A controversy between a local barbershop and a town official in the town of Hamburg has grown to hair-raising heights.
    The conflict arose over an advertisement displayed in Taylor Mae’d Barbershop’s window featuring a bikini-clad woman and the slogan, “You need a trim?”
    Jack Quavis, owner of the barbershop, says his advertisement is meant to attract customers and is not offensive.
    However, Don Sickau, assistant code enforcer for Hamburg, saw it differently.
    Last week, Sickau responded to a complaint of an inappropriate image being displayed at the shop and asked for the sign to be removed, according to Quavis.
    The sign, a 3.5-foot-tall and 2-foot-wide poster, is displayed in the front of the store, which is set 40 feet back from the road, according to Quavis.
    “[Thousands of] cars go by here a day and they hear one complaint then want the sign out,” Quavis said. “I haven’t found a customer that dislikes it…it’s like anything else, it’s something to capture people’s attention.”
    Quavis doesn’t feel that his sign is offensive, stating that many modern advertisements and shops use much more graphic images and offensive material.
    “You can walk into any Abercrombie & Fitch or any of those other stores in the mall and you got a half-naked teenage girl with only her arms covering her breasts,” Quavis said. “Even the town code enforcer’s boss told me that he has seen worse billboards all over town. And to be honest, I feel targeted. If you’re going to complain about a girl in a bikini in the town of Hamburg, you might as well go close Hamburg Beach.”
    Kurt Allen, the town of Hamburg’s supervising code enforcement official, admits that the situation was not handled properly.
    “Mr. Sickau thought it would be a simple solution,” Allen said. “He thought it would be a quick fix in response to the complaint to have the poster removed.”
    According to Allen, Sickau did not act properly and should have taken more time to review all the zoning regulations and local laws that pertain to the situation.
    “I don’t have a problem with [the advertisement],” Allen said. “Obscenity has a full range, based on who perceives it or whether its obscene or not; it’s a subjective issue.”
    Allen said what matters most is that regulations are upheld and enforced in the town of Hamburg. In this case, no nudity was present and the sign did not breach any local laws.
    “I would understand if I thought it was offensive,” Quavis said. “If I broke some code or something I would be the first to take the sign down, but if I wanted to, I could have a girl standing out there with a bikini on holding an open sign.”
    In regards to the meaning of the sign, Quavis feels that “it’s a play on words,” and “clever advertising,” with the intention of bringing in business.
    “The initial complaint came from a resident who drove by and called into our office and described it as an obscene picture,” Allen said.
    In response to the complaint, Sickau went to the shop and asked for the sign to be removed.
    “The bottom line is, a code enforcement officer came to my business, knocked on my door and asked me to remove the sign because one person complained about it,” Quavis said. “He never showed me a written complaint from anybody, never showed me a statute in the town code about it, he never showed me anything.”
    Sickau was reprimanded for his actions, but the way it was handled is confidential, according to Allen.
    “He mishandled it and should have reviewed the town laws and zoning codes before responding to the complaint,” Allen said.
    When asked for comment, Sickau declined.
    “I haven’t found anyone who dislikes it yet,” Quavis said. “If you look at the picture on Facebook there’s over 50 comments on the picture from both guys and girls alike. I couldn’t find one person [who dislikes it].”

E-mail: spectrum-features@buffalo.edu [read more]

    In most David versus Goliath scenarios, Goliath tends to come out on top more often than not. Unfortunately for the Bulls, that trend continued this past weekend. [read more]

    The end of summer means many things. It means that it is time to return to school, that summer love affairs have come to an end, that the leaves will be changing soon, and that a plethora of new shows will appear on primetime TV.
    Most of them won’t make it to a second season, some won’t even make it all the way through the first, but there are a lucky few that will find their audiences and succeed.     Check out these fall premieres and see if they flop or float.

Mondays
Accidentally On Purpose
    Premiering September 21 at 8:30 p.m., and starring sitcom vet Jenna Elfman (best known for her role as Dharma on Dharma and Greg), Accidentally on Purpose looks like CBS took Knocked Up and transformed it for the small screen. A thirty-something movie critic has a one-night stand with a much younger guy and gets pregnant. The storyline has potential to grow, but it is unlikely that this one will stick around.

Tuesdays
NCIS: Los Angeles
    Starring Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J, this is another CBS spin-off, which seems to be their specialty these days. Viewers can catch this at 9 p.m. starting September 22. As much as The Spectrum loves Cool James and George Clooney’s Robin, this show looks bad. But if all of the CSIs have managed to stick around, this show will most likely be able to follow their cue and get viewers from the original NCIS.

Wednesday
Cougar Town
    The name may put people off a little bit, but the sexual exploits of 40-year-old women combined with halfway decent acting has seemed to be a recipe for success, at least for two seasons. (Yeah, that’s you, Lipstick Jungle.) Courtney Cox will first appear as the leading character of this ABC series starting September 23 at 9:30 p.m.

Thursday
Community
    The Soup’s Joel McHale, The Daily Show’s John Oliver, and Chevy Chase all come together for this NBC comedy, so it’s either going to be hilarious or horrid. The story line sounds funny enough: an attorney lies about graduating from college and must return as an adult learner. But honestly, where else can it go? In its defense, who would have ever believed that a story about a paper company in Scranton, Pa. could ever become so popular? See it for yourself at 9:30 p.m. on September 17.

Friday
Brothers
    This is Michael Strahan in a sitcom. Start taking bets on when it gets cut. The first episode is September 25 at 8 p.m. Will it even survive a whole episode?

Saturday
The Wanda Sykes Show
    Premiering November 7 at 11 p.m. on Fox, the show will feature Sykes’s comedic stylings and will be cut once producers realize that this show was attempted and failed before.

Sunday
Bored to Death
    HBO is introducing a new comedy that tells the story of Jason Schwartzman living as a struggling writer by day and a private investigator by night, even though he does not know the first thing about being a detective. Ted Danson, along with The Hangover’s Zach Galifianakis, join Schwartzman to make this an all-star cast. Tune in for the series premier September 20 at 9:30 p.m.

The Cleveland Show
    Peter Griffin’s neighbor and good friend Cleveland Brown is leaving Quahog and heading south come 8:30 p.m. on September 27. Cleveland has a new wife, step kids, and a new time slot, but it seems like creator/writer Seth Macfarlane is still going to deliver the goods.

Wild Card
Steven Seagal: Lawman
    The only reality series to make this list follows fallen karate movie star Steven Seagal through his current career as a police officer in Louisiana. Cops meets Under Siege: television gold. This mumbling masterpiece hits airwaves in December. [read more]

  [read more]

   Summer is slowly giving way to fall as football fans across the country anxiously await the start of another NFL season. [read more]

    With four of the hottest rappers in the business, Fall Fest not only kicked out the jams, it bumped UB’s fall semester to the right Baird-blasting beat.
    The far-from-compelling opening act Billy Dreece Williams failed to woo the audience with his tired lyrics and pleas to grasp the crowd’s attention. His dry performance went on far too long, but Jadakiss was well worth the wait.
    As DJ Enuff played a combination of some of the hottest tracks in today’s hip-hop music, Jadakiss stepped out and instantly took control of the stage. Rapping one of his classics, “Made You Look,” Jadakiss paid tribute to all his die-hard fans that held him down since his early days of the LOX on Bad Boy.
    “Everywhere we go/people wanna know/who we are,” Jadakiss rapped to a roaring crowd throwing up D-Block signs.
    The crowd sang along in exhilaration as Jadakiss rapped along to his staple “I Get High.”
    When asked what fans can expect from his latest album The Last Kiss, he just shrugged.
    “Nothing is really different. I continue to do what I do, not following any trends. Hip-hop needs to be more raw – no auto tune, just do what you do. You feel me?” Jadakiss said.
    Jada graced the crowd with over 10 of his hottest tracks, both current and classics. Ending his act with a sick freestyle, Jadakiss reminded listeners why he’s among the hottest in the game.
    To no surprise, Busta Rhymes’s electrifying performance was not only entertaining, but also hilarious to watch. Jumping right into his gig at 7 p.m., Rhymes wasted no time, opening with “Respect My Conglomerate,” alongside friend and one-man party starter Spliff Star.
    From beginning to end, Busta kept the crowd astonished by his impeccable flow.
    “Yeah they ain’t no special effects on this s**t, what you hear on the radio, we do that s**t on stage,” Rhymes joked.
    Busta also performed other throwback tracks like “What It is Right Now,” “Jump,” and ladies favorite “Give It to Me,” along with crowd favorites like “Arab Money” and “Bounce That.”
    As he prepared to exit the stage, the crowd raised their imaginary glasses with him to toast to UB, Barack, and of course, his latest album Back on My Bulls**t.
    Unfortunately, everything from then on seemed mediocre. The long wait between sets left crowd surfing and throwing water as the only means of entertainment until Common came out at 9:15 p.m.
    Regardless, Common’s energy-filled performance and over-the-top, “must have done his research,” shout outs to Buffalo were entertaining. With tracks like “I’m Coming Home Again” and “Go,” his positive attitude and uplifting lyrics moved listeners, leaving the crowd pleased overall.
    Surprisingly enough, Lupe Fiasco was the last to grace the stage. With a full band and enough lasers to paint his upcoming release (Lasers), Lupe ended the concert in a way that was uniquely his own. With his eyes closed throughout most of his performance, Fiasco jumped across the stage and catered to a crowd that “just wanted the hits.”
    With rocked out beats and bright, effervescent colors, Fiasco ended Fall Fest with a bang and kick, pushing the semester off to a fresh start.

E-mail: spectrum-arts@buffalo.edu [read more]

The celebration fireworks exploded, the UTEP crowd of 35,213 erupted into a cheer that could be heard in Mexico and the Buffalo sideline was dejected. With 14 seconds left in the game, the Miners had just scored a touchdown and were an extra point away from taking a 24-23 lead, seemingly starting the Bulls’ season on a heart-breaking note. [read more]

    I lost my groove and it’s a bit disconcerting. [read more]

    Many scholars believe that U.S. law never seems to stop growing. Increasingly, the Internet appears to be the new frontier of the law. [read more]

    After having the summer off from competition, the men’s and women’s cross-country teams kicked off the 2009 season on Saturday afternoon at the Tommy Evans Invitational at Akron’s Firestone Metropark. [read more]

    We must face facts. After eight years and $226 billion, what has the United States accomplished in Afghanistan? [read more]

    Due to a shortage of alcohol and substance abuse counselors in New York, the state has given approval for UB’s Masters of Social Work program to use specific curriculum to fulfil requirements for accreditation.
    In July, the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services approved courses within the school to partially fulfil a 350-hour certificate program requirement to become Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselors.
    “The demand for addiction professionals and licensed treatment staff with graduate-level degrees is projected to increase by 35 percent [by 2010],” according to the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network’s Web site.
    UB’s social work program possesses an accredited Alcohol and Other Drug Problems concentration available to students in the MSW program, emphasizing one of its academic strengths as substance abuse counselor training.
    “The workforce is composed of about 200,000 people, including 135,000 full-time employees, 45,000 part-time employees and 22,000 contract employees. Nearly 5,000 new counselors are needed annually for net replacement and growth,” according to the Web site.
    According to Sharon Mitchell, director of Student Health and Wellness, UB’s Alcohol and Drug Counseling Services has two social workers with expertise and experience in addictions counseling for students directly on campus. These counseling services offer both individual and group counseling for students who are alcohol and/or drug dependent.
    UB’s MSW program will be able to directly correlate the curriculum within the AOD concentration with effective CASAC training. Obtaining the New York State OASAS CASAC credential, in conjunction with an AOD concentration, puts graduate students at a greater advantage when applying to become CASAC workers.
    “The 350-Hour Certificate Program requirement as part of the process of becoming a CASAC worker teaches these graduate students all the basic skills to be able to go into this specific field,” said Charles Syms, clinical associate professor.
    Syms also emphasized the uniqueness of this program.
    “[I] know of no other graduate program that offers students the ability to fulfil these requirements directly through the approved [MSW] curriculum,” Syms said.
    As a result of the newly implemented program, school officials as well as NYS OASAS officials anticipate an increase in applicants for the CASAC program directly following graduate school. There have been a number of inquiries by students just within the first few weeks of the program’s approval and the press release made by the UB Reporter, according to Lisa Fichte, director of the Continuing Education Office within the School of Social Work.
    Completing the training program within the School of Social Work will give graduate students more skills and training, leading to more effective and available means of counseling those who need help.

E-mail: spectrum-news@buffalo.edu [read more]

    While the professional tennis world focused on Queens, N.Y. this past weekend, the Queen City’s tennis realm was locked in on Olean, N.Y. [read more]

    In an effort to help make suicide less of a concealed topic, the Student Wellness Team at UB is putting on various activities and discussions for Suicide Prevention Week, running from Tuesday to Thursday.
    “Any demographic is at risk [for suicide], but students may be more at risk because they are in the stage of life where major changes are occurring,” said Carissa Uschold, a licensed clinical social worker and suicide prevention coordinator for UB counseling services.
    Suicide is a taboo topic because people are afraid to discuss the topic and ask the questions because they are often afraid of the answer and not knowing what to do, Uschold said.
    On Tuesday, Suicide Prevention Week began with the Missing from the Pack display.
    “A visual display of approximately 83 backpacks was displayed to represent the number of college students in the state of New York lost by suicide over the past year alone,” Uschold said.  “The backpacks were decorated by students and staff over the past year.”
    The “Wellness Activity Day” also occurred on Tuesday, and consisted of decorating comfort kits to honor emotional well-being, Uschold said.
    Wednesday at 8 p.m., “To Write Love on Her Arms” will be held in the Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall.
This event focuses on a group of individuals who educate the public on decreasing the stigma of mental health issues and suicide to increase hope through their music and words, according to Uschold.
Thursday, from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. in 210 Student Union Suicide Prevention Training will be offered to anyone who stops by with each session lasting an hour. This session is also known as QPR, which stands for question, persuade, refer, Uschold said.
“This is really a kind of first line defense to teach people how to respond to someone who is thinking about suicide to offer them hope and to link them to ways to find help,” Uschold said. “It has had a huge impact on campus because I have had people come in [to Counseling Services] and said it has helped them or someone else.”
This training session would be beneficial because you can make a difference, according to Kathryn Koestner, a freshman nursing major.
The training will show an individual how to identify someone who is struggling with emotional distress, according to Uschold. Changes in behavior and mood are signs of emotional distress, as well as a decrease in academic performance and social withdrawal. Other signs include changes in hygiene and behaving in apathetic ways.
Suicide Prevention Week is essential, especially in a campus community setting, Uschold said. Suicide is one of the most treatable forms of emotional distress and providing hope can save a life.
“I’m proud to participate in these events because my career is in clinical psychology and suicidality, and suicidality is a major concern among students so anything I can do to destigmatize this issue is completely worth it,” said Matt Gilbert, a psychology intern from Spalding University.
These events are all funded by an SAMSHA grant from the government that allows for education and prevention programming, according to Uschold.
Students can find ongoing mental health counseling throughout the year in Counseling Services.

E-mail: spectrum-news@buffalo.edu [read more]

    In his latest self-penned cinematic achievement, Mike Judge (Idiocracy) takes time out of his busy animation syndication schedule to show us how fragile we really are. The creator of Hank Hill, Butthead and Peter Gibbons returns to the big screen for the first time in three years with Extract.
    In his third feature film, Judge paints a disfigured depiction of what middle class suburban lifestyle is truly like.
    Jason Bateman (Hancock) plays the lead and disillusioned role of Joel. As the face, figurehead and owner of his own extract company, Joel struggles to sell the company and buy his way out of his life of monotony. Caught in a dead-end job and dealing with more sexual frustration than a mathlete at prom, Joel sees his life start to change for the worse.
    This is before he meets Cindy, portrayed by the lovely Mila Kunis (Max Payne). Since she is much younger and much better looking than him, Joel becomes infatuated with her.
    Finally taking a break from bad movies, Ben Affleck (State of Play) shines through as he brings Judge’s Dean to life. Looking almost identical to Henry Ian Cusick’s character, Desmond Hume, from ABC’s Lost, Dean is Joel’s bearded and burned out best friend, whose only thoughts seem to be about getting Joel wasted and messing up his life.
    Dean is easily the stand out character in Extract. Every scene he’s in is hilarious, especially when Affleck subtly pokes fun at himself for being the “tall, good looking guy” that girls laugh at even when he’s not funny.
    Kristen Wiig (Adventureland) plays Suzie, Joel’s lust-less wife. Bored and with a waning attraction, Suzie is a headache in sweatpants. After weeks without any intercourse, Suzie has got Joel looking to Dean for advice.
    After popping a few pills and having a nice drink, all of Joel’s principles and morals go straight out the window. This sets off a chain of events that only Judge could come up with.
    J.K. Simmons (I Love You, Man) delivers another excellent role as Brian, Joel’s second-in-command at the company. In a move that’s a clear parody of company management, Brian has no clue as to what anyone’s name is at the plant.
    Simmons manages a great job in a strong supporting role by using the type of snippy comedy that has made him famous. Judge must have written the part with Simmons in mind.
    David Koechner (The Goods) takes a step away from the southern-fried trailer trash he usually plays, standing out as Joel’s monotonic, passive aggressive über-annoying neighbor Nathan. Nathan is quite similar to Bill Lumbergh, from Judge’s Office Space, but Koechner hits home, literally, with the character that never goes away.
    A major flaw with Judge’s new creation is that Extract is too similar to Office Space. Nathan similar to Lumbergh, Dean is very similar to Lawrence, it’s almost a bit too much. However, despite the fact that the free spirited and dim-witted character is nothing new, it is still executed with perfection.
    Although some of the characters in Extract aren’t exactly original, Judge does not disappoint. The plot gives its stars room to shine, with Jason Bateman showing off his comedic side that first appeared on Arrested Development and Mila Kunis continuing to grow as a comedian.
    From 4-foot bongs to male prostitutes, Extract has everything needed to become a comedy classic. But hey, you be the judge.

E-mail: spectrum-arts@buffalo.edu [read more]

    When the line of students waiting to get into Fall Fest stretched from the Student Union to the rear of the Center for the Arts, one concertgoer decided to cut to the front and swim across Lake LaSalle.
    Senior architecture major Timothy Reagen was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct on Saturday around 8 p.m. after swimming across the lake, according to Inspector Daniel Jay of the University Police Department.
    Reagen left his clothes behind, dove into the water from the shore behind The Commons and swam with his UB Card in his mouth.
    “I got about two-thirds of the way there and saw three cops on the shore,” Reagen said.
    Reagen emerged from the lake with his UB Card held out for the UPD officers waiting for him on the shore.
    “There really wasn’t a point to turning around and running away,” Reagen said. “You can’t really blend into a crowd when you’re in your boxers.”
    The doors opened at 5:15 p.m. for the 6 p.m. show. Students waited in line well into the second and third acts of the four-act show.
    Reagen arrived to the show an hour early and left to hang out with friends after seeing the long line, he said. When he returned later to find that the line hadn’t gotten any shorter, he decided to try to swim to the front.
    Reagen captured the attention of the students waiting in line, drawing cheers and applause after successfully reaching the other side of the lake.
    “As soon as the cops cuffed me, they started booing,” Reagen said.
    Reagen was referred to the Student-Wide Judiciary and the Amherst Town Court. This type of violation can carry a maximum penalty of 15 days in jail, but Reagen will probably receive a fine, Jay said.
    Jay said that while the lake has been used in the past for academic purposes or minor activities, such model boat racing, this sort of use is not permitted.
    “The lake is not for recreational use,” Jay said.
    Reagen’s backstroke skills also caught the eye of Fall Fest performer Lupe Fiasco, according to Bijan Nezami, senior biomedical sciences major and Reagen’s roommate. After Reagen was arrested, Nezami ran toward the police to try to help his roommate. Student Association concert staff approached the police with a request from Fiasco to meet Reagen, according to Nezami.
    The police did not release Reagen, who spent the duration of the concert in police custody.
    “I was trying to push it but campus security wasn’t letting it happen,” Nezami said. “At the whole concert, everyone was talking about it in there.”

E-mail: spectrum-me@buffalo.edu [read more]

    News about shootings, kidnappings and muggings only a few steps outside of campus can make students nervous about walking by themselves. Luckily, Sub-Board I, Inc. Health Services established a safe alternative with the Anti-Rape Task Force.
    Women volunteers started the ARTF over 25 years ago. It was later adapted into a Student Association group, and when the service started offering shuttles in the early ’90s, it became a Sub-Board group.
    ARTF is available on both North and South Campus. On North Campus, students can travel to the walk station located in Capen Library and request a team of escorts to walk them to their cars, to their dorms or to another building. The escorts are available Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.
    South Campus, however, has two options available to students. There is a walk station located at the Health Science Library, but there are also shuttles that run approximately every 20 minutes from the Health Science Library, Goodyear Loop and Main Street Loop. The shuttle runs Sunday through Wednesday 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Thursday through Saturday 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
    The shuttle will take students up to 1.5 miles off campus, while the walk escorts will only take students to places on campus.
    “The service was started as women helping women, but it’s grown to be much more than that,” said Jane Fischer, the Director of SBI Health Education. “We kept the name to honor the tradition, but men both help run and use this group, so it goes much further past rape into general student protection and safety.”
    Though UB is generally a secure campus, students are still encouraged to use ARTF as a safe alternative to walking alone at night, especially into areas outside of South Campus.
    “I’ve used the shuttles many times, especially to go to frat parties,” said Nicole Stranges, a senior communication major. “It’s very useful and prevents students, especially girls, from walking around in an unsafe area.”
    Stranges has also used the walking station at Capen. She stated that it made her feel safer walking to her car while escorted by an ARTF escort team.
    If students know that they are going to be working late in the library or need a ride off-campus, they can call ahead to the SBI Health Services Office before 2 p.m. on weekdays to request a shuttle from a desired location on South Campus. Furthermore, students can go to a walk station and ask for a shuttle from the representatives.
    ARTF tries to make the group well known throughout campus to keep as many students as safe as possible. According to Fischer, ARTF and SBI Health Education is promoted at events, through flyers and on their Web site.
    “This group is valuable because it’s important to us if we stop even one student from being harmed,” Fischer said. “ARTF should be utilized by as many people as possible.”
    According to the ARTF Web site, student staff is the heart of its programming. Most of the students that participate in ARTF are students themselves who feel that the task force is important to student safety.
    Kayla Maryles, a senior communication major, worked for SBI Health Education and volunteered to drive the shuttle in her spare time.
    “I enjoyed doing it; it was actually a lot of fun,” Maryles said. “The students were very appreciative of not having to walk through the Heights in the dark, especially when they knew that there were a lot of violent incidents.”
    Maryles also adds that she felt like she was helping the community by giving students rides.
    “ARTF in general is such a good program because it’s preventing violence and promoting safety on campus,” Maryles said.
    Students wishing to volunteer with ARTF or looking for more information can contact the SBI Health Services office at 829-2584 or at their Web site, www.artf.buffalo.edu.

E-mail: spectrum-features@buffalo.edu [read more]

    After days of deliberating, the Sub-Board I, Inc. Board of Directors, with the blessing of the Board of Directors’ Special Committee, ruled to suspend Generation Magazine’s charter for the second time in roughly five months.
    Tuesday night, the committee, headed by Graduate Student Association President Nicole Jowsey, voted to halt Generation’s production for the entire fall semester and look at bringing back the publication for the spring semester under new terms. The decision comes mere hours after the first – and now only – issue of Generation hit the stands on UB’s campuses.
    “It was not an easy decision, but we felt that at this time this was the best decision for us,” Jowsey said. “After looking back and investigating the situation, we came to this decision.”
    Josh Boston, former editor in chief of Generation and managing editor of both Visions and The Spectrum, was not pleased with the decision.
    “I’m upset at the Board of Directors,” Boston said. “They decided I wasn’t the right person to run their magazine. I hope they still offer a publication for students, because they need to house an ethical, quality publication.”
    Ernesto Alvarado, Student Association vice president and member of the committee, stated that the decision was based on issues stemming from Boston’s hiring last semester.
    “Sub-Board’s Board of Directors decided that fraud occurred, and we decided to suspend the charter and re-open editor in chief elections in the future to avoid any problems. We also felt that there was a lot to be desired from [Boston],” Alvarado said.
    Alvarado said that, in addition, the committee will discuss further details concerning the decision, including a new hiring process, at some point later next week.

Lost potential

    Former editors of the new Generation are now scratching their heads as they look towards the future as student journalists. For Daniel Mecca, former managing editor of both Generation and The Spectrum, the news was a shocker.
    “Having worked two hard weeks on the issue and an entire day on production with my fellow employees, I feel we were cold-cocked,” Mecca said. “It’s not the fairest decision. We were brought on to be a remedy for the situation. This was very unprofessional. They jumped the gun.”
    Boston believes that personal conflicts plagued the ultimate decision, stemming from his close relationship with Robert Pape, former Sub-Board vice president and editor in chief of The Spectrum.
    “[SA President Hassan Farah] and [Jowsey] had personal vendettas towards me due to my relationship with [Pape],” Boston said. “We put out a solid, professional magazine that serves the students well, and that got in the way of things.”
    Pape felt that both groups made the wrong decision.
    “I think it’s unfortunate that relationships outside the hiring process are causing issues,” Pape said. “There was no doubt that [Boston] was qualified, according to last year’s board of directors. I think it is ridiculous that now he is being punished for having friendships outside the business world. He was brought on to better student journalism.”
    According to Jowsey, an important factor in the decision-making was reaction from individuals from both the UB community and abroad.
    “I received over 100 e-mails, both good and bad,” Jowsey said. “I can tell you that each message was viewed.”
    Nonetheless, Pape feels that this decision might lead to a dark road if Sub-Board decides to look at the past for ideas on where to go next.
    “The former publication’s suspension was justified,” Pape said. “Everyone should be offended by it and embarrassed by it.”
 
A small victory

    For old Generation staffers, the news was unexpected.
    “While I have not received a formal confirmation from Sub-Board, I can say that it’s a shame that we’ve lost the student voice on campus,” said Andrew Blake, former editor in chief of Generation from 2008-09. “But I feel that it is a necessary step in the right direction after what has happened.”
    After Generation’s charter was suspended on April 3, Blake orchestrated efforts to help the former iteration of the publication gain footing. He acquired legal council and reached out to anyone willing to listen to make an informed decision about where they might stand.
    “The support we received has been overwhelming and it means a great deal to myself and the staff,” Blake said. “People I have never met have approached me to discuss their disapproval of Sub-Board’s actions and have helped garnish support for Generation. I feel that the support we received was crucial into bringing us where we are today.”
    Blake believes that the support from many people across the country could have pushed Sub-Board toward suspending the new publication’s charter.
    “I’m not sure how where we are today will get us any further, but without support from the community and those I have never met, we might have never had the chance to contemplate Generation as we once knew it,” Blake said.
    Ann Marie Awad, former literary editor of Generation, is happy with the news but skeptical of what might soon come for her and her former colleagues.
    “It’s confusing,” Awad said. “I think it is good because it’s a step in the right direction towards saying that the new magazine shouldn’t be on campus, but you don’t know what kind of work is ahead of us and where this will lead us to.”
    Awad is responsible for creating the group “Generation Magazine: Not My Magazine, Not Without a Fight!” on the popular social-networking Web site, Facebook. The group has garnered support from approximately 753 members as of Tuesday evening.
    “Journalists have the right and the duty to report corruption for the protection of the public,” Awad said in a message to group members on Aug. 23. “We are the voice, and the voice can't be silenced. Generation will be back, take my word for it.”

An uncertain road ahead

    After hearing the news, Boston is unsure of what lies ahead in the future for him, especially when it comes to being on Generation’s staff.
    “I had this job fairly to begin with,” Boston said. “Why should I reapply in the future? There are pros and cons to each side, and it’s too early to decide if I will try to get my position back.”
     While many people might be pleased with the outcome, Boston doesn’t care for the public’s image of him.
    “I’ve been told I’m arrogant,” Boston said. “I’ve been told that my relationship with [Pape] has been a major issue. While I take those opinions to heart, I want to run this magazine, but that decision is not up to me. I have no right to challenge [Sub-Board’s] decision.”
    Blake feels that while the news might have both positive and negative implications, the road ahead looks promising.
    “Losing a publication is never a good thing, but I hope this temporary suspension will remedy the problems that has been bestowed on the magazine over the past couple of months,” Blake said. “Sub-Board has a lot of wrongs they need to right, and I assume that this is beginning of that process.”
    Regardless of what might happen, Blake says that he will not go away until normalcy returns to 315 Student Union.
    “I will fight whatever fight I need to,” Blake said. “I will support the Generation everyone grew to love and I will not stop until things are back to the way that they should be.”

E-mail: spectrum-eic@buffalo.edu [read more]

    After tallying two sacks in the spring game and displaying athletic abilities that neither of last year’s starting ends possessed, some labeled Steven Means, UB’s redshirt freshman defensive end, as Buffalo’s best pass rusher since Trevor Scott. [read more]