Campus Affairs

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Teaching Academic Integrity

Seventy percent of college students admit to some form of cheating. In a study conducted in 2006 by the Center for Academic Integrity, a survey of 50,000 college students on 60 different campuses showed that 70 percent of students admitted to cheating in some capacity, 50 percent admit to cheating on written assignments, and 25 percent admit to serious test cheating. With these staggeringly high national numbers, educators at UB are attempting to do whatever is necessary to prevent cheating on campus. A workshop held Thursday in the Teaching and Learning Center entitled "Plagiarism and Academic Integrity" featured James Gardner, vice dean for academic affairs in the School of Law, James Jensen, professor of engineering and faculty director of undergraduate studies, and Mike Ryan, professor of chemical and biological engineering and director of university accreditation. One topic that was discussed during the seminar was the professor's responsibility to create a learning environment that does not enable academic dishonesty. When allegations of cheating surrounded an exam in Professor David Murray's Introduction to Management Info Systems class, MGS 351, students came forward demanding that Murray, who allegedly gives the same exact exams each year, accept some responsibility. According to Jensen, it is a teacher's responsibility to actively work to minimize a student's opportunities and incentives to commit academic dishonesty. In order to create a fair and honest learning environment, teachers should be discouraged from using old exams, according to Jensen. "[Just as] students get into a panic the day before [they need to take] an exam, teachers get into a panic the day before the exam needs to be written," Jensen said. "Faculty should assume that [all students] have copies of past exams? and should be encouraged not to [re-use exams] because it encourages this attitude that you don't have to study or review material because the answers are out there in past years' exams." Ryan understands that while students, like those in Murray's management classes, might find old exams to be a useful studying resource, the teacher has a responsibility to prevent the tests from being exactly the same each year. "When I was a student in preparing for an exam I would want to know the nature of the questions asked on previous exams just to know what had been asked before," Ryan said.

Student Leaders Meet to Discuss Presidential Search

The beginning of the semester is long gone but has not been forgotten. President John B. Simpson announced his retirement on the first day of classes and will officially be out of office come Jan.

School of Management Students Face Expulsion

Violence Drives Students Out of University Heights

Naming competition calls on UB Students

There's a new addition coming to myUB, and all it needs is a name. That's where the UB student population comes in. Starting Wednesday, students have the opportunity to name a tab that will lead users to a new feature that makes it easier to access academic, financial and personal information tools. Those who submit a suggestion or vote for their favorite idea will be entered into a random drawing to win gift certificates for movie theatres, Campus Cash, Tim Hortons and UB branded merchandise. The five ideas that receive the most votes will be put into a random drawing to win an iPad or one of two iPods. The contest, sponsored by Student Services Transformation (SST), is a way to get students involved and come up with a clever name for a new tab that will make many frustrating aspects of myUB easier to use. "Students can learn more about the system, contribute ideas for names that build UB spirit and win prizes," said Kara Saunders, assistant vice provost for undergraduate education. The new additions will help students stay on top of important information that may have been confusing in the past. The online center will allow students to set a course "wish list" that will automatically enroll students in their desired classes as soon as their registration window opens up.

"Easy ""A"""

Party hard.

Vote4US Party dominates senate

Students speak out about financial struggles

College is typically the first time money becomes a concern for young adults. From selecting a college to balancing class and work to deciding whether or not to go to graduate school, students face constant financial uncertainty. According to the CIRP Freshman Survey, UCLA's annual survey of entering students at four-year U.S.

A problem to solve a problem

A political discussion

Thursday night, Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, and Mary Matalin, Republican political strategist and CNN contributor, graced Alumni Arena's stage for UB's first Distinguished Speaker Series event of the 2010-11 school year. Huffington, who graduated from Cambridge University with an M.A.

Simpson speaks; retirement and appointment explained

"Go to class, stay for dinner. "

Food, second maybe to sex, is one of the most important things that enters a student's mind on a daily basis.

The blue and white gets down and dirty

Combine 200,000 gallons of water from Lake LaSalle, a dirt-filled field and 128 teams of volleyball players, and the muddy mayhem of Oozfest is created.

Solar array to be installed on UB North Campus

UB is stepping up on its green efforts and will soon have a solar power source on campus. Renowned artist and landscape artist Walter Hood won a public art competition to develop a 1.1-megawatt solar array for the Flint Road entrance of North Campus.

A donation of life

Eighteen people will die today waiting for an organ transplant. University at Buffalo students enrolled in the COM 441 Advanced Public Relations course are hosting a special carnival-themed event in the Student Union Wednesday, in hopes of changing this number. "The goal is twofold," said Karen Swierski, the course professor and executive director of the Western New York Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. "The first is to create more awareness of the need for organ and tissue donation, and the second is to sign people up for the NYS Organ and Tissue Donation Registry." The students from the COM 441 class will be partnering with Upstate New York Transplant Services today in hosting the carnival, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Swierski, who has taught COM 441 for the past seven years, believes that having her students organize a real public relations campaign, where they have an actual budget, deadlines and a clearly defined goal, teaches them in a way that supersedes what they could learn in the classroom. "[The students] get to experience what working in public relations in ‘the real world' is like," Swierski said. "It helps them define their career objectives more clearly." Danielle Keller, a Donate Life Education Coordinator for UNYTS, discussed with the students the importance of their assistance to her organization. "I would like to encourage them to think about the waiting list that has over 106,000 people who need an organ," Keller said. "And on the blood side, knowing that one out three people will need a blood transfusion at some point in their life reminds us all that blood donation is crucial." Keller also introduced the class to her daughter, Lexi, a young lady who was given a second chance at life because of an organ donation. Lexi was born with a congenital heart defect and has struggled with this life threatening condition since she was born. Lexi was in a medically induced coma when her family finally got the news that they had been praying for – the doctors had found her a heart. She received the heart transplant in 2004, and woke up from her coma less than two weeks before her fifth birthday. Now in fifth grade at St. Peter's Lutheran School in Sanborn, Lexi is a happy, healthy and vibrant example of the power of organ donation. Inspired by stories about the thousands of people who are waiting for a transplant, Swierski's students used their promotional skills learned in class to increase awareness about a worthwhile cause, and they have found that the experience has been truly rewarding. Rebecca Hoy, a member of the campaign's special events team, encourages all students to stop by the carnival. "It's a fun day we have planned for everyone," Hoy said. "But while you're having fun, you can also help a good cause. Who doesn't love a bouncy castle? The COM 441 course will try to persuade students to commit to organ donation through their slogan, "If I Only Had a Heart," which Keller believes is an appropriate name for the campaign. "I am so inspired by the work and dedication from Karen and her students," Keller said. "It is so moving to see young people embracing our mission and helping to raise awareness. As a mom of a transplant recipient, I am personally touched by these campaigns." E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com

UB Student receives Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

Jasmine May's father died from brain cancer but his passing did not hinder her studies; instead, it was an inspiration for her to research better treatments for the disease.May, a sophomore medicinal chemistry major, won the Barry M.

"UB Council Election, take two"

Democratic America preaches that every vote counts. Last week's UB Council Student Representative election, however, pointed to the contrary.

"UB Council Election, take two"

Democratic America preaches that every vote counts. Last week's UB Council Student Representative election, however, pointed to the contrary.

Simpson shares concerns about UB2020

Although the UB 2020 plan is still in the works, its future looks bleak due to the New York State budget cuts, President Simpson told UB Council members on Monday. UB 2020 offers hope to the Buffalo region and will bring about an increase in jobs in all sectors, Simpson explained, but it is not guaranteed. "UB 2020 is further away today than it has been before," Simpson said. "If we maintain the status quo, [that's] a recipe for disaster." Simpson said that UB 2020 will require funding from the state and from money to be earned by the university – both of which are currently limited. He added that the state has cut UB's funding and constantly pursues outdated policies that prevent the university from improving its revenues. Simpson explained that much of the debate in Albany centers on the issue of tuition and who gets to govern it. He added that public education should be affordable. "We have to ensure that we are able to apply as a public university that is of the highest quality," Simpson said. Although the magnitude of the cuts at UB have been subtle and not as catastrophic as expected, Simpson pointed out that UB may not be able to handle the more severe cuts that it will have in the future. Student representative John Martin shares Simpson's concerns. "Students are really starting to feel the cuts," Martin said. The UB Council also approved the Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act, a plan intended to strengthen public higher education in New York State and provide a much-needed boost to the state's struggling economy. Through the act, investments in SUNY public research universities like UB will help renew the economies of various New York regions. Simpson is confident that Western New York residents will continue to support and invest in UB, calling them a "beacon of hope" for the university. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

Jackson killer pleads guilty

Last May, in the celebratory hours after the University at Buffalo commencement ceremonies, new graduate Javon Jackson was shot and killed as he crossed Main Street near South Campus.