T H E I N D E P E N D E N T TSHTEU D NETP E PN UD BE LN I CTA S TT IO NA I VTEI R Y FA T T HBEU U FF E T1 B 9U 50 I NED UN D EO NFT TPH UEB LUI C OSNI T O NA I VLEOR,S S I TI N Y CA FFALO, SINCE 1950
ubspectrum.com
Friday, November 20, 2015
Volume 65 No. 35
UB takes steps toward progress Students speak on diversity and inclusion as part of community chat
Danny White introduced at UCF Former AD to begin at UCF in January, major donor reacts JORDAN GROSSMAN SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
Danny White spent the past three and a half years building the UB Athletics program and hoping to see it eventually become “big-time.” If his plans come to fruition, he won’t be around to see them. Rather, he’ll be working on a similar goal at the University of Central Florida. “I’ve always been more attracted to the prospect of building something,” White said. “There’s no limit to what we can build [at UCF].” White was officially introduced as vice president and director of athletics of UCF Athletics Thursday. White is expected to
assume his full responsibilities with the Knights at some point in January and will still be vaguely involved with UB for the next six weeks to help Buffalo transition through its leadership change. White thanked Buffalo and said the program will continue with sustainable success in the future. “I’m proud of the work we did at Buffalo with a lot of staff, donors, student-athletes and coaches,” White said. “We made a lot of progress there and I’m confident that will continue there. The same potential there is what made [UCF] attractive.” UCF President John Hitt called White a “rising star” in college athletics. He was one of three finalists that were considered for the job and it was reported White was the front-
STAFF WRITER COURTESY OF UCF ATHLETICS
Danny White poses for a photograph at the University of Central Florida’s Bright House Networks Stadium Thursday. UCF officially introduced White as athletic director.
runner during the entire interview process. Hitt said White’s qualities of determination and integrity are what prompted the program to make the decision. “Danny is very talented. In the brief time I’ve met him, he’s determined, he’s energetic and he understands that success starts with winning integrity and stresses the role of student-athletes thriving in the classroom,” Hitt said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
DEAR UB
Dear World project helps students share their stories
JOHN JACOBS STAFF WRITER
After a day of hanging out with his friend, someone punched Zack Chung in the back of the head during his walk home. The punch knocked him to the ground where he was kicked and insulted because of his sexuality. “When I was around 14 or 15, I started to fall for my best friend,” said Chung, a junior nuclear technology major. “And my best friend happened to be a guy.” The assailant left laughing. Chung was in good enough condition to walk afterward, but his problems weren’t over yet. This is one of the stories Dear World allowed students to share in the Student Union Tuesday night. The Student Association, along with sev-
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eral offices like the Intercultural and Diversity Center, brought the self-described “business/art project/social experiment” to UB. Dear World centers around photographing people who have encouraging and powerful messages written on themselves. According to Jonah Evans, the executive producer of Dear World, more than 200 students participated in the photo shoot in the Student Union. “[I] learned more about UB students in one day than in one year,” said Terri Budek, associate director of the Intercultural and Diversity Center. During the symposium Tuesday night, students gathered in the Student Union Theater to listen to six students tell their stories of hardship. In addition to sharing their own stories, students also heard some of the stories Dear World has collected from across the globe.
OPINION: White brought quick success, but future a question
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THANYA THEOGENE
COURTESY OF JORDAN OSCAR
Juweria Dahir, a graduate sociology student, spoke at the Dear World Symposium this Tuesday. She had the words “ISIS hijacked Islam” written on her arms to symbolize the growing islamophobia in America.
Chung, one of the six students who spoke at the symposium, told the story of coming out about his sexuality. He was convinced the man who had assaulted him went to his school and, as a result, everyone would know about his sexuality within the next day or so – including his father. Chung didn’t want his father to find out about his sexuality because, according to him, his father was anti-LGBTQ at the time, so Chung feared he would beat him if he found out.
UB hosts International Education week
With racial tensions high on college campuses throughout the nation, some UB students and administrators gathered Wednesday night to propose solutions. Teresa Miller, vice provost of Equity and Inclusion, met with students to discuss the issue of race and diversity on campus. The “community chat” was held in the South Lake Village Community Center and students were given a chance to not only share their feelings on race on campus, but also propose solutions. “At first, I felt that UB was just trying to appease students, but after this meeting I feel it’s really genuine,” said Sonya Tareke, a junior business major. Miller is UB’s first vice provost of Equity and Inclusion, as she took the position in 2014. Since her appointment, Miller has been working to create a more inclusive UB, not only on the student level, but also in faculty and staff. The community chat was a joint effort between Miller and Meegan Hunt, the associate director of Campus Living and Wellness Education at UB. The team began brainstorming ideas on how to achieve a more inclusive campus and its focus on faculty and a general education course on diversity. The meeting was held through the Residential Housing Association. “We wanted to be able to meet with students, so we coordinated with the RHA to be able to meet with students in campus living complexes,” Hunt said. The discussion started with issues of racial tensions at universities across the country. Students, including those at the University of Missouri, have protested for further university responses to issues of racism and lack of inclusion on their campuses. The tension has left some students feeling uneasy. Some students said the tension makes them feel unsafe because it could initiate retaliation against black students. Another student said that while they do not feel unsafe at UB, there is a feeling that if incidents can happen elsewhere they could happen at UB. Students also discussed Yik Yak, the social media forum where people post anonymously. Students said that when Black Student Union (BSU) held its annual Black Solidarity Day, some students took to Yik Yak to use racial slurs to deprecate BSU, along with other minority students. Students said international students were also targets and victims of racial slurs. The sense of a UB community on campus compared to other schools is another issue students brought up. Safiyeh Kayembe, a junior political science major, spoke about her previous school and the sense of community there.
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Did you make this week’s blotter?
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SPORTS
Friday, November 20, 2015
THE SPECTRUM
Danny White introduced at UCF CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
It was always clear White was in contention for bigger and better jobs after the success of UB Athletics during his tenure. Last year alone, the program had three teams win Mid-American Conference Championships, including the men’s basketball team’s firstever trip to the NCAA Tournament. But the differences between UB’s athletic program and UCF’s are substantial. The Knights have a larger athletic budget with a higher student enrollment. UCF plays in a competitive American Athletic Conference, which is not in the Power Five but is considered a step above the MAC. The UCF job also posed White with an intriguing opportunity: find a new football coach. Longtime UCF head football coach George O’Leary resigned as both coach and interim athletic director last month. It’s a daunting task to replace a coach. And at Buffalo, he did that a lot. While at Buffalo, White fired eight coaches, including former head football coach Jeff Quinn and 14-year head men’s basketball coach Reggie Witherspoon, and had to hire 12 head coaches during his three-and-ahalf year tenure. “At UB, we walked into a situation where there was a lot of sports with coaches that have been there for a long time,” White said. “We didn’t have a lot of competitive success.” But what made him attractive to other schools were his coaching replacements. White replaced Witherspoon with NCAA legend Bobby Hurley and then replaced Quinn with Division-III coaching legend Lance Leipold. But his departure possibly leaves UB Athletics with an identity crisis. In 2013, White implemented the New York Bulls Initiative,
an attempt emphasis UB’s standing in New York in its athletics. He rebranded the program with a new logo that highlights “New York” rather than “Buffalo.” The logo can now be seen everywhere, from Twitter to the basketball court in Alumni Arena. But the switch has drawn backlash over the years to essentially eliminate “Buffalo” from the rebranding. Despite skeptics, the initiative thrived for one of White’s finest attributes – getting donations – which allowed for the construction of luxury seating at UB Stadium now dubbed the Edward J. Gicewicz Club. Whether or not UB Athletics continues to use the moniker once a new AD is in place, UB alumnus and donor Tunney Murchie doesn’t think a name and a logo should be a main concern. “That’s a very small issue – the name. I think it’s coaching,” Murchie said. “I think it is games and serious competition, recruitment, getting the right players here. I think that’s the issue. And in order for that to happen, alumni, like myself … I feel it’s up to us to make things happen. We’re a state school. There are certain road blocks and brick walls.” Murchie donated a total of $4 million during the past few years to UB Athletics, which was under White’s guidance at the time. He said he wanted to contribute money to the program because he saw the sustainable potential the program had, even if White left Buffalo. Murchie maintained a close relationship with White, even up until the AD’s departure earlier this week. He wanted to reach out to White to confirm the news he was leaving, but by then, mainstream media had already confirmed the decision. Murchie wasn’t expecting White to stay for longer
COURTESY OF UCF ATHLETICS
Danny White (right) interviews with UCF play-by-play announcer Marc Daniels (left) at the University of Central Florida’s campus Thursday morning. White served as Buffalo’s athletic director for three and a half years.
than five years, but feels privileged to have had him working for his Alma Mater. “The fortunate thing about this whole scenario was he left some pretty good building blocks,” Murchie said. “I’ve heard a lot of mishmash around UB should be reassessing their direction. That’s a bunch of bologna.” Buffalo’s immediate direction is to find a new athletic director. The school has yet to name an interim AD. It is also unclear whether or not White’s future plans he left on the table would go into fruition. Currently, Buffalo is the only team in the MAC to not have an athletic field house. White often spoke of gathering donations for such a facility and that he was confident it would happen soon.
Even if White may not be around to see his projects finished, people like Murchie are content with the “building blocks” that White left at Buffalo. Murchie said UB is in a good position moving forward and said he wants a new athletic director with similar traits to White. “Dedication, passion. Passion and dedication to making the program the best it could be,” Murchie said. “You’ve got to live there if you want this program to grow … It’s a never-ending battle of what it takes to be successful.” email: sports@ubspectrum.com
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OPINION
Friday, November 20, 2015
THE SPECTRUM
Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF
Tom Dinki
MANAGING EDITOR
Alyssa McClure COPY EDITORS
Kayla Menes Renée Staples NEWS EDITORS
Gabriela Julia, Senior Ashley Inkumsah Marlee Tuskes FEATURES EDITORS
Tori Roseman, Senior Dani Guglielmo ARTS EDITORS
Brian Windschitl, Senior Kenneth Kashif Thomas Tomas Olivier, Asst. SPORTS EDITORS
Jordan Grossman, Co-senior Quentin Haynes, Co-senior PHOTO EDITORS
Yusong Shi, Co-senior Kainan Guo, Co-senior Angela Barca . CARTOONISTS
Joshua Bodah Michael Perlman CREATIVE DIRECTORS
Kenneth Cruz Pierce Strudler, Asst.
Professional Staff OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER
Nicole Dominguez Lee Stoeckel, Asst. Zach Hilderbrandt, Asst. ADVERTISING DESIGNER
Derek Hosken
THE SPECTRUM Friday, November 20, 2015 Volume 65 Number 35 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. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum, visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at 716-645-2152 The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 142602100
TIME TO LISTEN AFTER CLICKING ‘POST’ Posting opinions on social media can be productive, but controversial
We all use social media. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Yik Yak – the list goes on. Everyone has their platforms but regardless of which one we select, social media is utilized to voice our opinions – from politics to sports to the best local restaurant. Perhaps the general population needs to be reminded what an opinion is – a belief or judgment produced on a ground insufficient to produce certainty. That means everyone is entitled to have his or her own opinions and it’s not necessarily right or wrong. And an opinion is meant to change based on discussion and new information. Social media is an easy place to voice opinions, since it simply requires typing your stream of consciousness and clicking “post” or “send.” But this ease allows people to post all the time and in turn, create controversy over words on a screen. The issues with social media start with making claims and having an opinion without any real basis or information to back it up. There is often no evidence to support claims about world events ex-
cept that the person who posted feels as if he or she is correct because his or her opinion coincided with the thoughts and ideas in any given article online. Didn’t we all learn at an early age not to believe everything on the Internet? There’s also bandwagon posting – seeing an idea or opinion online, then deciding to share that opinion and post about it. Without knowing the details of an issue, an argument isn’t based on facts but rather on emotions toward whoever is arguing the other side. This leads to fights with differing opinions on social media, with users going back and forth with paragraphs of comments on a particular post that’s caused a controversy. Things improve through discussion. It’s how we progress as a society. But the kind of discourse seen on social media isn’t productive. It isn’t healthy. It isn’t constructive. We have an incredible platform to share thoughts and ideas, but instead of discussing differing opinions with one another in a healthy way, we’re simply bantering. No
one is willing to budge their position or listen to different views. We read what we agree with. We post what we agree with. We follow whom we agree with. Which has turned into us knowing what we want to know. It’s good to have opinions – in fact, it’s important to be well informed and to have an opinion. But without the knowledge to backup an argument or even a willingness to listen to the other side, we are progressing as a society in our discussions.
ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL PERLMAN
It’s good that we have those forums to post our opinions, but given the polarizing world climate, the sharing of opinions via social media is often done in an unhealthy manner. It’s important to share opinions on topics we feel strongly about – just consider the audience and do some research before you hit ‘post.’ email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
LETTER TO THE EDITOR I had intended to keep my thoughts about the “Whites Only” signs to myself until I read the letter to the Spectrum by Jonathan D. Katz, Chair of the Art Department. While I appreciate Professor Katz’s concern for committed and socially conscious art I would like to respond to his comments. First, Ashley Powell demonstrated remarkable courage and integrity in coming forward and acknowledging that she had posted the “whites only” signs. And particular, her doing so at a meeting of African-American students who were outraged by the signs. It will not surprise me at all if Ms. Powell goes on to have a successful and impactful career as an artist. However, I must take issue with statements made in her defense by her and by others in the UB Art Department. Art has real world consequences, and you cannot have it both ways. When the signs first appeared,
most people reasonably concluded that they were put up by a racist individual or organization. The thought that such a person or group was in our midst was a source of pain and anguish, not only among AfricanAmericans but among anyone in our community who abhors racism. At the time she came forward, she said something to the effect of: “I regret that my acts caused pain and anguish to other students, but I do not regret posting the signs.” This is an illogical statement. Either you regret the pain and anguish that this signs (predictably) caused and therefore regret posting them; or you do not regret posting the signs or the pain that they caused. You cannot have it both ways. Calling this act an art project does not exempt it from the moral universe. I suspect that this is at the heart of the letters to Prof. Katz castigating “art for art’s sake.” I don’t doubt for a minute that Ms. Powell’s motivation was to raise
consciousness on campus of the issue of racism. But an artist’s motivation does not necessarily control to impact that the work has. The most notorious incident at the University of Missouri involved a swastika made of feces which was scrawled on the wall of a dormitory. No one took “credit” for this act, and it is safe to presume that the person who did it was expressing his or her anti-Semitic and racist beliefs. Should we consider the swastika as art? If so, does that fact absolve the “artist” of wrongdoing? What if, after the fact, the “artist” came forward and said (s)he was trying to make a point about racism on campus? Is art only exempt from condemnation when the artist’s intent is progressive? I would welcome a dialogue about racism on this campus. Getting the problem out in the open and talking about it is a good first step. When I was an undergraduate at Canisius College many, many
years ago, a series of racial incidents led faculty to declare a day of reflection. Numerous teach-ins were held, and the upshot was an overwhelming consensus against racism and racists. It would be wonderful if that were the outcome here. What concerns me most about this situation is that neither Ms. Powell’s teacher nor the chair of her department seems to appreciate why anyone would be upset over what she did. There is an underlying sense that “we the artists need to educate you the ignorant public about what is right and wrong.” Such arrogance inevitably leads to stupid decisions. Very truly yours, Joe Gerken Joseph L. Gerken, Reference Librarian University at Buffalo Law Library (716) 645-6769
A short-term solution for a long-term problem Danny White brought quick success, but future is questionable
TOM DINKI EDITOR IN CHIEF
The question was never how high would Danny White raise UB Athletics. The question was always whether or not White would leave Buffalo in a better place than when he found it and in a position to succeed without him. We’re about to find out. Tuesday was the day everyone knew was coming from the moment White arrived on campus in 2012. The day the young and ambitious athletic director made the move to a larger program. I won’t bash or blame White for
going to the University of Central Florida. He’s a guy that, regardless if you agree with his strategies or not, is going places in college athletics. Despite his signing of a fiveyear contract extension and his talk building something here, UB was always going to be a stepping stone for him. That’s just a fact for athletic programs like UB. There’s no question White had some success here. Teams won championships. Big-name coaches came. Rich alumni donated. I’ve never denied White had a way with talking to people. I can’t write this column without disclosing White’s at times frosty relationship with The Spectrum. He ended our road trips with the football team in 2013 after allegedly not liking our critical coverage – and I’ll be the first to admit we’ve been critical. He was quickly accessible to talk about good attendance
and donations – not as much as so with athletic budgets. But this paper and myself have always covered him objectively. And now that White’s officially wearing a golden tie in the sunshine of Florida, I can’t say for sure that the steps he took, from the rebranding to his coaching hires, were in the best interest of UB Athletics long term or his own resume. White’s strategies always seemed like short-term solutions disguised as long-term ones. But a Mid-Major like UB needs to think long-term. Nothing is a quick fix. You have to slowly inch your way up the college athletics landscape. You don’t, as White always liked to say, build “America’s next big-time college athletics brand” in three years. White could move up a conference and get a larger budget to play with in three years. UB can-
not. White’s New York Bulls Initiative, or everyone’s favorite hashtag, #NYBI, was shortsighted. Rebranding is flashy. It provides a false sense that things are different and momentarily boosts merchandise sales. As a Buffalo native, I can’t say I’m personally offended by the greater emphasis on “New York” and near removal of “Buffalo” from athletics material – even when getting calls from Athletics Communications staff asking us to use a logo of the charging Bull and not the same logo of a charging Bull with the word “Buffalo” underneath. I can’t say the same for other locals. Some Buffalo residents were, legitimately or not legitimately, offended and isolated by the movement throughout the years.
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FEATURES
Friday, November 20, 2015
THE SPECTRUM
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY UB hosts annual International Education Week JESSICA BAIN STAFF WRITER
When Kanishka Wanninayaka arrived from Dubai to start his first semester in America at UB last spring, dancing was the catalyst for his connection to other students in this foreign place. “I’ve been dancing since I was a kid and it’s a universal language. Even if you can’t speak the language or your cultures are different, your bodies can still be in synch. That’s why I love it,” said Wanninayaka, a sophomore undecided major and dance liaison for the Latin American Student Association. Since 2001, UB has hosted International Education Week as a way to showcase the diversity of its campus community as well as its international programs and outreach. According to a press release, the Institute of International Education (IIE) ranks UB in the top 20 of 2,700 accredited U.S. universities in international enrollment with more than 6,000 international students. This year’s theme for the week was the “Media in Focus” and it kicked off on Monday, Nov. 16 with the a lecture from keynote speaker, Geneva Overholser, Senior Fellow at the Democracy Fund in the Student Union Theater. On Tuesday, students were invited to participate in an interactive photo shoot, called Dear World, to highlight diversity and everyone’s unique journey. The Intercultural Diversity Center (IDC) held their first “World Bazaar” for the year on Wednesday from 11a.m. to 2p.m. in the Student Union Lobby. “We hold World Bazaar once a semester because we want to make as many opportunities for students to celebrate diversity as possible,” said Michael Venturiello, student program coordinator for the IDC. The IDC starts planning for their largest campus event in September by reaching
out to Student Association clubs in the International and People of Color Councils to share their culture with the campus through tabling, food and performances. This year, members from the Caribbean Student Association, Black Student Union, Asian American Student Union, Muslim SA, Malaysian SA and Hong Kong SA were all in attendance. “We reach out to all of the cultural organizations and anyone can perform,” said Aisha Abdelmula, graduate assistant for the IDC. “Even if someone wanted to perform something from a culture that may not be represented on campus, the opportunity is there.” Wanninayaka and other members of the Latin American Student Association performed bachata, tango and salsa couples dances. LASA holds weekly Latin social dance lessons in the flag room at 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday.
YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM (TOP) Latin American Student Association performs in the Student Union on Wednesday to demonstrate Latin American culture through their dancing. Other groups, such as Malaysian Student Association (MASA) and the Asian American Student Union (AASU). (BOTTOM) International Education Week hosted a variety of events for students to participate
in at the Student Union. Wednesday was World Bazaar, in which students could learn more about the countries many international students come from.
The Muslim SA recited Arabic excerpts from the qur’an. “We loved the World Bazaar and all the people who came by and were willing to participate,” said Samiha Islam, vice president of Muslim SA. In addition to the student organizations, the IDC also invited local immigrant owned businesses such as the Dovi & Girls African Market and the El Buen Amigo Latin American Cultural Association, both located in Elmwood.
DEAR UB
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
So Chung hatched a drastic plan. “I decided like two blocks away from my home that I was going to run away,” Chung said. At that moment, his mom drove by on her way home from work and, seeing how distressed her son was, made him get in the car. Chung wouldn’t tell her what had happened. But she didn’t seem to care. “She ended up telling me that there was nothing that I could be say or do that would make her love me any less,” Chung said. What his mother said made him realize that being attacked didn’t really matter – it was just a momentary experience that could only bring him down if he let it. Because of this, Chung wrote “Nothing really matters,” on his arms, twisting the phrase into something positive. Sabrina Cruz, a student affairs graduate student, also spoke at the event. Cruz had “Resting b*tchface does not equal emotion-
less” written on her arms. Cruz wrote this because she does not express her emotions in the same ways that others do. She believes there is a standard that people are expected to meet when it comes to expressing their emotions, and when someone doesn’t meet that standard, most people will assume that person has no emotions at all. According to her, that assumption is false. “Just because someone’s face doesn’t match what you think they should be feeling, that doesn’t mean that they’re not feeling,” Cruz said. “Just know that when you judge someone for they’re lack of emotion, when they go home at night, they may be sobbing.” Tiffany Vera, a senior psychology and speech and hearing major had “I have a voice” written on her arms. She said due to her race and gender, she often feels as though other people are unwilling to hear the things she has to say.
“I say that I have a voice because all of the identities I associate myself with, all the experiences I have all make me who I am . . . and my voice is valid,” Vera said. Juweria Dahir, a graduate student studying sociology and social policy chose to have “ISIS hijacked Islam” written on her arms. Due to the recent ISIS attacks in Paris, France, Dahir said that many people are stereotyping the 1.6 billion Muslims around the world by lumping them in the same category as the radical terrorists. “Do you really think that all 1.6 billion of us follow a religion of violence?” Dahir asked the crowd. Jordan Oscar, a senior English major, wrote on his arms “Always improve. Never settle.” Three years ago Oscar weighed 267 pounds. Since then, he has lost 69 pounds. He explained that his significant weight loss was one of the two reasons why he wrote “Always improve. Never settle” on his
Another vendor in the lineup was Ten Thousand Villages, which is located in Williamsville and sells fair trade crafts, housewares and other items made by artisans from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. The next World Bazaar will take place on South Campus in the spring semester. email: features@ubspectrum.com
arms. The other reason was that he had to work his way through a deep depression last year. Rather than being shy about the things he’s been through, Oscar was very open. “I don’t hide from it because it does no one justice to hide from their struggle,” Oscar said. Prasanna Thyagarajan, a business major, had “Genius is initiative on fire” written on his arms. Thyayarajan dedicated the message to his father. He said that he comes from a poor family of six that struggles to survive on the $1,000 salary his father makes per month. He explained that his father has sold everything he has in order for him to attend UB. “He sees his dreams in me, that’s why I wrote this: Genius is initiative on fire,” Thyayarajan said. Although these six students showed some courage by talking in front of a theatre full of people, they were not the only ones with a story to tell. Editor’s note: Jordan Oscar was an editor for The Spectrum last semester. email: features@ubspectrum.com
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Friday, November 20, 2015
THE SPECTRUM
CLUB CREATES BROTHERS
Video game club fosters camaraderie among students of various backgrounds
YILIN LI, THE SPECTRUM
UB Super Smash Bros. Club is a group of gamers who bond over their love of video games. The club meets every Wednesday in the Student Union from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. to compete and improve their Smash Bros. skills - everyone is welcome.
KENNETH KASHIF THOMAS ARTS EDITOR
Gamers have an easier time making friends than others do – simply picking up a controller and sitting down to play with someone is considered a gesture of friendship. One of the greatest bonding and party games to date has been the Super Smash Bros series. Taking the best characters Nintendo has to offer and pitting them against each other in epic battles, UB’s own Smash Club comes together every week for the purpose of playing the game communally. Since UB Smash Club became official in 2001, members have come together to enjoy the game that they love to play. Although the main focus of the club is Super Smash Bros., they also play other fighting games as well.
“The club was started to provide a central meeting place where people attending UB could go to play Smash, watch Smash, improve at Smash, talk about Smash and even just hang out,” said Jason Ripple, president of the club and a sophomore English major. “We’re just a place to come chill out with a bunch of friends, old-school TVs and GameCubes.” The club meets every Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. in the Student Union Theater on North Campus, where members play competitive games. Currently 98 members strong, the club formed when the first Smash Brothers on the Nintendo 64 was released. Today, they find themselves playing Super Smash Bros. Melee, the third installment of the game series. Since the first Super Smash Bros. was released on January 21, 1999, it has since become a worldwide hit, earning four followup installments over the years and selling
37.29 million copies. The games span across all of Nintendo’s major consoles, from the Nintendo 64 to the Wii U. Andrew Berger, vice president of the club and a sophomore economics major, said there’s more to gain than just competitive gaming. In addition to an atmosphere of competition, Smash Club fosters comraderie. Comprised of gamers of all skill levels, the club allows players to become better and refine their skills. Approximately 40 gamers show up per week for “free play” on Wednesdays. Boasting non-structured meets, the club serves as a way for students to unwind during the middle of the week. They also invite students to bring their own system and TV to play other games. “The club holds many events, mostly tournaments, throughout the year, some for prizes and some just for fun,” Berger said. Although, outside of friendly competition, Smash Club also participates in outside tournaments says Jason Ripple. “Right now, though, we’re actually competing as a team in The Melee Games,” Ripple said. “A national collegiate tournament in which teams of the best players from colleges and universities across the United States and Canada compete with each other in a ‘crew battle’ format.” Tournaments force teams to work togeth-
er cohesively as they’re given a pool of lives between all of them. Smash Club has won the Upstate New York division, after beating out the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), and are preparing for a New York City trip to compete against SUNY Stony Brook. Nick Palastro, a graduate mathematics student and treasurer of Smash Club, said while all skill levels are invited to play, there are no barriers or skill brackets in club gaming sessions. “Since Buffalo doesn’t have a strong Melee community it can be difficult to find high level players,” Palastro said. “Everyone is welcome to play anyone. There are soft exceptions for the sake of seeding tournaments and our challenge ladder, which is run by [Ripple].” Buffalo has little in the way of Super Smash Bros. tournaments and club members rarely attend any regional tournaments with over 100 entrants. Smash Club offers UB students a pool of healthy competition and the opportunity to compete for prizes on the national level. Smash Club has shown that that the Smash Bros. franchise is more than just a collection of video games – it’s a way to earn cool prizes and a unifying tool for lovers of the game. email: arts@ubspecrum.com
Gabriel Iglesias tours in Buffalo Comedian reaches Buffalo’s Shea’s theater for the next stop on his tour KENNETH KASHIF THOMAS
theater begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $59.
ARTS EDITOR
Gabriel Iglesias’ 2015 Fluffy Breaks Even tour is making its stop in Buffalo this coming Sunday. The tour follows up his “Fuse” TV series of the same name. Speaking on his tour career success, Iglesias also opened up about what he holds most dear during his interactions with fans and viewers. Iglesias has almost become synonymous with the word “fluffy,” a term that started out as a joke within family, but would soon take the nation by storm. In July of 2014, the rise of fluffy culminated into “The Fluffy Movie: Unity Through Laughter,” which released in 400 cities in 23 countries. The movie would be a compilation of his best performances from his Unity Through Laughter tour. Even with his recent weight loss, Iglesias still refers to himself as “fluffy,” staying true to what he started with. Going on to say that while the diet has changed, his performance hasn’t. Recently, Iglesias has also started to work on his second TV series, “The Fluffy Shop.” Making his rounds on the TV circuit, Iglesias admits that he never aspired to lead in a movie role, but mentions that like with his new series, timing is everything. Staying focused on his tour and ABC pilot, Iglesias finds his joy in performing for fans and hanging out with friends, as well as catching up on sleep on the tour bus. After everything’s said and done, it all comes back to his connections with fans. Gabriel Iglesias’ show at Buffalo’s Shea’s
The Spectrum: Is there anything in Buffalo that you’re looking forward to doing or seeing while you’re here? Gabriel Iglesias: Buffalo wings. Duh.
lot for ABC. If a movie comes along that is right for me to star in, then I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.
TS: As a creator and a comedian, is there something that you want people who see your standup to take away from it?
TS: What’s your favorite part about touring? GI: I think it’s important that people take GI: Performing for the fans and hanging out with my friends. I get some of the best sleep on my tour bus. TS: Do you feel your weight loss has affected your stage performance or presence? You used to make jokes about the stages of “fluffy,” since you’re no longer fluffy, has anything changed?
whatever meaning fits them from my standup. I get a lot of fan mail from parents whose kids are “fluffy” and they say I give them self-confidence and that they relate to that struggle. It means a lot, mostly I hope to bring laughter at the end of a rough week and if the audience gets more out of my set than a few laughs, well that’s a bonus.
TS: How did the opportunity to work on your own pilot for “The Fluffy Shop” come about?
COURTESY OF JUSTIN STEPHENS
Gabriel Iglesias, renowned comedian, will be performing at Shea’s Performing Arts Center on Sunday. The 39-year-old is currently featured on Fuse TV’s “Fluffy Breaks Even.”
me, “you’re not fat, you’re fluffy.” Then that joke started to catch on and at first I was annoyed when fans called me Fluffy, but then I embraced it as a brand. Now, when you Google the word “fluffy” – I come up first, before bunnies or kittens, even!
GI: I’m still “fluffy,” but thank you for say- GI: I had been approached over the years TS: Is there any particular story that you’ve received that resonated with you on ing that. I eat differently, but nothing has changed for me in my stage performance.
TS: Having a healthy career in standup has opened a lot of doors for you, as of late you’ve been in the cinema, with your own comedy concert movie “The Fluffy Movie: Unity Through Laughter” and playing Tobias in “Magic Mike,” do you have aspirations of leading in a high-end production film?
to do a show and this year the timing was right and I found the right partners to work with and I was ready to tell a version of my story and ABC came to the table with and offer… and here we are.
TS: So is it better to say “fluffy” is more of a state of mind as opposed to physical appearance, what does fluffy mean to you?
GI: I’ve never heard of “fluffy” being a state GI: Being a lead in a movie was never of mind, ha! For me it started as a term of
something I aspired to do. Right now I’m focusing on touring and working on my pi-
endearment from my mom, who would tell
a deeper level?
GI: I get a lot of fan mail and meet so many people it’s hard to pick out just one. I think whenever someone lets me know that my comedy has touched them, made their lives easier, gotten them through a rough time, or just made them smile when nothing else could… Those are all special things and it means a lot to me that through comedy I’m reaching people. Period. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
6UB takes
NEWS | SPORTS
Friday, November 20, 2015
THE SPECTRUM
steps toward progress
KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM
Teresa Miller (right), vice provost of Equity and Inclusion, speaks at the Black Student Union’s open forum in September. Miller also spoke at the “community chat” in South Lake Village Wednesday night to discuss race and diversity on campus. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“I went to an HBCU [historically black colleges and universities] before this and the school was built on community,” Kayembe said. “The college was small but there were two other colleges right next door, so we really had a close community.” A graduate student at the meeting said she is one of four students of color in one of her classes. The idea of having students of color mentor others did come up, but Miller was cautious about the idea. While she thinks it’s a good idea she doesn’t want to “overwhelm” students. “It’s not easy to ask someone to lift as they climb,” Miller said. A meeting at Goodyear Hall on South Campus preceded the meeting at South Lake. “One thing that I got from Goodyear was that there’s not enough contact with the faculty,” Miller said. Many students at that meeting said they’ve never been to a faculty member’s home. Miller said UB’s large student population would make this difficult, but the idea of getting faculty to eat in dining halls with students on
occasion was brought up at the meeting. However, students feel progress is being made. The Dear World event that took place on campus Tuesday was one way for students to be heard on campus. The event allowed students to write messages on themselves and be photographed. One student said a University Police officer took part in the event, which she said was a step in the right direction to creating inclusivity. Making UPD more familiar to students was emphasized in the meeting. Students discussed the creation of the UPD student task force, which allows students to have regular discussions with UPD. Didi Okorozo, a junior biomedical science major, also felt the meeting gave students a place to speak out. UB will have a diversity course for the first time next fall as a part of the new general education requirements. “Diversity is a part of the college experience, so UB needs to have a class or seminar about it,” she said. There will be another community chat in Governors Complex on Dec. 3. email: news@ubspectrum.com
The edge CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
The Bulls’ trio of Nick Gilbo, Brandon Berry and Okezie Alozie have been Buffalo’s most consistent unit on the season, but for the first time all season, they’re the second best linebacking unit on the field.
Defensive backs: Akron The Zips rank ninth in the MAC in pass defense compared to Buffalo’s ranking of sixth, but a playmaking Zips cornerback and a potential injured Bulls cornerback give Akron the edge. DeAndre Scott has just 19 tackles on the season, but has six interceptions and eight pass breakups. Buffalo has playmaking cornerback Boise Ross, but the junior left last week’s game with an ankle injury. Even if Ross is healthy, he has also slowed down since his great start, as he has just seven pass breakups in his last seven games and hasn’t intercepted a pass since Week Three against Florida Atlantic.
Special teams: Buffalo It’s hard to count out a nearperfect unit that has won multiple accolades throughout this season,
even with a down week from its main contributors. Freshman Adam Mitcheson had one of his worst games as a Bull last week with a 1-for-3 performance. Senior Tyler Grassman, who’s been great this season, mustered up just three punts for a little more than 100 yards – well under his season average. But it’s a new week. Buffalo may need its special teams unit to perform in an even conference matchup.
Coaching: Buffalo Bulls head coach Lance Leipold has continued to have his team prepared for its opponent and continues to show that he belongs on the Division-I level. After a mid-season swoon, Leipold has done a good job of making sure the Bulls come out with a balanced attack on both sides of the ball. Akron has head coach Terry Bowden, who had success at Auburn in the 90s, but the Zips have been unable to put together a winning season under him thus far. Buffalo may keep it that way with another strong coaching performance from Leipold. email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Did you make this week’s blotter? All information is according to University Police.
11/12
11/10
8:01 p.m. – Patrol received a walk-up complaint by two females who reported a male had been following them.
1:09 a.m. – A caller reported her roommate received a message on Instagram from an unknown person who said he or she was outside of their residence. Patrol did not find anyone outside during a check. 12:45 p.m. – A UB employee reported that the window of a vending machine in Clinton Hall was smashed open and the contents inside were stolen. 6:28 p.m. – A student requested an escort after she and her boyfriend had an argument regarding a laptop. The student believed her boyfriend was outside waiting for her. 8:20 p.m. – A Porter Quad resident adviser (RA) requested patrol for a marijuana complaint. The patrol issued Student-Wide Judiciary (SWJ) paperwork. 10:22 p.m. – A UB student requested patrol for the larceny of her iPad Mini. The student said her name is on the back of the iPad.
11/11 1:23 a.m. – A student reported a male dressed in a military uniform was trying to key into her South Lake Village apartment. The student said the male was unable to gain access and left the building. The student told patrol that the front door to the main building does not always secure property. 2:10 p.m. – A student reported the larceny of his backpack in Lockwood Library while he left it unattended. The student’s ID and passport were recovered later at the student information desk, however the student’s backpack and iPad were still missing. 7:39 p.m. – UPD received complaints and photographs of graffiti located on the bridge between Baird Hall and Slee Hall. 9:23 p.m. – A Porter RA reported a raccoon on the terrace level between Porter and Red Jacket. The raccoon did not come in contact with anyone and did not appear to be aggressive or rabid.
11/13 2:12 p.m. – A UB employee reported money out of her department’s petty cash fund was stolen. The employee reported the only one to have the key was an employee who was previously terminated. 8:11 p.m. – A UB faculty member reported her iPhone 6 was taken from her office while left unattended.
11/15 1:27 a.m. – A Wilkeson RA requested assistance with an emotional female in the Wilkeson building. The RA reported the female was crying and had blood on her hands. Patrol reported the female was crying regarding an argument she had with her boyfriend and the cut on her finger was superficial with no need of medical attention. 3:27 a.m. – A Ellicott Complex employee requested patrol to Sizzles for an intoxicated female who would not wake up. An ambulance transported the female to ECMC. 4:10 a.m. – UB student Daniel Rivera was stopped in the Richmond parking lot and arrested for DWI.
11/16 9:41 a.m. – A UB student reported two of her bicycles were stolen from the Red Jacket bike rack.
11/17 1:39 a.m. – A Red Jacket RA reported a fight between two females in the Red Jacket building. The RA reported one of the students struck her roommate in the face. The incident was turned over to housing to further assist. email: news@ubspectrum.com
‘WHITE’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 I do think it was unfortunate and poor timing for White to detach UB Athletics from Buffalo. He did so on the eve of what many consider to be the city’s comeback and renewal of pride for Buffalo. And as someone who’s covered many Bulls’ road games, I can tell you no one – opposing team’s coaches, athletes, PR staff, scoreboard operators and even the commentators – is really sure what to call the UB Bulls. They’re certainly not calling them “New York,” I can tell you that much. UB was never going to own New York with a selfdeclaration and logo change, even without much competition. That’s just not how it works. But NYBI isn’t going anywhere, at least for now. As a former colleague of mine rightfully pointed out, the next UB athletic director will have to continue the initiative if for no reason other than it’d be too expensive to rebrand yet again and change the football field and basketball court. Again, short-sightedness. White brought in some good coaches that excited people, no question about it. But are any of those coaches going to be here for 10 years to build a program? I’d say most will get snatched up fast if they have some success. We saw the extreme case of that with Bobby Hurley. The Gicewicz Club was a good addition that can help with donations for years to come – but maybe with some patience there could have been an even better option. White and athletics had originally wanted to build a much larger club on the east side of the stadium, but when they didn’t secure enough funds quickly enough to construct an entirely new space, White decided to clear out the existing media box and put the club there. How much larger of a club, with more room for more donors that would lead to more money, could
have been made with some patience? It’s clear White didn’t have patience. He couldn’t afford to have it. And yes, he didn’t owe it to UB. Both parties knew what their relationship was. And that’s why UB is at something of a crossroads in its search for a new athletic director. It had the up-and-comer who moved quickly, now it may be time for someone who plans on sticking around – someone who will have a commitment to steadily improving UB’s athletic program. When I asked President Satish Tripathi about the positive impact athletics can have on a university as whole, his answer wasn’t very reassuring. In probably his shortest answer of the entire interview, he could only mention the coming together of alumni at Buffalo’s NCAA Tournament game last season. Can’t alumni banquets – not millions of dollars of institutional support – do that? Perhaps Tripathi is realistic of the challenges UB faces in college athletics. And if that’s the case, he needs to actually help decide UB’s next AD. Even though White did some good work here, UB doesn’t need another athletic director filling out applications on the side and making hasty decisions like rebranding for the sake of rebranding. It needs someone who’s going to take the time to identify the challenges Buffalo faces as a Mid-Major and the long-term solutions. With a larger budget and larger program, White’s strategies may work just fine at UCF. He’ll bring in some impressive coaches and excitement. I think he’ll be successful there. But White’s moves here were never really aligned with what could realistically be done here. Someone who knows what can be done here – and has the time to do it – needs to be the next AD. email: tom.dinki@ubspectrum.com
CLASSIFIEDS
7
Friday, November 20, 2015
THE SPECTRUM
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8Zipping toward a Bowl game
SPORTS
Friday, November 20, 2015
THE SPECTRUM
Bulls look for sixth victory of the season and the bowl eligibility that’s come with it REUBEN WOLF STAFF WRITER
Lance Leipold is remaining modest. With his Buffalo football team just one win away from being bowl eligible for just the third time since rejoining Division I in 1999, the head coach didn’t take much credit Tuesday. He does realize, however, how much it would mean for the program. “It’s not about myself as the head coach, but what it would do for the program,” Leipold said. “For what our seniors have worked for, what the program wants to be, it would be huge.” The Bulls (5-5, 3-3 Mid-American Conference) will travel to Akron, Ohio to face a Zips (5-5, 3-3 MAC) team that will also be looking for one more victory to become bowl eligible. When discussing the Zips, Leipold acknowledged the challenge his team faces this week. Not only does his team have the pressure of being one game away from bowl contention, but Akron is peaking at the right time as winners of its last two games and three of its last five. “Akron is an experienced football team and this should be an exciting match,” Leipold said. “Both teams are 5-5, 3-3 in the conference and both have a lot to play for.” Akron ranks second in the MAC in total defense as it allows 341.5 yards per game and has given up 29 touchdowns on the season. The run defense in particular is Akron’s strength, as it has allowed the fewest yards on the ground in the conference. One way the Bulls can attack the Akron defense is through the air. The Zips are ninth in the conference in pass defense and have allowed 19 touchdown passes through 10 games.
Buffalo may rely on tight ends Matt Weiser and Mason Schreck. Due to an injury earlier in the season, Schreck, a junior, doesn’t have the statistics Weiser, a senior, has, but both have had productive seasons so far. It’s something Leipold envisioned at the start of the season. “We came out of spring ball looking at our two tight ends as weapons that were going to be steadily uses as much as they could be,” Leipold said. “We never said, ‘This guy is going to have as many catches,’ or asking our staff how many targets did they get. To figure that Matt Weiser and Mason Schreck were going to be used offensively was the goal.” Leipold’s introductory season is the best by a Buffalo coach since 1969, when head coach Bob Deming lead the Bulls to a 6-3 record through the first nine games. However, even though this is a year of progress and potential history for the Bulls, it’s about the team’s success. Weiser has recorded the most catches by a
tight in a single season with 53, while senior quarterback Joe Licata broke Drew Willy’s school record for most passing yards in a career last week. Although proud of these accomplishments, coach Leipold is not surprised that these feats happened to these people. “The way [Licata’s] hung in there, the way he’s played, [that record] is well-deserved,” Leipold said. “It was never obvious that [Weiser] would have 50 catches on the year, but he works hard every day and is a quality individual on and off the field. Both have exceeded expectations and we’re going to need a couple big weeks from them to end the season.” Saturday’s game ends a stretch where the Bulls played four games in 18 days. The effects of that was shown against Northern Illinois where Buffalo allowed 41 points, 28 of which came in the first half, and more than 500 yards of total offense. Leipold said the team needs to do better “wrapping up and getting into position” on tackles and a small
PREDICTIONS: BUFFALO
COURTESY OF JEFF HARWELL
Akron quarterback Thomas Woodsonthrows a pass against a Bowling Green blitz. Buffalo enters Akron on Saturday just one win away from Bowl eligibility.
break could help the team in doing that. “I think we have to get better and involved faster on the perimeter,” Leipold said Tuesday. “It’s been almost a week since we played, but the four games in 18 days and with our staff out recruiting, it was good for them to get that mini-break. I expect to see some more energy out there today, hopefully leading into Akron, and help us secure a victory.” Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Saturday. email: sports@ubspectrum.com
VS. AKRON
(-4)
Tom Dinki
Jordan Grossman
Quentin Haynes
@tomdinki
@jordanmgrossman
@Haynes_Spectrum
Buffalo: This Buffalo team has shown it can win against a conference opponent on the road. Now it needs to do it one more time.
Buffalo: They’ve been trending upward for the past month. With a bowl game in sight, they’ll take a narrow victory on the road.
10::24 PM - 20 Nov 2015
1:03 PM - 20 Nov 2015
Akron: Akron’s defense stifles Buffalo’s offense, adding some intrigue into Buffalo’s final game of the season. Big games by Joe Licata and Matt Weiser. 10:37 AM - 20 Nov 2015
The edge The Spectrum’s scouting report for Buffalo and Akron QUENTIN HAYNES SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
In a Mid-American Conference matchup between two teams vying for bowl eligibility, the Buffalo football team (5-5, 3-3 MAC) and Akron (5-5, 3-3) face off in the secondto-last game of the regular season Saturday. The Spectrum decided who has the edge at each position.
Quarterback: Buffalo Buffalo has the better passing quarterback, as senior quarterback Joe Licata has completed 64 percent of his passes and threw 14 touchdown passes on the season. Akron quarterback Thomas Woodson is
more a rushing threat, as he’s run for 430 rushing yards and three touchdowns compared to 1,636 yards and 11 touchdowns in the air. Despite Woodson’s rushing ability, we’ll give the edge to the better and more experienced passer in Licata.
Running backs: Buffalo Akron’s Conor Hundley has the running back with the better overall numbers, as he’s totalled 761 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the season. That being said, Buffalo has two solid backs that have combing for more than 1,300 yards on the season. After a strong start, senior Anthone Taylor has been slowed down by injuries in MAC play. Junior Jordan John-
son has picked up the slack, rushing for 464 of his 701 yards and seven of his nine touchdowns against MAC opponents. Wide receivers and tight ends: Buffalo Like most matchups, the Bulls have the best group of receivers and tight ends. After getting all of his players included in the offense, Licata has found three reliable targets in senior wide receivers Ron Willoughby and Marcus McGill and senior tight end Matt Weiser. All three have recorded at least 40 catches on the season with Willoughby leading the trio in touchdowns with six. The Zips has two wide receivers that have accounted for 65 of the team’s 141 catches and eight of team’s 12 touchdown catches, in Imani Davis and Jerome Lane. But Buffalo’s balance gives it the upper hand in the matchup
Offensive line: Draw Both teams are close in sacks allowed, with Akron with 14 sacks allowed and Buffalo with 16. Buffalo lost senior guard Dillon Guy to a season-ending injury, but junior Roubbens Joseph has been a steady replacement alongside the interior of the unit.
Defensive line: Akron The Zips have a trio of defensive linemen leading the way hat give them the edge – Rodney Coe, Se’Von Pittman and Jamal Marcus. Marcus is the most disruptive, leading the trio with 9.5 tackles for losses and 4.5 sacks. Coe and Pittman have combined for four sacks and 12 tackles for losses. Buffalo meanwhile may be without junior defensive tackle Brandon Crawford, who left last week’s game against Northern Illinois with an ankle injury. Crawford has complied 28 tackles, two sacks, three tackles for losses and forced fumble this season.
Linebackers: Akron Akron’s trio of Jatavis Brown, Dylan Evans and Darryl Monroe match Buffalo’s own trio with their ability to make plays on the ball. Brown is one of the best players in the conference, with Khalil Mack-esque numbers of 88 tackles, 10.5 sacks and 16 tackles for losses.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6