Visions XI Summer Issue

VISIONS Orientation Issue 2009

Volume XI Special Edition

buffalo entertainment

a helpful list of sumer and fall events to beat the boredom blues

fighting the freshman fifteen staying in tune with your health and well-being at UB

oh, by the way... tips and tricks to make college life a little bit easier

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the ditors. editor in chief

anna oakes visionseic@gmail.com

creative director

nicole j. trieste ntrieste@buffalo.edu

managing editor

lauren ministero visionsme@buffalo.edu

head desk editor

jeff froustet visionseditor@buffalo.edu

desk editor

deya roy deyaroy@buffalo.edu

desk editor

mary scheda mkscheda@buffalo.edu

copy editor

mike jonas mjonas2@buffalo.edu

photo editor

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steph brescia emc35@buffalo.edu

the ontributors. josh bradley jdb33@buffalo.edu

kathryn przybyla kp57@buffalo.edu

jessica gillis jlgillis@buffalo.edu

andrilisa read arread@buffalo.edu

ruth huoh ruthhuoh@buffalo.edu

greg robbins grobbins@buffalo.edu

cheryl mohabir cmohabir@buffalo.edu

lauren skompinski las3@buffalo.edu

nick orrange norrange@buffalo.edu

shervin stoney sfstoney@buffalo.edu

buffalo entertainment – pg. 15

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VISIONS xi.special edition

table of ontents.

ub club rugby – pg. 7

summer brews – pg. 18

2 3 4 7 8 10 12 15 17 18 20 21 23

letters from the president and vice president thoughts from the editor club juice jock itch fighting the freshman fifteen ub2020: sneak peek oh, by the way... buffalo entertainment not your average list chicks, booze and reviews keep it clean between the sheets shits and giggles

VISIONS is the Student Association’s bi-weekly magazine, with a circulation of 3,500 per issue. Our office is located in Suite 350 Student Union on the Amherst Campus.

Telephone: (716) 645 2950. Mailing address: VISIONS c/o Student Association, Suite 350 Student Union SUNY at Buffalo, Amherst, NY 14260. Questions or comments regarding this issue should be submitted in writing to the VISIONS editor-in-chief via e-mail or through the designated mailbox in the SA office. VISIONS is printed by Dual Printing Inc. located at 340 Nagel Dr., New York 14225. Printing questions should be directed to Dual Printing at (716) 684 3825. could you mustard my hole with a genie, babe?

letter from the

President.

Great job and congratulations on your acceptance to the University at Buffalo, you should be very proud of yourself. Whether you were class valedictorian, a star athlete or even the senior class clown, you are now officially a college student opening a new chapter in your life, a new beginning. In other words, welcome to college life. Welcome to the good life.

People attend college for many different reasons: to achieve great things, to become a future engineer, to be a doctor or nurse, to educate others as a teacher, maybe even to become the future Donald Trump. Whatever your reason for attending, remember that this is the time and place to shine and to make a path for your future.

Your college years will involve great growth and discovery within yourself. Unfortunately, the road to discovering yourself may not be all fun and games. It will also be filled with hard work and many mistakes along the way. Just remember in times of doubt that college is all about you, what you want to do and trying to find your niche within such a big university. To succeed, never forget two very important things: be yourself and do not give up.

You can’t achieve great things without encountering difficulty. Everyone wishes there were shortcuts in life, but there are very few. I’m not trying to say college is difficult, but don’t expect it to be a smooth ride. There will be many ups and downs: relationships, health, parties, classes and studying. So aim high, stay focused and be patient. Just remember that making mistakes is part of achieving your overall goal.

Sincerely yours, Hassan Farah, President Undergraduate Student Association

letter from the Salutations!

Vice President.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ernesto Alvarado and I will be your vice president for this academic school year.

You’ve finally made it! Gone away are your high school days and coming soon are the endless hours in Capen Library, late nights downtown and the making of great memories. You are now enrolled in one of the best institutions in the country; take full advantage of it! We are one of the most diverse schools in the nation with some of the most exciting events schools have to offer.

The time of your life is about to begin, but first you have to make it through the hassle that all freshmen have to deal with: orientation. Orientation can be a mind-numbing process but if you take advantage of the information provided for you, it can be one of the most beneficial things you take part in before beginning college. Make sure you take note of any information you receive that might be useful during the year so you’ll be a step ahead of the game in the fall.

The Student Association will try to make our part of your orientation as fun as possible, so please let us know if there is anything we can do to make your time more enjoyable. I recommend looking into the clubs and events that SA offers so that you can get involved and have a greater experience here at UB. Explore new things, meet new people, try new food and make your time here memorable starting with today.

I hope you enjoy our orientation edition of Visions and, who knows, maybe you will be writing for us one day! If you have any questions about clubs feel free to e-mail me at eja@buffalo.edu and I will be more than happy to talk to you. Stay focused, be courageous and don’t be another face in the crowd!

God is love, Ernesto “Che” Alvarado, Vice President Undergraduate Student Association VISIONS 2

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thoughts from the ditor.

tweets of the week Ashton Kutcher (aplusk) Remind me to never asphyxiate myself while masterbating in bangkok. It just confused people.

When you graduate from high school and decide to attend college you are starting a new life. It seems cliché, and you might hear it all the time, but it’s true. Your high school-self doesn’t completely disappear and die once you start your new life at college, but at some point the end will come with closure for many of you.

Starting your freshman year of college is like dipping your toes in a pool to test the temperature. Sometimes the water is freezing. This might be a complete turn-off and you might refuse to get in, or you might decide to let your body adjust to the temperature little by little. Sometimes the water is just right and you jump right in. Each new encounter during your college years will be a mix of decisions and different first impressions. You may make a mistake and decide not to pursue something you should have, but you’ll learn from these mistakes and make the right choice later on.

As you grow into your new life as a college student you tend to forget about your high school-self. It seems to disappear and this can be scary, but you have to remember not to let your past hold you back from your future. You’ll know when high school is completely behind you. You will find closure.

I found my closure the summer after my sophomore year of college. There were the obvious things connecting me to my past -- friends, family, home -- but my dog was the only thing I left behind that didn’t change. I came home and my family was still there, they still loved me and had some of the same quirks, I still had fun hanging out with my friends and our inside jokes still held over but everyone changes, even if these changes are miniscule.

My dog, Boots, was exactly how I left her. I came home and she acted like I was home from a day of high school, excited and ready to play. She was a little older, but she was always still my puppy. She was the only thing that hadn’t changed.

That was until the summer after my sophomore year. I came home and she wasn’t the same. She had been sick for the entire spring semester. I came home and I slept on the floor next to her at night because she was too weak to come to my bed. I brought her food and water bowls to her along with a few extra treats.

The night before my parents had to put her down to sleep, I stayed on the floor next to her the entire night and I started to feel my high school-self slipping away. Boots was the very last thing keeping that part of my life alive.

The death of my dog still makes me sad -- I was still crying after I closed my laptop after watching Marley & Me -- but her death gave me closure to grow up and move on. This might be morbid but, honestly, you’ll all experience it and, by all means, I’m not saying you’ll hold onto high school until your family pet dies but there will be that defining moment in which you finally grow up and take life by the reins. Don’t wait for that defining moment, but don’t run away from it when it happens either.

Jim Gaffigan (jimgaffigan) Why is it when someone tells you they are psychic, you simultaneously find out they are insane?

Stephen Colbert (StephenColbert) Is that Truth in my pocket, or am I just happy to see you?

Lady GaGa (ladygaga) Stop leaking my motherfucking videos Dane Cook (danecook) Lady Gaga is like sour milk. You know it’s not good. But you still wanna smell it just to make sure.

Oprah Winfrey (Oprah) Why I LOVED today’s show: puppies get saved. Prisoners get healed. Soldiers get helped.

Full circle blessing. Thanks for watching. Are you fucking kidding me?

Some random dude named Jonathan (JonnySoul90210) @THE_REAL_SHAQ Shaq, let’s get to the point. Kazaam 2.

Straight to DVD. On the cheap.

Good script. Everybody wins. Do it. DO IT! Shaquille O’Neal (THE_REAL_SHAQ) @JonnySoul90210 only if your mom plays my co partner

Anna Oakes Editor in Chief VISIONS 3

clubjuice % 100real

freshly squeezed

International Council

By Andrilisa Read

Students perform at 2009’s International Fiesta.

The International Council is a very unique sector of the Student Association because each club within the group is specific to a particular heritage. These 21 clubs represent cultures from all over the world; they celebrate flavors that people grew up with, the melodies played at family gatherings and the vibrant colors of these countries.

The members have a personal investment in the clubs because they represent a part of them, something they were born with. The International Council’s main focus is to allow students to show their culture to others and have them experience what it’s like to come from another part of the world.

The International Council puts on the International Fiesta which is the largest event of all the councils. The event is a competition put on by the clubs in which performers take the audience on a journey to different regions of the world through the art of dance. International

Fiesta is a means of showcasing one’s culture. The competitive element pushes the clubs to do their best. Participating in the event is a great way to meet new people and learn how to dance in different ways.

When I first came to college I couldn’t dance salsa at all. Thanks to the Latin American SA, I can now dance salsa like a professional. Fiesta is an eye opener for everyone: those dancing, those watching and those planning behind the scenes. This past year Japanese SA took first place with Indian SA coming up at a close second.

These clubs work hard to show people who they are. You don’t even have to be Chinese to join Chinese SA or Filipino to join Filipino American SA. The clubs welcome people from all parts of the world.

If you are interested in joining a club, don’t limit yourself, just do it! If you have any questions regarding the International Council don’t be afraid to e-mail me at arread@buffalo.edu

Academic Council

By Cheryl Mohabir

The Academic Council is made up of 24 diverse clubs, each involved in scholastic affairs. Many of the clubs give back to the community and help support local charities. Needless to say, involvement in one such club is a great addition to a resume. These are some of the most approachable clubs for incoming freshmen to join because participants generally share a common major. It’s a great way to not only meet other students with similar interests in academia, but to become acquainted with faculty as well.

Our council is different from others because each club is very independent.

They may not be as public as other clubs, but they do so much that is related to VISIONS 4

school and academics.

These clubs usually have a faculty advisor who helps them plan events and run meetings within specific departments.

Each year, the council puts on Academic Extravagaza, a week dedicated to the Academic Council. It provides friendly competitions and activities for all academic clubs as well as other groups. It’s a great way for students not involved in SA to learn how our clubs operate. Part of Academic Extravaganza is the Academic and Engineering Ball, an annual event which involves both the Academic and Engineering Councils.

If anybody has questions e-mail me at cmohabir@buffalo.edu.

Engineering Council

By Anna Oakes

Consisting of 15 clubs, the Engineering Council differs from other councils in that many of the clubs focus on competitions within their field of study or plan and attend large conferences each year.

“One great thing about these clubs is that you will apply what you learn in your classes and at times even learn things in the clubs before you even get to it in classes,” said Greg Robbins who was elected for his second term as Engineering Council Coordinator for the 2009-2010 school year. “This can lead to a much more satisfying experience in school.”

Each year the Engineering Council holds a special event, Engineer’s Week, during which all of the clubs have a chance to compete against each other for the title of “Engineer’s Week Champion.”

During this week, the council takes over the Student Union, participating in events like an egg drop from the third floor to the first floor, balsa wood airplane designing and the event that the Engineering Council is most known for — a full scale Battle Bots competition. The week ends with the Academic and Engineering Ball, a dinner and dance, which many students look forward to each year.

Robbins explained that there were many clubs that stood out this past school year: Engineers Without Borders was the Club of the Year for 2008-2009, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) was named Most Improved Club of the Year 20082009, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) did well in their steel bridge and

concrete canoe competitions, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) exceeded in their clean snowmobile and baja competitions, the Formula Team is set up for their 2010 competitions and AlChE did well with their chemical car competitions this past year.

These are only a few of the clubs within this council and, even if you aren’t following a path in engineering, you can still find a home within one of them. If you have questions about any of these clubs you can contact Robbins in his office at 367 Student Union or e-mail him at grobbins@buffalo.edu. He’s more than willing to help you start up a new engineering club or join an existing one. Don’t miss out!

True Blue (left) and College Democrats, two SISH clubs.

Special Interests, Services and Hobbies (SISH) Council Right now, SISH Council is officially composed of 32 permanent clubs and 12 temporary clubs. During the upcoming year, some of these clubs will be derecognized while some temporary clubs will gain permanent status. There is always a large number of temporary clubs as our council is always growing and changing.

SISH Council is the largest group of clubs and is extremely diverse among its members’ various interests.

SISH stands out amongst the other councils not only because of its size but also due to the diversity within itself. Our council has religious clubs, dance clubs, gaming clubs, political clubs, community service clubs and clubs that simply do not fit into the other councils (i.e. Martial Arts, EOPSA, Veterans clubs, etc.). Everyone is in the council for a completely different reason, some using clubs as a way to socialize and have fun while others plan to follow these interests along their career paths.

This past year, the Jewish Student

Union (JSU) received the Club of the Year Award for their outstanding work throughout the year. They continue to grow stronger while remaining in great standing with SISH Council. They always help out at council events and have even put on many great activities of their own.

Each year, the council holds SISH Week in the Union. During this week our council tries to showcase the diversity of our clubs and what they are all about.

On certain days all of the clubs set up tables and try to bring in new members.

Events such as “Do You Know SISH?” a trivia game with questions about the different clubs, are held throughout the week. We encourage clubs to creatively display their organization during the week. In past years the JSU held a Chocolate Satyr while the College Democrats and Republicans had a debate. Often times the different dance clubs put on unique events as well.

Although the size of our council makes it difficult to coordinate among the clubs

and host large SISH events, it provides us with a varied range of groups for UB students with a wide spectrum of interests. My primary goal for next year is to encourage different clubs to work together to help each other out and put on larger events. This will help membership, budgets and standing in SA while strengthening clubs and allowing them to do more activities as time goes on.

Although last year SISH may not have been as active and prominent at UB as other councils, we had a strong year in membership growth. Starting this fall we hope to have our biggest year yet.

We hope any student at UB who wants to become more involved will check us out. Chances are, we have a club that you will be interested in. If you want to learn how to breakdance or swing dance, if you want to take martial arts or even if you want to socialize with people about religion or politics, we have a club for you.

If you have any questions please e-mail me at norrange@buffalo.edu! V VISIONS 5

clubs

By Nick Orrange

Academic Clubs

Alpha Epsilon Delta (Pre-health Honor Society) Anthropology Association for Computing Machinery Biology College Student Interest Group in Neurology (COSIGN) Communication Undergraduate SA Environmental Network Exercise Science Geography Geology Club Minorities in Health Related Professions Multi Cultural Nursing SA Minority Management Association Nusing Student Organization Political Science Association Pre-Dental Club Pre-Law SA Pre-Med SA Pre-Meds Without Borders Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (SAACS) Student Association of Speech and Hearing (SASH) Student Visual Arts Organization Undergraduate Psychology Association

Engineering Clubs

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) American Society of Civil Engineers American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Engineering Cooperative Society Engineers for a Sustainable World Engineers Without Borders Institute of Electical & Electronic Engineering (IEEE) Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) National Society of Black Engineers Robotics Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) VISIONS 6

International Clubs

African SA Bangladeshi SA Caribbean SA Chinese SA Filipino/American SA (FASA) Indian SA Italian SA Indonesian SA Japanese SA Korean SA Latin American SA Malaysian SA Organization of Arab Students (OAS) Pakastiani SA Polish Student Association Taiwanese SA Turkish SA Urkainian SA Vietnamese SA

People of Color (POC) Clubs

Asian American Student Union (AASU) Black Student Union (BSU) NAACP Native American Peoples’ Alliance Poder: Latinos Unidos

Special Interest and Service, Hobby (SISH) Clubs Bahai Bible Talk Brothers and Sisters in Christ (BASIC) Circle K Club Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) Co-Ed UB Handball Club College Democrats College REpublicans Combined Martial Arts Community Action Corps. (CAC) Educational Opportunity Program SA Gospel Choir Hip Hop Hostelling Travel Club Impulse Dance Force Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship Jam Club Jewish Student Union (JSU) Korean Folk Art Lesbian,Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Alliance (LGBTA) Mock Trial

Muslim SA Outdoor Adventure Step Troupe Student Strategists and Role Players Smash Club Swing Dance Club True Blue Unite For Sight - Buffalo Health Urban Renewal SA United Nations Association Student Alliance UB Anime UB Feminists (Women’s Center) UB Kickline UB Veterans Fraternity (Phi Chi Sigma)

Sports Clubs

Baseball Club Boxing Club Men’s Crew/Rowing Team Cross Country & Track Equestrian Club Field Hockey - Women’s Gymnastics Hockey (UB Men’s Ice) Kendo Club Lacrosse (Men’s) UB Paintball Roller Hockey Rugby (Men’s) Ski Team Men’s Club Soccer Men’s Wrestling Tae-Kwon Ultimate Frisbee Volleyball (Men’s) Women’s Club Soccer Women’s Club Volleyball Women’s Ice Hockey Women’s Lacrosse Women’s Rugby UB Aces (Tennis)

DIGGING DEEPER INTO UB CLUB SPORTS Men’s Rugby

By Anna Oakes

camaraderie among rugby players. After all, it is a weird sport -- nobody gets paid, you travel all around, and get bruises for your trouble,” explains the team’s website. “You’ve got to have a passion for it and despite all rivalries, it is a passion shared by everyone who plays it. As the sport is unique and intense, so are its players.

Meeting people of all varieties, from all parts of the country, is one of rugby’s greatest delights.

“With a close win over one of our teams biggest rivals, Brockport, and a loss to Syracuse, our team’s first regular season loss in five years, the D-I team faced a tough season with plenty of good competition,” explained vice president, Brandon Wood. “After finishing our season 5-1 we were scheduled to play Harvard in the first round of the North East Regional playoffs. UB suffered a close loss to Harvard with many lead changes and a 13-13 tie with minutes left in the game. Harvard scored making it 13-20.”

The club also has a D-III team which went 3-3 this past season. The team had a close loss to Oswego to finish the season.

Last year was only the second year of the D-III team. “It’s great to see many new players on the field and getting plenty of experience,” Wood iterates. The D-III team made the playoffs as well, where they suffered a tough loss to Hamilton to finish their season.

“Rugby is a lot of things to a lot of people.

It is challenging and playful, exuber-

ant and exciting,” the teams’ website explains. “There are always new things to learn and old limits to push aside.

We hope you will love it as much as we do. Thanks for reading. Now go out and play rugby!”

If you are interested in joining Men’s Rugby feel free to contact President Will Zornick at wzornick@ buffalo.edu or Brandon Wood at blwood2@buffalo.edu. No experience is required to start playing.

The team welcomes players of all skill levels and experience. There are no try-outs; anyone is welcome to come play.

New players are strongly encouraged to join the team. Last year they had roughly 20 new players join, most of which had never touched a rugby ball before. Practices resume the first week of classes. V D1 Fall 2009 Schedule: Sept. 13 at Suny Cortland Sept. 19 vs. St. Bonaventure Sept. 26 at Brockport Oct. 3 vs. Albany Oct. 10 vs. Syracuse Oct. 17 at Binghamton D3 Fall 2009 Schedule: Sept. 12 at Clarkson Sept. 20 at University Of Rochester Sept. 26 vs. Potsdam Oct. 3 vs. St. John Fisher Oct. 10 at Paul Smith Oct. 17 vs. Brockport Oct. 24 at Syracuse

VISIONS 7

clubs

“Rugby is a sport, a passion a disease you catch. They’ll tell you it’s a cross between soccer and football, but that doesn’t really prepare you. Rugby is its own back-ass-wards self. There is nothing like it on or off the field,” boasts the team on their website at ubmensrugby.org.

Unfortunately, University at Buffalo Athletics does not have a rugby team but the Student Association’s Sports Council has a Division I (D-I) and a Division III (D-III) men’s rugby teams. This council is packed with clubs focused on sports teams who compete against each other within the UB community as well as other schools. Though these teams are club sports, some are well known throughout the region for their good sportsmanship qualities and their triumphs over other teams. The men’s rugby team continues to prevail year after year.

The game of rugby is played on a field called a pitch. The rugby team prefers grassy and level fields for their pitch but they justify that they will take what they can get. Throughout the pitch there are many markings supporting the gameplay. The website explains that if you hope to play rugby in the future that, “all of these markings will someday make sense. For now, one important thing to store in your memory banks is that the lines are included in what is beyond them (i.e. the touchline is in-touch or out of bounds and the goal line is in-goal).”

The UB Men’s Rugby’s pitch is behind the Ellicott Complex on UB’s North Campus.

The men’s rugby team distinguishes itself from the other club sports teams because of its spirit and explicit relationships between one another. “If there is one thing that sets rugby apart from all the other sports you’ve seen or played, it is that after a match, you lay differences aside and have a party. There is a spirit of

fighting the staying in tune with your health and well-being at UB

By Lauren Ministero With college life comes a newfound freedom and, although this opportunity may benefit your social life, you’re on your own when it comes to establishing individual nutritional and hygienic routines.

For some, this might be your first time taking on the role of meal-planner and rule-maker. In order to be a healthy student you mustn’t allow your physical wellbeing to suffer. Instead, it is important to become acquainted with the facts and set necessary and appropriate boundaries for yourself.

The first act to be discussed is that of consumption. What does your collegiate diet consist of? If you are what you eat, then God help you if your answer is “Sbarro stuffed pepperoni pizza and as much beer as I can chug when someone pulls an ace while playing kings.” This might sound like heaven to you. It might sound convenient and enjoyable but, if made repeatedly, this sort of lifestyle choice is a shoo-in for weight gain and a general decline in health due to excessive levels of fat, cholesterol and sodium.

One 12-ounce can of Labatt Blue contains 150 calories. According to nutritional information from thedailyplate.com a single Labatt Blue, therefore, consists of the same amount of calories as approximately five cups of broccoli.

Needless to say, five cups of the arboreal veggie contains more vitamins and fiber than a single beer and is more likely to keep you feeling satisfied longer. As beer provides few nutrients and a general lack of long-term satiety, it consists of nothing more than empty calories.

Oftentimes, these empty calories usher in VISIONS 8

a whole second-tier-slew of empty calories by way of junk food.

In 2006, a BBC News article reported on a Danish research team at the National Institute of Public Research in Copenhagen. The team studied 3.5 million supermarket transactions finding that “Beer lovers were attracted to cold cuts, chips, pork, butter, margarine, sausages, lamb and soft drinks.”

A wholesome on-campus choice might be Subway, whose menu promises a variety of choices with six grams of fat or less, whereas the aforementioned pizza contains 42 grams of fat in a single slice. Other great choices available on campus are soups and salads at Uncle Bernies, wraps and salads in the Student Union at Union Station and Rachel’s Mediterranean cuisine in the Commons, among others. Also, UB’s Wellness Center located on the first floor of the Student Union provides contact with experts, valuable nutritional information and even the occasional free healthy snack.

Another important issue that arises is not just what you eat, but when you eat it. According to an article in Medical News Today, The American College of Sports Medicine completed a study, finding that “eating between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. is a contributing factor to weight gain in

college students.” They cite alcohol and fast food as the two main edibles consumed between these hours, totaling an average of 500 extra calories consumed per night during these times.

Further, the research showed that for every 100 calories that a student consumes between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m., they would gain approximately .25 pounds over a 12-week period. This study shows that, “Fourthmeal — the meal between dinner and breakfast” which Taco Bell

advertises and encourages, is just the sort of fast food blunder that you want to avoid.

You’re better off either hitting the hay before your stomach grumbles drown out the voice of your nutritional conscience or allocating a set amount of calories of your everyday diet to a light late-night snack. The second option would result in eating less throughout the day but would allow you guilt-free snacking to accompany your a.m. studies.

eht

Left: Get your stretch on.

Below: Alumni Arena on North Campus has extensive athletic facilites free to UB students.

having less free time during which you’re actually able to exercise this autonomy.

New responsibilities and a heavier workload can eat away at free daytime hours, leaving you little time for active behaviors and exercise.

It is important to remember that exercise is important and can come in many forms. Power walking instead of strolling from class to class and taking the stairs instead of the elevator both count. These simple activities can compliment a short workout at the gym between classes.

UB offers indoor and outdoor fitness facilities at both North and South Campus that include a variety of equipment and spaces including swimming pools, dance studios, saunas, fitness centers and racquetball courts. The university also offers a wide range of aerobics and aquatics classes, fitness testing and a variety of sports clubs.

Aerobics classes include everything from biking to hip-hop, to a full body workout entitled “Sculpt n’ Pump.” As the

UB Athletics website notes, “Each class is scheduled. You can plan when to workout and are less likely to ‘skip’ the gym and workout.” If students incorporate these classes into their busy schedules, they are guaranteed regimented workouts guided by trained faculty and staff members. More information on classes, their scheduled times and UB’s fitness facilities can be found at UBathletics.buffalo.edu.

Through the information presented that has been gathered from studies and experts, it is easy to see that physical fitness, good sleep hygiene and a carefully balanced diet are all important factors in the keeping of a healthy body and the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle.

If one of these fundamentals falls by the wayside, the others will steadily decline.

It is important to remember to mind your body’s needs even when you’re heading down an uncharted path, undergoing substantial change and trying your best to have the time of your life in college. V

Courtesy of University at Buffalo

features

It’s also a great idea to construct a diet that is rich in both dietary fiber and protein, which are known to increase one’s general feeling of fullness throughout the day.

According to a survey conducted

by The National Fiber Council, the average American eats only half of the 24-30 grams of fiber recommended daily. Good sources of dietary fiber include whole grains, legumes, oats, broccoli and root vegetables. Fish, poultry, beans and soy products are good sources of protein.

There are also innumerable amounts of supplements available for students on-the-go. For example, Lightfull Satiety Smoothies, available at Wegmans down the street from UB’s north campus, provide five grams of protein and five grams of fiber in a 90-calorie, naturally sweetened smoothie.

In addition to maintaining nutritional matters, good sleep hygiene is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle that can easily be left out of college life.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep hygiene is the sum of a number of practices that are necessary in order to get the most out of your time sleeping and to carry these benefits into your daytime routine by being alert and well rested. Oftentimes, students like to enjoy lively weekends but have early morning weekday classes that they must attend.

This sequence of activity leads to the arrival of unwelcomed Monday mornings and the establishment of poor sleep hygiene. The National Sleep Foundation notes that having a regular cycle of sleeping and waking times is the most important aspect of having good sleep hygiene. Daytime naps, food or alcohol consumption before bedtime and lack of daytime exercise can lead to poor sleep hygiene, says the NSF. Research completed by Stanford University’s School of Medicine links metabolic hormone release to sleep, showing that lack of sleep lowers the body’s level of a hormone that triggers satiety and ultimately leads to a higher body mass index. In other words, lack of sleep may lead to overeating, thus causing students to gain weight.

The maintenance of physical fitness through frequent exercise is another way to keep your weight — and your overall health — in check. While you do have more freedom at the advent of college life, you might find yourself suddenly

VISIONS 9

The Student Association’s Vice President, Ernesto Alvarado recently had the opportunity to meet with the university administration in order to discuss the UB2020 project and to review the most up-to-date draft plans for The University’s north campus. “The undergraduate class is supposed to swell to 40 thousand by the year 2020,” says Alvarado. “And UB is supposed to become the crown jewel of SUNY. Here’s to the future.”

l Aerial Perspective

This artistic rendition of North Campus depicts the anticipated outcome of the application of the multimillion-dollar plan UB’s Amherst location. The Commons will be removed room for a large, verdant space before Chapter 5 - Northentirely, Campus:making Place-Making Lake LaSalle which will be made shallower to accommodate seasonal boating and skating. The glass-fronted design of the Student Union will then allow for a direct view of Baird Point. The area outside of the Student Union that is currently being used as a parking area will be the building space for new dorms featuring larger loft-style abodes for junior and senior occupants.

The glass-enclosed front of the dormitory will house café and restaurant space, much like the University’s Commons do now. The building shown directly above the field area with the slanted roof will be a new athletic center complete with a gym and a turf field. The building above the athletic center will be a conference hotel. This facility will be a form of temporary on-campus housing for distinguished speakers and important guests. The conference center will also be accessible for club events and other organized gatherings. The grey areas on the right hand side of the picture shows where parking ramps will be erected. There will be fewer total parking spaces on campus, however, the administration promises better busing and transport systems. “Less people will want to drive to school,” says Alvarado.

transform T BUFFALO - FINAL DRAFTtoPLAN Architects & Planners LLP

SNEAK PEEK

VISIONS 10

5.22 School of Engineering & Applied Sciences Building (SEAS)

(Courtesy: Perkins+Will)

The image above shows the new Engineering and Applied Sciences building.

“They just broke ground on this one,” says Alvarado. The plot on which the new building will be constructed has already been chosen and work on the structure has already begun.

5.75 Founders Promenade Pedestrian Perspective UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO - FINAL DRAFT PLAN

5.2

Chapter 5 - North Campus: Discovery

3 June 2

Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP

Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP

This illustration portrays Founder’s Plaza after UB2020 augmentations. Alvarado expressed that one of the main concerns of the administration was that, “UB isn’t 5.75 3 June 2009 aesthetically pleasing,” describing it as “dull” and “plain.”

“The administration really wants to put more green into UB — more lively places where students can congregate.” Lamps and flags will guide walkways and the sides of O’Brien and Baldy facing the plaza will be walled in glass to provide a more intimate transparV ency between the buildings and the outdoor plaza.

Chapter 5 - North Campus: Place-Making

features

UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO - FINAL DRAFT PLAN

VISIONS 11

By Kathryn Przyblyla and Anna Oakes What you’ve heard is true; college is a lot of fun. Between making friends, going to class and partying on the weekends you’ll get caught up in the whirlwind of college and wonder where the time has gone.

You’ll also catch yourself saying, “I wish someone had told me about this when I was a freshman.” Here are some things I wish someone had told me. You’ll still stop and wish you had known some things beforehand but this will help eliminate a few headaches.

Getting around campus: - The tunnel from Knox Hall to the Student Union is a dead zone; make sure you wait to break up with your boyfriend/ girlfriend until you’re out of the tunnel.

Things might get a little more awkward if you drop your call.

- If you’re not going to be on campus before 9 a.m. make sure you plan to take the bus, save an extra 30 minutes to stalk people to their cars or are ready to take a hike from one of the Governors parking lots, which are all far away from the lecture halls.

- It gets cold in Buffalo and it rains a lot. It’s possible to map out your route to stay indoors from Cooke Hall all the way to Slee Hall — sorry if you’re an art student or athlete, the CFA and Alumni Arena aren’t connected to the rest of the buildings.

- The UB Stampede is not a social place; it’s public transportation. Bring your iPod or a book for the ride from South Campus to North Campus.

- Don’t be lazy, pick up a parking pass.

They’re free and it’s not worth the $20 ticket.

Having a good time: - There is a Gala at the end of each semester. Get dressed up, eat good food and have fun. Oh, and did I mention that there’s an open bar and a dance floor?

- The Sundowner on Lundy’s Lane in Niagara Falls, Ontario is probably the most popular strip club among UB students. They also have a good buffet, but make sure you have your enhanced ID or passport to cross the border.

Remember, the drinking age in Canada is only 19.

- Fraternity parties can be fun but it’s all about ratio: a group of eight dudes will not be admitted. Make sure you stock up on chicks.

- Beware of the jungle juice. If it’s being served from a garbage can, you’re probably right to question its ingredients.

- If you live on North Campus the closest movie theatre is the AMC on Maple Road. If you live on South Campus, there’s the Dipson Amherst Theatre right behind Goodyear Hall on Main Street that plays indie flicks. It you want to save money, the Student Union Theatre shows new release movies every week for free.

- Looking for a cheap, semi-sophisticated date? The theatre and dance departments provide students with tickets to their performances for less than $10.

Go catch a production!

- The last Stampede bus, better known as the drunk bus, leaves South Campus at 2 a.m. for the North Campus dorms.

Make sure you’re not late; it could mean a long walk or a pricey cab ride back home.

Jungle juice: proceed with caution.

Classes and professors: - Ratemyprofessors.com could possibly save your GPA. Try to check your professors out before signing up for a class next semester.

- Just because Wikipedia might provide helpful background info does not mean you can use it as a source for your final paper.

- There are many outlets for purchasing books. Make sure you check out all of your options before going to the UB Bookstore; it’s easy but it can be costly to shop there. The College Store on Maple Road is a great alternative that

e y OH, b th w VISIONS 12

- Class might suck and be super boring when you’re in a big lecture hall, especially in Knox Hall when you aren’t getting phone service, but try to go. Sometimes professors get pissed and give extra credit, expecting that you’ll miss out if you aren’t attending regularly.

- If you can find time to study abroad it’s totally worth it. UB is very generous with financial aid for this program and if you ask me, going to Austrailia and getting credit for it sounds like a win-win situation.

- Switching your major three times is pretty normal, a lot of students end up with a five-year plan instead of four.

Sometimes you just don’t know what you want to be when you grow up and the advisors here are willing to help you with tough career decisions.

- Capen library is open 24 hours a day.

You’ll have a love/hate relationship with this location by the end of finals.

Lockwood Memorial library, while closing after midnight, has floors with cubicles in silent study areas.

UB living: - With your UB card you can get into any varsity game for free. Our football team was the D-I champion last year.

True Blue is an SA club dedicated to UB sports fans.

. . . y a w

- There is a tailgating parking lot next to Flint Village. Party like professionals before the big game.

- Fall Fest and Spring Fest are concerts held by SA which are free to UB undergrads. In the past, artists like Kanye West, Jason Mraz, Nas, AllAmerican Rejects, Ludacris, Jack’s Mannequin, Incubus, Guster, Akon, T-Pain and many others have performed at Fest.

- The Distinguished Speaker Series is a free run of events which brings national celebrities to you. Al Gore, Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart, Anderson Cooper, Colin Powell, Bill Nye and countless others have come in past years. Don’t miss out.

Other tidbits: - The iced cappuccinos at Tim Horton’s will save you cash if you’re a coffee addict; they’re half the price of a mocha frapp from Starbucks.

Kanye West came to campus in 2005.

- If you can, try to get a job on campus.

It’s an easy way to make friends and it’s much more convenient than driving around town between classes.

- Become friends with the Alumni Arena; try the weight room, exercise equipment or sign up for a fun fitness class.

It’s free and nobody wants to gain the dreaded freshman fifteen.

- Get used to Uggs and North Faces, you’ll be seeing them everywhere nine of the twelve months each year.

- Ramen noodles will save you when you’ve used up all of your dining dollars mid-semester. That stuff is so cheap, it’s practically free!

- Schussmeisters Ski Club will help you enjoy the long winter months in Buffalo with great deals on passes to V local resorts.

Every season is Ugg season at UB.

features

will often offer you more money when you want to sell used textbooks. Also, check with your professors to make sure you’re clear on what you need before purchasing costly supplies.

VISIONS 13

By Lauren Skompinski and Cheryl Mohabir Any UB student, from the newly settledin-the-dorms freshman to the seasoned senior, is always looking for something to do around town. Buffalo this summer is not the boring city everyone makes it out to be. Take your pick of these summer activities, you might want to even keep this list for reference this upcoming semester!

Look for flyers around campus and the SA website (sa.buffalo.edu) for information on our new Summer Film Series, great movies on a big screen outside.

Free for anyone wanting to take a break from those summer classes. Bring chairs, blankets and food! Going on in July and August.

JULY HIGHLIGHTS

7/20: The Briggs and Left Alone rock Mohawk Place starting at 8 p.m. The Briggs are a punk-rock band from Los Angeles, CA. 7/21: 50-40 performs a concert beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Artpark as part of the free Tuesday in the Park series. 50-40 is an alternative rock group hailing from Canada.

7/23: Neko Case, free concert, at Thursday in the Square. Many might recognize Neko Case from The New Pornographers, but now she is focusing on her solo career. Neko is an American

entertainment alternative country singer-songwriter.

Her newest album, Middle Cyclone, debuted at the number three spot on the Billboard charts this past March.

7/31: Cursive, performing at Tralf Music Hall, just recently released their newest album “Mama, I’m Swollen” on Mar. 1 digitally and Mar. 10 on CD.

7/24: Billy Joel and Elton John Face2Face concert at HSBC Arena. Having first paired up in 1994, the two artists sporadically tour together in venues across the world.

AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS

7/25: Gorilla Productions Presents: Triple Threat with Self Overcome, Adastra, Forsaken Faith and more at Tralf Music Hall. Doors open at 4 p.m. with tickets $10 pre-sale and $12 at the door.

8/2: Gov’t Mule at Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor. Formed in 1994, Gov’t Mule is a southern rock and jam band.

They have a strong fan base and have released eight studio albums and many live albums as well. Gov’t Mule started as a side project for the Allman Brothers Band and has included many members from other notable bands.

7/28: Starship starring Mickey Thomas performs at Tuesday in the Park at 6:30 p.m. With a complex history drawing origins from Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship, Starship continues to tour without having released a studio album in two decades.

7/30: Thursday at the Square’s final show starring the Avett Brothers with special guest Cornmeal. Made up of Seth and Scott Avett, two brothers from North Carolina, the Avett Brothers combine bluegrass, country, punk, folk, rock and roll, honky tonk and ragtime together to create their unique sound. They are currently are opening for Dave Matthews’ Band on certain tour dates.

8/1: Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers with Martin Sexton perform at Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor ($10 pre-sale tickets and $20 day of the concert).

8/4: Tuesday in the Park presents Chris Isaak whose acting career is as extensive as his music career. Fans can expect him to play material from his most recent studio album, “Mr. Lucky.”

8/7: Theatre premiere of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra directed by Stephen Sommers.

8/8: Creed at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Cheapest deal is the 4-pack of lawn seats for $26.25.

VISIONS 15

features

Check out Neko Case, Cursive, and Elton John & Billy Joel this summer in Western New York.

Blink-182. mewithoutYou, and The Wallflowers, all hitting Buffalo this summer.

8/11: The Machine, one of the oldest Pink Floyd tribute bands, will be performing at Tuesday in the Park. Over the last two decades they have built a reputation for vividly recreating the psychedelic sounds of Pink Floyd.

8/12-8/23: Erie County Fair in Hamburg.

Games, live music, animals, other live attractions such as a petting zoo, parades, “How to give a cow a bath” and a hypnotist.

8/14: Theatre premiere of The Time Traveler’s Wife, starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana.

8/16: mewithoutYou is performing at Mohawk Place. Doors open at 6 p.m., general admission tickets are $13.

8/21: Blink-182 with Fall Out Boy, Panic At The Disco and Chester French. Show starts at 7 p.m. at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center. It is $26.00 for a lawn ticket.

8/21: Theatre premiere of Inglorious Basterds, starring Brad Pitt, Samuel L. Jackson, and many more. Directed by Quentin Tarantino.

8/28: Theatre premiere of Halloween II directed by Rob Zombie.

8/29: Coheed & Cambria with special guests The Dear Hunter at the Town Ballroom.

Doors open to all ages at 7 p.m.

8/29-8/30: Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts. The Festival goes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Shopping, dancing, crafts and a café. Visit elmwoodartfest. org for more details.

SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

9/4: The Wallflowers with Tea Leaf Green at Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor.

VISIONS 16

Hailing from Los Angeles, California, The Wallflowers are a Grammy Award winning rock band. Some of their influences include Counting Crows, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and Tom Petty. Despite the many changes in the band’s members, The Wallflowers continue to tour and play in various music festivals across the country.

9/5: Great Big Sea with Kathleen Edwards and Jeremy Fisher at Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor. Formed in 1993, Great Big Sea is a Canadian folk-rock band that performs rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs. They have been nominated for various music awards throughout the world. They also partake in Ship and Dip Cruises hosted by The Barenaked Ladies.

9/10: UB’s Welcome Back Bash. Check out the SA website for more information in August.

9/26-9/27: Niagara Wine Trail Harvest Festival. This wine tasting event provides separate wine tastings at ten different Niagara Wine Trail wineries for a single $20 price, including a commemorative wine glass that you take from place to place. You can also individually access certain wineries for a fee of around $2-3 per tasting. Participants need to schedule their own transportation from site to site, which is offered by local companies. If September is too busy a time for tasting, there are several other events in July and August as well.

OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS

10/5-10/9: UB Spirit Week. Clubs can participate for money and prizes in various activities in the Student Union Lobby. More information to come.

10/10: Homecoming Carnival complete

with games, rides, food and live music after the football game. Free for all!

10/31: SA Psychic Fair in the Student Union. Free for all students.

Of course, there are tons of events and things to do not listed in the highlights above. With a little investigation on some local’s websites, and by word-of-mouth, there are definitely other things to check out, if you’re into something different.

July 24 through the 26, St. John Maron in Williamsville boasts the biggest Lebanese Festival in the area. Now known as the WNY Lebanese Festival, it is complete with traditional foods such as falafel, shish kabob, Lebanese desserts and coffee and more. For a reasonable price for a ticket into the tent, guests can dance, eat, drink and have a uniquely fun evening.

Something not-so-different is our beloved Thursday in/at The Square. A free summer concert series in downtown Lafayette Square, its easy access via subway and beer and wine tent make this a favorite for college students who want to escape the Amherst area for the evening.

Speaking of free concerts, Buffalo Music Is Art Festival is Saturday, September 12 at the Albright Knox Art Gallery. 30 bands, 50 artists and dancing all included.

It is being held all day from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. If you enjoyed UB’s side stage performances during last Spring Fest, then you will like what this festival has to offer.

And probably the most underrated place in Buffalo for college students is the Buffalo Zoo. Now that the long-awaited rainforest exhibit is open, why not go and support the upkeep of the zoo with your $12? Relive your childhood and take the afternoon to enjoy nature.

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Trash can Winter boots An extra laundry bag (they always get stolen) Curtain rod and curtains Floor rug Fan Winter coat Iron Nail polish remover Winter gloves Ramen noodles Water (Buffalo tap water is weird) Football or Frisbee First aid kit (things get crazy sometimes) Bowl and silverwear A stun gun if you live on South Campus Mattress pad Condoms Duct Tape Passport (Canada is super close) Formal clothing Flip flops

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Power strips Paper towels Fake ID (older sibling’s work best) Stapler Hangers Storage Containers Flash drive Extra sheets Air fresheners Stuff to wash your dishes Quarters (for all the vending machines) Curtain rod and curtain (dorm blinds are less than stellar) Detergent and dryer sheets Hammer and screwdriver Can opener Lanyard (for all your keys and UB card) Umbrella A laptop lock Ear plugs Calendar School supplies, i.e. binders and notebooks Work out gear (including a bathing suit) A carry case for your bathroom toiletries

VISIONS 17

features entertainment

bet you

summer brews

By Jeff Froustet Different seasons bring different tastes for beer aficionados. Fall and winter often place greater emphasis on darker styles while spring and summer give way to lighter, blonde compositions. Many brewers, both regional and national, create different lagers and ales during one season that might be out of production in another.

For those looking to diversify their tastes beyond the traditional Keystone or Natty Ice, summer is a great time to experience such unique flavors.

Summer samplers, cases of beer which consist of these seasonal blends, are one of the best ways to explore new territories — especially for novice drinkers who might otherwise find beer to be a distasteful beverage. Lime, pomegranate and blackberry are just a few of the many different ingredients brewers will incorporate to shake up the season. Here are some fun summer brews that are sure to be a hit at the next party. Be sure to take note of the ones to avoid, too.

John Labatt’s Twist The Twist is Labatt’s response to the growing combination of lime and lager.

Stuffing a freshly cut lime into a bottle has grown into a successful social norm VISIONS 18

for Corona. Bud Light Lime has continued the trend by mass marketing its pre-limed spin-off and Labatt has followed suit. The Twist doesn’t deviate far from the Canadian brewer’s traditional taste. Those familiar with Labatt will find this refreshing, though strangers to the franchise might see this as a hindrance. Its hint of lime is subtle — too subtle for it to stand out as a prominent summer beer.

Although a good Canadian lager, the Twist’s specialty flavor is too faint for it to distinguish itself.

John Labatt’s Summer Ale A great standalone beer from Labatt, the summer ale is one of the better beers in its variety pack. Followers of the Labatt line as well as strangers to the Canadian import may appreciate its straw-golden color and aroma. Having a quality light beer taste, the Summer Ale ranked well in comparison to other such beers including the Sam Adams Summer Ale. Labatt’s work is a crisp entry into the summer ale flavors and color schemes.

Magic Hat Wacko Sporting a fine copper appearance with a bit of an unpleasant taste, the Wacko is brewed by a company whose products continue to disappoint. It is unappealing with a resentful aftertaste. Its lower 4.5

percentage in alcohol by volume is deceiving as its taste is stronger than that of other beers at 5.5 percent. Its claim to be a summer seasonal brew is misleading.

Magic Hat may be an acquired taste, however its presentation to those less familiar with the company is negative. It’s a mediocre ale whose flavoring ingredient, beet sugar, is difficult in approach.

The Wacko is not very drinkable and seems to be a last resort kind of beer. It is a beer of lower quality among the summer seasonal group and should probably be avoided when considering its cost in ratio to its percent ABV. Harpoon The Harpoon Summer Ale is a refreshingly light addition to seasonal consumption. As a German Kolsch-style ale it naturally assumes a notably hoppy taste and blonde coloring. While possessing a strong fortitude it does not try to be anything out of the ordinary when it comes to summer beers. It is a high-quality American-produced, German-styled beer of good caliber.

Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier When it comes to unique flavors it is

difficult to beat the Sam Adams samplers. This beer’s flavoring has a strong rendition of blackberry, though it is not overpowering to the senses. Its aroma is surprisingly fresh alongside its unique taste. This rises as the most promising choice among a 12-bottle variety pack of Sam Adams’ summer samplers.

GOOD READ

Saranac Helles One of the more disappointing beers of the sampling, the Helles lacked a great deal of taste. It is much stronger in opposition to the senses than it would have you believe in appearance. Its smell was bland and its taste, poor. The Helles, as part of a 12-bottle variety pack, was an overall disappointment as a golden beer.

Its presentation was rough and its image as a light beer was belittled.

Guillermo Del Toro has done something incredible, something that will reverberate through the world of fiction for decades to come. His efforts alongside character specialist Chuck Hogan have opened a new chapter for horror.

The literary world shall welcome The Strain with open arms, and rightfully so.

As unfortunately already summarized on the jacket sleeve of the novel, vampiric horror is an ever dwindling resource.

That isn’t to say that there is a dearth of material to satiate an appetite for the genre. In fact it’s quite the opposite; there

entertainment

Megan Fox, pictured here in Lockwood Library. Ha.

is an ever expanding supply of novels dedicated to the undead. However, as a genre of fiction which has a tendency to repeat its message from author to author, vampiric horror rarely receives standalone works. The reality is that when someone brings up the topic, visions of Richard Matheson and Stephen King emerge...and that’s it.

Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series has generated an immense interest in the field, however it is far too romanticized to be considered horror. The protagonist vampire might as well be a sixteen year old kleptomaniac who cannot resign himself to dating someone who doesn’t share his passion for shoplifting. The fact that he has fangs is irrelevant to the greater underlying theme of forbidden love. At the end of the day Mrs. Meyer may well have done more bad for the genre than good. She has reduced the social reception of vampirism to the fabric of an adolesent girl’s daydreams.

Del Toro and Hogan have taken vampiric horror to its next logical step: biological possibility. The book’s success lies in how it takes an ancient, eastern European concept and adapts it to the world of virology.

The undead antagonists in the novel are just as much reanimated parasites as they are vampires. The authors take great steps to create a logical backing to the book’s events. They attribute the possibility of the dead remaining active to a parasitic virus which acts as a rapid metastasizing cancer. The undead person in question relies on the oxygen and nutrients of red blood cells and as such most often attacks its victims’ neck for access to the arterys.

This is a tremendous example of how the authors modernize an age old evil; the ubiquitous puncture wounds of a vampire remain in their adaptation. It is, however, due to a six foot retractable stinger which is formed out of body tissue and now vestigial organs during the infection process.

Have Del Toro and Hogan sealed t hemselves into the horror hall of fame alongside King and Matheson? It’s hard to say at this point, though it seems appropriate. They have stood up and created something fresh, something orginal for the genre which time will not forget. Now if only I didn’t have to wait another year for the next installment of the trilogy...

V

VISIONS 19

whoreoscopes

Aries (Mar. 21 - April 19) Summer is a season of domestic delights for Rams. Going on vacation with your nearest and dearest provides a welcome counterbalance to your hectic professional life.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) If you’re single, you’ll be attracting all sorts of romantic attention.

In the event you’re in a relationship, you may find your partner working extra hard to please you with beautiful gifts and thoughtful gestures.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Spending time on the people and activities you love will be your first order of business once the Summer Solstice arrives. But even a social butterfly like you needs occasional peace and quiet!

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) If you’re single, a close friendship could suddenly blossom into a passionate romance. If you’re in a relationship, this would be a good time to go on that dream vacation you’ve been discussing for years.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) Having fun in the Sun is what Leo is all about. And although you dearly love the company of friends and family, the Summer Solstice invites you to sneak away to a secluded hideaway, all by yourself.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) All work and no play has made spring a difficult season for Virgo. Fortunately, the Summer Solstice gives you a chance to reverse this trend. If you’ve been thinking of leaving a dull job for your dream career, do it -- the stars are firmly behind you.

VISIONS 20

clean

keep it Toxic Shock Syndrome

By Anna Oakes

Although anyone can by affected

by Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) — men, women and children — many women have only heard that this serious illness is linked to the use of tampons, the contraceptive sponge and the diaphragm.

However, this is a very rare illness and the infection can occur as a result of broken skin from surgery (allowing bacteria to enter the body), giving birth and prolonged use of nasal packing for nosebleeds.

According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), “TSS is characterized by sudden onset of fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches and rash. It can rapidly progress to severe and intractable hypotension and multisystem dysfunction. Desquamation, particularly on the palms and soles can occur one to two weeks after onset of the illness.” Desquamation is the shedding of the outer layers of the skin. As the CDC shows, TSS is a systemic illness, one that affects the entire body.

TSS is caused by a bacterium called Staphylococcus aureus. Some people’s immune systems are not strong enough to fight off the toxins produced by the bacteria hence causing the symptoms listed above.

The link of TSS to tampon use stems from early cases in the 1970s related to absorbent tampons. This created a stigma blinding many from the other causes of TSS. In recent years, education on tampons has led to better habits in use (changing tampons more often). The UK Public Health Laboratory found that among “a UK population of around 60

million there were about 40 cases reported each year, half of which are associated with women using tampons.”

According to toxicshock.com, TSS is so rare that most doctors will never come across it in their medical careers.

However, with early diagnosis, TSS can be successfully treated. The site goes on to say, “Sadly, however, out of the small number of people who fall ill each year, 2-3 people die from TSS. It is important to remember that if TSS is diagnosed and treated early there is a good chance of recovery.”

Research has also led to the development of safer tampons. On kidshealth.org, Dr. Joel Klein, MD and Larissa Hirsch, MD, report the number of TSS cases has dropped dramatically and only about half of these cases can be linked to tampon use.

Preventing TSS can be simple when considering the chance of contracting it in the first place is already low. Make sure to clean and bandage any open skin wounds and change these dressings regularly. If a wound begins to show signs of infection (redness, swollenness, pain, or tenderness) or if you develop a fever, contacting a doctor immediately will help prevent any further problems.

Although girls can further prevent TSS by using pads instead of tampons, you can still choose to use tampons while remaining relatively safe. Remember to change them frequently and try to use a less absorbent brand.

The preventions for TSS are easy and logical, and although TSS is rare, don’t V take the risk of getting it.

whoreoscopes

The boys decided to stay in Buffalo for the summer, since we were all living in a house on South Campus and they had to pay for summer rent. With that, their ultimate goal for the summer was to drink as much as they could by spending as little

as possible. Fortunately for the two of them, they were attractive and both had outgoing personalities. Making themselves known at multiple party houses, they were welcomed with open arms and free drinks all summer long. Tonight the boys decided to head to a particular house occupied by a group of girls. The house was easy to party at because it was on the same block as our house and the girls were always willing to hand them beers without asking the guys to throw down any cash.

Lately, Dave had taken to the habit of bringing home different girls from time to time, being newly single from a long-term relationship. Almost every night he would stumble into the house with a girl hanging from his arm (typically holding a pair of high heels in her hands and wearing scandalously revealing clothing). With the wide variety of girls at the party, he had high hopes of bringing one home again tonight. As the night went on, Dave and PJ played wingman for each other trying to distract the ugly or fat girls when one was trying to hook the hot friend.

Unfortunately for Dave, one of these undesirable girls stuck. PJ was scot-free

from the horrific battle of denying the “fat friend” but Dave couldn’t rid himself of her. Throughout the entire night he brushed the girl off trying to drop hints that he wasn’t into her but, as it got later, Dave began to get more and more drunk.

At one point he decided it was finally time to break the seal and go up to the bathroom. As he was walking up the stairs to the only available one, he noticed that someone was following him: the “unwanted” chick. When he stopped to look back at her she must have taken this as an indicator that he was interested, because before he could process what was going on the girl was ripping off his t-shirt and slobbering all over his face. When he finally got a grasp of what was happening he pushed the girl far enough away from his face to gasp, “I need to pee!”

Running into the bathroom and locking the door behind him, Dave did the only thing he could think of in his drunken stupor — he took a pee. When he had finished, reality came back to him as the girl began banging on the door calling for him and insisting that they go to her room and have sex. At this point, Dave started to freak out. He didn’t want to stay in the bathroom but he was too drunk to figure out anything rational, like going outside and dealing with the girl. Instead, he turned and looked at his drunken options.

He thought about sitting in the bathroom until morning when he would be able to sneak out, but he quickly remembered that the house that he was partying in was home to the very girl from which he was trying to run from. He looked to the window, seeing it as his only escape.

As he climbed up onto the window seat he opened the window and managed to squeeze himself out. Luckily, he fell into some bushes to break his fall from a story and a half above the ground. Scratched and bruised, he ran back to our house without looking back. Needless to say, Dave didn’t feel that free beer was worth V going back to that house to party.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) The Summer Solstice beckons you to broaden your horizons.

Going on a trip abroad is a distinct possibility. If you’ve never visited Paris, New York or Tokyo, now is the time to go.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) Money from an outside source could be the Summer Solstice’s gift to you this year. An inheritance, legal settlement, tax refund or venture capital will enable you to breathe a lot easier in the months ahead.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) Love is coming your way, Capricorn, whether you’re ready for it or not! The Summer Solstice is poised to give you the sort of companionship you only thought existed in books.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) The Summer Solstice could reward you with a plum position or assignment, enabling you to afford luxuries that were previously out of reach.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20) The Solstice is putting added emphasis on your artistic talent, which could prompt you to paint, write, dance or sculpt. courtesy of aol.horoscopes.com

sex and gossip

By Jessica Gillis

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) If you’re single, you could meet someone who makes your heart pound at a concert, museum, or play. The chemistry between you will be palatable. In the event you’re in a relationship, this would be a great time to broaden your lovemaking repertoire, as your partner will be quite receptive.

VISIONS 21

you should write for VISIONS, you lazy bum. email Anna (visionseic@gmail.com) to learn how you can earn three credits.

giGglEs

Attractive Female Student needed for extensive sex research. Personality is not required, but is preferred.

To the moronic douchebags who relentlessly circle Ketter lot multiple times...

NOBODY is leaving. Park in Jarvis and walk the extra 20 ft. You lazy buttholes.

To all the frats who use ALL of the tables in the Union...tell your moms to decide on 1 color of lipstick...my dick is starting to look likea rainbow. -BAMF (no pun intended)

Dear hot boy with slight mohawk and big earrings in my polisci class, You are the love of life. Why don’t you ever talk to me? Love blond big boobed girl behind you.

To the bitches crying about the tables in the Union, either wake ur ass up before 9 and beat our pledges, or stop being such a bith and TRY to join a fraternity or sorority.

To the girl who moved seats during class.

Do I smell? Or are you just ugly?

To girl in mu ULC class; your blonde hair looks so hot. It would look better with my cum in it. Your face looks so slutty thats why i want to piss on your dirty face sooo bad. You also have great tits. -TJ

Creepy guy in my World Civ class, please stop staring at the TA’s boobs. They may be huge, but you are creeping everyone out. Love, the whole class.

Dear Weather: WHAT THE FUCK?!?

Dear Fuck Face- if you weren’t such a fucking bipolar bitch then maybe I wouldn’t get you off then spit your nasty ass cum all over your overbearing bush.

Love, your best friend.

To the kid in Intro to Accounting Recitation, sit your ass down and STFU, stop coming in late and not sititng down when you get to your seat. And stop asking pointless questions to a TA that can’t teach. We’re sick of you. -The Class To the hott curly haired guy in my EE*** class, I want to be as close to your ass as your saddle bag is to your army jacket.

Free foot long and a bag of nuts all wrapped in a Latex bag.

Dear ugly girl in my com class, you remind me of an uglier version of an ugly girl I know.

You swear like a nun. “Cheese and crackers, that’s frustrating.”

To my roommate, stop watching movies at night in the dark with those damn sunglasses on and stop eating my fuckinfood. You think I don’t know but I fuckin do. P.S. try to get laid.

These were from past issues of the now-deceased Generation magazine.

We know you can do better.

Let us know at sa.buffalo.edu.

DISCLAIMER: The thoughts and remarks presented in the Personals and FML sections do not represent the thoughts or beliefs of the University at Buffalo Undergraduate Student Association, the University at Buffalo, or any affiliates of the two. They are all anonymously submitted by individuals.

Today, I busted my ass to help this old lady move her stuff because she was going to a nursing home. I was told I would get paid. When I finished four hours later the lady took me to a room and told me to pick out anything in her little goody bag. I got a race car as payment. FML Today, I was on the bus when my crush told me to come and sit with him. I got all excited, especially when he put his arm around me. He then whispered in my ear “Hey, is your friend over there single?” FML Today, I walked into the bathroom and found my sister cleaning her vibrator.

With my toothbrush. FML Today, I was in the bathroom at the mall, when a homeless man came in mumbling to himself. Out of the 7 available urinals, he posted up at the one right beside me.

Apparently he didn’t get the memo that urinals aren’t used to shit in. He talked to me the entire time. About his sex life. FML Today, I found out just how thin the walls at my new student flat are. They are so thin in fact, that I can hear the creepy guy next door say my full name over and over again very slowly whilst masturbating rigorously. FML Today, I got hypnotized at my school’s variety show. Apparently, when asked to do something I enjoy doing, I began to violently hump the floor. FML Today, my boyfriend of 4 years proposed to me. I wasn’t expecting anything too romantic, but I would have liked something more than an email from facebook requesting my confirmation that we were engaged. FML

These were from fmylife.com.

We know you can do worse.

Share your stories at sa.buffalo.edu.

shits and giggles

shits &

Today, I was alone in my friend’s kitchen.

I had “Don’t Cha” stuck in my head all day so I decided to let it out by doing a slutty dance, including spinning around the support pole in the kitchen. I heard a noise outside and saw my friend’s dad had been cleaning the windows. With a boner. FML

VISIONS 23

giGglEs

shits &

all work and no play makes you an annoyingly good student. do these during class, no one will notice. we swear.

Puzzle 1 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.68)

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/~jdhildeb/software/sudokugen/ on Sun Jun 21 22:31:14 2009 GMT. Enjoy!