News

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February ups and downs

By CHRISTY SUHR and CHRIS LAWAsst. Sports Editor and Staff Reporter

Students get heated over Governors fire alarms

Constant fire drills in the Governors Complex on North Campus has left residents angry and seeking answers. Student estimates put the number of fire drills at 46 for this academic year, a number that continues to rise. In the past week alone, residents had three fire drills. The one that occurred on Feb. 3 left students waiting outside in 20-degree weather for at least 20 minutes. In response to the growing student animosity, two Facebook groups have been formed. Daniel Johnson, a sophomore history and political science major and Benjamin Rinauto, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, created a Facebook group devoted to the annoyance called, 'We didn't start the fire at Governors.' 'I knew a lot of people in Governors are disgruntled over the fire drills,' said Johnson. 'In less than 24 hours, 200 people had joined the group.' Students turning to this group aren't just annoyed with these constant fire drills; they see them as a safety hazard. '[The constant] fire drills are desensitizing people to alarms and putting them at risk for a real emergency,' said Amanda Ruby, a freshman biology major and Governors resident. Due to the weather conditions, many students who live in Governors, instead of evacuating when the alarm sounds, have opted to stay in their dorm rooms to avoid the long wait and the weather. 'It is a huge safety issue. People just take their time [evacuating] now or just don't come out at all,' Rinauto said. 'It takes forever to evacuate people and we end up waiting 15 to 20 minutes because the Residential Advisors have to check the rooms and discipline those who chose to stay in.' Johnson has also noticed this trend. 'A good handful of people are just staying in their rooms; I know a few people who do,' he said. Students are unsure of the cause of all of these false alarms but don't believe it is a result of people playing pranks. 'As far as I know, the system was updated recently, so it would be understandable that it would have some kinks, but they should have been taken care of by now,' Johnson said. 'All the information I know is from what my friends, who are RAs, have told me.' University Residence Halls and Apartments has not released a statement to the students who live in Governors Complex addressing this issue, which has begun to affect their daily lives. 'They happen randomly, sometimes in the middle of the day when you are trying to study, do homework or just heading back from class to relax. It is very inconvenient,' said Johnson. The earliest in the morning students have reported fire evacuations happening is at 1 a.m. and many students have expressed their annoyance on the Facebook walls of 'We didn't start the fire …' as well as the second group, 'People in Govs need to learn how to cook! Stop setting off fire alarm[s]!!!' In the group 'We didn't start the fire…' the creator, Johnson, makes a mock Declaration of Independence. Among the students' demands are a review of the fire prevention system to determine whether it should be put on a lower setting; a concession that only the students in the building with the alarm have to evacuate, similar to the fire drill system in Ellicott Complex; better safeguards to prevent false alarms; and newer cooking appliances. While some of these claims may be impossible for authorities at URH&A, students haven't heard any response to them and are growing tired of the authorities' seeming ignorance of the constant interruption to residents' lives. Without information from the URH&A, students are left to draw their own conclusions about the cause of all of these alarms. On the 'People in Govs…' Facebook group, the creator has posted information on how people can avoid setting off the alarms. Topping the list are admonitions to avoid leaving items cooking on a stove or in an oven. Long showers that produce excess steam and smoking are also listed as main causes. URH&A could not be reached for a statement on this issue. Meanwhile, students worry it is deterring people from choosing to live in Governors. 'I know I am considering staying at home next year, simply because I live close and the fire alarms are really annoying to deal with all the time,' said Johnson. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

New CFA exhibit to demonstrate transmutable architecture

A new exhibit opening this week at the CFA promises to challenge ideas about what a building can do. Reflexive Architecture Machines, to be presented Feb. 9 until Mar. 20 on the second floor of the UB Art Gallery, will display research conducted by the School of Architecture on how common building materials like wood, plastic and rubber can be adapted to respond to their environment. The exhibit centers around the development of 'responsive materials,' which change their shape based on certain environmental characteristics. Though this is expected to a small extent with most industrialized materials – for instance, when wood warps from water damage – Reflexive Architectural Machines takes advantage of familiar materials' natural responses. The gallery will display several prototypes of how this can work. This exhibition will include research by Omar Khan, assistant professor of architecture and co-director of the Center for Architecture and Situated Technologies. His project called 'Open Columns' is a series of non-structural columns made from flexible composite urethane elastomers that rise and fall according to the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air. These columns respond to an electronic CO2 sensor in the vicinity and change the level of enclosure in a room by altering ceiling height based on the number of people in that room. When CO2 levels are too high, the ceiling is lowered to encourage people to disperse. The exhibit will not only show 'Open Columns' in action in the UB Art Gallery, but will also offer two video feeds, one live and the other prerecorded, of the columns in different locations. The live feed will be from the Buffalo Arts Studio (BAS) in the downtown Buffalo Tri-Main Center, so that attendants can see the magnitude with which the columns can alter their shape. Also presented by Khan is what he calls a 'Gravity Screen,' an organized mesh of two different elastomers which stretches based upon the weights attached to the bottom. The screen is designed to remain strong while being stretched into an endless number of configurations. In architecture, such screens could be used to alter the acoustic quality of a concert hall, for example. 'Warped,' an experimental plywood partition by Matthew Hume, adjunct professor of architecture at UB, is another exhibit that will be included at Reflexive Architecture Machines. It is a series of walls, columns and arches made from plywood shingles that are manufactured so that they warp in a particular way when exposed to moisture. Water vapor twists and bends the wood, opening up gaps for ventilation. The plywood shingles must be riveted together in a specific way to maintain integrity during warping. These experimental configurations of relatively common materials threaten the understanding that buildings are nothing more than static containers by demonstrating an ability to sense human presence and respond to it. More information about Reflexive Architecture Machines can be found at the UB Art Gallery website www.ubartgalleries.org. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

Trotters treat

Alumni Arena opened its doors for the Harlem Globetrotters Friday night, and families from throughout the Buffalo-Niagara region flooded its gates. They piled into the stands to watch the zany, often theatrical and always-hilarious athletes put on an unforgettable show. The audience knew it was in for a treat from the start. Before the players even set foot on the floor, an emcee got the crowd involved in a shouting match. One side of the stands screamed, 'Globe' while the other section replied with 'Trotters.' By the time the two teams – The Harlem Globetrotters and the Washington Generals – were ready for warm-ups, Alumni Arena had reached full capacity with over 6,000 fans in attendance. It was a lively crowd consisting of mostly families from around the area. Many parents had seen the Globetrotters when they were younger and wanted to share the show with their children. Troy Mezzio, a 39-year-old father from Cheektowaga, decided to bring his family after seeing an advertisement. 'We heard about the event through a television advertisement,' Mezzio said. 'I grew up with the Globetrotters when I was a kid. We used to watch them on television all of the time, and seeing them live for the first time was great.' His children loved the show, too. His daughter Michelle, 11, loved all of the slam-dunks and his son Daniel, 7, enjoyed all of the props that they used. Whether the Generals' head coach was hypnotizing one of the Globetrotters with his spiraled umbrella, the players were giving the ref an eye exam where he read the letters 'I-M-A-F-O-O-L,' or the athletes were chasing each other around with buckets of water and splashing fans in the front row, the entire night was action packed and full of laughs. Before the game, the Globetrotters honored Bulls great Jim Horn (1951-55), who is the second leading all-time scorer here at Buffalo. After his college days, Horn joined the Harlem Globetrotters and played with them for a number of years. Playing for the Washington Generals was another former Bull, Brian Addison. Addison came in as a transfer from Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY and played at Buffalo for two seasons. The Harlem Globetrotters had an 83-game winning streak on the line and were trailing late in the third quarter. Thanks to some fantastic dunks and lackluster defense by the Generals, the Trotters battled back and came away with a 75-72 victory. After the game, the players stuck around to sign autographs, further pleasing the fans that already had an exciting night. 'I remember going when I was a kid,' said Sandy Stock, 36, of Clarence. 'I figured that my daughters would really enjoy it so I got some tickets and [the Globetrotters] didn't disappoint. I enjoyed all of it and my kids thought it was a really fun show.' Other parents had also seen the Globetrotters when they were younger and wanted to share the experience with their family. 'I saw [the Globetrotters] when I was a little girl,' said Dawn Watson, 40, of Niagara Falls. 'I don't remember where I saw them, but it was somewhere in Buffalo and it was definitely a lot of fun.' Chances are that Watson and Stock saw the Globetrotters at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, or as most used to refer to it, The Aud. The arena was knocked down in 1996, but it held a maximum capacity of 18,000 people and sported many major league events. The parents weren't the only ones who had a good time. '[The performance] was amazing,' said Spencer Watson, 14, of Niagara Falls ON. 'I've never seen anything like it before and I had a great time. Their ball handling was incredible, especially Scooter's.' Many fans came down from Canada to see the show and, according to Dawn Watson, it took more time to find a parking space than to get across the border. 'Getting into America was the easy part,' Watson said. 'It was the parking that was horrible. We were looking for a half-an-hour to find a parking spot.' There weren't too many college students at the event, most likely because it is more of a family outing. Despite the traffic getting onto campus, the fans were all smiles by the end of the night. The Globetrotters grabbed the audience's attention early, and kept fans entertained throughout the night. Whether they were running their infamous three-man weave, dancing to Michael Jackson, or playing football on the basketball court, there was never a dull moment. E-mail: andrew.wiktor@ubspectrum.com

The new decade?

To the editor,

The message of a King

Martin Luther King Jr. may be 42 years deceased, but Dr. Cornel West showed Friday night that King's teachings are everlasting. West reiterated King's messages throughout UB's 34th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Event at The Center for the Arts. Those in attendance nodded in agreement as West preached the word of Dr. King during a one-hour lecture, followed by a 50-minute question-and-answer session with the audience. West hit upon a bevy of topics affecting America today, but it all came back to Dr. King and one existential idea. 'Learning how to die means what? You're forced to examine assumptions and presumptions you had,' West said. 'It's called education, and Brother Martin learned how to die.' He began the lecture by thanking the Buffalo community and UB's leaders, from President John B. Simpson to SA President Ernesto Alvarado, for making this event possible. To Simpson, West is one of the best individuals to speak of King's legacy. 'The annual Martin Luther King celebration has been a profound and important commemoration at UB, and Cornel West is a charismatic man who is ideally suited for this event,' Simpson said. Sherryl Weems, Director of UB's Educational Opportunity Center, agreed that West's credentials made him the right man for the event. 'Brother West has a complex mind and safeguards a complicated soul,' Weems said. 'My favorite reflection of his: you can't lead the people if you don't love the people. You can't save the people, if you don't serve the people.' After acknowledging the people that made the commemoration possible, West saluted King with a simple, but heartfelt message. To West, King should be remembered for what he was: a fighter for the quest of unarmed truth. 'We love you Brother Martin, we need you, we will never forget you,' West said. 'You will never undergo the process of Santaclaus-ification.' King was one of the figures that helped West learn how to die. Now a 56-year-old author and Princeton professor, West was a child filled with rage who, according to him, was destined for jail. At one point, he hit one of his teacher's and was kicked out of school. But things turned around. King and many others inspired West. In high school, West began to read and fight for Civil Rights, and a few years later, he was a 17-year-old Sacramento kid traveling the length of the United States to attend Harvard University. West mentioned how King's quest and his objection to the Vietnam War weren't popular, but King wanted to bring everyone together. 'Anybody that is serious about the quest for unarmed truth must be willing to pay the price,' West said. 'King had the same disapproval rates as George W. Bush. When he came against the war, everyone was against him. Black folks were against him.' West's appreciation of King showed during Friday's lecture. West spoke of King's life as a normal child as a point to inspire those that they can succeed. '[King] wasn't always Martin Luther King Jr.,' West said. 'He was once little Martin just running around the fields of Atlanta.' He made this point to show that progress could be made. West believes some progress was made with President Barack Obama's election in Nov. 2008, but people were blindsided by the change rhetoric Obama spilled in his speeches. Even though West campaigned for Obama during 67 events, he won't be sold until he sees results, and right now he's entirely skeptical of Obama. 'I told him, ‘I'll break-dance in the night [if you win], but I'd wake up the next day as his critic,' ' West said, 'He was seduced to those tied to the strong and the ones with money.' This abidance to powerful Americans has left many problems unsolved, including many problems affecting poor African Americans. Part of West believes that Obama has alienated these people while in office. 'I believe in the rule of law. How come no torture [overseas] is investigated, but Jamal on the corner with a crack rock is prosecuted to the fullest extent,' West said. 'President Obama needs to be protected, but also needs to be corrected.' The most powerful messages were made during the question-and-answer portion. Concerned Western New York citizens voiced their worries in their questions and sought West for help. Topics including education, the dying breed of young African American teens, and unconditional love were mentioned. On the topic of poor Americans of all races getting together in peace, West said that this is as important as ever. According to him, America sends the wrong message to these people, leaving them with little to no hope for the future. It's up to Americans to forego individual differences and come together for change. 'Everyday people are too little to rescue, but big companies are too big to fail. We fail, and it's ok, but the banks don't fail,' West said. 'We need grassroots organizing, not Astroturf connecting.' According to West, these examples are driving down America. There are not enough examples of success, and no positive role models to inspire youths. Until this changes, motivation will be lacking. 'If you witness wise examples, it equals wise judgments,' West said. 'When you see concrete examples of compassion, they become contagious.' But whatever the topic, whatever the issue, it was all reverted back to Dr. King and his messages. As King gained inspiration from President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionists in the 19th century, modern Americans can use King's words towards the movement of what's right. 'Martin Luther King Jr. is not an isolated individual to put on a pedestal; he's a wave in an ocean,' West said. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

West to speak at UB

Dr. Cornel West, professor of religion and African American studies at Princeton University, will be speaking at Center for the Arts on Friday as part of UB's 23rd annual Distinguished Speakers Series.

Weezy's Rebirth is stillborn

Grade: D+

School of Architecture and Planning dean steps down

Brian Carter announced Friday that he is stepping down as dean of the UB School of Architecture and Planning, after more than seven years in the post.

The rebirth of broadcast

The road to Miami

It's no surprise that the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints will go head-to-head in Super Bowl XLIV Sunday at Sun Life Stadium. Both teams rolled through the regular season with MVP-caliber quarterbacks behind center. Here's a glimpse at how each team earned its ticket to Miami.

R.I.P. J.D.

'What really knocks me out,' Holden Caulfield tells us in The Catcher in the Rye, 'is a book, when you're all done reading it, you wished the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.'

Michigan takes round two

The women's basketball team is in the middle of Michigan madness.

They call him the Brees

Now that everyone's christening Peyton Manning as the greatest quarterback of all time, it's easy to forget about the Saints' quarterback – what's his name again?

Iranians in need of solidarity

To the editor,

A handful of humor

When many people hear the words 'ASL comedian,' their first reaction is, 'Why would I go see that? I don't know sign language.'

Manning up in XLIV

When thinking about Super Bowl XLIV, many questions come to my mind: How drunk will I be before kickoff? Should I get barbeque wings or mild medium from Duffs? Will there finally be any good commercials this year?

Manning seeks icon status

Every sport has its icon. Basketball has Michael Jordan; Hockey has Wayne Gretzky; Golf has Tiger Woods.

A day in the life

Stop.

Still no replacements for Buffalo police and fire commissioners

Last December, at the beginning of his second term, Mayor Byron Brown refused to reappoint the Buffalo police and fire commissioners.