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ubspectrum.com
Friday, February 6, 2015
Building a new bridge
How UB alumni Shawn Lewis went from architect to artist
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News Bites: Catch up on this week’s headlines School of Management students offer free tax service
Bulls football signs 21 recruits
470 photos of possible ISIS representative found on campus
Courtesy of Jeanette Chwan Shawn Lewis, who graduated UB with a B.S. in architecture, pursues a career as an artist creating music, music videos and art installations.
nior year as a way to fill his schedule. He didn’t expect to enjoy designing installations more than designing buildings. After a couple of classes, he picked up an art minor and continued taking classes for the next two years, engrossing him-
Black gold
self in sculpting and media. Many of the skills he had been using in his architecture classes carried into his art classes, like conceptualizing ideas and designing sketches. The architecture major began to no-
UB makes own compost out of campus food waste
Tom Ludtka, the service manager for CDS, holds some of UB’s soil amendment. Courtesy of Raymond Kohl
The scraps from your on-campus Sloppy Joe or that fourth plate of macaroni and cheese you grabbed at the dining hall aren’t getting sent into a landfill, but back into the earth. Students may not realize their left-
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SEE LEWIS, PAGE 5
CHARLES W SCHAAB ASST. NEWS EDITOR
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TORI ROSEMAN SENIOR ARTS EDITOR What starts as an average music video for just another rock band becomes a work of art, as the group starts to play in front of a green screen. The upbeat tempo of the drums keep time as the world around the band begins to shift, morphing into various psychedelic patterns and shapes. The band members become cartoons. Their limbs stretch and twist as their music continues to beat on in the background. Shawn Lewis turns what could have been a simple music video shoot into performance art for the Sleepy HaHas, a Buffalo-based band. Lewis, a UB alumnus who graduated with a B.S. in architecture, has taken his life in a different direction than his degree suggests. Lewis graduated from UB in 2013 from the architecture program, but in his current career as an artist, he doesn’t use formulas or blueprints. He is following his dream of being an artist under the title Lesionread. He creates music and exhibits, showing his exhibits at the Center for the Arts (CFA) and performing his music throughout Buffalo. “I had to choose between architecture, which would provide me with a job where I’d be paid and being an artist, which would allow me to spend my time pursuing not just one thing, but all of my hobbies,” Lewis said. A change of heart Lewis started taking art classes his ju-
Volume 64 No. 45
overs are being mixed into UB’s soil, helping on-campus foliage thrive. Campus Dining and Shops (CDS) has been using students’ food waste to produce soil amendment for more than six years, but a lot of students don’t know that. UB estimates it prevents more than 700,000 pounds of food waste from entering landfills annually, according to
Raymond Kohl, the marketing manager for CDS. “Our recycled scraps can be put into further use … getting maximum use out of our organic materials is important,” said Brian Lounsbury, a sophomore environmental geosciences major. “I had no idea UB offered the waste us students produce in compost form.” UB’s pre- and post-consumer waste is collected and sent to an on-campus facility to begin the composting process. Composting is the natural process of organic material degrading into an organic matter that is beneficial for all plant growth. This matter, which some gardeners refer to as ‘black gold,’ is not considered a fertilizer but a soil amendment. “I think it is awesome UB is helping reduce some of the waste we produce,” said Veronica Kreutzer, a sophomore environmental engineering major. “Being the major campus we are, [UB] should do something to help reduce trash.” UB hosts roughly 30,000 students who are regularly going in and out of oncampus eateries and producing loads of waste. Normally, the waste breaks down slowly. It can take months for an eggshell or banana peel to decompose and be used in soil. But UB has a food decomposer that expedites that process, allowing the university to produce soil amendments in about 16 hours. All pre- and post-consumer waste from around campus is sealed in recycled plastic containers. Those containers are then taken to the Statler Food Commissary in Amherst, where they are emptied and any non-organic materials are sorted out. The material is then fed through a grinder. This process removes moisture and gives the material added surface area, according to Kohl. The extra surface area and reduced moisture in the product aids in the next step of the process: the food decomposer. This food decomposer takes the organic material and, through a heating and churning process, sanitizes and deSEE COMPOSTING, PAGE 6
CHARLES W SCHAAB ASST. NEWS EDITOR University Police reported finding 470 photos of what “appears to be an ISIS representative” holding a gun and wearing a black mask in a copy machine on South Campus, according to police reports. The report was filed at 9:33 a.m. on Feb. 2. The copy machine was in Farber Hall, which houses classrooms, wet labs and offices of the School of Public Health and Health Professions. Chief of Police Gerald Schoenle told The Spectrum an investigation of the incident is ongoing. “What we have is a picture printed on a copy machine,” Schoenle said. “No threats, no verbiage, no crime involved. None the less, we are still investigating to look into this further.” The complaint was filed a day before ISIS released a video of Muadh al-Kasasbeh, a Jordanian pilot, being set on fire and burned to death in a cage. Any information regarding the issue should be reported to UPD (716) 645-2229. email: news@ubspectrum.com
Some Faculty Senators look to change dean review process Decanal review process dominates semester’s first Senate meeting
TOM DINKI SENIOR NEWS EDITOR When the matter of possibly changing UB’s decanal review process was raised in a Faculty Senate Executive Committee meeting last fall, “Most people said, ‘Wait, where did this come from? What’s the problem? Why should we bother?’” according to law professor Martha McCluskey. McCluskey was part of a group that initially discussed making changes to the process in 2011. She stepped onto the Faculty Senate floor Tuesday to advocate for them again. “We’re in an era and culture of assessment. We have to not just trust in excellence, but we have to really have different ways of assessing and monitoring it,” McCluskey said. “We’ve done that for students and faculty and staff. I think including a more professional, clearer, ramped-up process for decanal performance is just part of that same goal and culture and it will benefit us all.” A committee tasked with evaluating how UB reviews its deans presented its findings in the first Faculty Senate meeting of the spring semester Tuesday. Decanal review changes were not the only thing discussed, as members of UB’s administration also gave updates on the implementation of new general education requirements and the Heart of the Campus initiative. The committee, which includes members from 12 UB schools, was formed in fall 2013 after a Faculty Senate Executive Committee motion in April 2012 by professors, including McCluskey. McCluskey said Tuesday that UB’s current decanal review policy from 1994 is vague, not regularly followed and hard to find. Elaine Davis, an oral diagnostics professor SEE FACULTY SENATE, PAGE 6
Friday, February 6, 2015
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NEWS BITES CATCH UP ON THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES
What you need to know
locally:
VACCINATIONS HELPING STOP SPREAD OF MEASLES IN ERIE COUNTY
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that measles has afflicted at least 102 people in 14 states since the start of 2015. New York State has had three separate cases of measles this year, with one occurring in Dutchess County and two occurring in New York City. In Erie County, 169 of 321 schools have reported immunization rates of 99-100 percent during the 2013-14 school year, according to The Buffalo News. State laws require that children must be vaccinated unless their parents’ religious beliefs conflict with vaccination. Burstein warned that children who don’t get vaccinated are increasing the risks of the spread of measles in local areas.
CUOMO WARNS STRUGGLING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AGAINST FAILURE
New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that the state education budget would increase from $377 million to $1.1 billion if the New York State Legislature accepts his plan. The governor also warned Buffalo public schools they will not continue to get money if they do not attempt to improve. On Jan. 21, during his State of the State address, Cuomo stated that Buffalo receives $16,170 per student in state aid, which is almost twice the state average of $8,114. Out of 14,000 Buffalo public school students – in grades 3 to 8 – only 13 percent were proficient in math and only 12 percent in English, recent testing found.
What you need to know
nationally:
NBC NEWS ANCHOR BRIAN WILLIAMS RECANTS 2003 IRAQ STORY
NBC news anchor Brian Williams recanted a story this week about being aboard a helicopter that was forced down by gunfire during the Iraq invasion in 2003. Williams is now saying that he did not recall the events correctly and spoke incorrectly. His admission comes after crewmembers from the Chinook helicopter, which was hit by rockets and small firearms, stated that Williams was nowhere near the helicopter when it was forced down. Crewmembers say Williams arrived an hour after these events took place.
POPE FRANCIS TO ADDRESS CONGRESS
On Sept. 24, Pope Francis will become the first pope to address the United States Congress. House Speaker John Boehner granted the pope an invitation to speak last year. No other religious leader in history has ever addressed the Congress, according to the U.S. House Historian’s Office. The pope is set to meet with President Barack Obama in the White House as well.
ing while intoxicated on Millersport Highway at North Forest Road. His vehicle was towed from the scene. 4:04 a.m. – UPD reported an alcohol overdose in Goodyear. Caller requested welfare check on a sick student. UPD requested an ambulance and the student was transported to Erie County Medical Center. Police Blotter 1/31-2/2 All information according to the University Police Department. 1/31 2:52 p.m. – A UB student reported someone took his laptop and KeyBank debit card from his room in Goodyear Hall. 2/1 1:35 a.m. – UPD observed a large crowd at Main Circle on South Campus pushing to get onto a Stampede bus, knocking over fences in the process. Patrols were dispatched to the scene. 3:32 a.m. – UPD arrested Jacob D. Honsberger for driv-
10:52 p.m. – Amherst Police Department reported a silver Nissan driving northbound in the southbound lane on the John James Audubon Parkway. Police were unsure of the exact location of the vehicle and patrols came back unfounded. 2/2 7:57 a.m. – UPD reported a vehicle stuck in the Goodyear Hall entrance. Dispatch requested a diversion of bus traffic. UPD was able to assist driver and the entrance was cleared. 8:25 a.m. – UPD patrol reported a vehicle stuck at Winspear and Winridge. Patrol and grounds assisted the motorist.
What you need to know
globally:
ISIS PILOT EXECUTION VIDEO SURFACES
A video of terrorist group ISIS burning alive Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, a Jordanian pilot, surfaced on the Internet Tuesday. ISIS has had the video in its possession since December 2014. Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh was captured after his plane crashed in Syria on Dec. 24. A day before the graphic video surfaced, ISIS said the media could not release any of the group’s activities without receiving permission from the group’s leader, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi or spokesman Mohammad al-Adnani. Last Saturday, a video surfaced showing the execution of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. A video detailing the execution of Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa surfaced a week prior.
AT LEAST 31 PEOPLE KILLED AFTER TAIWAN PLANE CRASH
A Taiwanese plane containing 58 passengers crashed into the Keelung River in Taipei, the capitol of Taiwan, Wednesday, killing at least 32 of the passengers. The crash happened shortly after takeoff and was captured on video by a driver who was traveling on the freeway. The plane lost altitude and its wing clipped the freeway. 15 passengers were rescued, while 11 remain missing. The cause of the crash is yet to be determined. Possible theories include engine trouble, weight shifting, pilot errors and weather conditions. 2:22 p.m. – Two occupants were entrapped in an Allen Hall elevator between the basement and first floor. UPD arrived on scene and occupants were released. 3:07 p.m. – UPD received a report of a hit and run in the Sherman special parking lot off of Bailey Avenue. Victim reports her vehicle was struck. 3:40 p.m. – UPD reported a walk up larceny complaint from a student. Student reported his wallet was stolen on Stampede bus 4116 between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The wallet was returned missing $340 in cash. 5:48 p.m. – A resident adviser in Red Jacket quadrangle requested UPD assistance with the odor of marijuana on the fifth floor. Patrol issued Student Wide Judiciary to Brendan Wanek, Jack Nguyen and Ovie Lattimore. email: news@ubspectrum.com
Friday, February 6, 2015 ubspectrum.com
Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF
Sara DiNatale
MANAGING EDITORS
Rachel Kramer Emma Janicki
OPINION Stop the name-calling
Education reform invites impassioned but ineffective debate
OPINION EDITOR
Tress Klassen COPY EDITORS
Alyssa McClure, Copy Chief Anne Fortman Natalie Humphrey NEWS EDITORS
Tom Dinki, Senior Ashley Inkumsah, Asst. Chuck W Schaab, Asst. FEATURES EDITORS
Sharon Kahn, Senior Gabriela Julia 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
ILLUSTRATION BY LAUREN GOETZMANN
Yusong Shi, Senior Kainan Guo, Asst. CARTOONISTS
Lauren Goetzmann Harumo Sato CREATIVE DIRECTORS
Jenna Bower Kenny Cruz, Asst.
Professional Staff OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER
Kevin Xaisanasy Alex Buttler, Asst. Melina Panitsidis, Asst. ADVERTISING DESIGNER
Tyler Harder Derek Hosken, Asst.
THE SPECTRUM Friday, February 6, 2015 Volume 64 Number 45 Circulation 7,000 The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Feedback, Opinion and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address. The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by MediaMate. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum, visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at (716) 645-2452. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100
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Even with the same endgame – an improved education system for New York State – it appears impossible for Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the teachers’ union to agree on just about anything. Since the start of his second term, Cuomo has made it clear that education reform is a priority, calling for ambitious changes and pointing out flaws that need correcting. Identifying the need for change and the importance of the state’s public school system is about as far as Cuomo can get before drawing the ire of his opponents. Although the need for improvement is inarguable, the “how” of the matter is far less
black and white. Firmly planted in that wearisome gray area, the system of evaluation for teachers remains as contentious as ever. Cuomo has argued the tests are too easy pass and allow underperforming teachers to continue in their posts. Not surprisingly, this claim has enraged teachers who called the evaluations a distraction. However, when nine out of 10 teachers in New York City earned one of the two highest rankings available, it seems that Cuomo may be right to worry about the test’s standards – unless the city’s educators are simply that excellent.
It’s a dilemma that would be difficult enough to solve without fiery debate creating a legitimate distraction. Teachers who aren’t effective shouldn’t be able to get away with glowing evaluations, but students shouldn’t see their classrooms become testing arenas for their teachers or for themselves. It would be all too easy to rely on the results of standardized testing to judge teachers’ effectiveness, but an increased emphasis on state tests is even more problematic than a shaky evaluation system. Clearly, the issues that plague the school system come with no easy fix. Problems and solutions
are far too intertwined and everyone involved – from teachers to unions to politicians – seemingly has a different idea about how to enact reform. At the very least, it’s promising that the issues are being discussed and treated like the priorities that they are. Cuomo merits praise for his willingness to take on such a challenging issue. But despite this, Cuomo continues to hear criticism and insults from those with different opinions. Name-calling and political posturing does nothing to solve the problem or benefit New York’s schools. It allows for no progress, even as students in Buffalo and across New York attend failing, underfunded and under supported schools. The president of the New York State United Teachers even went so far as to say that Cuomo has “declared war on the public schools.” Such a denouncement, against a politician who clearly acknowledges the pressing need for reform, simply seems unfair. Even though the unions and the governor don’t agree on the best way to improve the state’s schools, they’re ultimately pursuing the same goal – better schools – and care about the same group of people – New York’s students. That common ground should, at the very least, allow for some basic civility. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
All sales final in Kenmore Phones down, heads up Decision to ban pawnshops hasty
The Village of Kenmore has decided to “just say no” – to pawnshops. After local business owners became suspicious that a loan broker was quietly attempting to open a shop in the area, town officials acted rapidly and severely by placing a six-month ban on the businesses. This temporary ruling culminated in the recent decision to disallow pawnshops and loan brokers entirely. The ban stems from concern that pawnshops could attract criminal activity and allow for the trafficking of stolen goods, though no reports of crime stemming from such shops have surfaced. Instead, the move appears to be preemptive – and perhaps presumptive. In a copy of the law proposing the original six-month moratorium, the Village Board cited “several communities across the country” that noticed pawn shops causing “certain negative effects.” The details justifying Kenmore’s decision are scarce to say the least. There was no uptick in crime in Kenmore due to pawnshops, and even the national examples the Board cites are lacking specificity. This is not to say that Kenmore is entirely wrong in their decision or that there is no detailed evidence supporting the village’s choice. But with the information being shared, the decision to outright ban an entire business category seems extreme. Such a characterization is exacerbated by the reports the Board cited, which expressed concern and a “need for regulation” – but not specifically prohibition. The City of Buffalo, for example, allows pawnshops to operate but maintains specific regulatory practices to keep the businesses in check and avoid negative effects of the pawnshops’ pres-
ence. Regulation and supervision seem a much more reasonable move than prohibiting operations entirely. This is especially valid considering that this is the first step Kenmore has taken regarding the issue. When the village first placed its temporary ban, it did so in order to evaluate the situation and make a decision. With all that time available to the Board, it seems that they would have considered compromise as a wise first move. If imposing regulations on pawnshops in the village doesn’t work, the Board would use prohibition as the next step. With such a readily available fail-safe plan, Kenmore’s decision seems all the more hasty. But other recent decisions by the Village Board offer a possible and worrisome explanation for the ban. Kenmore recently approved stricter height restrictions on businesses near Kenmore’s waterfront and village officials are also considering an expansion of the village’s restricted business district near Delaware Avenue. Suddenly, the board’s decision to ban pawnshops seems less anomalous and more indicative of an unnerving trend. Kenmore seems determined to control the distribution of businesses in their village, and the village officials are doing just that. While the board has the right to pass legislation regarding zoning, their actions are beginning to look overzealous. Preserving a specific neighborhood’s image or maintaining a desired environment are worthy goals, but organic development and change should be allowed to flourish as well – even if such change includes a new pawnshop. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
GABRIELA JULIA FEATURES EDITOR
We’ve all done it: Walked seamlessly down the crowded spine with our eyes glued to our phones. “Oops, excuse me, sorry.” Texting while walking is just as dangerous as distracted driving. Last week, I found myself tripping over a book bag and falling into a wall from not paying attention to where I was walking because I was texting. I never before took into consideration that I am one of thousands of students walking around campus completely unaware of what’s in front of me. For many of us, walking to class becomes a routine and requires little thought. We tend to look at our phones out of habit or to avoid awkward eye contact with someone coming from the other direction. This is a problem. “Nationally, of the 41,000 pedestrians treated in emergency rooms each year, as many as 15 percent of accidents, or more than 6,100, involve cellphones,” said Dietrich Jehle, MD and UB professor of emergency medicine in a press release. It is clear this is a reoccurring problem because there are apps designed to keep people from walking while distracted. Type & Walk enables iPhone users to text while being able to see what’s in front of them through the camera background feature. For me, this was an epic fail. It seemed pretty useless because most people text with their heads down, which means you only see the floor. In order for it to work properly, you must hold your phone up in the air, which is inconvenient and looks awkward. It’s also pretty hard to see the text on the your phone when there are bodies walking in the background. Nice try, but not effective. I don’t believe this problem will
ever be solved until people make the personal decision to stop texting and walking. Other than your potential to cause accidents and physical harm to yourself and others, texting while walking makes you less engaged with and more vulnerable to the people around you. In high school, my mother warned me about walking to the bus stop looking at my phone or walking by myself with headphones in. I didn’t understand the overprotective lectures until one day I was being followed and didn’t notice until the man got on my school bus. I was scared and embarrassed to admit that I was so focused on Twitter, I didn’t even see a potential stalker. There are endless advertisements urging people to stop texting and driving, but now the need to stop texting and walking will be just as important. In 2012, 488 children ages 19 and under died after being hit by a car while walking. Of those, 284 were teens ages 13 to 19, according to the Safe Kids Worldwide website. From the students who say they were hit or almost hit by a vehicle, 47 percent said they listened to music while crossing the street, 18 percent said they texted and 20 percent said they talked on the phone while walking across the street, according to the website. Those numbers are disturbing, mainly because I am part of that percentage. Safe Kids is one of the few organizations that have started to take action against texting while walking. Their Moment of Silence campaign is in memory of a 15-yearold girl who was hit by a car while crossing the street with headphones in. Therefore, I pledge to (try) to keep my eyes off of my phone until I reach my destination and tell those around me to put their phones down and keep their heads up.
Friday, February 6, 2015
ubspectrum.com
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Free tax services offered by UB students VITA program allows students to help local communities with tax returns North Campus: MARCH 28 AND 29, AND APRIL 4, 5, 11 AND 12.
South Campus: FEB. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22 AND 28, AND MARCH 1
Downtown Campus: MARCH 7 AND 8 Senior accounting majors (left to right) Andrew Robertson, Andrew Leung and Spencer Gates look over paperwork. The three are part of UB’s VITA program, Angela Barca, The Spectrum
SOPHIA MCKEONE STAFF WRITER
While many college students will still be spending their Saturday lounging and catching up on homework, some will be heading to UB’s South Campus to spend the day providing free tax services to the surrounding community. These students are in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA), a national program sponsored by the IRS offering free tax services to those with an average to low annual income, the cap salary being $53,000 a year. Students in the program are from the School of Management and UB’s chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an international honors organization for financial information students and professionals. Spencer Gates, a senior accounting major and president of Beta Alpha Psi, said the program is rewarding on many levels. “Not only am I giving back to my community of Buffalo, it’s a good way for me
to learn and touch up on skills that I can use in my own return, my career, or in helping out a friend,” Gates said. Kathleen Nesper, assistant professor of accounting and law in the School of Management and faculty adviser to Beta Alpha Psi, said this is one of the main reasons UB decided to get involved in the program in 1981. Faculty members at the time were drawn to the program because it would “give students some practical experience and not just book experience,” Nesper said. The assistance porgram’s main audience is those eligible for the earned incometax credit. The earned income-tax credit (EITC), is a refundable tax credit that pays on average $2,407 to those who qualify, according to the IRS website. But one in five workers eligible for the EITC do not claim it. Last year, $359,500 of the $1.28 million of the program’s volunteers got back was the EITC, a fact that is satisfying to stu-
Fell in love with a curl
dents who used the service and motivational for coordinators to make the program more accessible to the community. “It’s a cool two-way exchange,” said Rowan Ketchum, a master’s student in UB’s accounting program and VITA volunteer. “They’re giving us an opportunity to practice and we’re giving them free tax preparation.” The program operates through host sites set up by various organizations in communities around the nation. Beta Alpha Psi is one of its most prevalent sponsors. UB’s chapter partnered with the UB Accounting Association and they are responsible for coordinating the assistance program’s sites on UB’s campuses. “Other tax services may be hard to get to, or the ones that are super close, may end up [costing] up to $300,” Gates said. “By [coordinating sites] on multiple campuses, you get to affect a community that’s in walking distance, or people that are just a bus ride away. Hopefully, we’re saving them time and money.”
In previous years there have been sites on both North and South Campus. For one weekend this tax season, there will be a site on UB’s downtown campus. Garry Vinette, a senior accounting major and vice president of Beta Alpha Psi, enjoys the program’s ability to reach a large and diverse population. “You literally meet every walk of life out there from student, domestic, to international who works a job at the Tim Horton’s or somewhere on campus to the guy with three kids that owns his own business,” Vinette said. Although diverse, those seeking tax help from the program have a fundamental similarity – just how important this is to them. Vinette said a lot of the time, people come in whose tax return is one of his or her main sources of income. Sessions begin in February and continue mid-way through April. email: features@ubspectrum.com
Newly started Buffalo Curling Club is attracting UB’s interest
DANIEL MCKEON FEATURES EDITOR Curling is back in Buffalo. It’s been six years since the former Buffalo Curling Club closed its doors in 2009, but a new club is back at The Riverworks, the newly dual-rink entertainment complex in downtown Buffalo. UB students were reintroduced to the sport at an event hosted by UBThisWinter, the department in charge of the threeweek winter session offered by UB, on Jan. 23. The event brought 16 students along with various faculty and staff to Riverworks for a night of curling aimed at helping students adjust to the winter. Curling is played with two teams sliding stones down the ice, aiming for the bullseye of a circle painted at the other end of the rink. The sweepers use their brooms to speed up the curling stone as it slides down the ice. The strategy is to knock opponents’ stones out of the circle, set up a blocker stone or to curl a stone around a blocker. Each game requires the use of 16 44-pound granite stones; the game piece costs $300 to $400. The Buffalo Curling Club receives nearly all of its money through people coming out to curl, according to Danielle Buchbinder, a UB alumna and Buffalo Curling Club president. The club itself has been around for less than a year and is run by volunteers. They operate weekly leagues, learn to curl nights and hold an annual curling tournament – a bonspiel – on March 7. “Curling is a tremendously fun time,” said Thomas Slomka, a designer at the Center for Educational Innovation at UB who participated in the event. “The 16 [UB students] in my group had a fun time learning the game, practicing the basic movements and testing their learning by playing a quick match.” Slomka has been a fan of curling since he was a kid. He began to curl at Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada when there was no option in Buffalo. With the return of curling to the Queen City, Slomka and UB students and faculty
A UBThisWinter event provided students and faculty with a chance to try curling out with the Buffalo Curling Club at The Riverworks in downtown Buffalo. Courtesy of Matt Blum
now have an option closer to home. The Buffalo Curling Club has no official affiliation with UB, but Buchbinder said she hopes more UB students try curling. She hopes some may eventually start a club, similar to the popular on-campus skiing club Schussmeisters. “I’ve always been interested in curling ever since seeing during it the Winter Olympics,” said Zach Fehrman, a sophomore chemical engineering major. “Last year, a few of my friends talked about starting a curling club on campus but we were disappointed to learn that the closest club was in Rochester. It’s great to know we can now try out the sport for the first time in Buffalo.” Matthew Blum, director of UB’s sum-
mer and winter enrollment, planned the curling event as well as most of UBThisWinter’s events. He placed an emphasis on winter-themed activities for students, such as free UB hockey games and a winter carnival. Blum said by getting students and faculty to “embrace the winter” through events like curling, the winter becomes less of hindrance and more of an opportunity for fun. “You can complain or you can curl,” he said. “It’s everyone’s winter here.” Traditionally, curling has been played on frozen lakes. The Riverworks is an openair ice rink with an overhead roof, giving curlers the effect of playing on a lake in the traditional sense while still protecting the rink from snow or rain. The open-air
quality “harkens to a purer time in curling history” according to Slomka. Riverworks isn’t the only option for prospective curlers. Although not a formalized club, the Canalside rink in Buffalo also offers open curling periodically with instructors. While the Winter Olympics might still be two years away, there have never been more opportunities for UB students as well as Buffalo locals to enjoy the winter pastime of curling. email: features@ubspecturm.com
Friday, February 6, 2015 ubspectrum.com
ARTS, LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
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Four great pitches UB students win $8,000 each for startup businesses JOHN JACOBS STAFF WRITER
Late in January, four UB students ended their week up to $8,000 richer. Throughout Entrepreneurship Lab, or “eLab,” – a three-week winter session course – students were able to pitch startup ideas for fellowship money. From a new search engine for big companies to portable walls to prevent flooding, students used the class to share their ideas to a panel of investors. Students Mahmoud Kamal Ahmadi, Jorge Cueto, Joseph Peacock and Rohan Shah collected $8,000 of seed money for their projects. The money came from an anonymous donation to the School of Management. The purpose of the eLab class was to help student entrepreneurs accelerate the startup process, according to Yong Li, associate professor of operations management and strategy and one of the program’s teachers. “Just as you experiment in a scientific lab, we hope our students use the eLab to experiment with their entrepreneurial ideas,” he said. The course, which was made up of 13 undergraduate and graduate students, helped students identify their markets and perfect their business pitches before presenting them to a panel of local business leaders and investors. Last year, six of the 12 students enrolled in eLab won between $5,000 and $8,000 of seed funding for their projects. Mahmoud Kamal Ahmadi, a Ph.D. student studying chemical and biological engineering, created PreMer X, Precious
Metal Retrieval. The purpose of PreMer X is to retrieve and recycle precious metals – such as gold, silver and platinum – from solutions so they are not wasted, according to Ahmadi. Joseph Peacock, a computer engineering major, created Igloo, an enterprise search engine that allows businesses to access files across their network from one place. It gives individual employees the ability to easily search for lost or misplaced documents. The program can save companies well over $1 million a year in productivity with 200-plus employees, according to Peacock. Rohan Shah, a senior computer science major, created InteractiveX with his partner, Nate Burgers, a computer science major, who wasn’t in eLab. InteractiveX is an interactive eBook that not only provides text to the reader but can also run programs. Shah said an example would be a math eBook with a scientific calculator built into the programming. Jorge Cueto, a civil engineering major, created Smart Walls, which are portable, deployable walls that stretch as tall as necessary to protect areas against flooding. They are also more cost-effective than other flood barriers because they’re made of concrete instead of Kevlar, steel or aluminum. Despite the ingenuity of their inventions, many of the students have not created fully functional prototypes yet. But along with their winnings, they’re going to receive some help from UB. “The eLab course is not a traditional course in that our students learn tools and skills through various ways, includ-
Courtesy of Douglas Levere, UB Reporter Mahmoud Kamal Ahmadi, Rohan Shah, Jorge Cueto and Joseph Peacock, left to right, won $8,000 for projects they pitched during a winter class.
ing short lectures and guest speakers,” Li said. Robert Genco, a professor of oral and microbiology and Martin Casstevens, a business formation and commercialization manager, taught the class with Li. Three professors leading the class isn’t the only thing that separated it from other courses, Li said. Students took a trip to a forum hosted by Western New York Venture Association, a local non-profit that provides opportunities for local businessmen to present their designs. Students watched entrepreneurs pitch their ideas and had a question and answer session with Buffalo Angels, a group of investors who can choose
to back a presented idea or product. Li said that as part of their award the students will receive “mentorship and a shared space” in the UB Technology Incubator. The Technology Incubator aims to help the economic development of western New York by commercializing inventions at UB, according to the Office of Science, Technology Transfer and Economic Outreach’s website. “Like other science-based startups, we will spend the money mostly to research and develop [a] prototype,” Ahmadi said. “We might spend a little on marketing to explore new customers.” email: features@ubspectrum.com
Continued from Lewis, page 1 Lesionread was featured in an episode of Chic-a-go-go,a children’s show filmed in Chicago. Courtesy of Jeanette Chwan
tice a shift within himself during his junior year. He realized his hobbies of creating music and art were making him happier than the piles of work that came with studying architecture. He realized architecture wasn’t his final destination. “The first two years of the [architecture] program were great, but as I moved into my junior year things became a lot more technical,” Lewis said. “It started to be more about the logistics and the practical elements of architecture and I started losing interest.” The Buffalo native started making electronic music his junior year of high school, using Adobe Audition to experiment with basic tracks and sound bites. He continued his hobby throughout high school and eventually into college. When he graduated from high school and entered college, he switched programs from the primitive Adobe to a better program called Mixcraft. The music he created grew more advanced, developing from “bleeps and bloops” to more complex sounds, he said. It was after he finished his final senior project that Lewis bought Ableton, a more complex program, as well as various other technological gear to improve his music-making abilities. He knew he wasn’t be going into the city to work 80hour weeks as an architect. “[The architecture program] helped me
get into some of the more conceptual aspects of architecture and think in a more conceptual and creative way with designing,” said Chris Osterhoudt, a friend of Lewis’. “[Shawn] was always one of the more creative students with some of the more far-fetched and provocative concepts.” Osterhoudt received his degree in architecture in 2013 and is currently pursuing his master’s in architecture at UB. The birth of Lesionread Lewis’ projects – both musical and physical – fall under the title Lesionread. Although he didn’t follow a career based upon his degree, the artist uses elements he learned in his classes to develop structures for his shows on a regular basis. For one of his art projects senior year, he used his skill in structures to develop a helmet for himself in a project titled “Control the Red Man.” Lewis stood outside the Student Union while a friend sat at a table in the union. His friend, using walkie-talkies, would give commands of those who approached his table to Lewis. Lewis’ actions were videotaped and compiled into a video, creating a piece of performance art. On a much larger scale, Lewis, alongside a friend, constructed a giant robot to be placed on the stage of one of his shows. The 9-foot-tall robot was constructed mostly of cardboard. It took weeks
to plan, build and eventually paint, creating a monstrous, intimidating figure. After the figure imposed itself on stage during Lewis’ show, the artist tore it to pieces, destroying what he had created. Lewis works with his friends on some of his projects and said it makes it “fun to work on” them. “Having someone next to you saying, ‘C’mon let’s finish this,’ is motivational and that way you’re not stuck finishing such a huge project alone,” Lewis said. From architect to artist Lewis doesn’t regret taking classes in architecture. He worked hard to get into the competitive program at UB, as he had always dreamt of being an architect, even sending in pictures of the structures he’d created to UB as evidence of his talent. Once accepted, he was thrilled to be chasing his childhood dream. The classes were difficult, keeping him up long nights in the library but, ultimately, teaching him the value of hard work. But art classes were a new world to Lewis. He found himself surrounded by peers who struggled to have one creative idea per week, which differed from the constant project building he faced in his architecture classes. He felt everyone around him lacked the motivation necessary to succeed. He took what he had learned from semesters of architecture classes and applied it to his art: Work hard
and the success will come. It was among these art classes that Lewis met Jeanette Chwan*, a photography major who graduated in 2013. In the print labs of the CFA, the two were utilizing the same space for their separate screen printing classes. They made a connection. Today, the two are in a relationship, both professionally and personally. “Shawn asks for my opinion and criticism on the way a song might sound, merchandising ideas and design, hand printing posters and other media for shows,” Chwan said. “I also photograph press photos for him to send to websites.” Louis collaborates with a variety of people he’s met from UB including peers he had classes with or artists he encountered during his shift between architect and artist. Whether or not he’s collaborating, Lewis finds the work rewarding, more so than if he had chosen the field his degree would have provided. The musician knows what struggling artists are. He grew up with parents who had artist friends. He’s watched them scrape by. He knows that his art will not make him rich. He knows that it will not be easy. But he knows it will make him happy. “I think whatever he may end up doing, he’ll find a way to have some sort of creative outlet,” Chwan said. “If his career doesn’t revolve around art and expression then he will most definitely use the skills and talent he has to pursue something parallel with the job he would be holding.” Lewis has been working on his latest project – his first album – for the past few months. The album will be released on Valentine’s Day at a showing at 378 Franklin St. in Buffalo. The event will include an exhibit in addition to Lewis’ music and feature Jon Bap, Planet Three and Sleepy Hahas. Lewis’ goal is to display he’s a musician and an artist. With this album release, he hopes to move on to bigger projects. Although music is what Lewis is using to fund his career, he continues to work on his visual art like using Photoshop to create psychedelic computer backgrounds or designing installations with complex LED lighting for his shows. He sees himself going on a countrywide tour within the next year. Whether he will be an artist for the rest of his life is uncertain, but art and music will always be a part of his life – a creative outlet for a former architect. *Full disclosure: Jeannette Chwan was a cartoonist for The Spectrum in spring 2014
email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Friday, February 6, 2015
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Continued from composting, page 1 grades the waste into soil amendments. Even though there was an increased cost for UB to compost food waste, Kohl said, “It was just the right thing to do.” Kohl said composting at UB began as a student and CDS initiative to reduce waste. One of the first steps was helping residential dining halls and other food service spots on campus save as much pre- and post-consumer waste as possible. With biodegradable napkins, containers, cups and composting, UB is saving thousands of pounds of trash from reaching landfills, according to Kohl. With less trash, dumpster trucks have to come to campus less often, lowering carbon emissions. UB groups – like the Office of Sustainability and CDS – try to educate students two or three times a year about food waste and composting. They use events like ‘Weigh the Waste,’ where CDS weighs food waste to show students the amount and impact of their waste. Kohl said one of the next steps of UB’s composting goals is to provide composting bins on campus, so that postconsumer waste can be collected outside of residential dining halls. “It all starts with educating the students on their food waste,” Kohl said. Organizations like the Massachusetts Avenue Project – which focuses on improving Buffalo’s local food system – and the Buffalo Zoo use soil amendments to improve the structure of their soil. Rather than aid with the growth of the plant, this compost increases soil moisture retention, supports nutrients in the soil, increases permeability and drainage and feeds beneficial organisms within the soil. Healthy soil allows for the plants roots to grow faster, deeper and stronger. Kohl wishes that all post-consumer waste could be saved across campus so it, too, can be turned into compost. But he said it’s not that easy. “We would need to find space to store all the extra waste,” Kohl said. “We wish it were that simple.” email: news@ubspectrum.com
Continued from Faculty Senate, page 1
and associate dean for Student Affairs, is chair of the committee and presentKainan Guo, The Spectrum ed its findings Tuesday. She said the conLaw professor Martha McCulcerns about the current policy brought to skey speaks at the first Facher committee were a lack of consistenulty Senate meeting of the cy, transparency in evaluation procedures spring semester Tuesday. and confidentiality of interviews. The timing of the reviews, which UB policy states should happen every five years, was also an issue, according to McCluskey. “When does five-year review start? Does it start in year four and completed by year five? Does it start year six and then be completed in year seven? [What] if someone had two years as an interim dean? So there was a lot of confusion about this,” McCluskey said. Former law school dean Makau Mutua was dean for six-and-a-half years before his review was initiated. Mutua resigned on Dec. 19, 2014 amid allegations he lied in federal court and in a state administrative proceeding. Davis’ findings found that some of the ly as we would have liked.” He also said the minutes for the second meeting were concerns were valid, including the lack of the report, recommendations and any pro- not yet approved, so he thought the prepublic information on the current decan- posed amendments will be discussed and sentations of the findings would be had al review process. She said the decanal re- voted on in the Faculty Senate meeting on later in the semester. He said he still scheduled the findings to be presented for views seem to be a confidential process, March 3. President Satish Tripathi and Provost Tuesday because there was a “considerable but there are inconsistent procedures. The process is also not transparent to the dean Charles Zukoski could not make com- desire” by many members of the Faculments or take questions about the decan- ty Senate Executive Committee to have it undergoing review, according to David. McCluskey is concerned that the com- al review at Tuesday’s meeting because of that day. He asked the Senate to remember that mittee did not give its report to the Facul- a “procedural error,” by Senate Chair Ezra if Tripathi or Zukoski did not feel they Zubrow. ty Senate early enough so it could be diswere in a position to make a comment, it is Zubrow said Tuesday the Faculty Sencussed in Tuesday’s meeting. McCluskey not their fault, but his own. ate Executive Committee originally decidsaid she personally emailed the report over The president and the provost did still ed it was not necessary have the president the weekend to a list of members, but said that list is “probably not up to date” or ac- or provost respond to the decanal report address the Faculty Senate Tuesday, disfindings. The committee changed its mind cussing such topics as the Heart of the curate. Richard Gronostajski, Senate parlia- at a second meeting and Zubrow was to Campus. mentarian and biochemistry professor, inform Tripathi and Zukoski. Zubrow said he did not do so because email: news@ubspectrum.com said “the report was not sent out as earvThere were several other announcements at Tuesday’s meeting: Zukoski said UB has queued projects for its Heart of the Campus initiative so that if money becomes available from SUNY, UB will be more likely to receive it than other schools that do not have “shovel ready” projects.
Tripathi said SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher’s announcement that SUNY would graduate 60,000 more students each year by 2020 is “a tougher thing to do” if the universities don’t have extra money from the state to serve the students.
Tripathi acknowledged that UB has old buildings that need repair, particularly on South Campus. He said the university wants to push for more critical maintenance money from SUNY for South Campus buildings that are 60-70 years old.
Zubrow and Andy Stott, Dean of Undergraduate Education, announced that the subcommittees that designed the new general education program will be dissolved, and new subcommittees will be made for the implementation.
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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t mess with people who can influence your future. Do whatever it takes to get along without compromising your integrity. Listen attentively to others. Being accommodating will help you get what you want in the end. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Get ready to make a crucial move that will help you establish your direction and your position. Forget about what has happened in the past and remain focused on what you want. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Listen to what others have to say. Ignoring good advice will result in a mistake that you’ll regret. Anger and aggression will not solve problems, but practical solutions will. Be the bigger person and you will make a difference. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Partnerships will take on a new direction. Observe what others do and say and you will be able to make wise decisions. Traditional means and methods are not always the best route. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Money will come from an unusual source. The decisions you make regarding finances, health and legal matters are best based on facts and figures. A past partner will try to influence you. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Don’t let your heart rule your head. You will be set back by comments and criticism. You’ll have to decide whether what is said is constructive or meddling. An outsider is likely to see your situation much clearer than you do. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Take the path that is free of conflict. Problems at work will arise if you have been mixing business with pleasure. You are best to make adjustments to a relationship that is crossing boundaries and could make you look bad. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t believe everything you hear. Listening to someone’s boasting may be intriguing, but it will not benefit you in the end. Focus on your own ideas and plans and you will make progress. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): All eyes will be on you. Keep a low profile and don’t make promises you cannot deliver. Emotional problems will escalate if you aren’t honest about the way you feel. Protect your emotional and physical well-being. Use your head. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Go after your dreams, hopes and wishes. Love and romance are elevated, and a commitment can be made. The more you do to please someone you care about, the easier it will be to get your way. An agreement will pay off. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sort through your possessions and get rid of what’s no longer relevant. Selling unwanted items will bring in a little extra cash, giving you incentive to purge more and spend less in the future. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Observe what everyone around you is doing before you make a move. Someone you least expect will set you up for a fall. Don’t let anyone take you for granted. Embrace the changes that are necessary and inevitable.
Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 6, 2015 PECK AND CHOOSE By Mary Jersey
ACROSS ACROSS 1 Baylor University’s locale 5 Smugly superior type 9 Samantha of the silver screen 14 Musical miscellany 15 Skedaddled 16 Carried, as by the wind 17 Parent of 39-Across 19 Sandy shade 20 Busy bug 21 Number on a grandfather clock 22 Fuddy-duddies 24 Scottish clans 26 Regret 27 Philosopher Jean-Paul 30 Lack of slack 35 Brainless sort 36 Husky food? 37 Splashy party 38 Not “for here” 39 Offspring of 17-Across 40 Degree candidate’s exam 41 Nutmeg cover 42 Considered individually 43 Terra- ___ (potting material) 44 Raccoonlike carnivore, surprisingly 46 Adorned with a cummerbund 47 Personal connections 48 British quart 50 Melancholy poems
54 “All the Things You ___” 55 Heavy drinker 58 Type of tape 59 Incumbents on their way out 62 Words before a high note? 63 Priestly garb 64 Introduction to psychology? 65 High times 66 Untidy state 67 Part of a galaxy
DOWN 1 Infant’s former home 2 Burnsoothing plant 3 Use as an example 4 “___ la la!” 5 American flag feature 6 “Good field, ___” 7 Metal, pre-smelting 8 Kingsley and Stiller 9 Flow back from the shore 10 Awesome provider 11 Diluted rum 12 Diarist Frank 13 Some Major Leaguers 18 Rival of Navratilova, once 23 Place to put bags 24 Police informer
25 Impassive (Var.) 27 Eastern lute 28 Be crazy about 29 Unbending 31 Foot span 32 Terra firma 33 Patio flooring, sometimes 34 Caesar or chef 36 Nigeria neighbor 39 Burn a perfume stick 43 Had a conscience 45 Charged particles 46 Strain 49 Poetic feet 50 Caught up 51 Prefix with “type” 52 Edible corm 53 Harshly criticize 55 “Shoo!” 56 Stew vegetable 57 Prerevolutionary ruler (Var.) 60 Andy Capp’s brew 61 Bullish times
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Friday, February 6, 2015 ubspectrum.com
SPORTS Yusong Shi, The Spectrum Head coach Lance Leipold announced 21 new recruits on Wednesday for the 2015 football season.
Bull rush
Buffalo announces 21 recruits on National Signing Day QUENTIN HAYNES SPORTS EDITOR Wednesday officially began the new era of Buffalo football, according to head coach Lance Leipold. Leipold announced the Bulls’ 2015 recruiting class Wednesday, which was National Signing Day – when high school football players sign a letter of intent for the university of their choice. The Bulls landed 21 recruits, including five defensive linemen, three safeties, three cornerbacks, three wide receivers, two offensive linemen, two tight ends, a quarterback and a running back. The Bulls also recruited Emmanuel Reed, who will be used at various positions. “This is a very exciting day for our program as we head into the new era of Bulls football,” Leipold said. Leipold and his new staff were not able to recruit many of their own players, as they did not join the Bulls until late in the recruiting process. Leipold said they were able to keep the majority of their prior commitments who were originally re-
cruited by former Bulls head coach Jeff Quinn. Leipold praised associate head coach and wide receivers coach Rob Ianello for his efforts as a transition advisor who worked “the organizational end.” Ianello is also Buffalo’s recruiting coordinator. Leipold also praised Buffalo staff members who worked under Quinn and stayed on, like running backs coach Matt Simon, who assisted him in flying back and forth to Buffalo in December. Leipold would not say how many players were originally recruited by Quinn. Leipold’s first recruiting class as Buffalo head coach focused on bolstering the defense. Leipold and his coaching staff made an effort to find players to fit the new 3-2-5 system. “With the 3-2-5 concept, the linebackers and safeties vary,” Leipold said. “That will be an evaluation process that will continue throughout the spring as we go along. We needed a starting point, and one of the things that we needed besides defensive tackles were the defensive ends who can hold the edge, as well as get to
the passer.” Leipold said the reason there are no linebackers in the recruiting class is because the Bulls wanted to find help for the defensive line. The Bulls ended up with five recruits on the defensive line – three for the interior and two on the outside, including defensive end Torey Hendrick who declined offers from Iowa and Kansas. The 6-foot-4 junior transferred from ASA University in Brooklyn, New York after two seasons. He recorded 52 tackles and 10 sacks while forcing four fumbles for the Avengers. While at Kansas, Ianello tried recruiting Hedrick. Hendrick signed with Iowa, but Leipold said that “didn’t work out and now he’s here.” “When Torey became on our radar, he became vital for us and the finishing touches of this class,” Leipold said. Also joining Hendrick on the defensive line is defensive end Charles Harris from Southfield, Michigan. Harris was ranked as the 23rd best prospect in Michigan, according to The Detroit Free Press.
The Bulls graduated three starting offensive linemen, including Andre Davis, Jake Silas and Trevor Sales, but the recruiting class only saw two incoming offensive lineman: junior college signee Roubbens Joseph from Hudson Valley Community College and freshman Evin Ksiezarczyk from local high school West Seneca East. Leipold said he expects Joseph to be an immediate benefit to the program. “As a junior college kid, we think that he can provide instant depth inside,” Leipold said. “As for Evin, it was very important for us to get him here to Buffalo. He received a fare amount of attention from competitors so we made sure to secure him. Our offensive line coach is excited to work with both of them.” Junior quarterbacks Joe Licata and Tony Daniel are entering their final year of college eligibility. Enter Tyree Jackson. Jackson – a 6-foot-4 recruit out of Norton Shores, Michigan – received offers from Mid-American Conference rivals Western Michigan, Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan, before signing with the Bulls. He was originally a recruit of former head coach Jeff Quinn, but decided to stay with Buffalo despite the coaching change. And Leipold is happy with his decision after viewing’s Jackson’s game tape. “Jackson appears to be a multi-dimensional quarterback that everyone looks for these days,” Leipold said. “He’s tall, he’s rangy and he got ability to create plays with his arms and his legs. We have a great senior quarterback in place. That will allow Tyree the time to grow and mature into the position.” Leipold and the staff hope to have found the next Branden Oliver, James Starks or possibly Khalil Mack. “Again, it was all about the quality of the players, this university, this area, and your commitment to being here,” Leipold said. “I told every player that they’re a part of a special class – one that elevates the program to where we want to be on a consistent basis.” email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Softball team looks to follow up historic season JAMES BATTLE ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
The softball team finished its best season in program history last year. After only making the MAC Tournament three times and finishing with a winning record just once in their first 15 years of Division I play, the Bulls finished with a program-best 30-22 record and featured some of the best hitters and pitchers to ever don a Buffalo uniform. But second-year head coach Trena Peel is not satisfied. “We may have earned the best record in school history, but we didn’t accomplish anything we wanted to,” Peel said. Buffalo ended its season with a 4-0 loss to Ohio in its first-ever trip to the MidAmerican Conference Championship. “It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth,” Peel said. “The girls feel that we came up short. Working to get back to that game is one of the teams’ goals for the season. But we’re looking further than that. Our ultimate goal is to get to the College World Series.” Buffalo’s goal to go even further than last year’s accomplishments may be difficult though, as the team will have 10 new players after losing some of the most touted players in program history – like pitcher and all-time wins leader Tori Speckman. Speckman appeared in 39 games, had a 22-13 record with a 2.17 ERA with seven shutouts in over 244 innings pitched last season. Speckman is also the only Bulls pitcher to ever record two no-hitters in the same season. Peel said she is aware that it will be extremely difficult to match Speckman’s production. But Peel is not looking for just one player to replace Speckman. “We’ve done a great job in recruiting a pitching staff,” Peel said. “There will be four young ladies in the pitching circle as opposed to one.” Incoming redshirt sophomore Bob-
bi Langlois will be one of the options that Peel will use in the rotation. Langlois transferred from Hampton University, where Peel was head coach from 2011-13. Langlois struck out 61 batters in 113 innings pitched over 29 appearances for the Pirates in 2013. Peel is excited about Langlois for her ties to Hampton, but also her experience in the postseason. “She’ll bring a wealth of experience,” Peel said. “She’s been to the NCAA Tournament [with Hampton]. With her bringing her experience will only help our team.” Senior pitcher Hayley Barrow is the only player on the roster who has thrown a pitch for Buffalo. She is expected to assume a larger role on the mound this season after posting a 2-2 record with a 3.50 ERA last season. Incoming freshmen Charlotte Miller and Madison Vaught round out the pitching rotation. Miller hails from local high school Kenmore West. She finished with a 1.90 ERA and recorded a no-hitter. Vaught is UB’s first Hawaiian-born athlete. She is a two-time All-League selection in high school. Miller and Vaught are two of the teams’ 10 new players Peel will expect to make an immediate impact for the team. “I try to recruit kids that can come in immediately,” Peel said. “I don’t like to recruit people that have potential with a redshirt year and have potential to grow. A lot of the freshmen will be called on right away. Most of them played in travel leagues and hopefully, there will be an easy transition for them.” One of Buffalo’s biggest issues during the offseason was addressing the production of former outfielder Holly Luciano and infielder Sammi Gallardo. Luciano led the team with a .340 average and 53 hits. She was the only player to play in every game last season. Peel admitted that Luciano was a big loss and that she was a “unique, one-of-a-kind player.” Gallardo led the team with 16 home
Yusong Shi, The Spectrum The softball team looks to avenge a championship loss to Ohio last season despite losing some of the best players in program history.
runs. Her graduation leaves a gap in power production. Peel said the team lost a plethora of power hitters, but plans to compensate with speed and defense. “I think we’ll have a good balance,” Peel said. “We’ll be able to attack the short game more and take advantage of base running for our power hitters to drive them in. I love the balance about the team this year.” Senior outfielder Alexis Curtiss will lead a young group of outfielders. Curtis hit .310 last season despite missing significant time due to injury. She is healthy now and will immediately benefit the team, according to Peel. “Alexis is our emotional leader. She may not be as vocal, but she leaves it all on the field,” Peel said. “Barrow is definitely trying to go out with a bang.” The team also lost its assistant coach, Horace Smith. Lee Dobbins, who has been a part of many college level softball
programs, assumed the position. Dobbins coached at Emory, where he helped the team reach a 76-10 overall record at his time there. Peel admires Dobbins’ resume. She said she understands the coaches are not “the people who swing the bats,” but is eager to welcome a seasoned coach to the roster. Despite the success of the program last season, Peel wasn’t happy with its culmination. Even though the team won the conference, Peel’s main goal was to get to the NCAA Tournament. “We had a great season, the best in the school’s history,” Peel said. “But getting to [the College World Series] is the goal.” The team kicks off its season on Feb. 6 against Western Kentucky in the Troy Chik-Fil-A Invite in Troy, Alabama. First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. email: sports@ubspectrum.com
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