ND DE EN PE DE T FP U IO VA EL RO S I,T Y AC TE B1U9F5F0A L O , S I N C E 1 9 5 0 T H E I N D E P E N D E NTTH E S TI U T NPDUEBNLTI CSATTUI O NN O TB HLEI CUANTI V EN R SO I TFY TAHTE BUUNFI F SIN
ubspectrum.com
Friday, February 27, 2015
Volume 64 No. 54
WHAT’S HAPPENING
ONLINE VIDEOS
What students are binge watching on Netflix
The Spectrum reports on Wednesday’s Ferguson panel
INSIDE
UB professors participate in National Adjunct Walkout Day CHARLES W SCHAAB
ASST. NEWS EDITOR
S
ome of UB’s lowest paid faculty members walked out of their classrooms and visited the offices of some of UB’s more highly paid officials – including President Satish Tripathi – on the fifth floor of Capen Hall on Wednesday. They chanted for better treatment of and payment for adjunct professors. Approximately 50 faculty members and students participated in National Adjunct Walkout Day by marching in protest of adjunct faculty rights and wages, risking potential termination. Some professors walked out of their classrooms at 12:30 p.m. to attend the demonstration. As the crowd marched from the Student Union to Capen Hall, it chanted phrases like, “Where does your tuition go? Adjunct professors do not know!” and “What’s outrageous? Adjunct wages!” “This is a problem with higher education nationally,” said Brian Clark, an adjunct professor in the media study department. “This is a day that we bring awareness to the issue of adjuncts.” The United University Professions (UUP) – the union that represents SUNY employees – president Fred Kowal told UUP ad-
Contingent faculty members try to bring awareness to low wages and lack of job security juncts last month that they should not partake in the walkout, and that UUP does not support, encourage or condone it. UUP’s website says it supports adjuncts and are fighting to raise their wages but participation in the event could result in termination. The demonstration was held at universities and colleges across the country, as well as in Canada and England. Adjunct faculty, also known as part-time or contingent faculty, make up 76 percent of all teaching positions nation-wide, according to the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). More than half of UB’s faculty in 2013 – 52 percent – was not on a tenure track, according to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Adjunct faculty make between $20,000 and $25,000 annually according to an NPR report in 2014. The AAUP reported the average salary for a full-time professor with a doctorate at a public university was
‘For more we turn to Jessica Williams’
‘The Daily Show’s’ Jessica Williams set perform comedic lecture on March 12 in the CFA JORDAN OSCAR
SENIOR ARTS EDITOR
The Student Association announced Wednesday that The Daily Show’s Jessica
Page
Students get creative in one of UB’s writing programs
Page
4
CHUCK SCHAAB, THE SPECTRUM
Approximately 50 professors and students march through Capen Hall on Wednesday afternoon advocating for better pay and treatment for adjunct professors as a part of National Adjunct Walkout Day.
$123,393 in 2012-13. President Satish Tripathi was the highest paid president in the SUNY system in 2012-2013, pulling in $681,139 – more than SUNY chancellor Nancy Zimpher, who made $621,200 that year. Adjunct faculty are not protected under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which requires most employees in the United States are paid at least the federal minimum wage. The FLSA exempts those in the field of science or learning and that practice medicine or law from being paid minimum wage. Universities are turning towards parttime, contingent labor because it is cheap labor, according to the AAUP’s website. Contingent faculty does not have professional support or resources available for instruction, according to the AAUP. Leslie Nickerson, a UB English adjunct professor who participated in the demonstration, said adjuncts don’t know if they will be hired until around one month before the semester begins and sometimes their courses are canceled one week before semester begins. “Students need faculty members that are available,” Nickerson said. “Those investing in higher education should get a living wage to do so.” SEE ADJUNCT, PAGE 2 COURTESY OF UNITED TALENT AGENCY
The Daily Show correspondent Jessica Williams is set to perform a “comedic lecture” in the Center for the Arts on March 12 for the 14th annual Comedy Series.
Williams will headline UB’s 14th annual Comedy Series. Williams, well known for her role as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show and a recurring role on HBO’s popular series Girls, will come to the Cen-
Around Town: what you should do this weekend
ter for the Arts’ Mainstage Theater on March 12. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show will start 8 p.m. Travon Free, one of the writers on The Daily Show, will open for William. “For More We Turn To Jessica Williams” will be more of a “comedic lecture,” which differs from the standup routines of Comedy Series artists in the past, according to SA President James Ingram. Williams will show clips of her work on The Daily Show, give insight into each segments’ production along with her personal stance on each topic, all of which will be strung together by jokes and comedic anecdotes. “We’re excited to be bringing her in,” Ingram said. “We’re hoping a lot of people will recognize her from The Daily Show. I’m pretty sure they will. From the initial feedback we’ve heard, a lot of students are excited.” SEE WILLIAMS, PAGE 4
5
VISIT UBSPECTRUM.COM
Learning from Ferguson Community leaders and UPD lead panel to discuss Ferguson, police bias and accountability
w
MARLEE TUSKES CONTRIBUTING WRITER
hen it was announced on Nov. 24 Ferguson Police officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted in the death of Michael Brown, law students Andrew Tabashneck, Ammad Wajahat and Ben Nelson traveled to Ferguson to do legal observing. They spoke with several men and women who had been peacefully protesting – some of whom who had been doing so for more than 100 consecutive days. Tabashneck tried to bring a similar peaceful discussion to UB on Wednesday. The Social Work Graduate Student Association presented “What Ferguson can Teach Us: Working Together for Justice and Community Safety” on Wednesday afternoon. The panel discussion in the Student Union consisted of several UB students and faculty members. Two University Police Department officers and four Buffalo community members – known for their work helping impoverished youth – led the panel. Tabashneck said he believed it was the first panel of its kind on the issue in New York State. “After witnessing the men and women of Ferguson come together in their pursuit for justice, I was inspired to put together a program of activists, intellectuals and police officers who are united in the desire to work together for safe, strong communities that allow every child with enough resources to grasp his highest potential,” he said. On Aug. 9, 2014, Darren Wilson fatally shot Michael Brown, who was unarmed, six times in Ferguson, Missouri. Wilson, a white police officer, and Brown, a black 18-year-old, were involved in an altercation prior to the shooting. SEE FERGUSON, PAGE 2
ubspectrum.com
2
Friday, February 27, 2015
Continued from adjunct, page 1
Continued from Ferguson, page 1 UB faculty and students hold signs, chant and march through the Student Union on Wednesday afternoon in protest of adjunct faculty pay and treatment. YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM
But the faculty members who participated in the walkout could be susceptible to losing their jobs. UUP Communications Director Michael Lisi told The Spectrum if UUP members participated in the walkout, they would be in violation of New York State’s Taylor Law, which defines rights and limitations of New York State unions. Lisi said the walkout is considered an illegal strike under the Taylor Law and UUP members on term appointments could be subjected to Article 19 disciplinary action – including termination. Ramona R. Santa Maria, Buffalo State’s representative for part-time concerns sent an email to all Buffalo State adjunct faculty warning them they could be terminated immediately if they participated in the event. According the email, she said the demonstration could be considered an illegal strike and participators could be subjected to a loss of two days’ pay. Buffalo State had 56 percent of its faculty not on a tenure track in 2013, according to the Service Employees International Union. Adjunct professors were not the only ones who participated in the demonstration. Several tenure track professors participated in the demonstration, like Mateo Taussig, a tenure associate professor in the law school. Taussig said the issues facing adjunct professors affect tenure track professors as well. “Fewer tenure professors are being re-
(From left to right) UPD Officer Valerie Dobson, Deputy Chief Joshua Sticht, John Washington, Curtis Alford, Sam Magavern, Lana Benatovich and Diane Eleze lead a discussion panel on Ferguson Wednesday afternoon in the Student Union. SPECTRUM FILE PHOTO
The grand jury did not indict Wilson, leading to protests in Ferguson and across the country. placed with adjunct professors,” Taussig Tabashneck said he decided the best way said. “As universities turn to adjunct pro- to educate others was to bring in members fessors, they should get paid fair wages.” of the Buffalo community to discuss the Students also participated in Wednes- topics and what society can do to change day’s march and voiced concerns over the the way it thinks about interactions beworking conditions of adjunct professors. tween police and people of color. Some said that the treatment of adjuncts Lana Benatovich, president of Nationdirectly affects their own education and al Federation for Just Communities, John college experience. Washington, community organizer for “When my teachers don’t have office People United for Sustainable Housing, hours and don’t have benefits, it affects Sam Magavern, co-director of Partnership my education,” said Emma Frieh, a senior for the Public Good, Curtis Alford, program director of Urban Christian Minissociology major. Frieh spoke to the other protestors in tries spoke alongside UPD’s Feputy Chief front of the Tripathi’s office on the fifth of Police Joshua Sticht, and officer Valerfloor of Capen as UB officials watched ie Dobson. Although the discussion began with the the demonstration from outside their ofissues in Ferguson, it soon turned to disfices. She said that if this is an institution of education, “Why aren’t we supporting cussions on police bias, accountability and our educators?” which was responded to stereotypes due to questions from the audience. with applause from the other protestors. Washington said often times stereotypJoel Inbody, a graduate sociology stuing changes the outlook police have on a dent, said adjunct professors should be situation. treated and paid as much as tenure track “Joyriding may be seen as grand theft professors. auto and an altercation may seem like an “Adjuncts are making this university assault,” he said. thousands of dollars,” he said. Many of the audience’s questions were Frieh said what she is being taught at directed toward Sticht and Dobson – parUB directly relates with the issues sur- ticularly on police officers being held acrounding UB’s adjunct professors. countable for their actions. “In sociology we are learning about the “Our mission is to be a part of the comexploitation of labor,” Frieh said. “Those munity,” Sticht said about his and Dobsame teachers are the ones whose labor is son’s participation in the panel. “This is being exploited, which is a terrible irony.” our part.” Tabashneck said he was happy these email: news@ubspectrum.com questions were asked and he said UPD
should be praised for their part in the community. “Other police departments should look at the UB police department as a model for promoting diversity and fairness of the community,” he said. A member of the audience brought up the issue of police wearing body cameras to record their policing. Alford said it wouldn’t make much of a difference. “It takes more than just one thing to fix our problem,” he said. Sticht and Magavern, however, said body cameras could bring positive changes in the way police matters are handled. “Use of force has gone down dramatically with use of body cameras,” Magavern said. “Citizens and good cops like them. For cops, it’s proof that they’re not doing anything wrong.” The panelists also said education is the key to changing the perception of police stereotyping and an “us versus them” attitude. Washington and Alford agreed educating students at a young age about black history is crucial in taking a step forward to end separation people may feel is between races. Ultimately, Tabashneck said his goal was for people to hear both sides of the discussion and allow them to make their own judgments. “When these things happen it’s easy for people to become very angry because victims are involved,” Tabashneck said. “I think as a society we need to be more sympathetic and open-minded on both sides.” email: news@ubspectrum.com
Free math tutoring at
THE MATH PLACE No appointment required! Open Monday-Thursday 10:00am-6:00pm ULC 147- Intermediate Albegra ULC 148- Intermediate Algebra and Trig (pre-calc) MTH 121- Survey of Calculus & Applications 1 MTH 122- Survey of Calculus & Applications 2 MTH 131- Math Analysis for Management MTH 141- College Calculus 1 MTH 142- College Calculus 2
COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES THOMAS J. EDWARDS LEARNING CENTER
Help with homework, studying, and more! Visit us in Baldy 217
Get help preparing for midterms!
LIBERTY YELLOW
Download the Liberty Cab App from your app store!
Airport, Bus, and Train Transfers
716.877.7111
www.LibertyCab.com Campus Cash Accepted
Friday, February 27, 2015 ubspectrum.com
OPINION
Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF
Sara DiNatale
MANAGING EDITORS
Rachel Kramer Emma Janicki OPINION EDITOR
Tress Klassen COPY EDITORS
Alyssa McClure, Copy Chief Anne Fortman Emma Fusco Natalie Humphrey NEWS EDITORS
Tom Dinki, Senior Ashley Inkumsah, Asst. Charles W Schaab, Asst. Katie Coleman, Asst. FEATURES EDITORS
Gabriela Julia, Senior Dan McKeon, Asst. ARTS EDITORS
Jordan Oscar, Senior Tori Roseman, Senior Brian Windschitl SPORTS EDITORS
Jordan Grossman, Senior Quentin Haynes, James Battle, Asst. PHOTO EDITORS
Yusong Shi, Senior Kainan Guo, Asst. Angela Barca, Asst . CARTOONISTS
Harumo Sato Joshua Bodah
CREATIVE DIRECTORS
Jenna Bower Kenneth Cruz, Asst.
Professional Staff OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER
Kevin Xaisanasy Alex Buttler, Asst. Melina Panitsidis, Asst. ADVERTISING DESIGNER
Tyler Harder Derek Hosken, Asst.
THE SPECTRUM Friday, February 27, 2015 Volume 64 Number 54 Circulation 7,000 The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Feedback, Opinion and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address. The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by MediaMate. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum, visit www.ubspectrum.com/advertising or call us directly at (716) 645-2452. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 142602100
As UB acknowledges National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, it shines a spotlight on not just anorexia and bulimia, but binge eating disorder (BED) as well. Unfortunately, that spotlight has attracted the attention of the vulture known as Shire – a pharmaceutical company with a dangerously savvy marketing strategy. Increased awareness of what was once barely recognized as a legitimate mental condition is certainly a positive step. Like other eating disorders, BED is commonly – and most successfully – treated with talk therapy. The disorder is characterized by episodes of uncontrollable eating in which individuals continue to consume food long after feeling full, even when the experience becomes uncomfortable or painful. Individuals suffering from BED are often overweight or obese, but that’s not always the case. Though the disorder was first identified in 1959, it has long been a source of skepticism and its inclusion as an eating disorder is a sign of a hard-fought battle. Because its sufferers are not underweight like many sufferers of anorexia or bulimia, BED often generates scorn rather than concern. But ultimately BED, like other eating disorders, causes individuals to lose control of their eating habits. Those struggling with the disorder deserve treatment and support. Treatment in this case should be psychological. Individuals need to learn effective coping mechanisms and develop an understanding of the underlying causes and triggers of their disorder. Like other eating disorders, BED’s origins are psychological, not physiological. Accordingly, Shire’s attempt to market medication to treat BED is frightening. The medication, called Vyvanse, is an amphetamine already used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). One of its side effects is loss of appetite. Shire already made billions from Vyvanse as an ADHD medication when they successfully employed a marketing campaign to raise awareness for the condition, and then sold the solution. Now, with the same drug
3
A bitter pill
in hand, Shire is doing the same with BED. Although raising awareness and increasing the legitimacy of this disorder’s profile is beneficial, Shire’s motives are solely financial. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes that amphetamines like Vyvanse are likely to be abused, but Shire somehow received rapid approval from the federal government to market the drug as a medication for BED. Vyvanse received a green light because the drug is already widely recognized as an ADHD treatment, so its safety profile is established and because there is no other treatment for BED. But Vyvanse is not a treatment for BED. All Vyvanse does is suppress the appetite. Vyvanse effectively masks the symptoms of BED, but does nothing to address the psychological source of the disease. Individuals may no longer feel hunger, but they won’t be cured – an individual with a broken leg isn’t considered healed when the morphine kicks in. Amphetamines have commonly been abused as a treatment for obesity, and now Shire is offering the Pharmaceutical company’s greed same type of drug under the guise of treatment for a new is easily apparent as it pushes to disease. medicate binge-eating disorder This is a worrisome development in the realm of eating ILLUSTRATION BY disorders, as drugs that physiJOSHUA BODAH ologically alter the appetite do nothing but treat the symptoms of a disease. Individuals with BED may be able to stop binge eating or do so less frequently on the drug but the cause of their disorder will have gone ignored, stifled by a pill being pushed on individuals who don’t need it. Vyvanse not only fails to treat BED, but may very well dissuade individuals from seeking the appropriate forms of talk therapy that are actually needed to treat the disorder. In selling such a problematic medication, Shire’s actions are morally abhorrent and reflect not only greed but a complete disregard for the health of American citizens. For a company that sells pharmaceuticals, Shire’s priorities are clearly not medicinal. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
In pursuit of justice – or just delay Move to delay sentencing in Molly’s Pub case leaves defense’s motives up for debate It’s been almost a year since Jeffrey Basil pushed William Sager down a flight of stairs in Molly’s Pub, causing Sager to suffer a traumatic brain injury and die several months later. In January, it seemed as though the tragic saga was finally reaching its conclusion when Basil was convicted of second-degree murder. But now, Basil’s defense is arguing he should have been convicted of manslaughter instead. Defense attorney Joel Daniels is filing a motion to set aside the murder conviction, in what can be seen as either a last-ditch attempt to delay sentencing or a legitimate argument on Basil’s behalf. Although the sequence of events that occurred on May 11, the night of the altercation, has been much-discussed, its implications are still up for debate. Basil, who was a manager at the University Heights bar, was witnessed drinking heavily, though the prosecution argued that Basil himself stated on the
phone that he was not drunk that night. A witness noted that Basil was irritated by Sager, after he tried to shake the manager’s hand as he talked with two women at the bar. Approximately, 15 minutes later, Basil pushed Sager, a National Guardsman, down the stairs. There’s no question that Basil’s actions resulted in Sager’s death. What remains uncertain, at least according to Basil’s attorney, is the intentions behind the bar manager’s violent behavior. That element of Basil’s actions is the most difficult to determine, but also crucial in distinguishing between second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. Second-degree murder can be defined as an impulsive killing, committed without premeditation but which does involve intention to kill at the moment of the crime, or intention to cause serious bodily harm knowing that death may result. Voluntary manslaughter, the crime which Basil’s attorney believes should be in question, does
not involve as much moral blame – such a crime is considered to occur in the “heat of passion,” in which the perpetrator is strongly provoked. It’s clear Basil acted impulsively, and his sobriety at the time of the crime has been called into question. But it takes more than a few drinks to not realize the damage that could be inflicted by pushing someone down a flight of stairs. It’s arguable that Basil had to be aware, at the moment he chose to push Sager, of the damage he could inflict – an awareness that would call for a second-degree murder conviction. On the other hand, there is a lack of clear motive regarding the intensity of Basil’s actions – mere annoyance doesn’t seem to constitute sufficient incentive to cause such serious harm. Irritation, combined with alcohol, could lead to impulsive violence, but it’s dubious that such emotions could make Basil want to inflict such intense damage on Sager.
The answer isn’t clear but there is room for debate. The decision is now up to State Supreme Court Justice Penny Wolfgang, who will announce on April 7 whether Basil’s case should be retried or if the sentencing for second-degree murder should continue. It’s also noteworthy that Basil’s attorney waited until the day of sentencing to file the motion. Though Daniels claims that he had to wait to receive the trial transcript, it seems unlikely that such a process took an entire month. Whether caused by a legitimate delay or not, waiting until the day of sentencing makes Daniels appear more desperate and stretches the trial out even longer. Individuals involved in the case who are fervently waiting for some form of resolution now must wait even longer – hopefully for a verdict that can serve as a rightful delivery of justice. email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
4
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Friday, February 27, 2015 ubspectrum.com
Around Town A diverse range of activities have popped up in Buffalo this weekend EMMA JANICKI
MANAGING EDITOR
This weekend Buffalo is home to a wide range of outings, from birding to boxing to hula hooping on Elmwood. Instead of resorting to typical weekend activities like a dinner and a movie, step outside of the box and maybe you’ll find a new hobby. For the smarty pants Break out your camera, your binoculars and snow pants for Saturday’s “Birding on the River” event at Beaver Island State Park. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. You will search for migratory waterfowl and wintering birds on the shores of the Niagara River. Beaver Island encompasses 950 acres, including a sandy beach, a marina and room for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing. Beaver Island is located at 2136 W Oakfield Rd, Grand Island, NY. Whether you’ve never gone birding before or hope to bag more “lifers,” “Birding on the River” will teach you first-hand about the local bird community. For the sports lover This weekend you have the chance to watch boxing up close and personal. The New York State Golden Gloves Boxing will be hosted by The Tralf Music Hall in downtown Buffalo on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. General admission to The Tralf, at 622 Main St., are $26 in advance and $31 the day of the show. If you want ringside seats, be prepared to cough up $41 the day of the show. You can buy tickets online through Ticket Master. For the artsy type The Western New York Book Arts Center, at 468 Washington St. in downtown Buffalo, currently has Katherine Sehr’s “Small Obsessions” on display. “Small Obsessions” is a series of “large-scale meditative color field drawings” inspired by everything from Taoism to dancing to
mathematics to art history. Sehr’s drawings are a “slow accumulation of lines across the paper” and are driven by process and pattern. Sehr will give a free artist’s talk and workshop on Saturday from 12-2 p.m., but if you can’t make the talk, gallery hours are Wednesday-Saturday from 12-6 p.m. Admission is always free. For the partier Grab your favorite dancing partner because Sunday, March 1 is Tango night at The Gypsy Parlor at 376 Grant St. on Buffalo’s west side. Tango night is free and starts at 7 p.m. – a perfect way to end a busy weekend. The Gypsy Parlor has intriguing cock-
COURTESY OF FLICKR USER MARI.FRANCILLE
You can wind down the weekend with hula hooping at Ultra Hoop, sitting ringside to Golden Gloves Boxing at The Tralf Music Hall or tango-ing the night away at The Gypsy Parlor.
tails like the 716 Vaccine and Aphrodisiac, as well as a fine selection of bottled beer and wine. If you’re looking to have dinner before dancing, order up a black sheep burger, Banh Mi poutine or even a $12 bowl of shrimp Ramen. For the stressed out Wind down from the stress of homework with a hula hooping session at Ul-
tra Hoops at 1121 Elmwood Ave., near SUNY Buffalo State. Filigrees Boutique is hosting Mila & Essjay’s Social Energy Mines Launch Party. Indulge in some wine, cheesecake and raffles – what more do you need to relax? email: emma.janicki@ubspectrum.com
Continued from Williams, page 1 RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS NEEDED Researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute are searching for participants to view advertisments and packaging of tobacco products and give opinions on these products for an important research project. Participation involves one visit viewing materials and answering questionnaires. Participants will be compensated for their time. If interested, please contact 716-845-4629 And ask for the LabSense Study
Donor names are accurate as of 2/5/15
Some students don’t know who Williams is, but students like Throsby Wells who do know are thrilled she’s coming. “I think she’s hilarious,” Wells, a junior linguistics major said. “I’m very excited that she’s coming.” This year’s Comedy Series will cost “under $40,000,” according to Ingram, which is under the allotted $45,000 for talent and $15,000 for production. Currently the SA comedy talent ledger shows two charges, totaling $18,500. “The money subtracted from the talent ledger is going toward paying the comedians,” Ingram said. Contractually, Ingram said he couldn’t say what each artist cost to bring to UB, but what they’re saving on the Comedy Series would go toward the concerts and other events they have planned later in the semester.
Williams made her Daily Show debut on Jan. 11, 2012 and has gained notoriety for her many skits and appearances on the show, including a sketch on catcalling that inspired many parodies. She was recently featured on Variety’s “Top 10 Comics to Watch.” Rumors surfaced Williams would take over for Jon Stewart on The Daily Show after he announced he would leave the show by the end of the year. “I want her to replace John Stewart, but apparently [that’s not going to happen],” Wells said. “It would be nice to see a woman in one of those [late night] time slots, but more over I think she’s hilarious.” Williams joins a list of lauded comedians that have been part of the SA’s Comedy Series, including Aziz Ansari, Craig Robinson and Chris Rock. The Comedy Series is returning to the CFA this year after Aziz Ansari performed in Alumni Arena last year. “Last year’s show in Alumni Arena was not something we usually do – we almost always do comedy shows in the CFA,” said Erin Lachaal, the SA’s entertainment director in an email. “There will be no general public sales for this show so the entire CFA, which seats 1,764, will be for UB students.” Tickets are available in the SA office, 350 SU, starting on March 4 with a valid UB ID. Ingram said they began looking for a Comedy Series headliner over winter break, but SA didn’t like the dates many artists were available. March 12 fit perfectly between the rest of the SA’s events this semester, which include an electronic dance music (EDM) show on April 17 – the result of student polling conducted last semester – and a possibly more rock ‘n’ roll or alternative rock heavy Spring Fest on May 2. “We were happy to get Jessica Williams, and we think she’ll do a great job,” Ingram said. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
ubspectrum.com
Friday, February 27, 2015
Taking a chance in the spotlight
5 CHUNG TIN MAK, THE SPECTRUM
Rachel Sawyer performed a rendition of Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie” on stage at the UB Improv’s Open Mic Night Wednesday.
UB Improv club hosts Open Mic Night REBECCA VINCENT
STAFF WRITER
Paul Thompson has been waiting for a chance to perform since high school and has been writing lyrics for years. He finally got a chance to shine on Wednesday. At UB Improv’s Open Mic Night, he brought down the house with his rap performance as one of many performers who took to the stage. In Student Union 330, UB Improv held an Open Mic Night Wednesday night as an opportunity for anyone who wanted to perform a song or comedy routine in front of a live audience. “We thought an Open Mic Night would be an interesting and engaging event to try,” said Corey Reisman, a senior political science major and the treasurer of UB Improv. “We do more structured things all the time, but this is something a bit different we wanted to try.” Thompson, a senior psychology major and Jamaican-born rapper who moved to the Bronx when he was 11, was happy to add his own voice to the list of musicians. Thompson was a fan of the show’s variety. Listening to and observing other people inspire him.
“I write from other peoples perspectives,” Thompson said. “[It’s] not always stuff about me.” Although he has written material from his own perspective, the rapper feels he gets more out of the writing process when writing from the perspective of others. The musical acts ranged far and wide, from a cover of Outkast’s “Roses,” to UB Improv’s event coordinator and senior English major Rachel Sawyer’s rendition of Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie.” The night’s main focus was on having fun rather than worrying about who the better performer was. Apart from the musical acts, comedy was also a highlight of the night. The event provided an opportunity for UB Improv members to try out new skits and routines. Curtis LoFaro, a senior Spanish major and UB Improv president, performed a stand-up comedy act that kept the audience laughing. Reisman acted out a scene from a movie where he played the role of two characters at once. The evening was designed to be interactive and involve as many people as possible. The club wanted to try something
different from their usual routine. Over the course of the night, UB Improv played games that incorporated the audience. The evening started with UB Improv members leading a game called “Blind Lines.” Audience members were asked to write down random thoughts, lines or words on pieces of paper that were then placed in a hat. UB Improv members randomly selected from the audience’s ideas and incorporated them into a scene. The result: a crazy mix of elf farts, wild body movements and other audience-induced randomness. Another game of the night, “Pan Left,” had the audience roaring with laughter. Four UB Improv members walked onto the stage and stood
in a square so that two people could be seen at a time. Each pair of performers was given a scenario or location they had to improvise a scene around topics such as a talk show, brothel, aquarium or auditorium. The caller, a fifth person off to the side, decided when it as time to “pan left” and have the performers rotate onstage. The group rotates several times so the audience can see the same scene develop in different ways. It was the variety that made the night memorable. At any given moment, there could be someone singing onstage, leading a comedy routine, acting out a movie or even playing a handful of improv games. Reisman said diversity was the whole purpose of the open mic event. “We are a performance based
club with a membership base that is highly talented in a variety of arts that isn’t just improv,” Reisman said. “We really wanted to showcase these talents in a different setting.” Club members and non-members alike attended to show off their skills, enjoy themselves and the acts and overall, just have a good laugh. Students were able to sign up prior to the event or walk in and decide to perform. The UB Improv Club has weekly meetings on Mondays at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Theater for anyone interested in becoming a part of the free-spirited club. email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Writing in the present Creative Writing Certificate trains students in fiction and poetry writing SAMANTHA BRENNER STAFF WRITER
While in class, Conor Clarke felt “it.” He doesn’t know where “it” came from, but somewhere in the discussions of authors, poets and in the writing process, Clarke became inspired. The Creative Writing Certificate, offered to undergraduate students by the English department, teaches students different modes of creative writing. There are roughly 100 students active in the program, according to Christina Milletti, an associate professor of English. Students in the program are required to take three mandatory classes and three electives, out of the seven creative writing courses offered, to complete the certificate. The last class is the “Capstone” in which students must complete a major creative project, according to the English Department’s website. Students not in the certificate program, however, are also able to take these creative writing classes that focus on writing and editing fiction and poetry as well as exposing students to the vibrant writing community of Buffalo. “The certificate opens up a space for any student who wants to deeply engage with writing poetry and fiction, allowing them to dedicate themselves, with our guidance and with the support of their peers, to writing,” said Dimitri Anastasopoulos, director of the Creative Writing Program and an associate English professor. The classes are mostly workshops that allow students to explore their own writing capabilities, even when they’re busy with other classes. The goal is to foster a supportive writing community while teaching students to reflect on their work, Anastaso-
poulos said. Clarke, a junior English major, said looking at and discussing other writers and their writing processes have been “inspiring.” He is currently working on his own book to fulfill his dreams of becoming a novelist. “The classes I’ve been taking probably improved my perception on the writing process as a whole,” Clarke said. “It has opened my eyes to new ways of looking at it, and gives me new ways of editing, and new ways of structuring pieces of my writing.” The program also encourages students to connect with the writing community through various events like the Exhibit X fiction series, the Poetic Plus series as well as other writing events organized by the English department. They give students the chance to talk to other writers. Published writers read excerpts from their works and then have a Q&A session afterwards for students to ask any questions they have. Exhibit X brings novelists and
fiction writers to Buffalo. Typical meetings take place for an hour and a half for a public reading at Hallwalls in downtown Buffalo. The goal is to provide an inside view into the mind of a writer, according to Anastasopoulos. The spring event will feature Jeff VanderMeer and Karen Yamashita. “Exposing students to living, breathing writers and writing helps students to think about what it means to write in the present,” said Joseph Hall, a graduate English student and an instructor in the program. “They might start to think about writing in a different way and all of this might keep them writing and thinking about what writing needs to do in the world.” NAME magazine, an undergraduate literary magazine at UB, helps the creative writing community on campus by giving an outlet for student works. The magazine is produced and edited by students, with some assistance from the English department. NAME prints creative fiction and poetry from currently
JORDAN OSCAR, THE SPECTRUM
Students in Christina Milletti’s English 480 Creative Writing Capstone Seminar are completing the Creative Writing Certificate, offered to undergraduate students that teaches them about different modes of creative writing.
enrolled UB undergraduates. These students not only come from the creative writing program, but other disciplines as well. Hall is an adviser to the students producing NAME magazine. He said the students look through the Poetry Archives at UB for inspiration, such as “glossy trade style magazines, hand-sewn books, pamphlet manifestos … and even a book that is a bunch of poems stuffed in a shoe.” NAME magazine last year was distributed in old record cases with their logo spray-painted on it. “The program emphasizes how the words we write change the conditions of the world we
live in,” Anastasopoulos said. “When we understand that the way we use language has an impact on the developing narratives around us, we see ourselves not only as people who write privately and perhaps in small collectives, but also as agents who can create change in the world.” Students who aren’t an English major see the creative writing classes as an opportunity to venture outside their major, Hall said. “These classes allow students to exercise that part of their brain, and to exercise their creativity,” he said. This certificate is designed to encourage young writers to keep writing whether they are studying architecture, engineering, business or computer science. Daniel McKeon contributed reporting to this story. email: features@ubspectrum.com
ubspectrum.com
6
Continued from hockey, page 8 “We were all absolutely terrified, excited [and] nervous,” said sophomore forward Courtney Miller. “We thought we were finding out on Tuesday, so we were sitting on-edge all day and waiting for the email from our coach to see if we were going or not. We found out we were going and everyone was freaking out.” The switch to a lower division gave the team room to build on a young squad that “has the core of a D-I team,” according to Miller. The team said it knew it would not be able to compete with Division I schools due to its numbers and player conditioning compared to other programs. Miller said the move was best for the team. “We dropped down to D-II because we had a chance to go to the national tournament,” Miller said. “It was a chance to get our name out there and let people know, ‘Hey, UB has a competitive hockey team. Let me check that out.’” Recruitment has been one of the biggest problems for Buffalo. The team welcomed three freshmen to the team this season, but it wasn’t sufficient to comfortably stay in D-I. Sophomore defenseman Courtney Thornton said in order to get more players, the team needs more recognition. “More than half of the school doesn’t even know we exist,” Thornton said. “We’re looking for players that have more than skating skills. It’s about getting your name out there.” Currently, the team consists of only 14 players – three upperclassmen, eight sophomores and three freshmen. In Division I last season, the team consisted of nearly 20 players, but a lack of recruitment left Buffalo with inadequate numbers to compete at a higher level this year. Jeckovich, however, is content with the small numbers. A smaller number of players gave the team an opportunity to create bonds and relationships with one another. She also thinks it’s the key to the team’s success this season and for future seasons. “Because we have such a young team with a strong drive that wants to succeed, it’s only going to build us up,” Jeckovich said. “For freshmen coming in, they’re going to see the passion that [the team] has. The fact that we just made nationals, they’re going to want to go back every year. It will only build our program up.” Unlike the men’s club hockey team – which also made the national tournament – the women are guaranteed to play at least three games. The women’s tournament is a double-elimination structure and Buffalo would advance even if it loses a game. The team departs for the York City Ice Arena in York, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, March 3 and will play its first game on Wednesday against No. 1 seed California University of Pennsylvania. Buffalo will play Rainy River Community College the following Thursday and will round out the first round against Michigan State on that Friday. The puck drops on Thursday, March 5 at 10:30 a.m. email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Friday, February 27, 2015
Continued from Bearden, page 8 It was in high school that Bearden really began to stand out. Bearden played his freshman and sophomore years on the varsity team for Homestead High School. He then transferred to Germantown High School, where he and his team would go on to win back-to-back state championships. In the two seasons he played for Germantown, Bearden accumulated a 54-2 record while averaging 15.3 points, four assists and three rebounds. Bearden’s achievements in high school caught the attention of many college basketball programs. He was ranked as the fourth best player in Wisconsin and the 28th best point guard in the entire country, according to a definitive ranking by ESPN. Nonetheless, the choice to come to Buffalo was obvious. “The decision of coming to Buffalo was pretty easy, considering the fact that [head coach Bobby] Hurley is the head coach and [the school] showed so much interest,” Brian said. “They were very interested in trying to have Lamonte come to Buffalo. Their interest in turn sparked ours, and here we are.” After the Bulls lost in the MAC Tournament semi-finals last season, Hurley traveled to watch Bearden play a game. It wouldn’t be long after until Bearden and Hurley would be working together. Hurley said he was eager to get Bearden on the court as a Bull after recruiting him from Germantown.
“When I recruited him he was the type of recruit that was so highly regarded, and I thought so much of him,” Hurley said. “I thought there was a chance of him getting a starting position and he earned it. We’re a better team when he’s on the floor.” Bearden said he was ecstatic to join the Bulls and play under a coach like Hurley. Getting a starting spot was his driving point. Bearden said that it was “an honor” to get a starting spot as a true freshman. While Bearden is only a freshman, Hurley had nothing but praise for Bearden and his mature style of basketball. Despite Bearden’s inexperience, Hurley said he is confident that Bearden will perform well in the upcoming MAC tournament, which is set to begin on March 11 in Cleveland, Ohio. “He’s been [to championship games] before with his team, and he’s had success in high school,” Hurley said. “I think he knows what it’s about playing in big games and in every game here on in. Having a guy who has that type of poise is great.” The success or failure of the Bulls in the tournament will probably come down to more than just Bearden’s play, but also how he plays alongside his teammates, particularly sophomore guard Shannon Evans. “I think in particular him and Shannon are good because they both play great defense on the ball,” Hurley said.
“They’re very aggressive no matter who we play. They play off of each other and they all bring a different skill set to the game.” Bearden had nothing but praise for his fellow guards. He said he finds Evans to be a “real good guard,” and complimented junior guard Jarryn Skeete’s [whom he refers to as “Skeeter”] threepoint shooting ability. With the regular season drawing to a close, Hurley and Bearden said they are focused on the tournament ahead, but the future is also looming. Bearden has three more seasons of eligibility after this one, and Hurley said he will only get better. “He’s got physical tools that I can’t teach him. His quickness, his athleticism, his instincts; those are some great things going for him,” Hurley said. “He’s got to continue to get stronger and maturity and weight training will help that process along. He’ll continue to reap those benefits from that. For now, Bearden’s concerned with the last three games of the regular season and the tournament ahead. The Bulls play Kent State (19-9, 10-5 MAC) on Saturday and could surpass the Golden Flashes for the No. 2 seed in the MAC East with a victory. “I’m honestly not sure [what the future holds],” Bearden said. “I’m just out here playing right now.” email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Continued from Kent, page 8 Tuesday’s game against Akron was the first time since Jan. 27 where the Bulls secured a victory after trailing going into halftime. Buffalo trailed 34-33 at the half before going on an 11-0 run at the end of the game to secure the victory. They are also riding their fifth threegame winning streak this season, including their second in conference play. Saturday will be Buffalo’s final regular season game away from Alumni Arena. The Bulls are 9-6 in conference play, but are just 4-4 in MAC road games. Hurley said he doesn’t care what Buffalo’s record is or has been this season. He said the team will focus on winning its last three game by doing what it’s been doing in the past week and a half since the start of its current three-game winning streak. “We’re looking at it one practice at a time and getting ready for Saturday,” Hurley said. “I think we’ve found something on defense in the last three games
and we need to be consistent if we want to win these games.” Saturday’s tip off is set for 7 p.m.
YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM
Justin Moss drives to the basket in a 80-55 win over Kent State on Jan. 30.
email: sports@ubspectrum.com
JUMPSTART YOUR CAREER! MPA in Public Policy and Administration MPA in Inspection and Oversight
Advanced Certificate in Forensic Accounting
Ranks in top 25% of public affairs programs by U.S. News and World Report. Nationally ranked #3 in Public Policy and #4 in Public Administration in graduateprograms.com. Winners of both 2014 NASPAA Program Awards: Diversity Award and Social Equity Award. Offers most affordable tuition in the NYC region, with scholarships, no-cost textbooks, tablet computer loans. Connects students to doctoral studies and law school. Prepares students for careers in public, independent and oversight organizations as managers, analysts and leaders. Delivers courses online, campus-based, or Saturday - fully-online program available Offers Advanced Certificate in Forensic Accounting for professional careers in investigative accounting. Expedites applications: apply online, no GRE exam required.
APPLY NOW!
mpa.jjconline.net/jumpstart
Friday, February 27, 2015 ubspectrum.com
CLASSIFIEDS
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
TAVERN AT WINDSOR PARK is opening soon at 8444 Transit Rd, currently hiring for all back of house positions. Full and part time line cooks, prep cooks and dishwashers. Please forward your resume and please include what position you are applying for in *doc or *txt format. Also you may apply in person from 9 am to 4 pm at 8444 Transit Rd in Williamsville, NY in the Kohls Plaza. Check us out at www. tavernwindsorpark.com 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 APARTMENT FOR RENT APARTMENT FOR
RENT
CONDO 2/2 WD TO N.CAMPUS. Beautiful, quiet, W/D in unit. $520.00 per avail. Sept. 1, 2015 possibly sooner. Call: 716-432-7125 Colleen. 4,5,6 & 8 BEDROOM Remodeled apartment houses. 34 Apartments available located at University Buffalo Main Street Campus, off Englewood. Beginning June 2015: UB South Campus for @ $300/ bedroom plus utilities. Washers & dryers included. Contact bradengel37@gmail. com or Shawn at 716-984-7813 Check out our web-site: www.bufapt.com SPACIOUS 3-BDRM MERRIMAC. Well maintained. Washer/dryer, dishwasher. Off
street parking. $735.00 716-998-2957/716877-0097 LISBON/BAILEY: 2-3 BDRM furnished, carpeting, appliances & parking. $180/p+, available June 1st. dryan@daemen.edu 716-440-5133 TIRED OF LOOKING AT THE SAME OLD DUMP??? Our nicest apartments rent now! Newly remodeled 1-4 person homes on W. Winspear, Englewood, Tyler, Heath and Merrimac. Amenities include O/S parking, whirlpool bathtubs, w/w carpeting, new ss appliances & free laundry. Live the Sweethome life on South! Visit www. ubrents.com or call 716-775-7057 1-8 BEDROOM HOUSES AND APARTMENTS at UB South: dozens in prime locations on Winspear, Northrup, Highgate and more! Most have large bedrooms, hardwood floors, off-street parking & laundry. Local, responsible landlord with maintenance staff. Call, text or email Jeremy Dunn, (585)261-6609 or email Jeremy Dunn @ jgdunn2@msn.com HOUSE FOR RENT HOUSE FOR
RENT
TOTALLY RENOVATED 5 & 6 MASTER BEDROOMS. 2-Full baths, stove, fridge, washer / dryer / dishwasher & off-street parking. Available June 1st. Call 716-570-6062. TIRED OF LOOKING AT THE SAME OLD DUMP??? Our nicest apartments rent now! Newly remodeled 3-8 person homes on W. Winspear, Englewood, Tyler, Heath and Merrimac. Amenities include
The Adult Galaxy 2113 Niagara Falls Blvd Amherst NY
(716) 691-SEXY
7
O/S parking, whirlpool bathtubs, w/w carpeting, new ss appliances, free laundry, snow removal & Valet garbage! Live the Sweethome life on South! Visit www. ubrents.com or call 716-775-7057 MINNESOTA AVENUE, 3-BDRM, $705/month. 5/6 BDRM $1,200/Month. Energy efficient, beautiful hardwood, big back yard, off-street parking, laundry, security system 716-446-1213 leave message. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 BEDROOM HOMES. Available Now! Go to daveburnette.net to view all properties or call Dave at 716-445-2514. EVERYTHING YOU NEED for the 2015 academic year. Great 1 to 8 bedroom houses & apartments. Near South Campus. Off-Street parking, laundry, dishwashers & much more! Please call: Andy to schedule a showing 716-308-4881 1-8 BEDROOM HOUSES AND APARTMENTS at UB South: dozens in prime locations on Winspear, Northrup, Highgate and more! Most have large bedrooms, hardwood floors, off-street parking & laundry. Local, responsible landlord with maintenance staff. Call, text or email Jeremy Dunn, (585)261-6609 or email Jeremy Dunn @ jgdunn2@msn.com
PRINCETON COURT PRINCETON COURT APARTMENTS Efficiency & 2 Bedroom Apartments
SERVICESSERVICES CITYA1DRIVINGSCHOOL.COM Beginners & brush-up driving lessons. 5hr class $30.00 716-875-4662.
=
18 & Older ID/Rush
for information
Toys / Lubes Lingerie / Condoms
Call (716) 835-1914
DVD’s-$8.99 & up Whips / Mags / Pipes / Gold Scales Male Enhancement Pills/Rings Rabbit/Vibes
jlewis@mjpeterson.com
Monday 10% OFF COUPON
DAILY DELIGHTS sponsored by Collegiate Village Apartments Crossword of the Day
Friday, February 27, 2015 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK
HOROSCOPES
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Get together with old friends or discuss future plans with someone you love. Take care of paperwork that is time-sensitive. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Consider what you are told, but do your own research. Too much of anything will turn in to a costly affair. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): It’s fun to dream, but don’t create a fantasy world that will hurt your current status with a personal or business partner. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t be afraid to be different. Taking a different path will give you an inside view of a situation that is festering in the background with a peer or colleague. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Step into the limelight and offer suggestions based on what you know to be true, and you will get the support you need to follow a dream. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Someone you thought you could trust will disappoint you. Don’t share your personal thoughts or secrets with anyone. Put more effort into doing your own thing and you’ll avoid interference. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t procrastinate -- take action. Your interest in different philosophies and cultures will lead you to interesting events and seminars. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Take care of responsibilities quickly and then move on to enjoyable projects. A change in your position will turn in your favor. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Partnerships will make a difference to your outlook and opinion. Make changes at home that will ensure comfort, ease your stress and make your life more enjoyable. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Stick close to home. Travel and communication will lead to delays and conflicts. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Looking back will help you move forward. Don’t be discouraged just because someone says no. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Use your creative energy to implement personal change. Someone will meddle or mislead you if given the chance.
Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 27, 2015 HEADING OFF A STORM By Kenneth Holt
ACROSS 1 High-five sound 5 Shoelace piece 10 Bird bill part 14 Doughnut center 15 France’s longest river 16 Impressive style 17 Pour but good 20 Innate impulses 21 Bond’s Fleming 22 Keanu Reeves’ role in “The Matrix” 23 Campfire fallout 24 “Murphy Brown” star 27 Fish hawk’s cousin 29 Chilly 32 Singer Grant 33 Sir Lancelot du ___ 36 Lacking wit or imagination 38 Print revealer 41 Common sight in Maine 42 ID factor, perhaps 43 Bunion site 44 Like lemon juice 46 Go, to the dogs? 50 “Aladdin” setting 52 Caterer’s coffeemaker 55 Day-care diversion 56 “Cocoon” director Howard 57 Like a $600 return
on a $200 bet 60 Certain visibility improver 63 Protected, on board 64 Put in prison 65 Bean or certain capital city 66 Cincinnati ballplayers 67 Misty-eyed 68 Provides with a staff
28 “What ___ can I say?” 30 Automatic pistol 31 A country’s output, for short 34 Succeeds in getting 35 Approximately, datewise 37 Hard, yellow cheese 38 Christian of fashion 39 Like some income or runs 40 Alumna bio word 41 Bake sale org. 45 Coarse fabric 47 A perfect place 1 The Alamo, for one 48 Quietly 2 Repair shop substitute serious 3 Krauss 49 Manyor Lurie headed mythical 4 ___-up (confined) sea monsters 5 Alda and Ladd 51 Gives advance warn 6 “I fooled you!” ing 7 Schindler made one 53 Use the towel again 8 Bygone times 54 Fresh from the fac 9 Two hours before tory midnight 57 It’s free when it’s 10 ___ Rapids, Iowa unscheduled 11 Stretch out 58 Greek goddess of 12 Joplin tune youth 13 CPO’s 59 Cinema feature superior 60 Where there’s a general 18 Org. in many spy assembly? novels 61 Ending 19 Subside for “tact” 24 Two-legged support 62 Cabinet 25 Weighty Kuwaiti? acronym, once 26 The Big Apple, briefly
DOWN
Last Chance to Lock In Our Current Rates for FALL 2015! Call for Specials! 716-833-3700
Follow Us! @CVBuffalo
Check Us Out at www.CVBuffalo.com
8
Friday, February 27, 2015 ubspectrum.com
SPORTS Lamonte Bearden’s focused path led him to Buffalo
Bearden didn’t want to be part of a bad crowd, so he turned to basketball JAMES BATTLE
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
You might be able to tell Lamonte Bearden is a freshman by his baby face, wide smile and small 160-pound frame, but you wouldn’t be able to tell the Buffalo men’s basketball guard is one based on how he plays on the hardwood. “Lamonte plays with the maturity beyond his years on the court,” said head coach Bobby Hurley. “Nothing fazes him out there. He doesn’t get rattled. He plays at his own speed.” Bearden, who averages 7.8 points and 4.3 assists per game, has started 26 games for the Bulls this season as a true fresh-
man point guard. In just his first season, he’s been asked to help run the floor for a team that controls its own destiny for a Mid-American East title with three games remaining. Bearden’s maturity comes from his parents. They wouldn’t let him act any other way – and there was no other way for Bearden to act growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Bearden and his family couldn’t let him become a statistic. Milwaukee’s violent crime rate was three times the national average in 2012 and the city reported 91 murders in 2012, according to City-Data.com. Bearden said he could have fallen in with the wrong crowd while growing up. But he was too smart and too focused on basketball. When he wasn’t on the court, he chose to hang out with teammates or his brother. He said he never hung with troublemakers and tried to stay on the right path. “We were so quick to get him into bas-
KAINAN GUO, THE SPECTRUM
Freshman guard Lamonte Bearden knew he didn’t want to be part of a bad group growing up. Basketball was his answer to make sure he didn’t.
ketball because he was interested in it so early,” said Brian, Bearden’s father. “He would see it on TV and just stand in front of it for the whole game, just standing up.” But even if Bearden didn’t have basketball, he said that he wouldn’t have ventured down a bad path. His parents didn’t raise him that way. But basketball was what he and his family used to keep him out of trouble in the streets of Milwaukee. Bearden said because Milwaukee “was turning so bad,” as he was preparing to enter high school that his family moved
Goal
to the nearby suburb Homestead for him to continue his basketball career. “They were more suburban towns, so I could stay out of trouble,” Bearden said. The transition took a while for Bearden to get used to. He said he was going from a black community to a predominantly white one, but it ultimately didn’t matter to him. Eventually, he loved playing basketball in the suburbs. Bearden said it was “different” but ultimately liked playing out there. SEE BEARDEN, PAGE 6
COURTESY OF TIM TALTY
The hockey team will take on University of California, Pennsylvania next Wednesday morning in the first matchup of the ACHA D-II National Tournament.
Women’s hockey gets first national tournament bid, now looks to gain exposure
to goal JORDAN GROSSMAN
SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
When colleges are given the choice to either make a switch to Division II or stay in Division I, most would choose the latter. Not the UB women’s ice hockey team. The team – who made the switch to Division II at the beginning of the year – saw this season as a “rebuilding year.” Buffalo lost six seniors to graduation and wasn’t able to recruit a sufficient amount of players to put together a competitive Division I team. But the switch to D-II did more than give the team a chance to be competitive. The switch also gave the team a legitimate opportunity to play in a national tournament for the first time. It paid off. For the first time in program history, the women’s ice hockey team clinched a spot in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) D-II National Tournament after solidifying the No. 4 seed in the College Hockey East (CHE) Division. Buffalo hopes the bid to the tournament will help gain national exposure for the program. “Not a lot of people even know that
COURTESY OF STUDENT ASSOCIATION
Sophomore forward Mamie Talty leads the team with 19 points. She and the rest of the hockey team clinched a spot in the ACHA D-II National Tournament for the first time in program history.
[Buffalo] has a women’s hockey team and we are trying to build it up,” said head coach Melissa Jeckovich. “We didn’t have the numbers to compete in D-I. All of those teams have 20-25 skaters on the team. Eventually, we’ll go back to Division I, but we made the switch to drop down so it would be more competitive.” The coaches in the league determine the selection process for the tournament. The league consists of 24 teams, separated by two regions – East and West. Each region has 12 teams. The top four teams in each region advance to the national tournament. Entering final rankings last week, Buffalo was tied for fourth with University of Connecticut. After the final rankings came out on Feb. 19, the team was notified via email and text messages that it edged out the Huskies for the final slot from the Eastern division. SEE HOCKEY, PAGE 6
Controlling their own destiny Bulls take three-game winning streak into a crucial conference matchup
Justin Moss (23) and Lamonte Bearden (1) drive the floor against Kent State’s Khaliq Spicer (21) and Derek Jackson (23) in an 80-55 win in Alumni Arena on Jan. 30. The Bulls will take on the Kent State Golden Flashes on Saturday in a pivotal MAC East matchup. YUSONG SHI, THE SPECTRUM
JORDAN GROSSMAN
SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
With three games remaining in the regular season, the men’s basketball team controls its own destiny in the Mid-American Conference East. Buffalo’s victory over Akron (17-11, 8-7 MAC) Tuesday night propelled it to third place in the MAC East, and the team can win the Eastern Conference by winning its last three games. But two of those three games include matchups against the teams currently tied for first place in the MAC East – starting with Kent State (19-9, 10-5 MAC) on Saturday. The Bulls (18-9, 9-6 MAC) will play Kent State, who is tied for first place in the MAC East with Bowling Green (18-8, 10-5 MAC), in a pivotal conference matchup at the MAC Center in Kent, Ohio Saturday night. If the Bulls come out victorious, they will move into second place in the Eastern conference. Buffalo defeated the Golden Flashes 8055 on Jan. 30 en route to the highest scoring margin against a MAC team this season. The second-highest difference was 19 points in a win against Northern Illinois (11-15, 5-10 MAC) on Jan. 14. But head coach Bobby Hurley said he doesn’t doubt the Golden Flashes based on his team last matchup with them, especially since that game was in Alumni Arena. “They’re one of the best defensive teams in the conference. They’re a veteran team
that’s been real consistent,” Hurley said. “We handled them well the first time, but we can’t expect to see the same team when we’re on their home court.” Hurley said Buffalo had one of its best three-game stretches defensively this season in the past three games. The Bulls have not allowed more than 63 points during their current three-game winning streak, and the current streak is the first time in MAC play this season where Buffalo has given up less than 70 points in three straight games. The Golden Flashes rank second in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 61.9 points per game. Buffalo ranks seventh in the MAC in the same category, giving up 67 points per game. “It shows our defense controls the way we play and the outcome of the game,” said sophomore guard Shannon Evans. “If we keep pressuring the ball and playing in the open court, we’ll be fine.” Kent State features forward Jimmy Hall, who ranks sixth in the MAC with 14.9 points per game and eighth in the conference with 7.1 rebounds per game. On Tuesday, Hall tied for a game-high 24 points to go with five rebounds in an 86-81 overtime loss to Miami Ohio (12-16, 7-8 MAC). Hall is also one of three Kent State players in the top-21 in average rebounds per game in the MAC, joining forward Khaliq Spicer encer (No. 10) with 6.5 rebounds per game and forward Chris Ortiz (No. 21) with 4.7 rebounds per game. SEE KENT, PAGE 6