
Page 8 | The Spectrum
Monday, February 5, 2018
FOCUSED AMBITION Women’s basketball team look to remain unfazed while being first in the east division THOMAS ZAFONTE SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
No one on the Bulls will refer to their play as good, despite currently holding first place in the Mid-American Conference East division. Even after a win, the team is always looking to reflect on their faults and look for ways to improve. The team had a strong start going 9-2 in non-conference and followed it up going 8-2 in conference. The Bulls (174, 8-2 MAC) do not rest on their current mid-season accomplishments. Instead the players wait until they are MAC champions, always keeping their sights on it from the start of the season. “I think it is hard for all of us to celebrate because we all have such big goals this season and know the hard work that is needed to get there,” junior guard Cierra Dillard said. “I am never satisfied with my performance. We are always on to the next game looking straight ahead which helps keep us playing our best and stops us from getting ahead of ourselves.” The Bulls have been adamant this entire season about playing with a team mentality. On Saturday, the Bulls defeated the Toledo Rockets (15-8, 6-5 MAC) 8473. Sophomore forward Summer Hemphill had a double-double in the game with 18 points and 13 rebounds. She has turned into a consistent scorer, shooting below 50 percent once this season. “We enjoy winning and are happy that we do, but that’s not why I play basketball,” Hemphill said. “I play for my team, I play for my family, I play because we all
want to succeed and win the MAC championship together.” Junior guard Cierra Dillard had 18 points in Saturday’s game and also credited her performance to the team. The win over the Rockets marked the team’s twelfth double-digit margin of victory this season. Saturday’s win was one of the Bulls’ most impressive as the Rockets had entered the game on a threegame winning streak. “You know we are a tough MAC team too,” said head coach Felisha LegetteJack. “I look out on the court and see so many players who can have big games from Cassie [Oursler] putting up big numbers, Summer [Hemphill] scoring and attacking the boards, Cierra going off scoring.” Now with the team looking at its final eight regular season games, they keep mentality where it has been all season, to be MAC champions. The Bulls have only four freshman and sophomore players and Legette-Jack credits the team’s experience for much of its success. “We have been building this team up for the past six years,” Legette-Jack said. “Now this team has been put together and we are seeing a lot of exciting basketball and a chance to watch these women grow.” Legette-Jack is hoping to get the team playing the same fast-paced style it was playing at the beginning of the year. The style included the Bulls taking long distant court passes to create transition points and a focus on creating more turn-
overs. She finds that the team has become more selective with its shots and is hoping to get the players out of that habit despite the recent success. With the MAC tournament 28 days away, the Bulls plan to improve upon areas they still find holes in despite the recent strong play.
The Bulls have a home game on Wednesday against the Kent State Golden Flashes (11-12, 4-7 MAC). The Golden Flashes are coming off a loss to the Northern Illinois Huskies (11-11, 3-8 MAC) this past Saturday. email: thomas.zafonte@ubspectrum.com
JACK LI, THE SPECTRUM
Junior forward Summer Hemphill working through a layup. Hemphill has a string of recent strong performances.
Bulls keep running Men’s basketball puts up big numbers with newcomer Jeremy Harris DANIEL PETRUCCELLI SPORTS EDITOR
PHOTOS BY MADISON MEYER, THE SPECTRUM
(top) Junior guard Jeremy Harris goes up for a layup. Harris has been a huge addition to the Bulls roster this season and is shooting 41.4 percent from three-point range. (right top) Junior guard Davonta Jordan goes up for a basket against two western Michigan defenders. He averages 4.1 assists per game this season. (right bottom) Senior guard Wes Clark plays defense against Western Michigan. Clark is currently leading the Bulls with 5.9 assists per game in his first season in Buffalo.
The UB men’s basketball team is positioned to finish as the highest scoring team in school history. After Friday’s game with Western Michigan, Buffalo is now first in the Mid-American Conference averaging 83.3 points per game, 2.5 points higher than the current school record. The Bulls have already matched last year’s total wins with 17 and they still have eight games left to play. The Bulls (17-6, 9-1 MAC) have been hot since they entered MAC play winning their first eight games before losing to Kent State (12-11, 6-4 MAC) on Tuesday. The emergence of newcomers junior guard Jeremy Harris and senior guard Wes Clark have been the big reasons for their control of the MAC. “I think the x-factor for them has been Harris,” said Western Michigan head coach Steve Hawkins. “You’ve got some good guards, but then you add a fourth man out there like Harris that’s capable of shooting the three or posting up and getting to the rim or bringing the ball up the court… that causes problems.” Harris is currently averaging 13.9 points per game, one of four Bulls averaging double-digit scoring. He is leading the way from deep with a team-high 41.4 percent shooting from behind the arc. Harris, who is in his first year at the Division-I level, took some time to adjust to the new level of competition. But in conference play his averages have gone up to 16.8 points per game and a 50 percent from deep. “In the beginning of the season, I was thinking a little bit about just scoring the ball which that’s what messed me up,” Harris said. “Coach Oats got on me a little bit to just let it come; don’t force anything and just playing with my teammates and they’re getting me open shots.” Bulls head coach Nate Oats credits some
of Harris’s early struggles to his own misunderstanding of how Harris plays. “Part of it was my fault early because I knew how well he could score so I was trying to run a bunch of stuff for him and get him to be super aggressive,” Oats said. “We’re back to running stuff for him because he’s a really good teammate. He’s easy to play with.” Buffalo has been able to move the ball as unit all season. Clark and sophomore guard Davonta Jordan have been leading the distribution with 5.9 and 4.1 assists per game, respectively. Clark’s 14.1 points per contest is also good for third on the team. The offense has been unselfish, currently ranking in the top 50 in the nation with assists. The non-selfish approach has created a team that is clicking heading into the final stretch of the season. “The thing that I love about them on film is that their chemistry jumps off the film,” Hawkins said. “You can tell these guys like to play with each other. They share the ball, they don’t seem to care who takes the shot.” Oats feels the only area the Bulls need to work on is defense. The 82 points they gave up against Kent State was the second most they’ve given up to a MAC opponent this season. They are also currently ranked second to last in the MAC in points allowed per game. The Bulls looked strong defensively to start Friday and held the Broncos to just 30 points in the first half, but the second half almost got away from them. After dropping an 18 point lead in the game against Kent State, Buffalo did just enough to avoid a similar fate in the game. “Fifty-six points in the second half [from Western Michigan] is not good,” Oats said. “We gotta get back to guarding, … we are not back where we need to be but we are back winning.” email: daniel.petruccelli@ubspectrum.com