There's never a dull moment at UB. To help our newest readers catch up, The Spectrum has compiled a list of the most talked about stories from the 2010-2011 academic year.
New President
The first day of classes in fall 2010 was more than the beginning of a new school year: President John B. Simpson, the university head since 2004, announced his retirement and UB embarked on a global search for his replacement.
It was rumored that Simpson's decision was influenced by the slow movements of Albany and the State University of New York officials relating to the UB 2020 plan, his extensive plan for university and Buffalo-Niagara development. However, Simpson explained that the choice was purely personal; he wanted to spend more time with his wife and family.
UB ignored SUNY guidelines throughout the selection process; to students, the search was not transparent and many were unsettled by the university's decisions to keep them in the dark.
The path to a new president was peppered with unexplained retirements of officials near the office of the president.
On Apr. 18, 2011, Satish K. Tripathi, former UB provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, was chosen as UB's 15th president. His proximity to Simpson throughout his time as provost ensures that UB 2020 will move forward.
The appointment concluded a seven-month international search during which 68 candidates of broad academic disciplines and professional experiences were considered.
UB in the City
On Sept. 14, 2010, the first shovel broke ground on UB's downtown expansion. The $46 million construction of a new Educational Opportunity Center is an important step forward for UB 2020; the building is the first in the UB Downtown Gateway Complex, which will connect the university to the surrounding community.
The EOC assists university students as well as those in the Buffalo community in providing a range of services in academic preparation and specific job training programs in allied health, life sciences, information technology, and environmental industries.
The 63,834-square-foot EOC building will be constructed primarily of environmentally sustainable materials, in conjunction with the mission of UB 2020.
Afraid of Heights
University Heights, the area immediately surrounding South Campus, had a rough go of it in 2010. Known for affordable housing that appeals to those in Greek life and those searching for a cost-efficient apartment off-campus, the Heights poses a danger to young residents.
An investigative report by Andrew Wiktor, former editor-in-chief of The Spectrum, found that in an eight-block radius within the University Heights, 75 landlords rent properties that are not up to code and total hundreds of violations.
During the academic year, four houses rented to UB students caught fire and all resulted from electrical and malfunctioning or natural gas problems.
Similarly, violence in the Heights leaves some students wary of renting or purchasing off-campus. In one instance, five UB students were sent to the hospital with injuries ranging from broken jaws to fractured eye sockets. In another, a UB football player was stabbed in the chest while leaving a bar near South Campus.
Students in fraternities and sororities aired concerns about safety in the Heights and called for increased security and police presence.
"Three Cups of Deceit"
Greg Mortenson's story made it to 60 Minutes; unfortunately, it was for all the wrong reasons.
Mortenson, the author ofthe motivational memoir Three Cups of Tea, was accused of embellishing stories of his school-building activities in Pakistan and Afghanistan so that he could embezzle nearly $7 million dollars from the Central Asia Institute – his not-for-profit organization.
On Nov. 10, 2010, before the story broke, Mortenson spoke at UB as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series and was presented with a check for $25,000; $15,208.62 wad directed to his charity, "Pennies for Peace." The funds were provided by the Center for Student Leadership and Community Engagement.
As such, concerns about UB's processes in selecting speakers were raised.
Email: news@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Breadchastick / Wikimedia Commons
