The Spectrum Volume 64 Issue 40

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, SINCE 1950

ubspectrum.com

Volume 64 No. 40

Friday, December 5, 2014

MUSIC ISSUE

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Meet The Proles:

UB student aims to connect with people through medicine and music

A lesson in how to rock and roll

John Oliver: A not so ‘distinguished’ speaker After successful first season on HBO, Oliver performs at UB

CHAD COOPER, THE SPECTRUM

SARA DINATALE EDITOR IN CHIEF

John Oliver says the only distinguished thing about him is his British accent – in his first few minutes on stage at UB’s Distinguished Speakers Series, the comedian described the honor of being asked to come as “misplaced.”

And sure, Oliver’s name shows up on a pretty impressive list of past and future lecturers – which he was quick to point out.

Oliver, 37, isn’t the guy who discovered the remains of the Titanic, he’s not a founder of Apple and his antics onstage were far from what the UB community saw in 2006 when the Dalai Lama spoke.

Oliver – however outgoing and outrageous – is humble. He doesn’t act like the guy who is coming off a hugely successful first season of an HBO show that amasses repeat audiences of 4 million. He’s slow to acknowledge his own success – but he barely has time to think about it. Almost as soon as the first season of “Last Week Tonight” ended, Oliver was on the road for his current standup tour, which led him to Buffalo Wednesday evening.

As the third speaker of the series’ 28th season, he put his smart humor – which covered a gamut of American idiosyncrasies and well-deserved Buffalo weather jokes – on display for a packed Alumni Arena.

After openly questioning his own legitimacy as a speaker, he told the crowd: “Then I read in 2004 Donald Trump

came, and then I thought, ‘Oh, f*** it, it means nothing.’” And after taking a jab at Bill Cosby, a previous distinguished speaker whose reputation is currently in question, Oliver said, “All of the sudden, the crown doesn’t feel quite as heavy on my head.”

His humor is sharp and his jokes bold.

His show, which returns to HBO for its second season in February, has run segments on the prison system, net neutrality and Miss America. The late-night comedy show airs Sundays, and focuses on current events much like his mentor Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show,” which Oliver worked at more than five years.

Oliver is not UB’s typical distinguished speaker, and his performance Wednesday night was just that – a performance. Not a lecture, like the series usually offers.

He had the audience teeming with laugher the moment he stepped onto the stage amid manufactured “thundersnow,” comically mimicking the very storm that kept him from Buffalo on Nov. 18, as fake flurries fell onto his head for what he would go on to describe as the “strangest introduction he’s ever had as a comedian.” Buffalo’s weather remained his favorite punch line for the rest of the night.

“Because it’s not a good sign, Buffalo, when you hear about a weather front for the first time,” he said, before he jokingly questioned if the area was also host to “lightning tornadoes” or “quicksand fog.”

In an interview with The Spectrum before the show, Oliver was relaxed and chat-

ty, playfully prodding to learn how bad the storm really was. He wore a casual navy button-up flannel shirt, which he kept on for his act, a far more relaxed look than what he sports on his TV show. But Oliver has a far from a relaxing schedule, even though his show went on hiatus less than a month ago. He performed in Georgia the night after Buffalo – then he was off to North Carolina for two back-to-back shows.

“I’m not a big fan of relaxation, this is kind of relaxing for me,” Oliver said before the show Wednesday. “Doing standup is a nice way to clear my head.”

It’s almost as if Oliver doesn’t realize his own fame. Even on a rescheduled date after November’s massive snowstorm canceled his initial engagement, more than 6,000 people filed into fill UB’s biggest indoor venue.

College students love John Oliver. He was the undergraduate student choice speaker. He knows college students make up a huge chunk of his audience, to the extent, he said, that if college students “went away” he’s not sure the show would be “left with much.” But he said he doesn’t cater his segments to any one type of viewer.

“I guess I’m at the stage where my top audience is just people,” he said. “I’m just anxious to get an audience.”

But it seems like he already has one. Oliver has already taken over the social media feeds of many 20-somethings and beyond. He posts his show’s lead segments – which are usually about 15 minutes – to

YouTube, leaving even a broke college student without an HBO subscription able to enjoy the Brit’s cutting humor. One of his most popular clips has passed 8.6 million views.

“Initially, it was just so people would be able to know who we were,” Oliver said of the clips.

It worked.

But Oliver seems hesitant to admit that – hesitant to admit his show was a smash.

When asked what he thought about how his season went, he paused.

“I don’t know really, I don’t,” he started.

“I haven’t really had time to come up for air. It went by without any visible disaster, so when you set your sights as low as that, I think anything short of a complete calamity will be a success.”

But to his dedicated fan base, that success is not so questionable. It may seem surprising a British comedian is now making a living off of taking hits at American culture and foibles. It seems like an American audience wouldn’t normally be so accepting of a Brit’s take on the country’s current events. But Oliver has eased into the culture himself; his jabs at jet skis, Tshirt cannons and U.S. congress come with a certain understanding – he’s in on the joke, too.

Oliver, who studied at Cambridge, has lived in America for more than 10 years.

He doesn’t consider what he does journalism, though he says his show does hold high value in diligent fact checking. “ We’ve had a chance to pick a lane and I’ve picked one lane my entire career,” he said.

A student asked Oliver during a question and answer session if he’d ever consider doing non-comedic news, mentioning Stewart’s recent offer to host “Meet the Press.”

Oliver said he’d never consider it.

“I could not be trusted with a sincere moment without trying to think of a joke” Oliver said.

He’s always seeking out his next punch line, whether he’s saying life in Buffalo – the home of a “snow Armageddon” – is more impressive than life on Mars or talking about how Denver celebrates what he described as “Frozen dead guy day.” Oliver is constantly seeking to be outrageous and hilarious.

He said his team will start thinking and working through the upcoming season in January.

What can viewers expect in the new season?

“The same,” Oliver said. “And more of it.”

Amanda Low contributed reporting to this story. email: news@ubspectrum.com

ubspectrum.com

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Friday, December 5, 2014

When You Speak, We Listen

In the coming months, you will notice changes happening to the North Campus libraries and the ground floor of Capen Hall. This is part of a larger project known as THE HEART OF THE CAMPUS, UB’s plan to renovate the center of the Academic Spine.

Creating spaces that enhance your student experience is a major priority at UB. This project will result in:

• a new state-of-the-art Silverman Library on the third floor of Capen • updated finishes and furniture, and the creation of new common spaces on the ground floor of Capen • consolidated Accessibility Resources

When you return from winter break, you will notice that study and workstations have been relocated. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience.

The University is dedicated to creating a learning environment that supports your academic success. This project will create spaces that are high-tech, comfortable, functional and inviting. The third floor of Capen will reopen in late Fall 2015, and the first phase of THE HEART OF THE CAMPUS project will be completed in Fall 2016.

For THE HEART OF THE CAMPUS project updates, visit http://library.buffalo.edu/hotc.

Friday, December 5, 2014 ubspectrum.com

Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF

Sara DiNatale

MANAGING EDITOR

Owen O’Brien OPINION EDITOR

Tress Klassen COPY EDITORS

Rachel Kramer Alyssa McClure NEWS EDITORS

Amanda Low, Senior Samaya Abdus-Salaam, Asst.

Giselle Lam, Asst.

FEATURES EDITORS

Emma Janicki, Senior Sharon Kahn Sushmita Gelda, Asst.

ARTS EDITORS

Jordan Oscar, Senior Brian Windschitl Tori Roseman, Asst.

SPORTS EDITORS

Tom Dinki, Senior Andy Koniuch Jordan Grossman, Asst.

Quentin Haynes, Asst.

PHOTO EDITORS

Chad Cooper, Senior Juan David Pinzon Yusong Shi CARTOONIST

Amber Sliter CREATIVE DIRECTORS

Jenna Bower Gelareh Malekpour, 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, Decmber 5, 2014 Volume 64 Number 40 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.

OPINION

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Protect and serve – but first, hit “record”

Police body cameras a necessary safeguard in today’s post-Ferguson world It’s an ugly truth, but true nonetheless: More needs to be done to protect members of society – innocent and guilty alike – from those tasked with protecting us.

Though the majority of police officers do their duty in an upstanding manner and deserve nothing but praise for their actions on the job, the recent deaths of individuals like Michael Brown and Eric Garner make it clear that sometimes police officers not only combat violence, but generate it as well.

And as the tragic storyline still playing out in Ferguson so painfully demonstrates, when police officers use force, it’s not always clear whether their actions were justified.

The jury tasked with determining whether or not officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed the unarmed Michael Brown, faced a mountain of conflicting evidence.

When asked if Brown charged at Wilson or his car, five witnesses said no, six said yes, and others did not see. Six witnesses reported that Wilson fired repeatedly at Brown when he was down, while seven said he did not. The reported number of shots fired ranged from “at least three” to “10 or 11.”

Regardless of the outcome, it’s clear that the jury faced a daunting task in sorting out just what happened between Wilson and Brown.

It’s an unavoidable facet: We’ll never know the truth. We’ll never know what really happened to Brown, or what Wilson really did.

But we could have known.

Had Wilson been wearing a body camera, his testimony would have been clearly contradicted or supported, and his guilt or innocence would have been far easier to determine.

A source of pride - and debt When UB announced that Lance Leipold would be UB football’s new head coach, everyone had plenty to say. From ESPN and Sports Illustrated to The Spectrum, the news and the excitement it generated was contagious.

President Tripathi, however, seems to be immune to optimism.

On Monday, when WBFO News asked Tripathi to comment on the Leipold’s hiring, he had nothing to say, directing all questions to Athletic Director Danny White.

Though Tripathi followed up with The Spectrum the next day, stating that he just wanted to ensure that White and Leipold were in the spotlight and expressing his belated support for Leipold.

But Tripathi’s initial reticence spoke louder than any statement he could have made – in the moment, or as a follow-up.

His silence encourages specu-

lation: How does this university’s president really feel about UB’s football program and the athletic department at large – a department that operates at an annual deficit of $22.1 million?

It’s a question worth contemplating, as just days ago the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) announced that is was shutting down its football program.

Like UB, Birmingham is a Division I school, and like UB, their football program has experienced only moderate success – they may be Division I, but they can’t really compete with top-tier powerhouses like Alabama and Auburn.

But unlike UB, Birmingham’s team finished its season 6-6, qualifying for a bowl game and operated at a deficit of 17.5 million.

So a team that performed better than UB, and cost their school more than $4 million less

And fortunately, President Barak Obama realizes this, as he’s proposed a program of federal support for body cameras worn by local law enforcement.

Many police departments already have cameras, and it’s time for those that don’t to start employing them.

Buffalo’s police force is one of the few major police departments that not only lacks body cameras, but also doesn’t have cameras installed on their patrol cars either.

That’s an oversight in need of immediate correction.

Everyone benefits from the use of the cameras – if the police make a mistake or intentionally break procedure, the individuals involved have evidence to support their complaint.

And if police officers are unjustly accused, they, too, would have video to refute those claims.

But it must be acknowledged

that body cameras are not a cureall to the issues plaguing law enforcement.

In the case of Eric Garner, a man who died while being arrested in New York City after being placed in a chokehold by police officer Daniel Pantaleo, there was video footage. Garner’s death and Pantaleo’s actions were recorded and played for a jury – a jury that decided not to indict Pantaleo.

Body cameras are not a perfect a solution. But they are a solution – hopefully one of many to come.

But in the mean time, as protests continue in Ferguson, New York City and across the nation, it’s becoming painfully apparent: Even with video footage, ambiguity remains, and individuals continue to die at the hands – or in the grip – of police officers. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

UB’s status as a Division I school isn’t in peril, but is worth scrutinizing than Buffalo’s program is shutting its doors.

UB is far from the only school in a similar position. Thirteen other universities had programs with deficits over $20 million in 2012-13, according to a story by CBS Sports, and none of them have followed UAB’s lead.

There’s no indication that UB will either – unless Tripathi’s apathy qualifies.

Being a Division I school is exciting – and heartbreaking. Our football team gets to play bigname schools and perform on ESPN, but that also means that an even larger, national audience watches UB lose to Baylor by more than 40 points.

But athletic defeat and financial losses aren’t the only factors at play. If they were, it’d be all too easy to recommend that UB cut its costs and shut down the program.

When UAB shut down its pro-

gram, it didn’t just eliminate a financial burden. They also shattered the dreams of its football players, students with athletic aspirations, who came to UAB to play for a team that suddenly no longer exists.

The players’ reactions to the announcement of the shutdown are nothing short of heartbreaking. Doing the same to UB’s players is tough to imagine – or justify.

And under White’s regime, the scenario will hopefully never come to fruition. He wants a bigtime program, and with Leipold at the helm, maybe this conversation can be deemed irrelevant.

But for now, it’s difficult to look past Tripathi’s attitude. It’s even harder, impossible even, to ignore $22 million. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com

My evolution through journalism The Spectrum has made me the person I am today, and I couldn’t be more thankful

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

OWEN O’BRIEN

MANAGING EDITOR

I remember sitting in my first college journalism class. My palms were sweaty and legs were twitching. My heart thumped like a drum; it felt like it was about to explode. I was the person Eminem was describing in Lose Yourself.

We had just completed an exercise in which we crafted ledes and nut graphs in a writing exercise for The Spectrum. That was the easy part. But now we had to get up and read them to the class. It was my worst fear.

We went around the room so I knew when it would be my turn. I tried to stay relaxed, but I couldn’t.

I stood up and tried my best to read what I had written. I even began mentally changing words to make it easier.

Nothing worked. No words came out.

I just said, “I’m sorry,” and sat back down. The class proceeded to the next student.

My stutter had gotten the best of me yet again.

I wanted to run out of the

room and never look back. When we broke up for desk meetings, I took my assignment for the week, tried not to say a word to anybody and left the room, unsure if I would ever come back.

Thankfully, I did. And two years later, I became one of the students standing in front of the class. I was the one helping to read examples and lead discussions each Spectrum class as a managing editor.

Journalism taught me that nothing comes easy. I learned the best things in life are the ones you work the hardest for.

The Spectrum became therapeutic.

When I wrote a story, it was my opportunity to say exactly what I wanted to.

I wrote a column based on my stutter, “Finding my own voice.”

I love talking about this piece. I love talking about the support I received from family, friends, Facebook and strangers both on and off campus. If you have a minute to read it, I hope you can find a way to relate.

I’ve always loved writing. But now this is the column I hoped I’d never have to write, but I knew eventually would: My goodbye column.

After being promoted to sports editor last year, I lightened up my course schedule to come back this year. I changed majors after my freshman year and when I decided I wanted to graduate as a communication major with an English minor and the Journalism Certificate, I wouldn’t have been able to work at The Spectrum and get decent enough grades for my parents to not disown me.

But that was fine with me. It

meant I had more time doing what I love – telling stories.

I tell my stories via keyboard.

It’s where I feel most comfortable. I love having the face-toface interactions with the people and then the opportunities share these stories through my entire vocabulary – not only the words I feel easy saying. And sometimes, even include a video package with my voice and on-camera presence.

And I can’t possibly name all the people who have gotten me to this point. From the terrific sports editors I’ve been able to work with, like Joe Konze, Ben Tarhan, Jon Gagnon, I thank you. To my managing editors who have made my work look much better than it really is, like Sara DiNatale (who later became one of the best editor in chiefs I could work for) and Lisa Khoury, I thank you. To my professional teachers, like Jody Kleinberg Biehl (The Spectrum’s faculty adviser), Bruce Andriatch and Keith McShea, I thank you.

I couldn’t believe when I received a tweet from Keith McShea, one of most well-respected sports journalists in Buffalo, asking me if I wanted to cover a high school championship for The Buffalo News (I think we both knew there was no chance I was turning that down). I’ve been able to produce more than five printed stories for The Buffalo News. Thanks, dog.

And to Matt Parrino, who took a stammering kid and convinced him not to give up on his dream and gave me my first internship at The Tonawanda News, I thank you. I’ve never told him this, but when he sat me down on my first

day and we had an open conversation about my stutter, it was a life-changing moment for me.

He told me he’d do whatever he needed to make me feel comfortable. I asked him not to treat me differently than any other intern. And he listened to my request. When he gave me the same responsibilities as the rest of his staff, that’s when I knew I could succeed.

And none of this would have been possible if former Editor in Chief Aaron Mansfield hadn’t given me that initial opportunity at The Spectrum. Honestly, one I was surprised he gave me. We took a journalism ethics class together and when it was my turn to present in front of the class – it didn’t go well.

I had no idea The Spectrum editor in chief was in that class. But once I found out he was, I didn’t know what my chances would be to be put in The Spectrum’s class.

I’ve never asked him why he put me in the class, and honestly, I don’t want to know. I’m just thankful he did.

Without him, there would be no goodbye column.

And to everyone else I’ve ever worked with, you don’t know how much I thank you for every little interaction along the way. I’ve been lucky to work with some of the most talented people on this campus over my last two-and-a-half years.

I can’t name you all because I don’t think this newspaper is big enough.

There are many things I regret during my time at UB. The Spectrum saved me from making more mistakes.

SEE EVOLUTION, PAGE 8

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Friday, December 5, 2014

Katy Perry will always be Hot or Cold: Superbowl Show Preview my “Teenage Dream” Halftime A look into Katy Perry’s 2015

Perry deserves to perform at the 2015 Super Bowl

PRO KENDALL SPAULDING

STAFF WRITER

Let’s be honest, if you’re not a football fan the only interesting part of the Super Bowl is the halftime show.

We all remember in 2012 when Beyoncé further solidified her position as pop music icon by performing a medley of her hits during the Super Bowl halftime. She pulled in a record-estimated 108.41 million viewers according to Nielsan television ratings, making it the third-most-watched program in history behind the Super Bowl in 2011 and 2010.

With the Super Bowl festivities taking place on Feb. 1 at the University of Phoenix Stadium, who else in the galaxy of female pop stars can fill such shoes and rock this year’s Super Bowl halftime?

The only logical answer is Katy Perry.

She’s America’s teenage dream.

In 2008, Perry released her album, One of the Boys that catapulted her into superstardom. The album had singles like “Hot N Cold,” “Waking Up in Vegas” and, of course, “I Kissed a Girl.”

Perry released Teenage Dream in 2010, which earned her seven Grammy Award nominations and massive worldwide appeal.

My favorite song was the title song, “Teenage Dream.”

Most people don’t know this, but in the beginning of my freshmen year at UB, I

even sang it at an open mic on campus.

Yes, I did an acoustic rendition of one the best pop songs in recent years, while being accompanied by a friend on guitar.

Yes, there was an encore performance.

Whether you want to admit it or not, you know these songs. Katy Perry has taken over American pop culture.

We shouldn’t forget that Teenage Dream is the second album in history to have five No. 1 singles. Perry is the first female to reach this level of success – Michael Jackson’s Bad being the other album.

Take that Taylor Swift!

Last year, Perry released her album Prism.

It sold 286,000 copies in its first week. At the time of its release, the album gave her the highest debut that year of a female artist.

Perry’s popularity has been growing. She has been continuously touring the world playing sold out shows and currently has the most Twitter followers, surpassing Taylor Swift, Barack Obama and Justin Bieber.

“Dark Horse” has sold 7.9 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the best selling singles of all time. Almost a year after it was released, “Dark Horse” is still playing on the radio and continues to introduce people to Perry’s music.

I come from a musical family, and growing up, we played all genres of music.

My father bought Prism on a whim, and let me tell you, you’ve made it in the music industry once you can get my dad to sing along to a song like “Birthday.”

When it comes to the Super Bowl halftime show this year, you can bet your money, not on your favorite team, but on Katy Perry getting my dad to dance. She’s ruling the pop stratosphere like few others have.

The people of America are going to see why Katy Perry has earned the opportunity to be among the greats that have performed during Super Bowl halftime shows.

The world is going to be watching a pop superstar, and my teenage dream, claim her title as musical royalty. email: kaspauld@buffalo.edu

Superbowl Halftime Performance

CON KAYLA MENES STAFF WRITER

Katy Perry first appeared on the music charts in 2008 with her track “I Kissed a Girl.” You know the song. I know the song. Your mom knows the song.

Fast forward to present day, after months of speculation as to whether Rihanna, Coldplay or Perry would be performing at the halftime show, the NFL settled on the latter. This February, Perry will be taking the stage for the 49th Superbowl in Glendale, Arizona.

The singer joins the likes of musical superstars Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, U2, The Rolling Stones and Beyoncé that get the crowd jumping for the game.

Here’s the thing: She’s not an icon yet.

All of Perry’s predecessors for the Superbowl Halftime Show have pushed the boundaries of music and improved the landscape of pop culture with artistry that will span across generations.

Katy hasn’t even won a Grammy and relies on grand theater productions to supersede her lack of vocal range – when she’s not appropriating other cultures.

Aside from her lack of superstardom, the singer has a well-documented habit of dressing into caricatures of other ethnicities to push her brand and fails to see the insensitivity behind it.

But her weaker vocal abilities isn’t the

issue: plenty of musicians have become uber-successful with voices that aren’t the strongest, like Superbowl Halftime show alumnae Madonna or Janet Jackson.

The Superbowl Halftime show is a live performance, but not a stranger to using pre-recorded vocals. This decision can make or expose shows – just ask the Red Hot Chili Peppers who performed with Bruno Mars last year. The band made the decision to play along to a track, but was shunned for it.

If Perry decides to use pre-recorded vocals, then she could face the same expulsion.

Like Perry, Bruno Mars is not quite an icon. But he’s off to an illustrious career while she is still searching to leave her mark on the pop world scene.

It’s hard to picture Perry matching Mars’s highest rated Superbowl Halftime show of all time with 115.3 million viewers or exceeding his record.

Perry makes catchy pop tunes, but are they captivating enough to engage the audience in a 10-minute set?

Football fans are going to be hyped from the game and see the countdown to the Halftime show where the stage is most likely going to be set up with cartoon characters, cotton candy and rainbows.

Perry’s whimsical, child-like tour themes and aesthetics honestly seem out of place for a football game.

Performing at the Superbowl indicates an artist’s stamp on today’s music, the music industry, pop culture and making music that resonates with people. Katy Perry has been around for some time now, but a halftime performance is simply premature.

Meanwhile Perry’s lukewarm-hit song “This is How We Do” off her most recent album Prism literally repeats, “It’s no big deal, it’s no big deal, it’s no big deal / This is no big deal” foreshadowing her future performance. email: kaylamen@buffalo.edu

**You have the opportunity to earn 3 MGT or ENG credits and/or commision.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE E-MAIL KEVIN XAISANASY AT KEVIN.XAISANASY@UBSPECTRUM.COM, OR CALL 716-645-8555

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Friday, December 5, 2014

5

GABRIELA JULIA STAFF WRITER In high school, Nnabugwu Ohia-Enyia, a Bronx native, was in the “wrong place at the wrong time.” He got into a fight and was detained for a night by the police.

In April 2010, he was on his way home when he saw his friend get into an altercation with someone. He watched from a distance and decided to intervene once a fight broke out.

Ohia-Enyia attended Saunders Trades and Technical High School. His cousin, Uwaoma Silachi, said the two were close friends in high school and only concerned about girls and music – academics weren’t a big deal to him.

The path he’s following today is much different from the one he was headed down in high school.

“I don’t want to be mediocre, so that fear motivates me,” Ohia-Enyia said.

After high school, Ohia-Enyia said people didn’t expect much from him. Once he came to UB, he wanted to surprise everyone and prove to his friends and family that he had the ability to do better.

Ohia-Enyia, a senior health and human services major, is working toward becoming a doctor, a singer/songwriter and a clothing designer. He is a member of Chi Aplha Epsilon, is completing induction requirements for Sigma Alpha Phi and expects to graduate with honors. Ohia-Enyia volunteered at DeGraff Memorial Hospital and Rockland Psychiatric Center and interns in the ER at Buffalo General Medical Center.

But Ohia-Enyia doesn’t forget about his high school fight. Although the charges were dropped, Ohia-Enyia said the situation taught him to “keep good people around … stay faithful and keep praying.”

His path to college wasn’t smooth.

Ohia-Enyia was supposed to attend St. Thomas Aquinas College for track and field, but wasn’t cleared by NCAA to receive a scholarship because he was missing one required high school course. Instead, he went to Westchester Community College and transferred to UB after a year. He wanted to run track but decided to explore other options.

He still wasn’t sure what he wanted to be.

Ohia-Enyia worked at a pharmacy when he was home in Yonkers, so he came to UB as an intended pharmacy major.

Ohia-Enyia’s rebellious teenage years led into a few years of too much freedom at UB. He said he got into “the wrong things” and received his lowest GPA during his sophomore year.

He knew he needed to turn things around.

Growing up, Ohia-Enyia’s parents stressed the “typical Nigerian story” of be-

Revamping his story UB student aims to connect with people through medicine and music

EMILY LI, THE SPECTRUM

Nnabu Ohia-Enyia, a senior health and human services major, is on the path to becoming a doctor, but he’s making a few pit stops at music and fashion. All of his interests require drive, passion and perseverance - qualities his family and friends say he has in abundance.

coming a doctor to him, but he wasn’t sure if that was what he wanted. He turned to fashion and music as creative outlets.

But he sees a connection between his three interests. Music, fashion and medicine are all about helping others feel good about themselves.

“I do all of this for the people,” OhiaEnyia said. “I love making people feel good about him or herself.”

Ohia-Enyia’s parents sang in the church choir, and being surrounded by gospel and the piano inspired Ohia-Enyia to follow in their footsteps.

Ohia-Enyia taught himself how to play the piano last semester. He doesn’t read music and just “plays whatever sounds right.”

He joined the church choir and joined a

LIBERTY YELLOW

gospel quintet called “Blessed” with Silachi in 2009.

When the members of the quintet went off to college, Silachi and Ohia-Enyia decided to produce their own music. They formed the group NuzzCrew with friend Justin Johnson. During Ohia-Enyia’s junior year, the group came out with their first mixed tape, “Tuned Poetry.”

“When I first told people to listen, I didn’t say that it was me so that I could get an honest reaction,” he said.

The group wanted to create “neutral music that anyone could relate to.”

Ohia-Enyia blends R&B and African music with a contemporary rhythm. NuzzCrew draws inspiration from Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Kirk Franklin and Kanye West.

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He released seven songs on SoundCloud six months ago that he was working on for more than a year. He plans on writing and recording more songs for a new mix tape this winter.

His creative flow also extends past the microphone and to the sewing machine.

Last winter, he wanted to create a fashion line and started working on it over the summer. So far, his line has appeared in fashion shows at Niagara University, University at Albany and Dallas, Texas.

“My style is an innovation of NigerianIgbo culture with an urban twist attractive to all age groups,” he said.

He takes pre-orders but said it can be difficult to fulfill the orders because making clothing is a slow process. He sews and designs all the garments himself.

Emmanuel Nortey, a senior health and human services, mental health and occupational therapy major and a close friend of Ohia-Enyia’s since freshmen year, said Ohia-Enyia’s style is “cultural and fashionable and people love it.”

Ohia-Enyia brings his love of fashion to campus and works as secretary of the Fashion Student Association. Ohia-Enyia said the club’s goal is to “show people that [fashion is] not what you wear but who are.” He wants students to embrace their individuality through fashion at UB. Although Ohia-Enyia likes creating music and fashion, he said his true passion lies in medicine.

“I want to see him go to med school and become a doctor,” Nortey said. “He’s not even using his full potential and he’s accomplished so much.”

Ohia-Enyia hopes to be a pediatrician someday because he likes working with children, even if they’re not being totally truthful.

“A little kid came into the ER with a fever and was coughing like crazy,” he said.

“When I was doing his pre-vitals he just stopped coughing and acted like he wasn’t sick anymore.”

As an intern at Buffalo General, he works in the triage unit, escorting patients to their rooms and checking their vitals.

Like music and fashion, Ohia-Enyia sees medicine as a way to connect with people.

Whether it’s being a doctor, a fashion designer or a singer, Ohia-Enyia’s interests take dedications and perseverance.

“He doesn’t stop,” Silachi said. “He continues to grind until he gets what he wants.”

Along the path to becoming a doctor, Ohia-Enyia may make some pit stops with music and fashion, but his friends and family have no doubt he will push on and rewrite the story set before him since childhood.

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6

CLETUS EMOKPAE, THE SPECTRUM

Dr. Kushal Bhardwaj’s popular class, Hip Hop and Social Issues manages to attract students for hours after the three hour class is over. The freestyle sessions after each class often end when the janitors come to clean the room at midnight.

Hip-hop enlightenment Dr. Kushal Bhardwaj uses hip-hop to change educational climate JAMES BATTLE STAFF WRITER

The last thing many students want to do on their weeknights is attend a three-hour class. Few students would consider staying an extra two hours after that class ends.

But some students are so captivated by what they learned in one UB class that they stay even later just to reflect on it. Enter Dr. Kushal Bhardwaj’s AMS 111 class: HipHop and Social Issues.

“Hip-hop is a tool for informing and educating,” said Bhardwaj, who is better known as Dr. B. “I hope to share this tool through intellectual and spiritual discovery.”

On Thursday nights, the circle-shaped Baldy 101 classroom is transformed from a lecture space to a forum with guided instruction.

Don’t be fooled, students are there to learn, and Bhardwaj expects to be respected.

The circular classroom has the desks oriented in a circle facing inwards. Dr. B is the nucleus of the classroom.

As the clock hits 7 p.m., cellphones are stowed away, and chatter is cut short.

A booming phrase comes from a singular source: Bhardwaj. “AGO!” he bellows.

“AME!” is shouted back in unison by the class. The phrase is Swahili. AGO (ahgo), meaning “May I have your attention?”

AME (ah-may), meaning “You may have my attention.”

Attention is all Dr. B needs. He is in command.

The students are locked in, and Bhardwaj begins to work. “Are there any newcomers,” Bhardwaj asks the class, much like a pastor may ask his congregation. A few hands are raised. “What’s your name, and who are you here with,” he probes.

Bhardwaj allows students who aren’t enrolled in the class to attend his lectures, as long as they have an enrolled classmate vouch for them. Although they don’t

have to submit papers and won’t receive a grade, Dr. B still treats them like regular students, and they must still observe classroom rules and procedures as well as participate.

Bhardwaj believes that people in higher education, whether they are instructors or not, are a product of their teachers. His colleagues and former instructors emphasized concepts of making classrooms a “learning community,” that lectures should generate thought and that peaceful discussion between students should be facilitated in class. And finally, students should find their voice and participate in a supportive environment.

“How these professors have taught and informed me has influenced how I teach my students,” Bhardwaj said. “The aim of my class is to not only get the material, but a broader understanding.”

This goal is completed in a few ways.

One, for example, is to encourage every student to participate as much as possible.

There’s more to truly attending a class than just being present, according to Bhardwaj.

“The thing with a lot of students today, is that they’re comfortable paying tuition but not attention,” he said. “My class is unsettling for people who come to class for the transaction. It’s not about the transaction, it’s about the interaction.”

As the name would suggest, hip-hop is the central theme of the course. Dr. B plays songs for the group and has students annotate a sheet with lyrics, then read some of the more gripping and thought-provoking passages.

The class’ TAs rush around the room, making sure everyone in class is listening to the song and annotating their papers. One of Dr. B’s TAs takes her position as a teaching assistant more serious than most. Problem students would be smart not to cross her.

Deidree Golbourne, a sophomore African and African-American studies and his-

A new shift

AMANDA LOW

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

When I was younger, I wanted to be a scientist, a reporter and a basketball player.

And even though I am good at free throws, I knew I would always end up choosing one path.

But I never thought one childhood desire would lead me to one of the best decisions I made at UB. Before The Spectrum, I was unmotivated and stagnant. I felt myself melting slowly into the masses of UB. There were many days for two years of an endless cycle with going to class, coming back to my dorm and lying in bed wondering what I was doing here.

I had joined a few clubs, but none of them made me feel passionate. I missed feeling passionate and feeling like I could contribute to something bigger than myself.

The Spectrum helped me to reclaim some life back to me after swimming in gray for

two years.

Sometimes, I’ll think back to the steps that led me to that office in the back halls of the Student Union.

If I hadn’t decided to stay at the table in Pistachios – If one of the girls hadn’t mentioned she used to work for The Spectrum – If she hadn’t said “Why not?” when I said I thought about joining – If I hadn’t felt like indulging my childhood career aspirations – I wouldn’t have gone down to SU 132 that day to meet Sam Fernando, who told me he was also previously an engineer who switched to a completely different route.

I’m not blind to the infinite possibilities that led me to The Spectrum, but the moments that led to meeting my future senior editor really sticks out. I had found something to immerse myself in and I was fascinated by the stories that floated in and out of the office.

Despite my younger self staring at the TV imagining being a reporter, I was not planning on going into journalism when I took my first story last fall.

It’s going to feel foreign stepping onto campus next semester and not heading straight for the innards of SU. But that office, filled with passionate and creative people, has permanently stamped itself into my memories.

Sara, I can’t thank you enough for your patience this semester. Seriously. I’m going to miss looking over and seeing you burst out of the ME office. I’m waiting for the day I see your name in big print.

Rachel and Alyssa, your help with everything has been invaluable. You two are not only going to kill it with next semester, but

tory major, is the TA in question.

“I took his class last year, and I knew that he was looking for a TA, so I sort of hounded him about it,” Golbourne said.

Golbourne attributed her dedication to the class to her love and fascination for hiphop and social activism. She also credited Dr. B and his class for turning her into the woman she is today.

“He watched me grow from being the loud, angry black woman in his class, to the progressive ‘want to change people in this country’ type of person,” Golbourne said.

“I definitely feel that he helped tunnel my anger into something positive.”

The songs played to the class were all commentaries on the violent social structures of the ghetto. When one in particular, “Dance with the Devil,” by Immortal Technique, leaves the class silent, the professor utters a phrase rarely heard in his classroom.

“If no one raises their hand soon, I’ll have to call on someone myself.”

Finally a few hands sprout upwards.

Bhardwaj assigns people numbers in the order in which they raise their hands.

“What do you got?” Bhardwaj asks again with excitement. “Hold on, I have it written down,” a student said. The response has Bhardwaj literally dancing with joy.

“Now, do you guys see the point of writing things down,” Bhardwaj asked. “You guys are so afraid of your pens. You might have an amazing idea; you could have the topic of your master’s thesis, but you lost it because you didn’t write it down.”

Bhardwaj makes it his personal goal to make sure that his students become better learners.

After the class is scheduled to end, a few students stick around for “afterhours.” The environment is much more informal than the class. The desks are pushed closer inwards to form an even smaller circle. Dr. B isn’t on the inside in these sessions. He sits at one of the desks with his students. There is an even greater sense of community pres-

with life. You guys have the attitudes of sassy rock stars. The sign you both made me is definitely going into my official book of nostalgic stuff.

Owen, good luck with all that you do. I remember reading your profiles as a staff writer last semester and enjoying every last word.

Chad and Jackie, your passion inspires me to pursue my own dreams. I never met anyone else with as much drive for photography as you two, and that really holds a special place in my heart. Please never lose that.

Thanks for indulging my donut obsession, Chad. I may never get the chance to pose with a pastry again and I have you to thank for that. Jackie, I’m going to miss hearing my name yelled from across the room, just for a hello. Juan, I like our insights into each other’s lives as you film me being awkward, even if you forget where I’m from every time.

Jenna, the girl who danced away at The U while I tried my best to follow suit, I’m going to miss your free spirit and sincerity.

Emma, have I told you I love your outfit today? I apologize if I seem like I want to steal your closet, because it’s true. You just exude dame, and you own it.

Sushmita, I remember hearing you speak for the first time in Critelli’s class and thinking how intelligent you were, and then I had the chance to find out how much you are a genuine person. Sharon, I can’t imagine how you balance everything, but you do it effortlessly.

Andy, while everything seems hectic, you always seem to still have the best smile on.

Jordan, I still owe you a coffee, but thank you for all your help through the awkward introductions.

Tom, I still like Tim better. But seriously, you manage to make me laugh every day, which is the best thing someone can do in my opinion. I have no doubt you are going to do amazing next semester, but you al-

Friday, December 5, 2014

ent throughout the room.

Afterhours give students the opportunity to discuss what was covered in class in more depth and introduces other social, political and even musical issues the students may have. It doesn’t have an end time per say, the group usually disbands when the custodial staff arrives to clean around midnight.

One attendee isn’t enrolled in the class, but has only missed two classes and attends afterhours every time he’s present.

Like many who take Dr. B’s class, Tevaine Whyte, an undecided freshman, found that taking Bhardwaj’s class has changed his views on a lot of things, especially with his African-American roots.

“This class has honestly given me a new perspective on myself as a person, and has given me a sense of history I didn’t really have when I was growing up,” Whyte said.

“As soon as I came to Dr. B’s class he gave me a much stronger connection [with my history]. He started off the class by saying ‘Sankofa,’ which means ‘go to the source and fetch,’ which basically means to go back to your roots.”

Whyte said that when he started going back to his roots and researching these movies and films and different activist movements, they helped pave his way as a student. He said he “really felt a sense of connection.”

As a freshman, Whyte feels this is the first class that has helped define himself as an individual.

Another after-hours regular has grown up around hip-hop his whole life, and is fascinated that such a rich and engaging course can be given on something he’s so in love with.

“When [Dr. B] drops some hip-hop knowledge about something that might be so elementary to me, it’s so cool to see how it sticks with the kids who may not be as ‘hip-hop-centric,’” said Robbin Murray, a senior mathematics major. “It just reminds me that there’s so much we each have to learn about each other, and it happens so often in the course. It’s crazy how something so simple to one person may be so complex to another.”

Students who take his class rave about the instruction, as well as the engaging educational atmosphere, but Bhardwaj and his beloved class isn’t without criticism.

“Some people think that my class will be easy, per say,” Bhardwaj said. “That they can just memorize facts and not participate and be OK. Learning is so much more than memorization.”

He has also had students accuse him of being mean. But he argues, “Just because I’m engaging doesn’t mean I’m mean.”

Using hip-hop as a focal point allows Bhardwaj’s class to not only be informative but relatable, which may be why so many students use the class discussions to participate on a personal level.

It is because of the personal discussions in class that often times, Dr. B tries to stray away from facilitating arguments.

“I don’t really like the term ‘argue’,” Bhardwaj said. “This is because people are more concerned with winning an argument than to come to an understanding.”

It’s difficult enough for teachers to get their students to show up for class. But for Dr. B, it’s sometimes more difficult to get them to leave. email: arts@ubspectrum.com

ready knew that.

Brian, trial week almost seems like it didn’t happen, but we were very close to sharing a desk. You have a wicked sense of humor. Wear that pin proudly, high fashion.

Tori, you are a sweet girl who also has a sick sense of style.

Jordan, we’ve both come a long way together. Stay sane, pri-pri.

While last semester seems too long ago, I owe so much to Sam and Mads, last year’s news desk. You guys know how much I value your friendships. Throughout this semester, you still kept me going even though I didn’t reach out to you as much as I wanted.

My GG and Salaami – my team and support this semester. Giselle and Samaya, my editors, I already have a hard time expressing myself, but you two make it even harder because it is not even possible in the first place to show how you guys made this semester the best it could be.

You two kept me sane when everything seemed like it was falling apart.

Giselle, I love the moments when I see witty Giselle come out. You are smarter than you think you are, so stop saying otherwise. You’re the only remnant of our little desk left, but I can’t think of a better person to keep Tommy in check.

Samaya, the adorable fireball: Please leave a trail of cereal to UMass for Giselle and I to follow. Your passion will lead you to bigger places than I can imagine. It seems like nothing is a barrier for you, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

It doesn’t feel like I am saying goodbye because I’ll still be a couple steps away from the office next semester.

But my momentum is going to shift, and I’m not going to ever have it again like this past year-and-a-half. But I know I’ll bring the experiences and relationships with me to throw myself into a new path. email: news@ubspectrum.com

ubspectrum.com

Friday, December 5, 2014

7

The Proles: A lesson in how to rock and roll

Alex Buttler, Eric Madia, Tim O’Donnell, Nicholas Oddo and Raul McGee (left to right in order of appearance) have found local success as The Proles, playing at venues, like the The Forvm and the Tralf.

COURTESY OF JOE MALAK

BRIAN WINDSCHITL ARTS EDITOR

In their formative days, The Proles practiced in a tiny, crammed bedroom. They had to haul all of their gear up to the second floor and then somehow find enough space in the room to practice, while also keeping their noise level reasonable. The guitarists sat on the bed for the session, and the drummer played with nothing but a couple pots and pans, and a few recentlyemptied Labatt bottles.

Now, The Proles, in their small, 12x15 basement studio, have just enough thrashing space for their band practices. But, even with two guitarists, a lead singer, bassist and drummer (with a complete drum set), The Proles’ modest basement seems like stadium compared to their early practice space.

The five-man band is comprised of Alex Buttler* on lead guitar, Tim O’Donnell as lead singer, Nicholas Oddo on bass, Raul McGee on backup guitar and Eric Madia on drums. The group of students met through UB Jam Club and UB Rugby.

Today, the members of The Proles are exploring their limitations as a band, as they try to convert from a casual cover group into a more substantive musical presence. They have found continual hardships in the journey to discover their own style and successfully book shows. But despite their struggles, The Proles are a testament to the fact that a love of music is the most important part of any band.

Formation Four of the five members are UB students, Buttler, O’Donnell, Oddo and McGee, a business senior, civil engineering junior, political science junior and physics junior, respectively. Madia is a senior at D’Youvile College majoring in exercise and sports studies.

Although the four UB students met though UB Rugby, the band was not born on the field. The Proles were baptized in the traditional rock ‘n’ roll manner – with alcohol and loud music.

It all began when, during a drunken conversation at a party in the fall of 2013, Buttler and O’Donnell realized they liked the same music and both played instruments.

They discussed the possibility of forming a band together, inspired by their alcoholdriven ambitions.

Quickly, the pair discovered their ideas weren’t as lofty as they thought – quite the opposite. The two pieced together a band in a matter of weeks.

In the following weeks, Buttler and O’Donnell did some recruiting for their venture.

Madia, the band’s drummer, was scouted for his potential – the Led Zeppelin tattoo on his arm being enough for O’Donnell to ask him if he wanted to join.

McGee, whom O’Donnell knew could play the guitar, was invited as well.

The four met a few times to get to know each other and test each other’s musical abilities.

“In the beginning, we just got together and jammed a bit,” Buttler said. “The chemistry was good and we realized that we were all good musicians, but we needed a bassist.”

They posted on the UB Jam Club on Facebook, “classic rock lovers need a bassist.”

Five seconds later, Oddo, a UB sophomore at the time, responded, “I’m so down.”

They met, they jammed and The Proles were born.

The early days Currently, the band is named The Proles, after the impoverished social class in George Orwell’s novel, 1984. But in the early days, The Proles humorously called themselves: Fully Torqued.

The transition between the two names came through the gradual process of maturing as a band – from comedic to symbolic.

The early days were exciting, but also the most difficult.

“The earliest days were a little rough,” Madia said. “[We had to] get a feel for everybody’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as style.”

Individually, all were talented musicians, but as a band, Fully Torqued was still very

TIM

O’DONNELL

Exploring the journey of one band’s path to musical maturity

ERIC MADIA

PHOTOS BY CHAD COOPER, THE SPECTRUM

young. It just needed time to grow – a fact the members of Fully Torqued were more than aware of.

“Before we did anything, we had to figure out our dynamic,” McGee said.

Additionally, between a lack of a drumset, a usable practice space and the privacy needed to play really loud music undisturbed for numerous hours, the band struggled to make any music beyond just playful jam sessions.

Despite the early complexities, however, the band was determined to keep things easy-going.

Practices were casual; they were dedicated to jamming and playfully learning whatever covers they wanted to play, and sessions usually involved cracking a few beers here and there.

The first real hurdle came when the band was offered their first live show at a Buffalo Bills tailgate.

It was a perfect way for the group to test themselves and see how committed they were to their craft. They were nervous about the gig because they were missing guitarist McGee due to an extreme hangover and drummer Madia dealing with a torn meniscus from rugby.

“After the first song, we just lost ourselves and rocked the house,” Madia said.

ALEX BUTTLER

NICHOLAS ODDO

RAUL MCGEE Given the 45 years of music playing experience between the band members, their natural stage presence is not surprising.

Buttler and Oddo were in bands before as well.

Over the course of a year-and-a-half, they continued to play live shows in many local venues like The Forvm, The Tralf, Kissing Bridge, Porchfest on Elmwood Avenue and at Broadway Joe’s.

Still, even informally, Fully Torqued’s musical résumé grew to include a wide range of classic rock bands and songs.

The band said they honed their talent by covering some of the most iconic rock groups in history: Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Third Eye Blind, Semisonic, The Beatles and Black Sabbath.

One of their favorite songs to play – even still – is Black Sabbath’s rock anthem “War Pigs.”

But “as we developed as musicians, so did our music,” O’Donnell said.

And, gradually, the band began to focus on playing their own original music, rather than covering songs.

Still, the band says the change from casual to serious was a slow one.

Finding a voice As the band started to realize their own potential, they began to focus on finding

their own style, which meant moving beyond their cover band roots.

With their handful of cover songs and a few newly minted originals, Fully Torqued rebranded themselves as The Proles.

The members of the band said they felt this transition was liberating; the band was able to channel all of its creative energy into finding its own musical identity.

The covers started to disappear, replaced by a budding punk-rock group with hints of blues and hard rock.

Each of the members brought something new to the group.

One day it would be O’Donnell coming in with lyrics for a new song and the next, Buttler and McGee would make the guitar parts to accompany the words.

Oddo would make up a bass line and Madia would think up his drum part to tie it all together.

“Everyone builds off of each other creatively,” O’Donnell said. “Everyone brings something to the table.”

Their steady practice and creativity is starting to show – they have a repertoire of almost 20 original songs.

“It was a natural progression,” Oddo said. “You can’t start a band and immediately make original music when you don’t know each other.”

Two of the band’s favorite songs are “Find Out For Myself ” and “I’ll Get By.” These tracks, O’Donnell said, are a testament to the band’s impeccable creative chemistry.

“Raul [McGee] came up with the main riff,” O’Donnell said. “I started singing some lyrics that I had written already, but they fit perfectly. And Nick came up with the bridge [for bass] that really adds depth to the song.”

“Find Out For Myself,” a hard-hitting, bluesy punk rock song, highlights the band’s strengths with its punchy guitar riffs, clanging cymbals and smooth bass line.

On the other side, “I’ll Get By,” shows the band’s softer side, with a more melancholic feel highlighting the band’s dynamics.

Their combination of blues and punk rock, the band says, is the best fit for their own style, both individually and as a group.

Phil Laugeman, a senior civil and environmental engineering major, said the shift in the band’s music was evident.

Their show at The Tralf was the best concert Laugeman has seen the band play he said.

“It was the first time they got to show off a lot of their new material,” Laugeman said. “At first all they did were covers but now they have some really amazing originals.”

The “Future” In some ways, the band feels limited due to time.

Buttler, a senior at UB, will graduate this year and search for “a job in the real world, unless [The Proles] make it big.”

And sure, it’s always a possibility, Buttler said, but mainstream success is not The Proles’ main focus. Instead, they’re working toward playing at some of Buffalo’s top local venues, like Town Ballroom and Buffalo Iron Works.

But the process of getting live shows is not easy, O’Donnell said.

A venue will rarely hire a small band without the promise of a crowd, or at least some publicity.

“Buffalo has a killer music scene,” O’Donnell said. “But if [the promoter] has never heard of you, they will give you lip service, but never get back to you.”

Beyond getting the odd show here and there, the band feels the pressure to create something they can call their own, to leave their own musical legacy.

The band has plans to record a fulllength album to accompany their self-titled EP, which they put out for free on the indie-band-friendly site, Bandcamp.

But above all else, the band is just enjoying the ride.

Despite their booking struggles and hazy future, the members of the band are still wise enough recognize their good fortune.

They say they have two things many bands will recognize as extraordinary and essential commodities: chemistry and creativity.

And these things, combined with their love of music, have taken them on an incredible journey.

The Proles have come from being a casual cover band to having almost 20 of their own original songs. They have played all over Buffalo, including The Tralf, the Forvm and Broadway Joe’s, over a single year.

The Proles never thought that they were going to be the biggest, most famous rock group out there – but they are a living testament to where some beers and a love of rock ‘n’ roll can take you. *Full disclosure: Alex Buttler is a member of The Spectrum’s ad staff. email: arts@ubspectrum.com

Friday, December 5, 2014 ubspectrum.com

8

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Continued from A celebration of voice evolution, page 3 UB Voice Studio’s Fall Recital puts student classical singers on display

UB Voice Studio’s Fall Recital was filled with Krista Seddon’s (left) piano melodies accompanying the performances of students, like Daniel Rotshteyn’s (right), a first-year graduate student working in chemistry, who sang a song by George Handel.

CLETUS EMOKPAE, THE SPECTRUM

DANIEL MCKEON

STAFF WRITER

Although famous composers such as Franz Schubert and Sergei Rachmaninoff have long been gone, their music was brought to life at UB. Six students performed the classical vocal melodies of these composers plus others at UB Voice Studio’s Fall Recital in the Baird Recital Hall on Wednesday afternoon. The students showcased songs they had been learning all semester under Tony Arnold, an associate professor of music focusing on vocal performance.

“It is wonderful to see and hear the development of the students throughout the year,” said Krista Seddon, a pianist who provided accompaniment for the singers. “Performing for a live audience is the true test of a person’s strength and musicianship and each rose to the occasion beautifully.”

Each student performed several solo pieces on various emotions and in different languages.

French songs of love, Italian songs of

admiration and English songs of sorrow were featured amongst the array of musical pieces.

Michael Fiorica, a freshman English major, sang three songs, each in a different language. “Lachen und Weinen,” a German song, which translates to “Laughter and Weeping,” captured the two different extremes of human emotion – joy and sorrow.

“The most difficult part about singing in foreign languages is having enough of an understanding of the text to communicate the appropriate emotional affect to the audience,” Fiorica said.

The recital began with Elisabeth Klimek, a music history major, performing four pieces by Maurice Ravel. Afterward, Fiorica performed his three pieces by Franz Schubert, John Dowland and George Handel.

Four songs by Handel and Shumann followed Fiorica’s performance; two by Te-An Chen, a sophomore biological sciences major, and two by James Bobak, a junior music composition major.

Katherine Sparks, a senior health

and human services major, performed three pieces by Giuseppe Verdi, Ernest Chausson and Henry Purcell. The recital concluded with Daniel Rotshteyn’s, a first-year graduate student working in chemistry, performance of songs by George Handel, Gian Menotti and Sergei Rachmaninoff.

All of the performers who were taught

by Arnold said they benefitted from her instruction.

“Arnold has been so helpful in teaching me to really incorporate my entire being into my singing to provide a very moving experience for the audience,” Bobak said.

Arnold uses unorthodox, yet effective teaching methods to help her students, according to Fiorica. She tends to focus on visualization techniques.

Arnold often had students sing to a water bottle as if it was someone they loved or hated, helping them to convey the song’s emotion.

“She focuses on singing as communication and wants to ensure you know that when you’re singing, you’re singing to someone,” Fiorica said.

Arnold also has her students sing while kneeling, swaying or in various positions to strengthen their breathing and allow for better performances.

Rotshetyn described Arnold as “a mixture or Yoda and Mr. Miyagi.”

This blend of characters, along with Arnold’s teachings helped the student performers, who are united in their passion for music, despite their various backgrounds, majors and ambitions.

“Biology will be my profession and singing will always be my passion,” Chen said.

Unlike Chen, Sparks plans to use her love for music to help others. She wants to use “music and other performing arts to help kids from struggling and broken homes.”

The passion behind the music fueled a semester of work for these students, culminating in Wednesday’s performance.

“Magic happens with a live audience,” Seddon said, and the recital brought that magic to UB. email: arts@ubspectrum.com

I can’t begin to describe what this newspaper has done for me. Whether you respect college journalism and The Spectrum or not, I don’t think you’ll find a harder working organization on campus.

No matter what I do for the rest of my life, I will have The Spectrum to thank for it. This paper took a terrified, undecided (if we are being honest, unmotivated) junior in college and turned him into a 22-year-old with actual life skills.

I also want to thank all the people who have questioned me. All the people who when I say I write for The Spectrum snicker back at me. All the hurdles I’ve had to jump chasing stories have only made me a stronger person.

For the first time in my life, I have a dream.

I have direction. I have supporters and I have doubters. You need both to truly succeed.

And lastly, I thank my parents. My parents and whole family who have shockingly only pushed me to follow my dreams of journalism – one of the most competitive and rapidly changing (some would say fading, I’d argue that) fields in the world.

To everyone my age reading this, I hope you have either found or will find what you want to do in college. Before The Spectrum, I didn’t know if I would.

When I wrote “Finding my own voice,” I knew I wanted to be involved with journalism, but I was still hesitant. Now, I know this is what I want to do. I know this is what I’m capable of doing.

It may be kind of cliché, but it’s true: The biggest person getting in the way of you and your dreams is yourself. I didn’t originally write for The Spectrum because I thought my stutter would be too much to overcome as a reporter. Thankfully, everyone around me felt differently.

That’s the legacy I want to leave behind.

Don’t restrain yourself. And if something scares you half to death, you should probably give it a shot. I’m proof of that.

I am still the same person who stood up in class and couldn’t get a word out. My stutter may always be a part of me. But it will no longer define me.

Thank you everyone who has supported me over the years. Thank you for following and please, continue to read. I have to say goodbye to The Spectrum but not to journalism. Keep dreaming. Keep living. Keep reading. This chapter’s over but the story’s not. email: owen.obrien@ubspectrum.com

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Friday, December 5, 2014

9

Pursuing a passion UB student makes strides in the Buffalo music scene

COURTESY OF AIDAN MCMANUS

King Of The Moon, Aidan McManus’s solo band, has been gaining recognition in the Buffalo area by playing his ambient-alternative inspired music in larger venues like Sportsmen Tavern, The Hard Rock Café in Niagara Falls and The Waiting Room.

AUSTIN STEINBACH

STAFF WRITER

Guitars and cases hang throughout Aidan McManus’ house in the Elmwood Village. Speakers for gigs are stored in his garage. His third floor features a professional recording studio.

After one walk through his home, it’s hard to miss his family’s passion.

McManus, a sophomore English major, doesn’t keep his aspirations to himself. As a musician, songwriter and aspiring tattoo artist, he is constantly drafting his ideas to life, whether it is on a piece of paper or through his guitar and voice.

King Of The Moon, his solo band, has been gaining recognition in the Buffalo area by playing ambient-alternative-inspired music in larger venues like Sportsmen Tavern, The Hard Rock Café in Niagara Falls and the Waiting Room.

He has collaborated with Richie English, a composer who has worked with billboard charting artists like the Goo Goo Dolls.

But for McManus, music is more than just playing instruments and recording songs. It’s a way to connect his inspired mind to the physical world.

“Lyrics can help people understand things that aren’t easily understood, interpreting thoughts and feelings in a way that might not have come easily,” McManus said. “It was the process of watching my favorite artists pour their heart and soul into their craft.”

This has inspired McManus to continue pursing his goals, and he said, “to be quite honest, that desire hasn’t stopped growing.”

Music runs in his blood. His father played under the name Geno McManus for a variety of bands like The Lfs, Stoneflower and Million Dollar Trio. Geno was recently inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.

“There’s plenty of pictures of me as a baby crawling around among guitars with him,” McManus said. “I was just always around it.”

At age 14, he began writing his own music. The lyrics, beats and instrumentals are all a product of ideas he’s been perfecting since he was a child. While he continues to develop his style and techniques, he often finds himself continuing to perfect some of his older work today.

“As a musician, I have a vision for how I want the song to sound,” McManus said.

“I hear it in my head. I think my biggest problem is that I can’t stop until it sounds perfect.”

Geno said he couldn’t be more proud of his son’s success.

“He’s a natural musician and songwriter,” Geno said. “He just continues to get better on his own pace and terms.”

Last summer, the father-son duo opened for a Canadian band, Lowest of the Low. The two played at an after-party in the Waiting Room after Lowest of the Low had finished their concert at the Harbor.

“As a parent, you are always proud of the things your kids do,” Geno said. “But as a musician parent, to be able to share a stage and share the live experience was nothing short of a dream come true.”

McManus said playing with his father felt like coming “full circle” with his childhood experiences.

“Playing on stage with my father was surreal,” McManus said. “I had seen him play as a kid so many times, in person and in photographs. I had always been a part of the audience. To be up on stage with the man who bought my first guitar, it was enlightening.”

He describes moments like these as the

reasons he truly loves music. But one particular moment trumped them all, when he played his first larger venue backed by his own band.

The first time McManus played with his band was at the Sportsmen Tavern when he opened for his father’s band. He said when he got on stage and saw all the people in the audience, he was “amazed and inspired.”

“When I played the first song, everyone was quiet and paying attention to the music I created,” McManus said. “It was an incredible feeling.”

He said before the show, he stood in front of the crowd of more than 300 people and took a selfie, capturing the moment he’d never forget.

“I’ve been performing for 24 years and have performed with and seen some pretty legendary musicians,” Geno said. “But to be able to look at the stage and see my kid and the audience’s reaction trumps all of it.”

Mitch Krumm, a sophomore graphic design major and a friend of McManus, attended the show at the Sportsmen Tavern to support his friend. He had heard small portions of his music before, but was in awe of the concert’s turnout.

“I couldn’t believe at how many people were there to see his band,” Krumm said.

“As an artist myself, I couldn’t imagine that feeling of appreciation. And he deserves it.”

McManus said his biggest influences in his life have been his family, who has supported him and his father through all their musical endeavors. He honors his mother’s dedication with a tattoo of a coffee cup sporting her name with a heart and arrow design on his inner arm.

“All music aside, I have a large, and incredibly supportive family, and that sort of energy just helps beyond what words can describe,” McManus said.

When McManus goes on stage, looks out into the crowd and sees his family’s familiar faces, all his nerves dissipate.

McManus said the process of creating his visions through music feels “somewhere between pride and ecstasy.”

With professional promotional photos, a small tour, an extended production and a full album entitled “This Too Shall Pass” in the works, he aspires to a professional recording artist.

“I get this idea in my head on how I want everything to be, and once that happens, the rest of the process is just putting that vision into music,” McManus said. email: news@ubspectrum.com

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10

“If music be the food of love, play on”

Friday, December 5, 2014

From one Amherst to another

Disregard the quote’s context, music and love are inseparable

EMMA JANICKI SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR I’m sure many a card writer at Hallmark has sought to use that quote to capture book nerds and quote junkies at Valentine’s Day and while the following lines, “Give me the excess of it; that surfeiting, / The appetite may sicken, and so die,” negate the happy tone most people associate with it, the first message certainly has meaning and truth.

Music, in any form, any genre, played by anyone, brings people together in a unified celebration of human creation – EDM lovers rave about their “family,” rude boys and girls link arms and skank together and teeny boppers will wait in line together for hours to meet a pop star.

But music’s part in falling in love, being in love and staying in love is perhaps the most special of all its roles.

Sunday morning, as my boyfriend of nearly five years and I got ready for a day of Christmas shopping, I put Tim Armstrong’s solo album “A Poet’s Life” in my record player. I pulled Dylan onto the dance floor, aka our living room floor, and we joined hands into a two-step.

Today, we bond over shared music interests – we both love punk rock and ska and detest pop punk, pop and country.

Dylan is the best dancing partner and we sing to our favorite songs together. We’ve gone to numerous shows together and epically missed his favorite band, Rancid, in Albany because he trusted me and never checked the dates on the tickets himself.

It’s no wonder couples have “their song” – but we have too many to count.

From lovey-dovey ones like “Without You” by the Mad Caddies and “Who Would’ve Thought” by Rancid to our jam songs like “Take ‘Em All” by Cock Sparrer to singing anything by Bayside together or skanking hand in hand at a Slackers show, music plays a major role in our love for each other.

But music has been so much more than just favorite songs for us. Music expresses love but it also helps love evolve.

One morning during my freshman year of high school, I was waiting to leave the “band room” at the end of class and in walked this skinny, dark-haired guy in tight jeans, carrying a trombone case.

And that was it.

I was only 15 and he was just 16, but we’ve been deeply connected since that day.

Since then, music has been part of every step of our relationship, from falling in love while playing together in school ensembles, to learning what we love about each other by uncovering our similar music interests, to staying and growing in love by dancing together.

A year or so after we first met, a close friend and I were hanging out with Dylan when he pulled out one of his guitars. He hooked it into the red, retro-style Epiphone amp he had at the time and started playing Bayside’s “Blame it on Bad Luck,” singing, and looking directly at me. Maybe not the most romantic song, but I still swoon thinking about it.

Within our first year of dating, I signed us up for ballroom dance lessons, and no, Dylan did not protest. He was probably more excited about them than I was. Of course it was a little awkward at first, but we learned to fox trot and waltz alongside couples at least twice our age (we tend to be the youngest couple and most things we go to, like local jazz concerts or to see The English Beat, a massively popular ska band of the ’80s).

Just before going – and failing – to see Rancid in Albany, we spent the day exploring the state capital; no maps and no tour guide brochures. We hiked through the pine bush trails, camped for the night – one of the children at the site across from us pulled out her cello at 10 a.m. to practice – ate at PF Chang’s and had a damn good five-hour drive home, listening to Rancid, talking and taking in the scenery.

Music is one thing we’ve always agreed on and I haven’t cringed listening to “his” music since high school, when bands like The Acacia Strain made a few too many appearances on his Zune – yeah, no iPods in this household. Hardcore and metal were second to his love of punk rock and ska back then.

Music speaks to our desires, our passions and our emotions in ways that language alone cannot.

From that first moment in the band room, I should’ve known – and maybe I did – that music and my love for Dylan would be as inseparable as we are.

In the words of Tim Armstrong, “Who would’ve thought that dreams come true / and who would’ve thought I’d end up with you?” email: emma.janicki@ubspectrum.com

SAMAYA ABDUS-SALAAM ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Between 1:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. Thursday morning I sat underneath my heated blanket, stuffing my face with Special K cereal and silently, yet hysterically, crying.

If someone told me two years ago I would end up in Buffalo, I would have laughed.

But when my mother hugged me goodbye after move-in weekend my freshman year, I almost told her “take me back with you.”

Something didn’t feel right. I was missing a sense of myself, and a sense of purpose. I saw my roommate making friends like wildfire and I saw myself withering away. I told myself stick it out and to give UB a chance. I went out with my roommate, made new friends, and met a boy (lol). I found solace in the fact that the work wasn’t hard and for once, I felt like my academic career was on an upswing.

I also managed to find myself sitting on the ground of an empty parking lot outside my dorm at 2:30 a.m. on the phone with my best friend in tears. I felt like I didn’t belong.

Over winter break, I read an email that said: “The Spectrum, UB’s award-winning independent student newspaper, seeks two copy editors and one opinion editor for the spring semester.”

I joined the paper at the right time in my college career, but I still felt something was missing. I struggled to find a reason to get out of bed and I didn’t care to.

That’s not like me.

I’ve decided to transfer to the University of Massachusetts-Amherst next semester and I’m nervous to leave. But I can’t stay at UB. To express how grateful I am to all the people that I’ve met and come to love from this organization is hard to say. So, I’ll say it like this: Tom, while you’ve appointed yourself to be HR and The Spectrum Social Committee activities chair, I’m going to miss calling you Tommy on a weekly basis and making fun of you (sometimes). You’re going to do a great job on news, I know it.

To the rest of the sports crew: Andy, that Australian accent is killer. You’re extremely creative and I’m always amazed by your video and graphic design work.

I’ll miss hanging out with you and stealing your hat on occasions, but I think I’ll miss your humor the most. Your talent and curiosity will take you far. Jordan, I’ appreciate your passion. Your attitude and tenacity is something more people should aspire to have.

To the features desk: Emma, your chic

style is something that sets you apart from the average college student and my gosh is it a breath of fresh air. Sharon, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed listening to you gushing over Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” video. Sushmita, you are one of the nicest and jolliest people I’ve met at this school.

Your sunny disposition is admirable.

To our arts desk: Jordan, I don’t know what I’m going to do when there isn’t someone around who will ask, at least twice a day, if I’d like to get food or coffee. I actually don’t think I’m ever going to find that again. I’ve seen you grow as a lot as a person and I’m glad to see you’re coming out of your can.

Tori, you’re awesome. You’re able to stay on top of all your work and another job? You’re such a renaissance woman. Brian, ‘high fashion’ is what you are and I’m pretty sure what you’ll always be.

Keep that sense of humor of yours, but please stop assaulting my hair buns.

Chad and Jackie, you guys were one of the bright spots of the office and the talent you both have for taking photos is incredible. But Chad, buy Jackie a coffee, will you?

Amanda, first off, I’d like to say how great it’s been working under you this semester. I had no clue how hard working for news would be as an assistant, so I can’t fathom how difficult it must have been to be a senior. You are truly an angel. Giselle, you’re really funny, even when you don’t try to be. I love hearing your stories about your residents and I’m going to miss those immensely. I’m really happy I got the chance to know you (insert the BEST nickname ever).

My news desk girls are probably two of the best people I’ve ever worked with and I’m honored I got the chance to do so.

As a desk, we found our harmony.

And through a long awaited dinner and “Bones” marathon, we became friends.

I’m going to miss seeing their faces almost every day and hearing them make jokes about the weird words I use. I miss you two already.

Sam, our former seniors news editor, you already know this, but your friendship means a lot to me. Your friendship helped me out of the emotionally turbulent place I was in. You’re the reason why I felt comfortable at the paper and I’m so proud to call you one of my closest friends.

Madelaine, even though you’re no longer on the Spectrum team, I’m glad this paper brought us together. You are my inspiration and my she-ro. Your passion makes me want to be a better person. The hardest part about leaving Buffalo is leaving you. But I want to you to know that I’m honored to have you as my best friend and I’m so proud of you for being the strong, independent Ginger Snap you are.

To our paper’s leaders (Sara, Owen, Rachel, Alyssa, Tress and Jenna), you guys are rock stars, and I appreciate all the work you do.

I’m excited to leave UB and jump into the programs at UMASS Amherst, but the people of UB will always remain in my heart.

And with that, my friends, I bid you adieu. email: samaya.abdussalaam@ubspectrum.

Every new beginning, comes from some other beginning’s end

CHAD COOPER

SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Let’s take a step back to early January 2012, my last semester in high school.

With my high school days coming to an end, I made a small decision. A small decision that may be the best choice I have ever made.

I chose to take a class for fun. Prior to this class, I really didn’t take many of the fun electives my school offered. I was too busy focusing on grades and athletics.

The class I enrolled in was Intro to Photography. A class that taught us how to make pictures – and yes, I mean make.

In this course I was able to experience the true art of photography. No programs for fixing mistakes here. Just myself, a camera body and lens that was much older than me, to go along with a roll of 35 mm film.

After shooting through a whole roll of film, which is usually 24 shots, you have to

develop your film. Then, you make prints of your photos in a darkroom. The whole process can be quite lengthy, but the experience is invaluable.

Photography was the first thing I truly ever fell in love with – not science, math or some girl. I knew that photography was what I wanted to do in life.

After high school I headed to UB. All I had for a camera at the time was a pointand-shoot. Nothing crazy, just your average camera you see on family vacations. I spent a lot of weekends photographing North and South Campuses.

Halfway through the fall semester of freshman year, I knew I wasn’t happy as an engineering major. I met with my academic adviser, and we got onto the subject of photography and I showed him a lot of my work. I also showed him the camera I was using and he was blown away. He went on to say something that was simple but important. All he said was, “Do what you love.” My adviser also introduced me to The Spectrum.

Now skip forward to the beginning of my sophomore year, fall 2013. Over the course of the summer, I had purchased a real camera. To make things even more exciting that fall, I was joining The Spectrum as a staff photographer.

The Spectrum is where my vision started to become clearer. I have changed immensely during my tenure at The Spectrum, as a photographer but mostly as a person.

I usually kept to myself before joining the staff. It wasn’t until joining the paper that I really started to open up, especially after becoming an editor.

The Spectrum has provided me with

many intangibles that will never be forgotten. An overwhelming amount of my friends are in some way connected to The Spectrum. The Spectrum is a place where I’m proud to work and many people don’t understand why.

When I talk to my family about how things are going at UB, I tell them about my photography and The Spectrum. I don’t tell them about the courses I’m taking for my degree, which is now business administration.

Lastly, let’s come to the present. I am currently the Senior Photo Editor for The Spectrum, which is the position I wanted since my first day as a staff photographer. I am in charge of “Humans of UB,” where I conduct brief interviews with random students on campus and take their portrait.

This project alone is a testament to how much I’ve progressed. Even just last semester the thought of walking up to and interviewing a random student on campus would have never crossed my mind.

Talking to people I don’t know used to make me uncomfortable, and now I’m not afraid to talk to anyone.

I am also proud of being the first photographer at The Spectrum to receive a national award for the paper and photo desk. One of my photos from sophomore year was a finalist in an annual competition hosted by the Associated Collegiate Press. Placing higher than other photographers who work for newspapers and schools with massive journalism programs was just plain awesome.

The most amazing part about all of this is so much bigger than me. All of

the things that happened for me are because of The Spectrum and UB. The university has so many incredible opportunities happening on a daily basis for its students.

My opportunity was The Spectrum.

The Spectrum has allowed me to do the unimaginable. I have photographed and met people like esteemed physicist Michio Kaku and comedian John Oliver, covered championship-winning teams and world-renowned artists and freelanced the NCAA March Madness Tournament for Syracuse University. The list goes on and on.

None of this would have happened without The Spectrum. I would have laughed if somebody told me at freshman orientation that this is what my future entailed. Who knows where I’d be without the paper, but I am more than happy that I chose this path.

The memories I’ve made at The Spectrum are countless, and it’s sad to see my time here come to an end. In order to keep growing, I have decided to forge a new path on my career journey. At the end of this semester, I’ll begin an internship with UB Athletics as a photographer and I’ll learn new programs so I can become a graphic designer.

I still have three semesters at UB, and my work is just getting started. Semisonic got it right when they ended their 1998 hit-single “Closing Time” with the following lyrics: “Every new beginning, comes from some other beginning’s end.” email: chad.cooper@ubspectrum.com

Friday, December 5, 2014 ubspectrum.com

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DAILY DELIGHTS sponsored by Collegiate Village Apartments Crossword of the Day Friday, December 5, 2014 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK

HOROSCOPES

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Your “to do” list may be growing by leaps and bounds, but only because you’ve put off a key activity for far too long.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Everyone who knows you may be asking the same question: Are you in a position to exceed expectations? Show them!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Things are looking good for you, but you must make sure that you’ve not overlooked something obvious in recent days.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- You may have to pick up after someone else who doesn’t yet realize what all of his or her responsibilities really are.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Looking back over the past days or weeks, you’ll see a pattern emerge that has you wondering if you’ve really been on the right track.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You’re about to finish one project just in time to kick another into high gear. What lies ahead can prove more rewarding than expected.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Not everyone will like what you have done, but no one will object to the way you have gone about it. You can get your critics to ease up.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You may have to ask for something back that the recipient had thought was a gift, not a loan. You may be in for a tough conversation.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- The more specific you can be, the more likely you are to progress according to plan. Avoid broad strokes and prejudicial thinking.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- You had thought that today would bring you certain results when, in fact, you are likely to be the recipient of something quite unexpected.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- You’re going to have to get more done in the morning than usual, but only because an afternoon opportunity cannot be missed!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Everyone around you is eager to see you do what you have said you would do -- even though they may harbor secret doubts for a time.

Edited by Timothy E. Parker December 5, 2014 ANGRY CRITICS By Henry Quarters

ACROSS 1 Cakes with kick 6 Target of obscenity laws 10 “You can go to the next person” 14 Seize forcefully 15 Dance at a Jewish wedding 16 Puerto ___ 17 “___ beaucoup!”

18 Leaf angle 19 “Fine by me!”

20 Equipment for big shots?

23 Basilica area 24 Roman day 25 Raucous crowd 29 Brewery unit 31 Succulent houseplant 32 “The Wizard of Oz” character 38 Central American isthmus area 41 Product identifier 42 Islamic ruler (Var.) 43 Computer key 44 Shaped like a cylinder 46 Gig for a tenor 50 Rotator cuff injury 52 Formal group conversation 59 “How unfortunate!”

60 River to the Caspian Sea 61 Saintly glows 62 Nerve

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network, e.g.

63 Actress Sorvino 64 Braid 65 Apple source 66 Surreptitous sound 67 Flavorful citrus parts

DOWN 1 Road warning sign 2 Enjoying a cruise 3 Become charred 4 Chevron rival 5 Coil 6 Pillow cover-ups 7 Daring 8 Acid found in birds and reptiles 9 After-bath powder 10 TV spot 11 “American Idol” runner-up Clay 12 Cause alarm to 13 Bean plants (Var.) 21 King Kong was one 22 Cherub 25 Totally absorbed 26 Apple orchard spray, once 27 ___ fide 28 Rosary component 29 Orson Welles’ Citizen 30 Stat for pitchers 32 Formation over a wound 33 “Overhead” engine part 34 Ruler toppled by the Bolsheviks

35 “When in ___, do …”

36 Words after “sit” or “step” 37 “The stockings ___ hung …”

39 ___ detector (airport device) 40 Santa ___ winds 44 Nineteenth Greek letter 45 Imitation 46 Eyeball-bending graphics 47 Less hardy-looking 48 Descended on the mother’s side 49 Enjoy again, as a movie 50 Plural and alternate spelling of 34-Down 51 Acclamation 53 Hauler’s destination, sometimes 54 Tennessee state flower 55 “You bet!”

56 Instances of anger 57 Brewer’s kiln 58 Mysterious loch

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Friday, December 5, 2014 ubspectrum.com

12

SPORTS

ANDY KONIUCH, THE SPECTRUM

RiverWorks, located at 359 Ganson St, will offer people in Buffalo outdoor curling and ice hockey when it officially opens to the public later this February.

Reviving the waterfront Buffalonians talk about revitalized sport scene in downtown Buffalo ANDY KONIUCH SPORTS EDITOR

There are two new outdoor hockey rinks at 359 Ganson St. The street hosts the newest addition to the Buffalo waterfront, Buffalo RiverWorks. The sports and entertainment complex will eventually become a 6,000seat entertainment and recreation venue.

On Dec. 1, members of the Buffalo Curling Club hosted an invitational opening ceremony at Buffalo RiverWorks. This soft opening of the rink was part of the $18 million project to rejuvenate the Buffalo waterfront area for recreational purposes.

By February 2015, Buffalo RiverWorks is expected to include a restaurant, three bars and will allow public access to the twin professional-sized outdoor ice rinks located under a 50,000-square-foot openair roof.

RiverWorks is one of multiple projects in place to improve the downtown area.

It will complement HarborCenter – a 1.7-acre city-owned venue for public hockey that opened in 2012. The complex includes two NHL-sized rinks, Tim Hortons, a Marriott Hotel and 716 Food and Sport Bar. Terry Pegula, the owner of the Buffalo Sabres, Bandits and Bills, has been rev-

olutionizing the Buffalo sport scene since purchasing the Sabres in February 2011.

The multi-billion dollar philanthropist and hometown Buffalonian owns the twofloor sports themed restaurant inside the HarborCenter. Pegula, known for philanthropy in the Buffalo area, has been constantly expanding the culture of Buffalo.

“I praise Terry Pegula,” said Patrick McKowne, a senior media study major.

“Obviously this is going to create more jobs and hopefully bring revenue to the city. Not only that, but also put Buffalo back on the map. Pegula is helping this city more than just making it prosperous – he’s giving us the opportunity to enjoy life.”

UB football’s favorite hits

A year after construction on RiverWorks began, the rinks are open to ice sport leagues including curling and hockey, like the Buffalo Curling Club.

Danielle Buchbinder, president of the curling club, thinks once the complex is finished and open, it’s going to be “quite amazing.”

“I think the RiverWorks project exemplifies that they’re people who really care about the city of Buffalo,” she said.

RiverWorks, built on a former gran elevator complex, pays homage to Buffalo and the city’s industrial past. It’s located down the road from the General Mills factory and Silo City, another renovated grain elevator that has been transformed into a destination for local artists to perform and for tourists to go rock climbing.

“They’re really trying to bring Buffalo together,” said Jesse Koester, a former UB management graduate and homegrown Buffalonian. “Downtown Buffalo has been declining over the past few years. But ever since Pegula came here, he’s really been trying to change the image and bring downtown Buffalo back to life.

It makes me really excited for the future and real excited to still be living here.”

Others, such as Julien Kann, a senior biochemistry major, are excited to “take hockey back to its roots” – the outdoors.

Kann is already preparing for the Labatt sponsored festivities, which will take place later in February.

Buffalo will host the NHL Draft in 2016 at First Niagara Center. HarborCenter will also host the NHL rookie combine for the next two years.

The waterfront sport scene is not completed yet but it shows signs of longevity and traditional culture of the area. email: sports@ubspectrum.com

Football players share their different pregame music YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM

Senior safety Adam Redden is one of the hardest hitting players on the Bulls, but off the field, he enjoys Beethoven, a more relaxed genre of music.

JORDAN GROSSMAN & QUENTIN HAYNES

ASST. SPORTS EDITORS

In sports, the pregame is sometimes just as important as the game itself.

It could include glancing at the playbook, prayer or looking over last-minute film. The mental aspect of a game is just as important as physical conditioning when getting ready for the contest.

It’s what many players call ‘getting in the zone.’

Perhaps one of the most universal tactics to get focused for kickoff is through music. It’s not an unusual scene to see numerous athletes of all ages donning headphones and lip-syncing over their favorite tune or getting ready to the tune of an upbeat tempo before taking the field.

The Spectrum spoke to UB football players and heard what they said about their

CHAD COOPER, THE SPECTRUM

pump up songs.

Adam Redden, senior safety Redden is considered one of the hardest hitters on the football team and is known for his vicious open-field tackles.

A trip into his iPod, however, revealed a calmer soul.

“It might sound weird, but my favorite genre is classical music,” Redden said. “I love listening to Beethoven. Other than that, I enjoy listening to some R&B, some hip-hop, and some rap.

“I’m going with Lauren Hill’s ‘Killing Me Softly,’ Nas’ ‘Ether’ and some Rick Ross,” Redden said. “With Hill, it’s the lyrics. It’s something that soothes me, calms me down. With Nas, it’s an old song I heard my dad playing, brings me back to little league, brings me back to being with my dad in the car. And with Ross, I just like the beat.”

Kristjan Sokoli, senior defensive tackle

Senior defensive tackle Krisjan Sokoli lines up to try to dismantle the opposing offensive lineman. Before the game, he likely listen to works of Rick Ross or 50 Cent.

A native of Albania, Sokoli attacked and terrorized offensive lineman during his four-year career at Buffalo. His “boss” pump up songs may have been a contributing factor.

“Two of my favorite tracks are ‘Shqiterin E Dua, [an Albanian song]’ ‘Hustlin’ by Rick Ross and ‘Patiently Waiting’ by 50 Cent,” Sokoli said. “For me, a good pump up song has good lyrics. I always want it to sound good, but it’s the lyrics that make me listen. Makes me think.”

But Sokoli likes more than just hard thumping hip-hop songs. Another genre also has his heart.

“If I had to pick one genre to listen to, it would be country music,” Sokoli declared. “ I love country music. I’m also not a fan of the old school hip-hop or any new school stuff. I’m a fan of strictly 2000’s hip-hop. That Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, and 50 Cent.”

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Lee Skinner, senior linebacker Skinner finished his UB career with a team-leading 92 tackles, after he finished second on the team in tackles the previous three seasons. Skinner’s playlist allowed us to enter the mind of a terrifying linebacker.

“It really depends on my mood,” Skinner said. “I like to listen to my favorite songs. Pretty much anything really. Some Jimi Hendrix, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus, Jack Johnson and Stevie Wonder.

“For a pump up song, it has to be something that I have an emotional connection,” Skinner said. “I love everything. Seriously, rock music, blues and jazz. Even alternative music, I like all of it. There really isn’t anything out there that I don’t like.”

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