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Wednesday, October 15, 2014
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Volume 64 No. 22
QUINN FIRED PHOTO BY CHAD COOPER
Buffalo terminates Quinn’s contract less than 48 hours after 37-27 loss Saturday Owen O’Brien and Tom Dinki MANAGING EDITOR & SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
B
PHOTO BY CHAD COOPER
‘WE ALL
WE NEED’
uffalo fired head football coach Jeff Quinn Monday evening. Quinn’s four-plus-year, 56-game tenure concluded less than 48 hours after Buffalo’s 37-27 loss to Eastern Michigan Saturday, dropping the team’s record to 3-4 this season. Quinn went 2036 as head coach of the Bulls. Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Alex Wood has been promoted to interim head coach and will finish the season. Quinn has not spoken publicly since the announcement and did not return The Spectrum’s request for an interview, but did send a statement. This is Buffalo’s eighth coaching change since Athletic Director Danny White assumed his position in 2012. Quinn will earn at least one year’s base salary, $250,000, for the contract buyout, according to Article VI of his contract. He could receive up to $525,000 through 2017 from the university if he remains unemployed and is actively searching for a job, according to his contract. UB Athletics did not make players available for comment. Athletic Director Danny
DEC. 22, 2009 Quinn hired as head coach of the Bulls
Former Bulls have mixed feelings about playing for Quinn MANAGING EDITOR & SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
T
he 2013 Buffalo Bulls football team had a saying: “We all we got. We all we need.” The phrase meant the players had to hold the team together and couldn’t rely on the coaching staff for support. “We weren’t playing for coaches. We were playing for ourselves,” said former wide receiver Alex Neutz. “We didn’t feel comfortable with our coaching staff, it was all about us [players].” Other teams, like the Seattle Seahawks, chant the same phrase, but at UB, the phrase became a cry of solidarity among the players. And, like much of what happened during the four and a half years Jeff Quinn led the Bulls, it also highlighted the divide between what at least some of the players felt and what Quinn believed. “Coach Quinn thought it meant the
SEE QUINN, PAGE 5
NOV. 2012
MAY 8, 2012
PHOTO BY CHAD COOPER
Owen O’Brien and Tom Dinki
White was also unavailable for comment. “We all know how much coach Quinn cared about our program. He was passionate about it,” said former Buffalo wide receiver Fred Lee. “Whether he was yelling or screaming or whatever he always loved you up, was there for you outside of the game. That’s the kind of person he was. So to see him go makes me sick to my stomach to know that just like that things can happen but it’s coaching and that’s how it works.” Quinn became head coach of the Bulls in 2010 after former head coach Turner Gill accepted the same position at Kansas University after the 2009 season. Quinn inherited a program two years removed from its only MAC Championship in 2008 and coming off a 5-7 season in 2009. Quinn worked with current Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly for 21 years and served as offensive coordinator at Cincinnati under Kelly before accepting the head coaching vacancy at Buffalo. “I am grateful for all the love and support my wife Shannon, two sons Kyle and Ryan, my parents, entire Quinn and Rantis families, our dear friends, and fans have given me during my time leading the University at Buffalo Football Program,” Quinn said in a press release. “We have poured our hearts and souls into this football program and community.”
QUINN TIMELINE
whole organization,” Neutz said. “But it just meant we had to stick together ourselves.” UB Athletics fired head coach Quinn Monday afternoon. The decision came less than 48 hours after the Bulls’ 37-27 loss to Eastern Michigan Saturday. Quinn has not spoken publicly since the announcement and did not return The Spectrum’s request for an interview, but did send a statement thanking the Bulls for the opportunity to be their head coach. UB Athletics did not make players available for comment. Athletic Director Danny White was also unavailable for comment. Some former players were shocked by the decision, but others felt like it was necessary – some even said it was overdue because of the gulf between the players and Quinn.
SEE PLAYER REACTIONS, PAGE 2
Danny White is named Buffalo’s athletic director
White announces a fiveyear contract extension for despite a coaching NOV. 29, 2013 Quinnrecord of 9-26 at Buffalo concludes an eightthe time win regular season with a 24-7 loss to Bowling Green in what was an essentially a MAC East championship game.
DEC. 21, 2013
Buffalo loses the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl game 49-24 against San Diego State. It was OCT. 11, 2014 the team’s second-ever Despite being heavy Bowl game appearance.
favorites, the Bulls lose 37-27 to Eastern Michigan to drop their record to 3-4 on the season. PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHAD COOPER
OCT. 13, 2014 White announces Quinn has been fired as head coach of the Bulls.
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Continued from player reactions, page 1 “I felt like we didn’t want to win for coach Quinn,” Neutz said. Not all former Bulls feel this way. Former tight end Alex Dennison praised Quinn and said he felt the coach had larger goals than many of the players understood. “A lot of players forget you cannot make everyone happy but what you have to do is defend the program,” Dennison said. “He made sure there was something worth while in Western New York.” Still, several former Bulls characterized Quinn’s coaching style as aggressive, dispiriting and divisive. The players said Quinn was highly critical and swore openly and loudly. They also said he disciplined unevenly and gave better athletes preferential treatment. And they spoke of an atmosphere of distrust between players and the coaching staff. While tensions simmered throughout the 2013 season, several players told The Spectrum that the breaking point – the moment many players felt what Neutz called a “loss of respect” for Quinn – came in the summer of 2013, when Quinn kicked former wide receiver Rudy Johnson off the team and took away his scholarship. Quinn removed Johnson because Johnson had missed voluntary summer workouts. Johnson missed these workouts in order to work two internships near his Baltimore, Maryland home. “A lot of people never really gave coach Quinn the respect we had for him after that,” Neutz said. “It really started a downward spiral.” The decision, said Neutz, showed how Quinn played favorites and highlighted the “hypocritical society” that characterized Quinn’s tenure at UB. In that society, Neutz and others said, Quinn gave breaks to some players, but none to others. For instance, former players told The Spectrum that Quinn allowed some players who failed drug tests or failed classes to re-
main on the team. Neutz said it really “pissed him off ” that Johnson lost his scholarship for missing voluntary workouts as players who failed classes and drug tests were “suspended for a week or two, but they would get brought back eventually.” Quinn told players if they failed drug tests or classes that they’d be kicked off the team, Neutz said. But, when an impact player actually failed, Quinn would explain to his players that kicking a student-athlete off the team wouldn’t help the player. But in keeping a player on the team Quinn could help him, Neutz and other players said. Neutz said one back-up player was kicked off the team after failing a single drug test, whereas Neutz knew of several impact players who failed multiple drug tests, but received minor repercussions. Johnson wasn’t a superstar. He was entering his third year of eligibility and had just 16 career receptions. “If you weren’t good, they didn’t give a shit about you,” Neutz said. Johnson’s removal from the team angered players because they had seen so many others avoid such harsh punishment for drug and other violations. “It all comes back to being a hypocrite and not really following what you believe in,” Neutz said. “If you prove that you don’t really believe in [what you say] you believe in, how are we going to believe your system?” Former wide receiver Fred Lee said he knows numerous players who failed drug tests but continued playing for the Bulls. The Spectrum reached out to UB Athletics regarding the accusations of failed drug tests. UB Athletics declined to comment. “Buffalo has a bunch of hoodlums that were just selfish and were in it for themselves,” Lee said. “For Quinn to come in, he can’t kick the whole team off … You can’t have one bad apple ruin the bunch. But if you have
a bunch of bad apples, what are you going to do? Chop the tree down? He always wanted to help guys get better.” The NCAA’s website states schools that choose to create their own drug-testing programs are responsible for determining their own penalties. Not all players were upset about the alleged lenient discipline policy. Former defensive lineman Colby Way said “every program” in the country has players who fail drug tests. “You make mistakes and people get suspended. It doesn’t bother me,” Way said. “I think everyone deserves a second chance.” The football team did experience one of its highest Academic Progress Rates under Quinn. In the 2012-13 academic year, the Bulls had an APR score of 976. Buffalo lost 10 scholarships from 2004-07 due to low APR scores. “We had an APR score that would have made us borderline ineligible had we made it to a bowl game when I was a freshman,” Dennison said. “We had the highest GPA in the conference [in 2013]. That’s saying something. We had guys that were doing things for the community and in the classroom that you would never expect from the team.” Johnson was removed from the team because he was “untruthful about summer plans” and missing a meeting, according to the written documentation for his dismissal. Lee said the team was split “50/50” about how Quinn handled the Johnson decision. “If you look at the facts, Rudy could have handled it a little bit better,” Lee said. “He was intimidated about confronting coach Quinn and telling him he didn’t want to be here for the summer.” Quinn’s coaching style contrasted with that of his predecessor, Turner Gill. Gill originally recruited many of Buffalo’s seniors from the 2013 team that
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played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Quinn’s new coaching style was hard to adjust to for certain Bulls after Gill left Buffalo for the head coaching job at Kansas University. The coaching differences between Quinn and Gill were “night and day,” according to Lee. Neutz said Gill was the type of coach “you wanted to play your heart out for.” “You didn’t want to disappoint the guy,” Neutz said. “But coach Quinn just starts cussing you out, swearing at you, yelling at you. That doesn’t help you get better. Coach Gill would sit you down, talk to you. Where coach Quinn would just yell at you and not talk to you for the rest of practice.” Way, however, respected and responded to a more vocal and up-tempo coaching style, like Quinn’s. “I personally like that coaching style,” Way said. “I know some people don’t. I like a more up beat coach and that’s exactly what coach Quinn was. He was a great coach for me, but obviously it’s different for everyone.” Lee and Neutz both considered no longer playing football at UB because of Quinn’s coaching style, but finished their careers at Buffalo. But several other players, including Bulls’ 2009 starting quarterback Zach Maynard, left UB after Quinn’s hire. Maynard transferred to California University less than a month after Quinn was hired. Lee said the team had a lot of transfers because players weren’t used to Quinn’s “upfront and personal type of personality.” “There were games he’d get on me on the sideline, but the next drive [he’d call the play] to throw me the touchdown pass down the sideline,” Lee said. “You have to get used to him, that’s how all coaches are.” Lee is currently the assistant strength and conditioning coach at University of Wyoming. Al-
though Lee initially disagreed with some of Quinn’s coaching methods, he now understands some of the reasons for Quinn’s behavior with the team. “Even in some situations where I was like, ‘This guy’s crazy’ and I felt he was wrong, I catch myself in those same situations doing the same things as a coach now,” Lee said. Lee said Quinn lost assistant coaches that players felt they could confide in when they had issues with Quinn, like Zach Duvall, who currently works with Lee as the director of sports performance at Wyoming. Neutz, however, said Duvall and Quinn acted “childish” and fostered an atmosphere of distrust. Duvall told players they could be open with him in the weight room but he would later tell Quinn the remarks made about the head coach, according to Neutz. Last season, Lee said players turned to former Bulls Khalil Mack and Branden Oliver for advice and motivation. This season, Lee doesn’t see the same strength in player leadership. Lee doesn’t believe all the blame falls on Quinn. He said a team also needs leadership from its players and that without it, even a great coach like Nick Saban of the University of Alabama, can’t pull out wins. “You can hire Nick Saban. I guarantee he goes to Buffalo with half those guys not buying in, he won’t be successful,” Lee said. Lee said last year’s team had the maturity to look past their issues with Quinn and perform for one another – leading to their “We all we got. We all we need” mentality. “Did coach Quinn do everything right and do everything perfect? I can’t say he did and I’m sure he would say the same thing,” Lee said. “I know one thing: I know he cared about the team, he was passionate.” email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 ubspectrum.com
Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF
Sara DiNatale
MANAGING EDITOR
OPINION
3
Finally firing Quinn: the right play Decision to fire Quinn the right play by Danny White
Owen O’Brien OPINION EDITOR
Tress Klassen COPY EDITORS
Rachel Kramer Alyssa McClure NEWS EDITORS
Amanda Low, Senior Samaya Abdus-Salaam, Asst. Giselle Lam, Asst. FEATURES EDITORS
Emma Janicki, Senior Sharon Kahn Sushmita Gelda, Asst. ARTS EDITORS
Jordan Oscar, Senior Brian Windschitl Tori Roseman, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS
Tom Dinki, Senior Andy Koniuch Jordan Grossman, Asst. PHOTO EDITORS
Chad Cooper, Senior Juan David Pinzon Yusong Shi CARTOONIST
Amber Sliter CREATIVE DIRECTORS
Jenna Bower Gelareh Malekpour, Asst.
Professional Staff OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER
Kevin Xaisanasy Alex Buttler, Asst. Melina Panitsidis, Asst. ADVERTISING DESIGNER
Tyler Harder Derek Hosken, Asst.
THE SPECTRUM Wednesday, October 15, 2014 Volume 64 Number 22 Circulation 7,000
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. The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by MediaMate. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum, visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at (716) 645-2452. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100
ART BY AMBER SLITER
It took only a three-game win streak in 2012 for Athletic Director Danny White to grant head football coach Jeff Quinn a contract extension through 2017. The decision seemed premature to many, as this three-game span in 2012 resulted in 33 percent of Quinn’s wins in his three seasons at Buffalo. Just 21 games – less than two full seasons – into Quinn’s new contract, White realized the mistake of his 2012 decision. And this time around, it’s a move that deserves wholehearted support. After experiencing not just a loss, but a 37-27 humiliation against Eastern Michigan Saturday, the Bulls are saying farewell to Quinn and ushering in a new era, ideally one that is finally as “big time” as White would like. The current state of the team, with its 3-4 record and rapidly fading bowl aspirations, cannot become the norm if UB is to continue its pursuit of a reputation as a serious sports school. The Bulls’ 8-5 record last season needs to become the standard, even the bare minimum – not the exception to the rule, or an anomaly among two, three and four win seasons. Although the eight-win season was unprecedented at UB, it could still be argued as a disappointment. After all, the Bulls had seven All-Mid-American Conference players – six of whom went on to receive NFL tryouts. Not to mention Khalil Mack and Branden Oliver, arguably the two best players in program history – whom Quinn did not recruit. It’s hard to imagine a roster better equip for a conference championship at UB com-
ing anytime soon. A new standard of success and increasingly high expectations require a top-tier coach who can produce results. That doesn’t mean the coach needs to be a huge name, as Quinn’s predecessor, Turner Gill, proved. White took a chance extending Quinn, and the move backfired – the nullification of the head coach’s contract will cost UB at least the remaining balance of Quinn’s current $250,000 base salary. If Quinn doesn’t end up working elsewhere, he’ll receive decreasing payouts for the remainder of his contract – up to $525,000, according to his contract. White’s strategy in designing this contract was shrewd, as the prospect of paying the full payout is unlikely – Quinn will probably end up working again, like fired men’s basketball coach Reggie Witherspoon, who is now working at Alabama as an assistant coach. Even if UB has to pay the full $525,000, White’s arrangement of a decreasing payout – rather than paying Quinn’s base salary through 2017, which would have been more typical compared to other college contracts – shows the athletic director at least had some foresight, though the move was still foolish. The athletic program was not splurging on Quinn – his annual salary was low compared to the deals major college coaches receive. Clearly, White wanted Quinn to be his guy – the coach who would take UB’s football program to the next level, to bowl games and championships and
beyond. But after the team’s loss to Eastern Michigan, and through seven games this year, it’s painfully apparent that Quinn can’t do that. The football team’s non-conference schedule this year revolved around the team’s potential – it was designed to put the Bulls in a position where they could keep the excitement level up surrounding UB football. Even though only one of the Bulls’ two games against FCS programs would count toward the necessary six wins to play in a bowl game, White figured these would be two easy victories for his young, inexperienced team. But a 38-28 fourth-quarter victory over FCS Duquesne in Week One certainly wasn’t what White expected. The Bulls’ only nonconference road game was against Army – whereas in year’s past, the Bulls have accepted payouts of nearly a million dollars to lose to national ranked programs. The team returned home to an ESPN game against Baylor and was the third largest attended game in UB Stadium history. It was White’s hope that an easier non-conference schedule would aid the team in making a bowl game appearance in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. But that’s no longer realistic. This year’s team cannot replicate the success of last year’s team, and Quinn will – rightfully – not have another year to attempt to do so.. Instead, the team will experience the rest of the season in flux, during what is sure to be a long and extensive search for a new head coach. Knowing
White, and given his previous selections of well-known coaches like Bobby Hurley and Trena Peel, the new football coach will most likely bring name-recognition and experience to the field – and ideally, a new attitude. Quinn was a far cry from a players’ coach. As detailed in The Spectrum’s feature on the head coach’s inconsistent disciplinary techniques, Quinn’s coaching methods were a poor fit for the team. The program was better suited to former coach Gill’s coaching style. Gill recruited better players – Mack, Oliver, Alex Neutz, Drew Willy, James Starks, Naaman Roosevelt – and maintained a positive team environment. The players, without the support of their coach, had begun to rely on each other, including a saying – “We all we got. We all we need.” It’s a show of not just solidarity but subtle rebellion, as the players unite in their displeasure with the current coaching situation. “We all we got” isn’t an invention of the Bulls. The saying, adopted from rap lyrics, is shared by the Seattle Seahawks, who recite the motto not just before games, but after victories – with their coaches celebrating alongside them. The Bulls should be a united front – against their opponents, not their coaches. The team deserves a leader who players can trust. We applaud White for admitting his 2012 mistake and hope he makes a wiser coaching selection this time. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
The good, the bad and the ugly in Sayreville Horror of sexual violence in a high school locker room generates positive response amid all the negativity
The lights in the locker room suddenly shut off, and upperclassmen pinned down a freshman football player, lifted him to his feet while forcing a finger in his rectum – afterwards, the same finger would sometimes be pushed into the freshman’s mouth. This horrifying tradition allegedly happened almost every day in the school’s locker room. That’s the ugly – the reprehensible, the repulsive, the “how could this have been happening in a high school locker room” – the details of the sexual violence that became ritual among senior members of Sayreville War Memorial High School’s football team. Seven players have been charged with crimes ranging from aggravated sexual assault to criminal restraint for their roles in the violent, ritualistic attacks
– let’s not reduce it to “hazing,” because this goes beyond connotations of teasing and pranks, and veers closer to rape. And now, the bad: Players would change in the hallway before practice. Afterward, they would sprint to the locker room to try and get dressed before the seniors arrived. They did all they could to avoid the assaults that it seems were common knowledge among the students. The bystander effect appears to be alive and well in Sayreville, as months of practices and subsequent attacks went on before the story broke on Oct. 3. The level of knowledge among the team’s coaches is, at this point, unknown. At the very least, the adults who were supposed to be managing this team failed in their roles as leaders, supervisors and protectors. But among all this ugliness,
there is some good – amidst a story as shocking and disturbing as this one, it’s a relief the reaction to these allegations has been swift and severe. The seven accused players were taken into custody and charged and could be tried as adults. The gravity of their alleged crimes and the clear need for discipline is not being questioned. And even more impressively, when news of the assaults broke, the entire football season was canceled swiftly, despite Sayreville’s status as a well-known football town that sends athletes to college on athletic scholarships. There has been, for once, a clear prioritization of the safety of students and the investigation into the details of the events that transpired in the high school’s locker room over the success of a prosperous athletic program – in an era of Jameis Winston and Penn State, this reaction is refreshingly ethical.
Unlike similar scandals, there are heroes as well as villains at play here – as much as the guilty parties deserve to face harsh penalties, there are others whose actions have been commendable and even heroic. To the district superintendent, Richard Labbe, who was the driving force behind the season cancelation – thank you for showing the victims of these crimes that they matter more than football. To the many parents and community members who have hailed this decision and organized a vigil to show their support for the victims of these incidents – thank you for setting an example. And, most importantly, to the victims who were brave enough to come forward – thank you. Thank you for doing what must have been terrifying, for ensuring that justice is served and for protecting future teammates from similar pain. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
ubspectrum.com
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Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Dealing with depression UB students discuss ways to cope with stress and depression telligence. It is a disease.” He also thinks it’s sometimes useful to have a balanced approach because the reasons for depressed feelings may vary people to people, and some might not feel comfortable to talk about it. Krzystofiak said students being perfectionist and focusing on their weaknesses instead of enhancing their strengths become one of their falling steps. His suggestion to students, who feel the negative impact of depression in their daily lives due to academic reasons, is to maintain good time management skills, use a calendar to be on top of your commitments, study more frequently instead of studying all night and focus on maintaining their strengths instead of stressing about their weaknesses. “In real life, you are happy when you are successful,” he said “And you are successful when you do what you are good at, which mostly corresponds to what you like.” Ian Smith, a junior finance major, said he will start to feel down when it reaches the peak point during exam weeks, when he is overwhelmed with stress. In order to keep the spirits high, he says he makes sure to take time for breaks and try not to push his limits hard. He said he will take time to play soccer to cope with stress. UB provides on-campus support systems for students who are depressed or think they are depressed, such as the Mood Management seminar, a support group that helps student cope with mood swings and stress.
AYLIN ERDOGAN STAFF WRITER
Daniel Tobias, a second year physical therapy graduate student, said depression can impact a person’s daily life “as much as a sprained leg.” On Thursday, UB Psychological Services Center held its annual depression screening in Park Hall for National Depression Screening Day. While the event was one of several depression outreach programs at UB, students also have their own ways to cope with stress and avoid falling into depression from overworking. Megan Pailler, director of UB Psychological Services Center, said there were approximately 30 participants at the screening. The attendees were asked to fill out a questionnaire and watch an educational video on depression among college students. Based on the results of the questionnaire, students received free advice and were informed about programs designed to help combat depression. But Pailler said depression goes beyond the screening. “Feeling down and overwhelmed are body’s normal responses to stress,” she said. “But depression is pervasive and is felt every day.” Depression, defined by the National Institute of Mental Health, is a “common but serious mental illness typically marked by sad or anxious feelings” and there are multiple forms of the illness. The American College Health AssociationNational College Health Assessment performed a nationwide survey of college students and about 30 percent of college students felt “so depressed that it was difficult to function.” “If you have constant stress
As a part of National Depression Screening Day, Professor Frank Krzystofiak in the School of Management uses his backAMANDA LOW, THE SPECTRUM ground as an educator to discuss why some students suffer from depression.
in your life and if you internalize the stress and cannot find ways to cope with it, depression will take over your life one or another way,” Tobias said. Frank Krzystofiak, a professor in the School of Management, said he looks at students suffering with depression from an educator’s perspective. “When I look at my graduate students here in the Management School, what I see is a group of overachieving students who used to be best and brightest in their previous academic or professional lives,” he said. “When they feel obligated to do 20 things at the same time, and as perfect as possible, and when they find it hard to maintain this overwhelming lifestyle and cannot meet their expecta-
tions, they begin to feel they are not the best and brightest anymore.” Hanako Hirai, a junior business major, said in Japan, depression, stress and anxiety are common because people often work 14-15 hours a day. “It’s acceptable to talk about depression if people lose a loved one or experienced a traumatic event, but if they are burnt out due to a stressful or unbalanced work-home life, they keep their depressed feelings to themselves,” Hirai said. Nick Johns, a senior business and political science major, became more aware about the seriousness of depression when his friend committed suicide due to depression. He describes depression as an “epidemic dis-
ease” the public should handle the same way as an epidemic disease. He also emphasizes the importance of support from family and friends when dealing with depression. “If you feel alone, you’ll more likely be depressed,” he said. Johns emphasizes the importance of talking about the reasons for one’s depressed mood and assuring them you are there for them are simple but effective ways in terms of providing personal support to our family and friends. “Depression is not something to feel ashamed of,” he said. “It’s something we have to deal with as a society. Depression doesn’t discriminate people, and despite the social stigma, it’s not an indicator of weakness or in-
email: news@ubspectrum.com
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5
Continued from Quinn, page 1 White announced a five-year contract extension for Quinn in November 2012. Neither White nor Quinn signed the deal until August 2013. President Satish Tripathi finalized the contract Sept. 11, 2013. Quinn was due $1.625 million through the 2017 season. “It is with great disappointment that we have to make this change,” White said in a press release. “Unfortunately, the performance on the field this season and over Coach Quinn’s tenure has not matched our expectations for the growth of Bulls football.” The Bulls are on a bye week, leaving the coaches and athletes time to “make the changes needed to improve,” White said. White said he hopes the firing “shifts the course” of the rest of the season. “On behalf of UB Athletics, I thank Jeff for his service to the University and to the football program,” White said. “Jeff and his wife, Shannon, have been great supporters of the University at Buffalo. We wish them well in their future pursuits.” Quinn’s contract included an annual “$75,000 for media work, fundraising and apparel deals,” according Article V of his contract. Other bonuses included $15,000 for a conference regular season championship, $25,000 for a conference championship, $15,000 for a bowl game appearance and $20,000 for a bowl game victory.
The contract also featured other team-based incentives such as $5,000 for the sixth win of the season and $2,500 for every win afterward. He also would earn $5,000 for a victory against a team ranked in the top 25 and $7,500 every time home attendance reached at least 15,000 people. Other perks included two dealer cars or $800 a month, 15 tickets and a suite for his family for home games and the option for a two-year extension after the 2014 season. Quinn was the lowest paid coach in the MAC in 2013, according to USA Today. White extended Quinn’s contract before the final game of the 2012 season, when the coach’s record was just 9-26. The Bulls had one of their most successful seasons in program history in 2013, however, finishing 8-5 with six MAC wins and earning a trip to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl game. Although the Bulls have had offensive success this season, scoring at least 35 points in five of seven contests, the team as a whole has struggled. Buffalo’s defense ranks amongst the worst in the country and has played close games against teams that were perceived to be inferior opponents. White scheduled two games against Football Championship Subdivision teams and no road games against top-25 programs this season. Buffalo also hosted three of its four nonconference games to begin the season. Sev-
LIBERTY YELLOW
eral former players said White put Quinn in position to win this year with a soft schedule. “Danny White loaded up the schedule at the beginning of the year to have a winning record at this point,” said former wide receiver Alex Neutz. “We can’t digress. We got to keep moving forward.” Former Buffalo players who spoke to The Spectrum had differing opinions on White’s decision to fire Quinn. Some said the move was justified, while others said Quinn deserved more time. Former Buffalo tight end Alex Dennison said the decision to fire Quinn was “kind of foolish,” but also said players on the team had mixed views on Quinn as a coach. “With 105 people on a team, everyone is going to have something different to say,” Dennison said. “Everybody’s experience is unique.” Neutz said some of Quinn’s decisions, like the removal of former wide receiver Rudy Johnson from the team, made some Bulls “lose respect” for Quinn. Johnson missed 2013 summer workouts due to accepting internships in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. “If the players don’t truly buy into what the coach is preaching, you can’t really have a winning formula,” Neutz said. Some former players also said last year’s team, despite winning eight games and receiving a bowl invitation, should have achieved
more. “We had a good record, but at the same time we should have been better,” Neutz said. “We had a running back who is dominating the NFL right now, we have a top five draft pick and we have other guys who have gotten NFL tryouts. We didn’t go to a MAC championship game. We got blown out in a bowl game.” The team lost 24-7 to Bowling Green at Ralph Wilson Stadium in what was essentially a MAC East championship game in 2013. The Bulls fell three weeks later to San Diego State 49-24 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Several key seniors last season – like current NFL players Khalil Mack and Branden Oliver, as well as Neutz and Lee – were recruited to Buffalo by Gill. The 2014 season was the first year no players on the Bulls had previously played under Gill. Former players who spoke to The Spectrum questioned how Quinn would replace last season’s stars. “Last year was a great season but the big question going into this year was what’s coach Quinn going to do now without coach Gill’s recruits,” said a former Bulls player who wished to remain anonymous. “How’s his recruits going to play out?” Buffalo has had some of the worst recruiting classes in the MAC throughout Quinn’s tenure, according to Rivals.com – a recruiting information website through Yahoo Sports. The Bulls’ 2010 recruiting class
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ranked No. 10 of 13 teams in the MAC by the website. Buffalo finished two of the next four years as the worst ranked recruiting class in the conference. The Bulls’ 2012 class ranked No. 121 in the nation and No. 123 in 2013. Student-athletes experienced academic success off the field under Quinn. Buffalo lost 10 scholarships form 2004-07 due to a low NCAA Academic Progress Rate – a score that calculates a team’s retention of eligible student athletes. Quinn guided the Bulls to one of the best scores in team history for the 2012-13 season, with an APR score of 976. Buffalo went 5-23 on the road during Quinn’s four-plus seasons at UB and finished just 1-9 against MAC West opponents. Buffalo did not win a game against a top-25 ranked opponent under Quinn, but had two close performances against Georgia in 2012 and Ohio State in 2013 that gave the program national recognition. UB Athletics said they will conduct a national search for next season’s coach. “Danny White is looking to make a splash,” Dennison said. “He’s got some high-level coaches in their respective sports. It’s going to be interesting with the decision he will make.” Jordan Grossman contributed reporting to this story
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HELP HELP WANTED WANTED WANTED: Delivery Driver, no weekends 9:30-1:30 UB area. (716)564-3400/(716)725-1280 PART-TIME POSITIONS AVAILABLE. Lasertron Family Entertainment Center is currently hiring for general customer service. Working at a fast, detail-oriented pace and having excellent customer service skills is a must. Starting at $11/hr, must be available nights and weekends. Stop in and complete an application at Lasertron, 5101 North Bailey Avenue, Amherst. NY. PART-TIME CUSTOMER SERVICE POSITION: Aladdin Cleaners 691 Millersport Hwy. Amherst, NY 14226. 2 weekday afternoons, 2-6 pm & Saturdays, 10-5. $8.00 to start. Between both UB campuses. Stop in & complete an application. Need to fill opening ASAP!! JIMMY JOHNS GOURMET SANDWICHES Now hiring Sub Makers/Drivers for new Amherst Location at 1300 Sweet Home Road. Send contact information to jjamherst2912@gmail.com or call: 716-704-4299. APARTMENT FOR RENT APARTMENT FOR
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DAILY DELIGHTS sponsored by Collegiate Village Apartments Crossword of the Day Wednesday, October 15, 2014 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK
HOROSCOPES
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Make decisions that will spice up your life and add a little adventure to your day. Spending time with someone you love, starting a new class or visiting a destination you haven’t been to before will wake the spirit within you. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Communication will help you find solutions to any problem you face with a personal or professional partner. A change regarding an investment will pay off. Don’t hesitate to let your imagination wander. Take precautions when dealing with peers. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t be fooled by someone’s vague response to your questions. Either someone is on your team or not. Focus on the people who give back and are charged up by the plans you have and the options you offer. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Look for greater stability by being original and progressive regarding the changes that need to be made. If you continue to spin your wheels, nothing will get done. Size up your situation and make your move. Don’t let an uncertain relationship dictate your decision. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Spontaneity will lead to fun and games. Enjoy putting your best foot forward and embracing any playful challenge that comes your way. Love is in the stars and romance will improve your personal life. A change will be welcome. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Keep your private affairs a secret and you will avoid an emotional situation that can hinder your job prospects. Anger solves nothing, but getting your chores out of the way will ease discord. A change in your finances must be handled with care. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t let emotions ruin your day. Make positive changes that will help keep the peace. Change may be required, but it’s the way you go about it that will make the difference. Being sympathetic will help you win favors. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Check out different lifestyle choices and make the choice that intrigues you the most. Keep your plans a secret if you suspect someone will interfere. Once you have everything in place, it will be difficult for anyone to stand in your way. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Put more thought and effort into your work and getting ahead and you will find a way to help your assets grow and job prospects open up. Love is on the rise and a change of heart will lead to an interesting encounter. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Keep your distance from anyone who appears to be unpredictable. You are best to protect your reputation, your ideas and your emotional well-being. Focus on making unusual changes to the way you do your work and you will stabilize your position. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Contracts, settlements and medical and financial matters can all be addressed in a timely and effective manner. You stand to get ahead if you don’t let your emotions get in the way. Look, see and do. Love is in the stars. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don’t make changes, but accept the inevitable and protect your position, reputation and your assets. Refuse to get into a no-win situation with someone looking for a fight. Look inward and focus on self-improvement.
Edited by Timothy E. Parker October 15, 2014 WAVING? By Mary Jersey
ACROSS 1 Female hogs 5 Not be frugal 10 Tandoor-baked bread 14 Mormons settled it 15 The “V” in VCR 16 Maroon’s home 17 Pins and needles case 18 ___ a high note 19 Finish third 20 Expressing sarcasm, in a way 23 Nautical journal 24 Caesar’s 3 25 Organized criminals 28 Taking into custody 32 Watch vest pocket 35 Operatic song 37 Spinks who beat Ali 38 Grayish-violet 40 Features of most pro baseball games 43 Memorable soprano Lehmann 44 Mystery board game 45 Adjust, as a motor 46 USNA grad 47 Get from a parent 50 NY summer time 51 Low digit 52 “___ whiz!” 54 Odets play 63 First name in jazz 64 Black-and-white outfit
65 Cover the road 66 A less-than-average tide 67 Glitterati, e.g. 68 Train in a celebrated Duke Ellington song 69 “Beloved” author Morrison 70 Pine product 71 Mongolian tent
29 Remove from the game 30 Goblin or bugbear 31 Acquire, as debt 32 Bach composition 33 Microwaves, e.g. 34 Hemmed in 36 Take steps 39 Pantry pest 41 German poet Heinrich 42 Increase or enhance 1 Litigious one 48 Like some regions 2 Director Preminger 49 Golf bag item 3 Make high-pitched, 51 African ruminant whiny noises 4 Con artist’s accomplice 53 Ineffective, as a threat 5 Evil hypnotist of fiction 54 Monthly expense, for many 6 Engine knock 55 It melts in your mouth 7 Caribbean taro 56 “___ of the Cave 8 Light on Broadway Bear” 9 Fatigued 57 Raconteur’s offering 10 American-born 58 Geishas’ sashes Japanese 59 Arboreal monkey 11 Far from ruddy 60 Home to Mount 12 Cosmetic additive Konahuanui 13 Headline material 61 “___ the Rainbow” 21 Charged particle 62 Not on the rocks 22 S, for Socrates 25 Type of tree 26 Hunter in the night sky 27 Posts on a ship’s deck
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8
Islam as a way of life
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
UB Students share what it’s like to practice Islam on campus
SUSHMITA GELDA
ASST. FEATURES EDITOR
After his exam, Payraw Salih* took three pieces of paper – one for his head and two for his feet – to the corner of the lecture hall. Only one other student was in the classroom. The student stared as Salih walked to the corner to complete the Maghrib prayer, the fourth of the five daily prayers Muslims observe. For Salih, a senior physics major and a leader of the Muslim Student Association (MSA), Islam is a way of life. Although Muslim students can face challenges practicing Islam in college, many of them gain a deeper understanding of their faith engaging with the MSA and local community. Buffalo has approximately 30 mosques, and the Masjid An-Noor mosque located on 745 Heim Road is the closest one to UB. “Without Islam, I would be prone to a deep depression,” Salih said. “It guides my actions through an appropriate outlet.” Salih described Islam as a religion that emphasizes habitual spirituality. Islam instills an element of worship in every aspect of the day, including everything from interactions between men and women to honesty on exams, he said. Salat – the duty to pray during certain times of the day based on the position of the sun – is one of the five pillars of Islam. MSA provides its office in 320 Student Union as a prayer room for Muslim students. Sometimes Salih, external vice president of MSA, has difficulty reaching the office on time but he doesn’t let his distance from 320 Student Union delay his prayers. “Staircases, classrooms, grass fields – you name it, I’ve [prayed] there,” he said. Umar Yasin, a sophomore biomedical sciences major and events coordinator of the MSA extended board, does not think praying five times a day is difficult. Although Muslims can make up for missing a prayer by praying at another time, it’s important for Muslims to consistently express faith in Allah and gratitude for their blessings, according to Yasin.
COURTESY OF ABDEL RAHMAN ALNAJI
Students from UB’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) gather at Masjid An-Noor mosque to connect with each other and the local Muslim community. For many Muslim students, Islam is not only a religion, but also a way of life.
“After you do it, it really becomes a part of you,” he said. When Salih came to UB, he struggled to understand why different Muslim students had different degrees of religiosity. Last year, he was responsible for giving the call to prayer at the MSA barbeque. Around 200 people attended the event, and more than 40 people surrounded him. Since then, he has also been giving weekly sermons for MSA on Friday afternoons in 210 Student Union. Although some students paid attention during the call to prayer, others became distracted and played games on their phones, Salih said. Throughout his time at UB, he learned to accept that not all Muslim students are equally religious. Mohammed and Jesus had a worse situation compared to himself, he said. “I got displeased for 30 seconds,” Salih said. “These people spent their whole life trying to call people to prayer.” Reem Abdellif, a junior business major and internal vice president of MSA, gained a deeper understanding of Islam after her trip to Jerusalem the summer before her senior year in high school. She chose to wear a hijab during her senior year of high school.
“I was scared to death,” she said. “[But] the vibe I got, it was a positive vibe. I always incorporated Islam into life, but I hadn’t put out that image [yet].” When Abdellatif realized Western business attire did not agree with Islamic tradition, she decided to “Islamify” her business casual attire, she said. Instead of wearing a pencil skirt and form-fitting cut-sleeve shirt, she chooses to wear a long skirt and full-sleeve blouse or a suit jacket. Abdellatif said Buffalo is a diverse, open-minded community, and she has not encountered discrimination at UB. She also said she is respected within her religion. According to Islam, women should have a high place in society because they are the foundation of future generations, she said. Practicing Islam in the United States is difficult because Muslims are a minority and are often misunderstood, according to Mohammed Shariff, a senior biology major and president of MSA and vice president of the Organization of Arab Students. “Legally, we can practice more overseas, but in the West it’s culturally more restrictive,” he said. Some westerners assume terrorist groups embody principles from the Quran, when, in reality,
they act in extreme ways because of their personalities, Salih said. “There’s no such thing as extreme Islam,” Salih said. “It’s only Islam.” Shariff would like more Muslim students to join MSA and embrace their cultural roots. MSA currently has a $15,500 budget – the largest budget of all religious clubs and the third largest budget of all special interest clubs. MSA spends its budget on events such as lectures, dinners and celebrations. The club has 500 members and 100-150 active members, according to Shariff. For Yasin, being involved in MSA and his mosque’s youth group provide opportunities to focus on self-development and form close relationships with the Muslim community. These relationships help him overcome the challenges of practicing Islam in the United States. “People face different obstacles according to who they are and who their friends are,” he said. Maintaining friendships with deeply religious people across religions is rewarding, according to Yasin. “You feel a little normal,” he said. “Our beliefs are most of the time very symmetrical.” Abdellatif said she valued Islam more after she started par-
ticipating in MSA events. Being in MSA has given her a lifelong support network, she said. Salih remembers witnessing a unique brotherhood when he visited his family in Kurdistan, Iraq and observed the calls to prayer. When the Imams made the call to prayer, everybody stopped what they were doing and walked toward a mosque – even the owners of jewelry stores left their doors wide open, he said. “There’s faith in humanity,” he said. “When the call to prayer comes, nobody thinks of stealing.” Brotherhood is also a key element of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim year. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and pray for one and a half hours every night. Ramadan is a month dedicated to self-evaluation and repentance, according to Yasin. “It’s kind of like a checkpoint,” he said. “Kind of like your extra credit month.” Fasting is not only a form of biological purification, but also a form of mental and spiritual purification. “You’re supposed to be fasting not just from food and drink, but from anything that’s wrong,” Salih said. Salih said he feels a deep sense of brotherhood during the long nightly prayers. During these prayers, Muslims pray not only for themselves and their family, but also for Muslims across the world. “You can’t turn a blind eye to anyone,” he said. “A brother in religion is closer than a blood brother.” Abdellatif hopes students will understand that Islam is a lifestyle. “The most valuable thing you can do as a Muslim is treat each other well,” she said. “It’s something that gets reciprocated back. If you do good to people, they will do good to you.” *Payraw Salih is the brother of Aven Salih, a Staff Writer for The Spectrum email: features@ubspectrum.com
club helps students design their Fantasy in reality Cosplay favorite character’s garb and armor JAMES BATTLE STAFF WRITER
In a small room in O’Brian Hall, business attire is armor and law textbooks are tomes of sorcery and magic. Cosplay, a popular modern hobby and profession, has taken off as a worldwide trend. People dress up as characters from favorite shows, films, video games, comics or anime series and fill conventions all over the world, ranging from large events like San Diego Comic Con to smaller-scale occasions like UB Con. Cosplay is not only at UB for the student-run convention, but is also a club devoted to helping students dress up as their favorite characters. UB Cosplay meets every other Friday at 5 p.m. in O’Brian 210. “We hold these workshops to help people and enhance their skills in the basics of cosplay. For example, tonight we’re working with foam to make armor,” said John Castaneda, a senior biomedical science major and treasurer of UB Cosplay. “Other weeks, we have people come in and bring us their ideas and help them with whatever they want to do.” He has been cosplaying for two years and has been fabricating replicas since middle school. Although he has only dressed up once, as video game Halo’s Master Chief, Castaneda has built many sets of armor. The cosplayer does not only
Alyssa Mariani, a freshman undecided major, stenciled out the design she wants to carve into foam to make gauntCLETUS EMOKPAE, THE SPECTRUM lets last week during a UB Cosplay meeting.
makes suits for himself. Self-described as “too nice,” he created a Warhammer 40,000 – a miniature tabletop war game – Space Marine suit and a Mass Effect – a science-fiction video game – Commander Shepard suit for other people. Armor building was on the club’s agenda last week. The workshop focused around cutting and manipulating foam, similar to thinner craft foam. Cas-
taneda fashioned the foam into gauntlets. Participants who paid $5 were given the craft foam and the tools needed to forge pieces of armor. E-Board members gave a short presentation on how these flimsy pieces of foam could be crafted into finished products. If perfected, the self-made costumes could rival what appear on the silver screen.
The process is time consuming and involves a large amount of planning. First, the designer must create a paper stencil, which is then placed over the foam and carefully cut along the lines to create the desired shape. After the foam is cut out, a heat gun is applied to the cutout, hardening the creation and allowing it to maintain its figure. The costumer must then coat their creation with Elmer’s Glue
in preparation for what may be the most important part: painting. Without the coating, the spray paint will eat through the foam and ruin the creation. Finished products are sometimes coated with vinyl to give off a metallic look, as well as add “+2” to the wearer’s charisma skill. Weapon creation is just one element of a cosplayer’s wardrobe, which is why a cosplayer can spend years trying to perfect their craft in order to complete the costume they want. “I’ve planned one costume out for roughly five years,” said Devon Marr, a junior history major and president of UB Cosplay. “It’s going to be an incredibly intricate ball gown.” Intricate is an understatement. If all goes according to plan, then the gown, similar to one Marie Antoinette would wear, will be transparent and glow in the dark. Because of this, it will need a hidden support system. “It’ll basically look like a giant jellyfish, and I’ll be able to walk about 2 feet at a time with it, but it’ll be wonderful,” Marr said, laughing. “It’s all ideas. I don’t have the skillset yet, but the whole point of cosplay is to eventually build to up to what you really want to make.” Whether it’s a character’s dress or the armor of a video game protagonist, with time and patience, UB Cosplay will help students design the costumes of their dreams. email: arts@ubspectrum.com