THE INDEPENDENT S LE IC IO N DO F TT H S IN T YOA BU FA S II T NY C EA 1 5U 0FFALO, SINCE 1950 TT HU EDIENNDTE PPEUNBD NA T TS TU EN PE U BULN I CI V AETRI O F TT H E FU N ILVO E,R S T 9B
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Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Students construct ultra-efficient GRoW House
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Non-Muslim students wear hijab as part of ‘Cover a Mile in Her Scarf’
Volume 64 No. 53 Page
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Black Student Union celebrates Black History Month
Law school to offer LSAT-free admission for some students KATIE COLEMAN ASST. NEWS EDITOR Oyin Lapite, a sophomore legal studies major, is preparing to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) this summer. She said it’s expensive, time consuming and mandatory. Well, usually. Starting in the fall of 2015, some students will no longer need the exam to get into UB’s law school. UB students who meet certain criteria will not be required to take the LSAT for admittance into UB’s law school for the 2015 fall semester. UB’s not the only school to make this move. In August, the American Bar Association ruled schools could have up to 10 percent of their incoming classes made up of students who didn’t take the test. Numerous schools had done it before the ruling – but with special permission from the Bar Association. University of Iowa College of Law also announced this month it will be accepting applicants who have not taken the LSAT. It’s a decision that could help plummeting law school enrollments across the country. UB’s law school, for example, announced in March that it would reduce its incoming
Exam waived for students who meet requirements, Honors College students guaranteed admission UB students study in the Law Library in O’Brian Hall. UB’s law school has announced a new program that will allow some studentsadmission to the school without taking the LSAT.
COURTESY OF MARK MULVILLE, UB COMMUNICATIONS
class from 200-225 students to fewer than 200 and its faculty from 48 to 40. “The general picture is that the number of students nationally taking the LSAT and applying to law school has decreased,” said UB law professor Martha McCluskey. “For many colleges below the elite, declining applications and enrollment has meant some downward trend in entering student LSAT scores, thereby risking some possi-
Basil sentencing delayed amid motion to set aside verdict
COURTESY OF JOHN HICKEY, THE BUFFALO NEWS
Jeffrey Basil is led away in handcuffs on Jan. 21 after a jury announced they’d found him guilty of second degree murder in the death of William Sager. Basil was set to be sentenced on Monday, but the case has been adjourned until April 7 now that his attorney is filing a motion to set aside the verdict.
Judge will decide in April whether or not to have a retrial for Molly’s Pub murder TOM DINKI
SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
A little over a month ago, the testimonies of a UB student and professor helped prosecutors convict Jeffrey Basil in the death of Air National Guardsman William Sager. But Basil’s sentencing won’t come for at least another two months, now that his attorney is filing a motion to set aside the verdict. Basil’s originally scheduled sentencing Monday morning was postponed after his attorney, Joel Daniels, announced he is filing a motion to set aside Basil’s seconddegree murder conviction. State Supreme Court Justice Penny Wolfgang adjourned the case until April 7 – at which time she will decide to either retry Basil’s case or continue with sentencing.
Basil pushed 28-year-old Sager down a flight of stairs in Molly’s Pub – a once popular University Heights bar – on May 11, 2014. Sager suffered a traumatic brain injury and died on July 31. Basil was a manager at the bar. Blake Lamagna, a junior communication major and former Molly’s bartender, and William Kinney, a UB physics professor, testified in the case. Basil’s defense argued Basil should have been convicted of first or second-degree manslaughter – not second-degree murder – and did not intend to kill Sager when he pushed him. Basil faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 25 years to life in prison. Christopher Belling, the assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case, said he does not expect Wolfgang to overrule the jury’s original verdict on April 7. “I think the case we made in the first trial was strong enough that the motion will not be granted and the verdict will not be set aside,” Belling said. SEE BASIL, PAGE5
ble ranking changes.” Under the new system, UB undergrads who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher through six semesters at UB, and who have scored in the 85th percentile on a standardized test (like the SAT), will not be required to take the test and will get priority consideration. Students in the Honors College are now guaranteed admission into the law school
and also do not need to take the LSAT. Will students still be just as prepared? “We think this will allow us to matriculate more high-level students from UB,” said Jim Newton, vice dean for administration at the law school. “We’re going to partner very closely with the Honors College. This allows better partnership and exposure for students considering law school.” SEE LAW SCHOOL, PAGE 5
UB alumnus wins Oscar at 87th Academy Awards
COURTESY OF FLICKR USER DISNEY I ABC TELEVISION GROUP’S PHOTOSTREAM
Thomas Curley (left), Bill Wilkins and Craig Mann accepted the Oscar for Best Sound Mixing for their work on Whiplash. Curley graduated from UB with a Bachelor’s in film studies in 2001.
Film studies student Tom Curley wins in ‘Best Sound Mixing’ category for Whiplash BRIAN WINDSCHITL ARTS EDITOR
Thomas Curley, a UB alumnus, received an Oscar at the 87th Academy Awards for Best Sound Mixing for the film Whiplash on Sunday. The film chronicles a young drummer attending a prestigious music academy and his personal experiences with his struggle to grow as a musician. Whiplash won numerous awards during the Academy Awards on Sunday, including “Best Film Editing” (Tom Cross) and “Best Supporting Actor” (JK Simmons). The film was lauded for its music, dialogue and sound effects, and accordingly received the Oscar for “Best Sound Mixing.” Curley, who accepted the Oscar along
with Craig Mann and Ben Wilkins for their work on Whiplash, attended the University at Buffalo from 1997-2001, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in film studies. Tony Conrad, a SUNY distinguished professor in the Department of Media Study, remembers teaching Curley and is proud of his former “good” student’s accomplishment. Curley took a lot of film courses and Conrad’s video analysis class. “I guess the broad media arts background he found here helped to launch him on a very specialized and spectacularly successful career working with sound,” Conrad wrote in an email. “Sound work is no small thing: Those of us who make films know that it’s the SOUND that delivers about 80 percent of the emotional impact of a film!” Curley could not be reached for comment. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
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Wednesday, February 25, 2015
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Wednesday, February 25, 2015 ubspectrum.com
Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF
Sara DiNatale
MANAGING EDITORS
Rachel Kramer Emma Janicki OPINION EDITOR
Tress Klassen COPY EDITORS
Alyssa McClure, Copy Chief Anne Fortman Emma Fusco Natalie Humphrey NEWS EDITORS
Tom Dinki, Senior Ashley Inkumsah, Asst. Charles W Schaab, Asst. Katie Coleman, Asst. FEATURES EDITORS
Gabriela Julia, Senior Dan McKeon, Asst. ARTS EDITORS
Jordan Oscar, Senior Tori Roseman, Senior Brian Windschitl SPORTS EDITORS
Jordan Grossman, Senior Quentin Haynes, James Battle, Asst. PHOTO EDITORS
Yusong Shi, Senior Kainan Guo, Asst. Angela Barca, Asst . CARTOONISTS
Harumo Sato Joshua Bodah
CREATIVE DIRECTORS
Jenna Bower Kenneth Cruz, Asst.
Professional Staff OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER
Kevin Xaisanasy Alex Buttler, Asst. Melina Panitsidis, Asst. ADVERTISING DESIGNER
Tyler Harder
THE SPECTRUM Monday, February 23, 2015 Volume 64 Number 52 Circulation 7,000 The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Feedback, Opinion and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address. The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by MediaMate. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum, visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at (716) 645-2452. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 142602100
OPINION
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The right to an HPV-free life Erie County falls below national average in HPV vaccination rates – more education and promotion is needed Teenagers in Erie County and across the United States have access to one of few vaccinations that can protect them against cancer. But in Buffalo, only around 30 percent of girls ages 13 to 17 have received the shot that can protect them from the human papillomavirus (HPV). This rate is lower than the national average of 38 percent (only 14 percents of boys nationwide are vaccinated). The vaccine, which protects individuals against HPV – the most common STI, which causes most cervical and other forms of cancer as well as genital warts – is only effective in preventing cervical cancer when females receive it between the ages of 10 and 25. Essentially, the HPV vaccine is a limited-time offer, one which is all too often stymied by misinformation, fear and even mere inconvenience. Officials are striving for an 80 percent vaccination rate by 2020, but the amount of parents choosing not to vaccinate their children is increasing. In 2008, 39.8 percent of parents didn’t vaccinate their children but by 2010, that number rose to 43.9 percent. Vaccinations in general are a frustratingly controversial issue in the United States (who would have thought life-saving medications would still be a matter of contention in 2015?) but the HPV vaccine faces an additional hurdle because it protects against an STI. Considering the vaccine is typically administered at around 11 or 12 years old, before most teenagers become sexually active, this often gives parents pause. But the vaccine offers lifelong protection – receiving the shots
in elementary school doesn’t encourage sixth-graders to start having sex. Even the Catholic Medical Association supports the administration of the vaccine, which should certainly alleviate even the most conservative parents’ concerns. The somewhat sensitive nature of the vaccine, however, is not the only challenge Erie County faces in raising its vaccination rates. The Gardasil vaccine, one of the two HPV vaccinations available, also has a high rate of minor side effects, something that may deter teenagers and parents. About 80 percent of people experience pain and about 25 percent of people have redness or swelling after receiving the shot. Fevers are also not uncommon – 10 percent of people have fevers of about 100 degrees. Other symptoms include headaches (33 percent of people) and brief fainting spells, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccine requires three separate shots, making it necessary for parents to make multiple trips to the doctor in a six-month span of time. For busy, working parents, this inconvenience may be the last straw, especially for those who are reluctant about the vaccine to begin with. Without insurance, the vaccine is also prohibitively expensive, with each dose costing up to $170. Though services do offer reduced price for uninsured patients, these programs need to be more widespread – and better advertised. To increase vaccination rates – and reduce fear mongering – the HPV vaccine needs to become part of everyday conversation.
Game of torrents
ILLUSTRATION BY HARUMO SATO
Radio and television ads should be played frequently, explaining the benefits, offering solutions regarding the cost and debunking inaccurate claims about the vaccine’s risks. And on a smaller-scale, physicians face the challenge of providing information to parents and offering encouragement while still respecting their right to make decisions for their children. Parents shouldn’t feel attacked in the doctor’s office, but medical professionals should do everything they can to promote the vaccination. Fortunately, because the vaccination is effective on individuals up to 25 years old, outreach can also be directed at unvaccinated individuals once they’re old enough to make their own medical decisions.
long as there are more pressing disciplinary issues to address. This is especially true when students are downloading textbooks – maybe that’s an indication that costs should come down. If UB can supply free HBO, perhaps cuts in book prices should be the next gift to students. In the meantime, students should appreciate UB’s lenient stance on illegal downloading, but keep in mind that post-graduation, the repercussions won’t involve a UBlearns course. While you likely won’t get any jail time, there’s potential to get sued. Groups like the Recording Industry Association of America work has worked with Internet service providers to cut users off from the Internet if they’re caught illegally file sharing. UB’s torrenting policy is sensible and practical, but it does create the impression that illegally downloading copyrighted materials is an acceptable practice. In reality, torrenting is illegal and students need to remain aware of this when they move off-campus and outside of the digital safe haven that UB so conveniently provides. Even though it’s convenient and even though college students can certainly justify their need for free textbooks and entertainment, it would also be wise to remember that textbooks do have authors, and entertainment does have producers – real people trying to make real money from their efforts. So right now, while students enjoy the relative safety of on-campus torrenting and endure their constantly dwindling bank accounts, downloading is an admittedly attractive – and defensible – choice. But outside of the on-campus bubble, where students face real consequences and hopefully start making real money – it would be wise to make the conscientious decision and just pay for it. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
The upstate-downstate debate
The repercussions at UB are appropriately mild but real-world consequences aren’t so laughable From textbooks to television shows, tech-savvy UB students know they can download whatever catches their eye, thanks to UB’s suitably lax policy. Fewer students will be downloading new episodes of Game of Thrones this spring because UB now offers free HBO Go to oncampus residents. As reported by The Spectrum, many students readily admit to using torrents in order to illegally download copyrighted material. A poll of 212 students revealed that over 80 percent admitted to the crime – yes, it is a crime – and more notably, of those students, 79.8 percent said they never faced any consequences. The vast majority of students who torrent are not caught, and for those who are, the punishment is laughable – students are enrolled in an online class about copyright law. The course on UBlearns takes about 20 minutes to complete. Clearly, UB has decided that this issue is not a priority – and rightly so. Legally speaking, because UB serves as an Internet service provider for the campus, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) offers them “safe harbor.” The university only needs to make an attempt to control torrenting and will not face penalties for student infractions. In terms of the student body, UB’s judiciary system should focus on disciplinary issues that endanger other students or have other serious repercussions. Torrenting simply doesn’t make the cut. The university has already received over 200 complaints for 2015 regarding torrenting and illegal downloading, where 2014 topped off at 1,800. Despite the seemingly endless complaints, illegal downloading doesn’t harm anyone on campus. Accordingly, torrenting shouldn’t worry the university too much, as
It’s critical to encourage unvaccinated but independent young adults to get the shots, as these individuals only have a limited amount of time to get the vaccine and protect themselves. Reaching out to the young adults whose parents couldn’t be swayed is the last opportunity for medical professionals to help. There should be specifically targeted outreach on college campuses and in the community to make the necessity and the availability of this vaccine known. It’s not overly dramatic to state that receiving this vaccine is a matter of life and death – this is a lifesaving measure that should never go to waste.
DANIEL MCKEON
FEATURES DESK EDITOR
The age-old question of how to define the upstate-downstate boundaries has plagued many friendships and families for too long. I am here to resolve the dispute. Buffalo is upstate. It’s so upstate, it’s almost Canada. Why? Because New York City is by far the most important city and what most people think of when they hear “New York.” Now look at a map. Find New York City. Now look for Buffalo. You will find that you have to look up the state to find Buffalo. Or think of altitude. Long Island is an island – very low maximum altitude. The same with New York City – generally flat. As you go more and more northern (up) into upstate New York, the altitude begins to increase. It literally goes up. Geographically, Buffalo is upstate. Disagree? Let’s discuss! New York was founded when the Dutch gave up Manhattan to England in 1664. The beginning of modern New York State started then. The state started around New York City. Because the state continued to expand in an upstate-like motion, pretty much everything above New York City was upstate. Historically, Buffalo is upstate. Now, let’s look at the beloved Erie Canal! The canal was built as a way to ship goods from New York City all the way up (state) to Buffalo.
The canal ran from Albany, which is also upstate, through Syracuse and Rochester, Buffalo’s upstate sister cities, all the way through Buffalo into Lake Erie. Great stuff for upstate New York! But how does this help my point? To get to Buffalo, ships had to literally sail up the Hudson River, up the state of New York. Going up brought you to upstate New York. Nautically, Buffalo is upstate. The whole Western New York region point is moot in this argument. It isn’t a debate between upstate, downstate and western New York. It is a debate between up or down, not left or right. Then what exactly is considered downstate and where does it end? Long Island is downstate. No one could argue anything different. New York City is most definitely downstate as well. Once you leave New York City, things get a little more unclear. Westchester and Rockland County often get included as downstate. Once you get into Putnam and Orange County, it’s up for debate. Let’s make this easy. If you can make a daily commute to New York City, you’re downstate. This brings in Putnam and Orange County. Congrats! You’re downstate! Albany is an odd city in this scenario. While it is most certainly upstate geographically, due to the New York City-orientated politics of the state, it culturally has similarities with downstate so I could see why some many consider it downstate. Don’t be fooled. It’s upstate. So, there it is. While Buffalo is in Western New York, Western New York is in Upstate New York. Just remember, if you couldn’t reasonably go to New York City every day, you’re in Upstate New York. I look forward to your angry emails. email: dan.mckeon@ubspectrum.com
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Construction on GRoW House begins
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Students from various departments at UB collaborate to build an ‘ultra-efficient’ home
JOSE ESCOBAR
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The City of Buffalo is known for subzero temperatures and snow accumulations that have made it the second snowiest city in the United States this winter. “One thing that we’re not very well known for, though, is how beautiful our summers are,” said Christopher Osterhoudt, a second-year graduate student in UB’s School of Architecture. “How do we take advantage of all four seasons that are so prominent in Buffalo [to] design a space that operates based on those seasons?” UB students think the answer might be GRoW Home. About 30 students from various departments across UB – including management, engineering, arts and sciences and architecture disciplines – are working together to build a modular home that will embrace the urban farming culture of Buffalo with its four seasons. The home is entitled GRoW Home and stands for “Garden, Relax or Work.” It is designed to maintain comfortable living throughout the seasons and to provide food growth in all four seasons. “All of our design decisions revolve around a specific client – in our case Buffalo is home to a large number of urban farming and gardening initiatives,” said Osterhoudt, a project manager on GRoW Home. “Taking that to heart, we’re specifying that is going to our client – an urban farming couple.” The project will be entered in this year’s Solar Decathlon, a biennial academic decathlon hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy in Irvine, California from Oct. 8-18. UB is one of 20 intercollegiate universities chosen from around the world to participate in the event. About 98 students have contributed to the planning and development of GRoW Home over the past two years. The 770-square-foot house, which began construction on Feb. 17 at the Riverview Solar Technology Park in North Tonawanda will be composed of three main sections: the GRoWlarium, a work module and a relax module. The GRoWlarium is a 338-square-foot section that combines a greenhouse and a solarium and can be opened up or sealed from the rest of the house to allow for year-round food production.
(From left to right) Christopher Osterhoudt, Nate Heckman, Martha Bohm, Matt Kreidler and Joe Tuberdyck around the model for the GRoW House at the Riverview Solar Technology Park.
KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM
The living space is comprised of two modular units for work and relaxation purposes. The space is enclosed in a thick thermal shell and requires no energy consumption. One of the most important aspects of the competition, according to Osterhoudt, is that students who participate in the decathlon experience training that prepare them for a career in the clean-energy workforce. “Very rarely do students in school get the opportunity to actually build a real thing and [have it] marketed to the public,” Osterhoudt said. “If I were not doing this project I would be sitting in a classroom drawing a billion dollar library that would never get built; this [project] is a completely different ball game.” Since 2002, more than 29,000 students from over 100 teams from 33 countries
have participated in the Solar Decathlon. The purpose of the competition is to educate students and the public about the environmental benefits and money-saving opportunities that come with using cleanenergy products, according to the decathlon’s website. Martha Bohm, assistant professor in the Department of Architecture and the project’s faculty adviser, said the decathlon helps train students in skills they will need in the workforce post-graduation. “[The Solar Decathlon] takes learning to another level,” Bohm said. “Students learn skills that are not typically taught in the classroom … It’s important for [students] to get those skills and go on to turn those into real life skills that they’re using in their jobs.” EunJin Shin, a junior civil engineering major who is working on the home, said she thinks constructing the home and the decathlon will give her experience in an industry she wants to go in after graduation. “I’ve learned a lot of communication skills…and improved my leadership
skills…but the biggest benefit is being able to expose myself to the real industry,” Shin said. “In the Solar Decathlon doing a good job is expected, so I push my limits to do a better job in terms of improving and developing myself.” Once the home has finished construction in Buffalo, it will be taken to California for the competition, where the students will have 10 days to reassemble it. The team is currently raising funds to send two groups of students to the competition. A crowd-funding campaign, which ended on Monday, raised $29,277 collectively from close to 250 donors. Additional funding for the design and construction of the house comes from LPCiminelli, NYSERDA, Montante Solar, Watts Architecture & Engineering, Thermal Foams, CannonDesign and LaBella Associates. After the decathlon, the house will return to Buffalo and become an energy education center for the community. email: news@ubspectrum.com
Jackie, a Biological Sciences graduate student, studying young polar bears Kali and Luna at the Buffalo Zoo.
STAY LONGER EXPLORE DEEPER Did you know the College of Arts and Sciences at UB offers more than 70 masters, doctoral, and professional programs in the arts, humanities, mathematics, natural and social sciences? Our master’s degree students pursue positions in government, industry and the non-profit sector. The College also prepares competitive applicants to professional programs with debt loads below national averages. WHEN YOU LEARN MORE, YOU EARN MORE. If you are interested in graduate study, talk with your faculty advisor about staying at UB to gain an advantage in today’s knowledge economy. The College offers quality programs that align with your academic and career goals. Remain part of Buffalo, a resurging community with tremendous energy and momentum!
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: www.cas.buffalo.edu/learnmore
THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
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ubspectrum.com
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Continued from law school, page 1 A Bar Association spokesperson said that not requiring the LSAT would not compromise law schools having a “sound program of legal education,” because accepted, incoming students have “demonstrated that they can do the work.” Anna Kozlowski, a junior interdisciplinary social sciences major and member of pre-law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta, said she doesn’t think forgoing the LSAT takes away from the caliber of students entering UB’s program, especially when considering Honors College students’ automatic acceptance. “It takes a lot to get into the Honors College to begin with,” she said. “In order to stay in you have to take a certain number of Honors credits like a senior thesis, studying abroad and learning a foreign language and keep a ridiculously high GPA if you’re a Presidential Scholar. The Honors College is meant to bring in the top half of your graduating class.” Lapite doesn’t think the policy is fair to undergraduate students applying to law school, as she said having good grades doesn’t necessarily mean students are fit for a career as a lawyer. “It’s a bit unfair because people work hard, and can’t necessarily get a 3.5 [GPA],” Lapite said. “The LSAT tells you, ‘OK, this is where he or she belongs.’” But Kozlowski – like many other law school hopefuls – aren’t too fond of the LSAT anyway. The price of the LSAT Kozlowski said UB isn’t on her list of law school applications. So she is still taking the test in June. She has spent $100 on review books and $950 on a preparation class (that’s on the cheaper end) and is devoting 10-15 hours per week to studying. The LSAT is only offered four times a year and has a fee of $170, and many students can spend up to $2,000 on preparation classes for the exam. Lindsey Sutton, associate director of admissions at the law school, said that although students spend a lot of time and money on registration and preparation for the LSAT, it is only one of many factors that predict students’ success in their first year of law school. “The LSAT is something a lot of people spend a lot of time and money to prepare for,”
Continued from Basil, page 1
Sutton said. “We view this is as a really great opportunity to improve access and minimize costs for undergraduate students who are sure they want to pursue law school.” Andrew Tabashneck, a second-year law student at UB, said although the LSAT may be “archaic,” the overall process of studying and completing the test helped him build the stress tolerance necessary for success in law school. “But as with any standardized test, there will always be people whose brilliance is not captured by a test score,” Tabashneck said. The new policy’s impact Sutton said students have been coming to her office uncertain of the new requirements and whether or not they are exempt from taking the LSAT. Sutton is encouraging any students with concerns or questions to go to the admissions office and speak with someone. Jake Levine, a freshman biomedical sciences and mathematics major in the Honors College, said that the new policy wouldn’t affect him because he would not consider attending UB’s law school. He said he would rather “go to a top school.” “I’m not planning on going to a 120th ranked – or whatever it is – law school,” Levine said. U.S. News and World Report ranked UB as the No.100 law school in the country for 2014. Levine said he plans on taking the LSAT in his junior year in order to apply to another law school. Kozlowski said a lot of her friends haven’t heard about the UB’s new policy, as it was announced last week. She said some people do consider law school because of the LSAT, and law schools may be enacting such policies to boost enrollment. “A lot of people aren’t going to law school anymore because the job market isn’t what is used to be for attorneys,” she said. “But I definitely think a lot of people get scared off by the LSAT.” Tom Dinki contributed reporting email: news@ubspectrum.com
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Belling said he was not surprised by Basil’s attorney’s motion Monday morning, although he did expect the motion to have already been filed. He said Basil’s lawyers simply sought an adjournment of proceedings Monday morning so they could then file a motion to set aside the verdict later on. He said Basil’s attorneys waited until the day of sentencing to announce this plan because they only just received a transcript of the trial on Feb. 21. Basil’s defense and the prosecution will argue for and against the motion to Wolfgang on April 7 and she will decide whether to grant Basil another trial. Lamagna testified Basil told her “I just … killed a kid,” as the two walked to nearby University Heights bar, The Steer, shortly after Basil pushed Sager. Kinney provided expert testimony to show the jury the physics of Sager’s fall. He recreated Sager’s fall using what he said was basic physics he would teach in a physics 101 course. He found that Basil pushed Sager with 374 pounds of force and that Sager’s body accelerated to 17 mph when his head hit the floor. Belling said the UB student and professor’s testimonies were key to the prosecution. “I think they were both important,” Belling said. “Blake’s testimony was first-hand contact with the defendant on the night of the event, and professor Kinney’s testimony was extremely important in terms of establishing the actual physics of what occurred, which I believe translates right into the intent the defendant had when he committed the acts.” Jackson Zimmerman, a bartender at Molly’s and friend of Sager’s, testified Basil was annoyed by Sager. Zimmerman said Sager attempted to shake Basil’s hand while he was talk-
ing with two women at the bar after Basil had bought him a drink. This occurred about 15 minutes before the fatal push. Basil’s defense said it was an incident between two intoxicated men and that Basil acted impulsively. Several witnesses testified Basil was drinking heavily, but the prosecution cited two phone calls Basil made from Erie County Holding Center in May to his friend and father in which he said he was not drunk the night of the murder. Basil was also convicted of tampering with evidence after he removed surveillance video from inside the bar that captured Sager’s fall. Detectives recovered the videotape inside a garbage can near Molly’s. Robert Eloff and Adam O’Shei, two off-duty Buffalo police officers who were working security inside Molly’s Pub the night of the murder, are currently suspended from the police force pending an internal investigation. O’Shei was granted immunity for testifying, while Eloff was not granted immunity and invoked his Fifth Amendment right against selfincrimination. Eloff faces possible federal charges for handcuffing the unconscious Sager after his fall. Belling told The Spectrum after Basil’s conviction that the case brought about a significant change – off-duty Buffalo police officers are no longer allowed to work security at bars. Although Belling said he does not expect the verdict to be set aside on April 7, he said a possible retrial would probably happen sometime in 2015. He said the prosecution would use its same case and arguments in a possible retrial. email: news@ubspectrum.com
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Wednesday, February 25, 2015 ubspectrum.com
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LIFE, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Cover your hair and step into the lives of others
UB’s Muslim Women’s Council’s ‘Cover a Mile in Her Scarf’ changes some students’ perceptions DANI GUGLIELMO
STAFF WRITER
More women than usual around campus donned a “superhero costume” – a hijab – on Friday. “Superheroes, if you think of them in the context of our cultural society, now are normal, but, when they feel they have a greater calling, they rise to it,” said Samiha Islam, co-head of the Muslim Women’s Council. “But they don’t just do it themselves – they have to have a cool outfit, something that disguises them when they go out there.” On Feb. 20, the UB Muslim Women’s Council organized “Cover a Mile in Her Scarf,” a daylong event followed by a discussion with the Council and the event’s participants. During the day, non-Muslim women wore a hijab, a Muslim head covering that represents modesty and respect for the woman. About 40 women and a handful of men attended the discussion panel, which addressed how the participants felt their day went. This was the first time the Council organized the event at UB and the goal was to encourage nonMuslims to develop a more positive perspective on the hijab. “[This event] is in some ways a validation of how far things have come and an open door to all the Muslim girls out there who are afraid to wear hijab in worry of the judgment or fear of not being accepted,” said Islam, a freshman computer science major. There are about 1,000 Muslim students at UB and 500 members in the Muslim Student Association, according to Fathima Yasin, a senior biological sciences major and secretary for the Muslim Student Association. During the discussion at the end of the day, Islam heard the participants echo experiences she had in the past while wearing the hijab, from positive interactions with hijabi Muslim women – women who choose to wear a hijab – to confused silences to outspoken disapproval.
“As participants shared [their stories] many of the Muslim women, you could see, were nodding in agreement,” Islam said. “Stories they shared were things we too have come across.” Montaha Rizeq, a senior history major and co-head of the council, said she was “impressed” with how the event turned out. Rizeq and Islam felt respected when they saw how non-Muslim women went out of their way to attempt to understand their lives by putting on the hijab. “The comments our participants were saying made me tear up,” Rizeq said. “I tried my hardest to hold it in.” Modesty and body positivity When Islam began wearing an amirah style hijab in middle school, she said she felt self-conscious about being different from the other girls at her school. When she arrived at school, she would push her hijab down around her neck to look like a typical scarf. It wasn’t until she addressed the judgmental comments she received from strangers about her hijab that she began to look for reasons to defend herself and her religion. She realized the hijab was worth defending – it was part of her identity. Jesse Moses, a junior international studies major, participated in the event and now said she sees the choice to wear a hijab as a form of bravery and a commitment to express oneself to the world – something Islam, and many other Muslim women, didn’t feel themselves when they began wearing the hijab. “I wanted to support this [experiment] and explore an understanding of how it impacts their daily lives,” Moses said. “I was most hesitant about offending the women who wear hijab by misrepresenting the community in some way.” The hijab is not just a piece of cloth for Muslims – it’s a way of life. Hijab is an Arabic word meaning “to cover” or “to screen.” The hijab embodies the Muslim belief
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During a discussion session after the daylong “Cover a Mile in Her Scarf ” event, Muslim and non-Muslim students talked about perceptions on wearing a hijab on Feb. 20. Non-Muslim students spent the day wearing a hijab, discovering what daily life is like for hijabis (Muslim women who choose to wear a hijab). WENYI YANG, THE SPECTRUM
in modesty. This concept involves screening the eyes from things that are not good, screening the mouth to keep their speech positive and true and to screen their ears to be aware of what they hear, Islam said. Some students who participated in the event embraced the modesty of the hijab and ended up feeling more beautiful than before. “Wearing the hijab all day actually made me extremely more body positive,” said Kelly Camacho, a sophomore biology major who participated in the event. “For once in my life I wasn’t focused on how I looked, but rather how I acted and what I said.” Rizeq said she feels safe, respected and, most importantly, happy when she wears a hijab. When she was 12 years old, she wore the hijab when she visited family in Palestine and Jordan. Upon returning to the United States, she decided to keep wearing the hijab even though nobody around her did. Today, she said she never feels self-conscious about the way she looks or about the way guys think about her – something Camacho felt as she donned the hijab for the day. The headscarf took away Camacho’s need to constantly critique how she looked and allowed her to focus on how she felt. She said she would consider wearing the hijab again, even though she is not Muslim, because of how happy she was with herself. Judgment Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab aren’t always making an easy choice and for Camacho and Moses, some people reacted negatively to their choice to participate in the event. “Most people I told didn’t mind me participating in the event except my dad who was terrified that something bad would happen to me because of the recent events with the students in Chapel
Hill,” Camacho said. On Feb. 10, three Muslim students were gunned down in Chapel Hill – two of them were wearing a hijab. Although the police said the shooting was likely motivated by a dispute between the victims and their neighbors, the family of the victims described the murders as a hate crime. The police are investigating the possibility that religious hatred contributed to the killings. Still, Camacho was worried how people would treat her as she wore the hijab. Moses said some people stared at her until she made eye contact with them while others didn’t even recognize her. Some people didn’t ask her about wearing the hijab, but she “could see the questions in their eyes.” But Moses’ favorite interactions of the day were when she encountered hijabis. “There were immediate smiles and small connections with these women that made me feel part of a community,” Moses said. “I now have more respect for Muslim women who wear hijab.” Camacho also said she has more respect now for hijabis than she did before Friday, because she realized they were expressing themselves in a world in which “it is not always encouraged” and can be downright dangerous. “These women wear their relationships with Allah everyday to remind themselves and others of their religious promises,” she said. Participants in Cover a Mile in Her Scarf and UB’s Muslim population bonded as they shared experiences and learned about each other’s lives. Long after the event ended, conversations continued to flow – the hijab became a bridge between cultures, rather than something that singled women out for their religion. email: features@ubspectrum.com
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Wednesday, February 25, 2015
A celebration of black culture
7
BSU and Intercultural Diversity Center open their doors to discuss race on campus
SAMANTHA BRENNER STAFF WRITER
Deidree Golbourne wants to educate people on black culture while having fun at the same time. UB’s Black Student Union is her platform and guide to becoming an activist. UB’s Black Student Union (BSU) and the Intercultural Diversity Center have hosted events throughout the month of February in celebration of Black History Month. Both groups have orchestrated discussions and activities to educate students on black culture to try to eliminate racial stereotypes on campus. “The Black Student Union tries to make sure that we do events year round that help educate and express black culture in the Buffalo Community,” said Golbourne, a sophomore history and African-American studies major and BSU’s historian. Throughout the month of February, BSU hosted events nearly every weekend. The club kicked off the month with a Black Ice ski trip on Feb. 6. The annual Health Fair in the Student Union followed the week after and they are currently accepting winter scarves, hats, coats and gloves for their Code Blue clothing drive. BSU has held weekly general body meetings discussing topics such as the perceptions of LGBTQ in the black community and the influence of a black president on the country. The Intercultural Diversity Center (IDC) also opened its doors to discussion. On Feb. 19, IDC held a workshop open to all students as an opportunity to speak about racial inequality. They will be showing the movie Brother Outsider: the Life of Bayard Rustin, a movie about black activism and the civil rights movement, on Feb. 26. “Racism is prevalent in our world and in society,” said Terri Budek, assistant director of the Intercultural and Diversity Center, in an email. “I think one can assume there is racism in our community and therefore on our campus.” Budek said higher education institutions provide a unique opportunity for genuine dialogue that may challenge students’ perceptions on race. These discussions held by the diversity center allow students to break barriers when trying to discuss racial tension on
ANGELA BARCA, THE SPECTRUM
UB’s Black Student Union and the Intercultural Diversity Center are holding events and discussions throughout the month of February to celebrate black culture. BSU’s e-board: Jalyssa Gordon, Christina Dunn, Deidree Golbourne, Sean Galette.
campus. Students need to discuss the issues with an open mind and acknowledge the structures of power that have been in place for so long, Budek said. IDC hosted workshops throughout February such as a celebratory dessert hour, where they offered treats and played trivia games about black history. On Feb. 28, BSU will be ending the month with an explosion. Black Explosion is BSU’s annual fashion and culture show. This year, the show is titled ‘Indulgence,’ an evening dedicated to celebrating black art. “Often in the media African Americans are criminalized,” said Christina Dunn, a junior sociology and communication major and vice president of BSU. “We are trying to portray African Americans through more beautiful things so we show it in art as a way to do that.” Black Explosion will feature black de-
signers, black artists and models from multiple schools. “This event stresses the importance of black fashion, black culture and black excellence,” Golbourne said. BSU encourages students to discuss these topics throughout the year and make sure black history isn’t limited to one month. “We want to educate everyone at the university about our culture and break down racial stereotypes,” she said. As the historian, Golbourne said she has grown as a person. She provides the information on black history, she updated social networks with important black facts and she “educates the masses on our culture.” Dunn said being a part of BSU since her freshman year is one of the best choices she’s made in her college experience because it’s where she’s made some
of her closest friends. “My outspokenness has grown because of this,” Golbourne said. “I am now filled with knowledge and have become the speaker for our organization. We work as a team to be professional. You must be up to all challenges and be mature enough to handle them.” Dunn and Golbourne said it is all about giving back to move forward. “As a member of this eboard and the historian, I want to make sure that I give as much as possible socially and educationally to the people at this university and in the Buffalo community,” Golbourne said. BSU is open to everyone regardless of his or her race or ethnicity. Meetings are held at 5:00 p.m. in SU 145 Mondays and Wednesdays. email: features@ubspectrum.com
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Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Dancing with the scholars How UB Bhangra rebuilt an empire to bring Punjabi culture to Buffalo YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM
Bhangra members performed at last year’s International Fiesta as part of the Indian Student Association, showcasing their dancing skills in addition colorful costumes.
GRACE TRIMPER STAFF WRITER
Students don’t have to travel to Punjab to get a taste of Bhangra. The folk dance, which comes from the northwestern state of India, has grown a home on campus in Student Association club UB Bhangra. UB Bhangra started in 2003 and formed its own competition called Bhangra Blizzard, inviting teams from all over the country to come compete and share its culture. In 2009, financial corruption among members caused the group to be derecognized by SA, and the team and Bhangra Blizzard fell apart. After a two-year hiatus, Bhangra rebounded when students organized a brand new team in 2011. Members say that team has flourished since the reboot.
Today, there are six men and six women in UB Bhangra. Brightly colored costumes, props and lively dance moves such as jumps, twirls and stomps all make up the unique dance style. Although Bhangra is traditionally done during the harvest season in India, it has become popular in North America throughout the year. Groups have begun to do more competitions and performances, blending traditional dance and music with modern genres such as hiphop, reggae, rap and pop. “I’ve been dancing for a long time,” said Harbind Brar, a senior biomedical sciences and psychology major and a captain of UB Bhangra. “I started when I was young.” As a child, Brar participated in performances for the Indian Association of Buf-
falo and helped start a youth dance group called New Generation Bhangra. “When I came [to UB] in 2011, myself and three other students basically came together and we wanted to restart the team just because we love dancing,” Brar said. Minal Hatwar, a senior physical anthropology major and the other captain of the team, helped Brar restart UB Bhangra. But the new start wasn’t without challenges. “We started brand new. It was a whole new team,” Hatwar said. “Most people on the team didn’t even know how to dance Bhangra, and it was all new to them. It was difficult getting everyone on the same page and even preparing for a competition.” In the four years since the group restarted, UB Bhangra has made a comeback. Now, the 12-member team meets two
Continued culture shock from page 10 could play some [small forward]. season to learn and adjust to basketball in the United States. Because Australia’s summer school period is during Buffalo’s winter period, players are able to come to the United States after they end high school to play for the team. This is how Wilkins and Reid were able to play for UB, as the two joined the team in the middle of the season. Due to an undisclosed injury, Wilkins will not play this season, but Cordoba said she’s perfect for the game when she hits the floor. She said Buffalo’s biggest need was a shooter, and the team got it in Wilkins. “When I was recruiting [Wilkins], she appeared as this tall, lanky shooter,” Cordoba said. “Knowing that we needed some size in the next class as well, she was perfect for us.” Wilkins was excited to join the Bulls, mainly because she didn’t know what she would do after finishing high school. “I was very excited when I got recruit-
"
ed to come here,” Wilkins said. “I never thought I would go to college. When I got the call, it still didn’t hit me. It didn’t hit me until I landed here in Buffalo and met the coaches and I was like, ‘Oh wow, this actually happened.’” Like Katherine and Liisa, Wilkins had to deal with an adjustment on the court. She was moved from a traditional position to a versatile forward, expanding her game to the outside. “T here were some huge differences in the Australian game and the American game for me,” Wilkins said. “When I played at home, I usually played more center. I believe that I’m more of a [power forward] because of my shooting ability and I
It didn't hit me until I landed here in Buffalo and met the coaches and I was like, 'Oh wow, this actually happened. '
"
Although she is not playing this season, Wilkins said she will leave Buffalo a better player. “There’s just more skilled players here,” Wilkins said. “Also, there’s more organization compared to Australia here. We run more, our game is more open and uptempo, but there’s more structure here. We run plays and get great coaching and should help me improve over the next four seasons.” The final Australian Cordoba recruited was freshman point guard Stephanie Reid. With the Bulls lacking depth at the point guard position, Cordoba saw Reid as a potential solution. “Knowing that we needed a point guard, I went after Stephanie hard,” Cordoba said. “I remember watching her play, she was very heady. She isn’t the most athletic player, but she knew how to pick her spots on both sides of the ball.” As the point guard carousel played out early in the season, Reid was still in Australia waiting to join the roster. Reid made her Bulls debut on Jan. 10 against Miami Ohio, scoring three points and dished out one assist in five minutes of action. She made her first start on Jan. 17 against Ball State and has yet to give up the starting point guard duties since. In the first 12 games of her career, Reid has averaged 5.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Legette-Jack praised her for “her ability to run an offense.”
to three times a week for a few hours to share in the Indian culture, perfect its routines and have a good time. To the UB Bhangra team, unity is key. “With Bhangra, it’s not a one-man show, so it takes everybody’s coordination and cooperation,” said Keshav Choudhary, a freshman physics major and member of UB Bhangra. But they don’t only work together on the stage. The members are also close friends. In fact, Choudhary’s roommates for next semester are on the Bhangra team. “To be accepted with open arms is really good because I know with other dance forms it takes years to learn the basics,” Choudhary said. “But here, it’s a little more laid back and we just have fun with it. [We’re] just a really cool squad to hang around.” A UB Bhangra performance is nothing but fun, according to members. There’s a kaleidoscope of colors, traditional costumes and makeup, props, infectious music and high-energy dancing. It coalesces to create a crowd-pleasing performance. A DJ on the team creates mixes combining traditional Bhangra music with popular hip-hop, rap and house music. The team does flash mobs in the Student Union and has participated in performances at UB, including at the World Bazaar. They’ve also taken second place at the Taiwanese SA’s Dancing Stars competition, came in third at the Indian SA’s Muqabla 2012, won first place at Muqabla 2013 and took third place in Nachle Buffalo 2014 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in downtown Buffalo. UB Bhangra is currently perfecting its performances for SA’s International Fiesta 2015 as well as the Aa Dekhen Zara competition in Madison, Wisconsin this March. International Fiesta will be on March 7 in the Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Undergrad admission is free and tickets are available in the SA office in SU 350. “We put in so much hard work throughout the year,” Hatwar said. “When we started [in 2011] we were a very shaky team, but the fact that we’re actually placing and our hard work is paying off feels great.” email: arts@ubspectrum.com
With her success on the court, it seems Reid’s biggest adjustment has been off court: Buffalo’s cold weather. She said the weather in Australia was 100 degrees, and when she arrived, it was close to zero. Reid came over as a late addition to the team, but it was her excitement to meet the coaches that made the journey surreal. “I was ecstatic,” Reid said. “I was so excited to meet the coaches when I first landed. Doing FaceTime was fine, but meeting people that you’ve been talking to for six months to a year, that was the most exciting part of the trip for me.” Before joining UB, Wilkins and Reid played together in Australia and remained close friends even before recruitment. While playing together, Reid didn’t think they would end up at the same school. They were both surprised when Buffalo recruited both of them. “[Wilkins] is an amazing player,” Reid said. “It was something that we always wanted to achieve together. We always wanted to go to college together and play together. We didn’t think it was going to happen, and now that we’re both here at University, we’re enjoying reaching our goals together.” Although only Reid has seen significant playing time this season, the Australian freshmen may play a large part in Buffalo’s future if Cordoba’s plan comes to fruition. email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 ubspectrum.com
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ARIES (March 21-April 19): You have the energy and the discipline to take over and show how valuable you are. Don’t wait for others to pitch in. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A situation will get blown out of proportion if you let your emotions take over. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Make things happen. Get involved and show your concern. Be a spokesperson for those less able, and you will bring about changes that offer improvements as well as recognition. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Watch your back. When it comes to your reputation in your residential community or at work, you will look bad if you are stubborn. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You are on the mark when it comes to being where the action is. Your dynamic personality coupled with your go-getter attitude will put you in a position of opportunity. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take advantage of an opportunity involving a creative project. Offer your skills, knowledge and time instead of your cash. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You have a better handle on a personal situation than you realize. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t waste time trying to figure out what others are trying to do. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Making positive changes at home will make your life easier. Love is in the stars, and enjoying time with someone special will have its benefits. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t be rigid or you will encounter difficult situations. Move forward with your ideas without being pushy or expecting help from others. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take a walk down memory lane. Reconnect with old ideas, friends and activities, and you will rediscover how you can incorporate your talents into a moneymaking venture. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Discipline will be required in order to reach your goals. Rely on your intuition to help you make the right choices regarding a work-related incident.
ACROSS
Howard 57 Like a $600 return 5 Shoelace piece on a $200 bet 10 Bird bill part 60 Certain visibility 14 Doughnut center improver 15 France’s longest 63 Protected, on river board 16 Impressive style 64 Put in prison 17 Pour but good 65 Bean or certain 20 Innate capital city impulses 66 Cincinnati ball 21 Bond’s Fleming players 22 Keanu Reeves’ role 67 Misty-eyed in “The Matrix” 68 Provides with a 23 Campfire fallout staff 24 “Murphy Brown” star 27 Fish hawk’s cousin 1 The Alamo, for one 29 Chilly 2 Repair shop substi 32 Singer Grant tute 33 Sir Lancelot du 3 Krauss ___ or Lurie 36 Lacking wit or 4 ___-up (confined) imagination 5 Alda and Ladd 38 Print 6 “I fooled you!” revealer 7 Schindler made one 41 Common sight in 8 Bygone times Maine 42 ID factor, perhaps 9 Two hours before midnight 43 Bunion site 10 ___ Rapids, Iowa 44 Like lemon juice 11 Stretch out 46 Go, to 12 Joplin tune the dogs? 13 CPO’s 50 “Aladdin” setting superior 52 Caterer’s coffee 18 Org. in many spy maker novels 55 Day-care diversion 56 “Cocoon” director 19 Subside 24 Two-legged support 1 High-five sound
DOWN
Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 25, 2015 HEADING OFF A STORM By Kenneth Holt
2 5 Weighty Kuwaiti? 26 The Big Apple, briefly 28 “What ___ can I say?” 30 Automatic pistol 31 A country’s output, for short 34 Succeeds in getting 35 Approximately, datewise 37 Hard, yellow cheese 38 Christian of fashion 39 Like some income or runs 40 Alumna bio word 41 Bake sale org. 45 Coarse fabric 47 A perfect place 48 Quietly serious 49 Manyheaded mythical sea monsters 51 Gives advance warning 53 Use the towel again 54 Fresh from the factory 57 It’s free when it’s unscheduled 58 Greek goddess of youth 59 Cinema feature 60 Where there’s a general assembly? 61 Ending for “tact”
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10
SPORTS
AUSTRALIAN BASKETBALL PLAYERS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES PLAYING IN A NEW COUNTRY
Culture shock Freshmen Stephanie Reid, Courtney Wilkins, Liisa Ups and Katherine Ups are freshmen basketball players that traveled to the United States from Australia in order to pursue a better education and basketball experience. Assistant coach Cherie Cordoba helped recruit the Australians to Buffalo. KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM
QUENTIN HAYNES SPORTS EDITOR When Cherie Cordoba was “bouncing around, traveling from Europe to Australia, to Europe, back to Australia” after her playing days at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, she established connections with players and coaches from around the world. And the first-year assistant coach for the women’s basketball team used those connections to bring talent to Buffalo from more than 10,000 miles away. In her first season with Buffalo, Cor-
doba has been active in recruiting talent from her native Australia to join the Bulls. The Bulls feature four Australian freshmen this season, including Stephanie Reid, Courtney Wilkins and twin sisters Liisa and Katherine Ups. And while the Bulls are aiming to improve their team with international talent, the players are gaining an experience they were uncertain they’d have. “The opportunity for any foreign kid to come to America is special to them. Most of them want to do it,” Cordoba said. “As long as I’m here and we need talent, I will
continue to sell the university as a perfect place for them to come and not only continue their basketball careers, but their education as well.” Cordoba and head coach Felisha Legette-Jack’s relationship goes back to when the duo coached together at Hofstra and Indiana University. The two teamed up again at UB. One of Cordoba’s first moves as assistant coach was finding the Ups twins. “For starters, I got the twins to join UB,” Cordoba said. “I thought they were perfect fits for the program. Both have
good size for wing players, could play the two or the three and they came into the program as hard-nosed players with the want to improve.” Liisa said she would never forget what it was like to travel on a plane for the first time with her sister. “It was surreal,” Liisa said. “It was really exciting because I [had] never got on a plane before. It didn’t hit me until I stepped off the plane and arrived in Buffalo.” While taken aback by the moment, Liisa and her sister, Katherine, were excited to live their dream of going to college. “It was really crazy,” Katherine said. “Ever since we were young, we always wanted to go to college. When it was official, we were just counting down the days.” The Ups admit it took a while to adjust to the American style of basketball. They said the Australian game is more physical than the American style, where they said offensive fouls are called more often. The twins were used to setting hard screens and engaging in contact, rather than showing off their dribbling and ball-handling skills. “Some of my teammates have crazy dribbling skills. I, at least, never needed those when I played at home,” Katherine said. But Cordoba still wanted the twins for Buffalo. As freshmen, both twins have seen little playing time. Liisa has appeared in 25 games with one start. Katherine has played in 17 games, averaging 6.6 minutes per game. But both said they are using the SEE CULTURE SHOCK, ON PAGE 8
BUFFALO USES LATE 11-0 RUN TO DEFEAT AKRON, NOW IN PLAY FOR MAC EAST TITLE QUENTIN HAYNES SPORTS EDITOR
Shannon Evans dives and recovers a loose inbound pass by Akron to ice the game for the Bulls in Alumni Arena on Feb. 24. YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM
Alumni Arena has been unkind to the men’s basketball team as of late. After beginning the season 8-0 at home, Buffalo fell to Toledo 92-88 on Feb. 10 and allowed Central Michigan to score 43 second half points for a comefrom-behind 75-74 victory on Feb. 14. And against Akron on Tuesday night, the scene was set for the Bulls to drop their third consecutive home game. With 3:45 remaining, Buffalo trailed by three. But the Bulls went on an 11-0 run over the next three minutes to secure a third place standing in the Mid-American Conference East and regain their home court dominance. The Bulls (18-9, 9-6 MAC) used their late run to defeat Akron (17-11, 8-7 MAC) 67-62 in front of an announced crowd of 3,541 in Alumni Arena. With the victory, the Bulls are now in third place in the MAC East with three conference games remaining. If the Bulls win out the rest of the season, they will clinch the MAC East title for the second straight year. “We struggled shooting, we struggled with free throws, but we didn’t turn the ball over,” said head coach Bobby Hurley. “Six turnovers, twenty-four offensive rebounds showed our energy throughout the game. We’ve been through some adversity with tight games and we made progress tonight and in our last two games.” The victory was secured in part by an athletic play by sophomore guard Shannon Evans. After the Bulls took a 62-56 lead with 28 seconds to go, Evans stole a loose ball on the inbounds and called a quick timeout to clinch the win. The Bulls trailed Akron 34-33 at halftime. The Bulls forced Akron into eight turnovers, but the Zips still shot 48 percent from the floor in the half. In the second half, both teams went into a shooting slump. Neither team could find a long stretch of offensive success, leaving both capable of stealing a victory late. Akron shot just 38 percent from the floor, in the second half but the Bulls also struggled and shot just 27 percent from the field and 16 percent from three. The difference was turnovers. Buffalo was still able to force Akron into turning the ball over. After eight in the first half, the Bulls forced the Zips into seven second-half turnovers, four of
which came by Buffalo steals. The Bulls also made sure to focus on Akron’s star players, sending multiple defenders to Akron’s Jake Kretzer “I thought we did a good job with some of the guys who hurt us in the first game [against Akron],” Hurley said. “We kept [Kretzer] in place tonight, after watching him go for 13 points in the first 15 minutes last time. We made sure to keep a defender in front of him at all times.” Kretzer finished with zero points on 0-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc. Freshman guard Lamonte Bearden didn’t light up the stat-sheet (six points and four rebounds), but his defense was key in shutting down Kretzer. Junior forward Justin Moss finished with a game-high 25 points on 8-of-18 shooting to go along with 13 rebounds. His alley-oop dunk from Wigginton with 1:58 left in the second half gave the Bulls the lead, and his two free throws late gave the Bulls a 60-56 lead, giving the team some breathing room late. “Getting to the basket has been my strength all season,” Moss said. “Getting to the line, I was nine-for-ten from the line. As for my spin move, I just had to react. The defender cut me off and all I had was that spin to get to the basket.” Wigginton finished with 12 points and four rebounds off the bench. Evans had 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. His key play with less than 30 seconds remaining iced the game for the Bulls. The Bulls head back on the road for the final time in the regular season to face Kent State (19-9, 10-5 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 28 in the MAC Center in Kent, Ohio. The last time the Bulls played the Golden Flashes, they defeated them 8055 inside of a raucous Alumni Arena on national television. After the game, Evans said that this late in the season, the goal is to get a victory by any means necessary. “Were creeping up on March,” Evans said. “We want to find a way to win games regardless of offense. I feel like this is a great sign for us as a team because we haven’t peaked early. We’re heading in the right direction.” Saturday’s tipoff is set for 7 p.m. email: sports@ubspectrum.com