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Saving students from suicide

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


NEWS

Hip-hop holiday

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


The Spectrum
NEWS

Fooled again

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


NEWS

Student arrested for taking dip at Fall Fest

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


NEWS

Student voice silenced

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


NEWS

Holding for a win

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.


The Spectrum
NEWS

FAIL Fest

I saw at least three officers grab the kid that swam across Lake Lasalle. He surrendered willingly; one of those officers could have walked around and told smokers to put out their cigs.


The Spectrum
NEWS

Every day of the week and twice on Sundays

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.


NEWS

The strip that never sleeps

As Monday rolls around and students begin their week of studying, waking up for class and staying in, many count down the days and hours until that blessed Friday comes when all stresses can be thrown to the side and their two days of freedom and enjoyment can truly begin.


The Spectrum
NEWS

Live Chat: UB @ UTEP

Click here to live chat with David Sanchirico, our senior sports editor. Dave is currently in Texas at the game ready to talk to anyone and everyone about UB football!


NEWS

Fresh look leads to fast start

After finishing last season with a .240 winning percentage, it was evident that the volleyball team needed to make a change. Buffalo decided not to renew Jim Lodes' contract in December and set out in search of a new head coach who would attempt to lead the struggling program in the right direction.


The Spectrum
NEWS

"Oh, Canada!"

It's hard to believe that UB is only a half hour away from a gorgeous, breath taking and romantic natural wonder of the world. Just a border crossing away, Niagara Falls, Ont. is home to tourist hotspots, Maid of the Mist boat tours and a nightlife rivaling some of the biggest cities.


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