T H E I N D E P E N D E N T TSHTEU D NETP E PN UD BE LN I CTA S TT IO NA I VTEI R Y FA T T HBEU U FF E T1 B 9U 50 I NED UN D EO NFT TPH UEB LUI C OSNI T O NA I VLEOR,S S I TI N Y CA FFALO, SINCE 1950
Awaiting answers
ubspectrum.com
GABRIELA JULIA SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
President Satish Tripathi held his fourth annual State of the University Address on Friday morning, but the speech was overshadowed by a protest in the audience. Members of the Black Student Union (BSU) held a peaceful protest during and after the address in response to the “White Only” and “Black Only” signs hung around campus by graduate fine arts student Ashley Powell last month. Students stood and raised white posters that read “We Want Answers” and left early to stand in the Slee Hall lobby and protest as people grabbed refreshments Friday. Tripathi has met with student leadership, including BSU and the People of Color Council, and wrote an open letter to the student body in The Spectrum about the project – but BSU wants more. Before the address, BSU posted a series of questions on social media they wanted Tripathi to answer “publically, candidly and with urgency,” such as, “What is art? What is academic freedom? [and] Where does the university draw the line between freedom of expression and overt demonstration of cultural trauma?” BSU also said it expected Tripathi to address University Police dispatchers’ “insensitive responses to concerned individuals” who called to report the signs. Tiffany Vera, BSU secretary and a senior speech and hearing science major, said she appreciates Tripathi’s acknowledgement of the issue but wanted him to answer BSU’s questions and address its concerns sooner. “We designed this peaceful protest to show Tripathi that we aren’t coming at him in a violent, aggressive or hostile way but we want to show them we are serious about what we want to accomplish,” Vera said. “We want things to be done not just for us but for all People of Color organizations and all UB students.” After he concluded his address, Tripathi said he supports the students’ protest. “I think [the protest] is really good and it is good for them to do what they feel is right,” Tripathi said. “We are looking at all of these points from all angles, from the faculty, freedom of speech and the First Amendment.” During the address, Tripathi told the audience that College of Arts and Sciences is dealing with this “difficult conversation and [is] determining the boundaries.”
Monday, october 12, 2015
Volume 65 No. 18
BSU protests Tripathi’s address, looks for further response to ‘White Only’ art project
PHOTOS BY KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM (TOP) A student holds a #WeWantAnswers sign after President Satish Tripathi’s State of the University Address on Friday in Slee Hall. (MIDDLE) Black Student Union (BSU) e-board member James Battle (far right) holds a sign in protest after President Satish Tripathi’s address.. (BOTTOM) President Satish Tripathi speaks with BSU President Micah Oliver after his address on Friday.
Tripathi also touched on positive news in his address as he emphasized UB’s recent achievements, from three Mid-American Conference Championships won last year to the newly named Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences to UB’s low student debt. He emphasized UB’s “points of pride,” such as the Communities of Excellence and the School of Dental Medicine and applauded the UB students succeeding in both the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and on Broadway. He noted that UB’s graduation rates are above the national average and the Finish in 4 program is a success in helping students graduate on time. Tripathi also brought up the lack of attention to South Campus. He said UB plans for ensuring a safer community on South Campus to reflect the success of UB’s two other campuses. He said the construction of the downtown campus has caused a population deficit on South Campus and because of this, UB is moving the Graduate School of Education and School of Social Work to South Campus. Throughout the majority of Tripathi’s address, he reiterated the importance of “Buffalo’s renaissance.” But BSU feels there are other changes that need to be made first. Vera said BSU wants to work with UB to fulfill its expectations but feels that Tripathi and the administration aren’t pursuing the issue enough. According to Deidree Golbourne, BSU vice president and a junior African American studies major, Tripathi will not be able
to meet with BSU until Nov. 4. Golbourne said she wants something to be addressed in the meantime. “What about before that? The conversation ceased after the forum but there’s still a lot to talk about,” Golbourne said.
Tripathi said he looks forward to meeting with BSU members to continue the discussion. email: news@ubspectrum.com
*Editorial* Students want more from their president – and they should Students seek inspiration and leadership from their president when their university faces complex problems and controversy. At UB, it’s becoming increasingly clear that our president is failing us. The Black Student Union’s (BSU) protest during and after President Satish Tripathi’s annual address Friday was yet another example of the disconnect and divide between Tripathi and the student body. Although BSU students held banners and staged a walk out, their president – our president – failed to even take note of them or acknowledge them in real time. He simply went on talking and praising the university’s achievements as if the living, breathing, angry students in front of him were invisible. He calmly finished his state of the university speech, woodenly mentioning that the College of Arts and Sciences is dealing with the “difficult conversation” and is “determining the boundaries” between free-
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dom of speech and cultural taboos. Only afterward, when asked about the protest, did he say he supported students’ right to protest. What sort of message should we students take from that? What sort of leadership is that? Does our president see us at all? BSU and other students are disappointed with the university’s response to graduate fine art student Ashley Powell’s art project, in which she hung “White Only” and “Black Only” signs around campus last month. But they and we are also stunned by Tripathi’s impersonal handling of the situation. When the controversy first erupted, Tripathi did not attend the BSU forum held to discuss the signs nor listen to the anger the signs stirred in students. A week after the incident, after major newspapers across the country, including The New York Times, wrote about the controversy – and after
Watch this week’s Spectrum 360 for a breakdown of the week in headlines
PHOTO GALLERY
this newspaper voiced concern that he had not responded adequately to students – he issued a formal letter which acknowledged the problem and outlined the difficulty the project presented to a university trying to balance sensitivity to minorities with freedom of speech. He did not take a firm stand or even present a timeline when the university would create a policy. “These questions won’t be answered overnight. It will take time, effort, and careful consideration on each of our parts to address them. But doing so is of critical importance for all of us, and will have lasting value,” Tripathi wrote in his open letter to The Spectrum on Sept. 24. In the letter, he told students he could not attend the BSU forum because he was traveling to Albany on SUNY business. Could he not have sent a representative? Where was the provost? A vice provost? When President Obama cannot attend an
Black Student Union protests President Tripathi’s address
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important meeting, he sends Vice President Biden or another member of his cabinet. Tripathi’s absence – and the absence of any of his representatives – says to students that they and their concerns don’t matter. Tripathi did meet with student leaders, including BSU, on Sept. 21, however, he cannot meet with BSU again until early November because of an extended trip, BSU Vice President Deidree Golbourne told The Spectrum Friday. Is he hoping students will forget? If so, he’s wrong. BSU wants the university to take a stance. They don’t necessarily want retribution or for Powell to be punished – although they do want some recognition of their hurt and anger. More than anything, they want to feel that their university hears their concerns. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Breakdown of the UB Bulls’ weekend
2
NEWS
Monday, October 12, 2015
Grabbing gold
THE SPECTRUM
EVAN SCHNEIDER STAFF WRITER
University Police is proud its “gold standards” are now recognized by some prestigious accreditation organizations. The International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administators (IACLEA), the “leading voice for the campus public safety community” that represents more than 1,000 colleges and universities around the world, announced its approval of UPD last month. The accreditation makes UPD the only police department in New York State accredited through IACLEA, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (NYS DCJS) and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement (CALEA). “It is a great acknowledgment. We, in some respects, set the tone for all of the other SUNY campuses,” said Police Chief Gerald Schoenle. Use of force and Clery Act compliance are part of the core standards that made UPD deserving of the accreditation. Per the Clery Act, all colleges and universities in federal financial aid programs are required to keep and disclose information about crime on and near their respective campuses. UPD sent out its annual safety and security report two weeks ago. To be accredited by the IACLEA, campus police departments must adhere to more than 200 core and elective standards to even be considered a department that exemplifies the best practice in law enforcement. IACLEA’s core standards address high liability issues and subjects including life, health and safety concerns according to Jack Leonard, director of accreditation at IACLEA. According to Leonard, the standards set
campus. To be considered for an accreditation, an applicant must submit standards listed in IACLEA’s Accreditation Standards Manual as well as undergo a self-evaluation of the department’s own practices and improve upon them. Schoenle said UPD applied for the accreditation two and half years ago. UPD’s NYS DCJS accreditation sets it apart. The acknowledgment is meant for New York State police departments and is not held by many college campuses. CALEA is an accrediting agency not typically driven toward campus police departments, but a massive achievement, according to Schoenle. Students also feel fortunate their police department is recognized in this way. AJ Dennison, a freshman finance major, thinks it is great not only for the students at UB, but for the reputation of the university as well. “With being accredited by three agencies, the university’s police department shows how their practice is widely acceptable,” Dennison said. “Students should feel reassured that we have a police department to protect and serve us, especially for students living in and around south campus. Leonard describes Schoenle and the UPD as “active and engaged member[s] of IACLEA and a great proponent of law enforcement accreditation.” “We are pleased that the State University of New York Buffalo Police Department elected to pursue accreditation and proud to have them join the other member agencies that have achieved the gold standard,” Leonard said.
University Police receives accreditation from IACLEA
SPECTRUM FILE PHOTO
A UPD officer patrols and helps with crowd control at Spring Fest last May. UPD recently received accreditation from IACLEA and has achieved a “gold standard.”
by these agencies are intended to provide benchmarks. The choice to pursue formal accreditation is voluntary, but represents a commitment by the department to institute practice standards, undergo a peer review and maintain continuing compliance with the standards. In response to UPD’s lack of racial diver-
sity, Schoenle said UPD is required to make an effort to diversify its staff. Out of 40 UPD officers, 39 are white. In light of recent events and threats to university campuses across the country, these agencies also hold strict guidelines for an event such as an active gunman on campus. UPD takes any threat to campus seriously and information contingency plans for such events are available for the public on UB’s Emergency Management webpage, according to Schoenle. Last month, a student reported seeing a man drop what looked like a gun in the Student Union. UPD sent out an alert but did not suspect there was ever a threat to the
email: news@ubspectrum.com
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3
OPINION
Monday, October 12, 2015
THE SPECTRUM
Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF
Tom Dinki
MANAGING EDITOR
Alyssa McClure OPINION EDITOR
William Krause COPY EDITORS
Kayla Menes Renée Staples NEWS EDITORS
Gabriela Julia, Senior Ashley Inkumsah Marlee Tuskes FEATURES EDITORS
Tori Roseman, Senior Dani Guglielmo ARTS EDITORS
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Joshua Bodah Michael Perlman CREATIVE DIRECTORS
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THE SPECTRUM Monday, October 12, 2015 Volume 65 Number 18 Circulation 7,000
After further review of the play… Despite its use against the Sabres, coach’s challenge a suitable addition to the NHL rules It didn’t take long to see how this season’s new rules would affect the National Hockey League. At the Buffalo Sabres’ season opener, Evander Kane had his first goal as a Sabre negated after it was determined by coach’s challenge that his teammate Zemgus Girgensens was offsides. This seemed to stop the momentum the Sabres had after Jack Eichel scored his first NHL goal only a few minutes earlier. The Sabres went on to lose to the Ottawa Senators 3-1. Despite the Sabres’ goal being disallowed, the addition of the coach’s challenge is a good one. The new rule is still in its infancy and can only be applied to two different situations. A coach can only challenge a goal that resulted from a potentially offsides play or if the goaltender was interfered with. The team must still have its timeout available in order to challenge and if the challenge fails, it lose the timeout. A replay system can be extremely effective if it is used properly. Anyone who is a sports fan can understand the frustration that comes with seeing an obviously blown call. A challenge system can help eliminate the error that a referee might make in the heat of the moment. Effective use of the replay and coach’s challenge has been seen in the MLB and is commonplace in the NFL. Its use will al-
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tered the course of sports history. In game six of the Stanley Cup finals in 1999 against the Dallas Stars, Brett Hull of the Sabres scored a series-clinching goal in triple overtime. His foot was in the crease but the puck was not, and the NHL ruled that Hull kicked the puck with his skate while still outside the crease into a shooting position and disallowed the goal. The infamous “no goal” awarded the Stanley Cup to the Stars It will be interesting to see how the coach’s challenge continues to be used this season. The NHL is wise to implement this rule
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low teams to not have to worry about referees who may miss calls and can check them when there are doubts. Typically in the NHL, what the referees rule is final and they are the ones who traditionally decide when a call should be reviewed. The Sabres looked to be on the verge of a comeback win when Evander Kane scored. This could have completely changed the outcome of the game and it would have come from an error a referee made rather than the efforts of the team. Nonetheless, blown calls have always been a part of the game. Referees are human too and sports have always had a human element to them. Instituting a challenging system takes away from that element and can even take legitimacy away from the referees. It would be a shame to see the rule expanded so much that coaches were able to challenge any sort of play. The NHL should institute rules that establish which kinds of plays will never be subject to challenge and keep strict limits on those that can and the number of times a coach can challenge goals. From phantom baseball tags to obviously offside hockey players to clear handballs in soccer, the blown call knows no bounds. There have been numerous instances that a blown call has al-
TORI ROSEMAN SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR
At school, you have little time for things outside your circle of classes, commitments and friends. For those who live on campus, their circle is even smaller – eating mainly in dining halls or the Student Union, interacting predominantly with other students and being completely immersed in UB culture. It’s important to remember there’s a world outside of UB – Buffalo, Amherst and the other cities that encompass the university are full of people, families and businesses. There are many struggling to get by – in 2014 there were more than 6,000 homeless people in Erie County, according to the Western New York annual report on the state of the homeless. As students, we have an advantage. We have the intelligence to be in school and create a future for ourselves. We have the supplies we need to succeed and the youth to be active in the community. Donations are so easy – it’s as simple as going into your closet and looking at what you haven’t worn in more than six months or what just doesn’t appeal to you anymore.
That old sweater you’re over because it’s out of season could keep someone warm this winter. Those boots that are too small can be a pair of shoes for someone who only has flip-flops. Taking the time to donate clothing can mean the world to someone else, and can take 20 minutes of your own time. It’s important to start now. We are young adults and we will shape the world around us because we’ll be living in it for the next 60-70 years. If you start now, it will become habit – a positive one – that you can pass on for generations. If you’re looking to get involved, there are a few places you can go. On campus, the giant red boxes around the Ellicott Complex and a few other places near North Campus are Hearts for the Homeless boxes that accept clothing, shoes and blankets. Just bag up your items, put them in the box and the company will pick them up – you don’t even have to leave campus. The Salvation Army on Niagara Falls Boulevard is another good, local place to contribute. It also offers disaster relief services for those who experience extreme weather circumstances, like the classic Buffalo snow. Its proximity to the mall is what makes that location so helpful for the homeless – there are buses that help people move around to shop that stop at the mall, which many homeless people utilize. Dress for Success Buffalo is a great place to retire some of your more elegant attire – that blazer
that you’re sick of, that dress you already wore to formal or those heels that just don’t seem to fit right. Its mission is to help disadvantaged women in the job market by providing them with clothing and career services such as improving résumés and making business connections. It accepts donations on Wednesdays and particularly looks for business-appropriate clothing. If you don’t have time or can’t get down there, you can also make a monetary donation online. Food isn’t an issue for most UB students who have a meal plan or the means to go shopping for themselves. Once in a while a student may even receive a carepackage from home full of food. Donate any extra you have to the Food Bank of Western New York. Even if you pick up two jars of peanut butter instead of one, any amount can help. The center donates all over Erie and Niagara County, so it isn’t only helping people local to UB but in the entire WNY area. The Food Bank’s center is located on Holt Street in Buffalo, which means donating is only a few minutes away. This food goes to people who cannot afford their own or don’t have the means of obtaining it. Step out of your circle. Appreciate what you have, and the opportunities you’ve been given. It’s easy to give back – just takes practice and the right attitude. email: tori.roseman@ubspectrum.com
ILLUSTRATION BY JOSHUA BODAH
slowly and with specific boundaries. If it is successful, the NHL should consider adding instances that can be challenged, but also specifying which plays will not be subject to challenge. It is important to balance the human element of hockey with what should rightfully be the outcome of a game. The addition of a narrow coach’s challenge will still allow for the human element of hockey to remain but let coaches correct potential errors that referees may make. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
*EDITORIAL* CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
They want a president who shows he cares and understands their needs. At its best, a university does this. It empowers its students to raise their voices. It encourages them to face problems as a community through open dialogue. Dialogue is hard to have with an empty chair. In 2013, the last time we surveyed students about UB leadership, 82 percent said Tripathi has minimal presence on campus. Some students said they had never seen him. A few didn’t know his name. We addressed this directly with Tripathi last spring. He said it comes down to “perceptions.” “Perceptions are important but they’re just perceptions,” Tripathi told The Spectrum. “I’m on the campus, multiple events every week, where there are some students there. I’m in the Commons, in the Student Union building having lunch … But I’m meeting with student groups all the time actually, and I think it’s important for me to talk to students to find out what their concerns are.” Last week, students showed Tripathi their concerns via a walkout. He can improve this by being a vigorous advocate for students and giving attention to the issues they care about. Tripathi may very well be taking this issue very seriously. He may very well be upset his students are angry and uncomfortable. He and the administration may feel they are doing enough. But students clearly don’t agree. Tripathi has an opportunity to get involved with student affairs on campus and show the UB community that he listens to the student body. He should take it. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
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FEATURES
Monday, October 12, 2015
Easing the pain
THE SPECTRUM
UB student brings #HappyPeriod to homeless women of Buffalo
SOPHIA MCKEONE STAFF WRITER
Uncomfortable and at times extremely painful, periods are never convenient. For the homeless, who rarely have access to bathrooms – let alone feminine products, this time of the month can be even worse. Kathryn McSpedon, a junior English major, plans to improve this situation in Buffalo. She hosted the first of what will be monthly #HappyPeriod gatherings this past Saturday at the Gloria J. Parks Community Center on Main Street, which will bring together people who want to help donate feminine products to homeless women and women living in poverty in Buffa-
lo. The group encourages people to donate tampons, pads, panty liners, underwear and even hand sanitizer. “Anything is appreciated,” McSpedon said. McSpedon is the first person to bring the #HappyPeriod gathering to Buffalo, but it was originally started by Chelsea VonChaz in Los Angeles. “The idea for the #HappyPeriod gatherings came one day when I was driving, stopped at a light and I saw this homeless woman crossing the street with clothes that were completely stained,” VonChaz said. “I watched her for a while and saw her squatting, bleeding and defecating on the corner.”
SOPHIA MCKEONE, THE SPECTRUM
Kathryn McSpedon (far left) and other members of the #HappyPeriod cause contribute boxes of period supplies for homeless women around Buffalo.
This sight made VonChaz think about what the monthly cycle must be like for homeless women. She asked herself how the homeless could take care of themselves like she would during this time of the month. VonChaz immediately got on the phone and left messages at various homeless shelters in the Los Angeles area. When none of
them got back to her, she took it upon herself. “I contacted all my girlfriends and I asked them if they would help me get donations together,” VonChaz said. “Some other friends of mine were already going to be giving away food on Skid Row, which is the section of Los Angeles with the most homeless people, so they suggested we just join them, and that was the first #HappyPeriod gathering.” VonChaz and her friends continued to have these gatherings and they continued to grow. McSpedon found out about them through Instagram and immediately messaged VonChaz about the cause. “I just thought it was such a good idea,” McSpedon said. “I couldn’t help but want to do it and bring it to Buffalo.” McSpedon’s first involvement with #HappyPeriod was last April with the help of VonChaz, in which she set up donation boxes around UB where people could drop their donations in at any time. McSpedon then dropped off these donations at various shelters around the City of Buffalo. There are currently donation boxes in UB’s Health and Wellness Center and Lockwood Library, however this time McSpedon wants to put an emphasis on the actual gathering part of #HappyPeriod. “The problem last year was that I did more donation boxes but it’s really meant to be a gathering,” McSpedon said. “The flyer says a gathering of girlfriends but I want to welcome guys to come too – moms, aunts, kids, it should just be a gathering of people who want to help.” McSpedon also wants to increase the interaction between those who want to help and those they are helping. Instead of only dropping off donations to shelters, this year McSpedon will be going to Lafayette Square in downtown Buffalo to directly give women donation kits. The #HappyPeriod gatherings will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on a “come-asyou-can basis,” and will be held on the second Saturday of every month. email: features@ubspectrum.com
“American Horror Story: Hotel” is creepy at best The popular show re-vamped in its fifth season DANI GUGLIELMO FEATURES EDITOR
Nothing good ever comes out of scary movies or TV shows that take place in a hotel – just think of “Psycho” or the prequel TV show “Bates Motel.” “American Horror Story: Hotel,” the fifth season of the series premiered, on Wednesday, Oct. 7 – and it certainly lived up to its predicted creepy hotel vibe. If you’re an AHS fan, there is no doubt you noticed the one major difference between this season and the past four seasons of the show from the first episode – the absence of the Queen B of AHS, Jessica Lange. When Lange announced that she wasn’t returning to AHS, it was a big deal – she was the star of the show in every season. Ryan Murphy, co-creator of AHS, needed to quickly find a new heavy hitter to replace Lange – and his decision couldn’t have been more perfect for the role. Lady Gaga. The response was mostly positive in regard to the replacement. Lady Gaga is known for being weird and bizarre – like when she wore a meat dress on the 2010 MTV Music Awards red carpet.
Many people were shocked the creators and producers didn’t think to cast her for this series from season one. According to Lady Gaga in an interview on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, she has always wanted to be an actress but was too awkward during auditions – so she became a singer instead. When she was asked about starring in AHS, she said she is fascinated by the sex horror factor of the show. The premiere itself revealed that this season is going to feature a lot of this type of horror. Most of the deaths from the first episode were caused from sex. But at times the sex horror felt a little excessive, making it seem like the show was thought up from a sick fantasy. It didn’t seem seriously scary – these scenes seemed more like jokes. Sex horror is more of a “look away from the screen” gory type of scary than the usual creepy scary feeling you get from AHS. If this season is going to be scary and use sex horror throughout, the setting of season needs to go along with the plot. For example, the first season of AHS took place in the “murder house” and the events that followed throughout the show were events that would take place in a creepy house – ghosts, murderers and fam-
ily issues like cheating. The fourth season took place at a circus, where the issues of selfloathing, class divide and family dynamics took center stage. These issues made sense, because they related to a circus whether or not it was scary. But this premiere was missing those obvious elements and it seems difficult to gauge what the season will be about from the premiere. What is the reason behind killing people? Is it for fun or is a more complex game? Many people believe that Lady Gaga and her accomplices killing the people who come to the hotel are vampires, but they could just be sex-craved psychos. Season five looks like it’s going to be a combination of season one and season two of the show – the murder house and the asylum. The setting is similar to season one – just substitute a hotel for a house – and like in season two, the plot seems confusing because it has so many different story lines. This season does have a lot of potential. Anything that happens in a hotel can
COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX TELEVISION
The latest installment of the popular TV series now features Lady Gaga instead of the previous star of the show, Jessica Lange.
be creepy and scary – but I don’t think that Ryan Murphy and Lady Gaga will reach people in that way by doing it through sex horror. email: features@ubspectrum.com
5 The Dodos play intimate show at Mohawk Place
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT THE SPECTRUM
Monday, October 12, 2015
Indie duo brings warmth to chilly Buffalo with unique folk sounds GRACE TRIMPER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Despite saying they would never be back, The Dodos returned to Buffalo on Thursday. Mohawk Place opened its doors to welcome fans of indie rock band The Dodos, who performed their folk music live in the chill of Buffalo fall. Originally from San Francisco, The Dodos starting making music together as Dodo Bird in 2005 when frontman Meric Long met drummer Logan Kroeber through a mutual friend. One EP, six albums and a name-change later, the folk duo continues to play harmonious folk music that has gathered a group of devoted, enthusiastic followers. The Dodos launched their North American tour on Sept. 17 in support of their latest release, Individ. Alex Robnett, a 20-year-old fan from Akron, New York, saw The Dodos for the first time Thursday after almost seven years of loving their music. “Growing up as a ‘cool and angsty’ teen made it really easy to relate to most of their lyrics,” Robnett said. “They’re just a really special group with a lot of energy and creativity.” Concertgoers filled the small bar and concert venue Mohawk Place in downtown Buffalo, an intimate setting that facilitated a warm audience-performer connection. Before and after the concert, The Dodos sold their own merchandise and chatted with fans. Many of those fans happened to be UB students, who ventured from all over Western New York to see the emotional folkrock duo perform live. “The energy The Dodos gives off between the relentless attacking of the drums and the intensity of the guitar leaves you captivated with how much is generated from their sound,” said Sophia LaNasa, a freshman nursing major. “Their music is an escape from our greatest fears and an expression of our darkest thoughts.” Around 8 p.m., local indie three-piece band Moody Cosmos took the stage without a word and began to perform original
psych-rock songs reminiscent of individual, passionate 5-minute jam sessions. After playing for half an hour, frontman Peter Cahlstadt thanked the crowd for “standing around,” and yelled “Buffalo” and “Bills” before the band dismantled their own set and carried their instruments out through the bar, stopping to talk to crowd members and hanging out at the merchandise table. Just 30 minutes later, Long and Kroeber walked onto the stage and jumped right into “Black Night,” the first track on their 2011 album No Color. The audience quickly gathered around the stage and started nodding along to the upbeat folk song. The Dodos are known for pushing out complex sounds with minimum equipment. Long rotated between electric, acoustic and hollow body guitars, employing a loop pedal to layer catchy riffs, powerful finger-
picking and vocal melodies and harmonizing with his own voice. Kroeber also lent harmonies to the mix despite professing the chilly Buffalo weather had provoked him into waking up with a cold. He played a drum kit with a tambourine taped to the hi-hat, often using the rims of the drums to make a unique, syncopated percussive sound. A few songs into the set, Long paused to tell the crowd that an audience member told him the last time The Dodos were in Buffalo, the band said they would never play in the city again. “I don’t know who said that,” he said, cracking a smile. “But that was a mistake.” The Dodos ended their set with “Pattern/Shadow,” the final song on Individ, and told the audience to come hang out with them at the merchandise table. The audience chanted and cheered before the band returned to the stage for an encore
BRAIN WINDSCHITL, THE SPECTRUM
Meric Long (Left) and Logan Kroeber (right) performed at Buffalo’s Mohawk Place on Thursday. The folk-rock duo, who make up The Dodos, returned to Buffalo on the front-end of their tour for their 6th studio album Individ, which was released Jan. 23.
with “Jodi” from Visiter. “I’m sorry but I must disappear / I leave you with a song and a tear / Just please don’t wash away,” Long sang to his audience, before he and Kroeber waved to the crowd and departed. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
A legacy of friendship, fostering and creativity An evening with poet Irving Feldman TOMAS OLIVIER ASST. ARTS EDITOR In the mid-1970s, Michael Basinski, current curator of the UB poetry collection and poet, took a creative writing course in Clemens Hall taught by poet Irving Feldman. Feldman’s skill and patience in critiquing student work encouraged Basinski to work fervently on polishing his craft, helping him become the artist he is today. This past Thursday – more than 40 years after Basinski took that course – Irving Feldman returned to Buffalo to read his poetry at the Anderson Art Gallery. A crowd of more than 40 people attended the reading. The name of the event was “An Evening With Irving Feldman,” but it was much more than that. Dr. Sandra ‘Sandy’ Olsen, director of UB Art Galleries, said that the evening was about “a painter, a poet and their friendship.” Olsen said that Robert De Niro Sr., who taught at UB for six summers and is the late father of the famous actor with the same name, would have never even been at UB if it weren’t for Feld- man, whose recommendation helped him get his position in the arts department. “Sandy and I got together and we decided that we would really balance the art in this collection with the literary art,” Basinski said. The event was in honor of the friendship that Feldman and De Niro, a professor in the arts department with Feldman, shared
during their time at UB as peers. Olsen said the collection presented at the gallery demonstrated a practice that Albert Cooke, head of the English department at the time, praised for its unification of the illustrative and literary arts. At one point during the evening, Feldman addressed his roots and how his poetic career came to be. “I was a 17-year-old artist who had never taken a creative writing course,” he said. A Long Island native, Irving said he made his way to UB from to the East Village of New York City when he was younger, his passion driving him to seek out his art. “Once I got my teeth into something it wouldn’t let me go,” Feldman said. “Coming to UB was like being let out of jail.” Although the event was dedicated to celebrating the skills of an artist and a poet, one member of the audience came to the event not knowing what to expect. Amy Lora, a local poetry enthusiast, said that she had heard of Feldman from her friend who introduced her to the poet, but that it was her first time ever experiencing Feldman’s poetry in person. Lora said that “Variations On A Theme” by May Swenson,” a poem about the power that the individual has to create value and meaning in their own life, was her favorite piece. “I was mesmerized and fascinated,” Lora said. “I never got bored because what he was saying was so profound.” She said that she had a headache at the beginning of the event, but by the end of the last poem noticed her headache had disap-
peared – a testament to Feldman’s smooth poetic style. “Tonight was very successful. I understand from [Basinski] that normally, you’re lucky if you get 30 people to a poetry reading. Irving was concerned that nobody would come because it’s the opening of the hockey season,” Olsen said. Olsen said that Feldman is such an important person to UB and Buffalo history as a whole. “It’s important for people to remember that UB’s regard for academic excellence and success was established by UB’s English and Arts programs,” Olsen said. Feldman said the meetings the English professors used to have, when they would meet and share their poetry, is one of the fondest memories he has of UB – and a big influence on him as a poet. Feldman said he isn’t upset that, in recent years, the arts at UB have received less funding. The creativity is just coming from dif-
JAMES CORRA, THE SPECTRUM
This past Thursday, Irving Feldman (pictured) returned to Buffalo to read his poetry at the Anderson Art Gallery. The artist, a former UB english department professor well-known for fostering creativity amongst his students, read his poetry and talked about the changing attitude toward arts and poetry.
ferent places, he said. “You don’t get bohemian poets anymore. You get people who are professionalizing,” Irving said. The difference is the artistic spirit in the ’60s and now is evident – although the arts aren’t as sought after as they used to be, their impact is not forgotten. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
6 News briefs
FEATURES
Monday, October 12, 2015
THE SPECTRUM
What you should know locally, nationally and globally
LOCALLY NATIONALLY GLOBALLY
Wanting more CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
AMHERST FAMILY FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY OVER THEIR SON’S DEATH Theron and Kimberly Burch are suing West Virginia University for their son’s death last November. Nolan Burch, an 18-year-old freshman, died from alcohol poisoning at a fraternity party two days after he gained membership. His blood alcohol level rose to .49 after his Kappa Sigma brothers told him to drink a bottle of alcohol. The family is suing WVU for “not preventing foreseeable harm” to Burch, according to The Buffalo News. Since Burch’s death, WVU has suspended Kappa Sigma and other Greeks.
A 4-YEAR-OLD BOY DIED FRIDAY FROM INJURIES IN CAR CRASH Kevin McCabe of Kenmore slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer with his 4-year-old son, Tristan McCabe, and 7-year-old niece, Katie McCabe, in the car. McCabe is in a coma, his son dead and his niece suffered a broken leg. McCabe’s pickup truck slammed into the back of the semi-truck as it was attempting to make a right turn, according to WKBW. Tristan’s organs have been donated and a GoFundMe page has been made to help the McCabe family.
PRESIDENT OBAMA MEETS WITH FAMILY AND SURVIVORS OF SHOOTING VICTIMS
TURKISH PEACE RALLY DISRUPTED BY BOMBS
President Barack Obama met with the family and survivors of the Umpqua Community College shooting on Friday. The shooting occurred two weeks ago. A gunman killed nine people and himself at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. After last week’s shooting, Obama gave his 15th response to a mass shooting since the beginning of his presidency. He criticized Congress for its reluctance to act on gun control and said gun violence is an issue that needs to be “politicized,” according to CNN. Two other college shootings occurred at Northern Arizona University, where one person was killed and three were wounded as well as Texas Southern University, where one person killed.
Ninety-five people were killed and over 200 were wounded early Saturday morning in Ankara, Turkey after two bombs exploded at a train station. According to CNN, the bombs went off during a peaceful march that called to end the conflict between the Turkish Government and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the attackers are believed to be two suicide bombers. This attack came three weeks before Turkey’s national elections.
Reports find that Cleveland officer was justified in shooting of Tamir Rice
In a celebration to mark the 70th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), troops marched in North Korea’s capital alongside armored vehicles and missiles as North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un watched from a platform, according to CNN. Jong-Un later said in a speech to the crowd that the North Korean military is ready to defend itself against any threat from the United States. WPK is the founding and current ruling party of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
A white Cleveland police officer was justified in opening fire on black 12-year-old boy Tamir Rice, according to two reports conducted as per the request of the prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty. The reports, which were released on Saturday, found that the rookie patrolman who shot Rice demonstrated a “reasonable use of force” because he had reason to believe Rice was a serious threat, according to NPR News. The family of Rice issued a statement saying that the prosecutor on the case has been on a quest to avoid accountability. McGinty said “we are not reaching any conclusions from these reports,” and that the gathering of evidence is still underway, and the grand jury will ultimately evaluate it.
NORTH KOREA HOLDS MILITARY PARADE IN PYONGYANG
After joining the program midway through last season, Reid, an Australian native, took over the point guard position and never let it go. She started 17 of her 19 games played last season last season and finished with 6.7 points and 3.4 assists per game. “She’s looking great,” Legette-Jack said about Reid. “She’s looking really great. She’s getting stronger, more vocal on the court. When she got off the plane, we put her on the floor and she never looked back. All the stuff we taught in the summer, she was right there. Now that she has this entire offseason to work, she’s being a great leader for us.” Smith broke out last season as a consistent and reliable shooting threat and was smart with the ball. She had 21 starts last season – and started every game from Jan. 21 on – while averaging 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds. Smith is the favorite to begin the season as the starting 2-guard, but there are other options as well. Senior Karin Moss will be another experienced option in the backcourt for the Bulls as she played in 29 games last season. It’s no surprise it’s going to be a different season. There are a lot of unproven question marks in many areas of the team. Legette-Jack acknowledges that but it’s not going to deter her from trying to make the postseason again. The Bulls will continue practice leading up to their first exhibition game against Clarion on Nov. 3 at Alumni Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. email: sports@ubspectrum.com
75004 email: news@ubspectrum.com
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CLASSIFIEDS
Monday, October 12, 2015
THE SPECTRUM
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HOME REPAIRS/PAINTING. $10$12 per hour, depending on experience. Near South Campus. Email John @ feroletoj@aol.com
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MOE’S SOUTHWEST GRILL on Niagara Falls Blvd is hiring all positions! Ideal candidate should be highly motivated, service-oriented that likes to have fun while working hard. Flexible schedule. Apply in person during non peak hours. (1551 Niagara Falls Blvd, Amherst, NY 14228.)
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PART-TIME POSITIONS AVAILABLE. Lasertron Family Entertainment Center is currently hiring for general customer service. Working at a fast, detail-oriented pace and having excellent customer service skills is a must. Starting at $11/hr, must be available nights and weekends. Stop in and complete an application at Lasertron, 5101 North Bailey Avenue, Amherst. NY HOUSE FOR RENT HOUSE FOR
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BIG HOUSE FOR RENT off Sweet Home. Across from great bar, pizza joint, 24 hour store & 5 min. to campus. 4-BDRM, big family room with fire place, 1 1/2 baths, off-street parking, all appliances including washer/dryer. Big fenced in yard. Available Now!! Call 716440-7117 /email: btfld6@yahoo.com $1600 per mo. SERVICESSERVICES CITYA1DRIVINGSCHOOL.COM Beginners & brush-up driving lessons. 5hr class $30.00 716-875-4662.
Email eic@ubspectrum.com to get more information and you could see your name on the front page next semester!
The Modern Language Department invites applicants for a part-time instructor starting Spring 2016 The successful candidate will teach two classes, Elementary Chinese II and Intermediate Chinese II. MA degree, native or near native fluency in Mandarin Chinese and English and previous college level teaching experience are required. For consideration submit cv, letter of interest including days/times available and contact information for three professional references to http://daemen.applicantpro.com. Review of applicants begins immediately and continues until the position(s) are filled. Daemen College is an AA/EOE and strongly encourages applications from women, veterans, people of color, individuals with disabilities and candidates who will contribute to and support the cultural fluency and diversity of our campus.
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SPORTS
Monday, October 12, 2015
THE SPECTRUM
The transition game QUENTIN HAYNES
SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
Transition is never easy. For sophomore defender Nick Forrester, the first month of his tenure at UB was nothing short of constant change. The New Zealand native who had transferred from Butler University was adjusting to a new school and playing with a new cast of teammates. But now Forrester, who was touted as one of the best new players on the 2015 squad, has finally adjusted and is one of more important members of the Bulls (55-3, 0-1 Mid-American Conference) a little more than halfway through the season. “There was an adjustment period, for sure,” Forrester said. “You go to one school, make friends and then you switch to an even bigger school with better competition, I had to adjust. But I found it to be the right move.” Forrester has been a fixture in the back of Buffalo’s defense. In 12 games played this season, Forrester’s one goal may not jump off the stat sheet, but his biggest contributions lie in his hustle and defense. His tough style of play can be seen in his five yellow cards, which is tied with junior midfielder Braden Culver for the team lead. His play in the field has been “excellent,” according to head coach Stu Riddle and is vital to the Bulls’ success in the second half of the season. “This entire recruiting class has been phenomenal and Nick is part of the reason why,” Riddle said. “Nick [Forrester] has been able to come in and provide us with some stability in the backend. He’s been more than an important cog for us on defense.” But upon arrival, Forrester had to deal
After bumpy beginning, Forrester and defense key for men’s soccer
COURTESY OF UB ATHLETICS
Sophomore defender Nick Forrester uses his head to get the ball back for the Bulls. The addition of Forrester gives the Bulls much needed depth heading into conference play.
with an adjustment period. The first step was the transition from his old school to UB. Last season, Forrester played just six games, with five starts, for Butler. Forrester has already started 12 games for the Bulls this season. It was the chance to start that made the transfer “the right choice,” according to Forrester. “At Butler, I didn’t get as much playing time as I thought I would get,” Forrester said, “but here, I got to play right away and be a valuable member to the team.” While Forrester was dealing with the transition to a new school, Buffalo’s on-field ad-
justments were a work in progress as well. After starting the season 2-0, the Bulls endured a seven-game winless streak. It was mostly an offensive problem as the Bulls scored five goals in that seven-game stretch. But untimely allowed goals also doomed Buffalo in the second half of those games. In total, the Bulls gave up eight goals in the second half or overtime during the losing streak. “We had some things we needed to work out,” Forrester said. “There were times where we needed to figure it out on the field and it hurt us a bit. Coming into the new environment with a back line already set de-
fensively, our younger guys were still learning … I was still learning the system.” After a 1-1 double-overtime tie against Stony Brook, the Bulls were crestfallen. But they were in most of the games they had lost or tied and the defense “kept [them] in the game,” according to Riddle. “We just didn’t have the luck, which was a big part of it,” Riddle said. “Nick was still working his way into the system and learning what was expected from him, but so was other players on the team. We were playing well, but we couldn’t get over the hump at times. Still, we knew we were going to eventually get the luck and our players would continue to play well.” It wasn’t as much luck as it was good timing. Forrester was a clear factor when he entered the program. But it was a shaky start. Now that he knows the system, success was proven on the field. “We’ve just begun to gel on the field,” Forrester said. “I think the top line was, as they played with each other for the last two years. Then, you would have the next group of defenders come in and we were still learning … I was still learning. Once we got familiar to where we needed to be, it started to click defensively for us.” Buffalo lost its first game since Sept. 18 in a 2-1 loss to No. 8 Akron (9-2-1, 1-0 MAC) on Friday after a streak of four straight games without a loss (2-0-2). With four games remaining in the 2015 regular season, the Bulls have one goal: finishing strong in MAC play. Forrester will try to keep up his defensive play, but he has one or two more goals in mind. “No question, I want to continue to help this team win games in the conference,” Forrester said. “But I also would like to get one or two more to go into the net.” email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Wanting more An early look at women’s basketball one year after its first postseason berth QUENTIN HAYNES SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
The women’s basketball team wants to continue to build off of last season. The Bulls finished 19-13 overall and 11-7 in Mid-American Conference play. They made it to the semifinals of the conference tournament and earned the program’s firstever postseason bid with an invite to the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). But Buffalo’s top-3 scorers last season and the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year are all gone. Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack still wants more for her team this season. “This is a team with no names – no [Kristen] Sharkey, no [Mackenzie] Loesing. There’s just a bunch of young women that want to grow the women’s basketball program,” Legette-Jack said. “We don’t care who gets the credit, as long as we punched through. The NCAA’s are there for the taking. It’s a basketball game – we don’t have to wait our turn to play. We’re going to go after it.” The Bulls opened up practice last week as they try to figure out new arrangements and personnel sets to replace four players who
played at least 25 minutes per game last season. Forwards Kristen Sharkey and Christa Baccas both graduated, while forward Alexus Malone transferred to Louisiana Tech and guard Mackenzie Loesing ended her career prematurely after various lower leg and ankle injuries. Legette-Jack said the team will have no choice but to “grow up fast.” And at the team’s first practice, the first sign of optimism Legette-Jack saw was her new big, but fast moving, forwards. “I like the way our bigs run the floor,” Legette-Jack said. “They were running down the floor really well, even better than some of our guards. I had to challenge the guards, telling them, ‘You can’t let that happen to you,’ and then they out ran them again. It’s exciting to see the bigs get down the floor like that.” At the forward positions, sophomores Mariah Suchan and Courtney Wilkins as well as freshman Tamara Brcina will be vying for two starting spots. With three players gone from their frontcourt, the Bulls will have a bevy of options to choose from on the roster. But not so much for the center position. Replacing a reigning Defensive Player of the Year isn’t easy, but Legette-Jack has nar-
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rowed her options down to two players. Last season’s rotation had two issues: shooting and size. Baccas was great – good enough to be recognized as the league’s best defender – but she measured at 6-foot2. This year’s center options – sophomore Cassie Oursler and freshman Mirte Scheper – provide the Bulls with size, as Oursler comes in at 6-foot-3 and Scheper is 6-foot4. There is no “replacing” Baccas, according to Legette-Jack, but she said the size of Scheper gives Buffalo a different look on the defensive end. “I think Mirte can do some of the things that Baccas has done. I think she has great timing on block shots. The biggest difference is the size with Mirte being 6-foot4. It’ll allow us to stretch on defense a bit
YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM
Bulls head coach Felisha LegetteJack claps with an assistant head coach. After losing her top four players, Legette-Jack expressed excitement about the team’s new nucleus.
more, while having the size to cover for it,” Legette-Jack said. Although the forward rotation is still in limbo, the guards have been set since last years’ postseason in sophomore Stephanie Reid and junior Joanna Smith. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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