The Spectrum Vol. 65 No. 46

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T H E I N D E P E N D E N T TSHTEU D NETP E PN UD BE LN I CTA S TT IO NA I VTEI R Y FA T T HBEU U FF E T1 B 9U 50 I NED UN D EO NFT TPH UEB LUI C OSNI T O NA I VLEOR,S S I TI N Y CA FFALO, SINCE 1950

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Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Volume 65 No. 46

Heights community concerned after weekend shooting Shooting at Jim’s Steakout leaves man in critical condition, residents fearful

geted in the shooting. Jim’s Steakout management declined to comment pending the investigation. Both Lipsky and Goldberger, a senior health and human services major, said they are concerned for their safety, as they could have been walking into their apartment during the time of the shooting. Mickey Vertino, University Heights Collaborative president, is spearheading efforts to end the constant string of crime in the area. The University Heights Collaborative is a grassroots group that is focused on reducing crime in the area. “We need residents in this community to work together to end these crimes,” Vertino said. “Students need to communicate with us their problems and concerns so we can work on them with patrols and detectives.”

EVAN SCHNEIDER ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Amy Lipsky and Marisa Goldberger thought their apartment above the commercial buildings on Main Street would be a safe location to live in the University Heights. Lipsky said she thought businesses on the street like Jim’s Steakout, which can stay busy and lively with customers until 5 a.m., would be helpful in detracting violent crime. “I realize now that I was wrong and I need to stay even more alert now,” Lipsky, a senior communication major, said. University Heights residents are on alert this week following a shooting on Main Street outside the entrance of Jim’s Steakout that left a 31-year-old male in critical condition this weekend. Buffalo Police, who responded to the shooting around 4:30 a.m. Saturday morning, believe the man was tar-

KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM

Customers head into Jim’s Steakout on Main Street Tuesday night. Some University Heights residents are worried for their safety following a shooting at Jim’s Steakout on Saturday morning.

Oliver speaks on decision to step down as BSU president Oliver says e-board unanimously voted he had not fulfilled his duties

Erie County legislators vote down 2 a.m. bar closing time Vote comes after residents voice opinions in public hearing

GABRIELA JULIA MANAGING EDITOR

Last semester, Micah Oliver got the sense that people thought his name and the Black Student Union (BSU) were synonymous. At that point, he knew a distinction needed to be made. Oliver, a senior business and international studies major, resigned as BSU president on Dec. 9, just five days after BSU’s executive board unanimously voted that he had not carried out the duties and responsibilities as president, according to Oliver. Oliver spoke to The Spectrum about his resignation after delaying comment originally. Although the vote did not mean Oliver had to resign, he felt it was best. “A part of the resignation was that there were differences in strategies and approaches in how the org[anization] would pursue its goals,” he said. “But that’s the essence of student organizations. We’re all growing and learning. Unfortunately, I just don’t think my leadership in particular is what the executive board wanted.” In his letter of resignation, Oliver wrote, “I am not able to fathom this unfavorable evaluation, nor am I able to recollect a time when I was given adequate feedback, constructive criticism or an opportunity to improve upon any areas of concern.” The BSU e-board denied comment regarding Oliver’s comments, but new President Deidree Golbuorne told The Spectrum last week that Oliver stepping down was an “internal change” that wouldn’t affect future club events. Golbuorne has stepped into the role of president and Samirra Felix was elected vice president on Feb. 1. Oliver emphasized that although his resignation is unfortunate, it is not the first time a student has decided to step down from an organization. Tiffany Vera, former BSU secretary, re-

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KORI HUGHES STAFF WRITER

KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM

Micah Oliver, former Black Student Union president, stands in Jacobs Management Center. Oliver resigned from BSU on Dec. 9 after the executive board voted he did not carry out his duties as president.

signed two days after Oliver. In Vera’s letter of resignation, she wrote, “I am not confident that the organization will follow through with the progress and the level of professionalism that the former president [Oliver] personified.” Vera said she opened herself to direct criticism with the e-board regarding her duties as secretary. Two out of the 13 e-board members directly contacted her, but other than that, she said all she received was either “passive aggressive feedback or indirect contact.” Kevin Appiah-Kubi, BSU’s former historian who resigned on Oct. 14 due to circumstances outside of BSU, said he was shocked when he heard news of Oliver and Vera’s resignations. “Micah was a respectable president and made the club have more visibility,” he said. Unlike Vera, Appiah-Kubi said he believes the new e-board has “everything under control” and he has no hard feelings toward any of the members. Oliver said he did not know the vice president election would be held on Feb. 1. Although he does not expect to be a part of the rearranging of the e-board, he said he wished he could have used the election as an opportunity to address his resignation to the general body. But Oliver is not completely done with

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BSU. He still plans on attending events and meetings as any other undergraduate student. “I’m a student like anyone else is a student and this is a decision that I made for my academic career and I just ask that it be respected,” he said. BSU president hasn’t been the only job Oliver has taken on. He is also a community assistant in Campus Living, a UB 101 peer mentor and an undergraduate research assistant in the communication department. He is also the StudentWide Judiciary chief justice and formerly part of UB’s Division 1 track and field program. Oliver is also actively involved in the Office of the President and the Office of Equity, Diversion and Inclusion. “But my busy schedule has no effect on my resignation,” he said. “It didn’t deter me and it didn’t play a role in my final decision.” Beth Del Genio, chief of staff to the president, worked closely with Oliver in creating educational-based programs around equity, inclusion and diversity for the new general education requirements along with a College of Arts and Sciences policy regarding campus art installations. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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Erie County is one of few counties in the country where bars serve patrons alcohol until 4 a.m. And despite a proposal for a countywide 2 a.m. closing time and months of discussion and debate, it will remain that way. On Thursday, Erie County legislators voted down the proposal for Erie County bars to close by 2 a.m. Three voted in favor and seven voted against. Lawmakers like Legislator Ted Morton, R-Cheektowaga, and Erie County Clerk Chris Jacobs have been vocal the past few months for a 2 a.m. closing time by arguing that rolling back the last call time to 2 a.m. would decrease alcohol related incidents such as drunk driving. Two days before the vote, on Feb. 2, Erie County residents gathered for a public hearing at the Erie County Clerk’s Office in downtown Buffalo to voice their opinions on the proposal. A majority of the speakers at the hearing were in support of the 2 a.m. closing, saying it would improve the quality of life of residents and give Buffalo a better reputation. Orchard Park Chief of Police Mark Pacholec said very few good things happen after 2 a.m., especially since the majority of DWIs in the county occur between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. Pacholec was backed by other speakers, who agreed that the extra two hours only increase the incidences of DWIs, noise complaints, arrests, destruction of property and blood alcohol content (BAC) levels. John Violanti, a research professor in the School of Public Health and Health Professions, was among those who spoke at the hearing. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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