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
wednesday, February 3, 2016
Volume 65 No. 44
BSU President Micah Oliver resigns Former VP Golbourne steps into presidential role of SA’s largest club
KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM
Black Student Union President Micah Oliver speaks at the open forum held on Sept. 23 about the controversial “White Only” and “Black Only” signs.
TORI ROSEMAN SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR
Micah Oliver has resigned from his position as Black Student Union (BSU) president. Deidree Golbourne, formerly BSU’s vice president, has stepped into the role of president and on Monday night, BSU unanimously elected Samirra Felix as its new vice president, causing a major shakeup in the executive board of the club with the largest budget in the Student Association. Oliver declined comment about why he left left his position, but did say he would eventually be open to speaking to The Spec-
trum. Golbourne, a junior history major, said the shakeup would not affect BSU’s plans for the semester, including events like Black Explosion and Black Ice. “It’s an internal change that won’t impact any events we’re holding,” Golbourne said. Oliver, a senior business major, and BSU were particularly active on campus last semester after the “White Only” art project controversy. The organization held open forums to discuss the signs, issued a public statement, protested President Satish Tripathi’s annual address and, along with other campus organizations, met with university
leaders about a potential policy on displaying art in public spaces on campus. Toward the end of the last semester, Oliver received what university officials called a racist and discriminatory letter, accusing BSU and other organizations, like the NAACP, of being racist. Oliver told The Spectrum at that time that he’s made himself “intentionally accessible for things like this because that has been BSU’s strategy for making the progress that we have this semester.” Felix, sophomore geological sciences major, ran unopposed in a closed election for vice president in which she was given time to make a speech and take questions from members of the e-board and general body. SA Vice President Sean Kaczmarek said clubs have their own guidelines for handling e-board elections and members resigning, and that the policy should be outlined in their constitutions. Felix previously served as activities chair for the organization and felt that she had what it takes to move up to vice president. “I have a thorough understanding of every position on the e-board and I know that my team members need improvement as well where I need mine, and I believe that’s what makes me a great candidate for the vice president position,” Felix said. The e-board as a whole is confident in its ability to juggle the responsibilities that come with such a large organization. “We’re realistic as an executive board and remember that we’re students ourselves,” Golbourne said.
New gen ed set for next fall Faculty Senate discusses UB Curriculum’s progress EVAN SCHNEIDER ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Philip Glick, chair of the Faculty Senate, cited the teamwork and patience maintained by all involved in the brand new UB Curriculum program as a fantastic example of shared governance. In its first meeting of the spring semester on Tuesday, the Faculty Senate discussed the new general education curriculum that was passed by the body in December of 2014 and is set to begin next fall with the incoming class of 2016. The curriculum is now being organized into a cohesive structure and classroom schedules are already being scheduled in accordance to the program. “We are on a fantastic track right now,” said Andrew Stott, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education. “This may be the largest overhaul of the undergraduate program in over 20 years, if not more.” Up to 1000 courses have been revised, newly proposed, or somehow altered to better the program. Stott said the faculty’s participation in such an overhaul was “revolutionary.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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International students readjust to campus life Some students find it hard to get back into the semester swing HANNAH STEIN STAFF WRITER Some international students who travel back to their home countries during winter recess return to UB feeling less than recharged. Many international students struggle to adjust with the different time zones and weather conditions after returning back to Buffalo. On-campus resources like the International Student and Scholar Services, Wellness Education Services and the Intercultural and Diversity Center attempt to help students to cope with these barriers. Sharlynn Daun-Barnett, stress management program coordinator and alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention specialist at Wellness Education Services, said it could be difficult to adjust after going home and returning back to campus. “Try to get back in a routine and to reestablish whatever sleep routines you need right away,” Daun-Barnett said. Devashish Agarwal, a sophomore computer science major, traveled to his home city of Agra, India over the winter break. After getting a lot of sleep, eating a lot and watching TV during break, Agarwal said after returning to the United States he experienced jet lag, which threw off his sleep cycle and eating schedule. While some students are struggling with the time zone differences, Anvita Upadhyay, a first-year master’s student in electrical engineering from India, finds the transition back to school easy.
HANNAH STEIN, THE SPECTRUM
Anvita Upadhyay (left) and Amey Mathkar (right) are two students who have to adjust into semester mode after coming back from break.
When traveling back to her home in Pune, India, she said she has no difficulties adjusting, but coming back to school means she has to do everything on her own such as cooking, cleaning and getting used to cold weather. The Redefining Home Program, which is provided by the International Student and Scholar Services in partnership with Study Abroad and Counseling Services, helps students who are struggling with long-term
ubspectrum.com
transitioning. “The two-hour workshop provides an opportunity for newly arrived international students and recently returned study abroad students to make connections with one another by exploring their shared – and varied – experiences with transition and crosscultural adjustment,” said Chris Bragdon, an international student adviser and Student Engagement coordinator.
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UB alumnus Neil Pednekar from Mumbai, India has participated in programs like these. “The Student Mentor Program really helped me to get adapted to the conditions in Buffalo,” Pednekar said. “I found a new family in Buffalo apart from India.” Bragdon said other programs, such as BRIDGES and the Redefining Home Program, helps students see they have more in common with other students than they may have previously believed. UB students who studied abroad over winter break also said getting back to Buffalo was a tough transition. Daniel Miller, a junior mechanical and aerospace engineering major, returned to campus from a 10-day trip to Israel, which left him feeling jet lagged. “The main effect was sleeping,” Miller said. “Even now, it has definitely been a harder transition than expected coming back. I’m still having trouble staying awake past 12 a.m., while in the past, it may have been 4 a.m. easily,” Despite the jet lag, Miller said he is happy to be back. According to Daun-Barnett, any change in a person’s life causes some stress. UB provides programs to help combat students who may come back into the semester stressed rather than recharged. email: news@ubspectrum.com
@ubspectrum
2
NEWS
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
The Year of the Monkey UB’s Confucius Institute to host Chinese New Year celebration
COURTESY OF UB CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE
Peter Worden and Daisy Wu perform a song for the Chinese New Year Celebration. For the fifth year in a row, the UB Confucius Institute is holding a performance in Center for the Arts to teach students about Chinese New Year culture and traditions .
KORI HUGHES STAFF WRITER
Next Monday, the Chinese New Year will usher in the Year of the Monkey. Based on the Chinese lunar calendar, Chinese New Year is a celebration that occurs annually in the Chinese culture. Each year an animal based on a Chinese zodiac symbol is chosen to represent the annual festivities, and the animal representing 2016 is the monkey. UB’s Confucius Institute is working for the fifth straight year to produce an event that displays the values and customs associated with the Chinese New Year celebration. This year’s celebration will take place on Sunday, Feb. 7 from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
at UB’s Center for the Arts Mainstage Theater and is open to the public. The Confucius Institute supports Chinarelated research, artistry and language at UB and in the UB community. “The whole show celebrates Chinese heritage and American students who like to learn Chinese and know Chinese culture,” said Maggie Lu, associate director of the Confucius Institute. The performers at the celebration will be American students from UB and the surrounding Buffalo elementary and high school districts who have taken Chinese classes for one or two years, according to Lu. They will be displaying what they have learned to the audience by speaking entire-
ly in Chinese. This year, the Chinese New Year begins on Monday, Feb. 8 and continues as a week-long public holiday. During this time, families get together and celebrate with reunion dinners, celebrations, fireworks and well wishes. Celebrations of the Chinese New Year are esteemed in Chinese culture and the Confucius Institute has high hopes of displaying all the distinct characteristics of it. “Every year, the program has the traditional Chinese dance and songs … [There will be a] lion dance during intermission and before the show,” Lu said. The lion dance is a traditional Chinese dance performed for good luck at special events according to China Highlights, a Chi-
THE SPECTRUM
nese travel agency. The event will showcase special activities and gestures related to the animal, including a performance of monkey-style dances by the Golden Summit Martial Arts program, to portray the tradition of the lion dance. While performances, dances and songs will be the main focus of the celebration, other smaller activities including cultural display tables, tea ceremonies and children’s activities linked with Chinese culture will be present, according to Lu. The Confucius Institute collaborates throughout the year with the Chinese Club of Western New York and the Chinese Student Association at UB to provide not only the Chinese New Year celebration but also Chinese education, study abroad programs and Chinese culture awareness at UB and the greater Buffalo area, according to Bruce Acker, another associate director of the Confucius Institute. Both Acker and Lu said the Confucius Institute plays a vital role in Chinese education on campus and in Buffalo through promoting and supporting the Chinese language, having cultural organizations at UB and throughout Western New York and promoting teaching and research about China. “This year we have almost 4,000 students in the Western New York area learning Chinese by our Confucius Institute teachers,” Lu said. She said the Confucius Institute provides UB – as well as local elementary and high schools Chinese teachers – resources and educational tools, if needed. Teachers are brought in from China to teach classes and give distinguished lectures related to Chinese culture and history, Acker said. The Confucius Institute provides resources to UB students who may have an interest in learning more about the culture. To learn more about Chinese culture, students can visit Lockwood Library’s allocated area known as the “Confucius reading area,” where books have been donated by the Confucius Institute. email: news@ubspectrum.com
COUNSELING GROUPS • SPRING 2016 wellness.buffalo.edu/center Connections
Bouncing Back
This group provides a warm and supportive environment in which you can experiment constructively with new ways of relating to others, share personal experiences, express fears and concerns, and get support and feedback.
This 5-week skill development-focused group will help to strengthen students’ resiliency by building upon current strengths, developing strategies for overcoming obstacles, enhancing their belief in their ability to perform well in challenging situations, and building their support networks. Contact: Sharon Mitchell (smitch@buffalo.edu) for more information.
Mondays 12:00 –1:30 • Michael Hall Wednesdays 1:00-2:30 • 120 Richmond Quad
Moving Beyond Loss
Mondays 1:00 – 2:30pm • 120 Richmond Quad This semi-structured group allows students to mourn and to acknowledge feelings associated with grief after losing a loved one through death. Students at any stage of the grief process are welcome.
International Tea Time
Mondays 5:00 – 6:30pm 240 Student Union (Intercultural and Diversity Center) This is a weekly meeting which brings together U.S. and international students for conversation and fun. Students play games, talk, and enjoy getting to know each other. International tea and snacks are provided. Contact: elenayak@buffalo.edu
MOSAIC
Tuesdays 1:00 – 2:30pm • 120 Richmond Quad A semi-structured support and educational group that provides a safe space for Women of Color to examine their emotional well-being, the impact of salient identities, and their experiences as students pursuing higher education.
Peaceful Minds
Tuesdays 2:30 – 4:00pm • Michael Hall This is a 6-week group that provides skills to decrease stress and anxiety and improve emotional well-being.
Coping Skills Group
Tuesdays 3:00 – 4:30pm • 120 Richmond Quad Fridays 1:30 – 3:00pm • Michael Hall This structured group will teach skills to live in the present, deal with stress, manage difficult emotions, and handle interpersonal conflict.
Wednesdays 1:30 – 3:00pm • 120 Richmond Quad
This Is Who I Am: LGBTQ Support Group
Wednesdays 3:00 – 4:30pm • 120 Richmond Quad The goal of the group is to provide a safe, supportive and confidential forum for students who are questioning or exploring their gender identity and/or their sexual identity as well as those identifying as gender variant, transgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or queer.
Yoga to Manage Moods
Thursdays 1:30 – 2:30pm • Michael Hall Yoga Studio Using a combination of gentle physical poses, breathing and relaxation techniques, this group allows for participants to feel more connected to and comfortable in their bodies as well as manage symptoms. This is not a drop-in group.
Motivated for Change
Thursdays 2:30 – 4:00pm • 120 Richmond Quad A semi-structured group for students who want to change a particular habit or behavior and have found it difficult to identify or take the necessary steps to do so. This group will explore factors interfering with students’ ability to change, assessing their desire, need, confidence, and reasons to change, and identify the steps needed to make and maintain that change.
International Student Support Group
Fridays 3:00 – 4:30pm • 120 Richmond Quad This group will provide a safe, supportive, and comfortable place to discuss adjustment and cross-cultural experiences in the U.S. The group will also provide a safe and confidential environment for group members to support each other and share information.
All groups except International Tea Time require an Initial Assessment. If you would like to schedule an initial assessment, please call Counseling Services at 716.645.2720
OPINION THE SPECTRUM
Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF
Tom Dinki
MANAGING EDITORS
Alyssa McClure Gabriela Julia COPY EDITORS
Renée Staples Saqib Hossain NEWS EDITORS
Marlee Tuskes, Senior Ashley Inkumsah Evan Schneider, Asst. FEATURES EDITORS
Tori Roseman, Senior Tomas Olivier John Jacobs, Asst. ARTS EDITORS
Brian Windschitl, Senior Kenneth Kashif Thomas Luke Hueskin, 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
Professional Staff OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGERS
Nicole Dominguez Lee Stoeckel, Asst. Evan Pantofel Asst. ADVERTISING DESIGNER
Derek Hosken
THE SPECTRUM Wednesday, February 3, 2016 Volume 65 Number 44 Circulation 4,000 The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Feedback, Opinion and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum, visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at 716-645-2152 The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 142602100
3 BACK TRACKED Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Caucus produces close race results, active voter engagement Iowa caucuses indicate candidate momentum Monday night’s Iowa caucus allowed Iowan voters to indicate which candidate they had the most faith in through discussion and polls. The caucus is traditionally a kick-off to the primary season leading to Super Tuesday and eventually the presidential election in November. The polls closed at 10 p.m. with the top three GOP candidates Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and Marco Rubio falling first, second and third respectively. Cruz received 28.3 percent of the votes followed by Trump with 25 percent and Rubio at 21.9 percent. The Democratic votes were split closely between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders – so close that the results were deemed too close to call until the following morning. Clinton grabbed the victory with 50.3 percent of the vote while Sanders received 49.7 percent. Democratic candidate Martin O’Malley had less than 15 percent of the vote and so his votes were reallocated to Clinton and Sanders. The entire system of the caucuses seems a little antiquated – it isn’t like typical voting in which citizens go to their respective public voting location and vote inside a private booth. GOP voters use secret ballots, but Democrats break into small groups and discuss the candidates publicly for a period of time before voting, so everyone knows who has casted a vote for which candidate. This openness is foreign, especially in a world of political correctness. Politics is a touchy topic to begin with so discussing it in public seems both outdated and dangerous. While people are spouting their political opinions, delegates are elected to attend the state and national conventions and vote on other people’s behalf. The entire process is very indirect. At the same time, this caucus had one of the highest turnout rates in recent history – so high that Iowa ran out of voter registration forms. This is indicative of the way interest in the presidential election and the political process has spiked, potentially due to the candidates themselves or just interest in the process. Especially amongst students, interest in the election has increased. Teens in Iowa can vote in the caucus at 17 so long as
they turn 18 by the time of the presidential election, and Sanders was targeting college students as a large portion of his voter audience. The caucus itself is supposed to define momentum in the election by seeing who the frontrunners are. It revealed that this race is likely to be incredibly close, for both parties. Less than 1 percent separates support for the top two Democratic candidates and less than 6 percent separates support for the top three Republican candidates. The seriousness of the race is clear as names like Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee and O’Malley fade into the background. Cruz’s move ahead of Trump is also indicative of a potential threat to the Trump domination. Did missing last Thursday’s debate hurt Trump at the caucus, or are people growing tired of his publicity stunts and attitude? While he still managed to garner a large amount of support, Cruz’s momentum seems to be on an upswing whereas Trump’s popularity lies more in his character and less in his political ideology. Rubio also kept the race close, only trailing Trump by a small margin. The Florida senator been gaining momentum the last few months but must continue to succeed in the next few states if he wants a serious shot at the nomination. Many expected Sanders to pull ahead of rival Clinton in Iowa, but the two ended the night neck-inneck. Like Rubio, Sanders needs to continue his momentum heading into the New Hampshire primary if he has any hope of winning the nomination. His ideology is popular amongst millennials as one of his most touted campaign ideas is free college tuition. But Iowa is only the beginning. Caucuses and primaries will continue over the course of the year and the election is still nine months away. The race is wide open – several candidates from both parties have a viable chance at the nomination and then, the presidency. As students we need to be aware of the candidates words and actions as they proceed through election season so to make a conscious, welleducated decision come November. email: eic@ubspectrum.com
JORDAN GROSSMAN SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
Talk about a 1-2 punch. Over the past two weeks, the Buffalo football team lost its two top recruits in quarterback Max Bortenschlager and linebacker Tyreek Williams, both three-star recruits. After both decommitted from UB, Bortenschlager bolted for Maryland and Williams took up an offer from Rutgers. Understandable for both players. Maryland is in the Big Ten Conference and Williams simply took the better offer and opted to stay closer to home. Whatever rhyme or reason for their departures, what’s done is done. Buffalo’s top two recruits in the 2016 class are no longer set to wear the blue and white. But what seems like a detrimental blow to a program is actually not that crushing to the offensive side of the ball. Losing a player like Bortenschlager hurts, but it does help Buffalo realize the potential already on the team. With Joe Licata graduated, the vacancy at quarterback is likely to be filled by Iowa State transfer Grant Rohach. He’ll give Buffalo ample time to prepare for their quarterback of the future: freshman Tyree Jackson. Jackson is built like a poor man’s Cam Newton. He counts on his legs to make plays happen, but his ability to throw the ball more than 50 yards in the air is what makes him valuable. I’m fine with the Bulls’ potential plan for quarterback for the next couple of years. The defense, however, is a different story. Buffalo’s defense was nothing short of a middle-of-the-pack unit that had moments of excellence and subpar play. At times, it looked like the Bulls’ secondary alone could have propelled them to a bowl game. Other times, it was the linebackers. But never in the equation was the defensive line. For lack of a
better term, the defensive line was a mess this season. This past season, Buffalo’s rush defense ranked 10th in the conference and allowed 2,200 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns. And even with a respectable 22 sacks on the year, the blitzing linebacker trio of seniors Okezie Alozie and Nick Gilbo, with junior Brandon Berry, were usually the ones getting to the quarterback. In order to have a successful defense, the front seven has to be filled with speedsters and dominant forces that are able to either drop back in coverage or charge for the ball carrier or quarterback. Bowling Green – the eventual winners of the conference last season – had two of the best linebackers in the Mid-American Conference. With Alozie and Gilbo – Buffalo’s main sources of front-seven production this past season and most prominent playmakers – graduating, Berry is left alone with an inexperienced group to lead. It could have been a lot easier with Williams. Tyreek Williams was supposed to be the No. 1 recruit for Buffalo’s 2016 recruiting class. I only needed three or four minutes of game tape to see the type of player he is – everything Buffalo needs. He’s an aggressive pass rusher with impeccable speed coming off the edge against an offensive tackle. He has a knack to spot the ball carrier and begin picture-perfect pursuits toward them. Williams also has the uncanny skill of still being able to hold impressive pass defense in the zone. And he can play two positions. Williams, eerily similar to NFL linebacker and former Bull Khalil Mack, is just as impressive playing defensive end as he does linebacker. His mixed skill set makes him a wild card on the field, making opposing offenses weary of which plays to run. We’ll have to see how head coach Lance Leipold and his staff adjust to the losses when they officially announce the 2016 recruiting class Wednesday afternoon. Of course, no one knows what a player will be like entering college. But losing a three-star recruit for a unit that needs new and efficient players to improve is a setback. email: jordan.grossman @ubspectrum.com
Celebrities retain enormous power in the political conversation Despite skepticism, the famous inordinately shape United State’s political opinions
LUKE HEUSKIN ASST. ARTS EDITOR
It can seem that the famous are living on an entirely different plane. There’s a certain glamour to their lime-lit lives that demands our attention, even for those who don’t keep up with gossip columns. With a sizable portion of the nation tuned into their every utterance, celebrities often use this inexplicable fascination to become activists, transcending their roles as entertainers by lending support to various political issues. The past decade has shown that a celebrity endorsement can be the factor that puts an unsung cause on the map. President Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, for example, was greatly bolstered by the
endorsement of influential talk show host Oprah Winfrey. Economists Craig Garthwaite and Tim Moore calculated that Winfrey’s support won Obama more than 1 million votes in the 2008 primary, which is speculated to have won him the Democratic nomination. In the age of social media, a celebrity endorsement is not unlike the addition of a superhero to one’s campaign team. If you or I voice a political message on Facebook or Twitter, our audience is usually limited to our own friends and followers. When a celebrity posts their views, people listen. Celebrity voices have been in force on all sides of the 2016 election, some more eloquent than others. Yet the question remains: When academic and expert opinions remain in obscurity, why are we prone to heed the opinions of entertainers at all? Consider musician Kid Rock’s
recent endorsement of Republican candidate Donald Trump. He recently told Rolling Stone that he is “digging” the real estate magnate, saying, “Let the motherf*****g business guy run [the country] like a f*****g business.” Across the party aisle, reality TV star Kim Kardashian’s endorsement of Hillary Clinton – complete with a selfie – is no more compelling. Neither was stoner comedian Tommy Chong’s comparison of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders to “the best kind of weed you can get” particularly convincing, even with the marijuana enthusiast’s claim that Sanders was “the answer to all our problems.” Despite the effectiveness of celebrity endorsements in bringing publicity to a political platform, most people remain skeptical of star-powered endorsements. “I don’t think celebrities are very convincing,” said Isabel Guo, a ju-
nior business major. “But they may help to convince low-information voters that a candidate is honest.” Guo added that artists can “motivate voters” through performances in support of their candidate of choice. Vampire Weekend’s recent performance of Woody Guthrie’s classic folk song “This Land is Your Land” at a Sanders rally, for example, made waves on social media. Colleen Clary, a junior psychology major, expressed the same sentiment. “I wouldn’t let the endorsement of a celebrity sway my opinion,” Clary said. “I think that some people are easily swayed by the opinions of celebrities, and instead of voting for a candidate on the basis of their political beliefs and plans, they might solely base their vote on someone due to the fact that their favorite celebrity said they are voting for them.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
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FEATURES
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
THE SPECTRUM
A whole new world
Celebrities retain enormous power in the political conversation
Transfer Ambassador program helps new students adjust to UB
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
TOMAS OLIVIER FEATURES EDITOR
Phillip Jebamany transferred from Long Island University his sophomore year to UB, where he’s spent the past three years as a biological sciences student on a pre-med track. For Jebamany, the larger classes challenged him to work harder. “Seeing people be more serious about their education at UB made me more serious,” Jebamany said. UB has recently been working on reconstructing the programs they have in place for the university’s transfer student population. For some, entering UB as a freshman and being exposed to new places and faces is enough of a stress inducing experience to cause one to feel overwhelmed by the way UB operates. Entering UB as a transfer student, on the other hand, has its own set of obstacles to conquer and acclimate themselves to in order to be successful at this university. Courtney Witherspoon, the new assistant director for transition in the UB Orientation, Transition & Parent Programs, has been working diligently since December of last year to make an impactful difference in transfer students’ successful transfer from their previous higher learning institution. “There’s a big difference between seven hours distance and 10 minutes from home, [students] are just looking for greatest good,” Witherspoon said. Witherspoon said that the ambassadors “are people who have had questions, found answers and want to give back. They know what its like to come in as transfers and it is that perspective
that makes them so successful at what they do.” Although transfer ambassadors are by no means experts on anything and everything UB related, they are constantly undergoing training and becoming more educated to help them do their jobs more effectively. Witherspoon said that transfer ambassadors help transfer students at UB “engage people on campus and in the buffalo community.” “All of our ambassadors are all transfer students themselves,” Witherspoon said. Jebamany wishes he had a program similar to this when he first transferred. “If there was a program like Transfer Ambassadors helping students at UB it would have been easier to navigate and understand how the school works.” Witherspoon said that she believes that UB should help transfer students who want to get more involved in the community both on and off campus and that she has yet to encounter someone who regrets transferring. Once per month an informal event called Transfer Tuesday is held for transfer students and the theme changes each week. On Jan. 24, 56 transfer students came out to the office’s hot cocoa bar event and Witherspoon predicts more of a turnout for the next Transfer Tuesday on February 9. Haley Roman, a junior occupational therapy major, started at UB this semester. She said that at first the school was intimidating because of its size, but the buses have helped the process of moving around campus. Roman transferred because she considers the UB program better than the one at her previous school, Mercy College. She is taking 18 credits and plans on easing into extracurric-
OPEN HOUSE
KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM
Transfer student Haley Roman didn’t change her major when she moved to UB and has taken on a heavy courseload right from the start.
ulars once she has been on campus for a while. “I was thinking about joining a club or group but haven’t found anything that interests me just yet,” she said. Being a full time student has helped Roman make friends, but UB still doesn’t feel quite like home yet. “Usually at home there’s this warm cozy feeling, but I can’t say the same about Hadley,” Roman said. Islaine Delgado, a senior psychology and sociology major, is a transfer ambassador for UB. Delgado said their goal is to make people feel comfortable enough to go to them for help and know that UB is full of resources. “Knowing that someone is there to help answer questions is reassuring for students,” Delgado said. The class size and culture shock of UB can be difficult for students, especially those who had already adjusted to a different college. The new Transfer Ambassador program can provide a solution and positive resource for these people. “When friends of mine have transferred from their school to UB I try my best to guide them,” Jebamany said. “This Transfer Ambassadors program is probably a much better resource than what I could offer them.”
Clary said citizens basing their voting decisions on their favorite celebrities’ endorsements is “an obvious problem because voters aren’t necessarily voting on the basis of knowledge, but instead voting for someone for reasons that aren’t important.” The unsettling thing is that, although the opinions of celebrities themselves are not held in particularly high esteem, the famous continue to wield inordinate power in shaping our political discourse by virtue of their high-profile media presence. While few consciously turn to stars like Chuck Norris or Lady Gaga for their political stances, the United State’s fascination with celebrities makes us prone to what psychologists call the “exposure effect,” in which mere familiarity with a thing, such as a politician’s name, causes us to develop a preference for them. By this mechanism the political preferences of the celebrity sphere, no matter how unrepresentative of the American population at large, are allowed to shape our opinions. Can we fault celebrities for contributing to this discussion? Certainly not. Nor should we discount any meaningful points they might make. The real problem is rooted in the fact that, in a conversation so centered around the collective digital arena, the political climate is less about issues and more about the power of likes, followers, upvotes and other social media plaudits. Arbitrarily, society has handed much of this power into the hands of celebrities whose expertise is – to put it lightly – in question. email: luke.heuskin@ubspectrum.com
email: features@ubspectrum.com
THE DONALD L. DAVIS LECTURESHIP FUND & UNIVERSITY LIFE AND SERVICES PRESENTS
CHARLES OGLETREE Internationally Renowned Legal Theorist Expert on Race and Criminal Justice
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FREE LECTURE TICKETS FOR UB STUDENTS 1 ticket per student while supplies last. UB ID required. SA- represented undergrads may pick up tickets in the SA Office (350 Student Union, North Campus). GSA- represented grads may pick up tickets at the SBI Ticket Office (221 Student Union & 350 Harriman Hall, South Campus). SERIES SPONSOR
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5
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
THE SPECTRUM
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS Local dancer has ambitious dreams of leading a local dance revolution BRIAN WINDSCHITL SENIOR ARTS EDITOR
In recent years, the Buffalo community has been on the brink of a revolution. Dancers from every corner of the city have begun to come together to try and reform the segregated, divisive community into one that is inclusive and supportive of all styles, cultures and ethnicities. Jimmy Hawkins, or “Rook Hawkins” as he is commonly known in the dance world, is a 27-year-old dancer known in the Buffalo community for hosting dance events. He is trying to bring about a cultural and mental shift in the dance world. “I have dreams of helping build a dance community the right way,” he said. “It’s not about the competition, but about helping everyone get better.” Hawkins is a standout dancer who has performed everywhere from Las Vegas to New York City, but his dance career isn’t what’s motivating him to make a change. Serious performer Hawkins may be, it is his tumultuous life experiences that have helped shape and inspire him, and many dancers like him, to chase after their dreams a little bit faster. When Hawkins was 22, he was in a relationship that went south. The woman left Hawkins and Buffalo, but, unbeknownst to Hawkins, she was pregnant. Hawkins didn’t find out that he had a son until three years later – after three years of trying to keep in contact with the woman and fighting to find out whether or not her son was, in fact, his son too. He was in the dark until about two years ago when he was in Brooklyn for a video shoot where he finally was able to meet up
with his ex and meet his son. He said it was a life-affirming moment. “It was instantaneous – sparks flew,” he said. “I immediately saw him as part of me, something special.” It’s Hawkins’ son, not his dance or even himself, that inspires him now. “I dance to break down barriers,” he said. “But, I think the best moment that dance has ever given to me is my son. Watching him dance around the living room just like how I used to when I was young is the ultimate experience.” Hawkins presented a TEDxYouth talk at SUNY Buffalo State in 2014 titled “Breaking Down Barriers,” where he talked about the power of dance in bringing a community together. Hawkins grew up around dance his entire life. He said he comes from a family of dancers: his mother traveled and trained as a dancer in Africa, before moving around the United States as a dancer, eventually settling in Buffalo. While his mother was the one who got him started on dance and provided the cultural roots, his sister was the one who helped shaped his style. “My older sister wouldalways play old ’90s music in the house, back when J. Lo was still on ‘In Living Color,’” he said. “I still
have videos of me on VHS dancing to different ’90s music.” Ever since those days spent dancing in the living room, Hawkins has not stopped dancing. “Dance has always been in my life – it’s never going to leave,” he said. “It’s helped me reach things that aren’t just dance: I’ve been able to go places, done interviews, had conversations with famous people and travel around the country.” Now, Hawkins is focused on reshaping the Buffalo community so that his son can have the same opportunities he has had. “I want to create a new generation of dance to give younger dancers a format to be able to get involved and get noticed,” he said. Jordan King, a 26-year-old dancer and instructor at the Sam Smith School of Dance, believes that the Buffalo dance community is full of potential and positivity, but sometimes is less united than it can be. “[The Buffalo dance community] is small – sometimes unified and sometimes divided,” he said. “If a lot more people get involved from different schools, different clubs and different businesses we can make this community grow.” Hawkins and King aren’t the only ones who are trying to connect
the different parts of the Buffalo dance community. James Levy, Jr. is a 24-year-old dancer and teacher at the Verve Dance Studio who has been a part of the Buffalo dance community for years. Levy actually had a chance to compete with Hawkins in a dance competition called the Battle at Buffalo, a local organization that hosts monthly dance competitions around the city. Levy, who won the most recent competition, has been dancing all his life. He believes dancing is a way to communicate something special without the fear of being judged. “Dance has taught me in so many ways to be confident in myself and to always know that there will never be anyone just like me,” he said. “Embracing my uniqueness though dance is also a way to connect with other artists that want to spread positive energy and inspiration.” This collective positivity highlighted by Levy, Hawkins, King and so many others is what leads them to believe that Buffalo is truly a dance community on the rise. “For a community that I believe has struggled collectively to move forward together with dancing, I think that dancers and other artists alike are finally starting to push each other in a positive direction,” Levy said. As new dance studios begin to spring up around the city, the number of styles and cultures included in the community only increases. Regardless of style, gender or preference, the movement toward a dance community that is all-inclusive and brimming positivity has led to serious structural changes in Buffalo dance. For Hawkins, he wants to teach his son, and all the dancers he meets, that no matter what, dancing will always be there for you. “I want people to know even if you go through something or feel down, you can always keep grinding and create art,” he said. “Never worry about what other people think and know that you can always create.”
COURTESY OF ROOK HAWKINS
email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Dipson McKinley 6 proves worthy in comfort and price The first in a series of evaluations of Buffalo’s movie theaters DAVID TUNIS-GARCIA
STAFF WRITER
Over the next several weeks, The Spectrum will be reviewing several local theaters in the Buffalo area and evaluating them on ticket prices, concessions, atmosphere, comfort and technical aspects so moviegoers can decide which theater to frequent as spring movies hit the big screen. Theater: Dipson McKinley 6 Ticket Price: A+ Concessions: D Comfort: A Atmosphere: C Technical Specs: B Overall: B Something is putting moviegoers to sleep in the Dipson’s newly renovated McKinley 6 Theater and it’s not the influx of this year’s Oscar bait. Located behind McKinley Mall on McKinley Parkway in Buffalo, the Dipson McKinley 6 appears as a run of the mill, low-rent, second-rate theatre. The ticket booth up front is manned by a sign instructing customers to purchase tickets for their movies – which have since stopped playing at the larger theater chains in favor of cheaper fare – at the concession stand. The lobby, walled with wood paneling straight out of the ’70s, is decked out with the same pictures of Marilyn Monroe and James Dean that you’ve seen in every chain eatery that belies the newly swanky innards of the establishment. Two months ago, the theater gutted each screening room replacing the old standard seating with brand new luxury recliners. The seats are spaced far enough apart to allow anyone to recline back as far as possible without infringing upon the personal space of another viewer. If you think you hear a fellow cinephile passing gas, rest assured it’s most likely the sound of fake leather cushions rubbing against each other as they recline across the
aisle. You have never felt this comfortable watching a movie. You have probably never felt this comfortable in your childhood bed. Just try not to think of the sweaty, rotund gentleman who sat there before you, whose body heat is still radiating from the seat cushions. The spaciousness and cushy chairs make it easy to forget that you’re in a theater and not in your own home. The drawback of this overly comfortable arrangement is that dozing off during the movie is practically inevitable. At $2.50 for a standard movie ticket, or $2.75 on the weekends, you can take a little nap without feeling like you wasted your money. Although if you’re tight on cash, make sure you avoid the snack bar. Popcorn starts at $5 for a small size and a
DAVID TUNIS-GARCIA, THE SPECTRUM
In the first of an ongoing series of movie theater critiques, The Spectrum reviews Dipson McKinley 6’s positives and negatives in terms of price, comfort and technological specs.
large will run you $8. Boxes of candy range from $3 to $4.25, and a standard size bottle of water costs $4. If you want to keep your night out on the town cheap, make sure to stock up on snacks beforehand. On the technical side, there is nothing spectacular about the Dipson Theater. The screen is comparable to the smaller screens at a Regal Cinema or AMC Theatre will reserve for its less popular screenings, but the picture is clear and the sound is never muddled. If you wanted to see a movie last semester but couldn’t find the time due to finals or other responsibilities, or if you’re dying to
see a movie again and can’t wait until it hits DVD or Netflix, make sure to check show times on the Dipson website. For what a movie ticket costs at Dipson McKinley 6, you really can’t beat for a solid night’s entertainment. Just steer clear of the snack bar and get a nap in beforehand to take full advantage of this solid, budgetfriendly multiplex. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
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FEATURES
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
THE SPECTRUM
BSU President Micah Oliver resigns
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“We know that sometimes we need outside help and we want to strive to succeed as do other organizations. We lean on other organizations and they lean on us, I think that camaraderie is something that’s necessary between all of the organizations. Even within our own organization we lean on each other. We don’t always agree, and that’s necessary sometimes.” Golbourne didn’t want to speak much on Black Explosion, since BSU strategically releases information about the annual culture and fashion show event over time to increase interest and excite the audience. The event has been in the works for many months involving multiple other organizations that put the event together. Historian Chynna Brown, a sophomore
nursing major, is particularly excited about her posts for BSU for Black History Month. Every day of February, she will make three separate posts on all of BSU’s social media pages with information about black leaders, history and other interesting facts. Other events they plan to attend and host are leadership conferences in order to become more involved in the Buffalo community. The BSU holds general body meetings on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. in the Student Union. It works closely with other organizations including the Caribbean Student Association and the African Student Association in order to plan events. In addition to meetings, the group hosts regular events for both their members and the general student population.
email: features@ubspectrum.com
TORI ROSEMAN, THE SPECTRUM
The e-board of BSU (from left to right: Jason Hamlet, Jalyssa Gordon, Randy Ollivierre, Deidree Golbourne, Leslie Veloz, Chynna Brown, Samirra Felix, James Battle, Alexandra Louigarde) prepares for the upcoming semester which is full of events for both general body members and the undergraduate population.
New gen ed set for next fall CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The UB Curriculum is made up of four components: the UB Seminar, Foundations, Pathways and a Capstone project, each to be completed seamlessly throughout an undergraduate student’s time at UB. The curriculum will also allow for UB’s new pathfinder tool – a website that will work alongside the hUB to help students plan. The website allows students to see where they are curriculum-wise and what else they need to do in order to graduate. A major addition to the new gen ed program is the UB Seminar. The UB Seminar is three-credit course that will encompass a “big idea” topic based on a student’s major and asks questions in critical thinking and ethical reasoning. It is the first component of the new curriculum. Foundations – the second section of the
new curriculum – bundles courses in writing, science, math and diversity. The diversity requirement under Foundations allows UB to be the first SUNY school to require a diversity course for students to graduate. The Pathways requirement is split into two parts, which are both to be completed upon graduation then narrowed down by one topic in each. They encompass five “UB areas”: arts, civilization and history, humanities, languages and social sciences, according to Stott. “They are two sets of three courses that are connected by theme and span all disciplines,” Stott said. Upon entering UB, students will be asked to submit all of their assignments and papers via ePortfolio and eventually must complete a capstone ePortfolio project. Stott said the students will not have to cover the costs of the software.
“We want to get rid of the laundry list version of general education,” Stott said. “We want to layer students’ thinking and to integrate everything to serve a narrative of students’ learning, we’ll reflect that through the Capstone.” As of Feb. 2, 140 new UB seminars have been approved and 6,100 students have enrolled in the ePortfolio pilot for the next school year. According to Provost Charles Zukoski, the winter session student count was up 300 people since last winter with 75 percent of classes offered online. “There was a rich array of students encompassing 10 programs and nine countries,” Zukoski said. Zukoski also said the dean searches for the School of Dental Medicine, the School of Management and the College of Arts and Sciences will be completed by the beginning of the fall 2016 semester. Another major topic of concern for the
EVAN SCHNEIDER, THE SPECTRUM
Andrew Stott, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education, is leading the largest overhaul of the undergraduate program in more than 20 years.
senate from last semester was teachers selling their own textbooks to their students as the required class textbook and some accepting cash for the books in the classroom. Glick said there were both positives and negatives involved in the process of fixing this problem. “Teachers involved had questions because they believed they were saving students money,” Glick said. The senate passed a textbook resolution that regulates the process last semester and it is now in full effect. email: news@ubspectrum.com
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SPORTS
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
THE SPECTRUM
Women’s basketball looking to end fivegame losing streak QUENTIN HAYNES SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
Just days after her women’s basketball team lost on a last-second three-point shot, head coach Felisha Legette-Jack kept her players accountable for their actions on the floor at practice Monday. Every miscue resulted in a stop in practice. A missed rotation, an allowed basket, a player not making cuts when needed, Legette-Jack would stop the play, sub players in and out and even jumped into the practice to initiate the action she wanted. “I’m kicking it up a notch, I’m trying to keep them more accountable for their actions,” she said. “I love for our coaches to do it, but they don’t, I have to do it. We didn’t lose that game because of the final shot. We lost that game because we missed 45 stops on defense that we’re supposed to stop. They didn’t score every time, but they got comfortable and were able to do anything they want.” Legette-Jack is trying to right the Bulls (109, 2-6 Mid-American Conference) after a fivegame losing streak, including Saturday’s heartbreaking loss to Northern Illinois (9-11, 2-7 MAC). Buffalo’s promising 6-0 start seems like a long time ago now and won’t get any easier for the team as it hosts MAC-leading Ohio (17-3, 9-0 MAC) on Wednesday night. The team lost its top four scorers from last season with graduation of now assistant coach Kristen Sharkey and reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year Christa Baccas, as well as the early retirement for Mackenzie Loesing and the transfer of Alexus Malone. So far the lone bright spot for Buffalo offensively has been junior guard Joanna Smith, who’s averaging 18.6 points per game and recently had a career-high 31 points in Buffalo’s last game. The Bulls then have sophomore
KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM
Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack looks on, calling a play for the Bulls. The Bulls have endured a five-game losing streak, but Legette-Jack still believes her team can turn it around.
guard Stephanie Reid with 10.3 points per game and junior center Cassie Oursler with 8.2 points per game, but Legette-Jack is still in need of a third and fourth scorer. “If you can get four people to score in double figures, you’re in good shape,” LegetteJack said. “We need Stephanie, [Oursler] and [Smith] to give us double digits and if someone else can give us 10, it’s a good day. Now, we’re not getting that fourth scorer, nor that third scorer. We don’t have that consistent third scorer yet and we need that.” For all of the concern about the team’s offensive production, it’s been the Buffalo defense that has bothered Legette-Jack the most during their losing streak. The Bulls have allowed 74.8 points per game during their five-game losing streak, including a dreadful 92-point outburst by Western Michigan. A far cry from the 59 points the Bulls aim to keep their opponent under.
Legette-Jack minced no words in expressing her “disappointment” in Buffalo’s play on the defensive side. “I’m very disappointed in our defense,” Legette-Jack said. “We are giving up 76 points, 69 points, 64 points, our goal is to keep them under 59 and we have no pride in that. We give up 17 more points than we want to. We hold [Northern Illinois] to 59, we win that game hand over fist. We have to take more pride on the defensive side.” Despite the team’s current play, the Bulls look to continue to improve with their younger players. The Bulls have just one senior on the roster, and the majority of minutes played are made up by freshmen and sophomores. Legette-Jack said that more time together on the floor would help. Sharkey who starred on the court for the Bulls last season in her senior year, said that it takes time for a team to gel and she also sees
the steps being made for the team to improve. “I remember when I played my first few seasons under Jack, we had some losses and some miscues in practice and in the actual games, but as we worked together over time, we began to have more cohesion,” Sharkey said. “We started out really well, but we’re still a young team and sometimes, you go through these rough patches.” The Bulls get back on the floor Wednesday to face the Bobcats in Alumni Arena at 7 p.m. Even in the midst of a losing streak, LegetteJack expects her team to come out and play hard. As for a progression, Legette-Jack hopes to see the beginning of that progression soon. “I really like this team,” Legette-Jack said. “I like what we’re going to be in the future and I hope the future is Wednesday.” email: sports@ubspectrum.com
BET ON IT
Go-to guide on how to bet Super Bowl 50
JORDAN GROSSMAN SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
There’s no bigger day for Las Vegas and bookmakers across the country than Super Bowl Sunday. It’s much more than a matchup against the best teams in the NFL. It’s slowly become part of American tradition. Everyone joins in on the occasion, whether it’s for the game, the food or the alcohol. Then, there’s the betting. There was an estimated $119 million placed two years ago in Las Vegas sportsbooks, and slightly declined last year to $116 million. The number is expected to stay around that range this Sunday for Super Bowl 50, with another $4 billion in bets coming from illegal bets like Super Bowl boxes and illegal bookmakers all across the country. Here’s my advice for betting the Carolina Panthers versus the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
Stay away from the game itself The favored Panthers (-5.5) are the clear favorite. A young, breakout quarterback in Cam Newton leads a 17-1 team into the big game. There aren’t many injuries that are catastrophic to the outcome of the game and it seems their defense, led by Pro Bowlers linebacker Luke Kuechly and cornerback
Josh Norman, is clicking at the right time. It’s almost too good to be true – and I think it is. Peyton Manning, the quarterback of the Denver Broncos, may be playing in his final NFL game. Everyone is concerned about Manning’s burdens: his weakened arm strength, prolonged neck issues, age and history in the Super Bowl (1-2 record). But what I saw last week against Tom Brady’s New England Patriots was vintage Manning. He reverted back to his gunslinger ways, dropping passes with pinpoint accuracy and firing in throws as if he was an MVP candidate again. He also hasn’t thrown an interception in 78 pass attempts. It’s not likely he’ll keep that up, but it’s a great sign for an aging quarterback who has as many doubters as he does. The Broncos rank No. 4 in the NFL defensive efficiency ratings, while the Panthers rank sixth. One play can make a difference in the game. It’s very possible the Broncos win the game, and more likely they’ll cover the spread. But at any point, Newton and the high-powered Carolina offense can strike and overpower a top defense in the league. To be safe, don’t bet the game itself. Instead…
Take player proposition bets A proposition bet is one of the nation’s most popular ways to bet the game. You don’t have to root for a certain team, rather a specific situation to occur. There are bets like are the winner of the coin toss, the length of the national anthem and whether or not Manning will announce his retirement during his postgame press conference, included on sports books. But be careful when taking prop bets. All
of those bets, and more, are contingent on luck and predetermined ideas. Instead, focus on player propositions – a list of bets pertaining to the success of a player on the field. There’s a huge list of player props that spans from offensive players, to the defense, to even the punters. Betting these types of bets does take some luck, but the bettor has much more control over these than anything else. The Broncos have one of the best rush defenses in the entire league, with star players like linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller. The front-seven has studied game tape of Carolina’s offense and have zoned in on watching Newton and his mobile game. Between a focus on stopping Newton and an already-dominant defense, Newton’s touches and rush yards will be diminished. But the passing game will certainly be in effect. And no other player comes to mind than Panthers tight end Greg Olsen. He’s been Newton’s favorite target this year and proved it to be true again in Carolina’s 4915 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game. He was targeted eight times for six catches for 113 yards. For my prop picks, Cam Newton with less than 42.5 rushing yards and Olsen with more than 5.5 receptions is the way to go.
Take the Panthers in the first half (-3) I do expect the game to come down to the wire, but not at first. This postseason, the Panthers are known to make a statement in the first half. Two weeks ago, Carolina put up 31 first-half points against a stingy Seattle Seahawks defense. Last
week, it was 24 points against the Cardinals. I don’t see them slowing down any time soon when coming out of the gates. In the Broncos’ last three games played, they’ve put up an average of 11 points in the first half while using the second half to begin the comeback.
Take a safe bet There are ways to safely bet the Super Bowl and not have a dire risk of losing money. A teaser is one of the safer ways to do it. A teaser allows a bettor to bet on two adjusted and favored point spreads, but will expect a lower return if it hits. I still stand by not taking the game, but taking it at a different spread is different. A two-team, six-point teaser that is intriguing is the Broncos +11 1/2 and under 51 points scored. With two top defenses, it’s hard to imagine either team can score a combined 50 points, even with two surging offenses.
Don’t be afraid to make a bold bet Even if you aren’t a football fan, there’s still a euphoric rush when taking a bet. There are plenty of opportunities to take bets, especially in low-risk, high-reward settings. Many bets offer that exact scenario, including who will score the first touchdown of the game and Super Bowl MVP. I think this game will be close – too close. My bold bet is for the first time in NFL history, the Super Bowl will go into overtime. With a line of +750 - bet $10 to win $75 - it can happen. You never know. email: jordan.grossman@ubspectrum.com