Thanks for the memories
Well, that was fast.
Use the fields below to perform an advanced search of The Spectrum's archives. This will return articles, images, and multimedia relevant to your query.
182 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
Well, that was fast.
Over the past 80 issues, staff at The Spectrum has worked around the clock, giving you a product worthy of your support and your readership. We have since reached the end of the line, as you are reading our final issue of the 2009-2010 scholastic year. This past year has been one full of events that will define the future of the University at Buffalo and Western New York for years to come. The UB 2020 plan has been put into question due to budgetary problems at the state level, campus security was tested following the incident at Lockwood Library, former University President William Greiner passed away, many programs have been shut down by the university, the anniversary of the crash of Continental Connection Flight # 3407 was celebrated as airline safety has been faught – the list goes on and on. Throughout that year, we have been there, providing you, the reader, with the best possible news that means the most to you. And you've been there, reading more than ever before and interacting in ways only dreamt about in the past. On behalf of myself and every person who has a part in the publishing of this fine publication, we thank you for your readership and wish you the best of luck with whatever comes your way in the months to come. For those returning this fall, look forward to Editor-In-Chief-Elect Andrew Wiktor and his new staff leading The Spectrum into its 60th year as the only independent student publication at the University at Buffalo. Best, Stephen Marth Editor in Chief 2009-2010
After becoming Mid-Atlantic Region Champions and gaining a berth to the Varsity Vocals International Championship of A Cappella for the first time in 15 years, the Buffalo Chips couldn't seal the deal in New York City.
Fans of the hit television show 24 were shocked last Monday as former FBI agent Renee Walker was killed off in the shows final season. A Russian operative shot Walker, played by Annie Wersching, after a passionate love-making scene with Jack Bauer. She later died in the hospital. Walker, who was introduced into the world of 24 in Day Seven, was a by-the-book character when first established to the audience. As her relationship with Bauer began to blossom, she, too, evolved into an entirely different character. Walker was a different type of character on the show for a variety of reasons, specifically because she was nearly a mirror image of Bauer. Because of this, many people would refer to her as "Jacqueline Bauer." "Obviously, that's quite an honor to share that title," Wersching said. "I got that a lot last year when [Walker] first came on the scene. It wasn't something we thought about or said when we were filming [Day Seven], so it was interesting to hear that it was the fan reaction. Again, he's a tragic hero, and, obviously, that's sort of ended up happening to her." While a lead character's death from the show isn't new to anyone, in the past, some stars have actually complained to Executive Producer Howard Gordon after reading the script and seeing their character's dying off. While Wersching initially wanted to plead for a chance for survival, the reasoning behind her character's death held her back. "At the top of the season they don't usually know all that much of what they want to do, so the fact that the one big thing they knew they wanted to do was to bring her back damaged, to have Jack have to sort of save her in more ways than one and have them finally get together and then have her be taken away from him, which leads to his path for the end of the series. I knew that that was pretty set in stone, a big thing that they wanted to do overall for the season," Wersching said. "I didn't beg too much. Obviously, they knew that I was very sad about it and upset, but those are the moments that make 24 so great." In Walker's final episode, both actors and actresses, along with producers from the show, wanted to make her final moments as strong as possible. For Wersching, Walker's death felt right, but it still brought about many questions in her mind. "Simply because I love the character so much, you always think of other ways that things could have happened. I kind of wish that the Jack/Renee love story-making would have maybe had its own episode to resonate and then maybe she got shot because that was a pretty huge deal," Wersching said. "There's a little part of me that was like bummed that those both happened in the same episode because that's really kind of getting overshadowed by the fact that she died. That was a huge moment for the show." According to Wersching, one major question was how long Walker and Bauer would spend in bed making love. Because the show is in a real-time format, decisions such as this have to be considered carefully, unlike many shows on the air today, because of the assumptions people could make simply due to a timing error. "Because he's Jack Bauer, there can't be like an eight-minute adventure, but we went through many different ways that it was going to be. We weren't even sure if were able to actually get them to the place where they were actually making love because of the real-time," Wersching said. " But they figured out finally sort of a way to do it, and it was interesting trying to see to, like, because they knew she was going to get shot right afterwards, so Jack couldn't be naked when he was carrying her to the hospital, so there had to be a way for him to sort of get a little bit of clothes on, but yet make it look like they were still going to go back and have more fun. The specifics were very interesting to figure out, but we were very aware that it needed to have the right amount of time." While the timing was a serious issue for those involved, the lovemaking scene itself was somewhat tough for Wersching and Kiefer Sutherland, who plays Bauer, because of the relationship they built throughout the past two seasons. But Walker's death made the scene somewhat easier to act. "Since I knew it was coming, I knew that I was pretty prepared for all of this," Wersching said. "However, we shot the lovemaking and the death, sort of both of those things, together over the two days, so it actually helped take away – Kiefer and I were so nervous about the love scene – that it sort of helped tame down the ‘oh, that Renee was getting shot' part. The whole thing was bittersweet. It was bittersweet to be able to shoot scenes with Kiefer where they finally get close and then straight into covered in blood. It was all pretty bittersweet." Throughout the entire series, episodes end with a clock ticking from the end of the 59th minute to the beginning of the next hour. In a majority of the episodes, beeping occurs in unison with the time changing. In few episodes, however, there is silence, which producers do in honor of lives lost by a main character, or if some other powerful moment occurs. Walker's character is the only character in the history of 24 to receive two silent clocks – other than Jack Bauer. The first clock occurred once in Day Seven after she was buried alive, and in Day Eight when she died from her gunshot wounds in the hospital. Wersching believes that this is a big deal for anyone who has acted on the set of 24. "It was a great honor, obviously," Wersching said. "Besides Jack, she was actually the only one to ever get two silent clocks, because there was a silent clock, with a little bit of breathing for Renee after she was buried alive in Episode 5 of Season 7, and I didn't even think about that. A complete honor, because I'm a fan of the show and I know the significance of the silent clock – a complete honor." Wersching was sucked into 24 for a variety of reasons prior to getting the opportunity to be a part of the show's universe. Specifically, how the show is presented to viewers is one reason why Wersching feels that it has succeeded for so long. "Well, definitely in the beginning, it was such a groundbreaking show, and there was nothing else like it on television. It's really like a little feature film every week with the ticking clock and the real-time aspect," Wersching said. "There's such an intensity to the show that at the end of the episode, it just leaves you wanting more which is how I think every television show should be." While most fans are upset following March 26's announcement that the series was officially ending, Wersching felt that all is not lost. "There were always sort of rumors going around through the crew," Wersching said. "We knew it wasn't necessarily looking great, but everybody had high hopes. I think the fact that the movie is sort of lurking out there in the future was something that at least was something sort of to look forward to, knowing that you will at least see Jack again." E-mail: arts@ubsepctrum.com
Sometimes, I wonder if the year is really 2010, or if it is actually 1910. Let's play a fun game. Try to guess how many states allow corporal punishment as a form of discipline in schools. One? Two? Try 20. I'm sorry, but that figure boggles my mind. It also boggles the mind of Erica DeRamus. DeRamus, a senior at Oxford High School in Oxford, Ala., picked out the prom dress of her dreams for her senior prom – a seafoam green dress – and headed to the event with excitement building. But the excitement was short-lived after she was kicked out of the prom and, later the following week, was punished for her outfit. Officials said that DeRamus's outfit was too low-cut and too short, which broke the rules of the school's dress code. The dress code stipulates that necklines must be above a student's breastbone and skirt hems cannot be higher than six inches above the knee. While she disagrees that she broke the rules, after seeing images of the dress, I can understand their issues. But I cannot understand their options for punishment. According to WBRC-TV, 18 students that broke the rules were given two options of punishment – a three-day suspension that would affect their chances of getting into college, or a period of paddling. That's right. They beat them with a piece of wood. Surprisingly, DeRamus was the only student to take the three-day suspension, while her other 17 classmates decided to taste some splinters. "I'm a little too old to get paddled … This is high school, we're seniors," DeRamus told WBRC. "If we're going to act up, give us another option besides being paddled, because this isn't the 1940s. We don't take corporal punishment now." And she's right. What gives school officials the power to physically assault children when many parents are told not to? Why should anyone even have that right? We're human. Physical violence and physical punishment don't do a thing except harm people emotionally and mentally, in addition to leaving some ugly welts and marks. According to the American Psychological Association, corporal punishment in any institution where children are cared for or educated should not be allowed for a variety of reasons. The association says that it is violent and unnecessary, may lower self-esteem and instills hostility and rage without reducing the behavior that caused the punishment. Furthermore, corporal punishment is likely to train children to use physical violence. And people wonder why there are those of us who see no problem hurting someone. Those people are probably from Alabama. We've put a man on the moon. We have technology that can replicate the Big Bang. I can speak to someone across the world instantly with the click of the button, but there are school districts in America that see no issue in physically attacking children for minor reasons? Land of the free and home of the beaten. E-mail: stephen.marth@ubspectrum.com
With politics in Albany creating a cloud over the future of UB2020, President John B. Simpson pushed forward Monday afternoon with the expansion of the Downtown Campus. In an announcement with Rev. Michael Chapman, pastor of St. John Baptist Church and president of the Oak-Michigan Housing Development Corporation, Simpson announced the purchase of the McCarley Gardens housing complex for $15 million, which will be used for future construction for the Downtown Campus. In addition, Chapman announced a $500 million East Side development plan, which will "be a catalyst" for economic development and improve the quality of life for residents in one of Buffalo's poorest neighborhoods. "This will give the university the ability to do the things it needs to do without any costs to taxpayers to build UB2020, to build the downtown academic health center and to move forward in partnership with our community," Simpson said. "We have a shared vision for revitalization and we agree on how to get it done." According to Chapman, the urban development project could be the most comprehensive plan currently underway in the country. "We could have just made this a real estate deal," Chapman said. "But the leadership of St. John's said that the entire community should benefit from this endeavor. We want the entire community to be blessed by this." The plan includes $60 million worth of new townhouses for displaced residents from McCarley Gardens. The new homes will be located on High Street. Also, new housing for senior citizens, residential areas for veterans, a youth center costing $20 million, a mental health facility and a business training center will be built as part of the revitalization plan. "I think this kind of investment in this community will bode well for anybody who lives in the Ellicott District right away, said Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples, D-NY. The purchase of the land comes from the UB Foundation, which manages gifts, grants and fundraising done by the university. But funding for the construction of the new campus will be dependent on reforms proposed in the Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act and no more cutting of the university's budget. "We have a shared vision for revitalization and we agree on how to get it done," Simpson said. "Now, we need the state to let us do this. We need the tools to get the job done." Simpson says that if PHEEIA reform is passed, nearly 7,000 jobs at UB and 20,000 construction jobs will be created immediately due to the project, while $2 billion will be pumped into the Western New York economy. He hopes that a tuition plan that lets UB decide how much it charges students will be better due to the quality of the university's research programs comparable to other state schools. If everything works according to plan, Simpson said that a lively medical campus in the heart of the city could bring nearly 13,000 students, faculty and staff to the area. "There are a lot of important things to deal with before this becomes reality and it's several years down the road," Simpson said. "But it's a perfect location and has the potential for being a genuine campus that would have a significant effect on downtown." According to university officials, the Oak-Michigan Housing Development Corporation believes that the new High Street townhouses will begin construction by 2013, with final conditions for the sale of the property will be met by 2017. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
Curious about what those running for office at the Student Association are all about? Join us in our live feed of the endorsement process from 132 Student Union!
After today's live event, the editorial board has come to a decision on who it endorses for Student Association elections.
Following months of research and preperation by myself and my staff, I am proud to welcome you to the new UBSpectrum.com.
I'll be the first to say that the United States likes to get too involved in matters overseas. Usually, it is over something that our country should have never poked its head into. But for once, I'm actually happy that we were involved. Last week, during a visit to Israel, Vice President Joe Biden was outraged by an announcement by the country stating that there is a plan to build 1,600 housing units for Israelis in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood in East Jerusalem – a traditionally Arab location. To Biden, the announcement is hampering any peace efforts that Israel and Palestine can ever begin to work on. "We must build an atmosphere to support negotiations, not complicate them," Biden said. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton agreed, stating that Israel must prove its commitment to peace. And they're right. I'm pleased to see members of the United States government, who are usually pro-Israel, finally put their foot down on a situation that is beyond absurd. Both Israelis and Palestinians are obviously tearing the situation apart, in both directions, like the groups have done since problems began in the region. But the fact of the matter is that, while the Palestinians might overdo the "innocent victim" card that they are playing, they are right. It's a stupid move when the two sides seem to want peace. According to Isi Leibler of the Jerusalem Post, an Israeli publication, President Barack Obama and members of the White House "are cynically distancing themselves from us in order to curry popularity by capitalizing on the anti-Israeli hatred which has engulfed the world." Leibler couldn't be farther away from the truth. Does the writer – or any Israeli, for that matter – realize the implications of building these homes? Is the hatred and anger that building them will cause – not to mention the possible damage to said buildings – worth the trouble? Israel instead needs to invest the time and money into coming up with a way to promote peace with Palestine. There are no excuses. According to Mohammed Said El-Nadi of the Palestine Telegraph, the United States isn't the only major world player that's upset about the decision. The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton "believes the timing of the announcement was intentional and says there are ‘no guarantees' that Israel seeks peace." Many Israelis are stating that American-Israeli relations have been at an all-time low and that this is just adding to the problems. But they need to look in the mirror. That's not to say that Palestine is innocent when it comes to creating peace between the two nations. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas could have begun peace negotiations prior to Biden's visit. It isn't a one-way street, and his lack of care is 50 percent of the problem. But Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu hasn't done anything to help matters, either. His government's decision to build these homes has only put them farther back from uniting. The fact of the matter is that Israel isn't guaranteed the praise of members of the United States government when they make decisions that are as childish and as ill thought-out as this. It made a bad move. Instead of getting defensive and angry, Netanyahu and his government need to move to the real issue at hand, and that's promoting peace. Instead of whining and playing the victim card every time something happens that can be disagreed with, both parties need to step up to the plate and unite. Don't be stupid. It's sad to say, but if these homes end up being built, it will only be a matter of time before parties clash and probably destroy the area. It's a shame that I have to think this way, but sadly, it's the truth. The fighting is pointless. Israeli men shouldn't be throwing wine at innocent Palestinian women, nor should Palestinian men trash Israeli property. Nor should bullets or rockets be shot at one side or the other. The fighting is pointless. Life is too short for this nonsense. It's a shame that it's 2010 and the two parties can't even make real attempts to work out their problems. At the end of the day, one thing can be taken from the entire situation: a foundation built on peace will be far stronger than any foundation that questionable homes could be built on.
Nearly 30 rooms in MacDonald Hall and Goodyear Hall were broken into on March 9, according to UB Police.
Following a closed forum of The Spectrum's editorial board Monday night, Andrew Wiktor was elected editor-in-chief for the 2010-11 school year. Wiktor is the current senior sports editor, and is a junior English and political science major. He has been on the staff since 2008.
Update:
Aaron Moe, former Asst. Sports Editor of The Spectrum and beloved friend to many Buffalonians, passed away Friday night from complications due to pneumonia. His sudden death has had a huge impact on many.
Members of the UB community can breathe a sigh of relief today after reports of a possible gunman on North Campus could not be fully verified. At 4:05 p.m., officers from the University Police Department received a call from a student at Lockwood Library, where there was a possible sighting of a man with either a rifle or a shotgun under a navy pea coat. According to Gerald W. Schoenle Jr., chief of police, the call resulted in officers' arrival at the site and the use of security footage from the building, which showed the possible suspect with something under his jacket, although what it was remained unclear. 'We went to a video and we immediately saw someone walking into the library that was right at the location where the suspect said there was a person that had a weapon,' Schoenle said. 'We were able to zoom in on those cameras and see a person in a very grainy video, that you certainly could not identify, who was carrying something that sort of fit the description, so that elevated our concerns a little bit.' The library was evacuated at 4:40 p.m. and a campus-wide alert was sent to students in the form of a text message at that time, asking them to stay away from the building. While the initial evacuation was in process, confused and interested students gathered around the library while police began to enter the building. Many were concerned that they were too close to a building where a possible gunman was on the loose. 'We would have acted totally differently [with an active shooter] than we acted in this case,' Schoenle said. Rumors about the incident were appearing on social networking Web sites such as Facebook and Twitter, mentioning hostages, missing police officers and a vague description of the suspect. Molly Wright, a senior business administration major, was sitting in her market research class in Alfiero Center when she received the text message. 'I showed the people sitting next to me and initially thought nothing of it,' Wright said. 'I just assumed it was a gas leak or something. I figured if something was seriously wrong, they would evacuate the campus.' The evacuation of the building did not cause a panic for students that were forced to leave, according to John Curaba, a senior business major. Curaba was on the third floor of the Student Union when he received notification of the evacuation. After looking out toward Lockwood Library, he was surprised by what he saw. 'It was kind of calm,' Curaba said. 'No one really knew what to think.' Alice Park, a senior nursing major who was in Lockwood Library at the time of the evacuation, said that the process was very quick. 'I was studying in the third-floor study room and the police came in and asked us to evacuate, saying there was some sort of an emergency,' Park said. 'I asked what was happening and they wouldn't disclose any information.' By 5 p.m., officers from the Amherst Police Department joined the UPD in its efforts to search the premises and fully evacuate the building. In addition, police created a perimeter around the area, which also resulted in the closure of Putnam Way between the library and the Alfiero Center. Police officers geared with assault rifles and bulletproof vests then entered the building through its main entrance to conduct a thorough sweep in search of the alleged gunman. A video of multiple police officers searching the Cybrary was leaked on Twitter and Facebook by an unknown source. 'I looked up in a window later when I was walking outside and I watched a cop kick open a door and go inside with his rifle,' Curaba said. 'I asked another cop and they said he couldn't find [a gunman] at all.' With a search still ongoing at 5:40 p.m., members of UB's senior administration felt that it was in the best interest of students to cancel all classes on North Campus for the remainder of the evening. '[We] decided … to cancel classes because there was a lot of concern on campus,' Schoenle said. A press conference was held at 6 p.m. by Joe Brennan, vice president for University Communications, which outlined what was known about the events during the late afternoon. 'The police have established a perimeter around Lockwood Library and are advising people to stay out of it so they can conduct their search,' Brennan said. But the main search didn't last long. By 6:30 p.m., officers from the Amherst Police Department left the scene because they felt that the threat was 'under control,' according to a UPD officer who spoke on condition of anonymity. As the final search by UPD officers began, there were still a sense of confusion throughout the UB community. Reports from students said that both Capen Library on North Campus and the Health Sciences Library on South Campus were closed during the early evening, but there was no immediate threat at either location. In order to coordinate a thorough search, Schoenle contacted off-duty officers to immediately come in, in addition to pulling officers from South Campus onto North Campus. 'Our emergency recall plan worked perfectly,' Schoenle said. 'Officers we hadn't even called yet got the text. We had 20 [off-duty] officers to assist us in searching the library.' To replace the lack of a university police presence there, Schoenle contacted the Buffalo Police Department, which supplied patrols to the area. At 8:15 p.m., Brennan addressed the media again, notifying them that the search for a gunman was completed and that no one was found in the building. 'Police have determined that there is no threat to campus and that it will be safe to resume activities, so classes will resume,' Brennan said. 'Safety and security of our students, faculty, staff and visitors is a top priority. We're glad that … it ended up being no harm to anybody.' Schoenle said that while no gunman was found, investigators will still be reviewing video from Lockwood Library and that police presence will be increased on North Campus until further notice. Stay with The Spectrum for complete coverage on the incident at Lockwood Library. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
The moment that Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed in Clarence Center, Western New Yorkers united as they always have, showing America how strong our community really is.
Amherst Police have found two people partially responsible for a Jan. 23 fight at the Residence Inn on Maple Road that resulted in a handful of injuries.
Undergraduate students interested in running for a variety of positions in this year's Student Association election may pick up applications at 350 Student Union until March 4 at noon. Available positions include president, vice president and treasurer, in addition to four delegate positions. A mandatory meeting will follow for candidates on March 5 at 4:30 p.m.
Today, head football coach Jeff Quinn announced the 2010 Signing Class, comprised of 19 signed players and one preferred walk-on.