News Briefs

Engineering Building Named

In honor of Barbara and Jack Davis, a Western New York couple that has given $5 million toward the construction and enhancement of the new School of Engineering and Applied Sciences facility, the building will be named Barbara and Jack Davis Hall. Davis, a 1955 graduate of the engineering school and a well-known industrialist, intends to donate a portion of his estate to the school upon his death as well. His donations are inspired by his education at UB, which he believes prepared him for a successful career.

Distinguished Speaker

Arnold Schwarzenegger, California's 38th governor and Hollywood icon, will join UB's Distinguished Speaker Series lineup at 8 p.m. on Thursday as the Undergraduate Student Choice speaker. Schwarzenegger's lecture will take place in Alumni Arena on North Campus. Schwarzenegger, a politician, businessman, athlete, and actor, has spearheaded the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, the Million Solar Roofs Plan and the California Hydrogen Highway. His political and personal interests include other environmental initiatives, education, and humanitarian work. The Distinguished Speakers series is sponsored by the Undergraduate Student Association and the lecture will be exclusively sponsored by Hodgson Russ.

UB 2020 Reforms

Western New York delegation has called on New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo to include reforms in his budget proposal that will be released on Feb. 1. The UB 2020 plan accomplished a great deal in 2010 to raise awareness across the state and in Albany, and implemented public policy reforms to empower SUNY campuses, including UB. The reforms included a significant public higher education amendment in the former governor's 2010-11 budget, the creation of a coalition of businesses, unions, and faith-based and civic institutions, and a statewide advocacy campaign that transformed public and legislative opinion across the state.