April 27, 2012

THE GRIFFIN Friday, April 27, 2012

Canisius College, Buffalo, N.Y.

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SPORTS

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Science Hall 2012

Griffin tours new Science Hall building, set to open next semester laptop chargers so students can sit and stay a while.

These are designed to keep hallway congestion to a minimum. The next recession in the wall is going to be a showcase for “science on display,” a recurring theme of our visit.

These spaces alternate between seating and showcases all the way down the hall.

The classrooms and labs are a good size and have big windows that look out at Main Street and the cemetery; with that in mind, the rooms will be designed with the teaching wall facing out so students don’t look out the window all class long.

The corner rooms and beyond will serve other functions, such as a large, windowed space will become a high-tech conference room, with multiple television monitors and a table that will be rigged with cords to deliver electricity to anyone at any seat.

Other future inhabitants of the spaces we walk past sound impressive. One space will become a computer robotics lab. Another will be an autism research center. There are a few larger “science on display” spaces that will accommodate projects such as Dr. Noonan’s zoo.

By Nick Veronica Editor in Chief

LIFE & ARTS • • •

Germany study abroad journer part II @ 9 Buffalo summer to-do @ 10 “I Hate Hamlet” review @ 10

They handed us hard hats as we walked inside. Canisius’ new Science Hall building, the school’s biggest project since the Dugan residence hall, is now just fourth months from holding its first class.

It smells like caulk and the floors are dusty. Bill Greeley – our tour guide, but officially, associate vice president of Cannon Design – instructs us to watch for wires and other objects jutting out of the ground. This project, more than a decade in the making, is still very much a construction site, but it’s shaping up to become the most elegant and high-tech building around.

School president John Hurley is enthusiastic for the opening of Science Hall this August. Not only will it attract students and impress their parents, it reflects well on his reign as head of the college. “It will be a fabulous building for all of us,” he says, confident he’ll be reaping the rewards of the $20 million spent on Phase I. The first floor and basement of the old BlueCross BlueShield building make up the first part of the project – 60,000 sq. ft. in total.

Greeley assures us the first floor will be completed and ready for students next semester as he shows us around. His team will finish up the basement and continue progress on the upper floors during the school year and says it won’t interfere with students. Hurley plans to have departments move into the basement next summer.

The atrium Greeley brings us next to the atrium: the nucleus of Science Hall that Canisius hopes will be a gathering point on campus.

The setup looks like what a student center ought to be like. It reminds me of Niagara’s student center on the lower level of the Gallagher Center, just less cluttered. It seems like a place where students can come to genuinely relax while getting a bite to eat and flip on SportsCenter. If the game tables from Palisano get brought over, the Pavilion would be rendered completely useless.

Glass is a theme throughout the building that will be seen most dramatically in the atrium. While the outside walls of the building have large windows, the inner core will have a giant sunroof beaming light all the way through the building, aided by large openings in the floor on every level. The guardrails surrounding the openings will also be made of glass, similar to the panel at the top of a mall escalator.

With science as a guiding theme, the atrium will also have a “living wall,” which is exactly what it sounds like. The wall will be completely covered in vegetation, protruding out from the side. A computer design from Cannon shows a leafy green-looking plant you’d expect to find underwater. Once all four floors are completed, the living wall will span

The tour begins

OPINION • • •

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Volume LXXXII Number 21

Entering from the door off Main Street near M&T bank, one of three ways into the building, brings us to what they’re calling the Canisius Commons, an open space that will be made to accommodate students with chairs, tables and other types of leisurely furniture.

It’s a spacious entry room enhanced by an abundance of natural light, but the central hub of the building is a later stop on our tour.

Greelay leads us – “us” being three Griffin staffers and Eileen Herbert from the school’s PR department – down a hallway with classrooms and offices budding off of it. The walls have recessions built into them all the way down. It looks like a space for kindergartenstyle cubbies, but the first one we see will be turned into what Greeley calls a seat-wall, designed for give students a place to sit and work.

This, and every similar space, has an outlet for

Sam Stuff/The Griffin

the entire building from top to bottom.

A pair of elevators reside in the atrium, further proof this is where most of the traffic is expected to be. There are stairs in each corner of the building, though students next year won’t need to visit other levels.

If you’ve heard rumors that a chain restaurant like Wendy’s or Mighty Taco will be moving into Science Hall next year, those are false. That’s partly because the school hasn’t yet decided whether to use its food service or an outside business, but mostly because there won’t be any food available in the building at all next fall, Hurley said.

Realization of a dream News articles have been quoting Hurley since 2002 about Science Hall, long before he took over as president. There have been countless meetings. Prospective students have been teased and the community has wondered. The dream is finally becoming a realization.

Canisius posted a video on its website a few weeks ago where Hurley discussed the overarching concepts building.

“Not thinking in traditional silos, traditional ways,” he says, “but saying, where do the disciplines begin to merge, and where do real developments begin to take place?”

Several departments will call the new building home in an attempt to expedite the flow of information and ideas. They’re going for open, collaborative spaces, and they appear to be succeeding. Being cutting-edge and esthetically pleasing will show you what $68 million can buy upon the project’s completion, but the real goal is the advancement of solutions and knowledge, which Canisius hopes to foster by bringing people and technology together.

Another group is waiting for Greeley back in the commons as we complete our tour, one with fewer questions and not as many notepads. We are to let ourselves out, his only request that we leave our hard hats by the door.

The shrill of a construction worker cutting something metal at the top of a mechanical lift pierces the emptiness of the room as we walk toward the door. I scribble “spacious” into my notes as I take one last look around.

It’s hard to believe this will be a functional college building in four short months.

Greeley leads the group of faculty around the bend and out of sight. The architect of the building is a busy man.

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Friday, April 27, 2012

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Wilkinson wins senate presidency Senate promises more communication next year

By Morgan Culhane News Editor

Sophomore student senator Brock Wilkinson was elected as the 2012-13 president of the Undergraduate Student Association, the club announced Tuesday night at a gathering near Street Side Cafe.

Wilkinson beat out two upperclassmen who ran against him: Nick Wiltsite, a junior senator, and Tanner Gelatt, a junior who currently serves as the senate’s JUSTICE chair.

Twenty-five percent of Canisius students voted in the elections, according to senate.

“I am more than excited -- it was a big surprise for me,” Wilkinson said. “I put a lot of work in, all three of us [candidates] did. I’m glad that it turned out in my favor, but I have a lot of respect for the two of them and plan on working with them next year.”

Four other students were elected to USA executive board positions. Current Executive Vice President Anthony Kroese was reelected to his current position. Two newcomers to senate, junior Brian Almendinger and sophomore Anne Continetti, were elected as the vice president of business and finance and vice president of programming, respectively. Tan Ho, a sophomore who currently serves as the senate’s marketing chair, was elected vice president of communication.

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2012-13 USA E-board. From left to right they are Anne Continetti, Anthony Kroese, Brock Wilnkinson, Brian Almendinger and Tan Ho.

Kroese was very happy with the voter turnout this year; 771 students cast their votes this year compared to the 529 in the 2011-12 elections.

He plans to make some small changes to the election process.

“There’s always things that you see after you test something out,” Kroese said. “It felt good to run unopposed. I feel like I did my job and that the senate appreciates the work I did this year.”

As the only returning e-board member, he is looking forward to working with his fellow members as a part of an almost exclusively junior

executive board.

Through Ho’s marketing chair position that was created this year, the senate was able to increase its visibility. Ho plans to continue increasing communication between the senate and the rest of the student body in his new position by creating more surveys, using its website better and sending out more emails, including monthly updates and one at beginning of year introducing senators.

Almendinger has not had an official experience with the Senate, but he has helped Molly Watson, current

Sam Stuff/ The Griffin

VP of Business and Finance, with club audits throughout the year.

As a junior accounting major, Almendinger has an internship that has given him additional auditing experience and he also serves as the treasurer for C-Block, junior representative of the Accounting Society, a member of the Community Standards Board and is a member of the Finance Committee for USA. “I realized before campaigning that the VP of Business of Finance is a difficult position,” Almendinger said. “I wanted to step up to the lead financial position in the student

government not only to challenge myself, but I also wanted to give my skills that I have acquired to serve the students at Canisius.”

Although Continetti did not have the opportunity to work directly with the student senate this year, she was involved in the Student Programming Board as the co-chair of the scavenger hunt and the cochair for Spring Fest. Continetti has always been extremely passionate about programming and is eager to come up with new events such as a bi-weekly coffeehouse event.

“I wanted to run in order to dedicate as much time as possible to putting on events for the student body to enjoy,” Continetti said. “I’m really excited for next year, I think it’s going to be a great year with some fantastic events.”

Wilkinson is also excited for next year. He plans to focus on promoting communication, especially between the senate executive board and other executive boards.

“I want us to work together a little more,” Wilkinson said. “I want to emphasis that [other clubs] should work under the umbrella of USA because they are here with us.”

He believes that increased communication between different club leaders on campus will help better portray what the student body needs and wants and then the student senate can put these requests into action.

NEWS

Friday, April 27, 2012

Canisius professor stars in ‘Daily Show’ skit

By Nick Veronica Editor in Chief

Political science instructor Kevin Hardwick, Ph.D., never passes up an opportunity to show video clips from Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” in class, bringing lessons from political satirist Jon Stewart to his students through the magic of the Internet.

The roles were reversed this week when Stewart’s team brought Hardwick in for a skit to teach its viewers about the irrelevancy of the New York State primary election, which was held Tuesday.

“Those people in Iowa and New Hampshire, they have all fun,” Hardwick told “reporter” Jason Jones in the skit. “On my bucket list, just once, I want to cast a vote that matters.”

In most election years, the candidate each party will endorse is virtually determined before the New York primary, rendering the election trivial. The same can be said for this year, with Mitt Romney all but sealing the Republican nomination.

Iowa and New Hampshire have the earliest and most important primaries in January, when all the candidates are still in the race. Smaller states feel holding early primaries

earns them some degree of influence in the election process, since the bigger states have most of the weight in the Electoral College.

After Hardwick – known for his smart remarks – told the Buffalo News last week that the New York primary was “like being next in line for concert tickets when the ticket window closes.” Daily Show” producers read the story and thought he’d be perfect for a skit, preferring someone who really believes the message instead of a paid actor.

After showing a “Daily Show” clip in class last Wednesday, Hardwick returned to his office to find a message from a Comedy Central producer on his phone – which, naturally, he thought was a prank from Michael Haselswerdt, Ph.D., his lighthearted nemesis within the political science department.

After confirming it was real, the network flew Hardwick to New York City and put him up in a Manhattan hotel. They filmed the skit from 8 a.m. Sunday morning until 7 that night, filming scene after scene of what would eventually become the “New York Primary Day Fantasy Wish-a-Torium Dream Machine,” which gave Hardwick the experience of an important voter.

Hardwick entered the five minute skit to a swarm of media atten-

Canisius College purchases building New practice space for musicians

By Matt Gorczyca Managing Editor

Canisius College purchased a building located on Main Street less than a mile away from campus on April 13, according to reports. The building is a former art gallery located at 1716 Main.

A source close to the College says the purchase of the building was discussed last fall. The future purpose of the building is believed to be for musical ensemble practices like Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra and Concert Band.

Currently, the Canisius instrumental groups like the Jazz Ensemble practice regularly in the Montante Cultural Center, which consequently uses up a lot of days that could be used for speakers and other big events on campus. This week alone, the Montante Cultural Center was booked everyday for multiple events and rehearsals.

Business First, which looks at and re-

ports on business news in the Buffalo area, confirmed the orginal report from last week. According to the Buffalo County Clerk’s office, the building and a three-foot strip of land next it, located between Lafayette Avenue and Harvard Place, cost the college approximately $595,000.

It is not clear yet whether the College had planned the purchase a while back or if it was a recent idea.

Many have taken to Buffalo Rising’s page to comment on how Canisius College has managed to upkeep a clean and beautiful campus on the East side of Buffalo and are hopeful that the College will extend that down Main Street, eliminating the eyesores that have destroyed the once-populated street.

Little has been confirmed by the College, as there has not been a formal statement issued about the purchase of the building and faculty won’t do interviews until the accouncement is made. An announcement is expected in the upcoming weeks.

tion, determined to “make Kevin feel like a voter that actually mattered.”

He then went to a mock cable news panel, hosted by CNN’s Soledad O’Brien. She asked Hardwick which candidate he supports in relation to hot-button issues like abortion and gay marriage, to which he answered that he favored Rick Santorum.

The next scene presented Hardwick his own, customized political commercial, which New Yorkers don’t usually get exposed to on election day, since candidates save advertising dollars for battleground states.

“Rick Santorum is a man Americans can trust,” the ad says while presidential music is being hummed in the background. “Americans like – what’s your name? – Kevin.” Comedy Central’s Samantha Bee played Hardwick’s wife in the scene, which he said his wife was okay with when he told her.

In the final scene, Hardwick gets red, white and blue balloons and an “I VOTED” sticker after casting his vote, before admitting “in the end, I know it’s still a fantasy.”

The crew immediately packs up and leaves Hardwick in the dark as the scene closes and cuts back to Stewart in the studio.

Hardwick’s favorite part of the experience was hanging out with the actors he always watches.

“The nice thing was there was a lot of down time [while they set up] and that’s when the actors are all standing around and you get to talk to them,” he told The Griffin Wednesday morning after the show.

“I had a really nice talk with Jason Jones and Samantha Bee, they’re a married couple. Samantha is from Toronto and Jason is from Hamilton [Ontario]. Samantha has great memories of Bills games and beef on weck and coming to Buffalo. Jason just kept doing, all day long, his imitation of Lockport Gambino Ford.

‘Come on Down!’ You know, the old commercials, because he grew up watching Buffalo TV.” Hardwick’s favorite scene actually ended up being cut out. It had John Oliver as Tim Tebow in a diner, and when family values were brought up, “Tebow” would turn around and fire a football that missed the target by several feet, breaking every glass on the table.

Hardwick didn’t actually get to meet Jon Stewart, but has heard from friends, family and former students by the dozen, all congratulating him on his 15 minutes of fame.

His appearance on the show is democracy in a microcosm, showing that in this country, one man with an idea can get his message heard.

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News Of The Weird LITHUANIA- When workers at the Carlsberg Beer plant in Vilnius, Lithuania, decided to walk out over poor pay and conditions, the company went to court to block them, and in March, a judge ruled for the company, temporarily halting a strike as not in the national interest because Carlsberg Beer is “vitally essential,” thus placing the brew in the same legal category as medical supplies. A British labor union official said, “This is probably the most ridiculous decision in the world.

NEW YORK CITY- In March, a new peak was reached in New York City’s ongoing search for the most preposterously underpriced (because of rent control) apartment in the city. The Gothamist website identified a one-bedroom apartment at 5 Spring Street in Manhattan’s SoHo district renting for $55 a month even though, according to a real estate agent, it should be drawing $2,500. The tenant’s parents moved in upon immigrating from Italy in the 1940s, and since the tenant, now in his 70s, has a much younger wife, the apartment could remain under rent control for decades.

BOSTON- After the year-old house cat Sugar survived a 19-floor fall at a Boston highrise in March, an Animal Rescue League official explained to MSNBC that extra fur where the legs attach to the body enables cats to “glide” and partially “control” their landing. Research suggests that steep falls are thus easier to survive, as cats have time to spread themselves out.

Courtesy of www.newsoftheweird.com Compiled by Morgan Culhane

Friday, April 27, 2012

Beyond ThE Dome

Anti-hydrofracking protest held at Buffalo State

Students protesting hyrdrofracking at Buffalo State College.

By Amanda Gabryszak News Writer

Buffalo State College students held an anti-hydrofracking protest on their campus April 19. The protest was largely student run and coordinated, with some help from the New York Public Interest Research Group.

This is an issue for other SUNY campuses as well. According to NYPIRG’s press release, seven SUNY campuses have signed a deal with EnergyMark to receive hydraulically fractured National Gas, five of which are located in Western New York.

The students attending the protest were disappointed that SUNY did not inform them of the decision until the gas was directly being supplied and are concerned about the danger of hydrofracking. Though the numbers at the protest were modest, many on the campus were

Amanda Gabryszak/The Griffin

disappointed by the decision and disliked the notion of hydrofracking the process during which high-pressure, often chemically-treated water, is used to obtain natural gas from shale deposits deep in the ground.

There is much concern that the water is contaminated by both the gas and the chemicals.

James Burnette, a guest at the Buffalo State protest from Collins, NY, noticed problems in his drinking water a couple years back. He said he noticed gas bubbles in his water; he claimed it was flammable and contaminated with Methane.

Burnette hopes that hydrofracking is banned nationwide and urges politicians to invest in research in alternative energy, including manure digesters.

Linda Zemel, a media-writing professor at Buffalo State College thought the protest was well-informed. “I think anytime students feel strongly enough to have a nice, organized presentation, it’s a good

thing,” Zemel said. “I think fracking needs to be looked at very carefully.

It may have results we don’t know yet.”

“I think it’s horrible,” said freshman Austin White. “But I also think it’s slightly less horrible than stuff we’re going to be doing eventually.

We’re already so addicted to oil. I don’t think it’s a better alternative.

Before we protest it, we need to think of the other alternatives. We’re not getting off oil anytime soon.”

The protest included a march around campus and speeches by Rita Yelda of Food and Water Watch and Alex Bornemisza, a sophomore at Buffalo State College involved in NYPIRG; Bornemisza was responsible for organizing the protest.

There are some issues regarding how SUNY handled the gas transaction.

“For us as an organization, to me it’s about transparency,” explained Ben DeAngelis, the regional campus supervisor of NYPIRG.

“They didn’t contact students, they didn’t talk to faculty or student government or anything. It was SUNY central, not even contacting our administrators here. …In a state where fracking is not legal, it doesn’t make sense that they would violate the spirit of that sort of ban and bring it here anyway.”

Hydrofracking isn’t just an issue for SUNY students though. “The thing that’s important for students, whether SUNY or private school students, high school students or recent graduates, is to understand that when things like this happen, students need to get involved,” said DeAngelis. “Private schools don’t need to release that sort of information the same way public schools do. It’s just important that the issue is out there, and that people understand that this is something that is banned in New York State. And if it’s banned, it shouldn’t be taken part of on our campus.”

Student work on display at 5th annual Ignatian Scholarship Day Kathryn Smith & Sam Scarcello News Writers

The Canisius community gathered in the Richard E. Winter ’Student Center last Friday to celebrate academic achievement at the fifth annual Ignatian Scholarship Day The growing event provides an excellent opportunity for students and faculty to showcase their work and receive recognition from colleagues, family and friends that might not get the chance to see their work otherwise. More than 400 students participated through various forms of expression, including oral presentations, poster and video displays, art exhibits, musical performances and scientific demonstrations.

School President John J. Hurley opened the ceremony at 10 a.m. in Grupp Fireside Lounge and the event ended with a performance by the Canisius Chorale at 7 p.m. in Montante Cultural Center, but not without plenty in between. After his initial comments, Hurley spoke with The Griffin and shared why he thinks ISD is such a vital event on campus.

“It’s a day where we highlight all that goes on in the classroom, the library and work groups throughout the year and put a spotlight on all that students have accomplished.”

ISD sets Canisius apart from other colleges and universities by dedicating a day to showcase individual efforts. “That is unique in the sense that we set aside a day to put this all on display for everyone to see,” Hurley added.

Tables and displays lined the walls of Grupp, while Regis North and South and several conference rooms were utilized for their technical accommodations for film presentations. Musical performances were held in Christ the King Chapel.

Artwork was also on display in the Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library and in the Alumni Hallway. To ensure that all students were afforded the chance to present their work, there were several shift changes throughout the day. Programs were available that detailed when and where certain works were on display so guests could successfully navigate the campus.

Some students were required to participate through class assignments and academic clubs, but many took it upon themselves to design their own presentations. Almost 70

faculty members served as mentors and advisors to those students or clubs. Many of the works focused on an area of interest the student had and ISD afforded them the opportunity to express that interest in an exciting, educational way. A few notable displays included a chess robot, built out of Lego blocks, and a classical music performance in the chapel.

Ignatian Scholarship Day was a culmination of a year’s worth of hard work and dedication for many students. Taking place a few weeks before finals, the event provided a brief pause for the Canisius community to recognize that dedication. Hurley continues to be impressed and hopes for further success of ISD and in turn, the student body. “I would like students to embrace this as the pinnacle of the academic year and

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NEWS ‘I’m Just So…’ campaign

By Victoria Clafin News Writer

College students lead exceptionally stressful lives because they are forced to balance academics, extracurricular activities, jobs and social lives.

Therefore it is not uncommon for one to hear statements thrown around such as, “I’m just so OCD” or “I’m just so ADD.” Nicole Pizzutelli, a graduate student in the College Student Personnel Administration Program at Canisius College, wants to address the severity of these comments and hopes students can think critically about the claims they are making.

An anonymous graduate student with attention deficit disorder shared his experiences with Pizzutelli. He said that it takes longer for him to complete his work because he works in short bursts. Although certain tasks take him longer than other students, he considers himself just as capable to be successful.

“Other people do not really react to me when I tell them about my learning disability,” he said.

According to him, today’s generation tends to self-diagnosis learning disabilities far too often.

“I dislike when other people self-diagnose themselves with a disability,” he said. “Just because someone has trouble focusing one day does not mean that they have ADD. Another case I often see is when students say that they are OCD. OCD is more severe than just liking a clean kitchen at all times or color coordinating schoolwork. I just feel like the terms are used too loosely among people.”

In honor of raising awareness for selfdiagnosis of learning disabilities, Pizzutelli created a campaign called, “I’m Just So…” Her mission statement is “to build awareness in the Canisius community of certain mental disorders and learning disabilities, namely bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit disorder.” Pizzutelli wants students, faculty and staff to be able to identify when they or others label their behaviors as being either bipolar, OCD, or ADD. For her mission statement to come alive, sticky-notes are posted around Canisius that say, “I’m just so…” This is similar to the Operation Beautiful Campaign, except with a new twist. The sticky notes will offer alternatives to saying “I’m just so bipolar, etc.” with statements like, “I’m just so beautiful.” Pizzutelli also intends to set up a committee of students to help build an insightful presentation of her topic to psychology courses.

She understands that self-diagnosis is often used in a joking atmosphere and that society can be hypersensitive to such humor.

Her goal is to eliminate this ideology and build sensitivity, awareness and justice for those with learning disabilities without preaching on a soapbox.

“Some may disregard the way that we talk as a form of humor, but down the road they may encounter a situation and think about the meaning behind their words,” Pizzutelli said.

Her main goal is to better society’s respect for one another.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Spring Fest 2012 Preview

By Matt Gorczyca Managing Editor

The semester is winding down, and while that means endless papers, projects and presentations for many students, there is a light at the end of the academic tunnel. The last day of classes will mark the annual Spring Fest event that is one of the most well-attended and exciting events for undergraduate students.

Spring Fest will take place next Friday May 4, at 1 p.m. and run until 9 p.m. on the lawn of Lyons Hall. This year’s theme reflects the decade of the ‘90s. Many of the prizes like whoopie cushions, ring pops, slap bracelets and baby bottle pops will reflect the time undergrads grew up in.

“I’m pumped about the ‘90s theme,” said junior Dan Radwan. “I can’t wait to make neon shirts and wear jean shorts.”

As Spring Fest chairperson, senior Kelly Eppeira thinks the theme will be a great throwback for all students. “We all are very excited for the event because it lets us remember back to the days when all we had to worry about was where we were going to play capture the flag, hide and seek, or ghost in the graveyard,” Ep-

peira said.

The festivities will include food vendors like Lloyd Taco Truck, Chiavetta’s, Franco’s Pizza and Anderson’s. Junior Justin Young said, “I’m looking forward to relaxing from classes, hanging out with close friends and enjoying the awesome food.”

Young’s thoughts were reiterated by junior Jacquie Krajnik. “I look forward to celebrating the end of classes with good friends and lots of great free food.”

Popular games from the ‘90s such as Whack-A-Mole and inflatable ski ball, will be featured at this year’s event. There will also be bumper cars, a basic training inflatable obstacle course, an inflatable twister, a balloon artist, a caricaturist, a roaming artist and an airbrush tattooist. Music for the event will be provided by The Wire.

Spring Fest is sponsored by the Undergraduate Student Association, the Student Programming Board and Student Affairs. Vice President of Programming Dan Ulmer is excited about the event.

“Last year, I thought that the event was a major success with about 2,000 students in attendance, but Spring Fest this year is going to be even better,” Ulmer said. Spring Fest is

usually the event all students look forward to as the event that ends the academic year, but it takes a lot of work to plan.

“As a past Spring Fest Chair, I know all of the hard work that goes into planning this event. We get to do a lot of fun stuff such as picking the rides, games and the theme, but there is also a great deal of preparation that goes into Spring Fest,” Ulmer. said “Some of the tasks include obtaining about 16 contracts, making water and power arrangements and completing the layout of the lawn. Our Spring Fest committee has been working hard to make Spring Fest the event that it is.”

Spring Fest is the event that marks the end of what is a memorable, exciting, overworked semester. For junior Kayla Davis, it will be her last Spring Fest before she leaves Canisius College to pursue further schooling at the Fashion Institute of Technology. “It’s my last Spring Fest before I leave for FIT,” said Davis. “So I am definitely excited to get one last chance to see all the friends I’ve made here at Canisius.”

Students are reminded that no water bottles or book bags are allowed inside the festivities.

‘Go Green to Save Green’ campaign

By Amanda Gabryszak News Writer

Amanda Gabryszak/The Griffin

Conservation biology students in Susan Margulis’, Ph.D., class are urging the Canisius College community to “Go Green to Save Green.” The project emphasizes how college students can save money by being more environmentally friendly.

The students in the class formed three committees: the paper committee, facilities committee and bookstore committee each composed of about 10 students each. At the end of the semester, their individual projects will be graded based on effort and the steps they’ve taken in order to attempt to make enviromental change.

The paper committee’s focus is reducing paper use on campus. “We hope to get teachers to realize they use too much paper,” said junior Lindsey Perkes-Smith. “I think [students] will be more receptive to double-sided paper and laptops rather than notes.”

By reducing paper use the students also hope to save the school money on paper costs.

Paper use is harmful for the environment despite that it can be derived from sustainable sources. Although a lot of paper is recycled

today, it still goes through a chemical process.

It has to be treated and packaged which leads to air pollution.

The facilities committee is focusing on educating students on how to reduce the temperature in their dorm rooms. “A lot of students want to [participate],” said Lauren Canham. “If not for the environment, for their own personal comfort.”

These students are urging their peers to contact maintenance via email in order to have their thermostat reset to their preferred temperature. Many students have complained about the temperature in their room, expressing this concern to maintenance will save energy and money, and make students happier.

The bookstore committee chose to focus reducing plastic bag use and promoting ebook use in the campus bookstore. The group found out the bookstore is already taking actions to go green.

Follett Higher Education Group Inc., the company that runs the campus bookstore, is working to reduce energy consumption by 5 percent annually, according to the bookstore manager, Bhagbat Karki. They also use recycled materials for their flooring and implement fluorescent lighting wherever possible.

Follett collects old textbooks to recycle and if they have no resale value they are sent to developing countries through the Bridge to Asia Program.

Many e-books are available through the bookstore and students are encouraged to ask about them and to save paper.

Since the bookstore is already making environmentally-friendly efforts, the bookstore committee focused on communication of environmental issues on campus. One idea suggestion was creating an annual Green Award to distribute to whatever organizations on campus have the most environmentallyfriendly agendas.

Overall, the conservation biology class hopes that students on campus will be thinking about what they can do to help the environment.

Senate puts $30,000 toward NFTA metro passes

By Morgan Culhane News Writer

The student senate decided Tuesday to use $30,000 from this year’s allocation pool to cover the increases in Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority metro passes, which senate buys for every Canisius undergraduate.

The cost of the passes will increase by $34, which, multiplied by approximately 2,900 undergrads, translates to an increase of $98,600.

Most of the funds to cover the metro passes will come from the 4 percent increase

in tuition next year, which in turn, raises more student tax dollars for senate. This will bring in approximately $34,000, and another $34,600 will be allocated for metro passes through next year’s student tax. That $68,600 leaves a hole of $30,000 which will be filled by the money from this year’s allocation pool.

“The Undergraduate Student Association took the initiative to pay for this increase as it benefits all undergraduate students,” said an outgoing senior, Molly Watson, vice president of business and finance. “We wanted to put the funds towards something for all. Even though some students may not use their pass, it still gives them the opportunity to do so.”

Watson pointed to Canisius sponsored events where students could possibly use these passes, such as semi-formal at Pearl Street Grill, Senior Ball at the Hyatt and CPLD sponsored sports games at First Niagara Center or shows at Shea’s Performing Arts Center.

USA wants to make sure the graduating senior class benefits from the funds left over in the allocation pool as well. They are considering putting the funds toward Senior Week or an event on the night of graduation. After the $30,000 allocation to the metro passes, the Senate will still have $25,518 remaining in the allocation pool; it has not yet determined how much will be used for the graduating seniors.

Send Submissions To: Griffin@canisius.edu

OPINION E

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Buffalo’s rebound needs to start in the city

Now that the city of Buffalo is on the right path to fiscal strength, it is time to shift the focus on revitalizing the city and returning some of the glory that it once had. Last week it was announced that Buffalo’s credit was ranked from an A2 to an A1, the highest score the city has received from Moody’s Investment Services. This goes to show that Buffalo is on the rebound. But with all the false hope Buffalo received in its notso-distant past, it is even more important today that the city stays on the right track.

The most important thing that needs to happen is a focus on the city itself. The downtown faction of Buffalo has suffered for a number of years and if not turned around could jeopardize Buffalo’s improvement. One step in the right direction could be taking a hard look at the infrastructure of the city. Whether it’s driving down Main Street, Delaware Avenue or Elm-

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor: Mr. Coddington writes in last week’s Opinion Section that “I cannot tell you when exactly a collection of cells constitutes a human life and I cannot tell what is right or wrong because I, myself, do not know.”

Even as late as 1969, Dr. Guttmacher of Planned Parenthood fame wrote in a revised edition of his book, “Birth Control and Love’”(Macmillian, Toronto, ON, page 12) the following words: “Fertilization, then, has taken place; a baby has been conceived.”

While he would revise his views, Guttmacher’s contradictions are explored on pages 3537 in the excellent book, “A Private Choice” (The Free Press, 1979), by John T. Noonan, Jr. Legalized elective abortion assaults basic constitutional protections. The 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade that effectively legalized abortion on demand amounts to a Supreme Court sanctioned home-invasion of the unborn child in the womb of its mother, in direct violation of the Fourth Amendment.

The destruction of over 50 million unborn Americans since 1973 through abortion has devastated our economy. In September 2008, prochoice billionaire, New York Mayor Bloomberg, said on Meet the Press that “We have a birth rate that’s too low to support Social Security.”

Interested readers might also consult a statistical paper that appeared in The Journal of Legal Studies in June 2003 [pages 407-433], entitled “The Effect of Abortion Legalization on Sexual Behavior: Evidence from Sexually Transmitted Diseases.” Here the authors find “Unwanted pregnancy represents a major cost of sexual activity. When abortion was legalized in a number of states in 1969 and 1970 (and nationally in 1973), this cost was reduced. We predict that abortion legalization generated incentives leading to an increase in sexual activity, accompanied by an increase in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) ... Abortion legalization accounts for about onefourth of the average disease incidence.”

Sincerely, Richard H. Escobales, Jr. Faculty Adviser to Students for Life escobalr@canisius.edu

wood Avenue, Buffalo’s streets are littered with potholes and bumps. There is no question that simply making the roads more drivable would make more people willing to use them to travel through the city.

But a new set of roads alone won’t revitalize the city – although it did certainly help the waterfront area, whose facelift helped it become the new home to summer concerts, formerly staged at Lafayette Square. What needs to happen is revitalizing what the city has to offer.

Take for instance the Statler Towers, now called Statler City. The building, which was doomed to meet the wrecking ball, is now home to a Vegas-style nightclub and banquet facilities for weddings and other big ceremonies. This is proof that the city can use what it already has to turn itself around, and that doing so can lead to the expansion of new ventures.

In order to make this happen, there needs to be an interest in the city. There has been talk of expanding Erie Community College and placing a new building on one of the college’s three campuses. While some have been arguing to expand the suburban campuses, it is clear that the expansion needs to occur downtown. There is no real college in the downtown area besides the ECC city campus. Expanding that campus downtown could not only mean utilizing parts of the city that are either abandoned or in need of improvements, but also giving those living in the city a greater opportunity for a college education.

While expanding ECC should be on the top of the priority list, there are many other options that could help bring life back to the city.

Among these is the idea to build a new stadium to house the Buffalo Bills. The cost for a pro-

jected stadium could range anywhere from $700 million to $1 billion. Many Buffalo politicians that see the stadium as a great way to revitalize the city believe they could use most if not all of the governor’s promised $1 billion financial package. However, it does seem like a waste to build a stadium that could soak up all the governor’s financial aid for Buffalo when in fact, the stadium would be used only a few months out of the year. Many argue that concerts could be housed there to accommodate the time when the Bills wouldn’t be in season, however First Niagara Center and Coca-Cola Field already host many of these events.

Whether or not these ideas are realistic, they are ideas that can spark new life into the city of Buffalo. The important thing is to start working today while Buffalo still has the momentum for a brand new city life.

Obama’s student loan charade Kevin Daley In an attempt to galvanize the Generation Y voters who put him in the White House four years ago, the President is attacking Congressional Republicans on the false basis that they are constructing obstacles to an affordable college education.

On July 1, a federal loan program that cuts interest rates in half on student loans for low and middle-income undergraduates is set to expire.

At this juncture, it is unclear whether Congress will extend the law. Commenting on the program this weekend, the President said, “This is a question of values. We cannot let America become a country where a shrinking number of people do really well while a growing number of people struggle to get by.”

Tuition costs and student loans hit home with students at Canisius College and across the country. We all understand the burden of debt because we, and our families, live it every day.

The President understands this, and so he’s cho-

sen to shamelessly pander to American undergrads with a cheap gimmick in hopes of winning our support; support he desperately needs if he’s going to be reelected. It would seem benevolent if it weren’t quite so insincere. Here are the facts.

The shocking paradox of government-student aid programs that are universally available is that they actually increase the cost of college education. Every dollar given to a college goes to institutional improvement, or to the “academic arms race,” with the ultimate goal of increasing prestige; residence halls are refurbished, new laboratories are built (or hockey rinks for that matter), an academic “star” might be lured to the faculty, etc. The short term benefits are numerous. However, year one of this arrangement is not related until year two. While the initial costs are borne by government aid, the future expenditures put pressure on administrators to seek additional revenue– very often in the form of, you guessed it, tuition increases.

Tuition isn’t the only thing skyrocketing; enrollment is too. One might assume the increase in enrollment has included students from

low-income households. However, the percentage of college graduates from poor families has remained stagnant since 1970. And when rising enrollment does not coincide with labor market demands, hundreds of thousands of new graduates are left without a job and the means to pay off their accumulated debt. High enrollment also contributes to the lowering of educational standards.

Having established that this set-up is a bad policy, consider this. It was the Democrat-controlled Congress of 2007 (of which Obama was a member) that chose to include a provision for the program’s expiration in the middle of an election year. The President is playing politics with our financial future; and I resent it. The best way he could help students would be to build a robust economy, free from the hindrances of debt and federal intrusion. But he has failed exceptionally in that pursuit, and so he will play the swindler.

His act is clever, but we’re too smart to buy from this snake-oil salesman.

Michele Binkowski Taylor Allison

Emily Smith

daley6@canisius.edu

Celebrate Earth Day everyday Jacquie Krajnik As many of you may have heard, this past Sunday was Earth Day. Everywhere you looked people could be found recycling, picking up trash, gardening, and choosing the stairs over the elevator to celebrate this lovely day. However, I think it’s important to emphasize that we, as a global community, should be practicing these habits on a daily basis - not just once a yea Our planet is in rough shape. Tornados are taking out entire communities, temperatures in the middle of March reached 80 degrees, forests are disappearing, oil is filling the ocean, and it sometimes feels like no one cares; like people are more interested in finding somewhere to place the blame than fixing the problem. The only

way this situation can be improved is if we all put our differences aside and start working together to help fix our planet.

Project Conservation is the environmental club here at Canisius College. This club does its best to educate the campus on easy ways to go green and reduce our negative impact on the earth as a whole.

Living green can be as easy as choosing to purchase a reusable water bottle instead of wasting money on pre-bottled water.

Another really easy thing you can do to become more eco-friendly is to purchase a reusable shopping bag from whatever stores you frequently visit. Canvas bags carry groceries just as well as plastic bags, and by using the former we don’t have to worry about filling our landfills with wasted plastic.

The environment’s health is a topic

that really needs to be taken much more seriously. No matter who is to blame for the rough condition our planet is in, we cannot simply shift the focus from past generations to future generations to fix these mistakes. We must all work together now if we want to see our planet live and thrive in the future.

It is these little steps that need to be taken in order to help lead us to a better future. The more we practice eco-friendly actions, the more they will become secondnature to us. And the more other people see you performing these actions, the more they will be persuaded to do so themselves.

It’s a large chain reaction that cannot begin until you make the choice to change your own ways. krajnik1@canisius.edu

GRIFFBITS

What are you doing over the summer?

Nick, sophmore

Delethia, freshman

Danny, junior

“Going to the Olympics in London.”

“Summer internship.“

“Getting a job in Buffalo.”

Neil, freshman “Growing corn.”

OPINION

Friday, April 27, 2012

What makes a mom a mom?

Diana Miceli I would like to think that I am the kind of person who can put myself in another’s shoes.

I try to see things from all perspectives because I want to understand why the another person thinks the way they do, especially if it’s different than how I might think. On many issues, I find myself deadlocked in the middle, even if it is something as simple as the debate of chocolate versus vanilla. I still spend at least 10 minutes in front of the ice cream freezer at Wegmans…

Despite this, one particular issue has always sparked a strong opinion within me. For most of my life, the battle between stay-at-home moms and working moms has had a clear-cut winner.

In my mind, the working woman with her shiny briefcase full of self-empowerment has always trumped the coupon-clipping, diaper-wielding stay-at-home mom.

But have I even fairly defined the contenders in this battle? The answer is no.

Earlier this month, Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen caused a media firestorm when she attacked Ann Romney’s credibility in terms of economic issues. Romney, the wife of potential Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, has been relied on by her husband to be a source of insight into the financial hardships facing women today. Upon hearing this, Rosen denounced Ann’s usefulness, saying that she “hasn’t worked a day in her life.”

With that comment, Rosen pinched a societal nerve, sparking backlash so intense that she was forced to resign from her job. While I don’t agree with her direct attack on Ann Romney, I’m glad the issue was brought up. It forced me to reexamine my own opinion and its validity. have always seen the working woman as the epitome of independence, but not just because of financial rewards. To have a part of your life that is your own, consisting of accomplish-

ments and relationships that you worked hard to cultivate, is important to living a fulfilling life.

I still believe this is true. But why have I so narrowly defined what it means to live a fulfilling life as a woman and mother? Shouldn’t that definition be multifaceted?

Being a mother is one of the hardest jobs imaginable. Caring for and guiding another human being as it struggles to discover its place in the world sounds like a terrifying and unbelievably difficult task.

Just ask your own mother. She’ll tell you.

But on what basis can it be said that stay-athome moms don’t have insight into things other than childcare? Being a stay-at-home mom is only one aspect of a woman’s life, just as a woman’s career is only one part of hers.

Every mom struggles with finances, with illness, with something. To downplay her perspective based on her decision to either stay at home or work is both unfair and counterproductive.

My own mother has always worked, so I spent time in the misery that is daycare growing up. But not once did she miss a soccer game or fail to offer me unconditional support and attention.

Let’s not attack mothers for their choices, but commend those who have done a remarkable job of raising their children – both those who work and those who stay at home.

Following Hilary Rosen’s comment, First Lady Michelle Obama tweeted that “every mother works hard, and every woman deserves to be respected.” If the respect that Mrs. Obama speaks of existed more prevalently, maybe the troops in the battle between stay-at-home moms and their working counterparts would unite together, and this argument would no longer exist in our society.

Environmentalism or jobs?

micelid@canisius.edu

John Twarog As our country slowly approaches Election Day 2012, the incumbent President Obama is already in full-speed re-election mode, with no short supply of excuses for the decline in the American economy that occurred during his first term in office. However, there is one issue in which Obama appears to have dug himself a deep hole in terms of political support, his unwillingness to approve the Keystone Pipeline XL extension.

For those who don’t know, the current Keystone Pipeline system is a network of pipes that currently transport oil from the Canadian territory of Alberta to refineries in Illinois and an oil distribution hub in Cushing, OK. Additional plans for an extension to the pipeline from Cushing to the Gulf Coast of Texas were initially stalled by Obama, but growing criticism from both parties resulted in his eventual approval of the extension.

While this approval was a victory for all Americans, Obama’s stalling of this widely approved pipeline addition is inexplicable, and will likely prove a lose-lose situation in terms of his approval rating.

Republicans have called the minor extension nothing more than a publicity stunt, while environmentalists from 350.org continue to condemn any and all use of fossil fuels, and have begun protesting Obama speeches.

Ironically, the portion of pipeline extension that Obama has refused to approve is the portion that will increase the import capacity of oil to 1.1 million barrels per day into the United States after the full additions are completed. This new extension would begin at the same location in Alberta as the current Keystone Pipeline and would travel through Montana, where the pipeline would also collect oil from a domestic reserve, and then continue into South Dakota and Nebraska, eventually connecting to the current Keystone pipeline in Steele City, NE. In addition to increasing the oil supply, Keystone is projected to create 20,000 jobs after the entire pipe-

Canisius needs more social justice

Maria Eugenio I was recently asked this question in an interview: “If there was one thing you could change about Canisius, what would it be and why?” I responded by saying that although I love Canisius with all my heart and soul, I wish there could be a greater awareness of social justice issues on campus. As a Catholic, Jesuit institution and as a community that strives to be “men and women for others,” why is it that many students still do not know about the DREAM Act, the Dalits in India, the political unrest in North Korea, the sweatshops in Indonesia, or the war that ravaged El Salvador? Why does it seem like issues only garner attention when they have been popularized by the media, such as Kony 2012?

I believe that, in order for students to learn about these issues (and want to work toward reform) the discussions must begin in the classroom. Social justice does not apply only to a certain group of students with a specific major. We all have an important role to play in creating a world that we are proud to live in.

For instance, we should be able to discuss the differences between free trade and fair trade and how this affects people around the globe in our business classes. We should talk about the DREAM Act and other issues that affect how children obtain a quality education with our future teachers. We should have conversations about the broken justice system and the death penalty with our criminal justice majors. We should ask our science majors to think critically about conducting research that may increase our knowledge of third world diseases. We should have history classes that focus on the past, present and future of Native Americans in order to help guarantee their basic human rights, such as access to clean water.

There is a particular quote by Mahatma

Gandhi that is used so often that it is beginning to feel cliché: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” I believe that in order to be the change, we need to learn about what it is in the world that must be changed. We need to learn how we can create effective, comprehensive reform. “Liking” something on Facebook and YouTube is nowhere near sufficient enough to capture an international criminal or to put shoes on children’s feet. It is imperative that we learn about what it means to be the change, and this can happen in the classroom, an environment that has the potential to challenge our thoughts on major justice issues in the world.

Furthermore, because our slogan will soon officially become, “Faith, Justice, Leadership,” we should all have some idea of what it means to face the gritty reality of our world and work for a more just society. You do not necessarily have to be Catholic or of any religious denomination in order to have faith; simply have faith in yourself, in the people that surround you and the fact that you can bring about social reform together. By learning, discussing and working together, we can be leaders in creating a brighter tomorrow.

I implore you, professors, administrators and staff, to instill a passion in your students for being informed about issues and then working to improve unjust situations. Please light a fire in the hearts of students and make them burn with desire to work for and with their fellow human beings in caring for the world and its people.

Students, if there is a social justice issue that I mentioned here that you do not know about, I urge you to read about it, to bring it up in class discussions and to talk about it with your friends and family. The world will not fix itself on its own.

Therefore we must all go forth and fulfill the obligation we have to change our world for the better.

eugeniom@canisius.edu

Nick Veronica, Editor in Chief Matt Gorczyca, Managing Editor Taylor Schupp, Copy Editor Morgan Culhane, News Editor Matt Gorczyca, Opinion Editor Alicia Greco, Life & Arts Editor Rich Lunghino, Sports Editor

Founded in 1933, The Griffin is the student newspaper of Canisius College.

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line is approved – jobs related to construction of the pipeline and equipment for the pipeline. In a country where job creation has long been hindered by political conflicts, Obama is merely escalating the employment problem by blocking a project that 57 percent of Americans have expressed approval for.

Critics of the Keystone Pipeline XL addition have recycled the usual environmentalist banter about ceasing fossil fuel production all together, while others have grossly exaggerated the potential of the new pipeline to leak and contaminate the Ogallala Aquifer, an underground water reserve that spans the Midwest. The route of the Keystone Pipeline XL that is the most economically viable does call for construction over portions of the large water reserve; however, reports issued by the U.S. State Department in 2011 have concluded that major environmental impacts from the proposed construction route are not likely.

It is unfortunate that the President of the United States would delay a project that has the potential to stimulate the economy and has been judged by the State Department as “posing no significant impacts” to the environment if all regulations are followed.

What Barack Obama is doing is playing to appease his critics, and it is going to hurt his re-election campaign in the end.

More and more Democrats are unable to ignore the massive benefits posed by the addition of the Keystone Pipeline XL, and are flocking to support the Republican Bills that endorse the Keystone XL addition. Even former Democratic U.S. President Bill Clinton has called for America to embrace the Keystone Pipeline XL, expressing concern at how much the project has been delayed. As Democrats continue to adopt the Republican stance on the Keystone XL addition, Obama further alienates himself by the unexplainable delay of job creation and beneficial oil importation. Eventually, President Obama will be cornered and forced to support the Keystone XL addition.

twarogj@canisius.edu

America loves drugs

Aidan Ryan

Weed-loving Americans acknowledged 4/20, the unofficial marijuana holiday, last week, and users from Compton to the Hamptons lit up in celebration.

Though I didn’t participate in the festivities, I found it to be a good time to reflect on drugs in America.

Like many, I find America’s War on Drugs – in particular, the criminal status of marijuana – to be particularly perplexing. After all, the 42nd, 43rd and 44th presidents (and, interestingly enough, the first and second) were known to have smoked marijuana.

The drug has a long history in this country – settlers in certain Chesapeake Bay colonies were actually required to grow hemp. The plant was popular enough that George Washington used it to alleviate the pain in his gums, and Thomas Jefferson was known to give away homegrown blends of cannabis and tobacco to visitors and friends.

There was a time, however, when drugs and marijuana in particular became associated with the African American subculture, and came to be looked down upon by upper and middle-class white Americans. By the 1930s, Harry Anslinger, Federal Bureau of Narcotics Commissioner – and – perhaps the greatest federal spin doctor of all time, was able to dupe the American public into believing that casual marijuana use was essentially the same as an addiction to crack or PCP. According to Anslinger, marijuana was used

by Negroes, criminals and jazz musicians.

These negative stereotypes persist today, albeit with a few new additions. In the eyes of the uneducated and inexperienced public, marijuana use is restricted to gangbangers, hippies and frat boys. While these demographics do certainly account for a significant percentage of marijuana use, I suggest a quick trip to any of the more adult-oriented concerts in Buffalo’s Thursday in the Square series would show that a significant number of marijuana users are not “stoners,”

Jordan Smith, Layout Editor Amy Brooks, Layout Editor Katy Ketter-Franklin, Layout Editor Steve Brown, Layout Editor Kerry Freeburg, Copy Reader Mary Battaglia, Copy Reader Leah Mosher, Copy Reader

but lawyers, bankers and middle-aged white women having a night on the town.

Many people I’ve talked to have balked at that claim. They say that the number of upper-class, functional marijuana users is miniscule compared to the number of teenage delinquents headed down a back alley to nowhere. But again, I must remind them to look at the past three men we’ve elected to lead this country: a college professor, an oilman and a Rhodes Scholar. These are men from the highest echelons of society – not “stoners.”

I promise you, I will not examine in any great detail the reasons for legalizing drugs, because we know them all. Morally, a citizen ought to be granted stewardship of his or her consciousness. Pragmatically, our jails are too full of drug users and sellers to hold actual criminals – you know, the ones that kill people and steal things.

I also promise that I won’t dwell too long on the benefits of drug use, because these too should be common sense. Medical uses aside, drugs have clear and documented potential for creative and cognitive stimulation.

At any rate, the current drug policy is costly, ineffective, inconsistent and morally groundless: it is founded on racism and general ignorance. It seems that one would be hard – pressed to argue against the legalization of marijuana without looking like a fool, so I’m going to leave that as a given and up the ante: what about all the other drugs?

That, however, is my point: there needs to be a debate. Ron Paul cannot be the only political figure to address the drug issue. I know there are more pressing objectives – healthcare, social security, and our formless foreign policy – but this sort of denial can no longer be tolerated. Our lawmakers need to stand up and admit it: America loves drugs. Now is as good a time as any to start the debate on how best to control them.

ryan70@canisius.edu

April 27, 2012 Nathan Barillari, Copy Reader Volume LXXXII Number 21 Julie Zirnheld, Webmaster Courtney Helinski, Web Video Editor Kimberly Nowicki, Advertising Director Phone: (716) 888-5364 Mike Carrig, Distribution Manager Fax: (716) 888-5840 Colin Gordon, Photography Director Email: griffin@canisius.edu Robert Kaiser, Adviser www.thegriffincanisius.com

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LIFE ARTS pg.8

Friday, April 27, 2012

RUNWAY 5.0: Buff State fashion show

By Alicia Greco

life and arts editor

Rows of folding chairs lined either side of the long runway in the middle of the empty warehouse-looking room at the Pierce Arrow Building on Elmwood Avenue Saturday night. Attendees chatted with their friends until the lights flickered and everyone took their seats.

“It wouldn’t be a fashion show without being fashionably late,” said Erin Habes, director of the Buffalo State College annual fashion show, Runway 5.0. The crowd quieted, and an excited anticipation built as it waited for the show to begin.

In its fifth year of production, the theme of this show was “Synthesis.” Student director Shannon Campbell and Habes, the same director of the Mass Appeal fashion show, executed the night with graceful perfection. The designers in the studentproduced show had judging representatives that ranged from Victoria’s Secret to New Era. The show had many sponsors – Taco Bell, New Era and Vitamin Water to name a few – and all ticket proceeds for the night went toward a student scholarship fund.

The graphic introduction to Runway 5.0 was breathtaking. The room turned to complete darkness and “Hope,” a sexy and heart-lifting track by Munchi, played through the speakers as images were projected onto the screen at the base of the runway. Outlines of hexagons built on top of one another and soon were filled in with

purple and pink hues. When the tempo of the song hit its peak, full images of models were formed by hexagon puzzle pieces. Different models in various designs

flashed quickly to the moombahton beat and galactic visions of rainbow colors morphed on the screen.

There were three different stages

of the show: faculty designers, student designers and senior designers. Although the faculty designers were very impressive, the student designs were a little more relevant to the youthful mindset.

For the single item selection segment, each designer chose one design to be modeled for the show. One of the most intriguing was a design by Jacklyn Hooper. A tall woman strolled out with a very heavy brown coat on, with what looked to have very Gothic influences. Undoing the coat as she neared the end of the runway, the crowd applauded when she revealed a full-length, gold, holographic body suit underneath.

A row of women in eccentric white designs lined the stage. A tribal pattern shone on them as the staccato sounds of Santigold’s “Disparate Youth” echoed.

New Era had a rap interlude before its line took to the runway. Soon thereafter were the student designers. Katie Garipey sported a line of natural tones paired with neon pinks and greens that placed her in third for the student collections. Second place winner Adjanys Santiago’s swimwear models wore silver baseball helmets. Belly-dancing models danced rhythmically down the runway for Kristina Murray’s line of what seemed to be new interpretations of yoga wear. A track by Lykke Li played through the speakers for first place winner Minami Okajima’s line of oriental inspired patterns.

In remembrance of beloved Buffalo State student Erika Hoerner, a scholarship in her name went to four students.The show was entertaining, professionally done and impressively all run by students.

Photos courtesy of Buffalo State College

Here come the bridal gowns! Part II transformed into four runway spaces, each set up for a particular designer.

Hayley Paige had very feminine, retro FIT Correspondent music playing in a bright room embel with ceramic unicorns and cake We are all experts now on bridal lished topped with Baked by Melissa business know-how after last weeks is- stands cupcakes. Lazaro and Tara Keeley’s sue! So let’s get to the fabulous fashions room was elegant and formal with a full and take a peek behind the scenes of runway layout, purple roses, dramatic bridal design showroom. lighting and a carpeted seating area. Jim As mentioned last week, I am an in- Hjelm shown in a simplistic and tern at JLM Couture, a wholesale bridal modernwas space, while Alvina Valenta occompany located in New York City, this cupied an intimate room with Victorian semester. paired with vintage changIf you are looking into future intern- furnishings for the models. ships, JLM is a relatively small company, ing curtains Caterers kept the food platters which means direct involvement with throughout the day for the buyers those high in the company’s decision filled and staff. Four showings were implemaking. Many decisions were made dur- mented every day for each designer so ing the final days before the actual show- that buyers had a time slot to come see ings. Models were chosen for the lineup collections among other bridal week and fit into dresses only two days prior; I the in the city. assisted directly in this process by dress- appointments Behind the scenes of the ongoing ing each of the models. models were changed in On the first day of market, our of- production, and out of dresses by professional dressfices were gutted of clerical supplies and ers, who are usually the women from

By Carly Hall

the factory that sewed the garments. The gowns are delicate and expensive; therefore, these precautions are necessary.

After each showing, I assisted the sales team by displaying each style of dress that was shown for a final review by the buyers before they negotiated their orders with the main sales representatives. Many orders are finalized and handed in, while some buyers wait to place their orders until they have attended all of their bridal week appointments.

As for the trends, styles and themes of the gowns this season, there is a wide assortment of styles to be excited about. In bridal fashion, you’ll find a lot of the same themes are repeated since the bridal market has such a niche customer. Whether it’s spring or fall market, gowns will consistently sport lace, satin, beading, tulle, embroidery, silk, chiffon, etc. However, in fall market (which is held during spring) more ivory colors are used in bridal and more jewel tones for maids. In spring market (held in the fall) more white material is used in bridal, and brighter hues in maids.

The major shifts in bridal fashion trends exist in the styling, which can be inspired by mainstream fashions, among other sources.

During this market, I saw mainstream fashions had a major influence in the styles, not only at JLM but also in other luxury bridal designers. Peplums, bateau necklines, cutout bodices, color blocking and high-low skirts! All fun spring street trends were portrayed among the fall runways.

Allow me a moment to release my inner TLC channel junkie. Many reality show stars that I have come to idolize over the years have attended our shows! Monte (Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta) and Kleinfeld’s owner and sales team, to name a couple. Being a big fan of these TLC shows, this was a major highlight for me. I did not ambush them with my flattery, since it’s

frowned upon, but I was nervous anyway.

The day after the showings, JLM has the “look book” photo shoots. Each designer has one or two chosen models to represent their brand and wear their signature looks from their collections to be shown in a pamphlet that is mailed out to current or prospective buyers.

Since Lazaro is JLM’s most popular designer, his photo shoot gets the special privilege of shooting on location, which I personally got to visit.

The production team gathered at the top floor of an extremely old warehouse building – totally authentic from the brick facade to the ceiling beams. The elevator ride to the shoot location on the top floor took twenty minutes each way. They had decorated the dusty interior of the warehouse with elaborate chandeliers, large Victorian style mirrors and rich velvet couches. Flowers, moss and a massive skylight created the angelic scenery for Lazaro’s whimsical creations. It was a perfect reflection of luxury and couture.

The outcomes of this shoot are edited for several weeks before they are finalized for print. The images we see of the girls looking flawless are really computer-generated shadows of an actual person. However, I will add, the models we worked with at JLM were all extremely gorgeous, down to earth and fun to work with – a combination that I hear is quite rare to find when scouting models.

That was my inner experience with the big bridal extravaganza the industry rolls around twice a year. I hope you’re inspired to check out some new designers or maybe just browse the bridesmaids collections. Oh, you’re not a bridesmaid? Well, here’s a little inside tip: nobody will know it is a bridesmaid dress – there are some great hidden cocktail dresses in bridal wear!

Photos courtesy of Carly Hall

LIFE & ARTS

Friday, April 27, 2012

Journey through Germany, Part II: Our lives forever changed

By Jonathan Beck

Study Abroad Correspondent “Topf & Söhne.” The names stood crisp against the gray metal of the rather plain building’s door. Right outside of Erfurt stands the former firm quarters of the German engineering company most famous for its incineration ovens. In January 2011, the building was re-opened as a museum, its full name: “Topf and Sons: Builders of the Auschwitz Ovens.”

Topf and Sons remains important to history because of its role in the “final solution,” the elimination of thousands of Jewish prisoners and other political foes of the National Socialist arrived at the Reichstag building, where the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, meets. After going through security, we were met by a young man interning for the parliament under Social Democrat and Member of Parliament Dagmar Freitag.

Our guide, it turns out, was an American from Rochester! He partakes in a six-month internship with the German Bundestag. For the most part this is limited to developing democracies, with the intention of these students returning home with a better idea of how a parliamentary democracy can successfully work. But some students are still taken from France and the United States because of their historical participation in this program.

We walked through the building, wearing our special guest passes, and finally came to a breakfast room where we would sit for coffee with Dagmar Freitag. We talked about her work, what we hope to do, about American politics (at the time, the big question was Romney or Santorum), youth participation in politics and the aforementioned internship.

She sat with us for near lyan hour before she had to return to work, at which time we shuffled into the parliamentary chambers of the Reichstag and sat in on a session of parliament. Up for discussion: The growth potential of the Internet economy (regulation, free-internet, etc.). Many of the parliamentary members were wearing jeans, playing on their iPhones and iPads while their colleagues spoke, reminiscent of our own House and Senate in the United States.

Probably the coolest thing about the parliamentary chamber is its very modern glass

regime through cremation. Here we stood, Eric, Curtis, Dr. Böhm and I, ready to venture through the building in which so many terrible ideas were conceived and carried out.

The building is filled with artifacts as well as a thorough history of everything from cremation laws, incineration oven design and the company’s relationship with the Nazi Party during World War II. Until 1996, the build-

dome. When the country was rebuilding, they added gigantic glass panels in the front of the building and a glass dome on the top. From inside the chambers, you could look up into the glass dome, which has viewing levels all around to the top, so you could see the people up there looking back down at you.

After we were escorted out of the building and picked up our passports, we headed back to the hotel to change into street clothes. On recommendation from the donor whom we would meet that evening for dinner, we went to the Berliner Unterwelten, an underground museum within the old tunnels and chambers

ing still belonged to various companies, and from 1999 to 2011 a movement was under way to mark the site as historical and to create a remembrance location. This was one of the more difficult stops on our trip.

That evening we headed to Dessau, a former East German city that still carries many of the marks of its former Communist regime. But before we were in Dessau we made an unexpected stop in Weimar, where we walked around the city of artists and intellectuals, where both Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller lived and worked. At the end of World War I, Germany’s first democratic constitution was signed in Weimar, establishing the Weimar Republic.

In the morning, we travelled to the Bauhaus Masters’ Houses. Bauhaus was a school in Germany at the edge of modern design from 1919 to 1933. Dessau commissioned Walter Gropius, the school’s founder, to design the Masters’ Houses in 1925, wherein the most important members of the Bauhaus movement would live. Today three houses stand, mostly restored to original condition, serving as a prime example of Bauhaus architecture: simple and practical. Large windows let in the sunlight, and cement and metal hold the structures together.

We walked through the houses, reading about the history of each home and their reconstruction after German reunification. It is a tragedy that the houses had been allowed to fall

into disarray during the East German regime.

After our time at the Masters’ Houses, we headed to a Jewish cemetery, where the parents of the famous Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn are buried. Out of respect for Jewish tradition, we couldn’t walk through the cemetery without head coverings. Because I didn’t expect this, I waited in the car while Dr. Böhm walked Eric and Curtis through the cemetery. I borrowed a hat from Curtis when they were done and walked to the cemetery, to find Dr. Böhm conversing with an older woman.

Her German sometimes failing her, although she spoke very well, I soon learned that she was a Ukrainian Jew, whose mother, a German language teacher, was persecuted by the Nazis. She walked us through the cemetery, telling us stories and showing us her mother’s burial site and that of Mendelssohn’s parents.

Our time in Dessau had quickly come to an end and we were soon on the road to Berlin. The first night we went sightseeing, visiting the Brandenburger Tor, walking around areas of East Berlin, and standing in awe of the incredible architecture of Germany’s capital. The following morning held something truly incredible.

I rolled out of bed that Friday, tired, and dressed in nice black pants, a tie and jacket before waiting in the hotel lobby for everyone to be ready. We hopped on the subway and walked through part of Berlin until we

running below the city, which were very significant during WWII. That night, back in our chic outfits from that morning, we had dinner with a donor to the German program. He took us to the famed Borchardt restaurant, where German politicians and American superstars can be found. A pepper steak and mango tiramisu later, the donor took us in his car around Berlin, showing us where Hitler’s bunker was once located and where the Valkyrie plot to kill Hitler took place.

Sadly, the UNESCO World Heritage Tour Germany 2012 came to an end. But on our way back to Eichstätt on the Autobahn, Saturday,

March 31, we had one last cultural experience: a rest stop built right over the Autobahn. We stopped for lunch and sat at a table right next to a big window, through which we could watch cars travel at unprohibited speeds down the Autobahn, perhaps beginning their own journeys through Germany.

Photos courtesy of Jonathan Beck

LIFE & ARTS

Friday, April 27, 2012

Summer (Buffa)love: Have fun without breaking the bank

By Leah Mosher

Life & Arts Copy Writer In two weeks, Canisius College students will be free from the stresses of school and able to take advantage of all Buffalo has to offer during the pleasant summer months. For young people on a budget, the Queen City has no shortage of exciting events and festivals that maximize fun at minimal (or often zero) cost. Whether you are interested in art, concerts, theater, food or exercise there is something for everyone.

What better way to spend a sunny, summer afternoon than meandering through the eclectic streets of Allentown, munching on fresh kettle corn while browsing handmade arts and crafts? Swing by the Allentown Arts Festival, June 9 and 10, to check out beautiful watercolor paintings, handmade pottery, stunning photography and funky jewelry presented by more than 400 artists.

If you love rocking out to live, outdoor music, catch the metro downtown each week for the free Thursday concert series, held annually from May to August. Although this year’s lineup has not been announced yet, recent performances include Tokyo Police Club, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Blues Traveler and Ingrid Michaelson.

For a less urban concert experience, head out to Lewiston to catch a show at Artpark, where you can enjoy live outdoor music overlooking the Niagara River gorge. For $5 you can see legendary rock acts like Kansas and Foreigner at Tuesday in the Park or performances by great rock and jam bands on Coors Light Wednesdays. Artpark’s summer concert series runs from June 19 through September 4.

For a quieter more dramatic evening, bring a blanket, a picnic basket and your sweetheart to Delaware Park for a free Shakespeare in the Park performance. Catch Richard the Third from June 21 to July 15 or A Midsummer Night’s Dream from July 26 to August 19. Performances run Tuesday through Sunday each week.

Take in some luscious blossoms at the National Garden Festival, held for the third year from June 23 to July 29. At first glance, a garden festival might not seem super interesting, but don’t worry; it’s not a bunch of old women with dirty fingernails gushing over a rare breed of petunias or the latest sprinkler system. In addition to bus tours, speakers, workshops and garden walks, including America’s largest - Garden Walk Buffalo, July 28 and 29 - the festival gives residents and tourists alike the chance to explore Open

Gardens. Private, residential gardens made are available to the public at certain times on Thursdays and Fridays. Students can spend a sunny day discovering everything from tiny urban gardens to sprawling suburban gardens at their leisure.

Spend a Saturday morning browsing the wares of local vendors at the ElmwoodBidwell Farmers Market, held every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting in midMay. Support the local economy and buy artisan bread, handmade smoked sausages, meat from humanely raised animals, fresh cheese, local fruits and veggies, artisan chocolates, wine made from locally grown grapes, natural honey and handmade salsa in the friendly, outdoor market.

It wouldn’t be summer without Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops, the largest two-day food festival in the U.S. The festival, held July 7 and 8, promises its 450,000 attendees “fun by the forkful” and features food by over 50 restaurants and seven wineries. With foods ranging from Caribbean to Polish, Irish to Indian, Cajun to Chinese, there is something for everyone.

Admission to the festival is free, but food items, which must be purchased with tickets, cost at most $4.

On a hot day, enjoy the cooling breeze off the lake at Erie Canal Harbor, where you can take part in numerous free activities, including Sunday morning Yoga on the Central Wharf, Preservation Buffalo Niagara guided walking tours, lecture series and concerts. The waterfront also offers some paid excursions, such as kayak trips and river cruises.

Prefer to stay on land? Wheel your bike out of the garage, dust off the seat and pump up the tires; Buffalo has bike routes for all levels of riders. For an easy, six-mile round trip, hit the Outer Harbor Parkway for a relaxing ride along Buffalo’s waterfront, which offers an interesting mix of industrial grain elevators and restored wildlife habitats. The Olmstead Park system also offers great biking; spend an afternoon cycling through scenic Delaware Park and around Hoyte Lake. You can even follow the bike trail through Black Rock, to the Riverwalk and all the way to the Marina.

From free outdoor concerts to theater productions to garden walks to food festivals to opportunities for invigorating exercise, Buffalo has tons of fun activities for college students with limited funds this summer.

‘I Hate Hamlet’: A humorous success

By Matthew DiStasio Life and Arts Writer

The anticipation was building as I rigorously cycled down Parkside Avenue Thursday April 19, rushing towards Lyons Hall to catch the opening night performance of Little Theater’s Second Stage production of Paul Rudnick’s comedy I Hate Hamlet. After a semester of learning Shakespeare, I was curious as to what this hatred toward Hamlet was all about, hoping for many of the infamous Shakespearean puns and ridiculous scenarios that saturate the pages of his work. Grabbing my ticket and finding a great seat located toward the front of the quaint and comfortable theater, I looked around to notice it was filled with many other students, friends, faculty and parents, chatting excitedly during the minutes before the doors closed and the lights dimmed.

The Little Theater cast and crew, along with director Eileen Dugan, once again put on an attention-grabbing and laughter-instilling performance of drama and hilarity. The play follows an actor, Andrew Rally, known for his notable roles in a canceled television series and a heart-warming cereal commercial, as he moves to New York City from Los Angeles.

Andrew starts to have a bit of an existential crisis about his acting career as he takes on the challenge of playing Hamlet in Central Park.

Quickly falling into doubt, Andrew is helped by the ghost of former Hamlet actor, John Barrymore. The plot remained engaging as a cast of charming, comic and compelling characters came and went throughout the show.

I very much enjoyed the performance of senior Tyler Ianuzi as John Barrymore’s ghost, his final performance with Little Theater after four years of dedicated involvement with the club. His personality appropriately fit the playfully humorous yet mentoring characterization of Barrymore’s ghost, stepping out on stage during his entrance through an eerie light, giving an exaggerated celebrity salute to the audience. Ianuzi successfully portrayed Barrymore’s wise and quirky personality and blended well in many of the play’s side plots.

His voice and mannerisms captured the attention of the audience as Barrymore worked as a catalyst in helping the lives of the other characters, ultimately bringing many of them together. Other notable performances included Albert Falcone, whose explosive extroversion

as arrogant Hollywood producer Gary Lefkowitz left the audience in waves of laughter every time his presence graced the stage.

Although his personality kept the audience entertained, his efforts were futile to convince Andrew to return back to Hollywood. Also, Rebecca Krakowiak’s enthusiasm as Andrew’s 29-year-old virgin girlfriend Deirdre McDavey expanded on the hilarity and innuendo of the production while charming the audience with her seductive innocence. Ken Held, Elizabeth Fuhrmann and Amber Kolodziejski each put on spectacular performances. One action highlight of the show was a fencing swordfight between Andrew and Barrymore, choreographed by professional Steve Vaughn, which showed Andrew’s rise in confidence and acceptance of the challenge of Hamlet and the guidance of Barrymore.

The costumes for the show were also well done, especially the elaborate Hamlet costumes of Andrew and Barrymore, which included some glittery color and the infamous black tights, which Barrymore stylishly flaunted throughout the entire performance.

The comedy of the show did not cease during the intermission, as the sound designer cleverly spliced together audio clips of Shakespearean pop culture jokes from various sources. I was amused as I heard the popular YouTube icon “Sassy Gay Friend” ridiculing Ophelia for her rash behavior. I believe I also heard the Muppets cracking Shakespearean jokes, making it by far one of the greatest intermissions I have ever sat through. Well done, sound person, well done.

It is not too late to catch the show if you have not yet. I Hate Hamlet will be performed tonight at 8 p.m. in the Marie Maday Theater, located on the first floor of Lyons Hall, and again tomorrow for a 2 p.m. matinee showing. At each show there will be a 15-minute intermission and refreshments served in the hallway adjacent to the theater afterwards. The show is free of charge, although for those who wish to donate and support a worthy, student-run organization, there will be a collection box available.

Five books to feed the travel bug

By Leah Mosher

Life and Arts Writer There’s something about spring that makes the soul restless. As the days become warmer and the sun is more inclined to show its bright face, many Canisius College students have travel on their minds.

Many have recently returned from a fabulous spring break vacation and are eager for more adventure, some are getting stoked for a fall semester abroad, and others are forming plans for a summer road trip. For students suffering from wanderlust, reading tales of other’s adventures can be informational and inspiring. If you hear the call of the road (or maybe the train or plane), you might want to consider picking up one of these books: On The Road by Jack Kerouac: The essential road trip novel follows the adventures of Sal Paradise as he treks back and forth across the country in the company of reform school escapee Dean Moriarty, criss-crossing the nation by foot, hitched rides, bus routes and hopped freight cars.

The semi-autobiographical novel is perfect for the restless soul longing to go “adventuring in the crazy American night.”

Seven Years in Tibet by Heinrich Harrer: This is the true story of Harrer’s journey through Tibet and his residency in Lhasa in the 1940s. A German explorer visiting India when World War II broke out, he was captured and held in an English internment camp. After making a thrilling escape from the camp, Harrer began a long trek through neutral Tibet to seek asylum in Lhasa, the “Forbidden City” and home of the young Dalai Lama. The book provides an incred-

ible description of a culture untouched by the Western world. It is an inside account of Harrer’s surprisingly close relationship with the Dalai Lama and a look at the incredible capital city of Lhasa before the Chinese takeover in 1950. Although the tale, which ends sorrowfully with the devastating exodus of the Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetans, does not have the happiest of conclusions, it is an epic adventure story about a completely foreign, mysterious culture and is an incredibly satisfying read for those who long to wander.

Ghost Train to the Eastern Star: On the Tracks of the Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux: Half a lifetime after his 1973 Great Railway Bazaar: By Rail Through Asia journey, acclaimed travel writer Theroux retraces the steps of his epic trip in 2006. Beginning in London, he travels by train across Europe and through Asia, stretching as far east as Japan, before returning to Europe via the Trans Siberian Express across Russia. Perhaps a bit cynical, Theroux does not sugar coat his experiences but writes about the realities of train travel and the places he visits. Although The Great Railway Bazaar is a great read, Ghost Train to the Eastern Star offers a much more modern depiction of the countries he travels through. As in his other works, he provides rich and often fascinating information about the current political climates and cultural histories of the places he visits. An additional point of interest in this book is Theroux’s penchant for tracking down and meeting with famous writers in the cities he passes through; Ghost Train sees him spending time with many authors including Orhan Pamuk in Istanbul and Haruki Murakami in Tokyo.

A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle:

Mayle is a lighter, more idealistic writer than Theroux. His book chronicles the first year he and his wife spent in the French region of Provence after retiring from their working life in England. Although he does not travel farther from his new home than the Côte d’Azur, he paints a lovely picture of life in the French countryside, from visits to local markets to golden hours spent indulging his palate with enormous, delicious meals.

However, life in Provence is not merely relaxing with a glass of wine and plate of fresh bread! Mayle recounts frustrating experiences while trying to renovate his house; his descriptions of the not-so-professional work ethics of the local builders are quite entertaining. For someone looking for a light read with a delectable taste of Europe, this is an enjoyable book.

In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson: In his 1997 book, travel writer Bryson recounts his trips around and across Australia and offers interesting and often hilarious bits of the country’s history along the way. At times quite comical, he entertains his readers with a list of humorous names of real places found in his book of maps. Among them are Borrumbuttock, Suggan Buggan and “the supremely satisfying Tittybong.” Although his attempts at humor sometimes underestimate the intelligence of his readers and make him appear thickheaded, the book overall is an entertaining read that will certainly inspire those curious about Australian culture and the outback. It is filled with information about most of the habitable areas of the continent, rich descriptions of his experiences and intriguing information about the country and its history. This is a must read for anyone planning to study abroad in Australia.

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LIFE & ARTS

Friday, April 27, 2012

LIFE & ARTS CrescenDON’Ts reflect on debut season Performance this Sunday in Palisano

By Rich Lunghino Sports Editor

Since the approval in October 2011, the CrescenDON’Ts have come a long way. Started by James Millard, Danny Tortelli, Tim Bristol and Jake Bonar, the acappella group has become one of the most recognized musical clubs at Canisius.

After starting with 10 members and no gigs in the fall semester, the group is now made up of 12 people and has performed at numerous events around campus. The club has increased rehearsals from once a week to three, becoming a tight-knit group as a result.

“It’s been interesting,” Tortelli said of the group’s progress. “It’s cool to see how awkward we started off around each other and now we are getting more comfortable.”

“We have been able to be productive and have a good time simultaneously,” Millard said.

The CrescenDON’Ts performed their first event before the women’s basketball game against Loyola January 27. Since then, the group has sung at Relay for Life, the benefit concert for the Arts Promotion society, as well as a performance for Colleges Against Cancer.

Tunes sung by the group include “Lollipop” by the Chordettes, “BrownEyed Girl” by Van Morrison and “Falling”

by Ben Kweller. The CrescenDON’Ts will perform the national anthem before the women’s lacrosse game at 8 p.m. tonight and will perform in the intermission of the Canisius Chorale’s final concert of the season.

This Sunday at 6 p.m. in Palisano Pavilion, the group will debut their version of “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen as part of their “Rebels in Treble” concert.

Free pizza is available to all who attend.

The CrescenDON’Ts want to eventually extend their talents beyond the boundaries of Canisius as they have auditioned to perform at Buffalo Bisons games and are currently waiting to hear back from the team for confirmation. They also want to have a Christmas concert near the end of the Fall 2012 semester that would not only include seasonal tunes, but also nonholiday favorites as well.

The founders of the CrescenDON’Ts wanted to start a club that will stand the test of time and they are off to a good start.

“We wanted to start a tradition with the group,” Millard said. “Every other college has an acappella group that has been around for 15 to 20 years. We want to come back 15 to 20 years from now and see that we left our mark with future students of Canisius.”

As for the “Rebels in Treble” concert, Millard said, “If you want to enjoy a Sunday night, you won’t be disappointed.”

Friday, april 27, 2012

Sounds of buffalo Fri. 4/27

Sat. 4/28

Friday Night Riot @ Bayou ft. DJ3, Sunglasses Mike 10pm-4am 21+

Loki DNB Presents: Marcus Visionary @ Soundlab 10pm-4am $10 cover 18+

Fri. 5/4 MNM Presents: ESKMO @ Soundlab 9:30pm-2:30am 18+ $17 cover for all

QCC & McNasty present: Ladies Night @ Duke’s on Allen ft. Nimbus, Esbie, McNasty, Business Casual 10pm-4am 21+

Tues. 5/1 Attack of the Ladies Night @ Duke’s on Allen ft. DJ Drop D 10pm-4am 21+

Thurs. 5/3 STRAPPED Thursday’s @ Big Bad Wolf ft. Beretta, Potent J, Twist, Squints 10pm-4am free before 11pm 21+/$3 18+/$5 Igloo @ Duke’s on Allen ft Jeff Sullivan, Diggs, A-Block, Paul Kuenzi, DJ 3 10pm-4am 21+

SPORTS

Friday, April 27, 2012

Baseball

Griffs find offense vs. Akron

By Nathan Barillari Sports Copy Editor

Sophomore Jimmy Luppens scored two runs and had one RBI to lead Canisius in a 10-6 victory over Akron on Tuesday.

The Griffs had somewhat lackluster performances last weekend against Manhattan failing to score more than four runs in any of the three games. Manhattan won the lone game on Saturday 3-2 and won the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday 7-0. Canisius won Game Two 4-1.

“It was a tough series,” head coach Mike McCrae said. “Manhattan is and always has been, a tough opponent and they proved that again this weekend.”

Against Akron however, the Griffs’ offense seemed to find its rhythm.

“We’ve got the right people and the personnel to generate offense,” McCrae said. “We just need to get them all going at the same time and if that ever happens we will be a very dangerous team.”

In addition to Luppens, four Griffs had multi-hit games: sophomore Jesse Kelso (2) and sophomore Ryan Coppinger (2-for-3 with one RBI). Sophomore Jose Torralba and freshman Mike Booth also had two-hit days.

Freshman Rohn Pierce started against Akron for the Griffs but only lasted 2.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits. When asked why Pierce was taken out so early, McCrae said it was strictly due to managing his pitch count.

“We’re just trying to manage his work load and innings accordingly, especially as a freshman,” McCrae said. “We had him on a limited pitch count.”

The Griffs had a bit of a scare when senior Ryan Fennell allowed three runs in the ninth inning before McCrae put junior Jason Rubenstein on the mound to finish the game.

Sophomore Garrett Cortright pitched for Canisius in the opener against Manhattan, going seven innings while allowing three runs.

The trio of redshirt junior Nathan Linseman, Rubenstein and sophomore Jon Fitzsimmons allowed one hit and no runs in relief.

Cortright was out-dueled by his counterpart on Manhattan, as junior John Soldinger’s complete game proved too much for Canisius to overcome.

The Griffs were shutout by the pitching of Manhattan freshman Michael Scarinci in Game One. When asked if the team’s losses were more attributed to Manhattan’s good pitching or Canisius’ lack of offense, McCrae chose the middle ground.

“Definitely a combination of [both],” McCrae said. “Some of their guys pitched well ... but at the same time, I think we got a little away from what we’re trying to do.”

In Game Two, the Griffs were able to stop the bleeding as the pitching was outstanding; redshirt junior Billy Martin pitched 7.1 innings and allowed only one run while the Griffs offense scored all four runs in the first inning.

Sophomore Shane Zimmer led the attack with his two-RBI single in the first. Juniors Manny Hernandez and Brooklyn Foster also had one RBI each.

Following Martin was a solid-as-usual performance by the Griffs bullpen. Pierce pitched two-third innings and was followed

by Linseman and Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons picked up his ninth save of the season.

Canisius returns to action this weekend as it plays MAAC rival Fairfield in a threegame series. The first and second games will be on Saturday at noon and 3 p.m., respectively.

The third game will be on Sunday at noon.

Canisius then returns home to take on St. Bonaventure at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. @NBarillari33 barilla1@canisius.edu

On the Wing: Reactions to Bills draftee Stephon Gilmore

By Brady Phelps

By Nathan Barillari

It was a short three years ago that the Bills took Leodis McKelvin in the first round in the draft. With the tenth-overall selection of Stephon Gilmore, the Buffalo front office has finally admitted to itself that McKelvin might not work out after all.

Tampa Bay opted to go with Mark Barron – a physical specimen of a safety but a bit of a liability with off-the-field issues.

Linebacker Luke Kuechly came off the board when Carolina decided to match up the Boston College stud with Jon Beason. With those two off the board, Gilmore was the safest (and smartest) pick.

Running a 4.4 40-yard dash in the NFL Combine that ranked third among defensive backs, Gilmore is the most versatile cornerback in the draft.

Standing at 6-foot and 195 pounds, he is big for his position. He can play in the slot and provide coverage, but he can also step up against the run and shoot in for the occasional blitz.

There is something to be said for the fact that he has started every game since arriving at South Carolina – in the ultra-competitive SEC. McKelvin, Aaron Williams, Terrance McGee and Drayton Florence will be served well to have another fresh face threatening to take their job.

This is not by any means a sexy pick.

Somewhere last night, Ryan Fitzpatrick quietly swore under his breath. Michael Floyd has tremendous physical skills and that’s why the Arizona Cardinals scooped him up with the 13th pick. He would have fit in well with our offense at the No. 2 wide receiver position.

The defensive additions of Mario Williams and Mark Anderson will be taking pressure off the secondary, but let’s face it – none of the Bills’ corners before last night have the ability to shut down a No. 1 receiver. Gilmore has the tools to do that.

Overall Grade for Round 1: B

Well, that was interesting. After all the wheeling-and-dealing in the top 10, the Buffalo Bills finally selected their guy: South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

As a Bills fan, you may find yourself wondering why on earth the Bills would select a cornerback; they already have five guys in the mix.

Leodis McKelvin was a first-round pick in 2008 but has been way too inconsistent to be relied on as a starter for the Bills. They simply ran out of patience and selected a player they believed could start for them right away.

This is a classic case of Buddy Nix selecting the best player available; he did it last year with Marcell Dareus and the year before with C.J. Spiller. Spiller wasn’t a need pick and neither was Gilmore.

I believe that the Bills could have gotten by with the cornerbacks they had on the roster – especially with the additions to the pass rush made in the offseason – but they saw the best player on the board and they took him.

Many people – including me – would have liked to see Nix select Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd but Nix probably has a huge list of wide receivers – likely from the SEC – who he will take in one of the later rounds.

Was this the pick that I wanted the most?

No. Am I disappointed? Absolutely not. Nix believed that Gilmore was the player with the most talent at that spot and in turn will help the Bills the most this year and down the line.

Take Buffalo’s own Stevie Johnson; he went from a seventh round pick in 2008 to one of the most talented receivers in the NFL. I have confidence in this pick as I would have had confidence in almost any other pick Nix would have made. Nix knows football and this was the best step to help make the Bills a playoff contender right now.

Overall Grade for Round 1: B+

@itsmaverick phelsb@canisius.edu

@NBarillari33 barilla1@canisius.edu

Sports Writer

Sports Copy Editor

SPORTS

Friday, April 27, 2012

Dance Griffs win Nationals

By Rich Lunghino Sports Editor

The Dance Griffs continued their stellar season by winning the national championship in the U.S. Finals National Cheer and Dance Competition on April 1.

The team received a bid to go to the competition after winning the overall grand champion title at the JDRF ( Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) competition on Feb. 26

in Niagara Falls. The U.S. Finals are hosted in seven cities throughout the United States.

At 4 a.m. on March 31, the Dance Griffs boarded the bus to Indianapolis. The next morning, the girls were able to get one hour of practice in before getting ready and heading to the Indiana Convention Center right next to Lucas Oil Stadium of the Indianapolis Colts.

The team competed in the Open Dance against Agape Cheer and Dance from Southfield, Mich. and Infinity Cheer and Dance from Fredonia. The teams were allowed to perform

any style of dance before the judges. “[We] were extremely nervous,” junior Lindsay Carroll said.

After the three groups performed, they waited anxiously for the awards ceremony.

Before too long, the emcee called the girls up on stage and announced the scores. After the scores and the final standings were announced, the members of the Dance Griffs had tears in their eyes – they had won first place.

“It was a well-deserved accomplishment,” Carroll said. “[Our] hours of practice and de-

termined mindset finally paid off.”

Not only did the team receive a trophy and medals as enduring reminders of its accomplishment, a banner is to be hung in the Koessler Athletic Center as well, Carroll said. “[We] could not be prouder of [our] success,” Carroll said.

The Dance Griffs’ year-end recital will be at the Marie Maday Theater at 7 p.m. Sunday. @RichLunghino lunghinr@canisius.edu

softball

Griffs take three of four in MAAC play

By Jourdon LaBarber Sports Writer

The best moment since a moment ago

By Alexander Vilardo Sports Columnist

A moment is a broad term. It’s a length of time, to be sure. But it’s not a designated length of time. “One moment, please” usually meanswait a minute.” But a moment can be weeks if my sisters ask me to do something.

And we’ve all been in those moments that feel like eternities. So, without keeping track of time, it is in The Griffin’s last real issue of the year that I bring to you, my faithful, loyal readers – thanks, Grandma and Grandpa! – the first-ever “Who’s Keeping Score? Sports Moment of the Last Eight Months Tournament.”

The Sports Moment of the Last Eight Months will be the moment with the most points at the end of the column. This year’s nominees are: Bubba Watson’s second shot on the 10th hole playoff at the Masters, Tebowmania, Linsanity, Peyton Manning’s time as a free agent, David Freese’s historic postseason, the New York Giants’ Super Bowl run and the growth of Anthony Davis’ unibrow.

First up is Bubba Watson’s second shot on the 10th hole playoff at the Masters. This shot was as perfect as it gets. How Bubba pulled it off, no one quite knows. His tee shot went into the trees and landed on the pine needles, but Bubba hit a beaut of a second shot that led to a par and a green jacket.

The ball went into the woods as Joy Behar and came out as Mila Kunis. Jack Nicklaus said that it “will go down as one of the greatest shots ever played.” Bubba’s shot gets 100 points for being amazing plus 15 extra for Nicklaus’ comment.

Next up is Tebowmania. You might skip this paragraph. Heck, I’m tempted to skip it myself. Former Broncos and current Jets quarterback Tim Tebow was all over TVs, computers, iPhones and anything else with a screen for the entire NFL season. ESPN turned into “Tebownet.” At first, Tebowmania was about Tebow being a really, really genuine guy. Or maybe it occurred because Tebow’s a phony. But then he started winning games. A lot of games. And then a playoff game. Tebow gets 80 points for being a nice dude and for winning.

Brace yourselves – Linsanity is next.

This is almost the NBA version as Tebowmania. Jeremy Lin crawled out of his brother’s couch and into the New York Knicks’ starting lineup to become the most popular player in the league. Jimmy Fallon wrote a song about him. “He’s a nice guy, too?!” people asked.

Linsanity may have been more annoying than Tebowmania. But then Lin partially tore his meniscus and said he’d be out at least six weeks. Linsanity is over, at least for now. Lin gets 50 points for making a valiant effort to become the next Tebow and 10 bonus points because tearing that meniscus probably hurt.

Peyton Manning was a free agent. That was weird, wasn’t it? But remember how he was courted? He was Penelope from “The

Odyssey,” and the Broncos, Dolphins, Titans, Cardinals and 49ers were his suitors. They’d give almost anything for him. Heck, the Broncos kicked Tebowmania out of Colorado for him. Peyton gets 85 points for handling his free agency the same way he handles everything else: with the utmost class and professionalism. He gets an additional 10 for that whole being-one-of-the-best-quarterbacksever thing.

Onto David Freese’s postseason, one in which he was an absolute machine. He hit .397 in the playoffs, including .545 in the NLCS and .348 in the World Series. In the NLCS, he hit three home runs and three doubles to go along with nine RBIs and seven runs. In the World Series, he had three doubles, a home run, a triple, seven RBIs and four runs.

This is more than just his numbers, though. The guy was as clutch as it gets. He almost single-handedly beat Texas in Game Six of the World Series: in the ninth inning with two strikes and two outs and down by two runs, Freese hit a game-tying triple to send the game into extras; then he hit a walkoff bomb in the 11th inning. In Game Seven, he hit a game-tying double en route to the Cardinals’ series-clinching win. Freese made history, too: he is just the sixth player in baseball history to win a League Championship Series MVP and a World Series MVP in the same postseason. Freese gets 110 points for his monster postseason, an additional 10 for the MVPs and an additional 5 for growing up in the St. Louis area.

Next comes the New York Giants’ spectacular playoff run. During the regular season, the team was a bigger enigma than Invisible Children: it finished 9-7 and lost five of six games – including four in a row at one point.

But during the playoffs, the Giants were magical. In their first playoff game, they beat Atlanta by a score of 24-2. Then they beat the defending-champion Packers by 17 points.

Then they beat the 49ers in overtime in one of the most entertaining games of the year. Then they beat the Patriots in a thriller of a Super Bowl. The Giants get 90 points for their run and an additional 15 for beating the Patriots.

The growth of Anthony Davis’ unibrow is up next. It gets -5,000 points for being hideous and -50 points for being on the forehead of a one-and-done player.

At the end of the column, David Freese’s postseason heroics edge out Bubba’s shot by 10 points, and Freese’s postseason is named the first winner of the “Who’s Keeping Score?

Sports Moment of the Last Eight Months Tournament.” The Giants’ Super Bowl run comes in third with 105 points, while Peyton’s free agency finishes fourth with 95.

Tebowmania takes fifth place, edging Linsanity out by 20 points and the growth of Anthony Davis’ unibrow finishes in seventh with -5,050 points.

Congratulations to David Freese and his postseason performance. Your check is in the mail.

vilardo2@canisius.edu

Sophomore Jen Consaul and the Canisius College softball team got back on track this weekend, taking three out of four games on the road from Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponents St. Peter’s and Manhattan in their respective doubleheaders. Canisius was able to sweep St. Peter’s by scores of 5-3 and 11-2 on Friday before splitting a pair of shutouts with Manhattan on Saturday with a 5-0 win and a 4-0 loss.

The Griffs, who are now 14-27 in 2012, may be well under .500 this season when it comes to their total record, but in the games that really count – the conference games – the girls are right where they want to be, thanks to a recent offensive surge and consistent success in the circle from the Consaul.

“When we had all those injuries and our record wasn’t like we wanted, we were disappointed but we knew we had the MAAC left … we wish we would’ve got the fourth win, but the kids hung tough and played pretty well, so to win three out of four puts us right back in the thick of things,” Canisius coach Mike Rappl said.

Consaul took the ball for the Griffs in the first game against the Peahens, allowing only three runs on six hits and a pair of walks in her seven innings of work. Two of the three runs came in the second inning, when the Peahens were able to piece together a Canisius error with a few timely hits to give themselves a 2-1 lead.

The game would be won in the fourth inning, however, off the bat of freshman left fielder Michelle DelPrince, who has seen continued success at the plate throughout her rookie campaign. After sophomore Valorie Nappo, senior Lauryn Chris and junior Stephanie Pfenter each singled in succession to lead off the inning, DelPrince sent her first career home run into center field for what would go on to be the game-winning grand slam. “[The grand slam] makes it more memorable definitely, especially since it helped us win the game and secure the victory,” DelPrince said.

Canisius put forth a great offensive output straight from the beginning of the second game, as seniors Lauren Falzone and Katie Lancelotti led off the contest with two straight doubles, and then eventually scored to put Canisius up 2-0 early.

The real damage would be done in the

third and fourth innings however – both of which saw Canisius score four runs. In the latter, it was Nappo who would provide her first career home run, also a grand slam. In the circle, Canisius senior Caroline Main earned the victory while allowing only two runs (both unearned) in her five-inning complete game.

Altogether, the Canisius offense combined for a total of 22 hits in the two games against St. Peter’s, which fell to 5-36 overall and only 1-7 in MAAC play following the defeats.

Consaul took the ball in Saturday’s first game, and once again she delivered. The sophomore pitched a complete game two-hit shutout, fanning five Jaspers along the way to earn her eighth win of the season and even her record at 8-8. “[ Jen] is really coming along great. She’s been throwing really well, her last five starts have been awesome … and we’re hitting for her too,” Rappl said.

“It definitely builds my confidence and helps me feel like I can beat any batter that comes to the plate,” Consaul said of her success.

The majority of the Griffs’ scoring came in the sixth inning, when the Griffs used the long ball to turn a 2-0 lead into a five-run game. After Pfenter led off with a ground-rule double, DelPrince sent her second home run in as many days to centerfield to bring the lead to 4-0. One out later, Lancelotti hit a solo shot, providing more than enough room for Consaul to finish off the victory.

In the second game, Main struck out eight batters in 5.1 innings of four-run ball, but was out-dueled by Jaspers’ starter Kate Bowen, who pitched a seven-inning complete-game shutout. Only three Griffs were able to obtain hits off of Bowen, led by Falzone’s three base knocks from the lead-off spot.

For their exceptional play over the weekend, Consaul and DelPrince earned MAAC Pitcher and MAAC Rookie of the Week honors, respectively. Consaul went 3-0 with a 0.70 ERA to go along with 10 strikeouts, while DelPrince hit .389 with eight RBIs and four runs.

“It’s really exciting. To be honest I didn’t really know until people started texting me ‘congrats!’ and it was really exciting to find out,” Consaul said of the honor.

Canisius is set to continue conference play tomorrow, when they travel to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. to face MAAC rival Marist in an afternoon double-header. First pitch for Game One is set for noon. @jourdonlabarber labarbej@canisius.edu

Mlax: Game vs. Marist key Continued from Back

swapped goals in the fourth quarter, but Canisius never gave up its lead.

Turnovers once again played a crucial role for Canisius. The Griffs had lost the turnover battle in all but one game entering this one. But against VMI, they protected the ball and did a great job taking it away, causing 24 turnovers and only giving up 10.

“We ended up with our lowest turnover ratio of the year, which was huge. That was a focus going into VMI for sure,” said Mearns.

The win ended Canisius’ four-game losing streak, and put it in control of its postseason destiny.

Mearns said the team goal for the season is a postseason berth. They now know exactly

what they need to do to qualify for the MAAC tournament. Canisius can get into the tournament through two different scenarios.

Both start with winning at Marist in the season finale on Saturday. If Canisius wins that game and allows less than seven goals, it will go to the postseason. The other way for Canisius to get in is by scoring more than 11 goals and winning by more than two goals.

The team is on the verge of a postseason berth – something this senior class has never accomplished – but Mearns said they aren’t looking ahead.

“We’ve not spoken about the tournament.

We just want to be focused on Marist and not get ahead of ourselves.” @JeffGillette76 gillettj@canisius.edu

SPORTS

Friday, April 27, 2012

year in review

The Griffin’s 2011-12 Team of the Year Sports editor emeritus tells it like it is, picks top team from Canisius’ 17 varsity programs

By Nick Veronica Editor in Chief

The last poll at the end of the of the student senate elections last weekend asked students to nominate a varsity athletic team of the year. In a down year for Canisius sports across the board, I can understand why some people thought this was a joke, but it actually is a real award.

The synchronized swimming team was announced as the winner on Tuesday. Before I let you in on how The Griffin voted, let’s clear up one thing that caught my attention. Canisius fields 17 Division I athletic teams. Why there were only 15 options on the poll is beyond me. Whoever entered the data apparently doesn’t think very highly of cross country or swimming and diving, otherwise he or she would have specified between men’s and women’s for both sports, because they are two separate teams.

Athletes are athletes regardless of their sport’s audience appeal.

They all put in the time and they all have unique stories just like the rest of us, and they deserve to have their own school recognize them as being equally important as everyone else. When The Griffin groups them together in articles, it’s because they attend the same events and it wouldn’t make sense to write two articles about the same meet. We’re always careful to differentiate between the teams.

It’s one thing when we joke “rowers have feelings too” because of the way other athletes discriminate against them for being the new sport on campus, but you kind of expect that from the jocks. When your own school puts down lower-profile teams, something isn’t right about that. Those four teams were the only Canisius sides to beat Niagara until February. That’s not exactly how I learned to say thank you.

The only excuse I can think of would be that the computer program only allowed for 15 entries into a poll, in which case I might let them off the hook. But man, that’s a harsh way to show where the school’s interests lie.

Anyway, coming up with a short list of teams to pick from for this award didn’t take long. Going chronologically: Men’s soccer: A 4-14-1 record doesn’t get you any awards. I’m expecting good things from this group next year, but Dermot McGrane’s first season as head coach was less than stellar. MLS draftee Carl Haworth had 12 goals this year up at Niagara, McGrane’s old school. His Griffs only managed 15 all season.

Women’s soccer: The women were hoping for a MAAC title this year after falling one win short last season. But a 3-3-3 conference record wasn’t good enough to get them into the tournament. We’d like to say some players will need to return to form next year to cover the loss of Kelly Reinwald, but we know how they respond to criticism.

Men’s cross country: Chad Maloy had a stellar freshman season, but finishing fifth out of ten schools at the conference meet isn’t enough.

Women’s cross country: The

senior trio of Christine Mulvihill, Jill Shea and Julie Dahlkemper will be difficult to replace, but again, fifth at the conference meet isn’t team-ofthe-year material.

Golf: Sorry, guys. I know you haven’t had the MAAC Championship yet, but this wasn’t your year.

Volleyball: Aha! Our first contender. An eight-game losing streak early in the year was an ugly start, but the Griffs surged late, winning their final six outings without losing a set to sneak into the conference tournament. Coming up big in the clutch counts extra in this contest.

Hockey: I actually considered voting for hockey just on the awesomeness of Cory Conacher. But I decided only in-season, team activity counts. Dan Morrison and Scott Moser will be missed, but the search continues.

Synchronized swimming: I wanted to give points here for Jess Grogan, Missy Andrews and Jess Mancini doing so well at USA Olympic tryouts, but after debating on Conacher, I couldn’t count that. It was huge for the team to tie Ohio State at a meet this year and the Griffs took care of business most of the year, but a fifth-place finish at the national championship was a disappointing result. Although they won the popularity contest online, synchro doesn’t advance here.

Men’s swimming and diving: The men did some work this year, swimming well in most meets and taking second at the conference championship. The team loses senior Steve Pochatko (who broke seven school records at the conference meet) but gets to keep Shawn Parkhurst for one more year. Add the men to the short list.

Women’s swimming and diving: I get tweets from GoGriffs sent to my phone. Every time I looked down, I had another message saying Marissa Oakey just broke a school record. A fifth-place overall finish won’t qualify women’s swimming and diving, but look out for the Oakey the next three years.

Men’s basketball: I don’t need to explain this one, right? Right.

Women’s basketball: This year’s team seemed to play a better brand of basketball from the year before, and Ashley Durham made big steps in developing chemistry with her teammates that a winning point guard needs to have. The team closed the season on a five-game losing streak amid a wild illness that hit several teams, but the Griffs never recovered. They slipped to the eightseed and lost in the play-in round at the conference tournament. The good news is the team doesn’t graduate any seniors and everyone will be back next year.

Baseball: No points here for John Axford, but baseball is having a good season nonetheless. A 22-21 record may not look like much, but considering who they’ve played and the relative state of Northeast baseball, that’s really not bad. An 8-4 conference record has the team in second place right now, but with so much left to be determined (playoffs aren’t until May 24), I couldn’t give baseball the nod. Sorry guys, it’s not your fault.

Softball: It’s been a tough season for softball, which currently has a record of 14-27. A MAAC record of 6-4 is a bright spot, but a team with only one player owning an onbase percentage above .400 and no

pitchers with a winning record isn’t enough to advance.

Rowing: I was at Canisius’ regatta last weekend to see the Griffs handle D’Youville in front of home fans for the first time, but we need to see the rowers handle some D-I opponents before they become team of the year. Not bad for a first season though.

Men’s lacrosse: Simon Giourmetakis is having a good year offensively and freshman Tim Edwards looks like the real deal, but a 3-7 record to this point doesn’t cut it.

Women’s lacrosse: I was expecting big things from women’s lacrosse this year after capturing the MAAC crown and competing in the NCAA Tournament last season.

Something was up this year during the team’s five-game losing streak, but whatever it was, Scott Teeter’s bunch shook it off and regrouped to close out the year. The duo of Megan Oosting and Carly Quinn put women’s lacrosse into the two-seed for this weekend’s conference tournament at the Demske Sports Complex and into the final round of this decision.

My final list is composed of volleyball, men’s swimming and diving and women’s lacrosse.

If you’re wondering where Canisius’ big sports were, they were down in the cellar this year. True, the higher-profile the sport, the more money it takes to win, but there were other factors that contributed to the lack of success this year. Canisius’ three biggest sports – men’s basketball, hockey and women’s basketball – had three seniors between them.

That’s just a quirk that happened to come about this year, but that’s not a way to win in college sports. If you’re an optimist, maybe that means there are good things to come.

I ultimately gave my vote to volleyball over women’s lacrosse. If lacrosse runs the table and doesn’t have that slump to start the year, they probably get the vote regardless of what happens at the conference tournament this weekend. I agree that the school’s timing for this poll wasn’t ideal, but going on the constraints I had, I couldn’t give the vote to lacrosse without knowing how the season ended up.

Volleyball’s end to the season was impressive. The women won 18 sets of Division I volleyball in a row to close out the season, with the last two matches coming on the road.

Falling short of a championship is much easier to accept when it comes at the hands of a team that is just better than you, as was the case with volleyball in the conference tournament.

Nobody was going to touch Niagara this year. People want to see teams working hard and playing to the best of their ability. When they start gelling and getting on a roll, that’s what it’s all about. Volleyball coach Cathy Hummel is a funny person to watch during a game, but I guess the ends justified the means in this case.

Congratulations to the volleyball team, The Griffin’s 2011-12 Team of the Year. I do feel bad for women’s lacrosse, because it’s a tough break for them, but hey, I didn’t make the poll. I’m here to tell you what it means. Make me eat my words this weekend. @NickVeronica veronicn@canisius.edu

sports @14 Dance Griffs are National Champions.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Canisius College, Buffalo, N.Y.

Ticker Men’s Lacrosse • Back & Pg. 14 Apr. 21: Canisius 13, VMI 11

@13 A look at the Buffalo Bills’ first-round draft choice of 2012.

Volume lxxxii Number 21

rowing

Griffs sweep inaugural Black Rock Cup

Next Game: April 28 at Marist Women’s Lacrosse • Back Apr. 21: Canisius 14, Iona 10 Apr. 22: B.U. 11, Canisius 6

By Hayden Ristevski Sports Writer

Next Game: April 27 vs Marist Baseball • Pg. 13 Apr. 21: Manhattan 101 000 010 – 3 8 1 Canisius 020 000 000 – 2 6 0 Apr. 22:

Manhattan 104 020 0 – 7 8 0 Canisius 000 000 0 – 0 2 1

Manhattan 000 010 000 – 1 6 0 Canisius 400 000 00x – 4 5 1

Apr. 24:

Canisius Akron

001 135 000 – 10 14 1 200 000 103 – 6 12 2

Next Game: April 28 at Fairfield Softball • Pg. 14 Apr. 20: Canisius St. Peter’s Canisius St. Peter’s

Apr. 21: Canisius Manhattan Canisius

Manhattan

010 020 204 002

400 0 – 5 10 000 1 – 3 6 41 –11 12 1 00 –2 3 2

000 113 000 000 000 000 020 002

0 – 5 11 0 –0 2 0–0 6 x–4 4

2 1 0 0 0 3 0 0

Next Game: April 28 at Marist

men’s lacrosse

Freshman leads Griffs to Senior Day victory

By Jeff Gillette Sports Writer

With less than three minutes to play, Canisius freshman Tim Edwards stepped into the circle for the biggest faceoff of his young career. VMI had just cut the Canisius lead to one goal, and the Griffs needed a win to have a shot at the postseason.

Across from Edwards was one of the nation’s top faceoff specialists, VMI senior Stephen Robarge. Robarge had already won 22 of 26 faceoffs in this game. But with the game on the line, Edwards won the draw went on to score the goal that clinched Canisius’ 13-11 victory.

Canisius head coach Randy Mearns has been happy with Edward’s development, and believed he could win the big draw.

“We have tons of confidence in Tim. He continues to get better and better and that was a huge moment for him. It’s exciting times for the future,” Mearns said.

Edwards and senior Simon Giourmetakis led all Canisius scorers. Both tallied three goals and added an assist in the final home game of the season. Senior Jimmy Haney and junior Nick Caldiero also had big games. Each netted a pair of goals and added an assist.

The game was tight from the start. The first half alone saw five ties and three lead changes. Canisius trailed 6-4 late in the half, but goals by Caldiero and Haney made it 6-6 heading into halftime.

VMI scored just 12 seconds into the third period, but Canisius took control of the game with a four-goal run that gave it its biggest lead of the day, 10-7. VMI added another goal before the period ended. The teams then See Mlax, page 14

The Canisius rowing team hosted the program’s first ever regatta on Sunday, April 22 at the Frank Lloyd Wright Fontana Boathouse on the shores of the Niagara River. The team took on D’Youville College in hopes of taking home the Black Rock Cup. Canisius was able to sweep the regatta, taking first place in both the varsity eight and varsity four races despite choppy water and unpleasant weather conditions. It was the only time the Griffs have posted first place finishes all season, as well as the first and only regatta the team has managed to sweep.

The varsity eight got a strong start and continued their pace to win their race with a time of 7:09.3, almost 27 seconds faster than their opponent, which finished with a time of 7:36.7.

The varsity four race was much closer, with both teams pushing hard to the finish.

The Griffs were able to pull ahead of the Spartans for the win, recording a time of 8:24.3.

“To go out and have a good race against D’Youville College was a good way to start off our home event,” coach Joel Furtek said.

The Griffs were surrounded by fans who came out for their only chance to see the rowers in action all season. Despite the chilly morning temperatures, the crowd of friends, family, alumni and fellow student-athletes was still enthusiastic and helped cheer the Canisius boats on.

“It was a great day. From top to bottom, everything about it was pretty great. The college community was here, we had lots of folks from the college and lots of people that maybe don’t get to see us very often. Then we had a couple hundred student athletes come down to support their friends on the rowing team.”

Furtek said.

Prior to the start of the races, Father John Bucki, S.D.J., performed a blessing over the fleet of Canisius boats. The team also unveiled the name of their newest addition to the fleet, a boat named “Magis”. Anyone who goes to

Nick Veronica/ The Griffin

Canisius swept the regatta against D’Youville in its first-ever home meet.

Canisius knows that Magis (meaning “more” in Latin) is a common saying used frequently to describe the attitude toward life most Griffs aspire to have. By naming their new boat after this Jesuit ideal, the rowers proved that they’re going to continue to strive for more in their racing as well.

“The event was a fantastic day. Fr. Bucki gave us a great blessing of the fleet and some really great thoughts about what it is we do and how to do it,” Furtek said.

Canisius only has one short week to prepare for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships that will take place on Lake Mercer in West Windsor, N.J. this Saturday. The meet will end the Griffs’ first season unless they move on and compete for an NCAA Division I championship.

Nick Veronica contributed in reporting this story. @haydennnr ristevsf@canisius.edu

women’s lacrosse

Women’s lacrosse prepares for MAAC Tournament urday and then lost the season finale to Boston University 11-6 to finish with an overall record of 8-8 and a conference record of 4-2.

Seniors Megan Oosting and Carly Quinn will be looked to for offense, as has been the case all season. Oosting finished the regular season with 49 goals, which leads the team. Quinn paced the team in points with 68, which includes a team-leading 40 assists.

Also impressive this year has been junior Lindsay Morgan, who posted 39 goals and 44 points in the regular season.

“We know we have so much potential on our team ... we really are coming together as a family and as a team and we’re ready to bring it,” Quinn said.

The biggest question heading into the tournament for Canisius is goaltending. Junior Gina Molfetta came into the season as the starter, but lost the job after struggling.

In contrast, Freshman Kayla Skully has been solid in the net for the Griffs and it has earned her a chance to be named the starter.

However, coach Teeter went back and

By Alex Beilman Sports Writer

The Canisius College women’s lacrosse team is gearing up for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament which will at the Demske Sports Complex this weekend. The team enters the tournament second in the conference and will play third-place Marist at 8.

Canisius, the reigning champion in women’s lacrosse, will look to defend its title.

The team’s focus all year has been to repeat.

Considering the tournament will be held at home, the team knows it is a huge opportunity. “[Repeating] has been the goal since Day One this season,” head coach Scott Teeter said. “It’s on our turf and even though we’re not the No. 1 seed, we’re looked at as the team to beat.”

Canisius finished out the regular season beating conference rival Iona 14-10 last Sat-

forth between the two goalies towards the end of the season and he has not identified for sure who his No. 1 keeper will be on Friday. It could be Skully, but Molfetta’s experience makes the decision difficult.

Whatever choice Teeter makes, the game will come down to Canisius’ team effort. The games it has won have been a combination of offense, defense and goaltending. The team is fully aware that teamwork will be the biggest key to success.

“We want to play a full 60 minutes,” Oosting said. “It’s a full team effort.”

Fairfield will play Siena at 5 p.m. this afternoon and Canisius is scheduled to face off against Marist at 8 p.m. tonight.

The winners of the first two games will play on Sunday at noon for the MAAC championship. There will be a five dollar charge to attend the event, but students can watch the competition for free with a valid Canisius ID. @AlexBeilman beilman1@canisius.edu

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